From yesterdays printing session. Here are some of the strongest art cards I have made in awhile. Sure, they might induce an acid flashback in some but I love the colors. Not really what I had in my head but that is half the fun! I never can anticipate exactly what I am going to end up with. Expect these and more working their way into my shop in the next few weeks.
I didn't finish anything large yesterday but I have more small to midsized pieces and still plenty cooking. But I totally exhausted myself both physically and mentally. By the time Jon came home my back and feet were killing me and my brain was pretty fried. At least I had company while I worked other than blee. She's great and all but a friend of mine that does contract work from home brought over lunch and parked himself and his laptop in my glider chair and worked with me. I often feel so isolated from people so I think this was good for me. We had a good time and plan on being "co-workers" again sometime soon. Both of us were able to get a lot done I think. I managed to juggle blee, art and an important phone call successfully but ended up hurting for it in the end.
Some good things are happening. Change is in the wind.
And with that goodnight or good morning because I have been dumb yet again and stayed up much too late. I wish it was the weekend already.
Showing posts with label marissa swinghammer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marissa swinghammer. Show all posts
Friday, October 26, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Happy Anniversary!
Just look at those kids! Today is our fifth anniversary, and we are close to having been together ten years total. A lot has changed with both us and our relationship. We have grown old up together having been dumb kids who barely knew anything about life or relationships when we first started seeing each other. But I can say that right off the bat I knew that we had something special, something to be serious about.
And now here we are with our beautiful baby girl. I remember thinking about this upcoming anniversary last year on our forth and possibly doing something special like a renewal of vows since we never had a proper wedding. Now everything has changed and we will be lucky to go out to dinner together. But that is fine with me because I think having a baby reasserts our commitment to each other pretty well!
I'm going to be taking a bit of a hiatus from blogging. At least until I have new work to show. Hopefully that will be by Monday, but you never know. Plus I could always have the time and energy to work and have everything turn out terribly since it has been so long I feel rusty. I've both come out of downtime better than ever and also come out with great difficulty.
I'm not feeling well emotionally, physically or spiritually right now. I'm feeling rather down on my art too as of late. Despite the good things that have happened I choose to focus on the negative. I'm also having a blogging mid life crisis not knowing what to do with this thing as I feel I am getting boring. I don't really do anything interesting. I am not finishing the interesting books that I am reading. Heck, I've only picked one up once since having blee. And I don't want these emotions to leak into my blog as I fear they will if I keep updating throughout this difficult period in my life.
See you when I am feeling better. Hopefully coming off of a major creative high very soon. I'll be around reading blogs whenever I have a few spare moments that aren't dedicated to cleaning or working on art.
And now here we are with our beautiful baby girl. I remember thinking about this upcoming anniversary last year on our forth and possibly doing something special like a renewal of vows since we never had a proper wedding. Now everything has changed and we will be lucky to go out to dinner together. But that is fine with me because I think having a baby reasserts our commitment to each other pretty well!
I'm going to be taking a bit of a hiatus from blogging. At least until I have new work to show. Hopefully that will be by Monday, but you never know. Plus I could always have the time and energy to work and have everything turn out terribly since it has been so long I feel rusty. I've both come out of downtime better than ever and also come out with great difficulty.
I'm not feeling well emotionally, physically or spiritually right now. I'm feeling rather down on my art too as of late. Despite the good things that have happened I choose to focus on the negative. I'm also having a blogging mid life crisis not knowing what to do with this thing as I feel I am getting boring. I don't really do anything interesting. I am not finishing the interesting books that I am reading. Heck, I've only picked one up once since having blee. And I don't want these emotions to leak into my blog as I fear they will if I keep updating throughout this difficult period in my life.
See you when I am feeling better. Hopefully coming off of a major creative high very soon. I'll be around reading blogs whenever I have a few spare moments that aren't dedicated to cleaning or working on art.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Blubber Butt
Look at what I let happen to my cat! He isn't svelte any longer that is for sure! The only difference in his life between the time the first photo was taken and the second was the dog. Who he loathes. And she eats his food whenever she gets the chance. I am wondering if when he is able to get to it he totally pigs out. Maybe we should put the baby gate on the door to the laundryroom where his food is kept back up. We would elevate it just enough for him to get under. But with the amount of laundry we do lately taking that thing down all the time would be such a pain.
He is cuter fat anyhow!
Some changes are going to be happening in my shop to go along with the changes in my life. Not closing it down or anything like that, just adjusting my business model a bit. Working out the details now, will try to post more about it on Monday.
I'm still ill and taking antibiotics four times a day and eating yogurt to counter the possible negative effects of the antibiotics killing my good bacteria along with the bad. Plus I love my kangaroo yogurt! Jon and I have both become addicted to having it every morning with some granola mixed in. He even picked up some Stoneyfield farms yogurt at Costco because it was cheap and ate one and wanted to toss them all out. All normal fruit yogurt is ruined for us now.
Happy weekend to everybody!
----------------
Now playing: Low - Immune
via FoxyTunes
He is cuter fat anyhow!
Some changes are going to be happening in my shop to go along with the changes in my life. Not closing it down or anything like that, just adjusting my business model a bit. Working out the details now, will try to post more about it on Monday.
I'm still ill and taking antibiotics four times a day and eating yogurt to counter the possible negative effects of the antibiotics killing my good bacteria along with the bad. Plus I love my kangaroo yogurt! Jon and I have both become addicted to having it every morning with some granola mixed in. He even picked up some Stoneyfield farms yogurt at Costco because it was cheap and ate one and wanted to toss them all out. All normal fruit yogurt is ruined for us now.
Happy weekend to everybody!
----------------
Now playing: Low - Immune
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Thirty Days of blee!
Our life has been bleetastic, bleebastic, and generally just all about blee for the past 30 days. Tonight, at 7:14pm blee will have been on the outside for thirty full days. Many of them wonderful, many of them quite difficult.
cute onesie courtesty of mamamonkey.etsy.com.
Mondays are always rough for me and yesterday was no exception. The kid is sucking me dry literally and figuratively. I nearly had a breakdown near the end and am still quite shut down and depressed. Last night was another difficult night starting around 4 or 5am. It is hard for me to know what time it is lately. Jon knew how bad I was doing and took care of her and let me sleep when I could, except for at the end when I knew he was doing badly and I took over.
The Open Studios over the weekend went so well that I ended up doing a half day on Sunday and am very happy that I did. And it isn't about the money, even though I made a good amount. But I had such a great time seeing people from last year and connecting with other artists as well as the people that came to talk to me. I had brought along one of my carved blocks and stuck up quite a few conversations about the process. People seemed pretty interested in it. Some of them bought from me, and some did not but I enjoyed it regardless of making a sale or not. And by the end of Sunday I only had a few business cards left from my stack and all my promo bookmarks were gone. I wish I had gotten Moo cards!
The weekend was dangerous because it gave me a taste of my old life, of freedom to a degree. And I realized how much I miss it. How much I want to make new work. And not just because I feel pressured to keep producing and selling but because it is something that I truly enjoy. Something that keeps me happy and sane. But currently all my free time goes into cleaning or I am so beat down tired that I can't do anything remotely productive. Yet I rarely have time to nap because she isn't down long enough during the day.
And I can't even work on art until I clean up my studio from the mess that getting ready for the Open Studios in a flurry caused. Throughout the day during blee downtime I would rush clean so I got some done, but I miss the spotless studio I had months ago. Currently it is clean enough to carve, but not to print. I do have a bit of carving to do before I can print and then I will need to clean up after that. Jon offered me some time this weekend to print but I don't feel hopeful about it. Plus the weekend seems very far away.
Look at me, feeling sorry for myself and depressed on my beautiful daughters first big milestone. Later today we go to the pediatrician for her checkup and will find out just how much of a hungry hungry hippo she has been! The big weigh in! Born at 8lbs 6oz, any bets on where she is at now?
cute onesie courtesty of mamamonkey.etsy.com.
Mondays are always rough for me and yesterday was no exception. The kid is sucking me dry literally and figuratively. I nearly had a breakdown near the end and am still quite shut down and depressed. Last night was another difficult night starting around 4 or 5am. It is hard for me to know what time it is lately. Jon knew how bad I was doing and took care of her and let me sleep when I could, except for at the end when I knew he was doing badly and I took over.
The Open Studios over the weekend went so well that I ended up doing a half day on Sunday and am very happy that I did. And it isn't about the money, even though I made a good amount. But I had such a great time seeing people from last year and connecting with other artists as well as the people that came to talk to me. I had brought along one of my carved blocks and stuck up quite a few conversations about the process. People seemed pretty interested in it. Some of them bought from me, and some did not but I enjoyed it regardless of making a sale or not. And by the end of Sunday I only had a few business cards left from my stack and all my promo bookmarks were gone. I wish I had gotten Moo cards!
The weekend was dangerous because it gave me a taste of my old life, of freedom to a degree. And I realized how much I miss it. How much I want to make new work. And not just because I feel pressured to keep producing and selling but because it is something that I truly enjoy. Something that keeps me happy and sane. But currently all my free time goes into cleaning or I am so beat down tired that I can't do anything remotely productive. Yet I rarely have time to nap because she isn't down long enough during the day.
And I can't even work on art until I clean up my studio from the mess that getting ready for the Open Studios in a flurry caused. Throughout the day during blee downtime I would rush clean so I got some done, but I miss the spotless studio I had months ago. Currently it is clean enough to carve, but not to print. I do have a bit of carving to do before I can print and then I will need to clean up after that. Jon offered me some time this weekend to print but I don't feel hopeful about it. Plus the weekend seems very far away.
Look at me, feeling sorry for myself and depressed on my beautiful daughters first big milestone. Later today we go to the pediatrician for her checkup and will find out just how much of a hungry hungry hippo she has been! The big weigh in! Born at 8lbs 6oz, any bets on where she is at now?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sketching instead of carving
A little late to blogging today, but that I am able to do it feels like quite an accomplishment considering. We had an appointment with the pediatrician this morning and our time was spent getting ready for that. It went very well. After losing some weight after the birth (totally normal) she is back up past her birth weight and an inch longer!
Sadly I was not able to do any carving or printing yesterday so true to my word I filled a page of my sketchbook with doodles basically. Most of them are junk but sometimes something good comes out of it. But I certainly don't have a sketchbook worthy of showing off the contents of! It is a good way for me to wind down since even though the day is exhausting I get so wound up!
The reason why I never got to my studio isn't because I didn't have the time or energy because I did, it was because whenever I did have the time I found myself obsessed with cleaning the house. Putting away laundry and just getting things in order. Things that I couldn't do when I was pregnant for a very long time. Plus Jon had to do some work so I did have a little less time than I would have liked. But today he should be free other than getting the oil on the car changed and maybe a run to IKEA to pick up a small changing table for our bedroom and eventually my studio. I will never use my printing press to change a diaper I promise! The baby area is very much separate from the work area. She has her corner and I have the rest.
But I am continuing to list stuff on Etsy and on Flickr. I don't want Flickr to become nothing BUT baby photos just like I don't want that for my blog. If it wasn't raining and overcast I would love to take some time to photograph some of my magnets and mirrors. Next time we have sun I need to remember to do that and take a bunch!
Sadly I was not able to do any carving or printing yesterday so true to my word I filled a page of my sketchbook with doodles basically. Most of them are junk but sometimes something good comes out of it. But I certainly don't have a sketchbook worthy of showing off the contents of! It is a good way for me to wind down since even though the day is exhausting I get so wound up!
The reason why I never got to my studio isn't because I didn't have the time or energy because I did, it was because whenever I did have the time I found myself obsessed with cleaning the house. Putting away laundry and just getting things in order. Things that I couldn't do when I was pregnant for a very long time. Plus Jon had to do some work so I did have a little less time than I would have liked. But today he should be free other than getting the oil on the car changed and maybe a run to IKEA to pick up a small changing table for our bedroom and eventually my studio. I will never use my printing press to change a diaper I promise! The baby area is very much separate from the work area. She has her corner and I have the rest.
But I am continuing to list stuff on Etsy and on Flickr. I don't want Flickr to become nothing BUT baby photos just like I don't want that for my blog. If it wasn't raining and overcast I would love to take some time to photograph some of my magnets and mirrors. Next time we have sun I need to remember to do that and take a bunch!
Monday, September 10, 2007
This Week Will Have Art!
Overall it was a pretty good weekend. Very hot though, I hope people in the rest of the country didn't have the heat wave that hit us hard last week. Yesterday was a bit better, but that was the day that our little angel decided to show her horns. She wasn't that bad, but compared to her normal behavior she was a demon baby that just couldn't be pleased.
We had company over multiple times and of course she was perfectly behaved for them. Even when they stayed for hours she was good the whole time. Visits are great but quite exhausting. I'm pretty happy because my friend and his mother who was visiting from Maine gave blee some of her first books. We've gotten so many great gifts but since so many are handmade not too many books. She had assumed that we would have gotten so many that she steered away from the obvious choices like Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Now some art talk! I did not get to do anything other than some very light studio cleaning. While my studio is far from being super messy it could use a little work if I am going to carve and even more if I am going to print. I should probably carve since it is easy for me to stop and get up from that activity if baby calls. And while Jon is home today and basically for the rest of the month he has some work to do today. I put a sketchbook and some pens on my nightstand and have promised myself that if I don't do any art in the studio during the day then I will at the very least fill a page of my sketchbook. It seems like a good way to wind down as well as keep my creativity going.
But I have been listing pieces like this one from July fairly regularly in my Etsy Shop. I also have quite a few ACEOs that I need to scan and list.
Now that the little bug is down for what could be a long nap I think I will try to do the same. I did not get enough sleep last night.
We had company over multiple times and of course she was perfectly behaved for them. Even when they stayed for hours she was good the whole time. Visits are great but quite exhausting. I'm pretty happy because my friend and his mother who was visiting from Maine gave blee some of her first books. We've gotten so many great gifts but since so many are handmade not too many books. She had assumed that we would have gotten so many that she steered away from the obvious choices like Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Now some art talk! I did not get to do anything other than some very light studio cleaning. While my studio is far from being super messy it could use a little work if I am going to carve and even more if I am going to print. I should probably carve since it is easy for me to stop and get up from that activity if baby calls. And while Jon is home today and basically for the rest of the month he has some work to do today. I put a sketchbook and some pens on my nightstand and have promised myself that if I don't do any art in the studio during the day then I will at the very least fill a page of my sketchbook. It seems like a good way to wind down as well as keep my creativity going.
But I have been listing pieces like this one from July fairly regularly in my Etsy Shop. I also have quite a few ACEOs that I need to scan and list.
Now that the little bug is down for what could be a long nap I think I will try to do the same. I did not get enough sleep last night.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Good Morning - Happy Birthday!
A week ago I was at the hospital getting a pre-induction treatment. I had no idea that by 7:14 I would be holding our beautiful baby girl.
All three of us couldn't be doing better. This little flower Jon picked for me this morning while walking the dog. The little pot was a gift for blee when she is older for her own flower picking from jdwolfepottery. Etsy user kindness strikes again!
While I haven't made any new work this week I did start listing new products that I was too tired, sore and depressed to bother with pre-pregnancy. My shop is now officially reopened. making it clear that it may take up to a week for shipping, especially internationally
Today some friends are stopping by to see the baby (and us I presume) but other than that we have no plans. So far it looks like it may not be as hot as it was yesterday so I would like to take her out on a stroll, maybe with the dog so she feels included. Our little bug was fed with the milk drug not too long ago so she should be out for awhile. After I finish up my breakfast and coffee and shower I am going to clean up my studio so I can either carve or print today or tomorrow.
Happy Sunday everybody! And happy birthday to Alexandra/ Alex/ blee/ bug at 7:14pm tonight!
----------------
Now playing: Jens Lekman - Someone to Share My Life With
via FoxyTunes
All three of us couldn't be doing better. This little flower Jon picked for me this morning while walking the dog. The little pot was a gift for blee when she is older for her own flower picking from jdwolfepottery. Etsy user kindness strikes again!
While I haven't made any new work this week I did start listing new products that I was too tired, sore and depressed to bother with pre-pregnancy. My shop is now officially reopened. making it clear that it may take up to a week for shipping, especially internationally
Today some friends are stopping by to see the baby (and us I presume) but other than that we have no plans. So far it looks like it may not be as hot as it was yesterday so I would like to take her out on a stroll, maybe with the dog so she feels included. Our little bug was fed with the milk drug not too long ago so she should be out for awhile. After I finish up my breakfast and coffee and shower I am going to clean up my studio so I can either carve or print today or tomorrow.
Happy Sunday everybody! And happy birthday to Alexandra/ Alex/ blee/ bug at 7:14pm tonight!
----------------
Now playing: Jens Lekman - Someone to Share My Life With
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Fast and Furious!
Welcome back from the weekend, hope it was fantastic for all. Though I don't think any of you could have me beat at this point for wonderfully eventful weekends! Little blee (or maybe not so little?) finally decided to enter the outside world at 7:14pm on Sunday night, and boy was she in a hurry to get here after those 12 extra days cooped up!
We went in for some pre-induction treatment at the hospital to help make the scheduled induction on Monday go easier on Sunday morning. The first treatment didn't seem to do much, we went and ate lunch across the street before coming back and getting a second dosage. There was even talk of the possibility of getting a 3rd dose before sending me home! After about a half hour of lying down I started having contractions and they came on quite strong right off the bat and got pretty serious (as in painful) very quickly. After about an hour of this we spoke with the midwife that was treating me and decided that this most likely was just the side effect of the treatment and would wear off. The pattern did not fit true labor and I had not progressed much closer. We decided to go home where I could take a bath and generally be more comfortable.
We were home and Jon was helping me with my breathing for close to two hours before I decided that this could be the real deal after all since even though it was still very erratic it was getting worse not better so when I was able to talk I had Jon call the hospital and they had us come right in. We arrived at the hospital around 6:15pm and they were ready to admit me right away. I was wheeled up to labor and delivery screaming for pain meds. Screaming for the epidural. I nearly cried when they told me that I had to be examined first as I wanted them to stick that epidural needle in my back right then and there if they would it hurt so badly.
Around 6:45 my water finally broke as the nurses were helping me get into a gown (or a Johnny as they like to call them here). By seven I was being examined and told that while I could receive an epidural the baby was so close to being born that I could have the baby by the time they got it for me. And that pushing would help direct and ease the pain more than breathing. I was absolutely terrified of the prospect of going drug free as this had never been my plan this entire pregnancy or even pre-pregnancy! But I wanted this over with as soon as possible.
With the midwife that had just gotten on duty delivering the baby, the midwife that had taken care of me all day and was on her way out when I came in cheering me on and applying wet towels to my face, two nurses and the one whose fault this was keeping me focused and motivated I did it! After thirteen minutes of pushing we had a large, healthy baby girl to hold and worry about for the rest of our lives. When she decided to come she didn't waste any time! I was in total shock for the rest of the night. Alexandra Lee Swinghammer was born at 7:14pm weighing 8.6 pounds and 20 inches. She made sure right away to let us know that her lungs work!
I feel fantastic! We had a great first day yesterday and we are both very smitten. She is already daddy's little girl and has taken quite a shine to being held by and talked to by him. I guess she heard him all the time he was saying "hi baby!" to my belly because she responds very well to his voice and him saying that now. She just loves being talked to in general.
She had her first visitors today. My aunt and her family came and two of Jon's co-workers came by to meet her. And of course her adoring public that is the etc. forum on Etsy that has been waiting to finally meet her was very pleased. I can't wait to show her all the love she already has and had even prior to birth when she is older!
Lots of phone calls lots of change. I seem to be healing quite nicely and quickly. Emotionally I feel very good and hopeful about our future as new parents. And even though it was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life it feels so good to finally be on the other side of it and be healing instead of getting worse!
I'll be back to making art in no time at all! But for now it is time to bask in the glow of my most beautiful creation.
pssst our camera battery died so we have no pictures from Monday other than the ones that my aunt took and hasn't sent us yet. Here is a photoset that we will be updating with new photos as we get them. The battery is charging now. I need to get some film of Jon with little Alexandra because it is touching.
I just woke up from sleeping and feeding and she is in the nursery while I sent Jon to sleep at home so he could be comfortable. Now I am ready to go back to sleep. When I started this entry I was very awake, now I am sleepy enough to be in danger of some major typos.
Thank you and I love you all! I'll be around!
We went in for some pre-induction treatment at the hospital to help make the scheduled induction on Monday go easier on Sunday morning. The first treatment didn't seem to do much, we went and ate lunch across the street before coming back and getting a second dosage. There was even talk of the possibility of getting a 3rd dose before sending me home! After about a half hour of lying down I started having contractions and they came on quite strong right off the bat and got pretty serious (as in painful) very quickly. After about an hour of this we spoke with the midwife that was treating me and decided that this most likely was just the side effect of the treatment and would wear off. The pattern did not fit true labor and I had not progressed much closer. We decided to go home where I could take a bath and generally be more comfortable.
We were home and Jon was helping me with my breathing for close to two hours before I decided that this could be the real deal after all since even though it was still very erratic it was getting worse not better so when I was able to talk I had Jon call the hospital and they had us come right in. We arrived at the hospital around 6:15pm and they were ready to admit me right away. I was wheeled up to labor and delivery screaming for pain meds. Screaming for the epidural. I nearly cried when they told me that I had to be examined first as I wanted them to stick that epidural needle in my back right then and there if they would it hurt so badly.
Around 6:45 my water finally broke as the nurses were helping me get into a gown (or a Johnny as they like to call them here). By seven I was being examined and told that while I could receive an epidural the baby was so close to being born that I could have the baby by the time they got it for me. And that pushing would help direct and ease the pain more than breathing. I was absolutely terrified of the prospect of going drug free as this had never been my plan this entire pregnancy or even pre-pregnancy! But I wanted this over with as soon as possible.
With the midwife that had just gotten on duty delivering the baby, the midwife that had taken care of me all day and was on her way out when I came in cheering me on and applying wet towels to my face, two nurses and the one whose fault this was keeping me focused and motivated I did it! After thirteen minutes of pushing we had a large, healthy baby girl to hold and worry about for the rest of our lives. When she decided to come she didn't waste any time! I was in total shock for the rest of the night. Alexandra Lee Swinghammer was born at 7:14pm weighing 8.6 pounds and 20 inches. She made sure right away to let us know that her lungs work!
I feel fantastic! We had a great first day yesterday and we are both very smitten. She is already daddy's little girl and has taken quite a shine to being held by and talked to by him. I guess she heard him all the time he was saying "hi baby!" to my belly because she responds very well to his voice and him saying that now. She just loves being talked to in general.
She had her first visitors today. My aunt and her family came and two of Jon's co-workers came by to meet her. And of course her adoring public that is the etc. forum on Etsy that has been waiting to finally meet her was very pleased. I can't wait to show her all the love she already has and had even prior to birth when she is older!
Lots of phone calls lots of change. I seem to be healing quite nicely and quickly. Emotionally I feel very good and hopeful about our future as new parents. And even though it was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life it feels so good to finally be on the other side of it and be healing instead of getting worse!
I'll be back to making art in no time at all! But for now it is time to bask in the glow of my most beautiful creation.
pssst our camera battery died so we have no pictures from Monday other than the ones that my aunt took and hasn't sent us yet. Here is a photoset that we will be updating with new photos as we get them. The battery is charging now. I need to get some film of Jon with little Alexandra because it is touching.
I just woke up from sleeping and feeding and she is in the nursery while I sent Jon to sleep at home so he could be comfortable. Now I am ready to go back to sleep. When I started this entry I was very awake, now I am sleepy enough to be in danger of some major typos.
Thank you and I love you all! I'll be around!
Saturday, September 01, 2007
One Final Goal
Little (or not so little) blee has officially made it into September without being born and I am pretty certain that I am going to have to be induced on Monday. I'm just not feeling it happening before then. The process starts Sunday and lasts all day and most of the night but the induction itself starts on Monday.
I'm behind on mailing orders. Even though every person that has ordered from me recently has given me permission and even sometimes encouraged me to take my sweet time I just can't do it! This is unfortunately an old photograph and not the current orders that need to be shipped. But my one goal for the day is to get these items packed and shipped by evening. Even if it means doing it in stages and resting in between. Buyers have been beyond wonderful in giving me time but I just think it would be so much better for everybody if I could get these out before I get induced and today is the final day. That way I don't have them hanging out in the back of my mind when I have my baby to care for.
Adjust that. I wrote that last paragraph last night before bed when I wasn't feeling great but I wasn't feeling awful either. This morning I woke up with a horrible leg cramp along with my entire body being in pain. The best thing to do for leg cramps is to get up right away and stand and walk it off if needed. Except there is no such thing as me getting up quickly, especially first thing in the morning. After tossing and turning screaming in agony Jon woke up and hoisted me up and I forced myself to walk. I'm still hurting. My goal from last night is still my goal, but I have to consider my health. I hate this so much. There is also the little extra of getting light headed and having difficulty breathing randomly throughout the day. And if I go into labor then all goals are off other than getting this baby out!
Maybe I can get Jon to do the packing for me while I give orders from the comfort of my glider chair?
A week ago we were spending our final day with our beloved cat Burrito and preparing to say goodbye and now we are in the final preparations for this new life. It is an odd mix of expectation, sadness and still some disbelief about both the cat being gone and that we are actually about to become parents. What a week it has been. What an August!
Adjust that. I wrote that last paragraph last night before bed when I wasn't feeling great but I wasn't feeling awful either. This morning I woke up with a horrible leg cramp along with my entire body being in pain. The best thing to do for leg cramps is to get up right away and stand and walk it off if needed. Except there is no such thing as me getting up quickly, especially first thing in the morning. After tossing and turning screaming in agony Jon woke up and hoisted me up and I forced myself to walk. I'm still hurting. My goal from last night is still my goal, but I have to consider my health. I hate this so much. There is also the little extra of getting light headed and having difficulty breathing randomly throughout the day. And if I go into labor then all goals are off other than getting this baby out!
Maybe I can get Jon to do the packing for me while I give orders from the comfort of my glider chair?
A week ago we were spending our final day with our beloved cat Burrito and preparing to say goodbye and now we are in the final preparations for this new life. It is an odd mix of expectation, sadness and still some disbelief about both the cat being gone and that we are actually about to become parents. What a week it has been. What an August!
Friday, August 31, 2007
His Final Days as the Baby
I actually had to put something in the bouncy seat for the baby just to keep this little guy from crawling into it. Cute as it is seeing him in it he needs to be kept out of the babies things because soon he will not be the baby anymore. I got him in June of 2000 and he has been with me through a lot and boy is he one moody little guy! But I love him and I hope he handles the adjustment well. Especially since now he is the only cat we have left. Burrito would have been fine with the baby, she was always rather indifferent to changes as long as she had the back of a sofa to sit on she was happy.
I'm ready to have my body back. I know that the labor will probably break my body even worse, but at least then I can start the healing process. Right now I just feel stuck. The idea that I could actually print yesterday was such a pipe dream! It wasn't hot like it is today so I started tidying my studio so I could either print or carve. My press had some junk on it that had to go and so did my desk. After about fifteen minutes of this I was completely exhausted, my hips and back were killing me and my joints hurt. Even sitting wasn't good enough, I needed to lie down. It is very frustrating to say the least. And i feel so guilty for being such a slacker.
Today is my last appointment with the midwife. I'll get checked out to see if I am any further along but I doubt it. Since my midwife Lara wasn't on the schedule I probably won't see her again until after I have had the baby. But the other midwife I have taken a real shining too will be inducing me on Monday so all is not lost.
Today is Jon's last day at work before he takes leave for the baby! At the latest even with a difficult labor we should have her by Tuesday! I get chills thinking about it! We will use these last two days to go over the house for any final preparations and then on Sunday we go in to get things started. I could go into labor then but most likely I will go home to sleep then come back in on Monday for an inducement.
I hope everybody has a great weekend! I will keep things updated as much as possible! Expect baby pictures soon!
----------------
Now playing: Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summer Night On Hammer Hill
via FoxyTunes
I'm ready to have my body back. I know that the labor will probably break my body even worse, but at least then I can start the healing process. Right now I just feel stuck. The idea that I could actually print yesterday was such a pipe dream! It wasn't hot like it is today so I started tidying my studio so I could either print or carve. My press had some junk on it that had to go and so did my desk. After about fifteen minutes of this I was completely exhausted, my hips and back were killing me and my joints hurt. Even sitting wasn't good enough, I needed to lie down. It is very frustrating to say the least. And i feel so guilty for being such a slacker.
Today is my last appointment with the midwife. I'll get checked out to see if I am any further along but I doubt it. Since my midwife Lara wasn't on the schedule I probably won't see her again until after I have had the baby. But the other midwife I have taken a real shining too will be inducing me on Monday so all is not lost.
Today is Jon's last day at work before he takes leave for the baby! At the latest even with a difficult labor we should have her by Tuesday! I get chills thinking about it! We will use these last two days to go over the house for any final preparations and then on Sunday we go in to get things started. I could go into labor then but most likely I will go home to sleep then come back in on Monday for an inducement.
I hope everybody has a great weekend! I will keep things updated as much as possible! Expect baby pictures soon!
----------------
Now playing: Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summer Night On Hammer Hill
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I've been Featured!
On the Modish Trendwatch Africa blog entry! This is my second trendwatch feature in a row from them. Last month it was the Russian Doll Trendwatch. My work is covering the globe!
Thanks Modish! I love your blog and the feature is a huge honor. I've always had a soft spot for this piece and this series as a whole.
I've been kinda taking it easy today chilling out and feeling kinda almost euphoric in a chill kind of way. With people constantly asking about the baby and threads like this being started on Etsy every day or so how can I not feel good and loved? It is so cute! One person actually joked around and said something to the effect of; "you think you are anxious, how do you think we feel?". Classic. I've had so much support and she is going to be so loved not just by her family but by her extended family.
PS. Etsy might be running a tad slow right now since Showcase spots are on sale and everybody (except me) is rushing to go buy them. I expect it will clear up in about a half hour or so.
I really should be carving but I haven't been. Maybe I will go do that now.
----------------
Now playing: Beat Happening - Teenage Caveman
via FoxyTunes
Thanks Modish! I love your blog and the feature is a huge honor. I've always had a soft spot for this piece and this series as a whole.
I've been kinda taking it easy today chilling out and feeling kinda almost euphoric in a chill kind of way. With people constantly asking about the baby and threads like this being started on Etsy every day or so how can I not feel good and loved? It is so cute! One person actually joked around and said something to the effect of; "you think you are anxious, how do you think we feel?". Classic. I've had so much support and she is going to be so loved not just by her family but by her extended family.
PS. Etsy might be running a tad slow right now since Showcase spots are on sale and everybody (except me) is rushing to go buy them. I expect it will clear up in about a half hour or so.
I really should be carving but I haven't been. Maybe I will go do that now.
----------------
Now playing: Beat Happening - Teenage Caveman
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
I can still work! (a little)
Morning to all! Another Tuesday and no baby. Last night we were convinced she was on her way and were even using the computer to time contractions. Then the power went out and we both fell asleep. I guess they must not have been true contractions after all. I'm sure we are not the only impatient one at this point.
After having a few slug days in a row I had a small burst of energy last night a couple hours before bedtime. It wasn't super hot out and I had the air on and the door closed and Jon was in the bedroom hanging curtains. (now our bedroom can finally be nice and dark when we sleep). At first I thought maybe I would do some printing, but I realized that is insane and way too much commitment once I have my inks out so I decided to start carving this puppy instead! I know there is no way it will get finished anytime soon but I might as well get it started. Normally I carve standing up because I feel I get a better angle that way but pregnant I try to sit as much as possible. But at times it just wasn't possible and as I bent over to carve my belly would press up against my lower body. Seriously not comfortable and i tried not to do that often! Don't worry I didn't overdue it and stopped after about an hour and then took a lovely cool shower.
I've been feeling like such a useless slug with nothing but wanting this baby out on my mind for days now. It felt good to let out some creativity even if it wasn't much.
And now i have a bedroom with dark curtains so me and the baby can sleep better. I then vacated my studio and he hung curtains in there too. We got curtains for the whole place but the ones in the bedroom and my studio are the most important because that is where she will be sleeping. And the studio corner with her pack and play bassinet has a window right there that didn't even have blinds. I think we need to get even more to block light in there.
For a couple of days we were thinking that we want to have this baby on the 18th, that way she can share the date with both of us! That and see Superbad in the theaters on Friday the 17th! But I have since changed my mind and want her out ASAP. The more time passes the bigger she gets and from her squirms I am thinking she is very big and cramped in there!
Making art, listing on Etsy and putting stuff on Flickr is becoming less important in my mind. Blogging is becoming more difficult as well. I'm so tired so much of the time. But I have discovered that people tend to jump to the conclusion that I am having the baby if I don't at least poke my head out once a day! I was thinking if the power wasn't back on by morning I would have to call somebody to post that I am not having the baby I just don't have power! I swear that other than my mother in law my friends and the people I know through Etsy are the most excited about her arrival. Or maybe it is just that my family tends to be very reserved.
We have plans for a BBQ at a friend's house and a play date for local greyhounds to run around in a fenced in area tonight. Jon is working on finishing up some major projects at work before he takes his leave. So probably she'll come sometime today! That is fine with me because I really would like to avoid getting induced or having a C section. Recovery for a C can be really difficult and I have a big art fair that I would really like to do at the end of September. It is very important to me.
P.S. feeling better after my emotional moodiness from the last post! Thanks for being understanding.
After having a few slug days in a row I had a small burst of energy last night a couple hours before bedtime. It wasn't super hot out and I had the air on and the door closed and Jon was in the bedroom hanging curtains. (now our bedroom can finally be nice and dark when we sleep). At first I thought maybe I would do some printing, but I realized that is insane and way too much commitment once I have my inks out so I decided to start carving this puppy instead! I know there is no way it will get finished anytime soon but I might as well get it started. Normally I carve standing up because I feel I get a better angle that way but pregnant I try to sit as much as possible. But at times it just wasn't possible and as I bent over to carve my belly would press up against my lower body. Seriously not comfortable and i tried not to do that often! Don't worry I didn't overdue it and stopped after about an hour and then took a lovely cool shower.
I've been feeling like such a useless slug with nothing but wanting this baby out on my mind for days now. It felt good to let out some creativity even if it wasn't much.
And now i have a bedroom with dark curtains so me and the baby can sleep better. I then vacated my studio and he hung curtains in there too. We got curtains for the whole place but the ones in the bedroom and my studio are the most important because that is where she will be sleeping. And the studio corner with her pack and play bassinet has a window right there that didn't even have blinds. I think we need to get even more to block light in there.
For a couple of days we were thinking that we want to have this baby on the 18th, that way she can share the date with both of us! That and see Superbad in the theaters on Friday the 17th! But I have since changed my mind and want her out ASAP. The more time passes the bigger she gets and from her squirms I am thinking she is very big and cramped in there!
Making art, listing on Etsy and putting stuff on Flickr is becoming less important in my mind. Blogging is becoming more difficult as well. I'm so tired so much of the time. But I have discovered that people tend to jump to the conclusion that I am having the baby if I don't at least poke my head out once a day! I was thinking if the power wasn't back on by morning I would have to call somebody to post that I am not having the baby I just don't have power! I swear that other than my mother in law my friends and the people I know through Etsy are the most excited about her arrival. Or maybe it is just that my family tends to be very reserved.
We have plans for a BBQ at a friend's house and a play date for local greyhounds to run around in a fenced in area tonight. Jon is working on finishing up some major projects at work before he takes his leave. So probably she'll come sometime today! That is fine with me because I really would like to avoid getting induced or having a C section. Recovery for a C can be really difficult and I have a big art fair that I would really like to do at the end of September. It is very important to me.
P.S. feeling better after my emotional moodiness from the last post! Thanks for being understanding.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Never a cool kid
Should a blogger show no weakness? I'm a professional and should exude confidence at all times right? Well maybe this post will never see the light of day but right now I am not brimming with self confidence. Not being able to physically or mentally make art certainly isn't helping me feel good about myself as an artist. I wanted to do some printing or carving so badly yesterday but my body and mind just weren't up to it. I am on countdown mode to the baby and my life is pretty much on hold right now.
Don't get me wrong I love and am quite confident in my work most of the time. I've really grown as an artist in the past two years. Even damn proud of many of my pieces and certainly am proud of my rather large body of work. Even small pieces like this art card are things of joy for me. And I am also proud of what I have accomplished as an artist doing it my way in a rather short period of time after a long period where I had no art. It is quite the turn around and that is something that I should be thankful for and celebrate.
But sometimes I see something random surfing around online late at night while battling anxiety induced insomnia or a random thought pops into my mind and I suddenly feel small and insignificant. Yes I have this, this and this but what about the things that I haven't accomplished? And then I start comparing myself to other artists and their successes and I don't always measure up. My work may be strong and I am not about to change it to meet whatever is hip but I am just not one of the uber cool indie artists it seems. My work is beautiful, colorful and filled with complex layering and texture. But I don't know just how much of a cool factor it has. I'm just trying to find and accept my place in all of this and love my work for what it is. I've never been one of the cool kids in any time or any scene in my life so why should this be any different?
I am way more secure about my work than i used to be, but I have my moments when I am not. It will pass I am sure, especially when I am able to work again. I'm sure being exhausted and filled with pregnancy hormones isn't helping.
Don't get me wrong I love and am quite confident in my work most of the time. I've really grown as an artist in the past two years. Even damn proud of many of my pieces and certainly am proud of my rather large body of work. Even small pieces like this art card are things of joy for me. And I am also proud of what I have accomplished as an artist doing it my way in a rather short period of time after a long period where I had no art. It is quite the turn around and that is something that I should be thankful for and celebrate.
But sometimes I see something random surfing around online late at night while battling anxiety induced insomnia or a random thought pops into my mind and I suddenly feel small and insignificant. Yes I have this, this and this but what about the things that I haven't accomplished? And then I start comparing myself to other artists and their successes and I don't always measure up. My work may be strong and I am not about to change it to meet whatever is hip but I am just not one of the uber cool indie artists it seems. My work is beautiful, colorful and filled with complex layering and texture. But I don't know just how much of a cool factor it has. I'm just trying to find and accept my place in all of this and love my work for what it is. I've never been one of the cool kids in any time or any scene in my life so why should this be any different?
I am way more secure about my work than i used to be, but I have my moments when I am not. It will pass I am sure, especially when I am able to work again. I'm sure being exhausted and filled with pregnancy hormones isn't helping.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Manic? Me? No!
Okay, maybe just a little bit! smiles
It is Monday already? Why does my weekend feel wasted? It wasn't, but it is just never enough since there is so much to do.
The heat got to me and I wasn't able to print yesterday as planned. My body just wasn't cooperating at all. Instead I made a promo poster (side A, side B) to and sent it to the JPOS for them to include in binders throughout the area. Postmark date today!
I took a nice nap and actually woke up feeling rather refreshed for a change. My brain was hopping a bit and I started going through my sketchbook and adding new doodles. I'm not a huge sketcher but sometimes I doodle or do very loose plans for images. That is where this crazy block came from. Pulling random images and throwing them all on one block in a mad drawing fury. I had more that wouldn't fit that I was tempted to put on the other side but I restrained myself, reminding myself that the drawing part is the easy part of this process. That carving this won't be a fast and easy task for sure.
And I won't be letting myself carve this no matter how much I want to until I print. I have around 50 sheets of beautiful Japanese papers torn and ready to go and those four new images to print. This new crazy block can wait or I may end up totally screwing myself over and not have any new work before blee comes!
It feels so good when my brain works like this with energy and not wanting or needing sleep but it wears me out eventually and if I don't force myself to focus I don't get things done I just get too many things started and end up overwhelmed. I feel very impatient with myself right now wishing I had carved or printed yesterday but my body was not able to print and by the time I finished drawing the block it was midnight and time for bed like it or not. Plus, starting carving means messing up the studio I cleaned up for printing.
This morning it is raining and cooler. Still muggy but not nearly as bad as yesterday. I had a so-so night sleeping having woken up feeling icky a few times but managing to control it. Then around 6am (I think) I was woken up again by a thunderclap. I love thunder but I need my sleep! Right now I need my coffee or a big pot of tea.
Currently the colors I am thinking for today are a golden yellow/ orange. slate blue and deep purple. I hope my body and the heat don't do me in.
It is Monday already? Why does my weekend feel wasted? It wasn't, but it is just never enough since there is so much to do.
The heat got to me and I wasn't able to print yesterday as planned. My body just wasn't cooperating at all. Instead I made a promo poster (side A, side B) to and sent it to the JPOS for them to include in binders throughout the area. Postmark date today!
I took a nice nap and actually woke up feeling rather refreshed for a change. My brain was hopping a bit and I started going through my sketchbook and adding new doodles. I'm not a huge sketcher but sometimes I doodle or do very loose plans for images. That is where this crazy block came from. Pulling random images and throwing them all on one block in a mad drawing fury. I had more that wouldn't fit that I was tempted to put on the other side but I restrained myself, reminding myself that the drawing part is the easy part of this process. That carving this won't be a fast and easy task for sure.
And I won't be letting myself carve this no matter how much I want to until I print. I have around 50 sheets of beautiful Japanese papers torn and ready to go and those four new images to print. This new crazy block can wait or I may end up totally screwing myself over and not have any new work before blee comes!
It feels so good when my brain works like this with energy and not wanting or needing sleep but it wears me out eventually and if I don't force myself to focus I don't get things done I just get too many things started and end up overwhelmed. I feel very impatient with myself right now wishing I had carved or printed yesterday but my body was not able to print and by the time I finished drawing the block it was midnight and time for bed like it or not. Plus, starting carving means messing up the studio I cleaned up for printing.
This morning it is raining and cooler. Still muggy but not nearly as bad as yesterday. I had a so-so night sleeping having woken up feeling icky a few times but managing to control it. Then around 6am (I think) I was woken up again by a thunderclap. I love thunder but I need my sleep! Right now I need my coffee or a big pot of tea.
Currently the colors I am thinking for today are a golden yellow/ orange. slate blue and deep purple. I hope my body and the heat don't do me in.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Last Hurrah!
Of one very pregnant lady.
I hope everybody is having a good week so far. I can't believe that it
is nearly over. I also can't believe that we now have an infant car
seat strapped in our back seat! I'm all grown up now! *tick tick tick*
my belly has a time bomb in it and I can't read the clock.
Carving the pine cone block was beginning to wear on me. That 8"x10" was feeling rather large and daunting and my mind had moved on to other ideas. I've made good progress on it but find myself slowing down and neglecting it. Odd finding such a small block feeling so large when I have carved 20"x30" many times in the past. So I pulled out one of my many 6" square blocks and pasted two images onto them. They are a mixture of images I found in the dictionary combined with drawn embellishments. I attached the paper Tuesday night and then let it dry to the block overnight before carving. Dragonfly on one side, butterfly on the other. Then I carved them both in a day before washing off the paper guide. The process can be seen documented here in this set. I am really liking the paper transfer except for the part where I get the block wet. I wanted to go back into the butterfly after I removed the image but I felt that carving it wet would not be wise. It was the detail in the butterfly that really killed me and gave me some serious shoulder pain. I needed to use my magnifying goggles to carve those little dots and they still need to have the edges cleaned up before I can print.
In the end I am proud of myself for pushing myself to get this done. I am planning on printing the two separate and together seeing how the forms overlap. Depending on if I am able to complete the pine cone block or not these may be the last blocks I finish for awhile. And possibly my last big printing session until after we have adjusted to the baby.
Last night I was feeling good, really good, and I made the mistake of telling somebody that both my swollen ankles and my acid seem to be under control. Well around 3am I was puking up acid and today I will probably end up with swollen ankles even if I never get out of bed! What does a girl have to do?
I hope everybody is having a good week so far. I can't believe that it
is nearly over. I also can't believe that we now have an infant car
seat strapped in our back seat! I'm all grown up now! *tick tick tick*
my belly has a time bomb in it and I can't read the clock.
Carving the pine cone block was beginning to wear on me. That 8"x10" was feeling rather large and daunting and my mind had moved on to other ideas. I've made good progress on it but find myself slowing down and neglecting it. Odd finding such a small block feeling so large when I have carved 20"x30" many times in the past. So I pulled out one of my many 6" square blocks and pasted two images onto them. They are a mixture of images I found in the dictionary combined with drawn embellishments. I attached the paper Tuesday night and then let it dry to the block overnight before carving. Dragonfly on one side, butterfly on the other. Then I carved them both in a day before washing off the paper guide. The process can be seen documented here in this set. I am really liking the paper transfer except for the part where I get the block wet. I wanted to go back into the butterfly after I removed the image but I felt that carving it wet would not be wise. It was the detail in the butterfly that really killed me and gave me some serious shoulder pain. I needed to use my magnifying goggles to carve those little dots and they still need to have the edges cleaned up before I can print.
In the end I am proud of myself for pushing myself to get this done. I am planning on printing the two separate and together seeing how the forms overlap. Depending on if I am able to complete the pine cone block or not these may be the last blocks I finish for awhile. And possibly my last big printing session until after we have adjusted to the baby.
Last night I was feeling good, really good, and I made the mistake of telling somebody that both my swollen ankles and my acid seem to be under control. Well around 3am I was puking up acid and today I will probably end up with swollen ankles even if I never get out of bed! What does a girl have to do?
Monday, July 23, 2007
Getting Centered - Priorities
Happy Monday party people! Well, many of you are probably not really party people, but probably moreso than I am.
On Saturday morning we had our birth class, nothing like natural childbirth (hah) though we did learn some simple breathing techniques that were putting me to sleep during the class. We were the "yes drug us please" class. Sorry but I have too much anxiety already to deal with natural childbirth when I don't have to. The class went really well and I feel very reassured about the process now and even better about our decision to use a NP midwife at the Bringham. The labor and delivery rooms are set up to look like bedrooms with two beds and a crib. We watched a video of a birth and it was like nothing I have ever seen before. So much better than your standard hospital room!
I have to say I got a little bitter because every other woman there seems to be having a problem free pregnancy and during the 7 hour class I was looking at all their ankles and the only one that swelled (just from not being elevated) was mine. And no I do not eat a lot of salty foods. I don't each much at all anymore really. One meal and a few snacks here and there and I am good.
Despite the foot issues and other sorenesses I am feeling quite good. I have such a strong motivation to get things in order that I often am able to just push through the pain and get what needs to be done done! This piece from last Sunday really means a lot to me. I relate to it, I would say it is one of my most personal and powerful pieces to date. I am very proud of it.
Proud of the batch in general. After the panic of nearly losing another piece I took a couple of hours to totally reorganize how I store my work. I'm actually still not completely finished as I would like to have every piece signed ahead of time and I still have some unsigned pieces. But it is tons better. I just wish I had gotten a second refill pack of archival sleeve pages for the presentation case I ordered from Blick. I'm hoping the store may carry the refills, but they probably don't because they don't carry the case. Shipping from them isn't cheap so I would have to wait until I felt that I needed something else and I don't know when that will be. Sure I sell my work at a good pace but I also make a lot too, especially before getting pregnant. Back then it was fairly normal for me to create 30 original pieces in a day or two once every week or two. It is no wonder that I have art coming out of my ears.
I got the bulk of my shipping done finally on Sunday and that lowered my stress level a lot. Still waiting on an echeck to clear and an address correction. But other than that I am good. I spent too much of Sunday making up stickers. 228 stickers to be exact and it was maddening. Jon tried to help me out as best he could and did a good job but when he discovered that one of the rounds had a drop of water on it was ruined and that I needed to print out more to replace it I kinda lost it. We got it done but I had to raise the prices of my stickers because there is a lot more effort to making them than I every imagined and I just can't be having them priced so low that I get so many orders in a week. I can't be carving blocks for the hanga project I want to try if I am busy making stickers. I hang up my cape and resign from being Sticker Girl. Feel free to order them if you wish because I think at the higher prices I am less likely to get so overwhelmed. If I really didn't want to sell them I would have unlisted them, I just want a more fair price for my labor. And they are a lot harder to make than you might think! Apparently the price increase is not too steep since a set sold just last night. I think I am going to wait before putting anymore back up until I have this one made.
Now I can put my focus back on carving that block for hanga. Before blee comes my goal is to have at least one more big printing session. Maybe it will be a hanga experiment or maybe it won't be. Not sure if I can use my oily blocks for the waterbased method.
On Saturday morning we had our birth class, nothing like natural childbirth (hah) though we did learn some simple breathing techniques that were putting me to sleep during the class. We were the "yes drug us please" class. Sorry but I have too much anxiety already to deal with natural childbirth when I don't have to. The class went really well and I feel very reassured about the process now and even better about our decision to use a NP midwife at the Bringham. The labor and delivery rooms are set up to look like bedrooms with two beds and a crib. We watched a video of a birth and it was like nothing I have ever seen before. So much better than your standard hospital room!
I have to say I got a little bitter because every other woman there seems to be having a problem free pregnancy and during the 7 hour class I was looking at all their ankles and the only one that swelled (just from not being elevated) was mine. And no I do not eat a lot of salty foods. I don't each much at all anymore really. One meal and a few snacks here and there and I am good.
Despite the foot issues and other sorenesses I am feeling quite good. I have such a strong motivation to get things in order that I often am able to just push through the pain and get what needs to be done done! This piece from last Sunday really means a lot to me. I relate to it, I would say it is one of my most personal and powerful pieces to date. I am very proud of it.
Proud of the batch in general. After the panic of nearly losing another piece I took a couple of hours to totally reorganize how I store my work. I'm actually still not completely finished as I would like to have every piece signed ahead of time and I still have some unsigned pieces. But it is tons better. I just wish I had gotten a second refill pack of archival sleeve pages for the presentation case I ordered from Blick. I'm hoping the store may carry the refills, but they probably don't because they don't carry the case. Shipping from them isn't cheap so I would have to wait until I felt that I needed something else and I don't know when that will be. Sure I sell my work at a good pace but I also make a lot too, especially before getting pregnant. Back then it was fairly normal for me to create 30 original pieces in a day or two once every week or two. It is no wonder that I have art coming out of my ears.
I got the bulk of my shipping done finally on Sunday and that lowered my stress level a lot. Still waiting on an echeck to clear and an address correction. But other than that I am good. I spent too much of Sunday making up stickers. 228 stickers to be exact and it was maddening. Jon tried to help me out as best he could and did a good job but when he discovered that one of the rounds had a drop of water on it was ruined and that I needed to print out more to replace it I kinda lost it. We got it done but I had to raise the prices of my stickers because there is a lot more effort to making them than I every imagined and I just can't be having them priced so low that I get so many orders in a week. I can't be carving blocks for the hanga project I want to try if I am busy making stickers. I hang up my cape and resign from being Sticker Girl. Feel free to order them if you wish because I think at the higher prices I am less likely to get so overwhelmed. If I really didn't want to sell them I would have unlisted them, I just want a more fair price for my labor. And they are a lot harder to make than you might think! Apparently the price increase is not too steep since a set sold just last night. I think I am going to wait before putting anymore back up until I have this one made.
Now I can put my focus back on carving that block for hanga. Before blee comes my goal is to have at least one more big printing session. Maybe it will be a hanga experiment or maybe it won't be. Not sure if I can use my oily blocks for the waterbased method.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
I Feel Loved and Very Lucky
Thanks for all the wonderful supportive feedback I have been getting lately! I really appreciate it and have been feeling much better and even when I hurt I don't let it get to me so much. I am in such a mood that I am able to push through the pain.
The pack n play has shipped and I am incredibly excited about getting it and setting it up in here. Pretending baby is in here with me. Imaging that being in a creative space right from the start will rub off on her. Jon likes to tease me about it because early on in the pregnancy I was really worried that I wouldn't bond with the baby but here I am all excited about having her in here with me, so excited I want to pretend she is. And I will most likely cry when I do.
Here is one of my favorite pieces from the mad printing session of Sunday. Ginkgos just don't seem to get old do they? I love the earthiness of the colors. It is one of my favorites of the series.
I have two bigger pieces that I still need to scan in and now that I have a program that doesn't crop off edges like the annoying HP driver getting nice scans of them should be a lot easier and more successful. Too bad I had to buy a $40 product just to get my scanner to work properly because HP can't make a decent driver. But thank you to the Etsy seller that pointed it out to me. At least the purchased program has some cool extra features like how I can scan a jpg and a tiff at the same time. I always want both keeping the tiff for backup. This makes sure I don't forget!
I spend a fair amount of time yesterday mucking around in Photoshop making up a collection of some of my favorite art cards thanks to the suggestion of one of my readers. It turned out so well I printed it out but messed up at first and printed the low res jpg I have for online and it looked like butt. That ticked me off wasting the ink and the paper. Then I printed the proper image and it came out so awesome that I listed it on Etsy and even framed one for myself!
Speaking of art cards I got some new art card cases that are rigid plastic instead of the bags I have been using from Ebay yesterday. They are great! Archival just like the bags, look nicer and they make shipping easier since they offer protection that the bags do not. Thank you Studio Lyon for the suggestion and link. I need to leave feedback today because it shipped wicked fast. Also, I made my very first posting to the ACEO Street Team for Etsy. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the little cards.
I wanted to take photos of mirrors yesterday but the sun was not obeying. It was a very dreary day here in Boston. Maybe today it will work out better.
The pack n play has shipped and I am incredibly excited about getting it and setting it up in here. Pretending baby is in here with me. Imaging that being in a creative space right from the start will rub off on her. Jon likes to tease me about it because early on in the pregnancy I was really worried that I wouldn't bond with the baby but here I am all excited about having her in here with me, so excited I want to pretend she is. And I will most likely cry when I do.
Here is one of my favorite pieces from the mad printing session of Sunday. Ginkgos just don't seem to get old do they? I love the earthiness of the colors. It is one of my favorites of the series.
I have two bigger pieces that I still need to scan in and now that I have a program that doesn't crop off edges like the annoying HP driver getting nice scans of them should be a lot easier and more successful. Too bad I had to buy a $40 product just to get my scanner to work properly because HP can't make a decent driver. But thank you to the Etsy seller that pointed it out to me. At least the purchased program has some cool extra features like how I can scan a jpg and a tiff at the same time. I always want both keeping the tiff for backup. This makes sure I don't forget!
I spend a fair amount of time yesterday mucking around in Photoshop making up a collection of some of my favorite art cards thanks to the suggestion of one of my readers. It turned out so well I printed it out but messed up at first and printed the low res jpg I have for online and it looked like butt. That ticked me off wasting the ink and the paper. Then I printed the proper image and it came out so awesome that I listed it on Etsy and even framed one for myself!
Speaking of art cards I got some new art card cases that are rigid plastic instead of the bags I have been using from Ebay yesterday. They are great! Archival just like the bags, look nicer and they make shipping easier since they offer protection that the bags do not. Thank you Studio Lyon for the suggestion and link. I need to leave feedback today because it shipped wicked fast. Also, I made my very first posting to the ACEO Street Team for Etsy. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the little cards.
I wanted to take photos of mirrors yesterday but the sun was not obeying. It was a very dreary day here in Boston. Maybe today it will work out better.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
My final block?
Along with hopefully the other side. And maybe a few small art card and 4"x4" pieces. But carving this piece I realize that there is a good chance that it may be the last block that I carve in awhile. I just can't see myself actually finishing anything of size after this and hopefully the other side. This is an exciting piece for me because I have plans to play around with moku hanga finally! And while some people have told me my old blocks that have been used with oil based inks may work, I think it would be best to have something fresh to try. I finally bit the bullet and did it while ordering a presentation case for my smaller work on the Dick Blick website. I've heard that using Methyl Cellulose in hanga instead of rice paste may not be traditional, but it works well and is a lot easier to deal with since it isn't perishable. They had some and I got it. I also got some hanga appropriate papers that didn't break the bank. I won't start with the $20 a sheet hanga papers! Messing those up would hurt!
Of all the wonderful hanga artists I have come into contact with online through blogs and the Baren forum, Annie Bisset has inspired me to try it more than anybody else. I've really watched he grow with the process. Go from making very attractive work to amazing pieces in such a short time. There are others but she was the first hanga artist I discovered. What is it about me and Annies?
Yesterday was a great day for purging. My husband found a great home for the drafting table and chair that I wanted to get rid of. A guy he knows with three boys that all like to draw took it off our hands last night. Now I have a studio that feels so roomy, but like little relaxing by the window corner won't be mine for long once the Pack n Play comes. Baby goes there! But still, the Pack n Play is about half the size as the desk and hopefully it won't end up covered with clutter like the desk was most days! The shelves can stay but they are a bit of a mess and I need to go through them and clean them up, tossing stuff when necessary.
I'm really feeling lucky and happy to have this space right now. And to be able to have room to share it with the baby soon is very exciting. I give up that corner for her quite willingly.
Another purge was finding a new home for my old digital camera. It is kinda buggy that is why I replaced it, but it works plus this person's boyfriend may be able to work out its bugs. So it is on its way to NYC right now. I am all about getting rid of things! And I am typically such a pack rat!
Happy Wednesday to all! Hope you enjoy it. The weekend will be here before you know it. We have an all day class on the "childbirth experience" on Saturday so that should be interesting!
Of all the wonderful hanga artists I have come into contact with online through blogs and the Baren forum, Annie Bisset has inspired me to try it more than anybody else. I've really watched he grow with the process. Go from making very attractive work to amazing pieces in such a short time. There are others but she was the first hanga artist I discovered. What is it about me and Annies?
Yesterday was a great day for purging. My husband found a great home for the drafting table and chair that I wanted to get rid of. A guy he knows with three boys that all like to draw took it off our hands last night. Now I have a studio that feels so roomy, but like little relaxing by the window corner won't be mine for long once the Pack n Play comes. Baby goes there! But still, the Pack n Play is about half the size as the desk and hopefully it won't end up covered with clutter like the desk was most days! The shelves can stay but they are a bit of a mess and I need to go through them and clean them up, tossing stuff when necessary.
I'm really feeling lucky and happy to have this space right now. And to be able to have room to share it with the baby soon is very exciting. I give up that corner for her quite willingly.
Another purge was finding a new home for my old digital camera. It is kinda buggy that is why I replaced it, but it works plus this person's boyfriend may be able to work out its bugs. So it is on its way to NYC right now. I am all about getting rid of things! And I am typically such a pack rat!
Happy Wednesday to all! Hope you enjoy it. The weekend will be here before you know it. We have an all day class on the "childbirth experience" on Saturday so that should be interesting!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Past Two Days
Good morning everybody. I am currently abstaining from my morning pot of coffee or tea because I have ideas of crawling back into bed after I post this. I am fairly awake right now and have been for about an hour, but I am very tempting. And since Jon is staying home today he is still in bed and that makes me want to crawl back in even more!
So here are the ACEOs that wore me out making this past Sunday. So far I only have three of them listed, but I have too much new work (a good position to be in for sure) and have to pick and choose. I even have a few more older ones that I haven't gotten around to listing yet. I am overflowing! And I have around twenty-five full sized pieces completed!
The total for Sunday's mad eight hour printing session stands at;
25 - full sized pieces
9 - ACEOs
2 - failures
2 - unfinished or hmmmm pieces
3 - oddly sized but cool not sure what to do with them pieces
After all this I was dead physically and mentally. I crawled into the comfy chair I just added to my studio complete with much needed ottoman and didn't move for hours. The only time I moved was when Jon unfortunately left the water running and was out of the house. And let me tell you hobbling across the hall to the bathroom was all kinds of pain! It was nice to sit but the entire time I felt guilty because I still needed to pack up orders. Unlike last July sales have been quite good for me and I have been having a hard time keeping up.
But yesterday I was able to get them packed up and they are all on their way now. I did it in stages. First I gathered up everything and put them in their plastic sleeves or other packaging depending on the item. Then I cut up the cardboard I sandwich the prints between. Taped it all together and since I was sitting down and didn't want to move I covered them all with some of my newfound stamps. An added bonus of the stamps is I find it helps me identify what orders are what. Then I napped for two hours. Woke up and started weighing items and shipping labels. By the time I was done Jon was home and able to take everything to the Post Office for me.
I also changed my shipping policies from shipping within 48 hours (just not possible for me right now) to shipping every Tuesday and Friday. Unless I go into labor on one of those days! I think it is a fair policy that even people that aren't pregnant have.
Today I am feeling the itch to print again. But I am going to do my best to hold off because I am likely to take it too far and hurt myself. Instead I should photograph mirrors and carve. I made a bit of an exciting purchase off the Dick Blick site and need a new block or two for it. Other than some small art card blocks these new blocks may be the last blocks I carve for quite awhile. This makes me sad.
Good Tuesday to everybody. Tonight I share a lovely dinner at my favorite restaurant with Sweetestpea Jen! I just realized that I forgot to remind her to bring back our copy of season one of The Wire to return and knowing how hectic her life is she probably won't remember. And it is too late now. I'm sure she has already left for work. And you should all Netflix it!
So here are the ACEOs that wore me out making this past Sunday. So far I only have three of them listed, but I have too much new work (a good position to be in for sure) and have to pick and choose. I even have a few more older ones that I haven't gotten around to listing yet. I am overflowing! And I have around twenty-five full sized pieces completed!
The total for Sunday's mad eight hour printing session stands at;
25 - full sized pieces
9 - ACEOs
2 - failures
2 - unfinished or hmmmm pieces
3 - oddly sized but cool not sure what to do with them pieces
After all this I was dead physically and mentally. I crawled into the comfy chair I just added to my studio complete with much needed ottoman and didn't move for hours. The only time I moved was when Jon unfortunately left the water running and was out of the house. And let me tell you hobbling across the hall to the bathroom was all kinds of pain! It was nice to sit but the entire time I felt guilty because I still needed to pack up orders. Unlike last July sales have been quite good for me and I have been having a hard time keeping up.
But yesterday I was able to get them packed up and they are all on their way now. I did it in stages. First I gathered up everything and put them in their plastic sleeves or other packaging depending on the item. Then I cut up the cardboard I sandwich the prints between. Taped it all together and since I was sitting down and didn't want to move I covered them all with some of my newfound stamps. An added bonus of the stamps is I find it helps me identify what orders are what. Then I napped for two hours. Woke up and started weighing items and shipping labels. By the time I was done Jon was home and able to take everything to the Post Office for me.
I also changed my shipping policies from shipping within 48 hours (just not possible for me right now) to shipping every Tuesday and Friday. Unless I go into labor on one of those days! I think it is a fair policy that even people that aren't pregnant have.
Today I am feeling the itch to print again. But I am going to do my best to hold off because I am likely to take it too far and hurt myself. Instead I should photograph mirrors and carve. I made a bit of an exciting purchase off the Dick Blick site and need a new block or two for it. Other than some small art card blocks these new blocks may be the last blocks I carve for quite awhile. This makes me sad.
Good Tuesday to everybody. Tonight I share a lovely dinner at my favorite restaurant with Sweetestpea Jen! I just realized that I forgot to remind her to bring back our copy of season one of The Wire to return and knowing how hectic her life is she probably won't remember. And it is too late now. I'm sure she has already left for work. And you should all Netflix it!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Lightbox - Help!
Hi guys! Unexpectedly I am back today. I was planning on taking the day off blogging but I need your help. You see I got a lightbox yesterday and I used it for the first time today and I am getting mixed results with it.
First off I have no idea how to get the pure white background that some sellers manage to get. I have been using sunlight as my light source so maybe I need some sort of heavy duty lamp? I don't know. I don't think the photos look bad at all, but having that pure white would be nice.
My second dilemma is that I kind of miss the old background. Here is a revised listing with lightbox photographed images. The original photos were the worst I had so I made sure to update this one first. Now here is a listing that didn't use a no lightbox and has a block of wood as a backdrop. As much as I am drawn to getting the pure white background I do think the woodgrain pattern is beautiful and appropriate for my mirrors. Maybe I should try taking some shots tomorrow with the woodblock placed in the lightbox?
My final question has to do with what type of shot the first shot should be in the listing. Head on or at an interesting angle. Most mirrors on Etsy are shown head on for the first shot. The photos Kate took for me are head on. So I am leaning towards head on first with angle shots following.
Thanks for letting me unload these questions. At the very least the lightbox helps me get good shots easier. But boy did getting the top shots hurt because I had to stand on the sofa and that hurt my poor hips, knees and ankles bad. I took as many as I could before I had to stop and hobble away. Ouchie!
Have a great weekend everybody.
First off I have no idea how to get the pure white background that some sellers manage to get. I have been using sunlight as my light source so maybe I need some sort of heavy duty lamp? I don't know. I don't think the photos look bad at all, but having that pure white would be nice.
My second dilemma is that I kind of miss the old background. Here is a revised listing with lightbox photographed images. The original photos were the worst I had so I made sure to update this one first. Now here is a listing that didn't use a no lightbox and has a block of wood as a backdrop. As much as I am drawn to getting the pure white background I do think the woodgrain pattern is beautiful and appropriate for my mirrors. Maybe I should try taking some shots tomorrow with the woodblock placed in the lightbox?
My final question has to do with what type of shot the first shot should be in the listing. Head on or at an interesting angle. Most mirrors on Etsy are shown head on for the first shot. The photos Kate took for me are head on. So I am leaning towards head on first with angle shots following.
Thanks for letting me unload these questions. At the very least the lightbox helps me get good shots easier. But boy did getting the top shots hurt because I had to stand on the sofa and that hurt my poor hips, knees and ankles bad. I took as many as I could before I had to stop and hobble away. Ouchie!
Have a great weekend everybody.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
