Papirklipper

 I signed up for a Zoom class through the Museum of Danish America

This is the class description:

Create wonderful paper-cut beings with Danish artist, Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen; via Zoom

Students should supply their own materials so they can cut along with Torben: • A sharp pair of scissors. • Paper that is approximately the same thickness as paper normally used in a printer, color(s) according to students' own wishes: • Approximately 5 pieces of paper that are approximately 4 x 4 inches. • Approximately 5 pieces of paper that are about 1 x 2 inches. Skill level: Beginner level and beyond Join celebrated Danish paper cutting artist Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen who has had several paper cut workshops in Denmark, Japan and in the US. The paper cut universe of Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen is inhabited with beings who have previously been confined inside the paper. At that time the beings were weighed down by their own and ambient limitations. “I can sense that the beings are in the paper, but at that time they are sad. They are unresolved and have something in their life that plagues them. After some help from the scissors, they are all cut free from the paper and travel around happily in our diverse world,” says Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen. In this online workshop the participants can experience the very best of cutting paper – namely the moment when the paper is unfolded and the magic occurs – that is when the happy paper cut being emerges. Participants will also be exploring the paper cut artwork of renowned storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, and hear about Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen’s own journey to becoming a paper cutting artist. Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen started out as a paper cut artist in 2004. Since then he has exhibited over 110 places in the U.S., Japan, and Denmark and has held numerous workshops in the same countries. He is 56 years old and lives in Odense in Denmark. Odense is where world-famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen was born. Andersen was also a very skilled paper cut artist several hundred years ago. Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen seeks with his paper cuts to maintain and renew this old paper cut tradition. See more about Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen: Twitter: @JarlstroemPaper Instagram: @JarlstroemPaperArt

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www.jarlstroem-klip.dk

We started with the head.  Torben said without the eyes and smile, there is no figure.  This is my very first attempt to understand the method.

This was the second.

Then we moved on to the body as well.

This one is my favorite, he was explaining how to embellish 

and cut away more paper to reveal a happy man.  

I love his bowtie.

Then I tried a quick snowflake kind of idea.

Here are some snapshots of the class as Torben was showing us some of his work.

This Danish Heart is on display at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark.  

It was the very first Danish Heart.  Hans Christian Andersen made the first.

Hans Christian Andersen was a paper cutter as well.

These designs are very complicated. 

My new birthday scissors are perfect for cutting these designs.  

Torbin said that all paper has figures in it, waiting for someone to cut them free.  He said that these figures are sad because they have paper in their eyes and ears and mouth.  The scissors cuts away the burden.  Once the paper is unfolded, the magic happens.

He does not worry if the legs are short or long or the nose is big.  He said that out in the world everyone is different, but as long as there is a smile on the face, who cares.

It was a delightful hour and a half and I can't wait to re-watch the recording.

What a fun and interesting day, meanwhile the football game is going nuts.  

I finished just in time to watch the overtime!

Dad's tablesaw

 Dad used the same table saw all his life.  I can't begin to guess how many oak cabinets went across that table.  He was proud that he had rebuilt the bushings using aluminum from a Coors can.  That saw traveled with him to New York, and it her places as he was installing church furniture in the 1960s. I'm sure it was also used at Indiandhead Wood Products too. Dad owned that church furniture factory for a few years before a fire destroyed it.

His father, Ansgar, used the saw before Dad.  I'm sure that saw is well over 100 years old.

Nephew Kris took it home summer before last.  He used it quite a bit, but the motor was giving it up.  So, he upgraded to a newer saw.

Then the question was, what to do with the old saw.

Today, I got an update. From Kris, and I could not be happier.

"Well I listed the saw for a few weeks on Marketplace, but no takers. So I finally put it up for free with hopes someone would need it for parts. That ended up happening. A guy from Durand picked it up on Friday. He was going to put a new motor on. So the saw will continue making projects."

Under a router jig, you can see the old table saw.

Birthday goodies

 Thank you to Dave & Suzi for the very generous birthday gift-card to Equilter.

I got my package yesterday.  Some fun yardage added to my stash & a new clipping Perfect Scissors. (I have the larger Perfect Scissors & I love it)

Sadly, The Packers lost to the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Championship game. The rest of the playoffs & Superbowl will be stress-free, I guess that's one good thing. 

My Amaryllis has three beautiful blooms.

Stunning & exotic.

A note from nephew Ryan

 I got this text yesterday from my nephew Ryan.  Dad's army blanket on duty in the woods.

Sitting behind my house bow hunting enjoying the warmth of these awesome chopper mitts you blessed me with. Definitely the gift that keeps on givn! 👍😊 Ryan

Always Something

When I woke up this morning I had a feeling that something wasn't quite right. After I was awake for a few minutes, I could tell my heart was ramping up to a high speed. The temperature outside is -17ﾟso I didn't have any desire to take a drive to the ER. I took my rescue drug and laid down and within a 1/2 an hour my heart has slowed back down to normal. This is what I saw when I looked at my watch. I might have to search for a watch that wakes me up when my heart rate goes above a certain level.  Looks like it spiked at about 3am.

It's bright sunshine this morning, the high is forecasted to be 6°F.

Winter in Wisconsin. 

Always something, never nothing.

No trip to the ER for me today.

Worth the wait

 

My Amaryllis was a little slow getting going, but it is putting on a show now.

14 years of gratitude

Celebrating 14 years since I had a job. 

14 years ago I walked out of my office at the Coors Brewing Company for the last time. I hed spent 31 years working at Coors and had more opportunities than I can even remember. I worked on new product development teams, Project implementation teams, the corporate wide campaign to benefit United Way, I was one of the Coors Women Ambassadors and I worked 31 years in and around the Brewhouse & Malthouse, the ❤ of the brewery.

I still remember how thrilled I was when I got my first Coors business cards.  I was always very proud to use those cards. 

I was very lucky and I am grateful everyday of my life for my Coors career & these 14 years of retirement.

And today I'm grateful for a beautiful Amaryllis bloom too.

I'm thankful for this beautiful companion too.  Even though Barley doesn't understand laying on a lap & insists on laying on my neck and shoulder, she's such a sweet kitty.

Life is good.

From my collection

 There are a few photos in my collection that I dearly love. Most of those are not too exciting,  but they tell a sweet story.

 I just love these photos from a basketball game in 2016. 

Noah Mortel's little cousin (my great nephew), Jens, was waiting patiently for the radio guys to finish interviewing Noah after the game. 

Jens had gathered up all the used tickets from the half time drawing and wanted to give them to Noah.

Noah graciously took the tickets from Jens.

It was a sweet moment.

Academic Decathlon

 Today was the last of my volunteer duties with regard to Academic Decathlon.  We conducted 8 student interviews, each one unique and each student with lots of offer.  I always really enjoy this day.  The Zoom tool caused a few hiccups today and AWOL judges scrambled up the plans, but we rolled with it and got it all done.  I'll be sure to volunteer again next year.

📚📚📚

It was -20℉ this morning when I got up.  It's a balmy 1℉ now at 1pm.  The sun is shining and the furnace is running, so all is well here.  I don't have any place to go today.

❆❆❆❆❆

The bird feeders have been busy this week.  
The first Redpolls have arrived.  They are such an artic looking bird to me.

Common Redpoll, their yellow beaks are notable.
I'll have to work on some better photos to show off this pretty bird.

Once in a while I take a photo that I really wish had turned out.  This is one.  This would have been a real keeper if the focus had been on the bird instead of the branch.  Catching a bird in flight is something I dream of.

I must have a about a gazillion photos of Cardinals in my collection by now, 

but I always am eager to take more.

First birds

 The 1st bird I saw on New Year’s Day was a female Pileated Woodpecker.  The feeders were busy all day.  

An injured Mourning Dove spent a good part of her day sitting on the feeders platform. She's missing some beak and was favoring one leg. I don't suppose it will go easy for her.

The rest of the Doves love to perch around the edge of the heated water bath. 

Like ladies-aid at the hot tub.

A flock of Purple Finch showed up this week

The males are very flashy.

Today, 1/2/2022, is the Rice Lake bird count. I volunteered to count my feeder.

I counted 14 species in just a few hours. 

I watched a car pull up and park in front of the house, pull out binoculars and then record on a clipboard. One of many volunteers out counting in the area. I think she saw the Tufted Titmouse, her timing was good.

A good start to the new year.