tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60458955893870111582024-03-05T06:49:10.143-06:00Jennifer Wambach Design and IllustrationStuff I made, things I like, artsy stuff, and thoughts about life in general.JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-79909504574939528782015-11-25T16:30:00.001-06:002015-11-25T16:30:09.071-06:00Silhouette Nutcracker die cut design<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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This week in the Silhouette store I'm working on a bunch of pretty complicated diecut designs. The first is a hopefully not too scary nutcracker... I always find them really creepy! My kids seem to like them, though, so this would probably be pretty awesome on a children's t-shirt or tote bag for the holidays.<br />
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I think this one would be difficult to figure out, so I created a quick color key (below; right click to download) to help when cutting the shapes from the different colors of cardstock. I recommend American Crafts or Michael's Recollections brand cardstock, and avoid the textured kinds. I'd love to see what you make with the design!</div>
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<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-63785297308223506692015-10-21T11:50:00.001-05:002015-10-21T11:50:10.734-05:00Silhouette swing card tutorialThere are several swing card available in the Silhouette design store like <a href="https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/92954">this one</a>, and I've finally put together a tutorial showing how to assemble them so they actually swing when opened. (I put them together wrong when gluing on the pieces the first time... should have made myself a tutorial to follow, ha!)<br />
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<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-79917387902107550872015-10-19T11:33:00.000-05:002015-10-19T11:33:05.888-05:00Date Nut Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Trying out a vertical format for my illustrated recipe -- <a href="http://www.theydrawandcook.com/artists/jennifer-l-wambach">see the original</a> on They Draw & Cook!</div>
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<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-13109182065296637702015-09-27T21:55:00.002-05:002015-09-27T21:55:38.874-05:00DessertsI think a new They Draw and Cook illustrated recipe is in the works... guess the theme!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD0G6UCCmedPMApfgTym4o55kIZlKKABDRjkCFYzr_c0zPEoIItopMblvEI6iFaESXFEBKeea5Fyehn3vFRNOD58_UhP5ivI2aVWSOhwvmFDgp1p5Nd8PaSv5NvlGOxWquPtcnmB3K3QE/s1600/JWambach-desserts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jennifer L. Wambach" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD0G6UCCmedPMApfgTym4o55kIZlKKABDRjkCFYzr_c0zPEoIItopMblvEI6iFaESXFEBKeea5Fyehn3vFRNOD58_UhP5ivI2aVWSOhwvmFDgp1p5Nd8PaSv5NvlGOxWquPtcnmB3K3QE/s1600/JWambach-desserts.jpg" title="Jennifer L. Wambach - desserts" /></a></div>
<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-62715705164285028142015-09-02T22:40:00.002-05:002015-09-02T22:40:54.283-05:00Teeny tiny artI've decided to miniaturize my daily paintings for the 30 day challenge I started yesterday. Oddly it's much more difficult to produce something good that's 2.5" x 3". I thought the ease of making good art would be directly proportional to its size, but apparently that's not the case. This took me a good two hours of fiddling around to get something moderately decent!<div>
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Here's my first attempt. It may soon end up stuck on the wall of my daughter's Barbie sized dollhouse, but in the meantime it looks nice on my bulletin board.</div>
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JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-40547013675385693912015-09-01T20:55:00.002-05:002015-09-01T20:57:57.160-05:0030 paintings in 30 days? or until I can't take it any more and need to glue some stuff to other stuff.Today I'm starting a painting a day challenge for the month of September. I know of artists doing 365 day challenges but that seems a little ambitious for me at this point in my life. Maybe in a couple years when all day school for all children in my house becomes a reality.<br />
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In the meantime I'm painting 30 garden related (floral? but not limiting myself) watercolors this month just to see if I can do it without getting completely bored. Here's the first.<br />
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<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-83679213499171539732015-08-18T13:31:00.003-05:002015-08-18T13:36:07.498-05:00UPPERCASE!Just a short post to share a quick preview of the upcoming issue of <a href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/">UPPERCASE</a> magazine. I'm one of 30 illustrators profiled in it... what an honor! Also, I thought I should point out that I don't really have pink hair at this time in real life, though I did for a short time in college. I just like the color.<br />
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A video posted by Janine Vangool (@uppercasemag) on <time datetime="2015-08-17T21:59:15+00:00">Aug 17, 2015 at 2:59pm PDT</time></div>
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JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-82929455348200877252015-07-22T16:11:00.001-05:002015-07-22T16:11:22.947-05:00Blooming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two times in the past few years I've been lucky enough to be able to work on some of my dream projects. One was the <a href="http://patch.com/illinois/batavia/jennifer-l-wambachs-bulldogs-unleashed-qa">fiberglass bulldog</a> that I painted all over with Illinois wildflowers. Working on it in our family room with my newly-crawling son afoot should make it pretty obvious that I really wanted to do it... or that I'm certifiably nuts.<br />
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The other was this: a <a href="http://beckyhiggins.com/new-products-and-a-new-designer/">Project Life core kit</a> that's being released today. I am amazed and quite proud of myself that I created this in only about a month and a half: dozens and dozens of individual patterns, textures and designs; a little hand painting, a little sketching, some collage, even bits of my children's artwork.<br />
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I love its name, <i>Bloom,</i> because of the obvious reference to flowers and gardens -- I'm a bit of a plant hoarder and this kit is full of bright, happy blooms -- and because of the metaphor: the strong roots and love of a family helps children bloom and grow.<br />
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I was so thrilled to be asked to work on this project and am even happier to finally have it out in the world. Can't wait to see what you do with it!<br />
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When I was a kid, we lived near ski areas, ice skating rinks and open fields where we'd cross country ski on weekend afternoons. I was never too keen on winter in general, but having things to do helped.<br />
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Now I have small children and a dog, I have to drive and walk in the nasty slushy ickiness, and I have to say, winter has really lost its luster. I also now live in a fairly flat and suburban area (meaning, no skiing, no long solo walks in the woods, no ice skating on the frozen creek across from the school), and we've been cooped up in this house for what seems like ten years, bickering and screaming and throwing plastic bricks at one another. I am SO ready for you, warm temperatures that bring peace and quiet to the inside of homes across the land.<br />
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To make myself feel better, I've been doing some personal work lately. Fun things like drawing beagles and splooshy watercolor amoebas as I sit in the TV room waiting for my son's preschool class to end. The <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/4059846">beagles</a> ended up in this week's Spoonflower contest and the watercolors ended up as a semifinalist in the <a href="http://patternobserver.com/2015/03/13/2015-textile-design-competition-semifinalists/">Pattern Observer/P&B Textiles contest.</a><br />
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I have a bunch of other stuff in the works... tons of Surtex prep (my work will be there with my fabulous agent, <a href="http://www.paintedplanetlicensing.com/">Painted Planet</a>), a giant (and secret until July) mega-project that is done and currently in production, a logo design, new Silhouette diecut designs and the usual sketchbook and collage nonsense.<br />
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Tonight they say we're going to get about two inches of snow. I think I am slowly losing my mind. Maybe I should send the kids upstairs to look for my lost marbles? (That actually kept them busy for about 20 minutes once!!!)JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-26851255437719679492015-03-19T13:21:00.000-05:002015-03-19T13:21:03.795-05:00Ribbon storage box assembly instructions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Several people have been asking for a tutorial for <a href="http://digiplayground.com/JW-14-ribbon-spools-box.html">this ribbon box design</a>, so here you go! Hopefully you can make sense of my potentially too technical drawings. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi5sLUQ6ITc7aivsVOn-EdaxW9ZLr8yHLjpko03Kw_wOcJuda4azIaCc_MRyJBvdxYS3_JTAlIfkenkbGd40ywZJ3t2l6b4r-GML2SJh8EMgY6pmtS43wLISN1bzIq6VwR-weXyfkJnQZ/s1600/ribbon+storage+box+tutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi5sLUQ6ITc7aivsVOn-EdaxW9ZLr8yHLjpko03Kw_wOcJuda4azIaCc_MRyJBvdxYS3_JTAlIfkenkbGd40ywZJ3t2l6b4r-GML2SJh8EMgY6pmtS43wLISN1bzIq6VwR-weXyfkJnQZ/s1600/ribbon+storage+box+tutorial.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-89947151697340220712015-02-23T10:11:00.004-06:002015-02-23T10:11:43.137-06:00Busy, busyI need to get on a schedule with blog & FB posting. It's just too easy to overlook it for months (er, half a year) at a time.<br />
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My excuse this time is an autumn funk, which ended quite suddenly when a couple big opportunities came in a couple weeks before Christmas. I went from feeling like giving up all this art nonsense to crazy busy all within a couple days.<br />
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The project I'm still wrapping up I can't talk about yet, but it's pretty exciting and something I've been wanting to do for years. The other news is that I'm thrilled to be represented by <a href="http://www.paintedplanetlicensing.com/">Painted Planet Licensing Group</a>! Now I get to be a real artist like I've wanted to be since I was three!<br />
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In other news and in no particular order, here are a few things I've been working on lately.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCSbrtc3qp1rZxrddKhCYTM_7UAX86vrITUW-bPCUwFsa5kn6_iIP3a9lQe4_nr0DIGU89xMIM2CUj4sAVQgpMFwUJdr3DYRIRuCyIXXKyODJacAbuzhBYEZ42Hv9DVXYLt8pv2WDoImc/s1600/summer+winter+watercolor+quote-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCSbrtc3qp1rZxrddKhCYTM_7UAX86vrITUW-bPCUwFsa5kn6_iIP3a9lQe4_nr0DIGU89xMIM2CUj4sAVQgpMFwUJdr3DYRIRuCyIXXKyODJacAbuzhBYEZ42Hv9DVXYLt8pv2WDoImc/s1600/summer+winter+watercolor+quote-LR.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div>
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Experimenting with watercolor, hand-drawn elements + digital. I really love typography and watercolor, and the combination of messy + hard-edged here is really appealing to me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwR6AQ1K4ZL0mI4g7CKPHR3aM24o02eYCJcHDp9NfuJrvWs7KnMJGUjQSSlPcMMGIbzM-WwLcaMiXYjC1QTWS5UKNpV-zEsdm2-9bgUgw9VmUYsJ7_T_KOD2nM3EeCyhzqb7BhU5_Wo5p/s1600/JWambach_HeliumCat-FINAL-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwR6AQ1K4ZL0mI4g7CKPHR3aM24o02eYCJcHDp9NfuJrvWs7KnMJGUjQSSlPcMMGIbzM-WwLcaMiXYjC1QTWS5UKNpV-zEsdm2-9bgUgw9VmUYsJ7_T_KOD2nM3EeCyhzqb7BhU5_Wo5p/s1600/JWambach_HeliumCat-FINAL-LR.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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This illustration is in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/199754784/crazy-cat-lady-planner">Crazy Cat Lady Planner</a>, since I'm a former one of those myself. You know you need one (link to Etsy shop)! This was all digital but based on a pencil sketch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KFTbb7NVz-VjXn5C7oMVgZCiSP_ZiessWlv7ZtQTJ5TU3-oJg4sv3ZOruwHohQjvc8_DJeNEjXu_b3uNRhDbbpj_w9fzwS-CoI8JjAAqTe1taYMT2JNL15o5rYzNB2UrxGZl26UnHcs/s1600/patchwork-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KFTbb7NVz-VjXn5C7oMVgZCiSP_ZiessWlv7ZtQTJ5TU3-oJg4sv3ZOruwHohQjvc8_DJeNEjXu_b3uNRhDbbpj_w9fzwS-CoI8JjAAqTe1taYMT2JNL15o5rYzNB2UrxGZl26UnHcs/s1600/patchwork-LR.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Collage + paint. Trying to figure out how to make these marketable because I love doing them so much.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VOQiNJ0yzhyphenhyphen-5GydfIcF2pCmTS-6_NlvK2bBz4XTKWOzdAfeWxx8K3XL6kvS_-rsvbAjaoMBBf-66dkQXRYFocVyr3CmarXl2iUCSfFQYjiudj80qrG63zLoY6Sf6DAmaf16f-TR7BGc/s1600/JENNIFER_WAMBACH_FEBRUARY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VOQiNJ0yzhyphenhyphen-5GydfIcF2pCmTS-6_NlvK2bBz4XTKWOzdAfeWxx8K3XL6kvS_-rsvbAjaoMBBf-66dkQXRYFocVyr3CmarXl2iUCSfFQYjiudj80qrG63zLoY6Sf6DAmaf16f-TR7BGc/s1600/JENNIFER_WAMBACH_FEBRUARY.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
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And my latest <a href="http://lillarogers.com/school/assignment-bootcamp/">Make Art That Sells Bootcamp</a> project. This one is completely handpainted on a slice of birch.My acrylic skills are a little rusty and still can't find my good brushes.</div>
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I've been really trying to figure out how to combine all the things I love to do into something marketable. Drawing, painting, collage, digital. I'm still not sure my style is apparent in all the different pieces, like those above. One of these days I'll figure it all out.</div>
<br />JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-61896540640372240192014-06-04T16:00:00.003-05:002014-06-04T16:08:19.297-05:00Feeling a bit spacey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tTnWeYkvU1lVE6-ugILWhOECB6QMVUFETSfNB6qH5aPtY8NiOlrBB7ZskbLY0KbnRxwcYZkqnb9JfXzGTgs5CctnVm-iL20t0cnmLBr-I2TgTALjw6pUL6dpHKZx4zFAHtiISFn7yK5O/s1600/space+fabric-detail3-HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tTnWeYkvU1lVE6-ugILWhOECB6QMVUFETSfNB6qH5aPtY8NiOlrBB7ZskbLY0KbnRxwcYZkqnb9JfXzGTgs5CctnVm-iL20t0cnmLBr-I2TgTALjw6pUL6dpHKZx4zFAHtiISFn7yK5O/s1600/space+fabric-detail3-HR.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been absent from Spoonflower contests for a while. MATS and other things have taken over my life since February or so, but I couldn't pass up this most recent contest: Cosmic Voyage.<br />
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I have a special fondness for space and astronomy. It ranks right up there with my interest in tornadoes and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_ape_language">apes that communicate via sign language</a>. Growing up in a rural area with very dark skies, we could regularly see the Milky Way, and in college I was fascinated by SETI and went on a reading binge where I read a bunch of books on the subject. Aside from my own interest, my husband always wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up, so he really, REALLY likes astronomy.<br />
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The first Christmas my husband and I were dating, I bought him a big, fancy telescope kind of like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ/ref=lp_499154_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1401915453&sr=1-3">this one</a>. It was so awesome: it was motorized, had an automatic star finder device, and could track celestial objects across the sky. It went with us on our trip to NY to see my parents that December, and one night as my husband-to-be and my dad looked at the stars together from out on the driveway, he asked my dad's permission to marry me.<br />
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Now, 11 years later, our oldest child is maybe just old enough to appreciate (that is, not break) the telescope. Maybe we'll get it up out of the basement this summer!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmGuhjbv7oprp-I8tTl880TACxwsDS4N20bcFprJWYvL-vtcG1tj4_U-SY6GCvPwPo6h70hJXM8V5NaZ1VU9-leGyMeRSxpf0L01hbsOagEk9woTb0Aw32tC9U6oLRvO_nOhDhUeqYKbS/s1600/space+fabric-detail4-HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmGuhjbv7oprp-I8tTl880TACxwsDS4N20bcFprJWYvL-vtcG1tj4_U-SY6GCvPwPo6h70hJXM8V5NaZ1VU9-leGyMeRSxpf0L01hbsOagEk9woTb0Aw32tC9U6oLRvO_nOhDhUeqYKbS/s1600/space+fabric-detail4-HR.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/3201214">Here's what I came up with</a> for the Spoonflower contest -- some astronauts, watercolor planets, and goofy aliens. It's entitled "Space… A Friendly Place!" because thinking that the aliens might not be glad to see us (as in, they might want to annihilate us) is something I'd rather not contemplate. Thanks to my husband's <a href="http://www.history.com/shows/ancient-aliens">Ancient Aliens</a> just-before-bed obsession, I often go to sleep creeped out by alien abduction and that sort of thing. (Actually I do like to get a glimpse of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GiorgioA.TsoukalosHair">that guy's hair</a>.) So my aliens are a little bit goofy and very, very nice.JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-29094034576937155872014-05-16T12:17:00.002-05:002014-05-16T13:33:36.597-05:00MATS at Surtex<a href="http://www.surtex.com/">Surtex</a>, the big licensing show in NYC, is coming up this weekend, and some of my <a href="http://lillarogers.com/make-art-that-sells/">MATS</a> mates and other artists I know have been knocking themselves out preparing for it. I've put together a list of their fabulous promo cards and look books. Take a peek at some really amazing work!<br />
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This week our 5 year old is graduating from preschool, which happens to be at the same time as Surtex, and of course I don't want to miss her ceremony, so Surtex is out this year. One of these years I'll make it to NYC walk the show. It's been almost a quarter century since I've been to that part of the world… dang, I'm old!<br />
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<b>Victoria Johnson</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-W7FJs9ZkH-FnzHxDKh5PD7Iyc5MiiwQrxPmaPb_dETA3P8Cxrvcet2ryGgUTLWvJw5N37T8b5BqPkKe2ogwhIdgNl71po0rYYIE2A1ksz0xdkj38JX_a9Cx732Z03JLV4o6TYl__NYC/s1600/10171653_10152396819773792_933985885075242858_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-W7FJs9ZkH-FnzHxDKh5PD7Iyc5MiiwQrxPmaPb_dETA3P8Cxrvcet2ryGgUTLWvJw5N37T8b5BqPkKe2ogwhIdgNl71po0rYYIE2A1ksz0xdkj38JX_a9Cx732Z03JLV4o6TYl__NYC/s1600/10171653_10152396819773792_933985885075242858_n.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="http://issuu.com/victoriajohnson8/docs/victoria_johnson_surtex_look_book_?e=6063643/7563588">Look Book</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.victoriajohnsondesign.com/">Website</a></li>
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<b>Alex Columbo / Studio Alex</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OZHKKhkzKRM3-22iIebKz6PwMIj4FvG8Md9fNMSFc6WQKzvYNIKa-tNP0iNZ0EgmikOLXj7CehRGlHHZtc-_5AqxnGEJDiH2FfiPewU4YIav4V1ifZZx2eutlXODCiKezaR3O23eA5BX/s1600/Surtex2014_AlexColombo-StudioAlex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OZHKKhkzKRM3-22iIebKz6PwMIj4FvG8Md9fNMSFc6WQKzvYNIKa-tNP0iNZ0EgmikOLXj7CehRGlHHZtc-_5AqxnGEJDiH2FfiPewU4YIav4V1ifZZx2eutlXODCiKezaR3O23eA5BX/s1600/Surtex2014_AlexColombo-StudioAlex.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIGxd8J6GhY">Look Book</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.alexcolombo.com/">Website</a></li>
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<b>Sarah Ehlinger / Very Sarie</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLbKVREN8_HUksvnpHrrCi9zM_9d2bYpRA5ZpqVP1F23gfBuzISMWbfxpWUChP7FzInZEafm8gK5l_Ed3hDGnV_7R5fXRwzQYcct2CXzOay-HTzpO8Sv386r2KgH_FTCiAumKwsfGCCgg/s1600/Surtex_flyer_VerySarie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLbKVREN8_HUksvnpHrrCi9zM_9d2bYpRA5ZpqVP1F23gfBuzISMWbfxpWUChP7FzInZEafm8gK5l_Ed3hDGnV_7R5fXRwzQYcct2CXzOay-HTzpO8Sv386r2KgH_FTCiAumKwsfGCCgg/s1600/Surtex_flyer_VerySarie.jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="http://www.verysarie.com/lookbook/">Look Book</a></li>
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<b>Bari J.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYah991Z3yJteZs35FIFYksKOyIyLrbE1QvS5GwMKK3WqiubFvphb7zcvEfBR1dG6rTft8kQ9kkc5zcIBKjN8S1GhOhlKXwv2shfuXR8KHWRZ-MutbgH4Yg2CuOfwcClOKQnuWhBSMcjGK/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYah991Z3yJteZs35FIFYksKOyIyLrbE1QvS5GwMKK3WqiubFvphb7zcvEfBR1dG6rTft8kQ9kkc5zcIBKjN8S1GhOhlKXwv2shfuXR8KHWRZ-MutbgH4Yg2CuOfwcClOKQnuWhBSMcjGK/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="297" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="http://issuu.com/baripallesackerman/docs/barij_booklet_final_web">Look Book</a></li>
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<b>Kathy Weller</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvVuIn6TgfiSqqhXM-Sg0VTE9mDcjg7EgtyfiLNMkwh_FVW8bYVmPeDwjklT0sSmJrH4pCwcM-ADdfkBQIjwT1HsuRWXp6_fANWWSA99335JQq02-ZTzcuxz-dl7FdycroskSIRbSKRQe/s1600/Surtex2014_CatsAtWork.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvVuIn6TgfiSqqhXM-Sg0VTE9mDcjg7EgtyfiLNMkwh_FVW8bYVmPeDwjklT0sSmJrH4pCwcM-ADdfkBQIjwT1HsuRWXp6_fANWWSA99335JQq02-ZTzcuxz-dl7FdycroskSIRbSKRQe/s1600/Surtex2014_CatsAtWork.png" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6o_PhPcOZ1ViA4Ts0-vkH6zvOvr8VQ4z7Aj3N1Tp7ZzAsfypc9oT_sKkZx_cLTBVrR3hNnSMW81MJgCfsl7DsqRooWdrz68YRBfR8tE2ObAuLJrUA506jQQCeV4gAgM26vMS0NFiAy4v/s1600/Surtex2014_FruitFusion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6o_PhPcOZ1ViA4Ts0-vkH6zvOvr8VQ4z7Aj3N1Tp7ZzAsfypc9oT_sKkZx_cLTBVrR3hNnSMW81MJgCfsl7DsqRooWdrz68YRBfR8tE2ObAuLJrUA506jQQCeV4gAgM26vMS0NFiAy4v/s1600/Surtex2014_FruitFusion.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><i>Artwork ©Kathy Weller</i></span><br />
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<li><a href="http://www.kathyweller.com/">Website</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kathyweller.com/blog/">Blog</a></li>
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<b>Feng Liang</b><br />
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<a href="http://fengliangdesign.com/">Website</a><br />
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Aileen Tu (exhibiting with Cultivate Art </b><b>Collective)</b></div>
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<li><a href="http://aileentu.com/">Website</a></li>
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<b>Gina Linn Designs</b></div>
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<li><a href="http://www.ginalinndesigns.com/#home">Website</a></li>
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<b>Stacy Peterson</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhSgRgLfsolmxQUZSrHqIXj-54M1XX4qJErd6IypD-4fZ4Ae9RMXyVqBT3YujC1aIODBcdd7unpV9GTOGwvR_0xg0lAh6XG5uv8cpyV_iLHaleePNogisFdS0V_i7PpOxO1MFUPgBbJu1/s1600/S_Peterson_Post_LD_Front_4.25X6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhSgRgLfsolmxQUZSrHqIXj-54M1XX4qJErd6IypD-4fZ4Ae9RMXyVqBT3YujC1aIODBcdd7unpV9GTOGwvR_0xg0lAh6XG5uv8cpyV_iLHaleePNogisFdS0V_i7PpOxO1MFUPgBbJu1/s1600/S_Peterson_Post_LD_Front_4.25X6.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="http://stacypeterson.net/">Website</a></li>
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<b>Nina Edwards / Metropolitan Miss</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQX4hJ_l3vXlDW39SfUabDjgAhrOmYP42GNNscDp6WxquYhuFuxdC2M8DsWz6CQVjlzlvzlYjpYWsqP-NYYSk3XP5t8ym9__pgcosqOj1okdnY47k-iePP7nY1Toc5QMGqwYJtf5nf7PA/s1600/asny_Fashion_lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQX4hJ_l3vXlDW39SfUabDjgAhrOmYP42GNNscDp6WxquYhuFuxdC2M8DsWz6CQVjlzlvzlYjpYWsqP-NYYSk3XP5t8ym9__pgcosqOj1okdnY47k-iePP7nY1Toc5QMGqwYJtf5nf7PA/s1600/asny_Fashion_lo.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanMissDesignStudio">Website</a></li>
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<b>Lauren Minco</b></div>
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<li><a href="http://www.laurenminco.com/">Website</a></li>
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JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-53443806305768719632014-04-23T09:57:00.001-05:002014-04-23T09:57:21.857-05:00They Draw & Travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cUF-Mr9OAr9Ne_QMqu76hLkvDycepvbOZPwQXMfLurrRus9MmmUbD4XgUA5zn3PQfEZl0D7AqhiekuGo7em4nLCp8ucyoU7OE7_PvOZzq4FfvEKr1XUcBn9RHT4wunN6uTwcoKDg5VVJ/s1600/JWambach-map+of+LeRoy+NY-FINAL+v2-superLR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cUF-Mr9OAr9Ne_QMqu76hLkvDycepvbOZPwQXMfLurrRus9MmmUbD4XgUA5zn3PQfEZl0D7AqhiekuGo7em4nLCp8ucyoU7OE7_PvOZzq4FfvEKr1XUcBn9RHT4wunN6uTwcoKDg5VVJ/s1600/JWambach-map+of+LeRoy+NY-FINAL+v2-superLR.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been working feverishly (no, really!! I actually did have a fever!) on a map for a contest on <a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/">They Draw & Travel</a>. The task was to draw a map of the town where you live now or your home town. I decided to draw my home town of LeRoy, NY, even though I haven't lived there in over 20 years, because I know (knew) it so well.<br />
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That knowledge was kind of a problem, because OF COURSE I had to include all the details on most of the notable buildings, so it took me something like 100 years to finish it, and both the to-do list of stuff to draw and the time it was taking me to illustrate them increased exponentially because I was so sick. I was still tweaking after I'd uploaded it, but I think I'm going to call it done now.<br />
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Today they're posting the runner-ups and honorable mentions…. very exciting! I know mine hasn't won any special mention; really, I'm just happy to have finished it, especially considering the circumstances!<br />
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Anyway, I loved seeing all the different ways other artists interpreted the theme: hand-drawn, computer illustrated, some very loosely designed, some more traditional. It was a surprise to find out so many of my fellow <a href="http://lillarogers.com/make-art-that-sells/">MATS</a>-ians created maps, too! I wanted to highlight as many as I could, so in no particular order, here they are:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/so-much-to-do-in-manitou-colorado-stephanie-olivieri" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>So Much to Do in Manitou, Colorado</b> by Stephanie Olivieri</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/gibsons-british-columbia-jana-curll" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Gibsons, British Columbia</b> by Jana Curll</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/welcome-to-bremen-altstadt-germany-tessa-rath" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Welcome to Bremen Altstadt, Germany</b> by Tessa Rath</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/purple-mountain-majesties-in-colorado-springs-wendy-brightbill" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Purple Mountain Majesties in Colorado Springs</b> by Wendy Brightbill</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/dc-love-susanne-kasielke" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>DC LOVE</b> by Susanne Kasielke</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/greater-providence-rhode-island-hot-weiner-tour-jill-howarth" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Greater Providence, Rhode Island Hot Weiner Tour</b> by Jill Howarth</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/curiosities-of-toronto-canada-ashley-lotecki" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Curiosities of Toronto, Canada</b> by Ashley Lotecki</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/a-tour-along-the-kamo-river-in-kyoto-japan-reika-hunt" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A Tour Along the Kamo River in Kyoto, Japan</b> by Reika Hunt</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/whats-so-great-about-portsmouth-uk-jen-burbridge" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What’s so great about Portsmouth, UK?</b> by Jen Burbridge</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/cincinnati-ohio-brooke-albrecht" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cincinnati, Ohio</b> by Brooke Albrecht</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/my-house-in-forest-hills-queens-new-york-jane-sanders" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>My House in Forest Hills, Queens, New York</b> by jane sanders</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/adelaide-south-australia-kate-mason" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Adelaide, South Australia</b> by Kate Mason</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/a-beautiful-and-magical-visit-to-prague-czech-republic-petra-hammerleinova" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A Beautiful and Magical Visit to Prague, Czech Republic</b> by Petra Hämmerleinova</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/orlando-florida-beyond-the-mouse-lori-weitzel" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Orlando, Florida: Beyond the Mouse</b> by Lori Weitzel</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/a-grand-adventure-in-japan-nicole-larue" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A Grand Adventure in Japan</b> by Nicole LaRue</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/magical-serifos-joanna-chrysohoidis" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Magical Serifos</b> by JOANNA CHRYSOHOIDIS</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/high-towers-in-stockholm-sweden-anna-berger%20" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>High Towers in Stockholm, Sweden</b> by Anna Berger</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/portsmouth-new-hampshire-shannon-hays%20" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Portsmouth, New Hampshire</b> by Shannon Hays</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/fanciful-map-of-san-francisco-california-mary-rachael-schafer" sl-processed="1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fanciful Map of San Francisco, California</b> by mary rachael schafer</span></a></li>
</ul>
JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-4299682076519749862014-03-12T14:17:00.000-05:002014-03-12T14:17:18.484-05:00So what? Sew postcards!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOhLW3QNGS0GZ9UcTbjgvJ1Qub_Z23W6h-_7Z9Xq8ITva32Fs9lMBs7oBeda2eSRzrT3PaZy2sCmmX9ntHYil3nsNSxOOAUIfvvZGcIIIRdbY6lsUw1HkQJ4-0fqpIM-U84coSVMrJUpW/s1600/postcard-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOhLW3QNGS0GZ9UcTbjgvJ1Qub_Z23W6h-_7Z9Xq8ITva32Fs9lMBs7oBeda2eSRzrT3PaZy2sCmmX9ntHYil3nsNSxOOAUIfvvZGcIIIRdbY6lsUw1HkQJ4-0fqpIM-U84coSVMrJUpW/s1600/postcard-LR.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think I may have found a new appreciation for sewing. Thanks to my playtime yesterday (working on my contribution to the <a href="http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/swap/">Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap</a>), I have some big ideas percolating about combining all the different stuff I do: digital vector illustration, watercolor, paper crafting, sewing, acrylic on canvas paintings.<br />
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I almost didn't sign up for the postcard swap. I definitely don't need more stuff to do, especially projects with deadlines. Some days I consider it a really big accomplishment if I take a shower. And my youngest is almost a preschooler… so it's not like I have the new-mom excuse anymore.<br />
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When I was about nine years old, my mom, who has loved to sew since she was about that same age, decided I was old enough to learn. So she taught me, but I never really liked it. All the measuring and cutting and seam ripping -- a process I didn't particularly enjoy, all to make projects I liked, but didn't LOVE.<br />
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So my sewing machine sits inside a sewing cabinet in the other side of my house -- away from the dog (she's young and still chews table legs occasionally), away from the kids and my computer and art nook (A.K.A. a corner of the family room.) I rarely sew, mostly because of the cabinet's location, but also, out of sight, out of mind. Yesterday I decided to move the machine to the little table next to my computer desk.<br />
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I went into making the postcard with no ideas about color, no preliminary sketches, nothing but a little box of scraps, ribbon and sequins that didn't even go together. I just cut and added stuff, used a bunch of fancy stitches that I've never used before, and it was fun! I wasn't following a pattern or plan, just winging it; creating and making decisions about what to add or do next the whole time I was sewing. I think that had a lot to do with it.<br />
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So now I'm wondering, what if I made mini quilts like this? Scanned them in? Added them to my vector illustrations and scanned in pen sketches and watercolor blotches? I'm excited to try.JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-51081280112869746972014-02-02T14:38:00.000-06:002014-02-02T14:43:09.861-06:002014, the Year of Good Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEHPiIUohNqimRMUx-zJuQkCIwuD58YARv_sCjBkmK6MnquEYwo1EQmAgfuyuCTPapNnoCdSQNQcObVA6QrQ3bSpKBVFe1Pw6tWoy1ez-3wqBOn6Q-YS4H8HQE5Lmn5GfVymgMD_DeJVV/s1600/cherry+branch+flourish-LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEHPiIUohNqimRMUx-zJuQkCIwuD58YARv_sCjBkmK6MnquEYwo1EQmAgfuyuCTPapNnoCdSQNQcObVA6QrQ3bSpKBVFe1Pw6tWoy1ez-3wqBOn6Q-YS4H8HQE5Lmn5GfVymgMD_DeJVV/s1600/cherry+branch+flourish-LR.jpg" height="177" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've always wondered about the philosophy of "everything happens for a reason." If I look back at situations that got me to where I am today, personally and professionally, I can definitely connect the dots. Everything influenced what came after it.<br />
<br />
So, A (no money for college) led to B (a "cheap" state school fully funded by student loans) led to C (my freshman roommate who moved to Chicago) led to D (me moving to Chicago) led to E (meeting my husband and having three awfully boisterous but wonderful little ones), led to F (a Christmas present led to my art licensing career), and here I am.<br />
<br />
But, does everything REALLY happen for a reason, or do we figure out a reason for everything that happened, after the fact? Do we have any control over it?<br />
<br />
The point of all this is, I think sometimes it's good to be proactive to make sure that they're GOOD things happening. (Though I do believe that something good can be found in just about everything. Case in point, the cat "accidents" (ugh) over the past week resulted in a sparkly clean laundry room.) With that in mind, here are the good things I'm planning for 2014:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Paint (take <a href="http://braveintuitiveyou.com/offerings-workshops/e-course/">Flora Bowley's Bloom True e-course</a>)</li>
<li>Develop a truly awesome portfolio (<a href="http://lillarogers.com/school/about-the-course/">MATS Part B</a> & <a href="http://lillarogers.com/school/assignment-bootcamp/">Bootcamp</a> should help)</li>
<li>Get a couple new licensing partners in the Home, Gift and Wall Art categories</li>
<li>Figure out the details for an art/craft book I want to write</li>
<li>Update my website, including only the stuff I really love to do (and deleting the stuff I don't)</li>
<li>Be more calm more often</li>
<li>Draw every day</li>
</ul>
JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-60176770691587149342013-12-02T14:32:00.000-06:002013-12-04T15:45:24.365-06:00Make Art That Sells, doing what you love, and finding joy along the way<br />
I recently completed Part A of Lilla Rogers' insanely rigorous yet wonderful online class, <a href="http://mats2pa.lillarogers.com/">Make Art That Sells</a>, which concentrated on bolt fabric, home decor, children's books, wall art, and gifts. It's a jam-packed five weeks full of tips, tricks, advice, and info on five different art markets, lots of drawing, lots of self-doubt and ultimately lots of growth.<br />
<br />
<div>
Some of us MATS students decided to do a little blog tour all about the class, and today along with <a href="http://victoriajohnsondesignblog.blogspot.com/">Victoria Johnson</a> and <a href="http://www.emilydyer.com/blog">Emily Dyer</a>, it's my turn!<br />
<br />
I was seriously impressed with the talent of my classmates. Here are just two examples:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo8yNvG_dfMvpYrM7hUoOk-IGlYl7AY4e9OuwxZ4nW2s8IJKgT4TGjzdG93ZmmvC0N1NssS55ZlTF3UsJkeGWUvDtMLJbMKmKNzReZmJsvdmCyFpdK2Fq0WmNRgQpLWJeQonBTkgpvbW9/s1600/Victoria+Johnson+MATS-Summary-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Victoria Johnson" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo8yNvG_dfMvpYrM7hUoOk-IGlYl7AY4e9OuwxZ4nW2s8IJKgT4TGjzdG93ZmmvC0N1NssS55ZlTF3UsJkeGWUvDtMLJbMKmKNzReZmJsvdmCyFpdK2Fq0WmNRgQpLWJeQonBTkgpvbW9/s400/Victoria+Johnson+MATS-Summary-3.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Art created during MATS by Victoria Johnson</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://victoriajohnsondesignblog.blogspot.com/">Victoria</a> is so good at effortlessly combining hand-drawn and digital, and making them work together beautifully to create cohesive and awesomely cool things that would appeal to a wide range of ages, myself included. (I'd love to have those plates in my kitchen!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5N430IzCo-bl-_6aostBPDgtj8N6Stun8HLTbQGq0eiDm5H5Cfw47EpXsm7o6_ZgDMXD2PwQJzaiTtI_0d1V8-btPYYJM9VLeeabFuu_dvwLOqremEnYE3deN9JVYPZbnUyZ52QPtb2v/s1600/Emily+Dyer+timthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5N430IzCo-bl-_6aostBPDgtj8N6Stun8HLTbQGq0eiDm5H5Cfw47EpXsm7o6_ZgDMXD2PwQJzaiTtI_0d1V8-btPYYJM9VLeeabFuu_dvwLOqremEnYE3deN9JVYPZbnUyZ52QPtb2v/s320/Emily+Dyer+timthumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Children's book illustration by Emily Dyer</span></i></div>
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And I was really impressed with <a href="http://www.emilydyer.com/blog">Emily's</a> cut paper designs -- she does them by hand, and it was such a treat to see her in-progress photos! The cut paper illustrations are incredibly intricate and beautiful all on their own, and make a bold and unique style when combined with digital, like in the illustration above, that reminds me a little of linocut, which I love.<br />
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<div>
<b>Investing in myself</b></div>
<div>
<br />
I went into MATS after a bunch of years in graphic design/illustration, with two licenses for my work, but no idea what to do next -- no clue what steps to take to get to that place I didn't even know I wanted to go to.<br />
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I decided, I'm at the point in my life where I know I reeeeally love art licensing, a lot, and I want to do more of it. And MATS seemed a good investment in myself so I can reach that goal.<br />
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<div>
There was a lot of talking myself out of it before I actually went ahead and signed up for the course (barely a week before it started, naturally.) I wondered, since I've been marginally successful so far -- or maybe just really lucky, would I get a lot out of this course? I've never spent nearly as much for an online course… is the cost worth it? Is it really as awesome and life-changing as others have claimed?<br />
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Well, if your average art/business of art class is a two-scoop ice cream cone, MATS is like a twenty scoop, five banana mega über banana split with ten kinds of sprinkles, peanuts and pecans and a gallon of caramel and chocolate sauces, with a cherry on top, and you must eat the whole thing in about a half hour. Yes, it IS absolutely all that and a bag of chips.<br />
<br />
<b>What's it all about?</b><br />
<br />
During five weeks, you get info and advice about five different markets. You get a ton of really useful tips about how to break down an otherwise Big Scary Important project into tiny, manageable and fun steps. You get advice on how to make the most of your time, despite your own personal circumstances (full time job, kids + pets to take care of, whatever else you're juggling.) You get advice about being true to yourself, finding joy in everything you do, and making stuff YOU love, work that will ultimately sell because all that joy will shine through! The whole course, from Lilla herself to all my fellow students, is infused with excitement, positivity and joy. Surprisingly so. I haven't felt this much a part of a like-minded community of artists since college!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_DMekGhWKDY0RP9MIumkK7D_g_rZRjvIc-O0IkOASVJeqVpl6yjLye751_HS3ZL9KgsqTfruz5yzTW0RMSYiZ2xw5sD9m4eFo7MniAgm3Fh-W9Pz3D2GTn1SmaYvszy4S4-cb3rExZlK/s1600/JENNIFER_WAMBACH_LOVE+MAKES+A+HOUSE+A+HOME_2A_WEEK+4-medres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_DMekGhWKDY0RP9MIumkK7D_g_rZRjvIc-O0IkOASVJeqVpl6yjLye751_HS3ZL9KgsqTfruz5yzTW0RMSYiZ2xw5sD9m4eFo7MniAgm3Fh-W9Pz3D2GTn1SmaYvszy4S4-cb3rExZlK/s320/JENNIFER_WAMBACH_LOVE+MAKES+A+HOUSE+A+HOME_2A_WEEK+4-medres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">My collage/digital hybrid wall art</span></i></div>
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<br />
<b>Crying over plates</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
During the class, I hoped to get inspired to try mediums again that I haven't used in years (oil and acrylic, collage) and ones I still use but not as much as I'd like (watercolor), and possibly use them in new ways. My work has been feeling kind of stale and I hoped to figure out how to combine traditional mediums with the digital that I do 90% of the time nowadays. During MATS, I thought I'd pick up some insider tips about breaking into markets I haven't tried yet.<br />
<br />
I started out excited, optimistic and inspired. After a week of struggling with my bolt fabric design, I was a bit discouraged. After two weeks I actually cried, my plate designs were that bad. After three weeks I thought maybe I should give up new markets and stick to what I know.<br />
<br />
I was surprised to realize I have not much of a clue when it came to wall art, home decor, and gifts. In retrospect, I've never designed plates, and my oil painting days were many years ago, and I realized I need to just RELAX already and enjoy the process (that's where Lilla's brilliant idea to do minis --drawing lots and lots of icons before tackling the actual project -- really helped me out!)</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Postscript</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
What I learned:<br />
<ul>
<li>People buy your joy</li>
<li>There's room for all good art</li>
<li>Everyone is at a different place in their art journey, and wherever you are now is right where you need to be!</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
I just love that phrase: "people buy your joy." It's so true. Thinking back to my most successful work, those were also the ones I most enjoyed creating. The ones I'd get so wrapped up in, I'd forget to go to the bathroom and feed the children, and things I had cooking on the stove always burned.<br />
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Did I do everything I wanted to during MATS? Well, I got out my acrylics and collage stuff and painted on canvas. I found some new ways of working. I filled up a sketchbook. I drew in Starbucks. I have a million ideas for things I want to create. I now have more knowledge and confidence to make good work. And I'm excited to put all these ideas into practice. So yeah, in case you're wondering, I'd recommend the class… it was <i>definitely</i> worth it!<br />
<br />
___________________________<br />
<br />
<b>And now, a list of blog tour participants!</b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.aishaandherwork.blogspot.com/">Aisha Khan</a> – http://www.aishaandherwork.blogspot.com/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.paintlovestudio.blogspot.co.uk/">Linda Tordoff</a> – http://www.paintlovestudio.blogspot.co.uk/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.jillbyers.blogspot.com/">Jill Byers</a> – http://www.jillbyers.blogspot.com/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ma-len.blogspot.com/">Martina Lenhardt</a> - www.ma-len.blogspot.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.melissadoran.com/">Melissa Doran</a> – www.melissadoran.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.sarahgager.com/">Sarah Gager</a> – www.sarahgager.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rainbowfishchen.com/">HungYu CHEN</a> – www.rainbowfishchen.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.stephaniecorfee.com/">Stephanie Corfee</a> – www.stephaniecorfee.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://blog.sophie-verhille.com/">Sophie Verhille</a> – http://blog.sophie-verhille.com/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.studiolegohead.blogspot.co.uk/">Jo Chambers</a> – www.studiolegohead.blogspot.co.uk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.applekaur.com/blog">Son Atwal</a> – www.applekaur.com/blog</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.angiesandy.com/blog">Angie Sandy</a> – http://www.angiesandy.com/blog</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rachaelschaferdesigns.com/">Rachael Schafer</a> – www.rachaelschaferdesigns.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.verysarie.com/">Sarah Ehlinger </a>– www.verysarie.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.foundandrewound.com/blog/">Jordan Vinograd Kim</a> – http://www.foundandrewound.com/blog/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.madebyburbs.co.uk/">Jen Burbridge</a> – www.madebyburbs.co.uk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.carolinacotoart.com/">Carolina Coto</a> – www.carolinacotoart.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://aileentu.com/blog/">Aileen Tu</a> – http://aileentu.com/blog/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.clairelordon.blogspot.com/">Claire Lordon</a> – www.clairelordon.blogspot.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.eva-marion-seyffarth.blogspot.de/">Eva Marion Seyffarth</a> – www.eva-marion-seyffarth.blogspot.de</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rosanna-rossi.co.uk/">Anna Whitford</a> – www.rosanna-rossi.co.uk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://groovitydesigns.com/2013/11/29/make-art-that-sells-blog-tour/">Mary Tanana</a> – http://groovitydesigns.com/2013/11/29/make-art-that-sells-blog-tour/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://victoriajohnsondesignblog.blogspot.it/">Victoria Johnson</a> – http://victoriajohnsondesignblog.blogspot.it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.emilydyer.com/blog">Emily Dyer</a> – http://www.emilydyer.com/blog</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://nicsquirrell.blogspot.co.uk/">Nic Squirrell</a> – http://nicsquirrell.blogspot.co.uk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.crouchriverstudio.com/">Melinda Hopkirk</a> – www.crouchriverstudio.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.debtrevitt.com/blog/">Deb Trevitt</a> – http://www.debtrevitt.com/blog/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://reddogandjude.blogspot.com.au/">Danielle McDonald</a> – http://reddogandjude.blogspot.com.au/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.jaillustration.com/">Jennifer Appel</a> – http://www.jaillustration.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.agirlandherbrush.wordpress.com/">Wendy Brightbill</a> – http://www.agirlandherbrush.wordpress.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.renskedekinkelder.com/">Renske de Kinkelder</a> – www.renskedekinkelder.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ghostkittendesign.blogspot.com/">Nicole Piar</a> – http://www.ghostkittendesign.blogspot.com/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://dreamkeeperfae.blogspot.nl/">Andrea van Dalen</a> – http://dreamkeeperfae.blogspot.nl/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://illustrationsouljourney.blogspot.co.uk/">Ohn Mar Win</a> – http://illustrationsouljourney.blogspot.co.uk/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://dianeneukirch.blogspot.com/">Diane Neukirch</a> – http://dianeneukirch.blogspot.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.lisadeighan.com/">Lisa Deighan</a> – http://www.lisadeighan.com</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://tinakoyama.blogspot.jp/">Tina Koyama</a> – <span style="background-color: white; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px;">http://tinakoyama.blogspot.jp/</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://antjeart.com/">Antje <span style="color: #141823;"><span style="cursor: pointer;">Martens-Oberwelland</span></span></a> </span>– </span><a href="http://antjeart.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">http://antjeart.com</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-47541958666753441362013-10-29T10:03:00.000-05:002013-10-29T10:03:49.900-05:00Maybe I should take up drinking?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4n9ZUIczZ8Ryoya2u5jMH0QLEshrnd7F_ycHlTOlRUJn9nFNchMZJyTgcUvLvhlEdV72EEhcU0PBvUisTL2fNHgdkw4VQaLGIct2wsZw3wr7tO7BCaViG5K1Bmh-IETgn9Vier39WNap/s1600/JENNIFER_WAMBACH_LANGUAGE+OF+BIRDS_2A_WEEK+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4n9ZUIczZ8Ryoya2u5jMH0QLEshrnd7F_ycHlTOlRUJn9nFNchMZJyTgcUvLvhlEdV72EEhcU0PBvUisTL2fNHgdkw4VQaLGIct2wsZw3wr7tO7BCaViG5K1Bmh-IETgn9Vier39WNap/s320/JENNIFER_WAMBACH_LANGUAGE+OF+BIRDS_2A_WEEK+3.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<div>
When I signed up for Making Art That Sells, I thought it would be just what I needed at this point in my art licensing career. I have my Silhouette and Timeless Treasures licenses, and client projects, but my work felt sort of stagnant. I've been wanting to bring in some more hand-drawn imagery especially into my fabric designs, but am not sure quite how to combine it with digital. I was hoping the class would help sort it out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I thought it would teach me a lot and be a lot of work (it is both)… but I had this notion that it would be tons of fun. Strangely and surprisingly, I'm finding it difficult and frustrating, and in classic melodramatic Jen style, it's having me doubting my talent and ambition and feeling discouraged and mopey.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first week was bolt fabric… fun and easy, right? Nope. It was like my friend's husband in his bowling tournament: I crashed and burned. Fun sketching… but frustrating coming up with a print I was even sort of happy with.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was slightly nervous about week two (plates), which I have no experience designing for…. again I had lots of fun sketching, but the final assignment was the same kind of thing as week 1.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Then last week was children's books, which I do have a bit of experience with. I really enjoyed creating the week's assignment -- I was excited to work on it! -- and thought the final result was a bit better than weeks 1 & 2, but it has the same stiff, uncomfortableness as my other two assignments.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
This week it's wall art. I'm feeling even more anxious about it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
It's probably that I'm putting too much pressure on myself to come up with something super awesome. If I was still 21, I might try drinking a few beers and working on my assignment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once semester in college, I took a figure drawing course with a <a href="http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/view/judith-bernstein-hard">very colorful professor</a>. She always wore black clothes, patterned knee socks and black Chuck Taylors. I remember us giggling over her artwork when we found out she created sculptures of giant phalluses (we were only 20 or 21, after all!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One night some friends and I imbibed before starting in on our homework, which was drawing each other in charcoal. The next day we hung up our work in the studio. Judy came in and studied the drawings. She commented on mine, not knowing whose it was. "Such freedom, so loose and wonderful! Whose is this?" "It's mine," I replied, "but not my best work. I had a little to drink before I drew it." She said, "Well, I'd say you need to drink EVERY time you draw!" Everyone laughed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've never forgotten that. It was said jokingly, but there was a real lesson within: lighten up, have fun, stop taking everything so seriously! Tap into your humor and quirkiness!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Art has always been fun for me, and if it's not, like these past couple weeks, I need to figure out how to make it fun again. So, with that, here's what I want to accomplish during the rest of MATS:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- HAVE FUN and enjoy the process; play lots.</div>
<div>
- Remember this is NOT a competition.</div>
<div>
- Remember that everyone's taste is different & everyone is at a different place in their art.</div>
<div>
- Play with combining hand-drawn / hand painted stuff with digital.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Okay? No big deal. Calm down. It's all good. Everything will look better in the morning. I can so totally do this. Yay team. Breeeeathe. Go into the studio and make some great stuff!</div>
JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-65220130432118764302013-10-21T13:40:00.002-05:002013-10-21T13:40:33.827-05:00Bellydancing badly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At least that's what it felt like this week. Last week's Make Art That Sells assignment was deceptively simple -- design a set of 2 to 4 bromeliad-themed plates -- and I thought it would be a piece of cake (slight pun intended.) I love plants and I can draw them pretty well. I predicted I'd have lots of free time this weekend because I was going to be done early.<div>
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Ha ha.<div>
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Surprisingly, I felt all week like that time I got the bright idea to sign up for a new-mom bellydancing class. Kids as young as infants were welcome, so I brought my 5 month old and 2 year old.</div>
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I was uncoordinated and uncomfortable during every class; didn't have a clue what I was doing. Plus, as I was trying to remember where to put that damn scarf so I didn't trip over it or slip on it, I had to keep a close an eye on my wild older child who would dash out the door and run free, screaming down the hall and outside if given the slightest opportunity.</div>
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That bromeliad assignment was really, really frustrating. Sadly, I didn't enjoy about half of it.</div>
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I started out studying bromeliads and drawing very detailed and realistic studies. They were nice, but I'm trying to loosen up. So then I did some fast sketchy drawings and used some different tools: dip pen & ink, and watercolor, drawing with the brush. I liked the drawings, but what to do with them???</div>
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One of my favorite looks is when sketches are combined with more finished illustrations and everything is done in a range of mediums. That's what I tried first: a cluster of multihued plants growing vertically, pen, pencil, watercolor, vector all on one plate. But I hated it. It was NOT working.</div>
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Then I tried a simpler, one color layout using just the sketches. That didn't work either.</div>
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Then I tried a simple multicolored border just on the edge of the plates. It was delicate and pretty but a little too Grandma. I definitely wasn't going for Grandma. I kinda felt like crying out of frustration.</div>
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Then I tried using the same sketches but changed the layout to more of a messy wreath / border type design around the edges of the plates, with the plants going every which way, and with a bird hidden in each design. It was better, but nothing like what I originally wanted. That's what I settled on, though. Maybe it'll grow on me.</div>
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The most frustrating thing was I couldn't figure out WHY the layouts weren't working. I still don't know. Maybe it's my inner struggle: traditional, realistic renderings vs. retro mod stylized sketches. Maybe it's my use of color. Maybe I should spend more time on my initial sketches, or on cleaning up the scanned-in drawings. Maybe I just need more practice designing something other than fabric and single diecut designs.</div>
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Anyway, plate week is all done. I'd like to revisit it someday because I do like that stuff... I just had no idea how difficult it was to do!</div>
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This week is Children's Book Illustration, which I feel much more comfortable with. Character design I can do in my sleep (evidenced by 2,129+ of <a href="http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/?page=view-portfolio&artist_id=31857">these</a> wacky little drawings)! I just *know* this week will be better.</div>
JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-62463861041367616782013-10-15T10:02:00.000-05:002013-10-15T10:02:22.772-05:00Stretching...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I wrote in my last post, I decided kind of at the last minute to sign up for <a href="http://lillarogers.com/make-art-that-sells/">Make Art That Sells</a>, Part A. It's now one week into the class and I've finished our first assignment, creating bolt fabric with a vintage Pyrex-style casserole and berry theme.<div>
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Going into the class, I didn't expect week one to be particularly earth-shattering for me. I've been designing fabric for a couple years, took two fantastic classes with Michelle Fifis (<a href="http://patternobserver.com/courses/ss_workshop/">Sellable Sketch</a> and <a href="http://patternobserver.com/courses/ultimate-guide-to-repeats-workshop/">The Ultimate Guide to Repeats</a>) and have my work licensed (although the majority of it is in the <a href="http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/?page=view-portfolio&artist_id=31857">scrapbooking market</a>, and <a href="http://www.ttfabrics.com/products/hero-saurus-by-jennifer-wambach">just one print</a> is licensed in the fabric market...), so I thought I had my style and method figured out, although maybe it just needing some fine tuning.</div>
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As it turns out, I was totally wrong. I realized I'm bored, bored, bored with my work and need to do something new. It was kind of tough going this week!</div>
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I started out the week sketching in my usual style (realistic) and with my usual mediums (Pigma Micron pens, watercolor, colored pencil). Then I drew directly into Illustrator the way I usually do, stylizing the forms so they weren't too stodgy (because in my mind, realistic = stodgy and stylized = retro cool.)</div>
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I put together a retro style print as I usually do, and hated it. It was fine, but I had no motivation. Part of the point of this class is to grow, which means trying something new and taking chances.</div>
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So I scanned in a bunch of my sketches, tweaked them a little, traced and colorized them in Illustrator. The final print was more exciting than my usual stylized vector stuff, but not quite there yet. It wasn't really vintage kitchen; it was more sketchbooky floral. It wasn't Pyrex/casserole dish enough; I enjoyed drawing berries and leaves so much more than dishes, so it had mostly botanical motifs.</div>
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It was hugely frustrating and I felt like I put in hours and hours and got absolutely nowhere -- pages and pages of sketches and no fabulous, professional print collection to show for it.</div>
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But the final print was more "me", a little quirky, and had much more of the hand of the artist in it, which I love seeing in others' work. It's a stepping stone in the direction I've wanted to go for a long time, but never knew how to get there or even begin. So I call it a success. Kind of.</div>
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Next I think I'll try sketching larger, with less attention to the details, and with a different tool (watercolor paper / brushes) and see where that leads. I'm excited to get started!</div>
JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-83548426664486204432013-10-06T16:59:00.002-05:002013-10-06T16:59:56.009-05:00Maybe taking myself seriously, for once...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm an artist and a mom. I've wanted to be both things as long as I can remember.<br />
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I know the mom part of what I'm doing on a daily basis is really important -- raising my children to be good humans, to care about others, be kind to animals and the Earth, to learn and read and grow. But oh boy, they are draining!<br />
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I never feel rested, no matter how much sleep I get. I haven't finished a magazine in one sitting since before my six year old was born. It's rare I have a chance to write an entire blog post or email (my husband is entertaining the kids in the other room as I write this.)<br />
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My children make me feel old. In good/bad news, I never get carded any more when buying beer, but I finally look my age.<br />
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On the art side of things, in recent years I've discovered the world of art licensing and have been lucky to be able to earn a real living from it. I feel amazingly lucky every time I sit down to draw something, knowing that someone will want to buy it.<br />
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I'm always thinking, what can I do to do more art? How can I make my work better? How can I better balance the mom/artist thing?<br />
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One problem is the ever-present mommy guilt. That nagging voice that tells me anything I do for me, alone, is taking time away from my children and is selfish. I should spend every moment with them, spending time with them, being present for them.<br />
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Then I found a babysitter (yay!), and suddenly have six hours a week completely kid-free. It's October... Part A of <a href="http://lillarogers.com/make-art-that-sells/">Make Art That Sells</a> is also held in October...<br />
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Hmm, mommy guilt versus the chance to figure out how to make my good art really great, maybe even figure out how to combine drawing and watercolor with digital, and rectify it with my retro-mod vector Illustrator style... What to do??<br />
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It was a big decision. It's a time commitment; how big, I didn't know. I do have the babysitter, but will I need/want more time? I do tend to be a nit-picky perfectionist. Can I afford it financially? Will I have enough motivation? Can the kids survive for five weeks eating cereal for dinner, watching TV 24/7, and driving themselves to school? (kidding!)<br />
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I've tried lots of stuff over the years, and nothing got me as kid-on-a-Christmas-morning excited quite like art licensing (fabric design, pattern making in general & illustrating digital dies, in my case). I know I never want to go back to the world of corporate design (that is, a "real" job), if I can help it.<br />
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I decided, the heck with the pro/con list making, what better time than the present? Jump in, see what happens, what's the worst case scenario? I create some new work that I otherwise wouldn't? I try some new mediums or some old, forgotten ones? The timing is just right, the kids will be fine, it'll all work out in the end. So if not now, then when???<br />
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Like having a baby, there's never a perfect time. Just jump in and take it one step at a time! So here we gooooo....!JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-85146050123435778822013-09-16T11:57:00.000-05:002013-09-16T12:09:12.811-05:00Priscilla Patchwork Skirt Tutorial<span id="docs-internal-guid-418682a8-2544-a208-f96b-e25c3f480367"></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm excited to have another <a href="http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/2013/09/16/priscilla-patchwork-skirt-tutorial/">tutorial</a> is also appearing on Riley Blake's blog today, yay! This was fun to put together... hope you enjoy it!</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-418682a8-2544-a208-f96b-e25c3f480367"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m a big fan of long, flowy skirts and I love the look of patchwork, but don't have enough time these days to make entire quilts. This project is a great way to get that look without spending days or weeks cutting, pinning, sewing, basting, quilting and binding.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">This skirt is sized to fit my older daughter who wears about a size 7-8. If you use fewer squares or fewer tiers, it can easily be adjusted for a smaller girl, or you could add squares and tiers to make a larger size, even for an adult. I had enough fabric left over to make a second skirt for my younger daughter, who wears a size 5. (Measurements for size 5 appear in parenthesis.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It makes a rather full, almost-circle skirt that flies out rather well when the wearer spins around. If you'd like it to be not quite as full, just eliminate some of the squares, using the same ratio of squares (see *formula, below, to figure it out!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To make it longer, you could either add a row at the top, or a row at the bottom. If you add a top row, use about 7 squares for it; if you add a bottom row, use 30 squares. Note: Adding a top row will make a skirt with less bulk at the top which may be more flattering for an adult.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more variety of fabric coordinates you have, the more boho/gypsy it will look. For my version, I used a selection of fabrics from Lila Tueller's Priscilla collection, mostly in the blue colorway since my daughter's favorite color is blue. To me, the fabric’s design feels a little bit Victorian and the colors are very springy and feminine, which makes the skirt more sophisticated than boho, but different fabrics could completely change the feel of the finished garment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s no pattern, because all that’s needed are 45 7”x7” squares — all you need is your fabric, a good ruler (I recommend a quilting ruler), cutting mat, and rotary cutter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The skirt is easy to sew… it's just a lot of careful cutting, pinning, and straight seams. The hardest part is gathering each of the three the tiers and lining them up to sew together. Hey, if I can do it (despite the perpetual chaos that comes with three kids aged 6 and under, a puppy, a geriatric cat, two cockatiels, and a fish) anyone can!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Priscilla cottons</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fabrics Used — Lila Tueller Designs’ </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Priscilla</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supplies needed:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2½ to 3 yards total of coordinating fabrics, about 1/8 quarter of each</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rotary cutter</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">quilting ruler</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3/4" elastic, </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">about 1" longer than the diameter of the wearer’s waist</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The usual sewing paraphernalia: pins, thread, sewing machine, scissors</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instructions:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Measure & cut:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cut 45 (36) 7” squares from your fabrics. (NOTE: Included in that 7" size is a 1/4" seam allowance, so each tier will actually measure 6-1/2" high, making the finished skirt about 19" long. You may want to eliminate the bottom tier if making this for a very young child.)</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stacks of 7 inch squares ready to go</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ll be sewing three tiers: the top tier is 10 (8) squares, the middle tier is 15 (12), and the bottom tier is 20 (16).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Or use this formula to figure out how many squares you'll need if you're making it larger or smaller: amount of top tier squares; amount of top tier squares + 1/2 amount of top tier squares = middle tier; amount of top tier squares x 2 = bottom tier.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lay out your squares on a table or floor in three rows to represent the three tiers, switching around fabrics until you’re happy with the layout. I tried to make sure that none of the same color or same patterned fabric ended up next to, above or below each other, which didn't work out quite as planned, not having taken into account the gathering that makes the lower tiers narrower. It still worked out okay! Of course, having lots of coordinates to choose from will give you more options.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Pink edges:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(If you have a serger, you can skip this step.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using pinking shears, trim the vertical edges of all the squares to prevent fraying. This also eliminates the need to zigzag stitch each seam after sewing, which I'd ordinarily do, since my kids, as most kids, are not particularly gentle on their clothes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Pin & sew:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pin 10 (8) squares together for the top tier and sew, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Pin 15 (12) squares together for the middle tier and sew, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Pin 20 (16) squares together for the bottom tier and sew, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Serge the seams if desired (not necessary if you pinked the edges.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="color: #3d4500; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gather tiers:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Adjust sewing machine to longest stitch length, adjust your tension way up, and sew a straight stitch about 1/4" from the top edge of the middle and bottom tiers. Pull one thread to gather fabric until the top width of each tier matches the bottom of the tier it will be sewn to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Pinning & sewing tiers together</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Sew tiers together:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pin right sides of tiers together: top tier to middle tier, middle tier to bottom tier, adjusting the gather if necessary so the widths match up. Sew using a straight stitch. Zigzag stitch or serge along the edges you just sewed to prevent fraying — it’s more important to reinforce seams here, since there’s more stress on these seams than on the vertical ones in between the 7” squares. This can take significant fiddling to get them to match up properly... just be patient... it'll look great!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>After sewing tiers together, it actually looks like something!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I always put the gathered piece on top and the flat piece on the bottom when sewing; that way I can make sure the machine isn't pulling out the gather as I sew. I get so frustrated when I mess up and have to rip out all the seams and start over, which happens a lot! so I'm all for tips and tricks to prevent that!</span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's what happens when you don't zigzag or serge the edges... lots of stray threads!</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Sew side of skirt:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pin right sides of skirt together and sew, then zigzag or serge the edges to prevent fraying. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: It seems to be easier, for me at least, to sew the tiers together when they're flat. Some tutorials have you sew each tier together on the short side, making a tube, then gather and sew all the tiers to each other. I think having them flat makes it easier to measure and pin, so that's what I'm recommending here.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Create waistband:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Fold over 1/8" of top edge, press. Fold sewn edge down again, creating a 1˝ channel, press and sew again, leaving about 1" open. Feed the elastic through the channel, putting a safety pin on one end of elastic to help it slide through more easily. Overlap ends of elastic, hand sew or machine sew together. Blind stitch the 1" opening closed.</span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hemming. 3/4 of the way through, my fancy machine broke a needle and kept giving me an </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">error message... so out came my mom's old trusty Singer that can sew through fingers </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(really! it's gear driven)! That's why I didn't zigzag my edges.</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Hem:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Fold over 1/8˝ of bottom edge, press. Fold entire seam over again, press, and sew in place.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCCgvB9PU1Uiicfpktz89bZp02vbrEX48wvAbx9mYYljKRnOKfeKinC55WVK3Nhycw7bBJoF4F64UMsIb_2ipn86iSR7a7nMnuwUPDV5gs4CaDpenjgTjirZBvniiEzkAlXGK-ZfVleFC/s1600/09-JWambach-topstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCCgvB9PU1Uiicfpktz89bZp02vbrEX48wvAbx9mYYljKRnOKfeKinC55WVK3Nhycw7bBJoF4F64UMsIb_2ipn86iSR7a7nMnuwUPDV5gs4CaDpenjgTjirZBvniiEzkAlXGK-ZfVleFC/s320/09-JWambach-topstitch.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Topstiching tiers</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Topstitch:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sew a straight stitch just above the seam where each of the tiers are sewn together. This is totally optional, but I think it gives the skirt a really nice finishing touch and makes it look more professional.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s it… </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now your little one has something new to wear to school, or just for spinning around the livingroom! :)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5ffe6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-5864993728954707172013-08-11T23:04:00.001-05:002013-08-11T23:05:40.990-05:00Education & bucket lists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5tlVnQi1KwXnt-14B9gZQjPvk0lw2oP8p68xTam3xnuIxtiDP_DocQ7iI8Ho470kgw-fmi7Q7IhXlDD3ncdy3zS23tPH-qcX3VQ1ZO6oo-zLWXhoYXnf-IA3L4gw33YVhdjTzOi9sruq/s1600/school+days+3x4+cards+PNC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5tlVnQi1KwXnt-14B9gZQjPvk0lw2oP8p68xTam3xnuIxtiDP_DocQ7iI8Ho470kgw-fmi7Q7IhXlDD3ncdy3zS23tPH-qcX3VQ1ZO6oo-zLWXhoYXnf-IA3L4gw33YVhdjTzOi9sruq/s320/school+days+3x4+cards+PNC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">3x4 cards available in the <a href="http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/">Silhouette Online Store</a></span></i></div>
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Seven days until first grade. I remember when I was six going on seven: we were learning to read with Dick & Jane style books. My eldest, that same age now, can read Magic Tree House books (though she *is* a bit rusty after the summer break... bad mom that I am, I only took her to the library about a dozen times since May.)<br />
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The middle child is starting half-day preschool. The youngest is going to hang out with Mommy and spend lots of time in the carseat dropping off and picking up his sisters.<br />
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I'll never get used to the ability of days to go by snail slow but the years to zoom by lightning fast. Why is that??? Why can't they stay little, portable, protest-free and daily nap-taking for a few years? There's so much I want to get done, so many places I want to go!<br />
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I want to make a quilt. At the rate I'm going, those summer dresses I'm going to someday design and make for the girls may be ready as going-off-to-college presents.<br />
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I'd like to paint and decorate the house. We've been here almost seven years; I think it's time.<br />
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The pets need attention. The garden needs watering and weeding. I need to finish putting in that block border in the front yard and plant some shrubs.<br />
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I'd like to get out my fine art stuff and paint again. I'd like to make use of the oil pastel and dry pastel sets I have squirreled away in various subterranean nooks and crannies.<br />
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I'd like to read that stack of magazines on the basement stairs and kitchen island because I'm just sick of stepping over them / shoving them to one side or another / throwing them into the front closet when people come over.<br />
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There are a bunch of little interesting spots in our area I'd love to check out: zoos, butterfly houses, free splash parks, playgrounds-a-plenty. Someone braver than I might do it with Three Little Musketeers, but since our eldest Musketeer has just within the past few months acquired the ability to do what she's told when she's told to do it without (much) protest (like "it's time to leave, let's go"... you can't imagine what a scene she used to make! like, all the other people within a half mile would turn and stare at the haggard mom with the screaming like a banshee kid), and the youngest still needs a daily afternoon nap, and I'm overwhelmed and need daily morning coffee to keep up with full time mom / client work / my own illustration work / late night showers, those places remain unseen by us as of yet.<br />
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That reminds me, I need to find a babysitter.JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-44119483878198080122013-07-31T09:52:00.003-05:002013-07-31T10:40:40.612-05:00MDW – ROC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ijpBTRtnjeqCJQngn4NNVqn9xI-EpsOWuFYN0MAGrYSXdWKFBce6Qw72VUIZYCdLrluUsQrFoiOdO3IbbaOYZw09W-SNlUI4PGE8B3xtfTqzivjJEypDa-qh8gHdupJqEaRzn6-2AEtJ/s1600/NY+trip-sketchbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ijpBTRtnjeqCJQngn4NNVqn9xI-EpsOWuFYN0MAGrYSXdWKFBce6Qw72VUIZYCdLrluUsQrFoiOdO3IbbaOYZw09W-SNlUI4PGE8B3xtfTqzivjJEypDa-qh8gHdupJqEaRzn6-2AEtJ/s320/NY+trip-sketchbook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(what peace & quiet results in)</span></i></div>
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My parents, who live a couple states away, had their 44th wedding anniversary last Friday. They were pretty shocked when I walked into their house just before lunch!<br />
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It's been almost four years since I went "back home" (using the term loosely, since as of this summer, I've lived out here as long as I've lived anywhere else). Lots of changes: my parents moved, my brother and his wife bought a house and had a baby, everyone bought new cars and acquired new hobbies (growing hops, building sheds). It was time for a trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpNF1jQfGK6bS7EsN5c40OzI0eRZ6BnziHRtevqAidn0iZPUFLFlkuT-Dofes5mXGIXtq7dz2qOStkFvaWeAFQtr-ifAjgnwW0Tz6X6L6-reNyi6F-oStmdYmDrttIQdb0OUq6OZvlcd8/s1600/NY+trip+July+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpNF1jQfGK6bS7EsN5c40OzI0eRZ6BnziHRtevqAidn0iZPUFLFlkuT-Dofes5mXGIXtq7dz2qOStkFvaWeAFQtr-ifAjgnwW0Tz6X6L6-reNyi6F-oStmdYmDrttIQdb0OUq6OZvlcd8/s320/NY+trip+July+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I actually had photos printed!)</span></i></div>
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I left the kids, husband, and pets home alone. To the outside observer (me) when I returned home, they survived quite well.<br />
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I had almost three full days of peace and quiet. I drew in my sketchbook and got out my old watercolor kit. I slept late. I showered every day. I didn't have to cook, get drinks for anyone, walk anyone, clean up after anyone, scoop any litter boxes, feed any pets, break up any fights, mediate any disagreements, soothe cranky toddlers, entertain bored preschoolers, pay attention to demanding almost-first graders. It was lovely.<br />
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More than that, I got to meet my niece (a combination of her parents' personalities, the outgoing nature of my eldest and ability to stay out of trouble of my middle child), got to see everyone's new house (so much familiar stuff in new settings), and completely surprised my parents -- my dad, brushing his teeth and mom, folding laundry; neither who had any inking I was in town -- that was the best!JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045895589387011158.post-27919448228106567452013-07-22T10:21:00.001-05:002013-07-22T10:21:33.123-05:00All done but only 85% happy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2KUtv0c4inzwJQHYoo8_EQxw15cne_-S8AuDZSq3krWcS6IxqquOZ_awgV0iO_FajZpFwE9nIi6U-bA79F4uzzlN-cc3-nTSBjzDlz4aDs2JHDwCOt2aD7AiIoqodgyTavu5reWd2IUy/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2KUtv0c4inzwJQHYoo8_EQxw15cne_-S8AuDZSq3krWcS6IxqquOZ_awgV0iO_FajZpFwE9nIi6U-bA79F4uzzlN-cc3-nTSBjzDlz4aDs2JHDwCOt2aD7AiIoqodgyTavu5reWd2IUy/s320/image.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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I guess it's no surprise that I'm not totally thrilled with the end result. I never am, at least immediately after finishing the project. Weeks or months later I'll look back and realize its not half bad, or even that it's pretty good. This morning it looks like a big pile of blargh.<br />
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My eyes are blurry after my weekend of marathon point tweaking! I finished up late last night, like almost 2AM, and thought I messed up while uploading. My clicky finger *may* have gotten a bit impatient. So I sent an email to them; turns out they got SOMEthing. Hopefully it's the whole jpg. I really need to chill out sometimes.<br />
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Working on this brought back memories -- of that half-sphere climbing thing at the park by the Buffalo Zoo (need to dig out the photo of 4 year old me and friend on one with my giant sideburned dad standing alongside), the rocket slide (we had one outside our kindergarten classroom), those merry go round things that made me sick to my stomach, that pedal car that scrawny me never could quite pedal.<br />
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We had a tire swing tied to the cherry tree in front of our house and an old metal swingset in the back that had regular swings and a sky scooter. Swinging was one of my favorite thing to do as a kid. I have flashes of memories: standing on and falling off the sky scooter and ending up with a mouthful of sand, watching the combine work the field next to the house and feeling so proud to be five and able to swing as high as I could, the wren that would nest in the open end of the swingset every spring, poison ivy growing over the old stone wall that we were forbidden to climb on for just that reason... Good memories.JennArtDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01267493172765707439noreply@blogger.com0