Scenes From a Nashville Christmas, Part 3.

Belmont Bruin: I am one . . .

So I just finished my first semester back in graduate school (all A's, hooray!!). It was never my intention to get a second masters, but this teacher certification came with one . . . I mean: the more, the merrier--right?

I am in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Belmont University's Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed for individuals who wish to develop careers in teaching. It's a 45 credit-hour program offered in a variety of flexible formats so students can self-pace their program of study. I am getting my certification in art.

During the past semester, I took two courses: Diverse Learners and Contemporary Issues in Education. Both were inspiring and thought-provoking. But, this program is so drastically different than the graduate program I completed in Baltimore. In this program, I do not engage with other graduate students in my field, nothing is based in art, and I take classes with sophomore undergrads. (And, I don't spend 5 days in classes . . . ) It's making me think using a whole different part of my brain, which is stimulating and exciting! We shall see what happens!

More soon . . .

Scenes From a Nashville Christmas, Part 2.

Emma's back: just in time for HOLIDAYS!

My friend Emma and her boyfriend Chris moved back to Nashville on December 1st. And, it's been an exciting, whirlwind of activity ever since! Emma and I met in Nashville during my first stint of living here, way back in 2003. We were both painting shoes for a company called, Kiss My Feet. It's where I met several of my still-very-close-to-me friends: Kelly Kerrigan and Drew Frazier, to name a few.

Emma was living in Medford, Wisconsin, where she's from. I moved up to Medford at the end of the summer of 2005. I lived there for a year. It's where I met Doug Grant and continued teaching classes under the guise of Blueraku. Emma and I have gone through many changes in our lives, but we've kept in touch this entire time.

So, when she moved back, it was like nothing had changed. I talk to her almost every day, like when we were living in Medford at the same time. And, we bounce ideas off of each other every chance we get. She is a constant source of inspiration to me!!

It is so great to have her back in town, living just down the street. I can't wait to see her parents and sister when they come to visit! Hooray for old friends and good times!!

Scenes From a Nashville Christmas, Part I.

Shelves up!

My dad came over to my house towards the beginning of December and helped me install some shelving in my kitchen.

We made the shelves out of 40 year old cedar plank once used for fencing in cows at my friend Gary's farm out in West Nashville. While I haven't yet had a chance to organize the shelves (I plan to get some shiny bins to hold everything in place), I think they really help to save space and fill out the room. A huge thank you to my dad for all of his help on this project!!

Happy holidays, everyone! Now: DANCE!!!

Prepping for December.

Charlotte and I spent the evening decorating for the holidays. (She was not as enthusiastic about it as I was . . . ) But we got the tree done. This was the first tree that I've decorated since Christmas 2008. Hopefully we'll get the lights up in the windows soon!

Help us REACH our GOAL . . .

While this project is expensive it is also expansive, and even though we still need more dollars to make the original goal, I think it is really important that PEOPLE support the project. So, consider pledging $1. This will keep you updated and connected to the project for the next year! If you can give more, super. Find out more here.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Deliciously Happy, now featured on Kickstarter.

Changing Seasons.

Marc's Chili Cook-Off was PERFECT!! Fun, fun!

Favorite New Video.

Reference: New Edition, If It Isn't Love

Duck Potato?

On Monday afternoon, I went to my dad's house to help him ready his pond for the winter. To do this, we both got in the water and cleared out all of the algae, duck potato, and water lettuce; trimming the lilies down to just about an inch. We also lifted out 10 very heavy, very water-logged potted plants that have to be taken out of the pond each winter to live in the garage where their temperature can be monitored. It took about 6 hours for the job to be complete . . . Thankfully we were able to work on what appears to have been the last warm day of the year!

(your name here)

Old Painting: Early 2003, I Think . . .

Early Morning Walks Yield Such Beauty.

Fingerweaving Tutorial . . .

Let me begin by saying that I do not know everything there is to know about fingerweaving. (Or anything, for that matter . . . ) I started fingerweaving on the playground at Jackson Elementary in Plano, Texas when I was in the 3rd grade (1982). But it wasn't until my first summer in Baltimore (2009) that I decided to start using this technique again. And I taught myself on the spot. I've watched 4th graders do a very intense, very complicated version of fingerweaving. And I've seen crafters use everything from yarn to plastic bags to cut up t-shirts to create various items for sale. I use it in my artwork. And I have found a very simple, very fast method of this childhood pastime. It gets people's attention every time . . . So, here's how you do it. 

STEP 1. Always using your left hand, start by letting the loose end of the yarn fall behind your hand, in between your thumb and pointer finger.



STEP 2. Using the strand of yarn that leads to the skein, weave the thread through each of your fingers in a figure eight pattern. Starting on the right side of your pointer finger . . . First you go behind the middle finger, then you go in front of the ring finger, and then behind the pinky. Then you bring it back around the pinky, behind the ring finger, in front of the middle finger, and behind the pointer finger.



STEP 3. Now the yarn is laying flat across your four fingers, just slightly above the woven piece between your fingers. Taking the loose end that is between your thumb and pointer finger, lay it over the thread that is laying flat across your four fingers and gently pull it behind your hand, between your pointer and middle finger. So now it appears that the thread laying flat across your fingers is laying across 3 fingers, instead of 4.



STEP 4. Begin weaving. Starting with your middle finger, pull the tighter woven piece of thread over the loose strand that is laying across your fingers, pulling your finger through. When you pick up the tighter thread, it will create a space that you can stick your finger through. What I say when I am teaching this in the classroom is, "bring the tight over the loose." You do this with each finger. Tugging at the loose end (on the back of your hand), every now and again.



Once the pinky has been pulled through, you bring the yarn behind your hand and back around to lay flat across your four fingers. Repeat using all four fingers this time. And, repeat again. Keep repeating. Now you should see a web forming on the back of your hand. Keep tugging at the loose end to tighten the web: the fingerweaving.



The fingerweaving will knot itself on the end that you started with, just by pulling the end of the yarn. When you want to finish, cut the yarn away from the skein and weave the end through each of the tightly looped pieces of yarn still around the base of your fingers. Gently pull the yarn off of your fingers, pulling the newly cut end thread tight to create a knot (again, it will knot itself). Voila! 

There ya have it! Now promise me that once you get the hang of this, you will teach 5 more people how to fingerweave. Let's start a movement!! 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions . . . I can be reached via email or via skype (search "cakecrush").

Taking The Plunge . . .

I started going gray when I was about 27 . . . Now--10 years later--I've had it with the 2-tone, very expensive dye job. So, I've decided to take the plunge. I'm letting it get as gray as it wants . . . And, I'm excited about it!!

An October Morning.

Octopus Lament, a sampling.

Octopus Lament*, 2011 (as part of the Sideshow Fringe Festival)
Created by: Lindsey Bailey, www.cakecrush.com
Starring: Megan Kelley, www.studiomnivorous.com
Music composed by: Jin-Hwa Choi, www.jinhwachoi.com
Makeup artistry: Jackie Osborne, www.jackieophotography.com

*Octopus Lament is a study for a larger, opera-based project.