mLee Fine Art

growing up

2009-11-20T13:06:00.002-05:00

go outside?
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

My little baby isn't a baby anymore and she hasn't been for quite some time now. I have pictures of her from the first four or six months on the side of my studio that I don't really pay attention to. Every once in awhile I look over there and see one and am stunned. It can be hard to link the two together even though there are physical and even personality similarities. But a toddler is a little person while an infant not so much. The first year is all about them developing into a person.

She may not be a baby anymore, but she still needs me and my attention a lot. Actually in many ways she needs me more than ever before. When she was a newborn she slept a lot and that gave me time to work on art or simple housework. Or I could wrap her up on my back while she napped and work on a collage. That doesn't work anymore and it hasn't since she became mobile.

But now that I am finally learning how to schedule myself as best I can things are starting to slowly turn and I am getting bits of my own life back despite the fact that her needs are continuing to rise. It is quite empowering. Right now I am able to work on my art at a pace that I can live with. One that doesn't leave me missing it with a whiny miserable voice in the back of my mind constantly. And what a relief it is, like a weight has been lifted from my life. And now the world seems brighter and much more manageable.

I've decided that this Christmas season is a wash for me as I am too far behind in promotion, networking and more too close to Christmas. Once I admitted this to myself I felt a great relief and that gives me the ability to come up with a new plan and a new goal. And that one is for 2010. In 2009 I got my health on the right track and I am now healthier than I have been in years, 2010 is going to be about regrowing my business. It won't be the same as before I had Alex or before the crash as things are probably only going to get worse. But I'll have a plan this time!

But that doesn't mean that you can't buy from my store this holiday season!

continuing on

2009-11-12T07:08:00.002-05:00

#2 with #1 in background
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

The lettering series can officially be called a series now. The second one is up for sale on Etsy and Artfire.

I found myself dawdling with this one after I got it going two weeks ago. I guess I have commitment issues. But really, I just have so much to do it is hard to find the time when I am in the right frame of mind to work on art. The timing is often just not right.

But with Alex going to her Toddler group every Wednesday that leaves me 2 hours and I should be able to use at least an hour of that to work on art. If I am diligent about it I might even be able to get back to making a piece a week. Not quite the same as the 20+ pieces I would make every week or two back in the day, but these are collages not prints. And my life has changed since then and I accept what comes along with those changes.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this piece as there will be more following it. Keep watching!

The past made current again

2009-11-10T08:13:00.002-05:00

Night Falls on Two Trees
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

It may not be new, but this piece is still lovely to me. I've always loved how the colors gently moved into and around each other. The coolest blue I could mix combined with a bright pale orange. Finished off with dark purple. And the mysterious shapes that overlap it all. It speaks to me now because this is basically the point in autumn that we are at here in New England. There is still some beauty, but it is fading quickly as the cold airs come in. But there is still this crispness to hand onto.

It was a lovely weekend filled with as nice as the weather is going to get until well into next year. Hope all my readers, wherever you may be, had a wonderful weekend as well with gorgeous weather. And if not, here's hoping for next weekend.

Fast Friday - The Terrible Twos

2009-11-06T13:42:00.002-05:00

playing in the leaves
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

I'm being tested. Our church wide Daniel Fast* began on Monday and even though I am doing a slightly modified version that allows grains and a cup of lightly honey sweetened tea once a day it is not easy. No meat or fish, no dairy and no sweets or junk in general is my diet until the 22nd. Tacked onto that I have added a severe limit to my time spent online. In fact I have decided that the internet in its entirety is off limits on Sunday. I even set up a program to block the sites I tend to frequent.

The fast started out pretty difficult the first day or two but now I am hitting my stride with it. Even though I have every reason to go back to my comfort food of sugar. Alex is not going easy on us. Lately it feels like all I say is; "Alex stop that right now!" and that is not fun thing to say.

*pause*

Alex then knocked over my full cup of tea, spilling it all over, then she wanted to play in the puddle of tea. So I had to say "it" and back her off while I tried to sop it up as quickly as possible. Then I had to keep her entertained until the EI therapist came. Normally I participate in the therapy but I really needed to get some house stuff down so I excused myself. Then we went to the playground for two hours. Then lunch which she is currently finishing up. And hopefully a nap. Some hours later I am able to wrap this entry up.

I swear, the only thing keeping my sanity beyond God is the GTD (Getting Things Done) method of scheduling I recently implemented in my life. And just in time! Despite all the craziness I am still pretty calm, not overwhelmed and actually getting things done with renewed energy. I use a website (I upgraded to Pro) and iPhone app to keep me scheduled but a simple pocket notebook would do. But since my notebook is my iPhone I figured it was best to keep it there as the website and the phone app sync.

Here I am eating a very limited diet and much less food in general, working out daily, getting woken up in the middle of the night often, with a ton to do and a needy two year old and I am doing great!

*⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your ^c]">[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

My Box

2009-11-05T07:26:00.002-05:00

Lettering #2 Mosaic
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

My project box that is. Through all of the not part of reality silliness in The Creative Habit I found a few gems. I finished it on my Kindle iPhone app the other day and am putting what I learned to use.

1) Start a morning ritual to get myself going in the right direction. My first thought and attempt was for this to be making green smoothies and then working out doing The Shred. But that was just too much to do every day, especially on days following a rough night with Alex. So it soon got whittled down to just the green smoothie part. Much healthier than a cup of coffee and a more long lasting energy, plus it is for the entire family. And Alex needs all the veggies I can get her to eat. Plus we are fasting for the next three weeks and coffee is out.

2) A box for my creative project(s). One box for each one to keep things focused. Right now I am using a shoe box, but when I get the chance I will probably take her advice and get the kind you can buy at Office Depot. In this box goes all the papers I have found that could possibly work for my project. Various papers including plain ones, pre-printed ones, washi and my own woodblock and gocco print scraps. Along with that I have a two tiered pencil case that keeps the small pieces so they don't get lost in the shuffle. And at the top level of that case are the ones I think I will be using. She just suggested a box, but she is a dancer not a visual artist, so I felt the need to expand to suit my needs.

3) I also have an computer based tool that I am trying out as a way to gather and organize various materials. I can save websites and images and put them into folders so they are easy to bring up whenever I need them.

Have I mentioned how much I love the Kindle app yet? Because I do, yet it actually keeps me from getting an actual Kindle rather than making me want one. I'm a minimalist when it comes to what I carry with me and having it in my phone is perfect. Now I read my physical books at home, but I always have something as backup on my phone.

Now along with a novel (The Blind Assassin for you curious types) I am reading another book to boost my productivity. This time it is a book that is practical for all people called Getting Things Done. The latter is on my Kindle app again which makes it handy for a quick read and note taking. I plan on always having one fiction and one non-fiction books going at all times. Funny how just six months ago I could barely find the attention to finish a book in six months and now I am reading books within a week tops.

Just another sign that things are improving.

Crisp Air Days

2009-11-02T19:26:00.002-05:00

Halloween Weekend
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Hope you had a great weekend. It was the perfect crisp Autumn weekend that we have grown to expect from living in New England but haven't gotten much of this year.

Alex had fun even though she didn't really know what was going on other than getting to run around a lot and have people smile at her more than usual.

It was a bittersweet time as two good friends stayed over on their way to a move to Seattle. They will be missed and I'm looking forward to visiting someday.

Onwards and Upwards!

2009-10-29T07:38:00.002-04:00

new materials
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Since I was so happy with this piece from last week I've decided that it needs to be a series. It just feels right and my energy for it is high and consistent. I haven't had that in ages, instead having short and sudden creative bursts where I make a piece in an hour and then may go as long as a few months before making another in the exact same way. The inspiration then was still real, but different and very fleeting. This feels much more purposeful and planned. Well, because it is more purposeful and planned!

Last week I downloaded The Creative Habit for the Kindle app on my iPhone and am reading it bit by bit daily. It isn't perfect, in fact some of the advice is downright laughable. Such as the one where she suggests to take a week and not talk, at all that entire week. I'm not a nun and I have obligations, as most people do, that require me to be able to communicate in more than just hand gestures and notes. Maybe some of the artists that don't have day to day jobs, or a family that needs them can do this exercise in restraint. But for the vast majority of us it is not only not practical but it is not possible. But overall it is a positive experience to read it and I am better off for it. For starters it has gotten me to rethink my day and try to get on some sort of schedule. Or at the very least get my day started with a bang instead of a groggy hour watching Curious George while downing coffee.

So I have been attempting to change my morning routine by going to bed earlier and waking up earlier and better. The attempt to wake up at 5:30am so I could use that precious time to work out before my daughter woke up did not go so well. I have pretty bad insomnia and when 5:30 came around I would be going on sometimes no more than four hours of sleep. Every time without fail I would turn my alarm off and go back to sleep. But now my husband and I have a schedule that allows me to work out in the morning and make the family a good breakfast and I don't even have to get up before seven on most mornings. Of course with a toddler, staying on a strict schedule is impossible, but for the most part it works. And that book pushed me to make this change.

This has impacted my health and ultimately my creativity. I'm not as tired any more and my head isn't so muddy. I've been working out whatever has been muddling my mind out slowly for the past few months and am really starting to see some results. I've been obsessed with Google Calendar and various scheduling apps for my iPhone, trying to find the perfect mix to keep me on task.

Newfound Hunger

2009-10-27T08:11:00.002-04:00

a great find, but I need more!
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

My collage from last week is officially finished and listed on Etsy and Art Fire. I worked hard, yet it all seemed to flow quite naturally, to balance color and form. The only snag was my own confidence making it difficult for me to commit. But after playing around with the layout of elements for the week I knew when I had the right one.

This alphabet paper I found last week has awakened a letter hungry monster in me! I have such a selection of papers to chose from that I have built up over the years that it is remarkable that I found these so quickly. But I didn't know that I had multiple colors! This opens up a lot more to me, but I still need different papers, cut outs, fonts and colors. More please! The circle series didn't feel like a series at the time, but this piece is certainly the beginning of a new series. What fun!

So for now I must settle for a virtual online shopping spree collecting various papers, stickers and what not of various fonts. I'm thinking some stencils might be nice too so I can make my own.

I can't wait for my two free hours on Wednesday! It is a pity that I won't have more to work with by then, but I have enough to get started.

Collage Crazy

2009-10-22T08:08:00.007-04:00

This past Sunday I had a very bad art making experience. It seems like I am tired all the time, even when Alex is sleeping or at her toddler group. But on Sunday after she went to bed I had energy and time. Jon was out so I had nothing to distract me. Excited I dug into my incredibly messy studio and began playing around with various papers trying to come up with a composition.

It did not go well. After a few hours in my studio I came out with nothing but frustration and feeling bad about myself. Nothing was working. The only thing positive it seemed is that I hadn't actually made anything, hadn't glued anything down. Later I realized that days like that are just as important as days of success. I knew that before, but after all this time I guess I needed to be reminded of that fact. Everything is a learning experience that I should appreciate.

Now just a few days later, on Wednesday, I had a much different experience. It started out much the same, except that I had much less time to work this time around. But I had time, desire and energy. Three precious factors that can be difficult to find at the same time. This time when I started pulling out papers and looking at them together I started finding stuff right away. I even felt confident enough to use my new(ish) sewing machine and then glue down this background.

I'm not done. Adding bits and pieces and taking pictures of the journey so I have a record of my ideas before I finish off the piece. But I am having a blast and know now that the journey is just as important as where I end up in the end.

On the left is a bit of one of my oldest print attempts sewed next to a piece of purple and white letter paper.

Unsure

2009-08-10T12:21:00.002-04:00

layout
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Being out of a near constant stream of creativity and art making has left me feeling rather insecure and slow to nail anything down or complete something. I hesitate before bringing out the glue and sealer. I hesitate before making certain cuts to paper or wood.

This is my current challenge. I have a hard time feeling that I have wasted precious and sometimes expensive materials on a failed piece. This was much easier when I was just doing straight up woodblock prints. Sure, if I messed up an actual block that stunk because I was out one block and the time I put into it. But with actually printing I was much less scared of failure because paper and ink are rather inexpensive and I knew that even if some pieces didn't turn out I could use parts of them in other things eventually. I saved failed works sometimes for years, being a packrat has really paid off because now I am going through those pieces and finding bits of beauty even in the worst of them. Even a horrible piece can have an inch of beauty.

Many of these collages are rather spontaneous and fast. I wonder if that is wrong and I should labor over the layout for many hours or if I should just go with my instincts. One thing is for sure that this is something I need to figure out so I can keep it from holding me back.

I'm excited because I just got a wonderful and rather inexpensive refurbished sewing machine off of Overstock.com. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to even get it started, but that should be solved tonight with the help of a friend. I've been wanting to add stitching elements to my work ever since I started collage making two years ago. I've done a bit of hand stitching in some pieces but I really like the look of perfect machine stitching. I'm very excited about what is to come and I hope to share it here with you soon.

2009-06-28T17:49:00.002-04:00

I wish blogger had an Iphone app. Flickr too please! I have my Facebook, Twitter, a Journal and a fantastic diet log.

I'm totally addicted to apps on my new Iphone so these are some serious holes. Oh well, at least GoogleReader has a streamlined page for the Iphone so I can keep up reading. More like catch up! I miss my blogging and blog reading days. Just time isn't what it used to be for me.

New ACEO

2009-06-22T17:19:00.002-04:00

Green Hair - ACEO
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Time to experiment with my art. The whole direction I had been going with my woodblock prints while I enjoyed it at the time just isn't working for me right now. I've been slowly touching up an unfinished carving and I am almost done. But to be honest I'm not sure what I will do with it when I am done.

I would rather push myself to make little pieces like this piece I have listed on Etsy and soon to be put on Art Fire. This is how I got started before, experimenting with smaller pieces.

I need to finish up this carving so I can clear my desk and get to work on some new small pieces. I might need a little inspirational run to the art store this week.

Heaven knows with this weather we have been having I have plenty of time to be indoors and create. That is if I weren't chasing after a stir crazy toddler all day. We had a break in the dismal weather on Saturday and enjoyed the day at a Strawberry Festival. We picked a bunch of really good strawberries and took Alex on a hayride before we had to take her home for a nap. She's been waking up early and getting exhausted early.

The rest of this week looks like rain, rain and some more rain. Bah!

A Sudden Inspiration

2009-06-01T08:14:00.002-04:00

Abstract #1
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Last Saturday I made this piece on a sudden inspiration. blee was napping, my husband was playing one of the video games I got him for his birthday and I needed something to do. So I did what normally isn't a good idea and got on the computer. Now this can lead to a lot of time wasting, but not this time. This time I saw how my Flickr art contacts were experimenting and was inspired to do the same. Rushing to my studio only to find it forever messy I grabbed some supplies and created on top of the mess instead of taking the time to clear it first. I knew that there was a good chance for the mood to leave at any moment if I took the time to clean first. I grabbed some canvas and various papers and started arranging and laying them until I came up with this.

It might not be much, but if I can do something like this at least every few weeks I am going in the right direction.

It can be found in my shop on Etsy here. I've been neglecting my Etsy shop like I have been neglecting my blog, but hopefully this is a sign of change for me.

Final Days

2009-04-22T08:48:00.002-04:00

Jungle
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Of my Buy one Get One sale. On Saturday I am having an Open House in my studio in honor of Spring cleaning and will be shutting my shop down for the day. This might be the last chance for certain pieces. This woodblock print is just one of nearly sixty pieces that I have for sale now.

We enjoyed our Easter holiday with the family, but I think in the future we are going to ask them to visit a month or two later so they can enjoy good weather. They aren't religious so I don't see what the big deal about being here on Easter is. None of them joined us at church. Which is fine, but the weather will be so much nicer in May and early June.

Jon and I are making plans of our own for a nice little trip. We are finally going to make it to NYC in mid May. We got back into contact with some old friends and they invited us to stay with them in their spacious Brooklyn apartment. It will be nice to see them and other. I hope to make it to Etsy labs once, or at least see Anda from Etsy. I'm dying to meet her daughter!

The collage a day for a week went so well that I am doing it again, but with less restrictions. I just need to do some art daily. Yesterday it was a collage, today I'm not sure. I have a woodblock drawn on and ready to carve. It is quite small, but that is a good place to start.

Hope everybody has a great Wednesday. I miss the old days of blogging and reading blogs daily. I miss everybody.

BOGO Studio Sale is Over

2009-04-05T21:42:00.002-04:00

Studio Sale Mosaic
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

From now until I decide to end it I am having a super sale in my Etsy shop. Buy anything in my shop and get another of equal or lesser value for free! (just put BOGO in the notes to seller and wait for a revised invoice)

This was inspired over the weekend spring cleaning of my studio. I reorganized my pieces and realized that even though I haven't been at my most productive I have a lot of art. Time to clear out the old to make room for the new. I'm ready to start fresh this spring and this seems like a good way to give it a kick start.

Something to Dance About

2009-04-01T07:24:00.001-04:00

dancing babies
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

After a long weather I think Spring is here to stay. And Alex is walking better every day so we will be enjoying the good weather fully.

I've been going to bed early and waking up early this week and it is really helping me out. Before I would never blog in the morning because I was virtually a zombie until 9-10am. I could barely care for her I was so tired. Right now I haven't even had any coffee or tea yet and I feel fine.

I have to do babysitting today, but hopefully after then Alex will nap and I can (re)clean my studio. I have some ACEOs to make!

Hope everybody has a great week.

We have a Deal

2009-03-23T08:18:00.001-04:00

after
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

As you readers may know I haven't had a very good year artistically speaking. I find myself wasting time more than making art whenever I have the chance. My husband Jon has joked about locking me in my studio without any books or a computer for awhile now but never seriously. I've also wanted him to find some sort of healthy activity for himself. Especially now that I am going to the gym 3-5 times a week.

So here is the deal we worked out. Twice a week he is going to lock me in my studio for a few hours. And twice a week I am going to kick him out of the house to go for a long walk. Hopefully eventually he will feel comfortable jogging. Just like hopefully someday soon I will feel comfortable making art without being forced to. Like the old days.

Maybe I will have him do what I do and strap blee on during his walks. That way he gets a nice weight bearing exercise and time with his daughter and I don't have to deal with her. Have I mentioned that she is teething her two year molars now and is a total disaster?

I already know that I want to do collage and mixed-media ATC/ ACEOs first. They were always what I did when I was in a smaller slump in the past. I have a bunch of printmaking paper torn to size, but that can wait for now. I need to experiment with very little pressure.

On the bus coming home from the gym the other day I got the idea to host a print class again. Maybe an ATC/ ACEO with collage, print and painting elements? People could make a handful and maybe trade one with the class. Keep an eye out here for more information.

Now I need to go pack up some orders and get thee to a post box. Hope you all have a fabulous week. My apologies for being so absent here and in other blogs. I've been in a very deep hole.

My year

2009-02-24T00:25:00.003-05:00

Circle Collage
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

This AM I but the finishing touches on this most trying of pieces. All the bits of paper that had refused to bend to my will did in the end in this piece that pretty much sums up my past year. Bits and pieces of a trying but passionate year all thrown together in a quilt like collage. I always wished I had the sewing abilities for quits so here I am doing my own take on them. Making this piece in the passion with a baby literally strapped to my back while I created it.

I have this block that I started over a year ago that remains unfinished and I do not know what to do with it. To be perfectly honest. It reminds me of a more innocent time in my artistic life where I shrived for simpler things. Now with this work half unfinished I don't know if I should continue with it or move on.

All I know is that I have a huge body of work from the years to draw upon.

Time for DVDs

2009-02-04T08:58:00.002-05:00

Inauguration Day
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

I've already watched the first four discs of the Monty Python box set and I have Extras Season One on the way. Maybe I will rent Rome next, I love that show and could watch it again and again.

Now is a time where little blee needs a lot of casual care from me. She is happy to play on her own a lot but I need to monitor her so she doesn't get into trouble. So out come the DVDs so I don't go crazy with boredom or spend too much time on the computer. I tried doing some collage cutting because I can do that in the living room but she is going through a grabby stage so that didn't work. I can't even drink a glass of water in front of her without her grabbing at it and screaming when I won't give it to her.

I go to the gym and put her in daycare two to three times during the week and leave her with Jon so I can go on the weekend and that gives me a much needed break.

But my art life has been suffering and I don't know what to do. By the time she goes down I am tired and grumpy and I am just feeling creatively empty. I tried getting back into sketching but I just don't know what to draw these days. Ever since I lost my daily walks things have gotten much worse for my art.

I am just lucky that I used to be super prolific because I have so much older work to keep my shops full. But having some fresh pieces would be nice.

I guess I am going to have to learn to be a stay at home mom without much of an art life for awhile. How long I don't know.

New Directions

2009-01-12T07:40:00.001-05:00

#17 - Collage Challenge
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

With everything that is going on in my life, especially having to chase after a sixteen month old, I just don't have a reliable amount of time or desire to make new artwork. Sure, it does happen every once in awhile. But not like before.

Because of this combined with some other factors I have decided to move my focus onto listing reproductions of my artwork on Etsy and Art Fire for the time being and see what happens.

This seemed like a great piece to start with since it is a work that is being published and under my agreement with the publishers I can't sell it until after the book comes out. It isn't a rule but I am going to focus mostly on works that have already sold or aren't available in their original form for some reason.

Muse on Etsy
Muse on Art Fire

Speaking of Art Fire I have decided to give it another chance, at least until March. The truth is that since the first month I haven't put much if any effort into it. Not listing and not doing any outside promotion. And with the economy being the way it is I need to do those things more than ever. So I am going to keep at it and I think you should too. I still think the site has potential.

We have a winner!

2009-01-05T08:30:00.002-05:00

beach at dusk
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

From my contest from last month. Danielle Andrews has won a mid-sized piece of her choice, an ACEO, some magnets and a pocket mirror. Value totaling over $80. Thanks for playing and keep watching for any future contests.

Sorry I haven't been around since getting back from Florida. Before Florida I got really sick. So sick in fact I was puking all night the night before our flight out. Even though I am better now I'm still recovering in a sense. Alexandra has been a huge handful lately. I am learning to accept that being a mom comes first and at least for now my artwork and everything involved with it is a distant second. But I do have hope to get some new pieces out this month. I did make a collage on new years day that I haven't scanned or photographed yet. It doesn't feel 100% done yet.

Florida was great despite having the plague. We got to spend a lot of time wandering around the beach and the weather and air were just perfect.

Wishing everybody a fantastic 2009!

Last Chance

2008-12-17T05:46:00.002-05:00

The End of the Day
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

To win this, or many other great pieces along with other goodies with a total value of $80. Come Thursday I am shutting down my Etsy and Art Fire
shops and going on vacation until past Christmas. As I right this there are only four entries in my little raffle. All you need to do is spend $20 (including shipping) or more and you are entered. I will announce the winner after we get home.

I hope everybody has a great Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever it is you do or don't celebrate. Have a great Festivas metal poles are your thing.

All three of us are sick here, especially little blee, so any prayers and well wishes for us to heal before our trip from my readers would be greatly appreciated.

sleep

2008-12-12T08:57:00.002-05:00

playing at the Aquarium
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

This little darling woke me up just before midnight with her crying. This is our first night together without daddy. He gets home on Sunday.

She wasn't hungry she was just tired and upset and falling asleep in my arms. But as soon as I put her back in her crib the crying began anew. So I did the most logical thing I could think of with my sleep clouded brain. I brought her into bed with me. It was sweet in a scary I hope she doesn't roll out of bed kind of way. But being there cuddled up next to her was very nice.

We slept there with my arm around her for about five hours. Her well me waking up every so often to check on her. Finding he sprawled on her back sleeping so soundly her pacifier fell out without being missed.

But by five she was up and hungry with a touch of energy. I needed to satisfy both of those needs before putting her back to bed at six and sleeping until eight.

So that was my night and morning. How about yours?

I'm not doing much art wise these days (again) but I am forcing myself to start keeping a sketchbook. I remember this time last year I was drawing a ton every day. Every bit of free moments I had would be used on art. What happened to me?

Goodbye

2008-12-08T14:01:00.004-05:00

with great grandma
Originally uploaded by mlee.etsy.com

Jon's maternal grandmother passed away yesterday. He will be traveling to the funeral in Ohio on Thursday and be getting back Sunday. I am grateful that she was able to meet her only great-grandchild twice before she went. She was 89 years old and will be missed by us and many others. This is my first time caring for Alexandra on my own for an extended period of time. I'm very lucky to have such an involved partner.

I know I should be working my butt off on Etsy and Art Fire right now, but I'm not. Today was a busy morning and I just got home and I am spent.

Yesterday I had fun playing with monotype printmaking. Layering colored inks on a plexi plate and removing parts to form a multi colored image. I learned that I need to replace my Hansa Yellow because some air got in and ruined it and that I need some practice. But I had a good time and I learned how easy it is to cleanup these inks compared to oil which makes it much more doable during daytime naps when she could wake up at any moment. It was great to make something without regard for it being perfect or worthy of selling. I tend to get caught in that trap and I broke free of that last night. I expect to be doing more of this whenever I have the chance this week. It is nice to get a break from the normal and safe woodblock printing.

Also, in case you missed my post from the weekend I am going to repeat myself because it is important to me as I worked very hard for this.

Hi. If you were referred to Art Fire by me please send an email to Jessica Johnson and let her know. There has been some sort of bug and none of my referrals prior to today went through.

Thanks and have a great week. I'll be back tomorrow or Wednesday hopefully.

Art Fire Referral Problem

2008-12-06T19:59:00.004-05:00

Hi. If you were referred to Art Fire by me please send an email to Jessica Johnson and let her know. There has been some sort of bug and none of my referrals prior to today went through.

Thanks!

I get some free babysitting tomorrow night and am hoping to get a lot done during that time if I don't need to simply rest.