How do you do IT?

ok - IT -  that elusive thing...that is...make time for creating, learning new techniques, take pictures, post onto Etsy, read about other ideas, social network...oh and have a full time job, be a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, cook and clean and collapse at the end of the night!?! Thank G-d I have a husband who gets just as wrapped up in his business as I do in mine - at 11 or 12  o'clock at night we will check up on each other and  remind each other that maybe it is time to collapse....and then we keep going until we actually do almost collapse. It is a pattern - but one that better time management skills would probably solve - or an added 4 hours in the day! The thing is, I really love creating - it relaxes me - I love solving art problems they are complex puzzles that stretch my imaginations and challenge my skills. Collage takes a group of items and combines them to create a pleasing form; just like my life!

SO in between the post office , the bank, the cleaners, the job, and the dentist , I created the last few canvasses for Pesach....now maybe I will start to actually CLEAN for Pesach!

Getting ready for Pesach...or the procrastination prevails!!!!

It's coming...it's coming - I know Pesach is only 2 weeks aways - and instead of actually getting it together and cleaning, shopping and planning menus I am sitting at the computer. Yucko... whereas Pesach ( or Passover whatever you call it) is one of my absolute happiest and most wonderful of holidays the preparations leading to that day are not so much....
ok - I must think of it this way - to get to the freedom I have to work like a slave for a little bit - that sounds awfully familiar....
Years ago when I had 3 little kids running around and a dog leaving food everywhere it was more of an issue - but my husband and I are by ourselves - and contrary to the opinion of said 3 little kids now not so little - are not slobs. Food is eaten only in a few choice locations so that Pesach prep in theory should be easier.I said in theory - ok??? :)

I also don't buy as much as I used to - moving from Atlanta to NY has its perks - used to be that after the first 2 days the local store would be out of most of the pesach foods - so replenishing was not always possible. I learned the hard way to buy more before to avoid issues later. Now I am spoiled rotten with 3 stores around the corner getting in supplies all the time - if I can't get it...I probably don't need it!
But I am very proud of myself - I actually made the list to buy and menu already...now for that cleaning,,,, well...maybe tomorrow!

Simchat Purim!!! YAY!!!! Purim is Coming!!!

Just completed the finishing touches on my latest Purim canvas - "Simchat Purim". Purim has always been my absolute favorite holiday - how can you go wrong?? candy, parties...FUN!!!! For years I had a gift basket business and spent the time before creating hundreds of incredible themed gifts - on Purim day I just collapsed with sheer exhaustion! Today...not so much  - but Hubby and I are planning to do our own "themed" mishloach manot  - MOVIES and POPCORN!!! We procured these jumbo sized popcorn containers and plan on filling them with movie sized candy - and a DVD of course! Hubby has a collection of movies in the thousands - so this theme will not be a stretch for us in any way!
Living in NY I kinda miss the annual Purim Parade in Atlanta with all the kids - little and big dressing up and getting into the mood of the holiday. The trade off is being close to family and seeing my own nieces and nephews dress up on the actual day of Purim - I figure it sorta balances itself out. CHAG SAMEACH!!!!!

Toy Fair

Just got home from accompanying hubby to the International Toy Fair at the Javits Center in NY. Was amazing..and exhausting! So many wonderful thing to see and touch - snow makers out of edible polymers ( as if we need more snow!), games and toys - sure but I found these great kits to make all sorts of things.OK - we placed order for the usual cast of characters...but then we found it...headphones that you can decorate yourself with stickers and lettering, flowers and jewels - I am totally psyched. I can't wait to start decorating these and putting them on etsy - one of a kind beauties!!!!  Check out link below to find out more about the toy fair!
http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Toy_Fair&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=193&ContentID=3538

The other great thing about the show was that I had a chance to meetup with a group of artists from etsy that were there talking up etsy handmade. I don't know about you  - it's always nice to have a chance to shmooze with like minded artists and get their take on things. One talked to me about business and how she relists during the day with her blackberry at lunchtime - she is an engineer in her day job and makes wonderful felt characters in her "spare" time into the wee hours of the night. Another was an amazing photographer who showed us her tricks with a digital camera and a piece of white paper to take incredible shots. Being part of etsy is great because you are part of a larger community of artist who are excited and happy to share with you.

ok...another "playing around" back to work!

SPRING IS HERE?!?!?!?.....or not?!?!

ok ok - I admit...I am not good at this whole blogging thing - I get distracted and forget that this supposed to be a daily thing - and really...currently only 3 people know that I exist anyways!!!!

But I will continue to plug away at it....hoping that I will ge the hang of it!

When I was little I loved to gather my materials and come up with something wonderful from the items. I still love doing that today.I posted new items on my etsy site...have been playing around with some new methods - got bored and tried something new - SO I looked out my window and saw the mountains of snow and said to myself - what I really need is SPRING!!! The above 2 pics are a result of my musing.

I used hebrew language workbook pages to create the tree, metal findings in the shape of leaves that I bought in Israel that have brachot ( blessings) on them, cut and punched out shapes, added stamps, and played with acrylics and viola....spring in a can - or canvas as this case may be.

Who are the people in your neighborhood?!?

ok - you hear the words - and if you are anywhere close to my age - middle aged bliss that is - you grew up on the beloved Sesame Street. I loved it - I looked forward to every new day of Big Bird, Ernie and Bert and of course THE COOKIE MONSTER!!!! I was thinking about that the day I created this little canvas. I had in mind a child whose parents might have grown up the same way as me and might want something a little funky to decorate their child's room with. I used digital images of vintage stamps and Israeli advertising posters that kinda answers that question...if you are in Israel that is...and your street is Rechov Ben Yehuda! This collage is created on an old hebrew language workbook pages with vibrant colorful images that just POP off the canvas!!

CHANUKAH PARTY!!!!!

Growing up I always looked forward to Chanukah - ok - presents are a cool thing anytime - but I loved getting together with the whole gamily - the "gantze mishpacha" - aunts, uncles, cousins, and of course my grandparents. We trekked to Connecticut to their wonderful home - always tastefully furnished - at the time I though everyone decorated with fine woods and persian rugs and served with silver and china - and had the most memorable Chanukahs ever! We all lined up to light our menorahs at the window and say the brachot (blessings) and then sang Ma Ozur together. My grandfather was a chazzan - and his voice boomed louder and more melodic than everyone else - if I close my eyes I can hear his voice still. Yummy food, gifts galore and dreidel contests - it feels like it was yesterday!

My cousins, aunts and uncles have long since made aliyah to Israel, my grandparents made aliyah as well and even though my grandfather has long since passed away the memories I have of those special times will always remain.

It's been such a long time!

Have you ever felt that you lost it???? Well,,coming from someone who works in a mental health clinic that is a loaded question - but what I mean to say is - have you ever felt that whatever you truly enjoyed was lost to you? They call it artist block - I call it exhaustion beyond belief - but I am working my way back to you (babe)...and back from the brink of the block!

Juggling is not as easy as I remembered and keeping all those balls in the air is so hard somedays! Here are the first fruits of my labors....with more hopefully to come!

I'M BACK!!!

oh...but you didn't know I left????

I just came back this morning from a fun filled, exhausting whirlwind trip to Israel for 9 days to attend my son's wedding.

Was a ton of running around and roasting in 90+ degree heat - but well worth it. I am filled with inspiration and ideas to continue onward and upward in my artwork.

Take a look at some of the pics that my hubby extraodinaire took just walking around Jerusalem.

sneak peek at what's coming soon!!!!

Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul - exactly ONE MONTH before Rosh Hashana - The Jewish New Year!

When I was little I loved to collage. I used to rummage through the art teachers stuff and CREATE treasures from little bits and peices she had hiding in the mess of her art closet. Well...I have reverted to my roots and have started designing the collages that will ultimately become Rosh Hashana cards, plates and boxes and Sukkot posters!!!

This collage is crafted from vintage shana tova cards over 40 years old!

Check in! Join the conversation - I would love to know what you think!!!!