green bean baby

a young artist...

the other day, dan morelle sent me a wonderful surprise- a book!!!! artist to artist: 23 major illustrators talk to children about their art.... it has been already read fully and it's quite inspirational.... every now and then, we need to rekindle those dreams of accomplishing certain artistic goals... every now and then we need to remember how we began and why we chose this path...  sometimes, i see the bills  come in [like a flood] and having a degree in art, seems so futile... it's discouraging when i am cleaning the dust off my degree... it's disappointing when the only student loan i have has to go into forebearance yet again.... the sentence "i should have went to another college and majored in something else" occasionally slips from my lips and guilt settles in... of course, if i would have chosen a different college, ramel and i would have never met... diego and isabella wouldn't exist... meeting all you wonderful people here wouldn't have happened... who knows how life would have been, unless i have my own angel come and give me an "it's a wonderful life" experience... so it's important to embrace inspiration and motivation when it comes... it's even more important to seek it out and not allow yourself to dwell on current situation, which often is different than what you had intended.... there are artists who have been in these situations and made it through, with published books as a result... artists who have succeeded despite the times when all seemed impossible...

i am so grateful for them!!!! it proves that following dreams, having a family, having bills, and being happy can all be done at the same time.... a few shed tears... a few tantrums... a few disconnection notices.... those too shall pass, eh?! throughout my whoppin' 26 years of life, i have been surrounded by so many special experiences... i don't believe they were just by chance... after reading artist to artist, the memories came back like a flood! back in  1991, i was a scrawny 5th grader who enjoyed writing and reading... we had a contest at the school for entering the young author's conference [which still exists], and we had to write why we felt we deserved to go... there was only one winner for that school.... and i won!!!

the conference had over 265 kids ranging from 3rd grade to high school... each student was able to write their own story and have it published... [tomorrow i will post the story i wrote]... we had a special guest come and talk to us... it was ashley bryan, who is one of the illustrators in the book dan sent...  and i was honored enough to meet mr.ashley bryan and get his autograph [although, i wonder if he would remember me]... it was thanks to my teacher who took me- she bought his book, beat the story-drum pum pum for me and I STILL HAVE IT TO THIS DAY... it was such a wonderful experience!

with moments like this in my life, there is no excuse... there is no reason to give up on my dreams... there is no reason to quit artwork... as many times i've allowed the frustration to settle in and contemplated [threatened] giving up, there are even more times when someone or something has encouraged me to do otherwise... everything happens for a reason... the very day i read artist to artist, so happened to be the very day [earlier] i ranted of how my artwork can't even pay the smallest bill... wasn't just a coincidence!

anyhow, i better get to the studio and work on art while the energy and drive exceeds my lack of sleep... have a happy weekend!!!

diego and his pumpkin...

i am about a good week behind on my blog... so in case you get impatient, feel free to stop by at my flickr page... anyhow, diego went to the pumpkin farm the other week... when i went to pick him up, his teachers handed me his pumpkin, which seemed to weigh more than isabella!!! it was huge!!!! on one side of it, it had this dried mud skin to it... when i asked diego to show me his pumpkin for the photo, he kept turning it over so i can get a shot of the muddy part... apparently, he picked it out for this special feature...


this was the same week where i was babysitting my niece after school... nana and diego sat at the kitchen table working on coloring and homework.... i just kept thinking how in 3yrs from now, it will be diego and isabella sitting at the table... with nana visiting and helping diego with his homework... i am actually hoping diego will attend the same school as her, the spanish immersion school... and i hope isabella will be able to attend headstart pre-school because it's an awesome program!!!!

i've been going to trainings all week and it's amazing to see what they offer us parents... and they really get the parents involved in kids' school experience... to think, this is only the beginning of being involved! this is only the start of diego's education >gasp<!!! i hope that by the time isabella is in pre-school, i can put my talents to use and contribute a bit more [not that cleaning and caring for the family 24/7 isn't enough!!]... i guess i don't want my degree to collect dust forever... seeing diego in school and going to these trainings makes me miss getting educated!!! makes me want to make a bazillion dollars doing artwork at home so i can still go to the parent meetings and see diego off to school and isabella too... ah, it rekindles dreams....

and i must say, i love that diego "reads" more! everyday, i find his nose in a book... he loves when we read to him and isabella loves getting in the mix too!!! it's so much fun watching him read to himself and it's a delight to see him bring his transformers look and find book all around! him being in school has been such an advantage to us all :)

ah, it's every mama's dream to see their child learning!

school. books. meetings.

with diego in headstart, and with me working on a children's book, there are books everywhere... neat little piles in the corner of the living room... a small pile by his bed and under isabella's crib... there is a pile next to the bookshelf as well as a few sitting on the kitchen table... there are books in my room and books in my studio.... but while i make it sound like a library here, the books are around so we can read and enjoy and be inspired....

although diego loves superman and marvel characters, he is a big fan of jane yolen's dinosaur series... first i will read him the book, then ramel will read it to him, then diego will "read" it to us...  isabella will try to eat it... eitehr way, its a great way to spend time with eachother, as well as scope out ideas from mark teague's amazing illustrations... we really want to get the rest of them!!! they were once part of ramel's collection but i think diego has become the new owner...

there are a bazillion books in this house... including "everybody poops" diego had such an expression on his face as we read it and observed the very informative illustrations... he also gets the li'l scholastic newsletter once a month...  we try to order a couple each time, since a portion goes to his school... and every time we read to him, it is counted as volunteer time and it also helps the school... to think, our reading will help another child be able to join head start next year...

i'm trying to be involved in diego's school... there are parent meetings, volunteer time, and more meetings... with headstart, they promote this and really help parents get to know the system and what is out there [that we may be in need of]... i decided to run for office for our school site [there are several headstart sites here in milwaukee] and became the chairperson! i walked out of there, excited but wondering how i can handle this with my sweet isabella, my art, my family, everything! but there is a way, right?! the staff promised they wouldn't mind that she'd tag along... so immediately, there was another meeting for leadership training for other chairpersons and representatives at the head start... sites....

this was an all day event... diego went to school all day and i went to the meeting... with isabella... now, at this meeting they voted for an overall chairperson and  guess who is that chairperson?! yup, the lady with the baby :)... isabella probably helped me win the vote with her cute smile... the staff there also said it wouldn't be a problem that she's going to tag along... maybe because she is cute and friendly and  was so well behaved, they saw her her as not a bother... i  mean, this girl was all smiles, and barely shed a tear! she slept thru a portion of the meeting as well and saved her bowel movements for the moment we got home...

so i went from being merely a parent to focusing on being as involved as i can be... i thought i'd be unable to do much with isabella so small but that isn't  true... she is going to learn about policies and systems and leadership at six months!!! she really was well behaved the entire time and once we got home, she turned up the volume... and took a two diapered dump.... blech!

setting up a new goal

i'm a goal-driven person... rather, i need goals in order to feel satisfied... after all, a goal often leads to an accomplishment, right?! of course, that isn't always the case and often i have to-do lists that aren't completed... with my art though, i think it's time to push myself harder and take my art career to a new level...

so my goal is to get published... with contacts, books, links, leads, and such i dont think it's an impossible goal... after all, this is what college prepped me for! somehow, college excluded the fact of freelancing while having a family... i guess they assumed we would all stay single and not have kids until our career was well under way.... ramel and i chose family first and while that was not the easiest decision, it's not regretable...


in 2003, i met a famous pastor named jill briscoe... she has written many books including children's books... she published "jonah and the worm" and "harrow sparrow" in the early 80's... a couple decades later, she wanted the illustrations revamped and hired me to do so [what an awesome oppurtunity!!!!!]... i did the illustrations digitally and the books were published and printed out... some days i wish i would have pushed myself harder for these books and stuck with my first style [cut paper]... however, i am quite grateful for such an oppurtunity!!!

 
so since this job, i have had diego, bought a house, started a blog, got an etsy shop going, and had isabella... all these [important] events helped me refine my style... my illustrations have evolved and i've got a ton more paper.... i've also met so many wonderful people who are talented, encouraging, and inspiring... i mean, all i have to do now is actually get a portfolio revised and send it out.... of course,  it isn't as easy as that but with the resources and help of my husband, i hope this goal will be accomplished in 2008 sometime...

what is your goal for 2008??????? we can cheer each other on :)

the case of Dr. jekyll & senor hyde

is it the pediasure diego drinks? or perhaps there is something in the bottled water? either way, there are days reminiscent of the classic book, dr. jekyll and mr. hyde. one moment, diego is as sweet as pie and then a bit later, turns into an angry, impatient, crying toddler...

it's the story most moms can relate to but few actually blog or tell about it... understandable, right?! what mom wants to tell the dark side of her son on the internet and tarnish his halo that everyone sees on him... my sweet and friendly diego who befriends strangers whereever he goes, will show his true colors when mother is around... and she is telling...

it was a sunny afternoon... the birds were chirping and there was a nice breeze blowing through the leaves... a happy family leaves the house to take the hardworking husband to his job.... it was a peaceful moment until---- (dun dun dun....) the mom is left with the two kids alone... suddenly, the birds are squawking too loud, the sun is beating down too hard, and the wind is throwing leaves and pollen into your eye... diego begins crying because he wants to go to work with his dad (daycare)... isabella begins to grunt at such loudness... size 9.5 shoes are being thrown off and a toddler's cries turn into angry shrills... a mother's soft tone of voice becomes an angry "you better cut it out diego!"

then there is silence... although the sun is still beating down quite a bit, it's manageable... the birds are flying away and the wind is trying to cool down the sweat you and the toddler acquired from the moment before... the three make it to a park near the lake... diego is happily rejoicing and listening to every direction you tell him... even isabella is asleep and content... the happy trio walk to the park and then, it  happens... the happy toddler takes off running... going on slides too high and climbing up stairs too tall... mother is too short and trying hard to nicely tell him to go to the toddler side of the park... after all, several other mothers are watching her... diego becomes angry and whiny... he makes his body limp as the mom can feel her face reddening and the anger rising... with isabella strapped in the pouch, she is too slow to keep up with diego... diego begins to run away, knowing he has the advantage....

and then she takes a spill, right in front of everyone in the park... holding onto isabella, the mother trips and falls into the sand landing on her knees, thankfully... isabella goes back to sleep but the mom is now, angry, embarassed and trying hard not to lose her cool in public... diego just looks and mother ends up grabbing diego by the hand and going home... his howls can be heard throughout the south side of milwaukee... the audience in the park just stare... even the birds remain silent... heck, i bet the wind stopped to check out the scene....

the toddler is quiet in the car ride home... the baby sleeps away even though her pacifier was lost during that 15minute stay at the park... and who ends up crying?? dear dear mother crying on the phone to her mother! how come diego won't listen? why is he good at the park when his father takes him? how come he listens at daycare? why do they make parks for little kids?

with a veteran mom's advice and consolation, this mother goes home a bit more relaxed... she makes diego go to his room, without television, and tells him to lie down... he takes a nap while isabella eats... when diego awakes, he is as good as gold... he eats without complaining... he sits down without being told twice...  mother takes him outside in the yard, and he is actually having a darn good time! the afternoon is ended with a content toddler and a bit of bubbles too...

i know i'm a good mom and that diego is a good kid... i also know this is part of motherhood... but perhaps, dr. jekyll and mr. hyde was really written by Robert Louis Stevenson's wife... maybe she told him of her days with the kids, and he got the story for his famous book...

yeah, now you've had those days, eh????!!!!

notes: i received a couple wonderful packages this week... if  you go to my flickr, you will see more... thank you ester and jhoanna for the loveliness and happiness you sent this way :D

sweetness from singapore, milwaukee and 30 days

check out the wonderful books li li from singapore sent over to chilly wisconsin... there is a children's book with illustrations done in felt and stitching.... it looks similar to way cut paper works so it will be a great inspiration while i work... she also sent some rhyming matching books- very fun! and there is a retro hardy boys book to go with my collection... and a cake book too!!!! it has the coolest cakes in there!!!! one day i will show pix of some of them (if i remember- haha)


ah, but she also sent some candy... yummmmmmers... who can resist candy, and some that taste like coffee too?! there is even cotton candy with pop rocks and some chocolate covered cookies... oh, and there is some berry flavored gummies (that ramel and diego LOVE)... but check this cute item out: a lil stuffed dog that goes by the mouse for the computer! it's to cushion your wrist while you type... and the bottom part of the dog, is extra furry and meant to dust off the keyboard... what a fun product, eh!? thank you so much li li for such sweet gifts!!!!


this is a punch bowl set... made of vintage white glass thats pretty darn heavy... my mom bought it for me and isn't it just lovely?! since we have company over weekly, i plan on making some darn good punch (or shall i try homemade eggnog?) for next week.... i never have 12 people here but i do have up to 7 so there is plenty of cups for everyone... thanks mom, it will be used with care and love!!!!!

lastly, its been 30 days, and a posting on every day... the challenge was met and maybe i will be a random winner!? either way, its actually pretty fun posting often and brushing up on my writing skills... goodness, it needs it... it also helped to bring a bit of diverse topics to the greenbeanbaby  blog... plus it made want to make something worth blogging about, ya know?! more than just "what i ate today" sorta thing (although, i did have the best soup ever! my dad bought some and boy, it was yummy!) anyhow, thank you all for such kind comments and your time! its much appreciated :)

it's lovely to rummage...

this past weekend was quite eventful... from friday to sunday, i was steady rummaging with well under $20... on friday, i bought some old records (look here) as diego and i walked around to closer garage sales... but on saturday, my dad picked diego and i up, and we all (including my mom) went rummaging... as my mom and i went to check them out, my dad happily entertained his grandson... anyhow, one of the greatest finds on saturday was the two yard toys for diego... together the picnic table and slide cost only $7... what a great deal, eh?! diego just loves it!! i was so happy to be able to find something so perfect for my extremely active son...

 
but even better, i got a ton of free stuff over the weekend... the first picture is of vinyl decals... they were in the free box! i had a total of 7 assorted pages but i gave my mom 4... they are really neat close up and i believe they are from around the 70's.... the duck in the first set is absolutely the cutest... but regardless, i can't believe these were free! and i found some cute lil books for my collection...

 
wait! you won't believe this! on sunday, ramel took a walk with diego so i could get some artwork done... he calls me up asking me if i want some patterns... of course! he told me to meet him outside and i see him a block away talking to a lady... i walked over there and the lady gave me four boxes filled with patterns and material and magazines for free!!!! i mean, isn't that wild?! four whole boxes fulla retro patterns and some early 90's patterns too... patterns for babies, toddlers, women, pajamas, toys, quilts, even aprons, and purses!! i am so overwhelmed with the possibilities and cannot wait to snag some time so i can get to working on sewing...
 
the boxes were very old so i moved them into newer boxes and a couple bins... here are just a portion of the patterns close up... i cant even tell you how many i received but let's just say that i have enough to fill one big bin, a big box, and a smaller pattern box... like i said, there was also material and that is already in my cupboard of fabric stash... there was also a couple bags of cross stitching kits and needlepoint...

 
there was one full box of crochet and knitting books/magazines... most of them are from the 70's but there is one from 1958 and one from 1963... most of it looks way to complicated for me however, they are so colorful and well, inspiring! and who knows, maybe one day my skills in these areas will be good enough to attempt some of the patterns in these books...

i've enough stuff to keep me busy for a long time... it's beautiful to find such generous people in this world...

all the way from australia

a couple days ago, i received a lovely swap package from samantha...  after ripping open the envelope in excitement, i began looking through everything, and then putting it all back so i can take pictures as if i didn't open it yet... am i the only one that does this? anyhow, this is how the package looked once out of the envelope.... a pretty handmade bag holding a ton of goodies inside and under...

       
and what a plethora of goodness!!! there were sheets of vintage wallpaper in all colors and patterns... and a retro fairy tales book (perfect timing for inspiration for amy's atc swap), which held even more papers! she even included a book polar by elaine moss and jeannie baker... the illustrations in both books are so wonderful and completely my style!!!! there was even clip arts of beautiful fairies and flowers and animals!

         
but that's not all! there was oodles of papers and book clippings.... as well as an humpty dumpty clipping and the fiddlin' cat... there was shiny paper, dotted paper, fuzzy paper,stationary, and borders too! she also included embellishments and tags and more stationary, pretty napkins, and australian postage stamps from the 60's and 70's.... aren't you amazed?! i said "awwww" and "wow" so many times while going through the package, that diego kept mimicking me... haha!

      
and there was still more in this package!!! fabric (for my june goal to sew some goodies)!!!... even ribbon too! but lastly, she sent me a handmade apron that was worn right away!! (yes, that is diego's foot in the way, with his too small socks).... i cannot wait to reorganize my studio to put all this stuff in right order (yes, i do this every time i get new stuff)

thanks samantha so much for the fantastic package! it was a pleasure to swap with you!

i have had only wonderful packages  with every person i've swapped with... thank you all :)

illustrators who paved the way

                      
since i've discovered the world of cut paper, i've hunted for children's books illustrated by those with the same medium.... of course, nothing under the sun is new and yet, i was shocked by all the retro illustrators who chose cut paper as a way to create such alluring storybooks... leo lionni is one of the main artists whose books have received awards and have been the center of storytime on the rug for decades... you know, i first found out about lionni in my senior year of college as i was writing my thesis... when i worked at an elementary school, they had a wonderful rummage sale where i snagged up every lionni book in sight (six, to be exact)... and every keats book too (i could only find 3)... one teacher yelled at me for buying too many books... i'm an artist, a rusty writer, a child at heart, a mom, and a lover of children's books and yet i am not supposed to buy books from their rummage sale?! sorry, but these books are going to a good home, and will be loved greatly for their beauty, their sincerity, their skill!!! it is these books that give me hope that maybe one day, my cut paper will be found in a child's book, found on a bookshelf, cherished...

       
and meet ezra jack keats! another award-winning author... his retro illustrations are in my opinion raw and he uses his cut paper in the same method as his painting... loose... a style i'd love to imitate but am too much of a precise perfectionist... i always thought mr. keats was african-american just by all his characters in his book... most times, we artists look like our characters in some way..... and was shocked that he wasn't... but then again, my hubby is black and he doesn't draw many african kids... and i am hispanic; most times my girls are just tanned... so maybe my theory is wrong...

but i am venturing off... i really enjoy reading these books to myself (and to diego if he is listening)... i study the types of papers he uses, his composition... his layouts... i need to refuel myself in order to regain my skill as a writer AND illustrator... i need to remember the importance of composition; of size, of looseness... you know, i really just need to learn how to relax... i want too much too quick and get disappointed when i fail... in the meantime, if i could just sit back and watch something other than sesame street, maybe my creativity will flood into my brain, my blood, my marrow...

dare to repair

Dare to Repair : A Do-it-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home seems to be the book of necessity for me... with a new home in need of both major and minor repairs, this book seems ideal... although i am not UNhandy, you can't quite say i'm a pro either! some of our walls are super hard to even put a nail in, and other walls are mere drywall so the nails won't stay put... i installed a towel rack and some coat hooks; both coming out in less than two months, leaving a big hole... so knowing how to patch a hole up would be nice without having to constantly call my mom and ask her, "how do you do this?" look, i'll even put up the gutter pc if i have to, since my hubby works double shifts and can't do it himself... however, thankfully, my dad is willing to help out in some of the more major issues... now that we have a new tenant, a few leaks, and some other minor problems, i am sure this book will help us all out.... and from the reviews, it seems to be quite a success! it even talks about how to switch ceiling fan directions which i always forget which one is for winter and for summer... there is just so much to remember in order to keep everything up to par, low in cost, and energy efficient... such a smart home-warming gift!

note: this book looks really good too The Savvy Woman's Guide to Owning a Home: How to Care for, Improve and Maintain Your Home