I'll let you know how it goes.
Have a great weekend,
Preparing for an Exhibit
Through the photography club that I'm a member of, I have an opportunity to exhibit some prints at a festival on tomorrow. Yes, the prints will be for sale, and of course I hope that someone purchases at least one. But, for the moment I'm just excited about this opportunity and excited to see these new prints "in person." Looking at photos on a computer screen just isn't the same.
I'll let you know how it goes.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Art
As far back into my childhood as I can remember, this piece hung on the wall. No, not the original painting of course, but a print mounted on this wooden surface. I always was interested in that piece. I would let my imagination run wild as to what it was all about. Who was this woman? Where was she from? I was fascinated by her head scarf. I never knew the title; I never spoke much about it, but I loved it.
Then one day, my parents made some renovations to the house. Painted those harvest gold and avocado green walls a nice shade of off-white. One day the curtains changed, the table linens changed, and this piece came down. For years it was hidden. Then about two days ago I mentioned this piece to my mom. She never knew I even paid attention to it or that I loved it so. And yesterday, she took it out of the hidden place and this piece became mine.
I don't know what makes it so special. I still stare at the image and wonder with the same sense of awe I had from my childhood. And now I must find the perfect place for this woman in my home. Oh the joy! Isn't it amazing how the things you love dearly in your adulthood are often reflections of what you've always enjoyed as a child? Full circle.
Then one day, my parents made some renovations to the house. Painted those harvest gold and avocado green walls a nice shade of off-white. One day the curtains changed, the table linens changed, and this piece came down. For years it was hidden. Then about two days ago I mentioned this piece to my mom. She never knew I even paid attention to it or that I loved it so. And yesterday, she took it out of the hidden place and this piece became mine.
I don't know what makes it so special. I still stare at the image and wonder with the same sense of awe I had from my childhood. And now I must find the perfect place for this woman in my home. Oh the joy! Isn't it amazing how the things you love dearly in your adulthood are often reflections of what you've always enjoyed as a child? Full circle.
"Negro Woman with Peonies", 1870
Frédéric Bazille (artist)
Want Your Work to Be Featured?
Artistic Expressions by Elisabeth is now officially opening its doors (virtual doors, that is) to showcasing the work of others. We want to positively promote and embrace the handmade movement as well as the budding entrepreneurial spirit.
Who do we want?
Artists (potters, crafters, photographers, hairstylists, etc.), Budding Entrepreneurs, Authors....(those that need publicity to their own blogs, websites, or just need a hand in putting their work out there for the masses)
What do we want?
We want to know about you and your work -
Who are you? (name)
What is it that you do/make?
How did you get started/What is the motivation behind your work?
Where can we find your work?
What is your website/contact information?
Please also submit no more than 5-6 photographs. (Please make sure that you have the legal right to post these photographs. Keeping your logo on your photography would be a great idea for further promotion of your work.)
* Press Releases may also be submitted.
Artistic Expressions by Elisabeth reserves the right to edit submissions as deemed necessary. This is a clean, tasteful, family-friendly blog and will remain that way. Any submissions that are inappropriate will not be posted. Absolutely NO NUDITY or anything risqué.
If interested, please submit your information to artisticexpressionsbyelisabeth@gmail.com.
* A compiled list of all published submissions will be categorized and hosted under the "FEATURES" tab in the menu bar.
Who do we want?
Artists (potters, crafters, photographers, hairstylists, etc.), Budding Entrepreneurs, Authors....(those that need publicity to their own blogs, websites, or just need a hand in putting their work out there for the masses)
What do we want?
We want to know about you and your work -
Who are you? (name)
What is it that you do/make?
How did you get started/What is the motivation behind your work?
Where can we find your work?
What is your website/contact information?
Please also submit no more than 5-6 photographs. (Please make sure that you have the legal right to post these photographs. Keeping your logo on your photography would be a great idea for further promotion of your work.)
* Press Releases may also be submitted.
Artistic Expressions by Elisabeth reserves the right to edit submissions as deemed necessary. This is a clean, tasteful, family-friendly blog and will remain that way. Any submissions that are inappropriate will not be posted. Absolutely NO NUDITY or anything risqué.
If interested, please submit your information to artisticexpressionsbyelisabeth@gmail.com.
* A compiled list of all published submissions will be categorized and hosted under the "FEATURES" tab in the menu bar.
Let the submissions begin,
Turquoise Neckwarmer Take Two
It's a neckwarmer. It's a hair tube. It's a two-in-one! Relisted in my shop.
Building my shop back, one item at a time....
Building my shop back, one item at a time....
Happy Autumn,
Look Who's
35 today. Me!
This is also to help me remember this day. I have many wishes for myself for this year, but one big one for me is personal growth. I'm going to take one day at a time, and by the grace of God, this time next year some of those personal goals will be achieved.
Thank you for all of your birthday wishes!
 | |
| Self-Portrait (For the parents) |
Thank you for all of your birthday wishes!
Love,
Kuumba Festival 2011
Today I attended the Kuumba Festival with a friend. The Kuumba Festival is one that celebrates African-American heritage. The name KUUMBA in Swahili means CREATIVITY. It's been a while since I've attended this type of festival so when I realized that there would be one close to my area, I was excited to attend. It's such a positive effort.
What did I see? Families, families, families. All kinds of families. Little kids running around, playing together on the playground equipment. Dancing to the beats of the djembe drums. African dancers telling stories through their movements. Vendors selling shea butter, oils, handmade jewelry. Food. Smoked turkey legs, collard sandwiches, funnel cakes, and more. It was really nice out.
What did I see? Families, families, families. All kinds of families. Little kids running around, playing together on the playground equipment. Dancing to the beats of the djembe drums. African dancers telling stories through their movements. Vendors selling shea butter, oils, handmade jewelry. Food. Smoked turkey legs, collard sandwiches, funnel cakes, and more. It was really nice out.
Happy Autumn,
Two-Toned Chunky Cowl
Somewhere along the line I got fascinated with chunky yarn. I don't have much of it, but I decided to give it a try on this, one of my latest projects. I started out thinking to make a solid color cowl, but somewhere between the middle and end of the project, I had changed my mind. So now we have a two-toned unisex cowl for lovers of purple and gold. :-)
Yeah, this cowl is so versatile that you can wear it as a hair tube!
Available in my shop.
Available in my shop.
Happy Crafting,
Life as I Know It - Weekly Update #4
Ahhh, where do I begin....
Remember when I got my hair trimmed over the summer? The stylist did her best, but it still wasn't good enough. I could tell that I would need another trim in due time. When it's trimmed properly and the right products/techniques are used, my hair feels absolutely amazing - so soft and squishy and cottony and good. Anyhoo, that didn't happen. So, I went on a search for another stylist.
I found one, made an appointment, and then I had an actual nightmare. Yes, a nightmare! And this is how it went:
Then I woke out of my sleep in a panic. Sounds crazy, but that's the way it happened...in my dream. So when I went to my appointment on Thursday, I told the stylist of my secret fear and she assured me that all her chemicals were tucked away. She did her thing and I was so pleased. Finally, my hair felt the way it should after a salon visit. She didn't accidentally "cut" my hair when I clearly said "trim." My scalp and hair felt great. And, she asked my input on products BEFORE she used them. Needless to say, I will return to that salon.
One of the purposes for that much needed trim is because I knew I had an upcoming appointment to get my afro twists in. I wanted my hair right before being put up in this protective style for the next couple of months. I always get these twists at the same salon, but this time I requested two different hair colors and we switched the main color to a darker brown instead of black because all those henna treatments has helped to change my black hair into a deep brown color which I don't mind. I'm also excited for this hair style because it will prompt me to crochet some larger hats to accommodate this style.
To top off the day, I visited the African store to get the black soap that I like, but they were out of that kind and recommended this one, which I hope to enjoy. Everyone in the store said I would so I'm prone to believe them. I got the lemon kind. I'm excited about washing my face, right after this post. Isn't that a trip?
And then, I satisfied my craving for Vietnamese fresh spring rolls at the International Market. I shamefully paid for them in coins since I realized I had no cash, but the cashier was patient. What a day!
Remember when I got my hair trimmed over the summer? The stylist did her best, but it still wasn't good enough. I could tell that I would need another trim in due time. When it's trimmed properly and the right products/techniques are used, my hair feels absolutely amazing - so soft and squishy and cottony and good. Anyhoo, that didn't happen. So, I went on a search for another stylist.
I found one, made an appointment, and then I had an actual nightmare. Yes, a nightmare! And this is how it went:
I went to a new stylist to get my hair deep conditioned and trimmed. I sat in the chair while the stylist did her best work. Every now and again, I would reach up and touch my hair. It felt so soft and smooth. Then I realized she must have used some chemicals. "Did you use chemicals?" I asked. "Well..." she replied, while handing me the mirror. When I saw myself, I gasped. She had given me a Jheri Curl!!!!!
Then I woke out of my sleep in a panic. Sounds crazy, but that's the way it happened...in my dream. So when I went to my appointment on Thursday, I told the stylist of my secret fear and she assured me that all her chemicals were tucked away. She did her thing and I was so pleased. Finally, my hair felt the way it should after a salon visit. She didn't accidentally "cut" my hair when I clearly said "trim." My scalp and hair felt great. And, she asked my input on products BEFORE she used them. Needless to say, I will return to that salon.
 |
| I was so inspired that I created some silhouettes that will become cards later. |
One of the purposes for that much needed trim is because I knew I had an upcoming appointment to get my afro twists in. I wanted my hair right before being put up in this protective style for the next couple of months. I always get these twists at the same salon, but this time I requested two different hair colors and we switched the main color to a darker brown instead of black because all those henna treatments has helped to change my black hair into a deep brown color which I don't mind. I'm also excited for this hair style because it will prompt me to crochet some larger hats to accommodate this style.
 |
| Only had time for cell phone pics for now.... |
To top off the day, I visited the African store to get the black soap that I like, but they were out of that kind and recommended this one, which I hope to enjoy. Everyone in the store said I would so I'm prone to believe them. I got the lemon kind. I'm excited about washing my face, right after this post. Isn't that a trip?
 |
| [Image Source] |
 | ||
| Another cell phone pic...Too hungry and too far from my real camera. |
And finally, despite my lack of posting, I have been piddling at crocheting when I have the chance. I've got ideas ( as always), but I've been having trouble bringing them into fruition like I would have liked. When I finally sit down to relax at the end of the work day, I'm too tired to hold the crochet hook. So, I have this yarn bin beside my bed that I look at and that's about it. There will be products/projects forthcoming, but for now, you'll have to be patient with me.
ETA: I washed my face and loved the way it looked and felt. Hopefully good times ahead with this soap. :-)
Happy cold (brrrr) Saturday,
Rockin' Ski Hat, Relisted
It's not often that I re-edit images, but I've learned a few more things in Lightroom recently and in keeping with the new look of my shop, I needed to re-edit these images. Don't you just love the new, edgy look?
* I'm also happy to announce that my hat model, Shelly, has now opened her own Etsy shop. Check it out!
Happy Shopping,
We're Back in Business!
Just finished refreshing my Etsy shop's new look and have started listing/relisting items again, starting with this chunky taupe toboggan.
Happy Shopping,
Reunion 2011
Every year my dad's side of the family has a family reunion, but this year marked the 50th Reunion. It was special because of all the family we hadn't seen before and all the family that came that we hadn't seen in a long time. Still, the representation was only a drop in the bucket in terms of how large our family unit really is. (Remember, my dad is one of 17 kids - so that's a whole lot of family.)
The women and men held a separate breakfast. Then we all came back together for the reunion dinner. People shared their words of wisdom on health care, life, faith, college, and following your dreams. The kids participated in a fashion show and some showcased their talents.
It was a long, full weekend of events and I captured tons of memories. I hope you enjoy this snippet. :-)
The women and men held a separate breakfast. Then we all came back together for the reunion dinner. People shared their words of wisdom on health care, life, faith, college, and following your dreams. The kids participated in a fashion show and some showcased their talents.
It was a long, full weekend of events and I captured tons of memories. I hope you enjoy this snippet. :-)
Roasted Vegetable Pizza
So last night I roasted some veggies - zucchini, yellow squash, red onions, and grape tomatoes to be exact. This was in preparation for a roasted vegetable pizza that I was going to make today.
Some time ago a friend gave me a cookbook that I looked at (I always look at the pretty pictures first), but recently decided that this cookbook is not for decoration, but that I should use it. So here's a slightly revised version of the original recipe.
Roasted Vegetable Pizza
adapted from Cooking Light, Fresh Food Fast
Roasted Vegetables
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 zucchini squash, chopped coarsely
1 yellow squash, chopped coarsely
1 cup grape tomatoes
1 tsp (5 mL)* olive oil
1/4 tsp. (1.25 mL) salt
1/4 tsp. (1.25 mL) black pepper
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Mix all of the ingredients well. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 18 minutes, until all vegetables are tender and slightly browned.
Roasted Vegetable Pizza
wheat flat bread (ie. Naan bread)
pesto sauce
roasted vegetables
mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Place bread directly on rack or on a pizza stone while preheating, and heat 5 minutes. Remove bread from oven. Spread pesto sauce evenly over bread. Top with roasted vegetables and cheese. Bake for 7 minutes or until cheeses melt and vegetables are heated through.
As I mentioned before, I made my roasted vegetables yesterday and then refrigerated them. I only made one pizza with on piece of flat bread. I'll use the rest later. The most time consuming part was roasting the vegetables, which just took a bit of prep and wait time. I thinking having roasted veggies on hand is a pretty neat idea. Giving me ideas.....
* To my metric friends...I'm trying. lol
Some time ago a friend gave me a cookbook that I looked at (I always look at the pretty pictures first), but recently decided that this cookbook is not for decoration, but that I should use it. So here's a slightly revised version of the original recipe.
Roasted Vegetable Pizza
adapted from Cooking Light, Fresh Food Fast
Roasted Vegetables
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 zucchini squash, chopped coarsely
1 yellow squash, chopped coarsely
1 cup grape tomatoes
1 tsp (5 mL)* olive oil
1/4 tsp. (1.25 mL) salt
1/4 tsp. (1.25 mL) black pepper
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Mix all of the ingredients well. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 18 minutes, until all vegetables are tender and slightly browned.
Roasted Vegetable Pizza
wheat flat bread (ie. Naan bread)
pesto sauce
roasted vegetables
mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Place bread directly on rack or on a pizza stone while preheating, and heat 5 minutes. Remove bread from oven. Spread pesto sauce evenly over bread. Top with roasted vegetables and cheese. Bake for 7 minutes or until cheeses melt and vegetables are heated through.
As I mentioned before, I made my roasted vegetables yesterday and then refrigerated them. I only made one pizza with on piece of flat bread. I'll use the rest later. The most time consuming part was roasting the vegetables, which just took a bit of prep and wait time. I thinking having roasted veggies on hand is a pretty neat idea. Giving me ideas.....
* To my metric friends...I'm trying. lol
Bon Appetit,
Okra Rice Dish
A dear friend of mine left me a bag of goodies on my back porch one day. In that bag there was some fresh okra from her garden. I'm getting kinda lucky with the okra lately, huh? Well, today I decided to make an okra rice dish. I'm eating it as I type this post, and let me say that it is soooo good! (biased here, I know)
Okra Rice Dish
adapted from this Okra Rice recipe on Allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
1/2 medium-sized chopped red onion
okra, cleaned and sliced
2 packets of Herbox Sodium-Free Chicken Bouillon
1 cup of jasmine rice
2 1/2 cups of water
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
Directions:
In medium sized sauce pot over medium heat, sauté chopped onion in olive oil. When translucent, add sliced okra, then 1 packet of bouillon and 1 cup of water. Reduce heat and allow okra to simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Add rice, additional bouillon packet, and remaining water. Season with salt and pepper, stir, and then cover sauce pot and allow to cook for approximately 20 minutes, when rice and okra should be done. Check seasonings; re-season if necessary.
* I am enjoying this dish. The original recipe calls for 1 lb of bacon, which I'm just not going to do.
Okra Rice Dish
adapted from this Okra Rice recipe on Allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
1/2 medium-sized chopped red onion
okra, cleaned and sliced
2 packets of Herbox Sodium-Free Chicken Bouillon
1 cup of jasmine rice
2 1/2 cups of water
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
Directions:
In medium sized sauce pot over medium heat, sauté chopped onion in olive oil. When translucent, add sliced okra, then 1 packet of bouillon and 1 cup of water. Reduce heat and allow okra to simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Add rice, additional bouillon packet, and remaining water. Season with salt and pepper, stir, and then cover sauce pot and allow to cook for approximately 20 minutes, when rice and okra should be done. Check seasonings; re-season if necessary.
* I am enjoying this dish. The original recipe calls for 1 lb of bacon, which I'm just not going to do.
Bon Appetit,
Refreshing...
You may have noticed that I put my Etsy shop in vacation mode. Just needed a bit of time to create some new things and revamp my shop's look. I was so glad to work with Pixel Me This. And now I have a new Etsy mini set!
Looking forward to more great things soon to come...
 |
| My new banner |
Looking forward to more great things soon to come...
Happy Crafting,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)