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.

Hoodies

I drew these little guys in my sketch book the other night. Today I drew a couple on 4" x 6" matte board and added some collage. The green guy didn't scan as well, maybe that's why he looks kind of bummed out.

tie your shoes

tie your shoes

The Illustration Friday topic for the week was "strings" (I thought). My wee boy learned how to tie his shoes today, so I had shoe strings on my mind, perfect. I drew this up and went to IF to upload it and that topic must have been for last week. This weeks topic is "late"...still seems like a fitting drawing given my dilemma.I also started the list of drawing topics for Everyday Matters. I knew shoes was the first thing on the list for a long time now. I never felt like drawing shoes, which means in my twisted way that I could not continue on with the list...lame. I'm counting this as my shoes drawing and moving on. Join me! It's a drawing party and you're invited. Yeah!

Another Gocco Success! (and a gocco tip)

Here are the latest cards I printed with my gocco! I took a little illustration I made of my neice Emily and made them into cards for my sister, Emily's momma, as a birthday present. I hope she likes them.

For this print I used two screens and four colors. The outline of the girl I did on one screen so that I could print the envelopes without the word hello. The second screen had all the colors. One thing I did learn that I can pass along to you new gocco-ers is to make sure you mix your colors well. I mixed the blue for this print and although it looked thoroughly mixed, it was not. Their were little swirls of white that came through while I was printing, and as a result the blue looks faded in some of the prints. I did do fairly well with the registration which I was happy about. They have some Gocco machines that come with a plate to help you with registration and i can see how that would be helpful in more complicated prints, but for this one using the Gocco pad to line up the prints worked out just fine for me.

Cool Lettering

Hand LetteringI saw this the other day on the credits of "I Dream of Jeannie" while my husband was playing the beginning cartoon part for my little guy (ahhh... youtube). I really like hand lettering. I like that it is not perfect, that not every "e" is the same. I worked on this last night. It came out pretty well for not penciling it first. Do you see my favorite pen on the side there? Have I told you I'm in love with Sakura Micron pens? I am, and now you know.While I'm sharing youtube moments, I'll tell you that I also found this one for my little guy. Excellent. We've been singing it with him to learn the numbers and finally he knows the real thing! He seemed intrigued that they were singing the same song on the video.