Anyone know of any easy embroidery books so I can learn a few stitches? Or maybe I should take a class. Wonder where they do those sorts of classes? Now to find the time!
Labels: artwork
Labels: pets
When the Geek Squad guy was here yesterday he scanned my PC with really high powered spybot and spyware programs and he found two trojans hiding on our PC sending out all our passwords and info without our knowledge.
YIPES!!!
My head just about exploded when he showed me what he found. I literally left the room right away and went and took an Imitrex to head off the migraine which was already on its way.
I thought I would never have something like that happen. We don't do stupid things on the internet and I am one of those people that is an anitvirus nut, I have the Norton Security Suite with all the bells and whistles and I update it every few days and I run it every day to scan the PC. Norton NEVER found any of the spyware.
I even ran a full system scan right after I found out about the ebay thing and Norton found nothing.
So Frankie the Geek Squad guy tells me all about how Norton and McAfee miss these types of trojans all the time. Which just blows my mind. I thought they would be the most reliable because they are the biggest companies.
So now I have Spy Sweeper. I even installed it on my laptop and it found a whole bunch of things that McAfee didn't find. (I had Norton on my desktop and McAfee on my laptop). Fortunately no trojans, just spy cookies and adware. whew.
So Frankie ended up being here for about 7 hours, we had to clear off the whole operating system and start from scratch. I was up until 1am last night putting programs back on the computer. We also went through and changed all of our passwords to everything we could think of. What a nightmare.
Now when I look at my computer I am distrustful of it. Like it's out to get me even though I know everything is cleaned off. I keep thinking of that movie from '84 Electric Dreams where the PC goes crazy and ruins this guy's life. Remember that movie? 80's classic.
OK back to work for me. I am in major catchup mode after losing so much time to fixing the computer.
whew! more tomorrow!
Now whenever I start it, it loads Windows and then it shuts down again, all by itself. I am on my laptop now so at least I have internet access.
The Geek Squad will be coming tomorrow to fix it. I just hope they don't put it back to the factory settings because then I'll have to spend forever re-loading in programs again. I had a long existential debate whether to even fix it, maybe to just buy a new one right away. But I am not prepared to make all the decisions that go into buying a new computer right now, so fixing it won out. Thankfully I just loaded all my data onto an external harddrive so all my data is safe. Whew! Yay for me for backing up my stuff!
In other "not now" news -- I am sick. ugh! Not now! Please! I have too much work to get done. I have been managing to still get work done but it's hard. I much prefer to be well, thank you very much!
But I did get this artwork done. Here's a commission that I just finished up of this cute girl and her sweet little dog.
nighty night!
thanks for your help!
Labels: workshops
(click the image to enlarge)
I didn't have time to create new art with the holiday and lots of work deadlines. So I am posting a work from one of my podcast challenges. This piece was created in 20 minutes with a theme revealed to me right before I begin the artwork. It's really hard to try to create something in just 20 minutes, but fun too!
If you'd like to listen to how this piece was created, click here now!
Or use the player below:
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Labels: artwork, illustration friday
Thanks for your words of support!
Labels: pets
Yesterday I found two lumps on Stan's back, at first I thought they were his ribs pointing out really far - he's just had a big growth spurt and he is really gangly. Then I felt more and noticed they are both on his lower back where he gets his vaccines. He was just vaccinated for the third time a week ago.
So I go searching around the internet for "vaccine, feline and lump" and find dire stories about cancer caused by vaccines.
Then I panic.
I called Bernie, she manged to talk me down from ledge a little, letting me know these reactions happen all the time and are most often not cancer. But I am still a worried mommy. And worst of all was it was Thanksgiving today and the vet wasn't open so I was a nervous nelly all day and it took my full concentration not to keep talking about it because it was all I could think about. I must have asked Paul 100 times if he thought I should call the emergency vet.
I will be calling the vet as soon as they open in the AM. I am so worried about my baby!
Labels: pets
I'll be eating Macaroni and Cheese since I am the only veggie in the group. Actually, I think I am the only person in America who doesn't like Thanksgiving food and always ends up having cereal later because I'm still hungry.
We bought a new Cranium game to play after we eat, should be fun!
Today I worked on commissions and a project for a book -- making designs for baby clothes - which started out hard, and now I am getting into it.
Tonight, I'll start the big clean up of the house. I usually like to do a major clean session before people come over, you'll find me vacuuming out the fridge grate and other unnecessary things, but it makes me feel good to do all that cleaning!
I hope everyone who celebrates has a Happy Thanksgiving!
Now that I have closed the account, it's frozen so no one can do anything with it. It's kind of sad, I had that account since 1999. But since I no longer sell art on ebay and hardly buy anything it shouldn't effect me too much.
I have been thinking of trying etsy for selling the odd arty thing, anyone have tips/advice?
If you want some majorly scary reading, read the ebay message boards, they talk about phishers using links IN AN AUCTION to gather information, so you think you are just re-logging in to bid on an auction but it's really a phish. YIPES!
Here's the link if you want to freak yourself out. I think it's safe to say that I won't be using ebay forawhile.
Sarah E Early
24315 Shirley Drive
Bella Vista CA 96008
United States
(530) 472-1519
I have NEVER EVER clicked on one of those phishing emails and am always very careful by typing in www.ebay.com in a new window when visting the site or logging in. I can not figure out how this happened. I am freaking out. On top of that it won't let me change my account info so that her address doesn't appear anymore. From what I can tell she was trying to sell handbags using my ebay account.
I swear, I am shaking. I feel like I did after my car was broken into a few years ago. Not a good way to start a Monday.
Arrrugh! Has this happened to anyone else?
EDITED 1:40pm:
I posted the transcript from my unhelpful ebay live chat in the comments of this post, if you want to take a look. Seems to be that they think this Sarah is the real owner of the account and they can't verify I am the owner. I am tempted to shut down my account and not use ebay anoymore over this.
I am hard at work on commission orders for the holidays. I put up the deadlines for ordering on my web site. I'll need all the materials: order form, photos and payment by December 5th for Canvas commissions and Dec. 10th for sketch commissions, but the sooner you get your order in the better! It's so hard for me to figure out a good cut-off date. I need enough time to work on them before shipping but also everything needs to ship out by the 19th to make sure it will make it in time. So it's difficult to figure out.
Here's a canvas commission that I finished up of this cute gal. It's for her 30th birthday and she wanted lots of elements included to represent the first 30 years of her life. She's lived in many locations, was a biology teacher, has a son and a husband and a new baby on the way, and is a scrapbooker and an avid gardener. I was pleased with the way it came out. I got all the aspects of her life into a cute little piece!
Labels: custom artwork
(click image to enlarge)
This woman has been cooking a Thanksgiving turkey and she is giving thanks that it is almost over and soon she can relax and have a drink!
Hope everyone has a great holiday! Will there be a new illo friday topic next week or do they usually skip holiday weeks?
Labels: artwork, illustration friday
Karen from Indie Arts magazine put a snippet up on youtube, here it is below!
Here's a commission that I just finished up of these cute kiddos. They wanted to be in a garden theme. My fav part is the girl watering the flowers the little boy is holding.
Too bad it's too late for the holidays this year, but by next year I'll have it all figured out!
Labels: custom artwork
What's the smARTist Tele-summit? I'll be joining a dozen other art career experts, and full time artists, bringing you nitty-gritty presentations to help you get recognized, exhibited and paid for your art.
In my section, I'll be speaking on becoming a published author as well as how you can begin a career as a workshop instructor. There will also be other amazing speakers talking about licensing, marketing, galleries, ebay, artist web sites, artist statements and all the things you need to know about managing your art business.
So, to kick everything off, there is a FREE Virtual TeleSummit Opening Reception Party to get a sneak peek at what's in store. The Opening Reception will be, tomorrow, Tuesday November 14 from 7-8 pm EST. Click here for a FREE registration to the opening reception! Spaces are limited!
Also, the Virtual Opening Reception Party will be recorded, but to receive access to this recording, you must register here.
Labels: workshops
The show was a little slow, so thank you to all the nice gals who stopped by during my demo to say hi! I only sold a couple copies of my book, which I hope doesn't reflect badly on my book in the eyes of AC Moore. Apparently they were testing it to see if they would pick it up at all their stores, which would be GREAT - huge chain! They said it was slow all around on Sunday and promised me they didn't hold it against me.
The good news is there was a bead show right next door so that was fun to look around! I even found a company that will print images onto glass so you can turn them into beads. Hmmm Poppet® beads? Maybe!
(click image to enlarge)
When I first read the theme, I had no ideas. But after brainstorming a little I decided I wanted to depict a busy woman trying to clear her head so that she can meditate. Whenever I try to meditate, my brain starts a lengthy list of all the things I should be doing, laundry, returning phone calls, picking up dry cleaning etc. Never a clear mind for me!
Labels: artwork, illustration friday
- I have not had one commission customer yet from either of my ads in Best Friend's Magazine, meanwhile the free press I have gotten in Skirt! and on other blogs has brought me many customers. Go figure.
- these are the best chocolates in the world, yummy!
Labels: this and that
Stanely seems to think it's a good idea to climb on me while I do yoga in the morning. It's become quite the nerve wracking exercise experience. He also likes to pull my hair while I do downward facing dog.
He is such a nut!
At first it's cute and funny but then it gets scary every time I do sun salutation he jumps and grabs my legs then slides down. Major ouchie!!
When our baby girl Maggie went through the leg climbing phase she was 8 weeks old. Stan is about 16 weeks now and almost 5lbs. So it hurts big time!
Thankfully he *should* grow out of it! Until then I think I'll have to shut the door when it's yoga time.
Labels: pets
Ready to listen? Click here now!
Or use the player below:
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After you've listened to the podcast, click the image to the left to enlarge the finished artwork.
Like in our other podcasts, we thought it would fun to invite others to join in to see how many variations on the same theme could be created. This time we are asking you to create art with the theme of "perfect" post it to your blog or flickr and then post a link to it in the comments of this post. I look forward to seeing what you can come up with!
Click here to learn how subscribe and you'll get updates when new podcasts come along.
Enjoy!
Labels: podcasts
Labels: workshops
Labels: this and that
(click image to enlarge)
When I read the theme I thought of creepy-guy-next-door who comes close to burning down the neighborhood by adding too much lighter fluid to his BBQ.
Labels: artwork, illustration friday
- it has been 6 months since I gave up diet coke. Yay!
Labels: this and that
Labels: custom artwork