040 Ambassador of String: Gretchen Du Prè

Angelica, it is why I do what I do. I love this city. I love Austin, and that’s honestly my career goal, is to make Austin beautiful, though public art, through landscape design, through public projects if I can be involved.

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That’s Gretchen Du Prè. Fiber artist, landscape designer, musician slash singer, mother, and beautifier. Gretchen’s own string theory is: if there’s a way to knit it, play it, draw it, or sew it, she wants to get her hands on it. If you see her around town and compliment something she made – watch out, you might be wearing it home.

Public Art:

She and Austin Outdoor Design had a entry in the recent Fortlandia, called Hamaca de los Flores, at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

She also had a project in Creek Show, a temporary light installation over Waller Creek in Austin.

Music:

Singer and musician for the band, Honey Punch, for 10 years, a daytime fun band. The intro was “Anarchy in the UK” ; the mid-episode sample was “Being Mir Best Du Schon”, and the outro was “Fallen for You.” Follow them on Instagram and check out their website for shows and delights!

Honey Punch band

Gretchen du Pre

Gretchen at Creekshow 2018

Gretchen du Pre at Creek Show

Creek Show 2018

Fortlandia 2020: Hamaca de los flores

039 Word Alchemist: Ryan Dilbert

I started thinking about why I like it so much. And then I thought, you know, it’s storytelling; I love stories. Especially strange stories. And pro wrestling is just a series of strange stories that are acted out in the moment…and some things are improvised and there’s a little bit of chaos because someone broke their nose. Like, go with it. So it’s just a very weird world; it’s very easy to write about.

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That’s Ryan Dilbert. As a creative writing teacher of 4th graders, he lovingly shapes young writers by utilizing all the other facets of his life: as a father of two young girls, husband to Julie, published author, pro wrestling journalist for Bleacher Report, stand-up comedian and performer, and tattoo artist and illustrator. In his summers off, he’s hungry to do more, like developing screenplays, writing another novel, and trying his hand at graphic novel.

Ryan grew up in Cayman (we used the local inflection – in the States it’s often referred to as the Cayman Islands) before moving to Houston for high school. We met in sophomore year and became student directors of a performance poetry group, Playwrights and Players, for our senior year. Because our friendship included writing and editing together in this formative time, Ryan helped shape my own creative expression. His biracial identity is something he has struggled to explore in his writing, and feels more comfortable creating his own worlds where he can confirm the validity of the character’s experiences.

You can find more of Ryan’s work at www.ryandilbert.com and his Twitter @ryandilbert. This includes his novel, Time Crumbling like a Wet Cracker (No Record Press) which was published in 2011; the cover and visuals were illustrated by Shawn Callahan. His website has links to his pro wrestling columns at Bleacher Report as well as to literary journals of his flash/nano fiction and prose. He mentioned an article where he took his daughter, Lucy, to WWE Raw after sharing tweets of her experience. And he participated in Austin’s Funniest Person Contest in 2008.

Ryan’s daughter, Lucy, age 6, sat down for a short interview at the end of the episode.

Shameless plug: His upcoming chapbook with a collection of flash fiction about pro wrestling, called Mat Burns, is set to come out in Spring 2020.

We mentioned Ira Glass’s concept of The Gap – when our taste develop more quickly than our craft. Here’s a delightful video with his quote.

THE GAP by Ira Glass from Daniel Sax on Vimeo.

Hey Crafties! What is the term for a juicy quote that is pulled from an interview? Like the kind of quote that I pull for the intro teaser, or that he uses to shape his wrestling columns. Ryan and I both use this and calling it a “money shot” feels wrong)!

Ryan Dilbert reading in Grand Coteau, Louisiana

Ryan tattooing himself (photo by Julie Dickenson)

Ryan’s workspace

Lucy at WWE Raw

Time Crumbling Like a Wet Cracker merch

Ryan reading at Hey!Cafe (photo by Julie Dickenson)

Time Crumbling like a Wet Cracker, digital illustrations by Shawn Callahan

Ryan at a reading in Austin, TX (photo by Amber Moreno)

038 Heart and Handmaker: Jen Grudza

I think it’s a reminder to spend time with myself and do something that makes me happy and gives me joy. It’s like my separate space where I don’t have talk to anybody, I don’t have to be on like I am at my job. Because it’s the guest room; my dog hangs out on the bed, and the sun is very beautiful comes through my room. I think it’s just my check out space where I just dive in. My hands have to be busy; I can’t not be busy…

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That’s Jen Grudza. Project Coordinator for Moontower, quilter, bag-maker, dog parent to Mr. Winston, and wife. She is my new crafty inspiration and muse. I’m drawn to her because I relate to her need to make soft or yummy things to give away, like hugs. Recently she has been exploring a functional style with durable materials like canvas, leather, and cork, and upcycling old jeans. Her beautiful handmade items involve slicing intricate patterns and following complicated directions – that I’m anxious to get a lesson on now that I bought my first paper-piecing quilt pattern.

Names mentioned in the episode:

Niku Arabai taught a quilt class at Stitch Lab

Jen made Denyse Schmidt’s Single Girl Quilt Pattern and took it to Gina Pina at Canopy to quilt it.

Chawnie Kimber teaches math in the NE; Jen took her class through the Quilt Guild and is inspired by her tiny mathematical pieces

Flash tattoo at Quiltcon by Stacy Martin Smith in Austin.

Some links of things mentioned in the episode:

Helm boot for outer wax, Tandy leather + photo of waxed canvas bag

Paper piecing – there are two kinds: english and foundation; The example she brought in is of a tattoo quilt pattern

Labels for handmade works by Wunderlabel

Carolyn Friedlander fabric with architecture and botanical designs – I already made my Christmas wish list of her re-released lines

Quiltcon is coming to Austin Feb 20 – 23, 2020

Hawthorne Threads – environmentally friendly fabric printing

**Note: Gunner was mentioned in the episode and as passed away just before the episode posted. My heart goes out to his family and friends.**

hand applique

My birthday bag from Jen with Wunderlabel

Denyse Schmidt’s Single Girl Quilt patter, Quilted by Gina Pina

Cross-stitch of a Winston-alike

Paper Piecing of tattoo quilt patter

Mr. Winston in the sewing/guest room

Jen Grudza’s sewing room

037 Manic Maker at Testify: Angelica Norton

And what I learned was: anytime my hands were busy, I could think the thoughts I needed to think instead of having my smartphone dictate what I should think and feel.

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For my birthday today, I recorded a quick episode of the story I performed on the stage at Spiderhouse Ballroom on Thursday, October 24th for Testify (a monthly storytelling group in Austin) for October’s theme, Craft. My story I recorded tonight (which is better audio than I captured on my camera) is about this podcast, so if you want a 16 minute sampler of what Chatty Crafties is all about, have a listen.

036 Schizophrenic Straddler: Chad Raines

I think arranging in pop music is like so underrated. I think that’s the whole reason why people like pop music; there’s not like lots interesting chord changes or melodies happening–-it’s all about production, which, production is arranging. and it’s just all about the choices of tones and instruments you make and creating an atmosphere that gives you a feeling.

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That’s Chad Raines, sometimes known as Rad Chains, but it depends if you find him on the divine stage or in real life. His artistic lens is aimed at the juxtaposition between giving a rough edge to the prestigious and elevating the overlooked. He swings between between musical theatre to performing in spandex with his band The Simple Pleasure. He arranged and played the music to my wedding, and even more importantly to Matt and me, he made the “Egyptian Lover” music video of our friend Basil Malaty. Having something so precious to look at when my friend was no longer around eventually lead to me to creating this podcast, so I can give stage to the essence of people I hold dear for posterity.

You can find more on Chad at www.chadraines.com, at www.thesimplepleasure.com, the Rad Chains Soundcloud page, and The Simple Pleasure Bandcamp page.

The intro of the episode is “Another Active Shooter,” we sample “Girls and Guys Sometimes, and the outro is “Labor of Love ” by The Simple Pleasure.

Here’s Tom Cherry’s “Boogieman of My Dreams” and Donzi’s World, which have big Tim and Eric Awesome Show vibes way before that was a thing.

Shameless Plug: Chad’s new (Untitled) record with The Simple Pleasure, which should be out by Oct. 14th.

Here’s a couple of The Simple Pleasure’s music videos, “Young Professionals” and “A Need to Know Basis.”

Here’s the “Egyptian Lover” video featuring our friend Basil Malaty (1981 – 2004), shot and produced by Chad Raines in collaboration with Matt Norton around 2001/2002 in Austin, TX.

Chad Raines on Melodica(Chris Perley Photography)

Chad Raines (Photo from ishotamandapalmer.wordpress.com)

Chad and Lily (Photo from The Simple Pleasure)

Chad Raines (Photo from claireandherpipsqueaks.tumblr)

Chad and Lily (Photo from The Simple Pleasure)

035 Magnificent Memorizing Maniac: Eloise Norton

I want to try acting for the rest of my life so I can become one of those actors that are really good. I want to just keep on acting until I feel like, you know what, too much! I don’t feel like I’m enjoying this anymore; I’m just doing this for fame and money, not for my enjoyment.

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That’s Eloise. Child actor, big sister, and my incredible daughter with a memory like a steel trap. She spent the summer working on her first professional play with Different Stages Theatre Company in Austin, Texas. I wanted to capture her pure connection to playing characters when playing pretend was still an instinct instead of a distant, adult memory.

A question to our listeners: What should we do with the memorabilia from her performances? Does anyone have a scrapbook they’ve done to give us ideas on how to showcase all of her programs, thank you notes, etc? Tag me @chattycrafties on Instagram and Twitter!

Some names we mentioned during the podcast: Clayton Stromberger is the On-campus Coordinator of the Shakespeare at Winedale Outreach program. Mr. Park is Eloise’s AMAZING 3rd grade teacher (what up, Mr. P!) A Doll’s House (by Henrik Ibsen) was a Different Stages production, directed by Norman Blumensadt. Kelsey Smith (Episode 31) told us about the audition for child actors. Catie Williams (@catieelaine) played Nora Helmer, and was mentioned during the “dah doo” vocal exercises. Emily Villarreal (@thatsmissemily) played Kristine Linde and showed Eloise tongue twisters.

PRESS:

Different Stages’ A DOLL’S HOUSE is an Excellent Rendering of the Ibsen Classic by Broadway World: “An unexpected highlight of the production is the performances of Eloise Norton and Anuart Zarate as the Helmer children. Commendably, these young actors pick up cues quickly and play their roles with enthusiasm.” (June 27, 2019) by Lacey Cannon Gonzales

Review: A Doll’s House by Different Stages by CTX Live Theatre (July 2, 2019) by Michael Meigs

Eloise singing Clementine for a talent show

Eloise at a costume fitting for A Doll’s House

Eloise as Willy Wonka

A Doll’s House (Steve Rogers Photography)

Eloise Norton, Catie Williams, Anuart Zarate (Steve Rogers Photography)

Eloise and Emily Cawell at a costume fitting for A Doll’s House

Eloise Norton, Catie Williams, Anuart Zarate (Steve Rogers Photography)

034 Collaborating Elaborator: Graham Davidson

And that was the first time I started to realize that from a creative process standpoint, I really love getting teamed up with other people and their ideas and helping them see how great their idea can actually become and sort of take it beyond what they had even envisioned.

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That’s Graham. As a musician and sound engineer, then as a producer of film and television, and now as general contractor and home builder, Graham has taken the puzzle pieces, flipped them over, and made sense of the big picture in order to tell the story. He is also an occasional visual artist (if the occasion was to propose marriage to Amanda, who was my guest in episode 26) and woodworker if a project tells him it needs to be made. He finds the creative process of collaborating most rewarding, and spends his down time from building houses with his wife and their three kids, oftentimes playing board games like Dog.

To learn more on Graham and Amanda’s Austin-based home-building company, Curate, go to www.curate.com. You can also scope out his film and TV projects as a producer and sometimes director, including the award-winning independent films Chalk and The Aviatrix, A&E’s Shipping Wars, TLC’s Quints by surprise, Discovery Channel’s Texas Car Wars, and TNT’s Marshal Law Texas (with Jerry Bruckheimer).

033 Part-time Pâtissière: Lisa Willis

It’s just such a nice feeling when you’ve made something – you know, you’ve created an edible piece of art. And you know, when others try it and they’re enjoying it, I don’t know, it’s just a really nice feeling. It’s like I accomplished something and everybody likes it and is raving about it.

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That’s Lisa. Over-achieving baker, busy commercial real estate attorney, and my best friend slash cousin. There’s no cake too crazy for her kitchen and she’s passing on her love of making excruciatingly beautiful baked goods to her six year old daughter – from scratch—with a few tweaks until it’s just right.

She talked about the sugar substitute, Swerve. She’s saved so many recipes on www.allrecipes.com but is going to send me recipes for egg bites, lemon meringue pie, and chocolate pie when she gets a moment free from work. *look for an update soon*

Photos of the amazing cakes, cookies, and pies mentioned in the episode are included below. You can find Lisa preparing a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for her whole family every year, pies in hand. Don’t ask her for your own pie because she’ll probably say yes and my girl needs someone to help keep that list short.

What’s your favorite pastry to bake? I get a kick out of strawberry bread and oatmeal cookies myself, but I do delight in a good pie because they turn out so pretty when they’re crispy and glazed. Let us know on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #chattycrafties.

Thanks for understanding about my 2-month hiatus from recording these sweet podcasts. I had a couple of baby blankets that needed to be quilted on the nights I record, and I had to pick my poison.

Low-carb blueberry donuts

Ariel doll cake

Watercolor buttercream icing

Sugar cookies

Heart cake with red hots

Birthday cake pops

Many Thanksgiving pies

Halloween cake pops

Halloween-themed cake

Birthday cake with star cake pops

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pumpkin cheesecake

032 Indecisive Dancemaker: Angie Obermeyer

Because I really feel like movement is healing. Physically, for sure it’s good for you, you know, because our bodies are meant to move in those directions and not just very linear. But I think, too, it just awakens something. And I’m not saying you have to have like me, like a love of dance, but I think to set something a little bit free.

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That’s Angie Obermeyer, née Johnson. Semi-professional dancer, reluctant advertiser, wife, and mother of three. She’s a factory sleeper – you wouldn’t know she was a sucker for technique while chatting on the playground afterschool but once you get her talking about it, her passion for dance becomes immediately apparent, as is her drive to make dance performances more accessible to the general public.

Angie wants more people (YOU!) to see local dance performances, so if you’re in Austin, look into Frontera Fest, Fusebox Festival, and aerial shows with Blue Lapis light. There’s also the Austin Dance Festival coming up in April. A couple of her favorite choreographers are Sharon Marroquin and Ellen Bartel – the latter of whom has a piece in a show in February at First Street Studio. Check out their online schedules for upcoming shows, where you might happen upon gorgeous photos of Angie in action.

Angie’s upcoming show: a benefit for Andrea Ariel Dance Theater called Soundpainting on March 3rd, 2018.

For adults trying to get back into dance, try the Saturday morning class at Cafe Dance that Kathy Dunn Hamrick teaches. If you’re a skilled dancer you might like something a little more challenging; check out Austin Community Ballet in East Austin.

Angie Obermeyer (Angie Johnson)

Belonging Part One aerial dance performance at old power plant. More info at bluelapislight.org. (©ejmnet.com – you may use this photo with a credit to @EarlMcGehee.)Angie Obermeyer (Angie Johnson)

Angie Obermeyer (Angie Johnson)

031 Emotional Explorer: Kelsey Smith

And it’s real, and I can’t lie, but, when I’m being someone else – that is real, you know, that’s is like the truth, so it’s not lying to me. So when I’m in front of people and I have the mask of someone else, I can do anything.

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That’s Kelsey. Actor, lover of musical theatre, grad student in psychology, and my emotionally mature office manager. She pressed pause on acting until it felt fun again, and now has her heart set on starting theatre company and opening a space sometime in the future. Her positivity and drive are contagious, so I’m thankful she keeps us organized while she spins so many plates of her own. I’m Angelica; stay tuned for my weekly chat.

Her next show is The Book Club Play, directed by Nikki Zook at Santa Cruz Theatre, running March 22 – April 13, 2019. Find more here: www.differentstagestheatre.org/upcoming

If you’re looking into getting your child into acting in Austin, look into KidsActing Studio programs – my daughter does this in her school and it’s been wonderful; they have multiple summer shows as well.

As a professional actor, some companies to audition for are: