Moving forward

looking back at my last post, i can see how much time has passed and how much my lil' one has grown. he's now 3 months old and i find myself back into a "nesting" mind frame. now that he's sleeping more and i'm not carrying a ton of extra weight around, i feel motivated to be getting things done around here.
this week i'm focused on organizing. sure, it's a pain but once you get started there is an excitement that comes when you see how much better things can be! every day or so i take on a new area... monday was the kitchen hutch, tuesday was the back yard (we potted up some lovely flowers and herbs), then today it's my desk/computer space. what brought most of this on is re-reading the book "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. i have read it over before but that was more than a year ago. reading it again has sparked some new ideas and reminders for keeping up on my "shtuff".
are you feeling like your mind will explode with all the to-do lists and projects that need working on? take a look in GTD and you will be ready to go out and buy a bunch of office supplies, sticky notes, and maybe even a label maker!! organizing can be fun... and artful if you let it.

where have i been?

wow! what day is it?!!

i have somewhat lost track of time since the baby was born... this one makes three for me and it is a CIRCUS around here! i do like circuses but i never thought i'd be living in one. funny thing is... i never really thought i would have kids. so now here i am-- surrounded by little things and silly giggles, slobber kisses and of course-- lots of PooP.

now that baby "X2" has turned 8 weeks old and i'm getting a bit more rest, i have pulled out the sewing machine and my journal again and have been working away. i find that the days i get to feed my creative side (even if it's just for 10 minutes) are the days i am a happier mom. and we all know that a happy mom makes a happy family, right?!

a few of my latest projects:

baby wrap carrier, diaper tote-bag, crochet market produce bags, purse organizers, and a really cute pin cushion. WHEW!

Thrift-store shopping @ home?!

wow! it's like the best of both worlds... making a cake and eating it too... thrift store shopping while being at home!
sure, it's not the same as actually holding all those wonderful things in my happy lil' hands but it's not bad for when you get the thrift store itch at 10:00pm on a Sunday.

see what's available at Goodwill.

first listing on Etsy

today i opened up my seller account and finally took the plunge in listing my work on Etsy. i have mostly sold my things on Ebay before but i can see why other artists are fustrated over their sales and the new fee structure... so here goes!

check out my new shop - more things to be added soon!!

what color are you?

this is a really great color quiz to take. mine is very accurate. i do tend to be a leader to make sure that things are done right- not the best quality at times ( people think i'm BOSSY)!

you are mediumspringgreen #00FA9A

Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definately strive to be logical you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days. Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

so what color are you?!

origami paper cranes

this weekend i sat at the dining table and worked on this paper crane project to help cheer up someone who is awaiting a liver transplant. in the past, i have tried to fold cranes but usually get all messed up and confused so i give up and am left with only a soggy piece of origami paper. the pdf file of directions that Julee posted are great and i was able to get thru all the steps easily ( just ignore picture #19). as origami paper i just used my usual computer paper printed with my art collages and scans of vintage hankerchiefs & pillowcases. they really made for some colorful cranes!

the ZNE book club

i'm excited to be part of my first "book club" experience. i have been a member of the variaZioNE mixed media artist network for quite a while but have not had much of a chance to really participate in all the fun activities and such as much as i would like. i finally decided to jump on in! all are welcome to join in too so if you like to come along with me, the more the merrier. plus, your entrance fee will benefit our little furry friends in need of rescue! you have until Feb 17, 2008 to get entrance to the club so check it out right away!

this month's book is Collage Unleashed by Traci Bautista

label-maker fun

i found the acme label maker site a while ago (but forgot about it until today). i have been playing around with sayings and it brings back memories of turning the dial to the letters, squeezing out my name with the handy little label maker, peeling the back off the long sticker, and then placing it on my pencil boxes and notebooks for school. now you can make your very own labels like in the "old days"- and not hurt your hands with all the squeezing!

Labels by ACME Label Maker.

feeling eco-friendly

this week i have been on an eco-friendly crochet kick. after reading Gina's blog post, i have made myself some new shopping bags. i pulled out the old vintage-colored yarn my mom had been saving since forever and now have 3 new bags for my groceries, library books, clothing store buys, craft store purchases, and anything else you can get that usually comes in a plastic bag when you check out your items. it's like a whole new way to let other people know about your personality while also showing that you care about the earth! nifty! my new bags are holding up nicely and actually carry so much more than the usual grocery-store plastic bags (which usually tear, or can only fit 2 items at a time inside them so you have to take 10 trips from the car and back to the kitchen for unloading), and have a much more comfy feel to the handles -not digging into your palm when holding a heavy item.

so far, i have found that most places are happy to put your things in a tote or bag that you have brought along for your shopping. i would imagine it saves the store money too- not giving away so many plastic bags with their logos printed on them. the one place i got an eye-roll was from the cashier at Target. at first she was frustrated that she couldn't find a price tag on the bag... and then looked at me questioningly. after i pointed out that they were to put my items in she rolled her eyes and said "OK". well, i'm sure i won't be the first person to use the BYOB method of shopping in her line. hopefully she won't be so weird to the next customer.

Coffee Time!

today i was feeling much more energetic and inspired so i heated up the beeswax again, got painted and messy making coffee-art. YAY

items with this design are available at my cafepress store!

Sifting thru sadness...

My grandpa passed away a couple of weeks ago after suffering a heart-attack. He had the choice of getting a bypass surgery about 5 years ago but his heart was so unhealthy at that time, there was no guarantee he would even survive the procedure. He decided to let things go and enjoy his life while he had a little time left. He was to be 80 this year. After the memorial service, we were all at my mom's house and she went thru the kitchen drawers and asked me to copy some of my great-grandma's crocheted potholders and counter protecty things. My grandpa always used them when he cooked. I spent a few evenings making a bunch of these, thinking of him. Anyhow, these are my finished items (old next to the new). Working on them really helped me work thru the sadness ( grief is such a big word) I've felt this week. Every day it gets better...

it's so sad that items like pot holders can last longer than a human life...

home again

our vacation was wonderful and it was so nice to get away and see the sunshine again. now that i'm home i haven't left the house... i got sick and out of kindness to others, have stayed away from people for the last few days. all the stress i've had lately has brought on "shingles"- yuk. since i've had some time on my hands -- i've been up to lots of projects. my latest is crocheted pot holders and of course, more scarves and hats. i'll be sending gifts out probably next week.
today i got out all my painty things and melted some beeswax. i'll post my latest projects soon.

change of scenery

after being in a long rut for so long... we are finally getting out for a change of scenery!

we're planning our first big vacation since we went to Boston/ New York/ New Jersey over 2 years ago. this time we will be driving down the California coast to end up back in L.A (where I used to call home). we will take a week down and then spend a week in Los Angeles visiting my family, hanging in my old neighborhood, and EATING lots of good Arabic, Armenian, Mexican, and Sushi foods!! YUMMY!! it's almost my favorite part of going back to visit. with so much cultural variety there, it's easy to get good food.

in preparation for the trip, i have made a simple little travel journal taken from the Paper Source website. i did tweak it a little so that i could have pockets to put things into on both sides of the book. it's still a work in progress and needs a cover but so far i've added some color to the inside. the rest will be filled while on the road. i've also painted up some 4x6 index cards to use for journaling and placed them in a few pockets. i wanted to make sure to use envelopes large enough to fit postcards and maps into. so far, i'm happy with the results.

this is what it looks like now... and when we get back, i'll be sure to post pics of how it holds up after 14 days of riding around in a diaper bag!!

front side when opened

back side when opened

journaling weekend

it's a pain being sick but i was able to get in lots of journal time. there were so many ideas jumping around my brain, i tried to catch as many as i could!!

a peek in my journal

i keep different types of journals. some for art only, some for words only, and some with both art and words to keep things interesting. this journal covers the happenings of about 5 months in the beginning of 2007.

back to finding time for myself

it's been a long time away but i have found my way back. i have missed colorfulness, my messy art, and india-ink stained fingers.

new ideas are hatching and there's more to be coming soon.

Colorful thoughts

Colorful thoughts
Originally uploaded by crazyladybugg

it's a nice feeling to be getting back to my journal. it's like a friend i have missed spending time with. my newest journal book is now my favorite. i can tell i will be getting more of these type. the construction is perfect so that i can fit a TON of things on the pages without completely ruining the binding.
i've been feeling sluggish and lethargic artistically these last few months. so much of my energies have had to go elsewhere lately. i will probably start over on 'the artist's way' program. it helped me so much last time i went thru the book (even tho i only got to week 10). if i try hard to make it all 12 weeks- who knows what i will be able to accomplish !??

new look

nothing too fancy... just getting started on "freshening" up my blog and de-cluttering my surroundings.

musical inspiration

after complaining that there's no good music out i realized it's not that there's nothing good out there-- but it just wasn't getting to me somehow. then one day i visited mikesradioworld to see what else was out there. i've always been more of an "alternative" music listener so that's the first category i clicked... then closed my eyes and scrolled down to be sure that my selection would be a random one. BINGO... i got a winner!! my new favorite station is WFNX in Boston . when i visited Boston back a couple of years ago i quickly fell in love with the city... now i love the tunes too.

journal time

i've been back on a journaling binge lately. i have left off journaling for a few months but during the time my dad was in the hospital, i found myself sitting in a waiting room for hours and hours. after being inspired by zee-flower's journal pages, i remembered that i had a small bound journal that i started but never really got going in. i pulled it off the shelf and stuck it in my bag with a few pens, scissors, and a glue stick. the next time i was at the hospital sitting in the waiting room, i was able to escape to a little into a spot where all i had to do was think about me and how i was being affected by the happenings around me. i didn't have to be brave, i could be sad, tired, lost, worried... without the guilt that comes when i let others see my expressions. so i got thru the days one by one, and as my dad healed- i noticed that a change occured in me too. some days i feel like a butterfly... getting my wings.