Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Lots of Updates...

Wow, I've been away from my blog for awhile...that sucks, but it's for a good reason! 
I recently decided I'm in desperate need of a career change.
Why?

Because I dislike my current job and it's now affecting my health. 
I get migraines daily.
The doctor told me my blood pressure is elevated (which has NEVER been the case before).
...and frankly, I'm miserable.
The job comes with far too much stress and frustration on a daily basis and I just can't deal with it anymore.  It's time for a change.

So, I thought long and hard about what I want to do, which is be an artist...
...however, it's a bit difficult to make a living and takes some time, so my second best option was to be in the health industry.  So I bounced back and forth between medical assistant and LVN (licensed vocational nurse) and decided to go after LVN. 

So now I am currently enrolled into the prereq course, which is Anatomy & Physiology, and as long as I pass that course I can enroll into the trade school I selected.  I'm excited, I hope I pass...then I have to figure out funding, which is sorta kinda figured out, but we'll see.  The course doesn't start until June, so I have some time to really iron things out.  For now, I've been focusing on the prereq and trying to memorize the various bones and muscle structures, lol.

In the meantime, even though I haven't blogged for a little while, I haven't been far from art.

Below are the items that have recently come in the mail....

These items I won through the OWOH funtastic blog hop...

 The below costume jewelry I won from Mollye at Fruit of the Spirit and I've had fun rifling through it and thinking of all the movies I've seen with actors/actresses in the 50's.
Makes me want to play dress up!


































The below journal I won from Linda from Tortagialla. 
The leather is so soft to the touch, I can't wait to have some free time so I can doodle some ideas in this journal!


 The below pendant I actually won a month or so ago, but hadn't had a chance to blog about it.  
This pretty pendant came from Joyce at Little Lord Mars.  

The below items I won from Stella over at Ida.s Sketchbook.
The contest was actually for the monster original you see below, but she put a package together for the winners as an apology for the delay in getting them out.  When I heard that the delay was because her grandfather passed I urged her to take her time, I totally understood...but when I received the below package I was very pleased and pleasantly surprised.  I've admired her work for some time and love the gifts she sent. 


Huge Thank You to everyone that chose my name for the winnings!  I love all the items I've received!!


Below are items that have come in the mail through a group I joined. Over at Milliande's Ning site there is a group called RAAK.  It stands for Random ART Acts of Kindness ~ a group for sending and receiving Art Acts of Kindness.  Basically, you submit your mailing info and each member of the group can choose who they feel like sending a handmade gift to.  There are no expectations what so ever, just random acts of kindness.  I really loved the idea, so I joined.  Not soon after, I received the below items.  Super cool!  I haven't yet mailed mine, but I have selected a few people that I plan to send a little gift to.  :-)

The below ATCs came from Emily or Arty Em over at ET Studio .

  

The below postcard came in the mail and unfortunately I seem to have misplaced the envelope it came in, which means, I no longer know who sent it.  Darn it!  The signature is a little hard to make out, but I think it's from Karen...maybe?  I'm so sorry!  I have a sneaking suspicion my son walked off with it...he's been doing that a lot lately.
 
 

The below origami bird came from Ruth at Inspire Dailey.
She even included a bit about the Thousand Crane legend which was quite interesting!

Big huge Thank You to the members that have sent me RAAK items.  It was such a delight to see a package in the mail and see what arrived!  I look forward to sending out some of my own.  :-)


...and finally, other items that came in the mail, but these were ones that I purchased.

These 2 items came from  Cathy at Artsy Butterfly.
She's been having fun trying out some new techniques, one of which is altering her photographs.  I've enjoyed following her journey and purchased the print on the left and the original on the right.  Below is how I framed them and as soon as I have some spare time (more than 5min!) I plan to hang them at a window that is right by the top of our stairs.  I think it's a perfect spot for these beauties!  Especially since that window faces the side of the neighbors house...a bit of a boring view that I can now spice up!

   
Zorana had a sale in her Etsy shop to clear out some inventory, so when I saw her post over on her blog announcing the sale, I hopped over to her shop and snagged a few originals.  I absolutely love the 2 below that arrived in the mail and I can't wait to hang them!

 

She even included this little birdie that she painted...I've had a thing for birds and owls lately, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him and his inspirational quote.  He keeps me company at my computer and reminds me to stay focused when my mind starts to drift away from school studying. (Seriously, Anatomy is a tad boring...but I guess I should learn it if I want to take care of people, right?!?!  My ultimate goal is to weasel my way into the maternity dept.  How cool would that be to take care of newborns and their mommies all day?  I think I'd rather enjoy it, something different everyday...One day!)

 





















The below print came from Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist.  I fell in love with her original, but alas, I could not afford it.  So I reached out to her to ask about a print and voila!  It now hangs on my wall.  

  

Now, the below original I received was actually a custom I requested. This was created by Micki at The Secret Hermit.  She had done another one that I randomly came across in her shop.  I reached out to her and asked if she'd be able to replicate, but switch the characters to my hubby and me.  I directed her to the post I had done of our wedding so she could see what we looked like and she whipped this one together.  I absolutely adore it and love that it's in her style.  I'm so pleased with this piece and plan to hang it in our room.  I showed hubby and even he likes it (and he's hard to please when it comes to art, lol.)

"Love Conquers All" 
Such a fitting phrase for 2 people that don't believe in divorce.  ;-)




Now, in other news...

I picked up a Bind - it - All...why?  Because I'm super frustrated with my current journal.  I've been using a moleskin, and it's great and all, the pages are cool...but it drives me nuts that the damn thing WILL NOT lay flat!  How do you guys paint in something that keeps flipping to another page?  So annoying.  So I decided, I may as well make my own, right?  Right.  The other thing that was bugging me about my moleskin is it's so stinkin tiny.  I got large thinking it would be bigger since it's 8in by whatever (I think 5"?)...but really, it's not that big.  So when I ordered the bind it all, I also ordered some 8 x 10 covers and spiral wire.  I've been playing with it and learning how to use it, so I think I can design an 8 x 10 journal with 8 x 10 WATERCOLOR sheets of paper so I can continue with mixed media like I want.  It will be spiral bound so I can open it up nice and wide.  I'm debating on portrait or landscape style...I'm thinking I want landscape...so I can work on the scenes in my head.  So that should be fun!

  Maybe one day I'll make some extras and add to the shop. 


Oh, and I've also worked on some different jewelry!
I had previously ordered some watch bodies and debated on what to do with them.  I wanted to work on birds nests, but didn't want to do what everyone else was doing, so voila.  Birds nests in the watch bodies...and the kicker is you have to really look at them and you'll see I managed to resin in some birds feathers underneath the nest.  I'm still working on the design, I really like the one on the upper right corner with the smaller nest and little silver eggs.

 





















Ok, that's it for now...my super long update, and now I'm off to go study some more!
I'll be back in a bit, hope you're all doing well and enjoying creating art!

5 comments:

  1. Ohhhh how exciting to start a new adventure! Good luck with your classes and stay healthy.

    ~Donna

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  2. Wow, lots going on indeed. I wish you all the best on your new adventure...very cool! Take care of yourself and I hope all the art and such provides you with a creative escape to ponder away or just play really :) Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So glad to hear you have been covered up with fun stuff from the mail. You will love the Bind It All. I have one and make any kind of Journal/Book I want!
    Deb

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  4. HI Leila!! Wow! So much going on! Glad to hear of the career change . . . I get headaches but not everyday and know how debilitating they can be! Good luck with school! Thanks for posting my art all framed and ready to be hung on the wall! They look great! so happy you like them! And I love that custom painting Micki did for you! I love her art and this piece is fab! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you ladies...I'm really hoping the career change is something I can achieve. ...and I'm hoping it will help reduce my stress levels, migraines, and having to medicate myself just to get through the day.

    ReplyDelete

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