Friday, February 27, 2009

TiLT: Things I Love Thursday

A day late and a dollar short again, folks...


Our fuzzy little Wonder Pig, Allie-Allie-Bo-Ballie!


My Sweet Girlfriend


Revisiting Old Artwork


The Act of Creating


My Minivan (and melting snow!)

Honorable Mentions: Bills that are less than expected, challenges from friends that get me creating - and are really a challenge! Strawberry Pocky, fuzzy nudge-kittehz, new clay, The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger, glitter and sunshine days, friends who think I'm fabulous, hugs when I am feeling low, silly dork-a-boos, sleepy morning afternoon hugs from Esme, JoAnn's uncomplaining assistance, Antonio's intelligence, happy parents, science lab packs full of cool science-y things and dumb experiments...

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

iTC: Tuesday, February 24th



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

Take one step towards safety:
Yesterday was an awful day for me emotionally. I spent a lot of the day trying to distract myself and crying when I couldn't. Without Jacqueline I likely would have gotten in bed and stayed there as long as I could. I really did nothing to move us toward safety, as dealing with my emotions was as much as I could handle...

Create something every day:
In an effort to pull myself out of the funk I was in, and perhaps further distract myself, I started painting some of the clay pieces I created over the weekend. Nothing's finished but they are coming along...

So, how did you do?

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Monday, February 23, 2009

iTC: The Weekend & Today



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

Take one step towards safety:
Again, I've been worrying a lot about things, and trying to distract myself; so I am not sure I accomplished much. I did start filling out an online application for one school district I wouldn't mind working for, but after working on it for several hours, I had to take a break, and I haven't gone back. However, I worked a lot on my school work, going over the requirements, taking pre-assessments, and making sure I'm on schedule. This morning I tackled a really big problem, and I am not sure I handled it perfectly, but it was a huge ordeal, and definitely moved us closer to safety.

Create something every day:
Over the weekend I made a few clay pieces that I haven't had time to paint yet. I have also spent time going through old boxes and finding thing I want to incorporate into my art, but I haven't done anything with them yet.

So, how have you been doing?

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Breakfast

Hey... guess what?

*I* just had the best breakfast ever! My aunt called them birds in a nest. You take a slice of bread, and use a glass (or biscuit cutter if you have one) to cut a circle out. Butter it all up, throw it in a frying pan, then crack an egg in the middle and cook til your egg is done. (Flipping it of course...) This is one of my favorite breakfasts, and Jacqueline will often cut shapes out of the bread (bunnies, flowers, hearts...) when she makes them for me. Well last night I took a loaf of Asiago Sourdough bread out of the freezer, and this morning, Jacqueline made me birds in a nest with it.

Oh. Em. Gee. The bread was crispy and all sourdough-y on the outside; the inside was all chewy tender, and the egg! Part of it had gotten all crispy crunchy around the edges, the white was all cooked (no runny), and the yolk was the perfect amount of undone! I actually ate it all with my fingers! (Usually it's too floppy from the thin bread...) It was fabu!

Oh, and of course, I've got my coffee! ^-^

Friday, February 20, 2009

What do I crave?

You Crave a Blissful Life
Your dream is to live a light hearted, carefree life. You don't want to be bogged down by stress.
You'd like to recapture some of the playfulness and innocence you had as a child.

You believe that life should be about celebrations and fun. The world needs more happiness.
You want to focus on the positive and stay optimistic. It's too easy to get depressed.


What kind of life do *you* crave? How are you going to make it happen?

Photo Friday: Morning Routine

Email & Coffee


Thursday, February 19, 2009

TiLT: Short & Sweet



Warm chocolate chip cookies
Sunny warm days
Time off without guilt
Tax refunds
Hot tea with milk and a little sugar
RuPaul's Drag Race
Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

iTC: The Last 10 Days



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how have I been doing?

I haven't been posting much of anything lately and truth be told I've been avoiding thinking much. Making changes is hard and I haven't been feeling up to the challenge; so I've been hiding and distracting myself. I really can't give you an accurate picture of all I've been doing, but I will try my best...

Take one step towards safety:
Since last week was the week before Winter Break, there were very few sub calls. However I did work a full day on Monday, and a half day on Tuesday, for a TA I had worked for before. I had a lot of opportunities to network, popping in to other teachers' rooms, and chatting with the teachers in the shared resource room, and I took full advantage of them.

Several times since then, I have spent some time looking at other school districts, but haven't applied anywhere yet. I want to update my resume first. Friday, I made a scary phone call and ran some errands. Tuesday, I had the car taken to the shop to have it inspected, and yesterday had to stand up for myself and go against what the mechanic (my dad's friend) was telling me. Also this week, when not fighting my computer over the virus, I've also been working on my Earth & Space course.

Not much, but it feels astronomical to me.

Create something every day:
On Sunday the 8th I completed the final coloring on what I had been working on at the beginning of the month.


Please click the image to see more of the detail and read the notes I have added...

Monday, I think I was too tired from work to *really* create anything, but I did spend some time reading some art books we have out from the library. Tuesday, we celebrated the Full Snow Moon, and I made a beautiful snowflake from a coffee filter on which I wrote all the things I want to diminish in my life, and then burnt it, symbolically. On Wednesday we had fog so thick I expected wolves (a la Forks) to appear just the other side of our stone wall; so I stayed inside and taught myself to make signatures for books (as you saw on last week's TiLT), and I got started on the background of a new pendant. Thursday, I continued to work on the pendant and created a semi-new desktop for myself, full of inspiration:


Click for quote credits and to see larger...


Friday I completed the pendant and wrote a silly love poem to Jacqueline. Although the poem was technically written after midnight, it was before I went to bed, so I consider it Friday... Saturday was Valentine's Day! I put the final gloss coats on the pendant, finished a love letter to Jacqueline, made 2 silly stained glass-type arty things for a dA contest (here and here), and created the best heart-shaped pizza for my dinner. Sunday I spent the day attempting to repair a virus on my computer, and did some beading while I was at it. Monday, I took pics of my beading, and started writing about their meaning. Tuesday, I actually went outside for a bit and got some sun! Then I helped create the best Buffalo chicken puffs for dinner. Yesterday, I planned out how I am going to do my next pendant and went through all my old artwork from the course I took in the 90s (pics coming soon of them). Sometime this week I also made two new icons, but I don't recall when...

So, how have you been doing?

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Why Etsy?

What made you open a shop on Etsy?

For years it'd been my dream to be a paid artist. I wanted people to buy my artwork. When I was in high school, I won a citywide award for a clay vase I made, and my boyfriend several years later said someday he was going to buy it off my parents (since I had given it to my mom). Of course, before he did it was accidentally broken. And the dream persisted...

It was never "practical" to try to *be* an artist though; so I found a so-called normal job. I ran a register for a while, got into office work where I stayed for years, then went to school to be a teacher, and eventually got work subbing. When last summer hit, and I was still just a sub and had not found any job for the summer, I decided to try selling things online. I thought maybe eBay, but it seems so... commercial and negative. I had known about Esty from other shops and friends and liked the atmosphere; so I gave it a go!

I did well enough to want to keep doing it when subbing started again, and I have to admit I *LOVE* the feeling of selling My Art to total strangers! It's great when my friends pay for things, don't get me wrong, but knowing that someone who doesn't know me thinks my stuff is good enough to buy... amazing.


What do you like about being a seller on Etsy?

Oh mean other than people actually buying my art? LOL! I like the low fees, the simple layout, the ease (mostly) of posting an item for sale, the lack of advertising, the sense of community...

What don't you like?

I wish there was an easier way to enter tags. The way it is now, I have to click on the main category, then click in the box to type in the next one, then I either hit enter on the keyboard and have to use the mouse to move the cursor down to the new box, or I can use the mouse to click enter and then the cursor goes to the next window, but I shouldn't have to use my mouse, switching back & forth!

And I should have to do them one. At. A. Time. Takes way too long! Especially when I usually want to use a lot of the same keywords over and over when making a big update. It would be nice to be able to copy & paste a bunch all at once.

It would also be great to have a batch upload for pics. You only get 5, why make us do it one. At. A. Time. Again. It takes way too long to update sometimes...

Awesome Book

If anyone is interested in intense poetry, this book is for you!

Pain in the Arms of Joy

(And no one can deny Mr. Austin's incredible hawt-ness... ~_^ )

Here's a little sample, fitting for today:

I Think Cupid's Out To Get Me

I think Cupid's out to get me
What did I ever do to that little man
Year after year of heartache
And now he sends another man

The way he looks at me
Makes my heart melt
And I think I do the same for him
This way I've never felt
I know that I could fall in love
If only he would let me
But he is taken by someone else

I think Cupid's out to get me

Friday, February 13, 2009

TiLT: Things I Love Thursday



I started this yesterday but completely forgot to post it! >.< So yet again, I am late! LOL!

The Full Snow Moon
The Full Snow Moon

Family Feasts
Feast for the Full Snow Moon

Fog so thick I expect to see wolves just appear...
Fog So Thick

Tiny books with real pages
Tiny Book

The way my paint mixes and melds and becomes something Magical
Color

Honorable Mentions: Melting snow, feeling Spring coming, bouncy energy, tax refunds, books with happy endings, finding old friends, making new friends, inspiring ladies...

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

One World One Heart Winners

Today is the day! I had *way* more comments than I thought, and surfed so many wonderful blogs! No, not all 911, but a LOT! There were plenty I added to my Following list because they were Just. That. Cool.

But enough about me! *You* want to know who the lucky winners are! I have used random.org to select two Random Numbers and those numbers are...


Christy A., of Sweet Tidings won the little bunny, and Connie of Chetta Cheese Chatter has won the rose heart! As soon as I have a mailing address for them their packages will be on the way!

Congratulations to all the other winners out there!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Not much time left!

OWOHIf you haven't already - and OMG who's left that hasn't??? - you don't have much time left to leave a comment on this post of mine - and OVER 900 OTHERS!! - for a chance to win some great giveaways in the One World One Heart Event.

Yes, that's right, over 900 artists, and myself, are giving away all kinds of goodies - not just our own art, but some people are giving away supplies to create your own art! And all you have to do is leave a comment on their posts, with an email or blog link so they can reach you if you win - no need to go back & check over 900 blogs to see if you won!

However, you have to hurry because you only have until the 11th! Some people are closing it at midnight their time on the 11th, some don't state when on the 11th, but I'd get out there and enter as many as I could today if I hadn't already! XD

So go! What are you waiting for! Good luck, my friends!

Monday, February 09, 2009

MEMAGE!

You Are Caramel deLites / Samosas
You are blessed with a brilliant, dynamic mind. It's sometimes hard to figure out what your focus should be.
You're the type of person who does almost everything well. You are very competent but also unfocused.

You're not an easy person to pin down. You are vibrantly complex.
You have many facets to your personality, and they're often in competition with one another.


Ooo! MY FAVE!

Sunday, February 08, 2009

iTC: February 6 & 7



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

Friday, I did some networking again. I stepped outside my comfort zone and chatted with other teachers in the building I was working in. For creating, I worked on the portraits I had taken the previous night of my little dork-a-boo:
Lia, 11 years old


Saturday, I didn't do much of anything to move toward safety. I hid in my room most of the day, reading journals, doing memes, and finishing the Mandala/Mirror/Collage thing I just posted... So while I *was* creative, I definitely didn't move us toward safety... But it's ok. Not every day is going to be perfect. Nothing ever is. And sometimes growth is going to seem stalled, only to burst forth later with more energy and life than ever before...

So, how have you been doing?

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Latest Creation

Please click the image to see more of the detail and read the notes I have added...

This was based on a project by Suzi Blu that you can find here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdL1PFYugEg While Suzi's was more of a traditional mandala (at least on one half), mine is less mandala, more mirror images.

Pencil sketch, water color pencils, and photo retouching marker.

Friday, February 06, 2009

TiLT: Things I Love Thursday

Yeahyeahyeah... A day late & a dollar short... That's me... :P


Taking portraits of birthday girls!


The Waxing Gibbous Moon


People waxing ecstatic about my art


Honorable Mentions: Birthdays and the cake that inevitably comes with them! Kawaii Not, New catalogs, Rainbows in my pocket, Smilies in a bottle, Lagomuffins, and Glamourkins...

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

Thursday, February 05, 2009

iTC: Progress for 2/4 & 2/5



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

Yesterday, I didn't create anything. I left my sketch book at home when I went to work, and when I got home, I sat for a while and stared at the pages, but couldn't do much more than erase a few lines. I did take some lovely photos of Lia and her cake, as it was her 11th birthday. And I did network quite well! I was quite chatty with the teachers I was working with and even with some of the others in the building. I definitely stepped outside my comfort zone...

Today, I faced a major problem without freaking out and hopefully everything will work out ok, but for the next few days if you could send some good luck vibes... And so far, I've taken a few more pics of Lia, and plan to work some more on the sketch I started and I've got an idea some ideas for other things I want to work on (frog prince figurine, thegirlinthebigbox-inspired painting of a friend...)... I'll post pics if I finish anything tonight!

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Etsy Blogger of the Month: Donna Pool Designs

Buttons, soft toys, photography, and vintage fun! Donna has some great items in her shop! One of my favorites are these Popcorn Button Magnets made from recycled magazine pictures:


I am so sorry I missed out on this adorable teddy, but there are more like it, and some cute balls too:


And she makes custom buttons, keychains, and magnets, oh my!


Don't forget to check out her blog too, Donna Says...

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

iTC: Today's Progress



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

  1. I am not so sure I accomplished this. I did work another 1/2 day at the same school, but I think my efforts at networking failed. My class was totally out of control, and sending the main disruptors to the principal didn't seem to help. We didn't get through all we should have, and I feel like I made a very poor impression.


  2. I didn't complete it, but I started working on a drawing based on this project (thank you Kali!), only mine will be less like a mandala, and more like mirror images... I might use the water color pencils, but I dunno if I want to use water... We'll see...

    I wish you could see it better...

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Monday, February 02, 2009

iTC: Today's Progress



Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

  1. Not only did I work in a school I didn't like, for only a half day, but I was the resource teacher, and attempted to network with the teachers in all the rooms I pushed into... Then this evening I spent about a half hour on the phone setting up my next semester's course of study: Earth & Space Science, Parts 1 & 2 (3 SH each), and Specific Teaching Practices: Science, Part 1 (2 SH)... for now. I can add more later!


  2. *Helped* with the cookies.

    Finished the pages I started last night. (Based on this project by Suzi Blu...)

    The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

Sunday, February 01, 2009

iTC: Today's Progress

Goals:
  1. Take one step towards safety.

  2. Create something every day.
So how did I do?

First I made that rad graphic up there... and an LJ icon to match! ^-^ Then I scrapped a LO, can't share it because it's part of a scrapping challenge we're doing on one of my groups, but I'll share soon... Third, I started on another page in my sketchbook; it's all silvery and purple & green glittery! ^o^ So that covers #2.

For #1, it may not seem like much to the average reader, but I helped shovel the driveway, and accepted 2 half days of work for Monday & Tuesday.

I believe I have accomplished my goals for today! How about you?

The iCiNG Transformation Challenge is brought to you by Gala Darling!

iCiNG Transformation Challenge: Day 1

Today is the first day of Gala Darling's iCiNG Transformation Challenge, which in her own words, "is an opportunity to achieve something you’ve wanted to do for a while but as yet, haven’t quite managed to hit out of the park." Kinda like a second chance at those New Year's Resolutions, or maybe there's a new goal you'd like to work toward?

For me, I have 2 things that are important to me right now. The first is getting my family to a safer place emotionally and financially. (No, where we live is quite safe physically, but we have so many worries about snow on the roof, pipes freezing, keeping warm, getting out of the driveway... and all the bills piling up because subbing is just not enough...) The second is growing and fully exploring my potential as an artist and creator.


So for my challenge I have decided to do two things each day:
  1. Take one step towards achieving that safe place for my family. Either applying for a better job, making an effort to network in my current position, promoting my art, or doing some other task that adds to our feeling of security. This may not sound like much to most of you, but I have a problem with social anxiety and interacting with people is such an emotional strain; it sometimes just shuts me down. If it weren't for the internet, which I can safely hide behind, I'd have no friends at this point in my life!


  2. Create something every day. Just one thing. Anything! A sketch, a painting, a poly-clay sculpture, a poem, a story, a recipe... N. E. Thing! Again this sounds easy and fun, but I feel so guilty sometimes, like I should be doing something more productive. This is just a hobby. There's housework to be done. Quit goofing off. You have to do x, y, or z... It's a feeling I don't want to associate with my art anymore. If this is something I want to eventually become self-supporting from, then I can't be feeling guilt for doing it!
How about you? Any of you care to join me? What goals will you be working toward?