dogs age

It's been a while. First, let me say 'happy holidays, yo.' Oddly, given all that has happened in the past year, this is the first year in probably 20 that I have actually felt some seasonal spirit. While the search for work continues and seems bleak, I am focused on the good things that have happened this past year and if you knew me, you'd be reaching across the table to feel my forehead to hear me say that. While I call myself a realist, most hear me describe the world as a pessimist. C'est la vie . . . you see a rainbow in the puddle, I see the oil spill from the car next to the puddle. I call it how I see it. That said - this year has been filled with tiny triumphs. Whether it was the mortgage assistance from Georgia's HomeSafe program, Chris being declared cancer free, or finding Laika in the street and giving her a home (and me a completely new take on life) - this year has been hard, but it has been good.

boxed bread

Affectionately called: The "Is It Bigger Than A Breadbox" Breadbox, this is based on a gift from my sister. I am trying to recall the exact circumstances of how it came into my possession, but I remember seeing it at an antique store and commenting on it and suddenly it was a gift to me not too long after. I am told I am a very hard person to buy for so it is not uncommon that if I mention liking something in a shop, it will end up as a surprise for me later. Note to self: comment more on big ticket items. For me? Aw shucks! You shouldn't have!!

eating time.

Just a quick update. While this was not particularly difficult, I have been tinkering with the silverware  on this all morning and finally got it to where I think it looks good. This is based on a real clock in my kitchen. Mine is a little rusty and worn.

Lights and lettering

You know - if you looked at my very early meshes you'd think - meh - not a perfectionist. In reality there is the constant balancing act of doing the best one can and OCD. At any given moment one can only produce to the best of their current ability.

Let the cold winds blow

I have been thinking about the different things that one could have in their kitchen set. All sorts of counters have been created and I don't think I would have anything new to offer other than to say that 'oh - this is something I made' but the reality is - the counters that interest me have already been created by others and rather well too.

Modern Love

I think we're all grown ups here - so when I say I am having a love affair with my latest mesh - it shouldn't even phase you. I think reality television has pretty much made our skins a little tougher.

Laika and the Shakers

While I am busy at work on a new set(s) I am taking a tiny break to present some photos of the irrepressible Laika, whom I spend the majority of my day with now. She's a whopping 34 pounds now! She doubled in size since we found her.

moving backwards to move forward

I've hit a point in creating that I wanted to look at what I have done in the past to see which pieces I have liked enough to go back and fix or update. You learn new tricks or interesting techniques and I feel these previously released pieces might have turned out a little different if I knew then what I know now.

Merged

This post was actually started two days ago so while it seems like I am preparing you, dear reader, for my upcoming set, you've probably already downloaded it or at least wanted to find out 'what was he thinking' . . . here goes:

Sometimes you think you have a set that will just keep going on . . . that is sort of how I felt with the mirror set (can be seen here and here) that I was pulling together.

One tiny update ....

Just a tiny one - I believe the set is complete and there are 16 items in it. Fingers crossed this will be a joint release - I don't want to speak out of turn and say who just in case the speed of life decides to render one of us a speed bump . . . but I bet you can guess who the mystery creator might be :)

okay - even more.

I need to just apologize for posting so much about a set that has yet to be released. It is often that I have the game in pause mode for hours when I set up a screen shot. For whatever reason I did not this time and I got to see these items at dusk - it's crazy beautiful the lighting and how the glass just about glows in game . . . so . . . more (moar) picture spam.

More . . . or moar.

Okay. This is me - what the fuck is moar? So I googled it. More and Roar. MOAR! Okay - enough said. I stand edjumakated. While I have never professed to be cool, I am usually a little more on the ball when it comes to fancy lingo. I'm a hep cat . . . right? (snapping my fingers 1,2 . . . . 3 . . 4). Look at me go. That's me on the dance floor too. So smooth.

In the Garden remastered

Err . . . you do know Eurythmics first official album was In the Garden, right? Probably my favorite, truth be told. Anyway - I am getting closer to finishing the garden set - I have a few more ideas but I don't know exactly what I will end up including just yet. Sometimes you have an idea and for whatever reason it's crap.

In the garden . . . .

Just a quickie post - I am excited about my latest set as it begins. Inspired by my real garden and where eventually I would love for it to go (right after I purchase a manor home with english garden and a maze formed from high boxwood hedging). This is a tiny post so please, no pointing and laughing at its size.

Struggles with mirrors, blogger, and other things

Not entirely sure what is up with Blogger today - it killed the formatting of my mostly composed post and I could not undo it as it loves to auto save. Fun that. Having an especially hard time applying images and while you can report it, I envision that google has harnessed the power of a black hole for acceptance of such reports.

In continuation of the set . . .

I have not been rushing on this set - I want each piece to be interesting and complete so I have been taking my time finishing up a few pieces - I think I have one more item to go, but we'll see - it needs something. I would love to make my own camera that actually worked, but the truth is - I would want to make a vintage camera that one holds at waist level and looks down into the view finder from the top.

Weaving till it hurts, or, if it ain't broke - then break it.

So, in my quest to bring diversity as well as clarity to the files that I create, I decided to try my hand at building a better mousetrap - or, better known as - remaking the 4x3 rug. I did this for better scale and image quality in game.

Different items currently being worked on

I don't have much of a set to pull together. I finally am sitting down to work on some projects that I have wanted to work on, but they don't really fit into any sort of a theme. Of course, I have a number of paintings that I am working on and a new rug mesh that I am excited about, but these are just a few of the odds and ends that I am pulling together . . .

Sleeps with the fishes

I haven't had much time lately to create - it's a bummer and I hope that resolves itself soon, but I have been slowly finishing a set that has been probably eight months in the making. Sad, I know. I photographed these art deco fish prints at work ages ago and I had a simple frame that felt unfinished.

Quickie time . . .

I took a bit of a break from anything sims and I visited my home town in Massachusetts - it's a little coastal town and quite beautiful (something I did not appreciate as a child). Seeing my parents and my sister, seeing my friends (albeit briefly) was absolutely rejuvenating. When I returned home I was left feeling like it was a bit of a dream.

Life immitating art

If you'll recall, I frame pictures for my living - an extremely humble living, but more about that later. One of the things I like to do with creation of objects is to mimic those things I either desire in real life or really have in real life . . . . it's not always often that I create something and suddenly I am making it in real life too, so this was funny to me. Funny odd, not funny ha ha. If there was also a cat on my head, that might turn the tides.

Poor Wendy Darling