JustMeAgain

Cover girl

Today after attending church, the kid and I went over to Barnes and Noble for a few hours of un-interrupeted reading and homework time (reading for me, homework for the kid.)  There was a little pumpkin pie eating involved, too.  And Starbucks coffee, of course.  Anyway, while we were doing our thing, I couldn't help to notice the cover of this magazine.  I saw it. I loved it. And I immediately knew who that art belonged to.  The wonderful Dina Wakley.  It made me so happy to see someone I love, and have admired for so long, turned into a cover girl!

I loved this journal page inside the magazine:

In case you missed it, I had done a brief interview with her last year.  I thought this would be a good time to re-post it in this blog.

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April 25, 2008

Blog Stalking: Artist Dina Wakley

Interview by Maria Hammon

I cannot tell you how truly inspiring the art of Dina Wakley is to me, specially considering that I have diligently been stalking her blog for at least two years!  This is one of the reasons I find this interview so exciting! 

Dina, just how and when did you get started in the world of art journaling?

I've always been art-minded and I subscribed to Somerset Studio from the day it was first published. I devoured every issue, but was too chicken to try art myself. I started stamping and my skill level grew. Finally, I bought a blank book and started creating a visual journal. I've kept a regular journal since I was 9 years old, so I'm familiar with the process of putting yourself down onto paper. But with the visual journal I was combining words and paint. My very first art journal was about how I was too insecure to call myself an "artist." The great thing about art journaling is that it's a way to experiment and express yourself and it doesn't have to be "good"...it just has to be honest.

That is one of the many things I love about what you do, it is SO real. Raw. I love it!  What is your favorite art medium?                                     

I love collage and mixed media--acrylic paint and odds and ends and bits of whatever is laying around.

I love it when you say you "slapped a quick page together" and I see this masterpiece (from your current post.) Exactly how do you manage to create your art?  What is your process; does the theme come first?  Or is it the kind of colors?  The concept?  How do you typically start and finish a project?

This is a hard question...I rarely ever have an end product in mind when I start a page. I just start putting down paint and layers and see where it takes me. Often I'm driven by my emotions, or by something that is bothering me. I'll work on a page in my art journal, and as I have extra paint I'll wipe it on pages further back in the journal...I figure one day I'll get to those pages and there will be a little paint or something there to jump start me. I tend to work quickly, too...I don't agonize over the perfect thing to put on the page. I use what is within reach. I guess the process is kind of organic and intuitive. I love to layer...paints, inks, collage elements, etc. I think the layers create visual interest and combined together have meaning. I also love to use letters in my work. I was an English major in college and the written word has always moved me.

How do you manage life, family (with boys!) and the never ending daily chores and still find the time you need to create the beautiful works of art you create?  Come on, share the secrets!

Well, there's no secret. I'm always behind on housework. I figure the dishes can wait.

I love that!  Thank you.  I really needed to hear that today. Specially since my dishes haven't been done yet...this interview is much more important!  If you could pick any place in the world to live, where would it be and why? 

How about Del Mar in a house on the beach...or Lake Tahoe (North shore, Nevada side)...or Tuscany...or in a fun flat in London....oh wait, you said one place, right?

It is quite all right...we can always have more than one favorite place.  There are no rules when dreaming, right?  Now on a sweeter note, what is your favorite candy bar?

Milky Way Midnight...yum...and anything by Cadbury. When we lived in England we got hooked on British chocolate. I still crave Curly Wurlys and Star Bars and Double Deckers!

Where do you create?  Do you have a dedicated space at home? 

I do have a room...it's not really a studio, and it's not decorated nicely. But it's functional and it's mine. Someday I want built-in shelving, a sealed concrete floor, and a utility sink.

Funny you mention a utility sink...that's one of my dreams, too!  Specially because I always find myself splattered in paint!  What do you find most inspiring to you and why?

I find so many things in life inspiring...poetry, art, people who triumph over adversity, hummingbirds outside my window...I think I get inspiration from everything.

Here is one of my favorite pieces created by you last year, have you ever considered selling your art in Etsy or other similar places? 

No...I'm not trying to be self-defeating, but I really don't consider myself at the caliber I would need to be to sell anything. I feel like an infant when it comes to art...I have so much to learn. I look at how far I've come since I first started art journaling, and I'm amazed at the growth.

Where do you see yourself in the future?  Any goals or plans you'd like to share with us?

I just want to keep creating! :)

I'm so not ready to get older.

I know my birthday is still months away, but knowing that at the end of this year I will be turning 40, has gotten me thinking of all the reasons why I think I'm not ready yet. 

And no, it does not have anything to do with vanity reasons.  Okay, maybe just a little of that.  But the true reason is that I still have so much I want to do and I often feel like I'm running out of time!  Life moves too fast and all the plans and goals I've had in my list of things to do while I still can, is clearly very unfinished.  Gee, I've only barely scratched the surface of that list.  Here are some of the items on that list that I can share (the list is too long to post entirely, ha ha.)   

* Learn to speak French fluently...and German, Vietnamese, Italian.

* Learn how to play to piano and the guitar.

* Co-create a project with Salma Hayek (and I truly have the perfect one in mind!)

* Become a GOOD photographer.

* Publish a book.

* Get a law degree (yeah, I'll get back to this even if I'm 80!).

* Travel to Europe and Canada (among my most treasured goals is to visit Nova Scotia, London, The Netherlands, Paris and Spain.)

* Become a Disney Imagineer.

* Publish another book.

* Create ART with my friends.

* Meet Josh Groban, and do a photo shoot of him.

* Meet President Obama in person, and his wife.

* Meet Hillary Clinton, and do an interview of her.  And to see her become the President one day, too.

* To see my daughter accomplish all her dreams.

The list goes on and on.  Clearly, most of the things on that list take time (and lots of hard work and good luck.)  So, approaching 40 only reminds me of how much I still have to do and how much time is ticking away.

Where can I file a petition for some time stretching?  ;D 

* The photo is from an altered domino created by one of my talented friends.  Go here to read more about this project and here to see more pictures.

When art inspires good things and creates magic.

Did you see Disney's movie UP?  I just about LOVE everything about that movie.  I am a big fan of balloons, awesome stories, Disney imagination and adventure.  No wonder this movie raised itself up to be my favorite movie ever.  No joke. 

Today I was so happy to read that I was not the only one seriously impacted by this tremendously inspiring movie. Balloons for Hope is a project that plans to raise hopes for children with life threatening illnesses by literally raising a house in downtown Santa Cruz, California, using nothing less than thousands of balloons (just like in the movie!)  These balloons are being donated by individuals (proud to say I'm one of them, too) who want to help the Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Condition Center with their mission to make a difference in the life of children with life threatening impairments and their families.  You can donate a balloon, or two, or many.  And you can even personalize it, if you want.

If you were looking to do some good in the world today, get a balloon.  One that will make a difference.  One that will make magic. 

Balloons ROCK!

It's been so long again

Hey dear blog, I'm still here. It has been a few somewhat insanely busy weeks, but I'm keeping head above water for the most part. A lot of back to back things to do at various levels.  Work has been keeping me very busy with overflow after hours things to do.  And to top if off, last weekend I ended up going camping with the family so I never really  got a weekend brake, or any time to really decompress. Every evening this past week has been full of activities with lots to do to get ready for my daughter's back to school week (next week) and my husband birthday which was on August 14. I have so much to say now!  It's easier if I just use a list, I think.  So, here it goes.

"You stop believing in heroes, the hero inside of you dies." ~Jodi Picoult.

Wise words indeed.   I caught that quote while reading Picoult's Wonder Woman's Love and Murder.  There, I said it. I admit that I read a comic book.  It has been a while for me, but when I found out that Jodi Picoult was the writer who wrote the new Wonder Woman series, I had to read it (specially since I've suddenly become a big fan of her books. My Sister's Keeper was amazing and now I feel like I must read everything she's ever written!)  Yeah, sure "once a nerd, always a nerd."  I won't argue much against that statement, since I can, admittedly, be quite the nerd and a huge Wonder Woman fan.  That has not changed much through the years. You'll specially agree after reading this story from yesterday.

While I was out with my daughter doing some of that very fun school shopping, she found the perfect backpack.  It's fun and colorful just like she is.  It made me think of my middle school years and my back to school days.  The funny thing was that I had very different things in mind when it came to backpacks.  I remember the one thing I wanted more than anything when I started sixth and seventh grade was to have a black skinny briefcase. So, of course I got my wish (even if that meant I had to carry some books by hand since they didn't all fit in that skinny briefcase that I insisted I needed to have.)  When I shared this with my daughter she was shocked and wondered if I was teased at school for carrying a briefcase!  Ha.  It had never occurred to me.  Maybe I was, but never even noticed.  Or perhaps I didn't have time to care since I was so happy carrying around my black briefcase.  No wonder my nickname was "peacock."

And while I am in the topic of peacocks, my friend Beth went on a recent camping trip with her girls and found a cute little town store where she found this awesome little peacock notebook that she picked up for me because she remembered my nick name!

So glad she is back from camping by the way.  And I must share one of the fun activities she did with her daughters while camping.  It was such an awesome idea!  Can't wait to share the pictures, too.  Every day during their camping stay, they picked up lost items that they found on the beach (plastic cups, bottles, stuff that should have been picked up by the people who brought them there in the first place, but never did; or stuff that was brought onto the shore by the waves.  Towards the end of their trip, Beth gave each of the girls a box of some of those items and asked them to create an art piece with them.  The results were AMAZING!  I simply cannot wait to share those pictures here! 

On another entirely different topic, let me share this snap shot of these awesome bokeh pictures from  Crate and Barrel.

They totally made me smile. 

Mostly because they, in a sense, validated my love of bokeh, but also because they looked so pretty!  It is really great to realize that I am not the only one who is in love with bokeh enough to want to decorate with it!  I had been thinking of enlarging some of my own bokeh prints to hang them in my house, but I had not done it yet as I had feared it might just be a bit too quirky. And then I saw these and they made my heart miss a beat. I literally wanted to hug the designed who thought of this brilliant idea! 

Now, since we are on design topic, have you seen HGTV Deisgn Star?  We have been recording it for the past several weeks and watching it when we can. It is one of my daughter's favorite TV shows.  If you do watch it, who is your favorite designer this season?  My husband's favorite is Antonio Ballatore.  My daughter and me are rooting for Dan Vickery who by the way we find surprisingly so alike to an actor named Jerry O'Connell.

Okay, if you are still reading, thank you!  I hope I didn't bore you too much with the update.

I'll close with a picture that I took while walking in Santana Row in San Jose where we took the hubby to celebrate his 42nd birthday. 

Have a FUN Sunday everyone!  ;D

My top ten ways of jump starting creativity

When my dear friend Terry asked me to write a post in this topic, I immediately thought, I should actually make two lists.  One to outline creativity when it comes to personal pursuits (family projects, photography, art, launching goals, following dreams) and another one for creativity at my day-time office work (in a paperwork and deadline intense environment, creativity is key to survival, at least for me it is.) 

I often need to get back to the basics when it comes to igniting the sense of creative flow in my life, whether it is on a personal or professional level. It is funny how the simple things are always the things that can make me feel happier, more energized and ready to get to work.  So, based on what works for me, here are my top 10 for each category:

Creativity on a personal level

1. Nothing can bring me more creative infusion than having flowers near by.   Whether they are from my own yard, or from the store, flowers always work their magic touch with me.

2. Listening to the music that I love. Josh Groban's CDs always work for me, but I also like listening any of my other favorite singers.

3. Taking a break from what I'm doing for an impromptu photo-shoot of anything around me.  A little photography session can always bring a smile to my face!  Even if it only takes 5-10 minutes.

4. Reading always inspires me to be more creative.  If I don't have time to read a book, I like to browse through art and photography magazines.  Also, reading inspirational stories or listening to some of my pastor's sermons on tape.

5. Talking to my 12 year old.  She is always full of inspiration! 

6. Going for a "walk" to my local book or craft stores.  Hey, in my book, that counts as exercise!

7. Calling or e-mailing any one of my dear friends for a little chat. 

8. Flickering.  An instant inspirational spot for me.

9. Blogging, of course!

10. And did I mention listening to Josh Groban's music? 

~~Creativity at work

1. A Starbucks coffee break is always a good way to get me motivated to keep moving on paperwork intense projects.

2. New stationary (binders, pens, markers, new filing systems, colorful folders...anything from Staples, Office Depot or any stationary store!) 

3. Re-organizing my office; updating my calendar or starting a new address book.  Always fun to do!  At least for me, nothing is better than starting a long project on a neat and organized desk.

4. Flowers by my desk.

5. A Josh Groban CD whenever possible (that only works when I'm not meeting with clients, of course.)

6. Getting to work really early (or staying late) in order to work on a quiet office.  I like being able to work while not being interrupted with telephone calls or meetings since the very nature of my work involves a lot of daily client interaction.

7. Writing briefs, letters and anything having to do with our cases.  It always inspires me to no end to be able to effectively assist people with their claims. 

8. Reading new materials and reviewing updates from national organizations that deal with the same issues that our office handles in the field of public benefits.

9. Attending work conferences.  It is ALWAYS invigorating (and often very inspiring) to listen to other practitioners and hear their advice and/or comments on how to deal with different type of case law. 

10. Did I mention Starbucks breaks, flowers by my desk and Josh Groban music?  Notice a trend yet?

- I'll leave you with a few of my garden flowers from my early morning shoot. Seriously, what better way to start the day than with a close look at these beauties? 

 

Garlic Festival 2009

I must admit. And please forgive me when I say this, but I had never been a huge fan of the garlic festival before. Let me explain. The first time I went there about nine years ago, it happened to be a particularly HOT day.  I remember it being over 100 degrees the day I was there.  And my memories only include a long hike into the festival grounds because we could not find any parking near by, my daughter was only about 3 years old and was not amused with the heat and the hike.  When we got there, all I can remember is a strong smell of beer (if I had to pick one smell I hate the most, it would have to be the smell of beer) and sweat and a multitude of people everywhere.  And quite honestly, those elements were the ones that came to mind every time anyone asked anything about the garlic festival.  I could not even think of the garlic! I could remember, however, our rushed exit from there after about twenty minutes of what I always called "torture". 

Fast forward to about three or four years ago. My friend Beth convinced me to sign up as a volunteer to help in one of the booths to help our church. At that time I thought, well, I'll be in a booth, in the shade, how bad can it be?  So, along I went. Sadly, that was another bad experience for me. Another extremely hot weekend, my shift seemed extremely long and I have to say exhausting, too!  As soon as my shift was over, I run like a bat out of hell and I swore I would never, ever, be back again.

Now, back to last weekend. Garlic festival time again. Beth twisting my arm every day since Friday. Telling me how fun it would be. She was there every day. I finally gave in when she said we could go in early in the morning before the big rush.  So along I went.  I warned her I would only be there for an hour at most.

Well, I realized there were so many things I had missed before by not giving myself the chance to really be there and experience things. And people.  I had missed the fun of uninterrupted photo ops; the wonderful craft section (all these years I thought there was only food and beer in there); the friendly people; the garlic man and his adorable wife; the sense of community and the atmosphere of fun.  I had missed the fact that even if I did not want to eat greasy foods, I could still enjoy watching other people eat it.  I had missed the fact that if you ask a perfect stranger if he or she would let you take a picture of their garlic fries, not only would they happily pose their fries for you, but they will also offer to let you take pictures of their deep fried garlic tomatoes! Ha, ha. Yes, that really happened!

There were so many things that I had missed. I never really gave the garlic festival a fair chance. And this time, I did not even smell the beer. I did notice the garlic smell, and it was delightful.

I also noticed the happy people around and thousands of smiles.

I noticed happiness.

And my friend Beth was interviewed for a local TV station.  So much fun to watch and capture it all in pictures. 

So, my deep apologies to the garlic festival. I can honestly say, it really wasn't the way I remember it. Quite the opposite, it was one of the highlights of my summer this year.

Oh yeah, and I ended up spending four and a half hours there this time. Quite a record for me!  Thanks Beth for twisting my arm!

Weddings are so lovely!

I had the opportunity of shooting a wedding last month. The day began early as I wanted to capture a lot of the "special" moments that typically occur in weddings before, during and after the event.    There are so many emotions you can capture. Genuine laughter, joyful tears, excitement, and proud glimpses of joy...wedding are so lovely!  This day was such an explosion of happiness all around.  Let me share a hand full of my favorite shots (it was really hard to choose, specially considering that I took several thousands of pictures!) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

A few good things to share and a contest/question.

* My friend Corina loves to try new art classes every weekend and I hope one of these days I can join her (as soon as I can get a little extra time for the fun stuff that is.)

Recently, she took this class with Marah Johnson. I absolutely love this mini album that she made from mostly recycled materials! One of the most lovely things I have seen lately!

* And talking about good things, I have a little blogin the making.  The idea is to have a place where I can post photos of projects, Artist Trading Cards, Circle Journals, and other artful things created by my very artistic group of friends with whom I get to exchange ATCs every month.  I will be adding pictures as we go along.  You can click here  to see what we have so far.  In the right side of that blog, you can see the names and pictures of the artists.  I will soon be adding pictures of their own work.

* I've updated myetsy shop!  Take a peek.

* And to finish this post, I have a quick and fun (at least I think it is) question for you my friends and readers.  I will post here two pictures of two small trees from my own back yard. Let me first explain that we normally pay someone to trim them.  Someone who knows what he is doing. This time, the hubby and yours truly were feeling a bit brave and sincerely funny, so we decided to do the work ourselves.  He picked a tree and I picked another.  After he finished his (he was faster, of course), I told him that I had this brilliant idea about posting the pictures in my blog so that we could have a little contest and who ever reads the blog this week would get to pick who did a better job at trimming. After I mentioned my idea, I went back to trimming my own tree. Little did I know that once I mentioned the word "contest" the hubby HAD to get creative. See, he is a man with a very competitive gene. The thing is, I can be competitive, too.  Needless to say, we both got a bit creative in our own way and the poor trees got a little more than a makeover.  The poor things look like they are ready for Christmas, but it was all in good fun.  My question to you all is, which one of these two trees was BETTER trimmed, number 1 or number 2?  I won't say which was was trimmed by either one of us to keep this very fair (he happens to think that everyone would pick mine just because I'm cuter. Okay, he didn't say that was the reason, but he did think I would somehow get the advantage.) 

So, actually, I have two questions: Question one, which is the better trimmed tree, number 1 or number 2?  And question two, can you guess which tree was trimmed by me?  Everyone who guesses correctly as to which tree was trimmed by me, will get a special postcard in the mail from me!  If the hubby wins the contest and his tree was the best, he will get to trim both trees from now on!  If I win, I will!  Make the best tree win!  :D

They are always faithful

Two friendly roses

 

I love the peaceful and joyful reminders of happiness that flowers carry within them. 

They make life beautiful just by being there.

Needless to say, they have always been my faithful subjects.

They never say no to my nagging little camera. 

They pose happily and patiently.

And they are always happy, reminding me that every day is full of wonder and JOY!

Go after your dreams

I am giving Etsy another try.

I have added a few new listings. You can check them out here.

This print here is one of my favorites from this recent group.

Cards made from this print, and all my other listings in Etsy, will be available for sale soon, too.  Right now, there are 5 x 7 prints available through Etsy.

And to make my return to Etsy a bit more exciting, I will do a giveaway for one of these prints.  Just leave a comment sharing one of your dreams and I'll have my daughter pick one lucky person this evening before she goes to bed!  Go.