greenbeanbaby art

it's not necessary

but i always buy more paper... i have enough.... i have more than enough.... when you can give someone over 100 sheets of paper and not put a dent in your stack, then you know you have a lot.... and i've said it before, perhaps it's an addiction... my husband buys dvds and i buy paper... one of us spends less, however, and it's not my husband.... but no matter, we each have a slight obsession with something and mine usually costs 20¢ a sheet, or on a splurging day, $15 for 144 sheets...

and my mom has become quite the paper collector herself... she has been finding beautiful wrapping papers from the thrift stores.... and she shares them with me, allowing me to pick from her ample stock.... some are retro and some are not but all are just enough to swoon over.... all i need is bigger organizers.... and then from there? should i organize by size and pattern? new to old? the "don't forget" stack?! one day, i will redesign my studio and it will have oodles of cupboards for all my supplies... and labels too.. i swear, i need an inventory list so i don't forget all the cool items i have (i kid you not, once i spend a week doing an inventory checklist, even typing it up.... but i needed a better system than a list)

i've  been seriously thinking of selling paper packs in my shop- my sad, lonely, shop.... i need time to cut and organize.. and of course, i wouldn't dare include papers given to me as a gift... all of those are just for me- haha... and i know several other people sell paper packs, including major stationary couples.... so i don't know if there is a demand... but i'd like to rid my stock of some, so i can buy more... yes, so i can buy more...

lastly, i am hoping to have more stock up in my shop by next weekend... i have yet to finish a swap, the postcards, and an illustration... so by next week, hopefully!

 

wedding invites-pt. 2

they have been assembled and ready for pick up... i dont even know how long they took me to make, but it wasn't a short period of time.... and they have a slight "glue spray" odor... so that means it took alot of spray adhesive to make these babies.... and all the bows were hot glued on.... everything took awhile, but as i said before, i like tediousness and assembly work... i didnt mind working assembly jobs, that's for sure....

so there isn't much else to say about them that wasn't already said before but just so you get a gist, my wedding invites are always different... such as these ones...

these were some freelance invitations i made for a woman... she's a packer fan, and her husband is a steelers fan... so they had a sporty wedding and the invites were to mimmick such a theme.. it was a fun project to do, and again, time consuming (i did them almost the same way as the recent ones)... but she loved them... and so did i....

one day, it would be fun to do wedding invites- unique kinds- as a living.... i am starting already, right?!

wedding invites-part 1

this is the illustration i did for some wedding invites i am working on.... they are for a friend of mine (the same one i did the thank you cards and the bridal shower cards) and she asked for a more elaborate design.... the illustration itself didn't take very long- not even those teeny tiny rings... the background is actually patterned vellum layed over turquoise paper.... and don't worry, i am not making 42 of these by hand... i am printing them out instead....

so there will be the printed illustration with a 3d art between the characters, and a big bow on the top... the print will go over the black scalloped paper, which is glued on the white postcard paper... for the back, there will be the vellum print and a smaller turquoise ribbon bow.... and each card goes inside a turquoise 5x7 envelope... yes, i tied 84 bows together and cut every piece (although, having a cutting board helps)... assembly work is fun (i love the tediousness) but i am looking forward to finishing them....

i will show the finished products later, sometime this weekend..

the first trimester- nearly complete

no belly just yet.... a teeny tiny one to match the teeny tiny baby growing.... so what is new with me and this body so far?!

1. i am craving healthy food like sandwiches with tomatoes and sprouts.... i am allergic to tomatoes so i get sores in my mouth (along with itchy ears and throat) but i have managed to eat almost 2lbs in less than a week....

2. all but one pair of pants fit me still... i don't think i will need maternity clothes for a long while....

3. my love for coffee has lessened... i cannot stomach too much in  a day (good though!) and if its foldgers?! my stomach says "no!"

4. the tiredness has gotten better but the queasiness seems to be lingering just a tad

5. i missed my first doctor appointment with my o.b. i missed my WIC too... i thought my appointments were on thursday and all of them were on wednesday... so i can't hear the baby's heartbeat until next week friday..

this was me last time around, near the end.... yes, the bowl of ice cream is sitting on my belly... and yes, that is a bunch of art supplies in the background in my living room.... my studio became diego's room (before we bought this house) so  the living room was full of my art products- it looked messy and now i think i became a bigger clean freak.... back to the belly, i was about 8mos here and yep, i gained more than enough weight!  this time around, well, it's different.... but eventually, i will have a big belly again...

i heart li li

my friend, li li, from singapore, sent me another wonderful package.... it arrived on saturday while ramel and i were insistent on not waking up... once the postman rang the doorbell, i rushed my husband to get it (after all, my hair was wild and there was no robe in site) and although he hadn't his glasses or contacts in, he willingly signed for the packages....

and well, as you can see, li li sent one of the cutest unazukin dolls... and green too! i was shy to open it up at first until she explained how they work (i heard they were the latest craze but didn't understand the function)... how delightful! the cute unazukin told me i'd even finish some art that day (hehe) li li sure knows how to send the most thoughtful gifts!

and the other latest craze?! cram cream... i can see why! they are sitting on my record console awaiting to find a perfect spot where i can remember to use them (yes, i have specific "must use" spots since i have a ton of goodies) anyhow, i think they are just darling and there is a little bird on the turquoise one that is just too cute and dying to be made into cut paper...

of course, li li also sent oodles of paper.... on the left are some folders that are plastic... they are PERFECT for storing papers, sketches, ideas, etc... and prettier than the manilla folders, ya know!? anyhow, right in the middle of the photo is some origami paper... it has very cute people illustrations on it, and some stickers too... there is also a smaller pack of iridescent origami paper- perfect for angel wings and such... all the papers li li sent were beautiful, and smelled good too! i kid you not!

   
there were kid books and a retro nancy drew book.... and an asian crochet book too with some very cool projects... (i got the hang of crocheting BUT i have heavy hands so its hard to stick the hook through in order to make loops and such... the same problem i had with knitting at first....) eventually, i will figure out how to crochet properly and make me a pretty bag or scarf shown in the book.... there was also a slew of candy and coffee.... yes, coffee!! it's mocha vanilla coffees and very strong too... but i like them... in fact, the same day i received this package, i got fudge in the mail... the two coupled together was divine....

most of the candy is gone now... and i want to tell you, li li, thanks so much for everything! your thoughtfulness and kindness is much appreciated and loved.... hugs!

the smallest latch hooks...

have you ever seen latch hooks this small? they are too tiny to make any kind of rug, even a miniature dollhouse rug.... they look like they could be used with embroidery thread... but i've never seen latch hooks this tiny.... have you?! my mom gave me these while i was thrifting at her house... i have them sitting inside a little plastic container awaiting to find a more suitable spot... do they belong with my sewing supplies? or my knitting supplies? perhaps, they belong with my paper? or should they go in a spot where things are displayed and never used?!

hmmm, never seen hooks this tiny and am looking to find out their use... yep, a short and odd post...

you can buy alot on ebay...

the other day, my friend from canada was describing to me pumpkin pie fudge.... the more she talked of it, the more i wanted some.... and so the craving began... not only did i search on the internet, but i called my husband hinting that i wanted some fudge....

but the craving worsened and soon my sister was talking about fudge in her daughter's fundraiser books.... and of course, this is ananda's first year at school so i definitely want to order some yummies... but even if i order yesterday, the food wont come until november... i couldn't wait that long...

so i checked on ebay... and i found homemade fudge! plenty of it! yes, buying food on ebay is odd, eh?! but with a lot of diligent searching and reading the feedback, i decided to buy from this person... and i am not at all disappointed.... the package came today and boy, it was good! just what i wanted... just what i craved... and on top of that, li li sent me some coffees from singapore so my tastebuds were satisfied....

and to top that?! ramel brought home a panera bread sandwich just for my nutritious craving.... Mediterranean Veggie  (Zesty sweet Peppadew™ piquant peppers, feta cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cilantro hummus on our Tomato Basil bread) doesn't that sound delightful?! believe me, i want another one..

i'll be doing this again...

in less than 7 months, we will have another baby in the house... like we did over 2yrs ago- diego.... i remember waiting 23hrs to see diego after the first signs that labor was on its way.... and i remember knowing that the kid about to be born had a lot of dark, black hair.... (without getting into major detail, lets just say that his head was down there for over 7hrs.... we knew more about his hair than we did his gender)

by the time he was born, i was more relieved and thirsty than anything... my body was still in pain and i could hear my husband calling the family members.... and when they gave him to me?! i flipped out because he had a very black foot and i thought it was super hairy... no, it was just the ink from the footprint.... but i guess, drugs will do that to you.... but diego did have a lot of hair on his shoulders and little ears... my mom pointed out that he had a pointy ear just like his mama....

we were in the hospital for 4 days... mainly because diego had jaundice and required that he sit under a UV light... my poor kid was as orange as ernie from sesame street... but he was (and still is) such a cutie... he had the cutest "ohhh" expression but soon i figured that meant he was making a mess.... as i sat in the hospital, i had him as often as i could... i even strolled him with me in the bathroom as i showered.. i wanted to be close to this new being.... no wonder, diego wants to be by me every second of the day.... i can't complain, can i?!

he was so tiny for us.... so fragile... so reddish orange... his legs were always moving- he had the strongest thighs- still does... and we loved taking photos of him... we loved cuddling him.... i loved knowing that i could hold him more than anyone else since i was the mom, and i also provided the food.... he never cried much... he was easy to care for.... not a huge eater but just enough....

and soon, we will do this again only things will be different... the kid will have an older brother... a curious one and maybe slightly jealous at first, but diego will learn that i love both equally... that he is still the most special and wonderful kid around.... the next child will be too- but each will have their own personality- each will win my heart equally.... i can't say that i am not nervous in the least, because i am....


there are so many mothers who juggle two kids... so its possible.... but the thought overwhelms me at times... taking two kids in the car... two car seats.... two mouths to feed!!! (i do so poorly with one)....two kids to bathe and dress and make sure they aren't doing something they shouldn't be doing... two kids to teach and discipline... two kids to clean after....two to love, two to swoon over.. but two... am i ready?! do i have a choice?! i am thrilled at the whole new experience but like anything new, the thoughts can be daunting....

nonetheless, i will be doing this all over again.... and i admit, i smile as i write this all despite the tears of concern that hit me the minute before.... ah, such are hormones, eh?!

how to regain the craft energy

being in this tired funk, has left me feeling guilty... i am barely getting any artwork done and really, i need to... so for motivation, i try to buy crafting items that will make artwork fun again... you know, give me a little kick start... above, is the sizzix paddlepunch along with a few die cut plates that i've been eyeing up for awhile... the flower one is beautiful and so is the leaf... however, the leaf is only half the size that is shown on the cover (so i guess no leaf-garland making for me)

but in order for me to use the paddle punches, i had to buy the specified hammer... and so onto ebay i went... it should be coming in the mail any day now and i am really excited to try it out... still, my energy levels are at such a low that i wonder how long this will last... goodness, i need to restock my store like crazy... and all the ideas are swirling in my head are doing no good at all... so again, with all my new toys, maybe the motivation will come back with full force...

the other day, i went to the craft store because they were having a 10/$1 sale... normally, one sheet costs 59¢ so i was there right when the doors opened.... i sat on the floor picking out tons and tons of papers, about $5.00 worth (so 50 sheets).... when i go to pay for it, the sale price did not ring up... come to find out, only the already clearanced paper was on sale... and there were only 5 styles so not even one dollars worth... i was sooo sad.... i swear, i wanted to cry hahaha! like i need more paper, right?! after all, my friend just gave me a new pad of pink/green paper along with ribbons and some embellishments! and the day before, i bought the prettiest printed tissue paper at the dollar store... so why would i be so sad that i couldn't buy more paper.... ah, that is how you can tell if a person is an addict, eh?!

anyhow, there are plenty of craft goodies everywhere for me to use... and plenty of ideas too... all i need is some vitameatavegamin... to put some pep in my step... anyone have some?!

*ps. the new sweetpea swap will be up soon

another change

diego is over 2yrs old and was in his crib for the longest time... it made life easier for us all... 10pm, he'd go into his crib and jump for a few minutes then fall down, ready to go to sleep... sometimes, he'd cry but most times he was too worn out from his daily events to waste his time... after all, i would never budge... that kid stayed in the crib no matter what... why? because he needed to sleep and i needed my own time... and although 10pm is late for most kids, it suits me well since he wakes up later... (guess who isn't a morning person?! especially when my bedtime isn't until 3 or 4am?!)

so with some hard earned money made through making art, i bought diego a superman bed... and boy, he loves it! of course, there was a bit of encouragement by using a tiny tv in his room... i let him watch some superman for only a half hour but he couldn't even stay up that long.... and he will only have the luxury of the television for one week before i claim my studio tv back... (yes, i can stand my ground pretty well despite any tears or tantrums that may arise)... but he is handling the bed situation well... slept in it with one arm hanging over just like his father.... he is growing up, my friends! and soon, the crib will be once again occupied...

*and yes, he is in a superman bed, with a reeses pillow, hugging batman and spiderman... is he a boy or is he a boy?!