Monday, January 3, 2011
An old dirt road and I'll be just fine...
Crackin' oyster shells on a Sunday afternoon 'round the kitchen table makes my heart warm. I love our trips to the country-outskirts of Wilmington. But I can't go down there without paying a visit to the beach..
Saturday, January 1, 2011
First day of 2011
Bejeweled safety goggles ornament with downtown Durham, NC in the background.
These were on the Habitat for Humanity Christmas tree that is part of a decorating competition between volunteer groups by the Durham Performing Arts Center. Here are some other pics..
These were on the Habitat for Humanity Christmas tree that is part of a decorating competition between volunteer groups by the Durham Performing Arts Center. Here are some other pics..
New year!
My 2010 was a year of work. I worked SO HARD. Dividing my year into quarters, there was 1- Work hell. 2- Hard working, yet insightful summer. 3- New job. 4- Happy, creative time.
After experiencing over a year of "work hell," I knew that it was time to escape from evil. Throughout the summer this year I worked 2nd shift which provided me with the opportunity to learn new things, and have more time to apply to jobs/attend interviews. It was a difficult switch to make, since I had to sacrifice so much valuable time with the special people in my life. But me, being the super-hero that I can sometimes be, went home every evening for dinner with my little family. It helped me make it through the nights that had me stuck at work until 2am. It wasn't all bad, though. I spent a few summer afternoons at the quiet pool of my apartment complex where I read and studied Eat, Pray, Love - an opportunity for mindful self reflection that I needed. Throughout the Fall, I worked hard at my new job and it wasn't long before I started to feel happier and the creative juices began to flow. An idea to have a "food themed" Christmas tree lead into ideas for sushi ornaments. The holidays went by very rapidly for me as I worked hard making and selling my Glittery Sushi Ornament sets on Etsy. I only filled 5 orders on Etsy (and others for friends), but it was enough to keep me busy since I started them so late in the year. My ornaments went to Iowa, Hawaii, Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota, New York, and here in North Carolina. It was such an exciting feeling for me hearing from the people who bought my ornaments as gifts for their families and friends, and how cute they thought they were.
So what's going on in 2011? The overly analytical part of me always finds it necessary to analyze and quantify my life, laying out strict goals for the coming year. I'd like to be more free than that. I plan to indulge in my creative ideas more- It makes me feel happier, more peaceful, better.
Sights from 2010...
After experiencing over a year of "work hell," I knew that it was time to escape from evil. Throughout the summer this year I worked 2nd shift which provided me with the opportunity to learn new things, and have more time to apply to jobs/attend interviews. It was a difficult switch to make, since I had to sacrifice so much valuable time with the special people in my life. But me, being the super-hero that I can sometimes be, went home every evening for dinner with my little family. It helped me make it through the nights that had me stuck at work until 2am. It wasn't all bad, though. I spent a few summer afternoons at the quiet pool of my apartment complex where I read and studied Eat, Pray, Love - an opportunity for mindful self reflection that I needed. Throughout the Fall, I worked hard at my new job and it wasn't long before I started to feel happier and the creative juices began to flow. An idea to have a "food themed" Christmas tree lead into ideas for sushi ornaments. The holidays went by very rapidly for me as I worked hard making and selling my Glittery Sushi Ornament sets on Etsy. I only filled 5 orders on Etsy (and others for friends), but it was enough to keep me busy since I started them so late in the year. My ornaments went to Iowa, Hawaii, Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota, New York, and here in North Carolina. It was such an exciting feeling for me hearing from the people who bought my ornaments as gifts for their families and friends, and how cute they thought they were.
So what's going on in 2011? The overly analytical part of me always finds it necessary to analyze and quantify my life, laying out strict goals for the coming year. I'd like to be more free than that. I plan to indulge in my creative ideas more- It makes me feel happier, more peaceful, better.
Sights from 2010...
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Christmas Cuteness
Sushi ornaments look so cute on the Christmas tree..
My level of excitement is indirectly proportional to my actual production. I should have gotten started earlier. These are hard work! I have been pulling them off my Christmas tree to send to Etsy ladies too. It's a happy feeling knowing that something you thought of, designed, and created is appreciated by other people. I felt especially happy sending a set to Honolulu. What a pretty place far, far away. And now a part of me is there.
My neice loves them too. Her reaction to Spicy Tuna Maki was "Mimi! You have a paw print ornament! Hahahhahahahahha. You're so funny. You know? When the dog goes outside and gets in the mud and just makes a mess..." Why yes, dear, that is exactly what I was going for.
Homegirl can spot a Barbie doll from a mile away. Wrapped in paper. Hidden under some stuff. Waaaaay back behind the Christmas tree.
We decorated some Christmas cookies. I made this Avatar Gingerbread Man Sugar Cookie..
I have been so busy. I painted a blue wall in my apartment..
And I dug this out. I've had it forever. That little mouse has a spaghetti stain on his face from, like, 1992 probably. And yes, I am moving him every morning.
My level of excitement is indirectly proportional to my actual production. I should have gotten started earlier. These are hard work! I have been pulling them off my Christmas tree to send to Etsy ladies too. It's a happy feeling knowing that something you thought of, designed, and created is appreciated by other people. I felt especially happy sending a set to Honolulu. What a pretty place far, far away. And now a part of me is there.
My neice loves them too. Her reaction to Spicy Tuna Maki was "Mimi! You have a paw print ornament! Hahahhahahahahha. You're so funny. You know? When the dog goes outside and gets in the mud and just makes a mess..." Why yes, dear, that is exactly what I was going for.
Homegirl can spot a Barbie doll from a mile away. Wrapped in paper. Hidden under some stuff. Waaaaay back behind the Christmas tree.
We decorated some Christmas cookies. I made this Avatar Gingerbread Man Sugar Cookie..
I have been so busy. I painted a blue wall in my apartment..
And I dug this out. I've had it forever. That little mouse has a spaghetti stain on his face from, like, 1992 probably. And yes, I am moving him every morning.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Pretty Wintry Durham
It snowed here Saturday and it was so pretty. I took these pictures in the American Tobacco district. It was insanely cold but I was nearby and couldn't resist a snowy walkthrough of pretty Christmas lights and white dust.
Lifesize paper Hillary for Julie
The paper attached to this lifesize Sarah Palin says something like - Taking over the entire world of Alaska. Or something like that. And her earrings are teabags.
Icey tree at home..
Lifesize paper Hillary for Julie
The paper attached to this lifesize Sarah Palin says something like - Taking over the entire world of Alaska. Or something like that. And her earrings are teabags.
Icey tree at home..
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A Glittery Thanksgiving
I finally got most of the glitter cleaned up and I'm really scared to break it out again. And I need to. I have a few sushi ornaments to finish and I need to paint/glitter my Chopstick Star. It got really bad there for a few days when I was really busy. I have a nice finishing spray for my ornaments/other crafts I have in mind that involve glitter but the actual process of working with it will be saved for moments of optimum TIME availability in the future. I mean we had to shampoo the carpet... just to get my point across.
I've made two Chopstick Stars, one small and one larger. I think I will paint/glitter them two different colors and put them both atop the tree if it's big enough. Here's the small unpainted star..
I just tied a bunch of chopsticks with wire to make a star shape. I think the paint/glitter/tree branches will do a good job hiding the ugly wire.
Thanksgiving Day involved a road trip to Wilmington and much excitement over recieving sushi ornament orders on Etsy on my iPhone! I don't know the name of it but we detoured through a small town where people were shopping outside in the streets flea-market style. There were so many people in the streets that we had to drive slowly and I got a chance to observe the shoppers. It's kind of interesting the things people will buy from Dollar General on Thanksgiving Day. I laughed at the man with the toilet plunger.
Downtown Wilmington is cute with a few Christmas decorations. These are iPhone pics.
It was cloudy and on the edge of rain all day, and pretty desolate due to the holiday.
This dusty workshop caught my attention..
Black Friday I skipped shopping and visited my Gma who made me try each of her Thanksgiving Day pies. Kidding. I didn't resist too much. Chocolate, pumpkin, pecan, and pound cake.
I've made two Chopstick Stars, one small and one larger. I think I will paint/glitter them two different colors and put them both atop the tree if it's big enough. Here's the small unpainted star..
I just tied a bunch of chopsticks with wire to make a star shape. I think the paint/glitter/tree branches will do a good job hiding the ugly wire.
Thanksgiving Day involved a road trip to Wilmington and much excitement over recieving sushi ornament orders on Etsy on my iPhone! I don't know the name of it but we detoured through a small town where people were shopping outside in the streets flea-market style. There were so many people in the streets that we had to drive slowly and I got a chance to observe the shoppers. It's kind of interesting the things people will buy from Dollar General on Thanksgiving Day. I laughed at the man with the toilet plunger.
Downtown Wilmington is cute with a few Christmas decorations. These are iPhone pics.
It was cloudy and on the edge of rain all day, and pretty desolate due to the holiday.
This dusty workshop caught my attention..
Black Friday I skipped shopping and visited my Gma who made me try each of her Thanksgiving Day pies. Kidding. I didn't resist too much. Chocolate, pumpkin, pecan, and pound cake.
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