Mommying is a WIP

So it's work in progress (WIP) Wednesday. I can't believe what a hectic week it has been...heeeeectic. Being a mom is TOUGH! Yes, it's rewarding, yes, best job in the world...yada yada, but unless you are a mom you just don't get it.

This is the first year that I actually have a little time to myself, or so I thought. My boys are all in full-day school now, so in theory I can achieve everything I want. Reality is a different story. So here are some THEORIES and some REALITIES from my point of view...and my life:

THEORY: The boys are in school, so I will have so much time for myself.
REALITY: The school just called and I have to pick up a sick kid. Sick child does not want me to leave his side to even go to the toilet. I have to pee.

THEORY: I will be able to complete so much art.
REALITY: I have piles of laundry and the kids have no underwear for tomorrow and I left a load of laundry in the washer for the third consecutive day, it smells, so I have to rewash it...again.

THEORY: I will make an awesome healthy meal tonight that everyone will enjoy.
REALITY: Hurry up and throw something together because the boys have cub scouts. Cereal for dinner boys!

THEORY: Everyone will like what I cook.
REALITY: I have picky eaters who don't like pasta. How can they be my children? I think the Italian portion of their genes got tread upon by their English side.

THEORY: If I go to bed early I will get eight hours of sleep.
REALITY: Two out of three had bad dreams last night and it's all my fault because I forgot to shake out the dream catcher. Or maybe it was the early Halloween candy that I let them eat just before bed. (yes, they brushed their teeth)

THEORY: I will have to clean less since no one is here to mess it up.
REALITY: We got him...

©2012 Sharon Dominick Photography

THEORY: I will resent my family for driving me to drink.
REALITY: I can't help but recognize that they are a troop of fantastic human beings and I couldn't love them more if I tried. Even the puppy.

Here is my WIP:

 

For now I will leave you with this:

©2012 Sharon Dominick Photography

TTFN.

I can finally break the silence

I had this very cool commission that I have been working on for the past couple months and I couldn't breath a word of it due to the fact that the person it was for reads my facebook page...whether she reads my blog, tweets or fan page I cannot say. ;o)

Anyway, Christmas is over, the sculpture was given and now I can show it to you. It still feels funny because it was a big secret but I am pleased to say that we got away with it. She was completely surprised!


This is a 'personalized sculpture'. By 'personalized' I mean that it has characteristics of the person: hair style, eye color, kayak, etc but not a replica of the person herself. This is how her kayak is (color and all) and color of her life jacket, etc.

Is there someone in your life that you would like forever in a sculpture? Send me an e-mail and we can talk about it. :o)

Some of my photos

Here are some of my photos that I took in England. Here is Buckingham Palace Road...a bit of a challenge to take since it is 1 story above street level but it just shows what persistence will get you.

This photo cracks me up because they are non-existent in the US and it just felt like I was in the 1950's or something. It is a cigarette snuffer that is still located on buses around England.

This is a photo of a Colchester knight, right outside Colchester Castle. Colchester is the oldest city in England. And did you know that to be classified as a city in England the location has to have a cathedral in it?

Here is my entrance to Parliament in London...


I love medieval stained glass. This is from a church in Suffolk called Blythburgh. There is an interesting story about a demon dog called Black Shuck but I will get into that another time.


You can currently find these prints in amyshort.etsy.com. I have a really cool project I am working on but I can't say anything about that at the moment because it is a surprise. :o) Off to work now. TTFN.

Banner Day in Blogland!

What an awesome day. I got two awards today and I feel totally honored.

First, Ghostly Diva Gail Lackey whom I admire like crazy, gave me a bop from her cohort Mrs. Pennythistle. Gail makes the most amazing dolls so be sure to check her out! As for Miss Pennythistle...be careful she's crafty and not in the Martha Stewart kind of way....just a warning. ;o)

And now I just got a very cool Marie Antoinette - A Real Person, A Real Award from Tashai at her blog named Ultraviolet Wind. Her work is freakin' amazing and I adore it and her and her blog! Check her out and thank you so much Tashai!

You both have made my day!

Now for the rules of the Marie Antoinette award

Here are the Rules for the Award:
1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them


So here are my nominations for the Marie Antoinette award:
1. Chasing the Pesticide Truck (I freaking love that title, cracks me up every time and her work does too, skill and fun - love it!)
2. Bonehead Studios (Flora is an amazing sculptor!)
3. Fractured Fairytales (Rosanna makes fabulous dolls with amazing skill)
4. La La La Illustrations (Leanne, you are one of my favorite people with AMAZING skill)
5. Raising Creative Kids (Jen, keep up the great work because little artists become big ones one day!)
6. My Sweet Imaginations (anyone who creates work this sweet deserves an award!)
7. Gail Lackey - (Ghosties, Fairies and Magical Things) I had to give you an award back because not only are you so much fun but your skill is phenomenal. ;o)

Thank you all for your inspiration! :o)

Back from England!!

We are back from our MONTH in England and we had a fabulous time!! We visited our family, went to castles, explored the coast, made sand castles, went crabbing, went to London, hung with royalty and ate, ate and ate, etc. It was soooo much fun and never in my life did I think that I would be so exhausted from having so much fun.

Some of the highlights of our trip included the boys going to Knight School at Framlingham Castle where they learned to joust and sword fight. Our youngest, Ben was so hilarious in that he participated without any fear and actually kept fighting the knight on his side! Here is a photo of that:


We also went to a few more castles. Here is an amazing one of a really well preserved castle keep. It is called Orford Castle:


We went to many a beach since we were very close to the coast. Here was a rocky beach and the rocks were soooo cool and colorful that I actually came home with a heavy bag since the boys kept putting the ones they liked into the bag.

We visited London and went to the Tower of London and here is the guard, guarding the crown jewels:


Near where my husband grew up is a very cool old water tower referred to as the House in the Clouds. I LOVE this. It is crazy cool in person and for as nice as this photo is it just doesn't do it justice.

And finally, it wouldn't be a trip to England without a visit from royalty. Yes we saw Prince Charles and Camilla. If you don't want to believe me...here is proof!! I have more too. I could have reached out and touched him!

And this is how we felt by the end. LOL...


All in all, there is so much to say and I was so inspired by the art around me including the churches that I will have to slowly show you things as they come up. After all I don't want to bore you with the 1000+ photos that we took! I have discovered that I am obsessed with old doors, windows, angels and of course I always knew I was crazy for sculpture!

Alas (back of hand on forhead), we did not see Johnny Depp though we were told that he moved near by. Oh well! Probably just as well because I probably would have fainted if I saw him! ha ha

More soon!

My shop is open for business!

I am so excited...my prints are back from the printer and I have now listed some of my work on etsy.com! You can find them right here, listed below, or on a regular day, on the side bar of my blog. You can also find them on my website: www.amyshortart.com

Currently there are few prints but I am working on some sculptures that I hope to have listed by the end of the week.

Feel free to pass this information on to ALL of your friends and family!! :o)