Oops - I was tagged

Shell Mitchell tagged me several weeks back, and I forgot to do my duty by posting six things about myself. Hopefully this is better late than never.

1. I love Mars, and anything Mars related. I'm fascinated by it.

2. I once worked in a medical research lab taking care of baby monkeys. My views on animal rights didn't come from propaganda leaflets - they came from what I experienced in real life.

3. When I was 11 years old I picked up a rare liver fluke from swimming in a hot spring. I was hospitalized and they brought medical students in to see me.

4. I lived in 4 different states growing up and went to 8 different schools.

5. I love to sit outside at night, but I almost never do it anymore. (makes mental note to self to go sit outside tonight)

6. My big sister is the coolest person I know.

Learning Something New

I decided I want to learn to draw. I used to draw when I was young, and don't really remember why I stopped.

treasurefield on Etsy reccomended the book "Drawing with Children" to me as a good beginning drawing book. I'm a little bumed because I got it on an interlibrary loan and so they won't let me renew it and I'm only about 1/3 the way through. Due today.

Anyhow, I wasn't very happy with the drawings I made as I worked on the exercises in the book, so last night I decided I'd break the 'rules' (or at least the suggestions in my book) and just draw something I was interested in. Sneaking over to my baby's crib, and using what I learned so far, I drew this:


Sleeping Baby

I broke another guideline too. The book reccomends that beginners use a felt tiped pen to draw so they can't worry about fixing mistakes - they just have to keep drawing. But I used a pencil, and erased a lot before I was satisfed with how it looked. I would have quit before finishing if I couldn't erase, I think. It really is a great book though, I'm glad I did those exercises or else I wouldn't have been brave enough to even try drawing a person.

Maybe not the Mona Lisa, but for my first drawing that I did on my own, I'm proud of my little old self. I really like how the ear turned out.

Time to vote! (don't worry, it isn't political)

The California Crafter Club of Etsy (CCCOE) has just completed our first ever monthly member challenge. To enter, we had to make an item fitting the monthly theme, it was "Typography" for August.

One random voter will win a beautiful pair of earrings made by Sandy Simone, like these: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6721902

Don't worry, I won't be offended if you don't vote for me - my favorite in the challenge isn't my own creation. There's some really cool stuff.

Here's the forum thread on Etsy where you can see all the imtems and vote:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5218080&page=1

And the Winner is. . .

Natalie from Naked Tile on Etys:

*thunderous applause*

Congratulations!

Chosen randomly from a hat (okay, it was really a bowl) by my daughter.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered for making this giveaway so fun. Whenever I get issue #2 put together (I know, I know, I've been talking about that for awhile now, but it'll happen, I've got big plans that take awhile), I'll do it again.

Hugs and High Fives to all entrants for being such cool people.