Top 5: Jane Austen-esque Movies

The Pride and Prejudice 'Classic Smackdown' at Meet Me at Mike's has been a landslide, with almost everyone preferring the BBC mini-series starring Colin Firth to the 2005 film. The consensus is that you can not capture enough of the book in two hours.

Which got me thinking, if you only have two hours free for a Jane Austen-fix, what are some fun options that won't just leave you feeling like corners have been cut? These are my picks (that will surely have you reaching for a book afterwards too!)

#1 Bridget Jones's Diary (Inspired by: Pride and Prejudice)
One of the best romantic comedies ever. Bonus points for the definitive Mr Darcy playing Mr Darcy. Perfection.

#2 Bride and Prejudice (Inspired by: Pride and Prejudice)
Ok, it looks silly, and it is... but in the best way - colourful, fun, musical, and actually very faithful to the story. Martin Henderson may seem like an odd choice for Darcy but he does arrogant and aloof well. Bonus point for Gilmore Girl cameo (Gilmore Girls will be another post...)

#3 Clueless (Inspired by: Emma)
Relive the 90s and laugh at the fashion, slang, and some great one-liners. If you want traditional and pretty, the Gwyneth Paltrow version of Emma is sweet, but this one is a clever adaptation. Bonus point for Paul Rudd who really doesn't look very different!

#4 The Jane Austen Book Club
I think I watched this as an insomniac early one morning during my second pregnancy. I cried a lot, but I enjoy a good movie-cry. The characters are pretty one-dimensional but the idea is genius - 6 people, 6 Austen books, 6 months. Their passion for Jane Austen will make you hunt out a book immediately.

#5 Becoming Jane
I haven't seen this one but it has been recommended to me as an enjoyable watch, and sounds like a good candidate for a movie-cry... young Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) dreams of marrying for love until issues of wealth and class arise.

I have a very good friend who has a passion for 'P&P', are you a big Austen fan too?

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We're back, happy New Year!

The Coolest Present - holiday reading.....

Happy New Year! We hope you had a FANTASTIC break and made wonderful memories on your holiday break. Roll on 2011.

What was your coolest present?

My biggest surprise present this year from hubby was the book ‘The Crafty Minx’ – and I love it. Kelly Doust is a young Australian mum and former journalist who started turning her hand to contemporary design and craft projects for her home and baby once her daughter was born. A long time craftaholic, she also used her OE years to scour flea and fabric markets around the world and posted back to Australia a range of gorgeous fabrics and vintage clothes that she has upcycled or reused to form the basics of her designs in her new book.

I don't know how I missed seeing this book when it launched 2009/early last year. I only started seeing the reviews towards the end of the year. But if you haven't already, check it out if you want inspiration for 2011. Separated into projects that match our seasons down under, Kelly has ideas for babies and mums alike from crib mobiles and baby-safe soft toys to beach totes, dress renovations, wall art, lino printing and gift wrapping. Kelly has also recently released a second book, ‘The Crafty Kid’, with projects for kids to tackle. Might need to be my Whitcoulls January sale present to myself!

Following that I'll be trying to pick up a copy of "Meet Me at Mike's" and "Sew La Tea Do" on trademe. Did you know Meet Me at Mike's is actually a craft shop in Melbourne, as well as an awesome blog? I'm off to Melbourne in March and I am SO going there....Brunswick St here I come.

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Introducing Our New Etsy Shop: BELOVED BOOKS.

I have always wanted to own my own used book shop that specializes in vintage childrens' books. Ad now I do - sort of. At least online. And although I always wanted to serve coffee in said book shop, I am thinking that perhaps you can grab a cup in your own home and surf through the fabulous books while still wearing your pjs.

Here is a sample of the goodies you will find there:

Please stop by and take a look around. From now till Christmas we are offering a 20% discount when you enter the coupon code: NewShop. Discount will be automatically taken off your total bill (a new Etsy function!).

Thanks for your continued support in all our endeavors. And ENJOY!

Love,

Jodi

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My Creative Space - E is for Elephant

I have always wanted to make a soft toy and Cotton Kiwi's sock monkey tutorial has been on my 'to do' list for a while, but this week I was inspired by a gorgeous book I stumbled upon in the library, 'Sock and Glove' by Miyako Kanamori. There are instructions for all kinds of animals but I had to make the elephant, I thought the trunk and crinkly ears were so clever.

It took a bit longer than I expected as my handsewing is not quick, but it was like a book I couldn't put down and the only tricky bit was attaching the ears. Apparently the body was a good enough toy all by itself as it was kidnapped for a while...

I had a little teddy bear t-shirt that happened to fit so of course I had to do a mini-version of my alphabet tees (it looked so cute on the sewing machine that I had to stop and take a photo!). My daughter had decided it was a girl, and called 'Elephant' (of course), but when she saw the shirt she told me it was 'not e for elephant, e for Eeyore'.

The drawstring pants are from a pattern in the book, I should have fitted them before sewing because they came out as hipsters (I used a really big sock), but they are still functional, complete with hole for the tail.

I love this book and I must admit my first instinct was to copy the whole thing before I returned it to the library, but then I figured if I don't believe in ripping off music or movies, I should also  support a really clever crafter - so I have a copy on its way from www.bookdepository.co.uk (love their free delivery!).

To see what other craftiness has been going on this week, have a browse through kooyotoo's My Creative Space.

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What Happened to Borders Books?

For many years, I worked at Borders Books, Music & Cafe as a Children's Bookseller and Children's Event Coordinator. I loved my job. Really loved it. I started working at the store in Bangor before it even opened. I helped stock the selves, merchandise my area, and create fun events for drawing in customers. This was back in the day when Borders cared about customer service, about getting the customer the exact book they were looking for, and about hiring just the right "book-smart" people for assisting customers. I didn't just help customers, I formed relationships with them ... as did my fellow co-workers. It was a place to come to for Friday Night Jazz, famous author book signings, The American Girls Club, Homeschoolers Night, and so much more. We were an eclectic bunch of booksellers, music sellers and cafe workers too. Some men wore skirts, some other folks had all manner of facial piercings, some were working moms while others were retired military. And - for the most part - we all cared deeply for either books, music, great coffee or all of the aforementioned. But all this seems to have changed ...

Slowly but surely, (with the replacement of the former CEO), Borders has become nothing more than a "big-box-store". I haven't worked there for years now, but have always been a loyal customer ... and I have finally settled on the fact that the book shop I loved so well will never be the same again. All the dedicated book-loving employees are gone. The music department is almost no more. The coffee shop is now owned by another company. The registers are inundated with candy, cheap magazines and dime-store souveniers. The various fun nights of music and social gatherings are totally gone. And our once beloved children's department now looks like a toy store:

One day, Isaac and I walked into Borders, after just having been there two evenings prior, to find that what we used to call the "book cave" was now filled with all manner of "Made in China" toys. I was absolutely appalled. I asked to speak to a manager - who turned out to be one of the shift managers I had worked with before. I asked him what in the world was going on. He assured me that there were just as many books as there had been prior to their "toy store makeover" ... but truth be told - I don't believe him. There simply is no possible way. Everywhere I looked, there were toys - not books. I then asked him "Why?". He told me that the company had to sell what people want ... and they don't want books. SERIOUSLY??? What happened to America when people no longer want to buy BOOKS from a BOOKSTORE??? Am I that unique in wanting my son to grow up surrounded by books, music and social gatherings? In Bangor? I mean - Bangor was/is all about kids, community, social experiences, small-town gatherings, education, etc. What happened? And where was I when the change took place?

Needless to say perhaps ... but I am flustered by this. It has rattled me in ways I didn't know were possible. I want my old Borders back. I want some skirt-wearing man with a ring in his nose to help me find the perfect book for my Isaac. I want to drink my latte on a Friday night to the sounds of a local jazz band. I want to meet the latest local authors and have them sign my books. I want Isaac to be able to attend some fun kid-oriented gatherings --- like the old science club we used to run, etc. And I definitely want to buy BOOKS at my local BOOKSTORE!

Can you feel me people? What do you think? What is going on in your neighborhoods for better or for worse? And more importantly --- where do you find your books?

Love,

Jodi

P.S. I am lovin' that my man is growing out his gorgeous curly locks (see top photo). Yummy.

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Instilling the Love of Reading ... No Matter What.

I read to Isaac every day. We have loads of books and I am always scouting for more (usually at thrift stores). I love to read him classic stuff of the fairy tale variety --- his favorite being Jack and the Beanstalk. I tend to be pretty particular about the books that enter our home --- they have to have some "meat" to them --- some depth --- some inspiration, etc --- or they don't get bought or borrowed.



But what could I do when Isaac won "The Backyardigans Hide and Go Boo" from his local library for completing his summer reading list? He loves it. Its what Mama calls "crap"... but he thinks it is marvelous. I tell you what you do ... you give in to it ... because he is reading (or trying to) ... and you just have to let go and allow him to explore what he loves. That's what you do. Hard as it may be --- and as much as I may want to eventually see "The Wind in the Willows" between his fingers --- I may have to settle for "Junie B. Jones". And I know for sure that if I suggest that "The Wind in the Willows" is a better book --- it will never get read. So, The Backyardigans it is --- for now --- until it mysteriously disappears :)

Enjoy your reading!
Love,
Jodi

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Book Love: Jesus Land.

I read the book Jesus Land about three weeks ago now. I was mesmerized by it from the moment I picked it up and never stopped reading it until I had it finished that same day. This book spoke to me in ways I had never imagined. As soon as I put it down, I contacted the author through her website. She recently returned my e-mail with a brief but lovely response - for which I am grateful.

I wanted to write a review about this book here on the blog, but find that words fail me. Instead, I will post the letter that I sent to her on the day that I read the book. To protect the identity of a couple of people, I have deleted a sentence or two ... but for the most part, this is what I sent to the author, Julia Scheeres on July 11, 2009:

Dear Julia,

I just finished your book Jesus Land --- literally five minutes ago. As soon as I put it down, I had to visit your website to see if there was a way in which I could contact you to express my sincerest thanks for your book, as well as my deepest apologies for the pain I can only imagine that you feel over the death of your brother. I also hope to express to you that as an adoptive Mom to a Haitian born son, I am eternally grateful that you have put to words so much of what I have seen in the adoption community .... that is ... over zealous, white, evangelical Christians who adopt "black" children in order to "save their souls" ... all the while never truly loving these children as family, and often treating them as burdens to be overcome in order to become right with God, etc...etc... David's story is one that I have witnessed in my own life. It is why I bought the book. It is a subject matter that I have desperately wanted to see written about. And you wrote about it so perfectly ... so lovingly ... so honestly ...

I truly feel at such a loss to express to you just how much your book means to me. I have deleted at least a hundred different sentences in this brief e-mail already. I guess I am overwhelmed with emotions. Perhaps I haven't given myself time to fully digest the book --- as I read it non-stop as soon as I picked it up today. I just know that I NEEDED to contact you.

I can tell you that my son, Isaac, is the light of my life. Though I never gave birth to him (plainly obvious from my lily white skin)... I truly believe that he and I made a pact to become mother and child before either one of us was born. His adoption story is one that I would love to share with you sometime. It has its own magic & heartbreak. And ultimately it is a love story ... just as your relationship to your brother is. My son (age 4) and I get many of the same looks as you and your brother did. Our relationship is totally understood by some ... unimaginable to many ... disgusting to others ... and yet there are those who think I am some sort of hero for adopting the "unwanted" from a third-world country (these people make my stomach lurch). And then there are those evangelical Christians who worked with the same evangelical orphanage that I did --- people who were also adopting --- but for all the wrong reasons (to bring these heathen kids to Jesus and to never "spare the rod" in doing so) --- these are the people who often haunt my thoughts. It is their adopted children (some who I came to love) that I cry for. The orphanage itself reminds me of the "reform school" that you and your brother endured. In order to work with them I needed to act the part of the evangelical christian ... a role that was easy for me given my childhood ... but was hard for my Turkish born husband. I wish I could have taken all the children home with us ... but I knew who my son was ... and it was him we came to find. Not to rescue ... but to FIND. I already knew him in my heart, I just needed to get him home to me for good. And I did. And life is good. But I never forget the others.

(deleted paragraph)

Anyway ... I am rambling a bit. I just really want to thank you in a million ways ... for a million reasons. Your abuse at the hands of Jerome is something else that spoke to me personally ... as well as your relationship with Scott ... your reasoning for such a relationship, etc. I felt you girl. Truly. And though I am so sorry for the life experience it took for you to write such a memoir, I thank you for putting it out there.

Lastly, if you are interested, I invite you to check out my blog: www.thishandmadelife.blogspot.com. The following posts deal with parts of my son's adoption:

http://thishandmadelife.blogspot.com/2008/02/fever.html

http://thishandmadelife.blogspot.com/2008/08/songs-for-isaac.html

http://thishandmadelife.blogspot.com/2008/10/good-news.html

There are many more, but I'd have to do some serious blog searching to find them (he came home over 3 years ago).

Well, again, thank you Julia from the bottom of my heart. Please know that I now carry you and David in my heart forever. You did him a wonderful tribute by sharing him with others ... as he cannot now be forgotten ... ever. Please let me know if there is any way I can help the children of Escuela Caribe. I have signed up for your updates ...

Much love to you & yours,

Jodi

The above photo is of Julia and her brother, David. taken in 1986.

I hope by my putting this letter "out there" --- some of you may be interested in reading the book. Though some parts of the book spoke to me more than others, this really is a memoir for everybody. It is interesting and compelling on more levels than I could convey here. If you read it, please let me know what you think.


Thanks & Love,

Jodi

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Hanging Out in Bed ... till whenever.

The bed seems to be our hang out spot for the past few days. So much snow ... so much wind ... keeps us inside - cuddling, reading, playing make-believe, and watching the Smurfs - all from the bed. So yummy.

Occasionally we head out into the world, with lots of winter gear, and that feels good too. But there really is nothing like a day or two in bed ... bodies pressed up against one another ... enjoying all the goodness of one-on-one time together. Oh ... and the reading ... well let me tell you ...

My new favorite book is Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown. Wow. I couldn't put it down. The writing is rich and beautiful. The story is so engaging. And the heroine is so complex that I felt I knew her personally by the end of the book --- and longed to learn more about her next adventures. Sadly, there is no "Part 2" to this great book. However, there is a book that McKinley wrote, The Blue Sword, that is set in the same city ... 500 years after the reign of Aerin (the heroine of The Hero and the Crown). So, immediately after completing the first book, I drove straight to Borders to pick up The Blue Sword ... with which I am already having a hard time putting down.

As for Isaac, he is having a great time reading some Robert Munsch books. Hilarious stuff. We keep several Munsch books here because they are truly funny ... but also because the characters involved are often non-traditional families. For instance, in Andrew's Loose Tooth the main character, Andrew, is a young white boy ... while his sisters are both black ... his Mommy is brown skinned and his Daddy is white. Nothing is said of their differences ... they are just your everyday average family going through a loose tooth crisis. And that is so good for Isaac to see.

Well, I better go read more of The Blue Sword. I also purchased some back-up books in case the weather continues to keep us inside. Here is hoping for spring ... but I fear it is still a long way off.

Even the dogs are keeping to the indoors ...

Hoping you have warm & lovely weather where you are. Or that you at least have a great book.

Love,

Jodi

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Silhouettes : Disney Part 5.

Silhouette crafting is everywhere. Apparently it is quite "in vogue" right now, and I must admit that I have caught the bug too. I bought this one for Dad for Christmas. And I am coveting all these ... as well as these. It is certainly a classic art form, but has gained a recent upsurge in popularity.

There are plenty of books written on the subject too. And I am likely going to purchase a few within the next year. I hope to inspire some of my own creativity by adding some silhouettes to my sewing / quilting. (You may remember when my girlfriend created this gorgeous silhouette of her daughter --- on a sweatshirt!).

Apparently, it is a tradition of sorts to have your silhouettes crafted on paper at the Magic Kingdom. Halis has several from his youth ... and I have seen many DisneyWorld framed silhouettes grace the walls of various homes throughout the years. So, during our recent Disney vacation, I was excited to have our family silhouette created by a Magic Kingdom cast member.

Here is Halis's pose for the artist ...

And here is the outcome ...

It took alot of candy to have Isaac sit still long enough.

I am really enjoying the beauty of this timeless portrait --- and am feeling as though I have just taken part in a classic American tradition that I somehow missed as a child. Looking at the new family portrait makes me smile ... and also makes me wonder if and when we will be adding more little babes to our family. I am hoping soon.

Enjoy the weekend!

Love,

Jodi

P.S. Meaghan also had hers done as well. It is very sweet & I hope she will treasure it always :)

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Some Bargains to Share.

Hi all. I just wanted to "pop in" to share some bargains with you that I recently found on Amazon.com. I purchased them all myself, so can attest for their quality. If you are interested, better get 'em while you can, as quanities are limited:


The Night Before Christmas: Hardcover. $6.99. Absolutely gorgeous papercut artwork. And I personally love that the characters are all shown as silhouettes, so that my son can decide what color skin Santa has.

Pirate Pete: Hardcover. $5.99. Not your "average" pirate. This one is sweet ... yet still very "piratey". Perfect for younger kids. Would make a great gift. (Isaac is getting his copy for Christmas).

The Hero and the Crown: Paperback. $4.99. Robin McKinley has quite a following among both teens and adults. Her work is wonderfully crafted. Just read the reviews. This book would make a great gift for a reading teen... or an adult like me who can't get enough fantasy fiction.

An Ordinary Man: Hardcover. $6.99. This book is the autobiography of the incredible man who saved many lives during the Rwanda genocide by secretly opening his hotel up for refugees. The movie "Hotel Rwanda" is based on this book.

I hope you find my occassional bargain tips useful. You can find all these bargain books and more in my Amazon.com shop. I have just added a "bargains" section. You may want to occasionally check back there to see what other goodies I find.

Have a great weekend.

Love,
Jodi

P.S. I am still working on my Digital Photography School Scavenger Hunt ... see HERE for my latest entries. Are any of you giving it a go?

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The Sisters Grimm.

If you don't know by now, I am a lover of children's literature ... especially the fairy tale variety. And I am a HUGE fan of the "series" ... you know ... books that come out in a chronological order ... tales that build upon one another ... tales where characters are so well constructed that they begin to feel like family. I read every Harry Potter book (who didn't really?), every one of the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" novels, and several in between. Now, I am hooked on "The Sisters Grimm"... and for good reason.

These books are ingenious. Imagine throwing every childhood fairy tale character into their own little town ... where they cannot leave from ... mix in some human neighbors ... force the "everafters" (that's what fairy tale characters are called) to try to lead normal lives (Snow White is a teacher, the Three Pigs are all policeman, etc.) ... and let the chaos ensue. It is hilarious, adventurous, and a trip back into my own childhood fantasies.

The Sisters Grimm ... and their whole Grimm family ... serve as fairy tale detectives in this crazy little town. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just leave it at that. These tales are told from their perspective. Each story unravels a mystery... and perhaps I am a little naive, but I do not see the endings coming. They each have their own little twist that keeps them fresh and exciting.

I highly recommend these books for independant readers ages 8 and up. Or for parent/child bedtime readings for the younger child. Knowledge of basic fairy tales is not totally essential (Jack & the Beanstalk, The Three Bears, Snow White, etc) but will make the stories all the more fun and interesting.

The author gives some great commentary at the end of the books, as well as questions/answers about the reading and offerings of additional information regarding fairy tales around the world. Good stuff.

And - of course - I highly recommend this series for those adults who are young at heart. Just read the reviews on Amazon.com. They are mostly written by adults who have enjoyed these books right along with their kids. Gives you and the kids that much more to chat about ... and to relate to.

At $5.95 each - they are well worth the investment. ENJOY!

Love,
Jodi

P.S. Please remember that if you do wish to purchase these books through Amazon.com, you can do so through the little Amazon.com box to the right of my blog. By using my link, Isaac will earn 4% of your sales in gift certificates that he and I can use toward his homeschooling books. THANK YOU!

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Some Book "Referrals"...

Books I am loving right now:

Print Liberation: The Screen Printing Primer by Nick Paparone. Perfect for beginner level screen printers. Comes with some ready to use art. So well written and engaging --- with lots of photo inspirations.

Mother Teresa by Mary Cobb. Yes, this book was written for younger people ... but I just love this DK Biography series. Each book gives me such intriquing insight into their subjects without putting me to sleep. There is plenty of wonderful info (and pictures)contained without overdoing it. For $4.99 each - I recommend everyone treat themselves to one. I have enjoyed Harry Houdini, Ben Franklin, Annie Oakley, Marie Curie, and Joan of Arc. All well done.

The Digital Photography Book. by Scott Kelby. A must for anyone interested in improving their digital photography. I carry it around in my camera bag so that I can refer to it. Surely, I will eventually outgrow it, but for now it is like carrying around my own personal professional photographer coach in my backpack.

Books I am looking forward to loving (on Pre-order):

Screen Your Stuff: A Fun, Funky Introduction to Silk-Screening Your Tees, Totes, Towels & More by Levy and Georgelin.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling. I am certain that if this woman wrote a book on the art of paper towel designs ... I would read it.

SO... what are you reading???

Love,

Jodi

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Those Olden Goldies ...

... or Golden Oldies ... (whichever pun you prefer :)
I just love turning these well-loved Golden Books into fun "kitchy" journals. I got the idea from my awesome cousin Nicole (who is still in Kaz - trying to bring her baby home) ... and I just can't seem to stop making them. (See here for some finished examples). I am forever searching out these sweet little treasures at every thrift store and yard sale that I can find. I now have hundreds. Literally. And I will still buy more - I can assure you. Me thinks it has become an obsession. They are just so darn sweet. And there are so many different titles to search out. It is the ultimate treasure hunt for those who are tickled by vintage children's lit. And my holy grail is "Volksy - The Little Yellow Car" (circulated by Elf Rand McNally in the 60's). Sure, I can find it on Ebay ... but what is the fun in that?

Anyway, I am thinking that perhaps it is time to start taking requests on my upcycled Golden Book journals. This way, I can concentrate on making journals out of the books that folks want. I will soon be updating my Etsy store with special request listings.

Here is just a small sample of the books available:

I am willing to bet that you have read at least one of these titles in your youth ... or perhaps you read them to your own children. Either way, I hope they conjure up some sweet memories for you. They certainly do for me. I fondly remember my book reading nook in the hallway of my childhood home ... and the seemingly endless opportunities to delve into new worlds with the turn of every page. Ahhhh ... good stuff.

Now I find endless uses for the blank books that I make with these thrifted Goldens. I have one for my purse - to jot down thoughts and to-do lists. I have one that I keep on my desk for organizing the schedules of all the area children's museums and amusements. I have one for my craft area with drawings of all my sewing ideas. And I keep others for use as personal writing journals. I also plan to use others as address books, scrapbooks, etc. And I am sure that everyone on my Christmas list will be getting one too :)

So, yes, I am a little obsessed with my latest craft ... perhaps because they incorporate so much of what I love ... children's literature, vintage goodies, handmade crafting, and recycling. Not a bad combo.

Let me know if you would like some too ;)

Love,

Jodi

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An Egg is Quiet.

I have faith that spring is coming despite the seven-foot snow piles in my front yard. I have been here before ... in that limbo of a March in Maine ... where the sun shines but the snow continues to fall. I know that in just a couple of weeks, I will be "enjoying" mud puddles that are often twelve feet in diameter and at least six inches deep. I will be watching (and hearing) all my bird friends return to their spring/summer feeding and breeding grounds. My chickens will begin frolicking in the grass and laying fresh eggs. And Isaac and I will be outside WAY more than we are in.

With spring fever (and we DO get spring fever around here ... big time) fast approaching, I have been pulling out some of my recent "spring" book purchases for all to enjoy. And I SO have a favorite this year: An Egg is Quiet by Diana Aston and Sylvia Long. This book may go down as my favorite non-fiction picture book of all time. Perhaps it is because I am so enamored with eggs in general ... perhaps it is the amazing illustrations ... or perhaps it is the simple way that this book conveys so much knowledge and wonder. Any which way, it is a wonderful way to learn and appreciate the way that so much of life is created and nurtured through "eggs".

You can visit here to learn more about this book, but I wanted to share some of the incredible illustrations here as well:

This book inspires me in so many ways. Each time I look through it, I get especially excited about letting my hens hatch out some of their own chicks this year. It has been a while since we have done so. And I look forward to sharing the wonder and beauty of this experience with Isaac.

I hope you are all finding your own special ways to welcome (or summon) in spring this year.

Love,

Jodi

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A Highly Recommended Book:

I bought this sweet book for Isaac before he came home to us. I just new it contained a message that I wanted him to hear over and over again.

Little Raccoon is forever asking his Mom WHEN it is that she loves him the most. Is it when he cleans up his room? Is it when he does well at his swimming lessons? Is it when he can climb a tree very well? And Mother keeps telling him that though she loves when he does all of those things, that is not when she loves him MOST. Finally, after several attempts to find out when it is that Mom loves him most of all, Little Raccoon gets exasperated, and asks, "Is it now?" To which Mother replies, "Yes, it is NOW. Now is the time that I love you most of all. Do you know why? ... Because there is no special time. I love you all the time. So, whatever time it happens to be - day or night - that's the time I love you most Little Raccoon."

"You mean right now?" asks Little Raccoon.
"Yes, right now," said his Mother. "It is always right now."

(Gives me a chill every time I read it :)

Though I think this book is great for any child & parent to read together, I especially believe that is is most beneficial to children who were adopted at an older age ... and may have some serious doubts as to whether they are truly loved just for being who they are ... or whether they have to continue to prove themselves to be lovable. This book speaks to that so well, and can be used as a catalyst for some wonderful discussion. The illustrations contained are sure to keep your child interested ... they're full of whimsy ... and the raccoon is so darn cute.

If you are interested in learning more about the book, please click here. And for the sake of full disclosure, if you purchase this book through the link provided, my family will receive a small but useful referral fee.

Thank you & Enjoy!
Love,
Jodi

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Playing With Adobe Photoshop CS3.

A friend of ours introduced us to this intense Photoshop program and I am pretty sure that once I installed it, I could hear my photographs cheering . It is simply amazing! I didn't know that a computer program was capable of "magic", but this program proves it. You can literally take the world's worst photograph, and turn it into a thing of beauty (or something like that). But it takes ALOT of learning to even master 1/4 of what this program can do.

I grabbed a couple of highly reviewd books on the subject: The Photoshop CS Book For Digital Photographers and Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One. From these two books, I have been giving myself nightly lessons on the program. And I have made some progress. I was able to make a new header for this blog (a week ago) and for my Etsy shop (last night).

I also learned a thing or two about "Curves" and was able to enhance the following photos:

BEFORE:

AFTER:


BEFORE:


AFTER:

Of course, there is SO much more I need to learn. But this is a great start. Lots of fun, too.

Enjoy the day,

Jodi

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Try Some Paper Crafts.

I have always enjoyed working with fabric. It comes in so many colors, textures, themes, etc. I love collecting it, cutting it, touching it (oh, I love the touching :) and sewing it. But I had no idea, until recently, that working with paper could be so satisfying as well. I think I have found a new obsession ... I mean, hobby.

It all started with a simple snowflake book:

I bought it for $9.95 on Amazon.... and have been making snowflakes almost daily since! When I use a pattern in this book, I get a quick and beautiful result from paper and a just a few snips with the scissors. Not a bad way to spend 10 minutes. Now these snowflakes are taking over our house...

But it doesn't end there. I went on to buy this book as well:

I am having such fun with it. There are some amazing patterns in this book - and all are easily accomplished by anyone (that means you!) with some paper, sharp scissors and an exacto-knife. There are dragons, snowflakes, animals of all kinds, people, large scenes and small, etc... Truly something for everyone - at every level. Here was my very first attempt at cutting a pattern from this book:

No doubt - these little chickies will be multiplying all over the house this Easter.

Ahhh ... but of course, my paper obsession continued to grow, so I picked up this amazing book as well:

It has become an absolute favorite. I had been visiting this author's blog for quite some time, but though I admired her artwork, I assumed it was beyond my capabilities. Then I bought her book ... and I am taking such pleasure in creating personal collages... and lovin' the results:

She uses fabric in her collages as well (a step I haven't yet taken), so crafting in this way may be the ultimate blending of my two favorite materials. Oh, and paint is certainly alot of fun as well!

So, for those who have written me in the past, to say that they admire my sewing because they themselves are not "crafty", I say ... phooey.. you are wrong. We are all crafty, we all have art to share ... and perhaps you may want to start expressing yourself with some snowflakes ... and then move on from there :)

Enjoy!

Love, Jodi

P.S. More papercrafting books are on their way to my mailbox (of course), so I will be sure to offer up more ideas as I receive them :)

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