The BEST and WORST of Thanksgiving weekend...

So sorry I haven't blogged for a while ! I've been busy with giving our bathroom a "makeover', preparing for special guests from Michigan(Chad's parents) and recovering from the WORST sinus/felt like a migraine/fever or flu something or other!!! Well, the BEST part was Thanksgiving with ALL of the family! My family,Chad's parents from Michigan, and my sisters' families. It was so special to have everybody together and share good food , good times, and relaxed enough to just tucker out on any chair or sofa! ( Yes I was one of those people!)
THE WORST: Waking on BLACK FRIDAY knowing you have to get yourself together to make it work, and at the mall , and feeling horrible! I was scheduled at 7 am and well I only lasted till 10:30 am... I just couldnt take the noise, the people ,bright lights...I felt a migraine coming on! I made it home and went straight to bed! We'll save the details and lets just say I was in bed till Sun . afternoon! Chad took wonderful care of me! I missed out on work, my guests,my kids, and great photo opts. I head finally shrank down to normal size and I was back... sorta... twinges of pain come and go. This head pain truely was worst that than early stages of contractions when you're having a baby!!! I would not wish this on my worst enemy! I was in such exteme pain until we tried Ibprofin! Ya it kicked it! Well enough of that...lets move on!
Sorry no pictures...something I failed to capture...but my father in- law got a good one of me and Nick sleeping on t-day! Okay I just had to add this in! This is the coolest thing I've seen! something to pick the popcorn out of your teeth!! And you get a coupon for DenTek! Chad brought home from the movie, HAPPY FEET. He took the boys out while I painted the bathroom...a good thing:-)

A Killer Deal !

Okay, for the past 4 years I've worked for Old Navy part-time. The perks that come along with that are employee discount and getting first dibs on clearance! This by far is the best deal Ive come across in all my years of working there! I got this cute short sleeve sweater that you can wear a cami underneath.
Reg. price: $24.50
mrk dwn: $16.99
prc kill: 1.97
addition 50 % for store sale: .98
my discount(20%) and total! : .78
Thought I'd share the best deal ever!

Someone has been at my studio desk...

I was lying in bed this morning and heard some papers moving around in my studio area.
I asked, "Whooo's there?"
I heard nothing.
"Nick?"
"yeah Mom."
"don't be writing in my book please."
"Okay Mom"
"And leave the check book alone also!"

As I finished that last statement I heard the patter of little feet scurry down the steps. To my surprise, I found a check written to "school is exit" (I marked out info due to a crazy world we live in) and found dash marks in my "artsy journal" .

Nick you're BUSTED! I know your handwriting little dude!

MISSION: Halloween and Beyond....

Chad's mission started with a trip to the Space Station Aunt Kelly. We had some great yummy pizza to give us energy for the "space walk" and to mingle with the creatures from all over and beyond!



Chad suited up and prepared "Tom and Jerry" and the first Ladybug in space for their first space walk!

During our walk we encountered "Chewy" from Star Wars! We was sitting but he was "real"! (great sound effects too!)

We all made a landing back at the Space station Aunt Kelly and relaxed for a bit. It was a great night filled with childhood memories! The kids' walk didn't last as long as our's did back when we were young and ran through the whole neighborhood...but I think we were quite older too. Great times!

Creative Minds : Young and Old

As I was blog hopping I came across a YOU TUBE video about Stephen Wiltshire. He is an AUTistic man who has an innate ability to draw from his memory with great detail. The first person I thought of was my son, Nicholas. He is not autistic, but has had challenges in his young life with speech and the ability to verbally communicate (as the way the world wants him to) with fluency. In the past year or two Nick has found a love for drawing. Not to the great extent of Stephen Wiltshire, but it is in him. Last year his teacher made a comment to me about his drawing abilities. His drawings seemed to show great detail and creative thought than the normal pre-kindergarten student. Even this year(diff. teacher) commented on his creative drawings . It does amaze me quit a bit to see him draw about something he has seen, done, or imagined and puts it on paper! He is a constant with paper and asks for more to make booklets. I spy on him from the couch as he sits and draws. I see the hands movin' and the wheels turning in that little head of his.
Just the other evening, the movie Ladder 64 was on.(I know not the best show for a 6 year old). Well, Nick has been fasinated by firemen, fires,fire alarms after fire safety week at school. So he was sitting there watching with great intensity a scene where a ladder truck put the ladder to a tall burning building. Flames were shooting,water spraying, and smoke everywhere! After the show ended, marker and paper were in hand! This is from the mind of a creative ARTistic boy:

I don't know if Nicholas will have the uncanney ability of Stephen Wiltshire, but I see a creative mind at work and I just let him do his thing.
* As explained by the artist, the fire man is holding the hose and a talking megaphone to talk to the fireman and tell about emergency.( Notice the hose hooked to hydrent,then to the watertruck then a hose to the ladder truck and then to the fireman. It blows my mind!)

Our Anniversary Trip...

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

Hey everybody! We're back from our weekend trip to the Outer Banks, NC. After a 6 hour drive we arrived to a warm 80 degrees and sunny skies! Once we got our stuff to the room we headed to beach! Which by the way was within walking distance 500 feet or so. Chad was into collecting shells for himself and our boys. So I guess I didn't have to trade my flip-flops in after all! A friend of mine recommended Carolina's Buffet while we were down there, so we headed out to eat...and eat...and eat! After Chad came back from the buffet for the 3rd time I stopped counting! He LOVED the crab legs ! Saturday we headed down to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, stopped at Bodie Island Lighthouse, and hopped on a car ferry to Ocracoke Island and to see the lighthouse also. On Ocracoke Island we walked around the the little fishing town ,which is now caters to the tourist, and we were able to walk to the island's lighthouse. I have fallen in love with lighthouses on this trip!It was a pleasant day ranging from mid-60's to 70's. An awesome day! We only had two days and not enough time to do everything. So now we have an excuse to go back and enjoy it with the kids!( sorry the map is so small, the little piece of land that jutts out from NC is where we went:-) We had so much fun!

Weekend Travels: OBX

We are taking a weekend travel to the OBX (those who don't know, the Outer Banks, NC.) Our 8 year anniversary is coming up and finally we are going somewhere by-ourselves-! I'm so excited, not only to be alone with Chad but I get to take some amazing photography of the ocean, lighthouses, piers, and more!! I'll be trading the flip-flops in for some warm tennis-shoes("sneakers"). Ooooh Im so excited, I just had to share!

Gotta get through this week first!

Studio Friday: F E A R

(WARNING: Spillin' my guts here...)

Hmmm...I think someone was reading my mind last weekend before this topic was posted. My husband and I were talking about me and my art and the direction I wanted to take with it. Then he asked with a serious tone in his voice,"Are you scared?" I looked at him, and sat there and thought about it. I was. I - was - scared. I think for years fear has been holding me back for some reason or another. (Besides getting married and having a busy family, bla bla, bla, see Im making excuses) It's hard for me to tell others my fears, especially about this, something I love to do. Here are some off the top of my head and Im sure there will be more for me to discover:

• I'm scared of what lies ahead
• peoples' expectations
• success and what it brings
• failure
• failure to a client
• acceptance
• being perfect
• family members' expectations
• time: for me, my family, my art

Do I have "issues" or what or am I just a normal human being who is an artist?!?!

As I thought about my fears as an artist, I remembered a book we had to read in college. It's about what we are posting here at S.F. The book is called Art & Fear.

My friend, Artsychick and I had the same professor in college and had to read this book.(Do ya remember this Amy?)

Great READ: in S.F's Articles & Advice: Lee Silber: Moving Beyond Fear by Lain Chroust Ehmann.

This was good, something I had to put in front of me and see and overcome one by one.

Studio Friday.

This week's topic for Friday suggested by Jill: STICK IT TO THE... BOARD!
" It would be interesting to see the variety of bulletin/memory boards in our studios. What is pinned to them? Photos? Notes? Reminders? Ideas for future projects?"~Jill
Well...I don't have a bulletin board in my studio...maybe I should. I am thinking about moving my studio space around to make room for something of that sort. I do keep a special brown/orange-paisley sketchbook close by.

I keep everything creative that comes to mind in this book. Sometimes my mind thinks so fast into an idea, that I've already stemmed off another idea off the original idea that I wanted to write or sketch in the first place.I can't sketch fast enough sometimes! I keep inspiring quotes, websites and blogs . Future references of art galleries and places looking for artist to showcase their art( when Im ready to do that.) I have ideas for objects and photoshoots. Sometimes my sketchbooks are just waiting there to be filled with my inspiration and ideas. This is my travel size bulletin board.

"This is where I doodle, this is where I get creative and explore my ideas, these pages are the birthplace of my ART"

Future Astronaut of NASA

Chad's mission will begin Oct. 31, 2006. Much of his training is taking place on the bunkbed simulator. He has been practicing moon landings with the assistace of his brother, Nick. He received his flight uniform via UPS and was very excited! Getting closer to the day of launch and excited to meet up with the others on the International Space Station. We support you all the way! GO NASA!

Studio Friday: "Toot Your Own Horn...LOUD!"

The main reason I started this blog site was an artistic challenge to myself. I wanted to get back into the art that I really like doing. Yes, I can draw, watercolor/paint, do ceramics and even throw on the wheel and most definately take a photograph! I truely consider myself an artist with a passion for Photography. I LOVE black/white , sepia tone and color pics. that have a uniqueness to them. I'm not one to brag or show off my work and learned in college to be humble, even during the "creative constructive criticism" and praises. So here it goes...(do ya hear it?) I'm tootin' my horn!
UPDATE: I had a couple of you ask about my slide show...Check out slide.com and go have some fun!

Studio Friday: Outside

This week's post for SF is outside your studio. I instantly think of the view from my window that I'm perched beside. I have the pleasure of having the Blue Ridge Mountains in my sight. For all those who live out west you may call my east coast mountains "hills". That's okay, I love them anyway! This one is the one behind me. The one where I perch from won't load...I'll update later. The other things I see abd hear outside this studio is a very busy street and neighboring church . A quiet neighborhood till we moved in...the only kids on this street. I guess we are considered "kids" compared to the elders on this street. Close to everything.
Beyond the wall of my studio may be the craziness of the world , but Im glad I have a place to perch and watch the world and be inspired by it.

Studio Friday: A Floral Treat

Challenge: treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers for your studio.As I thought about this SF entry I remember taking a bunch of photos of flowers . Humm...what should I do with all of them?...I thought I would share this floral treat as a floral tribute to those affected by 9-11 five years ago. I and you fellow artists may work very had in our studios.But that day, they were working too. In their offices, on a plane, as an officer, and as firefighters. That day, all worked to save lives . In honor of them and their families, here is my floral pictoral gift to them.They deserve it more times over than I do.

Studio Friday: Tools of The Trade

This week's topic for studio is tools. (Also my first post for SF !) Since I have my own little space to be creative, I now have these tools in my own space to do so. My Nikon D50 is my first tool. I just upgraded my digital camera. Though I still have my "old school" film camera from back in college, my Nikon N6006 AF . I think I'll keep it for when I have my dream darkroom! Digital is so the way to go and a lot faster! My Epson Stylus CX7800 for when I need to scan in or print for a project. I love the neg holders! I found myself bringing out old negs to play with! My computer with Photoshop 7.0 . Im still a bit rusty on the skills but know enough to get by. It's fun to play, right? With all these tools it has helped my get back into the art and meduim I love to create!

"Boys, the bus is here!", Mom said. The boys got their stuff and were off to their first day of school.

Made it through the summer and now it's back to school and routine of things. Chad will hit the big 3rd grade and a new school! He is on the top level of the school! I guess they figured the younger ones have more energy! It's quite a treck! Nicholas will be entering a reg. kindergarten class along with speech therapy. He is so excited about everything. From his new jeans ,to his new back pack, to riding the same bus as his brother! Im sure he will be exhausted when he arrives home at 4:45! I know! The city schools here had to extend their teaching time to meet va. standards . Also they have a neighboring school (behind Nick's school) in trailers while their school is getting remodeled! It's a zoo with pick-up and busses so it's easier to let them ride the bus. So in a way this will help me get in a routine with having dinner almost ready/homework time/and bed time on the dot! This is my goal... last year was choas! Hoping for a great year to come!
Update: I received a a personal phonecall from Nick's teacher this evening! I was totally surprised myself. She just wanted to let me know what a wonderful little boy I had. She was amazed by his creative detailed drawings and imagination and ability to try to spell! "He is just a joy" (She was even talking to her husband about him which prompted her call to me) Such sweet words to hear, knowing that he has had learning challenges along the way and speech difficulties, it just made me smile ! ( and almost had a tear in my eye) .

Starting Something New

Well since Ive started blogging I have a found an old love. I don't think I ever lost it but sometimes it feels new to me. Photography people! I believe I got the "photography bug" from my mother. She may beg to differ. But seriously, I remember her having a camera almost all the time and taking lots of pictures. They say you learn a lot from your parents! I can remember in 5th grade taking an "enrichment program" and having to make a pinhole camera out of a Quaker Oats cylinder. It is so vivid in my mind... the whole class in the gym parkinglot ...aiming our pinhole cameras... ready to lift the "shutter" to capture... and the best part...a trip to the janitor's closet! What?! It was the makeshift darkroom of course! I will never ever forget seeing our images appear in the liquid-filled tray swooshing back and forth. I did not experience this again until my college photography class. I truely love the traditional way of developing black and white photography in a darkroom. But ya just gotta love digital and the instant gratification of seeing the pic on your LCD and seeing the potential it has for an awesome print! Well, as you can see, I have added some scrolling pictures to my blog. I will try to update when I can. Some may be of the kids or I may just go creative on ya, I like to keep themes in mind. But these are just starters to see how this slide thing looks:-) Enjoy!

SKEINS FOR $ 1.00 !!!

Well, today I stopped by Michaels Arts and Craft store just to look around. I love going in there to find inspiration and see what's new. I came across a few skeins that were only a buck! I just love when I find a great deal! I grabbed a few so I can start on my knitting! I learned over a year ago the basics and I was hooked( no pun intended...but then again I don't crochet) Anywho, I have many scarves and plan to venture into some hats. My friend Amy , who lives in Michigan made me a hat last year and gave it to me when we finally met up in Lansing. It was made out of hand-painted yarn from Briar Rose Fibers, her mother's business. These yarns are so beautiful ! Check-em out!

What boys will do to get Attention...

Can you believe this! I can. Nicholas called me into the bathroom because he wanted to show me something. I thought ,This ought to be interesting... He shut the door and proceeded to show his climbing techniques! He is such the daring one! I said WOW! and left it that(so it wouldnt encourage anymore climbing feats!)
I remember using my body in a door frame ,with my back on one side of the frame and my feet on the other to do the climbing. I also remember doing HEAD stand-splits in the middle of the den,and the hallway ! Speaking of... I was daring enough to do a cartwheel in my hallway when I was a kid! My sis and I came up with routines on our twin bed(conviently placed together) Jumping , somersaulting and whatever else we did in that room. This was during our Mary Lou Retton phase! I don't have immediate access to these pictures but Im sure you can imagine! I thought I would share the craziness :-)

WaterPark on a Beautiful Summer Day

All summer, I've been planning to go to Randolph Park . It was a beautiful day and I had off from work. It is about 45 minutes to an hour away but is well worth it! Only $3 per person. Chad had so much fun! Nick,well he had to warm up to it. He discovered the Froggy slide and wanted to try it. After one time down that thing he was really into it! I got to go down the huge yellow waterslide they have during an adult swim(...check out the site ) I

didnt even take a picture of it . It really makes you feellike a kid all over again!

Needless to say, we all had a great time! Until I discovered I got sunburn on my back! We don't need to show pictures of that! Believe me , I'm tender!
UPDATE: I just noticed:The last two pictures have two different boys..don't they look so much alike?!?! I even had to look twice!

Inspire Me Thursday: Black and White:" Black Beauty"

This is my 1st entry for Inspire Me Thursday! I saw the challenge and got so excited!I LOVE the contrast of black and white photography. I find myself always thinking before hand of what I'm photographing how it would look in black and white. Driving home from work I passed this old Buick Special in a Kroger parking lot! I had to get shots of this ! I'm attracted to the old/vintage cars and have great potential for great photography! Taking what might not be so "pretty" and getting close in, changing the angles and cropping the subject to find and bring out the beautiful details is what I love!! I manipulated this photograph in Photoshop to get the contrasting b/w effect. I had fun with the whole process, taking something from the past, which is still used in the present, and making it into a future piece of artwork for my wall.

Heat wave !

Can we say HOT! Trying to cool down from the heat around here in Va! My sister invited us over for a chill down in the pool yesterday! Well, it is so hot it felt like a bath,but the first time in was refreshing. I'll bring ice cubes next time! We had fun splashing here and there. Greta loves the water! I'm still trying to figure out why my boys are so cautious of the water(that can be a good thing). You see, My dad(grandpa) was a swimmer and has swam all his life,HE got all of us girls( my kids' aunties) into swimming. I swam on a swim team for 10 years! Growing up I lived at the pool during the summer! It is in their genes! One day , just one day, it'll happen, I can feel it, a champion swimmer...we'll see. But ya gotta loose the swimmies and all that floating gear, that's no fun is it!?