Assembly Required

It is HARD work. Seriously we worked for like 10 hours getting these 3 pieces together. They look really nice and I'm eager to get the rest set up and done. Maybe by next weekend everything will be back to normal.

Pictures

My mom sent an Amaryllis for Christmas. I took it in to work since I spend the majority of my time there anyway. It was really beautiful!

This was what was outside Britney Spears place
the day she got out of the Hospital.

Outside our window today.

LOOKIE!!! New chairs.

I will post picture of the prizes after the furniture arrives. I hope it is assembled! HOORAY prizes!

Prizes

My prizes from the game show started to arrive yesterday! So far I have the 3 chair, the printer and the laptop.

The furniture is being delivered to "curb side" on Monday. I'm taking the day off to help bring it up and rearrange our current set up.

The only glitch is the laptop. They sent me a different one than I won. And it appears to be used. I hope they can work it out and get me the correct pc or something in the same price range.

I've been terrible at posting. Not much to say I guess.

You can watch a re-air of the show on Thursday. The second show of the day.

TOMORROW - Temptation

My episode of the game show is on TOMORROW, January 10!

Check this website for show times in your area.

http://shop.seenon.com/index.php?v=sso-temp-about-schedule

Temptation

The game show airs in ONE WEEK!!! Thursday January 10. Check local listings. It's probably on Fox or that new My Network TV channel.

In Los Angeles it airs at 2:00 pm on FOX 11.

We went on a very long 80% uphill 6 mile hike at Malibu Creek State Park. How was it all uphill? We just kept going up, from one trail to another. Little did we know that the trail looped around the mountain to the sloping side of the hill, a gently slope down. We were SORE the next couple days.

We were seeking out the cage left over from Planet of the Apes in 1966. We searched and climbed all the way up to the top along cage trail and no cage. All 5 of the Planet of the Apes movies were on NYE, it was fun to see where we had just been all aped out.

We did see these


Almost at the top


Emma. Look at her little gray snouty-snout

This is not really interesting

Tonight we are having chicken that is rolled around cheesy stuffing with cranberries, salad and garlic bread. We will watch Days of Our Lives with dinner and then Intervention. We also have the movie Let's All Go to Prison, but we'll probably watch that tomorrow.

This weekend we watched Waitress and Superbad. Superbad is super funny. Waitress is only ok.

On Wednesday we're having dinner with my brother in law Jeff. We are looking forward to seeing him, we always have a great time hanging out. I think we'll go to Marmalade Cafe. I plan to give him some presents to take home to the family. I hope he has room, otherwise they'll be late to arrive in TX.

I had plans to do laundry and go to the gym today, but instead I worked late and sat in traffic.

I guess I'm nearly done Christmas shopping. I have a couple more things to get Matt, but nothing big. We're just doing one big gift for the both of us. I got to choose it, and my choice was a fancy drill. Exciting I know.

Tomorrow, I hope to not make an excuse not to go to the gym. Matt has gone everyday for almost a week! So impressive. And so much better than paying and not going.

I'm not too excited for Christmas. It's hard to get to excited without kids to get all jazzed over, and since I just have the 25th off, it doesn't feel like much of a holiday.

Favorite Blog

The Daily Coyote

It is awesome! Great pictures and an even greater story.

Changes

My husband has been considering changing jobs for a few months. He really wasn't being challenged and had clearly reached his potential with the company. He lost his job on Monday. Now there is nothing standing in his way from finding a new and better opportunity. Well nothing except the writers strike and much of Hollywood being in shut down mode. I know the right thing will come along.

We both expected Monday to come sooner or later so we were prepared. It doesn't suck any less to be out of work for the holidays but at least we won't worry about money.

DONE

I am finished with arts and craft shows! FINALLY. I'm over it. Sales were bad, attendance was worse and one can only hear your stuff is so awesome, how do you make it and are those MICROPHONES so many times in a three month period.

I've had shows nearly every other weekend since October. I'm ready to sleep in and do other things for a number of weekends in a row.

I'm going to take JJM Handcrafted in a new direction next year. I don't think that weekend shows are the right path. I have 3 goals for next year.

1. take amazing pictures of every item
2. revamp website and etsy site
3. explore wholesale

Cashmere

I used to think I wanted a really nice thick terry cloth robe. I was wrong.

Cashmere. I want a cashmere robe.

Ebay has a nice selection. Just think how cozy it will be to lounge in my cashmere robe?

Handmade for the Holidays

Finally, Handmade for the Holidays is almost here. I am super excited. I've handed out every single postcard, hung posters and sent a load of emails. I am ready. A co-worker reports daily how many times she saw the commercial and any other bit of publicity she notices.

It will be GREAT!

I have a nice holiday display lined up. Pictures will follow on Sunday.

I have be an absent blogger due to the workload, creating, shopping, planning...

happy Thanksgiving

The zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday. Here are some pictures and a video.

They opened the new Gorilla exhibit on Monday and had special early viewing for members. The exhibit is great, a lot like the Chimpanzee exhibit.

While we were standing watching the apes, a woman turned to me and said "excuse me". I leaned in to hear her and she asked me to pick up her child and place him on her shoulder. I looked at her, then at her kid and said no. She replied, really, you won't? No.

WTF? Why would I want to pick up your 4 year old kid, lift him up 4 feet and place him on your shoulders? Hell no.



A lion pooping. Everyone else was shitty, the kids, their diapers, the moms so why not the lion. I assume the lion was pooping because he walked around and kicked dirt all over behind where he was standing after he was finished. Like a cat does after pooing in the litter box. And then the girl lion went and stuck her nose in his butt, I don't know what that means.

I don't really like the color in these, I'm still learning with the new camera. It was dusk, I'm sure there is a setting. We look jaundiced, and our teeth are not that yellow!

Happy Halloween

My entry into the pumpkin decorating contest.


Proud First place winner!!! $75.00


Morton's Salt Girl. I should have stood just like her, but whatever, I'm more than satisfied with the pumpkin winnings!

Personal Day

Tomorrow is a personal day. I decided Wednesday to ask if I could take Friday off, it was no problem.

On the to do list

1. Michael's Arts and Crafts. This is employee appreciation week at Michaels, and it seems that I'm an employee. All I have done is shown my work, filled out a bunch of paperwork and complete a 70 question quiz about stealing, smoking pot and having issues with authority. Check, Check and Check. I passed with fling colors. It was much like the MMPI, but for people who work at Michaels. Honestly, it made me uncomfortable. But I digress.

So Employee Appreciation Week at Micheal's means 50% off my complete purchase. That's right, 50% off my ENTIRE purchase! I plan to take advantage and restock my supplies.

At some point in December I will teach a class, it is nice to be appreciated in advance.

2. Laundry.
3. Sleep in past 5:30 AM.
4. Make 20-200 items for goody bags for the Handmade for the Holidays. 200 is pretty ambitious, but that is what I'm shooting for. It is worth it. 200 people will have my business card and a little slice of clay with a hole in it. I plan to do an abstract flower. They can hang it on something or whatever. I'm sure I'll also make a few beads and maybe some other fun easy things.

5. Make a pot of crock. For that I need to go to the grocery store. So I imagine the day will start with a trip to the grocery store and maybe jamba juice. I think pot roast will be on the menu. Or maybe I'll be a super good wife and try to replicate Matt's mom's chicken and biscuits recipe. Never having had it, nor knowing what it tastes like will likely be an issue.

I'm looking forward to a nice day off!

So much going on

I've been approved to begin teaching a polymer clay class at Michael's. Now to come up with a lesson plan and a project. It is hard to think beginners. I plan to teach my first class in January. I hope that works with their schedule. If not, that'll have to do. I'm busy busy busy.

First up
10/21/07
Barnsdall Art Park October Arts and Crafts fair. Sadly, I cannot find one single thing about the fair online to link you up. I doubt that is a good thing. Let's hope that the word is out in other ways.

10/27/07
John Burroughs High in Burbank. Their first arts & crafts fair. I haven't a clue what to expect, but its local and inexpensive. The funds support the school arts, so that is good.

11/10/07
Craft Republic This one is at the fair grounds in Pomona. I'll rock the Inland Empire.

11/23/07-11/24/07
Handmade for the Holidays This should be awesome. The day after Thanksgiving and at the busiest intersection in Hollywood? Across the street from the Grove (big mall) and they will flyer every car to inform them of our fantastic handmade items. No lead here.

12/7/07-12/8/07
Fashion Co-Op Holiday I'm super excited about this show! I was invited to vend at another event this same week in December. That event looked just as awesome, but it came with a hefty price tag. I debated all weekend long what decision I would make, do I risk it and go for it, or not. I was still on the fence when I learned I was accepted into the Fashion Co-Op show. Hooray. This show was a third of the price of the other, and it will be just as great. It's at the same exact location of the other show, so I still get to experience showing in Santa Monica.

So all of that and my full-time job and holiday stuff! My job, btw, is going great. I'm learning a new responsibility and things are just great.

Random on a Thursday

Emma slipped jumping up to the ledge above our sidewalk. I had her on a short leash and I didn't see that she wanted to jump up, so of course I feel totally responsible. She is walking a little off, but I'm sure she'll be fine. Just a little sore maybe. Poor baby. I feel terrible.

I redesigned my website and put up a blog just for submissions to art shows. You can look at them if you so choose.

www.jjmhandcrafted.com
www.jjmhandcrafted-art.blogspot.com

Tonight for dinner we are having grilled artichokes and grilled zucchini. The zucchini has been marinating for a few hours in a combo of Cabernet, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and various spices. I know I have two acids, the wine was an after thought. I will sprinkle the artichokes with Parmesan and salt and pepper.

This website freaks me out. Are you left or right brained?
clockwise or counter

Tomorrow is our 5th wedding anniversary. The traditional gift for number 5 is wood. I got my DH a wood plank cookbook and cedar and alder wood planks. You can't get much more wood than actual pieces of wood.

Tomorrow we might go to the fancy restaurant just down the street. I need to find the menu to confirm its stuff we'd like to eat. We can get all dress up and walk over and toast to our love and commitment.

Artwalk Pictures

From the Fall 2007 Brewery Artwalk



















Thanks to Sara for taking some of the pictures.

The Brewery Artwalk

It's this weekend. October 6 & 7.

I'm in building 624, come visit me and see some art.

Goals

I have a goal to do 2 or 3 art/craft shows per month between now and the end of the year.

I have applied to a bunch and I'm awaiting replies for some and gearing up for others.

This weekend is the Brewery Artwalk! My most favorite show ever.

I hope I hear all positive things from all the other shows, no rejections, please.

Business

I'm gearing up for the fall/winter art show season. I've applied to a few that I should hear back from in the next week. I've been accepted to shows at a couple new events. Sometimes those are great, sometimes not so much. But each time I do show I learn something new to take with me the next time.

I've also decided it is time for some professional pictures. I've selected 10 items to start. My frustration with images knows no bounds. The color is off, the white background is yellow, the detail is lost.... Or I spend an hour or so editing the image. I do not enjoy it. So time to outsource. The person I've selected takes AMAZING pictures. I have given her free will to do what she wants creatively. I know my best work is when someone gives me a general idea and says go for it. So I've submitted the items and I just cannot wait to see what she comes up with.

Of course I'll post the images here!