Seriously Sorry.

Okay so this week’s Illustration Friday Topic was “sorry”. However, I am really sorry that I have not been able to keep up with all of you delightful people. I have glanced at all of your blogs, but I have not had the time to comment.

The surprise that came from the Apple store was a new Wacom Intuos3 9x12 tablet!! Soooo exciting. I am learning a lot, but more than anything I am trying to finish up current projects. I am having a hard time with printing from Illustrator and I am experiencing some frustration. Also having trouble getting ”usable” pictures out of it (this one should be b&w).

I have a ton to share with you, including such delightful things as: Cheerleaders climbing ropes in an old airplane hanger (yeah ... hot!), a stationary design for miss Lisa, a few more drawings, maybe a couple of surprises and hopefully, very, very soon a little shop with a coloring book happily for sale.

So why am I sorry? Well I think I need to continue on my unscheduled blog break. This time though, I am scheduling it. I think I need a week away from the pressure of the computer. I have some non-electronic things that I would like to accomplish and since I love you all so much I find it very very hard to stay away and not return e-mails immediately. If I owe you an e-mail I hope to get to it after the break. Thank you very much for corresponding with me! In the meantime I will be thinking of you all!

Lastly, I am kicking it old school with this little free hand sketch that I drew in Illustrator today (bleh). I am trying to get used to the tablet. You can blame Lisa for the request for more drawings and please let me know if you tire of it!!

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Quick Update.

I should stop promising to do things “tomorrow” and instead say “upon my next post” because every time I do that something always comes up. I will be reformatting my computer in preperation for the loveliness that will arrive tomorrow from the apple store. More information about that upon my next post (which I really do hope will be tomorrow). I am trying to catch up with e-mails and I would like to read and leave comments and all your lovely posts. Please bear with me! I am thinking of you ALL!

In the meantime I leave you with an update to yesterday’s post. There is a better photo of Lisa’s painting, which could not even pretend to begin to capture her loveliness!

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For Lisa If She Would Like.

Long story short, in a blur of inspiration, ten paintings also possibly soon to be link buttons “hung” in a link gallery. Lastly, could there maybe a story book here? I may show you a few more of these tomorrow.

This one is almost finished it needs touch ups, but it is almost ready to mail to Lisa if she would like it. She may take one look at it and say “no. you keep it.” I doubt that though because she is just so much sweetness! Unfortunately this had to be redone and did not turn out as great as the first attempt. I may have to redo it later. I apologize for the horrible photo.

Would be all to pleased to know if you would want to read a story about “lisa and the lovely pink coat”?

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Help Please.

Sorry about the delay on my pretty oddities and Panty O’ scopes (I will have to put them on hold till Monday). It is 4 o’clock in the afternoon here and I am still trying to catch up with all of you busy bloggers! I don’t know how you all do it! I am mostly caught up with e-mail (except for a few that I want to contemplate a tiny bit more) and I have earmarked 80 of your posts to comment on. I had better get going!

Anyway I have a quick question for you about the coloring book. Currently it is formatted at 8.5 x 5.5 inches. Do you think 8.5 x 11 would be preferable? Also, I am new to binding so do you have any ideas that would work well with 12 sheets of card stock, that could lie flat for coloring? I was thinking about even tying it with a ribbon (through punched holes) so that you could take it apart and work on a single page and then easily tie it back together.

Yesterday was a designated Monster day. I wrote all of the text and sent it off to Moms for editing. I work on some other little designs. I designed the activity book, the membership card, the secret monster code, a couple little stickers and some more mailing labels, some iron-on transfers and a paper doll. I guess I just went drawing crazy with the monsters to see what kind of fun things I could come up with. I called the printers and am pretty ready to go on that. So I just need to make a few last decisions and then I hope to get going. If you are interested in the idea of being notified when the coloring book is available please let me know!

Thank you all so incredibly much for your encouragement!! You may have created a “Monster” (still awfully shy though ... I am still worried about posting any drawings).

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B.F.F.

After Lisa’s comment yesterday that I better “REVEAL MORE!!!!!!!! [or else]” I thought I would share this with you.

Why? Well, first of all I don’t want to be on Lisa’s danger side (did you see the [or else]???) and secondly, I want to virtually send you all one of these. Although, we quickly decided that Lisa’s danger side was probably as fun and lovable as she is ALL the time and I know virtual necklaces aren’t easily wearable (just open this page, attach a chain or rope to your computer monitor or laptop and then simply wear around your neck ... not that difficult after all, I guess.)

Last July, I had the fabulous idea of making shrinky dink resin necklaces. Well, a year later and we are still hoping the resin will set ... brilliant huh? Not sure where to go with these today (an idea and design I still want to explore). So in the meantime, I send them to you virtually for all of your sweet, sweet comments about the coloring book! I am still shy and I am starting slow with this old drawing, but boy are you ever encouraging!! Thank you!

This is the drawing of my b.f.f. necklaces. Made in all sorts of colors each person would get a half heart in the colors of their choice. Since the shrinky dinks are already made you might see a bit more of these later!

However, you are all my b.f.f. now (whether you like it or not). I l.y.l.a.s. and I hope you k.i.t.!!

P.S. Translations ... b.f.f.= best friends forever and l.y.l.a.s. = love ya like a sister and k.i.t.= keep in touch. *smile* Oh, weekly Panty O’Scopes later today along with some beautiful oddities that I got yesterday! I continue work on “Shy Monsters” this week and hope to make them available very soon! ~TTFN! (ta ta for now!)

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Super Duper Scary.

This is the most frightening thing that I have ever done. That is saying a lot because not only have I para-sailed, but on that same trip I spent four days in a very very small cabin (which included only one window that would not open) with both my mother and my husband on a cruise ship and I am claustrophobic.

I am very reserved about putting anything I create on this website. I am very afraid that you will all laugh and laugh and laugh at me (not to mention all the pointing and staring). I am trying to be a bit braver, but there are so many incredibly talented people out there and that is overwhelming. A few days ago I decided that I was going to finally create the coloring story book that I had thought about so many times. It is 12 pages of hand drawn illustrations. I still need to add the text, but I am stepping back for a couple days. This book will be a child/parent participation book. There will be spaces to share your own thoughts with the monsters and a couple big words.

These may be up in the shop (not yet online) individually or in a pack that may include some or all of the following: a cloth monster bag, the coloring book, an activity book, crayons, a small pencil, stickers, labels and a monster membership card.

I am very frightened about revealing this to you, mostly because of the laughing and pointing, and really I would love to know what you think. Am I making a fool of myself?

Thanks for letting me share! Hope to catch up with blogs and comments and emails soon!

Update: This book is definitely for adults. I was simply afraid that you would wonder about a couple of the big words being appropriate for children too (like salutations). I am continuing work on these this week and I hope they will be out very soon! Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments!

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In An Egg Shell.

It was a lot of fun to participate in the “In an Egg Shell” swap created by Ivy over here. I was very lucky because not only was it great fun, but I received my delightful swap items from Ivy herself. The cute shell buttons above are the only pictures I have available tonight but I will add the adorable pin cushion tomorrow. Unfortunately I can not photograph the chocolate bunny that I also received because well ... I ate it (and fast)! Thank you again so very much Ivy!! Loved it all!

On a quick note this weeks Panty O’ Scoped were published in the yesterdays post and I hope they made some amount of sense (no matter how small). I was/am tired *smile.* I hope that all of you dear wonderful people have a fabulous night!

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Awww ... Disappointment.

So Saturday night was bout 2 of the roller derby season here. My favorite team the Derby Liberation Front won their bout even without the incredible jammer #16 Burnett Down as she was out with an injury. She still got into the best fight of the night with a Sockit Wench and thus secured my total girl crush on this bad ass beauty!

Here is where my disappointment begins. Sunday night a fundraising skate at the local rink was planned. We were all set to go. I asked hubby for a new pair of skates and a skate-date quite a long time ago and well really I just kept putting them aside. This, however, was my chance. I would not only get my new skates and my skate night but I would also get to skate in the presence of the totally awesome Ratcity Rollergirls! Be still my beating heart. However on Sunday Si really wasn’t feeling so great and in the end either was I so we did not go. Now I really am crushed!

Anyway ... here are this weeks Panty O’ Scopes if you are wearing:

Red Panties- Today a new relationship may be severely affected based on whether or not you remembered to brush your hair.

Orange Panties- Today a friend will ask a favor. Whatever it is don’t do it! Well, unless you really really still want to be friends, then I guess maybe it’s okay.

Yellow Panties- Today you will find inspiration is everywhere (no really ... you’ve got some stuck to the bottom of your shoe).

Green Panties- Today you will want to skip around and gather flowers, but trust me you really should put some clothes on first.

Blue Panties- Today you will discover that you need more details. “What kind of details?” you ask. Oh sheesh.

Purple Panties- Today you will find your inner child and realize they might need to stay away from the sugar.

Black, Brown or White Panties- Today you will find yourself bored, but in an exciting sort of way.

Floral or Patterned Panties- Today your plans may be ruined by unexpected things, which of course, will go very smoothly.

Please do not forget to add the words “in bed” if you are wearing lace panties. Also please do not feel any pressure to wear the same color or heaven forbid the same panties for an entire week. These will apply to any day of the week. Please do not forget the Random Panty Color Generator when you are deciding which color might be best for you!

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The Five & Ten.

Okay, seriously, I am trying to catch up and keep up. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at it all. I hope this weeks Panty O’ Scopes will be out later today. Thanks for bearing with me.


Ten Simple Pleasures - tagged by these two darling girls - Amanda & Poodles

10. The comfy feel of my favorite DLF shirt, granny panties and my cloudy pajamas bottoms.
9. Quiet moments where dogs aren’t chasing kittens and cats aren’t chasing dogs.
8. A warm sunny day with a cool breeze and a comfortable night.
7. Swimming in glacial river waters on an extremely hot day.
6. The smell of the ocean and the gentle rocking of the waves.
5. The zen-ful feeling of a clean home.
4. A breath of fresh clean air.
3. A new musical obsession in conjunction with the extreme overuse of the repeat button.
2. Divine Inspiration, creative spark, courageous creation, quick production and joyful completion.
1. Waking in the morning with the feeling that I am actually happy to see the sun shining and looking forward to a new day.

Five - tagged by these three sweet girls - Cally, Tangerine and Carolyn

Five minutes to yourself: how would you spend them, ideally?
Listening to the cacophony of excited conversations in a multitude of foreign languages intertwined with the sounds of dress shoes on cobblestones and the reverberation of the nearby church bells while nestled inside of room 206 at the Hotel Concordia on San Marco Square in Venice, Italy.

Five bucks to spend right now; how would you spend it?
On a couple beautiful pieces of italian paper.

Five items in your house you could part with, right now, that you hadn't thought of already?
- The bowl of moldy strawberries that I just took a bite of.
- The sample bag of sugar free candy that makes me sick (sugar alcohol - BAD).
- These four black photo boxes that I started painting but did not finish. I use clear bins for everything. Why do I still have these?
- Our box of papers waiting to be shredded, leftover after the complete annihilation of our previous shredder.
- The actual small pile of get rid of stuff including goodwill donations, electronic garage sale items and old cleaning supplies. It is finally time for a garage sale!

Five items you absolutely, positively could not ever part with in your house?
- The photograph of my father and I.
- The bassinet that my father built for me when I was born.
- My cuddly (a sweatshirt of my husbands that I have had for so long that it is practically shredded)
- The framed photograph of my mother’s mother age 5.
- The ring above from my father’s mother’s jewelry box.

Five words you love?
- “enjoy-canoe” (a password on an aol cd)
- ”grump-favor” (also a password on an aol cd)
- “kazoo”
- “panty”
- “snazzy”

Everyone I know has already done these memes. So I don’t really have anyone to tag. If you would like to participate and have not had a chance yet, please consider yourself tagged!!

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