Hobbies, Habits and Hobbits?

 My brother David has dedicated his life to the game of basketball. It's his entertainment, his source of income, and passion. It always was, it always will be. And he works damn hard at it. My friend Beth practically runs the local church where she is the children's pastor. She keeps the office moving, writes curriculum and acts as a leader day in and day out. And ya, she works hard because that church...well it's her life. And she's good at it. My mom is a gardener. I can promise you this is true because I spent the greater part of my child hood hiding in bushes when it was time to do yard work. My brothers and I also grew to hate the "garden center" of Fred Meyer and til this day I get a strange headache when I walk by it. She works at a Nursery in town handing out plant advice and stocking the home/garden center with it's various knick knacks and decor. She's good at her job, she likes her job (mostly) and basically she's the queen of plants. My friend Lavenda searched around for awhile trying to find her niche, but when she finally settled on photography she never had to look again. She must have been meant to do it all along, because her work is beautiful. She has a successful photography business and I wouldn't be surprised to see her work in Vanity Fair someday. It's true, I'll be sitting in the doctor's office when I'm 50 about to get a mammogram and there her pictures will be, staring back at me from a magazine while a nurse squishes my boob.

I digress.

Me? Well I'm what you call a hobby hobbit. I creep around my little apartment (when I'm not working) sorta wondering what to even do with all the thoughts in my head. Do I put them on paper? Do I put them on paper and then burn them? I have a box containing every card or note that's been written to me in the last 6 years. I'm a bit of a dress whore, I own far too many. I'm interested in becoming a labor doula or midwife. I make greeting cards. I write nonsense. I'm decently good looking and a little overweight. Okay, now I sound like Bridgett Jones.

My boyfriend is the same way. He's saving money to buy a flying machine one moment, and the next moment grinding flour in his apartment to make homemade bread. All while writing a screenplay and brewing beer simultaneously. He calls this liking variety. It seems to work for him and I love him for it. 

However, my cycle of never ending unfinished dreams, projects, and goals leave me feeling paralyzed.

 The question is....should I paint, sketch, write....or just scream? I don't have time to paint because aren't I suppose to be out helping people or selling all my clothing to buy a small community in Tibet a yak? How about I just watch hulu.com instead? And it's like that. I can't quite get myself together or figure out exactly where I fit in this world. 

And maybe....just maybe....that's how most of us are. We are decent enough at a few little things. And those few little things will bring us great joy every once in awhile on a peaceful day, in a work free moment of quiet. Maybe that's how it is for all the people who seem to have it all figured out and excel at one thing. I don't really know. 

I would be lying, however, if I said I didn't feel like I'm letting some unspoken loveliness pass me by. I can taste it, smell it....but I can't name it. It whispers at me.

Oh....I'll find it, but damn....it's annoying.

Yo Moms!

If you are a mama and think you're child would benefit and possibly become a better human if they had a drawing of mine on their wall....then contact me!

Jenni@jarflydesigns.com

Feisty Pixie Gremlin

I've been a nanny for about 8 years. That's much longer then I originally anticipated, but hey...that's how it goes sometimes. So while I wonder around Portland trying to figure out what the hell to do with my life...I tend to sketch. Having become a little burnt out on greeting cards I've started doodling out ideas for a possible self published children's book. I take care of a little girl named Abby, she's what I would describe as a 1 year old feisty-pixie-gremlin. No joke. Anyway, I made this for her room over the weekend. Hopefully she'll like it...and not...eat it.

Cards to take a Vacation

It's official, I'm burnt out making cards and selling none :)

I think it best to take a bit of a vacation from the card business for a time. With summer wildly approaching and trips on the horizon...some as far as Africa, I think it only wise to let the hobby (as it were) go for now. I will no doubt gain lots of new inspiration over the summer.

However, for the few of you who do read this blog I will continue to conjure up little antidotes and ridiculous thoughts on society from this soap box. For better or worse...that will not change.

That's the long and short of it :)

Fold.

Be afraid Hallmark. Be very afraid.  Take thy perfectly folded creases and cliche' verses and shove it!

Fast Breaking News Story

Make that $135 dollars profit on cards...due to the amazing sales skills of Katie Presting :)

BOOM. Nice.

I happen to like my cards...

After a year of substantial work and money...I have made approximately 100 dollars selling my greeting cards. The buyer? My mom.
(sigh)
I have not one sale other than that, I admit rather sheepishly. You see, I had this grand idea that the public would enjoy my cards, but I'm gathering that nobody thinks the baby Jesus expressed in the form of a tiny stick figure surrounded by sheep is....funny. Let's break it down: The cards are locally made, hand painted, cut, folded and packaged with as much care and attention to detail as possible with the resources I have available. And so I stand by them. (pausing to think)
Ya, I think they are good. 
Generally, I make fun of myself. I don't take my "art" or really any part of my life all that seriously. However I would be lying if I said I hadn't high hopes that these cards would wind up on shelves somewhere. I could even be content with little or no profit...if only to have reached that goal...cards are on the shelves.
Rejection aint fun ladies and gents. I've certainly had my share of it. I'm no tragic figure with a great knack for painting water lilies or writing grand novels while I pondering my hatred for women and love of bull fighting. I'm just a bored girl who figures she should turn all that doodling during math class into some good. 
And good it shall be. If even just for myself, 


Here is what my cards will NEVER be:


1. covered in glitter
2. pop out into a stand alone vintage kitty wearing a hat
3. say "bringing sexy back" on them with a picture a nude stick figure on the front...wait...
4. okay number 3 was actually a great idea
5. just kidding
6. cost more than a pair of earrings
7. cost less than a pair of earrings from forever 21
8. have owls on them
9. make political statements
10. Hooray for Obama!
11. be covered in glitter


Other than that I just may shamelessly pull out every stop in the book. Maybe. Hopefully not.
PEACE OUT