In my last post, I mentioned this book by Jill Badonsky.

Today I get to host a stop on her blog tour.  This book is seriously so genius!  I love the silliness, the drawings, and the little boosts to get your creative juices flowing.  Here’s my little interview with Jill:

jenny:  I’m new to the creative/ artsy world.  Most of my life I didn’t think give myself enough credit, and didn’t even try to let my creative juices flow.  Now I’m wanting to try new things but have trouble knowing where to start.  How would you encourage someone who has the desire but absolutely zero know-how to just do it?  

jill:  I think you could start right where you are. Looking at other people’s work, seeing what excites you, copying some of it until you find your own style. There’s so much to be tried that it can be overwhelming – it’s important to break things down.

Taking classes and workshops helps too but be weary of finding a teacher you like.

Daydreaming is also a valid part of the creative process… day dream about your possibilities and then set one step you will complete during the week.

jenny:  What kind of environment do you prefer when you are creating art?  (Quiet?  Loud music?  Messy?  Organized? Certain time of day or night?)

jill:  I like to create whenever the inspiration strikes. Sometimes it’s quiet, sometimes loud music spurs on a different approach. I like it organized, but I’m an artist and it doesn’t stay that way long. I love days where I wake-up take a walk and then come back and create.

jenny:  How have you established a “look” for your art?  (Is this what is referred to as branding?)  Since I’m new, I’m still experimenting and figuring out my style.  I look at other artwork and I know what I like, but how do you zero in on a style that says a certain piece is yours?

jill:  You try not to analyze it too much and do what gives you the most joy and energy. And then find which things that you’ve done that you like the best and use them as a reference. I also recommend exploring the archives of Robert Genn at painterskeys.com. 

jenny:  Any other tips you’d be willing to share with someone who may be a little intimidated?  Where is the best place to start?

jill:  Follow the prompts and encouragement in The Awe-manac or modify them to suit your intuitive mood.

By having fun, lowering your expectations and not expecting to be perfect at the beginning. Find what process you enjoy and set out thinking it’s all practice. If the inner-critic starts telling you things like, “You’re not good enough,” “You’re wasting your time,” or ANYTHING that’s not supportive, reply back “SO WHAT, I’LL DO IT ANYWAY.”

jenny:  And lastly, what food can you absolutely NOT live without?
jill:  Papaya. (and dark chocolate)

Thanks so much for having me and The Awe-manac. Come and visit: www.themuseisin.com

Thank YOU, Jill!  I’m loving the book and the little bits of trivia.  Who knew that March is Mucic in Our Schools Month, Humorists Are Artists Month, International Ideas Month, International Listening Awareness Month, National Craft Month, National Ethics Awareness Month, National Frozen Food Month, National Nutrition Month, National Women’s History Month, Optimism Month (and more!  get the book!).

Here’s a glimpse into the book with tomorrow’s page:

I mentioned before that we have recently moved back to the SF Bay Area from Minnesota.  I’m not yet back in my normal routines.  Actually, staying with my sister and her family for now, it feels kind of like vacation mode.  I haven’t really been creating any art or crafty things since we’ve been here.  We did have a “crafternoon” with all the cousins, creating ATCs.  And I made a mixed media painting for my sweet friend’s birthday.

It’s been rainy here, but really the title of this post is about soaking it all in, artfully speaking.  I have high hopes and goals for creating more art and trying lots of new things this year.  My new love is mixed media painting.  I’m excited to do more and try new things.  I also started working with felt a little before we moved (sewing things from recycled wool sweaters and a little needle felting).  I’d like to sew some more bags and purses, and experiment with drawing more in my art journal.  Another thing I really want to learn and experiment with is making hand stamped jewelry.  I see so many beautiful, creative pendants and I’d love to make some.  (Anyone have a good link for me, for a tutorial or basics of getting started?)  

There are so many styles and types of art that I enjoy.  It’s hard to focus on one thing and dive into it 100%.  Since our stuff is in a cold storage unit in Minnesota, and I’m not yet in my own space to get things out and really play, right now I’m reading books, looking at photos on flickr, and spending time on lots of different blogs.  I’m getting inspired and feeling empowered to go for it, whatever I decide “it” is.

One book that I recently purchased is Jill Badonsky’s Awe-manac.  Such a fun daily read for inspiration, quotes, humor and encouragement.  I’m so excited to be a part of her blog tour.  Stay tuned for the interview and a sneak peak of a page in her book!

So while I may not be creating things much right now, I am soaking in the beauty and inspiration of other people’s work, and storing ideas in my head.  I really should be jotting things down in a journal so I don’t forget.  I’ll try to get back to posting more often.  Maybe I’ll do a series of “inspired by…” with links to what other people are doing.  If you’d like to be featured, email me.  I’d really like this to be more than just the jenny show.  I’d love to feature handmade art, crafts and ideas from other creative cats more often!

Hosting a giveaway was so much fun, I’ll have to do it more often!  For now, I thought I’d share with you some giveaways I just found out about!  Follow the links to enter along with me!

I love aprons!  You can enter this giveaway from Cookie Girl Creations here.

And over here you can win a really pretty/fun/funky (you choose) necklace.

Another jewelry giveaway… you can get a fun pair of yarn ball earrings here.

This one looks great!  You can win a signed copy of a book called The Husband Project!

copy that!

What a day!  We got a lot accomplished.  Today was day one of our super packing frenzy.  We are moving in a couple of weeks and we got off to a good start.  I got a little overwhelmed at first, thinking of all that needs to be done in a short amount of time, but then we laid out a plan for ourselves.  We listed the areas of the house that need to be done, and decided two a day for six days (not in a row, because we have other commitments two days this week).  Very doable.  And we’re right on schedule.  School room done.  One bedroom done.  Closet under the stairs done too.

Dinner was easy.  Lasagna in the oven while we finished stacking boxes.  Our kids always want to know what’s for dessert after dinner.  Not that I bake every night.  I don’t even bake every week.  But they usually ask for whatever we may have… a couple of cookies, an orange, popcorn.  One of their very favorites is a white mocha freeze.  I learned to make these working in the coffee shop in our church (the one we’re moving back to).  You use a powdered mocha mix for these, so it’s not too much coffee or caffeine for the kids.  In my opinion anyway… you can decide for yourself I suppose.  If you’d like yours a little more coffee-ish, you can add a shot of espresso that’s been cooled.  These are super yummy and super easy, so though I was tuckered after a long day of packing, I didn’t mind whipping it up.  (And it was so tasty, it was a nice treat for me too!)  Enjoy!

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I
recently signed:

“Save Handmade Toys in the USA from the CPSIA”
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys?e

I really think this is an important cause, and I’d like to encourage
you to add your signature, too. It’s free and takes less than a minute
of your time.  (You are not required to make a donation after you submit your signature.)

For more information about saving handmade toys:
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

A couple articles about this new law going into effect on February 10:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/smallbusiness/toy_law_threatens_small_companies.smb/?postversion=2009011509

http://www.karen-clark.com/cpsia/

While this law is a good thing in that it will protect our children from being exposed to lead in toys, it is no doubt going to put small businesses and home based toy makers out of business.