Weekly Layouts – You Should Know



This was for Ali’s class and for AMM.



Journaling Reads:
1. I love reading. I can read just about anything. I can read for six, seven hours at a time and never get tired. 2. I kept daily journals from 1984 to 1992. I still cherish those journals a lot. 3. I have a funny dance that I do when I feel really happy. 4. I used to drink twelve diet cokes a day before I got pregnant. 5. I am afraid of the dark. 6. I grind my teeth. I have been doing it since I was a little girl. It used to drive Yona crazy. 7. I can touch my nose with my tongue. 8. Getting my eyes fixed was one of the best things I ever did. 9. I am not a morning person. 10. I wish were a better driver. A less scared one. 11. I absolutely love your Dad with all my heart. 12. As soon as I learned how to read in English, I started reading books in English. I used to ask Yona and my mom drive me all over Istanbul just to find a store that sold books in English. 13. My first computer was a Commodore 64. I didn’t get a real computer until I was in college. Now I have six computers, almost all of them are Macintoshes. 14. My favorite meal is coffee and graham crackers or bread and cheese. Or chocolate. Yes, it’s a meal. 15. I have been clumsy all my life. 16. I always wished I could draw really well. Or have some artistic talent like my mom does. 17. When I was a little girl, I was really shy and I cried a lot. 18. I’ve always loved math. Solving puzzles. Figuring things out. I still love it. 19. I watch a lot of TV. I like the noise when I work. 20. I loved living in New York City and still miss it often. 21. I love listening to opera. 22. I am not a fan of feet. But I like mine. 23. I think good friendships are rare and should really be nourished. 24. I think music can bring sunshine into the darkest day. 25. I have half-written two novels and am working on the third. 26. I love watching Broadway shows and the theatre. 27. I have always enjoyed learning new things and miss school a lot. I plan to have a PhD. someday. 28. The first time I went camping I was twenty-nine. I loved it. 29. I always wished I had blue eyes. Or green. 30. I love taking photos.

November 17, 2009 | Layouts, Scrapbooking | 3 comments

Daily Photos – November 17 2009



An upcoming creative therapy catalyst.



David read a story to Aurelia today. Even though it was in Turkish. And he can’t read.







And here are two smiley photos of my smiley boys.











And a cute looking face he made today.







Feeling exceptionally tired lately. So tired that I am in physical pain. I hope I am not getting sick.

November 17, 2009 | Daily Photos - 2009 | 4 comments

Daily Photos – November 16 2009



I finally hooked up the computer in David’s room and he’s really loving it. He mostly loves doing the art and the drawing and I love watching him play, explore and learn.



Aurelia has been really attached to me lately. He’s happy and peaceful sitting next to me but if I leave even to take a photo, this is what I get.







I know it’s a phase but it breaks my heart to see him sad. I have a lot more I want to write but I actually went out to see a good friend tonight and I am way too tired and need to go to sleep so the rest will have to wait until tomorrow.

November 16, 2009 | Daily Photos - 2009 | One comment

Weekly Books – Olive Kitteridge

After John Irving, I wanted something less dense but I was also hooked on high quality and didn’t want something too light. In comes Olive Kitteridge. I’ve wanted to read this book for a while and have read and wrote briefly about her previous novel. I don’t even like short stories but the only one I remember liking was similar to this in that it was a collection of linked stories.



I must like that because I get the chance to get to know a character deeply almost like a novel. These stories were all full quiet sorrow but I loved them. They made me think. They made me think a lot, actually. I really, really enjoyed this book and devoured it quite quickly. Highly recommended.


November 15, 2009 | Literature | 3 comments

Catalyst 88 – The Three Boys



Catalyst eighty eight is: What’s the best relationship you’ve had so far? It can be a romantic one, a family member, or a friendship. Why is it so special?



Here’s my journaling


These three men in my life have taught me what it means to love and to be loved. They are the reason I wake up in the morning and the reason I go to bed at night and feel happy and blessed every moment in between. Until I met Jake I didn’t know what it meant to be with someone who can love me just the way I am and who can make me feel whole. Until I had my boys, I didn’t know what it meant to love so much that it pysically hurt my heart. These men make me feel whole. They make me feel thankful and blessed and lucky. So so lucky.



I don’t know what I did to deserve this but I am not taking it for granted for one single moment. I hold them and kiss them and hug them as many times a day I can. Thank you, my boys.



All of the beautiful digital elements here are by Anna Aspnes.

November 15, 2009 | CGallery, Creative Therapy Catalysts | 2 comments

Daily Photos – November 15 2009



Nothing like giggling kids. David was tickling Aurelia and he was giggling so much which was, of course, making David giggle.



Moments like this are worth more than gold.







Extremely tired this weekend. Beyond words.

November 15, 2009 | Daily Photos - 2009 | Leave a comment

52 Questions and Techniques – Tag 45



This week’s question is: “Which song do you have on repeat right now?”



I’ve been stuck on the Google Android song. Each time I see the commercial, it makes me happy. It’s “If you want to Sing out, sing out” by Cat Stevens. Wonderful song. So many simple but amazing lyrics.



Simple tag this time. I covered it with a music sheet. Inked edges. Made a little birdie from fabric, stitched around it. Put it on a brown “branch” made out of ribbon lace. And wrote the song title.



I now sell some of these tags in my etsy store. If there’s a tag you like and are interested in, email me or leave a comment and I’ll be happy to add it.



I am combining Emily Falconbridge’s art journal questions with trying a new technique each week. You can see the full list: here.



Weekly tags are posted every Thursday, you can see all of them by clicking here.

November 14, 2009 | 52 Questions and Techniques, 52Q Gallery | One comment

Daily Photos – November 14 2009



David wanted to do some art today so we covered the table with paper towels and had fun with the watercolors.



Aurelia, who was cranky all day, sat behind him and watched.







We also played with stamps and played games and hugged and chatted with my mom and dad over Skype for a long time. Good day. I spent the day making my very first Etsy journal (thank you Karla, you’re awesome!) and it was so much fun. I’ve also been reading my book of the week and am more than halfway through. I still have a lot of todo items on my list but I am feeling at peace with it all.

November 14, 2009 | Daily Photos - 2009 | One comment

Daily Photos – November 13 2009



Something about this photo I love. Not even sure what.



And look how much he’s wanting to get up.







Long and a bit of a dreadful week. Here’s to next week being better. Happy weekend.

November 13, 2009 | Daily Photos - 2009 | Leave a comment

Photography Tips – Lenses – Zoom vs Fixed

Today’s video starts our several-week-long lens videos. We start with the discussion on zoom lenses vs fixed lenses. Hope you like it.







Feel free to let me know if anything is unclear or if you have questions. Next week is more lenses.



Photography Tips is a weekly feature and is posted every Friday. You can find all of them here.

November 13, 2009 | Photography Tips | 3 comments

Weekly Books – Last Night in Twisted River

I am a huge John Irving fan. I’ve read almost every single novel he wrote. Like most of his other fans, I’m sure, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Cider House Rules, and The World According to Garp top my list of favorites. And if I were being completely honest, I’d also say that I didn’t like The Fourth Hand at all. It just wasn’t up to Irving’s amazing caliber.



Until I Find You also wasn’t a major favorite of mine. So when I found out about Last Night in Twisted River I was mixed. Oh not true. I wasn’t at all. There was no doubt I was reading it. But I really really hoped it was like the older Irving work.



And you know what? It was!



It was it was it was. This was a dense, fascinating, epic novel. I loved it. Not as much as the other three maybe but really loved it.



Thank you John Irving.

November 12, 2009 | Literature | 3 comments

Daily Photos – November 12 2009



Lately it’s a lot of work getting this one to let me take photos. Lots of bribes are involved and threats and begging.



I love this one cause you can clearly see the second tooth coming out.







And here he looks just like me when I was a baby. It’s really odd to have a kid who looks like you. Never had that before.







David’s been totally addicted to playing games on my iPhone and honestly I don’t think it’s terrible to let him play. Especially since he wrote every one of the letters of the alphabet yesterday. I am so proud of him.







Semi-productive day today. I did finish my tag but it was already too dark to take a photo so it’s coming tomorrow.

November 12, 2009 | Daily Photos - 2009 | Leave a comment

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