Sitting at the computer with Rose Ryan of Harvest Home Organics. I wanted to show her how easy it is to blog. There are her colorful and very tasty 'taters.

Call me a frugal Martha Stewart. I made this cool ice sculpture/mobile with some very simple ingredients. Hey, when the Mother Nature brings you cold, you need to embrace it and make the best of it. Just freeze water (preferably on the porch, not in your freezer) in some unusual shapes with some sort of string or hanger in the water and then the next day when they are frozen solid, just string them up and put them somewhere you can enjoy them. The coloring in my ice was fortuitous. I needed something to anchor down the string, so I took a roll of old Life Savers and weighted down the string. I had not planned on them coloring the water, but it worked out nicely. Tomorrow's batch will be even fancier! Stay tuned and give it a try!


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Now playing: Amy Winehouse - Rehab
via FoxyTunes

Aerobic Classes at the United Ministry of Aurora Lounge
begin next week
Dan Goldman - Certified Personal Trainer
Join Dan on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7pm for a cardiovascular and strength training class geared for all ages and fitness levels. The class will help jumpstart exercise into your daily lifestyle as well as provide info on nutrition. The class uses aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching into a fun, exciting group exercise class.
8 sessions for $35 or drop in for a class for $5 per class.
Questions? Contact Jackie and I'll put you in touch with Dan.

This Zappos guy is so cool. I am considering borrowing the Zappos core values as my own:
1) Deliver WOW Through Service
2) Embrace and Drive Change
3) Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4) Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5) Pursue Growth and Learning
6) Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7) Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8) Do More With Less
9) Be Passionate and Determined
10) Be Humble

We have a room in the house painted "Cherry Tomato." Until recently this room was a library/catch all. I started cleaning it up because it has lots of windows and I thought the kids could put their music equipment in there. The wall color makes it a very pleasing space. Today the light was great in there and it is still too cold to take photos outside, so I took a couple rounds in the red room. Some colors, like this sky blue, looks wonderful. Black didn't work so well.

This is kind of cool. Instead of bringing more paper and ink into the world, we are going to start using recycled paper scraps to print our DDG hang tags. I took my handy 50% off coupon to Michaels and bought a tag-shaped craft punch. I've been punching everything in sight! I had hoped it would go through cereal boxes, but it doesn't quite have enough power. It works perfectly in card stock. I'm going to order a custom stamp on etsy.com that has our logo and website.

Just found this linoleum block in a batch of incoming clothes. It is an early block used to print t-shirts and promo stuff at Angelheart Designs. Wow! What a find! I think I'll try printing something from it.


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Now playing: Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter
via FoxyTunes

Furry friends and clothing businesses are generally not a good match. If you receive clothes from DDG that have white fur on them, it is from this cute guy. Skittles sneaks into the shop every chance he gets, despite my efforts to keep him out. Today he was helping me keep the birds from smashing into my windows. But that is another story...

Books, Boxes, Flags, Figures, Paintings, Paradoxes
JULY 5 -10 & JULY 19 - 24, 2009
in Moravia, New York
Join us for a joyful and productive week long mixed media exploration of screens, layers, transparency and opacity, constancy and change in the Oiseaux Sisters Studios North.

· Our well equipped studios are set up for working with wood, print, paper, paint, metal, cloth and papier maché.
· We offer technique demos and individual problem solving.
· Focus on one technique and/or format in depth, or sample and mix your media.
· We’ll discuss strategies for continuity, mechanisms for change, Issues of scale, installation and presentation

Susan and Carolyn are long-time DDG friends and their students relish their field trips to DDG in the summer.

Watch Riley (on the right) at his concert at Burritt's Cafe in Weedsport on Sunday.