My Own Personal Bokeh
Here's a set of Alice in Wonderland cookie cutters that I made for my sister many years ago. I consider these a crafty personal best. My favorite is the Walrus (top left) — those tusks were tough, I tell you. I like how he turned out. These were all done about the same time as the gnome cutters — that's why my wrists got so wrecked!
This year, I had wanted to make and decorate the Alice cookies for an Easter tea party like we used to do — but, kid-wise, I'm still a year or two away from that. I'm OK with them making messy kid versions, but, I want to have the freedom to be perfectionistic and spend *lots* of time getting all detailey. With kid interruptions clocking in every one-to-two minutes, it's just not going to happen anytime soon. That's been one of my parenting lessons — to be looser, to let things go, to not get caught up in the details.
Some who know me may laugh at that idea — that big ol' sloppy Michelle needs to loosen up. I'm not really known for being neat and tidy. I once got fired by my dad for not mowing the lawn correctly (I liked spiral, he liked straight lines). I do tend to let *a lot* of things go. For instance, just the other day I had to choose whether or not to take my shoes off when stepping onto our white-ish carpet. I thought, "Which are dirtier: my feet or my shoes?" I kept my shoes on. When I told my sister that story, she said, "That's *so* you."
Dirty feet just aren't something I focus on. Creating — even if it's just cookie decoration — will always take precedent over hygiene, or, any cleaning, really. Perhaps I'm set on macro? My personal bokeh is large — it's big enough to artistically blur my dirty, size 10.5 US feet; or, the twenty-odd loads of dirty laundry; or, two days worth of dishes. I'm OK with that. And, kids definitely have a macro way of seeing the world. Now, if I could just set my husband to have a narrow depth of field when viewing the house. ;)
More cookie cutter pics over at flickr.
Thanks to Emily at Five Flowers for teaching me about bokeh.
P.S. The title is set to this tune.
Labels: craft, Crafts-of-Yore, food
26 Comments:
I really love your sister's work - what an amazing woman! Thank also for introducing me to the term bokeh
Ah, Michelle, I feel I have found in you a true spiritual twin. Right down to the soles of my size 10 dirty feet (which I think is about 10 1/2-11 US).
We now have a cleaning lady for a few hours a week (don't hate me) because my bokeh was so effective that our tiled floors were practically growing their own carpet while I sewed/knitted/punched butterflies out of magazines.
Your cookie cutters are true works of art.
I would be very happy living at your house.
Love this posting.
those cutters are da bomb.
by the end of the summer my feet just don't get clean anymore. they're usually black on the bottom. :^D)
I can't believe how much we have in common! My feet are much too big for how tall I am and my house gets cleaned only when absolutely necessary. Creativity too important to be pushed aside to clean!
BTW- those cookie cutters are magnificent.
O.K. I did chasing and repousee for seven years and it never F'ing occured to me to make cookie cutters!
Genius. Lovely work as well.
I had to laugh when I read that you bought white carpet though.
I love how this blog thing helps sift through all of the people of the world to connect the people who are the most similar. I'm convinced that if we all met up we'd feel like we'd known each other forever.
And, Violette C: I did *not* purchase white carpet, nor will I ever. It was my sister who chose it. We're living in the garage apartment at my mom's house. It was originally built for my more glamorous and tidy sister. ;)
GET OUT! you made those awesome alice cookie cutters! Amazing. I don't know how I missed the gnome post last summer. Really, really incredible!
Anyway, if you feel like, you might try gettgin some homeeopahtic Rhus-tox form Whole foods or it s equiv done thataways. like a 12C or 30C and take a few doses. It is a specific for overuse of tendons/ligaments. Might help even at this late date. email me if you have questions.
BTW, Ben is 9 and I still feel like we are years away from detailed cookie decorating....
Oh my goodness. Your cookie cutters are simply amazing. I would want to frame them, or hang them on my wall, or something of the like. How did you do this/find the supplies/come up with the idea? I NEED more info! =)
Those cookie cutters are AMAZING! What skill that took as I would have never known you didn't buy them already manufactured!! WOW!
Thank you for the new word...it fits me as well. I blur out the laundry and vacuuming etc in favor of art and artistic pursuits. I've decided to just name the dust bunnies and call them pets.
these are great! the mad hatter is my favorite. i love reading your blog!
I don't want to scare you, but I think I'm in blog love. The cookie cutters are impressive alright but it's the feet/shoe decision that made me laugh so hard my family is looking at me (with my shoes on) like I'm nuts! Cheers and a virtual pumice stone to you, Tracey
WOW, I'm speechless.
Wow, the cookie cutters are fantastic!
x
Okay i am dying here because i too choose to do the create over the clean. But i realized with my mom here this week that i just need to paint the walls so cover the dirt. Dirt be gone! ps thanks for the shout-out!
Love the cookie cutters!
Loosen up...yep, I hear you.
I tend to be micro/macro focused myself.
my family must love me a LOT,when they have to hunt for their washing in the laundry,or get stuck on the sticky kitchen floor,and dont fire me.
we to have (used to be) cream carpets. my kids drew pictures all over them with wax crayons,alas they got covered by dirty feet marks..
Ok, a. Alice In Wonderland is a particluar favorite of mine, b. the fact that you made those cookie cutters astounds me for they are absolutely amazing! c. I also wear a size 10 1/2 (lets just call it 11 cuz hardly anybody makes 10 1/2's) and 4. I choose not just creating over cleaning but pretty much anything and everything over cleaning.
I think I'm going to start calling you my blog twin.
WOW! Those cookie cutters are amazing!
Whenever my mom comes to visit she asks my husband, "How can you stand to live in this mess?" (after I've cleaned and straightened for days before she comes, of course) he always replies, "Well. I didn't marry your daughter for her housekeeping skills."
Thank GOODNESS, is all I can say. I would sure hope not.
Cor blimey! Those cookie cutters are amazing!
I love the photos of you and sis! I have only a brother, wah! No one to wear vintage-y spring colored frocks with!
I love this post. You nailed it, with the creative process. I knit while the world dirties around me!
These cookie cutters are absolutely amazing! Unbelievable! You rock.
You *and* your bokeh.
Hi! Sorry for my English, I don't speak it very well. Does your sister have a cookie cutters store or something like that? I want some wonderlan's cutters desperately!
Sorry! I have just understand that are you who make this amazing cutters! Could you sell me a set? I am in Mexico City, Mexico and my e-mail is: wassalisa@gmail.com Thank you!
I NEED SOME OF THOSE COOKIE CUTTERS! lol
Those are FANTASTIC!!
I would LOVE to buy a set from you! Do you make them for the general public? :)
Im having a wedding with the Alice in Wonderland theme. I was kinda annoyed that Ashlee simpson did it before me!! LOL
But seriously--very talented! If you do sell them Id love to have a set! Email me if you do!! :D
oracle1247@yahoo.com
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