the lost package

Growing Gardens...

2010-04-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

This year I have been gettin' dirty in the garden. Not only have I been busy learning how to grow my own vegetable garden, I have been interning for Growing Gardens!!! a local non-profit that works to create sustainable organic gardens in peoples' backyards and in public school spaces. In my internship, I have been working with Faubion Elementary School in the Northeast part of town, co-teaching the Garden Club. What a blast it is gardening & learning with kids. I also help Growing Garden's Youth Grow department make youth activities and reference materials.

So recently, I developed a fun interactive activity to play with kids that discusses the square foot method of gardening. (The pictures above are the sample vegetables that I made for the activity!)
Square foot gardening is basically dividing a garden bed into square feet, like the 3x3' sheet of fabric I sectioned off above (it is one of the pieces of the activity too!). Then planting a specific veggie/plant in that square foot. The square foot gardening method helps a new gardener think about spacing. For example, you would only plant 1 tomato plant in one square foot or you could plant 9 beets in one square foot.

In my garden, this method is helping me think about rotational gardening, as it allows me to clear and replant a block without disturbing other areas of my garden. This is my very first year of square foot gardening, and so far, I am having lots of fun!! Already I have planted carrots, beets, radishes, collards, swiss chard... ooOOOo my mouth is watering.

Bread & Butter

2010-01-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today, in my continuous attempts to become more self-sufficient, I made bread and butter. It feels so satisfying to finally know how butter is made! Also, my first bite of homemade bread and butter, was... O, SO GOOD.

Having already made bread before, I thought I remembered most of the recipe... however, after kneading and setting the dough to rise, I realized I forgot to add milk! Just to note, I made enough dough for 4 loaves of bread. Oh-NO0oo! I dashed over to my computer, remember "attempts" to become self-sufficient, and found this lovely video that set my heart at ease. vegan bread = no milk HOORAY!

Now, perhaps after my wonderful success, you would like to try? The bread and butter recipes are below....

One Loaf of Bread.
1 package dry yeast (or 2 1/4tsp yeast)
1 cup warm water
5 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
5 tsp melted butter
2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cup flour (white, wheat, or mix-it-up)
1 wooden spoon
1 mixing bowl & towel
1 loaf tin
1 oven (haha)

1. Mix the yeast with warm water (not to cold, not to hot, yeast is very particular)!
2. Mix the yeast until it dissolves in the water.
3. Add in sugar, salt, and melted butter, stirring the whole time!
4. Add the flour 1 cup at a time, be sure to mix it!
5. Once the flour is mixed it seems as though the dough is clumped to your spoon.
6. Knead for about 10 minutes.
7. Let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour (place your towel over the dough).
8. Knead the dough into a loaf shape!
9. Let it rise in the loaf tin for 1 hour (use the same warm place and towel).
10. BAKE! 400 degrees for 30 mins.

A Little Jar of Butter.
1 pint of organic heavy whipping cream
1 mixing bowl
1 mixer
1 spatula
ice water
extra jars

1. Start mixing the heavy cream, medium speed, about 10mins.
2. The cream will turn fluffy, then clumpy. When it's clumpy, start mixing by hand.
3. Buttermilk will collect at the bottom of the bowl. Pour this off into your extra jar and use it for baking!
4. With your spatula, start squeezing out the buttermilk.
5. After most of the buttermilk is gone, you need to wash the butter (to keep it from spoiling).
6. To wash, add 1/2 cup of ice water and press the butter and water against the side of the bowl.
7. Pour off the cloudy water. Repeat until the ice water stays clear.
8. Enjoy it in your frig up to 1 week, in your freezer up to 6 mos!

Just to note, about 1 cup of cream = 1/2 cup of butter and 1/2 cup of buttermilk

Winter Classes at the Multnomah Art Center & Mt. Scott Community Center

2009-12-08T10:49:00.001-08:00

Starting in January 2010, I will be teaching a series of classes through Portland Parks & Recreation for youth, 3-10 years old. The classes explore the art of Children's books. We will discover the techniques of illustrators by creating our own illustrations through paint, sculpture, collage and drawing. Each class uncovers a new illustrator!

The classes will be taught at the Multnomah Arts Center in Multnomah Village & the Mt. Scott Community Center in SE Portland! You can sign up your child today!

Multnomah Art Center
7688 SW Capitol Hwy
(503) 823- 2767

Words, Shapes & Color, Age: 3-5
Let your imagination come alive! Assemble projects combining art & storytelling with media such as painting, sculpture, collage & drawing. Stimulate curiosity & creativity to express ideas through words & images. Feel the magic!

Tuesdays, 1pm - 2pm
January 12 - February 9 $40 [5 classes]
Registration # 309746 Colleen Catherine Connolly
Tuesdays, 1pm - 2pm
February 16 - March 16 $40 [5 classes]
Registration # 309747 Colleen Catherine Connolly

Mt. Scott Community Center
5530 SE 72th
(503) 823-3183

Storybook Adventures, age: 3-5
Enter the land of make believe exploring stories of award winning children’s books. Imaginations soar with hands-on projects that develop skills in painting, drawing, coloring and sculpting.

Thursdays, 3pm-4pm
January 14- February 11 $28 [5 classes]
Registration # 309323 Connolly
Thursdays, 3pm-4pm
February 18- March 18 $28 [5 classes]
Registration # 309324 Connolly

Storybook Art, age: 6-10
There is more to a book than the story! Using themes based on selections from children’s literature, students are introduced to different artistic mediums. Through painting, clay, collage & drawing, inspired youngsters create, learning to express ideas while gaining and understanding of shapes & colors.

Thursdays, 4:30pm-5:45pm
January 14- February 11 $30 [5 classes]
Registration # 309327 Connolly
Thursdays, 4:30pm-5:45pm
February 18- March 18 $30 [5 classes]
Registration # 309330 Connolly

MAC Fall Classes... Don't Delay!

2009-09-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

I am teaching an Anodizing Aluminum Workshop at the Multnomah Arts Center this October 17th & 18th! (oh my sooo soon)

Details below...

If you want to know the ins and outs of electronic anodizing... this workshop is exactly what you need!!! You will create your very own pair of anodized earrings, as well as a few sample pieces! The bright and brilliant colors of anodizing will make your pair of earrings a hit.

To register you can drop by MAC's office or call 503.823.2787. You can also register online at Portland Parks & Rec. To see all of Multnomah Arts Centers' classes, you should check out the catalog. (click here for the pdf)

Anodized Aluminum Earring Workshop
Ages 16 & up
Discover the rich textures and vibrant colors that aluminum can take on through the art and science of anodization. Anodizing is an electrolytic process usedto alter the surface of metal parts. The process is called “anodizing” because the part to be treated forms the anode electrode of an electrical circuit. Explore a variety of techniques for coloring and patterning during the anodizing process. Leave class with three samples of different designs and patterns, as well as an original, one-of-a-kind pair of earrings. All materials provided. Class price includes materials and lab fee of $25. After 1st class, these fees are non-refundable.

300302 Sat.-Sun. 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Oct. 17 & 18 $140 [2 classes]
Colleen Catherine Connolly

Its on etsy!

2009-09-03T11:17:00.001-07:00

colleencatherine.etsy.com

Last Thursday, What a Success!

2009-08-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to CityRepair's Reware Market, I have successfully completed my first Laaaast Thursday on Alberta Street!

I hope to join CityRepair again next month on Last Thursday, as we will start up the Reware Crafting Group! We invite all crafters to come! Novice, Expert, Young, Old... ALL are welcome to join in on the skill-sharing and crafting! We will start up early, at about 2pm and continue on through the evening!

As for what is next... well, I will have my Etsy shop up and running again by THIS Sunday... so check it.

colleencatherine's etsy shop

See you Thursday with new jewelry to show!

2009-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

With the inspiration of crafts and fun... I started experimenting with PolyShrink (or as some would call it, shrinky-dink). For those of you that are not familiar with this magical shrinking acetate, let me divulge...

PolyShrink comes in different color sheets, you can use white, black or clear. You can stamp it, draw on it, paint it, color it, or cut it. Most people I have talked to about PolyShrink, say "Oh yes, I did that once when I was young." Unfortunately, I did not even hear about the stuff until a year ago, so I thought there is no better time to try it than now!

The special quality in PolyShrink that I find soOOoo magical is... after you draw something on it, you heat it and "POOF!" the piece starts shrinking to about half its size. It is so fun to watch, I just giggle as I am doing it. heeheehee

With the fun I have been having, I decided I should make earrings so I could share my fun with everyone. You can see images below or for yourself on Thursday, August 27th, at 20th & Alberta about 3-10pm!

Geometric Styles, PolyShrink, marker & sterling silver, $5-10

in the studio.

2009-08-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

city collection necklace, silver & copper

I will be selling my jewelry & accessories at Last Thursday, August 27th, on Alberta Street...

COME CHECK IT OUT!

I will be located on 20th & Alberta along with a group of CityRepair folks... (hopefully you'll find me lounging under their solar-powered T-Horse with some tea and treats!!) We will be setting up early... so stop by anytime 3:00-10:00pm!

Expect to see as always colleencatherine classics as well as a slew of new jewelry just waiting to be bought!!!

I will update you this week with photos... (and I'll get you started with some, look below)

hotwire collection, electrical wiring, $5

feather collection, feather headbands, $6

plastic collection, acrylic, anodized aluminum & silver, $20-45

glass ring collection by sg+cc, $33

city collection, silver & copper, $25-65

I hope to see you there!

kisses, colleen

summer breeze....

2009-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

As the summer months flew by filled with summer camp, math classes, guests visiting, and various other summery celebrations...

(to no avail, I was still creating craft project after craft project for the Portland Parks Summer Program: kites, kaleidoscopes, funny painted rock creatures, pinatas, etc...)

I had to halt a lot of my studio work. ack!

Now with a month and a half left before class start up again, I can kick back into gear... The project list is developing and ongoing!!

I learned the ins and outs of casting at a workshop last spring, taught at the Multnomah Art Center by Kristin Shiga... AMAZING! so I have a few casting projects in mind. Most include small animals that I hope to work into jewelry or dioramas, similar to the piece that I made during the workshop (little bunny, over there on the right).
I have some prepping to do!! because, I will be teaching my very own workshop at the Multnomah Art Center on Anodizing Aluminum!!! The class is October 17 & 18, 10am-6pm.
check out MAC's schedule to sign up!
I am finishing up the costume design project for Kathryn TeBordo's Live Arts Performance...

You Ain't Gonna Get Glory If That's What you Came Here For (2009).
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe
The A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2009: Philadelphia
September 15, 2009
Venue: Arts Bank
Sewing Projects: for my classes (I offer private sewing lessons, all ages!) and for my personal enjoyment! Especially the Connolly Quilt, in which all the women of the Connolly family create a 6x6 square that will be sewn together to create a big quilt.
Ohhh the list is soo long, I could write for hours.

More to come I am sure of it.

colleencatherine.

Mt Hood Scramble, 2009

2009-06-24T08:28:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, I participated in my very first race! It was hard, cold, wet, rugged, 6 miles and AWESOME. I placed 27th in my age bracket and took about 1 1/2 hours to complete. The course, created by the X Dog Events, happens annually. This year they maxed registration and represented 21 states!! woo-hoo. The event is quite a spectacle!! You can check the website for more info and other pics of the runners.
(not the handiest website to maneuver, but hey, they got one)

As for my preparation, which was very minimal because I rarely run, I have been extremely sore this week. It hasn't helped my 10mi bike to and from work... but I am hoping it will pay off in the long run. So enjoy the pictures and let me know if you are up for a less intense hike on the Mountain.

Stories from the Aftermath of a Hurricane

2009-06-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

After the disastrous Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, I linked up with a group of folks from the Philadelphia Independent Media Center to head South on a fact finding mission. Starting in Atlanta, Georgia and heading West along the Gulf Coast towards New Orleans, Louisiana, we met with many community leaders, activist, volunteers, and residents that opened their arms and told their stories...

The goal of the mission was to understand the plight of the people, how the communities came together to rebuild, and find a way to let the country know of the real issues happening there. Of the many problems that people faced in reclaiming their neighborhood and overcoming the hardest battles to rebuild their lives... What I discovered was the unbelievable organization and support of the citizens, grassroot and religious organizations, and many volunteers to reclaim neighborhoods and communities lost to the flooding. The Federal and Local government created many bumps and dead-ends along every route to recovery, without the assistance of these groups and individuals the communities affected by Hurricane Katrina would be very different.

So below I have embedded the film that a dear friend, Kate Duffy and I edited from the footage gathered during the initial mission preceding Hurricane Katrina in 2006 and the follow-up trip Kate and I took in Summer 2007.

Thank you to everyone that made this project happen!

wedding here, wedding there...

2009-06-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was commissioned to design the bridesmaid gifts for the Dagress | O'Brien wedding. Being that the reception was to be held at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden...

beaches and aquatic life became my inspiration.

The objects in each necklace came from either, the Jersey Shore or Pacific Coast.

When I started designing the necklaces, I kept thinking of the way small objects become entangled as they wash up on the shore, sandy crab shells with barnacles, bits of a sand dollar, tiny shells... appearing as if they were stuck together by little tendrils of seaweed, that if picked up would fall apart from its delicacy. I wanted to recreate this image somehow in the form of these necklaces, delicate and haphazard, as if they were found on the shore then wrapped with a chain...

It was definitely lovely to actually do the field work -at the beach- needed to collect objects and get visual imagery to work from. I think I will have to do more projects involving natural objects... come to think of it, I have been collecting lots of mosses, branches, twigs, coniferous cones, and lichen from my hikes... wonder where that will take me?

Adventures Down the Coast of Oregon....

2009-06-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

....VIA MIA BICICLETTA!!

I definitely thought I should post about the fact that I rode my bicycle 400 MILES down the coast of Oregon, from the tip ~Astoria, OR~ to the bottom, being I passed the Oregon/California Border on the morning of Day 9! The trip was unbelievably beautiful, challenging, and most of all FUN!

Steve and I just south of Bandon, OR

I have yet to post my photos from the trip (thanks Mike for this one)... I had the wonderful idea of only using a film camera, and yes I have to wait for the pictures to be printed. HA! patience please!

Below is an image of the route!!

View Coastal Bike Tour 2009 in a larger map

The most beautiful part of the trip was definitely falling asleep to the ocean waves and the gorgeous views... The Oregon Coast is completely accessible to the public, so I was able to soak in every second. The hardest part of the trip was the SEVEN DEVILS (meaning seven hellish mountains, one right after another!) oo those devils got the best of me, but luckily that day was a shorter ride!!

I really can't wait for the next ride.

The City Reware Upcycle Market!

2009-05-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEKEND... COME SEE THE MOST EXCITING CRAFTS OF ALL TIMES (created by yours truly!!)

City Repair introduces: The City ReWare Upcycle Market, a place where the whole community can gather to celebrate and cultivate a post-consumption culture of thrifting, reducing, reusing, recycling and upcycling!

The days of waste and disposability are long gone! Be a thread in the fabric with which we can design a new paradigm. It’s time to re-localize and communitize our clothes and goods. So come support City Repair, and be bold in the transformation from trash to gold!

Date: Kick-off on Saturday, May 30, 2009 @ 10:00am. Last Saturday of every month.

Location: “The NW Battery Store” at 37th Ave. and Belmont

Check http://www.cityrepair.org/events/reware for more details!

Adventure with ink & pen

2009-04-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

new drawings from yours truely... enjoy.

"high society fun" ink & paper, 4x3", 2009

"oops" ink & paper, 2x2", 2009

"when you swim out too far" ink & paper, 3x4", 2009

"late nite tummy ache" ink & paper, 3x2", 2009

"from the back of a sand dollar" ink & paper, 2x2", 2009

A picture worth a thousand Falls...

2009-04-14T00:38:00.001-07:00

Ride to Multnomah Falls, originally uploaded by iam.ccc.

okay... so maybe not a THOUSAND... but I recently undertook an amazing feat, as I along with Steve and a friend, Tom, rode out to Multnomah Falls via Bicycle!! The ride was beautiful, breath-taking, and not as hard as I thought (thank my lucky stars)!!! It totaled about 45 miles!

As our route, we took the Blue line out to Gresham, started bicycling at 223rd Ave to Stark and then on to the Historic Columbia River Highway.

The steepest grade being 5%, but ascending and descending about 800 feet, we twisted and twirled through lush greenery, State Parks, and witnessed the torrential spring falls, due to the snow melting off the mountains. As we stopped at Vista point, I couldn't help but soak in the vintage photos... I think the only difference is that it is more mossy these days. HA!

The trip was a definite prep for the upcoming 400mi Oregon Coast trip. If you haven't heard, I am currently planning for a 9 day bicycling adventure along the Pacific Coast of Oregon, totaling 397.7 miles. Along with Steve, Dale, and a few others... we will be camping, biking, and of course snacking May 2nd-10th, some of the team will even continue on to San Fransisco...

oh I love my bicycle.

hello twitter...

2009-04-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

never thought it would happen... did curiosity really kill the cat?

http://twitter.com/olleenatherine

whoa. fur plans.

2009-03-30T23:29:00.000-07:00

I have recycled vintage fur and am contemplating what to do with it...

constanze schreiber Eugenie, brooch, fur, lead, silver {12 x8.5x1.2 cm}

Couture coiffeur Orlando Pita created these sculptural silhouettes for Christian Dior.

Louise Nippierd Wild at Heart, 2003, metal, fur {h.19 in, w. 24 in, d. 24 in}.

so many ideas... so many choices... so awesome.

Artist's Books at the Central Library

2009-03-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

Visiting the third floor of the Central Library, is a treat all unto its own... until the 10th of May, the Collin Gallery will be showing the exhibit, Book + Art, focusing on handmade books by Portland artists (or at one time artists living and producing books in Portland). You will be treated by many a variety of Bookartists, from Walter Hamady to our OCAC's very own Sarah Chamberlain.

Of my favorite, you can chance on one of Diane Jacobs' hair books, of which she did a series (see the picture below to get a taste of one of the books from her series).

As well as a limited addition Direction of the Road by Ursula Le Guin. The books tells the tale of a beautiful tree... The most amazing part is, the book's casing has an anamorphic print by Aaron Johnson of the tree. The print challenges the viewer, because you cannot just see the tree as a print, but only if you view it through a mirrored cylinder that is placed next to it... amazing. You must see it.

Mandy Greer's Chandalier

2009-03-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I happened upon an unbelievable show at the Museum of Contemporary Craft...

Mandy Greer
Dare alla Luce
showing now until the end of May

The premise of the installation is an interpretation of how the Milky Way was formed. As legend has it, the Roman goddess Juno (a regular lighting bolt thrower) created the Milky Way from milk that spurted from her breast, all drops that fell to the earth created fields of lilies and all that stayed in the sky became the Milky Way. In the installation, Mandy fashions Juno as a beautiful black pelican, in which creamy white crocheted lace, buttons, and sewn lilies flow from her leathery beak to the dark galaxy and enormous chandeliers around her.
I would definitely suggest a visit.

Also while venturing out downtown Portland, perhaps you would also like to see the...

Handmade Nation Film
April 4, 2009 at 12:00 pm, tickets are $10.
(click here to get a ticket!)

with the CraftPerspectives Panel: Handmade Nation at 2:00pm, free & public

tickets are going fast, I already got mine!

New Website Launched for all to SEE!

2009-03-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Among the many things that have been happening in my life since my move to Portland, OR, I made sure to have time to design and roll out my new website!! Hopefully you will be able to get a better sense of all the lovely thing I have been up to and enjoy to do! I have added photos of my drawings, costume design pieces, as well as my metalworking projects.

enjoy!

(click on the photo to direct you to the page)

Building the Coop of Every Chickens Dreams!!!

2009-03-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

The idea of building a chicken coop and raising chicken NEVER even crossed my mind until I moved to Portland, OR. Yes, East coast friends are shocked at the idea, "Isn't Portland a city??" "Colleen are you really going to get chickens?" "Are you crazy?" they question. However, living in Portland, it doesn't seem like a crazy idea. It seems that I am not the only one who has caught the chicken craze! There are non-profits here dedicated to teaching urban gardeners (as we are called) how to garden, raise chickens, etc. THEY EVEN HAVE A TOUR OF CHICKEN COOPS!! (* Saturday, March 28, 10-1pm: Chicken Coop Building, Design and Tour: Learn what is necessary to build your hens a happy home, then enjoy a short walking tour of backyard chicken coops near People's CO-OP.)

So, after professing my love of the idea of having 3 cuddly chicken of my own, other friends have started planning how to get their hands on a few chicks... with the help of Steve and a great buddy, Luke, and his two dogs I am on my way to building a coop and raising a few chicken of my own.

If you need an idea of how wonderful having chickens of your own can be... you will have to come to my scrambled eggs party after I have the coop up and running!! In the mean time be sure to check out, The Hen Cam. so adorable!

Me and my snowshoes

2009-02-03T00:19:00.001-08:00

Me and my snowshoes, originally uploaded by iam.ccc.

One thing I have definitely learned about myself since moving out west is... fresh air and high altitudes, well it just makes me happy. I recently have fallen in love with the age old past time, snowshoeing. I am not exactly sure what it is, maybe my new hiking boots - not only were they on sale but they feel like my feet are floating on clouds!! - or maybe it is the fact that I am walking on top of a fluffy layer of snow (which again is much like floating on a cloud?!?!) or maybe it is because it is AWESOME! regardless of the reason, I believe that everyone should give it a try.

Recently visited the Tilly Jane Trail, north of Mt. Hood, & Trillium Lake Trail, southeast of the mountain, both... beautiful! Next up, will be visiting my mountain sister in Upstate Washington... north north of Republic. (I will say, we have to go snowshoeing how else can we get around that snowy mountain).

I can't help it, I just love it.

a fresh start

2009-01-21T23:32:00.000-08:00

This blog is a work in progress… as I have always been one to hand write journals, diaries, notes, collected pieces of lose-leaf paper. It is a new venture for me to blog! But at the same time of biting my nails at the fact that I am unsure that I can diligently keep up with this electronic blogging beast, I am hoping that it will set a goal for me to keep my ideas, poems, notes to self, and other written bits safe from being lost in some USPS post office somewhere in America…. I happen to be one of the “unfortunates” and lost most of my precious ephemera while moving across country. 2 months after shipping, I received a busted box with a few of my keepsakes, a Harley Davidson Motorcycle pin, and a little note stating “Repackaged in Philadelphia.” With no-one left to go to, the Postal Investigators are supposedly taking care of it, I have today decided to start an electronic journal…

I am not sure what will end up on this blog, hopefully it will be of interesting things. Of course it is by way of keeping up with all of you that are far from me... so please enjoy, comment if necessary, and as always have a beautiful day.