September 28, 2006
TILT: Blasts from the Past!
I always get the mail with a little flutter in my tummy these days. I hope that I get an invite for an awesome arts opp, or a card from one of my bestest friends, a loving pratical something from Mom, or a check in the mail that God just wanted to send us to pay off the debt we're in because of our loved, lived in home. Anywho, today was one of those days that I found something unexpected. It wasn't a check (bummer) but it was something that made me grin real big and it's just for me, not for Joel, not for the kids, just me. Hmmmm. My fourth grade teacher has recently spent alot of time with my parents, maybe in the same small group, I dunno. But every time I'd run into her at my parents church, or most recently at my show at Hollis last year she'd tell me that she still keeps my drawings for examples for her class. She has just recently retired and she sent me two of my drawings from fourth grade!! What the heck! Thanks Mrs. Fitzgerald! One was a cat sitting at a window made out of yarn. I don't remember making that one at all. The second was musical notes composed of my name. I do remember doing that one and with so much precision. With those skinny little Crayola markers that felt almost as cool as pens. Fun mail. I love it. I love sending it to when I have any....spare....time.
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June 1, 2006
A piece of time
My daughter with Nally the dog. Nally was trained to be a guide dog, but she failed one test and now is the family pet. We were spolied royaly by Joel's Aunt and Uncle. Not just because they bought us way too many meals, opened up their home, and let us drive their Honda Odyssey anywhere we wanted, but they took our kids for two whole days do we could do what we wanted. This was supreme awesome time. It's amazing how quickly you fall into mommy and daddy mode and forget how to be alone together.
The first day we were a bit rusty. We took a long bike ride and strolled around Huntington beach, so pretty and exhilerating to get some excersize. Huntington Beach is a bit like the mall though. Full of kiddies dressed in their sexy beach best stalking each other. I didn't really fit in with my bike riding gear on.
It was cool seeing all the surfers, they left special marks along the boardwalk. I finally figured out the wierd wet footprints were from the surfers walking the wetness off to their cars. They come in all shapes and sizes, all ages too. It was cool seeing the dog beach. Just folks with their pooches throwing balls and frisbees and picking up poop.
We rounded off that day by going to Cottage Art to check out the beautiful Indian clothing. Oh man, I could wear peasent shirts ALL THE TIME, but alas I can't afford them all the time. SO many pretty things. Joel got bored so we left and we got Bobas.
That's a drink with tapioca balls at the bottom. Kinda good, kinda gross. We opted for the ice coffee without boba the next time. A lot cheaper than Starbucks!!
That's chapter one. Maybe I'll get around to writing more as all the experiences sink in. After such an action packed vacation, I need catch up time to slow down and enjoy my home, my space and the things I am planning for the future. More goodies from my trip here.
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May 18, 2006
Things I love Thursday
After seeing all the stencily goodness at huffmania and other places, I just had to give it a try. I whole roll of freezer paper was mocking me with every glance "Try it!! You'll stencil everything in sight!" I must restrain myself because I do want some shirts I own to be plain. Target had boys shirts for $4 so I bought a plain navy one for this distinct purpose: to stencil a guitar on it for Jos. I like it now, but I'm ready to take it up a notch and do another stencil on top, like a real intricate one of strings. Anyone out there tried stencil on top of stencil? Does it adhere as well? Also, can the stencil get used more than once? Whatever, I have a couple tanks and other Old Navy shirts that are too plain and I think I'd wear them more of they were clever. I bought a pack of 2T white tees to make for friends kids and haven't gotten any good ideas. That's the problem, ideas!! I have gotten the idea to do, you guessed it....POD SHIRTS! Oh, man I'm in trouble.
And might I add that the genius Claire at Loobylu has a new site that is just perfect for any creative parent, or lover of children. Kiddley! go check it out. My favorite: the tips on how to engage your child at an art gallery. Very important!
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May 11, 2006
Things I love Thursday
I love my Murphy's Oil Soap! Now, I have become very unhappy with all housecleaning, but something about the non-antiseptic smell of Murphy's makes my kitchen happy. The fact that it's scent overcomes the roach spray I laid down earlier that day, it's smooth texture in the bottle and how it mixes so nicely with warm water. It makes my crappy little hand-me-down chairs look nicer when I've scrubbed the hard as cement dried oatmeal off and the oily soap gives the wood a soft glow instead of a dried out brittle result. Again, I have no love for house cleaning, but I do have love for a clean house. Especially a clean kitchen. Speaking of which, ugh dishes....Murphy's won't clean that.
More Thursday love here.
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April 20, 2006
Things I love Thursdays
top door
Originally uploaded by katiek2.
I love looking at people's refrigerater doors! I think they tell alot about the people you're hanging out with. You get to meet their family and friends. You get to peek into their lives without asking awkward questions. I like that your fridge door can be a collage in process of practical and beautiful things. As I look at my fridge door now it's actually pretty boring. Somethings have been there for a long time and others will be removed very soon. Mostly my fridge door contents are determined by how strong my magnets are. I loved putting Josiah's artwork on the fridge but the magnets would only hold one piece of paper.On the side of the fridge I have a hearty clip that holds several works of art. I have other lovely bits that come and go because they make me happy. I love the picture of my friend Sofia in Africa. I've never been there and honestly I don't think I will go soon, but I love to see her pale face with these beautiful Massai(sp?) women. I love to be reminded there is more in this world than me. I had a "Jesus elske alle barne" flier up for ages. It's "Jesus loves the little children" in Norwegian. And also a doodle/art piece from Kelly that has the caption "our times are in your hands". These things will probably never be things I frame, or even put in a scrapbook, but they are daily elements that give me pause as I make oatmeal at 7:45am everyday. My fridge becomes an inspiration board of sorts. It is a gallery, a play area,a photo album, a chalkboard, a bulletin board, a journal, and sometimes a blank canvas needing new fresh pretties to adorn it. So blogworld, I'd love to see your fridge doors! Some I know are photo albums (like Lynn's) and some are elaborate works of art (like Cat's). Some are bulletin boards and scrapbooks (like Kirk and Sarah's and my Ma's. Just a peep, it's just a step futher in, not asking to see what's inside, although that might be a good topic too. hehehe.
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April 14, 2006
Things I love Thursday
Yeah I know it's Friday, SO WHAT!
I love Bikes! These beautiful days where you just can't not be outside for some part of it makes me long for material things, namely something to tote my kids around in so I can ride my bike. We live vey close to the Silver Comet Trail here in the ATL area, and we try whenever we can to go there. We went last weekend and it just ain't fair that I'm huffin' along with a broken umbrella stroller and Joel is dutifully biking v e r y slow with Josiah in the bike seat. Biking was great when it was just the three of us. We'd cruise around with Josiah on the bike giggling with glee. We spend any energy we had on our regular trip to Hilton Head Is. on our bikes riding on the beach and looking at the amazing houses around the "private beaches". And the Silver Comet made the summer seem not as hot when your wizzing down hill keeping the gnats out of your teeth. My Swinn doesn't accomidate the other bike seat my parents got Joel for Christmas. Joel worked and worked to get it on and no success. So now we are looking for the more cumbersome version: the trailor. I'm not totally opposed to this because it would give us the other option: a double stroller. I don't mind huffin' down the Silver Comet, or another park with a good double stroller. It's just I'd rather be riding my bike, with Joel, and the kids on the back giggling with glee. Maybe when we move to California we'll sell my bike, get one that fits the seat. But wait, kids grow right? Maybe Josiah will max out the 45lb limit before we know it and we'll get him his own little Huffy.
I've never been an outdoorsy type, Joel has brought it out of me slowly the past 10 years I've known him. The beauty of it is, it's free. Once you buy that contraption, bike, stroller, snowbord, skateboard, rollerskates, unicycle, you have it and you can go go go until your waaay tired. I love my daughter, but I long to get her and Josiah out with us on bikes. It hasn't happened yet and I can't wait much longer. My wallet's going to have to, freecycle just doesn't give away bike trailors!
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March 31, 2006
Things I love Thursday
I love paint. I love it's attributes, it's texture and color. I love the flip top lids and the impossible to screw back on screw top caps. I love squishing the tube from the middle, I like thwacking the bottom of the bottle to get the glob at the bottom. I love sticking my brush right on the edge and blending it around. I love taking a big ole brush and grabbing a wad of it and smearing it on good and with no restraint. I love painting with my fingers, with pieces of paper, with the end of the brush. And I love puff paint. Hmmm, so many other things to go on there.
I have painting class tommorow and my painting Celebrate Beauty is in a sorry state of disrepair. I have worked 3 days on this painting and the thing is driving me batty. I'm going to have to give it another vacation and not look at it for a little while.
Here's why I love paint, my small success Metro 3:
Ok, waaaay tired. Catch you guys after class.
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March 17, 2006
Things I Love Thursday
I took this picture by accident the other night and I just love my little bit of blonde. Of course, I am not naturally blonde much at all. I have some self streaking help. But my whole life I've had the "light" characteristics. I have fairer skin than my brother. The blue eyed freak in my family and I have light brown hair rather than dark. Mouse brown. I like that I can lighten it just a bit. I did like the John Freida product called Sheer Blonde that highlighted in the sun and it was gel so unlike the unholy Sun-in, you could control where and how much. Commiting to hair coloring has been painful for me. I enjoy my little blondes, but not how much I've done. I have to wear my hair certain ways to hide the boo-boos. I bought some henna from Harry's and I might just brown out for the next few months and get my hair warmed up for the spring/summer so it can come back out and play blonde again all healthy and fresh.
I wanted to have something more fun but there's plenty of Thursday love to spread around for all eternity!
Chek out the group here.
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March 9, 2006
Things I love Thursday
I love kid pictures of my husband! He's on the far right. He's with his brother Nathan at their adventure across the west with their grandparents back in 1986? I love seeing what he wears, how he smiles and all the lovely little kid goofiness in between. This whole set is golden, check it out and laugh!
I can't wait to continue to see how Josiah looks like his dad as he grows up. Everyone we know pretty much thinks he's a spitting image of his dad in certain areas. I'm sure that Jos will be taller although 6ft(that's how tall Joel is) is pretty tall already.
I love remembering all the stories that Joel and his family have told me about how Joel was as a kid. What a spit-fire he was (and is). I think that if we had met any sooner we would have fought like cats and dogs. And if we had known each other in highschool we would have had a love/hate relationship. I probably still would have nursed a crush for a long time. I think my husband is obviously destined to be handsome from these little pictures. Both Joel and I look younger than we are. No one would ever guess we're pushing 30. I wanted to wait until Joel's birthday(the 28th) to post any "I love Joel's" but these pictures just have to be shared. Enjoy all the western fun. This one is another favorite. So funny!
Thanks to Joy who started all the love. Check out the flickr group here!
BTW I have Jana up on ebay again with a reserve of only $400! Check it out and bid if you dare!
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March 2, 2006
I love Stencils
"Things I love Thursdays" entry I wanted to share my love for stencils. I can hardly not use them, they are in stacks next to my paints. When they get to worn out, I fix them to my canvases. Some are the pricely art store kind, some are the $2.99 version from office supply places or Target. I moved on to stencils because I was screwing up my rubber stamps by painting them with acrylic. Quick way to destroy your alphabet! I used foam letters made for kids but they just didn't hold paint opaque enough and when they did they didn't wash out. I used to just use them with paint but I started using them with tile caulk so know the letter stick out even after I paint over them. It's a great mixed media technique and another great way to put subliminal messages in my work. the next time you have a chance to see a Katie Ward Knutson painting up close look down the side and you may just see a bunch of nappy, gnarly letters telling you something! Here's a shot of the Funky T. Destined for greatness that letter T.
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