I'm a Dog

I think I have successfully edited my first home movie! It has taken me almost 3 years to figure out (though I admit to not studying it for longer than 10 minutes at a time until earlier this evening), but I think it's been worth the effort. Here is my now, almost 5 year old in a shining moment of toddler-hood. Enjoy!

You can expect another video of my one-year-old in about 3 more years. I can't promise that it won't be HIM eating dog food next time, as he seems to be fond of it too. My oldest son watched the above video and remembered aloud, "Mom, dog food really does taste like cookies to me." ...what can I say to that? I guess we buy some pretty high-quality dog food at our house. Am I bad mother or what?!  Ha!

Encouragement for Moms

Nicole Johnson's The Invisible Woman.

My friend, Julie, sent this to me; and I wish I could personally send it to every mom I know. This is 5 minutes that will keep you going for a lifetime! 

Picture Perfect

Last week our family made a trip to the beach, and it was really, really great together time. But in the words of the infinitely wise rock-band, Poison,"every rose has it's thorn"...oh, so true, Poison. And our thorn for the week was taking that elusive, perfect photo of our two precious angels in sweet serenity by the ocean side. I will never know how other people capture that perfect Kodak moment for their Christmas cards each year; but if you are on our Christmas list, you'll never have to worry about a sickeningly perfect photo of our children coming your way. You're safe with us. It will never happen. Here's some documentation of the wreckage:

At this point, I gave up & realized that perfection is SO overrated...how boring is being perfect?! I hope we can send out an outrageously, crazy-fun photo on our Christmas cards this year...something that will really make you chuckle, instead of gag. In the end, we did get this pretty nice (though fuzzy) shot of our little angels...God bless their spunk!

Art for My Sake

Initially, I was VERY excited about beginning this blogsite; but after actually getting it up and running I got blog-fright. I had imagined a wonderful space of my own where I could be totally free to make a statement, just put my thoughts and my little artwork out there for the world to access. But then I realized that other people would be looking at what I posted, and that I really don't have any deep statements to make that anyone else would actually want to read. So about as quickly as my blog began, it ended. But I've had a personal break-through; and I've realized that no one actually reads this anyway, so what am I scared of? The real answer for me would be a sketchbook/journal, which I have about 100 of around my house that I have started and not finished. So at least this blogsite will save paper and condense my ponderings (is that a word) into one place, which will make my husband happy. And I will get to have a space of my own which will make ME happy.

In honor of the forthcoming Independence Day holiday, I am posting an Amy's Own original card from about 1984. I was a pre-teen and very sure of my art abilities. Have you ever received a homemade card for the 4th of July? Well, I haven't either; but my mom assures me that it really enhances the holiday, especially if your child is the artist behind the sentiment. 

Blessing and a Curse

We all have our passions - our true talents - that are undeniably part of who we are. And though it takes most of us a lifetime to hone them, we are always aware that they constantly call to us. On-lookers make envious comments like, "Oh, you're so lucky to be so talented in that way." But those who have a calling, a passion, know that it is both a blessing and a curse. Creativity seldom sleeps, so when she is so moved to move you...you move! It is not a thing to pencil into one's Day Runner, but rather a breath of life breathed into your days causing fury and madness and wonderful fulfillment. So, when life becomes more about other people (especially small, needy people) than yourself, creativity becomes a burden of sorts to bare until a time comes when all the needs of all the others are satisfied and you can devote yourself to your own calling to creativity. This is why the song below, "Just for Now" is my new "theme song". It's the feeling that I have when I get to work on Amy's Own projects or any myriad of other perpetual art projects stashed in my mind and in my art bins - the feeling of escaping to my own time, my own space...just for now...not forever (nor even for very long), but just for now. Don't get me wrong...I'm exactly where I want to be, doing what I want to be doing; but I do a great balancing act to keep things that way. I bet you do, too.

My new theme song

Imogen Heap "Just for Now"

Write or Wrong

As with all things I create, there is currently a need for this item at my house right now. I created these "Writing Boards" as a way to make it fun for my Preschool son to practice writing his own name (over & over!). The flip side has a cute & fun alphabet I designed with corresponding objects to their letter sound to reinforce the letter sounds and remind him what the letters are actually supposed to look like. He has used his for about six months and still likes it, so I began giving these as gifts to friends' children. They have been such a hit that several people have requested to purchase their own to give as gifts to other preschool kids. They remind me of the old-timey slate boards Mary & Laura Ingles used on Little House on the Prairie, except those sweet girls probably had to share one; and to have a wipe off one in cool colors with their own names on them would have totally blown that little Walnut Grove Schoolhouse away! But oh, the joy of making Nelly Olson jealous...! Whoa, okay, back to reality.... So, yeah, these Writing Boards are way hip & totally cool for kids and for parents who don't like wasting paper, too!