AfricanKelli

Have you seen Finny’s blog today? Can you tell we recently spent a weekend together crafting? Great minds think alike. Actually, she mentioned using scraps for a Mom Wristlet (where you can throw a credit card, tube of chapstick and a couple valium) and I fully stole the idea.

Here’s my interpretation of the same ole’ Nappy pattern, yet again. This baby is going to charity for a silent auction item. I stuffed it full of goodies too.

For those of you with Spring/Summer birthdays, I’ve got a thing or two up my sleeve. Think Covington, bright and real purdy.

~K

p.s. Are you gorging yourself today on goodies? Fat Tuesday indeed. Tomorrow starts a long 40 day fast of a few fun things in my life, but I’ve got an interesting twist to the Lenten season this year. I’m looking forward to sharing with you manana.

This weekend was a blur of domesticity at Chez AfricanKelli. I started Saturday morning by reading, “Bread Alone.” I thought I’d start on my 10 year list by baking bread. How hard could it be? Well, it is a good thing I’ve given myself 10 years to figure it out.

The process went something like this:

Read the cookbook, buy supplies, make initial yeast/flour mixture called a poolish.  (3 hours)

Let poolish do its thing (3 hours), add other ingredients, let them do their thing (4 hours), knead dough (15 minutes), rest dough (1 hour),

bake dough (40 minutes), smile at beauty of finished loaves (10 seconds), prematurely pat self on back (5 seconds), pull iron bricks of wheat bread out of oven (2 minutes), curse self at entire day spent in kitchen, waiting, kneading and baking (2 hours). 

The bread looks great. It tastes like sand. Wheat bread isn’t my thing, apparently.

Banana bread, on the other hand, is my thing. I’m not one who gives up easily. With a large glass of wine egging me on, I tried another new recipe and it came out delicious. Yay! Minor triumph.

Banana Bread, get in my belly.

~

On to the crafting segment of our show…

I am attending a three-year-old’s birthday party this week. She is in love with anything and everything princess. What little girl doesn’t want her own princess regalia? I quickly sewed up a cape, including some great pink fabric I got last week at Ikea for $.99 a yard.

For those long walks through the enchanted forest.  

Then I began the crepe paper crown from Alterknits. I’ve seen this crown floating about in craftolandia. Craftapalooza has made one and the directions seemed simple enough. Not so. After spending $6 on pink crepe paper and about two hours trying to get the first two rows completed, the damn paper tore. I should have known better. Rather than give up, I grabbed some very girly yarn and started the pattern over, not sure how it would finish up. 

Sure, you look sweet. But crepe paper, you suck.

Hello yarn, my dear, dear friend.

All sewn up. I added a felt backing and some ribbon ties. While it isn’t nearly as polished as the crown in the pattern, it has its own style and I love it…

maybe a bit too much.

Happily ever after,

K

I am participating in this Meme that has been floating around craftolandia because I’m not  apt to be tagged for such nonsense, and because I am tired; blogging helps me avoid the other tasks at hand I don’t want to deal with at the moment.

And if that whiney blather doesn’t make you want to read more about my little life, I’m not sure what will! (BTW, isn’t this new font awesome? Love Georgia.)

Four Jobs I’ve had in my Life:

1. Hostess at the best Mexican restaurant ever.  I’d work there again happily.

2. Ice Cream Scooper at Swensen’s. Longest, fattest two months of my life.

3. Editor of my college newspaper.

4. Journalist.

[Currently, I'm a public health worker and soon-to-be bestselling author. Ha! How's that for modesty?]

Four Movies I’d Watch Over and Over

[Are you getting sick of these brackets yet? Because for the few of you who read this and aren't my friends or family, I think my bracket usage is a good sign of how much I like to talk. I'm a bit loquacious. Anyway, back to the point -- I don't have a way to really watch DVDs because even though my friend sent me a DVD player, my TV is too old.  So, let's just assume I live in a home with current technology to answer this question. Shall we?]

1. Mary Poppins

2. Pretty Woman

3. Frida

4. Ace Ventura Pet Detective

Four Places I’ve Lived:

1. Mesa, Arizona

2. Torreon, Mexico

3. Flagstaff, Arizona

4. Fongo Tongo, Cameroon

Four TV Shows I like to Watch

1. Frontline

2. Globe Trekker

3. Two and a Half Men

4. Jeopardy

Four Favorite Places I’ve been on Vacation:

1. Ireland

2. The Bahamas

3. The Philippines, specifically the island of Boracay

4. Carlsbad, California — where we went on family vacation every year from age 10-18.

Four Web Sites I Visit Daily:

1. Gmail (love the Goog)

2. NYT

3. SF Gate

4. The Fug

Four of my Favorite Foods:

1. Chicken Tostada with black beans and guacamole

2. My mom’s meatloaf

3. My dad’s bbq chicken

4. Mint chocolate chip ice cream

Four places I’d rather be right now:

1. In Carlsbad with my family. I’m feeling a bit lonesome for my family all of a sudden.

2. At the Disbrow house with the Ya Yas, bean dip, lemon bars and some Jose Cuervo. Oh, the sleepovers we’ve had.

3. In Mozambique, working. I know, I’m crazy.

4. On a tropical beach with a fruity cocktail, a stack of gossip magazines and a new knitting project.

Four People I will try to Burden with this:

1. Sarah

2. Carrie

3. Amanda

4. Finny

~K

I remember an assignment in high school that included writing down 10 goals you wanted to achieve in the next 10 years. I remember foolishly having several of those goals include Brad Pitt. Such as “meet Brad Pitt,” “marry Brad Pitt,” and “have Brad Pitt’s babies.” Others including owning a Jetta and graduating from college.

One out of the five isn’t bad. Creating such superficial goals is. Then again, most 17 year olds aren’t philanthropic world thinkers. I was a pop culture crazy mall rat with the best of them. I’d like to think my new 10 year goals are a bit more centered, thoughtful and realistic.

So, Internet as my witness, I’m challenging myself to do the following in the next 3652 days:

1. Finish, publish and sell my first novel

2. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

3. Learn to surf

4. Start a family

5. Have a photograph published

6. Hold a conversation in French in Paris (extra points for a great kiss under the Eiffel Tower)

7. Read an essay I’ve written on NPR

8. Bake an awesome loaf of bread

9. See Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Spain

10. Grow a fruit and vegetable garden

I think these are a fair mix of my true loves: travel, adventure, writing and art.

Now, which to tackle first?

~K

*Photo courtesy (stolen) from Ms. Finny.

I’m doing something very uncharacteristic: I’m reading more than one book. I started, “Michaelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” last month and am enjoying it. But it is detailed. And archaic. And nonfiction. And dry. Rather than give up, I just put it down for a bit and started reading, “Million Little Pieces.” With all the hype and controversy, it is still a good read. It angers me that I became attached to portions of the book that are bit fat lies, but if you consider it fiction from the start, it is an interesting read. James Frey’s lack of punctuation and random capitalization of words, on the other hand, is enough to make me go batty. I am sure that another of my new favorite authors, Lynne Truss of “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” fame, would just hurl it across the room.

I wouldn’t purchase Frey’s book on prinicple. But I did enjoy it. So, how’s that for contradiction?

I’m now reading, “Tipping Point,” and finding it fascinating. I’m trying to read more nonfiction, and have read countless reviews about the practical applicability of this book. Plus, Finny read and loved it, so there’s that too. She heard the author, Malcolm Gladwell, speak recently and says he is witty and weird. I’m only a few pages in, but so far, so good. It is about how social movements — whether they be based in fashion, economics, disease, etc… — gain momentum. I’m currently reading about the epidemic curve of disease, something I’m all too familiar with working in public health.

I also purchased, “Night,” — the latest Oprah Book. As much as I try to swear off these books, I just can’t do it. I like that they come with conversation. You read them, tons of other people are reading them, and there is always someone to discuss the story with. There are ladies at my gym reading “Night,” and I know that if nothing else, I can go on the Oprah website and read viewer’s comments about the book. I enjoy discussing a book nearly as much as I do reading it.

Also on my nightstand at the moment are the March issue of Martha. The garden issue is not so great for a girl living in the land of drought. I’ve got the March issues of Shape, Prevention and the newest Coach catalog too. If lovely new purses with embroidered flowers don’t say, “sweet dreams,” I’m not sure what will.

~K

I grew up in a home that always, and I mean always, had music playing. My mother was well known among my childhood friends for two things: one was her love of sewing, long since documented here. The other was her love of the freakishly small musical genius known as Prince. Or formerly known and once again now known as Prince. My very conservative Christian mother didn’t bat an eye at singing “Sexy Mother Fucker!” at the top of her lungs while preparing a nutritious, well planned dinner.

Yes, it was a crazy house.

But it was fun. And noisy. And artistic.

It still is.

I’ve attended countless music concerts and have always been one to turn on the radio before the TV, but the concerts I’ve loved the most were those three purple infused mad, mad, mad Prince concerts I took my mom to. As much as I tried fighting off the shaking of my hips and dreaded singing along, I couldn’t fight the force of the Little Red Corvette. Let it be known, I too like the Prince. It is a sickness and I’ve accepted it.

By my love of indie music, off the beaten path music, music you don’t find on Saturday mornings via Casey Kasem, comes directly from my friend Mike.

No his wardrobe doesn’t usually speak, but this sums him up well. We met as junior high students attending church camp and didn’t pay a lick of attention to each other until we reconnected as adults. (Even if someone I know briefly dated him. How’s that for a stumble down memory lane!) He dated a former roommate of mine and we went on many a double date. It is funny looking back on it now because neither of us speaks to our former loves, but we have found a fantastic friendship within each other. He started sending me CDs from bands I’d never heard of like “Dashboard Confessional” and the “Get up Kids.” We attended several concerts where we were two of only a dozen in the “over 21″ section, right up against the stage singing along. Bouncing. Screaming angry lyrics back at the young man on the stage crying away. Laughing at the 18 year olds behind us swimming in a sea of adolescence and angst. Because you know. We were so cool.

I saw Mike last week for the first time in several years. He is now a big computer dude on the East Coast living in a big house with a sweet wife and wicked commute. He of course showed up at my door with more new music from a band I cannot remember. They were good, as usual. I’d bet I’ll have one of their CDs in my mailbox soon.

In the meantime, I’ve found two of my own musical treasures in the last week.

KT Tunsdall rocks. She is Scottish, hot, and ohsotalented. The woman plays all her own instruments and loops them back. (Ala Prince. See, it’s full circle. Hang in with me.) It is incredible to listen to her go. Listen to “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and see what I’m talking about. WOW.

And the Gabe Dixon Band. You may have heard them on the previews for that new NBC show “Conviction.” Love that song. So much that I now own a handful of their songs via itunes. (Who knew a computer program could cause financial instability?)

She wore a raspberry beret,

~K

My first quilt: African Sunrise. It is far from perfect, but I am pleased.

This is the fabric Robin sent me from Mali. I think it is fantastic and I’m excited for a bit of Africa to be wrapped around this little one.

~K

I attended a baptism this weekend and didn’t want to show up empty handed. Plus, this gave me the perfect opportunity to try one of the sneak peek patterns I’ve seen from the new Mason Dixon Knitting book coming out next month. (Seriously. Can’t. Wait. I love Kay and Ann.)

~

In other news, I had a wonderful three-day weekend. (God bless you Abraham and George.) FinnyKnits came for a visit. After getting the weekend off to a rocky start with a driving snafu including a field sobriety test, which Sweet Jesus thank you Lord I passed (don’t get caught up in conversation and drive recklessly in front of a bar, or you might get pulled out of your car in front of the bar by a cop you went to high school with and be forced to look like an idiot in front of all the fun people you were just enjoying. Yes, rocky start indeed.) Saturday included pedicures, massages, craft supply shopping, crafting and meeting other girlfriends for dinner. When I couldn’t think I could have more fun, yesterday and today have included seeing Walk the Line, (LOVE this movie. So, so good. Five out of five bananas absoloodle.), more crafting, a long hike today with my friends Mr. Saguaro and Mr. Palo Verde and a sushi date tonight. Life is good.

I hope you’ve also had a nice break. Photos manana!

Cheers,

K

My new labels in action. Yay!

To wrap up my week-long series on things I adore, it will come as no surprise that I love creativity. The medium typically doesn’t matter — photography, painting, knitting, sewing, cooking, gardening, architecture, writing… I am regularly inspired by the work of others, especially the online artsy community I’ve been following for the last year.

Those who regularly give me the push to get into my studio to create include:

Jane, who I’ve long admired. Her baking, knitting and writing are like having a warm piece of chocolate cake each morning waiting for me at my desk. I can’t wait to dive in and enjoy every last bite.

Nicole down unda’. This Aussie just sees things differently, whether it is groupings of color or design. Plus, she’s incredibly thoughtful and friendly and has become a friend.

Jenny, who paints fantastically like it doesn’t take any effort. Lisa, who sews and draws with such talent and passion, it makes me want to drop everything and try whatever she’s working on for myself.

My mama, who recently created these beauties for her new Texas abode.

(There’s a whole lotta quiltin’ going on in that house.)

Apparently my father is a-okay with ruffles. She’s a great teacher to boot. (HA HA! To boot! In Texas! Oh, at least I crack myself up.)

And there is my gang of childhood girlfriends who inspire me to be a better person every day.

Thanks to all of those Craftswomen who keep my creative juices going!

In Scottsdale, no less.

~

More bumper stickers seen this morning (I’m now looking for them):

1. “I’m already against the next war.”

2. “Support Weapons of Mass Instruction.”

3. “Proud Member of a Right Wing Conspiracy.”

Obviously not on the same vehicle.

~K

mesquitetree,  (actually these are Acacia, thanks Eva!), in bloom.

I look like an idiot when I get around these trees because I begin breathing deeply to smell them as much as I can. Yeah, I never said I was graceful. It is hard to describe their scent, but if you’ve ever been in the desert after a hard rain, you know what I’m talking about.

Things I love about my home state:

1. Spring. We are cooped up inside the house, hovering over the air conditioning vents, from April - October. When spring arrives mid-February, we have two sweet months to be outside frolicking in shorts and flip flops without worrying about dying from dehydration. Even as a native, the heat wears on me. I have started planning all of my work travel during the three dreaded months I don’t like my beautiful desert — June, July and August.

2. The variety. You can be standing at the Grand Canyon one moment, with a cool breeze whipping through your hair and the smell of crisp pine hanging in the air. Two hours later you can be at the top of Mount Humphries snowboarding in fresh powder (most years). Or admiring the shades of orange, red and purple in the painted desert. Or counting the numerous shapes and sizes of saguaros off the I17 corridor. From Bullhead City to Bisbee, Arizona provides an admirable array of climate, topography, landscape, people and language. Yes, we are a predominantly White “red” state, (maybe that makes us a Pink state? Hee hee! A bunch of pink republicans.) but you’d be surprised how many people speak Spanish too. I love living in Tempe in particular because I am surrounded by a multicultural community. This is in part due to the university, but also because it is just a liberal spot to squat. We have mosques, cathedrals (okay, Catholic churches. Stucco cathedrals are rare.), synagogues, a Baha’i faith center, and protestant churches too. I’ve mentioned it before, but for Arizona it is pretty spectacular that within a 10 minute bike ride from my house I can have my choice of Iraqi, Ethiopian, Israel, Mexican, Turkish, Russian or Pacific Islander cuisine. (So, maybe it is still all about my love of good food.)

3. Sports. The Diamondbacks and Suns are awesome. I’m not such a football fan, nor do I care for hockey, but we’ve got those teams too. We’ve got the Olympic high altitude training center in Flagstaff that draws swimmers and track stars from all over the world. And then, of course, there is the golf. We’ve got plenty of courses too. I once met two portly Australian men on a beach in the Philippines. When they asked me where I was from, they were pleased to inform me they’d been to Arizona. “Scottsdale. For the golf.” Of course.  But most importantly, for anyone who’s ever flown into Phoenix on a sunny day, you know our love of water. It is a foolish love, but one of survival. Turquoise swimming pools dot many a backyard. We’ve got great swimming — for the Olympic types and for the tykes blowing bubbles.

4. Friends. It used to be family and friends, but the great AfricanKelli Gene Pool Migration to Texas/Colorado is in full effect. I’m the last of my immediate family clinging to my Phoenician roots. Thankfully I have a great group of girlfriends, work colleagues, neighbors and childhood friends who regularly keep me entertained. This weekend I bumped into the parents of one of my girlfriends. It is nice that I’m at an age I recognize they are my friends too. I am fortunate.

5. The bumper stickers. (Okay, not really, but I had to work this into conversation some how.) Seen this morning on my commute:  “Support Abstinence. No Bush. No Dick. 2004.”

Awesome.

~K