I really do not get music downloads. Not completely, anyway. I think maybe they're okay if the song is a pre-release from your favourite band and the record is not out in the shops yet. Okay if it's an otherwise unpublished, one-off single. Okay if the complete album is otherwise no longer obtainable. Okay if it is that one song of the latest Rihanna album that you love, but you cannot stand listening to the rest of the disc.
But apart from those occasions, I prefer to buy the album! On an actual CD. I'm not old or nerdy enough to own vinyl. When I first started getting into music, it was around the time that CDs were becoming really popular. Man, were they high tech! I guess that makes me a little bit old.
I remember going to the record store, finding the album I was after (sometimes they had to order it in), and then carrying it home full of anticipation. Tearing the plastic wrap off, opening the CD player and putting the CD inside. Hitting play. And then, while the first notes of the first song started filling my ears, I would look at the booklet with the lyrics and the album art. I would lie back and listen to the music, studying the lyrics. Like reading a beautifully designed poetry pamphlet with audio enhancements.
Of course, not all albums come with art, or even lyrics. But if they do, I rejoice! Being able to read the lyrics alongside the songs makes me feel closer to the music. I get excited when I open a well made album. I love when I find beautiful illustrations, photos or maybe a funeral programme inside. Or when I discover that the lyrics have been printed on the back of polaroids. It appeals to the tactile and visual person that I am. I really appreciate the work that has gone into the artist's creation. I like going over to my music shelf, looking at the spines of the CDs and maybe being inspired to listen to something that has become a bit dusty from disuse.
I still feel the rush of anticipation when I open a new CD for the first time. I know I might sound old-fashioned, but that is why downloads just won't give me the full experience that I associate with music.
Please have a look at the album art from a few of my favourite CDs:
What about you? Do you download or get the hard copy? Do you own any vinyl? (I was kinda lying when I said I did not have ANY. I have one Paula Abdul record, one 12'' by Color Me Badd and one double album by Phil Collins... Hm.) Oh, and remember tapes?! Do you listen to music at all? What is your favourite music memory?
Ryan Gosling. The actor. He loves you, Girl! He would never screw you over. Obviously he's a feminist, a lover of books (you can often meet him at the library), and has a keen interest in fonts and biostatistics. Plus he's Canadian. For real!
And did you know that on top of all this, wonderful Ryan is every crafty gal's dream companion? Meet Ashley from One In The Hand. Now meet her creation, Handmade Ryan Gosling!
I bumped into handmade Ryan when Fourteen Countess tweeted about him, and now I'm in love. He cracks me up big time!
Thank you, Ashley, for giving the handmade community a place to go in those times when friends, other halves, housemates and maybe even we crafty girls ourselves despair. Oh, and thank YOU, Ryan!
How's it going? Have a lot of you received their recipes yet, or are you still waiting for the postman? Some of you might have to be a bit more patient than others, as this swap drew an international crowd and the intercontinental mail will take a little longer to reach its recipients. If you are still waiting by the end of this week, maybe let Fiona and me know, and we'll investigate.
Because I know she has received her recipe, I can now reveal that my swappy partner was Jess from Peonyfish. I sent her a recipe for Chicken & Artichoke Pilaf, which is one of my favourite quick dinners. I found it in a magazine and have been cooking it for over 5 years, tweaking it until it was perfect in my eyes. Jess wrote a lovely post after she received it. Her kind words made me feel all happy/embarrassed! Thank you, Jess!!!
Here is what the recipe looked like on paper:
I used patterned paper and a sticker maker for the letters and silhouettes, which I drew freehand on the back of the paper before cutting them out. I actually have veg box leeks in the fridge right now, so I think I will make this for Marco and me one evening this week.
I've also made my first ever linky thing for this swap, so if you have anything Winter Warmer related going on on your blog, you can link up below and let the world see. You could also link up anything that you have added to the flickr group. You will always be able to get to this post from the Winter Warmer Recipe Swap button in my sidebar. Links will show up here and on Fiona's blog and you can upload your posts until 23 December. Extended until 31 January! After that, we will showcase your creations in a big round-up for everyone to marvel at.
It's been 11 months of me looking forward to playing this song again! It is from the brilliant, brilliant Sufjan Stevens Christmas carol collection, Songs For Christmas. An album that makes me happy.
Do you remember the Keep Calm And Cross Stitch frame I made earlier this year? I made something similar for my friend Cecilia. She is passionate about Salsa, so I wanted to cross stitch a saying that was related to music. I picked this quote, which means something like "The music is riddled with laughter". (Correct my shoddy Spanish, if you can!)
I used a piece of vintage fabric from my stash and embroidered the letters in DMC 714 with the help of waste canvas. I did not use an embroidery hoop, which is why the stitches look a bit crooked. Won't happen again!
I would like to share these cool holiday font finds with you.
Use them for Christmas cards.
Use them for writing letters to Santa.
Use them to make your blog posts look a bit more festive.
All these and others are available as free downloads for personal use from Dafont.
To use any font after downloading, open Control Panel from the Start Menu, find the folder called 'Fonts' and drag and drop the font there. The next time you open Word, your new font will have been added to the drop-down as a choice.
I was never big on boy bands when I was a teen. New Kids On The Block left me cold. Nor did I ever like anyone from 21 Jump Street or the young Baywatch studs. Nope. When I was 13 through to 14, I had a major crush on Richard Dean Anderson. In his MacGyver persona. He was rugged, he was smart, he was cute. He was able to stop chemical leaks with a bar of chocolate. I was in love. I saw me and this 40-year-old man going places.
I religiously watched every episode and the worst thing my parents could do when I had misbehaved was put a TV ban on me. Here's the intro to the show, if you do not know what I am talking about. I can still hum the whole theme song...
I spent hours in the backyard, honing my wilderness skills and made my friends re-enact episodes with me. I also had a MacGyver scrapbook. Anything I could find on Ricky Dean (apparently his friends call him that) went in there. Do you see the white Nike hightops he's wearing? I had a pair, too!
I wrote a small biography from all the intelligence I had gathered. I especially liked the fact that the man had a dog called Whiskey and counted diving, ice hockey and motorbikes amongst his favourite pastimes. And that he was single! The massive age gap did not concern me at all. I am liberal like that.
I mean, would you look at that! Wearing a muscle shirt and a crooked smile. On the Harley with his tux. Playing the guitar and walking his dog. This is a man who's fit, fun and sensitive!
The pride of my collection was a photocopy of this article that a friend of mine had been given. It came from the States and was in English, and thus had an air of utmost authenticity. It explained all about the science facts behind the show, which I found fascinating. I spent a lot of time with a dictionary translating, so I could read it.
I also spend a really long time on a pencil drawing of this man's portrait, with one of my numerous MacGyver posters as a model. When I was done, I sent that to his contact address in LA. I was hoping Ricky Dean would see it, be amazed by my boundless talent and love for him and come visit me in Germany. Never happened. But I was sent this autograph card, which was kind of cool.
I meticulously assembled a log of all the shows, using cuttings from the TV guide. I also wrote in to the TV station, asking for a complete list of shows, which they actually supplied. I thought that was amazing. Did you know that a lot of the show was filmed in Vancouver? Yes, I guess I have come full circle on this...
After a while, I must have grown up a bit and started being more interested in real boys. But I truly think that Richard Dean Anderson was my first love. I credit him with my interest in DIY and my love of the outdoors and far-off places. And my family and husband are ever so grateful for the limitless tease-potential my affair of the heart has given them.
If you want to borrow my MacGyver box set you're out of luck. I am not sharing! But do tell me if you had any similar obsessions as a kid!
P.S.:
Dear Mr Anderson.
If you're reading this. Is Whiskey still around? Did you ever see my drawing? Let's grab drinks some time, okay? For old times sakes. We could even talk Stargate if you wanted. Or General Hospital, if it can't be avoided...
Make new Christmas cards, of course! This is something I could have never imagined myself to say on 5 December, but I am finished making my Christmas cards! Have been since Saturday afternoon, actually. But being on time with a task from my Christmas craft schedule definitely came as a surprise!
I have been hoarding stacks of Christmas cards from other people for a few years, wanting to use them in a project one day. I don't know why I did not think of this much earlier, but I finally had an idea for recycling them this year. With the help of a craft punch, I cut out all the Christmas motives and incorporated them into the cards I am going to send off to friends and family.
There were not very many other supplies required. I just ordered some kraft card blanks from Hobbycraft and used small doilies, recycled ribbon and washi tape to make everything pretty. Oh, and a glue stick. Not to forget the glue stick!
These are a few of the cards I made:
For a project that took me under three hours, I am completely pleased with the result! Now I just have to write and send all my cards, which may still take me till the week before Christmas...
Do you like sending Christmas cards? Do you make your own?
This is a song from Ingrid Michaelson's new album, Human Again, which is coming out early next year. I once saw her in concert, and she came down into the audience to sing 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You' while playing a grand piano. I was leaning against that piano. It was quite special.
Today, people all over the world are involved in research that will make life easier for people with HIV and campaigning to bring a halt to the virus' spread.
Today, people all over the world will be contracting HIV, despite everything that is being done to raise awareness.
Today, I will be wearing a red ribbon. Today, I will be donating to Body & Soul, a charity that looks after children, young people and families living with HIV. Today, I am happy that I am giving some of my time to The Food Chain every month. Today, I am grateful for my own health, and the health of the people I love.
Today, I am asking you to remember that yet more needs to be done in the fight against AIDS, every day.
If you would like to read up on World Aids Day, HIV and ways you could help fight it, please have a look here.
I never understood how people can get upset and worked up over somebody else wearing the same outfit. I find it hilarious when it happens to me and I usually compliment the other person on their good taste.
Consequently, I love this new-to-me website, I Like Looking Like Other People. It's full of pictures of workmates & friends who found themselves in accidental matchy-matchy situations.
