Grump-o-meter

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly mommy babble and handmade goings on...

Grump-o-meter... Halloween went down without a hitch, with taking a dunk in a makeshift bobbing for apples pot, a minimal healthy Halloween feast, and a visit from a close friend who became the subject of torment... ahem play time from my little boy lol!. It was the highlight of the week, and soon to be followed with a pretty rough time of things. I have had a bit of a high strung week since Halloween, but there has been a lot happening. Like for example we are supposed to be moving house earlier than anticipated and looking at various processes relating to it that are hair raising enough in thought let alone the reality. It's an exciting prospect but my goodness I wish we had started all this sooner really... Hindsight is a lovely thing... I think this is the universes way of rewarding my impatience, so as I had hoped all those months ago (eek) it's all happening very very fast! So yes that has been reviving my inner goblin this week, as has my little mans terrible-three head that I think he kept on after Halloween lol! He has been a bit of a monster as of late choosing to get practice in acting like a teenager when various things happen that draw attention away from him. For example a few days ago my daughter cried because she needed a feed, and he suddenly started to fake cry. I approached him and asked him what was wrong and he was be like "I'm hungry too waaaaaahhhhhh!" with a sandwich firmly in his grasp, really belting out the biggest yell he could muster. So I pointed out his half eaten sandwich (I dared... I learnt my lesson) and he proceeded to fling himself onto the sofa as one does in a strop and then had an angry wobbly (the polite way to put it) because I obviously shouldn't have pointed out the tasty lunch he was already eating. Hmmm... well once diffused I asked him why he was being silly and his answer was "Oh, I'm angry so I'm going to feed MYSELF!" hmm yes... So, fun with a mini teen this week was on the cards. And to add to the joy I had been bestowed I have the most bizarre pains shooting through my little toe whenever I walk on it. I'm telling you that it is KILLER... But the weird thing is I haven't banged my foot, walked on it strangely or sprained it to my knowledge. It's so freaky. It only happens if I place my foot down in the wrong way but I still can't work out which way is the wrong way so I am constantly hopping around in pain to the delight of my kids who obviously think mommy is a very funny lady. Fun! I have to admit though that Bonfire night changed things a bit. We had a mini display of fountains and Roman candles in the garden for my little boy to enjoy which was nice, and he got to try out his first sparklers too! I haven't done the fireworks thing since I was a kid so it was nice running up and down the garden and hearing my little man squeal happily with each firey burst (sorry naighbours!). It's never been my thing really as I always worry about the animals with them, but as we got all the nice quiet ones it wasn't bad at all :)

Well my partner's at home today so my plan is to take advantage of the free time he's going to give me and clean the house in peace, finish my orders and have a yummy hot chocolate drink whilst watching a movie to myself as a reward. I need a rest which I don't normally admit but besides being tired and stressed from the week, I could do with the quiet reflection time as it's going to be impossible doing anything like that with the chaos of moving. It's been a toughy but to lighten the load I decided to pull out of my craft show to accomodate all these important priorities. It doesn't matter as I can always apply to others later. It's just unfortunate timing but, for my family it'll be a new beginning and worth giving all the time I have to making sure things run smoothly.

I'm chuffed at least to have progression in both of my stores :) A couple of new things have been introduced which you can click on below to check out the listings directly! In Babamoon I had a custom order before Halloween to make an adult sized Kiki headband and I loved it so much I made one for the store! And in my photography store I have one of my first 2011 5x7 Desk Calendars which can be put in a frame, stuck to the wall, stuck to the fridge, whatever creative placement you have in mind, there are 12 gorgeous photos to take you through the year to enjoy and beyond as the best part about them is that they are all printed using the Micro-piezo system that I love when I print my Giclee prints so they will last for a very long time!

Anyways coffee time!

Recent Altered Photography And Baby Accessories
Posted to moonangelnay.etsy.com and babamoon.etsy.com...

That's it for now. Have a great weekend all!


moonangelnay x

Anticipation

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly mommy babble and handmade goings on...

Blog's 'Second Giveaway' winner! Congratulations to "amber01sw". You have won yourself a custom made adorable flower headband! I will contact you shortly :)

Anticipation... . I'm writing before the day begins as it is Halloween and I know my day is going to be full of cooking, little monsters and roaring (that'll be me... lol). Last year we had a blast dressing up and having fun with some friends of ours. For my son it was his very first experience of acknowledging the whole commercial side to Halloween. Well he's extremely prepared this time around! He decided I think about 4 months ago that he was going to be a vampire and still hasn't let up on that idea! Unfortunately though I swear I have NOT been able to get any vampire teeth anywhere for him. I searched Toys R Us, my local craft shop that has a HUGE amount of halloween dress up stuff, and even my supermarket which stocked and even larger amount of stuff including costumes... but teeth? I was out of luck! I mean vampire outfits without teeth? Perhaps I didn't look hard enough lol. I was limited with the stores I could visit in the retail park, but I hoped the supermarket would pay off being as they have already stripped many small businesses in the UK bare... all without vampire teeth! My son made an awesome Darth Maul earlier in the week when my partner had a dabble at painting his face. We have a lightsaber at least lol! But vampire it is for today!

So I'm just going to have to paint them on for him which is ok... I'm excited anyway, as it's nice that my son is starting to look forward to these things now! I've already done my pumpkin, and baked a pumpkin and pecan pie... trying really hard not to devour it before later lol! I can't wait to photograph some of the dishes i have planned.

Nothing new has happened with me this week other than anticipating happenings next week, completing orders and finishing my son's Sooty puppet which is a Christmas present for him... just need to make Sweep and Soo next. Stuff has been happening with my little girl though, who is now finally sitting confidently on her own, purposefully batting things with her plastic hammer and grabbing like crazy lol! I wish I could keep up with her, she's just going a bit too quickly for me at the mo! It's amazing how much you take on board with the first and how it all just flies by with the second. I'm really chuffed for her though I have been able to tell for ages that she's been desperate to play with her big brother and now she can! Great stuff :)

Right! Bed Time! Take care :)

Recent Altered Photography And Baby Accessories
Posted to moonangelnay.etsy.com and babamoon.etsy.com...

That's it for now. Have a great weekend all!


moonangelnay x

Leinerje

Friday Finds... Leinerje


Interview # 46
I just love finding unusual art and a few weeks back I came across this awesome store full of the perfect sort of work you like to see around this time of the year (and the rest of it too :) ). Jennifer M. Leiner's work is based on abstract architecture, and finds her inspiration derives from Thomas Hart Benton, Grandma Moses and Grant Wood of whom she mentions in her bio (check out her shop profile!). I do love the freedom of expression when it comes to all things abstract as it allows one to take any direction that your heart and inspiration can take you. You can go as far as you want, and contort your created space as much as you want. That's what makes something abstract uniquely you as it is an expression what I call the soul nature of your being and almost like your signature in the form of an image. I find Jennifer's work extremely interesting to contemplate as it's both haunting but warming at the same time. The lines of the structures almost wave like they are fluid and give you a new impression each time you look away and look back at the pieces. Excellent stuff I must say, and I am very glad to introduce Jennifer to you in today's interview. Check out her store to see more of her collection right after you read :)

(Just click the images to go direct to the listings)

-- Tell me a bit about you! (Name, Age, Location, and give us a random fact whilst you're at it.) My name is Jennifer M. Leiner (Jen), I am 36 years old and I live in Raleigh, NC. I just finished my B.A. in Studio art. My son is nine years old and I have quite the mengerie of pets-they like to think of themselves as "people" too so don't tell them I said anything to the contrary.



-- What is your business about then? I love to paint and I do it constantly-up to ten hours a day. When I am not painting I am thinking about my next composition and/or researching ideas on the internet. While I can do most anything, I have love to paint abstracted houses. They are fun, the possibilities are absolutely endless and most don't require too much thought. I like to think that they "paint" themselves.


-- How did Etsy come into your life? While at Meredith College, I had a bunch of classmates who had their own etsy shops and told me about it. As soon as I graduated and had a bit more time to devote to work that I would like to sell, I signed on. I love it.


-- Are you working a day job too? Not right now. I devote my time to my art and my son. I have some local arts and craft shows coming up in the next couple of months.



-- How long has the artist in you been 'unleashed' for? I have been drawing since I was a child but as I got into my late teens and early twenties that fizzled out as my social life was everything (alas...) One evening my boyfriend (now my husband)and I were talking about things we were good at. I was feeling a bit dejected at that time as I completely lacked direction-but I said, "I can draw". He didn't believe me and asked me to draw him something. So, the next day I hauled out a huge picture book of animals and drew a perfect representation of a sea horse. After that day, I never stopped...


-- What has been the inspiration behind your business? That's a tough one....I think mostly that I know I have something that someone may want. I feel that my work is unique in style and if it makes me so happy, I like to think it can make others happy too.


-- If you could describe your products in three words, what would you tell me? Strange, Moody and Fun


-- What would an average working day for you be like from dawn til dusk? During After getting my family out of the house, I check my store, emails and sometimes a half hour or so getting my ideas together. I then haul my computer and grape juice (I am an addict!) into my studio, find a movie to stream on netlfix and get to work. From there I stay put. I always have several paintings going at once so I can switch around if I find my concentration waning. I quit in late afternoon to do family stuff but almost always return to my studio after dinner while everyone is winding down for the night.



-- What's your favourite material and techniques to work with? Oil paint-always. I usually work on canvas but I have been known to break out a masonite panel here and there.


-- What is your ideal vision for the future for you and your work? Ideally, I would love to have my work consistantly bring in enough money to supplement my husband's salary to continue to allow me to do what I do now-forever. I want to be known as someone who offers quality work and quality service. Fingers crossed!!



-- Away from work, what do you like to do for fun or to wind down? I read constantly-we have a finished attic that moonlights as a library. When the weather cools down I play catch with my son and have even been known to practice a little bit of yoga here and there..





-- What are you likely to search for on Etsy? I like looking at autumn/holiday stuff as we are coming into my favorite time of the year. I also like to look at shops that sell things that are a little bit unusual/dark/quirky (ooo-those should be the three words to describe my stuff!) You never know when inspiration might decide to come for a visit.


-- Any last words? Don't give up. It's easy to get discouraged but just keep doing what you do-there is something out there for everyone.

SUNDAY... Coffee and Cake

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly musings, articles and mostly babble...





I have had a pretty good week for a change when it comes to getting things done, so you've probably noticed already i finally have new prints in my store... 6 infact!!! go me! I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself up until i managed to fashion organisation into my head at some point about 6 days ago, and since I have been on fire! I've even managed to get a tonne of housework done!

At the same time I have been celebrating reaching the second trimester this week, managing to get a hospital appointment for a dating scan after all hell broke loose last week with my GP and chosen hospital since my referal had magically disappeared weeks ago, which frighteningly left me with no place to have the baby! A million phone calls later, and I am now looking forward to my first appointment this week *sighs*. yes! and yesterday I had a Halloween party with my other half, son and his lil friends. That was a good end to a busy week. All in all I am happy... OHHHHHHHHH and to top it all off yesterday I was also asked if I wanted to showcase my work in a shopping event at the Warwickshire Exhibition Center which left me elated at the prospect!!! Emphasis on prospect... my only downer... that I may not be able to do it, but I am awaiting more information to see if I can because, OMG my own little stall in an EXHIBITION CENTER... WOOP!!!! Also I have previously turned down 2 other opportunities this year like it and I REALLY dont want to have to for this one because of the usual money issues... short term ones I mean, as obviously longer term it would be a good spend as I would sell the work and make up for it, but unfortunately the short term really does leave the whole idea in question so I need to think very hard and carefully about it... and HOPEFULLY, I'll be able to do it! I'm so chuffed that I had been found on Etsy and asked to take part. I guess even if I can't it's a nice feeling to think that event organisers 3 times this year have liked what I do enough to go out of their way to find and contact me!

So whilst I'm puffed up with pride and achievement this week I think I'll leave this short entry here for this Sunday :)