I've begun to play with Art Trading Cards in a bigger way this semester - probably mostly because I have hours and hours between my classes, and not nearly (yet) enough homework to fill the time.
Below are some examples of the playing in oil pastel that I've done so far.
Its pretty fun so far. I've never worked with oil pastels before so its both challenging and freeing. I think my next bit of play may be with water color pencils which also look pretty darn interesting.
I finally got a cell phone - a real, honest-to-goodness phone, instead of the very old pay-as-you-go phone I've had for years for use in emergencies only.
We're on Cingular/AT&T/BellSouth (so we share the same cell company as the kids - which means free calls from phone to phone, yay!), with no bells or whistles. Well, except that phones don't come without bells and whistles these days (mine include a camera and the ability to play tunes - more details here ).
Nifty, huh?
<cue fancy television news music>
We dropped Ms. Milo at school, where she was forced to say good-bye to her boyfriend (though to be fair this very cute picture was taken on Saturday at lunch, prior to when we dropped her off on Sunday). There were many tears when they parted. /sniff
I found this fella on the wall on my way to class earlier this week. As those who follow my blog surely know I cannot resist a neat insect photo. On the other hand, the wasps who are making a home in the wall near the entry stairs to our home - those I don't need to photograph. They just need to DIE.
And then there's this neat thing. I can only wear platinum in my ears, so I finally realized that rather than continue to wear the single pair of platinum hoops I have, I could get some platinum earwires made - ta da! - and then just add other dangly bits below so I'd have an endless variety of earrings. Nifty, huh?
I've been playing with ATCs lately. The one above is the start of a card featuring a photo of Milo in her halloween costume, which I'm editing into a coloring book page sorta thing.
In addition, I've been working on a "signature" card for me. One of my first attempts at an image for it is below (made with the "comic" feature of my photo editing software.
...since I last posted.
I realized recently that I don't enjoy posting as much as I did a few years back. Something about the nature of the medium, I think.
That said, here's a quick catch up:
1) Milo moves out as of tomorrow - dorm living while in college. She's a freshman. With that, we're at the start of the "empty-nest" time in our lives. Its bitter sweet, of course. Very excited for her, very sure we'll miss her as much as we always have our Beth.
2) I start college again on Monday. Its my final semester. I'm exhilerated, and scared to death. I look forward to completing this as I'd always planned - I've done well in all my classes, I've learned so much, and I've found my passion: accounting. I'm scared about the future and finding a job and starting the rest of my life, post-graduation. Eek.
3) Some links, as always:
Today we'll hit the farmer's market in Waynesville again. Maybe some more fruit, definitely some more potatoes, perhaps some more herbs will come home with us.
Milo will leave from there for work, her boyfriend will wander downtown seeing what sights there are until I return in early evening to pick them up for dinner.
Kinda quiet, just right.
So Milo and I went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday (where I met up with Patricia, a friend from school who is now working as an accountant in Waynesville) and picked up potatoes, a cantaloupe, some herbs, an indoor (hopefully!) plant, and some blackberries.
Yesterday I made this cobbler* - and it was definitely yummy!
*Super easy: put the berries in a pie or cake pan; chop together a package of yellow cake mix and a stick of butter using a pastry blender and sprinkle over top of berries; bake at 350 deg for about 30 minutes.
..."Golf is a good walk spoiled."
I plan to find out this fall, as I've signed up for beginning golf! Can you believe it?
Here's proof! I've been working out at the college to strengthen my back and abs, so I'll have a stronger swing which I don't even quite know is required. But hey, it can't hurt.
(Poster, which I love, from AllPosters .)
Unsung Designers - check out the ballgown made from thrift store t-shirts...
A "rumor says its excellent" lipstain...
What all the coolest lunch boxes include...
A set of make-up brushes that won't set you back a fortune
A (not always fashion oriented) skull a day ...
Rings crafted from bits of model railroad landscaping...
And now my husband has made me an offer I can't refuse... so I'm not.
More linky links later!
Check The Budge Fashionista and Product Anarchy for more cool links regularly. :)
...only with less clothing.
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net
Of the winners, I've been to one (The Colosseum). Looking at the fourteen losers, I can up my total to four (The Hagia Sofia, The Statue of Liberty, Stonehenge).
The Pyramids at Giza are being given an honorary spot on the list as well - something about Egypt insisting.
...check out the things we have there on eBay ID Jenanne, including:
Lots of crafty things, like yarns and knitting needles.
In addition, some collectibles - look for more Lladro to appear when I get around to it tomorrow.
In addition, I have a spinning wheel ($125) as well as one of the Incredible Sweater Machine knitting machines ($40, including bed extender and row counter) and boxes of quilting fabric that I expect to list tomorrow.
Finally, check out my Etsy shop here as well - knitting needles and some hand crafted items and yarns are up there.
I'm going through everything I own - partly for the rent, our immediately need, and partly in preparation for graduation at the end of the year. Its time to pare down my life.
Help me do it, if you're so inclined. :)
Much love,
Jenanne
... wishes you a happy 4th of July!
(Here's a close up of her make-up when she finalized it.)
And finally, we met up with Trevor's family at the mall in Johnson City to retrieve Ms. Milo on Monday evening. Here the two of them are making fishy kisses with each other.
Aren't they just too cute?!
Time magazine has a wonderful visual essay on "What the World Eats" . It includes a photograph of the a family's foods for a week for each of 16 families around the world.
First, this is the cutest knife ever. The small sheath makes it particularly darling, especially as I contemplate taking my lunch in to work and school for the rest of the year. And who wouldn't like a matching neoprene lunch bag or, better still, the world's most practical bag for a bottle water and a snack? (Sure, I could make my own but not with the nifty oomph factor of the ones I found at Target...)
I'm still searching for the perfect small black clutch , but in the process I've begun to wonder if I might not like a vintage purse just as much. Or perhaps I should go for a shot of color instead. Hrm.
Light work week for me (good and bad really, less stress, but less cash upcoming), and orientation for college for Ms. Milo. We'll have to pick up Twin XL sheets for the dormitory beds, but that's on the list of things for me to do tomorrow while she's at work.
