YES, I'M READY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

OK, My last blog was very serious so I thought I would just post some nice Christmas pictures from around my apartment....

Yes, purchased, wrapped, packaged, and postage paid, ready to go to post office

 Yes, I'm ready for Christmas...packages are all sent by the time you read this!! The only thing left to do are Christmas Cards. You know, no one sends cards anymore, like they used to. I used to love getting all the cards from those far and near. I loved reading the newsletters and catching up with everyone. Now, all I have to do is get on FaceBook and I catch up with everyone in 15 minutes. There are the select few who do not so social networking and those people I remember with a card and usually a small remembrance.

I got a cute little 4 foot fake tree this year. It fits in my apartment just right. I have all my packages wrapped for my family here in Seattle and they are around this tree and will be opened in January when everyone gathers back from their various travels....me back from Alaska (where I'll be spending a couple of weeks over Christmas), my son and his wife back from China, and my daughter and her husband back from San Francisco.....or is is Los Angeles?? I can't keep up!!

I have a smaller tree, which is covered with fake snow and is about 3 feet high (so cute!) and under this tree are reindeer and gifts to those who are not family member, but who live here in Seattle.

I have been told that Costco actually genetically alters their florals and the huge red poinsettia that I have proves it to be true. I have never seen one this huge. It is almost 3 feet high!!

Over the small fireplace I put a real evergreen wreath and I keep it moist with water spray so it gives off the wonderful smell that we all associate with Christmas. It came with the cute polka dot bow and the lights over my fireplace highlight it.

I have yet to have a fire in the fireplace, mostly because I have had bazaar things in front of it in large boxes. But now that the bazaars are over with those things are packed away and perhaps I'll have a fire when I have the kids over the first of January for a "second Christmas". 

I have added a picture of the one of the Snowmen and Santas that I made for the bazaars.

I am wishing all who read this a Very Merry Christmas, a Most Happy Holiday, and the Best New Year ever!!!

Love, Janie

THE HELP....Something on My Mind

Gone are the days where every white household had at least one black maid and possibly a black gardener. Thank goodness!! I just finished watching the movie entitled "The Help". I have always, ever since I was a child, had a soft place in my heart, even a fondness, for folks of other races. Black, Yellow, Green, whatever....it never made any difference and for some reason I always wanted to be extra nice to them because of my white skin. When I watched the movie "Dances with Wolves" I was totally ashamed to be white when I walked out of that theater. I don't remember how old I was then but it was a very profound feeling. 


The movie, "The Help" is a story about a southern white girl who is aspiring to be a writer right before the Civil Rights movement started. She was literally raised by a Black nanny as were all her friends. The book she writes is stories from Black maids who were even afraid for their lives because they talked to her in secret. I urge you to see it, if you haven't already.

I have always been so enraged by man's inhumane treatment of their fellow man!! It angers me when we are rude to each other, when we treat someone poorly because they are somehow different than we are. Who do we think we are? Do we think we are better than anyone else? Because of the color of their skin? Because of the clothes they wear? Because of the cars they drive/or don't drive? Because of the political party they are a member of? Because we have more/less money than others? We are each WHO WE ARE and should be thankful for our individuality. 


We will be most fortunate if we leave this world a better place than it was when we were born. Usually we have about 80 years, give or take, to make that difference. It's called a lifetime...but I'm here to tell you that some of us take a whole lifetime to figure out who we really are and what the hell we are here for. We are lucky if we figure that out and then can move forward to make some kind of difference for the good. 

Let's face it, we have very limited power to really change things in the world. Why we even have limited power to change things in our own towns and cities. And most of us have trouble making changes for the better in our own homes and lives. Some of us get at least one chance to get it right and some of us are lucky enough to get it right maybe on the second try or the  third try. 

When I look at my children I see in them much of what I myself believe...though I didn't really set out to teach them to be open-minded, or good to their fellow human beings. Some how along the way I at least didn't teach them to hate or to be bigots. I don't think I could live with myself if I had. Perhaps it's because they are 1/2 Asian that they see the world through a different filter, but on the other side of that, they also see it through a 1/2 Caucasian filter too....so go figure. 

If I had only one wish today and it was my last day on earth and my wish would come true, it would be that people everywhere would lay down their arms, would be humbled, and truly open their arms to those around them as they walk through life. There would be no war, no crime, and no hatred. 

Now there's an idea!!!

Janie

PLANTS AND MORE PLANTS

People who know me understand that having flowers around is almost a passion. I remember then I was a kid, I would go to my Grandfather's house in Walla Walla, Washington. He had a rose garden the whole length of his house and about 10 feet across. He had roses that were even almost as tall as I was when I was 10 years old. I loved to walk in that garden and smell each rose. Believe it or not they all smelled a little different. As an adult I have always adored receiving flowers and the last few years I have bought my own flowers when my psyche needed them. 

In my apartment I have surrounded myself with green and flowering plants. The green gives me a sense of the outdoors, and I love the beauty of the outdoors but have to stay out of the sun and never did like all the bugs that are around, especially while living in Alaska where the mosquitos are so large. The flowers are a sign of new and ever emerging life. Our lives are much like a flower where we come as a budding life and blossom, giving our most beautiful perfume and wither and are gone to make room for another new life. I have taken some pictures of my flowers and plants to share with you. 

I hope you have a beautiful day.

Janie

From left to right:  Club Moss, Golden Moss Fern, String of Pearls

From left to right: Chrysanthemums and Daisies

From left to right: Some kind of Fern,Arabian Tea Jasmine (smells sooooo good!!), and I don't know what the other one is. It's just beautiful, no? 

Bamboo

From left back: Dracaena, the red flowering plant is beautiful but no plant stick with it so I don't know what it is; The one on the front right is a Dracaena, and the front left by the polka dot ribbon is an Ivy.

Left is an African Violet and right is a Golden Moss Fern.

Left is a Baby's Angels Tears and right is another African Violet. I also have another African Violet (different color) in my Studio as well as a Club Moss. In the bedroom I have a very small Christmas Cactus. 

Of course, you recognize these as my favorite #2 flower, the rose. My very favorite in the whole world? The Gardenia.

Back in the Studio ---FINALLY!!

Since arriving in Seattle a couple months ago my life has been a whirlwind of travel and getting moved a second time and trying to settle down. This week I finally got into the studio to do some serious damage!!!

My first project was to get my daughter's Power Ranger costume sewn up. She bought a nice new heavy duty sewing machine and it is fabulous! It sews through anything. She made the helmet herself out of paper mache and clay and other things. I think it looks awesome.

My second project was a jean purse/bag. I want to use old jeans (purchased from Value Village and out of my own closet) to make bags of all kinds for upcoming bazaars in December. This is my first attempt. I think it turned out pretty cute, even if I do say so myself!!!

The pockets on the front are usable.

Then I picked up a piece of paper last night and this is what came out of it. The paper is a beigeish color. Is that even a word????

Tonight, after working all day, I decided to do something in blue, which is my favorite color. The paper is a blueish color which may not come through in the picture here. 

Hummm, do I detect change in my art work? I think so.....it's very interesting. Anyway, the next project is going to be either a snowman made out of a white boa or a wood wall hanging......and of course, more Tangles!!!!

I hope today was a great day for you and if you live where the roads are bad, please drive carefully!!

Huggs, Janie

A VIEW FROM A WINDOW

My body feels like it is time to get ready for -40 degrees and snow, snow, snow.....like last year, and like every year before it for the past 26 years.

Winter in Fairbanks, Alaska 2010

Winter in Fairbanks, Alaska 2010

Winter in Fairbanks, Alaska 2010

But when I look out my door this is what I see....

A view from my window, Seattle, WA 2011

A view from my window, Seattle, WA 2011

So I say to myself, "Self, this is not real....this is only an illusion." But then I go outside with no coat on and touch those beautiful red leaves and realize that this winter, THIS WINTER, I will not be battling the slick roads, sliding into ditches on sheets of ice roads as I did last year, that I won't worry about breaking down on the road and having it be a potential lethal situation because of the extreme temperatures if I'm not properly prepared. Unless you are in my shoes you cannot even imagine what those differences mean. The people here in Seattle keep saying, "Just wait until it rains sideways". Well, I'm here to tell you that it has rained sideways, and blown like a son-of-a-gun, and you know what I discovered? I'm not made out of sugar and I didn't melt, nor did I blow away. The next day the sun was out and I was back outside with only a light sweater. 

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to move into a new apartment that has absolutely no stairs. That is almost unheard of in Seattle as the whole city is built on hills of all shapes and sizes. I love my new home and though I still have a lot to do to make it my "home", it is comfortable. And, although I have never, ever liked Halloween, I am actually going to the apartment community Halloween party and will welcome Trick-or-Treaters on the 31st. I might even dress up to answer the door.....something in black I think!

Janie

Back In The Studio Finally!!!

As most of you know, I am an artist at heart and love to be creative. Since I have spent most of the summer either traveling or moving, no time has been spend doing what I love most: drawing or sewing. My tables for the studio arrived last week (in pieces, in boxes) and my daughter-in-law and my son came over and put them together for me. Then my daughter brought over her sewing machine (an older model Singer) so I would have something to use until my sewing machine arrives from Alaska. So I finally got things set up and started working in there over the past couple of days. 

My first project was back to the Zentangle stuff I love so much. I wanted to make a card for each apartment in my unit to thank them for coming to my aid when I fell down some steps here on the 15th of September. So Here are the cards:

 

My second larger project is making purses out of old jeans. I went to the Value Village store and bought huge men's jeans for $4.99 a pair minus a Senior Discount. (Don't you just LOVE being a Senior???). So the cost of the jeans for a purse is about $3.50 each. Then a trip to Joann's  - which about blew my mind. The store and selection of cotton fabrics is monumental!!!!! I was in that store for 3 hours just looking at and matching cotton fabrics!!! I came away with enough for about 8 purses. I plan on putting two purse patterns together to get the look I want. 

The bags will be this pattern and they will have the pocket styling with the buttons as is shown on the next pattern. I hope to make a bunch to put up on Artfire.com and maybe sell them at an outdoor market around here in the spring/summer.

This is the purse pattern.

This pattern has the cute pocket details on the front

Another project that is simmering in the back of my mind is to make these cute Steampunk dolls. They have a materials list a whole page long and items that are very difficult to find and make. However, I'm very motivated to these so if you see any of these strange materials laying around, let me know. 

I have come to realize that without a place to be creative I feel lost and anxious. Living here in Seattle means I have easy access to the right tables and equipment at a reduced cost. My art table even has a built-in light table! My sewing table is wide enough that I can cut out patterns on 45" wide fabric without a problem. I am very fortunate!!!

I hope your day is filled with the things that make you happy and fulfilled.

Janie

HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET

Do you remember when airlines used to be hijacked? I mean, people got on planes who were convicted killers or whatever, who actually forced planes to fly to all sorts of places for many reasons. There were hijackers who would kill without much provocation.

If you have forgotten about those, please, please do a search on the Internet and get reacquainted.

The reason I bring this up is that I was sitting in traffic the other day and listening to the radio. The MC read a letter from a listener who was all boiled up over the security laws in place and the pat-downs, etc. The MC brought up MANY instances of when planes were hijacked all over the world. Do we see that now? When was the last time that you heard about an airplane being hijacked? Well, I don't even remember the last time and having just come back from Europe on September 10th, I realized that not once did I feel in fear for my life. That is the most comforting feeling when you get on a plane these days! I realize that being the subject of a pat-down is not the most pleasant thing (Have you ever had a German female TSA agent pat you down? Whoha!!), and I don't know about you, but I would rather be very intimately frisked than be in fear for my life, or dead in some field in God knows where. 

Just think about it.