Schlumpy Craft

Woolbuddy bunny

2012-01-07T13:06:00.001-08:00

Woolbuddy bunny, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I really have been doing something other than playing Sims 3! I got a woolbuddy needle felting kit from NYC comic con. When I moved I packed it and only rediscovered it the other day. I think he turned out pretty cute! The woolbuddy site (woolbuddy.com) has a ton of cute felting kits you can buy. They have step by step photo instruction for each kit. I made mine a little different than the pictures to put the schlumpy stamp on it, so to speak. :)

Things that distract me from crafting

2011-12-30T19:34:00.001-08:00

tending his garden, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I'm a little bit of a geek. It's true and not really all that shocking. Although I have been working on various things for short periods of time, I've also been playing a shocking amount of Sims 3! This is my sim, Eiji. He's currently a master gardener. His lifetime goal is to be a master of the arts so I need to make him spend more time practicing guitar and painting and less time talking to his plants. Anyway, I'm trying to cut down on the sims and spend more time on the crafts but I guess we all need a break now and again!

Dear Jill or there's always one I can't finish

2011-12-23T16:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Jill, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

There always seems to be one gift I just can't get finished in time for the holiday. I have good intentions, really I do. I start early. I gather materials together. I set aside time every day to work on things. Something always works against my careful planning. This year it was a combination of leaving my job, moving half way across the US, and not being able to find the correct colors of yarn to use. I owe two people Jayne hats and they won't be done before Sunday. True fans of the TV show Firefly will understand that the hat Jayne receives from his mother has to be the right color or you just shouldn't bother. I'll get them done, and luckily the recipients are the understanding types. True fans are willing to wait for the real deal!

German holiday market in Chicago

2011-12-11T07:44:00.001-08:00

German holiday market in Chicago, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I took the Capitol limited from Washington DC to Chicago as part of my trip back to my mom's house. I had a long layover in Chicago while waiting for my final train. Instead of visiting the museums, I decided to wander around town instead. I stumbled across a German holiday market not too far from the train station! Lucky! I really wish I could have brought one of these lighted stars home but they were a bit too big to fit in my suitcase.

Good bye New York, I'll miss you!

2011-12-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have been an idle blogger for the last few weeks. I was busy finishing up at my job, packing, and moving things back to central Illinois. All this was done in anticipation of moving to Japan next year. I will have some crafty posts coming up since I am making all of my gifts this year. I'm also hoping to line up some guest posts in the new year!

Gnomes!

2011-11-08T07:04:00.001-08:00

Gnomes!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

This weekend I visited my brother and his wife in lovely Virginia! My SIL and I went to a paint your own pottery studio. They were having a gnome contest which I just had to enter! I decided to make one traditional red and white gnome and one monochrome gnome. Once they are glazed and fired, my SIL will send them to me so I can take their pictures and enter the contest!

Woolies!

2011-10-30T11:36:00.001-07:00

Woolies!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I am not all that fashionable. There's a reason I'm called Captain Schlumpy after all. I will go for comfort and function over fashion any day. Let's just say you will never see me in 4 inch heels or skinny jeans. However, I am very excited that leg warmers are trendy again. I got these at Uniqlo yesterday. Paired with a long sweater jacket, leggings, and some angora socks and I am in snuggly heaven!

Almost finished!

2011-10-25T13:41:00.001-07:00

Almost finished!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Another long absence from the blog! Sigh, I can't seem to keep up with all the things going on right now. I'm back in NYC for a couple of months before I take the plunge, quit my job, and move to Japan! Yay!

As for crafting:
My mom's birthday is coming up in a few days and she requested a red hat with a flower. I just need to attach the flower to the hat and send it off! The hat is made of acrylic yarn because mom forgets about that whole hand washing thing and I'm afraid she would felt a wool hat, but the red part of the flower is made from cascade bulky wool. The pattern was really easy and worked up quick! I made another one for my youngest brother. My friend is going to help me with some pictures of the hat being worn once I get the flower attached!

WIP hat for my brother

2011-10-05T11:51:00.003-07:00

A slouch hat using a pattern by April Draven off her blog. The yarn is patons 100% wool. It will have an orange lip when finished, but I still have 10 rounds of single crochet to do. This is a really easy pattern. Perfect for the bus/subway! I'll share the link when I'm not posting via blogger DROID. I've made 4 hats from this pattern already in various yarns. I will post pictures of all the finished ones together!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

California sea nettle

2011-10-04T05:08:00.001-07:00

California sea nettle, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Whew! The last month has been really busy for me. I moved out of my old apartment, went home to help out my mom before and after her knee surgery, and rode the train from central Illinois back to New York City. Sadly, I had to leave most of my crafting supplies back in IL since I am gearing up for my move to Japan. I think the embroidery stuff was the hardest to leave behind. I am crocheting my holiday gifts this year so I had to make a tough decision due to space constraints in my luggage. What does all this have to do with jellyfish? Nothing at all! I had a layover in Chicago, IL long enough to revisit Shedd Aquarium and they had a jellyfish exhibit. It was a lot of fun, but I do have to admit that the Baltimore, MD aquarium currently holds my vote. Although Shedd does have an amazing Caribbean reef tank and three (yes three!!) beluga whales so it's worth a visit.

My favorite things about this time of year

2011-09-17T10:03:00.001-07:00

My favorite things about this time of year, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Still plugging along on my lists! I'm really thinking about those warm clothes right now because my movers lost a couple of my boxes. One of those boxes just happened to contain my winter clothes. Ugh and double ugh. So now I've only got a few pairs of jeans and one overworked hoodie until they either find the box or I break down and go shopping. I hate shopping for clothes! Other than that, I really love this time of year!

Favorite color combinations

2011-09-06T18:37:00.001-07:00

Favorite color combinations, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I'm a big fan of periwinkle blue, as you can see from my grouping of favorite color combinations. I also love turquoise and red together. This is another addition to my 30 days of lists challenge!

Things to do on Sunday morning

2011-09-05T16:00:00.001-07:00

Things to do on Sunday morning, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

drink coffee
go for a walk
sit in the park with a good book
sleep in!

I am happiest when I am...

2011-09-03T20:32:00.001-07:00

I am happiest when I am..., originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Here is my day #2 entry for the 30 days of lists! Just a few activities that make me really happy!

My Goals for the month

2011-09-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

I'm participating in the 30 Days of Lists! Due to moving, Hurricane Irene, and a computer crash I'm getting a late start but I am determined to catch up. My first list is going to be pretty lame but I'm going to complete two tomorrow and they will be much better!

My goals for the month:
1. buy a new laptop - must have my interwebs!
2. get started on christmas DIY - I really want to give more hand made this year
3. Complete at least one outstanding WIP - like the afghans, or the hat...
4. Get my resume ready for Japan jobs for the spring.
5. update both blogs at least once a week.
These are the things that I really want to focus on while I'm here in IL visiting my mom and siblings. Again, tomorrow's lists will be much easier on the eye!

me and a gopher tortoise

2011-08-28T17:10:00.001-07:00

me and a gopher tortoise, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Just a little non-crafty post for today. I'm still running without a computer. My boxes are packed for the move and most of my craft supplies are out of reach until next week. I'm also dealing with the lack of public transport due to Irene. This is an older photo of me from my last job. I found a cache of CDs with pictures on them from my time as a resource ranger with Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida. If you love white sand beaches and friendly people, I recommend a stop on Pensacola Beach. I hope to be back to regular posting next week when I buy a new laptop!

CRASH!!

2011-08-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not intentionally neglecting my blog, I swear! My laptop decided to crash last weekend and the repair shop was not able to fix it. They were able to save my hard drive so I didn't lose any data but I'm not able to do any sort of computing from home for the near future. I do have a blogger app on my phone so I will try to keep doing micro-updates from there!

Custom friendly freckles

2011-08-09T14:55:00.001-07:00

Custom friendly freckles, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Finally finished! Well, technically she still needs a new eye mech and while I like the dark red part of the wig, the rest of it is a mess. It will have to be replaced too. Still, I'm pleased with my first custom on a blythe.

Making butter

2011-08-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

It all started when I stopped by the grocery store on my way to work. I picked up some frozen egg rolls for lunch and figured I would go ahead and grab some heavy cream for my coffee (fattening and decadent!). I had to carry the cream from the store to work and then back home on the bus and two trains. When I opened the cream the next morning to put it in my coffee, it was lumpy! At first I thought it was bad but quickly realized that I had agitated it enough that it was already starting to turn into butter.

I grabbed an empty jelly jar and poured the cream into it. I also put a small stone in the jar (sanitized first!) although you can use a marble too. After that, it was just a matter of shaking, and shaking...and shaking! After about 30 minutes, the cream starts to get thicker and looks like this:

At this point I drained off some of the liquid and then...you guessed it, more shaking! Another 30 minutes and it was done! Larger amounts of cream will take longer to set up into butter. After you have achieved the consistency you want, just drain off the rest of the liquid, add salt or fresh herbs, and enjoy!

Cheshire cat sweater wip

2011-08-04T14:30:00.001-07:00

Cheshire cat sweater wip, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Even though I still need to complete two more little blue sweaters I decided to start on this one too! One of my dolls has a cute pair of grey kitty ears and since the other guy has a white rabbit outfit, I thought Kotori should be the cheshire cat. Eventually I want to try a pullover sweater but for now I'm just cranking out cardigans!

Jean Jean Vintage: One of my favorite blogs

2011-08-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

I just love looking at Jean Jean vintage! She always has such gorgeous vintage jewelry on display! For example, check out this amazing 1950's buckle ring which is available in her shop! At least until some lucky person buys it.

I really love it but my fingers, they are too big! Plus, I can't really wear jewelry at my job. Anyway, I just wanted to share one of the places I hang out on the internet when I get a few moments away from work and crafting! Enjoy!

my little hams

2011-07-23T19:35:00.001-07:00

my little hams, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

This is the finished sweater modeled by its owner. I really love this yarn. It's so soft and such a nice color. I love getting hand-dyed yarns off of etsy. Hopefully some day I can spin yarn this fine for myself! Until then I'll just have to settle for crocheting with it!

New doll sweaters!

2011-07-21T15:10:00.001-07:00

New yo sweaters, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I just finished up these little sweaters for my ball jointed dolls. The top one still needs to be blocked though. The blue one is the first in a set of 3 that I'm doing (2 for my dolls and 1 for a friend). It's really tough to find just the right kind of lace weight yarn for these little sweaters. I like a certain drape and lightness. You can see that the green sweater is going to be a little bulky. It's more of a coat. That's ok, it's blazing hot here in NYC right now, but winter will be back before you know it! Dollies need to be prepared!

Busy saturday

2011-07-16T15:55:00.001-07:00

Busy saturday, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

A little work in progress pic of an amigurumi for a friend. I decided to have a True Blood marathon and do some crochet. I'm almost finished with this mer-kitty just arms and ears left to go! Tomorrow I've got some painting to do so I can finish my blythe doll and I'm trying to get a skirt pattern cut out. Busy, busy!

One done, one to go!

2011-07-10T10:53:00.001-07:00

hujoo jake blonde, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.
I finally finished this guy for my friend, Jill. He's a Hujoo Jake. He's made of ABS plastic which makes him much lighter and less expensive than resin ball jointed dolls. I finished him with a combination of pastels and acrylics and he's sealed with Mr. Super Clear. I wanted to put eyes in his head as well but although he looks like he would wear the 14mm I have laying around, he has plastic eye cups inside his head which are more like 12mm. The wig is a monique wig from Kemper dolls. I'll have to wait until Jill gets him to see him with eyes!

Holga!

2011-06-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

Wooden carousel Holga , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Another fun thing I love to do. Take pictures with my Holga 120N. It's always fun to see what the pictures will look like once I get the film developed. Luckily, there are a number of places to develop 120 mm film in NYC. I've got one more roll of B&W to finish and then I'm switching over to color for a bit. This is a wooden carousel (one of the last working ones in the US) that I saw when I visited my brother in VA earlier this year.

Getting ready to paint

2011-06-22T13:02:00.001-07:00

Getting ready to paint, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Getting ready to paint

Mer-kitty at the beach

2011-06-18T10:25:00.001-07:00

Mer-kitty at the beach, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I finished my little mer-kitty finally! Just in time for her to hang out at the beach! I'm making a few adjustments to the pattern and completing a couple more for friends and family. I do hope my boss hooks me up with more of the alpaca yarn this year. HIs mom raises alpacas but doesn't have use for the fiber so she has it made up into yarn and gives it away! I got 4 skeins last year. So nice!

Day off = anime, dolls, and crocheted cat fish!

2011-05-14T06:06:00.001-07:00

Day off = anime, dolls, and crocheted cat fish!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I can't believe May is half over! Summer will be here before long! I'm working my way through a few projects currently. I've been on a crocheting binge and I have to say, Chiaogoo crochet hooks are really awesome. I am a fan of bamboo hooks for a variety of reasons including sustainability and comfort. These hooks come in half metal, half bamboo and all bamboo depending on the size of the hook. I'm working up this mer-kitty for a gift since the pattern is one I mashed together from two other purchased patterns. I hope to start designing my own amigurumi soon though!

feeling stitchy: Patterns: Spring Unicorn Cross Stitch

2011-05-04T06:12:00.000-07:00

feeling stitchy: Patterns: Spring Unicorn Cross Stitch: "Spring Unicorn Cross Stitch by Flossbox. I found this via the feeling stitchy blog and I just had to share! How fun and happy is this?!

Happy spring!

2011-04-30T14:16:00.001-07:00

Happy spring!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Hello!
My poor, neglected blog. Thing have been so crazy. It's always like that at work this time of year! anyway, the cherry blossoms are in bloom and my new neighborhood is full of them! This is my building, it looks like a castle! Happy crafting to all of you. I have some projects to post soon!

Covered button WIP

2011-04-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

Covered button WIP, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Last time I visited my mom in IL I bought a big bag of covered button kits at the charity shop. I've finally managed to settle into my new place enough to start crafting again. The pattern is from one of my Japanese embroidery books. The book is full of plant and animal designs and includes a really good tutorial for an alternative way to make a french knot (something I have a LOT of trouble with).
ISBN 978-4-277-31160-1

Kachooz! I'm still not fully moved in

2011-03-26T16:48:00.001-07:00

Kachooz, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Still on the move. I'm going from a one bedroom apt. to sharing an apt. so most of my things need to fit in my bedroom. This is a lot tougher than I expected! I'm not sure how long it is going to take me to get things organized enough to start really crafting again. I also acknowledge that I really need to get rid of some of the fabrics in my stash. I'll likely be offering up some of it here so stay tuned!

RAWR from the hippo

2011-03-12T14:26:00.001-08:00

RAWR from the hippo, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Goodness, I've left my poor blog alone for a bit again. I sent this off for a friend of mine recently as part of a swap. She's making one of my dolls a sweater! The hippo is stitched on linen (none of that linen-look stuff for me) and lined in quilting cotton. I'm still trying to work out the flaw in the pattern that is making me unhappy with how the lining fits in. I also want to try this out in a heavy canvas fabric for pens or crochet hooks. I really like the shape of the bag.

In other news...I'm moving! Yippee! Out of the cave and in to an apt. in Jackson Heights Queens that looks like a castle, so cool! I'm more excited about the 2 huge windows in my room to be honest. Now, I'm trying to decide whether or not to ditch my car and go public transport all the way. Time will tell!

Springtime in Yoshiwara

2011-03-04T10:29:00.001-08:00

Springtime in Yoshiwara, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Tag swap!
I was in the mood for spring when I made this one. I also wanted to give it the feel of an edo period wood block print. I've been doing my best to try and use up some of the mountains of craft materials I have in my house. I sometimes think I could open a craft store with just the things I have in my stash!

In other news, the schlumpy household is moving! Yes, I'm finally getting out of the basement! I decided to rent a room in a great apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens. I'm very excited to be back on the subway map. Plus, there's a farmer's market right across from my new building! Awesome!
I'll be packing and moving all this month but I hope to squeeze in a couple of posts.

Be well!

Here's how it is

2011-02-22T13:09:00.001-08:00

Here's how it is, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

tiny knitting and felting! My friend Danielle (http://www.amubleu.com/blog/) had an artist table at Katsucon. She made the tiny knitted bear in the picture as a gift for my yosd Kotori. I brought the needle felted blue guinea pig (made by me!) for her yosd Tsuyoshi. A big part of the fun of these dolls is posing them to look as human as possible. The little guys look like they are having a deep discussion about the merits of various stuffed toys.

Off to Baltimore!

2011-02-18T05:23:00.001-08:00

Hello my crafty pals!
I am off to Baltimore, MD today for Katsucon. I am not taking the laptop but lucky you (har, har), I have a blogger app on my droid! I'm mainly interested in the Artist's alley where a friend of mine has a booth. We'll see what goodies I come up with.
Have a great weekend!
Jennifer

Magic Adjustable Loop/Circle for Crochet

2011-02-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

out of it...literally

2011-02-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Things have been quiet here at the Schlumpy blog. Sorry! I had all 4 wisdom teeth out on Friday and I decided to take a little hiatus.I figured no one would want to hear my pain killer induced rantings about sparkles and rainbows, and unicorns. Well, maybe you would! Anyway, I'll be back to crafting as soon as I can stay awake for more that 2 hours at a time and those damn unicorns stop jumping out of my closets. :)

Link!

2011-01-30T07:45:00.001-08:00

Link! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

another geek craft complete! I love Legend of Zelda! I'm playing Twilight Princess on my wii right now! A friend of mine was feeling a little down, so I finished this up for her yesterday. The design is not mine, I got it online during an image search. This brings me to today's ethical crafting question: How do you feel about borrowing designs? I don't plan to sell this, I didn't create Link or this particular incarnation of him. At the same time, I don't feel as though I am violating the rights of the person who did this design first because a.) They don't own Link either and b.) I will not make a profit off of their design. I feel copyright waters get increasingly murky in the anima/manga/gaming world because of the fan culture surrounding them. Especially anime and manga where there is a tradition of doujinshi in Japan. For those of you who don't know, doujinshi are fan made comics and are usually sold by the creators. The biggest market for them is Comiket (oh how I would love to go!). Anyway, thoughts?

Make your own edible people!

2011-01-29T08:44:00.001-08:00

Make your own edible people! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I have an odd sense of humor, some might call it twisted. When I found a silicone candy mold %50 off and idea was born. People shaped suet for the birds! It's easy to make and you can use a less, um, shall we say, disturbing mold if you don't want to see the birds feasting on little people in your yard.

Ingredients:

1 bar of lard (found in the dairy section with the butter)
1 cup peanut butter (if you use crunchy, cut down on the amount of seed or the mold will overflow)
bird seed mix to fill mold

Directions:

melt lard on low heat
add peanut butter
mix until fully melted
fill candy mold 3/4 full with seed mix
pour lard/pb mixture over seeds
freeze until set up (I usually leave it in the freezer over night)

EASY!! This would be a great DIY to do with an older child. I feed the birds outside my window to entertain the cat while I'm at work. (she isn't allowed outside off leash)

Enjoy!

I almost have a new sweater!

2011-01-27T10:24:00.001-08:00

I almost have a new sweater! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

another WIP, big surprise! I promise I won't always be posting doll projects! This is the first article of clothing aside from scarves I have attempted to crochet. I have a lovely pattern for a sweater for me I would like to tackle soon though! Kotori is getting a cardigan. I'm testing out this pattern so some of the stitches are rather wonky. The little guy also seems to be cross-eyed so I guess I'll have to readjust his eyes. Anyway, fingering weight merino wool yarn on 1.5 mm hook. sleeves up next!

Kotori is a ball jointed doll from the Volks company in Japan. He is a yo-sd volks Eddie.

Down to two bags

2011-01-22T11:55:00.001-08:00

Down to two bags, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I went walking around Manhattan yesterday in heeled boots and my feet are killing me today. Today is a day of watching Toy Story 3 and crocheting while the dog and cat nap.

I'm close to banishing all the acrylic yarn from my house! The canvas bag contains the makings for my friend Jill's franken-blanket while the green bag holds an afghan for my mom and another one for a camo lovin' pal. Then it will be all natural fibers all the time! Well, unless someone needs a baby blanket. They have to be washing machine friendly!

One side will make you larger...

2011-01-20T16:42:00.001-08:00

One side will make you larger..., originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I love mushrooms! I like to eat them but I also just like to look at them. There are so may kinds of amazing fungus among us! I took this a while ago while working at a site away from my office. I have no idea what kind of toad stool it is but it was huge and amazing I felt it deserved the Polaroid app on my phone. I hope to see many more amazing mushrooms once spring arrives here in NY!

brrrr!

2011-01-19T07:11:00.001-08:00

brrrr!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

another doll shot. This one is my sekiguchi unoa azurite. Poor boy doesn't have a name yet. I love this perfectly in scale coat though. It's fully lined if you can believe it! In crafty news, I've finished both a cowl (very experimental as I did not use a pattern) and a scarf. I'm also hooking (lol!) away on an afghan for my mom and a friend of mine. I've depleted the acrylic yarn stash significantly! Soon it will be all natural fibers all the time!

Much better!

2011-01-12T13:57:00.001-08:00

Much better! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Finished! For now any way. I think he's looking much better! I also think he'll be getting some tattoos in the near future.

What I'm up to this weekend

2011-01-08T17:34:00.001-08:00

What I'm up to this weekend, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

another little project I started to amuse myself. I really like the new fashionista line of Barbie and Ken. I'm a sucker for anything pose-able. However, the Ken hairstyles were just awful. I got this guy with his winning smile and yanked out all his hair. I'm using Martha Stewart Crafts' flocking powder in ebony to give him a manly man buzz cut. This is my first time using flocking powder so we'll see how it turns out! I've got a few other things in the works as well since I've got 5 days off work. I'm doing my best to start 2011 off right by digging through my stash for materials. How is your 2011 so far? Any crafty goals?

Monster High coaster

2010-12-31T03:59:00.001-08:00

Monster High coaster, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

A friend of mine collects Monster High dolls and I've recently been making video game sprites out of perler beads. I'd forgotten how much fun they are! When I was a kid, they were the craft of choice for summer camps for a while. Colorful and easy for kids to make neat magnets or ornaments out of. Now they are used to make video game characters or skull coasters like I've done here. One thing I would recommend is having a pair of tweezers on hand to place the middle beads. Otherwise, you might get a bit frustrated.

See my sweatermals?!

2010-12-27T08:52:00.001-08:00

See my sweatermals?!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

One of my favorite "fabrics" to use for sewing is thrifted, wool sweaters. I'm always excited to see what they will look like after going through the fulling (felting) process. These little bears were a breeze to make and the recipient, my friend's adorable daughter, Kairi, enjoyed them! I used two different sweaters and safety eyes and hand appliqued the tummies and faces. I've already started a similar set for Kairi's brother.

stocking for Jaxon's first Christmas

2010-12-14T13:27:00.001-08:00

stocking for Jaxon's first Christmas, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

made for my nephew, Jaxon at my mother's request. She wanted him to have a hand made stocking to use at her house for his first Christmas. I made it out of thrifted, felted wool sweaters and wool felt. All the embroidery was done by me. I think I need to work on my feather stitch!

Afterschool Oxford: Outtakes from our Design*Sponge Sneak Peek

2010-12-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

You should really check out the sneak peak on design sponge as well. Such a gorgeous thrifted southern home. Makes me miss the south even more!

Afterschool Oxford: Outtakes from our Design*Sponge Sneak Peek: " Our home was featured on Design Sponge today, and it is such an honor. &n..."

Luv-able, Hug-able, and Wearable!

2010-12-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

I managed to sneak into the city yesterday to take in the Luv-able & Hug-able (and Wearable) show at Gallery Hanahou. The gallery is small and adorable with one huge window at the end. The show was sponsored by etsy.com which is always a big plus in my book! The staff was cheerful and helpful even though my friend and I popped in as they were in the middle of a workshop. I was there to see some of the entries by people I "know" from flickr and livejournal.

The highlight for me was seeing the works exhibited by Melissa Stanley aka art_lurker on livejournal and moderator of the Cute Plush community I am a member of.

I was also able to see the cute camera ornaments made by one of my flickr contacts, Hine.

Here are a couple of other pieces that I really wanted to take home with me! You can also follow this link to my flickr album for the remainder of the pictures! If you happen to be in New York City I highly recommend checking out the show and possible supporting an independent artist by taking something home with you!

Rockefeller plaza tree 2010

2010-12-11T17:28:00.001-08:00

I hit the city today to visit gallery hanahou's new show. Pictures and review tomorrow!

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Jamaica bay, Queens, NY

2010-12-09T05:07:00.001-08:00

Janaica bay, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Good morning! Another silly android camera app! I actually own a vintage camera of this type. I have not been able to acquire any film for it yet though. I'm still stumbling through my Holga film. For now, I'll use the cheat method. I'm such a sucker for vignetting!

Two cute dollies

2010-12-03T12:54:00.001-08:00

Two cute dollies, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

A couple of cute toys I picked up while visiting my mom in Illinois last week. They are about 3 inches tall. There are big versions but I really think the big ones should be made of cloth instead of hard plastic. I mean, a plastic rag doll? Really?! Anyway, they make a cute pair sitting on my laptop don't they?

Franken-blanket lives!!

2010-11-24T06:27:00.001-08:00

Franken-blanket lives!!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I finally finished it! I've been trying to rid my yard stash of synthetic yarns so I started this massive granny square blanket ages ago and worked on it a little at a time. I finally decided it was big enough! I still have enough yarn that I've started on another. Whew, that's a lot of synthetic yarn! I made it a goal that I can only buy new synthetic yarn to finish off the border because I like the thick fuzzy angel hair sensations yarn and that type is 22% wool. Other than that, everything has to come from the stash. I makes for some crazy color combination!

Good Morning!

2010-11-23T05:14:00.001-08:00

Good Morning!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Sweet dumpling squash pie

2010-11-19T14:37:00.001-08:00

Sweet dumpling squash pie, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Crappy cell phone pic before the staff meeting! No pie left afterward! I picked up a butternut squash and two sweet dumpling squash at the grocery store last week not really knowing what to do with either kind. After some googling, I decided to make the sweet dumpling squash into a pie! It turned out fantastic and with no added sugar! Just a cup of pure maple syrup. My coworkers said it was yummy. I use them as my cooking experiment guinea pigs all the time. I would like to try and get the next pie to set up a little better. I think I mixed the filling too much. I have enough squash puree to make 3 more of these. Now to find something to do with the butternut squash.

Kitsune lino-cut finished!

2010-11-01T04:09:00.001-07:00

Kitsune lino-cut finished!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

A long time in coming. I actually sent this swap out a couple of weeks ago and promptly started working 10+ hour days. I am so glad that is over! I did manage to make a few prints from this block but my technique is lacking. I'm wondering if I should invest in a press. Not right this minute though. I've got another block print in the planning stages inspired by a Starbucks gift card of all things! Then it's onward to the holiday gifts and an alpaca scarf for myself.

Toy camera style foliage

2010-10-08T13:21:00.001-07:00

Toy camera style foliage, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I have a Droid X! I already have a ton of applications on it too. This one is called fxcamera. You can choose a variety of post processing for the pictures but my favorite by far is toy camera. I own a Holga but I rarely get such candy-colored pictures from it. I'll have to practice more! Until then, I just cheat and use technology!

Bright like the sun!

2010-10-03T12:59:00.001-07:00

Bright like the sun! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I really like this skirt "formula" it's not really a pattern, just a bunch of measurements and lengths so you can make a skirt as long and as poofy as you want. I also really like shopping for fabric in the nursery section of the fabric store! Lucky for me, kelly green is making a comeback this fall. I found a cute green cardigan at Old Navy to wear with this!

Trip to the farmer's market

2010-10-02T11:16:00.001-07:00

pile of radishes, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I headed out to the Union Square farmer's market in Manhattan earlier last month. I didn't buy anything except some honey crisp apples but there were so many great looking vegetables to photograph!

What's your kitsch?

2010-09-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

1. kitsch kitties + 1, 2. 2 Vintage Guecki Plastiskop Houses, 3. A Rather Kitsch Plastic Stag Head, 4. Untitled, 5. Fifi lookin' pretty in pink!, 6. shake it up, 7. KITSCH COCKS !, 8. Contestant Number Two realized a little too late that one should never eat peanut butter and crackers before a whistling competition, 9. Rainbow Vintage Flowers Necklace

I've been thinking about kitsch a bit lately. I confess I have a love of all things slightly tacky. Especially if they happen to be vintage, in the shape of an animal, or plastic. I can't help it! If I happen to be at a flea market or junk shop I am helplessly drawn to the tackiest thing in the place. I have to restrain myself. Otherwise my apartment would be full of tasteless and adorable vintage things that I would have to dust. What about you? What's your favorite kind of kitsch?

design sponge finds the coolest stuff!

2010-09-02T08:11:00.001-07:00

reposted from design sponge. I would love to try this out!

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designspongeonline/njjl/~3/ZVg_kG553_E/dedo-faux-fur-message-board.html

The wonder of smart phones

2010-08-14T05:10:00.001-07:00

I caved. I got a smart phone. I want to use it to post photos on the go! Once I finish downloading tons of cool apps of course!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.2

onionhead

2010-08-08T07:52:00.001-07:00

onionhead, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I've been in a bit of a crafting and creative slump for the last couple of weeks. I can't seem to work up the energy to take pictures or paint or sew or anything. It's frustrating. This is one of my vintage kokeshi dolls. I call it onionhead for obvious reasons. I'm using it as a reference for a painting I'm determined to get started this week. We'll see how that works out for me!

Poupee Mechanique

2010-07-28T08:06:00.001-07:00

Poupee Mechanique, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

One of the best things about collecting any object is sharing those objects with other collectors. I love sharing my stuff with people who can appreciate it! Some of the nicest collectors out there are Blythe people. They are generous with information and a fun gang to hang around. One of my friends recently invited us over for a Blythe party to celebrate his Kenner (original) Blythe coming back from some reconstruction work in Greece. The celebration was also a chance to show of the lovely and detailed outfits made by poupee mechanique. Tons of fun!

Where does your food come from?

2010-07-08T14:31:00.001-07:00

Where does your food come from?, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I just finished watching Food Inc. and I've got to say it really made me think about where my food comes from, what's in it, and who is producing it. I don't think I'll ever be able to buy meat from a supermarket again to be honest. NO, I'm not going vegan, but I will make a conscious effort to buy local from farmers who practice free range and do not feed their animals corn. Anyway, it is too hot to cook here so dinner is a yummy salad with local lettuce and organic tomatoes and sprouts!

More gardening adventures!

2010-06-08T18:24:00.001-07:00

More gardening adventures! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

The container garden keeps expanding here at the Schlumpy house. I've added a few more tomato plants to the big containers and separated all the pickling cucumber seedlings into their own pots. I also picked up some cilantro but it is potted on my steps to give it partial shade.

Compelled to try again

2010-05-22T18:17:00.001-07:00

Compelled to try again, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Another year, another attempt at gardening. Last year between the horrible soil in my yard and the constant rain we had early in the season, my garden did not go over well. Plus, although I'm not new to organic gardening (I don't remember my grandfather ever putting chemicals on his garden) I was trying some new vegetables for me. Cabbage worms were my enemies!!

This year I've built up the boxes with topsoil and manure and planted a lot of things in containers. The mint and the lavender made it through the winter with little help from me and I believe the lavender might bloom this year!

I'm giving it another go, the thought of tomatoes and cucumbers right off the plant and into my kitchen is just too tempting.

bookmark diy

2010-05-15T13:04:00.001-07:00

bookmark diy, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

A friend of mine celebrated a birthday recently and since she does not wear much jewelry I decided to give her some bling for her books. I've always wanted a bookmark like this but I tend to lose them so I use things that I won't mind misplacing like candy wrappers and junk mail.

Scooter boy

2010-05-14T04:32:00.001-07:00

Scooter boy, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

One of those silly toy pictures. I have a small collection of these pose-able figures. They're called Figma and the characters are from anime or video games. Ren here is from a radio series in Japan called Vocaloid. His little scooter was a birthday gift from my friend Jill. I love his happy face, makes me smile every time I see it!

tiny doll WIP

2010-04-30T11:47:00.001-07:00

tiny doll WIP, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

First draft of a tiny doll. The pattern is from one of my favorite Japanese magazines Dolly Dolly. I put the seams in the wrong places and did a poor job of attaching the arms on this prototype so I'll have to hit the drawing board again! I'd forgotten how difficult hand sewing can be! Still, I'm hoping the next one will turn out better.

spring skirt finished today!

2010-04-25T07:28:00.001-07:00

spring skirt *finished today!*, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Whew, the directions claimed it would only take a couple of hours to finish this skirt but I spent at least 5 on it. I seriously fail at even gathering. I need to pull out the ruffler foot and see if I can do better next time. Still, it's a cute skirt and super comfortable! the tiers mean less bulk at the waistline. Next time, I plan to pay more attention to matching up the seams though.

Freakin' Magical!

2010-04-18T11:47:00.001-07:00

Freakin' Magical!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

another charm bracelet! I finished this one for a friend of mine who is a fellow unicorn lover! Really, who doesn't like sparkles and unicorns?! I am still getting the hang of making secure connections for the plastic flowers. It's difficult to attach them to the jump rings without them sliding around. luckily I have a tiny bit for my dremel that I can make holes with to run the wires through and make it look tidier.

I've got a few more things finished or in the works. Hopefully I'll have time to finish them and take pictures this weekend!

All in the Golden Afternoon

2010-03-31T17:52:00.001-07:00

All in the Golden Afternoon, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I've been on a jewelry kick lately. Which is probably a good thing since I have so many beads, findings, and beading magazines running around the cave! Also, the new Alice in Wonderland movie (which I have yet to see) has made me nostalgic about the Disney version and the book. I was always fond of the segment where Alice is 3 inches high and talking to the flowers.

gift for a friend

2010-03-15T05:15:00.001-07:00

gift for a friend, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Small embroidered fish for a friend I stayed with in San Diego. The fish design came from an art nouveau design book. I've been so busy with work again! Darn paycheck maker is always getting in the way of crafting. Other distractions have included Glee, interior design magazines, and resume writing. I've also picked up kirigami so my work surface is covered with little bits of origami paper.

Craft area after

2010-03-06T05:16:00.001-08:00

Craft area *after*, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Still not 100% satisfied with this set up but it's much better than before. Someday I hope to have an entire room devoted to my crafting. That's not going to happen while I live in the land of $$$ rent and small spaces so I'll just have to make do! Thank goodness for IKEA!

Craft area before

2010-02-23T15:49:00.001-08:00

Craft area *before*, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I live in a small basement apartment. I have a lot of books and a lot of craft supplies and very little storage area. The mess tends to take over as I move from one project to another. It has been worse since I've been juggling work, school, pets, and hobbies. I dream of an entire room to use as a studio but for now I just need to organize and keep this area tidy!

How do you organize your crafting space?

Early morning kitty

2010-02-16T05:51:00.001-08:00

Early morning kitty, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Not a craft but a little miss who likes to play in the craft supplies! She's fond of anything shiny. Tinker is my dog's cat. It sounds silly but I'm not really a cat person. However, I wanted Basil to have some company while I was at work and I do not have the space for another dog of the size I prefer (no pocket dogs in this house!). When my mom was looking for a home for Tinker, I offered to try it out. She's fitting in nicely. She thinks she's a dog! Basil goes out, Tinker does too! Basil gets a belly rub, Tinker does too! Now if I can just figure out how to keep her from eating the bamboo...

Crafting goals 2010

2010-01-19T04:46:00.000-08:00

I know, it's a little late for New Year's resolutions but most of my goals for the new year are health or personal related. I do have two goals for my craft/art life though!

1. Use things from my stash before buying new stuff - I have enough supplies and fabric in my apt. to start my own craft store. One thing I love is buying new supplies. Curse you Joann's and your 40% off coupons!! *shakes fist*

2. Go to a gallery show at least once a month - I am lucky enough to live in the NYC metro area. So many artists have personal shows here but I'm reluctant to wander into galleries because I don't have the money to buy. I'm trying to get over my fear of looking like a schlub and just go!

What are your crafting goals in 2010?

Don't feed your inner seagull

2010-01-18T11:13:00.001-08:00

Don't feed your inner seagull, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I try to make all my presents but this year I was only able to make two, and this was one of them! My friend Sabrina and I used to work on as field biologists on a tourist destination beach in Florida.

People feed the gulls
People call gulls "seagulls"
There was a pamphlet on the beach one night when we were waiting for a sea turtle nest to hatch. We'd had no sleep and were a tiny bit slap-happy. The pamphlet was all about finding inner peace and not feeding your bad habits.

It wasn't too far to leap for me to come up with this little phrase!

Hand embroidered using a panel from the outdoor fabrics section and attached to fulled wool suiting. I wanted to frame it but I didn't think they would let me carry on a glass frame and I didn't want to check a frame so I told her she could decide how to display it herself!

on the road

2010-01-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

I'm in San Diego all this week. Let me tell you the weather is gorgeous! I was seriously in need of some sunshine! I love NY but between the gloomy winter weather and my basement apt with two, tiny windows I was missing natural light. I planned on posting pictures as I went along but silly me, I forgot the camera cord! I might hit an office depot and pick up a SD card reader to tide me over. Plans for the week include swap meets, art museums, graffiti hunting, and the zoo!

Peacock necklace

2010-01-02T18:17:00.001-08:00

Peacock necklace, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I kind of have crafting ADD. I go from craft to craft and I generally have one or two projects in progress at any moment in time. I also buy a lot of supplies, even if I don't have a use for them at the time I buy them. You could say that my apt. is a little cluttered with crafting equipment! Anyway, this is my recent foray into jewelry making. I made this for a writer friend of mine online. She had seen the pendant on etsy and was sad that the piece was sold out. I found the same pendant in one of my craft store trawls and made it into a necklace/brooch. The brass is a nice, warm color. I would have liked the pendant without the green triangle on the back of the bird but the design is so great! I hope she likes it!

Inspiration strikes!

2009-12-28T07:34:00.001-08:00

Inspiration strikes!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

1. Set of Terrariums, 2. Candyland Terrarium, 3. The Garden Globe Terrarium, 4. Unique handmade terrariums I sell, 5. Glitter Deer Winter Terrarium 2, 6. happy birthday michelle!, 7. bell jar, 8. Terrarium Party, 9. terrarium !, 10. Succulent Terrarium, 11. vintage shaker moss terrarium, 12. Aquatic Garden

while out on the site at work, I kept noticing little patches of moss here and there amongst the grasses. I've always had a fondness form moss. You don't have to mow it, and it's soft for bare feet! When I was younger, we had a giant terrarium in our garage. It never had any plants in it, but I would stick toys and things into it for fun. My thoughts tend to wander while I'm out in the field and they eventually led me to do a flickr search for terrariums! Wow! So many nifty ideas! I really enjoy the candy colored faux terrariums but I have to admit the ones filled with moss and little toys are my favorites! and check it out! Terrarium parties! I want to have one of those!
Seen here:
http://www.stopkatie.com/?p=2915

How cute is my dog?

2009-12-25T16:53:00.001-08:00

How cute is my dog?, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Happy Holidays from Basil and everyone here at the Schlumpy house!

Elliot in his new outfit

2009-12-17T15:27:00.001-08:00

Elliot in his new outfit, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

altering doll patterns to fit different types of dolls is a bit hit or miss with me. I altered an overalls pattern for a bigger doll to fit my little guy. He's 33cm tall and can wear ken clothes in a pinch. The cape and hat are made without a pattern and I used recycled jeans and a sweater so 95% of his outfit is re-purposed I still have enough left of the sweater to make myself some snuggly mittens!

Elliot and a pal

2009-12-05T15:47:00.001-08:00

Elliot and a pal, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

One of my dolls. He's a Ted from MinoruWorld. I've been slowly working on an overalls pattern for him. He's sort of an in between size doll. He can wear Ken pants but his butt is a bit big for them. I've been adapting a pattern from the Japanese mook Dolly Dolly. With any luck I'll get it put together tomorrow. I should work on it tonight but I am so tired for some reason. Tomorrow is a day off! Sewing time!

Me!

2009-11-22T16:57:00.001-08:00

Me! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

eep! nearly a month since the last post! That's bad. Finished the cape in time for Halloween and Faerie-con. Now I'm on to other crafting for the holiday season. I'm not going %100 hand-made this year as much as I'd like to. I just don't have the time between work and school. Next year for sure I'll be back to only giving things that I've made. I need to start using some of the patterns that I've been accumulating!

From 8 yards into 1!

2009-10-27T05:20:00.001-07:00

From 8 yards into 1!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I decided to try making a muslin underskirt/petticoat thing as a test for a pattern by sugardale. It was fairly straightforward although I had never done any gathering before. I'm in the process of making my own halloween costume this year and working my courage up to make my own clothes out of the vintage patterns I've been scrounging from flea markets and ebay. We'll see how it goes!

WIP x2, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Here's a work in progress shot of the petticoat and cape. the gathering is disastrous and I did purchase a ruffler foot for my sewing machine because GOSH! hand gathering takes forever!!
I'm please with how the cape is coming along because I didn't use a pattern. Still to go, waistband and ruffles! Maybe a bow or two? We'll see!

Sheepie goodness!

2009-10-24T03:56:00.001-07:00

Sheepie goodness! , originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I love sheep. Always have. I raised a sheep for 4-H back in high school and I currently have a large stash of wool and wool yarn. Naturally when my friend Jill announced that she was going to have a little girl, I knew I had to incorporate sheep into a gift. The pattern is from a Japanese embroidery book (another obsession!) and the characters below the Ram spell out Ka, i, and ri...or Kairi which is my friend's new daughter! I plan to work this pattern into a few other things for myself because it is quick and cute!

reconstruction before pic

2009-10-06T14:54:00.001-07:00

reconstruction *before* pic, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I bought this a while ago and I'm planning to turn it into part of a little red riding hood inspired outfit for faerie-con this year. It's a bit too long for me and I don't really like the border print so I'm planning to shorten it and add a small ruffle to the bottom. I also need a blouse and a cape. I'm thinking of adding red accents but I'm not 100% sure they will go so I've posted this in a lolita community for advice. The cape will be 100% made by me and to tell the truth I'm a little nervous! Still it's a cute Jessica Howard dress that I found at TJMaxx for $25~

Latest embroidered flower pin

2009-08-31T08:15:00.001-07:00

Latest embroidered flower pin, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Kicking it up a notch! I added beads to this one and did a bit more to embellish the leaves. Not sure what I'm going to do with this one. They usually end up as random swaps or gifts. I tried out swap bot but like most swaps I've tried in the past, I always put in a lot of effort and only got back similar effort in a couple of cases. Anyway, my usual mix of wool and acrylic felt and glass seed beads. No vintage in this one sadly. Up next is finishing yet another baby blanket (People! stop having kids! I need to work on other stuff, lol!) and an embroidery project I've started. I have way to many WIPs as per usual. I should list them so I can have the satisfaction of checking them off one at a time.

I'd really like to make a costume for halloween this year too...

mmmmm pie

2009-08-23T05:35:00.001-07:00

mmmmm pie, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I made a blueberry pie from scratch the other day. I have been enjoying blueberries at lunch for the past couple of weeks when I got it into my head to make a pie. Why I decided baking in my apt with no AC in the middle of a heat wave was a good idea, I'll never know but the pie turned out yummy so I guess it was worth it!

where is my mouth?

2009-08-02T15:09:00.001-07:00

where is my mouth?, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

I decided a couple of weeks ago to sell all of my ball jointed dolls and concentrate more on my sewing and needlecraft. Although I still enjoy bjds I find that, with a few exceptions, I just don't really like the community much any more. The dolls are pretty but essentially they are just really expensive toys that I don't have the time for right now. I still love to have something pose-able and portable to take along with me on trips for silly photos so I bought an obitsu to customize. This little fella is 21cm tall. He doesn't have a name just yet and he isn't complete but I am already having tons of fun with him!

In crafty news, I'm still plugging away on another baby afghan and I've started piecing together my t-shirt quilt. I'm also working on a needlefelting project and perfecting a hat pattern for the little guy in this pic!

luv my blanket!!!

2009-07-19T12:52:00.001-07:00

luv my blanket!!!, originally uploaded by crazyfish_666.

My poor neglected crafting blog. Another victim of my quest for a master's degree! Anyway, this little cutie is River. She's happily munching on the blanket I made for her. Another finished WIP and another happy customer!

Bunny purse completed!

2009-07-09T18:25:00.001-07:00

Bunny purse completed!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

another WIP comes to completion...finally! I am pretty happy with it over all. The inside is lined and the lining gave me a little trouble but I think it will make a nice gift for my sister's birthday in Sept. While I like to make purses, I think I enjoy the embroidery and applique a lot more than the construction so I think my next piece will be a simple wall hanging.

Goats will eat anything!

2009-06-27T05:52:00.001-07:00

Goats will eat anything!, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

Gosh, I've neglected this blog for a while! Things have been so busy with work and school that crafting has taken a back seat for a while. I did finish up a few things to share, just need to load the pictures! Anyway, here's a pic from a playmobile mini-comic I'm putting together. It's a slow process because I'm always so busy!

Art Theft!

2009-06-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's whirling around out there in dollie land, well in Ball-jointed dollie land anyway. This "artist" has been caught stealing images from doll companies and private doll owners, tracing the images and claiming them as her original art. Up until now, she's been getting away with it to the tune of $1000 a print, contracts with Sony, and write ups in some pretty well known magazines like Juxtapose. There are great artists out there doing great work unfortunately, Marie Blanco Hendrickx - Mijn Schatje isn't one of them

http://www.radiotrash.org/mijn/

Experimental cooking with Captain Schlumpy

2009-05-02T07:35:00.001-07:00

Experimental cooking with Captain Schlumpy, originally uploaded by Captain Schlumpy.

sometimes I throw things together just to see if I'll like it. I was thinking, "I like chicken, and swiss cheese, and avocado, I wonder if they taste good all together?" Guess what? They do! The avocado was not fully ripe, which I did not realize until I had already peeled it. so into the frying pan with a little olive oil it went!