My first ATC/ACEO - The Adventurer

The Adventurer, originally uploaded by artbyheather.

That's what I am too...an adventurer. This is my very first ATC/ACEO. I quite happy with it! I have had a couple of requests to trade it so maybe I'll make a couple just like it and trade! I can't let go of him, though...he's my first. I am attached. I rather like this little form of art. I am going to experiment with inchies too...Yay! My brain is expanding bit by bit...

This is pretty typical

This is pretty typical, originally uploaded by artbyheather.

My kids are weird. No joke. I'm glad, though...they're fun...they're funky...they're a lot like me. They're slightly odd because they feel comfortable being themselves. I wasn't that comfortable in my skin at that age...it took me many years of trial and error to realize that it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks I should be like...I just gotta be me. Funny...now that I don't worry about what everyone else thinks, it's quite apparent that they never did...think that is...mostly people just make snap judgements about people and move on. They don't dwell on us. Sometimes we think they do, but they don't. Mind you, there are the random jerks that take great pleasure in picking people apart, but honestly, who cares what they think anyway, right?
Anyway, that's the way I've raised my kids. Be yourselves...don't worry about what other people think...people who judge, do it to make themselves feel better somehow...to ease their own insecurities.
All this from a goofy picture. I think too much sometimes!

Soldering...

OH MY! I have fallen in love...with soldering! How can I possibly do this? How can I add one more thing to my list of artistic vices that I love? How? There aren't enough hours in the day for what I do now. And now I'm adding soldering? I still have clothes to fold on my "laundry couch"! I can't take up soldering! My yard still screams to be cleaned up for fall...I don't have time to solder! My craft corner is a mess (I like to think it's in creative transition)...if I solder, something will catch fire! oh gee... ah well... I'll just have to give up laundry completely! I was never very good at it anyhow! :o)

Cross-Country Season

My two oldest kids (17-year-old twins) are in XC (cross-country). I have to say...XC has been the most incredible, challenging, satisfying, FUN sport for my kids. They discovered it when they joined track their freshman year of high school and fell into the distance running group. The kids were absolutely fun and phenominal...I have talked to other kids and parents from other schools and it seems to echo throughout the running sports...the kids are dedicated, disciplined and generally a blast to be around. My kids team has been like a family throughout their high school years. They seek each other out at school...sit together at lunch...have unity nights almost every weekend and before every meet...double, triple date...group together to go to dances...you name it!
Well...for the last 2 years, my daughter has been the star of the girls team. She's gone to State each year and is just a really great runner...not trying to boast, just telling a story! My son, on the other hand, has struggled. He's always enjoyed running, but he's been growing...approximately 14 inches in about a year and a half...and that has caused incredible pain in his knees, his hips, his ankles...well, you can imagine! All the while, he's been watching his twin sister excelling...really being a star athlete while he sits out or struggles to finish races! What has his attitude been like, you ask? Well, he cheers the loudest for her at the meets, encourages her, and is generally verrrry happy for her! Yes, he has his moments when she's overly excited and he gets sick of hearing about it, but for a guy to be so supportive of his sister in a sport he participates but doesn't get to excell in - well, that's just unbelievable.
So...we think he's done growing (6'1 1/2" should just about do it, don't you think?) and I've been praying that he'll have a good season for his senior year. He's a good runner...he has had the potential, but his body just hasn't been able to cooperate with his ability! Well, he had his first race the other day and he was 11th out of 45 junior/senior guys!!!!! He came in right after one of our fastest guys...stayed right with him the whole race! I was FLOORED!!! He was so happy and that taste of personal victory was so incredible for him!!! So, I'm excited for him and his final season of XC. Praying that he stays healthy and that he can do what he is able to...show what he can do...what he's been trying to do for the last 2 years.
That's all I want for my kids... for them to be able to do what they can...the BEST of their abilities...and be proud of their accomplishments!

When moms are right...

Remember when you were a teenager and you mom would sigh and say "Just wait until you have teenagers...you'll understand!" Well...gee...mom was right! I have actually had it pretty easy up until about a month ago when my teenagers started acting their age! They are twins...17 years old...both of them late bloomers. I always knew it would happen...the hormones and indignant behavior would kick in and I would become the stupidest person on the face of the earth. But, even though I completely expected it and waited for it to come, it hasn't been an easy thing to accept. I actually was entertaining the thought that maybe, by some strange twist of fate and some divine blessing from God, that I would get to have dream kids that would look up to me and my infinite wisdom and remain lovingly devoted to their mother and skip the whole know-it-all stage. Nope...no such luck! So...today was an especially exhausting day...for no other reason than I'm realizing that the dream has died. I'm deflated. My kids are normal. They're not dream kids. I'm not supermom....well, not to them, anyway! I know I'm doing my best and, with the smallest amount of therapy, they should be just fine! But here's what I'm grasping...my kids ARE normal...this is normal. This stage in life is necessary. If they were sweet forever I wouldn't want them to leave for college...I really, really want them to leave for college now! I want them to experience poverty (the kind you can be rescued from -the top ramen until the next paycheck kind) and having to work at a job you hate until you can find one you love (ok, they're experiencing that right now) and the stresses of doing for yourself (ie: laundry, cooking, cleaning, buying groceries, holding down a job, paying the bills, etc). They do a lot for themselves, but not all at once! It's good stuff...makes you appreciate all you've been given...all you work for...what is to come... So...I'm excited for them...frustrated with them...unsure what is ahead for them...but I'm going to love them through it all! Being a mom is the most exhausting job and then you get to say..."Just wait until you have teenagers...then you'll understand!" and you KNOW - even though they're thinking "Yeah, right, when I have teenagers I'll be a cool mom/dad" - YOU are right - they are wrong - they'll be lame parents, just like you are! Yesssssssssss!

New Cards!

I added some cards to my etsy shop last night...check them out and let me know what you think! www.artbyheather.etsy.com

Bigger Messes

A question...
Why does the mess get bigger as we try to clean it up? For the last 3 days I have been trying to dig out my crafting stuff. More like CLEAR OUT! I need to downsize in the worst way! So, as I've worked on it, I have piles of CRAP everywhere. Add to that, my daughter is painting her room and her stuff lines the hallway (my "office" is in a loft along our upstairs hallway). So, I have piles of stuff everywhere and so does she! She has one more coat to go (RED) and her stuff will disappear - or it will end up on the front lawn! Maybe I should move to the front lawn! There is lots of room out there...it's sunny and warm and there's lots of natural light! hmmmm... Then there's the issue of dew. (I went off on a tangent there...don't worry, that's normal)
I envy people who clean up after themselves. Who naturally think to do that. I don't know what I think, but it never occurs to me that I should do that. I create wonderful things...I'm proud of myself and I go to bed. I sleep soundly thinking of all that I accomplished and wake up to all of my glorious creative remnants lying about inspiring me once again. Mess? What's that? Then on the rare occasion that I absolutely can't find what I'm looking for (I can spot anything in a messy pile!), I get frustrated with myself...and wish I could be neater. This is my husband's and my biggest fight. Mess. He's a bit of a neat freak. (don't deny it...don't! I mean it!...stop it, you know you are!)
Here's another question...
Why do opposites attract? Is it God's way of entertaining himself while he watches us drive each other completely insane? It's got to be somewhat entertaining. I know there is a balancing thing...we fill in the gaps for each other...I help Alex let go of some of his angst about mess and he helps me not let the house turn into a trash heap. But it's finding the happy medium that's such a trick. I will find a way to make that happen...a happy medium...a magic formula... and write it down in a little booklet and sell it on Etsy. I will make a million. Check my site often and stay tuned...but don't hold your breath!
Back to my messes...they ARE getting smaller...they ARE, they ARE, they ARE!