Art Madness

Thus begins my self induced fall from sanity. I am going to be doing both the Taylorsville Art Show (March 21st) as well as the Beehive Bazaar (April 30-May2) which for all practical preparative purposes are almost simultaneous. I realize that yes, technically there is over a month in between said events, but there is also less than a month before the first one. They also consist of totally separate things. One is an art show, that I'll be displaying my as yet unfinished art. The other is a craft show where I'll have prints of my art and other things from my etsy shop. Two completely different preparations.

Not only that but I suffer from a severe case of chronic, debilitating artist block. Sure its easy and convenient to blame my lack of progress on my having three kids, but honestly, thats not really the issue. I have in my studio a painting that is very close to being finished THAT I HAVEN'T TOUCHED IN THREE YEARS. It seems the more I like a piece the harder it is to finish. I don't want to mess it up, and the longer I am away from it the more intimidating it is to come back to. I think in some weird way my potential as an artist scares me. The better I do, the more I have to live up to. And I never know if something will work. Just because I have before, doesn't mean I can do it again, I can't predict anything. Creating art takes a lot of concentration, I like it when it works, but it is certainly not relaxing. Maybe for other artists it is, I don't know. But it takes a lot of effort for me. So, don't expect me to emerge from my dank, cluttered, unfinished, basement studio anytime soon. However I fully plan on retaining all portions of both of my ears. Wish me luck.

Happy (Late) Valentine's Day

For some reason, I was feeling extra festive about this Valentine's Day. I'm not a very big holiday person in general, but I thought it would be fun to make some Valentines with my kids. Crafts with an (almost) three year old and a five year old, aren't exactly relaxing, but it was mostly fun. ...and too bad but I have no pictures of their chaotic cutness! I did also decide to make some fancy cookies to go along with the cute haphazardness of my kids glue stick creations. I found the idea from an old Family Fun magazine that to this day I have no idea who got me a subscription for it. ..but that is neither here not there.. Basically you make sugar cookies, and use two cookie cutters, a large heart and a smaller heart in the middle, and you bake it with a jolly rancher in the negative space (over pam-sprayed tin foil so you can get the melted mess off in one piece, after it cools of course). The result looks really fancy (for me) and was quite the accomplishment for me who hates rolling out cookies. (especially since you have to WAIT to chill the dough, I don't do well planning ahead normally). Besides the delivering to all their neighborhood friends, I wanted to take some pictures of the kids and I for a Valentine's present for Austin. I had just figured out the self timer on my camera (the first thing I've had to look up so far, yay for intuitive Cannon design) and wanted to play around with it. I also wanted to try out a backdrop and pretend I actually know anything about photography.

I got in some good ones before Austin woke up.
..and he shockingly agreed to attempt some of the whole family. We are notoriously bad with our lack of family pictures. The last formal one was when Sohvi was about 1 1/2. So, even though layout sucks (hey, its hard to compose a picture with you and a baby not in it yet.. and I've never messed around with a timer before). I think its not half bad.

Then, Austin made me a multiple course steak dinner, and sang and played a new song that he wrote for me, because he's probably the best sweetie ever. It was a pretty awesome day.

couples questions

I stole this from facebook so, if you've already seen it too bad! I figured I'd post it on my blog for those non-facebookers and the sad fact I have pitifully neglected my blog. I'm not going to tag anybody specifically, but I'd love to see your response if you feel like it.


This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it's about you and your spouse, not just you.

♥ What are your middle names?
Joan, and Robert

♥ How long have you been together?
Married for seven years in November.

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
over a year

♥ Who asked who out?
Austin asked me, despite a misunderstanding that he thought I just wanted to be friends.

♥ How old are each of you?
Both 29.

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
Depends on where we/they live. We usually see whoever lives closest most. Usually mine.

♥ Do you have any children together?
Three. Sohvi is 5, Max will be 3 this month, and Lucy is almost 9 months old.

♥ What about pets?
Simon the turtle, and Mossimo the cat.

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Austin works lots, and has a pretty unpredictable schedule.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Nope. not even close.

♥ Are you from the same home town?
nope.

♥ Who is the smartest?
Hah, isn't that a loaded question! It depends on the subject. We even each other out most of the time. Like I'm smarter in science, he's smarter with history. Then we're both good in english (though he is better with grammar and rules and such), and both suck at math (but I am better than he is). Artistically I'm visual, he's musical.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Depends. He cried when we got married (tears of joy), I didn't. (hey I was happy too, I just don't cry in front of people!) But I will cry more in movies... This is totally subjective though, neither one of us is very weepy.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Johnny Carino's.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple
..not very far. We've done the back and forth from Portland to Utah and Idaho too many times to count. ..and I don't think we've gone farther than that (at least together). Traveling with kids sucks.

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
hmmm.. probably me.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
huh. neither one of us has much of a temper. Maybe me when I'm preggo.

♥ Who does the cooking?
I do generally, but Austin cooks when he can, and he's really good at it. I've learned a lot from him.

♥ Who is more social?
It depends. Austin hates organized social things, but likes big groups of people. (he is great at entertaining when he feels like it) I like small groups, or one on one. But we mostly just like to hang out with each other.

♥Who is the neat Freak?
hmm. Its certainly not me.

♥ Who is the more stubborn?
uhh... me.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
I used to, I've gotten better.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Me.

♥ Where was your first date?
Baskin Robbins (informal, we were just hanging out, but he paid). or my parents sailboat (the first formal date) depending on which you count as a date.

♥ Who has the bigger family?
We each have five siblings. I have more in-laws and nieces/nephews on my side though.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
No. But he writes me a song every anniversary, which is much more romantic.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
At home, and some with extended family.

♥ Who is more jealous?
huh? I don't know.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
a week and a half.

♥ Who eats more?
Austin.

♥ Who does/ did the laundry?
I do generally. But Austin does his own sometimes too.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Me, hands down. there is absolutely no contest.

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Austin. He gets carsick when other people drive.