Spring!

I spent most of the weekend outside which was wonderful. Here are a couple of the cherry blossom pictures I took while we were at an arbor day festival.

I also started working on making a patch of our yard into a garden. It is still under construction. The seedlings are planted though, and hopefully I'll be ready to transfer them in a few weeks.

Oh, how far I am from being a temporal millionaire

I started this blog over two years ago when I published my first zine. It was a strange time. I was on leave from my job and was home taking care of my little guy. I had taken the first step toward allowing myself to enjoy the spare time I had to be creative, to embrace the idea that life without a paying job could be rewarding, and that cooking and cleaning didn't have to define my success. While the spare time seemed sparse with a little guy to love, each moment was appreciated. I allowed myself to participate in the art world in a way I had been too intimidated to do before. I wanted to create something during this period of temporal freedom that I would actually allow other people to see, and that zine was my first happy step. I did a lot during that time, things I never thought I would do. I wrote and drew, painted and sewed, I made things, and thought things that excited me everyday. The time has zipped by, moving to NY and starting to work part-time again has limited my creative time without me even really being aware it was happening. I have just recently started the torturous process of searching for a full-time position and now realize that this creative period is on the verge of ending to some degree. (I will go back to work full-time in September). So, with that in mind I wanted to share some of my creative goals for the the next few months so that I can make the most of what free time I do have left.

1. Draw everyday for one month
2. Write Temporal Millionaire Issue #3
3. Finish the baby gift for my sister
4. Make 5 hip skirts for the summer
5. Send work to Renegade Handmade in Chicago
6. Make photo books of Eli
7. Apply to four art exhibitions (plush you!, wall graphics, womenmade gallery, mortal plush, )
8. Finish little bear project for shop
9. Finish Hoodies for shop
10. Update the TKP site
11. Update this site with new graphics

That's it for now. Eleven is my favorite number so that seems like a good place to stop. What about you? Have you reassessed your situation lately? I am more appreciative for this time after looking at what happiness it has brought my way.

Happy Monday to you.

The move from Wordpress to Blogger

It was about time. There are many reasons for making the switch...but for now a little time working on setting up again and making this feel like home. Sorry Wordpress...you drove me nuts. I will tell you all the great reasons and how I made the switch after getting reorganized. For now enjoy the first 50 posts I brought over, the rest are coming tomorrow.

Super cute moss garden

I heard about moss gardens somewhere and had it on my list of things to do with my little guy. I did a little looking on the internet and found this post by Ciao Birdie helpful. Like everything these days I wanted to do this project on the cheap and I did! I took my little helper to the thrift shop to see if we could find suitable containers and we did. We each picked our favorite container ($2 for both). The only other thing we need was something to keep the dirt from going through to the rock. Ciao birdie suggested horticultural charcoal, but fearing that something that sounded fancy might be expensive, I bought a small bag of sphagnum moss ($3.50). We found the rest of the needed supplies in our yard. I took a few containers and we started our collection. One bowl of pebbles, one of dirt, and then one of assorted moss. I was amazed at how many different kinds of moss we found in our yard. I had never looked at it that closely before. I think we found six different kinds. We brought everthing to the table and got to work putting in all the layers. First pebbles, then sphagnum moss, dirt, and finally the moss. He really enjoyed making his garden and so did I. Here is my finished product. The bowl is about the size of my palm...it's super cute. Oh, and I went with bowls that did not have a top because I knew my little guy would want to "take care" of his moss. I gave him a mister to spray it whenever he wants. It evaporates at a rate that keeps it from getting too wet with all the misting. Just right! A good project for about $5.50.