Jilliene Designing

Fun and Easy craft to do with kids!

2011-07-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a bored child and summer can sometimes bring this about.. All that free time... We have a huge gap to fill when our little ones are not able to play with their friends daily while burning off all that energy at recess. here is a fun idea:

Yesterday we did a fun and simple craft at camp that kept the kids busy and happy for hours. You can do this with just one child but the more kids you get to play, the better.

Restaurant fun:

First we took file folds and cut them in half to make two 5.25 x 8.25" menus. Then each kid named their restaurant and decorated the front of the menu to reflect the name and kinds of food they served . Next they decided on three or more dishes they would serve and listed these inside with pictures and prices.

Once their menus were complete, I put out a ton of misc. craft supplies and all kinds of things from the recycle bin. To do this at home, you can also peek into the garage and cupboards to find random gardening, auto, household bits and office supplies that you don't need or use (i.e. - box a piece of jewelry came in, stray hair rollers, single socks, clothes pins, an old jar of ponds cream that you are never going to use...).

Next I put everything on display for the children to consider, then told them to make their three dishes from the array of random items. This was ahoot to watch. They made pizza from a box, covered it with red fabric from an old T-shirt and topped it with feathers for cheese, bits of foam for mushrooms and small circles of paper for the pepperoni.

Once all the food was made, we set up little tables (you can use real furniture or make your own from boxes, pillows and a tin can with a flower in it.) We printed out order sheets on the computer from here and took turns playing guest and server. It was such a fun time! The kids kept wanting to add items to their menu so they would run over to the supplies and whip up a new entree.

hello creativity!

2011-07-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't even looked at my sewing machine since Christmas, but yesterday I needed to mend something and the next thing I knew I was making shorts from an old pair of jeans and embellishing with Heather Bailey fabric. It was such a nice feeling to quietly stitch and openheartedly consider what to do next.

Sometimes I think it is a shame that I scrapbook for a job. I just don't tinker creatively anymore. I have all kinds of excuses: I don't want to make a mess in my studio; I need a change of scenery; I feel like If I'm feeling creative, I should be working; or I don't want to start something I won't be able to finish.. RIDICULOUS!

They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem so I'm making a public announcement of my intention to change. Any objections? I didn't think so.

Actually, it has been a pretty artful summer thus far and I didn't even have to instigate my own momentum. Between the twin's scrapbooks I'm doing for my long term client, the projects I'm preparing for and teaching in the art and creativity classes at camp and my undeniable need for some sort of outlet, I have just "found" myself standing at the drafting table, adhesive in hand.

A big part of my drive comes from the awesome projects I've been doing with my cricut. I love that machine. I never thought I would get into using a lot of commercial products in my work but here I am, having a great time with layers, clean edges, shadows and cartridges. I think the jump start has been awesome in helping lay down that first piece of paper. Often, it is that first step that gets in my way to actually "DOING" something.

I used to think that the cricut would cause my work to look cookie-cutter-drone-ish and that the process of putting everything together would be like painting with numbers. This is so off base. My cricut pages and cards usually take much longer to assemble that "free hand" work and it is easier to know when to stop and do a know project. I cannot tell you how many unfinished pages I have in page planner sleeves that are missing a title or embellishments because I can't find what I'm looking for.

Now that I am doing some of my own work again, I will have something to post/ share on my blog. I'm hoping the next post will be very soon!

back to the blogsphere

2011-06-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

I disappeared from the world of blogging this last year. Instead, I joined the Facebook craze because it was easy and quick and I enjoyed getting the feedback but I have been working SO MUCH (I scrapbook for hire) that I have scrapbooking on the brain and facebook isn't really a great forum for me to talk about it (most of my "friends" are normal folk).

I have been hitting the message boards lately (it has been years!) and it is refreshing to be amongst my people. I've learned a lot of new techniques, discovered a bunch of cool products and have seen some fabulous work. What I love the most is how readily people will offer suggestions and information when you post a question! My job is pretty isolating and cerebral so connecting with others interested in the same thing really keeps me among the living.

To catch you up (if I even have any readers after this lengthy hiatus), this last school year I had the privilege to teach an enrichment program at my children's school, St. Timothy's. This program incorporated art, science and creative thinking to examine and explore various puzzles and ideas. It was called Create and Innovate, named after the Institute of Innovation fellowship I completed in 2010. It was such a hit and I had the BEST time with the kids and the projects! I will be teaching it again this summer via St. Tim's summer camp. I have taught art at a number of summer camps for many years and really enjoy the change of pace and watching the kids use their right brain!

This year, camp is filled to capacity and my program has been a big draw for many of the kids who might not have normally attended. (I love getting a little affirmation now and then!)

I am also working on a massive scrapbook project and it is so much fun! I have struggled a little with inspiration (sometimes I can't make a commitment to any of my ideas and it drives me crazy!) but I have been really pleased with the work I have completed.

The album(s) are two identical scrapbooks chronically the first year of life for a pair of twins. I have 500 photos to incorporate (each) and a big story to tell. Pulling the whole thing together is almost like writing a book. There has to be a natural progression - specific events have to be highlighted and a lot of different family members and friends need to be included. Plus I have to assemble 2 of everything which is harder than it seems.

I am so grateful that I get to do such a meaningful project. It really is an honor. Below you can find a few pages I've done... (sorry for the crummy pictures and I don't know what is going on with the layout below - looks like I have to re-familiarize myself with blogspot!)

Institute for Innovation

2010-07-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

It has been nearly two weeks and I am still buzzing from the amazing 2-day workshop I attended at RAFT. Two full days of creativity and the wonderful ziggity zag that comes from playing in your "creative mind state."

It was a hands-on program with multiple instructors leading a variety of "experiences" to generate and harness creative energy. We brainstormed and scampered. We mastered Leonardo's bridge and the Nail Puzzle. We even talked our way through the various hues of a color. But most of all we spoke about the future and education and how we can make a difference.

We do not realize it, but hands on learning has lost its place in our education system. The days of auto shop, sewing and wood shop are long past and kids are stuck in lectures and textbooks to learn about all the wonders of the world. Through the Institute of Innovation, I was reminded that you learn what you love and most often you can't know if you love something until you have applied it... tried it on... taken it for a spin. Through creativity we can reach our kids on a personal level and spark their passion to learn.

The other participants of this workshop came from many backgrounds with varied experiences. Combined with the fantastic curriculum and the infectious enthusiasm of the instructors, I left with a greater understanding of how I want to affect others with my art. I have always known that through the process of artistic creation we can access the magical world of our imagination. For many however, imagination is an inaccessible oasis in the midst of turbulent schedules and overwhelming "to-do lists." Many people need a little help to enter this place of innovation and invention. I want to be the person that provides that help. The hostess that opens the door. I want to share the key with others so they can tap into their possibilities. And guess what? I get to.

This Fall, I will be teaching my summer art class as an enrichment program at St. Timothy's School. While I have been doing this for 4 years now, I have new clarity about my objectives. I have also applied for a Fellowship through the Institute of Innovation which would compliment my classes in the most incredible ways. Besides the increased access to programming and resources, the generous stipend would allow me to offer scholarships and subsidies to families on a tighter budget. There were a lot of amazing individuals interested in the opportunity. I will find out if I have been selected next week...(fingers and toes crossed.) Until then, I am busy putting together the curriculum and working through the logistics.

Loving camp in so many ways

2010-07-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading my blog for a year or more than you know that I get crazy excited about teaching art at summer camp. I *LOVE* tapping into a child's creativity and allowing them to invent without inhibition. If you look back to my July entries from year's past you will see that art camp is the highlight of my summer.

This year I am teaching at St. Timothy's rather than Gen Israel where I have taught the last 3 years. The groups are about the same size but I have yet to "recycle" a class. I just love designing new projects and exercises that tickle the imagination and give a child a feeling of success.

The first week of camp was a hoot. I offered the kids a boatload of upcycled treasures from RAFT to use to make a small city. We had a city planning meeting each day before we got to the building and discussed scale, distribution of commercial versus residential real estate, infrastructure, mass transit, cooperative projects and even funding. Of course we used much more colorful terms like small, medium and big, houses versus stores, choo choo trains, building bucks and more.

I was absolutely blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm the kids showed. We worked on the project for 4 days - 2 hours a day, and I never heard "I'm done" or "I'm bored." They worked together, exchanged ideas and the older kids even helped the younger kids execute their vision. When the city was completely laid out, I honestly got a little choked up.

The following week, the preschoolers made dioramas out of RAFT materials. The boys in the group seemed even more enthusiastic than the girls as they flipped through the wallpaper sample books and decided on fabric for their bedding. These kids are 4 and 5 years old yet they remained focused on their projects for over an hour, two days in a row. They presented the finished projects to their parents with uninhibited pride.

The 1st through 6th graders had a much different theme for their classes. It was Spy week. We made passports and credentials, badges, TOP SECRET files with missions of our own creation. Then we made communicators, laser watches that cut through metal, portable listening devices, invisibility cream and spy gear fanny packs. It was a HIT! (and I was dog tired at the end of each day. )

This last week it was water week so by the time the kids came to me they had been in the sun all day and were in need of some quiet time. We made cards for our troops abroad, hovercrafts and puff rockets which was just the right pace in this heat.

We still have several more weeks before camp ends and I will blog more about the activities as we do them. My next post will be dedicated exclusively to the Innovation Institute. This was a two day journey into creativity and innovation. That is all I will say for now but be prepared to read an incredibly enthusiastic blog with lots of great projects!

sun + mosaic = fun

2010-05-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

I could write an entire blog entry on how relieved I am to be done with school but I don't even want to recall how burnt out I became those last couple weeks of the semester. Instead, I want to acknowledge how that burnout has stirred up some creative curiosity. I have a year's worth of art school to incorporate into my repertoire of hobbies and I have been thinking about playing around with some new mediums.

Today I decided to try my hand at mosaic. First, I went to a few websites with some good information about DIY mosaic to get a feeling for what I would need. I was thrilled that I already had everything on hand except the colored tiles. Instead of spending a small fortune on the pre-cut ones at Michael's, I went to a nearby thrift shop and bought some ceramic mugs in an assortment of colors.

One at a time, I put a cup in a zip lock bag, wrapped it with a towel and whacked the package with a hammer until the pieces were small enough for what I had in mind. It took about an hour, but I put together a nice palette for less than $5.00. If you decide to give this a try, I have a few tips to share:

You should place the ceramic cups on a solid, firm surface for the most uniformed piece sizes when you whack the mugs.
Double or triple bag your cups because in the process of breaking the ceramic, the edges cut up the bag and shards of glass spray out. These shards are sharp so wear safety glasses and make sure you sweep up well when you are done. I would avoid going barefoot in the immediate vicinity because there are bound to be really fine bits left behind.
Use an older towel to buffer between the hammer head and the bag. I used a nice bath towel and it is in pretty bad shape now.

Since this was my first project, I decided to put it together freestyle. I find an unplanned project is much more educational than the craziness of trying to do it "right." I really like how it turned out. Once the grout underneath dries, I'll put down another layer to fill in between the tiles. Fun, fun, fun.

The weather was perfect - 80 degrees with a gentle breeze. We barbecued salmon burgers for lunch and ate watermelon for the first time this year. While I was mosaic'ing the kids were close by painting on their easels, making mud pies and Tim tinkered in the garden. We listened to the black eyed peas, chit chatted and had a really peaceful day as a family. Love that. (Allergies. hate that. )

quiet changes

2010-05-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

Geesh, I am so embarrassed that I have not blogged in so long. There are a number of reasons for this - the biggest being Facebook. It so much more convenient with it's post boxes and walls and when I write something, it speaks directly to the people I know. I also like that there is a conversation aspect to FB whereas with blogging, most people. skim and move on. Comments are not super common and you have to leave them to get them - which is another thing I have not done in a long time.

Another reason I have had Blog Silence is that I have been simplifying my life. Not as a New Years resolution or because a doctor said I would drop dead of a heart attack if I didn't make some changes, but because it felt good. One day I was playing with my kids and I thought "this is fun!" The next day I made a nice dinner and thought "how come I don't do this more often?" The following day I took a walk that turned into a jog and then I took a nap and I was delighted by the thrill of spontaneity and that I had prioritized self care over posting an item on Etsy, finishing my homework or putting in some billable hours.

These kinds of experiences came up day after day and I started to get greedy for the feeling that I was having. I could not quite put my finger on it...and then...Holy crap... I'm happy. I had let go of the guilt, anxiety and fear that had kept me going while I was sick and recovering. I did not need it anymore to accomplish the chores of my life. I was getting out of bed pain free most days and I wasn't worrying about when the next attack would be coming on. I never realized how much energy it took to be in pain.

I could have easily re-focused that energy by working harder in school, finally finishing the laundry, making more money and/or volunteering more at my kid's school but I decided to marinade in the free time a while. At first it was so uncomfortable that I thought I might have some kind of panic attack. I was overcome with unfocused anxiety but I went through it and things improved.

I started listening to music again...not in the background mind you, but sitting on the couch and listening to a CD. I stopped drinking so much caffeine and started drinking green food. It doesn't taste as good but I feel better. Most importantly, I experienced deep gratitude for the little things. A dollar in my pocket, the sound of the wind swishing through the trees, that my husband or I always say "I was just about to say that." whenever the other one makes a comment. I also realized that I do not have to continue participating in things that are uncomfortable, unsafe and/ or toxic. I am allowed to bend like a reed in the wind and remain where I stand whether it pleases others or not. I don't want to hurt anyone but I don't want to hurt me either so I'm stepping back from the nonsense that I have felt obligated to do and I now get to have Saturdays where we sit around the kitchen table and say "what do you want to do today."

Making Peace a Priority - a rant from an ordinary person

2010-01-29T09:48:00.000-08:00

There is a lot going on the world and so much technology to shove it in our faces that it actually requires a conscious effort to remain calm. In my mind, it is healthy to feel incredible sadness over the devastation in Haiti; mind boggling fear over the health of our planet and the obvious symptoms that are appearing all over the world; uncomfortable shame for the way we turn our back on the less fortunate while we throw hundreds of dollars at designer "this and thats"; incredible anxiety over the state of our education system and the epidemic of special needs children that are without resources to assist them (and their parent's) in mainstreaming into society; and completely cluelessness as to why our jails and institutions are bulging at the seams with addicts and alcoholics yet addiction awareness and treatment are still unobtainable for so many.

Of course the list can go on and on but that is not the point of this blog entry. With all these extremes going on all around us, peace has to become a priority. Whether it is peace between foes or political parties or neighbors or siblings or husband and wife, it needs to be the obvious first option when there is strife.

I have lived much of my life ready to retaliate if injured. If you take something of mine or hurt me, I am gonna get ya' so I can save face and feel in control. Maybe not with an axe or slander, but you are on my list and when the time is right...I'll make my move. Most of the time, I have gotten annoyed with something else or realized that it was a mistake or just gotten bored and nothing much came from my impending wrath, but mending fences was never a part of my diabolical plan. Rather, knowledge that I could be poised to strike was my best coping mechanism.

Yes, instead I stored the hurt, disappointment, or embarrassment in my database to stew on whenever I was already mad or feeling alone in the world. "I showed you! " Wait, no I didn't...I'm the only one who lost in that battle because it compounded whatever bad feeling I was having by 10 fold. So the not-so-obvious conclusion is that before we can make peace in the world we have to make peace within ourselves. That's right friends, we've got to love ourselves first...even though we know all about everything we've been up to (or even thought about doing.) Oh dear, not an easy task indeed.

How many of us have not thought about yelling at an elderly person moving in slow motion when you are in a hurry or punching your partner in the nose after they said something rude to you? And all our nasty, dirty, mean thoughts are also kept in the database...thus it is inevitable that as you get older, that database becomes filled with darkness even if your life has been filled with light.

Somehow, someway, we have to find a means to brighten our inner world so that we can share that light with others. Peace has to be a priority. Yes, even more important than that promotion, relationship or weight loss program. If these things interfere with having peace..toss them!! When you set your goals, add peace to the equation. Take 10 seconds to ask yourself, "Will this task, commitment, person, choice add peace to my life or is the inevitable outcome more stress and negative talk?"

It's a dandy of a strategy and if you are able to incorporate it into your living you might actually be able to change the world for the better. I don't know about you, but just being happy isn't enough motivation to stop dipping into the darkness to cope with life. In theory, it sounds nice and juicy but actually applying it, well there would need to be a cash prize or at least public accolades. "Hmmmmmm.... changing the world...that sounds like an important job for my secret megalomaniac subconscious... I might be interested in filling that position. Sure why not...."

So now when my neighbor's dog barks all night or there is a person in the 10 or less line with 11 items, instead of pooling from my previous frustrations to armor my agitation, I'll focus on my gratitude and blessings and how I am going to change the world by letting go of the pettiness and embracing the greater good.
At some point, you might think, "I'm not sure I have time to save the world today...getting pissed is much more time efficient."

No, no no...this job cannot become a burden because that defeats the purpose... It has to start at the molecular level and that takes just a few seconds. "I am here in my body, feeling gratitude for the oxygen I breath and the sun in the sky" and oddly enough, one begins to experience peace.

"I fill my heart with light and let go of the junk, the toxic righteousness and anger."

Then I remove myself from the situation either physically or emotionally and connect with a higher purpose. "Oh...that's nice. i can feel it...I have peace" ...and no longer does the irritation that I was experiencing have power over my decisions and experiences in that moment. Next, the butterfly effect goes into motion and in your own small way, you made the world a better place.

I know, I know, it has been said before and I'm sure all of this will be said again, but if even one person reading this applies it to a situation sometime today and that situation has a positive outcome, that positiveness will spread to others and so on and so on. I guess this long winded rant is just my little way of saving the world today.

Button Blooms Still Making People Smile

2010-01-19T16:33:00.000-08:00

Last year my Etsy shop focus evolved from my own creations, kits and button blooms into the vintage market. My vintage business is doing great and it is so much fun going on treasure hunts to find new inventory as well as matching wonderful people with enchanting pieces. That said, I am so very glad that there is still interest in my hand made jewelry, upcycled purses and custom designed button blooms. Without them, I wouldn't feel like an artisan member of Etsy. I would feel more like a supplier managing spreadsheets which is not what I wanted to be when I grew up for sure!

I just assembled an order of button blooms for a wonderful woman who is decorating a room in her house for her grandchildren and her daughter's foster kids. She wants "everything bright and cheery." I make my blooms to order so she gave me an idea of what she wanted and I put them together but before I shipped them off I sent her photos of the blooms to get her feedback on the color scheme and design. I wanted to make sure that I brought her vision to life. This is the email she sent me upon seeing the photos:

"Jilliene, I absolutely adore the button blooms. Truly, I have never seen button flowers until I started shopping etsy and I looked at alot of button flowers before I chose yours. Yours are the brightest, cheerest and happiest on the etsy market. I have been sick these last few days, so flowers in my mailbox will be delightful and just the pick-me-up that I need.
Sincerely, Suzanne"

I can not tell you the joy that this email gave me today. It just feels so good to touch another person with your work. I am so blessed to have passion for a profession that is so rewarding. Truly blessed...

Settling in to 2010

2010-01-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

I have been off the grid the last month with lots of family time and gearing up for an amazing new year. As 2009 came to a close I was confused about my focus and what I wanted from the new year. I decided to put it out in the universe and sure enough,clarity came. My focus in the next few months will be growing my Etsy shops, spending time with my family and healing my body. Art school is going to have to be a secondary priority. I am not sure if that means taking the semester off or taking a light load of core classes on line; fortunately, I have a few more weeks to flush that out.
What I know is that being present in my life is too hard when I am juggling so much. I want time to read to my kids, take walks with my husband, get back to yoga and focus on alternative medicine to resolve my chronic pain. My creativity will still be fed through my Etsy shops but my business is at a point where it needs more of my attention so it can continue to bloom. I am blessed with clients who have lots of work for me and two Etsy shops that have exploded into flourishing enterprises. Nurturing my business and enjoying the fruits of my labor is more than enough excitement for this busy lady..

2010 has been already been fruitful. I have been busy posting treasures in my shops and shipping out orders daily. I have been getting acupuncture, physical therapy and attending biofeedback training. I have been spending time with my family and getting out of the house regardless of my pain. I have been physically active and eating much more healthy. I have recommitted to my recovery and am making every effort to live in the solution rather than the problem. I keep reminding myself that even the smallest change in direction, eventually takes you to a totally different place. I lost too much of 2009 "enduring" the pain of my trigeminal neuralgia (type 2). I want to live not endure!

That said, I am super excited about the amazing estate lot I just recently acquired. Over 500 gorgeous vintage jewelry pieces in impeccable condition. This kind of find is rare and I am committed to sharing the values with my customers. I have already listed 100 new items at wholesale or lower prices. I have had several jewelry shops buying up items to resell in their shops and collectors who are ecstatic to find so many quality pieces at such reasonable prices. It is delightful to encounter happy customer on such a regular basis. I just recently sold an item to Dr. Robi Ludwig who I have seen on TV many times. What fun!

On another note, I am trying to do something for the Haiti Earthquake relief fund. I am donating the shipping fees from each sale to the Red Cross and I am covering the shipping costs to get those items to the buyer. I felt so helpless watching the story unfold on the television. This makes me feel like I am helping in my own small way while raising awareness of the need for assistance.

With all of that in mind, I selected my "one little word" to support my efforts. I chose "healing". Whether it is healing wounds, hearts or problems, I choose to seek a solution and support resolution. Cowering to obstacles and procrastination have not been successful approaches in my experience, so I am making conscious commitment to healing, allowing for both organic and personal growth.

So that is what life looks like in January 2010. I am excited to live the months ahead and watch life unfold. I intend to be more regular with my blogging and I'll be sending out a quarterly newsletter with project instructions, vintage information and resources and other tidbits of relevant news. Please become a blog follower (on the left) if you would like to receive these e-newsletters. Happy New Year Everyone!

This program was temporarily interrupted by finals...

2009-12-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

I was in the throws of my annual series on a Handmade Christmas when BAM! it was finals week and all other activities came to a screeching halt. I had displays to make, polishing to do and the hardest thing EVER for an artist...editing. I won't go into it right now, but one of these days we are going to have to talk about the secret hell and blessings of editing. Until recently, I never really knew it existed beyond term papers and conversations.

Before we can return to our previously scheduled programming, I have to share with you the final critique for sculpture 1. You really have to see the diversity amongst the students and their work. I learned so much this semester from both our wonderful professor Annie, and my classmates who had a variety of backgrounds and experience. There were some of us that were totally new to 3-D expression, some who had already chosen it as their specialty and some who were expanding on their successful illustration or painting backgrounds. Some were 1st year students, some were graduating seniors. It was a hybrid of experience, age, interpretations and interests. It was probably the most significant course I have taken in art school and it has definitely inspired me to become a sculpture major. There is something about the conceptual experience in 3-D that is so much more consuming than 2-D. I learned to access different parts of my creative self and while it did not come naturally, I enjoyed every sweaty, stumbling step of the journey. I am a better artist for it.

We created four pieces during the semester. The first was a clay bust of either a self portrait or a morph between two or more things. The conceptual was as much a part of the grade as the execution.

Next we made sculptures out of wax which were then cast into bronze. Once returned to us, we had to painstakingly remove the excess metal, grind down the surface to a more refined piece and use a patina to add some contrast. This is a difficult process that involves a lot of heavy machinery, patience and determination.

Our third piece was again made of clay but this time we were free to express ourselves anyway we would like. And our forth piece was a plaster carving. We made large plaster molds in a bucket, then used a chisel and other tools to carve our blocks into a masterpiece. It was very physical and tedious but most of us enjoyed it.

So get some popcorn and a drink, sit back and enjoy this slide show of our final critique....

Homemade Christmas -Scrumptious Comfort Food

2009-12-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

There was a time was cooking was a labor of love and I spent hours shopping for and preparing delicious home made meals. But with kids and schedules and dishes...dinner has become less about the flavors and aromas and more about serving something that everyone will eat that includes at least three of the four food groups, that doesn't take too long to prepare and even less time to clean up.

But there is something about December that brings out that culinary spirit in me. I feel this urge to make yummy meals to show my family how much I love them. With all the months in the year for this impulse to surface, why in the heck does it happen in December when time, cash and effort are scarce? What can you do - there is nothing more powerful than a mother's love...

This is my solution- I make those wonderful meals with savory comfort foods but I use recipes that are quick, easy and inexpensive. Here are a few of my favorites...

Chicken Tortilla soup:
SERVES 10

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium jalapeno pepper, chopped
1/2 medium green pepper (I use a red or yellow bell pepper)
4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups frozen corn (I get Trader Joe's roasted corn)
1/2 cup dry white wine or water (I use more Chicken Broth)
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder (optional- to taste- go light if you are serving kids)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional- to taste- go light if you are serving kids)
4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth (I use the organic free range broth in cartons)
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce

Topping

1 cup non-fat tortilla chips (optional)
2 chopped avocados
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Directions

Sauté onion, garlic, jalapeño and green pepper with olive oil in a large pot until soft.
Add all the rest of the ingredients to the large pot and bring to a boil.
After about 15 minutes, remove the chicken breasts and shred. (Two forks work well to pull the chicken apart!).
Return shredded chicken to the pot and simmer an additional 45 minutes.
Serve, topped with crushed tortilla chips, avocado and cheese

Cioppino over Pasta
Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2/3 cup chopped parsley
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (28 oz) tomatoes
1 cup dry red or white wine (or chicken broth)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dry basil
½ tsp dry oregano leaves
1 package of Trader Joe's Seafood Medley
½ cup butter

Instructions
In 6-8 quart pan over medium heat, combine oil, onion, garlic and parsley; cook, stirring often, until onion is soft. Stir in tomato sauce, tomatoes (break up with spoon) and their liquid, wine or broth, bay leaf, basil, and oregano. Cover and simmer until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
To broth, add defrosted seafood. Cover and simmer gently about 10 minutes. Ladle hot broth and some of each fish over pasta. Serve with warm sourdough bread.

CHICKEN POT PIE
Ingredients:

4 or 5 potatoes
3 or 4 carrots
1 pkg. frozen string beans (use 1/2 of package)
1 pkg. frozen peas (use 1/2 of package)
8 good sized mushrooms
2 cans Campbell cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust

Instructions:

Cook chicken breasts until tender or buy a Costco chicken and use the breast meat. Pull apart or cut into decent size chunks.
Remove pie crust from wrapper to soften, while preparing other ingredients, or roll out 2 pie crusts.
Peel cut up potatoes and carrots. Steam or par boil both in same pot or steamer until slightly tender. The veggies will continue to cook when baked in pie.
Put crust in pan; prick with fork. Add mixture of chicken, potatoes, peas, carrots and string beans, mushrooms,; spread them around, so that everyone gets some chicken, veggies, etc.
Add pepper (soup and crust has plenty of salt; don't add extra).
Add can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup. Spread over top of ingredients. Add 1/3 cup milk to moisten, just pour around edges of pie (use your judgment, if you think you need more liquid, add part of other can of soup, or more milk.
Put on top crust, sealing edges tightly to prevent dripping. Poke crust with fork or make design with toothpick to let steam escape.
Set oven at 375 degrees. Bake approximately 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Put piece of tinfoil under pan to catch drippings.

Hand Made Christmas Short Cut

2009-12-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

So the seed has been planted and you are pondering "Hand Made Christmas whoop-t-doo." It "feels" like a dandy of an idea but you are not a trend setter...you tend to wait to make sure something is here to stay, has had a couple versions so the bugs are worked out and is priced right. You don't have to follow that song and dance with this big idea, There is a short cut; a loop hole; a cheat of sorts. Do some shopping on etsy - your place to buy & sell all things handmade.

What is Etsy? Etsy's mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. their vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice.

here are 20 shops that should have something for everyone on your list:

Whimsy and Spice - delicious sweets - http://www.etsy.com/shop/whimsyandspice
Sidewalk Sensations -sidewalk paint for kids -http://www.etsy.com/shop/SidewalkSensations
Finns and Flowers - wonderful toys - http://www.etsy.com/shop/FinnsandFlowers
Create Beauty Daily - personalized sterling silver jewelry - http://www.etsy.com/shop/CreateBeautyDaily
Jennifer Stewart's Saturday Morning Vintage - amazing jewelry creations and craft kits -http://www.etsy.com/shop/JenniferStewart
Plays with Mud - stunning ceramics -http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlaysWithMud
Fabulous Vixen Designs - original jewelry creations and Phone Leashes - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Fabulousvixendesigns
small threads - children's clothing - http://www.etsy.com/shop/smallthreads?section_id=6548880
allie beans shop - bags and purses - http://www.etsy.com/shop/alliebeans
August Eve - Fine Art Prints - http://www.etsy.com/shop/alliebeans
Handwerks - hand dyed yarns - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handwerks
Smells and Bells - perfumes and soaps made with organic ingredients - http://www.etsy.com/shop/SmellsandBells
Alma Stoller - fabric, fiber and mixed media art - http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlmaStoller
Zip Artist - darling Christmas ornaments and beautiful brooches - http://www.etsy.com/shop/zipartist
JS Glass Art - fused glass bowls, plates and platters - http://www.etsy.com/shop/jsglassart
Looks Good from the Front - Sophisticated veils and hair accessories - http://www.etsy.com/shop/looksgood
Kelly Drive - clothing and accessories - http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellydrive
giddyspinster - WOW - How do I describe her work other than totally cool plant art - you gotta check it out! - http://www.etsy.com/shop/giddyspinster
Etta Billie - Organic Bath and Body Products - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ettaandbillie
ciucco - loveys, binkie bags and blankets - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ciuccio

This is how its done at Jilliene Designs

2009-12-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

I sent off a few orders today for customers who had me ship wrapped gifts to their friends and family. I always wrap my orders in vintage book pages and include a thank you card but I like to add a little holiday flare when I am wrapping presents for my clients... free of charge of course.

I just had to share a couple photos thinking it might get others inspired to wrap with recycled materials. Or better yet, pop into one of my shops (here and here) and do a little holiday shopping!

Snap Out of IT!

2009-12-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

It is easy to talk about giving and holiday cheer when you are feeling good and life is cruising along. And it is also easy to lose you perspective...super easy...especially in the month of December when it is cold out, the days are short, the nights are long, most TV series take a break, schedules are busy with parties, pageants and plays, semesters end with finals and due dates, and there is that whole new year thing at the end of the month. One or two bumps in the road can throw your life into chaos. And it seems there are more opportunities for bumps too because the weather can be disagreeable, its the heart of flu season, people tend to rush and be more tense, there are more demands on your pocket book and less business days to make money. So I thought I'd put together a list of 20 ways to "snap out of it!" as I try to do that very thing this morning...

Stretch
prioritize and skim the fat from your schedule for the day
breath in 5 deep breaths holding them for a 4 count and release.
overwhelmed? just do what is right in front of you
work a few of your fat clothes into your wardrobe so you won't have one of those morning where nothing fits.
try going to bed earlier and getting up earlier
take your laundry to a service that washes and folds for you.
make time to meet a friend for coffee in the middle of the day
order a salad instead
buy a box of those yummy tangerines to eat in place of all the holiday junk food surrounding you
purge your closet - its like shedding your skin and you can donate all the clothes to a charity.
don't drink caffeine after 3:00 pm - nothing good can come of it.
give others a break when they mess up or fall short; your more likely to do the same for yourself if you have done it for someone else.
jog in place while you brush your teeth - for some of us, it will be the only exercise we get all month
meditate (or just sit still and focus on your breathing for 3 minutes)
clean yourself up - pluck your brows, shave, style your hair - sometimes a little grooming goes a long way
make your bed
clean out your purse and/ or car...
listen to some music
remind yourself that the world will not explode if you don't get it all done.

OK - I think I'll start with 16... have a great day!

Home Made Holiday Gift #1

2009-12-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ok - enough of the philosophical. Time to move on to the fun stuff. I am starting out with a simple but thoughtful craft that you can do on your own or have your kids participate. It is inexpensive and it might just be the kind of project that gets you into the Creative Zone so that you will be willing to try some others.

Collage place mats can be simple or you can get elaborate. Totally up to you. You can make a set of generic looking ones or personalize them for a specific person.

Here is how you do it:

Collect materials for your collage, and find inspiration in them.
- Traditional collage materials include scraps of paper and other flat materials: newspaper and magazine clippings, shopping bags, photographs (or photocopies of photographs), wallpaper, and foil.
- Objects such as string, beads, feathers, and fabric are OK but you don't want your collage to be bumpy so try to stick with items that lay flat..
- Collage may encompass images, text, solid colors, or a mixture of these. You may want a recognizable image or word, or simply a suggestion, feel, color, or texture.
- Use what you have. Start from available materials and work out from there.
- Create what you don't have. Since collage is an assemblage or blend of elements, it lends itself well to mixed media. You could paint, draw, stamp, or stencil in between the elements you find, or cover over them.
- Don't rule out unusual materials, like sandpaper, blurry photographs, etc. The place mat below is made from fabric scraps.
Choose a base for your collage. The base is usually flat paper or poster board because these are easiest to work with.
- The background does not have to be white, and it does not have to be plain. The background could include a page from a magazine or book, a large photograph, or a page of text. Paint or draw on it, or cover over it with anything that glue will stick to.
Prepare the base by cutting the base to the desired size and shape. I usually go with 16x12" Add any decorations or embellishments you want to the background.
Use scissors or an X-acto knife to cut out pieces for your collage. Try cutting your scraps into unusual shapes, cutting out words or letters from a variety of sources to make phrases on your collage, or cutting different pieces so that they fit together.
- Pick images that reflect the recipients or make a set that are tied together with a theme. I make 4 for our family and each one has our name and a photo of us. I add silly hats, hair and animal bodies to our faces. I also include things that interest us. This year, Tim has a surf theme but last year it was all about mountain biking.
- A cutting mat helps protect your table and helps make smooth cuts, or cut on top of a scrap of cardboard or an old magazine.
- Cut out a whole picture, an identifiable part, or just enough to evoke texture, color, or feeling.
- Cut different shapes for both words and images. Experiment with round and straight edges, regular and irregular shapes.
Try tearing materials too. The rough, random edges give parts of your collage a different character than cutouts.
Arrange the items on your background. You can arrange the whole thing, then glue, or you can arrange as you go if you prefer a more spontaneous approach.
- Play with the juxtaposition of different elements and don't be afraid to make this part a messy process. Serendipity may hand you something interesting that you hadn't thought of.
Apply glue to each item and carefully but firmly press it down. Then, use your finger to rub it flat from the inside to the edges. Continue this process with each piece, overlapping pieces if you wish, until you are finished.
- Glue underneath pieces before pieces on top.
- You don’t have to cover the whole surface if you don’t want to, You can fold or crumple pieces of paper to get interesting textures and reliefs.
Let the finished collage dry completely. Depending on the glue(s) you used, you may need to let the collage dry for a few hours or more than a day.
Add any finishing touches. Do you want to apply a thin layer of paint or write or stamp over parts of it? Do you want to add textures, such as scratches?
Laminate the collage -I bring it to Kinkos. The do a great job and it only costs a couple bucks. I have an old Xyron with laminate that I bought solely for this purpose but it isn't firm enough and it peels over time. Kinko's laminate can be wipes with a sponge again and again without it affecting the laminate.
Ta-Dah! - you are all done. Ok now for the wrapping because these are shaped weird. Wrap it in the funny papers, go to the thrift store and buy a couple old record albums, then use the 2 sleeves as a "box" Tape them together and give as is or wrap them up with newspaper, magazines, or tuck them in a reuseable grocery bag...

Obstacles and Objections to a Homemade Christmas

2009-12-01T21:47:00.000-08:00

Lets face it...we live in America, a society of get it done, keep up with the Jones and mega-consumption. It is hard enough to limit our kids sugar intake, monitor their television exposure and teach them how to be kind, productive, tolerant members of society. Even with the best of intentions, we are find ourselves detoured into the Taco Bell drive through instead of preparing a home cooked meal; dependent on cartoon network for a few minutes of quiet time and our kids get exposed to all kinds of unproductive behavior whether it be at home, school or on the playground. So, to try to impose yet another "healthier choice" can be a difficult undertaking. Especially when the media is showing all the cool STUFF you HAVE to get for Christmas. I imagine many a parent has been tempted to combat the commercialism but decided that it was too big of a fight to win. I get it. I'm right there with you. (Between you and me -sometimes I don't even bother serving vegetables because I know it will end up a battle of wills and I don't have the energy for it.

"And now you propose a Handmade Christmas?? Are you mad?" Oh please...let me clarify. What I suggest is that we do our part to counterbalance the insanity we call the holidays. Instead of giving into this emphasis of "buying", lets look at this season as a time to be kind to one another and to ourselves. To be generous without filling our closets and cupboards and landfill with unnecessary stuff. To be thoughtful in our shopping, to repurpose when possible and to keep our kids out of the chasm of want. That dark abyss that distracts us from being good people and that is destroying our planet. It can be a lot of work, but if you think strategically, you can make an impact.

The trick is to recognize that if our attitudes toward consumption don't change, they will be changed for us in the not-to-distant-future.

Now our family does not subscribe to an exclusively hand made Christmas. We do a hybrid. For example, I never buy new gift bags, but I do recycle the ones I have from last year. My kids like toys and I am not a toy maker so those items are store bought. Sometimes they are brand spankin new-straight from China and other times they are items I bought on Etsy, ebay or at the thrift store. If it is from Etsy it is usually something handmade but I always confirm that it has been tested for lead. If it is from ebay, I am careful that the seller has a good reputation and do my due diligence to make sure the item is in tact and clean (i.e. wooden train tracks and trains) and if its from the thrift store, it is usually something like kid videos or a cool chess set. I feel good about looking to ebay and the thrift store because it is recycling but I also have little kids who don't notice if something isn't brand new.

For those of you with teenagers, you face a much more difficult situation when you try to push handmade or recycled items onto your teen. Their entire culture is built upon their stuff... brand names...expensive...cool. In this case, the best you may be able to do is wrap your gifts in recycled newspaper, magazines and grocery bags, skip sending store bought Christmas cards, do away with envelopes and give gift certificates. Maybe, if your lucky, you'll even make your own wreath? You are doing something and that is so much better than not doing something.

So here is a list of 20 ways you can change your Christmas/ Holiday practices without making your kids mad or adding more stress to your life:

Give gift cards
give experiences instead of stuff - dinner for two, tickets to the theater, tuition for an online class...
Shop on Etsy - support artists and avoid wasting gas, time and releasing harmful ommissions by driving to the mall and hunting for a parking spot.
Give a health package with vitamins, a colon cleanser, green food, medicinal teas and/ or immune system boosters
wrap your gifts in paper bags turned inside out. Use rubber stamps and paint to decorate with holiday cheer.
stop using ribbon and bows to decorate your packages. Instead, top your packages with useful items like mints, a spatula or socks
ask for and give gifts that are practical - scratch the candy cane boxers and knick knacks - give them their favorite face mousterizer, hair conditioner or a new tool.
buy American
don't send store bought Christmas cards. Americans buy about 7 billion greeting cards each holiday season and most of these cards are made from paper from virgin forests and end up in landfills shortly after arriving at their destination. Instead send ecards or make your own from last years cards and supplies you have in your home.
ask people if they have a big ticket item that you can contribute to and get one lined up for yourself. I have a sewing machine on lay away and when asked what I want for Christmas I suggust putting a little money down on it. I give them the store name and tel # so they can take care of it without actually handing over cash.
give an herb garden or fruit tree. Its the gift that keeps on giving!
give your time. What are you good at? computers, photography, organizing?? create a gift certificate on your computer and put it under the tree.
replace your current Christmas lights with the new energy efficient ones.
one word - itunes
give a subscription to a vegetable co-op.
don't stock up on extra gifts just in case you need one last minute. Buy a few starbucks cards if you must, but it is OK to downsize on your gift giving.
give re-usable grocery bags instead of gift bags to wrap up presents. I do this every year and I feel really good that my friends and family may save a few trees because of it.
give a photograph in a frame. That is an awesome gift!
don't buy your stocking stuffers at the dollar store. We are all tempted to take advantage of those inexpensive, colorful goodies but most of it ends up in the land fill. Instead fill their stockings with fruit, nuts, lip balm, hand lotion, an eco-friendly water bottle, hand sanatizer and of course candy!
give privledges -this is bound to be a hit with your teens! an afternoon off of school, a 1-hour extension on bedtime, pass on a chore for a week or movies on a school night.

10 sure fire ways to ignite the spirit of giving...

2009-12-01T00:13:00.000-08:00

Many people struggle with getting into the Christmas spirit. The days are shorter; it is cold outside; and if you watch the news, one could easily conclude that the world is going to hell in a handbasket. For many of us, the holidays remind us of people we have lost or represent a lot of "to-do's" in a very short period of time.

The best way to combat the holiday blues and whip up some holiday spirit is to be in service to others. Yes, even if your well is dry, you feel you have nothing to give or you just don't have the time. There is always a way to bring light to another person. Always. And by doing so, you get a little light too. So here is a short list of ten sure-fire ways to get into the holiday spirit!

make and send Christmas cards for our troops
make and drop off cookies to the local fire dept.
Buy extra food at the grocery store and drop it in the food donation can or better yet, start a can food drive at your work, school and/or association by contacting youror rescue organization.
find out how you can be in service for a local shelter - whether it is donating, time, money or services. Every little bit helps make this world a better place.
donate new toys to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. To find your local chapter, click here
Organize a group to sing Christmas Carols at a local retirement home
Buy the person behind you in line at Starbucks a coffee
Vow to change one behavior for the good of the planet
Make and give your neighbors, postal worker, hair stylist, and other support people a homemade card and/or gift like hot coco in a recycled jar with marshmellows on top or gingerbread cookies. You can always include a gift card if you have the money to give.
Resist the urge to buy useless gifts just to cross someone off of your shopping list. You end up supporting a disposable economy and contributing to global warming. This is especially hard when you have a tight budget because we never want to be caught empty handed. Instead have a tree planted in this person's name. It only costs $4 and they will receive an e-certificate and GPS coordinates so you can visit the tree.

To find more ideas visit:

Let me know if you try any of these ideas or if you have another to add.

Introduction to a Handmade Christmas

2009-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas has not always been a time of delight and joy for me. When I was younger and less able to appreciate my blessings in life, I thought Christmas was just a big fat reminder of everything I DID NOT have. I wallowed in my prediction that there would not be enough love, gifts, generosity, money, invitations, etc. and recruited others to do the same.

I worked hard to make "Bah Humbug" fashionable. My ridiculous self-centeredness made every flippin' Christmas carol feel like a giant raspberry from the universe.

Before the season was over, I would end up flush with all kind of gifts and blessings but I would be unable to enjoy them. I was pretty certain that the only reason I got what I got was because I sustained a level of prepared disappointment and experiencing any sort of joy or gratitude might jeopardize the possibility of getting more...

In other words, I was a spoiled young woman and no matter how much I got, it would never be enough.

But being a mom has totally changed this pattern of behavior for me- thank God! I work very hard each year to shelter my children from the commercialism and the emphasis on "getting" by doing a Handmade Christmas.

Last year baking Christmas Cookies

Last year, I was blessed to discover a whole like-minded movement which has made this tradition even more exciting. I have found so much inspiration from bloggers like One Crafty Mumma and Me and My Thoughts where there are tons of great ideas and dozens of tutorials.

This practice of a Homemade Christmas focuses on the joy of giving and encourages creativity. I can not tell you how much my kids thrive on making gifts for others. Maybe this story will... Aidan came home from school a week ago with a huge list of toys he wanted from Santa. There were well over $1,000 worth of gifts written in his cute 1st grade handwriting and he seemed pretty sure that if he sent the list to Santa, he would get each and every one of them. I explained that Santa might bring one item on his list but not all of it.

He said, "but lots of the kids at school get everything on their list and I get in less trouble than a lot of them."

Every year we make a homemade Chicken Pot Pie together

I told him that Santa brings gifts to match the traditions in each house and at our house we focus on the giving, not the receiving. He was not thrilled with that answer, but I went on to explain how in our family we may only get one or two big presents from Santa but we spend the whole month of December doing things to celebrate Christmas like decorating, making gifts, ornaments, cookies and most of all, spending time together. Other families may get lots of "stuff" but their Christmas is just a morning. They wait, wait, wait, until Christmas arrives; rip through the presents and then it is all over for another 365 days.

"Hmmmmmm" he replied. He was clearly analyzing the data.

The next day we started getting our Christmas groove on by drinking gingerbread tea, listening to Christmas carols and doing Christmas crafts. The kids made all kinds of ornaments and paper chains and not once did I hear someone say "I'm bored!"- (a Christmas miracle!) While we were cleaning up, Aidan said "I like the way we do Christmas mommy. I LOVE doing crafts with you. When can we do it again?"

"Next weekend, and every weekend after until Christmas" I replied. He smiled huge and yelled "Yeah!" while he jumped up and down. "I don't need all those toys mommy... just the Lego's"

So here are a few of the goodies I have started on for gifts this year (just to wet your whistle). Tutorials and more pictures will follow. Subscribe to my feed so you know when new articles are posted because I have a lot of fun and easy crafts that are earth friendly, easy to do and inexpensive too. Welcome to Homemade Christmas everyone!

The handles on this bag are made from an old scarf

Burlap and cotton reversible shopping bag

This is a ring

This is a pendant with a tiny spool of thread, pin and button

2009-11-29T08:47:00.000-08:00

So I’m included in a Treasury, now what?

I just got an Etsy "convo" letting me know that I have been included in another treasury. This is my 4th time being included in a treasury and it feels like a honor but is it? Well I did a little research and found this great article by posted by Diana Rajchel . I thought I pass on this fantastic information for those of you who are wondering "so what?"

Let’s say you wake up one morning and you find a convo in your Etsybox: you’re in a treasury! Of course you should go, click, and post a comment thanking the curator. It’s the gracious thing to do, after all. And you could just leave it at that. Treasuries are random, low-traffic things with a short lifespan. Why make a fuss?

Here’s why:

Etsy admin looks through treasuries for front page ideas. While we on Etsy are still subject to admin’s whims and limitations, it does at least give us a chance to present new ideas to them.

So when your item is included in a treasury, you are being nominated by someone as front-page worthy. It’s like receiving a neighborhood association award: it means something to the person who picked you, and it might mean something to you.

If you assume the attitude that you’ve essentially received a small award, you should proceed as you would with any other award: tell the world. You’re helping bring more attention to your item and the items of others and it gives you a little bit of content for your social networking sites. Just grab a screenshot – you can use the print screen function on your desktop or one of three or four add-ons available in mozilla – and you can upload the image to your respective accounts. I’ve even gone so far as to add my treasuries to Etsy-treasury specific groups on flickr.

Places to Go with your Treasury Screenshot and What to Do when You’re There:

Myspace
Add it to your slideshow. Create a 500 pixel image with a link back to the treasury and post it in bulletins. Ask people to click.

Twitter
Tweet it no more than twice. Add a link.

Your personal blog
Post the image. Say how it makes you feel.

Facebook
Add it to your notes field.

Your Etsy shop
Include a link in your shop announcement, just be sure to take it down as soon as the treasury expires.

You can also talk about it in forums in the appropriate areas – Etsy pretty much keeps you to Promotions, but it still can get some play there if your treasury is attention-worthy. I’m not suggesting you drop everything when you get in a treasury, but doing one or two of these things can help inch you up that path of recognition.

Gratitude project - Day 7

2009-11-18T05:50:00.000-08:00

How is it day 7 already. Well I've got to hurry to catch my train so this will have to be a quickie but after reading so many other wonderful lists last night, I have plenty of things in mind.

Nacho night at our house
my car
fresh starts
Gingerbread coffee from Trader Joes
the gal at Michael's who noticed I haven't been in yje store in a while -she refers to me as a "regular"
Jennifer Stewart who introduced me to the world of vintage
my husband likes me just the way I am
Aidan's idea of a reward or treat for getting an "A" on his spelling test is getting to stay up past bed time and play SKIP BO with mom
my sense of humor. I don't know where it comes from sometimes, but it cracks me up
mineral makeup - it really is superior to liquid
a stocked pantry
Gary - our goldfish - he's just another member of our family
sometimes I choose to be happy rather than right
the incredible nature that exists all around me - God is the best landscaper
love in all its forms
for people who fight injustice
I could lose some weight if I just stopped eating the way I eat
salads - yummy
Edit -->undo )
the sunrise - I am not a morning person but if I am awake - I sure love the dawn of a new day

Ok I have to get going or I'm gonna be late so please forgive my typos and other boo boo's. I'll proof later. We have 2 more new Gratitude Project bloggers: Lori Delisle at The Style Girl and Cynthia at Technicolor Postcards Be sure to visit these amazing gratitude lists for more positive thinking and joy.

Day 6 - Gatitude Project

2009-11-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

Eva is still sick but doing better this morning - she held her high fever through the night so I slept with one eye open. That kind of worry is no fun. My imagination gets more of a voice than I'd like... I started worrying that if I drifted off to sleep, she would take a turn for the worst. There were lots of tears and I gave out a zillion hugs while pushing fluids but we made it without incident. I am dog tired this morning but she seems to feel a little better. Tim's taking her to the pediatrician this morning so I have the morning "off." I have so much work to catch up on that I do not see a nap fitting into my schedule. It's OK - I am at the point where I would rather not feel so behind then feel tired. This gratitude list will be geared to getting into the groove.

The holidays are coming (and a month off of school to get my batteries recharged!)
That the holidays do not stress me out because we keep it simple
That I have a studio in my house to do my work and school
Tim - I know I have written things about him in previous lists but I want to acknowledge that he's my lobster.
caffeine and sugar - that I am not a slave to either, but I do love them both.
Noggin - I love that if my kids are gonna watch TV, there is an educational, commercial-free option!
My wonderful stash of art supplies - it took a long, long time to collect, but I almost never have to go to the Michaels's to get items for a project.
our back yard - we have wonderful trees, a lawn, two raised garden beds and enough space for our kids to kick the ball and ride their bikes (in circles).
tivo
to do lists
humanity at its best
children and all their magic
comfortable shoes
books
silliness
goodness
I am not in charge
that I did not get the bug (so far) that is making Eva sick
electricity - it sure is handy
teachers

We have 2 new additions to the gratitude project from the SFEtsy team: Linda at Rue Paris -rue-paris.blogspot.com and My Dear darling!
Check out these other gratitude lists too and then- post your own!!

Gratitude Project - Day 5

2009-11-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

Had a long night with Miss Eva who spiked a fever in the middle of the night and developed a cough in a matter of minutes. I slept half heartedly as the mom in me worried that she might have swine flu. A gratitude list is just what I need this A.M.

flea markets
free cycle - in the last year, I have picked up my drafting table/chair, full spectrum over head lights and a gigantic box of unique rubber stamps
the ability to check my email from my cell phone
the feeling of "inspiration"
all the awesome family traditions that Tim and I have invented together like our handmade Christmas and "no stress" Thanksgiving- our motto is "dude, its just a day..."
that I have tools for living
sea ranch - wish we could have a wassima retreat there.
even though Eva has a fever and feels crummy, she just walked into my room with stickers all over her PJ's; then she pulled her pajama top up to reveal even more stickers all over her tummy.
hot showers
70's music - all kinds
that Maggie brings me somerset studio magazines
that I'm OK with being one of many (most of the time)
Vintage everything!!!
the great times I have with my mom
sushi
red cross - what would the world be without it?
the unknown -mystery is good
that Tim and I still do sweet little things for each other on a daily basis
that my kids tell me they love me all the time - just out of the blue.."i love you mommy"
my body..it aint't perfect but it works most of the time and I'm so grateful for everything it does!

Day 4 Gratitude Project

2009-11-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

Think I better start my morning with a gratitude list so I can reap the benefits all day long...

tolerance
our dishwasher
hiking
alka seltzer
indoor plumbing
my Etsy customers and all people who support small businesses
Craig's list
California casual - I love that I never have to wear panty hose or high heels and that putting on makeup is considered getting dressed up.
sharp cheddar cheese - you satisfy me in way that nothing else can.
Steve Carell - he makes me belly laugh (especially in Bruce Almighty when he is doing the news)
that I am free (I not only live in a free society but I am not incarcerated or institutionalized)
that I have relatively good mental health - we don't realize how lucky we are that we don't have schizophrenia or other debilitating mental illness.
that my kids are healthy
that my husband does laundry, dishes and he cooks pretty good too.
that there is a group of people making these lists with me so I can get grateful from theirs as much as my own!
Michael's 40% off coupon - it has saved me a fortune (hmmm or maybe its cost me a fortune???)
that I had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling when I was younger.
the tool room at school - you can check out ANYTHING there - from power tools, to welding equipment. to dental instruments (not for your teeth - for carving)
zip lock bags
random acts of kindness

Project Gratitude -Day 3

2009-11-14T20:12:00.000-08:00

Dude! check out this awesome "logo" for the gratitude challenge now fondly know as "the gratitude project" (or "Hradtitude" if you are me) - I totally had to borrow it from Paula at plays with mud. Thanks Paula!
So we had such a nice time celebrating Arlina's birthday and eating her incredible homemade authentic Mexican food tonight. It was so great to see the kids playing together so nicely in one room while all us grown ups were having a great time together in another. Mark V. brought these amazing flour tortillas and Eddie made the best guacamole EVER! good times... and now that I'm full and relaxed here is my third list:

Yesterday I had an entire day pain free - that's right -nothing, nada, zilch, and life was really, really good. Yeah!
For the amazing shopping arena "Etsy" and that I have 2 shops there that are successfully selling!
that my daughter still has a little kid accent...I love that she says "i love you to the 'oon' and back" and "those are 'mine' shoes".
That I sleep well just about every night.
I have a sufficient substitute - that and more...
Laura's brownies...damn
that I studied in Bath, England with the finest group of people you could ever meet. Friends I'll treasure until the day I die and memories that I'll take with me to the next life because they are so good.
we can get fresh fruits and vegetables year round at any supermarket in our area.
pause and rewind
Obama
That I get to go to Artfest next year! and I'm rooming with Lori - how fun is that??
That my parents paid for braces when I was a child
Alyssa and Aidan are in the same class.
I have an education
We don't have credit card debt.
science fiction
the color green - it is so beautiful
facebook and reuniting with friends from another time in my life and for the ability to stay so well connected to people in my life now.
the ozone layer
that 40 is the new 30

here are the latest updates to our list...I feel like I'm forgetting some people...if I didn't add you will you remind me again. I drowned in my email today...

Gratitude Lists You Don't Want To Miss!

2009-11-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

Alrighty...here are the links I promised...some have already begun and some will be starting soon so be sure to pop in again if there isn't a list at this time! If I did not put you on this list, please send me an email or leave a comment as I'll be posting updates daily:

Day 2

2009-11-12T22:27:00.000-08:00

OK I'm on the fly because I have to catch an early train to school so here is my day 2 list...

being able to do what I love as a profession
that I'm in a really great marriage
camping
weekends
Maggie time (most Saturdays she comes over for a few hours to create, connect, giggle and affirm - there is just no smack talk, scheming or whining when we get together - its not in our nature...)
Today is grandparents day at school and both of my kids have a grandparent in their class with them all day to watch their plays, go to chapel, hear them sing and eat a picnic lunch with
that I lived in Africa
that I don't have to drive to San Francisco...i take 2 different trains and end up a block from my classroom.
That my school has provided me with 2 hours a week of free tutoring so I can find my voice.
that I believe that there is a power greater than myself who is with me always
the extraordinary generosity that has been shown to me and my family over these last few months.
the amazing relationships I have with ppl ac cross the country that are almost exclusively maintained over the Internet.
Heather for showing me another path...it may seem silly but you changed the course of my life
Kimmy and Jen - I love that over distance and time we have kept our friendships so strong. you are part of my family really and I treasure that.
That the park is across the street, the farmers market is 1 block away every Sunday and I can see Michaels from the sidewalk in front of my house.
That Emily and Dan live so close
Lindsey - she is a gift in so many ways
Glee- that show just makes me happy.
pumpkin pie
Our gardener Nate who offered to discount our bill when he heard Tim had lost his job and has given us several free months because he came into some money (none of this was requested...he just did it because he's an incredible man) Its the gesture not the money...he makes me want to be a better person

i know I also promised a list of participants and their blog addresses but I've got to get going so I'll compile tonight Off the top of my head I can tell you that Cameron, Heather, Aimee, Sooz, Lori, Katie, Zanne, MaryElla, Moi, Morningdove and...crude...forgive me I gotta jet....but these ladies are participating and most of their blog links are on my right side bar... happy day

Gratitude List - Day 1

2009-11-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

Boy do I need this...Before I begin my list I'll share that I have been having a hell of a time with my TN pain. My whole life has been affected and I have had to make huge adjustments in my expectations. I try really hard to stay positive on my blog and on facebook but I don't feel very authentic. If I said what was really going on, all I'd do is complain so I have been doing a lot of isolating to avoid wearing people out. I reserve all my fun, good humor and positive energy to lavish on the kids and Tim so that their lives are not impacted more than necessary. The result is that when I can't do it any longer, I disappear into my room and try to manage the intense pain with relaxation techniques, surfing the web, TV, and anything else I can do to distract me or ease the discomfort. Yes that includes eating large quantities of my kid's Halloween candy. What can I say...it helps for a few minutes.

I have had my share of dark moments but God is good and has graced me with more blessings than pain so no matter what escape plan I imagine in those stretches of 9 and 10 suffering, I have a smile for the joys in my life. Here are just a few in no particular order...

my children's genuine happiness with their lives
St. Timothy's school
my friends, family and community - you know who you are
my husband's wonderful sense of humor
my mom
Bill and Bob and everything that follows
I get to go to art school
our home
willingness each and every morning
health insurance
Peggy Z
to be an American
for my sight, hearing and ability to walk
our amazing planet and those that fight to save her
my in laws who are so far away but so near in our hearts
forgiveness
our military, police and firefighters who protect us from harms way
my computer...I'd be out of work and cut off from much of the world without it
clean water - we don't realize how lucky we are
that I live in Northern California - for the weather, the open mindedness, tolerance, diversity and opportunity

so that is my first list of 20...6 more days to follow. I already feel lighter. So happy to be doing this! Off to see what Aimee, Cameron, Lori and any others have written to feed off of their positive thinking too!

The attitude of gratitude...

2009-11-11T22:50:00.000-08:00

It is November people and that means it is time to get our gratitude on. In just 2 weeks we are going to be enjoying turkey, loved ones and loads of Christmas commercials in observance of gratitude and all of the blessings we enjoy as Americans. Last year I did a week of gratitude lists on my blog and the practice took off like wildfire. Lets see if we can generate even more buzz this year my fellow bloggers by starting the second annual "Attitude of Gratitude." Here is an the introduction from last years kick off:

When I am feeling frustrated, short changed, insufficient or victomized, I have a wise friend who reminds me that you can't feel self pity and gratitude at the same time. She has suggested on many, many occasions that the best way to combat feelings of resentment, jealousy, disappointment, inadequacy and sadness is to make a gratitude list. Her Rx for a "spell" of bad feelings (lasting more than a few days) is to make a gratitude list of 20 things everyday for a week. You are not to duplicate things you are grateful for, and in my practice, I try not to make a list of specific people because it prevents me from digging deep. My WASSIMA gals and I decided we were going to do a week together. Some of us were feeling low, others just liked the idea of it and I think it is a great way to go into November, which holds Thanksgiving and to officially kick off the Holiday Season.

So starting tomorrow my week (and attitude) of Gratitude will begin. Start yours with me if you can and lets feed off of one another so that in a weeks time our gratitude has grown exponentially. If you decide to participate be sure to leave a comment here with a link to your blog so everyone can find you...and lets be sure to comment on one another's blogs and recruit others to do the same to keep up the momentum. Perhaps you'll want to copy and paste some of this message so your friends and family can join the fun! See you tomorrow!

Just Having Fun...

2009-10-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

Even though we were sick, I really enjoyed all the quality time with my family these past couple of weeks. Aidan is now old enough that he is a serious competitor in Skip Bo so we have spent a lot of time on my bed playing cards. Eva is such a cuddlier and I've been savoring every minute of having her wrapped up in my arms. We've read stories, played with her babies and colored in her coloring books. And at night, once the kids are asleep, Tim and I have been chit-chatting more often. We are so lucky to have such aligned views and goofy senses of humor. I don't know how come I am so blessed... I just know that I am.

I am a little anxious because I missed so much school and work while the kids and I were sick though. Oddly in juxtaposition, I am swirling with excitement over the groovy things happening with my Etsy shops. Business has been going great and I have gotten a lot of great feedback from my customers. I posted dozens of wonderful new treasures over the weekend and I have a giant box of goodies on its way from this amazing estate sale. I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve waiting for the package to arrive. hee hee.

Tomorrow I have to buckle down and get caught up with some of my client work, finish my mid-term project and start on a new clay sculpture. Oops, let me re-phrase that... I GET to buckle down and get caught up with some of my client work, finish my mid-term project and start on a new clay sculpture. It is a privilege to have my clients and go to art school...it is so important that I don't let being behind make my situation become stressful. I am committed to enjoy myself even if it feels a bit overwhelming. I'm thinking of tying a string around my finger because the hardest part in all of this activity is REMEMBERING to be happy.

A Hard Day at the Office

2009-10-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'm still battling this nasty cold that has ripped through our house. I have no voice and I'm still super tired so when my mom came over to visit today, I was not the best company. Then the mail came and a large box filled with an assortment of vintage hats. We started modeling for one another, then we added jewelry and the next thing we knew we had configured an assortment of Vintage Accessory Kits. It was such fun pairing these unusual bonnets and caps with gorgeous brooches, earrings and necklaces. Then mom suggested I get dressed (yes, I was still in my PJ's) so we could snap a few photos of me with the hats and jewelry to post in my Etsy Shop.

I ran a brush through my hair, put on some lipstick and we had a fabulous photo shoot in the guest bathroom. The natural light was perfect and our pale shower curtain was a fantastic back drop. It must have been a sight to see my mom twisted around this bulky DSLR, smashed in the corner of the bathroom to get the right angle, while I sat on the edge of the tub posing in the most conspicuous ways so that the camera could capture the interesting accessories I had on. I laughed out loud as my mom started saying "yes...that's it...hold it...yes...turn...yes..." right out of an Austin Powers movie.

When I transferred the photos to my computer and got a look at them for the first time I was shocked. Holy cow - I felt like crap...how was it possible for me to look so darn cute... the saleswomen in me says "it was the accessories," the artist in me says "it was that incredible natural light" but the daughter in me knows that it was because I was hanging out with my mom.

Upcycling on Etsy

2009-10-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

The word Upcycling was coined by William McDonaugh and Michael Braugart in their book on ecologically intelligent design, Cradle to Cradle in which they define upcycling as the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. In the world of Etsy, this term has been intermingled with other “green-centric” terms like “adapted re-use,” “reclaimed,” and “eco-friendly” causing the word to grow into a broader more colorful definition. "Upcycled" items are not limited to the many "trash to treasure" products for sale on Etsy like Urbanwoodswalker's recycled newspaper bowl.

The expression or "tag" upcycled is also used to describe pre-owned items that have been given a second life through a metamorphosis into a new product with a new value. Recycling and invention have converged into a kind of crafters schizophrenia where function, beauty and eco-conscientiousness have come together. Hand-me-downs of yesterday are dressed up and sold as responsibly repurposed. Old items carefully stored for generations are rediscovered as wonderfully vintage.

Etsy offers all kinds on opportunities to participate in this movement as both a consumer and a crafter. There are hundreds, nay thousands, of shops dedicated to the genre of upcycled goods. Here are just a few…
Joy's Jewels - transforms antique typewriter keys into beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces

Buffalo Nerd Project - "science geek by day, sewing chick by night" - turns men’s suit jackets into fabulous purses.

and Rouge Empire who takes silk ties and reinvents them into five pocket wallets.

For those of you who would like to join in on this movement by refurbishing the old into something new either for your own use, unique gifts or for resale, Etsy has many vendors to supply you with everything you will need. In fact, there is an entire department dedicated to vintage where you can find all sorts of items to convert, reinvent or embellish with. Take these adorable vintage Grasshopper Keds from Adalaide's Homesewn for example...

...they are cute but could use a little cosmetic surgery to make them fabulous. Replace the laces with this gorgeous Vintage French Red Velvet Ribbon from Finiribbon.

Use craft glue to tuck the ends of the ribbon neatly and instead of a big floppy bow, pick up these darling vintage earrings and brooch from Merrelle Accents and attach one to each shoe.

Pin the Brooch to your purse and viola... a darling new look and one-of-a-kind design made by you!

Many people think they are not creative enough to upcycle vintage items into something new, or they get overwhelmed with the very thought and decide it is more trouble than it is worth. In an effort to dispel those beliefs, I have included a list of 20 ways to upcycle vintage jewelry in 10 minutes or less. Coincidentally, this list ties into the many wonderful jewelry pieces I have on sale in my Etsy shop www.jillienedesigns.etsy.com.

1. embellish a pillow

2. decorate a purse

3. spice up a curtain tie back

4. attach to a hair clip or head band

5. make unique napkin rings

6. dress up a candle holder

7. use an orphan earring as a gift topper instead of a bow

8. transform a pair of shoes with vintage earrings

9. arrange pieces with other trinkets to create a shadow box for display

10. adhere to the top of old jelly jars to create darling spice jars or desktop storage

11 embellish a book or photo album

12. connect to a zipper to make a fancy pull

13. glue to paperclips or push pins

14. attach to your phone or keys as a decorative charm

15. convert into a Christmas ornament

16. refurbish an old cabinet with vintage jewelry drawer pulls

17. liven up an old hat

18. string on ribbons and use as wine glass charm so no one looses their beverage

19. decorate a mirror

20. upcycle into new jewelry pieces!

Creative Sanity

2009-10-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

Some people jog, some people write in their journal, I create, to stay sane.

The kids are both sick with strep throat and I feel like I am fighting off some mean, ugly germs too, so there has been very little activity under my roof. I've been camped out in my bed with my two feverish children giving back rubs, singing lullabys and finishing projects in the moments in between. I "upcycled" 4 vintage purses into completely new fashion statements. During the 4 very long nights one or both of them have been ill, I found solace in hand stitching trims and embellishing with vintage jewelry pieces to breath new life into these antique handbags.

I listed all 4 on Etsy this evening - we'll see how they are received. It is something I have been wanting to do for months but I couldn't steal the time. I have 3 more bags to play with but I am really hoping my little ones and I will be up and around before I get a chance to start on them. I'd like to save them for the next virus that rips through the Isaac's house! A little something to look forward to :o)

Jewelry Making 101

2009-10-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of metal smithing. Above are photos of a cone and a two part hollow form (sphere bead) made from copper. These were last week's homework assignments. It is quite a different process to the pre-fabricated ready-made jewelry making world we live in today. The industrial age has relieved jewelry designers of many of the time consuming and labored steps required for the simplest of tasks. Today, we can buy inexpensive closed jump rings and bezel cups but there was a time when jewelers did everything by hand. To be a great jewelry designer, it is important we learn these age old skills so there is a laundry list of techniques we have to include in our midterm projects for my metal arts class. Things like hollow forms, textured metal and wire, rivets, soldering, cabochons in bezel settings and of course, a concept paper explaining your piece at length.

We first created a "mochette" which is a sample of our design made out of paper and other supplemental supplies. This allows us to work out construction issues before we cut into the expensive materials plus helps us estimate how much metal we'll need to order to make our project.

I came up with this necklace which has three flowers of varying sizes and designs. The center flower bezel would be set on a metal swivel attached with a rivet onto a lip soldered to a hollow form. A little twist (no pun intended) on a locket. I thought I'd use 3 different sized wires to create the "chain" and have them swirl and loop with soldered leaves like miandering vines. The entire piece is to be made of sterling which I ordered from H. Schmidt & Son (208 Precious Metals) on ebay. Their prices are incredible and they totally worked with me to get the right amounts and gauges for the projects.

Once I received my materials, I cut out my flower shapes and wire to create the flowers.

I tinkered with the cabochons and flowers arrangements before I decided where I wanted everything.

Next I hammered the flowers and wire to create some texture. Did you know that the word "Smith" is derived from the verb "to smite" which means to strike with a tool? This hammering causes the metal to get hard (work hardening) so I had to anneal the silver (heat the metal to a super high temperature) so I could bend the petals to create dimension. The annealing caused some discoloration which I will remove later in the process after I've added patina.

Next, I had to bend bezel around the stones and solder the ends together, then to a flat piece of silver to create a bezel cup. I have not burnished the setting closed (that is why it looks unfinished) because I still need to patina and solder the settings to the flowers and to the necklace.

For the center flower, I created a wall for the locket and soldering the top on. I still need to set the rivet and cut the locket hole before I can do the bezel for this stone.

Next I'll do some patina, filing/ cleaning up, plus finish hammering /forming the necklace from wire and solder on leaves. Then I'll solder the flowers together and on to the necklace. The final steps will include burnishing the bezel and bending the closure. I simulated the finished look a little for the photos below. I hope it all comes together as planned but we shall see.

I had ordered these really amazing stones to go into it but I didn't realize they were coming from China so they may not arrive in time. No wonder they were so inexpensive, right? It is probably better that I save those beautifies for when I am more experienced anyway.

The wire petals above were soldered together (this is not as easy as it seems and took many times at the torch). I wanted to set the stone with wrapped wire but this technique is also more advanced than I expected so I may not go that route- we'll see.

This is my mess - I love the contrast of all the tools and the itty, biddy stones. You should see my finger tips. No ink stains or matted glue in this craft, but lots of little cuts...ouch. More to come as I progress... Happy Friday!

It's the Little Things

2009-10-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

So last week we got a little bad news...I started noticing the return of my pain as I weaned off my post surgery pain medication. We met with my surgeon last Wednesday and he said I have a classic "a-typical presentation" of Trigeminal Neuralgia so I'm back with my neurologist in a few weeks to discuss my options. The last resort is another, more invasive surgery but I'm not going there. I'm coping with the pain one day at a time; sometimes one hour at a time by soaking up the joy in the little things. This morning as I enjoyed my coffee, I began to consider how all the little things added up to a really big life filled with blessings. This is just 20 "little things" that took place over the last week that made me feel good:

I checked my VM and had 6 messages of people asking me how my Dr. appt went
My teacher said my wax sculpture looks fantastic.
I bought these beautiful stones on ebay for my midterm project for a fraction of the cost at other places
When I came out this morning the kitchen was clean!
My friend Emily offered to drive the kids to school if it rains.
Aidan won his soccer game!
I ordered new business cards
I started a HUGE new project for a client!
Patti ate lunch with us on Saturday.
I spoke with Jen more than once this week
I got a call from a woman I just met inviting me to get together for a meal sometime.
We went to Starbucks yesterday AM for coffee and to play Uno with the kids and Lindsey and we saw Bob A.
Cameron wrote a comment on my last blog entry that made me feel so good!
Laura told me I inspire her.
I found an old deck of Skip Bo cards and I wasn't missing a single card (out of 144)
I got to hug Nancy J whom I have been missing.
my family and Michele W's family went to see "cloudy with a chance of Meatballs"
I listed a zillion new items on my Etsy shop - Its so exciting!
I saw a bunch of people I love on Saturday morning and got to tell them so (and they said they loved me back)
I fit into a pair of jeans that used to be tight.

Life is a Trip...

2009-10-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

I've been a bad, bad blogger. My only excuse is that I've been live, live, living. After my surgery in August I had some complications which landed me back in the hospital for 5 days with an L P and the possibility of a second operation. Thank you God for my amazing family, friends and doctors who carried me through a terrifying ordeal with kindness, humor and love.

Just 2 days after I busted out of the hospital I had my 1st day of school at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Talk about diving back in. Wow- did starting a new semester in sculpture feel surreal. I really felt intimidated those first few weeks considering my only exposure to 3D art involved play dough, but I soon found my voice and my first piece made in clay turned out to be something I feel proud of. We are now working in wax which will become a bronze ststue when it is all said and done. i am loving this project and received lots of kuddos from my teacher today. That is the most amazing feeling!

I'm also taking a Metal Arts/Jewelry Design class which is basically the fundamentals of black smiting...super duper cool! This class is so amazing and I have an aptitude for it which makes me extra enthusiastic. We learned how to solder, patina, make jump rings and other findings in the first few weeks and now we are creating hollow forms. In 2 weeks I'll turn in my midterm project made out of sterling silver. I did a mochette of my design which I had to present to the class last Wednesday. Some thought it was too ambitious but I heard lots of great feedback about the overall concept. We'll see how it comes together... The cabachones I ordered arrived today and they are not anything like their photos...Disappointed! So I've been skowering Etsy looking for something amazing.

Work has been really busy - really good - but really busy.. I' working with 2 talented artists helping them with their Etsy shops and the merchandizing of their artwork. Stephanie of Fabulous Vixen Designs (www.fabulousvixen.etsy.com) and Patti- Zipartist (www.zipartsist.etsy.com). Both of this women are stricken with incredible talent and I am honored to be a part of their creative journey.

What has really kept me busy, busy, busy is the photo archiving and scrapbooking part of my business. I'm working on several heritage albums for one client and I just started a new project with another. That and my Etsy shops (www.jillienedesigns.etsy.com & www.jillienesvintageshop.etsy.com) take up 3 days week of my time. I am so grateful to have aseveral different facets of my business - I get to be creative with my scrapbooking services and the Etsy shops allow me go on treasure hunts so I can provide amazing vintage items at terrific prices. All of this has put my own designs on the back burnert but that is OK because my abilities are evolving while I am learning all the new techniques at school.

Speaking of learning, I have had the opportunity to teach art to a home school student this Fall. What a wonderful treat! She comes to my house once a week and we discuss different mediums, tools and techniques and then she keeps an art journal for her homework. Next week we are going the San Jose MOMA to identify the things we are learning in various kinds of art. I hope that I will have future opportunities to do this kind of work and am adding this course to my list of services. I'm hoping to link up with one of the home school progrms in the area.

The kids are doing great! Aidan just pulled off his 4th 100% in a row (plus all 4 bonus words) on his spelling test. I'm so proud of him because spelling was never my strong suit. As a reward, he is getting a goldfish which he wants to name Gary Monda.

Eva turned 4 last month and I am not sure who had more fun celebrating, Eva, me or grandma. We went to afternoon tea with Aunt Mary who came for a 2 week visit to help while I was back in the hospital. It may have been the highlight of my year. What a joy to be able to do girlie things with 3 generations of family.

what else?

I guess that is all for now... i will be editing this entry and adding pictures tomorrow as I am writing on the train on my way home from school and have limits to what I can do from my cell phone keyboard. I just wanted to reconnect and share all the artistic joy in my world these days.

hello Fall.

2009-09-03T22:55:00.000-07:00

August is a blurry blank. My life feels like it was pulled through the eye of a needle. The first couple of weeks were spent getting ready for surgery and the last weeks were hospitals, aches and pains and a drug induced haze.

So now it is September. You can feel the seasons a-changing. The kids are back in school, its a little chilly at night and life is moving faster. I am resistant to putting all the new event dates in the calendar because I'd have to accept that the holidays are right around the corner. I seem to be clinging to the forgiving schedule of summer, unwilling to accept that life moves fast whether I authorize it or not. Like a computer scanning for a file, my brain is searching for a paradigm, a course of action, a loophole, that will allow me to walk at my own pace without being left behind. I'm hopeful that the secret formula will appear and insert itself into my lifestyle without much work on my part. I believe it will happen because healing from brain surgery demands it.

That is it all I have for now - its time to spend some time with my little ones. Hope you are having a fantastic labor day and easing into Fall in comfort.

Last Day of Summer Vacation

2009-08-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

Aidan started first grade on Wednesday. He returned home to tell me that it was the best day of his life! Isn't that wonderful?

Eva begins her second year of preschool on Monday. I am so happy that I felt well enough to enjoy her last day of vacation with her. I cannot believe how much easier it is to hang out with just one child. Of course I had it easy because Eva was thrilled that mommy was up and around and that she had me all to herself! We did a little of this and that - play dough, painting, coloring and such- and then my overwhelming need to create took over and we made these adorable aprons:

Eva was my designer while I did the cutting, sewing and gluing. My apron is made from a pair of Tim's old work jeans and Eva's is made from a too-small pair of Aidan's. I let Eva loose in my stash and she selected the lace, ribbon and embellishments so these are Eva originals. I just think they are darling!

Then we had a photo shoot in the backyard using the tri-pod. Its been a great day because I got to hang out with my very best friend doing my very favorite things and I'm mobile!

This Program is Temporarily Interrupted

2009-08-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Photo taken following my craniotomy to treat TN on Tuesday, Aug 18th

Taking a few weeks to heal but am dreaming of colorful creations while I rest... Thank you's to the many, many friends and family who have literally carried us through this process. My body is a bit broken right now but I am whole with the love, support and generosity of my community. Cards, meals, childcare, jillcare, phone calls and gifts have been showered upon us. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Zippity Do Da- Dippity Day

2009-08-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy few weeks with lots of wonderful experiences and artful days. What is surprising, is that I don't feel like summer has just flown by. There are still a few more weeks and so far, we have sucked the summer out of nearly every day that has passed.
I had my last art class at camp this week. It was a another great year and I am delighted to have been able to work with the girls. Just to catch up on the last three sessions, for week four we made "All about me" 6 x 6 inch books.

I based the project on Me & My Big Ideas, "A Kid Like Me" line. In my opinion, the "house" (below) page is by far the best. I disassembled house shaped chipboard books, had the kids decorate, then we mounted the house on a chipboard page. This part of the project was inspired by a class I took with the talented Rebecca Gawryl.

The next week we made these darling beaded watches. The girls were so creative, many taking the concept and adding their own twist.

Last Tuesday we made burlap wall hangings. They turned out fabulous and I got wonderful feedback. Many of the girls told me my class was their favorite thing about camp. Yay!

I also handed over a project I was doing for a dear friend. I framed a bunch of art work that her children had done and collaged some photos of her daughter on a giant canvas. I was so nervous that she would not like it - its one thing for someone to buy your finished work, its entirely different when you are commissioned. Thankfully, they were delighted with it and I've even had an inquiry from another parent to do collages for her two kids.

I also finished and sent off button bloom bouquets for a wedding (see top). This is the wedding that is going to be in the coffee table book - wouldn't it be great if a shot of my blooms made it in one of the photos? I'm hopeful the flowers fulfill the event planner's vision. She was great at sending me pictures and explaining what she wanted so fingers crossed.

I've also been busy creating a logo for Fabulous Vixen Designs.

One of Stephanie's many stunning creations!

Stephanie has been doing some HOT new jewelry designs and revamping others. She is such a talented artist and I'm one lucky lady to get to work with her.

Lastly, I just finished restoring some Vintage Jewelry for Artique which will soon be called Adorn Bridal Boutique. They are stepping up the retail side of their business and as one of their buyers, they would like me to increase my offerings. I'm thrilled because I just love the hunt for vintage treasures!

Speaking of vintage, I've opened a second shop on Etsy, Jillienes Vintage Shop (jillienesvintageshop.etsy.com).

Eventually, I'd like all the vintage items, including jewelry to live there and Jilliene Designs to be the home for my creations, kits and button blooms. Eventually being the operative word.

As you can see, I've been one busy lady, all the while playing with my little guys and trying to run a household.
The truth is that my Trigeminal Neuralgia has been tenacious, even on the medication so I do, do, do to deal with my pain. Laying in bed only makes it worse although I've done my share of that this summer as well. But relief is near. I'll be having surgery in a few weeks which has more than a 99% chance of leaving me pain free. The downside is that it is brain surgery which is scary business.

This is a post operative scar of a woman who had the same procedure.

I was completely freaking out the first few days after it was scheduled but I've had some rough pain days since, and am now excited and eager to be free of the treacherous condition. If all goes well, I should be fully recovered to start a new semester at The Academy of Art.

I'm taking a sculpture class and figure drawing. Can't wait!! So there is the last few weeks in a nutshell. Good stuff.

Keeping it Real

2009-07-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

I got some fabulous feedback from my wonderful friend Aimee. She explained what her regular blog spots tend to look like and offered ideas on how I could adapt my blog to present a more business like facade. She put thought into my content, feel and tone and shared her thoughts with the sweetness that makes her so fabulously Aimee. That is when I thought I would like to stay fabulously Jilliene which means if the concept is coming to me, than perhaps it isn't meant to be. So, for know, I remain the same... Authentic to my everyday thoughts, my art and my life.

Blog Face lift

2009-07-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking its time for a blog makeover. Not necessarily just the look but the content too. A shot in the arm to take things to the next level. Tell me (be nice), what do you suggest my little blog needs to attract more visitors and offer more to my viewers.

Leave your comments and you will be entered to win in a random generator drawing for this prize:

Includes Paper Bliss 3-D embellishments, a roll of Bobbin ribbon, a Petaloo magnetic closure 6 x 6 album, Fancy Pants Rub On's (yummy), letters, word stickers and tags. I will post the winner at 5:00 PM PST on Monday. Thank you so much for your input!

Elegance on Etsy!

2009-07-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Just a few of the elegant vintage pieces listed on my Etsy shop. Click on the mosaic to view more treasures!

Sometimes the universe screams "YES"

2009-07-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a fabulous day. I felt validated as an artist on so many levels. It felt like a meteor shower of possibilities and affirmation! The universe seemed to be screaming "YES!"

It started with an email from Lori at www.fabricatedfamily.etsy.com informing me that one of my items had been included in her "Grace Kelly" themed treasury on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=70861).

What is the Treasury?
The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme or just whoever they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote to the the homepage hand-picked items.

Being included made me feel like I'm officially in the Etsy shop owner club plus I felt it validated my photographs and merchandise. It was nice.

About an hour later, I received an email from a wedding consultant in New England requesting a bid on my button blooms for a swanky wedding. Not only is the business and interest a nice nod, but she told me that this particular wedding will be appearing in a coffee table book called Brides Across America so if I was selected, my work might very well be included! I know this line has been used before, but " I'm just honored to be considered..."

Woo Hoo! just got an email from the event planner and they would like to use my blooms for the dessert buffet tables! Contract on its way!

My mom, arrived a few hours later along with my quilt from Back Porch Quilters. I ripped that box open like a kid on Christmas morning! It was so special having my mom there because my mom comes from a long line of quilters. Her approval was nothing short of an "A." I was delighted at her response as I laid it out on my bed. This quilt is the most wonderful thing my hands have ever created! I just need to attach the trim and it will be ready for life at the Isaacs' house!

The final creative excitement of the day was that I completed the fabric album for my client's children as a "thank you" for 1 1/2 years of business. It may not seem like all that big of a deal, but I made the book without instructions and on the grumpiest machine in the world. I just felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment and that special joy that comes from giving from the heart.

It was so nice to share my news and show the quilt and fabric album to my husband. I could tell he was excited for me and proud that my creative life was evolving. But most of all - regardless of the acknowledgment from outside sources, I'm just glad that I feel good about my work today.

Recipe Box Purse

2009-07-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun little project you can do with your kids or as a cute party favor. The cost is less than $5.00 and it is quite simple to assemble:

Recipe Box Purse

Materials:

1 recipe box (Michael’s has them on sale for 30% off of $1.00)
White Krylon Fusion spray paint
Color coordinating papers
Modge Podge or white glue
9 pieces of yarn about 1 yard long
3 pieces of yarn 6” long
1 large brad
1 metal charm
2 large mouth beads

Instructions:

Spray the recipe container with White Krylon Fusion spray paint covering up all the designed cover paper including on the inside lip.
Cut assorted paper into the following measurements and glue to box panels. (1 of each):

6” x 4” – glue to front body
¾“ x 6.25” – glue to front lid rim
3” x 6.25” – glue to top of lid
4” x 6.25” – glue to back

Punch centered holes into both side panels just below the lid line for the purse strap
Punch a hole in the center of the lid rim for the purse closure
Punch a hole just below the purse closure hole on the main body of the purse for the closure string.
Divide the 9 pieces of yarn into 3 groups and braid the groups together loosely.
Insert ends into right side of the purse and tie 1 – 2 knots to secure. Repeat on the left side.
Insert large brad into hole on lid lip, close backing with some wiggle room so yarn can be wrapped around the front to keep the lid closed.
Insert 3 pieces of 6” yarn into large mouth bead and tie a knot securely.
Thread yarn through hole below lid from the inside out. Bead should secure ends on the inside.
Slip yarn ends through the other wide mouth bead(s) then tie off through charm.

To keep purse secured closed, wrap yard behind the brad head.

This project was a more whimsical design because I will be teaching it to 8 year old girls. For different effects try these ideas:

cover or collage the purse with pages from old books, sheet music, the funny papers, crossword puzzles, pictures from magazines or old love letters.
Use a belt buckle as the purse clasp and the belt as your strap
Add artificial flowers, bling (faux gemstones), buttons, lace, fabric, trim or ribbon to embellish the outside.
Buy a vintage handbag from the thrift shop and up-cycle the handles to use on the purse
For a party favor, embellish with theme appropriate paper or ephemera- fill with party hats, horns and noise makers- make it a centerpiece for your tables

In other news, I am thrilled to be buying a new sewing machine the old fashion way... I saved up $ for a deposit (some raised from my "I want a new sewing machine" sale on my Etsy shop last week) and I now have a spectacular entry level Janome 2010 on lay away. We essentially stopped using credit cards last fall in an attempt to change our relationship with money. It has been such a freeing experience and has put the fun back in special purchases. I love how lay away builds anticipation and draws out the "wow" factor. I am proud to be teaching our children these kinds of spending habits rather than the ones I learned growing up from characters like Popeye's Wimpy...

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today"

The new machine is brilliant. It is just the right amount of machine for my skill set. The owner of the shop I bought it from spent over an hour with me finding out my needs, experience and wish list, then matching me with an appropriate machine. He didn't even try to sell me a high end set up and I REALLY appreciated that because it can be hard to feel good about a Saturn after you have just test driven a Mercedes. He took me through all the features, a lot of the various feet (which he through in) and gave me the grand tour of his store (Ray's Sewing Machine Center) which has been in business since 1947. They offer a 5 year service plan, free classes for all sorts of projects each week AND the best part is that you can trade your machine in for the full payment price towards a newer model for 5 years! Most places only give you a year!

My new machine features an automatic needle threader (yay!), a thread cutter, 50 stitches, free motion stitching (for Quilting), Auto tension, a speed control switch, plus a whole bunch more!

I'll probably have another sale this Wednesday so I can drop off another payment on Thursday. I'm hoping I'll have this baby paid off in no time!

Summertime art

2009-07-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

I've taught 2 sessions of art at Camp Gan Israel. The bunks were combined this year so the projects had to be suitable for 3rd through 6th graders. Nothing too challenging so that the younger ones don't get frustrated yet, exciting enough to keep the 6th graders engaged.

The first week we did mini albums using a cardboard frame and DCWV pocket full of posies paper. The girls did a wonderful job at following the project and did not hesitate to incorporate their own twist! I love that they are so inhibited! The project instructions are at the bottom of this entry.

The next week we made cards. We did a flapper hat and a cup cake card. They jumped at the chance to do their own thing with each project and many went on to make 2nd and 3rd cards while others were finishing up. They inspire me!

Today I did some crafting with my own kids. It all started when Aidan wanted to outline my feet with one of those magnetic sketch boards. Next thing we knew we were decorating our lunch plates with food. Then I put out paper plates, googly eyes, yard, glue and other goodies and the kids started making faces. I was so impressed that their attention span outlasted my own. Thank goodness got home from work so I can get on to my work. Business has been great which means there is lots to do. I'm so grateful that I get to enjoy my family and my job on my own schedule.

Tag album instructions

Kit contents:

For the signatures:

1, cardboard cover

8, 9 x 3 ½ inch strips of cardstock

2 pieces of ribbon

For the cover:

1 3 ½ x 3 ½ inch piece of card stock

1 4 x 4 inch piece of card stock

1 ½ in x 3 ½ in strip of card stock

To pick up:

2 strips of ribbon for binding

Stickers and other decorative elements

Instructions:

Arrange the 8 pages into 2 stacks of 4. Fold each page in half, edge to edge. Use a scissors to smooth the crease.
Create 2 books of 8 pages by stacking the folding 4 sheets on top of one another.
Staple the center of both of your books (twice- top and bottom) to hold them together. Set these two books aside.
Find the 3 small sheets of paper for the cover and arrange them to your liking. Glue these pieces on your cover with a glue stick. Make sure you glue all of the corners.
Punch holes in the center of the tag shape on both sides of your cover –
Punch 2 holes in the center spine at the top and bottom.
Thread your ribbon through the two outside cover holes and tie into a knot.
Find your binding ribbon and twist ends together.
Insert ends of both ribbons into one hole of the spine. Smooth the ribbon so there are no twists, and then thread the other two edges through the second hole. Before you pull the ribbon tight, slip one of the signatures under one ribbon and tighten the ribbon around its fold. Tie it tightly. Do the same for the next signature with the other ribbon.
Decorate your pages with pockets, tags, photo mats and photos – use stickers, paper and flowers to embellish the white pages.

as life slows down creativity bubbles to the surface

2009-07-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

I sat there, unsuspecting...dare I say, indifferent? Then it happened. A creative idea made its way into my mind's eye. It had texture and color and challenges that made me nervous. It was fluid, told a story, had a beginning, a middle and an end. It did not emerge out of something I had recently seen nor was it inspired by school, work or an online challenge. It was a unique artistic concept for me to explore at my leisure.

But where did it come from? Oh hell, this detail was unimportant right?. What was important was that it wasn't, and then it was- and that it was mine and no one else's. So I sketched in my art journal for the 1st time in months. I had improved since the last time I doodled out an idea. How refreshing. I had become accustomed to expecting more from myself than my hand could deliver. I wrote out instructions for graduating the values in the margin and identified the shading. It was a recipe for an oil painting and it WAS NOT a still life.

I drifted back to it's origin. Where did it come from? And then it hit me. The creative thoughts flooding my mind came from the quiet space in between the activities that constitute "my life." I had just spent the last few days floating on an inner tube, taking long walks and enjoying my family. I had noticed how fast butterflies flap their wings; I had waved hello to passing strangers; I had strolled. These activities allowed my mind to decompress for the first time in nearly a year and there was space for creative thought to bubble to the surface. This is an important revelation indeed.

Quiet, balanced living does not come naturally to me. It's just not my default. I lean more towards the hustle and bustle, flippity floppity, READY-SET-GO! style of living. But if my artistic process would benefit (not to mention my mental health) I might give it a try...At least until next semester :o)

drum roll please....

2009-07-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I have been waiting on pins and needles (no pun intended) to get news on my quilt which I sent off to backporchquilters via regular mail just 2 weeks ago. That is coast to coast...San Francisco, California to Murphy, North Carolina. As I understand it, the usual turnaround to have a quilt long arm stitched can be 3 - 6 months, so the fact that they were able to process my baby so quickly is a gift!

But the giving does not stop there. I had a nice chat with Rhonda today who shared some wonderful snippets from the adventure my quilt has been on. I am so grateful for the loving care Russ, Rhonda and even Dana from Old Red Barn provided to make sure my baby made it back to me in one piece (again -no pun intended).
Between my novice skills and my 1952 Singer, there were 16 un-sewn seams revealed when they stretched the quilt tight for the long arm. I had found a dozen or more while pressing the quilt prior to sending it off and repaired them, but when they stretch the material tight like a trampoline all the holes really become obvious. So Russ and Rhonda pulled the quilt back off the rack and stitched up all those spots for me. This was totally above and beyond the call of duty! Well then they start doing there beautiful long arm quilting (They gave me the Vertigo stitch shown on one of Dana's earlier quilts) and the needle gets stuck on another unraveled seam causing a tear on both the top and bottom layers. The mishap was totally my fault, but they took it upon themselves to fix it. Isn't that wonderful?!

They called up Dana who lives down the road and ask her if she has any Anna Marie Horner Good Folks fabric (photo above) they could use to repair my quilt. She sends her husband over with everything she has and they re-sew the square for me. Can you believe it??

Then there was the issue of the small (1/2 of a dime) sized hole on the underside. To be honest, I wouldn't have probably noticed it, and if I did I would have happily stitched it up with embroidery thread to give it a vintage look! Well they repaired it with a patch that says"Old Red Barn Quilt Along 2009." How cool is that??! They did all of this for me for $110 including the quilting thread and the cost to ship it back to me (mind you, its a King size quilt 90 x 100"ish and it has the coolest stitching design ever!).

I am absolutely tickled. I'm telling you, Russ and Rhonda are destined to be my life long friends. I'm just amazed at their kindness, generosity and craftsmanship.

I HOPE YOU ARE READING THIS RUSS AND RHONDA - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

So the cliff notes of this tale are as follows:

I made a king size quilt in less then 2 months by participating in the Old Red Barn's Quilt Along (hostessed by Dana) with my fellow WASSIMAites- Cathy, Stella, Sooz, Cameron and Lori
I sent out the top stitching to backporch quilters in NC per the recommendation of Dana who uses them all the time.
Russ repaired a heap of bad stitching AND repaired 2 holes that occurred due to a unraveled seam.
Dana, hostess of the Quilt Along, provided scraps of Good Folks from her own stash to make the repairs on my quilt.
They covered the underside hole with a patch that reads "Old Red Barn Quilt Along 2009."
They emailed me photos of my finished quilt to hold me over until it arrives.

HELLO! What an amazing quilt story from amazing quilters and my new BFF's. I can't wait to stitch on the trim and see the finished beauty on my bed! Wowza. I'm hooked! I love quilting! Now if you could all send special delivery prayers, vibes, ju ju, energy and white light my way so I can win that very special prize on Monday. I'm not saying what it is cuz I'm afraid to jinx it but if it was mine, I'd never miss another stitch.

I'm the boss, applesauce

2009-07-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

I tell my kids this darling expression, but I'm not sure they are buying it. Being with the little ones Full Time is an adjustment and while know it is an honor and privilege, I still have not gotten my groove back.

"Because I said so" did not work when I was a kid and it ain't working now. In the big scheme of things, my kids are amazing, curious, eccentric little whipper snappers and deserve to be celebrated in every way but when I'm on the phone arguing about the bogus $9.99 charge on my cell phone bill, those qualities become a thorn in my paw and I'm forced to make "the mean face" to try to quiet them. I remember the "mean face" when I was little and it made me feel like crap. I don't want them to feel like crap!

The reality is that my kids are not going to stop being kids so it is my job to adjust and adapt. Thank goodness for my husband who has patience when I don't and a great sense of humor that puts the children at ease when I get wound up too tight. I do the same for him and most of the time it all seems to work out. But after the monkeys have gone to sleep and the house is quiet; while Tim watches his macho monster truck sniper think tank programming and eats his watermelon, I sit alone in our room flipping through Tivo while surfing facebook and I think "was I too hard on them?"

Sometimes I go into their room and gently kiss them so that the love will touch their unconscious mind. I forget how much "power" parents have over their children. At least mine did over me. But this "power" doesn't occur to me in the throws of our day when I have asked them 5 times to stop playing ball in the house and yet a pink object bounces past my feet. Confucius say "ask once while you take the ball" ...problem solved. Sometimes I forget that you have to be "smart" about parenting.

Today in the news...

2009-06-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

First I'll start with me because its a little more upbeat...then we'll talk about the cultural event that will serve as a bookmark in time.

I finished my last painting today. Yah -hoo!

It was a real pickle of a project but I kept at it and it finally started to look like something. I'm pleased to say my professor was very happy with it and she gave me a "B" for my semester grade.

I am relieved because this has been a yoke around my neck for months now. First I was sick and couldn't paint so I was totally stressed; then I was gathering doctor's notes and writing appeals for an incomplete; then I was waiting for the 2 week window to open up so I could start on the huge amount of work I had to make up and now; (sigh,) its done and I did Ok. That is the last I am going to speak about it... Turn the page... NEXT!

So I spoke to Russ at backporchquilters today and I've decided I want him to be my new best friend. He is so stinkin nice and I can't get over how connected I feel to him because he has my "baby" (my quilt) in his hands right now. I know its his business but it feels as though he is doing this wonderful gesture of kindness for me. I guess that is why people are so into their family quilts. I never knew what a labor of love felt like until now. Anyway, we had a great chat and agreed that the vertigo stitch he did for Dana would look fabulous on my quilt with variegated thread. We also discussed my old sewing machine and the Old Red Barn drawing coming up - (I want that sewing machine!!!) It was a great conversation and I am thrilled to have yet another North Carolina pal!

Projects on the horizon - boy there are a bunch. I've got some ring blanks just waiting for Utee, some watch faces screaming for beaded bands, several carpet bags pinned with fabulous lace just waiting for permanent stitching and that gorgeous Wonderland fabric ready to be made into mom and daughter matching skirts. I also want to spend some time tinkering with my the aperture and ISO on my camera. What fun! This will be the first time in a long while I can play without feeling guilty because of school work. Now I just have to figure out a way to incorporate "kid fun" with these activities so its a win/win for everyone during the summer vacation. Any thoughts?

On a more somber note... I still remember where I was when I learned that Elvis Prestley died- in my mom's Volkswagen bug after school, and when John Lenon was killed- at my next door neighbors house sitting on her front porch. How interesting that I was on Facebook when I learned that Michael Jackson has passed. I feel ashamed because, at first I thought it said Michael Jordon died and I had the same response I felt when John Kennedy Jr's plane crashed - "oh no, one of the last of the good guys was gone." Then I realized it was MJ and for some reason I was detached from it. I guess all the rumors and hype over the years had caused me to write him off. But as I watched the news and saw the responses on Facebook, so much of my childhood came rushing in. Billy Jean, Thriller, Beat it... these were the songs on the soundtrack of my life. I decided to do a little research and read the very lengthy bio of MJ on Wikipedia. It turns out that a lot of what I thought about him was just tabloid gossip. I began to feel a sadness, not just for the loss of a huge talent, entertainer and musical genius, but a sadness for a man who, despite his great success, lived a very hard life of mental and physical abuse, health issues, addiction, accusations, legal battles, and undoubtedly, some mental illness as a result. I feel bad that I believed what I heard. I feel bad that he died with people thinking so many false bad things about him. Perhaps some of the things were true and now he'll have to answer to a higher authority about that. I know that hurt people hurt others and so I choose to feel compassion at this time. At the end of the day - he died and I'm so sorry he is gone but I truly hope that he finally KNOWS what a talent he was and has peace. we'll miss you Michael.

Painting Spree - almost there!

2009-06-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

It has been really intense painting so much these last 10 days. Essentially, I started this run last Tuesday afternoon, took a 3 day break over the weekend due to various commitments and have been painting like crazy ever since. I finished the casual composition painting and got my grade back: a B-.

My work is improving but there is a part of me that feels frustrated that I was not able to put more time into the important details. Normally, I would have had a week to complete each painting - the suggested time dedicated was 12-20 hours per piece. Obviously, I did not invest that into my work which means I missed the end game. The part where you see what is there rather than what you know. The lock down vibe where it is just you and the canvas. Sometimes I love this but, to be honest, it also REALLY stresses me out because I had destroyed a good painting last April while in this zone.

It was a lot of wet on wet work and I went into an intuitive frenzy, painting what I "felt" rather than what I saw. Next thing I knew my perspective was demolished, my ellipses where cockeyed and there was no reconciliation. I'm eager to address that fear before closing this chapter because it will be at least 6 months before I pick up a brush for any kind of school work. I don't want that anxiety festering.

Hence, of my last 2 assignments, one was offered as extra credit - flowers. I really want to learn flowers so I am going to combine a high key with a floral set up so I have 2 days to work through it and learn everything the class has to offer. The last required painting was our choice - either a casual set up or High Key. I really like High Key but have mixed emotions about how my last piece came out.

High Key set Up (light values)

On one hand I love what I did here. There is a Renaissance feel to it that speaks to me. On the other hand, I know I could have push it so much further and I have issues with the bowl ellipses which I am sure everyone can see but I hate to draw attention to. (I would love it if ppl. thought it was intentional and brilliant - denial is a powerful thing).

Finished painting using only light colors to define objects and shadows

My low key painting was definitely harder. In the composition, the right side of the bowl disappeared into the shadows although the set up photo does not show this because I don't know how to photograph in that low of life light with my camera.

Every time I tried to take a picture with the light turned low, the camera would leave the shutter open for 5-10 seconds and the picture would come out blurry. There was just no room to pull out the tripod. The challenge was making the bowl disappear while communicating the depth between the foreground and background.. Also, in order to retain the lighting, I had to depend entirely on the otto light I have mounted to my easel. This light caused a lot of refection on the canvas so I could not always see the subtle changes in color. Blah, Blah, Blah... it came out as it came out. I was done- I ran out of patience and the clock was ticking.

Last night I posted a treasure trove of new items on my Esty shop. I've had these beauties for a few weeks now but did not have time to photograph nor post them. Last night, I needed the change in pace so I got busy. I have a lot more to add but first things first.

Tomorrow I'll turn in the last painting and then I have to prepare 20 tag album kits for camp on Tuesday which is a really nice creative transition. I am also looking forward to playing with my kiddos, cleaning this house and earning some moola. I'm working with a new client on Sunday which is going to be SUPER fun! I'm teacher her daughter how to scrapbook while creating an album for a friend...Teach a man to fish kind of thing.

I can't wait to hear from back porch quilters on the status of my quilt. I hope it has arrived in North Carolina! I'll check on that today. Busy, but loving that my todo's have nothing to do with dry cleaning nor spread sheets - just art, life, art!

Painting marathon - Day 2

2009-06-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

I finished painting #2 - Replicating Patterns in still life set ups. I can see the areas I am improving and areas other that need improvement are becoming more obvious. This one was much more fun than I thought it would be partially because I watched the entire 1 hr 20 min. lecture before I tackled the second half. It is so hard to watch the lectures because I just want to jump in and start painting. Also, watching someone paint is not an action packed experience but this lecturer was pretty darn good. The way he hit the shapes with bits of color, maybe just a value higher then the previous spot and BAM!, the whole object became 3 dimensional. It was amazing and made a big difference when I started on this painting at the 50% mark.

Painting #2 Set Up

50% (ish) complete

I went in and layered some paint over the background and foreground to enhance the texture, then took to the details.

Painting #2 Completed

I really enjoyed breathing life into this one - sometimes it can be incredibly stressful - I think it boils down to the original sketch. If you can put down a good drawing and your perspective and proportions are accurate you only have to work on color and details. A bad sketch on the other hand, spirals into a bad painting and worse, a bad painting experience.

Painting #3 Set Up

My next project is on casual composition. It took me all afternoon to create a set up and I am not 100% pleased . Here is my painting at 50% complete. I've got my work cut out for me on this one.
I just don't have the time to get hung up on small details with just 12 days left and 5 more paintings to do. That includes the final which we had 3 weeks to complete. Stressed?! Maybe a little - but there's no time for that right now...

Good times...dare I say great times?

2009-06-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here looking into the yard laughing at my husband's attempt to catch every last plum without a bruise or squirrel bite. He wants to invent a gizmo for this - he's been talking about it for several years now - I better shut up about it though just in case it ends up being our golden goose.

I'm loving where we are in our life today. Its not perfect but its really good and the fact that I can take a moment to acknowledge that fact makes it great.

We have had the summer vacation "pick a card" plan in action for 3 days now and it is really been successful. On day one they pulled the SHOPPING card for the A.M. so they went to Home Depot and were allowed to get out of the cart and run freely - Woo Hoo! a big deal for our little guys and they went to the pool in the afternoon. On day two, they pulled the Wash the cars for AM and play with Aunt Pam for the afternoon. Today, they pulled Go for a hike and do a field guide scavenger hunt for the morning and in the afternoon they will be watering the garden with spoons, and other random objects. Since Tim is doing kid duty, he is loving it too. The kids are super enthusiastic and he has currency to get them to follow directions. "If you don't... you won't get to pick a card tomorrow."

I've been doing all kinds of fun things too. I finished assembling my quilt and sent in off to Back Porch Quilters to have it long arm quilted.

My old singer doesn't do quilting so I was happy to send it out. I feel so stinkin accomplished that I assembled this bad boy I can't stand it! It may very well be my most treasured creation. Its no masterpiece and I can see I'll have some seams to repair right out of the gate, but gosh darnit, I made a king size quilt! I am going to make drapes from the extra squares but first I have to get my remaining paintings completed for STILL LIFE.

I had to take an incomplete in this class due to some health issues - ended up being Trigeminal Neuralga which is now being treated and is MUCH IMPROVED! I was able to finish my photography class and pulled a B+ even with all the sick days but painting is a labor intensive activity that requires lots of time and concentration - something I could not do with my pain. Anyhow, I now have 2 weeks to complete 6 or 7 paintings. I jumped in yesterday feeling pretty darn good after sending off my quilt and I'm at the 1/2 way mark with a reflective silver assignment.

This is the set up

This is the painting at 50% complete

Today I go in and do my detail work, play with the color, texture, brush strokes and make adjustments to the layout. It's "a work in progress" but I'm trying to share the journey and check my ego at the door. It keeps getting in the way of learning which is the whole point. If I was an awesome painter I would not need the class.

Update: Here is the finished piece. I made a mistake using a lighter background which wants to come forward making the painting look flat. A super valuable error because after trying to fix the "flatness" with everything under the sun I was able to "see" the problem and now I "understand" creating depth a little better.

I'll also begin working on a new painting working with patterns. This is going to be a tedious project but I'm up for it. I'll be creating a set up including an object that has a pattern then replicating it as precisely as possible in my painting. The process requires both right and left brain activity. My bridge between the two hemispheres isn't a developed muscle/pathway so it will be a lot like doing sit-ups but the result is a more developed eye, a more responsive hand and the knowledge that I have completed it.

(This is not mine - this is done by an accomplished still life artist, Nancy Chaboun - AMAZING right!?)

I will also be preparing kits for camp which starts on June 30th. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching art to these gals! This is my 3rd year with Camp Gen Israel and it is an honor to be on their faculty.

I want to share some of the great pictures from camping last weekend. We had such a great time! I cannot wait to go back - maybe mid-week so its less crowded and there is less partying. It didn't really bother us too much but they were pretty loud at night and we were woken up a couple times. I really can't complain because I was young once and acted the same way - maybe worse. For some reason you just don't know you are being loud when you have been drinking beer all day. Its weird like that.

We had a blast paddling down river but did not catch a single fish. It was one of those times where something always got in the way of focused fishing. Tim was pretty disappointed... which is hilarious but that is another story...

Everyone's To Do List's should look like this

2009-06-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm trying to make sure I have lots to do for my munchkins during the summer break. I've been working on their "To-Do" list like I was trying to name all 50 states - I just can't seem to let up. The hard part is coming up with activities that are enticing for a boy and a girl and do-able for a 3 and 6 year old.

I've decided that we will have a general calendar and then each day that they don't have excursions, play dates or other coordinated activities, they EACH (one for morning, one for afternoon) will get to draw a card from the TO DO pile which we will then add to that day

Man -I wish my TO DO list looked like this:

backyard obstacle course
scavenger hunt using toy stickers from learning tree
Hide and seek (an oldy but goody)
water the plants with squirt guns
go to the club pool
build sculptures for the backyard with wood glue, nails, wire and assorted exterior suited materials
run through the sprinklers
sort toys to give to the shelter than if we come up with 20, go to toys r us to buy each a new toy
build a fort
silverware wind chimes (get silverware from good will)
hiking scavenger hunt with trail guide to find animals, plants, etc.
play in the blow up kiddie pool
play Faeries and elves (leave little notes and sweets for the kids from the faeries)
have kids each draw 3 pictures then make a story from it and write it for them - use the bind it all to make it a real book. Let them each decorate a chipboard cover
find the golden egg hidden in the backyard
Paint our wooden table and chairs which are totally thrashed from the winter
finger food picnic
go to the library
dress up in costumes and play in character
Make cards for the troops

Left to their own devices they do manage to have fun but you never know if someone (or something) will get hurt. This is last weekend - they woke up at 6:00 a.m.- WAY before mom and dad and they managed to find an interesting way to keep themselves busy:

The change from lazy summer to busy calendars - who authorized this?

2009-06-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

4 days until school is out then life will get busy - how strange is that? Those days of unstructured, spontaneous living are no more. My kids need the structure, the routine or they get squirly. A schedule to a 3 and 6 year old is like swaddling to a new born baby. And truth be told, I'm pretty ineffective myself without the perimeters of deadlines and schedules. The good news is that a bunch of the events and commitments quickly approaching are creative opportunities, celebrations and family adventures. However, I have learned that one must be strategically prepared or these occasions can quickly turn into stressers and chores.

The first step was assembling our family calendar which is the real story of what life will look like. The next, and my task for today, is scheduling in time for preparations and cleanup as well highlighting days of flexibility and scheduling downtime. This summer I am making a conscious effort to stay ahead of the curve so that our family can enjoy all the activities and still experience the "lazy daze" I recall from my childhood.
To be totally honest, I have another motive. I love signing up for swaps, on-line artsy challenges and hostessing play dates with my friends but I rarely look at the calendar when signing up. I want to be more thoughtful of these activities so my world is slower, quieter, more fluid. I don't want to feel guilty during one activity because I "should" be doing another.

For example, the quilt-along is a absolute delight and I am thrilled I am doing it - not sure the King size quilt was very practical though. Its double the work and I am afraid if I fall behind, I won't finish so I've been devoting more time to it than I should - the guilt has started to set in... It is a pattern I want to break, an example I don't want to set, a life I no longer choose to live. Today, I want to be

M O R E A C C O U N T A B L E

If my husband took on things as I did and did not consult me before doing so, I would be so annoyed. Why do I think it is OK for me? I want to be a more considerate, less busy person. Of course this means that I need to sit still when there is time to sit still, not see an opportunity to "do something". Wow - this is not at all where I saw this blog entry going...this is going to be tough! But Eva gave up her binky so I can certainly do this. I'll need support and gentle reminders from my posse, OK? I think this kind of work is considered cognative behavior change. Maybe I need a carrot to stay on the path. Any ideas?

Great Scott - I've gone sewing mad!

2009-05-23T23:27:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on to this adorable skirt pattern and I am now committed to making matching ones for Eva and me. I ordered my fabric and spent the evening goggling gathering stitches. Somebody call me a doctor, I've gone mad with sewing ambition. I'm turning into Holly flippin Hobby.

I picked out my fabric!

2009-05-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about this sew along - I am thrilled to be making a quilt along side my pals across the country! I struggled with the fabric factor. I have no trouble with paper but when it comes to fabric it is a totally different thing. This is because esthetically, I am drawn to bold, lush prints but I am definitely an earth tones fashionista and interior decorator. I like blue jeans, khakis, layering tanks and t-shirts and my leather Born sandals or slip ons. My flash comes from hats, jewelry or a fun sweater/ jacket but even then its pretty muted. Our home is done in wood and green - the color comes from artwork and our kids creations. Long story, longer - this makes selecting fabric a challenge. It just isn't the same as scrapbook paper. it is a skill that one has to develop with "visual translation."

I must of filled my cart with various fabric selection a half a dozen times, then when it came time to checkout, I abandoned the site completely. Finally I found a pre-selected 1/2 yard set that works for me at fabricworm on Etsy. Cynthia was super helpful and even swapped out two of the prints I did not care for with two others that she suggested!

So here is the selection I ended up with. I substituted the two Cathedral prints (this is Cathedral Dusk below)

with Buttoned up sea and Small Gathering Sea (both are below).

She has a sample quilt on the webpage using these prints and it is gorgeous (at the top)! I am looking forward to having just as beautiful laying around in my house!

Old Red Barn Co. Sew Along

2009-05-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

Just learned about this totally awesome challenge from my fellow Wassimanites... I'm SO, SO excited. I recently fell in love with sewing in a new in exciting way and am jazzed to be doing a challenge with my peeps. It has been a while since I was able to play for the sake of playing.

Fabulous Inspired Creations!!

2009-05-18T10:03:00.001-07:00

Just a few projects I completed but still need photos. I am hoping to teach both of these at camp this summer! I am also looking forward to catching up with my own scrapbooking over the summer but I hate to jinx it by saying so. Just wait, come September I'll be saying - "I'll have time to finish up some projects now that summer's over..."

This is a project created by Shere Jamison, originally titled "It's a Wonderful Life" Decorative Wall Frame. I opted to go with a "My Family" and "home" theme since it is what I live and breath. I love that she encouraged stamping flourishes and mounting the paper flowers on the outside of the glass. The photo doesn't do it justice.

This project was inspired by Donna Downey's fabric scrapbooking projects as well as Susan Edmondson's casual, unfinished techniques. I love that you do not use scissors to cut the fabric, just rip and let the seems hang as they will. The stitching is not straight, the fabric buckles here and there, but this is all a part of the look.

When finished, there will be photos printed onto fabric, button, ribbon, flowers and yarn to dress up and tie together all the willy-nilly details. I love it so much that I'm almost ready to pull out my 1952 Singer and put in a fresh bobbin with really nice machine thread (I had to idea this was an important detail until last week). If I can't manage my machine, I'll just hand stitch.

These pages are so simple that you don't need a machine to make them hold up. If you don't have the pacience to securely stitch up the sides do a hybrid of glue and thread. Glue your pages and elements where you want them, then go back with a needle and colored thread to do the finishing touches and create the look of a sewn album.

Art Auction Assembly Line

2009-05-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

I spent the entire day and evening working on the auction basket for my son's kindergarten class. About a month ago, I lead an art workshop with the kids. It was so much fun! Tim helped out along with Aidan's two teachers. The kids rotated between 4 stations to create incredible art pieces to be incorporated into a big basket of goodies. The basket will be auctioned off next week at St. Timothy's Art Show and fundraiser. I decided a stationary basket could be a lot of fun for the children, manageable for me and would be of use to the winning bidder.

At one of the tables, the kids created gift wrap on butcher paper using themed stamps, oil pastels, markers and stencils. Today, I trimmed off the edges with various border punches to give the sheets a finished look and wrapped each roll in big beautiful ribbon.

The next table decorated wooden frames, book covers and medium sized wooden pieces with glitter, confetti, foam shapes, feathers, pom poms and other tidbits. Today, I had to reattach a lot of the loose pieces that fell off and finish each piece with diamond glaze so the bits don't fall off when they get them home. I also assembled a mini album out of double sided card stock and the covers they decorated. I will title the book and stamp corner images and quotes on the pages tomorrow. With the small wood shapes, I attached magnets on the backs so that there are 6 or 8 very bright and beautiful creations to decorate the winner's refrigerator. They turned out SUPER CUTE!

The next table played with watercolors and glitter glue. I took these gorgeous works of art and cut them into sections to create greeting cards. They turned out so amazing. I would drop $5 for one of their cards without batting an eye and the basket has 12!

The last table painted on canvas paper with tempora paints. Each child was responsible for a month in the year. They were given index cards covered with stickers reflecting symbols for that month to help them decide what to paint (they are only 5 and 6 years old). I took these fabulous masterpieces and attached them to chipboard to create a large (12 x 24" calendar, It was a much bigger undertaking than I had anticipated but I think it will be the featured item in the basket. I'm including print outs for an additional year so they can glue them down over the months that have past to get more than one year from the calendar. I still need to figure out how I want it to hang and adhere the calendar pages tomorrow. It had been a 10 hour crafting session and I was know longer able to make simple decisions...

I am so excited for the kids to see their beautiful work when the basket is finally complete. I think they will all be so proud. Aidan certainly is. Hopefully it will bring in a nice contribution for the school and some lucky family will have a super fun momento of their child's kindergarten class!

My office is trashed. This is a tell tale sign of happiness!

"One Little Word" Art Journal is one little word: BEAUTIFUL

2009-04-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Wowza. I can not believe Inspired is in 2 weeks. To tell you the truth, I am panicked! I have been working on the art journal swap everyday so it felt like I was on the ball, but now that the books are almost ready to be shipped out, I realize I have not even looked at the class supply lists. I have decided that I am going to bring everything that I have on hand and either buy, barter or borrow when I get there. I know it will all work out.

Speaking of Art Journals - holy cow did these books turn out to be amazing or what?? I am waiting on 2 more sets of pages and then they will be ready to ship to North Carolina.

This is what I know...

2009-04-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

Here is what I know at this moment and time...

- My kids are freaken adorable
- My life is nothing less than an example of Grace
- Oranges are delicious.
- Everything is going to be OK. In fact, it already is.
- Buddha was super smart.
- Color makes me smile.
- I have met the most incredible people along the way.
- I need to pay attention because this may very well be the best time of my life.
- Boys did not end up being all that important after all.
- Society is wrong
- People are a lot kinder than I realized and they have short memories.
- The voices in my head tell me lies.
- Worrying has no impact on the outcome.
- Being right is overrated.
- Chaos has a very important role in the nature of all things.
-When you look at this phase of American history within the context of the whole, things are pretty good.

And the winner is....

2009-03-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

I used random.org to pick the number and the winner is my dear friend and fellow artisan - Cameron! Congratulations. Your treats will go out in today's mail! Yippee!!

I have to say that you all shared some incredible wisdom. I got a few entries that were emailed instead of posted. I'll share a couple of my favorites...

"He" is neither the problem nor the solution
Forgive people, they really don't know any better
Just because they're playing your song doesn't mean you have to dance

Thanks again everyone. You are amazing!

Speaking of amazing, I received this email the other day and it could not have come at a better time. I don't usually forward that kind of stuff but I felt compelled. In turn I received several replies from others who also heard what they needed to hear at just the right moment. I love how that works. Feel free to copy and paste it and send it to someone you love. It just might turn their day around!

Dear God:

The lady reading this is beautiful, classy and strong, and I love her.

Help her live her life to the fullest. Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations. Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most, and let her know when she walks with you, She will always be safe.

Love you…

What I know now that I did not know then

2009-03-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my 40th birthday. It was such a fabulous day. I had many calls from friends and family singing me silly songs and telling me what a special person I am. I had 6 Etsy orders including one from my amazing friend Jen - thank you honey! I went to lunch with my Aunt Mary whom I only see once a year but have a special kinship with, my mother and my husband. We dressed up like civilized people and had the full meal at a upscale, swanky bistro. I savored a scrumptious mussel appetizer, a lobster and avocado BLT with a lovely salad, and french pressed decaf with fresh berries for dessert. It was such a wonderful meal that I'm still going over the details in my mind. Then Tim and I went to a late afternoon matinee to see Watch Men which was a bit violent for my taste, a little depressing too, but a REALLY cool comic movie if you are into that sort of thing which I am. (I watch Heroes and Star Trek too).

When we got home, my kids had been fed and were waiting with anticipation to give me the beautiful gifts they made for me. My mom also gave me a gorgeous purse that I had drooled over a few months back. Not because I do the whole fashion thing, but because I want to learn how to make these!!

I am hoping my pal Sooz will able to look at it more closely while we are at Inspired and tell me how to approach making my own version of this. She is such an AMAZING seamstress!

And to finish off a perfect day, I watched Damages and Lost - 2 of my favorite shows. I fell asleep peacefully. Just before I drifted off I thought about what I know now compared to when I was 20. Either it is a cruel joke or a built in checks and balances system, but isn't it ironic how when we look our best, have the most energy and "potential", we tend to have so many more insecurities, far less contentment and often very skewed goals? I spent most of my 20's feeling fat (even though I was 15 lbs. lighter than I am now), feeling unlovable (even though I was totally loved) and chasing aspirations that are so far from what I want for myself today. I thought I knew it all and that I was invincible.

So I decided to construct a list of "20 things I wish I had known when I was 20". I am also having a drawing for a vintage goodie pack including several pieces of beautiful jewelry and some amazing ephemera.

Wear sunscreen all the time
Boys are not a hobby - find a passion that is not tied to another person and let it fill you up
The best way to find happiness is to give to others
Develop the habit of exercising everyday so when your older it will already be ingrained in you
People are not thinking about you all the time. They do not care if your purse matches your shoes. They are too busy focusing on themselves.
It does not matter how many friends you have, what matters is how you treat people
Tell the truth.
You do not have to be the center of attention to be noticed and you are not invisible.
Be kind to your parents and grateful for the things they do for you. They are people just like you.
Compassion does not mean taking on others problems
Drama is not as attractive as you might think
Make a gratitude list every day
Dreading something does not make it easier to experience, it just prolongs the discomfort
Just because you do not feel like doing something, does not mean you do not have to. This is when you probably need to do it the most. Just put one front in front of the other - who knows, it may be fun.
Do not choose a major because you think it will allow you to make the most money. Do what you love and success will follow. Do what you hate and success does not matter.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Ghandi
Release negativity of any kind - it is poison. pursue forgiveness and kindness and you will be filled up with the power of love
Be yourself without apologizing nor adapting to your surroundings. If you can find a way to be authentic and let go of what others think of you people will see your strength and be drawn to it.
Trust that everything will be alright - it may not look the way you thought it would, but it will still be OK.
Hug yourself and thank your body EVERYDAY for all the things it does for you - protecting you from disease, healing wounds, cradling your soul so you can experience life.

OK friends - let's hear your thoughts. Tell me something you would tell your 20 year old self. A prize awaits you! I will announce the winner tomorrow AM.

Thinking about Never, Never Land

2009-03-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

After 3 weeks of isolation from the real world, my perceptions were slightly skewed. Fortunately, lack of sleep and the recent memories of a violent bout of the stomach flu created a fog and listlessness that prevented me from feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I had missed, nor panicked because I was now 3 paintings behind in school, nor doomed because I had not addressed bills, laundry or grocery shopping in quite some time. In fact, by the time I really came to, I was so darn grateful that my family was healthy, the sun was shining and that I did not feel nauseous - nothing could rattle me.

Our kids were just wiped out by a relentless virus that would eventually hit mom and dad too and turn into pneumonia for my little 3 year old. Two and a half weeks into this high-fever-croup-like-coughing-body-aches-sore-throat-runny-nose-super-cold, the stomach flu stopped in for a quick visit. Over the course of 4 days the 4 members of our family took turns soiling linens, moaning from horrendous nausea and begging for relief. It was not pleasant. But once it passed we became very grateful for our returned health so at this point, I am considering the whole episode as a gift.

During this time, I was selling all the old inventory I had from Jilliene Designs on ebay to keep some $ coming in and so I could feel like I was doing something other than taking temperatures , tylenol and naps. I had the computer right at my bedside so I surfed around ebay for hours while Eva lay there. By complete accident, I stumbled into the world of vintage costume jewelry. First I just looked, then I started reading articles, and one night I impulsively bid on a huge lot - over 100 pieces and since the closing time was at such a late hour (1:00 AM pst), I won it for a very fair price. When my box of treasure arrived, I started posting items on my ETSY store so the ladies attending Inspired could pick up a piece of vintage jewelry as required for Jennifer Stewart's kicked up canvas class. I had so much and I wanted to share with my friends. I listed big brooches and gorgeous rhinestone pieces for $3, $5, $8 each, not having any idea what things were worth nor feeling inclined to figure it out. Soon, antique dealers where buying up my lisrings.

"Hmmmmmmmm. What is this about??" I wondered, so I did a little digging and soon discovered that I had sold several items worth a lot of money for next to nothing. "Oh well," I thought - I had the same luck when I won the original lot on ebay for such a good price.

Little did I know, I would stay in bed with sick children for another week and during that time I became educated in the fascinating world of costume jewelry collecting. I am now enthralled. I have fallen in love with the timeless glamor, various designer styles, wonderful materials, rich history and amazing craftsmanship.

I've now got about 30 different pieces listed on my Etsy store and I've sold 15 more. I'm having a wonderful time researching each and every piece. It is like solving mysteries. I tell you all of this because I expect I will be sharing more about his amazing new interest and I thought the story of how I stumbled into it to be a nice introduction.

This new interest has rejuvenated my little girl spirit. I look at all the gorgeous pieces and I think about playing dress up and pretending to be a fabulous woman dripping in in jewels and feeling beautiful and important. Life was nothing but possibility back then. Pirates and treasure, fairy god mothers and glass slippers, and genies and magic carpets tickled us inside with wonder, hope, dreams of splendor. I rarely drift into that train of thought as a grown up and I am perfectly fine with that. I don't need Royal Balls (I'm referring to the dances at the palace :oD), fancy clothes or wealth and clout to feel like a fabulous woman. But I do miss that wonder, that air of possibility and when I look at the big heap of gorgeous jewelry I acquired late one night, I regain my access to that paradigm of thinking and it makes me happy. As my WASSIMA girls say - swirls - sparkle - shine

Treats and treasures in the mail

2009-02-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

When I was little I used to chase the UPS truck as it drove through our neighborhood yelling "do you have something for me?!!!" There is nothing better than getting a package in the mail. Well this week I received two!! It was so wonderful to be the recipient of my very first UGRA homer. Translated, that means a project was created for me by one of the incredibly talented members of UGRA (Under Ground Rail Art) which she sent out to another Ugra-ite to work on, and they forwarded it to another and so on.

In this case, one of my favorite artists, Loretta, started a "slam book" for me. She sent it to Bonnie who forwarded it to Corvus, who sent it to Sharen, who passed it on to Bonnie who shipped it off to Jennifer (all the way in North Carolina), who sent it "home" to me. The book is absolutely scrumptious and I am so honored that each of these talented women worked in it! It has hand sewn signatures, pop out pages, and pockets and pouches filled with treats. I will treasure it!

On this page, you push on the labeled spot to the right, and the fire flies light up!

I also received an incredible prize package from my dear friend Jen. I was randomly selected after leaving a comment on her sparkle/shine/ shrink blog-a-polooza. She sent me 3 of her most favorite scrapbooking supplies and I am so very stoked (I'm doing the wave in my chair). I received a BIG ol' BOTTLE of Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz Distress Ink and the most darling array of fibers wrapped around the waistband of an old pair of jeans -(the girl is a creative genius!) How fun is that!

I've also been having an absolutely fabulous time in my Still Life painting class. It appears, I may have some skill peeking out which would be really great since I feel that my artistic abilities to this point, have been completely learned - that a natural aptitude or innate talent has yet to reveal itself. I don't want to jinx it by getting all "look at me, I can paint" before I have flushed things out, but I had to share this suspicion because it is a wonderful experience to feel you may have potential in something that you love to do. Most everything I have accomplished in my life has come from hard work or dumb luck. There have only been a few times in my life where I actually "felt" ("felt" being a critical word here) I was blessed with talent. Even if it turns out to be a short lived experience, I want to document it so I can come back and say "oh yeah - that was awesome!"

Here is the painting I did last week - my second oil and Still Life ever... It has a variety of troubled areas which taught me A LOT. My professor said "Jillene, I am impressed with your willingness to tackle tough set ups! Good work." She doesn't usually say things like that - she sticks to the instruction and critique so a personal comment like that made me feel really good.

I'm working on two new paintings right now, one of which I had to submit at the 50% stage. My Prof said "Jilliene, Good job and good thinking on your changed comp. Very good work, be proud."

Happy weekend!

Swirly wirly twinkling toes

2009-02-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

I've been doing so many different things these days that I feel like I am dancing - that is good right? Although sometimes I get dizzy and I feel like I'm going to accidentally spin out of the window or something.
The picture above is for a button blooms order I just filled to match the photos of the client's daughter's room decor.
I finished my very first still life / my very first oil painting today. What is really wacked is that we were only allowed to use Titanium White, Mars black, Terra Rosa (an earthy clay red) and yellow okra (like a dark Dijon mustard). My painting focal point was a blue teapot, so I had to blend blend blend to make a dull grey blue. Remember, blue is a primary color which I thought meant that it couldn't be "made" - well now I know otherwise.

There are a few structural issues with my teapot handle but for the most part, I feel like it came together. This was as much, if not more, an exercise about mixing colors as it was about painting a still life. There were a few times when I thought I was never going to make it work. Last night when I went to bed, I was REALLY discouraged! But today I just fell into the zone - I hate calling it "the zone" it sounds so 80's - But it definetely is a different state of consciousness. I had no sense of time, no fear of failure and my mind was completely focused on the task at hand. There was none of the mind chatter that makes me nuts sometimes. I'll have to work on another name for it though. Tomorrow, I have to do another still life but now I can use cadimin yellow.

I also have made 3 new charm braclets which I need to post on Etsy and a Charm Choker which is HOT! My husband wants me to keep it but I want to post it because I don't think anyone else is making something like this. I'm thinking this could be a fun trend if it catches on!

I also have a fabulous new client and we have been busy getting her work ready for the world to enjoy. More on that when we are ready to launch. Oh boy - I had better run - my husband is started to grumble that he hasn't seen me all day!