The Adventures of KJ & The Dreamy Giraffe

Adventure #109: KJ Smells Like A Science Project

Dear You,

(The above is my two-for-a-few-more-months -- yipes! how fast they grow -- niece, Kaylee, or rather, a painting of her, which was a Christmas gift for my sister, or was supposed to be, but I didn't get it finished until May, so I actually gave it to her on Mother's Day.  And, to be 100% honest, it's still not completely done -- Note to self: change the color of the shirt to pink!  Note to everyone else: Kaylee is much cuter in real life and, not to knock my skills as an artist, but I really don't think the painting looks like her.  Everyone else says it does, but I think I got something wrong.  Maybe with the eyes?  Anyway, I think it's much harder to capture someone you actually know on canvas, but I can't figure out just why that is.)

Anyway!  I intended to write this yesterday, but yesterday was not such a good day.  You can read more about that here if you'd like, but this post is not about sad things.

This post is about happiness and smiles and days that are good.

This post is about Kaylee, whom the day before yesterday, told my sister, "Mommy, you smell like a potato."

Then, asked what other people smell like, she responded, without hesitation, "Kathy (that's what the K in KJ stands for) smells like a science project!" and "Mimi smells like a painter!"

I do not understand though, why my mom -- Mimi -- smells like a painter!  I totally should be the one that smells like a painter...whatever that smells like, exactly.  See this?

That is an actual picture of a section of a pair of my "painting pants" -- I am the one that smells like a painter, dang it!  :) Proof!:

By the way, when Kaylee was last here and saw me in those pants, she asked, "Are your pants painted on, Kathy?'

And when I said yes, she told me I need some different pants.  (Strangely enough, though, the other leg has next to no such acrylic embellishment!)

Oh!   And, by the way, what does Kaylee think she smells like?

"A princess!"

Of course!

KJ

P.S. I finished the "Sweet Dreams" painting!  This is the second one I've done where the girl has her eyes closed (prints of the first are here).  Eyes are such a huge part of my work, it surprises me how much I love these eyes wide shut girls.  I definitely want to do more and have ideas for several!  Perhaps I'll get it scanned in properly this afternoon and can show the completed painting off. 

Adventure #108: KJ And The Dreams (Both Sweet & Not So)

Dear You,

The above painting is going to be titled "Sweet Dreams" and I got to spend all of yesterday working on it. 

Yep, my jury duty was short -- um, not quite sweet,  though.

You see, at my last "real" job, I worked at a law firm.  Now, I had some really great times there.  Really great.  For a while, it was the best job I'd ever had.  I had awesome friends there (most of whom left around the same time I did).  I loved it.

But when it got bad, it got bad fast and towards the end...things were not good.  And by "not good", I mean, when I think about ever having to step foot within the walls of that place again, I sort of break out in hives, to this day, almost three days later.  Other than my wonderful friend, Summer, I've not seen anyone from there in a really, really long time.

Last week, knowing about jury duty, I had a nightmare that one of the attorneys from my old firm, and his paralegal, were the defense for the case I was put on the jury for.  And they came in on the last day with guns and went on a shooting spree.

Well.

You cannot -- heck, I cannot -- imagine the look that was upon my face, when I filed into the courtroom with all the others there to do their civic duty -- and the first person I saw was that paralegal, and the second was that attorney.

These kinds of things happen to me all the time. 

But, anyway, I was excused from that case, since I knew involved parties, and wasn't picked for the second, and was sent home to paint, and I have a good chunk of "Sweet Dreams" done to show for it. 

And, in case any of you have the same concern my mom had, let me just allay that and say: Yes, the little girl napping in the soon-to-be chocolate frosted doughnut, will indeed have a mouth!  So no worries. :)

Since a couple of people asked about the mermaid (hi, guys!), here's a little sneak peek of her:

She's entangled by quite a few octopus tentacles and is appropriately titled "Entanglements".  She's not 100% finished yet.  I'm going to be putting some text on her, like this piece, but I haven't decided completely what I want it to say yet.  She was the type of girl who didn't let anything hold her back?  Maybe.

Oh, and sweet Kalina, I have actually done a hula girl! 

She was actually done as a part of this project (the rest of which has been postponed for a while -- but it's okay!).  I would love to do another, who looks more like a native of Hawaii, one day...that's definitely on my list!  Since this one's audience would be mostly children, we decided to put her in a bathing suit underneath her grass skirt -- but I really want to do one wearing the coconut bra!  You can't find THAT at Victoria's Secret. :)  (And thank you for your sweet words!)

See you later, alligators!

KJ

Adventure #107: KJ & The Very Big Goals

Dear You,

Long time, no blog!

Do any of you who happen to have any spare time at all, want to donate to the Let's-Give-KJ-27-Hours-In-A-Day fund?  A minute or two here and there would add up, y'know! We could get me there!

My goal for June is to list a brand spankin' new piece in my Etsy shop…every single day.

It's the ninth and…so far, so good.

Here's a sneak peek at what's already up over there:

I have enough new pretties to last through the 17th.  But to meet my goal, I have to come up with 13 more! And I have jury duty this week!

Can it be done? With only 24 hours in my day?

Well, we shall see! I certainly am going to give it the old giraffe-y try!

And my goal for July is to revamp this here blog…and my goal for August is to blog everyday!

Anyway, over the next week, in the shop, there will be (in no particular order): the butcher, the baker AND the candlestick maker (but rub a dub dub -- no men in that tub!); some bunnies, a girl who doesn't quite fit in, a mermaid who refuses to be held back, a gnome, a girl who dresses to impress, a former marionette, and a girl who is on pins and needles.  Which one will make an appearance today?  I don't know...but she'll arrive sometime between seven and ten p.m. (east coast time!)

Hmmm. There are no fairies in that list. I'll have to do something about that!

So…I have approximately two hours to get myself together and to the courthouse.

Hasta la vista from Juror 0062!

 

KJ