Archive for the 'Artsy Fartsy' Category

I made an Advent calendar with my own two hands.

I nearly glued myself to death, but I lived to tell the tale — look:

You can make one too! Let me show you how!  You’ll need do-dads and numbers and pockety-envelopes and glue-stuff and ribbon and glitterfication product, and a canvas and a big spot to mess-up and paint and a little foamy-brush-thing — to paint and glue with.

You will need to paint your canvas. Then lay out your envelopes… the picture below gives greater detail:

Then:

Adhere your decorated pockety-envelopes with Mod Podge. I suggest not gluing to the edges of the pocket. Leave a quarter inch or so. It’ll allow your pocket some room to grow when you insert your treats. I made the mistake of applying glue to the very edges. I am able to get one candy kiss in any one pocket. 3 kisses should fit easily if you leave some room for “stretching”. 

Now fill the pockets! Candy kisses, mints, mini candy canes, have the kids share a Hershey bar (4 squares each!), we did a movie night, paint your own pottery is coming soon… and we’ll be decorating cookies one evening too!  I added the picture below to give you an idea of the true-life size… That’s my 3 year-old Cole standing next to our calendar.

If I were to change anything… I might consider a more sturdy pocket. The pockets could tear rather easily because they are paper. We’ve not had any problems, but I’d like this to last several years.

 

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Published
by
jenny
on December 11, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy and General
. 15 Comments

The Bloscars (Blog Awards Extravaganza!) - Part 2

Way back in July, Katia at Crazy for Trying, gave me this award: Este Blog premia el arte y la creatividad! Then in August, the gals at 3 Giraffes also gave me this award! This award is given to stunning individuals who bless the blog-world with their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community. These awards make me feel all philantrophy-ish… -phu… -phi… -pho… fum??? They also make me feel thankful, so thank you both for choosing me for this award!

In order for me to claim my awardS, I have to follow the rules. I am such a slave to rules… I think in some cultures I might be considered a goddess for that… I digress…

Continue reading ‘The Bloscars (Blog Awards Extravaganza!) - Part 2′

Published
by
jenny
on November 25, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Awardage, Bloggy Bloggy, Friends, General and The Love
. 7 Comments

A self-portrait: Obsession

Have you ever loved something so much — so much that you ache in its absence? It haunts your dreams. It is your first thought in the morning… your last thought at night. You long to be close… even a moment of separation… perish the thought. You slowly lick your lips. You draw the succulent cup of warmth nearer, and nearer still…

 

***bomchickawowwow***

 

A girl has gots ta have her cuppa cawfee — eeeeven if it only lasted two minutes. Ya know.

Photos taken by my own bad self with my iPhone… edited with Picnik.

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Published
by
jenny
on November 14, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Bloggy Bloggy, General, Ridiculous, The Love and iPhone
. 9 Comments

A craft, a peeve, & an odd thing.

The craft - I’m gonna try to complete a craft. Despite the fact that I could have sworn I birthed the very last crafting nerve out of my body when my last child was born over 3 years ago, I am going to do a craft! I have wanted to make an Advent calendar for YEARS, and I’m-a-gonna do it! I had a big credit at a scrapbook store, and saw a super-awesome Advent calendar and spent all my credit so I could copy the calendar perfectly and took a picture of the calendar because… it lasts longer (bahdumbum!)

Wish me luck!

The peeve - The little waist ties on sweat pants. Where are you supposed to put them? I don’t wear short shirts, so I always struggle with the “waist-tie bump” under my shirt… OR I struggle to strategically tuck them (read: keep them tucked) behind the waist band. But THEN… sometimes it is too hard to tie them in a nifty bow, so you tie it in a knot because there needs to be a point of tension or them sweatpants just won’t stay up… even if they’re tight. 

There’s more. So. When those whispy little ties are in a simple knot, it is not so easy to untie the knotted rascal when one is in a “pinch”… like, say — when a girl has got to use the restroom! Yeah! I don’t know about anybody else, but whens (I know “when” doesn’t have an “s” — EVER, but just pretend the “s” is a written way of me using my arms… body-language in type-form, if you will) I decide to take the time to answer nature’s call… the last thing I need is to fight with a stubborn knot. And that makes me feel angry.  

Furthermore… I am an adult woman, and while it might be somewhat “acceptable” for a 3-year-old to “not make it”… not so much for an adult woman. “I PEED!!!” sounds so much different coming from the mouth of a toddler than it does from and adult. Not to mention sheer quantity. TMI?

Which reminds me of an odd thing - I have a relatively sensitive gag reflex. It mostly has to do with conversational items that gross me out. Pictures too. But I’ve noticed another area in which my gag reflex is highly responsive… when I hurt myself. Which is none too rare. Lately (months and months - no I am not pregnant), I have noticed that when I stub my toe or slice my thumb off or hit my funny bone or get a good scratch or crack my head on an open cabinet door… I experience an overwhelming desire/need to vomit/gag. I used to cry or writhe on the floor… now I writhe, but also suffer waves of rather intense, but accute nausea. 

Is that normal? Don’t answer that.

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Published
by
jenny
on November 13, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Bloggy Bloggy, Fa' Real?, General, Not So Much and Wasting Time
. 10 Comments

A little more on the lovely colors of Fall…

… here in the Pacific Northwest. I  am so glad I got a picture of this tree. I pass by it and swoon many times a week. After forgetting to make sure my camera was in the car, numerous times… I remembered. Two short days after this picture was taken, all but a few rogue leaves had fallen to the ground.

This next picture was taken at a location near my neighborhood. As with the tree in the picture above, the leaves from the light orange tree fell to ground only days after I finally captured these trees at the peak of their beauty.

I hope you all had a delightful weekend :) I just returned from a wonderful weekend away with my husband and 4 other couples. This evening, I am tired… but feeling refreshed and undeserving of the blessings in my life. Also, I am a little sore. This weekend I discovered I have a deep passion for table tennis, along with a passion for creative table tennis serves. You can bet I’ll be posting pictures very soon. Sweet dreams… or good morning if you happen to be reading this not at night :)

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Published
by
jenny
on November 9, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy and General
. 3 Comments

I love Fall, but it’s deeper than that.

Fall is probably my favorite season, though at the end of every season I find I am ready for the changes of each new season… I believe the influence of my great-grandmother is a big reason for this love of Fall. However it has only been in recent years I have made this connection. 

My great-grandma loved — L. to the O.V.E.D — the colors of Fall. As a child I remember her going on and on and ON about the beautiful leaves. I remember nodding and “mm-hmm”ing in well-mannered agreement when she would “ooh and awww” about the gorgeous array of Autumnal leafy goodness. Sadly,  that was all it was for me back then… acknowledging I heard her talking.

Now, I am the one who swoons over the glorious changing colors. I take in the trees… the hues of yellows and oranges and reds. I track my favorite trees, half loving the progress as they release each leaf… half mourning the loss of their “glory”. 

As I drive down roads and streets, I hear the words of my beloved Great-Grandma Sue flow from my lips to the ears of my children. I am so glad she shared her joy of this season with me. It is a connection I will always have… another way to remember her tender, loving touch in my life. I know it was in-part an admirable effort to keep up conversation — to stay connected to her growing, pubescent great-granddaughter. In this “season” of my life I now share her appreciation. I understand that when something is so beautiful in one’s eyes… it is hard not to swoon and share your love for such beauty with those near and dear to you.
Continue reading ‘I love Fall, but it’s deeper than that.’

Published
by
jenny
on November 8, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Family, General and The Love
. 11 Comments

A warm-up post *cracks knuckles*.

I have a BIG post planned for later today… coverage of the big birthday bash, but I have a few things I need to get out of my brain. I should probably save this for tomorrow, but it looks like I’ve decided against that!

Speaking of deciding… I splurged today and bought an eggnog latte. In my defense it is “Two for Tuesday”, so I actually bought my husband a coffee and mine was free! See how frugal I am! While waiting for my hot cuppa goodness, I was faced with a decision:

I wish we could vote with gumballs on election day. I think everyone would feel a bit brighter…

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In other news - if you were to visit 5×5 Project today you might get a little frightened! I took on the “Boo” theme and submitted my picture to Krysta… I have titled the picture, “Boo” says the Harvest Moon from behind the evergreens. Thank you, Krysta for providing another opportunity for me stretch and reach!

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Published
by
jenny
on October 28, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Bloggy Bloggy and iPhone
. 7 Comments

Girlfriends

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Published
by
jenny
on October 18, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy and Friends
. 7 Comments

A little project…

I enjoy photography… do you enjoy photography? I like playing with perspective-n-such. However, I do not consider myself a “photographer”… I would probably place myself into the category of “Woman who enjoys taking pictures and does a pretty good job considering she still doesn’t grasp that whole ‘aperture‘ thing”. That’s a long descriptive, isn’t it? I’ll shorten it: WWETPADAPGJCSSDGTWAT. Hmmm… even when I look at that side ways it lacks a certain “punch”. Ah well… My friends Lisa (The Blozulfog) and Kathleen (Forging Ahead) have husbands who rock that whole aperture concept - they can keep wrapping their brilliant minds around such things. I will just keep playing and taking pictures like this:

Or did you take that picture, Lisa? Whatever. I’m in it. Hair in mah mouth and all… But I know  I took this one:

What’s that? You want to see more of evidence of skillz… Ah-ight…

No YOU! My Public… YOU Da Bomb! 

I digress. I was supposed to be writing about me 5×5 project. Have you been there yet? Why? Well, not just because MY photography is featured there today… 5 brilliant pictures of my own little discovery of something new… not just because of Me… 

You should add 5×5 Project to your feeds because Krysta (also the brilliant and lovely author of Evil Chef Mom) has a wonderful calendar of photo-themes going - all taken by folks like us! It’s a great place to go to get a visual “fix” and discover new bloggers. Another bonus - you can get in on the action too, My Public! Click on the “project” tab and see which projects still need photographers! Grow with me people, grow with me… Visit 5×5 Project… dare to leave a comment… dare to take on a project!

Peace, yo.

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Published
by
jenny
on October 15, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Bloggy Bloggy, Delusions of Grandeur, General, Skillz and Take My Advice
. 5 Comments

I am so tired after watching my friend have a baby yesterday.

I mean, really. My friend Emily got to lay in bed all day. All. Day! How hard is that? Sheesh. I had to, like, steer clear of nurses, keep tabs on ice chips and be the “Kodak moment” watchdog. Yeah. I was the photographer and you don’t even know how hard that job is! The most hurtful thing of it all was, nobody gave ME any ice chips! The nerve. The role of “photographer” is definitely the hardest job of anyone in the birthing room. Definitely. (BTW, Krysta at 5×5 project… I have several absolutely AWESOME “new” picture options… decisions, decisions!!!)…

Anyway. Like I said, I. Was. So. Tired…

Being “all supportive” with 3 other women who were being “all supportive”. THAT is exhausting WORK, ya know??? We were like regular court jesters… making Emily laugh and fetching things. I am just thankful Emily had an epidural, ‘cuz if she didn’t - I might have had to DO something besides hog the couch and perform the occasional high-kick, like… rub her back or help her breathe or tell her she was doing a good job. Lame. Like, THAT’S any fun. Oh. Wait. The other friends DID that stuff. Well, “yay!” them. Hello!? Photographer here! *waves hands fitfully* I took pictures of all that… *ahem* whenIwasn’thoggingthecouch. Continue reading ‘I am so tired after watching my friend have a baby yesterday.’

Published
by
jenny
on October 9, 2008
in 365, Artsy Fartsy, Delusions of Grandeur, Friends, General, Kerry Jen-Jen, Mutha' Hood and The Love
. 15 Comments