Singing Elegance

I’m a west coast girl born and raised. Portland I spent most of my day, chillen on the Max and Maxin’ on cool.

Ok… Ok… I hope someone got that.

This is very true of me, on vacation growing up, I never went further east than Spokane, Washington. Which if you look on a map, that’s not that far East. My family drove up and down the I-5 Corridor, mostly through the San Francisco Bay Area, down to the LA area and that is pretty much about it.  It wasn’t until I was about 18 did I ever go across the US Border North or South.  Although I am Still waiting for the day to go across oceans, I imagine it’s not that far off.  I absolutely LOVE to travel, since I have been married, I have had the opportunity to travel a lot. My three kids have been on more airplanes than I did at the ripe young age of 16. Yes, I know that is old.

Last week I got to go somewhere I have wanted to go all my life.

Yes, the Big Apple!  To someone who lives here, I can understand it’s not that big of a deal, but to this west coast girl, I was super excited! I had certain expectations, but in all honesty, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The City that never sleeps, where the innovators, millionaires, models, artists etc. go to really begin their life. My understanding of this type of environment is so much clearer now having experienced it for myself. Living on the West Coast we take advantage of the our laid-back environments and take our time a little more. I spent most of the time traveling in the subway to get from place to place.

To a person who has not been there, the subway is intense. You have to know where your going, you have to take the initiative and make room for yourself, because no one is going to make room for you. You can’t look at someone too long, and you have to hold your belongings pretty close to your body, there are the few people that don’t mind taking advantage of your belongings if you’re not minding them yourself, if you get my drift. We stayed in the Bronx, it is rough around the edges, however it is not nearly as frighting as you see on TV, or how it is made out to be. Just make sure you are not walking alone after dark and keep to yourself. Taxi’s become your best friend, and you find yourself saving their numbers on your phone, so you can be better acquainted with them if need be, which  the need is quite often. We were going to rent a car while being there, but we learned pretty fast, it is not necessary and can be more of drag than blessing to have. The toll alone going from Jersey to New York is $12, you think $5 is expensive? The Cost of the Subway is so affordable, it would not make any sense to drive anyhow. $29 unlimited 7 day pass, pretty good, huh?

  I was so taken by the architecture there, I was in Heaven. I could just imagine myself living in a random door with a beautiful loft style house behind. I took a few pictures of the doors I loved.

Random doors.

 My husband and I walked everywhere, I don’t know anyone who actually lost weight during Thanksgiving, but I am not complaining. We went to Time Square, Statue of liberty, Clinton Castle, Bryant Park, Central Park, Union Square, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge… The list goes on…

I wanted to highlight one of favorite spots! Chelsea Market! In the heart of Chelsea district also, known as the meat packing district. It used to be the National Biscuit Company complex, making all sorts of things like; Premium Saltines, Vanilla Wafers, Fig Newtons, Barnum’s Animal Crackers (now Barnum’s Animals) and, in 1913, both the Oreo (originally Oreo Biscuit) and the Mallomar. (See more history) My Husband worked right across the street, and I took pictures everywhere!  I will now show you pictures:    

As the deer

A lot has been going on in my world as of recently. This is why my page has been neglected as it has, Sad:( The good part and why I have not been here is that  I would like to announce the arrival of my third Child, Judah. I am well aware it has almost been a year since I have posted anything new on here, and no, it has not been neglected, however, I will be trying my best from now on to keep this as updated as possible. I will also be in a process of changing things up a little bit with this site, so heads up.

love ya all!

Julia

I really really really despise war  and the innocent people it may effect. Really, I would like to emphasize my dis-like. However, I realize that it is a necessary evil, and we have  wicked people out there in this world and we need to protect people. You may feel like I am going on a tangent, but as we speak, I am watching the horrors of World War II.I am sickened! Little did I actually know about all the facts of this corrupt dictator; Adolph Hitler (also known as Für)  and his rise. His hatred  towards Jews was so tangible, sadly Jews were not the only people that had to succumb to his violence and putrid irreverence to  human life. Hitler was so inundated in the German curriculum and culture that if a German adult did not mention ” heil Hitler” in their greeting, they would be at risk of being sent to a concentration camp. Anyone different, anyone that may have had a funny disposition, A disability, Skin color, almost anyone not ” White ” or Aryan. Even Sadder, it is estimated that a number of 6 million European Jews were killed at concentration camps within Hitlers reign.

I have no words to describe this horrifying treatment towards a race just because of that reason alone, their race. There is so many years to this tragedy, so much more information, so many artifacts. I couldn’t begin to write everything. To end, I must say I am glad the other guys ( all allied countries against the Nazi brigade) won this war, just to get men like this ( Hitler) out!  Please do your own research, if you are interested!

Love,

Julia

Bibliography

www.history.com, history channel, Third Reich the rise.

http://www.deathcamps.info/

You may ask why I wrote on this, There is so much art regarding this Era, it is just interesting to know more about the history.

Although I am in the comfort of my home most days, I still find myself running ragged at the end of night. When I am at work ( on Mondays) I have all my T’s crossed and all my I’s dotted, maybe because I work with numbers and I have to. I still don’t really know how I fell into book-keeping ( far from the passions in my life) all I know is, it is God thing. Most of my life is not relative to my life at work, where things are organized and I pretty know where everything will be the very next week. I remember the childhood game Duck, Duck, Goose…

I had to run around a group of friends sitting on the floor  to catch the previous goose who was about to take my seat. what happened if I didn’t catch the stinkin’ goose? Ya, thats right I would have to choose a different goose, they would chase after me…  What If I was caught? Yes, again, I would have to chase after all these stinkin’ ducks, like a chicken with it’s head off! Hence the title of my journal entry! Why did I just explain a game that you probably knew good and well and played  yourself as child? Well, I am that goose day in and day out, once a duck but now a goose running like a chicken with his head off.  Little did I know that my young 27 year old body can not keep up with the messes of a 3 and almost 2 year old. I mean, Wow. Kids can be so unpredictable! As I was frustrated with messes after messes, clothes strewn to and fro, magazines ripped to shreds, food particles in every space manageable, I am relieved to tell the following happenings of today:

Today, I told Zyon all the toys that are on the floor are going to the garbage (give away), I had a bag picking and placing toys in it. He knew what the bag was for,(Shyloh did not and just thought it was game). However, Zyon kept on picking the toys up and saying, ” this needs to go away and this… this…” I have to say I was a little shocked and it was hard for me not to laugh. I re-emphasized I was giving them away and he would never see them again…Then he started saying ” I don’t want to see this anymore, or this” then assisted me to the pile of give away in garage, and said “goodbye”. I am glad that he didn’t feel obligated to keep ” his” toys, but my question is… Was the lesson learned? We will see…Still tying to figure it all out! ha ha, thanks goodness for Jesus I can go to for help!

What would you have done??? What would your reaction have been?

Love,

Julia

I have tried to keep this website an exclusively art based site, however, that is not where my heart is. Although art is an extremely fascinating topic and very close to my heart, it is just not my life right now.

My life right now is a Mom of two toddlers,  A singer and although I LOVE to paint, LOVE! I just find little time for it right now. Painting is difficult with two little ones, they either want to be on top of you, take all utensils out your hands  and try to paint on every wall, ceiling and refrigerator in your house,  yes so everywhere, everything and so on… and so on… I think you get the picture.  I still somehow stay very very active, when I’m not pulling my hair out because the house just looks like a tsunami went through it. I am creating a new craft, (which I believe I may start showing here) go to my ‘Mops’ meetings. ( mother’s of preschoolers, I highly recommend it) where I help out with the creative team. Also, no not done yet, leading and singing at bible study group, singing at church every other weekend, and did I mention I still have a real Job as well? ya, I do. that’s not all, but I’m gonna limit it to that! Thankfully I only work there 1 day a week, i’m pretty hands off right now, which I don’t know if they always like? I’d like to think I am a supermom, but honestly, I owe it all to my Savior, Jesus Christ and of course, My wonderful husband. I love you babe, and happy Anniversary! It’s our 4th today:)

So In all, I need to let you know things on this website are going to change… And I am happy with the change… Don’t worry my whole life is filled with artsy things. I won’t be steering very far off course:) Well, talk to you soon!

Love,

Julia

It has been too long, in June, my VERY part time job let go of an employee, leaving me to help out in the absence until they hired someone new. Well, they have finally hired a new person, so I am off the hook of working so many hours in two weeks. Although I appreciated the extra cash on hand, I am so happy to go back to being a mom and a artist again! This Summer has been hectic, between leaving my house at 7:25 to get to a daycare at 8 and then to work at 8:30…. Then not getting home until 3-4 sometime even as late as 7. I know people do it every day, but I have new found respect for woman who have to leave their kids day after day at s a place that may just teach values other than your own. However, I found it to be so emotional… Although I knew my kids were in great hands, i just wanted to be with them and teach them new things, as this is a vital age for both of them. I am looking forward to this Fall… I am going to work on some home-school preschool programs, and so looking forward to it! Zyon is already counting 1-20 in English, 1-10 in french and 1-5 in Spanish. He knows all his colors and most all of the shapes, He’s not even three yet, i couldn’t be prouder!

A couple months ago I bought some finger paints, and giving them to my kids to paint, I have to say they have been doing phenomenal job! i simply give a “blob” of each color red, blue, green and Yellow.

I have to say at first I didn’t like that the color seemed to be very thin and a little on the runny side, However, as time progressed, I loved it. The paint was thin enough to quickly wipe up on any surface and if it got on any cloths it hardly left a  mark if any. The mixture of all the paint is crazy just like mixing all of hose colors together with any thicker paint it creates a crazy purplish blue muck, but when my kids do it, its absolutely beautiful!

They enjoyed every moment of the painting! I turn on some worship music and they have a great time, rocking out and painting. This is a ” GO MOMMY” idea! I totally recommend this, if the kids are driving you a little batty just give this a try, they’ll love it and you can simply wipe it up with a few baby wipes, give them a paint brush just for some extra fun!

Awe, paint giving me a little Joy and relaxation! Nothing is like Art!

Enjoy! Love,

Julia

A couple months ago I mentioned that I was embarking on Childrens Art. As it is not my Forte, I chose to challenge myself! Thankfully it wasn’t as much of a challange, as it was fun. I am not a cartoonist by nature, so I freehanded cartoon figures from different sources. It blew my mind on how much skill goes into cartoon artwork, Disney is amazing! I must say I was pretty proud of my work.

+++

I am a little bit of a perfectionist when it comes to detail, so I spent a little more time on them, than I expected.
Overall, I really enjoyed making these personalized growth charts. I would do more, if asked!! Enjoy!!!

Love,

Julia

As a Child I dream’ t of the day I would be a wife and Mother… However, NO ONE told me about the evil, awful laundry. I try everyday to think about it like a complicated puzzle… You start with a scattered, disheveled mess  with socks that are no where to be found… I search and I search only to find it is one load of laundry behind the one I am currently folding.  Finally, I end up with perfectly neat folded cloths…  like a the beautiful art piece when you are done with the puzzle. However, unlike a puzzle, You then have to go to the many rooms of the house and put every single little thing back to where it came from. ARE YOU JOKING ME? This is probably one of the biggest practical jokes played on a mom. I thought it would be all about making messes having fun, playing tag… going to the playground. Yes, Motherhood does involve all those fun things except you as the mother have to stinkin’ clean up afterwards. I have to tell you the truth, I am writing this blog only because I am procrastinating folding my pile of laundry, that just happens to be about seven loads laying on my family room floor.

Isn't it beautiful... A masterpiece, a Phenom!

Ugh. I guess I will have to dive into my beautiful piece of art which is my laundry…

Look for it,  though! I will paint a picture with a huge load of laundry on the floor! watch out for it! Coming to you soon by your truly!

Love,

Julia

Systematic, synthetic, submerged, rough, clean, mixed… There are so many words to describe everything in this life. I could seriously write an entire article on discriptions of nouns. In some of my paintings I start the background color with words… I just start writting all over the place no matter if the words be on top, inbetween,on one another. I describe my day, my thoughts, my beliefs, my passions, my motivations, etc. Although most the time would never see it in the piece if artwork, it’s there or was there at some point…

There are words that I use in my life that I call my life words, a couple of my life words are: Love, humility, forgiving, honest, and selfless.

My paintings should always repersent me in these suchwords… My life is not my own!!!

What are your life words? Let me know!

Love,

Julia