Thanks to everyone who showed up and helped make, sell, buy and eat our treats.  Despite the rainy chill weather, $1,320 was raised at the Bake Sale today!  I think sweetest part was watching the kids who eagerly waved their signs and enthusiastically suggested what the kind people visiting the sale should buy.

This is for all of you locals – you in for a sweet treat because some friends of mine have organized a Bake Sale where 100% of all the proceeds will be going to the Foundation for Children in Need, an organization which helps orphans in Haiti.  The founder of this organization is run by our friend Leah’s family.  Leah’s mother is currently in Haiti right now securing shelter, food and clean water for the orphans of the 5 orphanages their foundation has helped for the last 8 years.  Please come and pick up some delicious treats baked by us!  From 9am to 3pm this Saturday the 30th, we will be in Magnolia Village, on MacGraw, the block between 32nd and 33rd. (Map + Facebook event page/invite)

I know there are so many of us who wish we could just get on a plane and be there, helping first hand.  Sometimes it feels like the direct eye to eye love and service would feel the most rewarding. But it is these small things, built by our own hands, in our own communities, that can also make a difference.  Every little bit helps.

I mentioned briefly last week that I was going to share a way to help Haiti through my own art – so 25% of all sales from my shop will go to the American Red Cross.  (I will be adding more items to the shop, some beautiful things that I’ve been working on… fingers are crossed it’s this weekend.)

Hope to see you at the bake sale and happy weekend!

For today: something a little different.  You tell me what you want to hear from me, and I will answer.  If you could ask me anything in the world, anything at all, what would it be?  GO.

Update: I just opened a springform account right here, I might be a little quicker getting back to you!

I really love all of the film shorts on Kate Spade’s website.  This one is particularly adorable and rings true to me because I believe that it doesn’t take much to feel adventurous: wearing a bold coat or holding out some pinwheels in the wind can feel unusual and exciting!  I think a good code to live by is asking the question, if it’s not breaking any major laws, moral or civil, and not hurting anyone, and it energizes and excites you, then why not?

What’s an adventurous thing you’ve done lately? Small or big? (I want to try incorporating something thrilling into my life each day.  Is it silly to make this a habit?  Then I’ll be silly.)

I was watching Emma Sunday night on Masterpiece Theatre.  It was a nice, light, visual dessert to my weekend and it had me longing for the simplicity of summertime things like arranging flowers, making reading lists, painting en plein air, even taking a turn around the room or the garden.

Winter in Seattle forces one inside and you can either be miserable and complain about the lack of light, you can book a vacation, or can get creative.  (Usually it’s a mix of all of the above.)  I’ve never really minded it too much.  Maybe because growing up here I didn’t know any different, or maybe it’s because we in the Pacific Northwest really know how to appreciate the warm season and make the best of our hibernation time.  For me, it’s this last stretch of winter right before February where I usually get a little bit itchy to feel the warm sand between my toes and the anticipation of spring starting to bloom inside of me.

So to make the shortness of days a breeze, I’m planning a trip for our family to take later in the year.  I think the paradox of choice has made me a little indecisive though, so maybe you could help us out.

Where are your favorite getaway destinations, near or far?  Family Friendly.  Maybe a little on the exotic side.  Thrill me.  GO.

I’ve admired this little post idea from Abby (via Shari) for a while now. It feels like a nice way to wrap up the week, especially categorized through the senses.  So here’s a little collection of things that I might not have posted about otherwise…

TASTING: Veggie burgers at Red Mill, my favorite burger joint in the city.  Especially because they have more than one veggie burger to choose from!  And for dessert?  My new favorite flavor at Trophy Cupcakes: Chocolate Hazelnut. To replace Triple Chocolate, which has been in first place for ages.  Don’t worry, it’s in a close second place now.  (Christine, wish you were here.)

HEARING: Tycho: Coastal Brake

SMELLING: Not much these days, I’ve been congested with a nasty head thingy.  Hoping it goes away soon. Vitamins! Water! Citrus!

SEEING: Model train sets at the Pacific Science Center with the boys.  And then making tilt shift images with photos of them.

FEELING: Heartache for those in Haiti.  It’s overwhelming. I don’t really know what someone like me could do, or say.  But that would never stop me from helping.  So next week I’ll share a little more about how I want to contribute through my art.  See you then, and as always, thanks for reading.  I love your comments and connections here!

From the archives: Me (left) and Mati (right) posing reflections.

Just as I planned this past weekend, I picked up my new (gently used) easel and it’s so perfect. You might have gathered that I’m not married to just one medium of art, for me it’s more of a commitment to just making art. I’ve always made a place where I make messes – I’ve had drafting tables, kitchen tables, bedroom floors, whole art studios, backyard sheds. And in our current home, a comfortable studio upstairs that I shared with my husband. As of this past month, that place is packed away. It seemed like it would have been a hard decision to make, but I didn’t really think twice about it because it was making an equally sacred space… for baby!  I have been wanting to rock him in a hushed room, lay him to sleep at night and then find him smiling me from his crib in the morning. You could hold a gilded frame around this scene each day, and hang my name underneath it with those sesame street puppet wires and I couldn’t be more proud. I couldn’t feel more blessed. (And I do have to confess that I am relieved to have so much space that wasn’t being used be put to better use, for the time being. Seeing my studio being so neglected made me feel a little bit down each time I passed it.)

So I’m just rearranging, not changing. All my supplies are neatly accessible in a newly organized closet, for anytime that I do get time, it’s there, just as it was before. And I’ve cleared a corner in my bedroom next to the spacious windows just for that new (used) easel. Having a quiet spot in my room devoted to the simplicity of a canvas feels special. Timely. Inviting. Whether I get in a few brushstrokes or a whole painting session, it won’t discriminate, it won’t guilt trip. It simply says, “I am here.”

So do you relate to all of this too? Have you ever arrived to a new place in your life where you’ve learned to adapt? I felt like maybe this is a common thing among us after reading Women are like stoves. I love this metaphor - “as long as your burners aren’t turned off, don’t get down on yourself when something on your stove isn’t on high.” You know those enormous viking ranges? I think I have about ten of those industrial models representing my life – but motherhood is on full blast right now while so many of the rest are on so dimly, you can barely tell they are there. But they are there, and that’s what counts. Besides, “if all our pots are on high, something is bound to burn.” YES.

Max at the Washington Monument.

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.”

Dearest Fred Flare,
Please bring back your diamante fox ring that went on backorder and then never returned.
Because you broke my heart.  And I would give him such a nice home.

Signed,
Jenny

Weekend, you finally made it. Time to do some of the following…
+ Hang out with my guys (see irresistibleness above)
+ Get a massage, or at least book it!
+ Pick up an easel I found on craigslist
+ Paint Paint Paint
+ Drop off all my rolls of film to get developed
+ Find some spiritual renewal at church
+ Finalize ring choices. (And no, it won’t be from Tiffany’s. It’s way better!)