beach art

we walked down to the beach today. it's been such a long time! a shame since we live so close. we brought painting supplies & ipods and enjoyed the weather!

♥ from carol

I got the sweetest little package in the mail yesterday from my friend, Carol, in Brasil. This is the second package I've recieved from her and just as fun! :D She made me a sweet girl & kitty pin, and mini ipod case. She also sent me a piece of her wonderfully fun paisley fabric along with a sweet note. Thank you so much, Carol! To see more of her fabulous creations go to her flickr album or blog. I can't understand what she writes in her blog but it's very nice to look at with it's bright colors, photographs, and wonderful illustrations. ♥

Here's what's in Carol's bag! :D What's in YOURS?

postcard procrastonation?

My postcards for this swap. These will travel around the world to their new owners! :D Made with kraft cardstock, marker, colored pencils, origami paper, and machine sewn stitches.
These have to go out by tomorrow! I have actually had them done for a while now but I wanted to photograph them for you before they leave for their new homes! :)

Daring

(click to enlarge)

Last week's Illustration Friday topic was "Daring". I wasn't able to scan earlier this week.

Daring
1. To have the courage required for;
2. To do something requiring boldness

Being a parent or caregiver is one of the most daring tasks I can think of.

what's in my bag?

What's in my bag?
♥ car keys
♥ cell phone
♥ cd: "electric" jason & nolan (violinists)
♥ one good bumblebee card holder
♥ beaded bracelet
♥ $0.77
♥ lush lip service
♥ i.d., ATM, & credit cards
♥ love, joleen business cards
♥ markers & pens

What's in YOUR bag?
♥ Keina's bag
♥ Carol's bag
♥Amy's bag

I haven't been home in a couple of days because of work so no scans of my latest just yet.

san fran album

i have started a mini album of our san fran trip. i've been planing this album since before our trip..haha! definitely my own style but inspired by sarah's collage albums. (click on photos to enlarge)

happy birthday to you!

Happy Birthday

to the world's best, stupendous, fabtabulous

husband EVER!

I love you, Alex!! :D

♥ ♥ ♥

♥'n trades!

Trades are so much fun! They make for such happy mail too! It sure brightened my day to open my mailbox yesterday! The package on the left came all the way from Portugal! I have been lucky to make quite a few friends there thanks to flickr. *Waves to Portuguese friends* Marta sent me such wonderful goodies including a handmade kitty, floral brooch, and heart. She also sent things like postcards and greetings cards, collages, ribbon, buttons, and fabric. She makes such wonderful things. You should check out her flickr album too! *Does the "Vanna" thing and turns to the right* The package on the right comes from the fabulous Jenn! I wandered on over to her other blog after she left me a comment. She had listed a bunch of wonderful and fun patterns that she wanted to trade on her blog. You can find her current goodies up for trade here. Imagine my glee when I openned up the package to find not only these fun patterns but cute felty flowers, a greeting card, pencil, candy, and a cute handmade fabric fortune cookie. THEN, I was surprised in another package with the cutest lil' plush car!!

Thank you so much! :D

sf

This is the last photo I am going to post from our San Francisco trip. I think it may be my favorite. We had such a great time! The last two days were spent at the Golden Gate Park and Bridge and the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco's Japantown. It was so beautiful and the weather really held out for us. It was so nice to go on a trip just the two of us! I can't wait until our next trip. :D

golden gate park

a few of my favorites

japanese craft book

a totally cute japanese craft book i purchased in a bookshop in san francisco's japantown.

art in sf

We had a great day today! This morning we went to a cafe on the corner before walking to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. We spent a lot of the afternoon there. It was so wonderful to see art I've learned about in school books! In one of the pictures below it shows a print I purchased of my favorite painting- Ocean Park #54 by Richard Diebenkorn. I love art, especially paintings but have never had as strong of feelings as evoked by this painting. I suddenly was in the room alone and it just drew me in. I actually teared up. It was overwhelming. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, these prints do it absolutely no justice.

After the museum we went to lunch on the corner at Chevy's Fresh Mex Restaurant and then took a bus to the Mission District. It was the first time either of us had been on a public city bus in the U.S., that we could remember. We both have in other countries. Let me tell you, this was not a pleasant experience. I was relived to be able to breathe in fresh air when we got off (nearly 6 blocks too early!). We went to 826 Valencia. It's an awesome little bookshop that's part of a writing center. It is set up like a pirate shop and it's super fun! I bought a fun little glass quill and ink set, that Alex and I have been having a ton of fun with! Another little zine and diy shop that was recommended to us was Needles and Pens and it was so cute!! I am totally smitten with it. We even found some of Sarah's goodies from the small object! In our ventures between the two zine shops we came across a thrift shop where I found a beautifully illustrated children's book and a box of great vintage photographs. There is something really interesting, wonderful, yet sometimes creepy about a box of old photos- when you don't know any of the subjects. :) I ♥ it! Oh! And there's this great vintage store we went to where you buy clothes by the pound! I found a great handmade apron, purse, dress, and a tshirt which I am going to send to lekkner to make me something like totally rad.

we're here in san francisco!

Most of you know, I brought Alex to San Francisco for his birthday this weekend! He was so excited as he's never been and this was only the second time since I was a young child. We flew in this morning and are staying in the Sir Francis Drake hotel. It is so fun and very art deco! :D

We came straight to the hotel and then spent the day in Union Square, walking around and shopping. I was so excited to come across ARTfibers Yarn! It was suggested to me by Jamie from The Sampler Community. The manequin is wearing a shrug which I just love. I actually really love that toggle clasp. It is made of handmade blown glass and it's beautiful. They didn't have their stock to purchase yet so I will call in a few weeks.

We also came across LUSH! They make the most awesome fresh handmade cosmetics. I thought of you, Aunt Kim! :D We went in and tried out and smelled EVERYTHING in the store! We pretty much bought everything too! Haha. :D

reinvent

This week's Illustration Friday theme is: Reinvent.

Please click photograph for full size image!

fashion design

Today's Oprah was to celebrate the 5th anniversary of her magazine: O. On the cover she's wearing a fabulous couture gown by fashion designer, Narciso Rodriguez. Here is one of his featured designs. I absolutely ♥ that blue jacket!

While we're on the note of fashion designers I just ♥ ♥ ♥ what Jennifer Lopez cranked out at the Fall '05 Fashion Week in NY in February! These are seriously just a few of my favorites! Here is everything.

*sigh* I don't usually talk about this "outloud" because I know I could later be held accountable for my comments. I dread the feelings of regret and often pressure (mostly from myself) in regards to school. It's always been such a tug of war within me. With the end of the school year drawing near, in the year that my peers are graduating without me I feel a twinge of regret and jealousy. I feel that I am in a good spot in my life right now. I have a supportive family, a great job, a new business with lots of potential. I get to craft and create and do things that I love. I can afford to do this! I make the time because I've realized over the years that I cannot do without art. My life feels devoid and empty without it. What would a degree help me to achieve? For one thing, and perhaps the most important, it would help create a better sense of self worth. I will be accomplished; educated. What would I major in? Would I go back to fidm and pursue a fashion design career? I am not sure that's where my craft is headed. I think I would be better suited with a merchandising degree. I still dream of owning and running my own free standing consignment boutique. I see love, joleen continuing to grow and expand. Do I really need that degree to be successful? Maybe it isn't so much a need but a strong desire. I do want to go to school. I would love to go. But, when?

♥♥♥

nara: the original paint chip wallet

such a simple idea; such a cute outcome! i am in ♥!

occ

me; maria; melissa; silvia

No, not Orange County Choppers but crafters! :D We don't officially have a name yet but our first "meeting" was yesterday. It was so great to meet other crafters with indie business' in Orange County! We all had so much in common and it was very encouraging and inspiring to spend time with them. It was nice to make friends too!! I can't wait until next month's get together!

continuing my knitting endeavors...

Tsunami Relief Chunky Book Update

( Janey K. ; Kara K. ; Priscilla S. ; Lori M. ; Kim F. )

These are the pages sent in so far. They are all absolutely BEAUTIFUL! In person, it is truly awe inspiring. Unfortunately, we do not have near enough to create the book. I went on an emailing spree and have contacted several wonderful artists and crafters for their help in this endeavor. If this is a sign of what's to come, I think this book will be highly successful in raising money! I am so excited to see where this is going. Thank you to those that have contributed to the project thus far.
I have extended the deadline to May 20, 2005 to give people a chance to participate. Please email me with any questions or to let me know you're participating at joleenieweenie at hotmail dot com. We would love for you to join us!

Thank you!
Hugs,
Joleen

PS- Details and information for this project can be found here. For future projects please check with my charity: Lending Talents. You can also join the flickr group here.