:: Quote::

Do not act as if you had a thousand years to live.
-Marcus Aurelius

eVer HAd a DAy LiKe tHiS?

Three More Books Read - Cards Finished

I've finished three more books and finally have gotten around to making the cards to document my reading. I definitely have not had time to be as fancy as my first few cards, however, I AM making the cards so that is good. I'm trying to make the fronts a bit more decorative and give a picture into the book themes a bit.

Princess June is an adult novel that I enjoyed quite a bit. I read this for the Korean book club and unfortunately not enough of us read it completely to have a good discussion. Kira Kira (Newbery Medal winner last year, I believe) I listened to on tape in my car over a period of two weeks. Really enjoy books on tape. Even if I only get to listen to a few minutes each time, I love to "live" the lives of the characters throughout my day.

The Best Bad Thing is a book by Yoshiko Uchida, one of the Asian American authors I am writing about for the encyclopedia entries I signed on to do - I really must get to the writing part! I've been enjoying her books, as I do of many of the Asian children's book writers.

Card Generator

Great new website that I can see myself using all the time. Love the look. Catalog Card Generator. This was our breakfast conversation. I wasn't awake enough for it, but think I answered his question pretty good. His response to my answer - "So I pushed out like poopy?" How do you answer that??

I feel the "need" to create - especially on weekends when I have a chance to breathe. Kids napping, sun shining, a day with nothing that really HAS to be done (except pay bills, do the dishes, do the laundry, walk the dog, begin my entries for the Asian encylopedia...) and I stole away for a while in the stolen moments studio - more like a couple of hours!

I made good on my new year's resolution to do more scrapbooking of our families memories - after a few minutes with altered booking :) I am proud to say that I made 3 new scrapbook pages - 2 of J and 1 of the family on father's day 2004 biking. Feels good. Off to do the things I don't HAVE to do, but really need to for the sake of a happy, healthy family.

Oh, and the "g" is my playing around with a photo program of a letter from a scrapbook paper that has the entire alphabet.

Orange Leaf

This is an orange leaf, nestled among the pine needles on the ground - upnorth, Wisconsin 2006.

*** Happy Valentine's Day ***

Happy Valentine's Day - Red Velvet Cupcakes. Why cupcakes? I ask myself that question too. There seems to be a cupcake craze lately, don't know why.

Mourning the Loss of His Friend

This is Lewis - my dog.

This week his friend Mickey, the sweetest Sheltie, had to be put down. He was having medical problems and was over 15 years old. Mickey was the neighbor's dog and the best dog anyone could imagine. We all will miss him - especially Lewis, as Mickey was his first and best dog friend.

Studio Friday - Artist I Admire

This week's Studio Friday topic for Friday January 26th suggested by Janet:

LOOK WHO I FOUND... ! Discovering "New" artists and Inspiration for our own work:

This is a piece of artwork that my brother in law, Gary Schappe, made. He is a metal artist and creates jewelry and large metal sculptures. He is amazing. I will post the leaf man mask he made as well. I am inspired by his creativity first of all, but also I LOVE his studio. It is built on top of his garage and it is gorgeous. Next time I am there I will have to take pictures.

New Family Member

Last night my sister Bunn had a baby boy - Jacob. Went to visit today... a real cute little guy. I forgot my camera and cannot post pictures yet. Instead I'll put a different picture so to keep the post eye appealing -- Korean pots.

Books Read Box

Here is the box I altered to put all my finished book cards in:

Reading 2007 - Memory Cards

So far so good on my goal for keeping track of the reading I do in 2007 and creating a "tag" or in this case, a "card" to highlight the book and my feelings. I have read 2 1/2 books so far. Here are my first two cards. I began another book that I forced myself to read 1/2 way because it was a novel about international adoption, however, it was so poorly written and so off the mark, I just couldn't finish.

Reading, The Richest Man Who Ever Lived:King Solomon's Secrets of Success, Wealth and Happiness by Steven K. Scott right now. Interesting and thought provoking. I find myself thinking about the card I'll make for the books while I'm reading - fun.

Missy Fish

This is Missy Fish - She is our son's favorite friend.

Mom: "Hey, stop kissing Missy Fish! :)"

J: "I not kissing Missy Fish, Missy Fish is kissing ME!"

J - 34 mo. old

{Flowers}

Today the doorbell rang and flowers were delivered - along with a small bottle of champagne and a little box of Godiva chocolates? To what do I owe this wonderful gift?? It's not my birthday, not our anniversary... but no, not from my husband, but from a friend. The flowers came from a friend who I SHOULD be thanking, not her me! She is thanking me (and my coauthor) for allowing her to be a part of our success. Well, she and her students ARE chapter 10 and we should have sent HER the flowers for her time and expertise.

They are gorgeous - I love the orange and yellow combination. What a beautiful way to brighten a cloudy cold winter day. Thank you so much Kathi. You are an inspiration to me with all you do in your classroom and beyond - hope to see your book about your professional endeavors published soon.

Studio Friday - Travels

I don't travel too much, but when I do, I notice the natural environment, especially the trees and flowers. I love seeing those I've not experienced before and learning about them. I have been known to strike up conversations with taxi drivers and shuttle bus drivers asking about the local flora. They often cannot tell me what kind of tree or flower it is that I spot, but I think that is because when we live with something so long we often take it for granted.

This collage is an altered book spread that I made in August of 2005 while in Northern Wisconsin at the cottage we stay at every year and have since I was a young girl. I've always loved the trees, leaves, bark and ferns in the area. It's held up pretty well since I just glued things down fresh from the ground or tree! I love this spread as it reminds me of travels I do every year and hope to do for the rest of my life - to a favorite place that is gorgeous!

Artists Changing Names

This week's topic at Studio Friday is Changing Names

"I've been reading Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Habit and here's an idea from her book - " the ancient masters of Japanese art were allowed to change their name once in their lifetime. They had to be very selective about the moment in their career when they did so. They would stick with their given name until they felt they had become the artist they aspired to; at that point, they were allowed to change their name. For the rest of their life, they would work under the new name at the height of their powers." So let's presume we are at the height of our careers - what name would you choose and why? "

As an undergrad in college, taking a creative writing course, we were required to take a pen name so that others could critique our writing authentically without each other knowing whose work we were reading. I loved the idea and named myself, Sunny Ellis. It sounded like a writer's name to me - especially the Ellis part. Ellis also seems too "sophisticated" to me - like the name of someone important. As I look at it now when I write it, I am struck by my fascination of Ellis Island - I was absolutely intrigued with Ellis Island when I visited New York as I knew that my Italian grandparents came through Ellis Island when they came to the United States. To know that I was walking on the same ground as my Grandpa when he was a young man just gave me the chills.

I've continued to use this name and still do when I submit writing to places where people would know me and I would rather be incognito.I don't really remember why I chose the Sunny in my creative name - maybe because it speaks to brightness, to newness to beginning anew each day.

When waiting for our first child, I even thought about naming her (if it would be a girl) Sunny. Glad my husband didn't like it. I guess he associated the name with me too much as my pen name. I'm glad I didn't share it with my daughter, because in a way, after 20 years or so, Sunny Ellis IS me. I have become her. She is me.

{New Year in my stolen moments studio}

I have been reading everyone else's blogs stating their resolutions and their plans for the new year, but have been hesitant to post my own (or even do too much reflecting on them). I guess I better, though, as I typically like to focus on the direction I want my life to go. Without doing this, I might just be letting things slip by without giving it my attention and the energy.

Above is an altered book spread I made within the last week - taking stolen moments to complete it between Christmas and New Year's day. My sweet husband had the "stolen moments studio" stamp made for me for Christmas. The patterned tissue paper is what it was wrapped in and I thought I should made a page that immortalizes my small, but happy studio. I also discovered two colors that I like together while making this page: black and pink.

So, on with my new year reflections and goals:

• Get new job - I have a good prospect on the horizon - I'm cofident, but don't want to be too confident, however.
• Although this is not something I really want to do, my husband is telling me it should be done: get back to scrapbooking our family's life. I really have let it go by the wayside since doing altered books. But he is right, it needs to be done as we have tons of pictures and we want our children to have memories. I just won't make them as elaborate as I have in the past. Although, I do credit my work with scrapbooking as one of the impeti (impetuses? :) for getting into altered books.
• Relax more in a productive way - this may sound contradictory, but I mean it in a way that is beneficial to my family, not as a lazy way. I want to relax and play and enjoy the kids more, not think that relaxing means time only for myself. This time is important too, but I need to "play" and just "be" more with the kids.
• Get back to gardening - my veggie and herb garden especially
• Creative goal: Get started on keeping track of all books I read in 2007 by making a "tag" for a book. I discussed this in an earlier post, but since I am in the process of reading the first book of the year, now is a good time to (re)start.

That's it for now... as I think more about this, I may post more - however, I don't want to "blog" :) myself down with too many goals that may not get accomplished.

Smiley Girl

Our happy smiley girl! She is fun when she is being happy as she is in this picture. This photo was taken on my new camera phone and I wanted to see the quality it produced. Back to work tomorrow.

Color Combinations

Funny, a few weeks ago the Studio Friday prompt was to share the color combinations that are distasteful for you. I posted the bright florescent purple and green, but yet I find that I am drawn to the bright almost florescent colors that Koreans use in some of their cultural products. Here are some Korean knots that I am drawn to - so I guess it's all in how the colors are used, in what context, that can make me like or dislike them.

Christmas Sweeties

Here are the kids, posing for our Christmas card photo. This isn't the one we chose, but it is cute nonetheless. After taking them to Target for pictures and having C scream and writhe about, we ended up leaving with nothing. Therefore, we had to pose at home - right before bed on a Sunday night. They turned out better than professional pictures I think. Christmas 2006!

Studio Friday - Color Combinations that Make Me Crazy

I have been thinking about this prompt this week and thought of all of the times I've worked with images on my computer. Whenever I go to the color wheel to choose a color, I find very distasteful the bright almost flourescent colors. They look so garish to me. When choosing two of them to highlight, I questioned why it is that I dislike them so much... Then it came to me. I like more natural, earthy colors and don't like "fake" colors that don't necessarily appear naturally in the world around me. So here is a peek at two of the colors I do not use in my artwork and that I am turned off by.

Now if these colors were more muted and not so bright and "in your face," I would like them. I'd like to learn more about the color wheel and color theory to more fully delve into this phenomenon.

My Favorite Color Palette

This week's Studio Friday Prompt - Color
I perused some of my altered book pages and found that there IS a pattern to many of my pages - earth tones, but especially golds and browns. Here are some pages that show this pattern:

{Leaf }

Thinking about my obsession with leaves and trees. I especially love trees in the winter when all the leaves are off - you can really see the structure of the tree. I think they are gorgeous when they are naked. Peg says she thinks its sad - but I see them as being exposed, their structures bared for the appreciative observer like me. Thought I'd post my tree/leaf wall in our family room.

The leaf mask was made by my brother in law - a metal artist. Jim won it for having the best costume at their Halloween party a few years ago. It is so cool. I'm so glad he won for his "head on the table" costume he spent much time creating (and is sitting in our attic).

The Gallerie Michele poster is special. We saw it in Williamburg Virginia when we were dating and taking a day trip from Jim's place in Baltimore. I admired the "naked" trees and we walked on. For an upcoming holiday, I received it as a gift. He traveled all the way back to buy it for me! So sweet.

The oak leaf is a real leaf found in my yard... don't know where it blew in from, as there are no oaks I know of close by. It's been stuck up on the wall for a couple of years.

I plan to let leaves and trees begin to impact my artwork as they are truly a reflection of me.

Studio Friday - This is Me

I am not techno savvy enough to know how to make a collage of images/photos, but can take individual pictures and upload them. This is me... an altered book artist. I love books in general and love to take a book and alter it to reflect me. Here are a few books I've done.
A little snippet of one of my bookshelves... Books, writing, creating... putting all three together is me, is my passion.

Our Book is Out!!

Our book is being published as we speak! Funny after these almost three years of work on it, it's not as exciting as I thought it would be. It is a huge accomplishment, yet I am not as excited as I thought I would be to publish a book. Oh yes, I am very proud, but I can't describe why I am not dancing with glee as I thought I would. Now comes the waiting time to see if anyone will buy it and use it with students. I hope someone finds it valuable.

If you want to buy it or find out about the details of the book, go to:
http://www.sagepub.com/textbooksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book227645

Studio Indulgences

My first post to Studio Friday! I've admired all the other posts for months, now it is my turn to get involved. My studio indulgence, based on the photos here, is that of time to organize my studio. As evident here, I have a ways to go, but have started and steal as many moments as I can to get organized so I can create art without being overwhelmed by my surroundings.

The other studio indulgence is just the fact that I HAVE a studio to work in... after having to sacrifice my office/studio at the addition of our daughter, I worried I would not be able to indulge in art without a designated space. But, I do now have a cozy corner in our bedroom that my husband doesn't object to too much, if it is not too messy.

November is here and today a gorgeous 50+ temperature - perfect day for cleaning out the garage. I still had all my teaching materials stashed in boxes waiting to be sorted and thrown out or placed in the attic. It took all day to go through things and my 20 boxes are now winnowed to 12. Still too many, but I'll need time to get over my past life and a few years to feel good about tossing things.
I have posted this tag here as a reminder and commitment to myself - I would like to create a "tag" for each book that I read. I read about this idea and thought it would be a great way to immortalize my reading and my literate life. I think it would give me a good excuse to find a few "Stolen Moments" and create. So, here is my pledge. With every book I read (over 32 pages - no children's picture books unless I find one so motivating and scintillating) I will create a "tag" and display them in some way, possibly including them in my altered books.

Our Children Together

It's so nice to see the kids spending more time
together. The older C gets, the easier
it is for J to do things with her. One of
the last walks of the early autum, warm enough for shorts.

Scenes of Autumn Harvest

C sits pleased with the pumpkin she picked from the "manufactured" pumpkin patch we visited on a horse drawn hayride.

Work Done During Summer

Finally a chance to post some of the work I did over the summer months related to altered books. Not much, as it was a busy summer. But as the days lengthen, I am going to get more art done. That is my goal.

This first picture is the cover of my latest AB. It contains a poem, Dare to Dream, that my mom gave to me. It is a good reminder of the need to not be afraid of pushing for what you believe, for reaching your dreams. Over the poem, I used a mustard colored glaze and then added motivational stickers.

This is the most recent spread. This picture comes from a magazine and I had been waiting to use it... The quote just seems to fit. Background color is a cat's eye stamp pad. I am finding I like the grey-green and rust colors in my work.

Another of my Asian inspired spreads. This one has a lot of meaning and history, as most of the items on the page came from my box of Japanese artifacts I used when teaching 4th and 5th grade. The background with the trees and birds is a rice paper napkin that when adhered, it is impossible to tell that it is not just drawn on.

The background beneath that is done with Korean tea bag wrappers.

The rich green ribbon in the middle was used to close the gap that was starting to show in the spine. Mistakes can easily be covered - with nice results. The dolls were decorative on chopstick boxes. The Asian writing - Korean, from paper I bought in Insadong in Seoul, South Korea.

This spread is meant to be a background, done in a book that I think will someday use as a journal. All of the spreads are done so that writing can be done over it. It is a mixture of various papers -- the right side top is a piece of coffee filter that Jaden "colored" in preschool and the purples and blues were really the inspiration for this page.

I like that I used torn out pages from a book and serendiptiously included a page on the left top entitled, "The Professor." Not seen easily, but I used lumiere purple on top of the spread - it glitters nicely in the light.

Ah, summer... this page is not "finished," but I don't think I will finish it. A bright, bold statement of the summer now past...

My Son, the Artist

I now have to share my blog with my son who is an artist himself. Yesterday he wanted to play with scissors, markers and a glue stick and he created the right half of this piece. He called it a train. This morning he got out his art supplies and added on the left portion and "hooked up" another train. I think it's wonderful and love that he is utilizing his artistic talents. He is only 3 1/2, but on his way! He is into trucks, trains, diggers - all the things little boys typically like. Here is a favorite picture of him sitting on a digger and loving it.