Self-Portrait #312

I'm not sure why it feels good to transition into a new year, why people put so much stock into a new beginning. I generally think that is a little silly but this year I'm definitely ready to put 2008 behind me. I can't say that this was a great year for me. There was a lot between my blog lines that went unsaid. It could have been worse but it could have been much better. I do feel fortunate to have the life that I have and I'm sure that in my life there will be a few more bad years to come but I am very glad to be putting this one behind me. I'm excited about setting new goals and looking back on the ones that I did accomplish. So here's my year in review. I set out with many goals, some were accomplished and some will be carried over to 2009.
1. Learn to use my sewing machine. I can't say that I spent a lot of time on the sewing machine but I can sew a straight line now so I'd say I did pretty well here.
2. Buy more gifts for people on Etsy. YES! I did this. I do have to say that I bought more gifts for myself on Etsy too.
3. Post things on Etsy to sell by next holiday season. YES! I did this too. Too bad no one bought anything but hey...baby steps.
4. Blog at least once a week. YES! I struggled a little with this one and then the self-portrait challenge came along and turned into a monster.
5. Complete 100 4x6 paintings. NO!!! But 2009 is the year.
6. Have a show with above paintings and have a show and sell the rest on Etsy. NO!!! But again, 2009 is the year.
7. Claim a craft/art corner in my house. YES!!! I have a great room that is used for both now.
8. Start making Christmas presents in August. NO!!! This is just a dumb idea.
9. Treat my backyard with the loving care with which I treat my front yard. NO!!! But 2009 is the year!!!
10. Save money to buy a macbook. YES!!! I think this was the best purchase ever. I love my computer.

So I think I did pretty well. I'm working on my 2009 goals and will report out on those shortly. This is my first attempt at color on the Wacom tablet. It's a little scary looking but a good first try. Now I'm off to get ready for ring in the new year!!!

Self-Portrait #311

I have a smile wrinkle around my mouth. I'm a little afraid of the
aging process but then again it's sort of nice. I've earned it.

Self-Portrait #310

Mario Kart consumed my evening and now I'm tired. Pitiful.

Self-Portrait #309

Ok so I didn't draw in color today. I sort of found myself
rearranging and cleaning my studio which was in serious need of some
order. It was getting to the point where I couldn't think straight in
here. Once I'm settled maybe I'll take a few pictures.

Self-Portrait #308

Tomorrow I hope to try color. Then I'm going to start figuring out how to create an animation.

Self-Portrait #307

Wacom tablet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Self-Portrait #306

I am basking in the glow of our new flat screen TV. Happy Christmas
everyone!!! Tomorrow my Wacom tablet obsession will resume. Right
now I'm too glued to the television and tending to a sick Ben. I've
always wondered about that Meatloaf song with the lyrics "I would do
anything for love, but I won't do that." I've always wondered what
"that" was. Yesterday I found out my "that" is cleaning out a trash
can that Ben had just puked in. I just couldn't do it. So, I will do
anything for love but I won't clean up puke. I think that is going to
be a hit song.

Self-Portrait #305

THIS IS SOOOOOOO COOOOOOOL!!!!! Ok. Ben got me a Wacom Tablet for Christmas. It is amazing! This is my first quick attempt at drawing with it. It's going to take some getting used to because it feels really weird drawing on a blank computer mouse pad and seeing the effect on the computer screen. It is a lot more natural feeling then I thought it would be.

Self-Portrait #304

Half asleep in bed and realized that I hadn't done this today.

Self-Portrait #303

Casey thinks he's a funny man. I think my eye got a little loose when
I got punched in the face.

Self-Portrait #302

And the winner is...

Self-Portrait #301

Yeah. I need to draw tomorrow. I'm tired of these pictures.

Self-Portrait #300

Now this is actually portrait #300...I think.

Self-Portrait #299

I'm sitting in the toilet.

Christmas Give Away!!!!!!!!

I love it when blogs that I read give away stuff for free so I thought I would join the fun. Comment on THIS post and you'll have a chance to win one of my postcard sets! Enter to win by noon on Sunday (eastern time). I will announce the winner on Sunday afternoon.

















Self-Portrait #298

I need to get some of my hairs cut.

Self-Portrait #297

This is my favorite part of winter. Sleep.

Self-Portrait #296

Waiting at the airport.

Self-Portrait #295

Brunch with friends is good. I need to brush my hair.

This Song Has Been Stuck in My Head...

...for about three months. I LOVE Nina Simone.

Self-Portrait #294

Seeing Santaland Diaries. I'm excited I swear.

Self-Portrait #293

I hate leaving work after dark.

Self-Portrait #292

Comic book mode.

Self-Portrait #291

Elf hat.

Self-Portrait #290

Surfing the interweb. I'm looking depressed because I had just failed
at making an elf hat. I'll try again tomorrow.

Self-Portrait #289

I don't think I look like this.

Self-Portrait #288

Gusto was jealous.

Self-Portrait #287

Oscar likes to try to lay on my arms while I'm working on my
computer. It's annoying and cute. Look at that face.

Etsy Shop Update!

I ordered two more postcard print images. I'm doing it slowly because I'm broke! I'm also having trouble getting good photographs of my large paintings that are too big to scan in. I'd like to have those reproduced because they are stronger then my small paintings but the colors and details don't translate as well as the scans. Any advice out there?

Self-Portrait #286

Kansas haunted me in this bar bathroom.

Self-Portrait #285

I'm eating mashed potatoes. I look really weird when I eat. I wear
my glasses when I'm too lazy to put in my contacts and it's cloudy
outside and I couldn't sleep all night because my brain hates me. I
have good writin' skillz. I'm tired.

Self-Portrait #284

Pete's birthday. Not my idea.

Self-Portrait #283

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow because my face still sort of hurts
and there is a lump in my face that hasn't gone away in the month that
it's had to heal. I hope my face isn't broken. I have wrinkles.
Weird.

Self-Portrait #282

This is why you don't by yourself presents around the holidays. I've
been freezing my ass off in my office at work so I bought myself some
fingerless gloves from Etsy for typing (it's just too hard with
mittens) and they arrived today...right along with a package from my
friend Carolyn containing fingerless gloves that she made. Of course
hers are the best! I'm wearing one each around the house tonight.
Hers really do fit better.