The Forgotten Brush

The Artist's Way

2011-07-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

I managed to find a copy of this book, untouched, for just $1.99 at my local Goodwill. It's an interesting read, and some of the exercises are quite informative of one's own subconscious. But it also seems a little lofty, what with the talk of God/the Creator, even though the author states a person who is not of that faith/faithless can use different terms that apply. The morning pages don't really seem to be doing anything for me, because I'm not a writer, but a painter.

I don't know why my creativity fluctuates so much... one day I want to paint, draw, whatever, the next day I want nothing to do with it. I got a nice easel for my birthday, and I bought myself some new oil paints, but I resist my newest painting for some reason. Am I afraid that it will turn out bad? I'm seeing all of these shows and possibilities, but hate the idea of rejection and failure so much... perhaps I am hindering myself on purpose to avoid these things.

I wish Patrick's trip to NYC to try comedy was inspiring me to get over these fears.. but alas, I don't think this is so. At least not today.

How to rid of this creative block? I must do it soon.

Summer 2011

2011-07-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled to be back in America! My home.

This summer will consist of anything I can do artistically before my final school year begins:

Working on unfinished/older pieces
Creating one to two new pieces
Drawing more/work with photography
Applying to exhibits/galleries/publications
Getting an A in my online Art History course
Updating my website and store
Updating blogs!!! And writing more
Odd jobs

Suomi in Springtime

2011-05-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

Finland is such a different country when the snow is all gone. The greenery is wonderful. Flowers are rearing their pretty little heads.

The plainest of birds are actually not that plain-looking.

The bumblebees I've seen are black and orange, not yellow.

I enjoyed walking outside without a jacket, or big boots. No gloves or scarves. Girls in tank tops. Kids with ice creams.

I've had an incredible, stressless time here. I'm quite happy with the work I've made, my interim paintings that were mostly for fun and experimentation. It's definitely going to be the big thing I'll miss (besides my friends, of course) when I go back. I've been so happy at school. I will miss that happiness. :P

Hopefully I will kick it up a notch this summer. Start making prints; marketable works.

Ooh, Finland. Now that your weather is gorgeous, I almost wish to stay. ...almost. ;)

I know I've been very distant.

2011-02-03T07:55:00.001-08:00

But I promise I've not gone away.

Life just gets so busy, and sweeps you away, and you forget things. Like blogs. But I am still here, not truly "forgotten" I hope. I am still doing art, but in Finland, hence more absence. I will be back in full swing once I'm in America and get my stuff together. :)

Hang in there!

Tumblr

2010-12-31T01:03:00.000-08:00

Yes yes, I've gotten a tumblr. Anyone else here have one? We can follow each other. :)

http://spektorish.tumblr.com

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T18:45:00.000-08:00

Everyone, enjoy your holidays, whatever they may be! Much love.

It's over!

2010-12-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

The semester is finally over. I am thankful I survived. Painting went great, I got a B in metals, and actually made an A in "Teaching Students w/ Disabilities" class. Hooray!

Speaking of metals, I was very happy that at the last minute, I was able to make a sterling silver engagement ring for my fiance. I got him a cheap one from Walmart a long time ago (c'mon, we're poor college kids) but it didn't fit well so he eventually stopped wearing it. This is still pretty snug, but it's definitely more special since I made it. :D It's 18g, and took a long time to sand and polish, but I am proud of it.

(His middle finger is still swollen from tendon surgery.)

But anyway, the house is emptied from packing and moving. I can't wait to finish up here, relax at home for the holidays, and then make my way to good ole Finland for what surely will be a great study abroad experience! I've prepared a blog for it here so feel free to follow my adventures to come. ^_^

Metals.

2010-11-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

In metals class right now, we're having to make a forged necklace. Mine is a nature-themed one, being a long branch that holds leaves. One big leaf will have a cabochon stone bezel. I liked this little sample leaf I made, so it's now a pendant. :)

Hand-forged copper. Folded and hammered, then liver of sulphur patina was added.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I sure did. We had a typical British dinner, though: roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, peas, carrots, all covered in brown gravy. Yum!

Super long haitus!

2010-11-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

I apologize!! Wow. Time really gets away from oneself, doesn't it? I've been so very much entrenched by my first semester of junior year. I'm currently in Painting 3, Intro to Metals, Watercolors, and a special education class. Half of these classes are going well, and half are not. It has been a little disheartening, but I'm certainly not giving up, and have gotten some good support from my loved ones to just accept doing my best - even if others don't.

I've been inspired to come back to this from my artist friend, Merrilee (I posted a while back about her lovely landscapes). I hope to bring this back to life! It might not be restored to its former glory, with Etsy posts running rampant, but it's still here for anyone to see. :)

I'll probably post paintings, other works, possibly rants when needed; and hopefully branch off to a mini-blog about my study abroad trip to Finland. That's right - I'm going to Finland in the Spring!! I am getting excited.

So. Hello again, everyone. What have I missed? ;)

SkinMD winner, and things.

2010-03-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'm disappointed by the turnout of my giveaway, but I guess it's to be expected from my absence. It might be this way for a while, until the summer. Then I'll only need to worry about a job; blogging will be more frequent and hopefully making art, too.

Anyway, the winner of the SkinMD lotion was Sarah, or #3, as selected by Random.org. Congrats, Sarah! I hope she enjoys her free bottle of lotion: it really works! ;)

Lately I've been under a lot of pressure, and personal issues have come up. I find myself in a bad place frequently. This spring break was a nice breather, helping my family paint walls and seeing an old friend again. However, it's back to the real world, so please bear with me as I miss posting or aren't able to leave you guys lovely comments! I promise this is not the end of my internet presence.

I hope you are all doing well, and, if you Etsy, that you're finding success! Much love.

Skin MD Review and Giveaway!

2010-03-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

A while ago, I was contacted by a representative of Skin MD Natural Lotion to review their product, and hold a giveaway for one lucky reader to win their own bottle. It is 4 oz. and valued at $18! So, feel free to read the review to get an idea of how this shielding lotion works, and follow the entry guidelines for your chance to win. :)

I don't have a lot of skin problems, but I do enjoy a good lotion that's non-sticky, non-greasy, and does what it's supposed to: moisturize! After washing my hands, they get dry, and lately I've noticed my arms get dry and itchy after showers. The representative couldn't have picked a better time to approach me with this product.

I don't mind lotions with odors. I enjoy Victoria Secret and Bath & Body Works with their lovely scented lotions. However, some days I don't really need it when I spritz on some body spray. Skin MD is natural, fragance- and colorant-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic, and dermatology tested (not on animals, though!). The lotion was nice for keeping my arms from itching, and didn't feel greasy, but I wanted to test this supposed hypoallergenic trait. One of my friends is very allergic to odorous lotions. However, after trying a sample pack, she was very pleased and didn't break out one bit.

Another test I did was on my fiance. His job requires him to wear nice, collar shirts, but the fabric constantly rubbed against his hips and caused dry, rough spots to appear. After just five days of consistently using Skin MD lotion, the rough spots went away and his skin felt smoother than ever: a bonus for us both. ;)

You can visit their website to learn information, and order your own bottle here. There is also a bottle with SPF 15 added to it.

OR! you can win it here! One lucky reader will receive their own free bottle of this lovely, moisturizing product. Just follow these instructions. PLEASE leave separate comments for each entry, and don't forget to leave contact information.

MANDATORY: Visit the website, then come back here and comment as to how this product would help your skin. This is one entry.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1) Follow this blog! 1 entry
2) Follow me on Twitter: @spektorish. 1 entry
3) For another entry, tweet about this giveaway. Just be sure to link back to @spektorish.
4) Blog about this giveaway. Short is sweet. 2 entries.
5) Take my button and put it on your blog. 2 entries.

This giveaway will be open until 12pm CST on March 15th. By that time, comments will close, and I will pick a winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Ah, stay with me!

2010-03-02T18:07:00.001-08:00

I'm slowly losing followers! Don't give up on me yet, friends!

I've been super, super busy with school and other things. I've volunteered with a local animal organization, I made it into an exhibition, won a scholarship, packed with painting projects and drawing collaborations... all before Spring Break.

But I am still here! ;) Spring Break is coming, which gives me time to manage projects, blog, and relax a little (hopefully).

Posts of importance will arrive soon!!

Wordless Wednesday.

2010-02-10T06:38:00.001-08:00

...again. Yet, I still have class today. :(

My apologies!

2010-02-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

I know, I know: where have I been!?

Trust me, there are good reasons for my lack of posting. School has really been grinding down on me; Drawing 3 especially. Also trying to get together info for the art tour trip, and filling out scholarship applications. I even have to prepare two works to be featured in the Student Exhibit later this month. (Yay!)

Very soon I promise I'll post up a giveaway for wonderful lotion that truly has healing powers. Stay tuned for that!

In the meantime, if you have the chance, I'd appreciate any viewers to visit ArtRaw's online art competition. I've entered and voting is currently open. Please take the time (if you can!) to visit my three entries and rate them. I'm not asking you just go and vote 5 stars, I encourage honesty... but someone already voted 1 star on all three, which is a bummer, so I ask for a little mercy. ;( If you truly believe my work to be so low, please leave a comment with constructive criticism for my improvement.

You can visit my entries here: http://ifontis.com/index.php?option=com_simgallery&func=viewalbum&aid=78

Thank you for your all of your patience! ;)

Krasey Beauty Giveaway!

2010-02-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

Last day to enter: $1,000 worth of beauty product prizes, including an airbrush foundation system! Here are some brands featured in this amazing giveaway:

It's just incredible! Your chances are pretty good, and it ends tonight, so get going and enter yourself! Good luck!

Also, I'll be holding a giveaway myself soon. You've probably seen it being reviewed around the blogosphere: SkinMD lotion.

Pillows & Cupcakes.

2010-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Well, this weekend certainly was eventful. Friday classes were canceled -- however, I don't have Friday classes, haha! Oh well. Congrats to my fellow undergrads who did for their day off in forever at our school.

I played in the snow, as seen in the post before this. Patrick got some time off from work and rehearsal, so more snuggle time! :)

I certainly did not procrastinate my Drawing 3 homework... ahem. Cough. While not procrastinating that, I worked on my t-shirt pillow: I sewed the sleeves and top hole, and have stuffed it halfway. There wasn't any real alteration I could do otherwise to wear it, so this seemed appropriate. I might even sell it when I'm done. (Can I do that??)

Also, I'm so very proud to announce that I satisfied my itch to bake goodies today. I looked up a semi-simple recipe for orange cupcakes. When I looked in the fridge, I found the OJ was almost empty and 6 days expired. Ew. So instead, I used lemonade with a mix of limeade as a substitute. For icing, I did a simple limeade-sugar glaze, since I don't have anything for proper frosting. Sprinkled on top was green sugar from Christmas cookies I've had for a while.

I took them to the theater of Patrick's play while they were fresh, and everyone loved them! I was so happy at the success that I braved the snow and ice to give the players treats. It made the baker housewife in me glow. Hooray!

Hopefully this week of school won't be too hard on me. I have an ongoing series for Drawing 3 to do, self portrait in painting (yuck yuck yuck), Art History test possibly, and a periodical review for my educational class. Wish me luck, and I wish you the same for your endeavors! :)

The Winter Storm.

2010-01-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

It may be frightful, but it is also beautiful. I felt somewhat like a child again. I couldn't help but play around after checking the mail. Here are pictures I took.

Felt a little inspired by Andy Goldsworthy...

However, good things must come to an end. I'm sure by Monday this will all be gone, and it'll be back to work.

Friday Featurette.

2010-01-29T09:26:00.000-08:00

It sure has been a while! But, it's about time to do a featurette. Let's focus on generally overlooked crafters: those who make lovely toys, and big fluffy lovable plushies.

Today's featurette is going to Danielleorama. Her stuff is just plain cute, I have to say.

Foxy, $45

Pansy, $28

This next one is my personal favorite. It's reminiscent of Bitey and the bigfoot character from Brackenwood, but in a lovely candy, child-friendly way.

Jaunte Poilu, $36

Please take a look at her shop, you're sure to leave (via X'ing the tab) with a smile on your face. She also has a blog at http://danielleorama.blogspot.com.

I'm one of those people in TN who will bear witness to this ice storm coming, so if you don't hear from me anytime soon, it'll be because of power outages. I'm not scared but... not happy about it, either. :\

I'm going to South Korea!

2010-01-27T16:19:00.000-08:00

For Art Education majors, we're required to take up to 4 Art History classes: Art History I, Art History II, and two upper division courses (History of Craft I/II, 20th Century Art, Mesopotamian, etc.). Luckily, one upper division "class" is called Art Tour, which is basically a trip to another country to study its artistic culture.

This year, a resident artist for our Metals course, who originally comes from South Korea, offered an Art Tour class to his native country. It's an 11-day trip to South Korea during May, after school is done. It used to be during spring break, but both students and professor were too exhausted coming from the tour straight back into classes. The Art History professor is going to Italy, but I've been to Europe before; I lived there! I've never been to Asia, though!

We had our first meeting last night, and I am so pumped! We'll be traveling through Seoul, GyeongJu, DaeGu, and even staying overnight in a temple! How exciting is that? He showed us pictures of what you do there, what you wear, and eating etiquette. The country is so beautiful, and their art is even more beautiful. My university will reimburse the airfare through a travel scholarship (which pretty much every full-time student in good standing gets), so the trip itself is cheap! And I get 3 credit hours for it. Instead of a big paper, we simply write a little paper on a cultural aspect of South Korea, and keep a notebook/journal of our trip.

I'll definitely enjoy this immensely. Despite the trauma of France, I'm ready to travel again. This time it won't be all business, and we'll have guides. And money. This will be a great opportunity for blog posts, too. ;)

Has anyone here been to South Korea? If so, what did you love most? What delicacies are worth trying? Please, let me know!

New Arrivals!

2010-01-25T17:47:00.001-08:00

I'm so happy, I got two parcels in the mail today!

After a long wait, I finally got my harem pants from thaimodish. They're lovely! So wide and comfortable, and stylish! I tried to take the best pictures I could, so forgive their lack of quality. (It took forever just to find the camera, haha.)

I just need to wait for warmer weather, because these don't look good with uggs or anything. Sandals only. And right now, it's snowing.

I also couldn't resist Rachel's deal over at talk2thetrees, so I got one of her adorable crochet headbands. It is custom, with a choice of two colors. I just love it.

School is already starting to sink into my head and pick at my brain. Drawing 3 is very independent, and our first assignment is open concept. Aah! I'm still stuck on what surface to use for my concept and critiques start next week. Oh boy. Here it comes.... at least I have my pants. :3

My first No-Sew project.

2010-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Remember my post about the Generation T book? Well, I finally took one of my old shirts and put it to good use.

Now, the other day I bought some needles and thread. I'm planning on doing some very easy sewing revamps, like simply cutting a shirt sleeveless and twisting the tops, and also a scarf-shirt. Might even attempt the tunic. But for now, the no sew seems good to me.

I decided to try the Pillow Talk project first. It's meant to be made from an L/XL shirt, but I don't have many of that size; I have a lot of Smalls from when I was in high school. Even if I became super skinny they wouldn't look right on me, so it's time that I upgrade them. I took an old graphic tee (if you shop at Kohl's, it might look familiar) and halfed the sizing directions to compensate for the non-L shirt. The cuts were a bit wonky, but ultimately this was the result:

A cute little pillow with a sassy design! I really like it. It took some time to do all of those knots, but with the Dog Whisperer on, time flew by. I may have to throw some stitches in some places to prevent the fluff from leaking, but it turned out great.

I would very much recommend getting Generation T. Either book would be fine, I just got the cheapest from Amazon at the time. It is fun, very thorough, and very much worth the price considering the money you'd save buying some new clothes/blankets/etc. when you've got old shirts lying around the house!

Feel free to comment with your revamp stories. :)

The 2010 Handmade Olympics!

2010-01-22T09:06:00.000-08:00

Over at the amazing rikrakstudio blog, you'll find an event that is a first, in my eyes, for the Etsy blogging world. The 2010 Handmade Olympics! There are over $2000 in prizes!

There are 8, count them, 8 different events, so if one of your items doesn't fit a category, you can try another. The point of this event is to "nominate" one of your items that best falls into any of the categories (you can enter all of them!), as well as nominate another person's item from their shop that really speaks to you of that event. Prizes are involved for the top 3 of EACH event, so imagine winning more than one! There is even a random drawing prize for each comments section. Here are the 8 categories:

{ event 1 } :: our favourite handmade goodie with an innovative design
{ event 2 } :: our favourite handmade goodie for kids
{ event 3 } :: our favourite handmade eco friendly goodie
{ event 4 } :: our favourite handmade item that inspires lovelieness + wellness (in our homes, for ourselves, etc.)
{ event 5 } :: our favourite handmade personality/group forwarding kindness thru handmaking
{ event 6 } :: our favourite thrifty-forward, sustainable-minded blog, shop or site.
{ event 7 } :: our favourite FUN-FILLED handmade OR vintage goodie
{ event 8 } :: our favourite handmaking-focus blog

Please visit and give it a look over, it could change your Etsy shop! I myself have entered one and hope to enter more. I nominated my tea bag prints for event 4, or "items that inspire loveliness and wellness (in our homes, for ourselves, etc.)". So maybe when voting time comes around..? ;)

Happy nominating!

Back in the game.

2010-01-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

So, the first week of school has come and gone. To start off Painting II, we did an alla prima of a still life specifically for each of us. I wasn't too happy with mine, but then again, it's hard for a perfectionist like me to feel great about uncompleted paintings, which alla primas essentially are. I forgot to take a snapshot, sorry! (Not that anyone is too interested, hehe.)

Art History class is pure lecture, and frankly, boring to a right-brained individual like myself. I need to be stimulated. At least in my other education class, the teacher is peppy and non-monotone. Oh well, I shall get by.

I've just received a bottle of SkinMD lotion and am very excited to review it! After doing so I'll post a review, which will contain a giveaway for a full-sized bottle, so stay tuned for that. :)

Speaking of giveaways, please check out this lovely lady's blog: A Blonde Walks Into a Blog... She is giving away an IPOD NANO!! Can you believe that? Wow! Don't miss it!

It ends on Febuary 1st, so get those entries in! I wish I had a cool gadget to give away to you lovely readers, but I don't, so that's why I posted this.

World Market.

2010-01-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

For those of you who love imported goods, or are looking for some, try to locate a World Market nearest you. They have such wonderful things from accessories, furniture, housewares, and most importantly FOOD. My mother, being a British person, loves this place for its imported British goods. In the past she had to order overseas and paid a lot just for shipping, but World Market saves all that time and money. A great deal, especially their chocolates. Oh boy...

If you're American and have never tried British chocolate, I highly suggest you do. If you've had Cadbury or Milka, it's close to that. But a little more delicious. I'm not a huge fan of Whoppers here in America, and that's mostly due to my love of Maltesers. These yummy choco-pops are balls of honeycomb wrapped in creamy milk chocolate. One of my favorites ever. And they usually have sales, where a bar of Aero chocolate is only $0.75, and a big box of holiday Maltesers got marked down a whopping 90%!

Another thing I love is their accessories. After-holiday sales really end up being the best part of this store. The earrings online are pretty pricey, but in store they're relatively inexpensive and almost borderline exotic. Here is a pair of lovely earrings, a vibrant purple "dreamcatcher" design encased by metal spirals, and guess how much I paid for them? $2.99!! Incredible, huh? Even the original price of $5.99 is a great deal for pretty jewelry like this. Someone in my art class asked about them, and a friend of mine asked if they were from Etsy, haha!

So if you have a store near you, or can handle/really love online shopping, then check out World Market. Really. Right now. :)

Please forgive my slow posting. Now that school is back on track, it'll be hard to keep it daily or every other day, but I shall do my best!

The Lovely Bones.

2010-01-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

Well, I can only think of one word to sum this movie up: beautiful.

Beware, though, die-hard book fans. For those of you who cringe at such changes made to adaptations like Harry Potter, Dan Brown novels, Twilight, and so on, you will probably not enjoy the parts of The Lovely Bones book that were not put into the film.

Luckily, I'm not one of these people. Sometimes I don't understand why the changes occur, or why things are left out, but I can still enjoy the movie. Plus, I don't want to "see" word-for-word a book; I like some alterations: same meal, different flavors. Also, Peter Jackson and the cast explained the reasons for leaving out some of the harsh violence and the love affair, and I think it's reasonable. The main message of loss and hope are still prevalent in this gorgeous film.

The flow is coherent and consistent. The music fits so well, and I'm glad "Alice" reappeared during the in-between scenes. Saoirse Ronan's performance is stunning, and the raves about her are not unfounded. This movie really pulls at every string one's heart has. The one scene where a little girl hugs Susie as she looks up and cries made me lurch forward with emotion and tears came out without me wanting them to. The sorrow and pain is strong, but makes the hope and reforming of a family that much sweeter.

I only experienced a problem when the ending credits rolled. You see, I live in Tennessee, and... I'll say no further on that, to avoid offense. But this guy behind me blabbed, "This f***ing sucked." It makes me question whether people comprehend what a trailer is. But regardless, if you're not into films like that of My Sister's Keeper, or artistic dramas in general, this film might not be for you.

With that, I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Wednesday Wishlist.

2010-01-12T22:40:00.000-08:00

(Because internet window shopping is just as fun, and I'm honestly blank right now about a blog post.)

Fancy Swirls Dark gray leather diary, $32

Faux Boot Legwarmers in black, $49.50

Deco Dragonfly Mug, $25

Shakespeare's Sister, $395

Fawnia Oak Leaf with Aquamarine Glass Beads, $16.80

The Stalker 10x8 black cat print, $27.00

Full Agenda Dress by ModCloth, $47.99

London Fog by Piperlime, $119

What are your Wednesday wishlist items?

Orglamix Giveaway Winner!

2010-01-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have to say I'm so impressed with the turnout of my latest giveaway! I'd like to thank Cheri for the opportunity to try her fabulous makeup, and her generosity in holding so many giveaways so others can discover her cosmetic treasures.

I put in the numbers and Random.org spat out..........

184!!
Or Lisa of xMaterialGirlsx.blogspot.com! Congrats!

Lisa has a few blogs, one of them consisting of cosmetic news, coupons, and other giveaways going on specifically for beauty products. Please take a look, you might find giveaways for new makeup you've been after!

I'll be contacting the winner shortly for info. If you didn't win, please don't be discouraged, I'll be holding another giveaway as soon as possible. Thank you for everything!

Pixie cuts.

2010-01-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've had pretty short hair. I like the look of it: it's so cute and petite. Once upon a time, I thought only long hair would suit me.

I'm thinking about getting a pixie cut. A stylish one, not just cropping short. It's just so hard to find the exact look using Google images and whatnot. It usually just pops up celebrities, and it's either too short or too long. I want the kind of pixie cut that is lengthy, clings to the face, curls a little, you name it. Short and stylish!

Does anyone out there have good photos of themselves or otherwise of great pixie cuts not similar to those of Rhianna, Katie Holmes, Posh Spice, or Sienna Miller? I'd really appreciate it!

Tomorrow I announce the winner of my giveaway, I am so excited! :)

Friday Featurette.

2010-01-08T04:42:00.000-08:00

Just a quick little featurette for you fine folks. (...Friday!)

Here comes my first fine artist featurette, dedicated to donnadidit. We were in a chat together and she was very nice to me; she gave me some lighting tips. Her paintings have a lovely, pop art feel to them. Very vibrant and accessible.

Orange Bliss, $54.99

She has original paintings, ACEOs, handbags/totes, and even painted shoes. I definitely am a big fan of her animal paintings.

Boxer, $50.99

Please don't forget about the lovely giveaway & review of Orglamix mineral makeup, just a few posts below. Ends Monday, so don't miss out!

Generation-T book.

2010-01-07T15:47:00.001-08:00

I just got my book, Generation T: Beyond Fashion, which is for revamping old shirts. I'm pretty excited about the different tips 'n tricks in this book, though, to my chagrin, only 25% are no sew. As previously stated, I'm no expert sewer. Or even a novice, because I don't even have the tools. ...yet. :)

Some really good no-sews are in this, however. One is to make a pillow. Imagine making a cool pillow from old t-shirts without having to sew! There are also laced gloves, leggings, tank tops, a pinned tunic, and a welcome mat. It just requires good cutting and good knots. In the beginning, Megan Nicoler, the founder of Generation T and author of the books (there is more than one!), goes through different terms and techniques.

Has anyone else used this book to make cool new things, or used other sources? Perhaps you created one yourself? Please share!!

P.S. The snow outside is beautiful. I can even see crystal snowflakes that look like pretty stars. Of course, I got to stay inside all day, so I can't complain about the weather. Oh, winter!

Corgis or Beagles?

2010-01-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

There will be a time in the near future when we rent a house. Apartments are just too risky of hosting annoying, inconsiderate neighbors and limitations. Renting a house at affordable prices just makes sense.

Well, along with this is the possibility of finally... FINALLY getting a pet! I've been waiting years for it. I flourish around animals, and I've had cats most of my life; now I want a dog.

So, a question to owners of this breed or dog experts. Corgis or Beagles?

Corgis are, let's face it, downright adorable. They're like little teddy bear puppies! I'm very into the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, which has no tail. The temperament would be good for us: just a young couple, pretty active. They're said to be loyal and very sociable. They're the right size: I don't want a little tiny Chihuahua, nor a huuuuge mastiff. Not boisterous. Love the colors. They're good with kids, which is good if we are to have any in the future, even though it's best to raise both baby and puppy together. Grooming is a mere brushing several times a week, no washing needed unless it gets into something nasty.

Beagles are cute, too. They are friendly and loyal and sociable, as well. I've read that a fence isn't enough, though, since they're quite clever and will find ways to leave if bored. The fact that they're hunters means they can wander during walks, and that trait will have to be stimulated through hunting games, which wouldn't be too hard, but we humans won't always have the free time. I've also read they can bark and howl a lot (usually from boredom or isolation). Barely any odor, unless they roll in crud. Good with kids, a loyal family guard dog. Great colors. Medium size.

It would have to be outside. One reason I've had no pets, especially inside, is because my loved one is very allergic. It's okay at first, but several hours with a fluffy cat and his nose gets bloody. So outside is the key part. Obviously fenced in, or I'd freak out all of the time.

And, thinking on Cesar Millan's techniques, the fact is this: if we went to a shelter, and there was a Corgi and a Beagle puppy, we'd pick the one who was the most calm and submissive (and chooses us), regardless of breed. It'd just be our preference. So, with this said, which breed do you think would be best for us? Which one handles outdoors better?

Happy New Year!!

2009-12-31T17:08:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have a happy, fun, and safe New Year! Be careful! :)

Don't forget about my Orglamix giveaway, posted below. Start your New Year off by winning fabulous mineral makeup!

Orglamix Review & Giveaway!

2009-12-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

The holidays have come and gone, and they were wonderful! I'm happy to have gotten what I did from my family, considering how hard the economy has been this year. Hopefully the new year will bring more joy and prosperity.

To get back into the blogging game, I'm hosting a giveaway for Orglamix makeup. If you visit a lot of blogs, you may have come across these lovely cosmetics made by Cheri. She graciously agreed to send me an eye color collection to review, as well as give away one color collection (or three single color shades) to one lucky reader!

I've won several shades from other blog giveaways, so I'm pretty familiar with these products. However, the color collection Cheri sent me was the Wicked collection, pictured here. As a rule, I'm not one to pull off bright greens and dark shades, but I felt adventurous and wanted to give it a try.

Orglamix is home to mineral makeup that is formulated without a lot of unnecessary chemicals such as nano particles, synthetic dyes, parabens, and bismuth oxychloride, which can cause skin irritation and can be dangerous in mineral makeup when not filtered correctly. Bismuth is used to make makeup shimmery and affix to the skin easier, but Cheri has found a way to accomplish this without using this chemical. Simply put, her mineral eyeshadow stays on wonderfully and shimmers for long periods of time. Her Sweet Pea shade is very light and yet shimmers like diamonds. Also, she is a member of PETA, so you know that these are animal cruelty-free.

Here are pictures of me wearing the Wicked collection. The greens Eucalyptus and Lagoon are so lustrous, and the dark shade Obsidian gives a smoky effect that really speaks of the popular Broadway show. Note that I don't have the best camera in the world.

Compared to others like MAC, Orglamix is very affordable at just $3.99 per shade (before shipping). Some would say that the container is too small, but you're paying over $10 less, and you really don't need to put a lot of the powder on! (And recently, she has upgraded her container size!) She sells brushes and Magnetism, an eye primer, but I've successfully used these products with just concealer cream and a cheap eye brush. Just imagine these with her applier products!

And now, onto your favorite part of reviews: The Giveaway!!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Orglamix's store and pick your favorite eye color collection (or three shades). Come back here and post a comment with your favorite. With every entry, including this one, please leave a way to contact you, either with an email address or Etsy username.

Optional Extra Entries:

1) Heart Orglamix on Etsy. Leave your Etsy username for proof. 1 entry

2) Follow Orglamix on Twitter @hautebeauty AND tweet about this giveaway: Giveaway! Win an Orglamix eye collection from @hautebeauty, hosted by @spektorish! Click here: http://tinyurl.com/yjuutvu Link back here with your Twitter name. 1 entry

3) Become a Facebook fan of Orglamix. Link back with your name. 1 entry

4) Follow me on Twitter @spektorish. Link back with your Twitter name. 1 entry

5) Follow this blog using Google connect. 1 entry

6) Heart my shop at laurart. Leave your Etsy name. 1 entry

7) Subscribe to my blog using the RSS Feed. 1 entry

8) Blog about this giveaway. Post a link back. 2 entries

This giveaway is open until January 11th. On that day it will close at 12pm, or noon CST. That's plenty of time to get all entries in! I will pick one winner at random by Random.org and then contact them for details. Good luck to you all!

Christmas on Etsy.

2009-12-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow I'm going home for the holidays, so this blog will be on a mini-hiatus as I celebrate with my family and friends. When I return, it'll be back to tweeting, posting, and Etsy-ing while doing art. Also, I'll be reviewing Orglamix makeup and holding a giveaway for one of her amazing eyeshadow collections, so don't forget! :)

For my "final" blog post, I just wanted to showcase some items I found on Etsy that are Christmas-themed or colored. Some are just plain cute, some are elegant, and some are practical. Here are a few of my favorites, in no particular order...

Necklace of Mother of Pearl Buttons and Felt Balls, $35

By derinmavi

Eye Pillow Slip Cover - Funky Christmas, $3

By BoutiqueKarma

Felt Christmas Tree Ornament, $2

By MiniMaxwell

Ribbon Candy colored pencil art, 8x10 print $23

By paulapertile

Noelle Headband, $18

By FlockTogetherCrafts

Little Red Dress, $82.50

By 3ampoems

Ceramic Christmas Cereal Bowl Set, $40

By handpaintedbykristin

Garden Essentials - Garden Journal, $32

By PrairieGarden

Hot Chocolate Soap, $4.75

By MySpaSecrets

Hope your eyes had a lovely feast! Hope your actual holiday feast is delicious, hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones... and hope you get the gifts you wanted. :) Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and to all a good night.

Be Safe... on your Blog.

2009-12-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

My computer is just sitting there, in the room. I go downstairs to enjoy dinner and some time with my guy. I go upstairs, sit in the chair, and look at the screen.

My background has changed to green and black with "WARNING! Your computer has been infected. Serious malware has been detected!" Things are popping up (those gray pop-up boxes with the "dun!" noise) about Trojans. Yep, my computer has been infected. Still is, as I type this.

It was just a month ago when my PC had been infected the first time. Not the first ever time, but the first in a long long time. That was easily taken care of, but I noticed weird programs in my task manager's list. Jipsysguard.exe, by the way, is not something you want in there. So this could've been the root of this new virus, deemed Netsky.

The first infection came right after I visited a blog I follow. A popular one. I won't name names, and I'm sure this person doesn't know about it, but viruses can creep through the net. I hadn't opened any attachments, but I clicked on an article link and boom, infected. So keep an eye out on what you put on your blog and keep your computer clean by regularly checking up using software. (By the way, AVG version 9.0 is not good enough unless you're willing to pay, because it will not clean those viruses. Get an older free version.)

So be safe everyone! Other than that, I am excited about Christmas and, as a gift, Patrick is getting computer parts to build a new computer, so hopefully I won't have to deal with this crap anymore. :P Happy holidays!

Sunday Shares.

2009-12-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

So, I finally found the time to take some pictures and post new Etsy listings! About time, right? Sometimes I wish I could make clothes and jewelry because it'd be faster with more quantity. But, you know, you stick with the gifts you were given.

Let me share them with you. I've posted several prints and one customizable drawing! That's right, a commission drawing, and it's not as expensive as you'd think. ;) Here are some pictures of what's up:

Hopefully some fish will bite before soon! I'm still weary of posting numerous listings and paying those fees ($.20 accumulates fast!) with no sales to show for it.

So please, take a look! Show your friends (especially if one is engaged or to be married). Post a comment here with some of your new listings for me to view.

Most of all, though... Christmas is near!! Hooray! :)

Friday Featurette.

2009-12-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

Today's late featurette goes to marbled, the shop of designer handbags and totes. I only need one purse from time to time, but I still like to admire all the lovely handmade bags out there on Etsy.

Everyday Black & Cream Bag, $28

Marbled is just plain cute, and pretty affordable when compared to other stores of the handmade variety. Chic and elegant, to just plain cute! There are plaid, floral, and solid colors to choose from. This is my favorite:

White Core Bag, $28

Etsy indicates this store is only a few months old, so it's rather novel with just 17 items for sale, but hopefully more products will come with more exposure. I just love little tote bags! :)

Stay tuned for a makeup giveaway coming up!

Lykke Li.

2009-12-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

Now, I'm not usually one to write posts in adoration of musical artists. I don't usually review because I usually hear things by radio (I love Pandora), or movies. Or someone else's iPod. But every now and then an artist comes along that really gets to me, that blows me away, where at least 90% of his/her/their songs are enjoyable.

My musical taste is rather bizarre. I like alternative, indie, rock, some pop, to classical music, then to some heavy metal. On off days, I like rap. Not the vulgar, cussing-every-second trash that comes out of autotune or whatnot, but people like Missy Elliott and Ludacris somehow get into my brain and make me shake my rump a little. I also like techno and 80s music. I have some Dimmu Borgir CDs. Anyway, to the point.

Does anyone else know Lykke Li? She is a Swedish indie singer. Lately I've been getting enchanted by foreign artists such as Imogen Heap, Fever Ray, and Feist. But Lykke Li has some real charm to her electronic, "powdered-sugar pop" melodies. For Twilight fans, she wrote one of the songs for the New Moon soundtrack titled Possibility. That's when I first heard her, and I was intrigued.

Basically, her stuff is great. It's quirky, it's cute, it's lovable. But some songs, including Possibility and Time Flies, are almost haunting. I definitely suggest checking out her stuff, such as: Breaking It Up, Little Bit, Everybody But Me, and Dance Dance Dance.

Who are some of your favorite artists, ones you listen to over and over again without it getting old?

My first handmade journal.

2009-12-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to make one of these!

It's made from cardboard, decorative paper, handmade paper inside (made from elephant dung?), and yarn. I used the Japanese stab binding technique. It's the same thing as the lesson plan I used in field experience for middle school; it's a lot of fun!

I'm proud of it and honestly don't want to sell it. I encourage you to try it out!

I passed my PLT by 20+ points more than needed for my state, yay!! I can't believe it, considering I didn't study as much as I should have. That's one down, two more to go.

So glad Christmas break is here, finally! Time to get to work relaxing and doing what I want artistically. :)

Motivation Monday.

2009-12-14T07:24:00.001-08:00

I will do well today. My Printmaking final will be great. The matte redo will be great. The items are great, the title is great, and my critique will be great. Some flaws will occur, as usual, but it will not tarnish my overall design.

I will do fine on my Ed. Psych exam. I will make the necessary grade, or better, to get an A in that class. I will be prepared for it, though I haven't had much time to study. I will do well on it by taking my time and breathing.

I will get all As this semester, no matter what. I will do well today.

Okay, let's go! :)

And now, the Winner!

2009-12-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy with the response my big giveaway received. After the deadline passed I went to random.org, put in the numbers, and came out with #27 or...

MissKnits! Congratulations, Mel! The prize-givers have been contacted, and I will mail out my prizes on Tuesday.

She has a lovely shop of handmade items, as well as a supply store at BitsfromMissKnits. You can also check out her blog here.

For those who didn't win, don't be discouraged! I'll be holding another giveaway soon. Makeup lovers, definitely stay tuned!

Well, tomorrow is my last day. Printmaking final, and an Ed. Psych exam. I'm kind of nervous!! I really hope to make all As, I worked my butt off this semester and it has been the toughest so far. Wish me luck!

And thanks for visiting. :)

Only two remain!

2009-12-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

Phew, so that's three classes down, and only two more to go. My drawing final went really well, as well as my e-portfolio for Art Ed. and photography final was good. The only problem is is I've been up for over 36 hours with only 6 hours of sleep in between. That's what college finals are about, though, if you aren't a time management god/goddess.

I'll be teaching middle school tomorrow morning, then finishing up Monday with an Ed Psych exam and my printmaking final. Exciting! I am really ready for the holidays to get here; REST REST REST! And maybe I'll be able to produce some good stuff to put on Etsy.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET: my BIG giveaway ends on Saturday at noon! Six people including myself are giving away great prizes, and under 100 people have entered so your chances are pretty good compared to most big big giveaways. Click the link or scroll down, spread the word to your friends! You don't want to miss it.

Better updates to come with this break. :)

Saturday Spotlight.

2009-12-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

I missed yesterday's featurette thing, so busy with school! Also, please don't forget about my big giveaway, it doesn't end until December 12th! (Scroll down.)

Today I'm going to feature thaimodish. It's about time I did! I love so much about this store: the unique style, the colors, the fair pricing (shipping is expensive, though). I've been pining after so many items I've lost count! Here are just a few of my favorites:

I would definitely love to own one of those pieces for Christmas. It's a bit out of my reach for now, but I can dream! :) Take a look, you'll be amazed.

The VAS sale was pretty slow, because there was a championship football game going on in the nearby stadium. Some sales were made, including one of my printmaking designs! *Squee!* I was so happy when the girl picked it out and showed her mother. I also traded in that tea-n-coffee stained painting for a lovely silk scarf with a fellow craft student. So, for me, it was a success.

I'm loving the response to my giveaway posted below. Also, I've recently received a few items I've won myself. I don't know how I've been living without Etsy and all of you fine folks behind it! The holidays just got brighter. :D

My Multi-Prize Giveaway!

2009-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday, whether it was spent stuffing your face or stuffing your stockings for loved ones (and yourself, hehe).

So, it's finally here. I'm really grateful to my internet buddies and fellow Etsians. I've reached 300 followers on Twitter, and over 100 on this blog. I sure hope it will continue to grow as the days go on! In lieu of this community, the holidays, and just good ole fun, I present to you..

My Multi-Prize Giveaway!!

Some Etsy sellers have graciously donated their items to this giveaway in the spirit of giving. Please take the time to visit their shops and peruse their items and their sales. (You'll want to do this anyway for entries!)

ONE lucky winner will receive this prize package, valued up to $60, after being selected by Random.org. Here's what is included, and how to enter:

First Item

Tina from FlockTogetherCrafts has donated a beautiful Guinea Hen Feather Headband. Love it!

Second Item

John and Donna McLean from LaughingFridge has donated one of their adorable magnets, the Pirate Fat Cat Aaaaarrt Magnet! :3

Third Item

Tricia from SimplyUniqueKreation has donated a gorgeous Red Wave Ring. It is a size 8, but the ring size can be adjusted for the winner.

Fourth Item

I am offering a 3-card set of a mystery printmaking design, as well as the pretty photo album shown above. Album contains 10 plastic sleeves, sized approximately 6x6".

Fifth Item:

Haley from Haleysscrapbooknook is offering one item from her store valued at $7.50 or under. Check it out!

Sixth Item:

Danielle from 7SeventeenGallery is offering a lovely little original painting titled A Little Windy. It is already framed!

How To Enter!!

MANDATORY: Visit each shop and pick out your favorite item. Then come back and post in a comment the items you picked, whether by name or URL. Please do this all together, for it counts as 1 entry only! Don't forget to put your contact info for all entries.

Extra Entries:
1) For EACH shop you heart, including mine at laurart, you'll get ONE entry. Please list your Etsy username. Do separate comments.
2) If you buy an item from one of the shops before the deadline, you'll receive a whopping 5 entries! Just post the item listing with your Etsy username.
3) Follow my blog using Google connect. 1 entry
4) Subscribe to my blog feed. 1 entry
5) Follow me on Twitter AND post a tweet about this giveaway that includes my name @spektorish. Please include your Twitter username and a link to this status. 1 entry
6) Follow @Flock_Together. Leave your Twitter username. 1 entry
7) Follow @uniquekreation. Leave your Twitter username. 1 entry
8) Follow Tina's blog for 1 entry, Tricia's blog for 1 entry, and Danielle's blog for 1 entry.
9) Become a Facebook fan of FlockTogether for 1 entry.
10) Blog about this giveaway, then comment with the link to it for 1 entry.

This giveaway will run until Saturday, December 12. The contest will close at noon or 12:00pm CST. Later on the winner will be picked, and I will post their name with their permission the following day.

So many entries to be had, wow! I am so excited, it has been so long since my last giveaway. I wish you all the best of luck. Tell your friends! :)

This giveaway ends December 12th at noon CST. Any posts after that will not count. For shipping costs, this is only open to the U.S. and Canada, sorry!

Short Saturday.

2009-11-28T08:01:00.000-08:00

In short, here are my plans for the day:

Also, putting last-minute touches on the giveaway to come soon! I decided to wait until I'm back home to put it up. And I even have an idea for a future one around the Christmas holidays. ;)

Giving thanks.

2009-11-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Give thanks to your neighbors,
and strangers on the street.
Give a happy smile and cheer
to everyone you meet.

Forget our troubles, differences,
just have a happy day.
And please forgive my poetic attempt
at what I'm trying to say:

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! :)

No Friday Featurette, since there's shopping and whatnot to be done. Don't worry, though, because a lovely giveaway will be coming up! :D

How refreshingly NEW!

2009-11-25T01:26:00.000-08:00

So, what's a good way to procrastinate doing my schoolwork?

If you guessed updating my blog layout, you'd be correct! I know it's very naughty of me, but I couldn't resist. I thought the old one wasn't cutting it for the theme and purpose of my blog. I think this is much better. I'm aware it may appear wonky in other browsers, but hey, I'm no bloggin' whiz. I used to be a layout whiz, back in the days of yore as a bored 15-year-old internet addict, but no longer.

Please, let me know what you think! I'm so happy to have a 3-column design instead of just two, leaves lots of room for links (advertising? *wink*) and more!

OH! I've already passed 100 followers, hooray!! As promised, a big giveaway is coming up. I won't spoil everything, but I'll just say that there is more than one Etsian involved. ;) Keep a look out shortly.

One more to go!

2009-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm already just one follower away from 100 Google friends! That's amazing! You know, I never saw myself being a blogger. Activity has died down a bit, sure, but that's not anyone's fault but my own for my busy-ness. Don't forget, I'm thinking of cooking up a giveaway when I reach the 100th. It could be a shop gift certificate to a featured Etsian, could be an item I'm giving away myself... just stay tuned. :)

In the meantime, speaking of giveaways... therikrakstudio is hosting an INCREDIBLE giveaway! And when I say incredible, I mean just absolutely incredible. It contains a huge prize package worth over $450!! WOW! And ONE lucky winner will receive it, picked by random.org

So head on over and enter! Great gifts for the holidays, for sure.

Quick update!

2009-11-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

So, today was my first "sick day." I didn't attend class this morning because I've finally caught the sickness. I had a perfect streak going of zero absences in all my classes! Luckily, the other two classes for Mondays were cancelled, so I've been able to get rest. I still feel bad, and I think it's stress. All of this is piling down on me once again. I ran into my neighbor earlier, and after discussing finals he humorously added, "And then the crying starts." No kidding!

But, a little ray of sunshine to peek through this mess: I won a giveaway! Well, two to be exact, I just mentioned one on Twitter. First, my dream of owning a pair of feather earrings came true thanks to Tina of Flock Together Crafts! And today, I got an email from therikrakshop about winning the fabulous Sponsor's giveaway. So there are some happy pieces to my stress puzzle. Hopefully the luck will continue! :)

(Edit: Just found out that I won this giveaway, too! A while ago I won an eyeshadow color from Orglamix, featured on my pirate Halloween outfit, and now I won a collection!! I am so excited! This makeup is divine, I encourage you to take a look.)

One more thing, before I go. I love dripping and splattering, experimenting with direction, and also different media. For a few days I've been building up on a 18x24" canvas layer after layer of coffee, tea, and India ink. Here is the result:

Should I put it in my shop? :) What do you think? Should the presentation be different? (Flip around, sideways, etc.)

One last thing... it's getting close to that time. I've been unable to produce a good one so far, but it's about the time for a giveaway. I'm two away from 100 followers, I'm over 300 on Twitter, and it's near the holidays. Once that 100 is reached, I'm going to produce a giveaway, hopefully one to blow your socks off! Stay tuned! (Tell your friends *wink!*)

Friday Featurette.

2009-11-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

Today's goes to Kneehighsnpigtails, a lovely little jewelry shop I've recently come across. I love their antique style, and the items are reasonably priced. Even the banner is really attractive! :)

They even have a section called "Over the top earrings," which they can be but I still love the look. Not sure about wearing some of these items on casual Fridays, but they're gorgeous any way you look at it.

Woodcut: Final Result.

2009-11-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, remember that woodcut I was semi-griping about? Well, after 8 1/2 hours of cutting, cutting, cutting, proofing, and printing 18 editions, here is the final result...

"Brushes" 2/18, 9.25x12"
Oil ink on Masa rice paper

Half of the editions look like this (as much as it can, considering we don't have a printing press). I'm turning in the other half that has more residual marks on the white table, which looks nice. Tonight I matted an edition. I'm contemplating selling it among other things at the VAS Holiday Sale. Do people really like buying editions, even with only one being matted? How do you package it?

Oh, VAS stands for the Visual Arts Society. It's a nice little club here at Tech that I just recently joined, and I'm excited about being a member. For the holidays they have a craft sale where members can sell their work, so I'm really looking forward to it. It'd be my first professional sales booth thingy. The main problem I'll have is deciding on prices: I always have trouble with that! I don't want to overcharge, but don't want to get duped either.

Well, ideas for my finals are coming along. I just hope they turn out the way I imagine them to be! What are your plans for the next few weeks?

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-11-18T05:00:00.001-08:00

(Forgive my slow postings, the art finals are approaching and they are more than just tests, they're accumulative, comprehensive works that take much time and attention. Please bear with me!)

The PLT.

2009-11-14T20:40:00.000-08:00

I just want to say, the PLT is not easy. Don't think about cramming for it the night before. Many factors play into this test. Studying for it is the main reason I could not post a Friday featurette or anything, sorry.

For those who aren't familiar with the PLT, it is the Practice Learning and Teaching test. It is part of the Praxis II, tests taken by future teachers. The PLT questions depend on which one you take. I just so happened to take K-6, upon hearing from a fellow Art Ed. classmate that it was the easiest. Well, it isn't, really.

The PLT K-6 deals with educational psychology and theories/practices of teaching. The test has four case studies with three response questions for each. Then there are 24 "discrete" multiple-choice questions about theories and so on. The m.c. questions were fine, but it's the case studies that suck. You're expected to finish all of this in only 2 hours! Your answers to the case studies must be thorough and relevant, and well-written. You've technically got 25 minutes for each study and its set of questions. I don't do well when pressured to write nicely under a short time limit. I get nervous and sometimes don't articulate myself well.

For those who are somewhat familiar, the study questions basically consisted of two questions in each question: give TWO ways of doing something better (or two things done wrong, or two ways a teacher did something), and explain those two with strong reasons. The practice books I read in my local store did not have these consistently, so I was surprised by it. I'm.. not too confident, to tell the truth. Hopefully I will have passed my state's standard. I'll find out by December 11th.

For breakfast, I had good ole brain food. If you're preparing to take an important test, consider brain food!! I had wild Alaskan salmon, brown rice, and a Cranery drink. Açai and blueberry drinks or the fruit itself are incredibly good for your brain, along with authentic cacao dark chocolate, 70% or higher. (I hate dark chocolate, unfortunately.) Bananas work, also.

I don't know if I'm really cut out to be an art teacher! :(

3 years. <3

2009-11-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

Patrick and I on my 18th birthday, 2007

Today marks the 3-year anniversary for my sweetheart and me. I can't believe it! Time goes by so quickly when you're in love. ;)

To celebrate, we're... relaxing. Exciting, yes? A nice little movie night with snacks as we cuddle on the couch (or the floor, depending on which system we use).

In high school I never thought I'd meet the "someone just for me" until after college. I wasn't really bothered, and my self-esteem was pretty low. However, my senior year brought me Patrick, who just happens to be the brother of my best friend. Coincidences are spooky sometimes!

Our love is only growing stronger. We have our ups and downs, but we accept each other completely with warm hearts and loving kisses.

Ah, sorry for the sap. May you enjoy your love, be it of friends, family... or that someone just for you. :)

Woodcutting.

2009-11-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

Woodcutting is not easy. No, really, it isn't. The first couple of assignments in Printmaking involved cutting linoleum blocks, which wasn't the easiest thing to do per se, but at least linoleum is soft. (Tip: placing the block in contact with heat makes it even softer. I put boiling water in a small tin, covered it with foil, and placed the block face-down on the foil.)

Woodcutting is our weapon of choice now, and it's difficult. The block has to be bigger (minimum 8x10"), and we're using wood (mine's some sort of poplar). The tools have to be continuously sharpened, and they've been used so they aren't in perfect shape (too expensive to purchase on our own). You have to consider carving against the grain, and around knots. I tried my best to purchase blocks that had little to no knots on either side. Even then, it's still arduous, and it's so easy to slip and knick an area. Once it's cut, you can't get it back. The one pictured above is a re-do!! :(

I just like the look of my pen drawing, which is there to simply mark my areas as guidelines. I'm really worried about getting to the details of the metal handles on the brushes... not sure how to go about cutting those correctly.

Any experienced woodcutters out there to lend some helpful tips? :)

Friday Featurette and Halloween!

2009-11-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, sorry it has been so long. The internet going on and off doesn't help a blogger, that's for sure! Here's a quick featurette of a journal-maker (I'm obsessed, remember?) and some Halloween photos!

This week's featurette goes to BlueToad. The name itself is pretty cool. This store specializes in journals with beautiful OOAK covers for very reasonable pricing. Usually handmade journals, even of small sizes, can be expensive. Also, some ACEOs are available. Here is the shop description:

Entwined Journal, $14

"Welcome to Blue Toad, a collective world of the creative mind, a place that will take you on a creative journey offering a variety of items to meet your whim and bring a smile.

BlueToad, a part of Tremundo, was the featured artisan on HGTV. Additional information on our shop profile and more creative collection at tremundo.etsy.com and visit us online at tremundo.com"

Peaceful Moments on Pale Blue Journal, $14

I'm definitely hearting this shop and keeping a close eye on it for the holidays. Several of these designs relate to this fall season, so they'd make perfect fall gifts for writers and sketchers alike. I'm so glad I found it! :)

Okay, so Halloween was a blast. Lots of good food, good costumes, and good dancing. Saturday night was the main one where I took the most pictures. Sunday was more of a nerd party, not so much dancing, but still fun.

1) Merrilee and I dancing away! 2) Merrilee, the artist hippie; Drew, the boy wizard; me, the pirate lass! 3) Cupcakes!!! 4) The nightlight set up (featuring glow-in-the-dark splatter paintings). 5) My pirate outfit. Yar!

Friday Featurette.

2009-10-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

This week's featurette goes to DarriellesClayArt at Etsy. I've recently become a little obsessed with functional ceramic pieces, most especially mugs. My friend Merrilee is currently in a wheel-throwing class and she gave me one of her cups... it rocks my world. :)

Misty Blue Green Mug, $18

Darrielle's pieces, functional or decorative, are very well-crafted and feature lovely colors. This Misty blue mug is one of my favorites! And, considering the nature of these items, they are reasonably priced. Here is her store description:

I describe myself as a wheel throwing, hand building, mud slinging, slab rolling crazy lady who lives, breaths, and sleeps to play in clay every day. I use stoneware and porcelain clay and I make my own glazes... Life is good... :)
.....Darrielle Straughan.....

Nested Heart Bowls Royal Blue, $24

Her account has been up since January of this year, and she's gotten a good amount of sales and positive feedback. These would be perfect gifts for the holidays, or any upcoming weddings. Her store contains cups, bowls, vases, spoons and spoon holders, yarn holders, jewelry, and much more. I know I'll be keeping an eye out. ;)

Halloween is upon us! I can't wait to celebrate. I haven't done so in several years! Will be visiting a few parties with costumes ready, I hope to post pictures! What will you do for Halloween? Trick or treat, party, or just stay home?

Be safe!

Rainy days.

2009-10-27T09:51:00.001-07:00

What is it about rainy days that can get you kind of down? I'm not upset or anything, just... lethargic, yet still acting productive (going to class, etc.). Dark damp days just bring me down a little. Does anyone else experience this?

Also, I'd like to give a sweet shout-out to Autumn who runs NatureAutumn at Etsy. A few months ago I made my first purchase in her shop, but it never arrived. This was most likely because it got lost or held up at customs. She kept in constant contact with me, trying to figure things out as the days went by. A few days ago, she sent me a message saying she absolutely wants all of her customers to be pleased with her work, so she offered a replacement free of charge. (I paid $2.00 just to register the item for shipping so it won't get lost this time.) This beautiful item was more valuable than the first, so it's obvious that Autumn really cared about making me happy. Can you imagine getting this kind of attention in retail or big businesses? Not me.

Please visit her store and take a look around. I whole-heartedly recommend her jewelry and service to anyone.

Hopefully this weather will perk up soon! I know it's close to winter but... you know. :)

An eventful weekend for sure!

2009-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

I've finally done some work outside of school! I took a 30x40 canvas I had previously gesso'd over and did another experimental drip painting. Overnight the rain got to it, and holding it upright to let it dry gave it a massive drip-in-one-direction effect, which kinda looks neat. Looks like magma, really.

However, I feel like something is missing... something more could be added to strengthen this. What do you feel it needs?

I got some precious girl time last night with a few art major buddies. It's so neat how much Merrilee and I have in common, artistically and just personality-wise (we see faces in loads of things!). I showed her and another friend Etsy and they were pretty flabbergasted. They did a lot of web-window shopping, and I may purchase a little gift for one of them (she loves turquoise jewelry). Once life dies down for Merrilee, she'll look into marketing herself as well. She has beautiful landscape paintings, including a cloud series she did that I absolutely love. Hopefully you'll be seeing her soon!

I hope you've all had a great weekend. Everything was going smoothly until I got my first flat tire today. :( Big bummer, really didn't need that. Patrick came to the rescue and hopefully will get it patched at work tomorrow.

The holidays are getting too close!!

Happy Birthday!

2009-10-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

This week there won't be a featurette because I've been a little too busy to search for a lovely shop to feature.

Instead, I'd like to wish my fiance Patrick a very happy birthday! He's 23 years old!

It's also hard to imagine that in only 2 and a half weeks, we'll reach our 3rd year anniversary of being together. I never would have imagined this for myself when I was younger; I thought I'd be doomed until the end of college, haha! Love is such a beautiful thing, though sometimes a struggle... but always, always, always hold on and cherish it to the fullest!

Does anyone else have birthdays or birthday shout-outs? Post them here! Let's celebrate. :)

Thursday Treasury.

2009-10-21T20:13:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! Been trying to catch up on school work after relaxing this fall break (maybe a little too much relaxing, meh).

Earlier today I taught my first ever elementary class. It was nerve racking but exciting, too. Along with a fellow Art Ed. classmate, we taught three 2nd grade classes an art lesson, each 25 minutes long. It was kind of hectic setting up and touching up the lesson plan, but it worked out. All three classes were pretty well-behaved, and responded well to the lesson. Basically we taught them symmetry and color theory, utilizing a folded paper where they drew a symmetrical butterfly, then placed primary colors on each side that, when smushed together, created secondaries. They loved it! A little messy, but not horrible. Oh it was so much fun!! Hopefully I'll get pictures from Patricia and will post them here.

Also, won a giveaway recently for a beautiful pink tote, I'm anxious to get it! Annnd..

TADA! My first Treasury!! Take a look:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=72767

Over the Top Blog thing.

2009-10-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long pause in posting, but I've been trying to enjoy this Fall break, albeit it was a rather short one. Things are getting a little hectic as the break passes, but I've managed to get some relaxation.

Anyway, to break this long streak, StarsandRobots has tagged me for a blog post, and declared that I have an "Over the Top Blog!" The first sort of award I've gotten, haha. The trick is that I have to answer the following questions with one word answers, and then tag others. Okay!

1 Where is your cell phone? Here.
2 Your hair? Shorter.
3 Your mother? Class.
4 Your father? Work.
5 Your Favorite food? Chocolate.
6 Your dream last night? Bizarre.
7 Your favorite drink? Tea.
8 Your dream/goal? Various.
9 What room are you in? Living.
10 Your hobby? Love.
11 Your fear? Needles.
12 Where do you want to be in six years? New.
13 Where were you last night? Home.
14 Something that you aren't? Insensitive.
15 Muffins? Delish!
16 Wish list item? Anything.
17 Where did you grow up? Around.
18 Last thing you did? Sing.
19 What are you wearing? eduFire.
20 Your TV? Videogame.
21 Your pets? Gone..
22 Friends? Amazing.
23 Your life? Ongoing.
24 Your mood? Still.
25 Missing someone? Always.
26 Vehicle? Old.
27 Something you're not wearing? Makeup.
28 Your favorite store? Art.
29 Your favorite color? Light-blue.
30 When was the last time you laughed? Earlier.
31 Last time you cried? Movie.
32 Your best friend? One?
33 One place where you go over and over? School.
34 One person who emails you regularly? Patrick.
35 Favorite place to eat? Kabuto.

Now to tag all other Over the Top blogs... (I hope that it is a compliment! lol)
Deelights
Tara
Sandra

Friday Feature.

2009-10-15T21:27:00.001-07:00

It's been such an interesting week. I'm happy to announce my second sale! My beloved landscape palette knife painting sold, and the buyer was so kind in her reply about my work that it really made me smile. I can't wait to ship it off tomorrow!

However, there is something else to announce: my first real Etsy feature with questions! Ilea from Gadget Gear has kindly allowed me to give her a short questionnaire; it's always nice to get to know fellow Etsians. Ilea specializes in making felt cases for gadgets (as the shop title implies), i.e. iPhones/iPods, cell phones, cameras, and more.

Lovely! Well, let's welcome our guest Ilea, and let's begin with...

A little info about you, that you're willing to let readers know.
My name is Ilea. I am 24 years old, and my full time job is working on my PhD (in Biology) at the University of Michigan.

How long have you been making cases?
I've been making cases for about 6 months.

Why did you decide to do this?
I had a lot of compliments from friends about a case that I had made for my phone and for a few of my friends, so I decided to try to sell them on Etsy and see what kind of response they got there.

Where do you get inspirations for each piece?

My inspirations come from a lot of things. Many of them come from nostalgia from my childhood, and others come from items that are important to me. Most of my cases have a little special meaning to me or a specific event that inspired them. For example, I made the shamrock case because I met my boyfriend on St. Patrick's day and I made the Koi case after one of my friends told me they were lucky. Some of my designs are just things that I think are cute or things that make me smile (like GIR; I don't think you can see him and not smile!).

So, you're about to make a new case. How do you start? What materials are needed?

I start with a long list of ideas (it's a very long list... some of the things that I'm thinking of making are a diet coke can - I can't live without it; Transformers, Mario, sushi, and one that looks like a box of chocolates). I pick whatever design strikes my fancy at that time. I then have to pick out the right colors for the case and cut the design out freehand. I use the pieces that I cut out the first time as a pattern so that I can make more than one case of that design. Finally I stitch everything together to make the final product.

What goes through your mind as you make a case?

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so mostly I'm just thinking, 'Is that piece straight? Did I stitch that just right?'

Do you have any crafters, on Etsy or otherwise, that inspire and motivate you?

Everyone in my family is very crafty, so I had the opportunity growing up to learn many different types of crafts. So if any crafters inspire and motivate me, I would say my Mom and my grandmothers.

If there was one thing you could wish for, no strings attached, what would it be?

More time in the day. Sometimes I am very overwhelmed with keeping up with all of the little things with Etsy and work. I think a lot of people know that feeling.

Boy, I definitely agree there. More time, who doesn't need more time? Anyway, thank you so much Ilea for your time. Readers, feel free to visit her shop and peruse her items, they're all so diverse and cute! My favorite is GIR, of course. Love that lil' guy.

If you would like to be featured, please feel free to contact me! :)

All Paintings Must Go!

2009-10-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Okay guys, it's about that time where my tiny studio really needs some space. I've got more products coming in due to this semester, and I'm running out of room. With that being said, I've reduced the prices of my paintings drastically in order to get them sold.

You're basically only paying for the canvas, and shipping fees. Nothing more. This is a GREAT deal considering it's fine art, and it is the original, not a print!

Please, take a look at my selection. Tell your friends who are looking for some new artwork to place in their home. Spread the word via Twitter/blog/etc. I appreciate any help whatsoever, whether you're buying or simply sharing the info! These babies gotta go, as much as it pains me.

Thank you. <3

Blog I like:

2009-10-12T12:53:00.001-07:00

http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com

Featured in Blogger's "blogs of note" page, Faces in Places displays pictures of objects that look like they have faces. I definitely see faces in patterns all of the time. I just love all of the wonderful faces found in nature and human items alike. Give it a look-see. :)

Sunday Wrap-up.

2009-10-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

I finally got a break after six weeks of work, work, and work. I visited my home to spend some time with the folks. Went to a shooting range and popped a few rounds with my dad's AR-15. It's a great experience; I even managed to hit the center of a target! It turns out I'm a left-handed rifle woman, who knew? I'm right-handed, so that was a surprise. Made shooting awkward at first, trying to find the buoy without straining myself. Very powerful, so for those who have yet to shoot one but want to: be prepared for the intensity!

I reunited with an old friend. We'd been apart for more than a year due to life circumstances, needing distance to grow up, and so on. Fell back into old times, though, and enjoyed ourselves. I also took photos as a documentary series for class, hopefully the pictures will turn up since we were out at night. Cafe Coco's white satin never tasted so good. But it was really nice catching up with her, I feel much better deep down knowing she has matured and that she's okay.

I'll post pictures soon of artistic progress as the week goes on, but I'm pretty busy with things. Fall break is around the corner, but there's only so much rest I can afford myself before hitting the sketchbooks and drawing pads and printmaking.

Giveaway to come soon, just gotta find something special for you fine followers. I'm not sure how I'm going to top my journal, but perhaps something holiday related might be nice? Please, if you have ideas, let me know! :)

Here's to hoping the week goes well, and that my traffic flows up again -- I don't know where everyone went! :P

Friday Featurette and Update.

2009-10-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

My quick featurette goes to Flock Together Jewelry.

Tail Feather Earrings, $10

Her shop contains beautiful earrings, necklaces, and headbands. The arrangement and detail are so spectacular, yet all lightweight, and considering the material the items are not too expensive. My friend has a pair of feather earrings that she wears a lot, and I can understand why. I hope to own a pair soon! You can visit her blog here.

In other news, I'm doing pretty well in my classes. Printmaking is now coming to printing "editions," or copies of an artist's proof that is the best print of a design. Matting will not be fun, but it must be done. In Photography... man, I love that class. My paintbrush picture (will post soon) was considered "best photo of the day" hehe. ^_^;

Fall Break is coming, but I figure I'll be busy during that time so this weekend will be my break. Going home, hopefully to shoot good documentary photos for class, work on my sketchbook (Drawing II, not the project), and relax! Sometimes taking a break is the best, most logical thing to do.

But lots of good things have been happening, and I hope it doesn't stop. My first sale was the Color Grid painting, and Tyler posted a lovely blog about receiving it. It was so surreal, seeing that there when only days ago it was in my art room. Can't wait to sell more! I've also been getting luckier with giveaways, and a lot of progress is being made. At some point I will do a giveaway, probably this weekend. I REALLY want to give back to you guys (though you seem to be disappearing on me a little)! ;)

Let me know the good things going on in your life, art or otherwise.

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-10-07T05:03:00.000-07:00

Teachers.

2009-10-05T14:19:00.001-07:00

It's so strange, the things you learn once you get out of high school. Responsibility, harder work, and the fact that your teachers are essentially human, possibly more so than you are!

Being at college has definitely taught me this fact. It's not just that, though. I don't think young people realize how much work goes into being a teacher, especially an art teacher. Lesson plans don't come by easy. (The actual plans might because of how amazing the internet is, but there's still having to change things around, getting the materials, assessing the standards, yadda yadda yadda...)

There's a reason they get the summer off, too! Planning nine months worth of lesson plans probably takes about the three months that summer breaks offer. One major part of my Secondary Art Ed. class is field experience. In a few weeks, another classmate (named Laura, who'd have thunk it) and I will go to an elementary school nearby and teach 3rd graders an art lesson plan. It took us half an hour just to brainstorm!! So much goes into it: the skills they learn, how interesting the lesson is artistically, not being too vague but not as specific since only less than two hours are available, etc. etc. It's crazy!

Hopefully our lesson plan will come together, and I really hope that I'll come to love this by the end of my senior year. I love art, and I'd like to be able to teach kids art, but boy... it's tough.

In other news, I'm disheartened I haven't been able to provide a giveaway yet. Perhaps soon something will fall into my lap, and when it does, I'll quickly let you guys know, so keep an eye out for it. ;)

Thank the Stars for Etsy!!

2009-10-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so grateful for it. I've recently made my FIRST SALE to a wonderful person named Tyler; we're past associates on eduFire. Annnnd today I received the earrings I purchased from BelladonnaBeads. Not only did I get an amazing deal on them, but Shelley, the owner, was so kind enough to also send along a free gift of the rainbow candy earrings I'd been interested in prior to the sale. (A lot of links in this post, I know, lol.)

Absolutely gorgeous, the both of them! They'll look great in my ears when I can put them in. I recommend her to any jewelry fan ten times over, and I'll be back there again around the holidays for sure.

I'm still not sure what to do. So much great stuff is going on, I feel like I should give back, but I honestly can't find anything decent. Custom art isn't as popular as accessories and whatnot. Hm.. I'll figure it out soon, you guys, I promise.

Friday Featurette!

2009-10-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today's little feature goes to Alter-Eco Clothing at Etsy.

Organic White and PURPLE Layered DRESS Top, $55

I absolutely love the clothes in this store. Here's a short excerpt from the store description:

"Alter-Eco is a fashion-forward Clothing line for those of us out there who want to do our part for the Planet...but look amazing while doing so ~_^

I love living organically and have always felt that there isn't enough funky eco clothing out there to dress the way I want and still be friendly to mother-earth.
So now you too can be a tree hugger in good misfit fashion ~_^ ♥♥!"

Indeed! I know that my high-school self would have loved to own items like these, much like Hot Topic but friendly to the environment. And better, imo. ;) I admit that it's a bit pricey for someone like myself, but I can pine! :P

Organic Brown and Purple Button DRESS OOAK, $62

Gorgeous stuff, definitely. I love handmade clothes... almost makes me pick up a sewing book. But that will have to wait. Check out her store, in the meantime. Cute, gothic, chique. Unique.

Bath fizzies and prospects.

2009-10-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

Another end to a long week! Wow, the days sure go by quickly. I've already been back in school over a month. Tempus fugit!

I'm excited at some upcoming prospects, such as a possible teaching job for the LEAP program at Algood Elementary. I finally can go to the photography studio whenever to develop pictures; my portraits came out okay. The professor really liked one I took at the Fall Funfest of people by a funnel cake stand. I'll post pictures later.

And what better way to end the week with a lovely bath? How about a bath with Jack o' Lantern bath bomb fizzies? :)

These little buddies were given to me by Alyson at Bathgasm, as part of her giveaway. They look so cute! And honestly, I didn't expect them to be so big. They smell divine: pumpkin spice and sweetness. I could almost eat them... hehe. She also has lovely cards, and even wrote me a kind note on the back of one. :D Yay for Etsians and their giveaways! What would we do without them?

Speaking of which, I may do a giveaway soon to celebrate all good things in life, as well as 250 Twitter followers. Seems appropriate. But it depends on what you guys are looking for... ;) Leave a comment of your thoughts.

(P.S. Opened up at Artfire, since they're doing unlimited listings for the holidays. More items will be there since there are no fees!)

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-09-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

Cute Greenman and Drawing talk.

2009-09-28T05:12:00.001-07:00

Greenman Plaque (Moss), $15

How wonderful is this? I'd love to have that hanging on my wall. And only fifteen dollars? What a deal for such a beautiful item. It's not even small: it's 8.75 x 6 inches. If anything, this is a perfect Christmas gift. It was front page featured, too!

Got some good practice with atmospheric perspective over the weekend, drawing my little kitchen. It's much more difficult doing it outside, with trees, when the wind is blowing right in your face -- as we did today in class. I got graphite all over me! But it's a learning process.

I still don't know whether I prefer drawing or painting. I seem to be naturally better at drawing, but painting is smoother and... well, more colorful. I know drawings can incorporate color using pastels and whatnot, but I've never been too good with those. Hardly use them.

Regardless, though, we don't have a drawing emphasis program so I'll be doing painting either way. Still...

I hope you guys are doing well in your artistic endeavors! :)

Sunday's Secret.

2009-09-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Whatever this job is, I want it. The main thing I like about this card is the simplicity of the drawing. Very cute, and very simple.

I admire all of the different handwriting styles I see. I usually prefer those to the typed ones, although typed can have a special effect with the boxing and placement. Oh man, delving into the art instead of the secret. But that's part of its appeal, right? :)

Elephants in the Room.

2009-09-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't had a lot of time to spend on my sketchbook. It's not a theme to be taken lightly. However, I am determined to see its finish before the deadline approaches, despite the work school is also weighing upon me. Fall break will definitely be a good time to fill up those pages with meaningful art.

Which brings me to an important question, for you, and for me: what do you think is the biggest elephant in the room, in our society today? This is coming from my American perspective, but it can include all countries, and all cultures. What problems today are so obviously in front of us that we can reach out and literally feel the tusks?

It is important for my sketchbook to not just get my viewpoint. I don't want it to be all about me. I'm not necessarily a political person myself. But this isn't just about politics.

I want to take in your answers and do research, then translate it through artistic means. This will really help me out, and ultimately your idea will be included in this sketchbook for thousands to see at the exhibits held by The Art House Co-op.

I thank anyone for their input. Opinions, websites, etc. etc. would be appreciated.

P.S. Got my ears pierced, yay! Do I really have to wait 6 months for dangling earrings, though?? Did you guys do anything early?

Friday Featurette!

2009-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

So this week's featurette is for ljlh*designs at Etsy. Some of you may think I'm a little biased because I recently won earrings from her, but honestly, this jewelry is hard to pass up anyway. If I hadn't won, I still would've given her a quick spotlight because this girl's shop is beautiful and affordable.

Dark Rainbow Bracelet/Necklace, $21

The main thing, though, is that she has very little sales in her store. She has her own website, which includes the wide variety of items she sells, a link to her blog, and even a resume. Yup, a resume. So, I was surprised to see little sales.

She makes great items, simply put! Each piece is so colorful, or so stylish, or all of the above! Not to mention, they're all not that expensive considering what they are! Most jewelry at this level would cost more than $20.

Green Leaf Earrings, $6

She also has another Etsy store, dealing with handmade items from paper: ljlhpaper.etsy.com I advise you to give that a peek, too, although it is somewhat new.

I'm very thankful for the earrings I won, for they have given me a taste of ljlh*designs, and I'll definitely be making some purchases around the holidays from this shop. Take a look for yourself, there's bound to be a good Christmas gift in there somewhere! Happy shopping!

Happy Ending to Week 3.

2009-09-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

That's right, the week is done! As an art major, for the past three semesters I've had Fridays off, a very handy thing indeed. Today went by pretty smoothly, and had some joys in it.

Photography class was great! There were no problems getting the film into the spool and processing it. I managed to make three prints today, though I'll present only two because the third was attacked by a black fuzzy thing on the print's edge.

Printmaking wasn't too bad, just trying to figure out my still life. Need to work on that this weekend, along with a drawing on atmospheric perspective, Art Ed. writing sheets and a collage, as well as Ed. Psych. homework. Phew!

But fear not: the icing on the cake today was that I received the earrings I won from ljlh*designs!!

Hooray! I was so excited to see the little box. Everything is beautiful: the box, the cards (I like 'em!), and of course, the jewelry. It's perfect, too, because the blue crystals almost match the blue gem in my engagement ring. I can't wait to be able to wear them! Thanks so much, Libby. :)

I hope your week has been as successful and productive as mine. The only way it could get better is if I made a sale, haha!

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-09-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

-_-'

Monday Musings.

2009-09-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

I've learned a few things today.

I don't really hate printmaking. I just get easily frustrated with any new artistic medium at which I'm not immediately great. I'm a perfectionist, unfortunately, so that can really dampen my optimism when trying novel things. But it also frustrates me how hard I'll have to work even more, as well as kiss up to, my teacher because she rarely gives out A's, especially to non-studio students.

Taking photos with a manual camera is much more interesting than with digital. The sense of mystery with not knowing how the picture turned out can be invigorating and intimidating. My other art classes stress me out, but I'm already looking forward to Photography class this Thursday. Getting the film into the spool without damaging it sucks, but it's such a small, tiny problem that it worries me not.

People are not as nice as we ISFPs want to believe. This is a sad, but true fact. Some people are just not good people. The worst part is, some people are so good at concealing this that you have to get to know them a long time before their true colors show. By that time, it's hard to let go. Even now I still miss one of my old friends, with whom I've not spoken since my 18th birthday.

But despite that, life is gorgeous. With my health in good shape, my mind clear, and new prospects on the horizon, I'll just keep on walking with my head up as high as I can lift it.

Awesome Artists Giveaway Edition 2!

2009-09-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

Okay guys, I just stumbled upon this really amazing opportunity to win gift baskets that are a combined value of $260! There are five different gift baskets, all featuring Etsy sellers, and I'm so excited. You can win prizes such as these:

Tibetan Earrings from Jewelry By Tara - $6

3 Oak Wooden Tea Light Holders from mapletreelane - $15

Chunky White Rock Crystal Wrapped Earring from tesorojewelry - $16

Isn't that just incredible? The way to win is to visit Live Breathe Dream Etsy, go through each artist's shop, and comment on your favorite. Additional entries are obtainable.

I've already entered. The acceptance of entries continues until October 5th, so start commenting!

Good luck!

Sunday's Secret.

2009-09-20T10:43:00.001-07:00

From Postsecret.

This is my favorite out of the bunch this week... the fact that the submitter states they cheated on their eye exam, and it's emphasized by the misspelling of exam. Gotta love people.

Which was your favorite? Visit the Postsecret website and take a look. Also, for Twitterers out there, Frank's giving away an iPod Nano each day this week, so keep a look out for that one.

I missed an update yesterday because I was so busy printmaking. I'm a little flustered because I'm running out of black ink and can't get more from Hobby Lobby; also, prints are looking bad, either too much ink or too little ink. Gah!

Friday Featurette and F(ph)otos!

2009-09-18T08:47:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I'm a big fan of alliteration, I do it when I can. Anyway, I think every Friday I'll do a mini-feature of an Etsian where his or her items really appeal to me. For the first one, today I'm featuring crearting:

Handbound Wood Journal, 3 1/2 x 2 3/4in $18

I'm obsessed with journals (kreativlink rocks my socks), and this only fuels my fire. Journals with WOOD covers? And gorgeous painting designs? Count me in.

The only downside to these beautiful journals, in my opinion, is their small size, but I can understand the reason for it. Still love 'em and heart 'em when I can. One day I will own a custom, handmade journal, I swear it! :P

Anyway, a tiny little update. Yesterday was very frustrating and fun at the same time, a bizarre combination of emotions really. Photography resulted in fun, but began with frustration. My film would NOT go in the spool, and it took 15 minutes in a small, pitch-black, hot closet to get the film ready for processing. But after all of that, here's a "contact" sheet of my negatives and one print from my roll that I loved (though a bit out of focus):

Printmaking... ugh. Aligning 2x2 blocks on a huge sheet of paper, and making sure to ink the right amount, is really tough. Hopefully I'll still get an A for effort.

What have you guys been up to this week? :)

What's in your photo album?

2009-09-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

So, I was tagged by Cindy at Hellcat Vintage to do a photo post. Here it goes!

The idea is to:

1. Open your first photo folder.

2. Scroll to the 10th photo.

3. Post the photo on your blog and tell the story behind it.

4. Tag people to do the same.

This was a picture taken on February of this year, when I did The Vagina Monologues. I played the role of a nurse in the office of an OB/GYN. Other girls (a doctor, a receptionist, and patients) and I would discuss things relevant to the play, as well as introduce monologues. It was such a beautiful, empowering play, and I was so glad to be a part of it. This was taken on opening night: the color theme was brown and coral/peach, and naturally I had to wear scrubs. I got this cute top at Rugged Warehouse for 9 bucks. It was so much fun, and I'd do it again!

Okay, so I tag the following...

Get to it, guys, I want to see your results! Don't forget to tag others. :)

Wordless Wednesday.. sort of..

2009-09-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Pouring with rain, the morning I have drawing class. Phew! I only enjoy these kind of days when I'm allowed to sit on the couch with a warm cup of tea or hot cocoa, NOT when I have to go to school and carry PAPER in the downpour.

But... I survived. Luckily, my second class was canceled since my professor is setting up her exhibition -- neat, huh?

Here are some snapshots of my lesson for today: a gesture drawing and 2 blind contour drawings.

What creations have you made today, obligated or otherwise? ;)

Winner of Giveaway #2!

2009-09-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Oh, school can get you so caught up! And social gatherings of the small kind, including a grill and games.

So quickly, I'll announce the winner of Julie's excellent little ring:

Heather D.! Congratulations! You'll be contacted soon for info.

Updates to come, and possibly another giveaway I hope! Stay classy!

More T-shirt Cutting!

2009-09-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Considering that the temp is still above warm out there, I needed a 3/4 sleeve, half-way "cardigan" to go over my tank top. I don't have one. What I did have, though, was this brown buttoned, long-sleeved top by Say What? It's kind of old, and a tiny bit faded. Still a great top, though.

Then: light bulb!! Make that into what I needed using just a pair of scissors! And, by doing so, I've turned one top into four different things. Observe...

Transformation a la moi! ;) Now it has become my light fabric cardigan, two arm warmers, and.. well, the piece in the middle could be my "skank" top, or a mini-skirt over tights. (I'll figure that one out later.) All I did was take my big orange scissors and cut above the second-to-last button -- in the middle of the strip, for a clean look. I'm so happy with the result!

Folks, take out some of your old clothing. Don't throw away that XXL sports shirt just yet! You'd be surprised at what you can do to renew your clothing into stylish, wearable pieces.

Have you transformed anything lately? Got some good tips on shirt-cutting, or changing a skirt into a bag? Please leave a comment here!

(NB: I don't do sewing. So I definitely look for tips that don't require needle and thread, though I hope this'll change in the future!)

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-09-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Printmaking Relief Practice.

2009-09-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I got out my carving tools, my brayer, and the ink. I decided to start with a simple shape that's soon to become relevant: candy corn. I thought that if I came up with some neat little cards, someone would want them for the holiday. ;)

Carving the linoleum is by far the hardest part of the process. Drawing the design and transferring it is pretty easy, but once you get to relieving it's rough. I'd already nicked myself a bit before my honey rushed to get me his super-stuffed skiing glove for protection.

The main thing to remember is a steady hand goes a long way. Also, keeping too much tension from entering your carving hand, otherwise you'll end up hurting your muscles. But I worked with what I had. Here's some pictures of the experiment, which ultimately ending up being fun. Patrick liked watching.

That is the result of a 3x4" linoleum block, painstakingly carved to represent candy corn. I decided to experiment with keeping contour lines and extra nicks to give it a special touch. To the right is the design repeated on orange construction paper. Rice paper is generally the best for printmaking, but I'm not going to buy any until class requires it.

Here are some tools shown. On the bottom left is the brayer, used to roll the ink onto the block. Moving up you can see a glass pan turned upside down: the best object I could find for putting my oil-based ink on and rolling (mostly cleaned off by using cooking oil). At the top, almost cut off, is my cutter, loaded with the C-blade.

Close-up of the orange construction paper print.

These are the little cards I made from the design. I really like how they turned out. The candy shows up well, especially the contours, but the empty spaces and blotches give it a nice style. I tried doing some color on one, pretty neat though messy. Any takers? ;D They're available for purchase now at my Etsy store.

I think, with time and patience, I'll come to enjoy this form of art. The cutting will always be the frustrating part... and inking enough.

My sketchbook from the SB Project will have to wait a while before I pick up on it again.

Giveaway #1 Winner, and an Etsy Seller Feature!

2009-09-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

I just want to thank those who participated and/or RT'd my first giveaway; it was a great success! Now, to announce the winner of the fantabulous Pepper Pot journal... [drumroll]...

Tara, or better known as @BoutiqueKarma on Twitter! Congrats! You'll be receiving your journal soon.

For another first, I present to you my Etsy Seller feature. This week's seller: JulieRose! Welcome, Julie!

Along with providing some info on her shop and herself, she's generously giving away this beautiful, silver sun bead ring:

The ring is wire-wrapped with silver-plated wire, featuring a round silver colored bead with a sun design. Julie's shop mainly sells wire-wrapped rings, all of which are available in either silver-plated and sterling silver wire, as well as some necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Visit her shop here. I think her jewelry is amazing. From antique-chic to cutsie designs, I'm definitely a fan. My favorite piece is her Round Green Stone Ring, as well as her Multi Stone Charm Bracelet.

Here's a little bit about Julie: "I've been making and selling jewelry on Etsy for a little over two years now. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in five or six weeks, and my jewelry and Etsy shop will give me the opportunity to work from home while I take care of my son."

That's wonderful, Julie, and congrats on the baby! Now folks, let's begin with her giveaway.

Details:
There are several ways to earn entries, listed below. You must follow the first requirement of entry to be considered. I'll end the giveaway on September 12th (Saturday), at noon CST, or 12:00pm CST. I'll calculate the numbers and throw them into the Random.org's generator to select a winner. Later on that evening, I will announce the winner here and contact them shortly for information.

How To Enter:
1) First, visit Julie's Etsy shop and browse through her items. Come back here and post a comment telling us which item(s) you liked the most, and what more you'd like to see. Include your email/Etsy url/etc. for contact if you win. You MUST do this first to be considered.

Extra Entries, please leave separate comments for EACH:
1) One extra entry if you follow me on Twitter, and one extra entry if you follow @JulieRoseEtsy. Please leave a comment with your username.
2) One extra entry if you tweet about this giveaway. You can use this: "This week's giveaway features @JulieRoseEtsy, hosted by @spektorish: a Silver Sun Bead Ring! Ends 9/12! http://tinyurl.com/lujz3c" Comment with a link back. Spamming tweets will not help you. :P
3) One extra entry if you blog about this giveaway. Please link back to your blog.
4) One extra entry if you heart her Etsy shop. Link back with your Etsy name.
5) A whopping FIVE extra entries if you buy an item from her shop before the giveaway ends. She'll confirm this for me, so no lying! :P

Note: if you already have done something, like follow me or Julie on Twitter, it counts as an entry -- just leave a comment to remind me, I could miss it! :)

Good luck to everyone!

Middle of the first week.

2009-09-03T15:40:00.001-07:00

Wow. Needless to say, I am exhausted! Just finished my first week back at school. Drawing II and Printmaking Relief are definitely going to keep me busy during this semester; both teachers expect a lot from us. Photography will be fun, but I've no idea where I'll find a manual camera to borrow.

And this semester will be EXPENSIVE. The most expensive yet. I already pulled out a loan, and I'm still going to rack up quite some debt just on supplies. Not happy. I'm not trying to sustain this 4.0 GPA for nothing, Tech!! I don't have time to even think about getting a part-time job. I won't have much time to make art on the side for income (no bites at the Etsy shop yet). Patrick is trying to get this customer service job, as well as Coast Guard Reserves, to make sure we don't fall into poverty. Education should not be this way...

One good thing about this week, though: my giveaway! I'm so happy with the response, considering this isn't the most popular artist blog and it's my first major traffic post. After this, I'm probably going to host another giveaway thanks to @JulieRoseEtsy. So keep an eye out!

With that, I leave you with a really awesome, fan-made video. Shiny Toy Guns is a great electro band that does wonderful covers, such as Major Tom (coming home) and this song, Stripped, originally by Depeche Mode.

My First Giveaway!

2009-08-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I think today I'm feeling generous. And I reached 150 followers. And school is about to start...

Anyway, in celebration, I'm giving away this pretty Scrolling Irises Medium Journal from Pepper Pot.

It's hardcover, 6" x 8 1/2" and contains 162 beautifully lined and designed pages (front and back). There's a matching rubber band in the back to wrap around the front, securely keeping it shut. I have one of my own and I love it!

Details:
There are several ways to earn entries, listed below. You must follow the first requirement of entry to be considered. I'll end the giveaway on September 4th (Friday), at noon CST, or 12:00pm CST. I'll use my magic configurator (calculator) to determine the numbers and throw them into the cauldron (Random.org) to select a winner. Later on that evening, I will announce the winner here and contact them shortly for information.

How To Enter:
1) You must leave a comment on this entry. It counts as your first entry, and of course let's me know you read it all and want to win it. :) Say anything you want, and leave your e-mail address. You may space it out to avoid spambots.

Extra Entries, please leave separate comments for EACH:

1) One extra entry if you follow me on Twitter. Please leave a comment with your username.

2) One extra entry if you tweet about this giveaway. You can use this: "Giveaway! A hardcover flower journal from @spektorish on her blog, ends this Friday at noon CST: http://tinyurl.com/ksdv3c" Comment with a link back. Spamming tweets will not help you. :P

3) One extra entry if you blog about this giveaway. Please link back to it.

4) One extra entry if you follow me through Google connect, located in the sidebar to the right.

5) One extra entry if you subscribe to my blog, using the RSS feed.

Note: if you already have done something, like follow me on Twitter or follow me here, it counts as an entry -- just leave a comment to remind me, there's a chance I could miss it! :)

I'm very excited and wish you all luck!!

The End of August.

2009-08-29T17:06:00.000-07:00

And so, the month comes to a close. Summer is slowly winding down. And, for me and many others, school (college) is about to begin. I'm excited but not excited, as usual. I'll be happy for the "motivation" of art once again, though it'll be mandated and graded. But, hey, those critiques help an artist grow.

Great news about the Sketchbook Project: mine came in today! It helps that Atlanta, GA is not too far from here, haha.

Isn't it cute? :D I can't wait to start working on it. Actually, it wouldn't really be "working." I dislike it sometimes when my brain translates making art as "working," but sometimes, that's what it really is. Hopefully someday that will transition to just FUN ART TIMES. ;) I can't wait for my Twitter friend Leel to get her book. I'm hoping to track progress on here and the Art House Co-op website; maybe she will do the same.

If you visit my flickr you'll see the art I've been trying to keep up with... managed to fight through my stuffy sinuses to work more on the gas mask painting. Lately Patrick's been getting semi-addicted to Snus, really gross, but they make awesome mini palettes. ^_~

I better go and relax... big day after tomorrow. One good thing about this semester is Printmaking will hopefully supply me with good items to sell on Etsy; I don't think my paintings will do very well. But as always, I'm optimistic.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone. And to those who share my fate: enjoy your FINAL summer break weekend.

Fiber For All!

2009-08-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

If you're into Twittering as much as I am, then let me ask you: have you seen #fiberforall flying around lately? First off, it's nothing to do with irregularity. ;) It's referring to fiber technology. (And a wicked cool contest, which will be mentioned at the end of this post.)

I'm a very visual person, being a right-brained artist and all, so I'm going to start with a video you may or may not recognize.

Yes, indeed, he loves to blow things up. But he's also mentioning something here that's very important for you to know about: fiber technology, specifically in communications. That includes the internet. And we all know that faster internet is better internet. So, what is it?

When it comes down to it, fiber technology boils down to fiber optics. It allows our lovely interweb communications to transmit over longer distances at a faster rate. Fibers (usually made from glass or plastic) replace the typical metal wires because the fibers enable signals to travel faster with less "loss" (or attenuation) and no interference, which is always a good thing. Nothing irritates me more as an internet addict than when my internet's not working efficiently.

I'm not much into science, so you know this has gotta be good to get the attention of someone like moi. That's what fiber is all about, but why is it worth mentioning? How much better is it than, say, DSL or Cable? Like I said, I'm no computer person, but here is a great, short article to sum up the victor when it comes to the battle: Fiber vs. Cable vs. DSL - What You Need to Know.

As seen in the Michael Bay commercial, Verizon offers Verizon FiOS, or "Fiber Optic Service." Honestly, they should've left out the "i" so it could be interpreted as "Forget Other Services." ;) But anyway, here is another article from the same site that discusses what Verizon offers, and where it is available: http://fiberforall.org/verizon-fios/

But that is the main downside to this whole deal: fiber technology is not available everywhere. As of now, it is limited to some states like California (figures), Delaware, New York, and Oregon (what?). Poor lil' ole Tennesseeans like me can't get to it yet. But fear not, the technology is rapidly growing in its efficiency and availability, as soon as people start to recognize its significance. And, of course, Verizon won't be the sole solicitor of this great technology of the world wide web, for AT&T is jumping on the bandwagon (called AT&T U-verse). The main thing you'll have to worry about when the time comes is which price will fit your budget. Verizon is known to be more expensive, but it's all about their reliability. My phone service with them is rather nice, thank you. Better than T-Mobile, at least. (However, their mascot is hotter than Verizon's.)

If you want to learn more, check out places like FiberforAll.org and even look into articles placed around the web. Wikipedia was a good start for me, since I'm clueless about science and math. Google, as always, is the best option.

I highly suggest looking into this first at FiberforAll.org, and follow them on Twitter @FiberforAll, because it so happens that they're doing a fantastic giveaway to bloggers and Tweeps alike in celebration of illumination. Prizes include an HP Mini 10.1-Inch Netbook and a Sony Bravia 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (services, as usual, are not included). You don't want to miss out! They've extended the deadline to Labor Day, so go visit for more details! http://fiberforall.org/fios-triple-play-bundle/

Say it with me now, loud and clear: FIBER FOR ALL!

-Laura

Handmade Portraits: Mimi Kirchner

2009-08-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

An 8 minute video on Mimi Kirchner and her journey of finding her call in life: doll-making. Wonderful!

Perfection.

2009-08-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

I wonder to myself, "What is perfection?"

Clearly there are definitions, and ideas of obtaining perfection. But there is also the eternal proverb, "Nothing is perfect."

Perfection (primarily) defined is: the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art. Well, isn't that kind of... boring? When one has supposedly reached the perfection of an art, with nothing new to be obtained, how does one stay motivated to persevere?

Lucilio Vanini once stated the paradox that "the greatest perfection is imperfection." The argument continues to address how being perfect leaves no room for improvement and so would lack "true perfection," which depends on progress.

I think perfection is a kind of science. It's like science. Perfection is true based on the facts. Take a red ball, for instance. If a child wants to play with just a red, round object that bounces, then that red ball is perfect; it is perfection for that child's idea of playtime. But if another kid wants the same red, round object to float, then the toy is imperfect because it lacks that desired characteristic. (But it's not necessarily a bad toy, is it?)

As with science, there are theories, thus there are theories of perfection (i.e. in relationships/friendships, of an art, etc.). But perfection, in its own being, is not a fact. It is a theory to everyone else when it is fact in the eye of the beholder. If a person holds something to be perfect, describing why it is, then it is.. in his or her eyes only.

To me, perfection can be a negative thing. If someone thinks they're perfect, then they're narcissistic. In a very general sense, if a person thinks one part of a whole is perfection, then what does that make the other parts? Flawed? If someone's art is called perfection, would that be calling others of the same field imperfect? I've never heard someone be called a "perfect" visual artist; that's.. too defining of the term "art," too limiting. That would insult me, honestly. Art is about growth, and as stated earlier, "ultimate perfection impedes progress."

Relationships (of friends, love, etc.) aren't truly perfect: they are supposed to be real, and human, and continuously help both parties to grow. True companionship is accepting the bad along with admiring the good. Perfection of a true art is beautiful progress that knows no bounds.

We humans will never be perfect, we can only idealize things as such. Why try to force ourselves to be so? Why worry about it? Instead, embrace the imperfections for what they are: sincere.. natural.. human... and perfect.

Fabric Giveaway

2009-08-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

FlairforFabric is doing a Friday Twitter Giveaway, don't miss out!

Winner gets 1 Forest in Fuchsia FQ and 1 coordinating FQ of his/her pick. Just follow FF on Twitter here, RT the contest, and good luck!

--------------------

As far as my art goes... well.. it's going. And only 10 more days until the semester starts, oh no!

Steppie's FB Giveaway!

2009-08-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

Love pandas? Love free stuff? Love Facebook? (Don't deny it, you know you do.)

Well, here's the perfect opportunity combining all three things. Steppie from Etsy is giving away some neat prizes on her Facebook. Just become a fan of her Designs page, and comment on this video.

There are additional entries to be had, of course. Just skim through the details on the right to find out how to get them.

But hurry, it ends late this evening!

Good luck!

~Laura

My Craft Corner - Contest!

2009-08-12T09:54:00.001-07:00

Hey guys. I just recently joined a website, My Craft Corner. I think it's a neat place for crafters to unite: talk, make friends, exchange ideas, etc. Etsy users would especially gain something from it!

But also, MCC is currently running a contest. First entry is simply signing up! How easy is that? I probably sign up for something new every day, more so when it's free! :) However, there are ways to earn more entries, explained here.

The prize, you ask? The Cricut Expression by Provo Craft.

Even I'm not 100% sure what all it can do, or necessarily what all I would use it for, but it certainly looks exciting. (And expensive, hah!)

So don't miss out on this exciting event, and go make some craft buddies while you're at it! :) You can also follow MCC on Twitter for daily updates. Good luck!

Choo-choo.

2009-08-10T14:02:00.001-07:00

School is a-coming. I'm rather excited to try out new things in classes such as Printmaking Relief and 35MM Photography. I'm especially excited to use their materials! I've never processed photos before, and I've only done printmaking once with linoleum (didn't turn out how I wanted, haha).

I'm also looking forward to joining this awesome little project: The Sketchbook Project. You pay a minimal fee, and they'll send you a moleskin sketchbook that you doodle and draw (and whatever!) inside, then send it back. It'll travel around their current exhibits, and possible new ones in the future! HOW COOL IS THAT? Give it a look-see!

I'm coming up with some ideas to create little things for Etsy. Hopefully, soon, I'll have the courage to try it... and get over the listing fees. ^_^; Anyone got something to share? ;)

I'm starting to enjoy Twitter. Interacting with fellow artists and crafters. My tweet buddy @leeleykeel says she'll join me in the Sketchbook project, motivating each other and so on. Who else is in?!

Ah the end of summer, beginning of fall! I welcome thee!