She's Crafty, She Gets Around. She's Crafty, She's Always Down

I am a writer.
I love the way that sounds.
You are my reader.
I love the way that sounds too.

I am also a cook, a house cleaner, a daydream believer. A chauffeur, a go-fer, a queen in my dreams and a woman of means, though I really have no idea what that means. I'm a baby-raiser, a roof-raiser and a hell- raiser too. I'm a wife and a lover and sometimes an angel under the covers. I'm a friend in deed, if you're a friend in need. I'm a yogini who makes a mean martini. Okay, that's enough. I could go on all day but I think you get the picture.

I can't be pigeon-holed. Impossible. I'm not a pigeon. I'm not even a bird. I can, however, give the middle finger and call it the bird. I have been known to let that bird fly, high. And for the times that one bird just won't do, I have a pair.

The list of name tags I've worn over the years is as long and diverse (and to some, perverse) as the day is long. As the sum of all of my experiences I would not change a thing and those who know me well really wouldn't have me any other way. Especially those that that end up with my creations after a day in my craft corner. See for yourself...

This is the "diaper cake" I made for my god child. Three tiers of rolled-up diapers held secure by flannel blankets and velvet ribbon. Adorned with two pairs of bunny slippers and one pair of patent leather shoes. Topped with a "My Melody" stuffed bunny that I loved so much I didn't want to give it away. The photo really doesn't do justice to this labor of love and frankly every time I look at it all I can see is the God-awful wallpaper that covered both my kitchen and dining room before we remodeled. Hideous, huh? Moving on...

  This is the wreath I made for my sweet-souled sister last year. I used a marabou boa wrapped around a styro-foam form. I had an idea of what I wanted when I went to the craft store but when I found that red peacock I did a happy dance and realigned my vision to include it. What worked once was worth doing twice. Enter Dani does wreaths version 2.0...

               I gave this one to a girlfriend whom I love more than all the partridges and pear trees, ever.

I don't always give away that which I create. That would suck. Occasionally I keep the magic I create and then I hang it around my neck and wear it out on the town....

Pretty, right? What you can't see in this photo is the dark blue embroidery around the just-past-the-knee hem. The necklace is peppered with vintage glass beads that belonged to my grandmother and whimsical charms I reused from another necklace my sister gave me as a gift. Now that I think about it I did give this away. Actually I left it at my sister's house, in LA. No, don't send it back Jaime, I'll come get it. Soon.