How to Heal a Ceramic Mug

The bus driver of our little one’s minibus is a funny man. We’re very lucky to have him, now for the second year. He somehow manages to crack me up each morning with some dry quip. That’s not really easy to do, it’s very early in the morning when he arrives. He’s very talented. And such a good guy. I love him!

Recently, he asked me—since I’m an expert in all things ceramic—how he could heal a favorite mug. The handle had fallen off and he thought I, of all people, would know how to fix it permanently. Before even letting him finish his sentence, (we New Yorkers are so good at knowing what people are saying even before they can get a word in edgewise), I said:

“You can’t; don’t bother.”

He didn’t take my word for it, though. As you can see…

This he gave to me as a present. He said he has already applied for the patent, in case I was planning on plagiarizing his design. 

Refrigerator Blindness

Refrigerator blindness. Don’t laugh, it’s an actual medical condition.

Ok, laugh. It’s alright.

I know what you’re thinking, though. I don’t have it. Nope. No I do not. I can find the milk every time. In fact, I can sit at a distance and verbally navigate my kid to the ketchup in the back left corner of the second shelf, even when I myself didn’t put it there. I’m good at that. Very talented.

…but…

…ask me to find anything outSIDE of the fridge and it’s a no-go. I’m utterly blind and completely clueless. So don't ask me where my idea list of what to cook tonight is taped up–or even if it’s up on a cabinet door anywhere in the kitchen at ALL! Which will itself tell you why I have to have an idea list of what to cook tonight in the first place!

So it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that I just stumbled upon this taped inside the door where I keep the Tylenol (and considering that I keep the Tylenol there, you can just imagine how many times I’ve opened up this door):

7 Lessons

1) Get out of your comfort zone.

2) Embrace the late sleepless nights.

3) Speak the language of the individual you want to become.

4) Find a mantra to anchor and guide you.

5) Always stay guided by your values not by your necessities.

6) To achieve unreasonable things, you have to become an unreasonable person.

7) Become hopelessly idealistic about the things that make you feel most alive.

Though I’m sure I was the one who taped this up whenever ago, I just read it now as if for the first time.

Then I took a nice deep breath.

A slow count to five on the inhale, a slow count to five on the exhale.

Ahhhh.


 

That’s better. The important things.

<<<Breathe>>>

Happy New Year, everybody!

Jimmy

I went to yoga this morning and then stopped at Panera for a coffee and a bagel and a little quiet/me time. I sat near three men who after about 20 minutes finished their conversation and then parted ways. One of them came over to me and told me that I’m too beautiful to be sitting all alone, especially at holiday time. Why is there nobody with me? That started a whole long conversation. He asked if he could join me and we talked about this and that: life, family, politics, money; we told a few jokes. Then as he was leaving he walked over to me, held my face between his two hands, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. He was 75 and going off to join a card game that he was already late for.

I will never forget this day.

LaTouchables - Poet, Snow Leopard, and Magician

Oh my goodness gracious! Guess what just came in the mail…

The “Snow Leopard” bag that Dawn made for me!!

Oh my goodness gracious, gracious!!

First, a confession: I broke a promise. I promised Dawn that I’d open up the package together with my family, but it came when everybody was out for the day. What was I supposed to do? I would have had to wait for FOUR WHOLE HOURS before opening up the box and I just couldn’t wait that long. So I’m sorry, Dawn. I did rewrap the box before they come home and let them open it up together and they soaked it all up. That much I lived up to.

Now that I’ve cleared my conscious, though, can I just let out my scream of excitement? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

I cannot believe my eyes!



Those are business cards. How deliciously charming is that!

The photos that Dawn posted on her blog were incredible; they set the stage for my not being able to contain my anticipation. So naturally, opening up the box was an exquisite experience. First the box, then the paper wrapped parcel, then bubble wrap—so enticing because I could see the tapestry of fabric beneath the bubbles.

 

Finally to the bag itself. It is so exactly what I had hoped it would be.

The eccentricity and asymmetry, the collage of fabrics and wood accents, and lining, and snaps, and fur…I’m absolutely blown away. I immediately draped it across my body to find that it sits exactly at the perfect spot, both comfortable and eclectic chic at the same time.

Then I reached down inside to find a key cord with a vintage key on it. Hilarious!! I laughed out loud.

It is the most beautiful bag I have ever worn. There are no words to express how incredible I feel to own this bag. The leather is so buttery, the fur so rich, the wooden accents so smooth and earthy, and the strap with all its history and mileage….OH the STRAP!! I am in love.

There are certain possessions that make a person who they are. For me, they are my chocolate suede coat, my silver handmade watch, my silver and leather hoop earrings, and now Dawn’s poet bag. I’m wearing all four in these pictures. People will say of me: “Oh I think I know the woman you’re talking about...does she wear that beautiful collage of a leather bag with the fur on the front?”

Yep, that’s me!

Where will your artistic inspiration take you?

Sometimes artistic inspiration comes from unexpected places. Recently I got a custom order from another seller on Etsy. In fact, he “found” me after I ordered a bazillion handmade soaps from him (they’re incredible…buy some!).

He said he wanted cereal bowls akin to my scroll handle mugs. He imagined them shorter and wider than the mugs but left me room to experiment according to my creative whim. I love the results!

By the way, I asked for his permission to credit him with the inspiration for these bowls and here’s what he said (and I quote):

“Yeah... sure! But I did nothing really :o) I'm just a lazy schlub who wants to drink out of bowls.”

Love him!

Incredible Yoga/Break Dancing - Unreal!

Break ton Neck from Alex Yde on Vimeo.

A bucket for your coffee

This mug is Mega Ginormous. No, seriously. It's a whopping 32-ounces. Waaaay bigger than you think it is. It’s so big that it comes with it’s own Doberman Pinscher.

 

 

  

Nah. I was just kidding about the Doberman. Wouldn't know how to mail that out to you anyway. But it’s big. Really big. Your ego needs to be well intact for this one.