Monday

This morning I woke up with an urge to write on My Future Listography book that Dena gave me on my birthday. I haven't written much since then. Dena even wrote for me before she left for Vancouver. Page 31, on list of habits to break, she wrote: leave the door open. She knows me too well.  I wasn't sure why today I really want to write on that book. Maybe because today is the last day of 2012 and I'm in a resolution mood. Maybe I terribly miss her. Maybe running has given me such an I-can-attitude. Whatever the reason is, these are not resolutions. Resolution never work for me. These are more like dreams. I can make dreams happen. I can't wait to see which ones are coming true in 2013. Life is awesome!

Sunday

I met three kids in IES South who were used to be my students. One has grown up to a sophisticated young adult who are studying in US. I couldn't believe she still recognizes me, I only taught her for two years about eight years ago. I taught the other two since they were tiny tots and watched them grow up before my eyes. A heavenly reminder why I love teaching: children are precious gift. Hello Gabby, Putra & Nannette.

Yearbook 2010-2011

Yearbook 2009-2010

Saturday

This morning as I was running toward a gated house complex a security guy stopped me and told me that I couldn't go inside because I wore a sleeveless running shirt. What! Seriously! I was irritated but I didn't want to waste my time arguing. I turned around and continued running in anger, totally annoyed by this ridiculous policy. I did 5K in 34:26. My fastest 5K ever! I didn't know anger can be such a constructive force. 

Friday

I received a package from my cousin by mail! It's her personal memoirs of being loved by three mothers and how she loves as a mother of two children: Ibu-ibu Anda. She uses ordinary words to knit extraordinary story. Her poems use uncomplicated every day words yet it capture a sense of tenderness of a mother's affection & devotion. A gentle reminder of how truly unconditional a mother's love is. Thank you Sandra! Love it.

2012

It has been an interesting year. So many changes, so many opportunities to grow into a better person. The year my mom survived a stroke, the year my dad passed away, the year love found me, the year of moving forward, the year I fell madly in love with running, the year Dena moved 8,289 miles away from home, the year of energizing empty nest, the year I wrote 100 posts for my blog. Four more days to go. Curious to know what Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday have in store for me. Hope curiosity doesn't kill the cat.

Love

C & I Kitchen

Speaking of logo I just remembered another project I did for a friend. One thing lead to another; that's how my brain worked these days. The other day I completely went blank & couldn't remember why I went to my room. I actually had to trace my steps to remember. Sigh! But this one didn't take me that long to finish like the dog book project. Not because my brain is improved in the memory department, mainly because my friend consistently reminds me in many different pleasant ways. Plus her carrot cupcake is to die for. I guess bakers are more organized than artisans. Should I start baking to help my brain, Cianti?

C & I kitchen

Trademark

I was going to make a logo for my handmade journals but I hated all outcomes of my attempts to make one. I bought this label maker for a yearbook project, then I thought hey, why not use this as a logo for my journals? It's vintage looking, perfect for an old soul like me. It's handmade, perfect with outodbox line of thinking. It's not too practical though, but I don't mind spending time making them. I love it! I used to have this when I was small and I labeled everything from books, pencil case, lunch box to my sisters. :-) 

 Vintage label maker from PoorLittleRobbin

Color My World

My first color pencil set had only six colors: red, orange, yellow, blue, green and purple. Dena's first color pencil set had sixty four colors: vermillion, ocher, emerald, azure, magenta, lilac and more. I remember she loved playing with the pencils when she was small. She would take out all pencils from the box, mixed them all up, and sorted them by colors. She would be absorbed in the hues of the colors and forgot the rest of the world. 
I'm naming my handmade journals after those beautiful colors.

Cadmium Orange

Red Blue

Sea Green

Baby Pink

Race Rush

So far I entered three races: a 5K, a 10K and an 8K. In all three I always get butterfly in my stomach prior to a race. Sometime it lasts for a week before a race, other times it doesn't start until a day before. It's not that I worried if I could make it or not, I know I can because I followed an online training program rigorously. I think I'm overly excited and thrilled to be part of a race; to feel the adrenalin flowed from fellow runners at the starting line, to will my feet to keep going and to taste the sweet victory at the finishing line regardless finishing time. Yay! \(^.^)/ I hope this is not a  newbie jittery.

Now & Then

Dena's book report from grade 4. Her task was to rewrite & illustrate a novel into a picture book for a small children audience.  I wonder what she is up to in ECUAD now. 

Happy Holidays

A friend sent me a cool link to put a bird eye's view of my house in a snow globe. Thank you Margaret for giving me a big grin from ear to ear.  A little cheer for someone who is far away and is feeling under the weather. Get well soon sayang!

12.12.12

A lot of people believe today is the end of the world. Some people take the Mayans too seriously and actually prepare themselves for the doomsday. Other makes artwork to celebrate a rare date in which all three numerical in a date are the same. People from all over the world send their interpretation of the day to The End Of The Year Project. I found one sent from Indonesia! I think people are fascinated by the date because one will have to wait for 88 years to have another rare date like that. January 1, 2101 or 01.01.01

Byron Black | Photo Card 5x7

Byron Black | Photo Card 5x7

Change Of Plan

For a fundraising in IES South I made 20 sketchbooks. I wanted to make a hand made envelope for each book, but it was too time-consuming. Think! Think! How do I pack these sketchbooks nicely & quickly? I sorted out my stuff and found some clear paper, colorful elastic bands, left over round stickers from a yearbook project, and some buttons. 
I used my printer to print a title on the clear paper, wrapped it around the sketchbook, hold it in the back with the round sticker, and secure it with the elastic band & button. 
It was less than 5 steps and cost me nothing. Woohoo!

Road Runner

Watching old cartoon always cracks me up. I love Road Runner. I love watching Wile E. Coyote coming up with ludicrous schemes to catch the bird even though I know his efforts are going to fail at the end. His brain can't keep up with his perseverance, persistence & no-quit attitude. Last week I ran 12K for the first time and felt like the coyote; Why are you doing this? This is pointless! You are going to fail anyway so why bother? You will not make it, just quit now! This week I ran 13K and felt like the bird; Beep! Beep! I'm a road runner! Yay! Running does funny thing to your brain. 

Guilty As Charged

I think I suffer a mild case of short term memory deficiency syndrome. Though I'm not as bad as poor Dory in Finding Nemo but I do get trouble for remembering stuff. Often time my brain can't keep up with my mouth. I promised my friend's daughter to make a handmade journal for free back in October and completely forgot about it until another friend reminded me the other day. The worst thing is my brain has no recollection whatsoever about what my mouth said! I'm sorry Dita for taking this long to make your journal. I hope you like it. Thank you Ira for your photographic memory.

Catch Of The Day #12

Every cloud has a silver lining :-)

Frank's Best Friends

I finally finish the dog book! The trouble of doing a complimentary project with no time restrictions for a friend who never complains or reminds me about it is the time itself. I managed to steal time between grieving, getting accustom to a new long distance relationship, adapting & adjusting to empty nest, daydreaming, running, forgiving, breathing & laughing. I hope he likes shades of green. 

Stampede

Day1 | Rummaging through my dad's old stuff I found a stamp album. Love those drawings and graphics! Got dizzy with recycling ideas.
Day2 | Over Skype learned that there is a story behind most stamps & first day covers. Some commemorate certain events or heroes, other depict a political era, and the rest showcase the best & the proud of a country. They are tiny ambassadors of a country.  
I think I saw twinkling in his eyes. Love it!
Day3 | @Dialogue's art market. Found old envelopes with stamps. I wonder what people put in those mini envelopes. Saw blank journals with scanned vintage Indonesian stamps on the cover. The nice lady mesmerized me with stamp stories. I think I saw twinkling in her eyes too! I'm sold. Bought 3 journals.

Saturday Dialogue

How do I describe Dialogue's Art Market? Let me count the ways. It's a conversations between your right brain and left brain; a haven for your inner child and creative DNA; a melting pot of talents, a retreat to discover new things, old things or old things in a new way; a playground to meet & greet fellow artisans; a sea of inspirations; a sight for sore eyes; a feast of colors, shapes and patterns; a festivity for all your senses. Highlight of the day was screen printing a canvas bag from fridayandsunday!