greenbeanbaby art

shipping week & links too...

it's time to find that one box that holds all the goodies you plan to send your just a kid swap buddy... this week, trek it out to the post office, grab a delivery confirmation, and send off that package! and don't forget to check your mailbox for the wonderful box your buddy sent you! aren't you excited?! i sure am! although i have the right size box, i just need to assemble everything and attempt some good package design skills...

when you receive your gift, you are welcome to not only post pictures on your site, but to post on the flickr group here... you can also see what everyone else got! once again, i want to thank all the wonderful participants for joining! it's an encouragement to see such creative people who have the desire to give... and who also have interests that are not limited.... i hope everyone has had a swell time this round....

now, how would you like some more links?!

christine of mumspotting has sweet baby outfits over here...

diane of dudadaze has some amazing illustrations (and quite the family too!)

lindsey of yankee girl designs has some of the most beautiful necklaces

raesha of my love has tradeables on select days of the week...

sheau of  fern fern has her new and beautiful blog up...

samantha of whizzme has her etsy shop finally open with some adorable bags

*the photo on top is of my niece, ananda... the photo after is from nina's (my mom's) collection...

my husband's art...

   
the other day, the weather was blazing hot (for midwest weather, at least)... i inflated the baby pool and carried 2 buckets of water from the top floor to the yard... dressed diego in his little swimmers and then some trunks and we ventured outside... while he cooled down, i baked like a hot potato... writing is hard to do when you trying your hardest to steer clear of the bees and wasps that seem to hang around wherever i sat... so we can skip writing or knitting outside too! anyhow, with a third bucket of water lying around, i wondered if diego would like to play in it... and sure enough, the kid loved it more than the pool! in fact, he sat (more like he scrunched) in that bucket for over 30 minutes!! (check out this cute photo here... )

but i am gonna venture off to the main topic... i took the first picture of diego a few days ago... as was checking them out, later in the day, the pose looked so familiar... in fact, in 2002, ramel had drew a giant in the exact same pose... the above illustration is by ramel and it's about a giant who wants some tailors to make him a coat... we had a children's book class together (that is how we met and hooked up) and he decided to make the giant a kid, and with a fro at that! it's funny because several of ramel's drawings look like a diego... and diego didn't come around until 2004!

now, ramel hasn't done much art in the past couple years.. mainly because working full-time to support a family and a new house is a priority... not that art isn't... see, ramel was always the kid that forever sketched... me?! i wrote! in fact, sketching was never really fun, it was more of a necessity... but ramel was the ultimate boy artist... sketching ninja turtles as a kid and sketching portraits later in life... he works mostly in water color and inks but really, his linework has always been my favorite... when we first met, i was honestly intimidated... he was good at everything and confident in it all too... so the day he tried cut paper and didn't like it, i was escatic that there was something he wasn't so good at... yeah, i know, competition isn't good, especially once you get married... but as time passed, i learned how to become more confident in my art, since that was something i lacked several years...

there is a certainty that ramel will return to his artwork... i mean, why not?! one of our dreams is to do collaborative art... like the above illustration for diego's first birthday party... ramel drew and colored the illustration and i made the invitation itself (designed and assembled)... and it was such fun to do! diego's birthday is coming up and i really want ramel to contribute again, i hope he will! one day, it would be nice to NOT have a tenant living downstairs so we can use it as a bigger studio for us both... so we can write and illustrate some books together (yeah, a big dream!)... i'd love to help ramel fix up his studio so that it motivates him to create... yes, maybe that will help... along with some extra hours to sleep... but really, my husband has talent... and it will be nice when we both are up til the wee hours of the morning painting and cutting just like we did in college... only now, its in our own home and the kid is sleeping soundly away while the cats relax on the kitchen floor... in time, right?!

a creative stay-at-home mom's story...

well, many of you know i work in the wee hours of the morning... cutting paper away to the voices of scully and mulder arguing over faith and science... or gluing to the voices of lucy and ethel getting into another crazy mess... sometimes, i type away to the sounds of batman or superman (the cartoon) beating up another wild villain... nonetheless, i have my weeks where i can create while the world sleeps... and then i sleep short hours and during diego's nap times... after all, my kind of art does not allow me to really work on it with a loose toddler around... with x-acto blades, hot glue guns, and a curious kid, what mother would feel comfortable and creative?

but some nights, i lose energy... it catches up with me... regardless of the cups of coffee in my system, the fatigue sets in... although i have a set list of things to do, there isn't enough "umph" to complete the tasks at hand... i am too tired to play video games with my husband or to even email people....  it's a lot of work to bathe diego or to cook a june cleaver style meal... on top of that, seasonal allergies kick in and some medicines cause unwanted drowsiness... plus, i take many walks with my child, which aren't of short distance either! i love our outings to the parks and the zoo, but just like diego, i end up taking a long nap after such a day... but can i complain?! who would say no to taking a snooze in the middle of the day in such a clean and peaceful home?!

it's true, i have such days... sometimes, being a stay-at-home mom can seem lazy... all we do is cook, clean, and watch after a kid, right?????!!!! i mean, is it really that hard to vacuum a house? or to rearrange the living room? or to change a few diapers and keep an active kid entertained? is it really that hard to teach a child all that they should know at this age? and feed them the appropriate foods and be 100% responsible for their health and nutrition? can it be so difficult to raise a kid the best possible way, even when you wonder if all that you are doing is right in the first place?! how many times do we have to explain ourselves to our husbands or others that what we do is really a lot of work... that most days aren't filled with naps and watching tv... but in honesty, we have such days to preserve our sanity and regain our strength...

i've debated on returning to work outside of the home... the offers come and i have the credentials and the experience to do so... i mean, i could work at a coffee shop or retail... maybe design or coordinate...  and diego is old enough to handle a daycare... with bills around, another check couldn't hurt... my hopes to make a career out of this creativity and still maintain my normal duties of being a mother, wife, and homeowner can seem distant... it's possible but of course, takes time... in all honesty, i don't think i could work part-time, do my normal duties, and create at night... i almost feel guilty that i cannot do all this... (as if i don't do enough, eh?!)... after all, it's been 2.5 years of not working outside the home...  i am an artist who's finally got her groove back... i am determined to make freelance work a bigger part of our income... with the etsy shop still in progress and investments being made, it's not impossible... ramel fully supports me and understands my plate is full... and that my goal is not selfish; my family is forever on my mind... diego won't be a toddler forever... and our bills aren't out of control... so whatever doubts, frustrations, and fatigue felt now, are only temporary...

i can't say this post ends with a purpose... it's moreso just a ramble of thoughts and ideas... it raises a question of how many other creative moms go through this... who are working hard to raise a happy, healthy child... how many moms are willing to stay up late at night utilizing their creativity for both a stress reliever and a money-maker?!  no doubt, the latter is not the most important, and that shouldn't be what ultimately drives us to create... but how many of us create with a purpose beyond just "for the sake of creating"? how many of us have a vision that goes beyond dusting the furniture and making a meal that isn't from a box?! how many of us relish the days we have with our kid, but yet question if we are doing enough?

regardless of such thoughts, i try very hard... in all that i do, i try hard... and no doubt, you do too...

there is still room... (and a few links added)

it's now closed- so sorry :(

interested in joining round three of the sweetpea swap? just a kid swap is still open for anyone who cares to join! you can find all the info at that link.... but please, enter as soon as you can! shipping is july 17th-21st so i'll need your info by july 12th at the latest... but please, come join in on the fun!

on the side note, here are a few more links:

angie b of angieland an amazing collage in the process about her and her hubby

heather of orange blossom goddess has the cutest dog named sammy

lauren of nesting with style can quilt up a storm

mary ann of 1 of 4 sisters now has semi weekly freebies

mint chutney has such a cute kid

raesha of my love adores the beatles

retta of drool kitty has a wonderful garden... and so does her mom!!!

vania of a crafty vegan finds beautiful goodies

tracy of seaside enchantment shares her weekly blessings

and how do i find these links?! many times the authors find me... and although it's taking me forever to email everyone plus browse through blogs, i am so grateful for the comments and for the chance to meet more amazing artists... it's wonderful to blog, eh?!

the postman always rings twice

thanks to amy who hosted the fairy tale and fables atc and mailart swap, i received some wonderful atcs! going from left to right:

far left: envelope by vesna
middle: the bremen town musicians illustrated by amy of apl creations
top right: jack and the beanstalk by holly rosby of craving clevland
bottom right: jack and the beanstalk by mkproff designs

you should check out the other wonderful atcs made by artists from around the globe... go to this link and have fun browsing!

and remember my post about freebies?! well, for anke's free friday #3, i was the winner!!! and look what she sent me all the way from germany! beautiful handmade buttons by hers truly... i loved the package it came in and was carefully opening it as i walked to the bank to pay a bill... it put pep in my step, while normally the walk is oh-so ordinary...

despite the bills, the junk mail, and a few pesky wasps, i love checking the mail... not to sound greedy, but it's fun to anticipate... there is also a sense of satisfaction knowing that somebody else has this same feeling awaiting to receive something from a milwaukee girl...

ps. ever see the original 1946 movie, the postman always rings twice? it's with john garfield and lana turner... i recorded it once but the tape ran out and i was never able to finish it... i know jack nicholson did a remake but the older is better... boy, i miss black and white movies...

and the mailman brings more...

so everyone who has swapped, knows that swapping is addictive... not only is it a way to share from your stash, it's also an excuse to create something specifically for someone... i mean, don't we all like to have a reason to create at times? a way to focus our energy?! but aside from the giving aspect of swapping, it's wonderful to receive... to find an envelope or box shoved in your mailbox behind all the bills... or to hear the doorbell ring, as your toddler yells, "i'm coming!"... and oh, to open it and find the goodies inside!!! from candy to retro goodness... books to paper... handmade loveliness to postcards from around the world... regardless of the gas bill being higher than you'd like,or the fence that has yet to be painted... regardless if you are eating ramen noodles for dinner, it's a pleasure to swap... hey, you might get some international candy to go with those ramen noodles, eh?!

 
will the all the goodies i receive, i love to share it! it's another way of saying thank you... another way of introducing the world to generous people... i mean, how can i possibly befriend a person all the way in poland if it wasn't for swapping?! agnes sent me another lovely package and it even came on my birthday!!! loaded with more paper, stickers, and postcards, it was delightful to sift through... and the many post stamps she sent! they range from cuba to poland and have faces of famous people or cute animals... my gosh, what a treat!!! but on top of all this already, agnes made a special card for me that turned out beautifully!... she also sent me some stork shaped scissors that are perfect for paper cuts! i know the chinese and polish paper cuts were always done in scissors (whereas i use a blade)... it was such a thoughtful and perfect package! thank you again!

but really, every package has been perfect... never a disappointment, never a complaint... this beautiful handmade orange bag was sent to me by christine from france... it was filled with candy at first but because my batteries were dead at the time, i ate half of the candy before i could take photos... she sent me an adorable keychain that i am afraid to put with my keys... instead, i will hang it up... but back to the bag... it matches this dress perfectly, wouldn't you say? thank you so much christine!

 
but that isn't all she sent! inside the envelope was a plethora of paper ranging in all patterns and colors... there were postcards from france, an atc christine made, and some stationary with her designs on it... there was even a notebook that she designed that has the map of france and a ticket stub plus an illustration... how wonderful!!! and there were stickers and vintage style goodies of birds and butterflies and pretty people... i am so thankful to be able to swap with such talented and wonderful people...

again, thanks to all whom i've swapped with... it's such a treat...

 

for a four year old...

some time ago, i mentioned that every year i make an illustration for my niece, ananda (you can see the first three here)... her birthday was in march and i was struggling to complete her 4th picture from february... in fact, one of the sketches looked like this... eventually, i had the girl done but not the background... but after several pop tarts and a cup of coffee mixed with some more x-files, i sat down and was determined to complete ananda's birthday present before i started the other two custom pieces i needed to do...

somehow, this illustration just took so long to finish... should she be outside at the bus stop? or inside? should she hold her mom's hand or should she be with a friend? i had the images in my head but every time i went to make them come alive from paper, it turned out poorly... on june 30th, 2006 i finally finished her piece in its entirety!!! gosh, it was a long road, eh?! and this one has way more detail than my other pieces... with shoelaces cut out including the bows, letters of the alphabet (on the top of the illustration) were cut... and little words were written (and erased, rewritten, tossed out, then written again)... but no complaints, this piece turned out well enough for ananda to understand why it's so late...

maybe next year her present will be done on time...

a sewing frenzy...

well, thanks to storme of gingillos, i was able to thread my sewing machine properly... several of you offered help and advice; thank you all so much! apparently, i was threading it horribly wrong, but the dilemma was solved... now the only issue is how to stop sewing in zig zag! (yes, all my projects made over the weekend have the lovely zig zap pattern hahaha! its been some years since i've sewn!)

on saturday, there was a tank top to complete (cut a couple weeks ago)... i found suzdeth's tutorial on whip up, and was determined to use the fabric li li sent me a long time ago... however, i had to redesign the top to fit my small bust and to accommodate the lack of several inches of the fabric... so by the time the top was finished, a button was added to the back... and the back itself is slightly open for style purposes... (well, you get good ventilation too)... it turned out well enough to wear the next day!! of course, i'm inspired to make more however, i've still more illustrations to complete...

and sunday, i decided to design and sew a small apron... it took a few tries as i wanted the bottom to have a scalloped look but couldn't sew the hem very well... and i have no clue on how to use bias tape... even if i did, there wasn't enough of the color of the bias tape that i wanted (green, of course)... the apron is about 12" wide and made for my niece... it's small enough for my sweet ananda and made with alot of love (and a bit of "oh shoot!" and a couple "grrrs"... and of course, there was a pot of coffee in my system)... i hope she likes it!

lastly, i have to say with all the patterns i received, none of them actually will fit me (although, i still like them all!)... i am apparently between a petite size and a misses... with my proportions, i am unsure of which size to actually buy... my bust is very small, my waist is normal, and i think my hips are normal too (i did have a kid though)... skirts won't be a problem and i don;t plan to sew a dress... but the shirts?! i guess i will be taking in the bust part alot (or redesigning it!)... nonetheless, i can't wait to buy some patterns now! and some more fabric too!