Happy Beefday!

The super cute present from Kristine! In my favorite colors! I want a tie like the ribbon!

A slap in the... cake?

"Yo, Homies!"

Kids, if there is one thing that we both share in common and that brought us closer together in 2009 it's the extreme love of, well, ME!  (Okay, it probably had more to do with cupcakes, or design, or fashion... but I digress!)

So, Miss Tula, of fabtastic Whorange fame, tipped me off that Apartment Therapy's 2009 Homies nominations were underway and that I had gotten a few votes placed in my direction! (I know! You're all, "Why don't they just give Uncle Beefy the top honors already?!! DUH!" But there are processes in life, Kids. And we want everyone to have a "fair" shot, don't we?  Now where to put that trophy?  Ooh!  Sorry, where was I?) Anywhoozles!  Would I love ya' if you stuffed a vote or 50 in my ballot box?  I bet I could muster up some human feelings of warmth and affection, sure!  Why not?!!

So why don'tcha head on over and do us both a favor?  Huh?  Time's running short (deadline is the 29th)!  You'd really help make my year if ya' did!  Or, if you're too busy to show me just a small token of your affection, then we'll just chalk things up and accept the dismal beginnings of my 2010.  You just do what you feel is best, Kids.  I understand.  [Uncle Beefy sighs and looks forlornly off into the distance. One tear streams slowly down his unbelievably handsome cheek.]

Bespoke My Heart

This should happen more often.

SAME as hope.

Okay, Kids... no, today no fancy schmancy font-o-file writing. In the interest of time today I'm just gonna get right to it. So how was the weekend? Was it Spring where you are? Or is Winter still wrestling with its inevitable demise? It did seem like a rather bleak Easter here is the Seattle area. Plenty of indoor egg hunts for certain. Poor kiddies. Like they care...there's still candy. 

Cupcake baking went pretty well as far as I could tell. (But Erin would be the one to have the final word on that ultimately.) The favorite flavor that emerged this time 'round was Organic Meyer Lemon Creme. Honestly, I think people were loving it because it gave them hope that the sun was shining somewhere in the world if not here! (No...no photos. 1) I'm guessing you're sick of seeing them. 2) When one rises at 4:30am to bake...photography seems pretty expendable.) 

Have a meeting for a possible kitchen rental location this week! This baby may just go legit before long! I am becoming further engrossed in the world of food these days... duh. And, yes, still listening to The Splendid Table obsessively. While looking through rain-soaked ferry windows across Elliot Bay, I had the pleasure of listening to the story of SAME Café in Denver, Colorado. To be succinct, SAME stands for "So All May Eat" and is a restaurant where patrons pay what they can for a meal. No cash register, just an unmanned donation box where folks provide what they're able for a good nutritious meal. Or you can volunteer to work and earn a meal if you like. In short, one of the most inspiring things I've heard about in some time.

More here... Happy Monday, Kids!

April in Paris...almost.

Yes...all the photos are from your Uncle. Le sigh.

A Thousand Beautiful Things

A Thousand Words from the beautifully brilliant Ted Chung on Vimeo.

Yo, Homies!

French Baby Monkeys

Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo via oh hello friend
via Joslyn at Simple Lovely.

Today...Joslyn decided to take full advantage of my Francophile heart. It is now broken into tiny bits of French Macarons and love. Sigh.

Sia...later.

(Lyrics below.)

Yes...okay. It's another one from Sia. She's a freakin' superstar! This one goes right to my heart as well. And, frankly, if I were planning a wedding this would replace the classic "wedding march". If you weren't crying happy tears by the time they reached the end of the aisle...I'd probably want to use your heart to keep the drinks cold. Mmm, hmm...I said it.

(Michael...you've spread some serious joy my way. Thanks!)


Pick me up in your arms
Carry me away from harm
You're never gonna put me down
I know you're just one good man
You'll tire before we see land
You're never gonna put me down

Oh I've been running all my life
I ran away, I ran away from good
Yeah I've been waiting all my life
You're not a day you're not day too soon

Honey I will stitch you
Darling I will fit you in my heart
Honey I will meet you
Darling I will keep you in my heart

You'll risk all this for just a kiss
I promise I will not resist
Promise you won't hold me down
And when we reach a good place
Let's be sure to leave no trace
Promise they won't track us down

Now I've been running all my life
I ran away, I ran away from good
Yeah, I've been waiting all my life
You're not a day, you're not a day too soon

Honey I will stitch you
Darling I will feel you in my heart
Honey I will meet you
Darling I will keep you in my heart

I've been running all my life
I ran away, I ran away from good
Yeah I've been waiting all my life
You're not a day, you're not a day too soon

Oh honey I will stitch you
Darling I will feel you in my heart
Honey I will meet you
Darling I will keep you in my heart

Failure Forward

I have no idea how Denise manages to find the YouTube treasures she does while I just find ones of insane dogs and the Jonas Brothers (eew!), but this was a delightfully uplifting dose that I needed today. Thanks, Denise.

I see London, I see France!

Going through the memory sticks from my camera to get the pics of the recent Colorado 2008 trip and found some lost photos of our trip to Paris 2007. Sigh. Now there's a trip well worth repeating.

Beefy's Bainbridge 4th of July Blitz

(A recuperative lunch (let's just say things start on Bainbridge Island
as of the 3rd) on the lawn at Doc's Marina Grill.)

I know, an unusual posting for Beefy. On a Sunday! Don't expect o whole lot, Kids...your Uncle is tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired! I know, I know...by "tired" I mean hungover, right? Okay, I admit it...you're wrong. By "tired" I mean too old to drink like the 20-somethings around me. By "tired" I mean I'm a cheap/er date who will begin to fade long before the art of intoxication really begins to take hold. By "tired" I mean one who now gets just as excited over beautifully arranged fruit skewers as he does the beer run. By "tired" I mean that when one exclaims that there's no more beer you're now a bit more content that sparkling water has been offered as an alternative. By "tired" I mean that, with barely a buzz, I found it absolutely necessary to demonstrate the African dance ensemble from Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" video. Yes, THAT tired!

And even still...I sacrifice what energies I have left to you, Kids, my gentle readers. That and to get Bee off m'back! Geez, for a vegetarian it seems a bit contradictory to be asking for more "Beefy" doesn't it, Bee? ;) Silly Kids! No matter...I will oblige you all with what will perhaps be one of the most striking and poignant cinematic and photographic displays of a local 4th of July celebration in recent history.

Oh yeah...I'm tired.

Lunch at Doc's was followed by heading up to Winslow Way for the 4th of July parade! The 4th is a big celebration on Bainbridge Island. Just the night before (i.e. the 3rd) the street was shut down for games, live music, food, and yes, a beer garden. Yes! I was there...can we move on now! ;) It's a nice community gathering that gives you a little hope that all is right with the world.

The parade...in case you couldn't tell. Always here to help.

Shortly after this cinematic genius was shot I had a "starlight mint" hurled at my throat with such velocity as to perform a tracheotomy. Ah yes, good times, Kids....good times. Also, a cinematic learning lesson...Sen, don't ever tell a blogger not to put something on their blog. You're just asking for it.

At Sarah & Sen's house. A stellar gathering (Sarah & Georgina busted out with every Martha-driven fiber of their beings ~ beautiful job ladies!!!) with friends (including FABULICIOUS visitor Ms. Jenny from the OC ~ OMG! Kristin Cavallari is going to be so jealous!) just before the most incredible neighborhood fireworks! My video bears absolutely no resemblance to the grande spectacle. Ask anyone who was witness...I was relegated to a 4 year old I was SO flippin' excited! So excited that I may have even piddled in my pants...but just a little ;) (If I am ever on The View and Barbara brings this up during the interview...I'm never speaking to you again!)

(Okay...y'all know I'm just kidding about the piddling...right?)

Hope you all had a GREAT
4th of July weekend, Kids!

Glittertastic Giveaway!

The three pieces to the left are hyper-glittered fans as shown by the full view of the crab. (Fans have an attached ribbon loop for hanging.) The piece on the right is a Victorian-style gift cone for candy or small presents.

So in the spirit of the 4th of July and all that sparkles, Kids...your Uncle is right back at it with yet another giveaway!!! (And a hearty congrats to Annie of Royal Buffet...my first ever giveaway winner!) Now, this new one here is a bit different though sooooooooo listen up...

These are five glittertastic pieces that I did some time ago as a creative experiment for part of former business I had. I was, and am still, a bit nuts about glitter because it is, as I like to describe it, ground up happiness. But sometimes in life we need to let some things go in order to make way for new opportunities, creative or otherwise. So why not spread the love and let someone else enjoy all the sparkle? Any takers? If so, here's how this is gonna go down...

What your Uncle is requesting of you, Kids, is that you help pass the happiness forward. And preferably to someone you don't even know. Buy a bouquet of flowers and pass them off to a complete stranger (I've done this and, while it can be a bit awkward at first, you'll feel great afterward!). Print up some cards or slips of paper exclaiming how wonderful a person is, how much you appreciate them, or some other uplifting message and slip them into tip jars, bills, or cab fare. Buy a meal and give it to a homeless person (or even a "gift" bag with some socks, toothpaste, & toothbrush). Get a few balloons and hand them to the first kid you see. The point is...there's an array of things you can do to add some joy and hope to someone's day. And who knows...it just might add some to your's?

So sign up! Pass the word on! I'll draw names next Thursday, July 10th (i.e., "Go, Beefy...it's your birthday!"), assign numbers 1 - 5 to those names picked. Number 1 will get first choice, number 2 will get second choice, etc. And let me know what you plan to do or did to add some sparkle to someone's day and we'll blog about it here as we announce our winners! C'mon...share the love!

Two sparkle plenty party hats...roughly 11"tall x 4"wide
and perfect as a festive crown or sweet centerpiece!

Tum Pluckered

Hello, Kids. So you're witnessing the beginning stages of my return. That's a good thing, yes? Well, I am "plum tuckered" after marathon art-making sessions along with the day job! Oy vey! But even in the fog of sleep-deprivation (twice I was hauling myself off to bed at 4:30am and up again at 7 or 8 - not to throw a pity party, just to explain away any lazy toyps.) I had a great time getting back into the swing of my artistic groove. And, of course, thanks for your never-ending patience and support. (You know I'd love to spill my guts out about my project but I gotta keep it zipped up tight until September!)

Designers...make it work!

I posted about this a short little while ago and now it's happening! All you Seattle-area designer/crafter/artist/entrepreneurs are invited tomorrow night (Wednesday April 16th) to the Seattle creative meet up from 6pm- 8pm at Velocity's South Lake Union showroom on Yale Avenue, featuring special guest artist Matte Stephens.

"The events will go by the name of The Lab - we are hoping that they will become a place to experiment with new ideas, foster creative thinking and provide us all with plenty of opportunities for networking and inspiration. Please feel free to invite anyone you think would like to come and remember that The Lab is open to both men and women."

And many, many thanks to Paola for helping to organize all of this. As well as thanks to John Tusher and the fine folks at Velocity for hosting and sponsoring and, of course, Matte Stephens, guest speaker extraordinaire! Thanks, Kids!

Also... it's supposed to be raining tomorrow so there are no more excuses for not attending! As if rain would ever be allowed as an excuse in Seattle! See you there! Designers, make it work!