Back in the Game

It has been 5.5 months since I fell off the p90x wagon. I am back in the game as of yesterday. P90x is an intense exercise program where you work out for about an hour daily at home. The thing that makes this program work is that everyday is a different workout so what happens is that you experience muscle confusion which means that the body doesn't get a chance to plateau (which is what usually happens in the gym). Getting laid off and starting the etsy store meant even more days (and nights) sitting and working. When I had the graphic design job I would at least take breaks and lunches! Any one who has an etsy store knows how hard we work and how addicting it is to be online and promoting...My body definitely feels it. One thing I really don't like (hate actually) about painting and crafts is how your body is often hunched over for hours on end...it is really hard to stop working when you are in that creative zone... But a new zone is something I need to get back into. That is the sweat, heart thumping, hard core mental and physical zone of movement and exercise!

Flash Forward

Hope you all had an exciting New Years...we just went to the local Mexican joint and watched Dick Clark. I quite enjoyed the quiet time with all my favorite people under one roof. It was a very mellow New Years eve indeed, why I think I got tipsy after one glass of champagne and went to bed by 2am! My New Years resolution is to focus on my artwork yet try and not be so obsessed about my Etsy store that I ignore my kidlets. No more spending all that time in forums! It is sooo easy to get addicted! I would like make more sales obviously so I don't have to look for another job after my unemployment checks stop coming! Which means I need to do more art and have more listings. I'd like to get back to doing more walking of my dear neglected dogs. Also to get back into my yoga and exercise. That's it. Not too much to accomplish right?

Little Ladies at 12am 1/1/10

Flashback

Christmas 2009

Hope you are having a wonderfilled Christmas. We finally put up the tree a couple days before Christmas which is early for us! One of my little ladies is having her first Christmas so that is exciting. And I finally put up the lights too and proud to be the last one in the

neighborhood to do so!

My little ladies...
♥♥
Baby's first Christmas...
♥♥
For the Christmas post I would like to show these wonderful illustrations by Mary Blair, an artist I just recently found out about even though I've (unknowingly) seen her work at Disneyland since I was a kid. I love her work and her child-like style.


I'm a bit sleepy now, opening presents can be hard work! Merry Christmas!

I am off my rocker and started a new etsy store.

(January 7, 2010) Actually I am back on my rocker and did the right thing by consolidating all 3 of my doll face stores into one universe of a store for dollfaces at Dollface LaLa! www.DollfaceLaLa.etsy.com

This store will also have its own blog, but i'm going to continue with this blog for personal fun and good times. There will certainly be dollfaced news but it won't be my only focus! Also the strangest thing in this whole trial and error of starting a Etsy business is that I had to really think hard about my business name. I found out that a porn star has the name Sandee, so I have to ditch that. There is no way I can out rank her unless I start drawing naked dolls!

Back from the brink of death...sort of

Yes I am being a bit dramatic, but our household had a case of Mal Estomac (aka stomach flu) and it was not cute. At all. But alas I am no longer under the weather and must attend to my blog...and artwork. Here is a bit of artwork that IS cute.

The Quadruplets

The absolute worse part about being sicky pants is that my best friend and I made a tea reservation at the lovely Chado Tea Room and I had to cancel. The thought of scrumptious finger sandwiches did not sit well. And now I would just love some sandwiches and scones. I am still being very good (bland) about my diet. I sit here drinking a hot cup of roosbois tea when I really want is hot chocolate.

The Amulet - Somewhere a Cat is Waiting

This painting was inspired by my beloved cat Coco who no longer walks this earth plane. He was my dearest and loyal cat. All black... he was a skinny flea bag kitten who I adopted from a lady in front of the grocery store. She had 4 all black kittens and Coco was the runt of the litter but grew to be big and healthy with a luxurious coat of shiny black fur. He was loving and hug-able!
This is my actual amulet and locket of Coco with bits of his hair on the other side.

Loosing him was rather depressing...This book by Derek Tangye "Somewhere a Cat is Waiting" helped me get through the loss. A wonderful book about life with cats and the lessons they can teach us about life and loss. And exactly a month after Coco passed a cat was waiting for me. I was on a temporary assignment at Disney Studios and a coworker suggested I accompany her to the pet store. There sat in a cage was a big beautiful tom cat, with gray striped markings, white paws and green eyes. He was left in a box that morning. He left with me that day. He was big and hug-able! ...That was 9 years ago and he is curled up under my desk as I type. I have no idea how old he really is, but he has lost his girth over the years so I am guessing he is elderly now. He has grown a bit ornery but I need to remind myself that he is really is a good cat and I must be sweeter to him.
Oliver, doing what he does best.
******************************************
I often think about my Coco. Cats are magical creatures so Im sure that he is with me at times...well...that topic is for another post.

Going Digital

I started painting before I learned to use a pencil so there is a long history and love for the craft. It was watercolor first, then acrylic, then oil then back to acrylic when I had my babies. I do love oil painting. Something about the buttery feel and creaminess of the paint...I secretly even love the way it smells. Sometimes I would add a bit of lavender in it to really get lost in painting aromatherapy. Hours would fly by when I am painting. Over the years I have a lot of paintings, (most in my garage being an unknown artiste). I have had moments of wanting to give up painting. It was taking up a space, supplies were costly, lack of time due to babies, worrying about the toxic effects on them, hurting my back being hunched over... and lastly just not sure where I am going with my art. A month ago I decided to buy a Wacom Tablet and I feel a renewed since of being able to create freely without constraints. Granted it still is pretty time consuming! It was a bit awkward initially getting used to drawing on the tablet yet looking at the screen! But after a while, I began to enjoy the spontaneous nature of it. Getting straight to the blank "canvas" and not having to do so much of the planning and preparing of the actual canvas gave me a sense of freedom. I am also able to incorporate my love of graphic design and photography and the mountains of source materials on the internet is so inspiring. So, we will see where this leads me. I would definitely pick up the paint brush again but for now I am having so much fun.

These are some of my works done oil on canvas...
HMMOG (Holy Mary Mother of God) Oil on Canvas
Muixalante, Oil on Canvas

ps: I use the Wacom Intuos4 with photoshop cs3 on a 24" imac.

Tales from Sandraland

Hello and welcome. Sit back with a cup of tea... or if you are daring a cup of hot chocolate. Welcome to my world of creativity, daydreams, self expression and discovery... I'm Sandra your blog host and proprietress of my fantasyland Etsy store Dollface LaLa, along with the very indulgent Dollface LaLa blog. I paint and make things. I design and take photographs...I have a fondness for big eyes and doll faces and I'm prone to subversive behaviors which sometimes sneak into my work and writings. I'm constantly inspired by my 2 little girls and my mother...all very mischievous. I enjoy working after midnight and I am always craving desserts though I am trying to get healthier and stronger. I'm lost in my own world sometimes but my little ones demand I live in the real world. This blog is about how I juggle all these aspects of life, a little place for me to write, reflect and most of all share my adventures...these are the Tales from Sandraland.

The Keeper