Thing-a-day.com

Today I created a new blog. It’s a private blog, so there’s nothing to share.

Day 23, I won’t lie: NOTHING. I really don’t think making a cup of tea and sharing a cup “virtually” with a chat-friend counts as making anything, but that’s the most productive thing I did.

Day 24, I made this knotted ribbon scarf that you can’t properly see in the photo. I used red ribbon. I thought I had planned well and cut extra length in preparation for what would be lost with the knotting, but I was wrong. It’s shorter than I had hoped. It’s also just not as cool as I had hoped. Not sure what I’ll do with it. I might just use it as the tie back for my bedroom curtain rather than making the swag I had planned. Or I may give it to that special little six-year-old girl I adore, because she is very tiny and it will fit her the way I had intended it to fit an adult.

I confess, I did nothing productive at all on day 21. Well, I got my taxes done, but obviously that doesn’t count as me making anything.

Day 22, today, I have written a poem. My computer is being weird on me so as I try to post this, I don’t know if it will go through, and I don’t have access to the pretty features that let me post the link in a more attractive fashion, so I am sorry.

You can see my poem on my blog at
http://writeoussisterspeaks.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/for-rabia-the-doorkeeper/

I collect all my loose change as a way to save for the Hajj (the once-in-a-lifetime required pilgrimage to Mecca). I know people who have been several times but for me the cost seems overwhelming. So this is one easy way to know that I am at least making an effort.

But my Sunny D bottle was ugly, and depressing as I could see how much change is in there (or how little as the case is). So I decided it needed a sprucing up to more clearly reflect my intention and goal. Perhaps this will also perk me up to make a better effort.

It’s silly that it took me two days to do this, but what with waiting for layers of paint to dry it actually did take a little time.

I mentioned a few days ago that I was working on sketches for an idea I had. This is the final sketch I finished today:

Meant to be a stylized lotus with (granted, simplistic) calligraphy of the Name of Allah in the center. I have had another idea to try to do this in beading as a gift for my Shaykh’s wife.

The initial idea (and day 18 “thing”) was to paint the lid of this wonderful box I have that I use to keep my earrings in. This is the finished painting:

Although I’m sorta partial to the (inaccurate) colors portrayed in this photo which darkened it up a bit.

Maybe this should count as my 18th day… no, actually, I did this yesterday and managed to finish it in one day so…

This is a scarf for someone special. It is a shorter style that you wrap from the front to behind the neck and bring around again (as shown) and is held closed with a button through the crochet. Unfortunately, due to my shoddy camera, you cannot properly make out how pretty the colors are. It is creme with a mixed pink edging and fringe. The button is a pink plastic button from my grandmother’s sewing kit, and I used silver beads on the fringe for a little fun.

This is so quick and easy but yummy!

Of course you could substitute fresher ingredients and I have made it fresh before and it is even better!

Cocounut Rice:

1 can of Thai coconut milk (drain liquid out into measuring cup. Should be about 1 cup)

water

rice

Combine coconut water with water and bring to a boil, add rice and cook as normal.

Stir Fry:

Two bags frozen stir fry veggies

One bag (50-60 count) frozen cocktail shrimp

In wok or large frying pan heat up small amount of olive oil with fresh grated ginger. Add veggies and cook until heated through, add shrimp and toss.

Peanut/Coconut Sauce:

Put remaining coconut milk (will be somewhat firm) into small saucepan, add 1/3 cup peanut butter (I used smooth but chunky is fabulous too!) and grated ginger. Cook until smooth.

To serve, place rice on dish, place stir fry on top or next to rice, drizzle with sauce.

I have also made this with chicken or tofu (and even better - chicken, shrimp AND tofu!).

A spritz of fresh lemon over the top also adds a nice little bite.

Finally finished covering over the Christmas themed box I want to send to my friend.

Also started sketches for an idea I have in mind. Don’t know if I can pull this off because I’m not much good at drawing, but I want to try.

I’m quite sure the learning log doesn’t count as a thing, but I had to do it so I did.

The purse that I started the other day is now finally complete.

Pieces, where you can see the pretty inner lining before I put it together.

Finished purse

I’m late. For many reasons. For one, I wasn’t going to count the following as my “thing” for the day and intended to go home and finish the box I’ve been working on or the purse I started the other day. But I did not feel well (still don’t, but I can’t afford to miss work) so I went home and did nothing and then went to bed very early.

So, yesterday I made a new ritual. Since I have resolved to continue it each day, and I did it again today, I figure it counts.

Glossary of terms:

Dhikr - literally means “remembrance” and refers to repetition of the attributes of Allah, recitation of blessings upon prophets, recitation of Qur’an, and repetition of certain small prayers (for blessing, forgiveness, protection, etc.).

Salawat - from the word “salaam” meaning blessings of peace. These are stated every time a Prophet is mentioned and repetition of a formulaic lengthened prayer of blessing is also made in certain circumstances.

Wird - the daily formulaic dhikr that is a cornerstone of most associations. My association has a specific time when the wird is to be recited, but we are encouraged to do other dhikr at other times. Some associations are more flexible and the wird can be said at any time as long as it is done daily and with the proper preparation.

This probably shouldn’t even actually count, as simple as they were to make. I made three tiny little valentines for co-workers. They are about 2 inches wide and so cute. It’s just a heart printed on card stock with colored paper glued inside (one is lavender, one pink, the other coral). I wrote a little note in each. Since I am always the first in the office, tomorrow I will leave them on their desks with a Hershey’s Kiss.

The second card is for a dear friend. Same idea as the mini hearts, but this is a multi-floral design with the Kaba in the center. I got the design off a friend’s website, printed it on card stock and glued coral paper inside.

I also worked a bit on the box from yesterday which I am completely redoing, but haven’t finished it yet.

Well, so I had a brilliant idea to take a Christmas-themed box my Mom gave me and fix it up nice as part of a gift for a friend. Well, the initial idea for it just didn’t work. I painted the top and bottom of the box to cover the Christmasy part. Then I pasted on paper designs. Well, the real error was when I thought I would coat over it with a clear protective coat. That ruined it. As a matter of fact, I’ve just finished peeling the paint off it completely and am back where I started. I have a new idea for it now and will try tomorrow.

Original Box

First Attempt

So, I also had a better idea for a cute little purse. I crocheted two circular pieces, the same way I start when making kufis. Then I used fabric to line the two circles and sewed the circles together. It’s not done yet either. I have to figure out what I want to do for a handle, a closure, and perhaps some decorative piece for the outside. So that will also be part of tomorrow’s work.

Beginnings of the Purse

Ha, I managed to do two things today before noon!

First, I took a quote from a friend of mine that was part of a recent group conversation and printed it pretty and put it into a matte-board. The quote is “May our children never more be storage space for our rage.” I used card stock to cover the back and then glued refrigerator magnets to the back so that this will now hang in the center of freezer door as a constant reminder. I was out with a friend the other night (yes, the night I fell) and found some pretty little stick-on silk flowers. I told her I didn’t know what the heck I needed them for, but I wanted them so I bought them. Well, now I know what they are for - they are in the corners of the matte-board for decoration. Pictures will be forthcoming this evening.

Second, I wrote a poem.

 UPDATE: Picture of the (rather large, yes) refrigerator magnet/quote

Last night I fell and twisted my ankle. So today I had to get out my cane that I bought a few years ago after another injury. I realized that the cane is pretty darn uncomfortable on the hand when you’re putting a lot of weight on it (it doesn’t help that I hurt that hand when I fell too). Since I am big on functional and utilitarian things also being beautiful, I decided that my “thing” today would have to be a grip cushion for my cane.

My cane is a dark red wood, chosen specifically for it’s attractiveness. I used scraps from the navy blue wool felt that I’ve been using for alot of things lately. To make it a sufficient cushion, I decided I’d have to double layer it. Which is why I had the idea to do a small amount of beading on it, because the threads will be covered by the inner layer anyway and this way I can make it pretty. Since the beading would be on such a narrow area I opted for simple stripes instead of a pattern. I beaded two rows of raspberry, two lime green, two royal blue, and then finished with an additional two of rasperry. Very very simple.

Amazingly, I had measured just right so that the piece fit onto the cane perfectly without being too difficult to pull on or loose so that you worry about it slipping. To be extra careful, I added some leather thong on each end that can be used to tighten the grip if necessary, and also serves as decoration.

Photos (although you can’t properly tell the color or really see the beads):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7886411@N06/2255870537/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7886411@N06/2255870541/

Last night my best friend told me a wonderful story about her 6-year-old daughter. I don’t really like kids, except my own and this one little girl. The story was funny, and amazing all at the same time, and we are very proud of this special little girl.

So for my Day 9 Thing-A-Day I decided to make something for her. This is what I did.

Photo

And filled it with dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses.

I started out this Thing-A-Day idea hoping it would help with my writing. I haven’t been very inspired in a while, I have a fabulous novel that I’ve stalled on actually writing anything for (on the upside, I’m still totally in love with the idea and the characters), and I am hoping to put together a book of my poetry. Lately I haven’t even written much on my blog, nothing long or thought-provoking anyway. So, for the past week I’ve been pretty proud of my creativity, even if not so impressed with my photography skills, LOL. But I haven’t written much. Oh well, I have 21 days still to get in more writing. I sure have been having alot of fun trying out other creative pursuits.

Today I wrote a very long blog post on a particularly difficult subject. It is a password protected post, only for the eyes of a small select group. Which is why I have nothing to actually show you. But I do feel very good about it, good about getting it out and good about the end result. Very cathartic. But too exhausting to consider “making” anything else today. 

Yes! I managed to make it a 2-day project instead of longer. And yes, I did completely re-do it all together from the work I had done yesterday. There is one final touch that I must complete at home this evening, and then I will take photos. But… my home computer is acting up, so the photos won’t get posted here until tomorrow (I’ll just update this particular post, so come back).

I used clip art on the cover and Microsoft Word word art for the poem title on the cover. The word art has a shadow effect and I used a green ink pen to color the shadow of the letters; it’s a nice highlight and turned out better than I expected.

The first page of the book is a stylized calligraphy Basmallah I found on-line (this style is pretty common). The Basmallah is “Bismillahir Rahmaanir Rahiim” and means “In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful” and is the common way Muslims begin anything. A way of dedicating the work or deed to Him.

The second page, I used a beautiful picture of one of my best friend Kelly “Izdihar” Crosby’s calligraphy paintings of the Prophet’s name. Under that is the poem title and a notation that it is “A Poem in Honour of Our Beloved Prophet” with the blessings written out upon him. The blessings in Arabic are “Salalahi alahi wa salaam” which roughly is asking for Allah’s blessings and peace upon the Prophet, and is often simply translated as “peace be upon him”.

On that page, I also included a notation that this is being presented to my Shaykh. Because it is better manners that a gift of this sort not simply be sent in the mail to a teacher of his standing, but be directly given to him by hand. Since I am unable to attend to him directly, I will ask a friend to allow me to mail it to them and then they will present it to him on my behalf in the appropriate fashion.

There are ten pages of the poem, separated out in the 3/2 stanza style of the poem. I used borders along the top and bottom of the pages and a box around the script of the poem on each page. So it is decorative still, but not quite so busy as my previous design.

As I did on the birthday card for my mom, I have punched a hole in the bottom corner of the book, and for the book I also did so in the top corner. I will use navy blue ribbon to tie the book closed at top and bottom, or perhaps from top to bottom (I haven’t decided which idea I like better yet and will wait until I am home tonight to try both).

You can read the text of the poem here.

UPDATE: Photos

Front Cover of Book

Last Page of Book

This is apparently going to be a 2 or 3 day project.

I wrote a poem a few years ago that a friend suggested I should set to music and present to our teacher. I do not, however, have any musical talent whatsoever.

So I decided on putting together a small booklet instead. The poem is several stanzas that follow a 3 line/2 line pattern. So today I separated it out into each 3/2 per page, which makes 10 pages. I spent my lunch hour at work today finding appropriate artwork/clip-art on-line to decorate each page.

Upon further reflection though, I am thinking I may not stay with the design I created today. I am all for decorative, beautiful books because I think it highlights the words and takes the book up to another level of art. But I’m thinking now that the original idea is just to much. It is rather busy having a different artistic piece on each page. It may even detract somewhat from the words. I may simply choose one highly decorative border that will be used for each page and then use one of the other artwork pieces for the cover. Maybe even one for a centerpiece or endpiece.

So, of course I have no photos today, but I did do something.

I’m not even sure this counts as making something, but I needed to do this so I did. I took two chiffon belly-dance style scarves I have that are very long and sewed them together to make a curtain. I was going to crochet a swag to hold the curtain open too, but didn’t have time and my fingers still have blisters from the making the camera case. I will probably do that later.

Curtain (not a great photo)

Detail of curtain, so you can see both layers and the bells that are so cute

Since I bought this tiny digital camera, I decided I need a pouch to keep it in. And I thought it’d be a good idea to make a pouch that I could carry both the camera and the USB cord, in case I want to be able to charge it or upload photos in the office or at my parents’. I thought of doing it in crochet, but decided to use fabric instead. I decided to make two separate pockets in it, one for the camera and the other for the cord.

The outer fabric is actually a very pretty turquoise color with the tiniest paler blue leaf print. It’s actually cotton quilting fabric. I used a navy blue wool felt for the inside so that the camera would be cushioned and inside something soft. The felt is leftover from making my son’s apron for his tribal regalia.

I used navy blue yarn to sew up the edges and to decorate the separation between the two pockets. The button is a fabric covered purple tie-dye button that’s left over from one of my favorite dresses. When I got the dress, it was missing a button on the cuffs so I ended up putting a completely different set on it and saved this one. Narrow navy ribbon is used to wrap around the button to hold the pouch closed.

Bad photo can be found here.