My little nubs...

Yes, I've been neglecting my blog... I've been having busy mornings of workouts, gardening and cooking... but my garden is flourishing right in front of my eyes and soon I'll be drowning in tomatoes... YAY!!! I picked up a new tomato plant from the Farmer's Market a couple weeks ago (It was 107 degrees here in Sacramento that day... Joseph and I spent the morning strolling through the Farmer's Market holding hands... it was wonderful!!)... it's a Cherokee Purple Tomato plant and it's just a baby, but so was my Beefsteak plant and look at what a heifer it is now!!! Remember what it looked like a few weeks ago (it's the brown round planter in the back... you can barely see the plant)...

...Oh, and here is it's first tomato "nub"... isn't it darling? I can't keep track of all the new flowers...

Well, it hasn't been all sunshine and tomato nubs around here... the only herb seeds that successfully germinated was the thyme and the other three never even made an appearance... oh, well you live, you learn. I think the soil got too dried out from the sweltering heat we've been having here in Sac, and they just didn't want to come out and play. Poor lovies, I never gave them a chance. I'm trying to remedy these piss poor conditions I've provided my poor babies by buying them a cozy seed sowing house courtesy of Ebay... YAY!!! I also decided to germinate them in moist paper towels first to give them a little running start... hopefully some will make it out alive.

I've realized I like to sow seeds myself... if I get a baby plant I feel like I'm cheating (and plus, the seeds are much much cheaper and you get TONS of seeds in one package... it's a win-win situation). I like the thought of starting from scratch and tending to it until the plant is big and strong. I know what you're thinking... this woman needs a baby, so she can stop obsessing about her mini-garden... and you would be absolutely correct *wink*...

I started a gardening journal . It's not fancy what-so-ever (it's just a spiral notebook), but it's helping me keep track of what goes wrong, things I seem to do right and I even have a gardening calendar to admire it's progress. Yes, I'm very "Type A" bordering on neurotic... thanks Mom!!... the organization keeps me sane...

The Censor, The Garden, and Mary

Miss Suzi Blu has inspired me again!! Damn that woman!! :) If you haven't already gone to her ning network, please, I beg you, GO!!! (http://www.suziblu.ning.com/) There are so many workshops to fall in love with and they are sure to unleash the creative passion that you thought didn't exist. One of the newest FREE workshops is centered around a book called "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron. The first chapter is about creating a sense of safety by acknowledging your inner critic (you Censor) and basically telling him to shut the heck up... he's the one who plants "Negative Nelly" thoughts in your head anytime you get a compliment. Have you ever really payed attention to children... they will compliment themselves with such conviction and without hesitation because they're free from self doubt (that negative crap we adults force feed ourselves). Go ahead, try saying something nice about yourself and just listen to your Censor weasel his way in... We don't need to hear any more from the peanut gallery, so could you kindly SHUT UP!!!... I still have to do my positive affirmation homework, but so far I'm loving this book...

On the gardening front... After all my stressing over my bulbs not sprouting I went out on my patio Saturday morning and found that two of my bulbs had indeed broken free (and a couple days later a couple more made their debut).... I tell you, I have never been so freakin' excited and I must have gone out to "check on them" about 20 times throughout the day just to bask in my success. I was all ready to dig them out and "force" them, but I guess all I needed was a little faith and patience. I was so inspired by my newly discovered green thumb that I went out and bought lavender and star jasmine plants and a bunch of herb seeds... and yes, I will sow them myself... that's right, Martha Stewart, there's a new girl in town... Watch out!!!

Some other good news... I have finally finished my commissioned piece for the The American Cancer Society. Her name is Mary and I am completely head over heels in love with her. All day Monday I painted away at this background... I lost count on how many layers I put down, but the end result is beautiful, I think, so it was all worth it. I couldn't bare to not have a remembrance of her, so I dropped her off at Sacramento Giclee this morning so I can have a print all to myself (and anyone else who loves her)... Her she is...

AJF #3

I Never Said Nothing...

... Inspired by the song by Liz Phair, I picked out one of my naughty pin-up girl pics, and started creating... I accented the pic with a white Gelly Roll pen, added a little edging and journaling... The white circles and yellow "splotches" are made with the cardboard of a toilet paper roll (yes, I use anything I can find... and it's free... YAY!!)


The journaling reads...
LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR REGRETS... and it's certainly too short to pretend you are someone you're not. Every life needs a little scandal and intrigue... and every woman deserves the right to be a little naughty... BE NAUGHTY!

I just ordered some gardening books last night after an inspirational hour of Martha Stewart "On Demand" videos... I'm telling you, that woman is a freakin' genius!! I was, however, a little disappointed to find out the bulbs I planted won't make their debut until Spring of NEXT YEAR!!! How the heck did I not know that? I'm not a patient woman, and I have a feeling I'll be digging them out before it's time, but I really hope I won't... they're too beautiful to ruin....

I'm still working on my commissioned piece for The American Cancer Society, and I promise I'll have it finished by Tuesday... her name is Mary... She is strong and beautiful and I can't wait to show her off...

AJF #2 (On Monday... ooops)...

Celebrity Surf...

I bleached this photo after doing some textured background techniques and collaging some misc papers I had lying around... Bleaching is so easy and fun, and I love how it gives an antique feel to any picture... Just briefly dip the pic in water, then a bleach solution (two parts water to one part bleach) and watch the years drift off the page... The blue pigment will lift off first, then the red and yellow last... play around with how long to leave it in the bleach solution (just keep in mind more pigment will lift off when you give it a final rinse under cold water)... then pat with a paper towel and Voila!!!

The journaling reads...

This day was the perfect birthday... a day on the boat at Folsom Lake with the folks... Just sun and water... good company and good food... I don't need much and this was simple a perfect example of simple perfection... The only thing missing was the sweet kiss of my love... who was at work... still a great day... July 2007

Homecoming bliss...

This is what I came home to Saturday morning at 730am, after I finished a grueling 16 hour shift... Joseph left early in the morning for a golfing extravaganza, and he made sure all I had to do was take a shower and plop into bed. The kitchen was clean... the bed was made with my side neatly folded down, waiting for me... my nightgown was laid out and the dark curtains was pulled tight all around the apartment, perfect for a daytime sleep.... ahhhhh... Joseph is so wonderful... how did I get so lucky?

I have worked 36hours and had 15 hours of sleep in the past three days... I am exhausted, and happy to have today off, even though it's cleaning day and I won't get much rest. I feel at peace because I know Joseph will be home soon and I will spend the remainder of this busy day in his arms...

Exercising my green thumb...

Well, well, well... this was quite a weekend... Breakfast at Abuela's (ate way too much), art gallery showing in Woodland (amazing!!!), and Drive-in movie for the first time in I don't know how long. Joseph and I figured out a foam mattress, a couple pillows and a quilt add up to a bed conveniently located in the back of my SUV... it was so perfect and I almost fell asleep during the movie... ahhhhh!!!

Sunday we drove with my parents down to Sunnyvale for my Uncle Al and Aunt Ruth's 70th wedding anniversary brunch... 70 years!!! and they're as spunky as ever... HILARIOUS!!! The ride to and from was very... ummm... entertaining... My mom was dancing to "Love Shack" while Joseph and I were hysterically laughing and my dad was rolling his eyes...

This morning I had the gardening bug, so I watched Martha Stewart's On Demand annual planting videos and then headed off to Home Depot. I bought some Ranunculus (mixed colors) and Gladiolus bulbs (a deep red color... gorgeous), and a beefy red tomato plant... home grown tomatoes with salt and pepper is heavenly in the summertime. I even made little tags for the flower pots... so stinkin cute!!!

Blogger Inspired...

Oh for heaven's sake!!! Three posts in one day!!!! I don't know what's come over me, but I'm just feeling a little blogger inspired...

I've been wanting to do a little self portrait photo shoot for awhile, but have been feeling a little disgusted with myself... but today was different, so I gave it a shot (no pun intended). I went on SPC and I got a little jolt of energy and creativity... but, I didn't like any of the pics I took, except this one...

Maybe after I learn to photoshop the dark circles under my eyes I'll revisit this adventure... ta ta for now...

Art Journal Friday #1...

Two posts in one day?? What?!? I decided that I wanted to start a little weekly somethin somethin in an attempt to keep my self-projects going... I'm always working on something, and sometimes I feel the need to be selfish and work on me. Since Art Journaling is my new favorite thing, I've decided to channel that passion into a book about me... my childhood, my thoughts and fears, passions, and especially my love (Mr. Joseph Vazquez... hi my Honeybush!!!).

Every Friday I'll post a new Art Journal entry to inspire your upcoming weekend. Come join my journey!!!.. here we go....

I edited the picture in Photoshop (turned it black and white and messed with the contrast)and then printed it on regular white printer paper... I wanted to highlight Joseph (in the lower left corner) and the Tree so I colored them in with colored pencil... added a little journaling, collaging and oil pastel rubbing around the edge...

The journaling reads...

This was the first time we went to Fort Bragg... and this was the view from our hotel room... It was beautiful!! We had the view of the ocean and the love of each other... It was incredibly romantic and I fell in love with you all over again... I hope we always feel this way about each other. I couldn't imagine going through life with anyone but you, my love... you are my EVERYTHING!! I love you terribly...

Three things to love about Spring

It's going to rain this weekend and into next week so I'm taking a look around at all the beautiful things I love about spring, hoping it will come to stay (and scare away the rain... Rain Rain go away... come again NEXT YEAR!!)...

1. White carnations... I've been completely obsessed with these lovely blooms, and you can find them sprinkled in cute glass jars all over the apartment. They're so fresh and clean... and add a little simple elegance to our humble abode.

2. This tree!!! There are a bunch throughout my apartment complex... they're so happy!!! I want to paint them... can't decide on a background yet... any suggestions?

3. Sipping tea outside at the Starbucks around the corner... I'm so so lucky to have one in walking distance, so I pop in my iPod, grab a book, and head out. There is a perfect balance of warm sun and cool breeze.

Joseph and I are going to a mixed media art show this weekend in Woodland, and we are so excited... I love that he takes an interest in things I'm passionate about, and there's nothing better than holding his hand while looking at beautiful art. I haven't been to an art show in years and I think it's just what I need to get started on my doll collection. I want to change up her face a little, and give her some kind of distinguishing feature that makes her me... just haven't decided what that's gonna be...

I also have to get started on a commissioned piece for a charity auction happening in May... yeah, I'm a little bit of a procrastinator... hopefully the creative juices will flow after the art show...

Sucky Weather

I'm getting a little tired of going on MSN.com to look at the weather only to find that it's going to rain on the days I'm off work. One of the things that really stink about being a nurse is that I have to work every other weekend, and when the only two days Joseph and I have together force us to be inside I'm not a happy camper (well, maybe that's not so bad sometimes), but it's nice to be able to enjoy the nice weather together... I NEED SOME SUNSHINE!!! So after working all weekend and most of the week (when the weather is beautiful and I'm stuck indoors), now I can't enjoy it cause it's gonna rain... SUCKY!!!