Phrases A Mother Should Never Hear

• Grave Fetal Illness
• Fetal Demise
• Fetal Anomaly
• Possible Considerations......
• Annual Maximum Coverage
• LifeTime Maximum Coverage
• Pre-Existing Condition
• Within Minutes of Birth you have to be Prepared for..........
• 
  

On Art

Art is Either Plagiarism or Revolution
                                                                   ~ Paul Gauguin

So, Get on Your boots and Let the Revolution Begin!

Makes one wonder about what is original!

Summer Collage

Segundo has been drying flowers in an old dictionary all summer, finally he has started to use them. Fairies in Garden with Dogs and Butterfly!

Tie Dye Nation

The fuchsia dye is starting to wear off the fingers, the results are great! the boyos had a blast! We did new whites as well as old favorites that were begining to look a bit worn. They like adding and enhancing preprinted designs.

Library, Thursday

A quick trip to the library, really we were just dropping off some books and dvds, the drop box was closed so we had to go in. Yay, more movies! I can't help myself, I have to see if a book is available. So, movies in hand, Segundo and I cut through the children's art and craft section., of course we Pause to look at some along the way, we pick out 2. Then head to the adult art and craft section, I get my book, yay! We quickly head to the cirulation desk, but we are side tracked when another book grabs our attention - we have lots to do and read. In the car, Segundo is already perusing the projects and deciding what we will do first. I am just blissed out, there is nothing like leaving the library, pile of books in one hand, holding a little hand with the other and talking with my sweet #2!

Halloween, Already?

After our weekend in vegas both, Primo and Segundo are talking Halloween Costumes, could it have been the crazy hat trying on session in a tacky souvenir shop, the bluemen, the show girls walking around or the Heat? After 3 days of 100+degree weather, my vote is the Heat, who cares! I love halloween and the fact that they both want to design and make costumes thrills me!

(hats make a very good Startating point for a Costume)

Fast Trip to Las Vegas

We took a mini Vacation to Las Vegas, the kids had a blast. So much to see and do. We all love the strip at night. The Lights and Fountains, Fireworks on the 4th were Beautiful. Unfortunately, I didn't realize quick enough that the setting on my camera had been changed to macro, and most of my night pictures are a waste. Here is a sign that I just found amusing! there are so many that I get caught up in the spectacle and forget to photograph them. We didn't get to this show, I know how can you pass up something advertised as Abra-Ca-Sexy?

Gossip

Every now and Again, I wish I was blogging about life in a way that made it seem like, The Real Wives, or Desperate House Wives, or that I am some old Cougar waiting to pounce. Writing steamy articles about the single guy next door, bitching about where my life has gone, the kids drive me crazy, is this all there is, has my life been reduced to that of a taxi driver? Believe me, I thought about getting my hack license or working at the post office. Lucky for you I'd rather sit at home and while away the days at my computer.

Alas, I am the Wide Awake Momma, and that is lucky for you. Making art, attempting to teach my children more than the schools impart on them and happily sitting at my computer while away the days blogging, tweeting and facebooking.
The regular characters in this blog are:

• Mnemosyne aka Jennifer Magee
• Zeus, my husband
• Primo, the 1st son
• Segundo, the 2nd son
• Primo and Segundo aka the Cherubrats

Who knows, you may check in someday and find that the form has changed and I am blogging Crazy Mommy stories, check back often and see!

Father's Day Projects

No boring Dad with boring ties and socks for father's day! This year it is Picture Frames, much debate went into choosing a gift, we always start over the top, a new plasma t.v., and finally end up with some thing each cherub creates on their own.

Collage Mania

I work several collages at a time so does Segundo, the second work was declared finished without any additional material...
... no amount of suggested materials will convince this one once he has decided a project is done!

Panoramic Sugar Eggs

A Fun holiday Craft for the whole family

Traditional Panoramic Sugar Eggs and some not so Traditional interpretations. We just couldn't resist making a skull, the family has Halloween on the Brain! Sugar, Meringue powder, and water are all it takes, frost with royal icing. Use plastic eggs from art and craft store as molds.

Panoramic Sugar Eggs,

Panoramic Sugar Eggs, a multi day project


mixing the sugar, meringue powder, water and food coloring

molding the sugar mixture, and hollowing out the eggs

the beginning of the Pirate Bunny Boat

Coptic Interpretation

My dear Friend Champe Smith did a piece using this form when we were in Grad school together, I finally sat down and made a model for myself. Nothing like a little bookbinding to get your mind off doing your taxes! Coptic Sewn Book

Faux Book Box

I love this form just a little box to hide a treasure, used in Medieval times to hide items considered heretical. Tarot Cards, Biblical translations in everyday spoken languages, etc. This one is made with Japanese marble paper and holds a standard deck of cards.

Spring Sketch, with note

Painting a Day keeps the Bad mood Away!

Spring Painting
Thunderstorm on the Horizon,
mixed media on paper , in a sketch book

Destash

I have to get rid of some of the excess weight! Since most of it is in my the letterpress shop It seems to be the logical place to start! I will be adding more, it has been really cold in the studio/garage, making me dread getting out there and sorting through keepers and sale items. If you are looking for anything in particular let me know, I may have it and be willing to part with it. This item is a galley of assorted type, copper engravings, and small dingbats.

On ebay:
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/tumbleweed_exp

Deluge of Destash!

(Ephemera - vintage cigarette cards)

In anticipation of a moving, late summer 2009.
I have begun getting rid of "the accumulation" of 4 years in a home much too big for 4 occupants.

You name it and I most likely have it.
I will start listing item as I photograph them.
Baby accoutrement, Art Papers, Letterpress Essential, Handmade books & albums, Moleskine covers, more Books, Books and Books did I mention books?

Check back often for items and Links.
Tumbleweed_Exp, My Ebay
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/tumbleweed_exp

DailyMuse, My Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6760537

Pomegranate Intrigue

Water color in sketchbook
I have had this pomegranate on my desk for months. I love its shape and finally started doing some sketches of it. Wish spring would arrive, not just in my imagination!

Leather Bound Coptic Book

(Leather bound Coptic Style Book sewn in the Greek Style)

Proof

Photographic evidence, La Meoooooow!
All Cats Bakery FruitCake, yummmmmmmmmmmm
not your average fruitcake baked by monks!

The Power of the Lightbulb

Easybake ovens have not changed much since the 1970's. They do bring a new meaning to "Slow Food" Segundo loves his, it also survived my larger than life memory of the one I had as a kid! Of cousre we both believe you can never have too many sprinkles!

Listen to your Mother!

I don't normally write about breakfast it is usually coffee for me - today I found, squirreled away, behind the tea boxes, a very lovely piece of fruitcake. I had hidden it so I would Not have to share it with the Cherubrats! Well it made my day and a truly lovely breakfast, steamed to perfection! No hard sauce but it was 9:00am :(!

Mom always said eat your breakfast it is the meal of the day - today I believe her!

Please note this is not your average fruitcake that is studded with green cherries and other atrocities, soaked in rum or whiskey, aged in a dark corner can be used as a water displacement brick in your toilet tank, but a HEAVENLY creation from a friend's bake shop - All Cats Bakery, Brooklyn NY.

Unfortunately, I ate it before I took a photo and there are not any that compare on google images. If you look you will find some scary cakes!

Songs for impossible Days

Heavenly Day ~ Patty Griffin
Johnny Cash's version of Sunday Morning Coming Down
Cryin' - Aerosmith
Driving Sideways ~Aimee Mann , Magnolia Soundtrack
Audra Mae's version of Forever Young, from Sons of Anarchy
slight aside, how delectable is Charlie Hunnam?
Misguided Angel ~ Cowboy Junkies
Reno Dakota ~ Magnetic Fields

This list is frequently updated, feel free to send your suggestions.

Found my Red Shoes!

Is it possible that a pair of shoes can change your personality?

I believe it is, awhile ago I lost my favorite red shoes and with them my spark, my certain "je ne sais quoi," or maybe even my soul. It might be easy to believe that any pair of red shoes will do, not true in the least.