Yarn Grenade

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New Slots Machines

It seems like I have been MIA for a while now. But I've been knee deep in Slot Machines. And the best part about them is that I don't loose any "real" money. Here are the latest and greatest of my slots collection. Check out the real thing on Facebook. Lucky Slots by Blue Shell.

Apparently I will never full escape the world of fashion. Which, to me, is hysterical. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. Fashion is completely lost on me. But I spent nearly a decade in the fashion industry as a textile designer. Granted the fashion industry I was in was the pajama industry. But still!! 

This one was a lot of fun for me, not because I'm into mobsters, but because it is something different than what I normally work on; fashion, faeries, etc. I usually do the girly stuff, which I like! But it's nice to get some variety too!! I can't count the number of dresses I have drawn in my career, but I can count the number of bloody baseball bats!  ONE! :D

Morning time

my daughter is in kindergarten, and doesn't start until 9:30. So we usually have a nice and quiet morning. Today she is playing on her toy piano and I get to knit and drink my coffee. Next year when she starts at 7:40 is going to suck.

Creative Cloud

I have the Adobe Creative Cloud. That means I have it all!! Everything Adobe that is. There are programs I haven't even heard of!! Must go play now.... :)

Patch and Ravelry

I had a very surreal morning so far. It actually started yesterday. I got an e-mail from Patch.com. They wanted to interview me about my website pleasanthillmom.com! So, I met with Emily this morning for the interview at Starbucks. I had to get my latte too, right! We chatted about why I started the website and where I hoped it would go. As well as talked about my professional life as an illustrator and my crazy obsession with crafting. I've never been interviewed before. It was awesome! Nice boost for the ego. The article will be up tomorrow. I'll post a link when I get it.

To add to my surreal morning, Ravelry posted the entries for the design competition that I entered. Super excited! I illustrate things everyday, but they are always for other clients. I lacked the ownership. But with this design, it was all mine. So, I am completely nervous. I can't wait to see what happens. I think mine came out really well, but there are also several other designs up there that are also very nice. So, I've got some serious competition! 

and if you happen to be a Ravelry member, go vote for me please! :) I can't tell you which page, or what number it is, since the order is randomly chosen for each person, but here is what mine looks like. 

Ravelry Logo Contest

Ravelry is having "A Ravelry Celebration" Design contest. Here is my entry. Voting starts Monday May 7th, on the "For the Love of Ravelry" forum. Click here for more info on the contest. 

If you just happen to be on Ravelry on Monday..... :)

And now the waiting begins. I hate waiting. Now I am going to stare at it and see all my mistakes. But overall I like the look of it.

Did I mention I hate waiting? I know patience is a virtue, but it is lost on me.

What people write

It amazing what people put out into the void of the internet. We don't communicate very well with our own family and friends as a whole, and yet we will write these fairly personal comments and judgements and post them on blogs, twitter, facebook, pinterest, etc.  And yet, here I am writing in my blog. Yep, I'm a total hypocrite and I know it.

A while back I posted my Obama illustration on Pinterest. A little shameless self promotion.

I like Obama, and I draw cartoons for a living. It seemed so simple, and harmless. But I was amazed at the  comments that people wrote. "Barf" was one of my favorite. I wasn't offended, just surprised. Still am, I guess. Because it wasn't a negative cartoon. It's not anti Romney or Republicans. It's just pro-Obama.

But because we can type these things, good and bad, into the black hole of the internet, we don't have to face people. We can say things we normally wouldn't say. If I had handed this illustration as a print out to random people, I would most likely get a completely different response because they would have to look directly at me. And I can't decide if this is a good or a bad thing. It is nice to get someone's unaltered opinion, but at the same time people should show some self control. (This does NOT apply to cyber-bullying. That is horrible and WRONG. I am positive that President Obama can take quite a bit of verbal abuse, but kids shouldn't have to put up with that crap. I felt I had to say that to avoid any confusion.)

When I have free time again, hopefully before the election, I am definitely going to draw some more of these. Maybe more controversial next time? who knows.

Back to work now.