What's Really Important?

I have been extremely distracted of late with many things of little real importance. Well, I suppose schooling the kids is important, but since they are in a virtual school and the older 2 girls are mostly self-led, I really don't spend a lot of time on school everyday. And we have all been sick. As with any family, it starts with 1 person and slowly cycles through the rest, but it takes a bit longer with a larger family. (Can you imagine those families with 10 kids? They must be sick for months at a time!)

But mostly my distraction has been with the computer. (So, if I'm on the computer, why aren't I finishing my story? I don't know.) I read stuff about homeschooling and homesteading and homemaking. Stuff about crafts and art and recipes for all sorts of cool things. I go to google 1 little thing and I could be stuck there for hours. ( I researched cloth diapers for weeks before the baby was born.)

I so want to find and happy medium. Because the girls school is virtual 3/4 of it is online. Then there's email and Etsy and the mediums to promote it. (Which I'm not very good at by the way. I have officially sold 1 piece, and while I went to great lengths to make her experience in my store pleasurable, a cute handmade box all wrapped in tissues and tags like a special little present just for her, and I even gave her a one of a kind artist trading card as a bonus gift, she never even left me feedback. I know if I listed things more often I would get a little more traffic and I'm sure there are other ways to promote as well. Maybe it'll pick up someday. Maybe not.)

So I do have some reason to be on the computer, but not that much, and some days I feel like its too much. It's like a horrible addiction. You want to stop, you know it s bad for you, and you know you don't feel good afterward, not really, and yet you can't seem to help yourself. You don't even realize you're doing it sometimes, and sometimes you're just plain selfish and you don't care.

"Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm a googlaholic." (This is the part where you say "Hi Melissa.")


I have started to make a new kind of 'to do' list because I'm finding that normal 'to do' lists are too easy to ignore. 'Oh yea, gotta do that thing. Sometime....................................'
Instead, I am starting to write a 'what I really want to do' list. This list consists of the things that are really the most important.

For instance, it's not too difficult to make excuses or ignore my 'to do' list when it says 'exercise'. 'Oh, I got up late' or 'I don't feel good' or 'I'll do it later' (which, of course, I don't).

But when I put on my ' what I really want to do' list 'walk around the lake with my family' it's easier to tell myself, yes, that's really what I want. A nice brisk walk, even if it's just me and the baby because everyone else is asleep. And then I did it.

Now I only just started this experiment so I will have to keep you posted as to how well I actually do with it, but I definitely feel better about things when they are 'what I really want to do'. All the other drivel can be tended to later or just plain dropped because I'm busy doing what I really want, what's really important.

Lazy Bum

I updated my Etsy shop. Finally. I only took the pictures over 2 weeks ago. I should probably take some more pictures. Of other stuff.



Also, I have a rather long, possibly 2 parter totally fabulous post that you certainly can't wait to read. But you'll have to, because I haven't typed it out yet. 'Cause I'm a lazy bum.

What Have I Been Doing?

Well, I'm trying to get more items on my little Etsy shop. I have several finished pieces already, several almost finished as well. And of course plans for things that I really need to schedule if I am to actually get them done. I posted 2 new pieces today and have photos of several more that are just waiting to be posted as well.

I haven't yet started my #mailart postcard project but I was able to get better paper. I wasn't happy with the thickness of the paper found at normal craft stores so Gabe made a trip to Xpedex especially for me. I have some ideas for the pieces and not a lot of time so I had better get started.

And of course I've been cooking. With zucchini. I'm thinking I may need to make categories in my blog so they are easier to navigate. Art and recipes and mom stuff. Maybe?

Today's recipe was borrowed from a friend. Marilyn writes for the Denver Examiner and recently interviewed me on my fabulous frugalness. (Really she wrote some questions and I gave her like 8 pages of answers.) I hope to expand on the things I left out in the interview soon.

The recipe was for Mock Apple Pie. I altered it a bit, that's what I do. It called for a double crust but I only had 1 so we made a crumble top for it instead. Here is the original recipe:

4-5cups zucchini, peeled and thinly sliced (like apples) -FB
1 c sugar
1/4 c flour
1 can (2c) applesauce -FB
1-2 T cinnamon
2 pie crusts
mix ingredients and pour into bottom crust, add top crust and make slits, cook for 1 hour at 400F.

Now here are the changes I made and will make in the future:
We had 1 crust so we made a crumble top. Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup oats, 1/3 c brown sugar, and 1/4 c oil til crumbly and sprinkle on top of the pie filling after its in the bottom crust. Bake as normal.


This pie was pretty good, but not totally appleish. Part of the problem, I think, was that Gabe used the apple corer so the zucchini was in big eatable sized slices instead of thin appley pie slices. The bits that were quite small did have the apple pie taste that they were supposed to so I think that was just us not doing it right. The big chunks were not bad, but we could tell that they were not apple pie. Slicing nice and thin is probably an important step in tricking the kids into thinking its apples. I also may add just a bit more sugar to the filling as it was not as sweet as pie. (But we had it for a lunch so less sugar is not a bad thing.) I think I may also add 1 apple next time so that the appley pieness is more appley. And I will probably stick with the crumble top. Its less healthy, but I think its more tasty.

Give it a try, tell me what you think.

Meliss

P.S. Here's a little sneak peek of new items I will post soon...

necklace detail

bracelet detail

a one of a kind ATC with tiny 1" painting by me, sent to customer as a free gift

Zucchini part 2

I have a whole revamping of my etsy store planned. I finally got Gabe to show me how to take pictures with the computer so I can do it myself. My plan is to reassess, relist, and restart with a few new things and a better grounding.

I joined Mark Venema of @art_news on twitter in his 2nd #mailart challenge and I am newly inspired (partly by the deadline) to make more time to create. The #mailart challenge is pretty cool. As far as I understand it, we the artists commit to creating and sending at least 30 postcard/art pieces to the other artists in our group and of course we will receive art postcards from others in return. How cool is that?

Not that I'm not doing any creating. But most of it has been in the kitchen lately. I don't necessarily "love" cooking or baking, but I love the innumerable varieties of yummity goodness that can be made with just a few simple ingredients. And I enjoy sharing so many of them with you. Here are a few things I've played with recently...

Easy Chicken "Pie"-with Zucchini

Combine cooked chicken with a variety of cooked veggies (including zucchini) and 1 can of cream chicken soup and cooked rice. This warms up easily on the stove and is fast when you really don't want to cook.

Zucchini Banana Bread and Zucchini Chocolate Chip Scones

Pinto Bean Soup with Tomatoes and Zucchini

This soup is so easy, just soak and boil beans until soft, then add enough broth or water (or both) to cover about 1/2 inch above the beans. Add 1 can of diced tomatoes and chopped zucchini and simmer until tender. Add chili powder, cumin, and salt to taste. So simple and delicious with a bit of crusty bread on the side.

Sew Much To Do...

(Lilliput)

I'm totally distracted. I guess I'm always distracted though. I think I'm gonna get "stuff" done but there's always something. I finally got Gabe to show me how to set up the computer to take photos for my Etsy shop, but he set up on his computer so I don't have the pictures until he transfers them. I should probably have him show me how to do that too.

This weekend is the first weekend of our local renaissance festival, which we attend every year. It's a great place to visit for an artist of any level. There are jewelry artists, painters, sculptors, metal smiths, leather workers, costumers, musicians and instrument makers, henna artists, artists who make masks, hair sticks, shoes, feather art, and the list goes on and on. So many have been regulars for as long as I've been going (17 years!) and there are many, many whose work I admire and aspire to. I also go for the chocolate booth which is just a round the corner from the petting zoo.

Now I know some people don't like the festival because there are some "weirdies" that work there but come on, there are "weirdies" at the mall. And Walmart. And just about anywhere you go. And no, there is not a larger concentration of them at the festival either. If someone is providing a service, or a piece of art that disagrees with my moral standing or conscience I avoid it, whether I'm at the mall or some other place. It doesn't mean I don't go shopping. But that's just me.

(Gabe in a slightly upgraded costume-he started out as a peasant. This was bought.)

Shortly after I met Gabe I learned that not only had he been to the faire near his home, but that he had worked at it. He worked for a leather shop watering the dirt. Yes, watering the dirt. He was later upgraded to hawking wares. He therefore had his own costume, and I had mine. Not cuz I worked there, just cuz I'm a dweeb. After we had kids we started to get them their own costumes and even upgrade our own. I've sewn at least half of them myself. I am currently working on a cloak that was supposed to be for my oldest daughter, I may wear it first though. I'm having trouble getting motivated to sew. I just realized that I don't really like to sew. Which is kinda strange. I like to make things and I like seeing the outcome of what I've sewn but the actual process of sewing always puts me a bit on edge. Not sure why, it also frustrates me because no matter how hard I try, my sewing is not as beautiful and straight as the work of so many other amazing seamstresses. And that's just annoying.

(I made this coat to mimic the one on Geoffrey in 'A knights tale' and bought the amazing leather top hat at the festival. I also made the sash to match.)

I have two days to finish the cloak (and hopefully a mini one too) and I know I can finish it in one. The question is will I? Or will I let myself get distracted by things and be up at midnight trying to finish? Or will my machine poop out? That tends to happen a lot when I'm almost done too. I bet I would really love sewing if my machine cooperated more. And did all the work. (I guess its a good thing I don't have to make everyone's clothes by hand, what a whiner I am.)

(This is the fabric that will soon be a cloak. I'm about 1/3 of the way there.)

(Baby boy testing out his costume. This one was bought at the Cali faire.)

I'd better get to bed, I've got work to do tomorrow.

Meliss

Tweedlepox in Denver's Frugal Examiner

A friend of mine, Marilyn, has an examiner.com page, Denver Frugal Living, and recently featured some of my artwork that's on Etsy. I didn't even know it was there until I decided to see what new articles she had posted.

She concentrates on short simple ideas for living on a budget. As a mother of 5 (hers are all grown now) she's had a lot of experience stretching a dollar to care for a large family and many of her articles give tips on how to do that. She discusses growing your own produce and making your own pizza as well as other tips and local entertainments too.



She spoke of Etsy as one way stay home moms (like me :) can contribute monetarily to the household while being able to continue to stay and be the mom. As she mentioned, for those of us with a large family, the amount we'd make elsewhere doesn't even cover the cost of childcare. Etsy is a great place for any artist, full or part time, to market their wares as literally thousands of people shop Etsy everyday.

Marilyn even included a link to my Tweedlepox store so I guess I should get more stuff out there. I have been waiting for Gabe to teach me how to do the pictures on the computer but his schedule has been packed this month so it has gone undone. It was my intent to get new products up each week. Well, we all know that many good intentions get thwarted in life but that's no excuse to stop trying.

I think I'll work on it this weekend. And maybe we'll have some pizza too.

Meliss

Toadily

In the future I hope to get more organized with my posts. Though I have seen that I'm not the only one that's not. I have also seen others consistently share great stuff. I think I'm in between.

That said, I wanted to share some pictures of a piece I made a while ago. It has since been sold, so I'm afraid you wont be seeing it in Tweedlepox's Etsy store. (Which I opened pretty much on schedule. Amazing!)



Toadily Beautiful is a favorite that I created while working a booth at a craft fair.


The fabulous toad bead is by Green Girl Studios. He reminds me of the Frog and Toad stories that were my favorites when I was little.


Another item that is not for sale, and I did not make. (Maybe I made him fat.) I found this in my photo booth after taking a few shots.








Also, the dress that I spoke of is almost finished. It is taking far longer than I tend to think it should, but seeing as sewing is not my best skill, and my machine repeatedly binds up when I'm almost done, I should be happy that I have anything to show for it.

The skirt half is a white satiny material with a ribbon of toile along the bottom. Very cute.


I am so ridiculously close to being finished with the entire thing, that my sewing machine is sure to spontaneously combust. I'm sure i just need to get it tuned up, but unfortunately that will have to wait.



I haven't had any revelations recently (they come and go) so I'm afraid I don't have anything really fabulous to say. I can't be fabulous everyday. I have decided to be more proactive in my efforts to discipline (as in "to teach") my children as opposed to yelling. I discussed this with them this morning and they seemed to agree with the plan. We shall see if they continue to agree once I lay the empathy on them after they learn they wont be joining me for a movie later. If I keep a positive attitude about the whole thing, it promises to be amusing. For me.

Meliss

I Choose This

So I just finished reading a great post by illustrator David Billings of Sparkyfirepants about being your own person (or bot) whoever that may be. I'm feeling frustrated because I've had a night of being mad at the kids and the messy house, and its really not the easiest thing to type and nurse a grouchy baby at the same time. And I'm not the greatest typist to begin with. (picture by artist David Billings)

But reflecting on his words make me think that I'm not being my own bot. Now he was talking about not being ashamed of who you are. If you love math or Legos or whatever, do your best at whatever you love and don't let those who don't understand your thing stop you from doing or enjoying your thing. I get that.

But then I wondered if I'm not being my own bot in another way. Here I am stuck in the middle of the life I chose and feeling like I really need a vacation. Like I'm severely under appreciated or maybe I somehow got gypped. But I chose this. I wanted to be a stay home mom with a house and a cat. I know there are a lot of moms out there that would love to stay home with the kids all day and can't for some reason, and there are a lot of women who would love to be moms but can't for some reason. In that sense I'm very blessed, so what exactly is it that I think I need a vacation from?

I have always enjoyed making art and have continued to try to do so even when I didn't get support because it wasn't "real" art or it wasn't a good money maker or any of the other reasons that so called, well meaning naysayers tend to give. But I didn't chose art as my career. I didn't go to art school or start off trying to make money for the things I made (though the idea is exciting). I chose to be a mom. That's what I do. I make lunch and clean house, I wipe noses and help with school work, and I think maybe I've been a little lax in my responsibilities. I don't always want to make lunch or change diapers or try to explain the math again. Maybe that's normal to get burned out on the things you like sometimes, or maybe I'm doing the under appreciating. I get so frustrated when I'm trying to do a few things that I've attached some deadline or goal to, and I get a million interruptions because 1 is hungry and 1 needs help with school and 1 is screaming for attention and 1 is just screaming.(Yes, I have 4) But I think I must have lost touch with myself somewhere. If I stop and just be the mom, not momish and 2 or 3 other things at the same time, everything runs more smoothly in the end.

My kids are good kids. They are some of the most polite, considerate, well behaved kids of any I know, and I don't say that just because I'm their mom. I've been told this many times. Yes, they push my buttons, that's their job. So whats my problem? When I think about, I don't really know. There's a part of me that really wants to create, and to feel good about what I've made and to share it with others. That part of me doesn't get much time because the mom part of me has priority right now. Maybe the artist part just feels like whining right now. But it knows it's time will come. The kids will grow up and rely on me less and less, maybe not at all at some point. Then the artist part will have tons of time on her hands and the mom part will whine because she feels like she was somehow gypped. Maybe they should both stop whining and be happy for what they have. (and maybe I should stop talking about myself in third person. people.)

Mr. Billings' blog also talked about when little kids do silly things just because it seems good to do at the time, and how as we grow older, we stop putting ourselves out there because we've been taught that it's not good to be weird or not fit in. It reminded me of a sort of revelation I had last week. My nearly 5 yr old daughter asked me what it means to be embarrassed. I did my best to explain in terms she would understand. I said stuff like 'it's like being ashamed when you do something, like foofing really loud during a prayer.' Then I realized that that would not embarrass my daughter, she would probably laugh hysterically. (I would be embarrassed) Then I realized that if she felt embarrassment (or shame ) for that it would probably be because she got scolded for it and told that it was inappropriate, or impolite. I imagine the twinkly smile on her face instantly dropping into a downcast look, mouth in a frown, avoiding eye contact, and maybe with a quavering voice apologizing for being wrong. And I realized that, by my definition anyway, embarrassment is closely related to shame, and it is learned.

I think I've seen my little girls (all three) make that very face. I think I probably caused it. Then I worry a little bit. Have I caused them to be wallflowers because I over reacted to something at some time. ( yes, in that incident, they do need to learn tact and self control, but there are many other incidents that people get embarrassed from) I think about the things that embarrass me, or in that I am the proverbial wallflower, that I feel terrified to jump out there and try, and that fear is tied to embarrassment. Is it shame too? What are we doing to our kids, to ourselves when we chastise or criticize things we don't agree with or don't understand. Do we hold ourselves back from doing great things because we are embarrassed? Ashamed or afraid to be criticized? And what great blessings are we missing out on, or potentially causing our children to miss out on, by instilling that shame in them. To be ashamed at true wrongdoing is one thing. I think that's healthy and a good sign that a person has a conscience, but to feel ashamed or embarrassed to so something good...that is a great disfavor to everyone involved.

So am I not being my own bot? Am I not putting myself fully in the role or roles that I've chosen for myself? That's another question. Can I really be in two major roles, or do I need to concentrate on doing one well? And what am I missing out on by being embarrassed or listening to that scolding that says I'm not supposed to do it that way? How do we ignore useless criticism and still have ears to listen to wise council? If these are all the things that a child must try to figure out in the first 5 years then no wonder they zone out and go on wild runs sometimes. While my artist side is very excited by recent accomplishments, she must be reasonable and remember that mom side has a lot more work to do. I will continue to create things like I always have, but I cannot spend 40+ hours a week in the studio. I'll be lucky if I get 2. And while that is much slower going than I would prefer, it's OK. I have the even more important job of helping 4 little ones find the right path and "be their own bots."

Meliss

I'm Pluggin Along

I'm almost done setting up shop. I have posted my policies (just doing that was amazing in itself) and am now in the process of posting my first few pieces to my Tweedlepox Etsy store.

I haven't had much time to create new things, but, as a good friend is getting married soon, I was able to take some time to make a simple card for her bridal shower. When I first completed it I didn't like it. (It was 1 in the morning and I was very tired) However, when I saw it with new eyes the next day I decided it was pretty cute, the only thing it lacked was glitter. My friend it a bling kinda girl. Here is the out come.

I love the flowery background paper but it is very busy so I only let it peak out from behind the blue a tiny bit . As I said, the card is very simple, I would have liked to do something much more fancy but just didn't have time. I will have to save that for the wedding card!


The image is stamped on white paper then colored with chalks in coral, pink, dusty green, and baby blue using a blender pen. I then stamped the image again on vellum and overlaid the dress for a more subtle color. Glitter adds a bit of sparkle to the skirt. I cut the image out and formed a wire hanger in place of the stamped one. The tiny little hanger is probably my favorite part.


My youngest daughter also made a pretty dress for our friend. She's getting much better at her coloring. I like how she alternated the colors for the dress.

My hope is to have all of the pieces that I currently have pictures of listed by this evening, then I will continue to photograph and list more in the days to come.

I have the urge to offer some great words of wisdom or encouragement (for myself as much as anyone else who may read this) but unfortunately, I'm just not getting anything. Not anything new anyway. So I just need to keep pluggin along (I guess that goes for exercising too) and I'll get there eventually.

Meliss

Snow in Spring

Yesterday was a spring snow day. All the more reason to enjoy a hot cuppa this morning.

It doesn't snow much in CO. but when it does, it's either gone in 2 hours or it snows for 2 days. This was the 2 day variety. I don't know what it is about snow days that make me want to laze around and do nothing, but that's what happened.

I had intended to finish up my policies page for my Etsy store (which is still under construction but due to open in a few days) but the snow seemed to have swallowed all good intentions.

I have to say that spring is not my favorite season. It promises to be rich with flower buds and honey bees, but it's a sneaky season with freak snowstorms and cold snaps and it's impossible to know when the last frost is so I can plant a garden. On the plus side though, spring snow is quite pretty when it's finished. Have a look.

The morning after



My garden tea table. This is a love/hate picture.
So pretty, but it means I can't take my tea outside.

Poor little beat up fence

Today will be more productive. Maybe I'll even get my pieces listed by this evening. (one can dream) I will be understanding of the kids not wanting to finish their schoolwork as the snowy hills call to them, and I will definitely be having more hot tea.

Meliss

Tweedlepox Etsy store welcome page

I have officially opened a store on Etsy here. It is however, not stocked and running just yet. I am in the process of posting my policies and and getting everything in order. Soon. Very soon.

In the mean time, here is a copy of my profile page. I hope you enjoy it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tweedlepox is a silly word. Maybe unique, or whimsical, or unusual. And a contagion. A pox, if you will, not of bad things, but good. Like an addiction to chocolate and afternoon tea. Tweedelpox is me and my art in whatever form it sees fit to erupt.

My name is Melissa and I love the art of crafting. (And the art of chocolate and the art of afternoon tea.) I took many art classes in school, but my teachers where never impressed. I didn't let that stop me though. As an adult I discovered a whole world of art that is not fenced in by the conventions of a high school art class. I love paper and beads and paint. And I love mixing them all together, like creating a new treat in the kitchen, which I often do as well.

Within Tweedlepox I began creating jewelry, though I've never intended that to be my only form of art. And while I do have some "serious" pieces, my favorites are those that are elegant and wondrous at the same time.

Some of the components I use in my designs include beads designed by other artists. I will always give credit where credit is due for these elements. If I use an artist's design in one of my OOAK pieces, it's because I love it and admire their artistry.

All of my pieces are one of a kind and I tend to gravitate toward the whimsical and unique. I make what I love and what I'd love to wear. I hope you'll love it too.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Meliss

Sneak Peek

I suppose I should plan these things better. I often have "great" ideas for a blog, but I forget them by the time I sit down to write. (I say 'write' because I'm old fashioned-I deny liking computers at all- and I'm stubborn) I really should carry a notebook with me to jot things down. (come to think of it, Husband has equipped me with a palm pilot that I could take notes in, but again, I'm old fashioned and stubborn. I hate taking notes on the thing. I use it for my grocery list and the calculator.)

In the scheme of things in general, I don't know that I'm being uninhibited or making great strides and working great plans. But I am moving forward, so I guess that's something. Maybe I'm just impatient or expecting to much in too little a time. I can see where I want to be and it's frustrating that I'm not there yet. I think we all have that problem and that's what gets us down. We get discouraged and slow or maybe even give up and stop altogether because we focus on what we don't have or what we're not accomplishing.

Instead, we, I, should focus on how far I have gotten, what I have accomplished, and what I do have. (Kinda goes along with what I was saying in my last post. Even though I'm not where I would like to be, and it sometimes seems like times are bad, I still have many things to be thankful for and I still have what I need.)

So what have I accomplished? (Here's the part where I want to be really negative and spout off all the things that didn't work or I didn't get to or I did wrong-but I wont.)
Well, after many months (over a year actually) I have finally convinced Gabe to help me to open a store on Etsy. I have written and refined (and will refine a bit more) the policies for my shop, as well as the bio and shipping info. (scary stuff, but I think I'll figure it out)

And just this week, Gabe has helped me to take pictures of the first few items that I will be listing on my Tweedlepox Etsy store. Here is a sneak peek of what is to come.

Grace's Garden



Silver Bali earrings

I will be listing these as well as five other pieces in just a few days, with more to come soon after. I'm listing a few at a time to stagger it a bit and give me time to set things up, figure out how they work, and have time to create new pieces as well.

I'm still very nervous about the whole thing. Will I remember everything? Will I do it right? Will shipping be hard? Or accepting PayPal? Or keeping track or things? I've done just about every bit of research that I can to try to get an understanding of how things work and what to expect so there's really nothing left but to go for it.

So I'm goin' for it!

Meliss

Have you ever fought off the negative brain chatter and accomplished something really great? Let me know.