Working at a school and still going to school can be exhausting. I am slowly getting back into the (non-summer/ rest of the year) routine.  Going back to the job was not as hard as going back to being a student.

As far as work goes: I am happy that this year I am starting off a little more prepared for my art classes with a month or two planned in advance. I am excited for the upper class, because with only 4 students we will be able to do lots of fun things like go on field trips and make bigger messes. : ) In the classroom I have noticed the difference a summer off has made. My patience has been renewed and the kids are cute again.

Mrs. B recommended a book for me to read and I would recommend it to any one. It really has a lot to do with my new outlook on working with children. It is called "Loving Our Kids on Purpose". I would like to post a longer review on it later.


Photo of me wearing a shirt designed/printed
by my awesome brother Dylan Hillman of
Art Punch and Camille, my fellow
chicken-leg having friend.


School: let's just put it this way: I have lots of homework due tomorrow and I felt it pertinent that I update my blog. right. now. I am taking Practical Math and Non-Profit Organizations. They are not hard classes; it is just hard to stay motivated when I feel like my life is somewhere else. The fun, exciting things and even the feelings of 'I have to get this done!' are all in other places. Not at school. My school.

It gets confusing when you work at a school and can call school, work, but then you have homework and that can be your schoolwork or I could say it referring to the school where I work, but then why wouldn't I just call it work, oh wait bc I have another job or two and I could be talking about those places of work except to make it even more confusing one of my other jobs is in the same building bc I work in my church nursery which is also where the school is located so at any time I could say "I am going to school, I mean church, I mean work, I mean work at the church, I mean schoolwork church that uh, yea" and you would just have to guess by the day and time when I said it. And then it is kind of like a puzzle. And that makes confusing things more fun.

For the future:
I go to school: LSUS
I attend church and work in the nursery: CC
I work at a school: CCS (in a classroom and in an art room)

First listing on Etsy!

The MiniThanks are here!

MiniThanks are in my Etsy Shop!!!

It only took me three years, but I finally have something for sale in my shop.  :)

Mini Thanks

Mini Thanks (kindness.on.the.go) 

These cards are made for the polite traveler. 

All you need are these and a pen and you will never have to leave a house without showing your appreciation. Just throw them in your bag and you're ready to go. 

These first sets of Mini Thanks are all hand-stamped with block ink and hand-cut. 

More designs to come. Future designs will include watercolors and colored drawings. : )

These will be available in my EtsyShop by Friday.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TooYoungToBeHippies

Sisters

Thankfully this summer I have had a lot of time to work at some creative tasks (and move into our wonderful new house).

Lots of Drumming and Drawing. : )

When I go on photo shoots I like to bring someone to help me. Sometimes I will ask the person I am shooting if they want to bring someone along to make them feel comfortable so I can get natural, relaxed shots, but my favorite person to bring with me is my best friend and sister Lesli. She really is the best at helping people "enjoy the moment". Here are some reasons why she is so great at helping me capture some amazing emotion.

She shows them how to pose.

                                     

                                                      Brings out their beautiful smile.

Teaches them the Benton Bend.

Keeps them active when they start to fade.

Has plenty of moves.

And is always encouraging.

We always have a great time. 

My Power Animal May be a Deer, but I Really Identify With Birds

This is an art piece that I am putting in a women's art show. I wanted to paint my profile, bc of my love/hate relationship with my nose. Let's just say that now that I have grown into it I love it, but there was a time in my teens and even childhood that I daydreamed of having surgery. Now I would never dream of getting rid of something so uniquely mine. 

Here are some photos from original photograph to the finished product. Though I don't think I did a perfect job getting all of the proportions right, it is still recognizable as a self portrait. It took a while to get the nose right... fitting I suppose. : )