Richela Fabian Morgan's Blog, page 14

The Return of Walter Winslow

I'll begin this Walter Winslow post with a story about my daughter.

When Masana was five years old, she like many other kids her age began her arduous journey in elementary school. Her first day of kindergarten was rife with the normal jittery emotions one would experience on such a momentous occasion, but I was doubly worried about her because she was extremely shy. And the way she expressed her shyness wasn't your typical hide-behind-your-mother's-skirt deal. Masana's type of shyness manifested in belligerent behavior, which made it was difficult for her to participate in groups and make friends. So when I brought her to her kindergarten classroom, I was armed with a succinct description of how the day might unfold and my telephone number(s) boldly written on a sticky note. And as I let go of her sweaty little hand, I rediscovered my Catholic roots and said a few Hail Marys in my head.

Masana's kindergarten year was not easy and as expected she did not make many friends. I wanted to help her, so I started crafting with any of the kids that were brave enough to have a play date. She became less shy and had more friends come over for crafting play dates. And out of these crafting play dates grew the little crafting girl club that became known as the Crafty Girls--though in my head I always called it Masana's Crafty Girls.

Why do I mention Masana and her Crafty Girls? Because without them Walter Winslow would not exist. I made Walter as an example of a simple sewing craft project, which was not very smart on my part since many of the girls were only 7 years old at the time. I quickly learned that not all 7 year old girls liked to sew. But I digress...

Walter didn't have a name at first. But then he was having all sorts of adventures, making friends with the stuffed animal coterie in my home. I began bringing him places and taking pictures of him. My children and I gave him personality traits, decided what foods he was allergic to, what kind of music he liked. And then one day I thought it would be fun to open a Facebook account for him. He was Walter Winslow from that point on.

Unfortunately, Walter fell out of favor with my kids about three years ago. No, he didn't do anything salacious to merit his decline in popularity. I chalk it up to the fads kids in general will go through.  But as I was preparing for our month-long beach vacation earlier this summer, I opened up a closet and found Walter in a long-forgotten canvas bag. And thus began our Walter Winslow renaissance.

To get Walter to the beach in style, I made him a sock monkey size trailer out of juice cartons, silver chrome duct tape, tin cans, bottle caps, wire thread, paper towel roll, and a wooden dowel. Here are some photos of its construction.

 

Walter has been sleeping on the beach and loving life. I've been posting pics on my Facebook page if you want to keep up with his adventures, and his FB profile has been resuscitated. You can friend him if you'd like!
Walter Winslow has returned. Let's hope he stays for a while.

The Return of Walter Winslow

I'll begin this Walter Winslow post with a story about my daughter.

When Masana was five years old, she like many other kids her age began her arduous journey in elementary school. Her first day of kindergarten was rife with the normal jittery emotions one would experience on such a momentous occasion, but I was doubly worried about her because she was extremely shy. And the way she expressed her shyness wasn't your typical hide-behind-your-mother's-skirt deal. Masana's type of shyness caused her to become belligerent and therefore isolated her. It was difficult for her to participate in groups and make friends. So when I brought her to her kindergarten classroom, I was armed with a succinct description of how the day might unfold and my telephone number(s) boldly written on a sticky note. And as I let go of her sweaty little hand, I rediscovered my Catholic roots and said a few Hail Marys in my head.

Masana's kindergarten year was not easy and as expected she did not make many friends. I wanted to help her, so I started crafting with any of the kids that were brave enough to have a play date with Masana. She became less shy and had more friends come over for crafting play dates. And out of these crafting play dates grew the little crafting girl club that became known as the Crafty Girls--though in my head I always called it Masana's Crafty Girls.

Why do I mention Masana and her Crafty Girls? Because without them Walter Winslow would not exist. I made Walter as an example of a simple sewing craft project, which was not very smart on my part since many of the girls were only 7 years old at the time. I quickly learned that not all 7 year old girls liked to sew. But I digress...

Walter didn't have a name at first. But then he was having all sorts of adventures, making friends with the stuffed animal coterie in my home. I began bringing him places and taking pictures of him. My children and I gave him personality traits, decided what foods he was allergic to, what kind of music he liked. And then one day I thought it would be fun to open a Facebook account for him. He was Walter Winslow from that point on.

Unfortunately, Walter fell out of favor with my kids about three years ago. No, he didn't do anything salacious to merit his rapid decline in popularity. I chalk it up to the fads kids in general will go through.  But as I was preparing for our month-long beach vacation earlier this summer, I opened up a closet found Walter in a long-forgotten canvas bag. And thus began our Walter Winslow renaissance.

To get Walter to the beach in style, I made him a sock monkey size trailer out of juice cartons, silver chrome duct tape, tin cans, bottle caps, wire thread, paper towel roll, and a wooden dowel. Here are some photos of its construction.

 

Walter has been sleeping on the beach and loving life. I've been posting pics on my Facebook page if you want to keep up with his adventures, and his FB profile has been resuscitated. You can friend him if you'd like!
Walter Winslow has returned. Let's hope he stays for a while.

Food & Whine

I'll begin this post with a recipe for a basic pesto that I've relied heavily on for the past two months.

BASIC PESTO

Ingredients:
1 package of fresh basil leaves (2.5 ounces or 70 grams)
8 medium size cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (first press if possible)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste



Directions:
Wash the basil and remove the stems from the leaves. Discard the stems and finely chop the leaves. (You can use a food processor for this.) Set aside.

Mince the garlic. You can run the cloves through a garlic press, but I prefer to finely chop them the old fashioned way with a knife and cutting board. Heat up the olive oil in a small sauce pan and then add the garlic and the salt. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and add the basil. Add the ground black pepper. When the mixture cools, transfer it into a small jar and cover it with the lid. Can be kept in the fridge for 3 or 4 days.

My version of pesto doesn't have cheese or pine nuts for two reason: 1. my son has food allergies, specifically dairy and peanuts/tree nuts; and 2. the absence of cheese and pine nuts makes it more versatile.

I've used this pesto for pizza toppings, as the main flavoring for a quick pasta/tuna fish dish, and swirled into a white bean soup. It can be a spread for a fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwich or for an herb crusting on a roast. For my daughter who can eat copious amounts of cheese, I'll add grated Pecorino Romano cheese to it and add it to some fettucini. And when I feel like including the pine nuts, I'll toast a handful in the oven, chop them up, and toss them in whatever dish I've made after it's completed. This makes cooking a lot easier when you've got a million things going on and very little time to whip up a tasty meal.

Which brings me to the "whine" portion of my post...

I've been really sick these past two months and didn't have a medical clue why. My symptoms were chronic fatigue, rapid weight loss, lack of appetite, anxiety, sleeplessness, lower back pain, and depression. I seriously thought that I was dying, and the idea of my inexplicable demise made me a complete basket case during the holidays. I visited a few doctors who made things worse by finding more things wrong with me. I started seeing a therapist so I could unleash a barrage of irrational thoughts and fears into the ether without scaring the bejezuz out of my kids and poor husband Dave. I was becoming emotionally and mentally unhinged.

And then I saw Dr. "S", a human being that at first glance embodied the androgyny of the SNL skit character Pat, possessing big blue eyes with long, dark eyelashes and an endomorphic body. And it didn't help that one of the nurses introduced Dr. "S" as a she. This sexual ambiguity made me regard him with an immediate cocked eyebrow, especially after he asked about my sex life. But after a medical exam that lasted a whopping 45 minutes in which he lectured more than he inspected, Dr. "S" finally referred to himself as a he and casually asked the nurse to draw my blood for some tests. I left with the opinion that Dr. "S" was a certifiable quack who had wasted my time.

Boy, was I wrong. The next morning I got a call from Dr. "S". It turns out that the level of vitamin D in my blood was almost non-existent and he prescribed some toxic amounts of vitamin D for me to take weekly for the next 8 weeks. And the lack of vitamin D in my body was the cause of ALL my symptoms.

Here is a website that can tell you more about vitamin D deficiency: http://www.vitaminddeficiencyguide.com/

Dr. "S", you are not a quack. You are a miracle man. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Food & Whine

I'll begin this post with a recipe for a basic pesto that I've relied heavily on for the past two months.

BASIC PESTO

Ingredients:
1 package of fresh basil leaves (2.5 ounces or 70 grams)
8 medium size cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (first press if possible)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste



Directions:
Wash the basil and remove the stems from the leaves. Discard the stems and finely chop the leaves. (You can use a food processor for this.) Set aside.

Mince the garlic. You can run the cloves through a garlic press, but I prefer to finely chop them the old fashioned way with a knife and cutting board. Heat up the olive oil in a small sauce pan and then add the garlic and the salt. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and add the basil. Add the ground black pepper. When the mixture cools, transfer it into a small jar and cover it with the lid. Can be kept in the fridge for 3 or 4 days.

My version of pesto doesn't have cheese or pine nuts for two reason: 1. my son has food allergies, specifically dairy and peanuts/tree nuts; and 2. the absence of cheese and pine nuts makes it more versatile.

I've used this pesto for pizza toppings, as the main flavoring for a quick pasta/tuna fish dish, and swirled into a white bean soup. It can be a spread for a fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwich or for an herb crusting on a roast. For my daughter who can eat copious amounts of cheese, I'll add grated Pecorino Romano cheese to it and add it to some fettucini. And when I feel like including the pine nuts, I'll toast a handful in the oven, chop them up, and toss them in whatever dish I've made after it's completed. This makes cooking a lot easier when you've got a million things going on and very little time to whip up a tasty meal.

Which brings me to the "whine" portion of my post...

I've been really sick these past two months and didn't have a medical clue why. My symptoms were chronic fatigue, rapid weight loss, lack of appetite, anxiety, sleeplessness, lower back pain, and depression. I seriously thought that I was dying, and the idea of my inexplicable demise made me a complete basket case during the holidays. I visited a few doctors who made things worse by finding more things wrong with me. I started seeing a therapist so I could unleash a barrage of irrational thoughts and fears into the ether without scaring the bejezuz out of my kids and poor husband Dave. I was becoming emotionally and mentally unhinged.

And then I saw Dr. "S", a human being that at first glance embodied the androgyny of the SNL skit character Pat, possessing big blue eyes with long, dark eyelashes and an endomorphic body. And it didn't help that one of the nurses introduced Dr. "S" as a she. This sexual ambiguity made me regard him with an immediate cocked eyebrow, especially after he asked about my sex life. But after a medical exam that lasted a whopping 45 minutes in which he lectured more than he inspected, Dr. "S" finally referred to himself as a he and casually asked the nurse to draw my blood for some tests. I left with the opinion that Dr. "S" was a certifiable quack who had wasted my time.

Boy, was I wrong. The next morning I got a call from Dr. "S". It turns out that the level of vitamin D in my blood was almost non-existent and he prescribed some toxic amounts of vitamin D for me to take weekly for the next 8 weeks. And the lack of vitamin D in my body was the cause of ALL my symptoms.

Here is a website that can tell you more about vitamin D deficiency: http://www.vitaminddeficiencyguide.com/

Dr. "S", you are not a quack. You are a miracle man. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The Busiest Time of Year

It's been a few weeks since my last post and I'm feeling guilty about neglecting my poor blog. But the the holiday fairs are over and I'm back. Unfortunately, it's not for very long.

Let's start with the good news: ETSY SALE! Receive 10% off when you use coupon code: HOLIDAY. Good until 12/17.

Okay, the bad news: the holidays are NOT over. And I'm heading back to my bunker---I mean, my studio. (Yes, I upgraded my work space so it's now an official studio; I have a door to prove it!) Presents to make, holiday cards to design, and kids' schedules to organize. 'Tis the season...


One little story to share with you:

Last night my son Mack was sitting at the dining room table, lost in his thoughts and chuckling to himself. Curious to break into the mind of a precocious eight year old boy, I asked him what was so funny.

"Mommy," he began with a smile still on his lips, "I finally know what a round of applause means. It's just when you clap for someone."

I tilted my head to the side and gave him an inquisitive look. "Oh, yeah? What did you think it meant before?"

Mack held up his hands and positioned them so the tips of his fingers and the bases touched, forming an O. "I thought people were saying 'a round applause' and how stupid is that? You can't even make a sound with your hands when they are like this."

We looked at each other and then laughed for a good five minutes. Let's give Mack a "round applause" for getting that one!


Until next time.

Peace.

xxoxRichela

The Busiest Time of Year

It's been a few weeks since my last post and I'm feeling guilty about neglecting my poor blog. But the the holiday fairs are over and I'm back. Unfortunately, it's not for very long.

Let's start with the good news: ETSY SALE! Receive 10% off when you use coupon code: HOLIDAY. Good until 12/17.

Okay, the bad news: the holidays are NOT over. And I'm heading back to my bunker---I mean, my studio. (Yes, I upgraded my work space so it's now an official studio; I have a door to prove it!) Presents to make, holiday cards to design, and kids' schedules to organize. 'Tis the season...

One little story to share with you:

Last night my son Mack was sitting at the dining room table, lost in his thoughts and chuckling to himself. Curious to break into the mind of a precocious eight year old boy, I asked him what was so funny.

"Mommy," he began with a smile still on his lips, "I finally know what a round of applause means. It's just when you clap for someone."

I tilted my head to the side and gave him an inquisitive look. "Oh, yeah? What did you think it meant before?"

Mack held up his hands and positioned them so the tips of his fingers and the bases touched, forming an O. "I thought people were saying 'a round applause' and how stupid is that? You can't even make a sound with your hands when they are like this."

We looked at each other and then laughed for a good five minutes. Let's give Mack a "round applause" for getting that one!


Until next time.

Peace.

xxoxRichela

Wine Crate Portfolio Case

My apologies for being largely absent these last two weeks. (And my apologies for using a cute baby picture of my now ten year old daughter to draw your attention in--but she is cute, isn't she??) I am gearing up for two holiday craft fairs and my hands have been busy, busy, busy.

Recently I had to put together my portfolio and came across a HUGE problem: most of my work is not flat. A traditional portfolio case would not fit anything I've done. My incredibly talented friend Charise Harper (illustrator, children's book writer, all-around creative guru) came over my house yesterday and said, "Why don't you just make a portfolio case?" And after looking around my dining room she spotted an empty wine crate and handed it to me. "Make it out of this."

And I did! I added a hardboard lid and covered it with an old NYC map I found at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market a month ago. I also used buckles, brackets, screws, and wing nuts that were salvaged from a broken desk, bag, or lamp. But I couldn't avoid a trip to the local hardware store for hinges and a handle.

Here is a little video of my (mostly) finished portfolio case:




Thank you, Charise! You are a genius.

Wine Crate Portfolio Case

My apologies for being largely absent these last two weeks. (And my apologies for using a cute baby picture of my now ten year old daughter to draw your attention in--but she is cute, isn't she??) I am gearing up for two holiday craft fairs and my hands have been busy, busy, busy.

Recently I had to put together my portfolio and came across a HUGE problem: most of my work is not flat. A traditional portfolio case would not fit anything I've done. My incredibly talented friend Charise Harper (illustrator, children's book writer, all-around creative guru) came over my house yesterday and said, "Why don't you just make a portfolio case?" And after looking around my dining room she spotted an empty wine crate and handed it to me. "Make it out of this."

And I did! I added a hardboard lid and covered it with an old NYC map I found at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market a month ago. I also used buckles, brackets, screws, and wing nuts that were salvaged from a broken desk, bag, or lamp. But I couldn't avoid a trip to the local hardware store for hinges and a handle.

Here is a little video of my (mostly) finished portfolio case:



Thank you, Charise! You are a genius.

Feeling The Etsy Love

I am fortunate to be included in two Etsy treasuries recently.

This one, by Petrina Case Studio, is called "trendy for the princess in you":




Petrina Case is a paper engineer that makes lovely made-to-order pop-up books, cards, and business card sculptures. And ,oh, how I love paper artists and engineers. Petrina is quite a talent. Check out her website.

Check this treasury list by Bathing in Luxury of San Francisco, CA (aka "soap") entitled "Held Together With Duct Tape":



My little wallets are in good company. Thank you, Petrina Case and Bathing In Luxury!
I'm feeling the Etsy love today. What a great way to start my weekend.

Feeling The Etsy Love

I am fortunate to be included in two Etsy treasuries recently.

This one, by Petrina Case Studio, is called "trendy for the princess in you":




Petrina Case is a paper engineer that makes lovely made-to-order pop-up books, cards, and business card sculptures. And ,oh, how I love paper artists and engineers. Petrina is quite a talent. Check out her website.

Check this treasury list by Bathing in Luxury of San Francisco, CA (aka "soap") entitled "Held Together With Duct Tape":



My little wallets are in good company. Thank you, Petrina Case and Bathing In Luxury!
I'm feeling the Etsy love today. What a great way to start my weekend.