art junk girl

This is a test of the American Blog-cast system.

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  Dear Friends~

  This is only a test.

  Ok, so I checked in on the blog this evening after receiving some spam. Well, coincidently (I hope) I discovered my blog was all wonky. No banner. The format was all over the place. Ok, so I know typepad has been making some "changes"...hope it's that and that the spam junk I got didn't somehow hack my blog as I know it. Anyhoo, to cut the long story short, I picked one of typepads formats to set it straight as I don't have time to finagle with it right now. Anyhoo, I thought now would be a good time to share with you some of my own blog "faux pas". (Hope I spelled that right...well maybe that will be #1 on the list). Yes, it's another top 10 list...I know, what am I? David Letterman? Anyhow, here goes...

  1. I am not the best speller. I used to be so good at spelling. I am also known for the longest run on sentences. I really try. I do. But I do have flashbacks of my English teacher, Mr. Conway, (who rode his bike to school every day by the way). He definitely thought I was a lost cause as far as proper english is concerned. Being bilingual doesn't help...sometimes I think in one language and write in the other. Anyhow, on to #2.

  2. I'm not a good emailer. I've said this before. I know it's an excuse, but hey, like I said before, if I don't have time to write a proper hello, I wait...well minutes turn to hours and hours to days and yeah, it's almost 2009.

  3. My blogroll. I don't understand what happened. At one point, whilst redesigning the blog this summer, I lost half my blogroll...Ok, so, I know I have a really long blogroll, but I think it's a great resource for links and fun and visiting and connecting...(there I go with the run on's..). Anyhow, literally, from time to time I look (I follow my blogs via bloglines, so I am not actually clicking down through each one regularly..). I have been told by readers that they like the linkage and where it takes them. I am sorry I am not good at keeping it up. I have lots more to add. It's on the blog resolution list for the new year. I am so talking to myself right now...like, who really cares...I'm rambling here...but I guess this is an end of year "cleansing" of sorts.....

  4. Comments. For some reason, the way my brain works, if I'm updating regularly I'm not visiting blogs and vice versa. When I break from writing, I'm reading up on everyone like nobody's business. I can't do both at the same time. I'm wierd like that. It's like the email thing...if I don't have time to say a proper hello, I don't visit. I just can't keep up, I'd be online even more than I am already online, which should be illegal when you are a mom with four kids and there are dishes in the sink. really.

  5. Tweaking blog formats. I occasionally (let's say once a week or so), "tweek" my blog, meaning rearrange stuff. I do that with my furniture too...but it's alot easier on my back when I move things on my blog...

  6. Photos. My photos are really yellow-ish lately. I know I need to fix that but I haven't had time to really focus on it. This is an area I will work on "in the new year".

  7. Blog emails. Ok, so I try to answer blog comments/emails as best as I can. sometimes it takes a while. Sometimes it takes a nano-second. I do get annoyed at emails about copyright. I have gotten alot lately. I don't understand if it's because people think I've violated it by cutting old magazines while having a glass of wine at night or because they want me to explain the law to them. I think discussing copyright is second to discussing the Trinity. Within 5 minutes, you are bound to be wrong... I'm not a lawyer, can't give legal advice, sorry. I will say I've researched copyright on my own extensively, hence the memorization of the phrase, "I can't give legal advice". Who the hell am I anyway, hello?

  8. Blog bling. I try to keep my blog from being too busy. It's a constant struggle. I like all the banner widgets and fa-la-la, I'm in Suzi's class, come join, yeah, yeah. It's just one of those things I gotta figure out...like typepads multiple pages. Yeah, I can have more than one page. Still haven't figured out how, but it's on the list...

  9. Blog etiquette. I do worry sometimes they I may offend someone by my haphazard ways. If I have ever offended, please trust me that it's not on purpose. I admit I can be a ditz. Yes, I am. I have a gagillion things going through this head of mine...kids, food, house, art, when I can do art, why I'm not more organized and better with time...why I'm so scatterbrained...the list goes on. I'm not Emily Post, ok. Ain't gonna happen. I apologize in advance..

  10. Sheesh. Finally got here. Only my regular loyal readers have made it this far. It takes a strong bunch. So, last but not least, I will discuss Blog friends. YOU are the one's that keep me going, keep me writing, keep me sharing, keep me sane. YOu are the one's that have helped me carve out a place that I feel I belong, even with my shortcomings, you all make me feel I can do it. I hope the new year brings more adventures and sharing and LOVE. After all, that is what it's all about. The technical stuff can get wonky and I can be spacey, but my heart is loyal and I am thankful to call you my friends.

  xoxo stay safe and warm this holiday season, Lia~

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!
I watched "A Wonderful LIfe" last night while decorating the tree. Yes, I am a bit behind. I have so much to share with you all! I will do so soon, I promise! I plan on doing an overview of 2008, including my greatest inspirations of the year.
Warmly,
Lia (aka. artjunkgirl)!

scrabble tiles + inchies= ?

scrabble tiles + inchies= ?, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Dear Friends~
Why didn't y'all tell me I could use these little scrabble tiles I got here in my junk shop to make charms with the thousands of inchies I have???? I am alllways the last to know! Anyhow, I had that same feeling as when I made my first square...brought back memories, ya know?
Anyhow, I don't know how to put on pendants, but I can do the magnet thing...just don't wanna cover the letter on the back, 'cause then, isn't that half the charm? (no pun intended). I know I can get some bails to hang them as a necklace, but I think I want to make charms instead. I'm googling right after this post. Let me know if you are "in the know" about scrabble options. These things are so much fun to make. And, no, I'm not makin' a thousand, so don't even ask...I need to get back to my drawing and painting, but this sure is a good distraction. Have a good week my friends. I will forgive you for not telling me, I know you were looking out for me 'cause you thought I'd make a thousand and not ever blog or do the dishes again. talk soon now. xo lia

p.s. Here is a great tutorial from craft tutorials (dot) net, for the pendants, in case you are interested. 

December Doings!

Dear Friends~ I've been busy getting my "junk" together here. Openin' the shop has forced me to get organized. I've been sorting, scanning, printing, etc. etc. I've also been taking snapshots of my journal and other projects I've done this year. I can't believe the year is almost over! Here are some of the pages from my 2008 moleskine journals. I thought I would share my walk down memory lane for 2008.. Here we go.. I'll be back to share more soon! xo lia

Shop Talk...

Dear Friends~
I've been a busy bee lately. I've decided to devote some time to setting up and managing my etsy shop! It's a little slow-go right now because I'm getting things organized, but I think I am getting the hang of things there. I've decided to start a fresh new store Here (www.artjunk.etsy.com). I plan to list original collages, cards and postcard prints.
Other than workin' on the "shop", I've been going through boxes in my studio and organizing my "art junk". I'm also working on my Moleskine, almost daily. Here are some new pages.

I have ideas poppin' in my head like popcorn since starting the shop! I need to focus however, so I am sure it will evolve over time (as far as what I offer in the shop). I've found that I have to stick to one thing at a time. I started putting aside ephemera to make packs and ended up working in my journal instead. I think I should be called the sidetracked artist, no?
Anyway, I'm going to be doing another give-away when I fully launch the shop, so tune in again soon! I hope you all are having a good month. I can't believe it's december already! Speaking of monthly mosaic, here is the one for November. Have a great day my friends. xo Lia