Flora Raducan: Mail art call for pieces about LOVE

I'm mailing this today... it's a pretty small piece so I wanted to post it here just in case it never makes it to Romania!  It's about the size of a artist trading card. (playing card)  Do you think it will make it?? We'll see! 

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Love on a stick is what I call this creation by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory... it is their Snickers apple.  You take a nice green apple, dip it into carmel, dip it into nuts, drizzle chocolate all over it... That's a lot of love for $5.50.  Pricey treat, but oh, so worth it.  If you ever get on my bad side... you know what to do.  Bad side, what bad side? It's hard to type with my fingers all gooey.  

Ted is working late again... and I'm ready for a crumbcake break.  

Steve Rack, Divine Health, Paul and JO!

Internet acquaintance Steve Rack was interviewed by a sweet online magazine called  New Sugar

Download it for free here .  

I got a wonderful selection of organic produce delivered today... delivered.  Yes, I said delivered. (for free) Divine Health Nutritionals in Seminole, FL.  Check them out... they carry everything your heart could desire. (that's found in a grocery/health food store)  So if you haven't already looked them up to place an order... do it! (That is... if you live near me...)  

3 cheers for new friends Paul and Jo who are sailing to Marathon, FL Keys and then on to the Bahamas.  Their boat is a blue water vessel and has already circumnavigated... sailed around the globe... around this Earth of ours.  They weren't sailing her at that time... but hey, they know she is sea worthy.  They set sail today from Anna Maria island, FL... with some oranges and homemade chocolate chip cookies from us.  (we had to give them something!!!)  Both are Vets and a big thank-U to all those serving in our Armed forces!  

All is well in biting animal land...

Spent all morning cleaning... Ted has this idea of selling all that we own, buying a boat and sailing around... I'm not sure I'm up for it... I like space.  I like alone time.  I like all my art junk.  I like the mac and the sewing machine and the printer and the refrigerator and the washing machine... How could I send mailart from the middle of the ocean?  

Accident Prone week

I've had a weird week. See what happens when you get out of your schedule... your whole life goes to hell in a hand basket. What is a hand basket and why do people ride to hell in them?? I wish I knew. First of all while making the fish dinner on Sunday night... I burned my arm while putting potatoes into the oven... duh--it left a nice one inch mark that now is dark red looking and blistery. Then this week I was painting a chandelier to hang in the kitchen. (And I love it and it looks really cool) After a couple coats of red, gold and yellow paint... we sprayed it with some gloss and let it hang outside on our porch overhang. Well I went out to gloss the other part of the chandelier when I turned to go into the house--hitting my head on the chandelier and then falling down the 3 steps to the stone pavement. That was fun and embarrassing. I waited until I went inside and upstairs to my bedroom before I cried. And today I am still SORE. DUH. Then today I thought it would be a good idea to give the kitten a flea bath since that WILD CAT that we adopted is so full of fleas. I had him outside and everything was going really well until our dog Charlie decided to inspect this kitten. The kitten spat, clawed and in the end bit down into my right hand pointer finger. I didn't cry right away but I had this horrible sinking feeling... like oh my, am I going to die? After Ben's run in with the guinea pig bite... I'm thinking I don't want to spend 5 days on IV antibiotics in the hospital. So if I don't write for the next week--you'll know I ended up really sick. And if I die--know that I love you all dearly. Seriously, I'm starting the antibiotic tonight. I will probably go for a tetanus shot tomorrow or Friday depending on who is open. My bite didn't bleed anywhere near the amount that Ben's did. I'm nervous. Everything is going to be okay, right? I just can't believe how immensely stupid that I am.

Zine swap in the mail today!

I'm excited to start reading all the zines that were delivered today! I entered a zine swap called, "Generic Zine exchange." 50 artists from 4 countries and 19 states participated. Abbey Hendrickson and Geoff Krawczyk from University at Buffalo were the master minds. The zine I submitted was on Mail art. It was more of a how-to zine or info about...

Good Fishing Day

On with the new, off with the old...

I was fretting over whether to cut the hair or not... So I went this morning to my favorite place in the world to have my hair cut... the Aveda teaching salon. I've never gotten a bad haircut... and usually really like my time there... Photo on the bottom is me this morning and two photos on the top is me now. It's gotten a little hotter out so I've shed the cardigan. I like the bottom photo better... maybe is the necklace and the make up... and the longer hair!!! Arghhhhhh! Oh well. It's nice to have a morning to yourself and for some time of the day to be about me. (instead of crumbcakes and everyone else!) And now I must go iron. FUN stuff...

It's a girl!

Well... it's official... they get the pink quilt! We only need one more girl to even up the team of grand kids... my parent's grand kids that is! 4 girls and 5 boys. Any volunteers to have another baby? Well it probably won't be me. I found grey hairs at the the top of my head this week. They are kinky and coarse and unmanageable. I've been toying with the idea of growing my hair out for the past few months... and I'm in desperate need of a hair cut now. Now that the grey is coming in... no need to dream of long locks of blond hair... I'll stick with a short style... HA! I never thought I'd be this old. And I know some 65 year old is reading this blog saying, "Honey, you got your whole life in front of you." And I guess I do but it seems to be happening so fast like a carousel that has been put into hyper drive--spinning out of control. As an artist and mom this is the time that a majority of my life work must get done. I must establish myself as mom, teacher and artist with style and focus... now. If not now--then never for the crumb cakes will not wait to be taught multiplication and manners. And if I do not take hold of some niche of arthood... that will fall by the wayside too. Thus is the 30s... time to get something done.

St. Augustine and turkey pot pie

It's been a busy Sunday. I'm waiting for the turkey pot pie to be done already and arguing with Lulu about why she needs to take a shower... I hate making pie crusts... I also am not fond of clay. But, I found a new crust recipe that calls for 1/4 cup of vodka and that makes it much more manageable. The vodka burns off so no one is buzzing after dinner... really a 1/4 cup divided by 10 would probably not do much.

St. Augustine was a lovely city. The drive through Orlando was a monster and the traffic added almost 2 hours to my drive time! UGH. Thankfully the kids were watching Wall-E. Lulu only said, "Are we there yet?" three times. My friend Teri graduated from Flagler's graphic design program. She came in second in her class. I think she should of been first! The girl that got first place touted her paint chip mini-booklets. Really Richard Canard has been using paint chips in his art for years. See the mail art blog if you don't believe me! HA! Friday morning we got up early, packed up our things, checked out, had a HORRIBLE breakfast at the Ramada in the historical district of St. Augustine. It was so gross. How can you screw up hash browns and eggs?? We met with some of our friends and headed to the more historical--historical district of St. Augustine. I think it was 40 degrees outside and the wind was chilling me to the bone. Still I thought the kids must see the oldest house in America, the oldest school and the Castillo de San Marcos. We found a cute cafe called the Bunnery where the kids sipped on hot chocolate and nibbled on a cinnamon roll.

I'm really into the whole National Park Passport book. Everywhere you visit that is a National Park you can get a stamp to commemorate your visit. This trip we got the Castillo de San Marcos stamp and then 14 miles south, the Fort Mantanzas. Both are National Monuments. Both built by the Spanish. We have been studying American history in our homeschool and have learned all about the Spanish explorers and settlers. This was a nice "bring history to life" trip.
We had a lovely lunch with friends at a restaurant that was named something about... Mayans... The food was delicious. I had the black bean soup and soft bread. I also got a smoothie to go for the car ride home... Lulu got the guacamole, Tommy and Ben shared a cheese quesadilla. Seemed like mexican fare but nothing deep fried and they also had organic options on the menu. It was quaint and I really liked it... so you'd think I would of wrote down the name??!!

Leo Laporte is giving all his tech guy advice on the radio. I like listening even if I have no idea what he is talking about.

Friday night... two bowls of soup later, I was still chilled to the bone! I'm such a cold weather wimp. I'd never make it in Alaska or North Dakota... MN... Canada, eh?!

I went on a search today for turtle neck shirts for the boys. Last year I bought them at Target but this year I have not seen them. I also looked at Penney's, Kohl's, Burlington Coat Factory, Children's Place and the Gap... NO boy turtlenecks! I did find a few girl turtlenecks at the the Gapkids... but that's it!

I need to go check the turkey pot pie...

quilts and eggs

My brother and his wife are going to have a baby. If it's a girl they get the top quilt--pinks and oranges. If they have a boy they get quilt number 3--blues and greens. The quilt in the middle is a fun crazy quilt I did last year.

Our chicken had her first egg Sunday. Lulu is holding it in the bottom picture... notice her paint stained hands... this girl is always into something.

CONCEPTUAL CONTINUITY: 200 - Jennifer Zoellner

CONCEPTUAL CONTINUITY: 200 - Jennifer Zoellner

What a grand weekend...

Had a lovely weekend where I got to do several of my favorite things... exist in freedom being my first favorite thing. Thank you to all of our veterans and especially those vets who were alive when Pearl Harbor was attacked--today being the anniversary of that attack.

Saturday evening I enjoyed a beautiful sunset with a plethora of shells for the picking. There was an encroaching rain storm and it wasn't long before the rain started coming down--just after we got in the car after our ritual ice cream. Today I enjoyed the Museum of Fine Arts. It was free today. And I met a few people who I spread the mail art love to... gotta really like that!

Tonight we are going out for a French dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'll let you know how it goes!

I"M INVITED!

My friend Terri is graduating from FLagler this week! She is having her own Graphic Design Portfolio show! I'm seriously considering going!

Mail art show in Greece--If you happen to be there!

Part of my mail art piece for this show is on the top row--second one from the left. "Don't Be a Monster." I'm thrilled that my little mail arty made it to the poster. Show will be Dec. 8-19th and the theme is, "Elimination of Violence Against Women." 70 artists participated from 28 countries! Mail art... may be the one art form that connects so many people from so many different places. And all are saying something--making a statement via their mail art. It's all about making human connections.

Charm bracelet! Very Charming!

A recent charm bracelet made... for sale at the Arts Center. (St. Petersburg, FL) Have a wonderful weekend!

nuri bilge ceylan

http://www.nuribilgeceylan.com/photography/formyfather1.php?sid=1

Here is an awesome photographer. I especially like the series: For my father. This photo is from that series. You should take a look at his website--very talented. Reminds me of Andrew Wyeth's paintings.

When I was a little girl there were my friends at church who were in their 70s or so... maybe older... and they used to tell me, "Never grow up Jennifer." So with the wisdom and the memories gained over time--also comes suffering in many forms. I would of liked to have never grown up.

20,000 troops for American soil: Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/30/AR2008113002217_pf.html

Searching.

I did a search last night... for me... I googled my name. I found pages of stuff--some pertaining to me... others not. There was one thing that said, "Jennifer Zoellner: Children with faith." I thought that could of been me... writing about that... and then I clicked it and it was me--a thing I did a couple of years ago. Crazy. I found an artist trading card that I made on a website showing it as an example. That was neat. (I had sent it in for a card swap). I found my name on lists of mail art participants and lots of mail art and lots of info about the mail art show Chromatophore. It's weird what's out there when you look.

I'm hitting that monthly low... not quite sure why or how but the feeling of utter uselessness, anxiety, the feeling that I should just give up on all my artistic ventures... It's in full-attack mode. Sometimes I feel like no matter how hard i try I will never be good enough. And then everything in life seems to point to that... like a large neon light flashing above my head, "mediocre."

I crave the praise of someone who knows fine art to tell me that I'm wonderful. Frankly anyone who honestly can say a positive word...knowledge or not. I pride myself on self confidence so to even admit this is pretty scary. I want a Stieglitz. I want someone to promote me and to guide me to better things--better ideas--better use of medium... to push me to my personal best. In the end its just me. No one to push me along. Just me. And I guess that's been working pretty well so far... I'm stumbling along.

super busy sunday

I've been a busy little bee today. I've been selling my rag-tag jewelry at The Arts Center in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Today I spent ALL day making jewelry and then packaging it. I'm still not done. It was a rather exhausting day--had to remind myself to eat... Now it's raining cats and dogs--which we SO need. I hate when the tangerine trees get that shriveled leaf thing going on. Hopefully this rain will plump them out again. I like to make jewelry out of items that are pretty much useless and that I don't have to pay a lot of money for. Of course turquoise doesn't fit that bill but I love turquoise. I made a bracelet out of old watches today. Are you thrilled yet? Someone must be thrilled because someone is buying my stuff up! Thank you special someone! I intended on writing more but I realized that it's 10 PM and I don't want to be up late so... goodnight to all and to all a goodnight!

what i should be doing... what i am doing...

I guess I should be making an apple cranberry pie. Instead I'm here blogging. Ted is working the late shift at the factory so I'm up to my old shenanigans and listening to Cold Play and possibly the new Killers in a little while. I should be making some jewelry too. But that can wait. So can the pie. Plus if I bake the pie tomorrow it will be fresher and better and won't get that juicy soggy feeling. I hate that. Today I was a cooking fool... making sweet potato casseroles, and 3 varieties of cranberry sauce to please everyone... I did laundry, put away Lulu's laundry--that took forever since her cousin gave her a massive amount of hand-me-downs. I put a whole garbage bag full of summer clothes into the back of her closet for future use. Her dresser can only hold so much. Such problems... what a blessing to have a cousin a little bit older and taller!! I always got hand-me-downs when I was a teen. I was so in to used clothes, men's dress shirts, the trench coat, jeans jeans jeans. Then I went through my college Gap days... and still like the Gap. Would rather do the Banana Republic ((Outlet))... I like stylish clothes. I like wearing clothes that fit me right that make me look appetizing. A few years ago I lost the 30 pounds baby fat that I gathered--10 pounds from each kid. I got to buy a whole new wardrobe. It was a blast. I went from a size 12 to a size 6. Still... sometimes i look at myself and think... Renaissance woman--too curvy. Growing up I was constantly teased for being so skinny and flat chested. High school boys can be so annoying. I never felt pretty then. But I never cared. I was wearing men's dress shirts and a trench coat... and jeans... obviously my main concern was not in looking nice or attracting the opposite sex. I was boy crazy I just thought what I was wearing was attractive and thought that I was captivating... clothes or not.

Tonight we went to Busch Gardens. We got there around 4 pm and they were open until 7 pm. That's an hour more than we thought. I rode Sheikra... the roller coaster that drops you straight down from really, really high. It really scares me but I ride for the 10 year old. It was sunset when we were on the ride and the sky was beautiful. Not as beautiful as two nights ago... but very pretty. I like my Florida sky. It's weird how wherever you go--the sky is different. At least that's been my experience. The crumbcakes loved going to Busch Gardens... and when we got in the car to leave they orchestrated, in unison, "Thank you for taking us to Busch Gardens!!" chant. We used to do that for my parents when we were kids. It brought back memories when they did it. Adorable.

Lulu rode her first roller coaster tonight... the Scorpion. It does one upside down loop. I can't believe she is tall enough to ride a roller coaster. She was so thrilled to do it, so excited. She's always trying to keep up with the brothers. She is brave and feisty, sweet and kind. She's the baby girl I always wanted.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Ever thankful.

A lovely envelope from Test Tower! Me Sermonizing...

Hello dear world. Has anyone been watching the news, listening to the radio, reading Russian propaganda? I hope not. It's time to bury the ol' head in the sand... I never thought the United States of America would fall apart--at least in my life time. Never thought we'd be on the verge of economic oblivion... Yet people are still doing what people do... working, breathing, buying stuff, chugging along. Am I the only one waiting to see the soup line getting longer... waiting to be standing in the soup line? Yet here I am still on the i-net... still able to use the computer to communicate nonsense and dribble. We've done as much as we can/could to prepare for ????? in the future. What does a global depression look like? Will everyone lose their job? Who will keep their job? When banks falter is all you money just gone? Does it vanish in thin air? What will be worth something--food, water, cash, gold, guns, ammo? Will I watch my kids starve to death or die of infection or viruses? Is it too late to do something?

Don't panic, work together... share, pray... buy local, act local. It won't be time to rob the local Circuit City... not time to "grab a new t.v." It won't be time for any disgusting behavior. Time to see that God will see you through if you trust Him.

We received something from Focus on the Family in the mail... not quite sure how we got on that mailing list... but there was an article about the lies we tell our children--one "lie" that they mentioned was, "God helps those who help themselves." How could that be a lie? God rewards hard work. And the phrase is not referring to helping yourself to the cookies in the jar or the t.v. at Circuit City... It's about doing for yourself what you are able and rightly should do. God says whatever you find to do, do it will all your might. There are blessings for good behavior and there are curses for bad behavior. It is cause and effect. If you get drunk and something bad happens to you--an accident, etc, liver poisoning or disease if this becomes a way of life--that is the effect of your behavior. You can say that you reap what you sow. Perhaps our economic times are based upon a society, a nation who reaps what he has not sown. I'm talking about living in debt. I think most of us are playing the credit card gamble. Now more than ever it's time to stop spending what you don't have. Most people I know, in fact maybe everyone that I know--work hard for what they have, work hard to do good at their job. Americans in general are hard workers... we just have to stop living above our means. Do you really need the new dress, shoes, gadget... ? We've been told for so long that things will make us happy. It's almost a constant shove into the brain. But, I don't know about you, but for me... you get the thing and then what you really want is the NEXT cool thing... and so the cycle never ends. It's time to say No. No. No.

I would like to thank Test Tower for the awesome mail art that I received today... I didn't know that mail art was edible... dual purpose!

Test Tower ROCKS!!

Cascadia Art Post mail art by Jack

Friends Forever...

We received a lovely photo postcard from friends Karen and Dana. Karen is an artist and helps run their funny farm. I've known Karen since I was like 8 years old. She seems to remember more of what I said and did... but I remember how we kept each other on the straight and narrow throughout life. Thank you Karen for always being there for me!

Ben in the hospital...

Last Tuesday at around noon Ben got bite by our former guinea pig, "Blaze." By 8 p.m. that night the hand was swollen, hot and Ben was running a fever. Ted and I agreed that we had to take him to the ER. I thought they'd give him some antibiotics and we'd be on our way. That was not the case. The infection was so bad that he had to stay in the hospital until today... Saturday. Ted and I took turns at the hospital with Ben. Ted stayed at night and I went during the day. The whole affair was immensely draining. Plus the stress of not knowing what exactly is going to happen to your child and his hand... is so upsetting. The doctors were afraid that the infection was MRSA or Staph related and might spread to blood, bones or tendons. Ben was on IV antibiotics. Each day he made a tiny bit of progress until Thursday night when the wound erupted. (A lot of the bad stuff came out) Then the hand started to look a lot better. Ben told the nurse that everyone from his church was praying for him. She said that prayer was very healing. Ben thought that the hospital stay was all about the PS2 and watching cable tv. Also they had just about everything a kid could want on the food menu. I'm so thankful for the support of family and friends. It's so difficult to see your child suffering with perhaps possible implications of amputation... The ER doc said that we came in just in time... children loose hands over animal bite infections. So I'm writing this here tonight to give parents a little warning about pets and animal bites... even the guinea pig can carry some nasty germs.

Tired, tired, tired...

I'm tired and it's Monday. I've been Mondaying=doing the things that take up my usual Monday. I'm adding a new element to Monday... organic food co-op. Today I'm getting a delivery... next week I'll pick up.

Yesterday I made this piece of mail art that I sent to my aunt Cathy today. This is her birth month. I'm sending it early for a few extra days refrig time. It doesn't look like much but took me all of an hour at least. And the colors scanned lighter than the original... thus is life.

Three pieces of mail art arrived at my door today. And also a Gettysburg address from the US Mint. I'm guessing my dad sent that. I'll have to call and ask him. The mail art can be seen at the other blog... www.jenniferzoe.blogspot.com Very interesting... as the mail art race heats up. Just kidding... no race... I hope you have a sense of humor today...

Slideshow of some of my mail art and other arty fun

Find more photos like this on International Union of Mail-Artists

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all of our Veterans... past and present... known and unknown. You have made this country great and many of you have paid with your lives. I thank you. I thank you for the freedom that you afford me.

A few of our days in photos...

Starting from the top... we have today's event... the Temple Terrace Art Festival. There was a hug crowd there... lots of artists and crafters selling their creations. The festival was on the beautiful Hillsborough River. Then there is a photo of our many postered homeschool room... (AKA the dining room)... Then a couple of photos from the USGS open house... too fun. I am now thoroughly exhausted and will attempt to retire early tonight.

Look what the mail man dragged in... TEST TOWER