greenbeanbaby art

sweetness all around

summer is nearly here and i am so darn excited about it... this summer is completely different from all the previous ones as now, i have a nearly four year old boy who finds jumping off high places to be fun... he's more vocal and about 10x more energetic than before...  i have a one year old girl who loves her dresses and loves chasing her brother... i have two kids who enjoy each other's company and find that regardless of swarming wasps, the outside world is a place where you can holler as loud as your lungs mom allows....

and this summer, ramel will be home more often... he just began a new job this week and it allows him to only have to work the normal 8 hrs a day... this is a BIG deal in the hill household as prior to this week, the man was doing about 13hrs daily... he'd come home to bathe and play with the kids.... he'd have less than 2hrs before both were put to bed... he'd go to work before they woke up... we'd squeeze our time in aside from fatigue, my artwork, etc. and somehow, our time always seemed interrupted... ramel has had absolutely minimal time to work on art... something he missed.... so, with this new job [and a promotion at that], he will get to enjoy the summer with us all... he'll be home while the sun still shines... we can go to the parks together and perhaps sneak in a movie... ah yes, it's going to be a treat!

with this extra time of his, we both will have a chance to work on art and feel like our degrees aren't left collecting dust... while i've had my time to work on stuff, it's a completely different feeling when you have two people working on art early in the morning... or late at night... it gives you an extra oomph to create... the atmosphere is filled with creativity and inspiration.... it's a bit hard to explain but seeing my husband have a chance to do something he loves [sketching, painting, etc] is such a good feeling... it's attractive too :)... it reminds me of when we were first dating... we'd sit at coffee shops working on a project... we'd talk about what we wanted to accomplish.... somehow, back then we had a lot of conversations which is something i've missed lately... sure, discussing the children can be a good topic but the parents are important too, ya know?!

so that is the good news... fun summer with the family... more time with the family... and now, more paper too!! yes, indeed!!! the other day, lisa said she had some paper for me... when i received the box, i was literally squealing at the OODLES of paper she included... isabella was to be my model for the photo of this wonderful package but she was too busy running off.... lisa musta sent me over 400 sheets!!!! sweetness, eh?! i spent all last morning and night trying to re-organize my papers but that will be saved for another post at another time... [brace yourself- hehe]

sweet patty also sent me some wonderful and beautiful papers that made me giddy with delight! kawaii stationery that is just to drool for!!! there are so many cute illustrations that it was hard to take photos that would do such a gift justice... if this doesn't jar a gal's inspiration and creativity, then what else will? i've been wanting to experiment with some new greenbeanbaby styles that are kawaii-influenced.... i don't wanna be a copycat but it'd be nice to something besides my usual gals with big eyes and a big head smiling away [although, kawaii art is that way too so what am i talking about?!]...

you can see more wonderful photos here... patty was just a doll to send so much beautiful goodness... and lisa too... i am grateful for all the love that has been sent to the hill household and hope that this summer our joy will radiate to your homes :) after all, we are all here to inspire, encourage, and motivate each other, right?!

we cannot forget one of the bestest days in the world is on sunday.... so until then have a happily splendid weekend!

everybody needs a treat...

we're not a rich family... like most adults, we have our share of bills and a mortgage that is higher than necessary... and i'm not an expensive wife... give  me a good cup of coffee and a few bucks for paper, i'm straight... give ramel a few bucks to buy a used video game and a jug of gatorade, he's straight... diego and isabella are quite content with a new toy to suit their current enjoyment... and we don't ask of these luxuries daily...

so frivolous spending is not in our budget... it's not to say we don't have those conversations of "what would you do with a million dollars?" we have SERIOUS conversations despite the fact we never discuss WHERE this money came from... as we chat, i have already paid off the house and our credit cards as well as bought a new car that is safe, fully insured, and can seat two car seats perfectly... the house has been painted and all holes in the wall are fixed professionally... new gutters have been installed and a pretty fence replaces our rotting one... a  new garage sits where the old one leaned sadly to the right... we have a new bedroom set with furniture that isn't falling apart from the child who jumped off everything...a new couch and a bigger television sit in a refinished living room where the 70's wooden panels have been ripped off... all windows have been replaced and pretty curtains hang on curtain rods that don't fall off... a new stove that works and new chairs that don't make your bum hurt sit in our kitchen... there are closets for us to hang our clothes and there are places to store our shoes perfectly... yep, all that has been taken care of [including paying someone to refinish our basement and guarantee it bug-free forever]

so far, we haven't received a million dollars so most of this remains to be done... [like the painting and fixing the holes]... i haven't had my own paycheck since i was pregnant with diego.... being a stay-at-home mom is wonderful but it's been far too long since i requested a few extra bucks to spend on myself... it's been even longer since i've shopped without a twinge of guilt that this money should go towards one bill or another... after some odd years, the time finally came when there was extra money... and guess who got to spend it?! >grinning wildly< BOY, DID IT FEEL WHOPPIN' WONDERFUL!!!

i finally bought new clothes without thinking "do i really need this shirt?" and sticking it back onto the rack... i still bought from the clearanced section but there was no guilt... and makeup!!!! now, i rarely wear more than mascara and light lipstick... but it was time to get some new colors and a wee bit of blush [not trying to look like mimi in the drew carey show].... the last time i bought the stuff was back in high school so this moment of splurging was long overdue... add new jammies, slippers, shoes, and a couple other girlie goodies and this momma was happy! it felt good to shop without the kids and it felt even better to stick more than just toothpaste into the shopping cart...

i even got a haircut!!! do you know when i last went to the salon to get it cut??!! 1998, right before the first year of college... after that, i chopped it all off myself.... TEN YEARS!!! i waited TEN YEARS to sit in a salon chair and have a young gal ask me "what sort of style do you like?" i waited TEN YEARS to tell her "short-ish, layered and IN STYLE!" hehe... i got to walk out of that place smelling like expensive hair products and feeling like i was the best looking gal in town...

and after the haircut, i went PAPER SHOPPING!!!! yeah, greenbeanbaby doesn't need more paper but what is a treat to her if she can't splurge on some?! it just so happened to be the same day as a whopping sale... 6 sheets of paper for 96¢.... so i got about $10 worth :)... and paper pad stacks?! those were all half off so guess who walked out of that store with 3 packs?!! yep, this grinning mama with her hair cut and her new lipstick in her purse!!!

>breathes a sigh of relief< i'm telling ya- it felt good!!! less than 2 months worth of our phone bill was spent [and it didn't come out of the phone bill]... so while i managed to splurge freely and guiltlessly, the piggy bank didn't break... it was well deserved...   i mean, every mom deserves a treat right?! sure, it's wonderful to receive gifts and it's awesome to see the bills paid... it's beautiful to have the chance to stay at home with the kids and it's nice to own this home... but with our snowstorms keeping us indoors and children getting sick, a mother needs a chance to LEAVE her home... grocery shopping, not included... well, i finally had my chance :)

now, to put these papers to use for the march 28th grand re-RE-reopening of the etsy shop

the first packages of 2008

meet simone's paper people... aren't they just the cutest lil ladies?! they are tags that are too pretty to use so they will be hung up for all to see... simone and i have done swaps previously and its always a treat to share with her... this is the first time i got a peek at  her paper works... they are so well crafted and clean cut and assembled with perfection... and they make a gal wanna smile :)

she also sent more paper that are shades of black, white, and grays... those colors are not ones i buy often and yet am always diggin' in my stash to find some... she sent so many pretty patterns that will fill the need of such shades... simone also sent diego a mr. cool book... when diego saw it, he goes "oh wow! coooool!" he carries it around telling me that he likes the blue triangle guy :) the chocolates are yummy and the stickers will come in handy... isabella received a book too but it didn't make it into the photo...

look at these pretty papers!!! the purple stack is full of handmade papers ranging with glittery designs and sewn patterns... i have the perfect project for these babies and am looking forward to using them [and working on that project]... the inspirations pack is darling and will also be used... simone sent such a wonderful package and i am truly grateful for her patience, sweetness, and kindness!!!

colin johnson is a wonderful artist, i met via flickr... his paintings are surreal and his collages are an amazing site... well, he was selling a bit of his goodies on ebay, including these original 1979 flash gordon action figures... not only are they collectibles, but they were owned by colin himself... so when he gets to be a millionaire, these will be priceles :) these are mine in hopes that one day, when diego gets MUCH older and has his own collection to save, i can pass these to him [for display and not to play]... in the meantime, they stand in my shelf in the living room.... colin also sent me a slew of other goodies and toys for diego... a swell guy!!

lastly, just a bit more proof that miss isabella is on the go... she is walking better and better every day... my li'l munieca...

many apologies

hello my fellow readers- i am truly sorry for the prolonged delay of blogging... i have a thousand and one excuses but i'll try and narrow it down for you...

1. i haven't done much art lately because the mood hasn't been there... however, i did manage to create a teeny wee bit... yeah, just a wee bit... xmen playing xbox 360 while getting x-rayed...

2. my computer is in need of repair... yes, that same lovely computer ramel gave me... i guess the logic board burnt out from adding too many big art programs on it... a new computer is on its way but in the meantime, i was bummed at losing my dear electronic friend... i was too stubborn to use ramel's [the one that i've only been using for the past 3yrs] but it was time to blog and email so we are back on the imac...

3. we visited my mom a couple times- she always cheers me up and my dad always cooks yummy food for us all... we always leave her house with a ton of goodies... last time, i left with retro christmas decorations, ornaments, food, dessert, and toys for isabella... oh, and she gave me a ton of old christmas records including bing crosby's christmas and also alvin and the chipmunks... [note: diego is wearing a stocking knitted hat, like the boy from the christmas story... it was mine in college... diego and isabella are in the playpen... my dad is in the back holding daisy... and my mom's house is full of retro goodness]

4. isabella is desperately trying to walk... she has taken about 7 zombie style steps [hands straight out and wobbling]...  she lets go of our hands now to reach for furniture... and she likes to squat... i am pretty sure she will be walking within the next couple of weeks...

5. ramel is getting a website up...  while he isn't nervous about creating it, he needs time to make this... i've been dying to tell you all this for over a month now... he will be blogging and doing art... i can't tell you his theme or anything but trust me, it's quite ramel-ish :) it's such an exciting event!

6. i have an official website too...  well, i have the name registered and the space for it too... but i am clueless as to how to make a website so with nervousness, i delay in getting that up... my new site will have a shop, portfolio, blog, and contact info all in one... so we won't have a ton of links for this greenbeanbaby... i am looking to get that up within the next month... by the way, does anyone know how to merge a blog to their site?!

7. i bought more paper... didn't need it per se but it was a way to boost my energy and mojo to create some artwork... today would have been the perfect day to do so but it's soooooo cold outside.... and with our drafty windows, several rooms in the house are extremely cold including my studio and the living room... according to the weather channel, it's 19º F/ -7ºC [but feels like 1ºF/ -17ºC]... i'd rather snuggle up than work on art with cold fingers and worrying about my glue freezing [hehe]...

8. i put up the rest of my christmas decorations... christmas is only two days away and this was the first year that i took so darn long to complete such a task... i need a new tree and more garland... my cats have a tendency of attacking it and every year, my garland gets shorter and shorter... they don't mess with my ornaments and i am glad the kids don't either... we have been listening to christmas cds, records, and watching christmas movies... i wish i had a few movies on dvd though [the classics like it's a wonderful life, the christmas carol original, the muppets christmas carol, and white christmas]...

ok, that is all i can think of right now... however, i vow to blog more frequently! that is my new years resolution [along with get my website up and running and finish the children's book illustrations] i don't want to lose you readers! you all are so encouraging and supportive and it's been such a wonderful experience to be a part of blogland... i will post again christmas day but in case i miss you all, merry christmas, happy holidays, and happy december 25th...

a very dawbis package

there is so much goodness to blog about and not enough hours [or hands] to do so.... this week has been filled with lovely packages, wonderful training sessions, inspiration, and yes, artwork [finally].... i'll begin the week with a post about dawn's lovely package!!!! dawn aka dawbis and i did a swap recently... we swapped paper and art since we both love each other's work and of course, paper! she made this beautiful illustration called "superheroe moms" and it is just TOO beautiful!!!


i love how her people have so much character... they look as though they can walk right out of the the 2d world and into ours... they have so much movement and life!!! and story... can't you see a poem going along with each of her illustrations? you can check out more of her work at her flickr page... she will make you smile....


okay, i mentioned she sent paper, right?! oh boy, did she!!! there was so many and all so pretty [paper can't be ugly anyhow!]... it was so much fun browsing through each sheet.... and it gave me the oomph i needed to complete a few projects over the weekend [stay tuned for that post]...


dawn sent such a wonderful package! it is always fun swapping with people and getting to know them and their work... it feels good to send a package to someone you know who will appreciate your work... and it feels, of course, darn good to get one too!!! to own someone's handmade goodness!!! it feels good to own some of dawn's work :)


anyhow, it's been a wonderful week! i will be posting more and also, daily in november thanks to nablopomo [national blog posting month]... there is literally a list by my computer of things to post about that i've not gotten around to yet... hehe... so stay tuned!!

in the studio...

while life is full of taking photos, doctor visits, blowing bubbles, going for walks, and getting the brakes on the car repaired, studio life has been not quite as busy... there are days when i have enormous amounts of energy and other days where the idea of falling asleep at 11:30pm is a sweet reality... (until isabella decides to wake up at 11:45)

however, i was able to finish my part in the paperbag swag project... this is a wall hanging for part of kristin's book... you can go here to check out the rest of the photos i've done for this project... in order to work, i went to starbucks a few nights just to escape the heat of the attic and relax with a cup of java... ah, it's been years since i packed up a bag of paper scraps,my crafting knife, and scissors, and illustrated in a coffee shop... back in college, that was the daily ritual...

but now we are trying to save money and so i'm back in my studio.... during the day, i bring the kids up there and attempt to organize my papers or sketch or create... whichever the mood calls for... usually, i go from watching a zombie flick to spiderman cartoons.... diego will relax in ramel's game chair and isabella will sleep in her playpen... it can be quite the peaceful time for us all... (yes, sometimes NOT going to the park can be just as fun and with less of a dilemma- hehe)

 
recently, i've received new papers from two personal swaps... the first photo of papers was sent by simone of the u.k... she also sent a slew of candy, "scraps", a cute shirt for isabella, and some handmade love too...  the second photo is of wallpapers and such sent by ambra of italy... she also sent ribbons and embellishments too!!! you can see more photos here of both swaps...

lastly, here is a pic of isabella sleeping... she is propping up one of ramel's father's day gifts hellboy:blood and iron... the cartoon was wonderful and got me in the mood to go from my zombie flicks to our comic book dvds... yes, we are like blockbuster and have dvds of every genre... anyhow, sadly, the same day i was taking this photo, was the same day my camera flash died... phooey! now, the only time pictures can be taken is during broad daylight...

ah, one day the artwork will be a means of support... for now, the studio is a great place to create on the side, and keep the kids happy while i flip through oodles of paper :)

paper art, eye candy

 
i finally finished amy's book for the paperbag swag project.... the first photo is of the page spread... UNDER the flowers, is the illustration of amy's balancing life... and inside the pocket of the elephant, are 5 elephant tags to be used....

 
and here is all the swag.... there is paper for her to use... alphabet magnets (inside the pocket with the lil girl having tea)... there are a few floral embellishments too with a baby carriage on the top.... even though she won't get her book til july, i hope she can use them!!!! and there are a few more odds and ends in the envelope but i shouldn't spoil ALL the surprise, eh?! the book is fat, fat, fat!! of course, cathy contributed too, with all her lovely swag and art... you can see more of her paperbag photos here... the group is made up of so many talented artists!!!!!


and the invitations are done!!!! the printing job was pretty good and i plan on going back to get more stuff... i want to have generic invitations for the etsy shop (did i tell you that already?!) anyhow, just so you get a sneak peek of what i will be offering eventually, here ya go:

and yep, a boy version will be available too!!!!!

okay, enough showing the items... i have soooooo many ideas, really!!! i just wish i had two days non-stop of energy and time to work on art for may.... ah, the brain keeps working, even as i lay down to rest or sleep... even as the heartburn burns my throat, i am still thinking of new products.... ever happen to you???!!!

now, to watch lost and pack up some items to ship out... oh, i best get started on my birth announcements too, eh?!

many pix, few words...

i'm 37wks now!!!! i am VERY ready to have this kid!!!!! but when will she come?! i feel like i am gonna pop any moment and the belly is sore from contractions and all her moving... of course, i wanna meet this lil girl too, ya know?! ah, the waiting process ...


so in the meantime, i work on amy's book for the paperbag swag project... if you click on the pic, you can see a better closeup of it all... amy is due in april too and her theme for her book is balance... a wonderful theme, wouldn't you say?! so thus the reason for the illustration... it folds up in the middle... i still have more to do to the book itself, such as all the swag!!! but i WILL make the deadline!

 
and while i wait for isabella to come, i keep buying paper... it's an addiction, we know that... but lately, if ramel says to treat myself, i am NOT arguing!! after all, i really do deserve it and bills are getting paid... without swapping though, i NEED to get my fix for paper :) the first photo is paper from robyn that i forgot to show off.... you can see more papers i bought here and here.... (psst! i bought a few more teeny packs since then too....)

now that the pregnancy is near its end, i can't help but be exhausted.... poor diego is forced to watch tv with me as i rest because i have such little energy to chase him or go for walks... i feel bad... but he gets to go to daycare and boy, he is QUICK to say "bye mumma"... so here he is in his gear.....

and lastly, this is diego, after my niece's birthday party... he was definitely tuckered out in the car.... my cute diego is gonna be a big brother soon!!!!

how's that for a fast summary?!

mistaken identity...

i asked diego, "what's your name?"

he says, "ummmm, superman!"

"no, your name isn't superman"

"oh, ummmm, batman?!"

so much for getting the kid to tell me his name, eh?! as if he doesn't know it.... whenever i call him, he goes "what?" i guess he is being a silly boy....

so aside from resting with diego and making him lay down with me alot, i still have a few art projects left to do... the first is another cupcake notebook for someone.... eventually, this will be available in the shop, after my li'l maternity leave....

in the meantime, more gifts for isabella keep coming... my mom gave me this li'l fisher-price tea set for when isabella turns two... yep, my mom thinks ahead :)

isn't it just cute?!


ah, my mom always finds wonderful wrapping paper... my dad too.... the last time i went to her house, she sent me home with a ton of cute, retro paper.... i wish you could see them close up, however, once i get into cardmaking again, you may get to see them better... i have so many ideas rolling in my noggin, but in time, right?

by next week, i should have some more artwork all completed (so much for a complete break from art... hehe)

it's all about paper

first off, i have to say that my etsy shop sale was quite the success! i sold plenty of items and still have some left in the shop... most everything has been shipped off already and now, i am working on more paper packs along with some other tidbits of goodies.... by mid-march i will have more to show for, so please bare with me....

i decided to join dawn's paper quilt project and was able to work on it over the weekend... she sends each participant a small stash of paper and we can only use that paper to make a piece of artwork... it's supposed to be a day in our life and it will become a section of a real paper quilt.... you can see what others are doing here... it's such a wonderful idea.... well, here is the photo of the papers i received...


and here is a day in my life.... eating tums as if they are candy... yes, tums seem to do the trick (after about 8 a day)... originally, i was going to do an image of my belly with a baby inside but julie made such a beautiful version for the same project that i didn't want to look like a copycat... plus, hers is just too beautiful to compete :) so, as usual, i went the more comedic route and chose another aspect of pregnancy and motherhood.... tums- they give ya quite the relief after that cup of coffee that suddenly turned into bitter acid rising in your throat.... heh, so whatcha think??


and while i have had still more projects in the works, here is another piece not finished... just an overall color swatch.... the lil girl is missing an arm and her chair... and there is still more details to add but i hope it turns out well for vicki...


and lastly, here is the start of a project due very soon... it's for a lady named gina who is graduating from medical school... i am making her 200 invitations for her party.... i will be getting the illustration professionally printed but there will be still alot of handmade work involved... and this is due before the end of march, before the baby... there still has to be type, a martini glass in one hand, and a ground to add in the illustration but for the most part, the "gina paperdoll" is complete...

told ya, i had a lot to do :)