under construction

how to draw like Yuka

2009-11-09T21:38:00.000-06:00

Yuka Yamaguchi is a local Saskatchewan artist whom I've been following inadvertently for a number of years. She shared a small local exhibition with a friend of mine a few years ago when I was introduced to her artwork, apparently one of her very first. Since then she's acquired quite a following, and it's easy to see why: her renderings are exquisite... playful and innocent, yet a little disturbing at times. Check out her blog in my links sidebar, you won't be disappointed.

dias de los muertos

2009-11-01T20:47:00.002-06:00

caramel apples, originally uploaded by papierdreams.

pumpkin carved - check
caramel apples properly gooified - check
caramel corn (obviously from leftover caramel) - double check
The Shining - check
Sleepy Hollow - check
pizza and other greasy goodness for Halloween supper - check check
pumpkin cooked and frozen in separate little baggies - checkerooni
still wishing I had dressed up and gone to a festive soiree on Halloween night... hm. Well, there's always next year - check that.

off to auction

2009-10-27T22:20:00.000-06:00

The photo turned out quite badly... but I had to document it before I gave it away, studio or no.

on location

2009-10-19T22:51:00.000-06:00

If you happen to be strolling by the SIAST Wascana library sometime before April 2010, be sure to check out my photograph, The Colour of November (shown above), hanging in the gallery.

recent history

2009-09-25T19:36:00.000-06:00

Today I vowed to organize my space. At least a little, so I can see the floor.

I've also decided that buying vegetables and legumes in cans is just too wasteful. So I bought a huge bag of chickpeas and began cooking and freezing them today.

Lately I've been photographing some architecture for a local firm. That's me, below, in orange, getting my photo on. :)

Awhile ago I visited the town of Lumsden for their annual Duck Derby and parade. Such a quaint little town, I really enjoy visiting, especially this time of year. There's something about autumn that brings a small community together and makes it feel so cozy.

And my tomato patch has produced beautifully this year, so I'll be making plenty of homemade creamy tomato soup for the next while! Here's the recipe if you want to try your hand at it (I'm not sure of the origin, but I got it from my mom):

Creamy Tomato Soup

5-6 tomatoes (or a 28 oz can)

1 onion

1 stalk of celery

1 carrot

1 cup chicken stock

1 tsp basil

1 tsp parsley

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

pinch allspice or cloves

pinch italian seasoning

2-3 tbsp butter

2-3 tbsp flour

2 cups milk

pepper to taste

1. Blend tomatoes, onion, celery, carrot, and stock together. Add spices.

2. In a saucepan, whisk butter and flour until heated through. Add milk slowly and cook. Mix together with tomato mixture and bring to a boil.

old school video

2009-09-25T16:43:00.001-06:00

Ever wonder what it was like for me and Dubya when we lived in the 'Jaw? Ever wished we'd taken some video with our dinky little Fuji camera that cut in and out while recording?

Well, you're in luck! I just happened upon some retro vids while cleaning off my old PC. Enjoy!

the week's wrap-up

2009-09-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

Since being back in school, I haven't been posting as regularly as I would like... and my 'daily sketches' have been suffering too I'm afraid... but I'm trying!

This week has been full of brainstorming, friends, photographing architecture, applying for scholarships, exams, and drawing ATCs... among other things like getting sick and being thankful for kleenex. And learning a bit about Sylvia Plath... why is it that such talented artists have such tragic ends?

find your direction

2009-09-10T11:12:00.000-06:00

A neat idea for using a map as art. (Because really, it is, isn't it?) Found via Design Sponge.

Buses and Cabanas

2009-09-03T20:37:00.000-06:00

Summer is time for slow paces, evenings of watching the sun set, and time with friends. Preferably all at once.

These bus passes from 1941 are so graphic, I loves. Found via this blog.

Friday & Saturday

2009-08-31T19:18:00.000-06:00

I began sketching a few days ago, mostly to take up time during my lunch break at work, but also to initiate discipline in my artwork. See previous post...

wine of living skies

2009-08-23T22:03:00.000-06:00

Yay! A winery near Saskatoon! (This isn't a picture of it, but I liked the sign. The winery, however, will indeed be located in/near Perdue.)

colours and ink

2009-08-23T13:24:00.000-06:00

it's interesting how i sometimes tend to think of things just before they actually happen.

for instance, thinking about a person mere minutes before running into them on the street. or, craving to see a movie i've already seen and finding out that it's playing on tv that same night. yesterday, i was thinking that i should buy a moleskine watercolour sketchbook and carry it around with me everywhere, sketching things with a fountain pen and colouring it in with watercolours. then today, i happen upon a blog of an amazing artist, Prashant Miranda, who does exactly this same thing. Check out his blog, his images are just breathtaking.

have your cake...

2009-08-10T21:22:00.000-06:00

Initially found this here, but have seen it almost everywhere since. So cute... must try it sometime!

cooling by the window

2009-08-02T19:53:00.000-06:00

Dubya: Is it satisfying to see a pie through from the tree to the table?

Me: (hesitates) Yes, I haven't thought about it before, but it really is.

To drive out of the city, pick through the bushes and find those fat, succulent berries clinging to the tree; grabbing them by the handful and plunging them into your bucket to hear that hollow plunking sound; swishing your hand through the water to loosen any dirt/bugs/grime that still clings to the berries, and chasing every unsatisfactory berry out of your bowl one by one; mixing the flour and butter, chilling, rolling, cutting, stirring, steam escaping... and then out of the oven and onto your plate. Yes, it is satisfying.

Since it's just the two of us, I thought I'd make some hand pies from the links I found here. Add in some of this, and you've got a pretty great summer dessert.

bid-niss cards

2009-07-27T21:45:00.000-06:00

I'm taking the long way around and making my own business cards. I say 'long way around' because it's pretty labor-intensive and not something I would do in large quantities. These are the types of cards I want to give to galleries and potential clients, so I wanted the cards to speak to who I am, as a person and an artist: an environmentally conscious photographer, seamstress, and designer. And of course, an 'artist' above all else.

So I took some photos that I had previously printed and had no use for, cut them up into squares, printed my info onto some paper samples I'd gotten from school, and sewed them together. Hopefully they speak to people. (and hopefully they hear something positive!)

I like the square format: it's unusual for a business card, and I think it's eye-catching. Plus, it speaks to the preference I have for square-format photography.

mission control

2009-07-13T19:30:00.000-06:00

Things are looking differently here at Chez Crystal...

... so really, I have no good reason for not blogging and/or doing any other computer-related items on my to-do list. It's just so fun now that my computer doesn't sound like a 747 coming in for a landing, and I don't have to perform small surgeries to make it start!

It hasn't been long since I got rid of my evening employment, but I'm enjoying it already. It's nice not to have that 'I've got to be somewhere by X o'clock' feeling hanging over your head all day. Plus now I can see free movies on Wednesday nights and meet with my CARFAC peeps! AND I'm free to continue painting/photoshopping long into the evening hours.

I've been working on a few different things on the art front, some in paint and some in film. I will post more on that at a later date.

I do have a movie recommendation though: The Girl in the Cafe. Timely, too, considering the recent G8 conference.

for the better good

2009-06-14T22:36:00.000-06:00

Got these here. Love the packaging!

make more, or desire less

2009-05-26T22:17:00.000-06:00

As Canadians we are all ridiculously wealthy. We have health care, proper roads, schools and the miracle of hot water on demand. Funny thing about practicing gratitude: it makes it much harder to think about what you don't have.

Colleen Friesen, Homemakers magazine

free fortune

2009-05-24T20:48:00.000-06:00

one vacation every... 3 years or so

2009-05-16T20:39:00.000-06:00

... at least, when you're a student, that seems to be the way it goes! Our recent vacation to Banff was, in light of this fact, a very anticipated one. Here are a few highlights of our trip:

Celebrating Cinqo de Mayo at a local Mexican restaurant in Calgary;

photographing the mountain landscape (overlooking the lower hot springs in Banff, which are unused);

the still-snowy terrain on most hiking trails;

the large bird (I think it was a hawk) nesting on the power pole outside our window (this photo was taken through birdwatching binoculars);

the stop every vacationer must take when passing through Calgary (we stopped twice);

and our sweet accommodations near Canmore (gotta love the fake smile).

Not included in the photos are:
-our trip to Ikea (another thing a Saskatchewanite cannot pass up while in Alberta)
-hot tubbin'
-sitting in cozy cafes on cool rainy days
-lattes, Americanos, and loaves of freshly made sourdough

We must have more weeks like this. I loves me some hiking and shopping! I guess that makes me an... outdoorsy girly girl? A hippy yuppie? Hm.

who needs to sleep anyway?

2009-05-16T19:22:00.000-06:00

Perhaps you have a small living space. And perhaps you need more space to put books, a desk, a reading chair, maybe even a crib. Have you ever noticed how much space your bedroom takes up? (hey, most of the time we spend in there is spent unconscious anyway!) Perhaps... it's time to get rid of your bed.

Speaking of bedrooms, this blogger has put together such a cute nursery for her coming baby. I'm just in love with bunting!

I'm still on the hunt for a summer job. (this is the part I don't miss about being a student.) I could just settle for retail work at 9 hours a week, but even with my limited math skills, I figure that would require me to have at least a 5-month summer that I could work in order to afford an iMac. And that's only if I don't touch one red cent that goes into my bank account... ha ha ha...

paper goods

2008-12-18T22:21:00.000-06:00

For my final project of the semester, I had to design and print something from scratch. (And I'm talking 'print' as in large mechanical printing press with ink and all that. Kinda fun, actually.) I didn't want to print posters or cheese-ball greeting cards (which I know would happen if I'm the one writing it), so what better time to get some calling cards printed? It's a very simple design, a lot more simple than I originally wanted (but I can't use Illustrator yet, so that limits me much), but I think it looks clean and straightforward.

On the front is my name and signature, and on the back I created a word search with words that pertained to me, such as art, design, photography, and my web site address. I didn't include my email or blog because they all have my name in them, and reading 'Crystal Klassen' 18 million times would be overkill.

And on the fun side of paper, I won this beautifully handcrafted set of letterpress ribbon gift buckles from d.Sharp's blog. A classy way to add a finishing touch to a gift without using plastic curly ribbons and bows. You can purchase them at her Etsy shop.

new 'do

2008-12-17T15:21:00.000-06:00

Do any of you long-haired folks ever get sick of static-y hair in the winter? I did. Now I don't worry about it anymore.

cold

2008-12-15T11:07:00.000-06:00

There are icicles forming on the inside of my windowpanes, people. The inside. I feel like I should be seeing elves and reindeer walk down the street at regular intervals. And you know what? This is not extraordinary. As Saskatchewanites, we expect this type of weather every year at some point.

I think in order to live in Saskatchewan, a person must really be serious about living here. You can't be this wishy-washy person who's not sure whether they want to stay here or live in BC, California, or some other warmer location. If you do consider yourself a wishy-washy person, well I have something surprising to tell you: you're NOT. If you live here of your own free will, then you WANT to live here. There's no other explanation! To put up with freezing your skin off in less than a minute every single year for an undetermined amount of time, you have to really love this province, climate and all.

And honestly, I do. Yes, popping off to Bermuda at this point every year would be very nice, but then how would I develop such a thick skin and quickness in my step? All of those warm fires and hot cocoa and Christmas carols would go to waste if I wasn't there to enjoy them. Think of all the fireplaces that would sit neglected and unused if there was no snow falling outside my windowpane! (or on the inside, for that matter.)

As a resident of Saskatchewan, I see the glass as half-full: yes, we get Arctic-like temperatures every year, but they always warm back to normal eventually. Chin up. Summer heatwaves will be here before you know it, and people will be asking 'is it hot enough for you?'

update

2008-12-11T12:54:00.000-06:00

Dubya, me and the filing cabinet at the office-client-Christmas-appreciation party. Not sure if it was appreciating clients or clients appreciating Christmas. Either way, there was good food and lots of chocolate!

I'm almost finished school now... I can see the end in sight. In a few minutes I'll start printing my final project, and hand it in sometime next week. Then it's design-work next semester! What I've been waiting for.

Scene Unseen

2008-12-03T11:13:00.000-06:00

Yours truly will be participating in an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Regina this weekend, and since it's only a 3-day show, be certain to clear your schedule for Friday, Dec. 5th as it's the opening night!

"Scene Unseen will be a special 3 day show and sale of small artworks (in various formats and mediums including painting, drawing, photography, fibre, sculpture, and mixed media) priced at $50-$100 each. What makes this event fun and unique is that artist will remain anonymous until the work is sold. Only after someone purchases an item, will they and the public know who created it.

This short exhibition will take place from December 4-6. The public will have an opportunity to preview the show for two days prior to the official Opening event on Friday, December 5th from 7-9 pm. No reserve sales or advance bidding will be allowed prior to 7 pm on Friday. "

(via OSAC)

take note, gift givers

2008-11-27T08:59:00.000-06:00

Lucky for you, my birthday is just around the corner, and it's a big'un this time... the big 3-0. Why does that make you lucky, you ask? Well, it just so happens that I have a nice fat list of things you can buy for me! And what better time to buy stuff than during Christmas and Boxing Day sales?! You are SO lucky. I only wish I were as lucky as you.

First on the docket is this fabulous Rolleiflex Camera from Urban Outfitters. Not only does it look and act like the original dual lens camera, but it fits in the palm of your (my) hand, and it's DIGITAL!

Second is a nice new casual watch by Nooka. Just by looking, you can't figure out what time it is... or even if it is indeed a watch that keeps time. But as the lucky owner, you (I) would become acquainted with it quite quickly. What time is it, you ask? Time to get a watch!

And for those occasions that require a stricter dress code... the Nixon watch in 'wood'. So pretty. Can't you just see me living in my hippie treehouse wearing this watch? If only it came in solar powered.

I also like:

-gift certificates to clothing stores (like Dots or Tonic or Lululemon)
- tea and other fine beverages
- books
- journals
- PhotoLife, Victoria, and Real Simple magazines
- downloadable music
- movies
- an assortment of pastries and baking
- crazy cheeses
- Corner Gas
- beeswax candles
- vintage hats from the 1920's - 1950's
- antiques
- a whole plethora of other stuff.

I also like art studios and new houses, even old houses if they've been taken care of. I like KitchenAid appliances (except the mixer, I've got that) and dishwashers, and living room furniture - especially if it's an extra-long retro leather sofa. But those are just a few ideas.

Mostly, I treasure YOU, and all the things you buy me.

a new reason to Gmail

2008-11-26T08:19:00.000-06:00

Gmail (my web-based email service) has invented some new 'themes' as of late. My favourite right now is the Tea House theme, which is actually sort of interactive. Google knows where I live, so it gives me a visual of the weather outside. There's also this cute little fox that lives in the teahouse (at the bottom of the screen) and every time you check your email, you can see what he's doing. (Right now he's cutting flowers from his garden. hehe)

Thanks to google, I check gmail for more than one reason now...

something we all need

2008-11-21T23:34:00.000-06:00

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest. -Confucius
(via Red Leaf Studios)

***

The above photo will be for sale in my Etsy shop soon, in large format to style up those bare walls! It's a Safeway located in the Cathedral district of Regina, and I love it because it doesn't look like it's been modernized since it was built mid-20th century. Does anyone have any specific data pertaining to the building that they can share, such as the year it was built? I can't seem to find anything on Google.

October surprise

2008-11-17T19:08:00.000-06:00

I forgot to mention last month: the giant white Peruvian corn I'd planted this year actually produced! Quite a surprise, since at the end of August I still hadn't even seen any flowers (tassels) growing out the top of the plant. For those who have never eaten giant white corn before, it grows to be about the size of your thumbnail and is quite starchy, and very nummy when cooked, salted, and eaten like popcorn.

Next year I will try to plant the seeds directly after frost, and give it a little more time to reach its full 10-15' height.

Also on the handmade front, I finally finished that bag I was telling you about. It's not quite as sturdy as I expected it to be, but it's still pretty and it does the job. The job of hauling around books and pencils all day long, that is. Let's hear it for fabrics by Anna Maria Horner!

20

2008-11-10T21:31:00.000-06:00

As kids you probably watched a few cartoons. But did you ever imagine them as more than just paint on mylar?

19: things i'm working on

2008-11-08T20:39:00.000-06:00

1. ,2., 3., 4.

I like this alot. And considering my profession, these are too perfect! I must order some straight away.

18: friday flickr favourites

2008-11-07T12:57:00.000-06:00

I apologize for deleting this post, but some people get ultra-sensitive when you blog their photos, even if you properly credit them for it.

:-P

17: the colour of November

2008-11-03T20:29:00.000-06:00

In my head, September is a mixture of greens and browns; October is browns carried over mixed with orange; and December is, of course, green and red among other Christmassy hues. So what is November? It's not snowy quite yet, there are no leaves left on the trees really (in Saskatchewan, anyway), there are no holidays except Rememberance Day, so nothing really brings to mind a colour. It seems like a gray month. It's like that lost Canadian month that connects October and December. (At least in the USA, they have Thanksgiving to look forward to.)

What do you think? Do you associate November with a colour?

16: posers

2008-10-30T22:26:00.000-06:00

I wanted to carve a pumpkin for Hallowe'en this year... instead, I shall live vicariously through other people!

***

Why not try something new this weekend?

15: in love with black and white

2008-10-28T12:06:00.000-06:00

1. S e c r e t , 2. Untitled, 3. ..., 4. Dark clouds and lightning over NYC skyline

14: Good enough to keep

2008-10-26T22:04:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's good to get things into perspective.

Think of all the important people in your life. Now think of your life without them. Different, huh?

13: les barricades mysterious

2008-10-22T11:13:00.000-06:00

dubya in our living room. (we really like light fixtures.)

since being back in school, i've noticed that i am a lot more competitive than i ever thought i could be. people have always described me as 'laid back', which i've always agreed with... laid back to the point of sleeping, most of the time. i never got very good grades in high school or even university (had other things on my mind, i guess... ahem) but now, i'm bound and determined to get a 99.9% average. the problem is, i am not the only one in my class that feels this way. i'm not doing it to be the 'smartest' or 'brightest'... i just really need a scholarship! it's pretty simple that way. money! give me money!!!

but as hard as i try in my studies, i've resolved that if i do not get a scholarship this winter, i will not feel sorry for myself. i will be genuinely happy for the recipient, which will be a real struggle for me since i have an ugly habit of being ferociously jealous of other people. :-P

***

...and now for some Linky goodness!

if you're like me and need some cheap makeshift shelves to get all your junk off the floor (or just create some eye candy closer to the ceiling), try one of these diy projects over at design sponge: the bookend wall bracket or the catch-all shelf.

i just bought an antique fruit box (not unlike the ones above, but smaller) to help shelve my stuff... the only question that remains is where to put it? i have so many bare walls, it's hard to decide...

with winter coming and most activities being moved inside, have you recently been creative in organizational solutions in your home? please share!

a view from a fish

2008-10-19T21:22:00.000-06:00

i love fisheye lenses. i don't really know why, maybe it's just new and unusual to me. so when i borrowed my sister-in-law's equipment for a weekend (thanks Lori!) i went to town with it.

when in saskatoon, dubya and i passed by this antique store that i'd never seen before, so i had to go in.

like most antique stores, it was jam-packed with goodies. most of which i cannot afford... but the fun is in the looking!

next stop: the eastern market. i needed some big melamine bowls for when i like to make vietnamese noodle bowls at home. the little cereal bowls just weren't doin' it for me, ya know? it's amazing how stepping through a doorframe into a small warehouse space will feel like stepping through a portal to another world sometimes. when you can barely decipher the labelling on the package, it just doesn't feel like kansas anymore, toto.

i had to see the flatlanders exhibition at the mendel art gallery. great work by great artists. really, i went there with the intention of seeing my friend amalie atkins' movie, which was fabulously done.

11: film and technology

2008-10-17T15:48:00.000-06:00

today: my usual day off from school. ran to the printers to tie up some loose ends on a project i'm working on; stopped by some opticals to see if there are any frames out there that are retro/nice/cheap/big enough for my melon; did some household chores; am currently editing the photos i took at a friend's wedding last weekend. oh, and watched two episodes of my new favorite tv series, Mad Men. (peggy had a baby - did NOT see that coming! Yes, I'm only starting season 2 now...)

i have the opportunity to buy a used Canon Rebel XT, but i don't think i will. i guess it's the perfectionist in me coming out... if i'm going to spend money on something, it might as well be something i won't have to upgrade in the next few years, right? for now i will use my analog Rebel and maybe buy a really nice lens for it that will be interchangeable with a 5D down the road. i kind of like bucking the technology trend anyway... i really hate the way they come out with a new Blackberry or iPod every year with new upgraded features so that you have to throw away your old one just to have the benefits of the new one. it's a waste of money and resources, period. why not just come out with a great piece of hardware, and upgrade the software every once in awhile? this way, people are still spending money on new stuff, but at least there won't be 50 million gadgets sitting in the landfill. for this one reason alone, i like to stick with the old school ways of doing things, just to show that people don't need the newest garbage out there to be productive in society.

and for this reason, i hope someone starts producing polaroid film again. it had the instant gratification of digital with the nostalgia and sentimentality of tradition. i mean, you end up printing all those digital pictures out anyway, right? so the only resource saved is the film. and there's something about having a negative that allows a photographer to feel 'safe', like his/her images aren't just floating around in cyberspace, liable to be lost at any second ... i guess as humans we're innately tactile beings, and as much as we rely on digital technology, we will always have a fondness for print.

perpetuating a stereotype

2008-10-14T10:55:00.000-06:00

Three of a kind, originally uploaded by jenjie.

Saskatchewan in October? Well, it is in my city anyway.

I have so many photos to go through and edit. some are from recent events, like weddings, and some are from much further back, like camping in august. :-) yes, it will take awhile to do it all, and then on top of that i also need to categorize all the photos i've previously burned so i can make sense of my collection - and perhaps even put together a PORTFOLIO, what a novel idea.

wish me luck!

corn

2008-10-04T23:22:00.000-06:00

macro: corn stem in the late evening sun

cypress hills

2008-09-27T00:24:00.000-06:00

jenn, caroline, dori and tamra.

where's Barry Manilow when you need him?

2008-09-17T13:02:00.000-06:00

(photo via someone at P3A)

I've been busy with color wheels and fractions and picas, so excuse the postlessness here. I'm not sure what I'd post about anyway, my days are pretty much as per usual. Oh, except Wade's work had a little golf tourny last week, which I did not participate in, but afterward I met them all for a bbq at the cutest little 'cabana'.

A cabana or cabaña may mean:
Structures:
a small hut built with a thatched roof, most commonly built in tropical climates near bodies of water, or
a temporary or permanent free standing shade structure with traversing curtains, decorative drapes and/or solid walls.

(via Wikipedia)

I would say it was like a cross between both of these types of structures. It was built by one of the architects Wade works with, on the property of an existing family-owned farm. The structure is essentially a one-room cabin with 3 walls of floor-to-cieling windows that all open as sliding doors, so when all windows are open, it's like there are no walls at all. The view... well, lets just say it was profoundly Saskatchewan: a sea of swaying golden wheat, with a few islands of trees dotted here and there. In the distance were the towers of downtown Regina. As we sat on the deck with wine in hand, lamenting the dwindling light and growing harvest moon, a farmer slowly passed us on his swather, bringing to mind a ferry with its rotating water wheel.

The stove was wood-burning, there were solar-panels on the roof to facilitate the music, the bathroom had a composting toilet, and candles were burning on the rustic wooden dining table. Wade made a comment about the movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring. It did sort of feel like we were floating in the middle of a prairie wheat-lake.

positivity and time served

2008-09-04T21:23:00.000-06:00

When I graduate, I hope I find a career that I love. No job is absolutely perfect in every way: there will always be small flaws and imperfections in your co-workers, the building, or the company. The secret to loving your job is simple: be positive. The job I'd been 'sentanced' to a year ago has taught me this.

My very first day in orientation was full of gossip and negativity from the people who were supposed to be training me, and it never stopped. There were the co-workers that were consistently positive about their job despite any negative circumstances (and there were many), and then there was my supervisor and fellow colleagues... every day was filled with stress due to negativity from situations that were never dealt with but always gossiped about. Just being within earshot was exhausting. If they had put half as much effort into their job as they did complaining about it, their productivity would've increased tenfold. These are the people who threaten to quit their job several times a week, but you know they will be there until retirement.
I could not imagine working somewhere for 35 years and hating every moment of it... talk about a lifetime wasted. And all they had to do to change it was to think positively.

I remember working with a guy who absolutely LOATHED his job as a commission salesman, and he also hated the city he lived in. Needless to say he didn't last long there. But every morning you could always count on a huge smile and a very upbeat greeting from him. If you never talked to him, you would've thought he was born for that job.

Being positive in a negative environment is not easy, but I'm learning how to do it more and more every day. It helps to surround yourself with positive people. Wade is my inspiration most days, as well as a few other people... you know who you are. Thank you for being an encouragement!

studied and decided

2008-09-03T12:38:00.002-06:00

My lunch sucked today. When I made the beet greens they were good... perhaps reheating them doesn't do them much justice. And Weight Watchers tortillas are disgusting. Dis.Gust.Ing. Tastes like dirt. The fruit and Kashi bar were my saviors.

I think I've decided to keep my Blogger blog for now. I'm definately not doing the duo-blog thing, because I simply don't have enough to say to spread over 2 blogs.

***

I've begun technical school, and I'm enjoying it so far. I hope I'm not overdoing it already... I see myself studying Occupational Health and Safety a bit too intensely. But you can understand why... in high school I was too lazy to study, and in university I was too focused on my social life to study. Now that I'm a 'mature' adult and have virtually no social life, I would be quite embarrased to get a bad grade... my excuses are nil.

***

On a photographic note, I have a few slides I still need to scan into my computer from our camping trip in July. They turned out quite nicely actually... it was my first few rolls of film that I took with my new lens reversal ring. (it allows me to take macro photos like the one above, or regular photos with a neat fuzzy vignette.) Now I need to figure out what to do with them.

decisions

2008-08-28T07:34:00.000-06:00

I have a blog on my new website, created by Wordpress. Initially I thought it might be better to host my blog on my own website and ditch the one I have on Blogger, but the more I think about it, the less appealing it seems. I will eventually use my website to allow potential clients to see my artwork, and what if they think my blog is unprofessional? With Blogger, I can link to my blog through my website if I want to, but it doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with my professional life. It's just a blog - a 'creativity blog'. I don't deem myself a great writer or anything, just someone who thrives on lists and journals to keep her scattered thoughts somewhat organized. And maybe I can be an inspiration to someone else out there at the end of the day.

What do you think - should my blog be hosted by Blogger or my website?

New beginnings

2008-08-21T11:30:00.000-06:00

My website is coming together. Why not check it out?

bananas

2008-08-13T07:11:00.000-06:00

... as in, crazy.

I got a new $150 comforter set for $9.00 the other day, from work. It's actually not a bad looking set, good for now until we get settled in somewhere. I feel so grown up! It's got shams (that's a pillow cover, for those who aren't into home decor), a big heavy comforter, and even a bedskirt. (We can't use that one properly right now as we just plunked our mattresses on the floor, but at least it deters Phinn from using the boxspring as a scratching post.) Here's Zoe enjoying the soft bedding.

I also finished my tunic/dress. It started out as a dress, but then I ran out of fabric, so it ended up as a tunic. I think I like it better as a tunic anyway. Made of thrifted light cotton.

Oh speaking of deals, does anyone need luggage? Let me know by Friday the 15th and I'll see what I can do.

my first post

2008-08-06T17:08:00.000-06:00

at my new blog-home. I put my feet up on the overstuffed footstool, lean back, and clasp my hands behind my head. "A little paint and some personal touches," I think to myself, "and it will be quite lovely."

I hope I get lots of visitors.