This "radio" I made says it best...

Couldn't have done it with out you all! We raised $5,660! Even with all of the fee's and a few pledges that didn't come through we still have over $5000 which is exactly what I needed to get this campaign off the ground.

A **very** special thanks to my "Name in Lights" pledgers: Peter Kemp and Allen Barth!! You guys are always supportive and I really appreciate your notes of encouragement always. :) Thank you!

Here's a few videos recorded at SOhO Music Club in Santa Barbara, CA and a surprise cover song! Enjoy!!

Something Old...


Something New...


Something Borrowed...

Something Blue...

I made some recycled paper the other day and lots of you have been asking about how I made it. It's really easy once you get going and fun because each piece of paper you make is a bit of a surprise but you do need a paper making machine. I use Arnold Grummer's Papermill Kit (www.arnoldgrummer.com).

First you gather up some scraps, you can even use old paper bags! I threw in some show fliers, envelopes from bills. ;)


Then rip the scraps into smaller pieces (feels good if you rip something that frustrated you and turn it into something you love!!) and blend with 2 cups of water. The longer you blend them the less bit's of paper you'll be able to see in your final piece.
 


You then pour the blended paper pulp into the paper making machine. It's a series of screens with a mold to guide the pulp through them placed in a tub of water. Use your fingers to shift through the pulp and distribute it evenly. I like to add dried flowers at this point to make the paper more unique and special. (Dont have the best pictures of this part because I'm always pretty occupied!)


Once you've lifted the mold and pulp out (in the photo above) the water keeps draining out and you release the velcro green straps and take your wet molded pulp on a screen over to a cookie tray.


After that you lay a screen over the pulp and gently use a sponge to soak up all the excess water, squeezing it out a few times until you dont have any extra water wringing out.


Then you peal the screen off and use whats called a couch sheet (comes in the kit) to lay over the paper where the screen was and soak up more water (not picured) and then flip the whole thing (couch sheet, new piece of paper and the bottom screen) peal that screen off from the corner gently and place another dry couch sheet where that screen was. You then press with a press block to squeeze as much water out as you can. Its actually a lot easier then I'm making this step sound ;)


You then lay your damp new sheet flat to dry. I like to lay them flat for a while and airing out easily and then place somethingheavy on them to make sure they dry nice and flat. If you forget to lay something heavy on them and they completely dry you can re-dampen the paper with water in a spray bottle (spritz both sides of new sheet til damp) and then place under some heavy books. Voila! New, awesome and 100% unique paper!
 

If you make some paper send me a photo! :D

I often find my cat staring at something invisible or into the other room like she sees things I don't. Sometimes I even watch her playing with imaginary bugs or mice.

Kinda like this...

Usually I'll just ignore her or realize that she is so desperate to play that she's making an imaginary toy out of thin air and then I'll play with her more. But I've been thinking a lot about fear lately and how it keeps most of us, myself definitely included, from living a life that's 100% full so I wanted to share this.

I used to let her staring or little unknown noises freak me out. I would start imagining what was outside the room or what she could see that I couldn't becoming paralyzed by the fear. When I finally would get the nerve to go check out what it was... Nothing Happened. Everytime.

The boogie man didn't come to get me, their wasn't a mouse crawling across a corner and everything was always more-or-less in its usual state of ...disarray.

So my point is, to be bold because there really isn't anything to be afraid of. You decide exactly how your life is and if you have dreams please don't let a little fear stop them. Feel the fear and do it anyway. The worst that usually happens is nothing.

A few months ago I shared the journalistic story in Rolling Stone about the people this ecconomy has affected to the point that they are living out of their cars. Many of them were middle class, hard working people who were doing great until the recession hit. That fragile state of trying to hold on to your dignity, physical space and some hope really ressonated with me because I can relate somewhat with all the times I've roughed it out on the road and just tried to stay totally committed to my art, passion for music and the life I choose to create and live.

Well, the universe provided me with a perfect opportunity to channel how much I feel for the people touched by these hard times. I'm working on writing a song and composing the music for a short film and glimpse inside what life is like for someone like that in The Case of Conrad Cooper.

Read all about the film on the website: http://www.thecaseofconradcooper.com/

We are schedule to film in San Francisco in Spring 2013 and are currently looking for supporters and investors. Donations are tax deductable and include a download of my new song "Most The While"

Please take a look at the site and support the project if you can!