45 minutes

This past weekend I have to gloat on a milestone.  No it is not mine, plus I can't even remember when I had this one.  Hmmmm?  Well... While hubby and I were putting together our new grill, oh by the way.... you really should have Lowe's or the place you by it from put it together.... don't get me wrong, it wasn't hard, but when you seem to mix up the nuts and bolts you appreciate the "already assembled" theory.... Anyway, our little man decided to ride his bike.  Now that might not seem too exciting, but it is when after months and months of getting him to grasp the concept of feet moving forward results in bike moving, it's pretty exciting to us.

He did it all on his own.  No mommy and daddy showing him, not even grandma, grandpa, or Mimi showing him.  I guess it holds true to the idea that someone other then next of kin should show a child how to do something.  They never seem to listen when you tell them what they should do.  He must have listened to his inner self and figured it out.  Stubborn stink he is!!!

Now that he is riding his bike, I have the wonderful idea of going for walks.  It's more my agenda then really his, but he gets to benefit from it as well.  And today what I thought would be a quick little 15 minute jaunt really turned in to 45 minutes.  I wasn't expecting to be out that long or that far really.  But to top it all off, I was not wearing the proper attire.  I mean really, I love me some flip-flops.  Wear them everywhere and all the time.  But walking on hot pavement in the middle of the day chasing a child who has just learned to ride a bike is really not the time to do it.  Oh and I have to mention that we went the equivalent to a mile.  Might not seem long to most people, but remember that it's eternity when you are wearing flip-flops.  Thin wonderful Reefs flip-flops!!!

Maybe some day I'll learn.  How about tomorrow?

Well, I didn't take my camera along with, although right now I wish I had.  To get his first long bike ride.  But I'll share another photo with a little processing that I am stumbling across.  Lately you have been seeing moody type of processing, and while it has taken me a while, I think I have figured it out without having to purchase actions.  I am sure to many of you, it's really easy and you probably think I am lame and dumb for just now getting it, but that's ok.

Here is what I have, and I am going to do some tweaks to it, and then I'll post a little tutorial on how I did it. 

Have a good Monday. 

Disclaimer: Now I know there are so many technical things wrong with this.  But I just loved his face and his expression especially after playing in the water.  And I felt this type of processing worked with this image.

maybe they were right!!!.. feel free to doodle | misc thoughts

I have been beginning to feel that maybe my college professors were on to something.  Well, maybe even my high school teachers if we really want to go that far back.  Hmm!!  Well I guess I have been too stubborn to think that by just jumping into things, I can still accomplish what I set out to do.  For instance, come up with this really great and wonderful design that everyone in the entire world just has to have.   Something that one person buys today, will go and tell all of their friends tomorrow they just have to have it. 

But that lies the problem!!!

I am the type of artist who does not always follow the rules.  Or the one's that can keep you from going totally out of your mind.  I like to jump in, both feet sopping wet just because I have a thought in my mind.  You know it's always a great idea, swirling around in the vortex of many thoughts, just trying to get out. 

Yah, ideas are great!

They get you all excited and tingly!!  Like a school kid playing on the playground.

That's until you start creating them.  Well, at least for me anyway.  Now don't get me wrong, I am a creative thinker.  I have many years of experience, talking about 30 years of experience to be exact.  But it still doesn't take away from the fact you have to work through those ideas.  What lies in your head, does not always come off well on paper, or for my case most of the time my camera or computer.  This can all lead to hours wasted, when all that needed to be done was doing a little brainstorming first.

College was tough years for me.  I tried hard to define my place among the artistic.  Many classes taken, many mediums studied.  But one thing that seemed to be the unifying plot, was thumb-nails.  Yah, working through your ideas on paper.  Whether you draw them out or you write a sentence visually allowed you to see what your mind is conjuring up.  And let me tell you, there are a pluthera of ideas running rampid in my mind.  Some days it doesn't seem to stop!!

So after all these years, being taught by countless teachers and profs, maybe they were right after all.  Ok, you can insert "I told you so" at this point.  You know I was never one to admit when I was wrong.  I mean come on, how could drawing small little representations of what my mind was playing behind my eyes actually free you of any questions you have about that one idea?  Something to think about I guess.  But also something to take advantage of. 

Just wish I knew then, what I know now...... 

mr. i | vera

I feel as if I have neglected this place in a while.  And for the most part I have, but it's only for good reasons.  So many things lately have been keeping me from here.  Paperwork to do, designing, all kinds of things.  And to make it more difficult, the little guy is only in daycare part days which makes for a long day sometimes.  Ya, he can play on his own just fine, but that doesn't excuse the fact I feel bad for not playing with him when I am trying to get work done.  It's that whole balancing act that mothers have to do.  You know be everywhere and anywhere at once.  Multi task!!! 

Here he is at his finest.

(This was image that was part of an assignment, and I loved it so much I had to post it here!)

On to another topic.  I received in my email the other day a promotion.  I was kind of excited because it's something that I love getting.  Well, a little history.  Many women know about it.  It's been around for many many years and the styles just keep getting better and better.  The coolest part is it's based where I am originally from, Ft Wayne, Indiana.  And they do amazing things.  And I am not talking about creating bags, or luggage, or even house wares.  They, well I mean She, does quite a bit for breast cancer research. 

I'm sure you have figured it out by now, but just in case you haven't, I am talking about Vera Bradley.  All I have to say is I have many pieces, probably not as much as some people.  But this one was really fun.  The promo they sent out was for their new lunch bag.  Yup, she has created a lunch bag design.  Well $10 off their lunch bag.   It's very cute!!

I was hoping to find other colors, but since I already had some pink pieces, I thought they would blend nicely.  Sorry guys for the girly post.  I just couldn't help myself!!!

where have i been | hiatus | inspiration

For some reason this past week my brain has been on empty.  I think part of it has to do with getting up now at 6:30 a.m. because I need to get my child to daycare by 7:30, when before it was around 9 he would be strolling in.  I mean everything I have layed my hands on, just doesn't seem to produce the results I had in my head.  Like a design or even a photograph that I have been trying to attempt.  And with that I haven't posted anything here.  Again, empty brain. 

With all of this said, I have been taking a little time to thumb through magazines and the internet to see what pops out at me.  A little inspiration.  Something to drum up the creative juices and let it all flow. 

We'll see how it all works out!!!!

scooter boy |cheeky smiles

Each time I try to get shots of the little guy, he always gives me this cheeky grin.  The one where his eyes squint tightly and you see all of his teeth.  I think he gets that from me always telling him to say cheese when I want to get a shot of him!  Well, on my quest for finding some light (which by the way, I found it in my garage!  or maybe yet, I forgot about the garage..) I had him do little posing for me.  He seems to get into it a little bit more now which in turns helps me out.

Here's what he gave me.

I know, the first one isn't too cheeky, but the second one gets closer.  He really know's how to ham up the camera!!!!

billowing smoke | storms | clouds

I really believe that mother nature is having words with us this year.  And actually my thoughts on that really hasn't changed from year to year, it just seems it is more pronounced at different times.  Like for instance right now the tornadoes and storms that have been popping up seems like a cry for us to sit back, evaluate our lives and remember to be humble.  Now for the weather channel, I just believe for them it's just another excuse to create drama and pandemonium.  I mean really, V2!  And don't you find it kind of funny how every one of them always seem to have a smirk on their faces, like "this is great, I want the whole world to end due to this catastrophic storm converging, and blah, blah!!!"  And you better believe that when I see Jim Cantore anywhere near where I live and they are predicting some catastrophic storm, my butt (along with my family!!) will be heading out of town.  Because really there never really seems to be any good when he's in the area...

Last night we have a little storm come through, and yes it scared me a little.  It's not the rain and such that scares me, just the lightening.  And the sad thought of it all was this little turtle who seemed to be out roaming the streets while this is all happening.  But I have to say he/she was a smart little one because it seemed to either follow the side walk or the curb where ever it went.  Like a mother, I kept my eye on it as long as I could before it went out of site.  I was worried, and I prayed that little turtle would find a safe haven.  Away from the passing cars and the lightening.

Right at the end of the storm, my husband had to show me the clouds.  And I am glad he did.  I had never seen such clouds.  They were like billowing smoke from a burning building, all fluffy and light.  And the sunset accompanying it was just spectacular.  I only wish I had been at the beach to capture it with the ocean, but my back yard will have to do. 

Here's what we saw.

Jet Plane | Home again...

A little break from the norm will never hurt you, although my normal hasn't consisted of too much, but I can still say that I didn't mind the change of pace.  And even though the weekend was for a sadder occasion, we still seemed to enjoy our time with family.  I just hope my little man hasn't been scarred too much by his hoodlum cousins to the point of making mommy and daddy totally loose their hair, that remains to be seen at this point!!

So I am now home again and ready to get to work.  I am really hoping to get more in my shop.  I have to get my poop-in-a-group and start designing.  But I'll leave today with something from our travels.  Ya I know, you've seen it before.  But it's been like 2 years since I have flown and gotten the chance to get it for myself. 

Have a great day, and talk to you soon!!!

Mother's Day..........

I have to say that becoming a mom has been the most gratifying jobs.  I always knew that some day I would have little tip toes walking through the halls and giggling with excitement just at a funny smile.  They seem to brighten your day, even though it may have seemed at it's worse. 

While I still was very blessed to be able to spend it with my family, mother's day this year will always be remembered.  I will count my blessings everyday, and remember that as each year passes generations are lost and all we have are but memories. 

But good memories at that.

These are the flowers I recieved from my little guy.