~ my angst over the blank book I'm using
~ the rewards of a 20-minute drawing during a morning lull
~ a few great picture books for the kids (Mademoiselle Moon by Marie Louise Gay and Paint Box by Maxine Trottier)
~ suggestions for needlepointing with kids
~ I circle the block for a purple flower photo
~ mom's coming to visit
~ two new creative prompts - a continuation of last week's "photo grid" prompt and this week's thematic prompt: Keeping Time
~ FD Flickr Toys (mosaic maker is good for the prompt)
~ ATC update and "reminders"
~ and more... Plus, as always, good podsafe music. (Length: 58 min)

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Monique Rhodes ~ Under the Sun [PMN]
Spaghetti Cake ~ Give Me the Sun
Jonathan Coulton ~ I'm Your Moon [PMN]

Posted by Amy at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

~ a pull-out bed leads to unexpected time focused on ATCs for April's "A World in Bloom" exchange
~ my first whirl with an SLR (but not digital), the little one suggests taking a photo of his bottom would be easy, and thoughts on the boundaries of photographing others
~ I finally turn my attention to The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden (author of the Woman's Comfort Book: A Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life) designed to help you organize your life and create a life you love [for more information, see listener Lain's interview with Jennifer earlier this year]
~ By the way, Lain has her own Podcast! Check out Scrap Happy!
~ I spend time with the "weighty" A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005 by Annie Leibovitz and catch up on some photgraphers unfamiliar to me in In Real Life: Six Women Photographers (and references to the Lange and Adams books I looked at earlier this year)
~ two new creative prompts - one photographic prompt that will send you through your house looking through your lens in preparation for an inspiration grid; the other, this week's thematic prompt: "In the Kitchen"
~ in the first prompt, I mention Michael Leu's work - which I remain enamoured with after many, many years
~ and more... Plus, as always, good podsafe music. (Length: 1 hr, 12 min)

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Rachel Fuller ~ Just Breathe [PMN]
Ehren Starks ~ The Story of Room 620 [Magnatune]
Cassandra Kubinsky ~ Cradle the Moon [PMN]

Posted by Amy at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

See it there... look to the right. It's the second in a lineup of journals. More info on this drawing will be coming - as will a shot at Flickr. But, I was excited and wanted to at least have you look!

Posted by Amy at 5:45 PM | Permalink

Another library stack posted with some notes on the blog and some notes on Flickr.

Posted by Amy at 10:38 AM | Permalink

~ we get ready to head for the mountains and (maybe) snow
~ restaurant art and the beauty of index cards (a great shimmer robot which I did not let go as a birthday card, dino and dragon cards, and an inspiring view from the Twin Peaks lookout)
~ needlepoint (with a Mary Engelbreit theme) returns in the house, the importance of a "first fish," and an unexpected meltdown
~ three new creative prompts: a look at your tools (see Ryan's fab photo), a "get out there" prompt (with a stack of blank cards or separate papers), and "Home" - this week's thematic prompt
~ a guest spot by SunnyNole from Florida, moderator of the Digi-Scrapping Moms group at Flickr
~ and more... Plus, as always, good podsafe music. (Length: 53 min)

(In looking up links for the show notes - I discovered that the needlepoint store I mention in this episode [in the same breath with FLAX and Dick Blick] may not carry Mary E items anymore [no doubt a licensing issue gone awry]. Part of me says, "ahhhh," but another part says, Yahoo! This discovery means that when I need to replenish fiber, because I'm sure to run out of some color or other despite good advice and planning at the time of purchase, I can go back to the store and not be so susceptible to splurging! There's always a window - you just have to find it!)

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Kelly Cavagnuolo ~ Rebecca's Theme [PMN]
Jon Schmidt ~ Winter Wind [PMN]

Posted by Amy at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am back, and the show is coming in the next day or so. I'm so already off schedule with this one that it makes more sense to hold it a day or so at this point. In the meantime, and to give you a sneak peak into the show, there is a bit of Mary Engelbreit discussion in Episode 43. I love, love, love her illustrations. And, I know some of you do, too. (In fact, you did see that SunnyNole recently fabric covered a journal in Mary Engelbreit fabric, right?) Here are links to a few choice titles to poke around while you wait for the show.

I am also going to be talking about needlepoint. There will be art of the sketching/drawing/painting kind, too. But, needlepoint as well. So, stay tuned. And, if you've got a canvas tucked away that you every once in a while look at longingly but bury again in the closet and focus instead on your knitting or your painting, drag it out. I'm there with you. This show is for you - and all the rest of the tapestry needle artists out there!

Posted by Amy at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just a note to let everyone know I'm offline for a few days. I've recorded Episode 43 and will be posting it mid to late week. But I won't be answering emails, approving new list members, or handling ATC issues until the end of the week. Just to set your expectations!

Posted by Amy at 6:48 AM | Permalink