Sint Nicolaas

I can't help it... I love Sint Nicolaas. The whole celebration of Sint Nicolaas in The Netherlands is so charming. Okay, i understand that Sint Nicolaas has had his share of controversy. There's the hoo-hah about him hitting the bad kids with a stick and putting the really nasty ones in his bag and bringing them back to Spain. (Yes, Spain, Sint Nicolaas lives...in Spain) As far as hitting kids with sticks, this really wasn't uncommon back in the day. But, he's a man of his times and has refrained from beating children for many years now. And about being put in a sack and brought back to Spain... Dear Sint Nicolaas, I've been a very bad girl. Please take me.

Of course, there is the whole 'Zwarte Piet' (Black Pete) issue. Apparently, they used to be Sint Nicolaas' slaves. Not unlike other unseemly occurrences within the church, they tried to cover this up. They said that they weren't slaves and boldly claimed that they weren't even black! "They are, uh, just black from the soot." Hmmm, i haven't really figured this out. First of all, if they were just 'dirty' how are their clothes so clean? And, is it just a coincidence that they all have an afro? On the other hand, they are dressed to the nines... hats, jackets and trousers made of velvet and trimmed in gold, snowy white broad lace collars and a large exotic feather in their cap. I don't think slaves would be dressed so finely. Actually, they seem to carry a very high rank. Whatever the story is... to me they are cute, they have bags full of cookies and are very good dancers. Bring 'em on!

Back to the charming parts. Here's a short list...
• The Sint and his helpers arrive on a beautiful steamboat about a month before Sint Nicolaas Day which is on Dec. the 5th.
• Also on board is his white horse with grey spots called 'Amerigo'
• Cookies called 'Pepernoten' are thrown to the kids. Apparently these cookies are chiseled out of the mountains in Spain by the Zwart Piet dudes.
• Instead of a stocking, The Dutch children put their shoe in front of their fireplace with a carrot in it for Amerigo.
• The Zwart Piets leave sweets behind in the shoes and not just on one night, on many nights! Often this is a chocolate letter. A big 'S' for Shelley for example. Mmm

On the 5th of Dec. Sint Nicolaas flies from rooftop to rooftop upon Amerigo handing out the big loot. Actually, the gifts tend to be quite humble and the whole celebration of Sint Nicolaas is really a fest just for kids. But i ain't buying that part. Why should kids always get to have all the damn fun?! In any case, it's not the big shopping free-for-all that occurs in the states during Christmas. Traditionally, family and friends make surprises for each other, fun handmade things accompanied by a hand written poem.
What i also really like is how the media 'covers' the Sint Nicolaas festivities. They have a Sint Nicolaas' Journal every day so you can follow everything the Sint & The Piets are up to. Do i watch it? Yes i do. Childish i know. But hey, i didn't grow up here. I've got some catchin' up to do. It's paying off too. I've already received a chocolate letter in my shoe. Apparently i was just too nice this year after all. I'm going to have to do something really nasty before the 5th otherwise i can just forget about that trip to Spain.

To hear a hilarious account of this story by David Sedaris click here to listen to '6 to 8 Black Men'.

Une Cloche De Feutre

I absolutely adore this sassy little hat. And, the instructions are included! Click on the image to ZOOM! Source: Agence Eureka

Are y'all following this?

A hundred of you are. 100! And that's just the followers via Google (which are the nicest because i get to see your avatars). I've noticed that there are also quite a lot of folks following me via readers and the like. NEAT-O! You know, when i started this blog i didn't really think about followers. I just wanted a place to post all the stuff that i do so that if anyone were interested in my music or art, i'd have a virtual place to direct them to. I know this sounds crazy, but i was really only thinking locally.

But dang, it's led to so many wonderful things... Inspiring meetings, much exchanging of ideas, incredible invitations, collaborations, friendships (both virtual and real life), creative support - hell, even emotional support. Sometimes during the 'creative process' i have my moments of self doubt. It's always wonderful to start the day out with a comment or an email from someone who is interested in what you are doing.

Anyway, I've had a ball the last few years. I've gotten to a place i've always wanted to be, spending 100% of my time working on my own projects. Okay, it hasn't been easy but i ain't starvin' yet and i'm happy as hell. This has only been possible because of the wonderful support i've received and a lot of that support has come from the internets. My sincere gratitude to all of you. It's been a joy to blog! I intend to carry on and hopefully you will continue to find it entertaining along the way.


And now i'd like to share with you a selection of my favorite blogs & bloggers to follow...
Dull Tool Dim Bulb
"Dull Tool Dim Bulb were the only swear words my father ever used. Items from the Jim Linderman Collection of Vernacular Photography, Folk Art, Ephemera and Curiosities."
I would really like to meet Jim Linderman. Actually, i'd like to hang out a while and have a few drinks together. Amazing collections. Fervent, a little haunting and naughty in the nicest way.
Anonymous Works
Beautiful Things from Unknown Makers
Joe has a great eye and always posts very interesting objects. There is always something intriguing to see and WANT!
ModernMechanix
"Yesterdays Tomorrow Today"
Oh how i LOVE ModernMechanix. Especially the images of which i use many in my graphic design work.
Detour Art Travels
"Detour art is dedicated to the sheer joy of outsider, folk, visionary, self-taught, vernacular art and environment discoveries found all along the back roads (and side streets) around the world." Road Trip!
PoppyTalk
"The Beautiful, The Decayed, The Handmade"
I love to look at the wonderful work shown here by other designers and artists. Good Stuff!
Shorpy
"Always Something Interesting" Incredible Vintage American Photography. Man, the first time i came across this site i could not stop looking until i had seen EVERYTHING. And that takes quite a while. Huge collection. Incredibly interesting.
Ukulele Hunt
Absolutely the best ukulele blog in the world by Al Wood
Unusual Life
"Unusual Homes. Amazing Architecture. Strange Places. Fascinating People."
Another Road Trip! Can never take enough cool road trips i say.
The Wood Pile
"Artist, farmer, woodsman and also a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church"
This fella from Nova Scotia is my 'farmville'. I love visiting the farm!
Dude Craft
"Represents a different kind of tribe in the world of making things, intentionally blurring the lines between, art, craft, engineering, and the good old “Can Do” spirit." Plus, who can resist the name?
Tart Deco
Vintage Glamour and Retro Style
Miss Steph always has lots of fun stuff. Really handy links and tips too. It's my pink girly hang out.
Tea With The Vintage Baroness
Just one of the wonderful blogs from Adele, a vintage seller from Ontario Canada who is in my opinion the beginning, middle and end of the story of superb taste. Absolutely beautiful woman in stunning vintage style.
Allure
"Screen stars of the 20's and 30's"
Ah, to have lived during the 20's. I adore looking at all the images and it's nice to learn a bit more about some of the more obscure films and stars of this era.
Drawn
"...is your daily source of inspiration for illustration, animation, cartooning, and comic art." Yep! The talent seen here is incredible.
Agence Eureka
Delicious Ephemera Eye Candy. Her other blogs are wonderful too.
I'll be the one in heels
From Kalisa, my best girlfriend from High School in Long Beach Mississippi, now living in Memphis. I love reading everything,... from what she's writing, what she's wearing, what's happening with the family and which appliance just f*cking broke down.
BoingBoing
Duh! Who doesn't love BoingBoing!? Coolest stuff on the web, right? And Mark Frauenfelder is great. I adore his whole philosophy about stuff, his lightheartedness and his 'Maker' mentality. Just a real jovial fella'.

Aaargh, once again, i could go on and on. Think i'll have to continue the list later. So much great stuff on the web. But just one more...
The Hermitage
Rima, goodness, how can i describe Rima. She's so dreamy, she lives a dreamy life. Has a beautifully renovated horse truck in which she roams about the beautiful english country side making and selling her amazing artwork. This is the person i would most like to hang around a campfire with.

The Last and Grandest Ukulele Jamboree of 2010

And OH BOY... it's going to be The Big Damn Business! Gus & Fin are coming from Scotland and i can't wait. They are probably the only ukulele group that you can dance to. I love them. So, if you are close to Rotterdam on the 4th of December i suggest you get your fanny over to SPAM and shake it! And behold, the lovely flyer i made (which took me two days of cussing like a sailor to design, but it was worth it)...
Click Here to view a larger image

Knit Wear for Ukulele-ing

The perfect sweater for seasonal ukulele playing from 'Smart Fashions", an American Thread Company Star Book from the 1950's. Knitting instructions included.
Click on the images to ZOOM! Source: The Chawed Rosin

GRRR Jamming Squeak

Grrr Jamming Squeak is a sound sculpture created by Paola Pivi which is now located here in Rotterdam. It's a sound studio where you can go in and record during the week and on fridays they have concerts. The deal is that you have to play music with animal sounds.

Marko and i were thrilled to be asked to do one of the friday night concerts. They gave us a disc with more than 100 animal sounds on it. From these sounds we mixed some basic tracks. This was so much fun but boy was it difficult. I don't know if you've ever worked with frogs but man... they are stubborn! : ) Seriously y'all, this was very difficult. I haven't played with a metronome since High School and DANG it ain't easy. Took me two days of cussing before i could get through the damn song without speeding it up during the solo's and thus getting completely off track with the animal sounds. I guess on the night we did pretty good. I do hear myself cutting my singing short because i'm so damn busy listening where the frogs are. I do know one thing... We had a ball doing it! Many Thanks to Dagmar and the sound crew at GRRR. Here is an example of one of the songs we did that night. The animals you will hear are a Tree Frog, Crawfish Frog, Horses Hooves and Grey Wolves.

Picture Record

I love this. I would love to have some of these made up for 'The Uke Box'. Okay, i know, most folks don't have a phonograph anymore. Damn shame though. I still have one and there is nothing like playing music from a record. But, the good news is that I have noticed that some artists are having records pressed these days. When you purchase the record you also receive a link with which you can download all the music digitally. I think that is a good compromise. If we ever get our album together, we're going vinyl. Unfortunately, something always gets in the way of us getting our album together so i'm thinking a phonograph card with one song on it would be a good start!