How to make your own damn cute bunny slippers at Axis of �vil

Lynda Barry is selling her baby parakeets! On Ebay! So cute! And check out the series of photographs. Taking a look at her other auctions I see Acorn Planet excitedly linked. They are Hui Zhou art and inkstone suppliers. I don’t know what that is, so I’ll have to learn more.

via Pop Culture Junk Mail

This month’s Real Simple magazine has an article about labyrinths in the United States (the article didn’t make it to their web site). Unfortunately, not the deep underground type with treasure and an angry minotaur. These are the type used to walk a spiritual path.

One of the labyrinths in the article is at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, which is one block up the hill from my current apartment. It’s so cool. There are two at Grace Cathedral actually. One, the one shown in the Real Simple article, is a giant tapestry they have laid out on the floor just inside the main doors. You can walk it (with your shoes off) whenever the cathedral is open (it’s somewhat of a tourist spot when mass isn’t being performed).

The other one is inlaid in stone just outside the doors, in a little elevated, shielded courtyard overlooking the Nob Hill park. It’s lovely, and always available. Here’s a photo, and another photo with my feet at the entrance. It’s definitely worth a visit. If you’re out there make a wish at the fountain, or take a swing, in the park. Then walk a few blocks West down California Street and get pizza at Front Door or noodles at Thai Kitchen, and catch a film at the Lumiere. Or, if it’s evening and you’re dressed ok, go two blocks to the West and have a drink at the Tonga Room.

Two years ago we moved from Cleveland to San Francisco with two apartments full of stuff. We messed up the whole process so badly we immediately planned to make our next move (the one coming this Saturday) easier. I’m glad to say it worked! We never really intended to stay in this place as long as we have so most of our furniture is from Ikea and comes apart easily and packs flat. But most helpful was storing things which aren’t used all that often in well-labed bankers boxes. It’s already packed, all we have to do is take it down and throw it in the truck. And I’m getting ready to rip down the contact paper covered windows, super easy. I’m so proud of myself for planning ahead, can you tell?

Take a look at this jell-o aquarium that Axis of �vil is going to make. It’s supercool and from Claire Crespo‘s book The Secret Life of Food. Check out her site Yummy Fun if you haven’t seen it yet [note: flash] – it’s mighty cute and has some great fun recipes, including the jell-o aquarium! (Which I just now noticed.)

[via clamhead via scrubbles.net with thanks]

A similar project was in Martha Stewart Kids a few issues back, do ya think they ripped it off? [note to the producers of Martha Stewart Kids: please don’t sue me!]

wow – check out what fabulousness pink lagoon created with some old chairs and some new fabric – reupholstering ugly dining room chairs

more on etiquette over at digs magazine, these are so helpful

Just yesterday I realized I hadn’t eaten a donut in a long time. And today I find Donuty has shut down. I understand her reasons and respect them, but, sniff, bye bye.

I was pleased to find an old friend of mine has been crowned King of the Middle Kingdom! I am, of course, referring to the SCA – the Society for Creative Anachronism. They are “a non-profit educational organization devoted to the study of pre-seventeenth century Western Culture. It concentrates on the European Middle Ages, Renaissance, and members work to recreate the arts and skills of this era.” If you’re interested in medieval costume or crafts the SCA is a great resource. I’ll dig up some of the best instructional links and share them.

Tell us about great history costume and craft sites!

I’m quite a bit behind with the television explosion of craft related stuff. I don’t get HGTV or the Learning Channel at all, and I only get The Food Network after 7 p.m. on weekdays, or somthing odd like that. So I’ve never seen Trading Spaces, and I’ve only seen a few episodes of Iron Chef. But last night I saw my first episode of Naked Chef and I’m hooked. I hope I have better basic cable at the new place (just a week and a half left until we move! perhaps I should start packing?)

But back to Naked Chef, not only do I have a huge crush, but the food he made looked soooo good: brunch breads (especially the Savory Rolled Bread of Parma Ham, Egg, Cheese, Egg, and Basil – it’s a breakfast pizza!) and salmon with herbs in newspaper which sounded soooo yummy despite the fact that I cannot eat fish even though I want to.

With access to these channels how does one not become obsessive about taping and saving each and every show?

Excitment in the part of the world where websites meet knitting – seems that Julie Chen and a camera crew showed up at the New York Stitch and Bitch last night, dangerous chunky has the whole story. Airing May 2nd?

And those in Chicago were interviewed for radio, check out chicknits for that story.

Yay!

Mena’s Sew Wrong has a shiny new home all it’s very own – sewwrong.com! New projects and a new authors, including myself and Jennie. As soon as I get settled (early-ish to mid May) expect a few home improvement projects coming your way.

and while I’m at it, there is a great collection of recipes in the Cookbook section of the bludot website – warning! Flash – you’ll need to click the “cookbook” tab, then click “cookbook” again, don’t miss the side tabs for drink recipes too

[let’s hear it for usability designers!]

digs magazine has up instructions for yummy (and easy, I hope) homemade pasta

mmmmm Troutgirl has up her recipe for strawberry shortcake with great instructions, and an amazing knit rug she made