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Happy Leap Day!

Celebrate with those who's birthday only comes around every 4 years. And I just realized that this year it will be 366 days of being creative .... although yesterday I skipped. So technically this day allowed me to still have 365 days of being creative! Funny how those things work out!

upset

I was going to post something creative after I tucked the kids in bed, but I'm just too upset. One of the parents of my Odyssey of the Mind team members just found out she has breast cancer. They don't know yet what stage it's in but it has spread to her lymph nodes. She has two children, and her sister has already died of it. She starts chemo next week. I talked with her husband and I can tell that he is overwhelmed and very upset... scared really. I was sad... now I'm just really, really angry! I hate cancer. I hate how it's robbing children of their parents, taking spouses away, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors. It's way too common. And why is that?!!!! I hate it. I hate how agonizing it is for families to try to maintain life while dealing with chemo treatments and radiation. Nothing will make me feel better right now. Just saying "I hate it!!!" is all I can do. I have a feeling you probably know what I'm talking about. I HATE IT!


*** Thanks you guys! I thought it was interesting that Heather at artgirlatl just posted about cancer causing chemicals in our beauty products and Stacey just mentionned that she's buying organic now, which is exactly what we've been trying to do also. I know you think I'm getting a percentage off the sales of this book...I'm not!...but "Real Food" explains what to look for in good healthy food that tastes good and is grown responsibly. I don't know why it's so difficult to take care of the people in this country! Why do we use dangerous chemicals, thinking they'll have no effect. Why do we give children junk to eat and drink?!! I'm totally baffled by it. I'm going to turn into Tasha Tudor and grow my own food and make my own clothes... sigh.

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I was inspired by Caroline to try my hand again. This time I did it in unforgiving ink pen. Sometimes I like how contour drawings are a little off because the concentration was more on the path of the line, than the whole. I have realized that it's the things that are not quite right that sometimes give art it's character. I almost forgot to do anything creative today so now it's late and I'm going to bed!

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Sorry that I posted yesterday's creative thing today instead. I got home later than normal from painting and really, I didn't like this one a whole lot. The composition is weak, and I didn't even get to finish painting most of it. I do like how the bottle looks like glass, so I am chalking this one up to a definate learning experience. I tried to put in the background first and and the lights and shadows. There was just too many things to paint for only 2 1/2 hours! I really didn't want to post it but I figured you needed to see my failures as well as my successes.

Thank you for all of your great comments yesterday!! I even got a few more in my email box too. I think that I tend to hang around a lot of the same kinds of women-- intelligent, kind and well-spoken. I loved reading what you guys had to say about it. Craig said he was happy that people spoke so well of him too (I'm not sure if he really liked what I said though! He always told me he married me because I was intelligent and stood up for what I thought.) I think anything can be spoken about if it's done with politeness. I kept thinking about Esther in the Bible yesterday (I think that's right). She was beautiful and was able to persuade the king to do the right thing because she knew how to use her femininity. I know-- the women's libbers would hate that statement, but it's so true. Look at Hillary Clinton right now. She turns off a lot of men because of her brashness. We can be respected for our ideas and be lovely at the same time. And by the way, all of you who wrote are beautiful women!!!! I will give men more credit than they usually get because I think they see it better than we do! So go hug your guy today and let them know how much you appreciate their mind too! (and their cute behinds... okay... I can't help it!)

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I finished Caroline's apron today! It turned out pretty well. You can't see the little tucks I put in the front. She specified a "colonial style apron" so this is what I came up with. I like the little cakes around the top and bottom! Caroline said that since she has this apron, now she can help in the kitchen... we'll see if that happens! She does like to cook (a little). I made homemade bread today for supper tonight. And I also got upstairs cleaned... all those cold germs are gone now! I'm totally ready for spring!

Caroline's drawings

Caroline has been emailing her drawings to me every day during Lent. She chose to focus on hands and I've watched as they get progressively better every day! She was always one of the top students in our college art classes, so she was already good! But I've realized how much it improves your skill to really focus on one particular thing. And I think it opens the doors for more creativity, to have parameters to explore inside of. I am thinking of trying to focus on one thing for a set period of time, to see what will happen. I already know that I tend to rebel against set rules for myself and I'd end up sewing when I should be drawing, and drawing when I should be painting, etc. I still think it would be a good idea! I love thinking about the creative process...there's so many different thoughts about it out there... finding what works for you is probably the toughest part. I think Caroline found hers, though!

55, The Day Made Right & a Great Movie

I am finally on the upswing, feeling a little better and making it out of the house to the grocery to buy some ingredients for the dinner I missed! I also was in the mood to sew today, so Caroline and I put our heads together. She came up with how she wanted her apron to look and then I went ahead and designed how it would come together! She had picked some really cute fabric from reprodepot last month and I found the perfect ribbon to complement a kitchen apron! I'm almost done, but I had to stop so I could prepare Craig's belated birthday dinner!

Feta and Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast and Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Arugula, Pine Nuts and Herb Dressing (click on it for recipe). The Pasta recipe was just in Food & Wine's Feb. 2008 issue. Craig picked a nice Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay which was just perfect with it. And he had his whoopie-pies for dessert! So all is well for the birthday weekend after all!

Lastly, I talked everyone into watching "Babette's Feast" last evening. That was actually the first time I'd ever seen it and I loved it!! The kids even liked it, though it was all in subtitles. (It won an Oscar for best Foreign Film.) Anyone who loves food will appreciate the end, when Babette cooks her feast. I loved the symbolism of the food and the realization of the importance of joy in life. The scenery is gorgeous and the food was incredible. That is a talent I wish I did have. I actually found a website where a chef actually posted the recipes for the French feast in the movie! I also loved the message of the importance of giving to others. Someone wrote somewhere, "There are givers and there are takers and the world is more full of the latter." I have always subscribed to the former and find my joy in that.

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Creating Her Own World

happy birthday handsome

Saturday morning, I'm sick and it's your 38th birthday!!! I was supposed to cook an awesome dinner for you, make chocolate cream pie and smother you with love. Instead, I'm sneezing and coughing and totally ignoring you at my computer (well, writing this to you isn't totally ignoring you!!). You have no idea how much I love you and I feel horrible that "your day" isn't going to be what it should be. But you don't care. You are so easy to make happy... too easy I think! You work hard at a job that you really do like...but I know it's not easy to carry this family on your shoulders every day. You'd never complain. You're pretty much even keel, putting up with my usual swings of emotion, keeping me grounded and making me feel loved...even days when I'm sick like this!! I can't imagine life without our family and the little things that make every day special with you. We have been through more things than the average family...maybe because we dream big and sometimes fall hard, but when you have someone to fall with, it makes the landing a lot softer! We're raising two wonderful children together... I'm proud of you for being involved in their lives and always being a man of integrity that they can look up to. You're always there at sporting events, helping whenever needed. You go to Father/Daughter dances and actually have fun! You teach them your faith which is more solid than most people's and always evolving because it is yours and not anything that someone else dictates. You are accepting of people and make everyone feel comfortable when they're around you. I have learned that from you. And let's just not forget how handsome you are!! Even on Saturday morning when you're not trying, I love how cute you look in your OSU cap and your slippers! You've always been too cute... more handsome than I ever imagined someone I'd end up looking at every day...so that makes life a lot more beautiful!! At 38 you're hotter than you were at 20 when I met you!!! (you don't believe it, but it's true!). I love you more now than I did when I said I'd be your wife 15 years ago and I hope in your 38th year that you are content in who you are and this wonderful life that you are creating for all of us! We love you dearly.

Happy Birthday Craig!!!

kids clothes

I just got the latest crewcuts email from J.Crew... and while I am not promoting their advertising in any way, I just adore the clothes! BUT I will never pay $138.00 for a sweater my daughter would wear one season and that's it... let alone worry about her spilling spaghetti sauce on it or something! Looking through the clothes (and the great photography from Rome, by the way), I couldn't help thinking of the awesome clothes that my favorite bloggers are sewing for their own kids. I'm not much of a sewer, but when I see a cute little cotton dress, it makes me want to pull out my machine and try! I decided to compile a list of inspiring women who do sew their own things and who I would guess will end up influencing the fashion designers in the end anyways!:




Melissa at Sugar City Journal









Rebecca at Poshyarns












Anna Maria at Anna Maria Horner

Hillary at Wee Wonderfuls













Amy at Angry Chicken








I'm sure there are many, many more that I don't know about! If you know of anyone who is sewing fabulous clothes for their children, leave a link or name in the comments! And I've only found girl's clothing... any great boy's things out there??

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Playing around in Adobe Illustrator today... Easter will be here before you know it! Tags to print or copy. I don't know what I'll do with them yet.

Snow Day

morning...

afternoon...

The family went on a little hike through our woods with Ellie! I had to watch from inside (sniffle, sniffle.) Snow always brings out the excitement in everyone!

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My head feels like it's in the clouds... I have a cold and a sore throat and a cough... one of those "shoot me now!" moments. I tried different creative things all day since I was stuck at home sick, but nothing turned out. I about gave up on being an artist. But maybe when I'm better, things won't seem so dismal. It's hard to see so many great things going on in everyone else's work and then be so uninspired by your own work. Maybe tomorrow it will look different. I have to get my head out of this cloud!!!

snow

Last evening the snow fell in big, fluffy flakes, dusting everything. This morning the sky was a crisp, bright blue and the sun is taking back the white! But we're supposed to get more tonight...

girly things...

If you have a little girl in your life, then you need to check out Kennedy & Friends for the cutest tutus I've ever seen! Lots of ribbons and tulle! (Too bad she doesn't make these for adults too!)

And these adorable felt barrettes can be found here! While they are probably made for little girls, one size fits all!! :)

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My son posed for me this evening. I love drawing people...LOVE. I wish I had done this when they were younger. At least I'm starting now!

Lenten meditation

Caroline's drawing for today serves as a good one for prayer and meditation (click on it to enlarge and read the scripture.)

birthday girls

I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Kari today! Go wish her a good one here as she's turning 40 today and we all love her!

My sweet Grandma is turning 94 today too!!! Happy Birthday Grandma! Thank you for all the cookies you baked for me, the doll clothes you sewed when I was little, the wonderful birthday parties you always held for everyone, and the love you always showed us!!!

MadeByGirl

Look who showed up on my blog doorstep? Jennifer Ramos at MadeByGirl. Edgy, stylish and 100% recycled paper... these cards are so much fun! She has great posters too and her blog is full of inspiring photos. And she has an etsy shop!! Another girl who's all about love... LOVE her!

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera

Do you like The King and I as much as I do? I love saying that. I also love Anna and the King with Yun-Fat Chow-- He's so cute. I told Craig he's the American version of Yun-Fat. I would put up a side-by-side photo but I don't have time. I have to go to bed. I'm sick. But here's what we did this past weekend: BIG surprise birthday for Jackie who turned 40! Live band, lots of fun. I'm sick now. And even bigger, for Craig's birthday (which isn't until next Saturday) we bought him tickets to see The Blue Man Group for this past Sunday evening!!! This one was called "How to be a Megastar" Tour. It was so much fun!!! We were doing our best rock concert moves: pumping the fist, head bobs, waving it in the air like you just don't care, raising the roof, and jumping up and down!! Yes, I'm such a good influence on my young children!! Now they'll be all set for concerts like this! They are coming to Hershey... but we're not going. We ARE going to THIS though in April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pinch me... I'm going to faint!

Okay, enough links for you! (Have fun Willow!!) Good night!

50

My first still life in this oil painting class! It's too bad I was on antihistamines and half out of it because I feel terrible! I think I'm coming down with a cold...yikes. This was done in 3 hours and there was a lot more I could've done to finish it. But it was fun to paint again!

BTW: I am trying to catch up with reading everyone's blogs... I was kicked off the computer last night, gone tonight, and the weekend was crazy busy... and now I'm sick. Just know that I'm thinking about you and can't wait to see what you've posted... I'm coming!!!!!!!!!!!

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A little watercolor, inspired by a trip to the grocery today. We had a burst of warm weather but the cold is coming back.

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Gustav Klimt's portrait of Helen Klimt

I know the creativity has been a bit lacking but we're having a super busy weekend!! Lots of fun, lots of birthdays... you'll hear more about it tomorrow as we're leaving in an hour to see a great show in Hershey!

Let's talk briefly about hair! I just got my hair cut on Tuesday and I was thinking about something an old boyfriend's sister once said, "You should spend more money on a good haircut than a dress because you wear your hair every day!". It is true that a good hair day always feels better and to not have to worry about bad hair is great. Finding someone to cut/style your hair the right way is something else though! It took me several years of living where we do now to find someone I really like. I also read somewhere that if a hairstylist says your hair is the problem, change stylists because they should be able to cut your hair to suit it's texture and thickness so it will look good. I've had my hair done by cheap places all the way up to a very well known stylist in NYC who does hair for tv personalities there. And basically my favorite style that they all seem to do is a bob because my hair is straight and heavy.

I grew up with two blonde sisters and we all have different textured hair. Whenever I see three little blonde sisters, it reminds me of all of us. The numerous different styles we tried (let's just forget the perms girls... I looked horrible!) are unfortunately forever captured in old photos and yearbooks! I would braid the other two's hair if they asked. Anne says my hair isn't "big enough" and they are both more glamourous than I am. But to this day, we tend to resemble our younger selves: me in the bob, Jane with long hair and Anne with curls pulled up very pretty! The funny thing is that I've always loved brunette hair! My mom is a brunette... Dad is the blonde. Mom always seemed more sophisticated with her dark hair and dramatic. Now my own daughter is a brunette with big brown eyes!

So, do you love your own hair and what is your favorite color?

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One of my friends is turning 40 and we're going to a surprise party for her tonight! Here's the card I did... I rushed though, because I spent too much time on the book meme!!!

Book Meme

Willow tagged me for a book meme and seeing that I have a book fetish (it's getting better but I still have my book binges!!!) I had to comply and fill this out. It just takes a lot of thought! I will tell you that I LOVE children's books... I couldn't begin to list all of my favorites!!!

1. A Book that Changed your Life: "Are You My Mother?" was the first book I ever read when I was in Kindergarten!! I still remember that day. "Surprised by the Truth" series by Patrick Madrid... it answered the questions I had and led me to who I am today (thanks Caroline!). "The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth" by Scott Hahn.

2. A Book you read More than Once: "Eloise in Paris", any "Toot & Puddle" book, "The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler", Winnie the Pooh... gosh, any of the great kids books we have!! The Bible (that's a given, isn't it?!). "Celebrating Home: Decorating For the Holidays and Seasons" by Seasons of Cannon Falls.

3. A book you would take to a Desert Island: "East of Eden" because it is so long! Maybe one of my big art books to shelter me from the sun?!! One off the huge stack that's next to my bed that I haven't read yet!!

4. A book that made you laugh: Hands down "The Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter" or anything by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee!! She's hilarious! Or anything by Bill Cosby. Even "Cyrano de Bergerac" made me laugh out loud in high school...love that book!

5. A book that made you cry: "Sounder" when we read that in elementary school.

6. A book you wish you had written: "Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in our Achievement Oriented Society" by William Crain. Lots of wisdom in that one that I think about often. "Real Food: What to Eat and Why" by Nina Planck-- more wisdom...love it!!! Both of these books to me are common sense. Or any of the Toot & Puddle books by Holly Hobbie-- I wish I was as talented as she is!!

7. A book you wish had not been written: The Left Behind series. I think this fictional series just confused a lot of good people into thinking it was real. And it's not biblically accurate at all. "The Da Vinci Code"...again, it confused fiction with reality and people believed it.

8. Two books that you are at present reading: "Real Food: What to Eat and Why" by Nina Planck, "A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul" by Holly Pierlot, and "Bend-the-Rules Sewing" by Amy Karol. I'm always reading several books at a time!!!

9. A book you are going to read: "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver, "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals" by Michael Pollan, "Jesus of Nazareth" by Pope Benedict XVI, "In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden and Phyllis Tickle, "Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum" by Lotta Jansdotter, "Making Stuff for Kids" by Victoria Woodcock, and "The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections" by Amanda Blake Soule. (the last three are on order waiting to be released!). Yes-- this is the pile next to my bed!!!

Now that you see some (not all ... I have TONS of art books!!!) of what I read, I want to know what YOU read!!! I am tagging YOU if you are reading this post... because I want to know what everyone reads and am not narrowing it down to only several people! Consider yourself tagged!

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knitting bug

I am so excited because new people have been stopping in here lately and commenting! I always like making new friends! But I was thinking, "They are probably looking for knitting since it's called 'Red Yarn' and I haven't knitted in months!!!" I wanted to make a hat for myself this winter (didn't do it) and I have a wonderful idea for a blanket (still just a sketch)... so I think I will seriously start a new project and keep it next to the tv so if I do watch, I can knit at the same time. Of course I'm still working on my quilt, drawing, oil painting, sewing (I owe little Caroline an apron!) and doing odd things with the kids.

Here is something fun I did today for Kim because she's looking for hearts to fill a basket in Daisy Cottage! Kim, you need to email me your address and this little heart will be on it's way!! I tried French Knots to create the inside of the daisy and they turned out really cool! I'm addicted to French Knots now! (What a blurry photo!!!... I hate my camera.)

I also told you that my friend Caroline is drawing hands every day and here is her latest. I think they are awesome! I always wished I owned a gallery so I could collect all my friends' work and sell it for them. She should open an etsy store!!!