Sunday, February 13, 2011

Was that Roberto?

The newest DVD featuring Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train is worth watching not only for the clever film but also for the special features. One of the special features in the Criterion edition of this movie offers an audio-only Q&A with Jarmusch. One of the questions asks if Roberto Benigni is supposed to be in the coffin in one of the film's story lines that features Benigni's real-life wife, Nicoletta Braschi. The story line has Braschi accompanying her dead husband, who's sealed away in a casket, back to Rome. Instead, Braschi is stuck in Memphis (twist on a Bob Dylan lyric??) for a night due to an airline mix up.
"No," replies Jarmusch, but the idea of Roberto Benigni in the casket seemed to amuse the writer/director. Fans of the movie and of Jarmusch will relish the 20-plus Q&As and the other special features. Another is a short taken from the 2001 documentary Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on Me. The DVD is worth a few hours of your time, especially if you enjoy rock and roll music, and if you are a Joe Strummer fan, like me.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Craft room closet getting decked out for organization

Getting started on the craft room organization

Craft room

There comes a time when culture vulture crafters like myself have to set up a creative space all their own. What with all the funky old ephemera, and scraps and bits of embellishments that I have accumulated over the past few years, I must put order to the madness. Not to mention the manual paper cutter, the Cricut, the sewing machine, the rubber stamps... The time had arrived!
My supportive husband agreed that the time had come. My hobby was taking over too many corners of our house. He even went with me to the Container Store yesterday to select a few storage items and then helped me drill holes to set them up.
So, today, I am completing this process, except for this very moment. I am blogging, and therefore taking a break from the process of turning my guest room into a craft room that will comfortably accommodate our occasional guests.
I'll try post a picture later today. Wish me luck!