Bumper Stickers

While I was driving around the Midtown region of Raleigh the other day, I saw the following two bumper stickers on a car.
If you call one animal a pet how can you eat another and call it dinner?

Torturing one animal is called cruelty, torturing many is called science.

These bumper stickers have reminded me of a few things I have read lately. Such as.... According to Diet for a New America, over a billion people could be fed by the grain and soybeans eaten by U.S. livestock every year.

And......From the National Geographic Mag......... With sizable brains and dexterous arms, octopuses are known to block their dens with rocks and amuse themselves shooting water at plastic bottle targets and lab staff. They may even express basic emotions by changing color, according to the Seattle Aquarium.

so, Going Veg..........reduces personal annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 tons
........ saves forests and wetlands from conversion to pasture and feed cropland
........ conserves water supplies

Just some food for thought. I'll get down off my soap box now. I know, I know this is suppose to be an 'artsy' blog.

lsk

More OBX

If you travel North from Hatteras up Hwy 12 to Manteo, Nags Head or Kill Devil Hills, make sure that you stop at one of 3 (or all 3) locations of the Front Porch Cafe. You can see a picture of the mugs I have made for them with their logo. They roast their own beans, aka Kill Devil Coffee Roasters. A blend that I like is Surfer's Organic Roast. They also have a large selection of lattes (try the Milky Way Latte, Deb likes the Blackbeard's latte), cappuccinos, and teas (Chai tea is awesome!).
At the Manteo location, Susannah and Paul have created a true coffee bar. This location is spacious with couches, chairs, tables, a coffee bar with all the beans displayed behind the bar, a great sound system, big screen TV, a comfy front porch and of course its"wireless". They often run dvd's relating to fair trade coffee, such as the movie 'Black Gold'.

Stop in and check it out!!!!

lsk

On the Outer Banks

This past weekend we made a quick trip to the Outer Banks of NC to deliver coffee mugs to the coffee house pictured here. (The "Mugs" were shown in an earlier blog.) I really wish we could have spent more time there, but we had to get back to Raleigh. Every time I am out there I think I really would like to live there! I know the winter cold and wind can cut through you like a knife, but there are down sides to everything. Picture this...... me as an old lady being a beach bum!!! Scary huh? Especially when a hurricane comes along.
So if you make it out to the Outer Banks, make sure that you stop in the Uglie Mugs Coffee House in Avon. The place is great and they have a killer s'mores latte!

lsk

Please Sir, may I have another!

A friends husband brews his own beer. I was lucky enough to get a taste of the Weisenheimer Wheat. It's pretty good stuff. As you can see this one is empty. I've put in a request for some berry flavored brew. Blackberries are in season right now. Doesn't that sound good?
I'd love to brew my own beer and roast my own coffee. Huh.....Like I need another hobby.

Anyway, Thanks again to the brewmaster and the delivery service that brought it to my hands! The bottle will be returned ASAP!

lsk

"Muggs"

Here are the Muggs for the coffee shop. They are all packed up and ready to go. LuLu, Deb and I are going to make the drive to OBX, NC to deliver them today. I hope they like them, there are 50 of them total. ( If you click on the image you can get a closer view of the image.)



lsk

Collage 'Tags'

I've been making tags that are collage....they're kind of cool....each has a little message. Collage is defined in this month's 'Cloth Paper Scissors' magazine. The term collage derives from the French verb "coller" meaning to glue or to paste. It was originally coined by George Broque & Pablo Picasso in the beginning of the 20th century when collage became a distinctive part of modern art; it entails much more than the idea of gluing something onto someting else. Collage began with paper, moved to canvas, & then graduated to wood. Collage in any form is a creative & rewarding way to express yourself!
My Mom has become the 'Queen of Collage'!!! She has altered an entire book & a few of my journals totally in collage & doodle. It's amazing!
dll

PS: The sun finally came out & the sky was nice & clear.... no hazy humidity!!!
It's been warmer in Wisconsin the past 3 - 4 days than it has been here!!!

Another Gray, Dull Day

Wed., 06/17/09
It's been gray and dull again, with a little rain. I miss the clear air and blue sky of Wisconsin..... the "HD air" (high definition), as my brother describes it! I finally finished the handmade, hand-sewn book for Dad, for Father's Day. It's not a journal because I didn't think that he would write. I wrote out the 'Desiderata' poem by Max Ehrmann on the first pages, and I added many other sayings, prayers, & pictures that I thought he would like. It's in the mail now; he should have it by Sunday, so I'll be anxious to see what he says once he opens it.
Now I'll begin work on 2 'special-order' books, & on more of my various types of journals so they are ready for the craft fairs in the Fall.... I wish that each little book that I make is somehow a source of inspiration to someone... that is what I'm thinking as I make each book.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a brighter, clearer day.
dll