Sunday, February 28, 2010

What a difference a weekend makes.

Thanks firstly to unions for giving us our beloved weekends.
Thanks to the basil sprouts for surviving your big move into revamped pots this weekend.
Thanks to Madison, and all of the lovely people I've met in Wisconsin in general.
And a special thanks for playing a free show at Simply Disks today, Laura Veirs.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Be Brave and Think.

My heart aches with the tragedy and uncertainty that has been happening on and to our planet.
I try not to touch upon sad or controversial topics in my blog too often because we hear about the bad in the world more than the good , but I know I'm not the only person who has an aching heart because of this.

I'm not a woman who really prays. Not in a traditional way, at least.
I just think a lot, which I think is kind of like praying.
When we think about difficult topics, we are more likely to take positive action to change or help with the situation. Thinking is a very brave thing to do, when sometimes it's so easy to push socially challenging thoughts out of our minds. Or maybe we get kind of sick of topics after a while because we hear about them so much, but the fact is that maybe you don't want to hear about the tragedy in the world anymore, but you have to think about the people who have to face that tragedy everyday as their reality.

Anyway, I just want everyone to think today. Think about something that is hard to think about, and counter act it with a positive action this weekend.
Do something kind.
Open the door for each person walking behind you.
Make dinner for someone you know who is struggling financially.
Do something little for someone to remind them that they're special.
Donate to a charity.
Send water and food to help relief efforts.

I know you'll think of something.








Okay great. I feel inspired now, I hope you all do too!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Basil seedlings and sewing for me.

Well, this week has been nuts. I've been working a lot, singing lots of Baby Beluga, and repeating "You have to wear a hat, it's freezing outside!" probably as much as my mom had to back in the day.
But good things are happening.
  1. It's the last week in February.
  2. I start grad school in less than a month.
  3. Our upstairs neighbors surprised us with some basil seedlings today.
  4. I'm slowly but surely sewing something for myself for a change.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Have One on Me.

Joanna Newsom just released her newest album today, titled:
Have One on Me
Picture via Pitchfork



Her voice hits its highs and lows with maturity in Have One on Me. Her lyrics are still like little birdsongs, and her harp will always leave me feeling like I'm floating, but her voice always canceled out that floating feeling, which I grew to love.
Now her gypsy Lisa Simpson voice is more gyspy and less Lisa Simpson.
Love it.
Now it just makes you float.
Picture via onlyamazing




And in exactly one month, She & Him release their new album.
Hooray!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Barry Louis Polisar

Barry Louis Polisar is widely known as being on the Grammy award winning Juno soundtrack, as well as the opening credits of the movie. Okay, cool. So a lot of people really like "All I Want is You"...and with good reason, it's an endlessly sweet song!


HOWEVER!
He has such a brilliant library of witty songs for children. Yeah, I mean the kinds that parents like too.
His songs are silly and playful, while even touching upon serious issues (and making them simple enough for the smallest child to understand.)
Think Dr. Suess meets Pete Seeger.


Here is my favorite album by Barry. I hope you like it too.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

February House Show Preview

Oh hey everyone.
Come listen to music next Saturday night,
and bring a board game & yums, if you choose to.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

My inner geek, which is maybe not so hidden anyway.

I don't usually go ga-ga over anything technology related, but I loved this site.
Jason and I just spent the past few minutes entranced by this thing called a Tone Matrix.
Basically, you click on the little cubes and make your own melodies.

Here's an example of Tone Matrix at work:

Fun!


Others I liked:

Also, here is a joke desktop image I made a few years ago (since we're on the topic of silliness.)
You can thank me later for the nightmares.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ohio and knitting graffiti.

Apparently Ohio really likes me today.
It's okay Ohio, I think you're pretty cool too.



In other news, I had to post this picture.
I like to think of it as my proudest knitting moment.
I planted it onto an electrical pole in Minneapolis somewhere, and now it's either still there, or history. Either way, My proudest knitting moment:
Thanks to Cat for sending me this sucka!



Currently Hearing: "Linda" by Jan & Dean
Currently Loving: Dear Deer
Currently Wanting: to see this documentary.


Easy Peasy Baby Legwarmers.

Legwarmers. What can I say? They have always treated me well.
I don't care if you think they are pointless or dated or only for ballet class. The truth is that you just haven't found the beauty in them yet.
And let me tell you, they are so useful to have when you are carrying around a toddler during the winter months.


I don't know why more people don't use them, they're fantastic.
I'm currently knitting some more legwarmers, still easy, only a bit more fancy (think diagonal rib.) so keep checking up for the pattern.
Until then...

Easy Peasy Baby Legwarmers
(No joke. I finished both in an hour.)

Supplies:
-- 1 skein worsted weight wool yarn
-- US size 9 straight needles
-- tapestry needle

Pattern:
C/O 36 stitches onto size 9 needles.
Row 1: Purl 2, Knit 1 rib through whole row.
Row 2: Purl 1, Knit 2 rib through whole row.
-- Continue until they are as long as you would like them to be.
-- Bind off.
-- Sew together with an embroidery needle.
-- Done!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Connie loves Jason. (and Willi too.)

Jason and I met in May 2008. He put our show together and I swept him off his feet by talking about my trick to remembering names.
We met again in 2009 when he came to the show I was playing at, in hopes of continuing where we left off. I'm so happy he did.
Now we are spending out first Valentines day together, and it couldn't be sweeter.

I thought I would share a bit of it with you.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Violets and Robins, soon.

Inspiration:
Springtime come soon, please.

Photo via last.fm ^^

Photo via Belle and Boo ^^

I am a bunny by Richard Scarry ^^



Via Yale's Beinecke Library ^^



Currently hearing: "Now You've Done it" by Jacob Borshard
Currently wanting: Furniture I will never be able to afford.
Currently knitting: Little legwarmers.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Dreaming of Mountains.


Madison is the most perfect place to live,
but I often find myself tracing the outline of mountain peeks onto the horizon line.
But that's my biggest problem right now. It's amazing. A year ago I was in a hospital feeling super scared and unsure of my future, and now I have my future in front of me on a silver platter...
and even though it doesn't involve waking up to snow capped mountains every morning, I'm happy with it.




"Tonight" by Sibylle Baier

Sunday, February 7, 2010

bandcamp

confuses the crap out of me, but I've posted my first solo EP on it for free download, because that's just how I roll. I make music because I love to do it, and share it with people who hopefully like it, too.
So here you go, world!
<a href="http://coneyisland.bandcamp.com/album/i-like-my-soul-much-more-now">I'll make dinner for you. by Coney Island</a>



And in addition to this news, I have also made a banner for my site which I am really proud of.

And also one for Jason.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

My mind is completely blown.

Holy moly.
Add these instruments to my wish list, please.
I certainly feel like my autoharp is so everyday after seeing these bad boys!



Array Mbira




Jenco Celeste (or Celestette)



Marxophone



Tremoloa


Ukelin


The end.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Nebraska Pop Festival


Well holy cow! I've been asked to play at the Nebraska Pop Festival in September!
I haven't played too many shows since I've moved to Madison (in fact, my second show since moving here is going to be on Sat. Feb, 20th at the Glass Nickle, if anyone is interested..) and most notably, I have never been asked to play a pop festival before, so I'm really excited.
I'm also really thrilled to have to opprotunity to see lots of indie pop represented in the mid-west.
It's so funny, I thought that the Northeastern US was barren of indie pop, but let me tell you, it was only last week that I saw my first indie pop band in Madison...and they were from Columbus, OH.
Cue: Super Desserts.
(^^^ They're dreamy, check them out.)



It might be worth a mini-tour to do so!
I should probably decide soon, eh?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Inspiration

I am not a rich woman.
I'm probably borderline comfortable, if that. Because of this, a lot of the clothes that I wear are either gifts or thrifted. This has never been a problem for me before, but I'm starting to worry now.
I start school at the end of March, however I also start student teaching at the end of March as well. The big problem here is that I don't own professional clothes. Old vintage dresses just won't cut it when I'm going to have to be teaching night school because I have to work fulltime too. My students would probably think that I'm a loon. I mean, let's face it, we're all a little looney, but I don't want to look like it while I'm working towards my career.
When I'm nannying I will wear whatever I pick up first in the morning as long as I don't mind if it gets snot on it, but I feel afraid to be in a world where I need to look 100% everyday (or at least 95%!)
Don't get me wrong, I feel that I am not a fashion idiot...I'm just not a rich woman. How does one get around trying to find thrifted professional clothes that aren't:
  1. pleated or
  2. made of polyester??

Anyway, I put together some inspirational pieces to give me some confidence to still be thrifty and buy second-hand, only with the intentions of putting more effort into adding embellishments.




The truth is, I don't even know when I'll have time for homework, let alone embellishing my wardrobe!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Going buck wild.

A girl I went to college with posted this website as her facebook status, and ever since I have been on this site (about five minutes ago) I have been busy telling Jason random facts and probably driving him insane simultaneously.


So now, I will pass it onto you, so you can drive your significant other/roommate/cat/mother insane with your utter amazement as well.
Here it is:
learnsomethingeveryday.co.uk/


Some of them I knew already, and others were pretty interesting.
Here are my favorites.


  1. Scary fo'sho.
  2. Including King Tut (supposedly).
  3. No wonder why my cat is so mean.

Go buck wild.

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