Little Green

Ida — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:02:04 +0000

She’s done!

I completely got lost in the flow last night (listening to old Creative Thursday podcasts – recommended!!) and couldn’t stop until I was done. I love this new medium! Digital painting seems to be the best of two worlds for me – the joy of painting without the messy studio and working with my beloved computer. I love the result and can’t wait to do more!

Little Green is up in the shop as of now. Click on the image to get to the listing in the shop.

I hope she will be joined by other digital paintings soon.

What do you think? Do you like her?

Digital painting

Ida — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:20:48 +0000

For his birthday in 2005, Seb got a huge Wacom pad. He used to draw a lot but kind of fell out of it since the babies came. So, a few weeks ago I decided to install it on my computer and (insert the Tabernacle Choir singing Hallelujah!) it is just wonderful! I love it so much! I have been using it to touch up on my prints, but yesterday I actually started practicing digital painting. It is not very easy (especially since I have no experience of real painting…), but you have to start somewhere. Here is what I have so far:

She is really not finished yet (I know a part of the skirt is still without color, and I want to make a background), but I love her! It was so much fun!

I’m heading into the midterm-exam week and have a few exams and paper due dates lined up ahead of me. Think of me as I make my way through the week! I can’t wait to have my “reading week” next week so that I can catch up on some school work and my creative work.

Got my babies back!

Ida — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:51:40 +0000

We went for a walk today in the woods and I just loved it so much. This is my favorite time of year!!

Missing my babies

Ida — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:15:51 +0000

My mother-in-law is keeping our babies with her for the weekend and the house is sooo quiet… I had a long, long list of things to do for school, but I never got around to do them. I guess I needed to take it easy instead… I woke up late yesterday, had breakfast at 10 (surreal!), watched some episodes of “United States of Tara” (which I just LOVE), listened to this week’s lesson by Marisa and started on a new creative project.

We’re going to get the children back in a couple of hours, and I can’t wait to see them! I miss them so much (even though it has been really, really good to be without them for two nights).

How can you not miss this face? This is Ollie, 4 months.

… and this is my Bailey-boy, 2 ½ years old.

*sigh* Can’t wait to hold them!

Now on Facebook!

Ida — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:45:11 +0000

In keeping with this week topic in the Fishbowl class, I created a page for Tea for Thoughts on Facebook! It looks a bit sad and empty at the moment, but I’ll update it as the business grows.

Here’s the link

Etsy favorites, no 2

Ida — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:47:25 +0000

Here is another collection of my latest Etsy favorites. Like last time, I’m choosing with my oldest son in mind. But next time I’ll do one with mama in mind!!

Sparrow by Cupcakes for Clara

Blue wooden helicopter by Imagination Kids

Waldorf Gnomes set by Julie Blanchette

Felt dog by oridotandolls

Boo boo pads by Nursery love

I’m thinking of using these “boo boo pads” as little warm friends for my little son this winter. We can get down to -40 Celsius (my online converter tells me that this is -40 in Fahrenheit as well… could that be right?) during the winter months up here and I know that Bailey will complain all the way to daycare in the car. So maybe I could heat these pads up and let him have them under his shirt? Could make the ride easier on mommy!

Bookplates

Ida — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:00:25 +0000

Yes, I finally came up with an idea for my little girl and boy characters! Here’s the newest item in the Tea for Thoughts shop:

How do you like it? I’ve done some other versions as well, but they’re not on the site yet. Here are the faces and pants to choose from:

I like it!

Thank you so much to everyone stopping by, giving me some encouragement. It isn’t easy being a mommy and a student, but I know that this will pass. I’ll get my diploma in December and by then, my baby will be a bit older and (hopefull!) a little more regular in his eating/sleeping habits. We still don’t know if we’ll be able to afford me staying at home for a while starting in January, but that’s what I’m hoping for… Time will tell and everything will be ok.

I spent three hours in a coffeeshop this morning, trying to get some studying done. It felt good just to get out of the apartment a little! Breathing air, looking at people, reading the newspaper (yes, I did take a break every now and then!), sipping hot chocolate… Ça fait du bien, as they say here in Québec. It does good.

I wish you all a great Tuesday, wherever you are.

The start of the Fishbowl!

Ida — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:09:23 +0000

Oooh, I am so excited that the Fishbowl e-course has started! Marisa put up the first podcast yesterday and I just loved it… her voice puts me in a really calm and meditative mood – especially when I listen with headphones – and there was so much interesting in that very first lesson. I will have to re-listen to it to be able to get all of it.

I am also so happy to see some fellow Fishies stopping by! Hello!! I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you (wouldn’t it be a great idea if Marisa put up a Fishbowl forum? I think I’m going to propose that idea to her!), hearting new Etsies, supporting other artists and learning a lot. This will be fun!

My biggest challenge during this course will be Time. My life is a total chaos right now… Bailey is almost 2½ years old and has daily outbursts, crying spells, screaming rages… and he keeps waking up many, many times each night. And then there’s Ollie who is 3½ months… still needs to be nursed every 2-3-4 hour during the night. And THEN there’s my university studies. Being a full-time university student with two small kids is a-l-m-o-s-t impossible (but I can make it work, right?) and it stresses me to already be behind in my reading. But it is my last term… I keep clinging to that thought.

My creativity is on hold and it makes me feel bad about myself. I really must make time for me every once in a while… since I know that a few hours of drawing makes me recharged.

Anyway. I am SO looking forward to the coming six weeks of the Fishbowl. And I am really happy I jumped on the course – even if my creativity is put aside a bit for the moment. Who knows what this will lead to!

First sale!

Ida — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:36:56 +0000

Just when I started to really doubt myself… I had my first sale!

Woot woot! Thank you so much Maria in Spain for being my first customer!!

Finding me again

Ida — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:36:44 +0000

School started this week (for me, not for the kids!) and I’m feeling overwhelmed. It is my last term in university and I really, really want to be done! Still, I wouldn’t mind taking a full term off just to take care of my youngest babe… Why does it seem as though my decisions nowadays all have to do with money?! Since we’re both students, we don’t qualify for any maternity/paternity leave… so if we want to keep money coming in (i.e. loans and grants), I have to go back to school this term. Arrrrgh… I wish money didn’t govern our lives this much!

Anyway. My angel Lucy came for a few hours on Friday afternoon and I took some time off everything. I spent those precious hours in a coffee shop (as usual) just sipping coffee and being a bit creative. And I am amazed at how much “being creative” means to me and how much it can lift my spirit! I got so much extra energy, it’s unbelievable. I really wish I could do this more often!

So, here’s the result. Two new prints in the shop! Yay!

I just LOVE the full colors on this one! The quote is from an amazing song from the sixties that you can enjoy here (don’t you just LOVE her voice?):

I’m so happy with both these prints – they turned out exactly the way I imagined them!