Seasonal Fun With Origami

Curious About My Processes?

Well, you are not alone. Brett from IAMTHELAB did a fun post on my work in progress. Pop over to his blog and check it out. There are some exclusive behind the scenes sneak peeks!

Give Me A Fracking Break!

So, fracking has been swirling around in the news for a while now. The fact is, it's going on here in DFW. *Sigh*

I don't know if you've read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring but there are some disturbing similarities between what she talked about and the process of fracking. In her impactful book, Carson discusses the notion that pollutants that are dumped into waterways have the potential to mix with another pollutant to create yet a third pollutant. Since the publication of her book many policies have come about to prevent such pollution in our waterways. However, it seems that fracking is bring this concept back to the surface.

If you investigate the process of fracking it involves drilling down through the layers of earth to a determined depth and then drilling parallel to ground level to the desired location. Then chemicals are blasted through this drilled path to increase it and release the desired gases, liquids and solids. The really scary thing about it is that this process drills though many layers of the earth freeing different elements to mix together -- add to that the chemicals used in fracking -- we are creating the potential for a big nasty chemical stew.

Consider the disturbing notion that companies want to set up fracking sites closer and closer to communities -- colored me scared. What if there were an accident or explosion on a site close to where people live or go to school? It just doesn't seem worth the risk. That added to the potential chemical stew makes me want to run away and hide.

We have experienced more and more earthquakes here in Texas since the start of fracking. I'm no geologist or scientist but there has to be a connection between messing with the earth and later it's spontaneous shifting.

Please go view this video about fracking it's very informative. It very clearly explains the process of fracking and how it affects the areas around it. Then if you agree, please scroll to the bottom of the page and send your legislaters a note to let them know what you think. (Don't worry, there's a templated letter too.)

This post is linked up over on the Green Sisterhood Reading list.

Texture Tuesday

Dream Box

The Dream Box Kit that I won during the #RBBIZ Summit is finally complete. It came with a cute little booklet that asked questions to inspire what you decoupaged on the box -- very cool and really fun. (it also came with the cutest little bottle of modpodge and a tiny foam brush)

I'm still doing some work on the cards that go inside. I thought I'd share how it turned out. So excited about it! I love having it on my desk while working. If I stumble on a decision -- all I have to do is consult the box! :)


This was a great experience for me -- I highly recommend it! Have you done a dream box? How did it turn out?

I want to shout out a big THANKS to Jennifer Lee for the box and the #rbbiz conference. I really got so much out of it all! 

Props to the Paper Prince: Robert Sabuda

This past Friday, I went to a lecture on paper engineering given by Robert Sabuda. In case you don't know his work, he has done a collection of wonderful pop up books. His books delight kids and adults -- for real! ;)

My adventure started with a thirty minute wait in line to be sure I got a seat. (Totally worth the wait.)

He started his lecture with a quick demo of how to create a very simple pop up. It was very cool to see him in action. It's obvious when he speaks about what he does -- that he has the perfect job for him. He shared that he doesn't have creative hobbies because he is so absorbed in his work on pop up books.

He happily revealed that much of what he does is trial and error - sharing that sometimes the paper squeaks or doesn't move right and that he has to get in there and "fix it". Paper mechanics. Wow.

He showed us images of the Wizard of Oz pop-up book in progress, from prototype to completed pop up with green spectacles. Epic. He shared that pop up books usually take about a year from beginning to available on the shelf. (Wow, he has much more patience than me.)

Did you know that pop up books are still hand assembled? (Not by him but by teams of humans that do this for a living.) They are. Machines aren't nimble enough to do what human fingers can do. Each worker is assigned one task in the pop up and do it over and over to become and expert in it and then pass it on to the next worker to do their bit. Wow, talk about nimble fingers!

He shared what his next book will be -- The Little Mermaid -- it will be available this Fall. Can't wait to see it!


I had the opportunity to ask a question -- so I asked' "what fuels your imagination?" and he replied, "chocolate". Given the opportunity, I think we could be great creative friends. But for now, I am still a huge fan and admirer of his work.

What fuels your imagination?

Texture Tuesday

Count Down to Earth Day

Starting today, I'll be posting a tip a week to count down to Earth Day! If you have tips you'd like to share, please post them in the comments.

Texture Tuesday