My latest experiment...

Because I have been assisting my sister with doing some crafting this season, I found myself on a trip to Hobby Lobby.

I usually try to avoid the place, because if I go in, I literally desire to purchase every item in sight. I can think of a good reason I need all of it... so, like I said... I try and avoid it. But this day, I went.

We were browsing model airplanes and black 12x12 paper and as we walked by the paint section, I felt the PULLLLLLLLL towards the paints, the brushes, the canvas and paper... and I was about to go crazy. I picked up a little sketchbook that ended up being only 1.99 or so, and kept that, feeling not REALLY too guilty because 1.99 isn't too bad.

But, then, I noticed it: a display of vibrant, opalescent non-representational paintings. They were beautiful. They (of course) were made with an advertised product and so I had to take a look at the products. I instantly noticed the imitation lead due to my past weird obsession with stained glass, and after a 10 minute in-head debate decided to buy it. For 7.00. Seven dollars a tube. A LITTLE tube. But, I did it anyway.

And then I went home and went crazy. Well, not too crazy. Just doodled a little. Draw a bit here... trace it with lead stuff... fill it in with calligraphy ink... you know. That stuff.

I do love the stuff, though. Apart from the fact that I used 3/4 of the tube on just two small pictures, I liked it a lot. I would tell you what it's called... but I forgot and am lazy and don't want to go downstairs and look. Not to mention I might get you addicted and you'll end up spending hundreds of dollars on imitation lead from a tube.

Enjoy the next couple of pictures, and in the mean time, I'll be searching for more cost efficient methods of making fake stained glass pictures...

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Porque he estado ayudando mucho a mi hermana hacer "crafts"... el otro dia me encontre en Hobby Lobby. 

La cosa es que usualmente trato de evitar ir de compras alli porque siempre encuentro algun excuso para comprar todo que veo :)

Bueno... estuvimos alla y compre un nuevo producto que imita al metal con que hacen vitral. Y queria probarlo.

Entonces lo compre (si.... yo se.... no deberia de hablerlo comprado, jaja) y intente unas cosas. Que disfrute las fotos. Voy a seguir experimentando!!

It's not even Halloween, yet... and I've got the Christmas cards up! You should be proud of me!

Haha! It took FOREVER to get them up. But they are finally here.

Here are a few images of what just went up in the shop:

I've got a couple of cards and a few prints up. Hopefully we'll be getting some more prints up in the next couple of weeks!!

*DRUMROLL PLEASE*

The business cards got here today :) Yay!! 

Can't get better than that. Well... sometimes it can... haha.

Anyway, that's beside the point. Aren't they pretty??

I'm thinking that hopefully Saturday or Monday I will have some new items posted on the Etsy shop... just so I can package them up with a business card and ship them off. 

Would you like a sneak peek??

You would?

Alrighty, then. Here we go:

Not a good preview? I'll give you a hint: they have to do with Christmas.

Still don't know? 

Guess we'll have to wait and see what they are then... ;) Mwahaha!

See you all Saturday or Monday on etsy!

So what is a "Mission", anyway??

Working with the Elders

I realized that I never really told any of you what was really happening. Some of you are like, "Oh, she went on a mission." Others are probably like, "A what?" Haha.

No worries.

I'm feeling a little sentimental today so I thought I'd share some memories, photos, and explain a little more where I've been the past year and a half.

As I mentioned, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are widely known as "Mormons". Heard of us? You probably have... and probably heard a lot of weird or scary things, haha. But I can assure you that it's not as weird as you are thinking. It's probably just one of those misconceptions I got to help people understand on my mission. We were often confused with Jehova's Witnesses, or as polygamists... etc. If you have any questions, really... just email me, and I'll let you know the real scoop, haha.

ANYWAY... I chose to serve a mission. That is, I chose to be sent to somewhere in the world, according to God's will, in order to teach people about Jesus Christ from the scriptures, offer community service, and strengthen the congregations and people in the area. That is a mission. Isn't that the best job in the world??! We woke up each day at 6:30 and went to bed at 10:30. It was hard work.

My desk area in Connecticut

I was assigned to the Massachusetts Boston Mission, where I served for 5 months in Revere, MA, then a few months in Lynn, MA, then a few in Bridgeport, CT, and back to Cambridge, MA to finish up. Every six weeks, there was a chance that I or my work partner (we always go in two's) would be moved somewhere else. I only got moved four times, luckily. I enjoyed being able to stay longer and make stronger friendships.

I played the piano often in church, worked a lot with the children's class (called Primary) and gave talks. In the LDS church, members of the congregation are asked by congregation leaders beforehand to prepare a talk on a topic like charity, faith, service, etc, and that is who preaches each Sunday. I happened to be asked fairly regularly, haha.

I served the Hispanic population and congregations, so I learned Spanish while there, and a bit of Portuguese. I really enjoyed that. And the food. Not going to lie!!

I also had the opportunity of reaching out to people on the internet. I wrote and edited articles for reallifeanswers.org - a sight that offers real people's stories as answers to some of life's greatest questions.

At an Elder's birthday party

It was a delightful time, because as I fulfilled my purpose (to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end), I was filled with God's love and was able to see the amazing change God can make in people when they let Him.

Anyway, being home now is a LOT different, but I am still enjoying the benefits of my mission, especially in terms of my relationship with God.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask; I'll do my best to answer them.

But, now you know what I've been up to for so long, and why I didn't have much time to paint!! 

Here with the Primary

MEXICAN FOOD!!! Oh yeah!!

Venezuelan Food :) Also delish!

FREEZING TO DEATH but smiling, haha

:)

At the Boston Temple with a member

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Me di cuenta que no realmente explique a nadie lo que estaba haciendo cuando anuncie que me iba a 'la mision'. Algunos de uds probablmente estaban pensando, “Oh, si... se fue a la mision”, y otros, “Que es eso?”, jaja.

No se preocupen por no saber porque y voy a explicar. Hoy me siento especialmente sentimental... entonces voy a compartir unas fotos y memorias y una descripcion de lo que he estado haciendo el ano pasado.

Como mencione yo soy miembro de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias. Tambien nos llaman “Mormones”. Es probable que hayan escuchado de nosotros, no? Y probablemente han escuchado unas cosas raras. Pero les aseguro que no somos tan raros que estan pensando. Con frequencia nos confunden con los Testigos de Jehova o piensen que tenemos mas que una esposa. Si tienen preguntas, uds, por favor, mandeme un correo y hablaremos, no?

Bueno.. elegi servir una mision, o sea, elegi estar enviada a algun lado del mundo, segun la voluntad de Dios, para poder ensenar a todos acerca de Cristo, ofrecer servicio a la comunidad, y fortalecer a las congregaciones alla. Es el mejor trabajo que hay!! 

Durante la mision, nos levantamos a las 6:30 de la manana y nos acostamos a las 10:30... que dia! No fue siempre facil. Estuve asignada para trabajar en Boston Massachusetts, EUA, donde servi 5 meses en Revere, MA, unos meses en Lynn, MA, unos meses en Bridgeport, CT y unos meses en Cambridge, MA. Cada seis semanas habia la posibilidad de yo cambiar de lugar, pero me mude solamente 4 veces, por suerte. Asi podia yo conocer mejor a la gente y hacer amistades mas profundas.

Tocaba el piano con frequencia en la capilla, y trabajaba bastante con los ninos en sus clases (que se llama “la primaria”) y tambien daba unos discursos. En la iglesia SUD, los miembros son los que discursan en los servicios. Estan llamados unas semanas antes para que se preparen y dan sus discursos. Y asi aprendemos.

Yo servi mayormente con la poblacion hispana; aprendi a hablar espanol y tambien un poco de portugues. Que bendicion! Me gusto bastante. Incluso la cominda, jeje.

Tuve la oportunidad de ayudar a la gente por internet. Escribi y revise articulos para un blog que se llama “Real Life Answers” (tambien hay version en espanol: preguntasdelalma.com).

Tuve un tiempo bastante divertido y sali contenta porque, al cumplir mi proposito a invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo, el Senor me lleno de su amor y pude ver las personas cambiar al permitir el Senor obrar en sus vidas. Increible fue.

Bueno... ahora que estoy en casa, me siento un poco extrano, pero sigo disfrutando de las bendiciones de la mision, en especial mi relacion con Dios.

Y ahora saben uds lo que estaba haciendo yo este ano y medio y porque no tenia mucho tiempo para pintar!! 

Si tienen preguntas, mandenme un mensajito, ok? Hare todo posible contestarles.

I'm Back . . . I warned you I would be ; )

Dearest followers, friends, family...

I'm back :)

I have to just tell you that serving a mission in Boston was one of the most marvelous experiences I could have ever hoped for. I am so grateful for your support and for the opportunity that my Father in Heaven gave me to serve.

Now that I'm here again, with full access to technology... it feels a little weird, but I'm working hard on getting things back up in the Etsy shop and things up on the blog that I painted while away.

I love you all, and hope to hear from you soon!

 -- Nicole