Category Archives: CREATE – artistic endeavors

May 24, 2013

a gift before we go

When we leave one assignment and prepare for the next, I like to leave something tangible behind. A gift for friends or the children’s school. Just a little reminder that we existed.

These gifts usually involve photography, or paint, or a video, or sometimes all of the above.

While I don’t have access to all of my pieces from the past, here is a little glimpse of what I am talking about.

When we left our beloved St. Mary’s School in Henley-on-Thames, I used a number of images to create a poster for the school. Can you believe how little the kids were when they presented it?

When we left Arkansas, there was no doubt as to what to leave behind – a print of my favorite Razorback painting. (acrylic on canvas)

Now that we are leaving Puerto Rico, there are a number of people we need to thank for their unending support. I did a few different paintings for a few different people.

A popular image in Old San Juan (watercolor)

Dorado Beach Golf Course (watercolor)

And a gift to those who always made “home” a welcoming place to be.

Isla Verde Beach (acrylic on canvas)

With just 24 hours to go – I need to pack up the suitcases, clean out the fridge and go for a run.

Happy Friday!

4 comments | tags: acrylic on canvas, watercolor of old san juan, watercolors | posted in CREATE - artistic endeavors

January 15, 2013

Remembering Judy

By Wind Inspired

Judith Hoctor – February 14, 1938 – January 14, 2013

My Aunt Judy was bold, and colorful and outspoken.

Thank you, my Aunt…

for showing me that people can grow up to be artists….

for always giving honest critiques….

for giving me lessons about techniques, and styles, and supplies….

and for sharing your passion for watercolors with my daughter Grace.

I couldn’t think of better way to celebrate your life than taking out my

paint brushes and spending a few hours doing what you loved most.

With love,

Jackie

The little girl who looked up to your glamorous style,

and the adult who still draws and paints and creates every day.

7 comments | tags: artist, eulogy, painting, thank you note | posted in ABOUT - life, motherhood, marriage, CREATE - artistic endeavors

January 5, 2013

Blanks canvas and paper calling out for color. Drawers bursting with supplies and scraps and ribbons and ????? – all too precious to part with. Boxes of photos and postcards and paintings hoping to see the light of day.

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My computer is full.

Pieces of writing in a various stages of completion. Resumes that need serious editing and updating. Emails that should be deleted, answered or organized into folders. Thousands and thousands and thousands of photos that long to be turned into something more than a jpeg.

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My kitchen baskets are full.

Bulky cookbooks that I don’t fully utilize. Recipes torn from magazines. Lots of scribbled notes of recipes I have tried from the internet.

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Where to begin?

I will be using this blog and a variety of technological resources to record my memories and recipes and help all of my photos and pieces of writing escape from the confines of my computer. For the last 208 posts, I have written about whatever rattled around my brain whenever I had a chance to sit down and compose it. I have enjoyed it thoroughly, but I am ready to add organization to my original goals of recording our life for my kids and keeping in touch with family and friends.

The blog will begin to look like this:

WEDNESDAY: Week in review – Not only will I be purposeful in the photos that I take, but I will be diligent in editing 1-10 of the best ones and adding a bit of writing about significant moments and memories. At the same time I will place these words and photos in a digital album. Adding a page or two a week, I will end the year with a beautiful gift to myself and my family.

THURSDAY: Recipe. I rarely use recipes or measure when I cook. I just add stuff until it tastes right or looks right or feels right. It drives anyone who wants the recipe crazy. The one cookbook I created a few years back was a huge project in cooking and measuring and then putting the photos and typed recipes into book form. The end result was a huge hit, but it was a major project. Lately my kids have been asking to watch me make different dishes so that they can see what I do. Considering that I make 7-15 meals a week, I know that I can take the time to record and photograph at least 1. Much like the above project, as I record it on the blog, I will also insert the recipe into a digital album.

FRIDAY: Favorites. This will be my space to share everything that I love. Places, restaurants, items, products, people. Moving to a tropical island and leaving all of our “stuff” behind has been a great lesson in simplicity. I hope that when we are reunited with our belongings this summer, that I will be able to keep it up. When I reflect on what I truly love and use and need, it is easier to let the rest go. While the most obvious area to simplify is in tangible things, the concept can be applied to how and where and with whom I invest my time, energy and money.

And what about the rest of the week?

I might not write anything.

Or I might write about ALL the other stuff rattling around in my brain. Military life. Moving. Travel. Photo shoots. Painting projects. Current events. Fitness progress. Race reviews. Planning for our post-Air Force life. Gifts. Party planning. What I want to be when I grow up. Homeschool. School-school. Photography challenges. Book ideas…… (By the way – we got another laptop for Christmas, no more fighting with the kids for keyboard time!)

While the plan above will help to organize my writing and will move my photos and recipes into a more tangible place, I still have a lot of creative juices that need a sense of direction. (Out-of-date resumes, at least of year of photos that haven’t been shared with family and lots of paintbrushes calling my name.)

In January, I intend to:

Share my resume with an expert friend for advice
Create and print photo thank-you notes for holiday gifts
1 art project a week that ONLY uses materials I already have. (Hello Pinterest - haven’t seen you in a while)
Get the photos from January, February and March 2012 edited and uploaded to a sharing site.
Finish the online photo book that I am in the middle of.
Edit recent cruise photos.

Cheers to creativity in 2013!

Leave a comment | tags: 2013 goals, blogging goals, creative goals, digital photo albums, new year's resolutions, online photo sharing sites | posted in ABOUT - life, motherhood, marriage, CAPTURE - photography, CREATE - artistic endeavors

October 1, 2012

Gone Postal

By Wind Inspired

The fact that the internet and my blog construction page were not working last week made me a little cuckoo.

Add to it the task of re-writing an outdated set of by-laws, and getting an entire organization in line with Army regulations….. well, I needed a serious outlet.

So what did I do?

I visited my favorite building on Ft Buchanan - the Post Office.

I sent some tropical love to our favorite college freshman.

I printed photos and sent memory-filled notes off to friends near and far.

I painted and mailed coconuts to places that already have snow on the ground.

YES – you can send them off just like this. Check out the details here.

Remember friendship bracelets? Well, the kids still think they are pretty cool – and so easy to pop in an envelope and send to a friend.

I got my ballot request is in on time. My out-of-state military friends, you can too:
http://www.fvap.gov/

When that was done, what else did I do?

I painted some more.

I dipped into the dark chocolate.

And I ran a whole bunch of miles.

A week later, we made a few people smile and my sanity has returned.

Mostly.

Happy Monday.

Leave a comment | tags: absentee ballot, acrylic on canvas, friendship bracelets, mailing coconuts, painted cocnuts, post office | posted in CREATE - artistic endeavors

July 15, 2012

Welcome Home

By Wind Inspired

There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep in your own bed.

Fresh from a solid 9 hours, I am working my way through a pile of dirty clothes and making lots of lists – groceries, appointments, and upcoming events. After 5 wonderful weeks stateside, we are gearing up for an exciting year ahead. In the next 12 months we will hear of our next assignment, pack up and head in that direction. In the meantime we will embark on 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades – plus venture into the world of a Virtual High School. There are runs and triathlons in the future, some great beach parties and a few exciting trips.

During the last few weeks I have picked up a number of new readers and I thought that today was a good day to give an update and an overview. As we are being welcomed home to our tropical island, I welcome you to Wind Inspired.

A year ago I started writing. This blog was to serve as a way of keeping in touch with family and friends during our assignment in the Caribbean and become a family record of stories, recipes, and photos. In the end it has been a wonderful connection. Living on a tropical island can be somewhat isolating. Reaching out to military spouses around the world and to those who share my loves of photography, ar,t travel and food, have made our distant location seem a little bit closer to civilization.

In an effort to keep everything organized and accessible all of my past posts are filed under the headings at the top of my home page.

ABOUT – Some info about me and my motley crew. It is also the location where you can look back on any posts that pertain to motherhood, marriage, and interesting perspectives on life.

CAPTURE – I am a photographer. At times professional – right now just playing, researching, and learning. Short assignments and different country’s tax laws mean putting the business on hold for years at a time, but the plus side to that means time and freedom to experiment and get better at what I do. See what I am working on.

CREATE – Painting, writing, sewing, beading, gluing…. I have an undergraduate degree in Art and my concentration was in drawing and painting. In a dream world I would be an illustrator, in the real world I always have projects on my art table that are “in the works.” Check out my completed creations as well as some fun stuff I’ve done with the kids.

EAT – This family eats with enthusiasm. I love to create recipes and cook. I enjoy having helpers in the kitchen. Everyone eats. The thing is – it has to be gluten-free. Join in on our quest for great recipes, restaurants and products that make our GF lifestyle more enjoyable.

EXPLORE – Travel. While my husband and I do get an occasional get-a-way alone, most of our travel is our children. Everything I write about is focussed on fun and exploration for families. Where to eat, what to do, times, costs and tween approval.

HEAL - Living with chronic illness is a daily challenge. We meet this challenge head-on. A healthy lifestyle, good information, and family support helps. So does a huge dose of humor.

RUN - From 5ks and sprint triathlons, to Marathons and Ironman races, we are an active bunch. This area will lead you to thoughts on training, events, and accomplishments.

SERVE – Service to others is a way of our military life. While our lives are dictated my husband’s service to the US Air Force, we are also passionate about volunteering and giving within our community. This is where I share the ups, the downs and the discoveries of being a military family.

CELEBRATE – I love a party. Whether the six of us are celebrating Chinese New Year or I am throwing a birthday party for 20 teenagers, I love the details that make an event special. Check out my ideas for food, favors and activities.

Into Pinterest? I have my boards organized under the same headings as my blog. I am often trying out a new project and recipe and I love to share my pinteresting successes and failures.

Thanks for stopping by. Take a look around.

Jackie

Need a starting point? Here are a few of my favorites:

Beauty is in the eye of the beekeeper:

http://wind-inspired.com/2011/05/24/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beekeeper/

Come fly with me:

http://wind-inspired.com/2012/01/10/come-fly-with-me/

Fear of Falling:

http://wind-inspired.com/2011/07/28/fear-of-falling/

Worth the Weight:

http://wind-inspired.com/2011/10/28/worth-the-weight/

Laughter is the best medicine:

http://wind-inspired.com/2011/10/12/laughter-is-the-best-medicine-the-beginning/

Lots and lots of Legos:

http://wind-inspired.com/2012/02/28/lots-and-lots-and-lots-of-legos/

Leave a comment | posted in ABOUT - life, motherhood, marriage, CAPTURE - photography, CELEBRATE - life's special moments, CREATE - artistic endeavors, EAT - recipes, restaurants and reviews, EXPLORE - world travels, HEAL - living with chronic illness, RUN - training and racing, SERVE - our military life

June 9, 2012

Paintings and Projects

By Wind Inspired

The great thing about going on a lengthy trip is that I have a deadline to get the house in order, which in my case means finish projects.

In the last few months I have been working on the following……

More painted coconuts

A triathlon series.

A piece for a baby shower.

This was a 3 piece painting for a wedding – the guests signed in right on the painting, in the open silver areas on both sides.

Some stuff for kids….

Ian’s Dinosaurs

Gymnastics Kora

A couple of HOGS were requested in Little Rock

A special date

BUEN PROVECHO sign (Spanish for Bon Appetit)

And finally, just finished today: mounting of photos and the medals from the 1/2 and full Ironman races for Father’s Day.

Now, to finish the packing.

Leave a comment | tags: acrylic on canvas, baby shower gifts, coconuts, painted coconuts, paintings for kids' rooms, personalized paintings, triathlon paintings | posted in CREATE - artistic endeavors

June 2, 2012

Boys-Only Dayover

By Wind Inspired

Sleepovers are so yesterday.

The Dayover is where it’s at.

Girls are happy to paint nails, watch movies, tell secrets. Good sleepover material.

My little boy is eight. What do eight year old boys like to do? Run, jump, yell, swim, shoot each other. None of that sounds sleepy.

I have convinced my son that he would be much happier having a friend over for an action-packed day.

Today was that day.

All the sisters were occupied and it was a perfect way to officially kick off summer vacation.

We started off painting. With Father’s Day approaching and a little boy who asks me daily to “please paint” we set up the table for creativity. I taped off “DAD” on the canvases, and let the boys at them.

Painting….. one went with “airplane scene” the other “colorful abstract.”

Check it out – before removing the tape.

We removed the tape.

Outline the paintings with permanent markers and seal with an acrylic gloss.

Father’s Day gifts complete!

Creativity makes one hungry. I threw together my famous “snack party.” This is my sneaky way to get my kids to eat a variety of healthy foods – a tray full of bite-sized morsels, served on the coffee table and called a “party.”

Worked again – there wasn’t a carrot or grape or apple left.

With the paintings finished and lunch eaten it was time to hit the pool.

Hours later, we topped off our celebration with the first popsicles of summer.

Dayover complete – and successful!

2 comments | tags: a boy's party, Father's day gifts, Kid's diy, painting with kids | posted in CELEBRATE - life's special moments, CREATE - artistic endeavors, EAT - recipes, restaurants and reviews

March 10, 2012

Sending Coconuts

By Wind Inspired

Who knew?

You can send coconuts through the US Postal service.

Seriously.

That makes me wonder what else might be mail-able.

You need a coconut still in its husk.

A sharpie marker.

And if you are feeling artistic, some paints to decorate it.

The shipping fees run between $8 and $15. (Obviously depending on size and the heaviness due to the amount of water still in the ‘nut.)

This guy is my favorite aspect of Ft. Buchanan. Not only is he incredibly friendly, but when things gets slow in the office, he plays the guitar. I always look forward to mailing a box or picking up stamps.

He challenges me on how I will decorate the ‘nuts. I look forward to bringing my creations in to him. The last time we talked about where to find the perfect coconuts, he let me know that the place where I “hunt” there is a wild monkey.

Hmmm – I might need to find a new spot. Or carry bananas.

If you are the lucky recipient of one of these creations, have your drill, a straw and some rum ready.

Sending you sunshine from PR.

2 comments | tags: coconuts, painting, US mail | posted in CREATE - artistic endeavors

March 7, 2012

Still Pinterested?

By Wind Inspired

I thought this Pinterest thing might be a passing phase. Something fun to browse through and then I would get back to reality.

Wrong.

I’ve been Pinteresting again.

And I feel so much better now that I went through and organized my boards alphabetically, with sub categories, all aligning with topics on my blog. I know, I’m insane. But I’m organized. I’m insanely organized. Or my insanity is organized.

I hear many folks complaining or commenting on what a time-suck Pinterest is. It can be. But it can also be a fabulous, FREE, tool that organizes recipes, crafts, ideas…. AND for me, it is just the spark needed to create some wonderful things with my kids.

Here are some of the Pinterest projects that have been taking place around here.

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GRASS HEADS

I have had a few requests for updates on our grass heads. They are still hanging around. Some are more cared for than others.

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HAIRSTYLES

The girls are finding some very creative ways to style hair – to include turning your own hair into a bow. I promise to take a photo the next time they turn themselves into a live Cindy-Loo-Hoo. I did snap this shot this morning of Cait’s Waterfall French Braid. So pretty.

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PARTY IDEAS

I got almost all of my Lego party ideas from Pinterest and subsequent party blogs. The biggest hits – the Lego party favors.

And I found some inspiration for Harry’s class cupcakes.

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PHOTOS ON CANVAS

Usually it is quite expensive to have your photos printed on canvas. I came across a pin that showed that it is possible to Modge-Podge a photo onto canvas. I tried it. It worked. Here is a combination paint/photo Modge Podge project of Grace and her best friend - a 2-part set of paintings as a birthday gift.

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RECIPES

So, one evening, while my quinoa was already cooking for dinner, I came across a pin for “mac & cheese quinoa.” The recipe had a number of ingredients and would take another 30 minutes to recreate. My dinner was going to be ready in about 10. I pinned it for later, but it sparked my imagination. As my quinoa finished up, right there in the pot, I added some cream and shredded sharp cheddar. Divine! It didn’t last on the table long enough to photograph it, so today I made some for my lunch. Seriously – just cooked quinoa, cream(or half and half, or milk) and cheese – add to your desired creamy cheesiness - that’s it. For lunch I threw in a handful of spinach. Are you jealous? It was wonderful.

Quinoa Spinach Mac n Cheese.

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PHOTOS

I have been inspired by so many different shots by professional and amateur photographers. What I have taken away from this are some creative thoughts on how to turn a photo-shoot gone wrong into an good image.

What was supposed to be a photo shoot at sunset turned into a rainy mess – or some interesting Umbrella images.

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In reality, this stairway is fairly ugly, mildewed with lots of chain-link fence. Yet, it can work with the right perspective and highlighting the existing colors rather than fighting them. I will always love these 2nd grade memories of Harry on the stairway to his school.

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MUG CAKES

This is just a teaser for the upcoming fast food fri. A cake – made in a minute in the microwave in a mug. I have multiple options: diverse flavors, gluten full, gluten-free, grain free….. get excited.

Leave a comment | tags: french braids, photography, photos on canvas, Pinterest, quinoa, recipes | posted in CREATE - artistic endeavors, EAT - recipes, restaurants and reviews

January 8, 2012

Painting Projects

By Wind Inspired

Today I will give away the last of the holiday painting gifts.

Many of these were ordered and sent off to clients. A few were my own gifts to friends.

What’s on the table now? A few promised paintings for my own kids (yes – just like the barefoot shoemaker’s children, my two littlest are without their mother’s creations) and sketches for an upcoming wedding project – So excited about this one!

Enjoy.

10 x 20 canvas for Zack