Last year I made two dolls in my own image...one was sent to a friend in Canada, and here are her photos of JenniferAnne on her trip. I think she had a wonderful time and hope she gets to go on some more Canadian adventures :)
Sadly, the Jennifer Anne that was sent to California has not done so well, she is currently down to her skivies, and minus one arm...but that is life with a toddler and a dog...life can be hard.

I am quite excited...I have just signed up to participate in my first ATC swap. ATCs are Artist Trading Cards...basically tiny 2.5 x 3.5 pieces of artwork that you trade with other artists. I am participating in a mixed media swap, and will post images of the finished products when they are done.
I am really trying to meet and connect with other artists, right now my only way is through the internet. Technically I do know some local artists, but they have no interest in mixed media and are not interested in anything other than watercolours or pastels. That is fine, but I would like to expand my art community to include people who don't stare at me like I am on fire when I mention other mediums to work with.
Mostly I just have to get over the fear. The fear of doing it wrong, the fear of unoriginality, the fear of having nothing to say that anyone wants to hear.
So fingers crossed I am going to leap on in, balls out, no parachute, and just try my best!

Sick again. Blargh.
But I am re-reading Creative Time and Space: Making Room For Art by Rice Freeman-Zachery. I love this book, I tried to provide a link to amazon, but it was not working...sorry.
I just love her...she is so who I would love to be, unafraid of public opinion and so excited about art and creating.

Am enjoying the nice weather. Got to go to the park today. The best part is that the child takes a nice nap afterwards. Not as much cleaning today...sometime the mood hits and a ton gets done, but when the mood is not there...I have to force myself to do things.

I finally downloaded the photos of the Christmas presents that I made...well some of them.

I painted them and then embroidered the outlines...nothing fancy..but I like the way they turned out.

What's the point of having a blog if I never update it?
I had a really great day yesterday. I cleaned the hell out of my son's room, and am now going to attempt to start my own. Part of my clutter problem is that I always think that I might be able to use things in my art. This may be true for some things, but there is no way I could ever use all the crap I keep.
I also don't really make that kind of art...when it comes down to it I am a painter..so all this stuff I think I am going to use is just collecting dust.
Same with my closet..filled with clothes that I will wear when I lose weight. Stuff that used to fit, but now looks to "snug". I have to accept several things here..one..I will probably never lose that much weight unless I drastically change my lifestyle and I really don't think that is going to happen. Second, if I did lose a lot of weight I would probably want new clothes, not this decade old stuff that is cluttering my closet. Thirdly I need to just accept myself the way I am right this second. I have two reunions coming up this year, neither of which I am going to, mostly due to cost and geography, but even if I could afford the time and money I don't think I would go. I don't want this short, pudgy suburban mom jenn be the one that they see. I need to learn to like her first.
I also have two weddings to go to this year, but those people know me as I am now...so they won't see a difference. Although my secret dream is to look like my old self for my sister's wedding. I don't want to be the fat older sister of the beautiful bride. blargh!!!
How is that for an update.

New Computer finally!!!!

My mind, body, and soul are tired today. Pre-school registration is proving to be far more difficult than I ever imagined. It has me quite stressed and I am feeling under the weather lately. I actually missed yoga Monday night, and I have not done that in six months!
I started working on my daily journal again. I find that it really helps me with the stress. I have had such fun getting back into drawing in my journal. Very relaxing and it totally centers me..almost like meditation.
I really, really hoping that Cooper gets into preschool so I can get back to my art on a more regular basis.
I also want to learn to sew. good to have goals.