When I was a kid and I couldn't sleep I'd try counting sheep (because I saw it in cartoons), but I'd always end up following the sheep after it jumped over the fence, and we'd wander through the meadow together.
Now that I'm an adult
I've noticed a tiny little gerbil, living in my head, who insists on running in his squeaky, creaky, freaking wheel ALL NIGHT LONG. I mean come on - who can sleep with THAT going on?
How do you go to sleep at night?
I don't know, counting backwards...
Drawing circles in the sand with my feet, Except when I'm writing in the sand, I'm balancing my checkbook.
Rubbing facial muscles, using my imagination, meditating...sounds like too much work to fall asleep for me.
Anyone else have any suggestions?
1/30/2008
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1/28/2008
I Love Lucy
Anyone else have the I-Love-Lucy quality? I’ve been channeling her for years, lol, and it’s nice not to be alone. I have become the queen of falls lately.
If I am not the worst, frequent faller in the the history or mankind, I will be amazed.
My husband will often just look to see how I am reacting before giving a response and rushing to help me, or help what is left of my badly bruised ego.
A couple of years ago, I went to the balcony at church to find a seat. The kids were in a Christmas concert and had already started walking in and finding their places on stage.
So, while I was walking in and looking for a place to sit, I was also trying to watch for my kids. I was going down the stairs to an empty pew, when my foot slid off the side of the step. I fell face first and slid down a few steps (which thankfully were carpeted) before catching myself with my hands.
I was SO thankful that I had chosen to wear pants that day! I was so embarrassed! I scuffed my leg pretty good, and some people came over to help me up. They kept asking if I was okay, which, I guess I was except for my pride.
I exited the balcony after a couple of minutes and went to the opposite side of the balcony to find a seat carefully!
If I am not the worst, frequent faller in the the history or mankind, I will be amazed.
My husband will often just look to see how I am reacting before giving a response and rushing to help me, or help what is left of my badly bruised ego.
A couple of years ago, I went to the balcony at church to find a seat. The kids were in a Christmas concert and had already started walking in and finding their places on stage.
So, while I was walking in and looking for a place to sit, I was also trying to watch for my kids. I was going down the stairs to an empty pew, when my foot slid off the side of the step. I fell face first and slid down a few steps (which thankfully were carpeted) before catching myself with my hands.
I was SO thankful that I had chosen to wear pants that day! I was so embarrassed! I scuffed my leg pretty good, and some people came over to help me up. They kept asking if I was okay, which, I guess I was except for my pride.
I exited the balcony after a couple of minutes and went to the opposite side of the balcony to find a seat carefully!
1/25/2008
Aimlessly.
I'm feeling a little disconnected from you all, and from blogging in general. (And from regular life, for that matter!) Things will return to normal soon enough, I'm sure.
The new year and I just are not in sync with eachother. Despite the resumption of school and the return to routine that comes with it, I'm feeling at loose ends. I've been wandering through my days with little purpose other than to do the things that absolutely must be done and to take at least one picture. That's it. Slightly unfulfilling, to say the least. Also boring and somewhat crazy making.
Excuse me while I find my bearings. I know they're around here somewhere.
Oh...
Would you mind keeping an eye out for my marbles, because I've lost those too.
The new year and I just are not in sync with eachother. Despite the resumption of school and the return to routine that comes with it, I'm feeling at loose ends. I've been wandering through my days with little purpose other than to do the things that absolutely must be done and to take at least one picture. That's it. Slightly unfulfilling, to say the least. Also boring and somewhat crazy making.
Excuse me while I find my bearings. I know they're around here somewhere.
Oh...
Would you mind keeping an eye out for my marbles, because I've lost those too.
1/22/2008
Expecting?
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The reason this picture was taken was because I found out I was pregnant with my second child. A growing family is such a special moment. This was 10 years ago.
Things writers worry about!
1.) Only copy of book blows out of car in friend's hilarious re-enactment of Wonder Boys.
2.) No one comes to booksigning.
3.) Many people come to signing because they mistake you for another author.
4.) You misspell names of small children at signing. They cry.
5.) After you tell everyone you are going to be published, Florence Henderson comes out with the cameras and tells you that you are on a new reality show called, "Let's Fool the Author," and it was all a big joke. No book for you.
6.) Kid who has heard you tell your story has photographic (or would it be audiographic?) memory. Writes down your story, fills in the empty spots and sells it as a teenager. Makes tons of money of it while you are still tweaking the final scene.
7.) Working title is put into publisher's database and is never updated once final title is agreed upon. Working title is not assigned an ISBN number, therefore no data is ever entered and royalties are never accounted for.
8.) Bookworms infest printers!
9.) You put an embarrassing childhood picture on the backcover thinking it'll be charming, but turns out frightening the buyer from ever buying your work.
10.) Bad Reviews
11.) No reviews.
2.) No one comes to booksigning.
3.) Many people come to signing because they mistake you for another author.
4.) You misspell names of small children at signing. They cry.
5.) After you tell everyone you are going to be published, Florence Henderson comes out with the cameras and tells you that you are on a new reality show called, "Let's Fool the Author," and it was all a big joke. No book for you.
6.) Kid who has heard you tell your story has photographic (or would it be audiographic?) memory. Writes down your story, fills in the empty spots and sells it as a teenager. Makes tons of money of it while you are still tweaking the final scene.
7.) Working title is put into publisher's database and is never updated once final title is agreed upon. Working title is not assigned an ISBN number, therefore no data is ever entered and royalties are never accounted for.
8.) Bookworms infest printers!
9.) You put an embarrassing childhood picture on the backcover thinking it'll be charming, but turns out frightening the buyer from ever buying your work.
10.) Bad Reviews
11.) No reviews.
1/21/2008
Taking a Sick Day
It is snowing so heavily that I can barely get the back door open to let the dogs outside. I am wrapped in several layers of hand-me-down beddings, nursing a sore throat. I blame myself for spending so much time in my icy basement, but unfortunately that is where my office is located.
Faery Glamour....
I have a question for my book, however:
Say that you had the ability to use faery glamour to make others see whatever you wanted. Not just change the way you look, but change things around you - make money from leaves, make blank pieces of paper turn into backstage passes, a man whose wife wears too much makeup and had plastic surgery would see the plain, round girl he fell in love with. All of that, but for a short duration. What would you do with that ability?
Say that you had the ability to use faery glamour to make others see whatever you wanted. Not just change the way you look, but change things around you - make money from leaves, make blank pieces of paper turn into backstage passes, a man whose wife wears too much makeup and had plastic surgery would see the plain, round girl he fell in love with. All of that, but for a short duration. What would you do with that ability?
1/16/2008
Stillness in your life?
I feel it daily, whenever I pause, breathe deeply and take a moment to be aware of mystery.
1/15/2008
1/14/2008
Happy New Year!
CD Cover continued...
Hello!
Just popping in to give you another installment of the creation of the CD cover for Cartwheels at Midnight.
I am wrapping up the front cover and starting on the back cover soon!!
When Jillian and I finally agreed to use the same style as the 2006 Christmas piece I did the rest fell into place. I visited my local art store and found the same scrapbook materials I used for some of the first piece. I altered the buildings with various scrap design paper and played with several scenarios. Placing the trees and the buildings in various positions.
Then I worked on the kids. Once I had the characters and clothing down I needed to get them the same size. This is where the copier comes in handy. I carefully, and I mean carefully, because they were so small, cut them out. That took a while to accomplish; but, a good episode or two of Law and Order and I had them complete.
Once I had the pieces where I wanted them I used padded double sided tape to adhere them to the background. I did this because I wanted them to have a 3-D effect. Then the detail was added with ink pens and coloured pencils.
I didn't remove the tape on the kids because I wasn't sure where they would look best. In fact we are still deciding that. So please look at these pics (sorry my scanner is out so you will have to put up with my digital camera) and tell me what you think about the positioning of the kids.
Jillian mentioned that when the CD cover is framing the picture the pink house may be cut off...so I removed that house with an exacto knife. If you look closely you can see a bit of the sticky residue and the leftover smoke from it's chimney. When I get my scanner up and running (or buy a new one that's compatable with windows vista) I will be able to remove this in Adobe Photoshop.
Ok...there you have it. From idea to creation to final product. The next post will be the final picture of the front cover.
Take care all!
Ellen
Hello!
Just popping in to give you another installment of the creation of the CD cover for Cartwheels at Midnight.
I am wrapping up the front cover and starting on the back cover soon!!
When Jillian and I finally agreed to use the same style as the 2006 Christmas piece I did the rest fell into place. I visited my local art store and found the same scrapbook materials I used for some of the first piece. I altered the buildings with various scrap design paper and played with several scenarios. Placing the trees and the buildings in various positions.
Then I worked on the kids. Once I had the characters and clothing down I needed to get them the same size. This is where the copier comes in handy. I carefully, and I mean carefully, because they were so small, cut them out. That took a while to accomplish; but, a good episode or two of Law and Order and I had them complete.
Once I had the pieces where I wanted them I used padded double sided tape to adhere them to the background. I did this because I wanted them to have a 3-D effect. Then the detail was added with ink pens and coloured pencils.
I didn't remove the tape on the kids because I wasn't sure where they would look best. In fact we are still deciding that. So please look at these pics (sorry my scanner is out so you will have to put up with my digital camera) and tell me what you think about the positioning of the kids.
Jillian mentioned that when the CD cover is framing the picture the pink house may be cut off...so I removed that house with an exacto knife. If you look closely you can see a bit of the sticky residue and the leftover smoke from it's chimney. When I get my scanner up and running (or buy a new one that's compatable with windows vista) I will be able to remove this in Adobe Photoshop.
Ok...there you have it. From idea to creation to final product. The next post will be the final picture of the front cover.
Take care all!
Ellen
1/11/2008
New Product for Kids.
Far away & long ago, there was a place, a place in my heart which is still in existence today.
To get there you must step around the corner and yield yourself to a odd but beautiful world.
Welcome to The Hermitage... A little cottage in the forest, a stopping place on your journey. Please come inside, stay awhile and wander through rooms of curiosities...
I'm adding a new product to my website soon, www.jilliancurtis.com. Below I placed two sample pictures which is not available for sale.
What will be listed on my site is a Homemade Wooden Puzzle of two characters that are inside my children's book. One will be a young prince and the other a beautiful angel. I'll be posting them soon.
But here's a look at the craftsmen ship of the pieces you'll see.
If you're interested please let me know.
We might be branching out in the future and doing custom orders.
To get there you must step around the corner and yield yourself to a odd but beautiful world.
Welcome to The Hermitage... A little cottage in the forest, a stopping place on your journey. Please come inside, stay awhile and wander through rooms of curiosities...
I'm adding a new product to my website soon, www.jilliancurtis.com. Below I placed two sample pictures which is not available for sale.
What will be listed on my site is a Homemade Wooden Puzzle of two characters that are inside my children's book. One will be a young prince and the other a beautiful angel. I'll be posting them soon.
But here's a look at the craftsmen ship of the pieces you'll see.
If you're interested please let me know.
We might be branching out in the future and doing custom orders.
1/10/2008
Opinions Needed
I'm expanding my product line a bit. I'm curious to know if parents would be more interested in a stuffed toy to go along with a children's book, or a homemade wooden puzzel of a character in the book?
Please Vote Now :)
I appreciate your input.
Please Vote Now :)
I appreciate your input.
1/08/2008
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1/01/2008
Selfish?
Do you think I'm being selfish?
I don't have a relationship with my brother, I haven't for about 11 years. Probably not even as a child/silbing. It's one thing I would love to change in my future, but I think the reason is selfish.
The only reason I'm interested in extending my hand is because he just had his first baby. Is it a competive thing that I'm doing? Am I being sincere?
This is the first time being honest with myself is actually difficult.
Do I want to be in this child's life? Or is it just to fill a void in me?
Some days it barely feels like I am working on this journey, the slope downward just carries me along. I allow the past to keep repeating itself. Sometimes it's just easier that way.
I did however break the silence with my parents. That situation is pretty similiar to the one that I have with my brother. I feel lighter, more complete as a daughter, if that makes any sense at all? So maybe if I extend my hand and not worry about the outcome, I'll feel complete as a sister as well? How important is that....
I tell my children daily that effort is everything. So I guess I shall start using my own advice. I will try to be a sister, a daughter....
and I will continue to be a mother, a wife... and a child of God.
I don't have a relationship with my brother, I haven't for about 11 years. Probably not even as a child/silbing. It's one thing I would love to change in my future, but I think the reason is selfish.
The only reason I'm interested in extending my hand is because he just had his first baby. Is it a competive thing that I'm doing? Am I being sincere?
This is the first time being honest with myself is actually difficult.
Do I want to be in this child's life? Or is it just to fill a void in me?
Some days it barely feels like I am working on this journey, the slope downward just carries me along. I allow the past to keep repeating itself. Sometimes it's just easier that way.
I did however break the silence with my parents. That situation is pretty similiar to the one that I have with my brother. I feel lighter, more complete as a daughter, if that makes any sense at all? So maybe if I extend my hand and not worry about the outcome, I'll feel complete as a sister as well? How important is that....
I tell my children daily that effort is everything. So I guess I shall start using my own advice. I will try to be a sister, a daughter....
and I will continue to be a mother, a wife... and a child of God.
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