i'm still standin'

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

My hands and feet may be swollen; and, to steal an expression from my friend Jen, my toes may look like 'sausage links'...but life is good! A visit with the doctor yesterday confirmed that the babies are healthy, happy and will definitely be here within the week!

Thanks for hanging in there with us! Edgar and I certainly appreciate all your well-wishes and advice!

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Side Note : Not only does Jen come up with great expressions, but she and her business partner Michelle run a super-cool company, Six Chicks Designs. If you aren't familiar with their work, or are hosting a party in the near future, I suggest you check out their creative portfolio here. Cheers to Jen and Michelle!

bunny business

31 weeks

...and in need of alignment. This belly is unbalanced.

in need of a simile

Today I'm having hot flashes like ___________________________.

Please help me fill in the blank. I've over-heated and I have zero cleverness to spare.

29 weeks

...and growing...

growing

dragging my feet

All the energy I've regained during my 2nd-trimester seems to have abandoned me overnight. I feel just like this sketch: only my legs aren't nearly as tan...or skinny...and I'm not wearing shorts, green sneakers or fun athletic socks.

Otherwise, it's pretty spot on.

nerves of steel

Between snow storms and working from home, my human contact is minimal these days...leaving me feeling a bit robotic. But today I'm breaking out of the house, and in the process, hoping to confirm that there are blood vessels, not USB cables, running underneath my tin skin. Care to join me?

thank you!

Thank you all so much for making me feel so welcome in this place you graciously visit. I believe the decision to join Suzanne's open sketchbook will certainly encourage me to be a more proactive blogger. I hope I don't get on anybody's toes or face! Once again, thank you for letting me in.

uggg.

If we've met, you know I don't look like this...let me rephrase, I hope you don't think I look like this. But, unfortunately, this is how I feel today. Sick. sick. sick. Goodbye allergies, hello cold. Hello Rudolph!

I'm postponing the website giveaway until tomorrow: election day. If you haven't entered to win, there's still time!

may I ask one more favor? giveaway

Thank you all SO MUCH for your votes yesterday. I'm pretty certain it wasn't wise to arrive fashionably late at the party, but nevertheless, it feels very affirming to have the support of a group of people I feel close to every time I pull out my sketchbook.

As a testament to my gratitude, I'm going to redouble my efforts to make this a place you enjoy visiting every day by taking steps to include you in on even more of my inspirations [there are more!]. I am so grateful for your encouragement and guidance and want to extend my happiness into your neck of the woods. As you can see, I'm beginning this journey with a makeover, and plan to follow with new links, new artist/designer highlights and, of course, more stories.

On another note, for four years I've been keeping this blog and for four years I've been thinking it would probably be a smart idea to include a good ol' 'about me' section--in case someone is new to An Open [Sketch]book and wants to get the quick 411. For four years I've put this task off because, frankly, I can't get up the energy to do it. Sure I write nearly everyday, but it's a whole different ballgame to tell the story of who you are and what you do in a few short words. What's important? What's not?

So, I'm asking for your help yet again. Faithful friends, please add a statement or two to in the comments section of this post stating something YOU think someone should know about this girl, the one behind the sketchbook. What do you remember from posts past?

Tomorrow afternoon, I'll pick a name of a commenter at random and send you a special illustrated gift as a token of my thanks.

UPDATE 9|17 : I'm taking off early today in celebration of a great week. Thank you for your help here, I'll be back to pick a name on Monday!

Until then, peace.

unplugging and recharging

Hello! And suddenly, she appears!

As you're likely well aware, my creative energy is not at its highest these days. The past few months have left me drained, so I'm trying to learn new ways to conserve what pep I have and build back up my stamina. Part of this has been unplugging. And by unplugging, I mean stepping away from the computer. As much as I love sharing bits of life with you and growing this blog, I've realized:

This may not be the case for everyone. However, unlike my cell phone, lately I'm finding it best to unplug to recharge. So on the days that this blog is silent, never fear, because my sketchbook is growing louder as I'm taking in life and recording my observations. I look forward to sharing these entries with you when it's time to plug back in. Until then, hope you remain fully charged!

unplugged

Hi there! Want to touch base to let you know I'll be taking a few days off from blogging. I've got some projects on deck that deserve my undivided attention. In the meantime, hang tight...I'll be back with you shortly!

peace on paper

Spending many hours these days contemplating what's next. If there is one thing I'm certain of, it is that drawing must to be a part of it. It's my go-to-place in good times and bad. When I have a black sheet of paper and a pen in my hand I feel the most like myself...my mind quietens and I am free.

What gives you freedom?

thank you

Thank you for all your kind comments and letters as of late. I've been terrible about getting back in touch...but I will...soon! I consider myself very lucky to be a stopping point in your online journeys. Thank you for allowing me to share my passions.

two reminders

1. it's spring
2. it's friday

Finding these facts incredibly inspiring today. Hope you do to!

trying out as tammy faye

Just when you think you've got your act together...you come home from a long day at school, look in the mirror and see this:

As if the dark circles weren't enough punishment, there is a nice eyeliner mishap to boot. I wish I could say this was the first time I'd paraded around in front of students looking silly...but oh no, there was size tag incident and the chocolate + corduroy debacle (thank goodness there is no sketch to go along with that) and....

Oh my. What would I do if I couldn't laugh?!?

If you're in 2nd year studio and saw me looking like this yesterday, I'm expecting a good explanation for why you didn't tell me....here, in the comments...pronto.

where i am today

I'll admit that I would be a bit embarrassed sharing this point, if it weren't for the feeling that this is a universal affliction affecting otherwise content individuals worldwide. Uggghhhh.

restful

I don't know if it was the worry dolls under my pillow, or your kind words of encouragement, but I'm sleeping much better. Thank you.

August 1983 : Same haircut.

We're going through some changes at school--changes that may mean I'll need to turn the page to the next chapter quicker than I had anticipated. But, as a wise friend reminded me, now is a perfect time to ask the question : 'What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?'

heartfelt thanks

What do you say we start celebrating Valentine's Day a little early?

No reason to save love...

Thank you so much for helping me brainstorm yesterday and for sharing my list on your own blogs. I've completed both presentations and your feedback really paid off. Which leads me to another round of thanks to the kind art student at one of the presentations who helped me figure out how to better adjust the colors of my illustrations in Photoshop. It works! Cheers!