Studio Sunday

It is Sunday once again and time to check in on what's happening in my studio. 

This week my mind has been on weddings (when it wasn't on Last Thursday). And while I also have contest prizes to make and distribute, I haven't felt up to making t-shirts given the heat. 

And so without further ado, is a sneak peek at what is in my studio: 

Wood:

Photo Print:

Wedding Props:

 And a nearly completed sign looking ready for the festivities:

If you are feeling inspired, patriotic or both, check out what's going on in the studio over at the Dollar Store Crafts Blog: 

and if you need a little more of a nudge to get your "creative on"... Bobbi over at the "How Does She" blog has 6 ways to stretch your creativity! I want to do at least a few of these.

Now I have to go pick up MY Mama at the airport for her summer vacation visit! 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi

Mama Picture This Does Last Thursday - First Time Ever!

Yes - we see you.

The crowd gets bigger.

It gets dark and the crow gets bigger still
(but I didn't remember to change to night setting on my camera).

It ends with LOVE!

Nearly Famous Friday - Born in Bourne

We all have those stories we tell that have been passed down to us, told so many times, we barely remember where or when we learned them. We rarely question their validity. 

One of the first such stories in my life is that I was born in Bourne. I love saying it. I always have. I can't even imagine being born in Evanston or St. Louis, Pittsburgh or even Boston. Being born in Bourne certainly has a ring to it and alliteration as well. 

Beautiful beach cottage rental in Bourne, MA

Just in case you don't already know, Bourne is a town in Massachusetts, wherein lies (or did way back when) Otis Air Force Base and its military hospital. And according to our family mythlore that is where I was born, destined to be defined for a long time by my self-imposed "Air Force Brat" status. With the base closure in 1973, the hospital too was closed and eventually was torn down. 

And again a brush with fame and fortune, but just a brush. Turns out that someone famous was born at the same dang hospital on the same dang air force base -- just two months after my entry into the world. While my birth was barely noticed, other than by my own family and close friends on the base, the world more than noticed this other baby's entrance and mourned his loss too soon. 

President Barack Obama and his family arriving at the Cape Cod
 Coast Guard Air Station in Bourne, Massachusettsin 2009 Photo: EPA 

According to wikipedia.org, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born five and a half weeks early by emergency caesarean section at the Otis Air Force Base Hospital in Bourne, Massachusetts. Born premature, he was transferred right after his birth to Boston Children's Hospital, where he died just two days later of hyaline membrane disease (HMD). Interestingly, my own son was born by emergency c-section but he survived and is now thriving into his teen years. 

Part of my personal story has always been that I was delivered by the same doctor as JFK's son. I hadn't realized which son until just now when I looked up my "story" for authentication purposes. I didn't even remember they'd had a third child, actually a fourth. 1963 was a very sad year indeed for the Kennedy clan. 

And so shortly after my birth, as the story goes, I was in an odd way connected with John F. Kennedy, delivered by the same doctor in the same hospital as his 2nd son. It would not be our last connection to the President. 

Thankful Thursday - Last Thursday Edition

I know, I know... I have been remiss in posting this week. I meant to post just about every day and had ideas but just got either too tired or too busy. 

Busy with what you might ask. You may well know but if not, I'll tell you what. I am for the first time ever going to have a "booth" (more like a card table) at a local street art fair tonight. The event is called Last Thursday and it is here in Portland, Oregon. 

On their website, organizers describe the event this way: 

"...Last Thursday, the monthly Alberta Arts District festival, is now in its 15th season. Artists, musicians and performers line the street from 15th through 30th Avenues, galleries hold their monthly openings and restaurants and bars hang new artwork for sale. Last Thursday is the largest art event in Portland as well as the most entertaining place to buy local art..."

I am decidedly excited and nervous.  If you'd like more information, you can find it on the FOLT (Friends of Last Thursday) Website.

I have my smart phone and my Square, ready to take credit/debit card purchases, I have a card table (need to pack a chair), I have business cards and of course my wares. Here's some of what I'm bringing: 

• Photo Cards:

• Mounted Photo Prints: 

• Photo Magnets:

My partner in crafting crime who was supposed to be selling with me tonight can't make it but I want to give a shout out to her awesome hand made hot pads and her adorable shop Little Breadcrumb. Hopefully you will see both of us selling our wares at July's Last Thursday on July 25th! 

If you come to Last Thursday, please try to swing by my table and say "Hi!" 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi

Studio Sunday - What's in the studio now?

The studio is filling up with things this week as I prepare for my first ever attempt to sell at a street fair. 

Portland, Oregon has a tradition of a fairly formal First Friday which kicks off art exhibits throughout the studios of our fair city. In contrast, the funky and far less traditional Last Thursday in NE Portland combines some art gallery openings along with street art and food vendors. 

I am taking several of my mounted art photo pieces which only needed to be priced and bagged. I'm not taking the larger prints just for ease of set up. 

In addition, I have made photo light switch covers and am in process with a handful of double-thick glass magnets. The floral images were a given, but Bat Penny -- now that is something new -- in magnet form. 
Check out the magnet making tutorial here.

I'm currently working on printing out and putting together a selection of photo cards for Thursday as well. I am printing out some that are already in the shop and a few that have never been. Come to Last Thursday and maybe you can see them for yourself!

And when I'm done with all that, here is my stack of wood for wedding signs. I have 6 5x10's to make as well as a couple of larger ones that can be used during ceremonies. 

Now that you've seen what's in my studio tonight, I thought I'd share a few other artists and what is in their studio too. I love checking out what others are doing -- it is inspirational and fun. Here is a peek into the studio of Cheryl Grant, an illustrator in Virginia.  Check out what's in her studio currently by clicking on the link below:

Illustrated by Cheryl Blog

And for a change of pace, check out the website of local Portland, Oregon artist (and Mama) Jolyn Fry: http://www.jolynfry.com/.  This may not be her studio but you can get a feel for the beautiful art she creates. Check out these artists and maybe, just maybe stop by Last Thursday. We'd love to see you! And last but not least... 

Here's something going in my house, but not my studio. Poor kitty is trying to adjust to the loss of her beloved couch (replaced by two leather chairs), but somehow I think she'll make it! 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi 

Self Improvement Saturday - 10 Things to Improve Your Life Right Now!

Saturdays always seem like a great day to get everything done, until of course I run out of time. Maybe if I was more organized or purposeful or made a list of "some" of the things that need to be done and commit to doing them before Sunday, maybe that would work. 

Saturdays also seem like a perfect day to try to do better to improve on myself as it were.  Now I just let you in on the fact that despite by best attempts, I pretty much never get everything that "should" get done on Saturday actually done - on Saturday (sometimes not even on Sunday). Knowing this, I am spending a few minutes searching the Internet for some ideas to help me (and you if you'd like) improve my life and my self -- well right away! 

Here's a few of the things that I have found: 

Things to Improve Your Life Right Now! 

1. Have a set place where you ALWAYS put your keys (and your cell phone).
     I hang my keys on a hook and use my cell phone as my alarm clock - it helps!

2. Leave work at work 
     I need to work on this one - no work email at home. I like to be helpful and efficient 
     at work but need to remember to safeguard my home time too. 

3. Clean off your desk or work space. 
Although it is often hard to find the time for those of us who weren't born with the 
naturally fastidious and organized genes, finding a way to keep things clean and tidy 
at your home and/or work space does make you feel better and work better too.     
Every once in awhile, just take a few minutes and give it a try. There are some great ideas on the best ways to set up and organize your desk at Life Hacker. 

4. Create a morning routine. 
    This is less important right now with Summer break upon us, but for my family it is 
     going to be imperative come fall if we want to be successful. We have a school year
     routine in the mornings, just not a good one. I am committing to working on this bit-
     by-bit to make improvements and a plan to implement when the time comes. Making
     my meals the night before and showering then too would be major improvements. 

5. Laugh more and often (and right now for no reason).
    I just did it and you can too! I was afraid to laugh out loud as a teenager for fear my 
    laugh would be the funny thing. But these days, one of the benefits of gaining wisdom
    with age... I laugh a lot more and a lot louder. Who cares what others think. I know
    laughing (as long as it isn't at some one's expense) is a great thing to do! Great article 
    on the importance of humor here by Dr. Terry Gordon. 

6. Keep on dreaming. 
    I have been in the same job for over 11 years now and I enjoy it but I also enjoy and 
    feel revitalized by my dream of having my own business creating and selling my photo 
    art. I think it is the thing that is truly making me happy and feeling alive these days.
    You can still live the life you are living but have some dreams to reach for too! 

7. Stay connected.

    Whether you are partial to phone calls or emails, hand written letters, note cards 

    or social networking -- find and remember the people you care about. It is easy to 
    brighten your day and someone elses by picking up the phone or sending a card to let 
    them know you are thinking about them in the mail. 

8. Hug someone - often. 

    I hug my kids regularly throughout the day and plan to continue doing so until they just 

    won't allow it. I admit my hubby and I used to hug at the end of the work day with a 

    special lift me off the ground kinda hug. Just now thinking we should get back to it. 

9. Single-task once in awhile.

    Take the time to slow down and really concentrate on whatever task is at hand every 

    so often. Really focus on washing those dishes, or mowing that grass. Get into the 

    rhythm of what you are doing and stay purposefully focused. You don't have to multi-

    task all the time. 

10. Try to embrace yourself as you are as well as how you wish to be. 

      Do whatever helps you to love yourself. It is important for you and for those around

      you too. And you don't have to accept that you will always be just as you are. You 

      can also embrace that you are a work of art that is evolving and ever changing. 

Mama Zuzi

Nearly Famous Friday - Born Nearly Famous

I was born nearly famous. 

I myself wouldn't realize until much later in my life just what all was insinuated or attached to my name, at least to ... let us say ... gentlemen of a certain age. 

I don't believe my parents had a clue that this name carried any connotations either nor any of the other gazillion and one parents who named their baby girls the same dang name in 1963, just one year after a young actress by the same name gained instant fame in the somewhat scandalous movie, Lolita.

Wikipedia says this: Based on the Vladimir Nabokov novel of the same name, Kubrick's Lolita, though a toned-down version of the book was nonetheless one of the most controversial films of its day. 

Just 14 years old when she was cast in the role of Dolores "Lolita" Haze, the sexually charged adolescent and the object of an older man's obsessions in the film, this woman whose name I share, became quite the sensation. It is probably good that I never knew any of this. I just thought my name was boring. Somewhere in my twenties, however, I did notice a thing or two about my name. When speaking to slightly older men, I began to notice a theme emerge when I would introduce myself and share my name. I would begin to see sly smiles appear and odd smirks as they would ask me if I knew who the other Sue Lyon was or anything about the film she starred in called "Lolita?" Nope - I didn't then. I do now. 

Despite the fact that it was a rather odd moniker to be carried by an innocent and naive young lady (yes I did call myself that), I figured out just what it meant and soldiered on (he he he). I read the book, I got the joke and the winks and nudges and that was that. 

Funny thing is when I'd practically forgotten all about it, it reared it's head again. I was in my mid-twenties, living in Hollywood (Burbank actually) and about to sign a lease. Entering the rental office, I was caught unawares when the lovely young receptionist asked my name. It went something like this: 

"Sue Lyon," I said.

"Wow. Really?" she said. 

"Yes.", I said. "It is a popular name."

"It is just that my boyfriend's ex-girlfriend is Sue Lyon, the actress." 

Nearly a brush with fame - or something. While the actress (or boyfriend's ex-girlfriend if you choose) caused quite a stir in her prime, landing major roles including in "The Night of the Iguana" and "The Flim Flam Man" opposite Frank Sinatra, she was relegated to mostly secondary roles by the 1970's. She worked off and on in film and television until 1980. She was mostly ending her career before I'd even really begun my own. 

And so it goes. That is one of my first memories of being nearly famous -- close to it but not it myself. I've said for years that I need to get a large movie poster (the one with the heart-shaped red sunglasses), frame it and hang it prominently in my living room. Not everyone can have their name displayed as a star on a movie poster! 

Of course I could get this one instead: 

We are all famous in our own right. Be well.

Ciao for now, 
Mama Zuzi

Playing with Steam Punk

Two blog posts in one day? That's what happens when I end up with an unplanned 4-day rather than my planned-for 3-day weekend at home! 

I'm experimenting with some signs and other ideas for the shop and was trying out a little steam punk feel for some signs and maybe a card... 

I'd love feedback whether you love or hate them or think they'd be JUST RIGHT if only I add a ________________________________________ (you fill in the blank)! 

And don't forget - I am always open to special custom orders and now I even have a custom order button right under my picture in my shop! It's quick and easy to request. And of course, as I mentioned earlier today (previous post), there ARE many ways to say: 

Ciao for now, 
Mama Zuzi

** add your comment below or if that doesn't work, email me!

Thankful Thursday

It is Thankful Thursday and I am thankful indeed. I am thankful first and foremost today for my Mama without whom I would not be here! Happy Birthday Mom! 

I am thankful for my husband who allows me to pursue my dream and my photo art because I love it and he loves me ;-) 

I am thankful for my Etsy customers (you know who you are)!

Because I love you all for supporting me, I will be sending out a Customer Appreciation Coupon Code later today! 

Be on the lookout. 

I am thankful to have finally found a Mama Blog to try advertising my Etsy shop. 

You would be surprised at just how many I contacted only to find out they were uber expensive or they never got back to me. 

But with the help of a site called Passion Fruit, my ad should begin to run tomorrow on June 21st on That Suburban Momma Blog! 

I hope you will check out the ad and her blog too.

I suppose I should make breakfast now and officially start preparing for my Thursday/Friday (I get a 3-day weekend all summer long)! 

Ciao for now, 
Mama Zuzi

What a Shot Wednesday

This is perfect for me today. I took it a couple of months ago and then played with removed the color from the background. It took me 1.5 hours to get home from work tonight so I didn't really have the time, the light or the energy to take a new shot. 

And speaking of photos I love... how can you not love this baby with parents reflected in these sunglasses? I LOVE it! Too bad my kids are too old to do this to/with! http://www.favething.com/christine/photo-ideas/baby-photography-2/

And then there's this guy (PeeTee): 

And now this extremely tired Mama is gonna watch a little stupid television and head to bed!

Sweet dreams,

Mama Zuzi

And now the reveal...

From this: 

 To this: 

Tutorial Tuesday - Photo Light Switch Cover

1. Select your photo and size it to the size of your your switch cover. 

2. Tape either a sheet of tissue or other soft nubbly paper to an 8.5 " x 11 " paper to help it go through your printer and print.

3. Cut out your image just slightly larger than your image. 

4. Glue down your image onto the switch plate cover.
I used a spray adhesive. 

5. Paint over your image carefully with a layer of Hodge Podge.

 

6. Using a natural sponge, I like to add a soft white (or other color) border. 

And now ... unlike on television cooking shows ... my switch plate must dry. Visit tomorrow for the big reveal. Sorry if this tutorial feels a little "thrown together" but I have been busy and finding it hard to not only find a tutorial to share but do it and photograph it too! 

In the mean time, you may want to check out this fun DIY switch plate cover with splattered paint. Don't forget the drop cloth! 

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/splat-light-switch-cover

Ciao for now, 
Mama Zuzi 

Self-Improvement Saturday - Summer Sanity?

Today is the first Saturday after the last day of school for the year. Today there were parental trips to the store and Home Depot for home improvement projects, there was some cleaning and I updated the back deck furniture a bit. 

The kids spent the majority of their day on Minecraft. Trust me it won't be this way for long. Tomorrow is Father's Day and we have a few things planned. Then starting on Monday, they will have their summer nanny for 5 hours a day and they are not allowed any computers during her time with them. 

My self-improvement Saturday is looking for and preparing to try out a few ideas for keeping my sanity (and maybe theirs) during the dog days of summer. 

The Peaceful Mom (at http://www.thepeacefulmom.com) offers up a Summer Sanity Daily Planner to keep track of daily activities such as personal care, daily duties (chores), enrichment (say what?) and entertainment. 

Over at Simple Mom's blog, she has a list of 200+ summertime activities for bored kids. I may be referring to this (or print it out and post it on the fridge) often. Check out the list: http://thesimplemom.com/2007/05/27/200-summertime-ideas-for-bored-kids/. A few of the suggestions include: 

• write in your journal
• find an ant colony and spill some food and watch what happens
• play charades
• make up a story by drawing pictures
• draw a cartoon strip
• make a map of your bedroom, house or neighborhood
• call a friend
• cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
  *** and don't forget taking photos & crafting *** 
  
  
  Last but not least is the idea of giving your kids a daily checklist (similar to the first idea but different). 
  
  
  I may not be Catholic, or anywhere near it, but over on the Catholic Mom blog, Jennifer Fitz has some thoughts and suggestions on allowing for screen time but within a reasonable schedule, including things that also need to get done and other activities as well. 
  
  
  Since screen time, particularly computer use, is an issue in our home, I am thinking of trying something similar. First I need to see just when the kids wake up on their own in the next week or so. I have to make sure I am ready to go to work by 10:00 a.m. 4 days a week. I want to plan some fun family activities on my days off. I want to add a couple of daily chores to the kids weekly ones. I would like to have my own version of a sanity schedule in place by a week from today ... 
  
  
  and somewhere in this schedule I hope to have time to do my Etsy activities and some down time too. Right now that down time includes watching "New Tricks". 
  
  
  Wishing you a sane and wonderful summer!
  
  
  Ciao for now, 
  Mama Zuzi