There Will Be Blood!

I'm apparently on a movie title kick, but it just seems so fitting. I FINALLY got around to cleaning up the dresser, and going through the drawers, and one of my biggest pet peeves was staring me in the face the whole time!

My husband has the worst habit of shoving receipts into his pockets then emptying them on the dresser, in the dresser, on the counter; wherever he's standing when he's doing it. ARGH! He just leaves them lying around like retail litter! Pocket change is one thing, I can use that, but what's the deal with the receipts? It's garbage! Why the hell are you littering our house with garbage?!


Don't even get me started on the plethora of useless CDRs I keep finding in obscure places. Most of them aren't even marked so I have no idea what's on them. Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow? :oP

Weekly Featured Artist 4/27-5/3

Q: Tell us a little about yourself…
Ever since I stole my younger brother's birthday present (three Jim Lee/Chris Claremont "X-Men" comics), I've been obsessed with art. I like to draw, just started getting into painting, and love to study art history. I like that art is versatile in the way it can convey stories to other people. Right now, I'm trying to find a job to help pay my way into a good art school so I can finish getting my BA in Illustration. From there, I'd like to get my MA in Art Therapy because I think art is a good form of therapy that almost anyone could find useful.

Q: How long have you been doing this?
Well, my earliest dated drawing I have is from 1993 (I was 13 yrs. old). However, like most kids, I grew up doodling and filling up colouring books before that.

Q: Who/What inspires you?
Just about every one I've ever come into contact inspires me in some way. All the great artists I've been lucky enough to meet from the 'Net are constant inspirations. History, nature, science, Jim Lee, Van Gogh, Frida Khalo, David Mack are a few specific artists that heavily influence me.

Q: What's your favorite piece?
Right now, it's "03.30.06" because of why I did it. The numbers are the date my best friend died. Even though I had the painting sketched out days after that happened, I didn't paint it until months later. It was also one of my first pieces to be shown in a gallery.

Q: If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be & why?
Right now, it would have to be a toss-up between Bruce Campbell and Jensen Ackles. I'm a total nerd for the genre, and they've been in either my fav movies and tv shows (Army of Darkness, The X-Files, Supernatural, Brisco County, Jr.). That's a hard question for me. I'm a fan of way too many people to pick just one!

Q: If Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter dueled, who would win? Why?
Luke. Simply for the fact that he walks the fine line between good and evil way more hardcore than Harry Potter. I mean, Luke could go Dark Side at any moment. I never got the impression that Potter would turn bad guy. Plus, lightsabre, dude. Need I say more?

Ssuzuki's Shop

Other links for Ssuzuki
http://s-suzuki.blogspot.com/

http://www.zazzle.com/s_suzuki*

Panic at the Free Time!

Alright, so I haven't seen Panic at the Disco, because really, with a title like that, do you honestly believe there's any sort of panic other than at the fashion sense? But I digress....
I am one of those people who panics at the thought of free time! I spend my entire day catering to the whims of my kids, watch them, feed them, play with them and once they're down for the night, around 7pm, I think to myself, "Woo hoo! Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!" And then it dawns on me, "Crap, what should I do?" Then like a tidal wave of ambition, I'm overwhelmed with ideas; read a book (you remember those, longer versions of magazines), play a few Soduku Puzzles, watch a movie (that doesn't star a cartoon character), work on my business or even paint! Of course, the alternative to-dos also pop in there, that unfolded laundry, dishes, general pick up, etc. I'm completely overwhelmed with options and I feel like a chicken running around with its head cut off. Whatever shall I do?

So, I've decided to make another to-do list. Only, this one is a to-don't list. It's the list I shall refer to when I have some "free time." On it, I shall put all of the things that I should do, but I won't and one thing that I enjoy doing in my spare time. I shall check off everything that I'm not supposed to do and then do whatever spare time activity I've written. By the end of the evening, I will have finished everything on my list and be completely satisfied that I've accomplished it all. There is something to be said for this Wonder Woman Complex.

New motto to live by "remember me." That's not a question, it's a statement.

Weekly Featured Artist 4/20-4/26

Q: Tell us a little about yourself…
I'm a midnight soaper...something about working in the middle of the night when all is still…I can really concentrate on what I'm doing, perform my very best, and accomplish all sorts of wonderful things. It's quite therapeutic :)
All of my soaps and lipbalms are made with the best possible ingredients I can find, and I do not sell anything that I certainly wouldn't use on myself. That's why you won't find any harsh chemicals or fillers in my products; I wouldn't want to use them on my body, so I wouldn't want you to, either. Instead, I prefer to use moisturing cocoabutter, or sheabutter, as well as vitamin E, olive or macadamia nut oil to leave your skin soft, smooth and conditioned. From time to time, I might include oatmeal, ground walnuts, seeds and other exfoliating qualities...but only the best of the best for you--I even use filtered water!

Q: How long have you been doing this?
I started in 2001, during a business trip with my husband to England. I didn't want to just sit in the hotel room between banquets and social events--so a few of the wives got together and took a one-day professional soap-making class near the hotel. While the others may have seen it as merely a way to pass the time, I took off with it and haven't looked back since.

Q: Who/What inspires you?
Life inspires me. As corny as that sounds, it's really true. Scents are inspirational--and memory-invoking. The zest of lemon energizes us, the scent of cotton brings back the clean sheets on our childhood bed; the warm inviting pumpkin fragrance reminds us of family and togetherness. Special memories, all of them. And that's what I try to do. I want to capture a moment of life in every single bar.

Q: What's your favorite piece?
Oh, gosh, it changes so often because I am constantly discovering new techniques and new oils to work with. I am presently in love with my Red Currant and Thyme Tea Soap. It's such an understated scent and really that's why I adore it. Wine-like fruity aromas with depth and complexity, it's relaxing and soothing.

Q: If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be & why?
I would love to have sat, and talked with, Princess Diana. I think she is a person still greatly admired around the world even after her death, and I would have loved to have met with her to discuss a variety of topics. Plus, could you imagine my soap stamped with the Royal Seal? Awesome!

Q: If Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter dueled, who would win? Why? Skywalker of course. The Jedi will never perish.

Kreated by Karina

Weekly Featured Artist 4/13-4/19

Q: Tell us a little about yourself…

I am a 20-something-year-old college student residing in Sunny California with a jewelry box larger than her closet. I love archaic words, music, art, chocolate and books. I am 30% Rockstar, 30% Girl Next door and 30% Bookworm. I haven't figured out what the remaining 10% is.

Q: How long have you been doing this?

I've been making jewelry since I was about nine years old. It's kind of a weird phenomenon: Crafting and Jewelry-making has been in my family for as far back as I know. It's my genetic destiny.

Q: Who/What inspires you?

Two things: classic children's storybooks and nature. I named my etsy store after my favorite storybook characters of all time. The Princesses of Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason. They're from the Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth"

Q: What's your favorite piece?

Curiouser and Curiouser [featured below]. It makes me smile. I can picture in my head the little rabbit from Alice in Wonderland frantically racing to the Queen's palace.

Q: If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be & why?

Stephen Colbert. I always thought he was really witty he proved it even more with the recent writer's strike. I like that he makes American news and politics accessible to all ages. I also adore his irreverent sense of humor

Q: If Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter dueled, who would win? Why?

Harry Potter...most definitely. Why? Harry's got the more versatile weapon he can cast crazy spells. Besides, books and imagination beat movies. Hands down.

Rhyme & Reason Designs

Mother's Day Promotion

Etsybaby is having a Mother's Day promo. Search participating Etsybaby shops and look for listings featuring a gift basket. Purchase the item and be entered to win the gift basket valued at over $50.
Or just search my shop. :o) I have 6 items.

Winklepots

Promo runs through May 3rd with a winner being drawn May 4th.

I apologize for the lateness in updating, vacation and all. I'm a week behind, so here is the current featured artist updated for your reading pleasure. Leave a comment and be entered to win a set of cards from last week's featured artist Zephi! Click on her shop link, to the right, to take a second look at her work.
Have a great week! :o)