Tonight Paul and I will be having dinner with our friends Martha and Larry. Then we'll probably have a somewhat early night because Paul has to work at 5am tomorrow so we can't be out too late!
Every year I like to come up with my dream list, not so much resolutions, but dreams and goals and things that I would like to have happen. I am a big believer in if you let the world know what you want, it happens for you. Check out The Secret , one of my favs on the subject!
So anyway here's my dream list, remember I am thinking big here, gotta ask for it or it won't happen!
EDITED: I am rewriting the list below as if they already happened, because I read that gives the dreams more power :)
- I illustrate children's books
- I have a steady flow of illustration work and exciting jobs
- I have have plenty of time for both work and play
- I have an animated Poppet® TV series
- I have my own product line
- I am well established in the licensing industry
- I have wonderful ideas for a 3rd book
- I have a more active social life
- I have an English country garden with lots of flowers over flowing the beds
- I get lots of massages/ pamper myself
- I have clients and business partners that are a perfect match
- My artwork is in many fine craft galleries
- I have a steady stream of commission orders
- I spruce up my wardrobe and learn to accessorize
- I come up with an exciting new web site design
- I find new outlets and collectors for my work
- I have a healthy, exciting and happy year!
What are your dreams and wishes? Post below or on your own blog so we can share!
Labels: this and that
But I was really excited by the bird exhibits. The guy who owns it has a hobby of having pet birds. They are in these amazing enclosures (so I didn't feel guilty about caged birds) and it was so much fun. I fell in love with the teeny weeny Button Quail and I want one to put in my pocket! I don't think Stan and Mabel would do well with a birdy friend. Speaking of the cats, here are a couple photos of the kitties I snapped today!
Stan likes to have a big nap from 5pm-11pm so then he can keep us up all night running around like crazy.
Here's Mabel exhausted after playing with Stan. Just look her her chubby belly!
Labels: this and that
Labels: movies
My mom and I have an idea how to knit a hat for Noel. I'll get the measurements from Bernie and let you know how it works out. My mom's a great knitter so we should be able to get it done this weekend!
Labels: this and that
Today I read on her blog about Noel, a little puppy who is missing both ears because of being used as bait for fighting dogs. Bernie rescued her from certain death at animal control and now has her on the road to recovery. You can read about Noel here.
Today Bernie and I were talking, wouldn't it be nice to make little hats for this doggie to give her new ears ... maybe we could create a very soft knitted hat with floppy ears! Wouldn't that be cute!
Neither of us are knitters so we don't know how to even measure her head for a hat. Anyone have any ideas? Anyone want to help us make little hats for Noel? Any ideas are appreciated!
Labels: pets
We were lucky to only have rain and lightning here. And we were all cozy in the house, having hors d'oeuvres, wine and hanging out with the family.
Today it's still rainy and gloomy out and it's making me very sleepy!
I have some work I need to finish up and I am having a hard time getting motivated. Stanley is snuggled on my lap and all I want to do is doze, but then I feel guilty for relaxing. I think I'll try and get some work done so then I can relax guilt free!
Labels: weather
I hate shopping so much. I did perk up in Anthropologie when I saw some really cute aprons, I started unrolling them to see if they were 1/2 or full aprons. I don't like the 1/2, not enough coverage. Then the girl that was working that section got all nasty about me unrolling them and proclaimed loudly "i wish people would stop unrolling the aprons!"to her other co-worker. So I left apron-less.
We left it too late to get our niece Maiya the Christmas present we promised - sold out everywhere - so I did a mad dash on Amazon and found it. They won't be back in town until late this week so it will have time to arrive. Whew.
Today we have been cleaning the house and sprucing things up for relatives to come over tomorrow. Now it's time to wrap the presents and we have Christmas carols playing to get us in the spirit.
And then of course A Christmas Story will be playing starting tonight -- a classic which Paul and I quote from year round.
Hope everyone has a great holiday!
Labels: movies, this and that
(click image to enlarge)
I wanted to go with something other than the usual images of peace, so I imagined a woman who has been at work all day, enjoying some peace and quiet with a good book.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Labels: artwork, illustration friday
Paul and I aren't exchanging gifts, so we just have to get presents for our nieces and nephews and also for my parents. Other than my parents, the rest of the adults we do Secret Santa so we don't have to buy everyone a gift. It gets way too expensive, and Christmas presents should be mostly for the kids, they are the ones who get excited about them, as grownups we just buy what we want when we want it.
I also have to give the postman something this year. He's such a grump to me usually I am thinking if I give him something maybe he'll perk up. We'll see! I looked it up on the internet and says it's illegal to leave cash for a postman, so I guess I'll leave him some chocolate, I have a small box of Godiva, he shouldn't complain about that!
I still have two more commissions I'd like to get to the draft stage today. Fortunately these aren't for Christmas gifts, just for anytime, but I don't like to be late from my promised due dates. Maybe I can even work on Illustration Friday, we'll see!
Labels: this and that
Overall, niceness outweighs naughtiness. Was good a lot last month! Politeness often good, but has room for improvement. Could help around house more instead of watching so much TV. Expected to move even higher up "nice" list.
LOL! Wow! I never did believe in Santa but he must be real, he knows I watch a lot of TV!
Click here to see if you've been naughty or nice - warning the site is kinda slow. For fun post Santa's answers in my comments below so we can compare notes.
Labels: silly
EDITED: OK I am a dummy, Make Cool Stuff isn't a show, it's what they are calling their new line up of craft shows. No wonder why I couldn't find it on the DVR menu. Grrrr I was hoping for a new cool show. Oh well!
Labels: this and that
You do have to register but it's free and they only ask you for your name and email, fairly painless. And once you register you can add content to the site (like yourself and your web site) and then I can vote for you!
Labels: publicity
(click to enlarge)
Thanks to everyone for the Happy Birthday wishes! It was a great day!
Labels: pets
Not much exciting going on for the big day, but a nice relaxing day ahead!
This afternoon we're going over to my parent's house and then taking Toby to see Santa at PetsMart. (I'll post a photo!) I think we'll go out to dinner at The Melting Pot tonight - cheese and chocolate fondue - yummy! Then maybe I'll stop at Barnes and Noble and pick up a good book.
I got all my Christmas commissions done and packed up so now I can relax today. yay!
Labels: this and that
Labels: pets
So I guess we'll be getting a new PC in the next day or so. Thankfully the laptop still works and I can still get on the internet. I am doubly thankful that I have finished just about all my commissions too so I don't have to rely on the computer as much.
Still whaaaa! I don't want to go through getting a new PC and setting it all up, such a hassle, at least it's tax deductible for me as a business expense!
EDITED 5:10pm: Wow! I just got an email from the founder of Geek Squad who read my blog post. He wanted to make sure I was happy with my service and that I they had done everything they could to get my PC back on it's feet. WOW! talk about customer service! I really think they did do everything, I think my PC was on it's deathbed anyway and it was time. I am just not going to put anymore money into this ancient computer. sigh.
PS. We wanted to go with a MAC but I am just not prepared for that much change in my life now, maybe next year.
Labels: this and that
Any "must see" movies that we should make sure to add?
Right now we have:
How to Draw a Bunny
JuneBug
What the Bleep
The Machinist
Big Night
Water
WordPlay...
Now we are wondering why we didn't sign up for NetFlix sooner!
Labels: movies
Our thinking was that we knew we'd spend our days picking Stanley out of the middle of it, him chewing on the lights, or ornaments crashing to the ground in the middle of the night. Christmas Trees are just too enticing for kittens to stay out of!
What a silly girly she was.
Labels: pets
I also started writing up all my holiday cards to send out. I decided to go with postcards this year, and printed them at vistaprint.com and they came out great!
Here's the front:
...and the back:
Labels: self promotion
We took some photos while it was playing:
Here I am talking about the custom commissions....
Toby was in the segment too! Yay!! There he is on his little bed!
Sarah, my client, at her home choosing photos for her commission.....
OK back to working on commissions for me!
1) I never believed in Santa Claus not even as a little, little kid. It just wasn't logical I said!
2) I am a total germ-o-phobe. If someone so much as mentions being sick I reach for the airborne.
3) I like to use animal communicators now and then to chat to my pets. I just got done having two GREAT readings with this amazing gal. Wow what a gift she has. There is no way she could have known some of that stuff. Toby and Stan say hi! Mabel you're next!
4)I really want daisy hubcaps for my yellow VW Bug. However if I get them, Paul says he'll never be able to drive my car again.
5)I love getting catalogs in the mail. I read them even it's not for something that I would ever want to buy.
6)I hate getting ready in the morning I try to put it off by staying in my PJs as long as possible.
Labels: tags
I decided to post a notice to my web site because I am worried about getting everything done in time, I think I can manage what I have as long as no new Holiday orders are coming in.
It's always difficult to try to figure out how many pieces you can do in the short amount of time before the Holidays. And each artwork takes its own time, you can't rush them. From what I figure, at the rate I am going each day, I should have all of them done on the 15th or 16th and then I can ship on the 18th. All of them need to be out by then to allow enough time for shipping and delivery.
Then I can rest! Whew!
Labels: custom artwork
Right now on the I Want That web site it still says "details coming soon" but the producer said this was my episode number, so I am sure this is the one.
I already have the DVR set and a fresh VHS tape to capture it for posterity. Woo hoo!
The auction is running December 1st through the 10th on eBay. Her eBay ID is aplace2bark if you can't access the auction through the link.
All of the art pieces were donated by various artists, crafters and animal lovers. Bernie does such amazing and selfless work. I talk to her every single day on the phone. I hear about all the horrible animal cases and the one she manages to save from certain death - like Stanley!! This auction is an important fundraiser for her work.
Please take a look & bid if you are able. You can also donate directly to Bernie through her blog. The funds go toward vet bills, operating costs, vaccinations, and much more.
Labels: pets
Whenever I go to the show at McRae, I always think "hmmm it would be so nice to have a REAL studio here with other artists." But then I know I need my livingroom/ studio in my house so I can work in my PJs.
My real dream is to live where I can have a cute little house in back of our "real" house that can be my studio house. So then I could work near my home but also not have to put everything away in sealed containers so that it doesn't get chewed on by a certain kitty cat who shall remain nameless (Stanely!). ahhh, maybe someday.
Labels: this and that