pipoca and guarana

It's BOO time!

2011-10-17T12:45:00.001-05:00

It's October, the BEST MONTH EVER!!
Hey, not growing up in the U.S. means I get to be a kid in October. There is nothing wrong with that, right?
I have been having the time of my life with my little family- crunchy Fall walks, bike rides, purplish air brushed sunsets, every kind of pumpkin baked concoction you can dream of, not to mention haunted houses...I had to miss a craft meeting I was REALLY looking forward to because of a sinus related annoyance but I managed to get my hands into a craft this weekend anyway...So simple. And super cheap. In fact, it was almost free... So this is what you need:
mini pumpkins
some Halloween themed paper (or if you don't have any like me, just get whatever)
some wire (to hold the cards)
a jewelry wire bending tool or your pliers from your toolbox
whatever else rocks your boat (for embellishments)
* I am not a scrap booking girl, so if you are, the possibilities and endless. I just like to slap some glue around and be done with it.

wire card holders

little cards made out of card stock and other stuff

adjust your swirlies to make sure your card stays put

start putting it together...


go find a place to put it!

Fun stuff!! Thanks for checking it out and have a FANTASTIC Halloween :)
Beijos,
Ally Pye.

1 year later- Got a paintbrush? Then toss it my way!

2011-10-11T14:22:00.002-05:00

It's been a year since my last post. I have missed blogging so much!
It has taken me 6 months (since finishing grad school) to recover from choices rushed by unclear threats of vulnerability and an unfamiliar craving for security.
I have since made some radical decisions in an attempt to refuse a life of settling- my job was eating away at the very core of my being, depleting me of all things that matter, so I left it.
I picked up a paintbrush about a week after I cried myself to sleep everyday over leaving a good paying full time job in Michigan- which at the time seemed like the stupidest thing I could have ever done.
Things are now shaping up slowly and I could not have hoped for a better future for myself and my family. Patience in speech, action and thought have been indispensable in this journey, along with remembering that the best answer is found only within. I am grateful for my husband's generosity and understanding in the past few months and for the unceasing joy I find in my children.
From my personal "Dark Ages" to the resurgence of light, I am still standing as a dynamic, resilient being who is ready for her Renaissance!

Here are the latest paintings:

Thank you for reading! Its good to be back:)
Beijos,
Ally Pye.

Paintings for Lizzy

2010-09-02T08:58:00.001-05:00

I have had the pleasure of working on a series of paintings for a couple who is having their first child (a baby girl); the mother happens to be one of the most patient people on Earth, and has provided the most loving daycare for my Bella Boo for a few months. This job gave me a chance to further develop some sketches of animals derived from my elephant drawings from months ago and an excuse to hang out in my cave (basement studio area) for many hours. So here they are, finally done!

I hope you like them! I am pretty proud of the way they turned out and hope that Lizzy will enjoy them too :)
Thanks for reading!
beijos
allypye.

Birdies- sewing adventure # 3

2010-08-27T10:13:00.000-05:00

I've started to look at patterns while in stores and realized that if I ever depend on them to sew it will just NOT happen. I don't know what it is but patterns confuse me more than quantum physics, so I am not going there as of now. I've decided to sew these little birdies, which I hope will be an effort eventually multiplied to 30 (? arbitrary number...) so I can redecorate our Christmas tree. These were my first attempts:

These guys sure made my day. A super easy, rewarding sewing adventure!

Thanks for reading!
beijos
allypye

2010-08-27T08:39:00.001-05:00

This is my newest piece. I worked on a different painting project yesterday for 7 hours, and even though I was exhausted after that, I still wanted to make something just for fun. This little painting has a bit of collage, some thread and acrylic paint.

It is starting to combine some elements that have been a part of my sketches for months now, so it feels like I am developing some sort of recognizable pattern. Although I realize that I might be overusing this color palette, its just too much fun to stop...

I hope you like it!

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

In Defense of Food

2010-08-25T08:16:00.002-05:00

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book gives you a perspective on viewing American eating habits that goes beyond food itself. It tells you how we got here (to the age of obesity, heart disease and diabetes)- and then it helps the reader in finding ways to escape this mess. I LOVED it. note that the last chapter has a lot of the same info found on "Food Rules".

View all my reviews

2010-08-21T21:34:00.003-05:00

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Picked this up 5 hours ago. Flash read! great advice, simple and straightforward.

View all my reviews

Bella Boo Fun- FEET PAINTING!

2010-08-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share some pics of my amazing four year old stomping away with her rainbow toes! It felt amazing to watch her! So much fun! If you want to try this at home or share it with someone, here is a quick list of what you'll need:

PAPER PLATES

ACRYLIC PAINT

BIG SHEETS OF PAPER

WATER (FROM A HOSE IS BETTER)

OLD TOWEL

Put a good amount of each paint color on the paper plates (one color per plate) and have your little one step onto it covering the bottom of their toes with paint (be careful, its super slippery!); Have them step on the paper and make different designs with their feet (dancing on the paper is fun too). Make sure to hose off the little toes before moving on to a different color.

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

new painting

2010-08-11T14:46:00.000-05:00

Quick post to share this new one. I working on drawing a bunch of these whimsical fairy type girls. Today I just needed to paint something... It was a lot of fun!!!

Thanks for stopping by! There wasn't much "reading" this time!
beijos
allypye

Sewing Adventure #2

2010-08-09T09:11:00.000-05:00

hello all!
Today I am going to share my second sewing project with you. Please keep in mind that I am an infant. Therefore harsh criticisms aren't fair ;)
We have a fairly large dining room table, and I lOvE dressing it up with interesting place mats and table runners (the World Market appreciates this obsession very much!); so I've decided to make place mats! This first attempt turned out to be completely useless, but I am madly in love with it nevertheless!
Second cautionary note: The stitching is a crude mess of thread so just try to be patient with my newborn attempts to survive in sewing land!

Cut out leafs

Trying to embroider a little

back, or front, if the other side gets dirty;)

That's it my friends!

Thanks for reading!
beijos
allypye

Little Paintings...

2010-08-06T15:35:00.001-05:00

Well, I don't have to say that I am having a little affair with fabric lately right?

It just so happens that I am working on a series of children's paintings for a new bundle of joy who is to arrive later this year- my first COMMISSIONED set of paintings, if I may say so humbly!

But before I painted the series, I've decided to get some practice with actually painting on a canvas again. The combination of needing to paint for practice and not being able to let go of my new found love of fabric gave birth to these little OwLs...

I like them. not sure yet about the metallic blue background, but who can resist a request from a angel faced 7 year old?

NoT Me :)

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

I made a dress!!

2010-08-03T09:25:00.000-05:00

As unbelievable as it may sound, allypye, the daughter of a wedding dress seamstress does not sew. The machine sits and waits but my insecurity trumps the desire to hear that oh so familiar sound of the foot pedal, the needle up and down, stitching and mending new and old things. I remember as a young girl standing very still while my mom took measurements for silk pajamas which matched silk pink sheets, making me feel like I was sleeping on a slippery Popsicle.
Sewing was her thing, and she was so good at it, I couldn't even try to measure up.
But years later, thanks to my WONDERFUL mother-in-law, I tackled the first step to what I hope will become one more outlet for creative bliss!
I bought this DRESS for Bella from Amy @ Small Potatoes and although the pattern seemed so simple, I had doubts that I could make one myself; just for messing around sake, I went to Freshly Picked and shared the link with Cindy Lou who encouraged me to buy the fabric so we could tackle the project together.
And we got it done in one afternoon!
Check it out peeps!!!

I tackled a sewing machine. YAY!

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

I am beginning to like the sound of this!

2010-07-01T09:27:00.003-05:00

Lately some things have clicked in my mind about crafting. I love making stuff for kids (especially girls, but hoping to expand to boys too soon); although the line that separates fine art and craft still makes a buzz in my ear from time to time,
I've decided to gear my Etsy Shop to Children's ART and Accessories. Making this stuff makes me feel great, and it provides a whole new avenue for expression. I think it can only do good things for my future fine art endeavors, rather than harm them, as I had previously assumed. The frame of mind that I put myself into while making kids crafts is incredibly energizing. Being immersed into a world of color, beauty and fantasy inevitably gives me a more positive outlook and a different perspective not only in art but in life as well.
As I write this, words like fullfillment, joy and satisfaction come to mind, and I become amazingly humbled to know that these are the things God knew I needed in my life! How amazing are the gifts and their amazing power to heal and renew.

Thanks for reading!
beijos
allypye

Girlie picture frames

2010-06-27T21:02:00.004-05:00

This weekend I decided to work on these picture frames that were laying around in the basement; I really didn't want to spend any $ so I dug out some fun paper and forgotten pop up stickers, grabbed some paint and went with it! I REALLY enjoyed making these! They will look quite adorable hanging in Bella's room! Check it out:)

The basic process was to put a coat of paint on a wooden frame, and then play a little with textures to give the project a rich base. I picked out papers to compliment paint colors and decoupaged it onto the frame with some Mod-Podge

I then added some pop-up stickers, but as a suggestion, i would do that before using the mod podge

since the stickers did not stick on so well the first time I tried these.

Final touches were made by adding some self-stick gems

and that's all!

thanks for reading! beijos,

allypye

Hair stuff for my Bella Boo!

2010-06-16T09:39:00.001-05:00

OH my GOSH! I have craft fever!!!! SERIOUS CASE! So excited about making stuff this summer I don't even know where to start:) What a great problem to have huh? I am pretty sure I will be working on some fine art stuff as well (more on this later), but right now I am working on making hair accessories for my beautiful daughter! I had a post about the same thing last year during Halloween but I like these new ones much better!

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

yummy brunch! frittata with grilled apples

2010-06-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

Weekends at our home are pretty relaxed as far as food goes. Brunch is a must and everyone loves it! Here is a pretty healthy option that even my picky eaters have grown to love!

Grilled Apples

sliced apples (1 per family member)

quick oats (I use about a half a cup for 5 apples)

brown sugar (I use 1/4 cup)

Cinnamon

mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, heat up a griddle and add the mixture in one layer, so the apples cook evenly. Use a spatula to turn the apples to cook both sides and if you need more of the caramelized sauce add about a 1/4 cup of water to the griddle slowly.

Keep them in the griddle until the apples are soft and the sauce is sticky! YUM!

Frittata

(for 5)

10 eggs beat
2 cups of spinach

10 grape tomatoes or 5 cherry tomatoes cut in quarters

one large red onion sliced

1 cup of diced hash brown potatoes, thawed

salt and pepper

(i always add fresh cilantro or parsley too)
Parmesan cheese to top

mix all ingredients except Parmesan cheese in a large mixing bowl. spray a large skillet and heat it up for a few seconds before adding the frittata mixture to the pan. Add the mixture, cover the skillet and cook it in LOW/MEDIUM heat until the eggs are set. Top it with parmesan cheese (fresh grated is best) and serve hot.

Doesn't this sound good? Now just add your favorite breakfast beverages, some whole grain toast, and you are off to a great start to your weekend! LOVE good food! It is a gift from the Earth to you:)
Thanks for reading

beijos
allypye

Wood Burning the Play Set

2010-06-14T12:01:00.001-05:00

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair"

I've been thinking about this quote by Kahlil Gibran ever since Spring started so one day I decided that it would be a good idea to carve those simple, amazingly wise words right on our wooden play set as a constant reminder of our oneness with the natural world.

I still need to touch it up, but I have to say I just love going to the backyard and seeing it everyday! I hope it will inspire you too...

Thanks for reading,

beijos,

allypye

Stepping Stones

2010-06-08T13:32:00.002-05:00

Just dropping by real quick to post some pictures of the stepping stones we made on mother's day weekend. Instead of buying kits from the craft store we bought a big bag of quick cement mix, plastic plant bases, and pebbles of various colors and shapes from the dollar store. We ended up with 7 stepping stones, total cost of about $15.00. Much cheaper that buying the kit!

each of us selected our favorite glass pieces

adding them to the cement was a no-brainer after laying them out on paper plates first

My oldest son's design! I love it!

hand print stepping stone

The final product! This was truly a great day!

Hope you enjoy the pics and the tips!
Thanks for reading
beijos
allypye

The gift of a Painting

2010-06-04T09:33:00.004-05:00

Last year I attended a house warming party for some friends of mine who had just purchased a new house. Instead of bringing a gift, I promised them an original painting, which they were thrilled about. Of course as the story of my life always goes, there were a few road blocks and the painting was delivered 5 months later! YIKES! That is a LONG time...
I am however, very happy with the result and so are my friends! I decided to paint on a birch wood board, using some drawing, wood burning, acrylics and some paper cut outs. Some areas were also enriched with colored pencils and pastels.
Making art as a gift is so different than planning an exhibit; it is liberating in a way because you don't have to worry about maintaining homogeneity, or flow, conceptualizing themes and etc...
It becomes more about the person who is to receive the painting, their taste, personality and the colors in their home. So this was definitely refreshing!

pencil drawing and wood burning

adding wood cut out with decoupage

almost done

painting the birds

The gift that enriches both the giver and the receiver, is a gift worth giving!

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

Backyard Robin's Nest

2010-06-01T08:48:00.001-05:00

Nest with eggs

Waiting

Feeding

If I were a robin, the last place I would want to build my nest would be in a play set, where a 7 and a 3 1/2 year old are accustomed to climbing, jumping, shaking amongst other activities that would make life for newborn birds rather unbearable.

Well, this particular robin mama felt like our backyard play set was the perfect place to have babies, and so she did. Here are some pics of the whole process, taken by my 13 year old who has now developed an interest in nature photography. I must say, it was pretty great to see the way each of our kids reacted to the whole thing. They all developed a true sense of caring for the mama bird, the eggs and later the new born babies. We watched them hatch, feed for the first time, learn to walk, and fly. Living in an urban area does not mean we lack opportunities to see nature at work.

All it takes is to open your eyes wider, and look a little closer!

Thanks for reading!

beijos
allypye

Turning 7

2010-05-19T10:43:00.005-05:00

This past weekend we had a birthday party for my now 7 year old. He is really into animals, especially sea animals. Since I love planning a party, this was the perfect opportunity to do some fun activities and an an excuse to be creative.

The kids had five activity stations including a water table blind animal search, a shark bookmark craft, a sandbox fossil hunt, music and a game of sharks & minnows. We all had so much fun! I am posting a couple of pics for you to check out; plus an outline of the party plans, in case you know someone wanting to have an Ocean Extravaganza!

Ocean Jello Cups- Blue jello, gummy sharks, and top it with a bit of whipped cream after it sets, so it will look like the sea foam!

Shark Bookmark Craft- Cut out sharks out of blue poster board, punch a hole at the tail for beading, a white crayon to draw on and add some googly eyes! So easy!!

Fossils for the sandbox search- These were a bit more time consuming. I used polymer clay balls and stamped small jewelry charms that I found at the bead shop in town;

Knead the clay so that it is workable; make quarter size balls and press with your thumb. Then press the charms on, bake at 275 degrees for 15 min. Pull them out, let it cool and brush lightly with black acrylic paint. I put these in the sand box mixed with shells. They got to take them home to use as pendants. Fun!

Quick Overview of the plans:

FOOD

goldfish crackers

blue punch

ocean jello cups

some fruit and cheese for healthy options

cake (we ordered ours from a local grocery store)

ACTIVITIES

shark bookmark

fossil hunt

sea animal search (used my son's sea animal toys)

sharks & minnows game (kind'a like tag)

acting out the "baby shark" song

Plus some fun decor, prizes and enthusiasm, it was a day to remember!

And don't forget to add a good play list- our music was all ocean related.

thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

Pulling weeds

2010-05-11T20:26:00.005-05:00

Yes, it has been forever! Life really got a hold of me these past few months. Between writing millions of papers, family responsibilities, and waves of sadness and doubt, I felt the need to retract.

I have been hard on myself, pushing all limits that even I knew should not have been pushed. I disregarded my needs and drained the soil almost completely. Luckily, there is always spring, and with it a chance to renew, re-evaluate and prioritize.

I have let go of external pressures to be “the perfect mother” or “the perfect wife” or “the 4.0 student”, I know that much. But at what point are the demands I put on myself interfering with my ability to do what makes me happy without neglecting those I love?

Even further, I don’t want to settle for “not neglecting” my family, because that implies merely getting basic needs met, which is by no means the intention here.

Criticism comes from every direction but when it comes from within,
it becomes embedded in people’s minds like a weed’s root clinging to the soil.

Letting go of “what will others say?” is a huge step into maturing one’s individuality; however, breaking negative thinking patterns that sometimes consume the way you view and compare yourself to others, may be the toughest challenge of all!

If negativity is a weed, bring on the gardening tools, because I am ready to pull them out!

Thanks for reading!
Beijos
allypye (glad to be back, by the way:)

paper bag crafts

2009-11-20T13:36:00.015-06:00

I was looking through a book of Holiday crafts with the 6 year old, and we came across this penguin potato print idea! Since we are all quite fond of penguins around here, I took the idea and tried to incorporate it with some found materials: sticks, paper bag, some yarn- plus acrylic paint and brushes to add the finishing details. We made 5 penguins, each representing a member of our family and tied them through holes we made with a hole punch! It looks really cute hanging on the wall in the living room and it was super easy to do:)

Keep creating!

Thanks for reading

beijos

allypye

Post Secret

2009-11-04T21:42:00.010-06:00

I just recently attended a Post Secret Show in my wonderful town and felt like it was worth a post. For those who aren't familiar with the Project, check out the website

or take a walk to your local library to flip through the books.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/PostSecret-Extraordinary-Confessions-Ordinary-Lives/dp/0060899190

Frank Warren and his comforting, empathetic presence, shared with the audience his experiences while working on Post Secret, touching many not only by showing some of his favorite secret post cards but also by providing the audience with an opportunity to share their own secrets, right then and there! At first, I felt uncomfortable with people going up to the microphone to share their most intimate experiences, until a woman came up to the mic to talk about her post-partum depression. The familiarity of her account hit me like a rock, and I began to listen to people who declared their love to members of the audience or admitted to be "scared shitless" of an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

The liberating power of releasing these secrets, as put by Frank Warren, can open up a world of intimacy when shared with a loved one; or perhaps have the function of comforting a complete stranger who may be going through similar challenges- the latter, one of the reasons for the popularity of the project.

From my perspective, the courage in being vulnerable allows people to become empathic with one another, and it releases us from feeling so inadequate in a world that constantly seeks to achieve perfection. Feelings of despair, shame and guilt experienced by all humans can be life giving when shared.

What does not kill us makes us stronger and it can make others stronger too.

Thanks for reading!

beijos

allypye

The Story of Stuff

2009-10-30T07:58:00.016-05:00

"Bella and the caterpillar" Photographed by Erik (the husband)

Even though my latest posts have focused on homemaking and family life, sometimes even sounding self-indulgent, a lot of contemplation has taken place in my home in regards to the bigger picture, and how our presence in the world today will impact what we leave behind.

This is no news, the debate is going on everywhere and I just hope to be able to somehow continue with the conviction that a family can take steps to become closer and more loving, without becoming self-centered.

I truly believe we can inspire a sense of community responsibility in our children if we are cognizant of our own duty. To us, this means reading more, talking more, cooking, crafting, listening to music, asking questions and becoming involved in community... Caring for one another at home makes it easier to care for the world outside, its people, animals and resources. It means not having the tv on (maybe once or twice on the weekends for movies), it means NOT going to stores when we are bored, and doing whatever we can to be outside in nature.

The reality is that this way of living simply, taking the focus AWAY from consumption, makes a lot of impact- we have seen a huge difference in the way our family thinks and acts because of it.

We are conditioned by society to become Slaves of Consumption, and it becomes easy to push aside concepts like conservation, reusage, and community building.

I would go as far as saying that a holistic approach to life can lessen the individualistic tendencies that poison us. With that said, I am posting a link to the "Story of Stuff" video (the international web site so you can have subtitles in many other languages.) Please watch, it is soooo worth it!

http://www.storyofstuff.com/international/

Thanks for reading!

Beijos

allypye

good is here

2009-10-26T12:42:00.010-05:00

"Walk in the Woods" photographed by allypye

Hello everyone! I've missed blogging for the past couple of weeks, so busy with life, there isn't time to just sit and decompress... I think I am finally getting out of the rut from just before my birthday last month. I have begun to exercise often and am being diligent about taking my supplements.

Old friends came back into my life when I thought I'd lost them forever and new possibilities arise at the end of this intensely burdened year. There is so much beauty in what is beyond my understanding, and I can't help but to feel so blessed by the changes that have taken place when they were most needed.

It is interesting to look at personal growth from the perspective of now, and admitting my shortcomings and imperfections push me on a direction of self acceptance; there is so much that is wrong, but so much that is right too! I am just so glad for today, for the wonderful ability of the universe to wash away the debris on the shore, wave by wave.

Getting to know myself better is exciting, even when it doesn't fit the mold; I am who I am now but ready to change tomorrow, because nothing in me is motionless or inert; Within each of us there are hundreds of others, and that's just how it should be!

Thanks for reading,

beijos

allypye

Homemade Halloween

2009-10-06T10:00:00.003-05:00

MY favorite month ever!!! Not growing up having Halloween sure makes a kid out of me in the early Fall! I love everything about it, the costumes, trick or treating, hay rides, apple cider, pumpkin carving, and... the chance it gives me to be CREATIVE on my own and with the kids! This year money is SUPER tight, so I have had to come up with frugal ways of decorating and re-using stuff that I have around the house...I would love more ideas for Halloween crafts, so if you have any, let me know...

My little love (the 6 year old) and I making a Spooky Scene on a shoe box lid and threading leaves gathered from our neighborhood. Going outdoors for supplies is one of my favorite things to do, since it gets them to see beauty in places never before imagined. Plus, it gives us a chance to say hello to the neighbors...

Other stuff:

Hanging Halloween Scene: I finished this one last week and it was so much fun! Probably two or three hours from beginning to end and pretty much the same procedure as the little pillow (see below) with the exception of the batting;

Little Ghost Pillow: I love this little guy!

Felt, Embroidery floss, Ribbon, Quilt Batting and Felt Glue. So easy, and you can be done in a couple of hours.

Just get some felt and draw the patterns with a sharpie pen, cut them out and glue you scene on the felt piece that will be sewn into the pillow; then sew three sides of the 81/2 x 11 felt sheet and stuff it with the batting; sew the little pillow shut and add embellishment stitches with the embroidery floss.DONE!

Pumpkin Mosaic: Did this one with the three year old last week.

All it takes is some construction paper, a glue stick, some crayons, ribbon and a hole punch.

Draw a simple outline of a pumpkin on a piece of paper and let your child go nuts with the ripping and tearing; glue the pieces on and add the details with crayons! We did this after reading the book "Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden" http://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Circle-Garden-George-Levenson/dp/1582460787

Little Ghosts: These little ghosts were done by my boys last year, but they are in great shape, so I am putting them up again:

You need round circles of white tulle (dollar store), tissues (yeah, like Kleenex), a black marker, small Styrofoam balls (other more environmentally friendly option would be better, but that's what I had), black pipe cleaners. I thought it would be cute to add ribbons to the necks but I didn't have any at the time so they are tied with black string.
To make them, just cover each ball with one or two sheets of tissue paper, draw the eyes with the marker and cover it with the tulle. Stick the pipe cleaner through the little ghost's head and make a loop at the top for hanging.

That's all for now, thanks for reading!

beijos, allypye

Rainy day play...

2009-10-03T19:19:00.002-05:00

It has been raining all day today, I am feeling a bit moody and without much motivation to take on a full art piece, but I can feel my soul craving, begging me to do something creative...I decided to do something small, and came up with a couple of little barrettes for my Bella Boo (the three year old). I love working small on paper, but these little hair pins became more of a challenge than I thought!
I give all the props for the people that do this full time check out some of my favorites:
http://www.ribboncandyhairbows.etsy.com/
http://www.mcclippies.etsy.com/
Hope everyone is having a great weekend and remember to keep those creative juices flowing...
thanks for reading
beijos,
allypye

My Birthday Presents

2009-10-01T07:12:00.000-05:00

About two weeks ago I turned 31. This is the first time I have actually written about it, so I must take a minute to let it soak in...

Okay, I'm good now.
Anyway, I wanted to share my birthday presents with you! I think they say a lot about where my interests are at this point in my life; Hope you like them...

Boots: I love these! They make me feel pretty and powerful all at once! Who does not need that every once in a while?

Book # 1: Beautiful book, I absolutely LOVE the ideas here!

Messenger Bag: Kohls rocks my world! This brand (AXCESS), is my favorite!

Real Simple Mag Subscription: If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know I was happy about this one...

JULIA, oh, JULIA!! The missing piece to my love affair with the movie and the book; So far I have only chopped veggies "Julia Style", didn't go so well but I will keep practicing!

Soldering Iron: I cannot wait to get started on some mixed media stuff with this heat machine!

Book #2: A while ago I had a post on this book. Beautiful and Inspiring, now it is mine:)

That is about it! I also had a really great dinner and a movie date with my partner in life and actually, that was the best part of it all! Hope your next birthday is wonderful! You deserve it!

beijos

allypye

The rest of the entryway...

2009-09-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

The AFTER...

In between...

Very ugly beginning...

I still haven't finished the details, but I am so far happy with the results! It is nice being able to have a place to sit to put our shoes on, and its cute too...

Get up and do something!

2009-09-23T22:11:00.003-05:00

This is what happens when I go through rough patches: Things get done. I cry for a short while, hide from the world for about a week, and focus all my energy on things that I wanted to do but left behind to take care of others. We won't go through the details of my visit to the pit last week, lets just say that it was bad enough to get the entire entryway of my home remodeled. So, all I have to say to the ones who hurt me is "thank you!" first pics are the "before and after" of this small wall just past the real entryway area of our house (which is almost finished too, I just need some final touches yet). We needed a cute area that could be used for the kids' chore charts and reward charts, plus, a couple of baskets to hold backpack junk that comes back from school and has nowhere to go. The trick was to make sure we didn't have to look at that stuff all the time, so here is what we came up with:

Very boring, useless wall!

Added some color, hung a cute curtain and the new sconce

(stuff that has been waiting in the basement FOREVER)

plus got some baskets big enough to hold the backpack junk:)

Sewing (hardly) their new rewards chart

(these are the days of the week chips)

FELT ROCKS!!

Final product, I like the colors...

All four charts hanging on the wall

I love this because when we are not using the charts, the wall still looks super cute with the shades drawn in. The hubby thinks it is kind'a weird because there is no window there, but I think he will grow to like it don't you?

Anyway, I will post pics of the rest of the project as soon as it gets done. I would love to hear what you think...

Thanks for reading

Beijos

allypye

Short Break

2009-09-16T09:01:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends, this is just a quick note to say that some pretty intense personal issues have surfaced this past week, and I need to take some time to reflect and recover. Hope to be back here soon.

Balancing Life with Kids- Part3: Housework and Organizing

2009-09-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

Photos in this post are of pages in "Keeping Life Simple" by Karen Levine

The first thing I have to say on this topic goes back to my earlier posts on simplicity. DECLUTTERing is the single most important thing needed for effective housecleaning and organization. This I can say with no fear of doing wrong, because I have been doing it for a long time. It works. My house is sort of known by friends for being"clean" but the truth is, we just keep our possessions to a minimum, which makes it easier to tidy and manage. This post is divided in two categories: Cleaning and Organization; These are by no means as comprehensive as the info you will find in books or other web sites, but hopefully, it will give people an opportunity to get started without becoming overwhelmed. Some very useful links will be provided for you to check out as well...
Are you ready?

Points # 1, 2 and 3 come straight from Karen Levine's little book "Keeping Life Simple", and are the steps I have been following for about 5 years now;

Divide your housecleaning tasks in four categories:what needs to be done everyday; what needs to be done every week; what needs to be done every month; what needs to be done only a few times a year; Check out this handy house cleaning checklist from Microsoft Office Online: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC100762411033.aspx

If you absolutely despise one or more tasks, do something fun as you move along: listen to music (while cleaning), watch your favorite movie (while you fold clothes), talk on the phone...

Delegate chores, and for goodness sake ABANDON GENDER ROLES! The dishes don't care whether you have boy or girl parts, they just want to be clean!

The best web site (and magazine) out there, in my opinion, is REAL SIMPLE. Check out this link for more info on house cleaning, find out your cleaning style, fake a clean house, and much, much more!http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/cleaning-101-00000000009633/index.html

Wise words from Beth "Keep in mind - no one gives you an award for cleanest house or smallest pile of dirty laundry. This time with your kids goes so quick, don't spend all of it overdoing the housekeeping part. I want my home to be the background of the activity, not the focus."

My kids have these brand new chore charts that were created and put together by my hubby (who needs Brad Pitt when your husband does chore charts?), anyway, we've tried tons of things but I think this is the best one yet! All you need is a magnet board (for each child), some computer printed pictures that represent the chores of the day, glued on magnet strips; The boards have two columns, "to do" and "done" and all the kids have to do is make sure all magnet chips are on the "done" side before they go to bed.

Have cute baskets and bins in strategic areas in your home, to pick up all sorts of things. We have a huge trunk that serves as coffee table and toy bin, no one sees the mess but the stuff is always available for the kids when they want it.
Routine is a biggy too, kids just do so much better when they know what's expected of them. My kids are full of energy, with strong personalities, but you can be sure, they will not visit someone's home and leave it messy, its a learned behavior, and they have learned to understand how much work it takes to run a household.
One thing that I have discovered to be helpful, is an online family calendar.What's the use of having all the stuff written down at home, if when you go to work you don't have it in front of you? Beth uses yahoo for her calendar, which allows her to share her familie's activities and plans with her husband while he is at work. I use the google calendar on http://www.google.com/ig and I love the fact that you can color code the activities by person, set up reminders, repeat events with a click of a button...
Last words of advice before I send you to another wonderful link at REAL SIMPLE: Try and prep for the next morning activities the night before, your mornings will be less crazy, and you will sleep better; Also, put the kids to bed EARLY- they can use the sleep and you can use some time to breathe! Our bed time is 8:30 p.m. But of course for those with babies that's a whole different story...
Now go check this out: http://browse.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/index.html again, REAL SIMPLE has so much good info!

That's all I have this time, thanks for stopping by!

beijos

allypye

Balancing Life with Kids- Part 2: Meal Planning and Shopping

2009-09-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

Hello, and welcome back! Today I will try and sum up some facts and useful tips on meal planning and shopping for groceries (the latter being the one household obligation I loathe, and would give my right arm if someone offered to do the job for the rest of my days!!! Yes, it is that bad, surprising for someone who adores cooking!) Anyway, this post is divided in these three sections: what to eat?/ lists and shopping (as I cringe with the thought of it) and tips and variations... And remember, this is just advice that I gathered from my own looking around for better, simpler ways of living and the suggestions of friends. I quoted some ideas and thoughts from Lisa and Beth whom I've mentioned on yesterday's post.

No, we are not experts, everybody is in the same boat here, so if you have more ideas, throw them at me would ya?
With that said, here we go:
What to eat?
Tired of standing in front of the fridge and asking yourself "what should I make for dinner"? You are not alone! Erik (the hubby) and myself have done that so much, the result almost always being a quick fix that isn't healthy or satisfying!
I have two words for you: MEAL PLANNING- stress free, healthier and money saving, this is what we need to be doing.

write it down, and put it up

I am now using an excel spreadsheet that outlines the days of the week, snacks for the week, plus a grocery list and room for notes all in one page.If you want to see it, just let me know, I will e-mail it to you, just couldn't figure out how to post it here...
You can do this anywhere, just make sure it is easy to see and to use- people get super creative with this stuff, poster board, magnet boards or just a neatly drawn meal plan on computer paper.
use your own cookbooks and online recipes, but if you are new at this, just do one week with meals that your family is used to, so you can get a hang on the process rather than worrying about what recipes to make.Do this for as long as you need to make it a habit, and then add some jazz to the deal!

Beth suggests: "When you bake, double the recipe. Then eat one and freeze one for later. Most pasta recipes make way more than our family eats in one sitting, so by dividing it into two meals saves time down the road...Plan your meals for the week and do the grocery shopping all at once. There are lots of great meal planning sites online. Keep a list of meal ideas you can rotate to keep from getting in a rut. "

Lisa's tip: "It’s amazing how much time and money can be saved by simply planning ahead on your family meals. Food costs can vary greatly from month to month and with no planning, our family’s monthly food bill could easily be double that of our house payment! What I’ve found works best for is to plan one week at a time. I make my shopping list based on the meals I planned for the next week. I rarely come home from work thinking, “what’s for dinner?” A fun meal-chart generator is on http://www.lotsofkids.com/."

Lists and Shopping

Beth's Grocery list is simple and helpful: she writes it so that it corresponds to its location at her preferred grocery store. That way you don't have to go from place to place like a monkey with your head cut off! Simple, just so simple...
clip coupons if you are going to use them. I hate doing this, so I probably never will for lack of patience, but if that's your thing, go for it!
NEVER, I repeat, NEVER shop hungry! Always, always eat before you shop! I am not going to say the name of this Brazilian woman I know, but I will tell you how she shopped hungry, bought a jar of nuttella (it is heaven I swear!)and finished it off before she got home...pathetic!!
Clean out the fridge BEFORE you go to the grocery store. There is nothing worse than coming home exhausted from wrestling with an overflowing shopping cart and have to go through leftovers and other yuckies! If you don't clean it, you will risk doing it like this Brazilian woman I know, and just shove all the new shiny sealed items in the fridge only to have to perform an emergency evacuation in your home a week later, when the yuckies you pushed to the back of the fridge can no longer contain their foulness inside.

Other things to think about

Have a couple emergency meals for when stuff comes up. Stuff comes up now, doesn't it? Got home too late to make what you planned or forgot to defrost something? EMERGENCY MEAL TIME! I like to have chicken nuggets available for babysitters that can't cook:) Oh, well, its the truth...
Have the kids help plan the meals. Beth says " Let your kids help pick the meal for the next day. If you have the time, let them in the kitchen to do some cooking. It is amazing what a picky eater might try if they have a hand in making it."
Eat together. Eat together. Eat together. Some of the best conversations, discoveries, and bonding experiences I have had with my children and husband were at the dinner table. We do this religiously. And I know it helps us be a closer family.

This is it, I know, it was long, but I hope it helps, feel free to e-mail me or post your comments here if you have more to add! I am going to bed:)

beijos

allypye

Balancing Life with Kids - PART 1

2009-09-07T16:30:00.000-05:00

Cone Flower- photographed by me this weekend

It all began with a routine trip to the library. Eager to leave the house, we jumped in the mini van and headed downtown for a relaxing couple of hours of reading and learning

...Or so I thought...

The kids were cranky; the 12 year old vanished in the teen room the second we arrived, while the 6 year old pouted about wanting to go in the teen area, and the 3 year old decided it was a good idea to sneak up two flights of stairs for a game of hide and seek.
Soon after, they were all accounted for and taken to the appropriate location in the library (that being the children's room, what a concept!!) There's crying, pouting and eye rolling (may I add that at this point everyone in the library is engaging in the rolling of the eyes, as they watch the spectacle!!), not to mention us walking out with at least 20 items (I forgot the canvas bag at home) and setting off the security system!!! Back in we go, with the crying, pouting, rolling of the eyes reaching record levels... I just wanted to sit right there and cry.

How do other mothers do this?

That was all I could think about that day. I felt exhausted, overwhelmed, defeated and inadequate. And this was not the first time!
In my mind, I am adding to this catastrophe of a trip the following: 6 loads of laundry in the basement, bills to pay, movies to return, groceries to buy, dinner to make, art projects to plan, and much, much more!
The truth is that balancing life with kids is something that everyone struggles with, and I found that perhaps sharing valuable tips with others isn't such a bad idea. I asked a couple of moms (these are moms you look at and go, "wow, she really knows what she is doing") to share their wealth of knowledge in making life work.
It was important for me to gather info that could be modified to different family set-ups and lifestyles: husband or no husband, full time stay-at-home or full time job. It is my hope that whoever reads this will be able to gain something or add something to the conversation.
Throughout this week we will discuss Meal Planning and Shopping, Housework and Organizing, and Time to be YOU. Though it may sound meaningless and too "domestic" of a talk for some, life's chores and obligations are said to be the cause of most couple's sense of unhappiness and overall sense of burden in Americans. So why not share ideas?

Thanks to Beth and Lisa, who will be featured in this series for the next three days. Your help is appreciated and the love you share with your family through your dedication is inspiring!

Thanks for reading, hope to have you stop by again tomorrow:)

beijos

allypye

this week's art

2009-08-28T14:45:00.000-05:00

This is a short one, just some pics of two things I worked on this week... A mixed media piece for my living room and a book mark. I also painted a portrait of my daughter but you guys already saw that... So tired this week, I am glad it is over!!!

Have a good weekend!

beijos

allypye

Dreams of Ballet

2009-08-26T14:23:00.001-05:00

"Waiting Backstage"- by Ally Pye

Amongst many hopes and desires, a longing for dance remains constant in my heart. As a child dance was a big part of my life, and like so many things, it too got put aside and forgotten, overshadowed by everything else.

Every once in a while, I revisit that dream and wish that I hadn't given it up so quickly. I have no problem admitting that I regret quitting dance, and will not try to justify the decision just to make myself feel better. I loved it, I should have stayed-period.

Now that I am ready to enroll my own daughter in dance lessons, I am doing my best to keep in mind that this is her life, and that she may very well not want to pursue dance the way I did. I must admit that I am thrilled that this moment has finally arrived, so I celebrated it with a painting (above).

I wonder if others too, wish that they had another go at something they missed out in life... I imagine I am not alone in this, so is it that ridiculous to believe that I may get another shot at it? Maybe I can someday hear the sounds of my slippers brushing against the wood floors of a dance studio and hold the barre as I practice developes and plies...

Maybe?

Keeping my head above water

2009-08-18T15:08:00.001-05:00

Oh, my, it has been a long time since I posted, hasn't it? I miss doing it, blogging has a therapeutic effect on me. It's like my public diary, except it forces me to speak kindly, with care, and with love:)

Above are some little fall barrettes I put together this morning for my Bella Boo (the three year old). I needed to do something creative since the past few weeks have focused so heavily on writing for school, reading, working...I've had a great summer with my kids anyway, I think I did a good job focusing on work and homework two days a week, leaving the other days free to spend time just being with them and doing fun stuff.

School was very draining this summer, my multicultural counseling class had some pretty heavy reading requirements, and we also had to journal on every day of class. There is so much I didn't know, I learned so many horrifying things regarding minorities and their experience in the US; regardless of how much I try to do my share of volunteering, advocating, and educating myself concerning social justice issues, this in depth look into history was very eye opening.

I am being careful to guard my heart against bitterness and pessimism, and take the things I've learned as motivators to continue to do good;

I've been thinking about so many things lately, but motherhood styles have been on my mind a lot...What are we teaching our kids? What values are we leaving behind and how are they going to affect the adults they will become? More on this to come soon! For now, have a great summer day!!!

beijos

allypye

Searching for less and finding its enough...

2009-08-03T11:35:00.001-05:00

Coming back from our camping trip yesterday, I thought about our family and how the six of us (myself, the hubby, our three children and the dog) are growing together stronger, happier and simpler.

When I think of Gandhi's "live simply so that others may simply live" quote, not only do I think about simplicity as benefiting the world globally and locally, but also about its influence in my own life, within my family.

I find myself approaching everything that way now, asking the same questions "what will make this easier, what will have the least impact, what will be more enriching?

We committed to bringing only the tent, two sets of clothing per person, a few beach toys plus some basic necessities (hygiene, blankets, firewood, flashlights) to the campsite- no hand-held games, cell phones or i-pods. (sounds easy? Try talking a pre-teen into it!!)

It was a great time! I learned things about every single one of my kids, about my husband, about my dog, and about myself that I would have never discovered had we not kept things to a minimum, having mostly only one another to rely on for food, shelter, and fun!Sure, simplicity takes planning and organization, otherwise you may find yourself forgetting to bring essentials and having to go buy supplies; But it is so worth it!

We managed to keep optimistic and relaxed even with the constant ingress of huge SUVs pulling even bigger RVs, equipped with tvs, stereos, cooking ware (we are talking smokers, fryers, portable microwaves, FIREWORKS, and much, much more)- No, camping DOES NOT mean the same thing to all humans!

I hope that more people are now seeking to have moments of true, undivided attention, interacting with their loved ones in nature and fostering appreciation for one another and for the beauty of our world.

As for us, we swam, we sang, rode bikes, built a fire and finally slept to the sound of rain drops "plop" and "plop" on the roof of our tent! Unplugged, Unwound, together.

Beijos to all!

Ann Arbor Art Fair

2009-07-16T22:22:00.000-05:00

Julie Fremuth

Kim Crow

Ruth Marks

John Petrey

Check out the above artists and more @: http://artfair.org/tools/artist/directory.jsp

So, yesterday was an awesome day! I finally got to go back to my favorite city in Michigan: Ann Arbor! Even though this is a CRAZY week for those who live there (sorry locals!) it is heaven for those of us who are "art junkies". Going with Jenn and Margaret made it that much better since they too share my love of Art and good food! This time, we ate jumbo hot dogs for lunch (I know, but they were SOOO good), drank huge buckets of freshly squeezed lemonade and iced tea while cruising the fair; then we had some Zingerman's for dinner: my sandwich was a true representation of the chaotic madness of that place, with tons of flavor, charm and excitement: such good food!!!http://www.zingermansdeli.com/content/pages/home.php
The highlight of the whole day for me, was meeting Nicario Jimenez in person. I have been in love with his retablos for many years now, but was never able to talk with him and tell him how much I admire his work! It is amazing how someone can create such intense work and yet be so gentle and tender like I found him to be. I was so humbled to meet him that my Spanish came out horrible, but I was able to get a signed shirt and a hug! Couldn't get much better than that! If you want to see some really good images of his work visit the minkay gallery @: http://www.minkay.com/retablos.htm

if you want to learn more about retablos visit Nicario's own website @:http://www.retablosnicario.com/

Anyway, the plans are to go back next year and stay the night! After all there is too much to soak in and not enough time to do it in one day!

LOVE THE GIFT OF CREATIVITY

Thanks for reading,

allypye

Loving-the-Earth products to check out!

2009-07-08T13:02:00.002-05:00

Here are three awesome earth-loving products I've spotted this summer, they all fulfill all my "S" requirements:

style- It HAS to be cute!

simplicity- It MUST be easy and practical:)

social consciousness- GIVING BACK is essential!

TOMS SHOES- Saw these at the Port Austin's Farmer's Market last weekend, LOVED IT! Check out their awesome products and mission here: http://www.tomsshoes.com/content.asp?tid=227

ECOJOT STATIONARY- Spotted in Downtown Kalamazoo:) all of the stuff is so super cute!! http://www.ecojot.com/

FREE TRADE ELEPHANT GRASS BASKETS FROM GHANA- My lovely mother-in-law bought me one! They are beautiful, sturdy and spacious! Thanks Cindy!! Since you can buy them from SO many places, I didn't want to endorse a particular web-site. But you can do a google search or visit your local Farmer's Market.

Do you know of any products that are stylish, simple and social oriented?

I will keep my eyes open to find more:)

Thanks for checking this out,

beijos

allypye

Training the eye and the heart...

2009-07-07T20:20:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that this past weekend, I photographed a garden snake. I assume many of you may be thinking "So what? Get a life!!" but to me this was a BIG DEAL. Usually I can't even hear the word "snake" and my insides start turning...
I have been deathly afraid of these creatures since I was a little girl, and the fact that poisonous cobras were a fairly common sight by my parent's beach house, made it even worse. The beach was my haven for the most part, until someone would mention seeing a snake. I would check behind doors, in the shower, under beds, pillows, sheets, and in closets; my mom and dad would have to move the fridge and the oven since I knew the heat behind those appliances attracted them and then they would say, "viu, nao tem cobra nehuma!! (See? there is no snake!!). I couldn't sleep well, and when I did, I would dream about the darn cobras! It was horrible. The housekeeper's son who lived in a house adjacent to the main house quickly figured out that the trick for keeping me away from the backyard was to tease me about snakes being back there.
And it has been pretty much the same way for 30 years now; with this weekend being the first time I ever voluntarily came near a snake and didn't sweat. It felt good to face this fear, even if from a distance of 2 feet. I guess you could say that I started my own desensitization process, and it feels good to see that fear (of whatever) does not have to take control forever. It is empowering to know that I can do things that were once unimaginable.

CREATE GROUP

2009-07-02T08:01:00.000-05:00

Picture frame for a baby shower...

A couple of girls and myself have just started meeting for "arts and crafts night", the group's name is CREATE led by my dear friend Melani (check out her blog, she's great!) http://www.marzipanmama.com/

I am excited about it, and even though last night we each brought our own projects, I think the future holds promise of "learning together" activities...

Here are some pics of what i worked on yesterday, a picture frame requested by my mother in law, so she can give it as a baby shower gift! I had fun, tell me what you think...

One more thing

2009-06-30T07:06:00.001-05:00

This week I go back to school for the summer semester! I am anxious, because anytime I take time off (1 month and a half in this case), I feel like i am not as sharp and not as ready for the intensity of grad school. There are some pretty bright people in that little mix, and many of them approach graduate school in a way very different from mine, who has to take classes at a a slow pace in order to be able to somewhat manage the other areas of my life. But I have come to terms with this, and I know someday I will be writing to you about my graduation day, even if it takes another year or so!

I know that becoming a therapist is not only my desire, but mostly something planted in my heart by the big guy (I mean GOD)! A few years back, I could not have imagined applying for this program, but when i started praying about my future and looking deep within my self to make sense of the gifts given to me, the doors began to open in this direction.

So for now,the main objective is to become a Marriage and Family Therapist, who applies holistic approaches to healing the mind and the soul and utilizes Art as a vehicle for gaining access and sorting out emotions that may exist within a person. I also want to be an advocate for my clients, someone who is not only multiculturally competent but also able to look at someone's life as a combination of individual, family, work, faith realms.

Sounds good , but it is indeed a long road for me; a road not without sacrifices, not without doubt, but full of hope that HIS desire will materialize into reality and that I could make a difference in the lives of others!

Thanks for reading

Beijos:)

Playing around

2009-06-26T12:21:00.001-05:00

LITTLE OWL BAG

I've always wanted my designs on little bags, so I played around at home with t-shirt transfers just to see what happens...So, here is what I took from it:

I like the look

I need to practice sewing (A LOT)

I need to NOT burn my t-shirt transfer next time!

Maybe I should look into screenprinting...

Thanks for checking it out!

Summer thoughts...

2009-06-25T13:24:00.000-05:00

While hearing so many people complain of the "scalding" weather here in KZOO I am happy as a bee as the sun kisses my skin! I love summer! As I write this, my 12 year old is away at camp, my six year old is at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts for their weeklong camp; and my Bella Boo (the three year old) is napping this lazy afternoon away...I am sitting here listening to a wonderful book: "Caramelo" by Sandra Cisneros;

My husband and I just celebrated yet another anniversary, and over dinner, we talked about summer plans and reminisced on times when things seemed to be simpler. We both agree on the same period - 2002/2003 - as the most peaceful, content and blissful time of our married lives. So we talked about those years, and examined our state of mind, financial situation, children, family and friends, and figured that the just of it was really about living in the now, doing it simply and being gentle to ourselves;

By living in the now we allowed ourselves the opportunity to be spontaneous, carefree, and centered; spending our present planning an uncertain future just seemed strange...

By doing it simply we had no idea who the Joneses were, and if we did, we had no interest in hanging out with them; we didn't have much, we didn't want much, and didn't measure ourselves up to anything or anyone.

By being gentle to ourselves took care of us first- me by doing art and being gentle to my body as I carried my little Lucas in my belly and enjoyed watching my little kindergartner discover new horizons; Erik meditated, played his guitar and we both dedicated some of our time as volunteer tutors to our son's classmates.

We took the time to just be. No unnecessary obligations, commitments, or relationships; We had the guts to only do what made us happy.

Looking at now, I feel as though we have the maturity to do even better than 2002. But why aren't we there? Sure, the kids are older now, there are 3 of them instead of 2, and making decisions for ourselves and our little ones overshadows the spontaneity and the stillness we so long for.

The practice of gentleness to oneself, simplicity and joy is very intentional, and the results can be freeing; I am confident that my family can get back to that point (we are pretty darn close already, I think) if we begin to live our lives by practicing to love ourselves and find beauty and fulfillment on the simple things.

As the clothes gently sway on the clothesline in our backyard, I think of my grandmother, skirt swaying as if to keep up with the linen sheets she hung above her head. Possessions were not in her mind, but the breeze and the sun...

Thank you for reading!

Beijos a todos

allypye

Little drawings

2009-06-22T00:10:00.000-05:00

Really liking the color here...

Having a "thing" for owls lately!

Here are some of my latest little excursions...Still need to work on more owls (brighter colors) + more elephants+ more birds and we'll see what happens...

Where to now?

2009-06-19T00:45:00.000-05:00

Little bitty sketch

I thought I was done with Art for a while. At least that's what I told everyone after my last show 6 months ago. I told my professors, co-workers, family members, my HUSBAND- that was it for a while, and I would solely focus on finishing my Master's, working part time and tend to the matters of my home life. All of the above mentioned people were affected in some way by the demands that making Art had put on my life. Late papers, late for work, not enough down time, not enough couple time-

"Just until the show is over" I would say to them. I was so relieved to take the pieces down, hang them on my walls and just enjoy them for a while. But the truth is, even though the process and the deadline pressures of putting together an exhibit are exhausting, I LOVE making Art, and it is really the one thing that makes sense to me these days.

Somehow its soothing effect shields me from worry when we are broke, pain when friends are crappy, anxiety when I am overloaded and guilt when I feel inadequate. We wear so many hats in life, but it seems when you finally find the one that makes you feel like YOU, it interferes with all the other hats you're supposed to be wearing (at the same time, may I add).

So here I am again, going through a tough time in my life, missing art like crazy because it fulfills all the empty spaces left open by what could have been.

Going back into it is tough, there is so much good stuff being made out there, I feel intimidated.

I tried to open an ESTY shop just to get myself going, even though I have nothing new to show, I am excited about it, it has promise it seems like...

Now, I just need to find the mojo to create again...

Because when I don't, the knots inside, the pain, the shame, the crap, all of it, it just has nowhere to go.

Thanks for reading!

My kids hate ART (ok, maybe not)

2009-06-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

Last week's popsicle stick puppets

People tend to assume that because of my background, my children love to make art and are good at it.

Ok, I guess that is a fair thought considering that all 3 of them have been watching me engage in some sort of creative effort since they came out of the womb, and have visited their share of art fairs, museums, and art exhibits- However, by no means it is true for me to say that when I show up armed with supplies galore for a new project they are jumping for joy! Most of the time all I get are grunts! (from the oldest ones)

"Do we HAVE to?" (quoting my pre-teen)

"What are we making this time?"

"Are my hands gonna get sticky?" (quoting my control/cleanliness loving 6 year old)

"YEAH, ART time!" (quoting my 3 year old daughter who could care less if all she ends up with is a diarrhea looking blob of paint covered in dirt!!)

The truth is, sometimes, they feel like they can't "measure up" to my art (you know, for children, if you can draw anything they like with the least bit of accuracy, you are right up there in the Da Vinci category!); and with their natural and ever present need to please their parents, they become self critical and impatient .

Usually, after we get settled with supplies and such I assure them that we are just putting ideas together in the form of art (yes, I repeat the same thing every time), and that it is okay to share ideas, make suggestions and encourage one another to create. Most of the time, the kids actually relax and just let go. After a bit of resistance they get engaged and it is great!

However,last week when we had art time at home, I kept thinking what can I do to get to "This is fun, mom" part without the grunting?

Is my perfectionism in other areas of my life influencing the way they feel about doing this with me? PROBABLY.

I can sit there until I turn green and try to convince them that it is okay to have an abnormal sized nose on a puppet, but if when i do my own work all they see is their perfection seeking mother, it ain't gonna fly baby!

So I am making a conscious effort to mess up in front of them. It kills me inside, you have no idea! Anything from letting them know how I forgot my keys in the fridge, walking in the house with my shoes on (who could conceive of it?), spilling my juice (haven't done the grape juice yet because I really love my World Market placemats, but I am sure the lemonade gets the point across just fine). They laugh at me. It's kind'a cool and liberating; Maybe you should try it. And if you already do this, can you give me some pointers?
Thanks for reading!

Arte Natural

2009-06-03T16:06:00.001-05:00

"Canoe" 2008

One of my favorite indoor places in the world is Barnes and Noble. No I am not getting paid to talk them up or anything, but man, do I have fun there! This week's trip led me to bring a pile of 15 books and magazines to my table at the coffee shop area, but of course I only got to 2 of them... I will share one with you this time:

In an effort to live a greener life our family has made several adjustments; you know, the stuff you hear about everywhere like recycling your trash, turning off lights, unplugging appliances, not flushing when you pee (this one is not yet under full compliance, yuk!!) organic gardening, safe cleaning supplies, green shopping bags, etc;

http://www.epa.gov/ to get started, also, links for kids of all ages to learn about environment awareness:)

(we have not yet changed all of our light bulbs to energy efficient ones, or put together a compost bin, but we'll get to that...) There is SO MUCH more we can do, eventually, but unless someone wants to donate to the "fund for greening my entire house" we are gonna have to take baby steps... And that's cool, all good!

However, I am not sure that my role as an artist and this environmental consciousness had made a true connection yet. Sure, living a frugal lifestyle almost forces you to reuse and recycle, I rarely ever have to buy art supplies, and just kind'a deal with what I have around the basement. But to make a statement towards environmental awareness through art? Now that's some good stuff... So, this book I came across is called "Green Guide for Artists- Nontoxic Recipes, green art ideas & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist" by author Karen Mitchel.

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Guide-Artists-Resources-Eco-Conscious/dp/1592535186

So fun! Full of ideas, and ways to create responsibly, beautifully made and wonderfully informative. For experienced painters, it provides them an opportunity to learn about substituting toxic materials such as adhesives, canvas and paint for better, greener alternatives. For me, (NOT an experienced painter), it just sort of revived the idea of using found objects, sharing supplies, and continuing to pursue a mixed media avenue in my own work.

This beautiful quote by William Blake is in one of the first pages...

"The tree which moves some to tears of joy, is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity...and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself."

Locally, here are some places to check out:

http://www.artsandscraps.org/ (Detroit)

http://www.scrapbox.org/ (Ann Arbor)

Possible trips with the kiddos

http://bostonchildrensmuseum.org/exhibits/recycle.html at the Boston Children's Museum

http://www.wonderscope.org/rmc.php at the Children's Museum of Kansas

Bottomline

2009-05-30T06:50:00.000-05:00

"The exhausted bird remains exuberant" Pen, Ink, Watercolor, 2008

So this week has been challenging in many ways for me. I am really trying to focus on my health in a holistic way, bringing about transformation from the inside (physically and mentally);

I have been cutting down on sugars and most gluten, and really making a conscious effort to listen to my body, observe and document everything that I eat, and how it makes me feel. Now listen, if this sounds a bit obsessive and unnecessary, get this:

I have been in and out of doctors' offices for about 3 1/2 years now. My symptoms are:

fatigue

violent mood swings

weight gain

muscle and joint pain

stomach aches

irregular and ridiculously long, heavy periods

back pain

frequent colds

frequent canker sores

yeast infections

and others...

I know this doesn't necessarily paint a pretty picture of me, but the bottom line is, I haven't been feeling well, and all I get from doctors is: "You have IBS, eat more fiber" or "you have polycystic ovarian syndrome, shove some birth control down your throat and that should do the trick"!

People are supposed to take charge of their own health; I get that. But if I google my symptoms, or try to figure out on my own what is wrong with me, I get FLOODED with so much information, that it becomes a painstakingly overwhelming, I just want to give up and have some tiramisu kind'a effort.

I am learning that there is no one solution that will work here. I have to stop, focus and listen. This is a lifestyle kind'a thing. It will take the right doctor, some nutritional supplements, EXERCISE, water (tons of it), OPTIMISM, meditation and PRAYER.

And I must allow myself to realize that trauma can and most times will affect a person's health. And whatever ways I choose to deal with my mother's death, I am learning that its not wrong, or innapropriate, or bad of me to feel and express the pain. The key here, is not to inflict more pain on myself while trying to deal with it. It is counterproductive, and it will take some work.

Her strength and determination still live in me, and I know I will succeed. No mountain was ever to high for her to climb, and the same goes for me.

Thanks for reading!

Renewal

2009-05-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

Pen and Ink Drawing-
"Vitality Bursting out of Sick Pores"-2005 drawn after my mom passed away, and when the emotional pain began translating into physical suffering;

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

So true! And as I embark on a journey to transform my body (from the inside), I realize that POSITIVITY is playing a major role on my recovery to health. In grad school, I've learned about negative cognition, and how it contributes to an person's depressive state, which seems pretty common sense: you think bad, you feel bad- Optimism seems to be the type of thing that you inherit, or learn at a very young age. If I believed that optimism was a personality trait that could not be changed, I would be out of luck! I USED TO BE a huge pessimist!! But I can change, I can learn, and honestly being cynical about stuff has caused nothing but discouragement and disappointment, so enough is enough. This journey has taken a couple of years now, I have been rediscovering myself through Art (which is undoubtedly a gift from God, and the simple awareness of this has opened up an avenue for TRUE connection and self-assessment/awareness). Now it' time to listen and respect my body, (this is LONG overdue) but I want to start giving special attention to this issue of staying positive. I am going to read Michael J. Fox's new book to give me a good first taste on this, and will let you know what else I find out...
In the mean time, please pray that my nutritional efforts will remain strong, and that my husband's patience won't run thin with the upcoming 3 MONTH ELIMINATION OF SUGARS that I am about to endure. (More on this to come)
Here is the link to Michael's book:

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist

Baby Shower Gift

2009-05-19T12:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I'm hoping I am not ruining the surprise by posting this before the actual baby shower, but I just can't help myself. In one of my hyperfocus episodes (adult adhd, no medication, just a VERY patient husband will do), I decided to make this for Amy, my host sister who put up with my teenage tantrums for a whole year, while I studied English in the U.S. as an exchange student 15 years ago; Needless to say, she deserves the best the world has to offer after being traumatized by my presence during her tender adolescence, so I tried my best!

check it out...