Paula Jolly - local artisan

Hello all! It's been a while... I know, bad Lisa. I apologize for the delay in the goings-on. But lots has been going on FOR the goings-on! :)

I wanted to let you all know about a fantastic and truly intelligent friend of mine who is also very much like a sister to me. Her name is Paula Jolly and she's a ridiculously talented artist who at the tender age of 22 followed her dreams and her passion which lead her half way around the world and ultimately has brought her back home where she bought a house and made it into a Gallery!
I know! Twenty Two!
Frick, at 22 I was potty training my toddler...digressing.

Last week was her official open house and naturally I attended to support my girl. I brought along my daughter and my awesome friend Nicole (who's made appearances in past blog postings) as we were also hitting up the Ribfest in Victoria Park in London. Fun times ya'll!

As we approached her house, I saw a large tent in the backyard and a structure I can only describe as a "cage" which displayed her best work. Wait a second, in my opinion, ALL her work is her best work. I've known this girl for ages and have never once seen a piece that I would label as mediocre. Art and talent seeps from Paula's pores like a creative sweat.

People milled about the yard, some entering the house to engage their senses in colour and textures, and some retreating with smiles and praises spilling forth as they nibbled on delicious tidbits of fresh fruit and freshly baked cookies.

I first stopped to say hello/congrats/you rock to Paula to let her know we showed up, and then we headed for the great indoors. I had stopped by a couple times in the past few weeks and saw the rooms-in-progress, so seeing it upon completion really took my breath away. She did SO much freakin' work it was unreal!

Paula of course, has some of her pieces displayed but 75% of the Gallery was dedicated to her artists; digital photograhy, sculptures, and textiles upon canvas. Amazing work. Really. Holy and Cow.

The track lights were perfectly positioned over and above the canvasses, spilling about a gentle light across the colours and textures. Each room was decorated with little funky tidbits and trinkets that just goes to show Paula's true personality.

Her friend had an extensive collection of old-school manual 35mm's and she had them displayed on shelves throughout the house to show the love of photography that was more than welcome in her domain.

I get that, totally. I get that SO much that a few days later whilst shopping for booth supplies at Value Village (BTW, that place rocks), I found an old-school camera myself. I've never heard of the manufacture before, but I think it just looks cool sitting up on my desk, looking down at me promising a world of photographic opportunities. I don't even know if it works, but for $3.99 I didn't care; to me it was a new found treasure.

We eventually made our way to the outdoor gallery and to see this "cage". Beautiful work was displayed and I even took notice to the little details of the yard; the position of the patio set, the interlocking brick for the patio area that was hand-stained, and naturally, all the flora and fauna that added a soft woodsy feel to the set.

Paula's Gallery, Jollyway Studios is located at 1217 Hamilton Road, London, a stone's throw from EastPark. She's open Mon-Fri, 8-5 but suggests you call ahead to ensure she is in the Gallery. You can contact her at 519-851-DRAW.

Fun Times in July - Lawn Bowling at the Jolly's

Tis' the season for the annual Jolly Family SummerFest.
OK, I don't know if that's the proper term because this was my first year in attendance, but hey, that's what I'm calling it. So there. :)

So every July the Jolly family (seriously, that's their real name...now get over it) holds this gathering of family and friends who all celebrate birthdays or something special in the month of July.

Seeing as though my sister Katy has a birthday in July and has literally been another sibling to the Jolly brood since she was a wee lassie of 4 years old, she was of course invited to this backyard shindig. And seeing as though I've been close with the family too (Paula refers to me as her sister; we might as well be) and had the car to drive Katy, the invite extended to moi. Cause I'm a cool cat too ;)

The house was teeming with excitement and people and laughter and conversation and introductions and of course: LOTS of delicious food that would put the honorary Chef Gordon Ramsey to shame...speaking of which, Hells Kitchen is on as I blog this...better hurry...

So yeah. Food. People. Good times. Memories. And...lawn bowling. Never played it in my life and good Lord, might I say how much FUNNNNN it was!! OMG!!! SO much fun that it caused me to exhibit my goofy side (see attached pic). Cause that's what happens when I get in my element and get comfortable: the REAL Lisa comes out! :)

The Things to Do List keeps growing...

Holy omigawd.
I have SO much going on right now it's a little redonkulous.

Currently, I'm working on introducing a new line of invitations called the Card Candy Collection. It's new as in, well, new-ish, but I'm taking some of my favourite designs (cause I have like, 30) and incorporating a little Bling ;) Stay tuned for more information as it comes available.

Then I'm assembling some sample booklets to hand out at the next Bridal Show in late September. See, anyone can hand out business cards; they are what, 3 cents each? But I'm taking several designs and making a little booklet out of them; complete with the front and back covers (front will be hand painted), and wire coil binding for that true urbanLove effect!

I'm also giving my catalogue a face lift not only for the cover, but the guts as well. I've got some page layout ideas rolling around in my head so I am going to design 'em all and see what one I like best so I can take this project to the printers.

And of course, as mentioned above, I have a Bridal Show in late September; ironically enough during the same day my ex-fiance gets married, but my AWESOME friend Nicole 'De-back-that-thing-up' Debakere is going to man my booth so I can attend Jake's wedding. HOLY BUSY! I guess I *can* be in 2 places at once, kind of! :)

So yeah, back to the Bridal Show; so excited!! I have ideas for everything from the table coverings to the contents of the tables and how I will display my little works of art to my attire right down to my shoes (of course!)...so much is going on in my head in regards to planning things in a timely manner and executing them efficiently that I'm spinning with joy! I LOVE my life!

To re-cap:
1. Card Candy Collection - to be unveiled hopefully by Fall of 2009
2. Sample booklets
3. Catalogue facelift
4. Bridal Show AND Jake's wedding

Phew! Just thinking about it is making me go a lil' nutty but honestly, I thrive off of this kind of activity and creative purpose. Bring it on!

Kelly and Al - Sunset Beach Wedding - July 4th

Well!
We've attended two weddings in a row now and have another, for my ex-fiance, on the way! Tis the season for matrimonial bliss!

Nick and I attended his sister's wedding a week ago, Saturday July 4th on the beach in Point Clark. It was a sunset wedding, and just beautifully done in true Kelly n' Al style; simple and classy.

The reception was held in their backyard under a large tent and filled with well over a hundred people. Maybe close to two hundred. I don't know. I was drinking, lol. But there were alot. :)

They had a buffet dinner that consisted of everything from smoked fish and mussels to a wide selection of hors d'œuvres, to shish-kabobs of both chicken and steak, a fruit tray, salads galour, and of course, Champagne that was served by one of the hottie groomsmen who also donned kilts. Mmmhmm...hey, just cause I've already bought my shoes don't mean I can't still window shop! :)

Although the cool air from off the lake was a little breezy at times and caused for me to shiver often (I get cold easily), Nick was ever the gentleman as he offered to me his jacket from his suit.
But the atmosphere around us with all the guests and their smiles and abundance of laughter made the night so warm and comfortable.

And at about 10pm, friends of the Bride and Groom set off fireworks in the adjacent field. Friggin' awesome. I got a good shot of Kelly and Al kissing during the explosions :)

We had a fantastic time and if it wasn't for the fact that Nick had a tee-off time at 7am the next morning (it was a Tournament; he kinda had to be there), we would have saved ourselves the 2.5 hour drive back home that night and crashed somewhere in their yard; picnic table, spot on the grass, wherever. We SO did not want to leave.

But...there's the rest of the summer for us to head up there for a weekend and relax around a campfire as our kids; 2 from us, 2 from them, play. I can't wait for that!

Tammy and Lonny Crick - The Wedding

I attended my close close friend Tammy's wedding yesterday. The weather was just PERFECT (okay so I still froze in 20+ degree weather but that's a downfall I have due to poor circulation or something), everybody in attendance look great and it was just an overall beautiful experience to be a part of her wedding.

Tam's and I go back. I mean way back. Way to-the-back-of-the-bus back. We met in our tweens and teens and have been close ever since. She had one of those personalities that would light up the room and at the same time let you know not to screw with her, lol. She's all about the 'tude ya'll. :)

We've been through lots - mostly great times but some tough times. I think it's enabled us to be as close as we are today. I have got LOTS of partying-with-Tammy stories (none that I will post online because no one needs to know the unreserved side of me, lol) so needless to say I was totally humbled when I got her invite.
Side note: she was given a nice DIY package from her Aunt so that's why I didn't do her invites - I can't really compete with DIY packages, but that's okay, my little business is still cooler! :)

I kinda expected one anyways because we ARE friends, but when I actually got it in the mail it was just solidifying it for me. I was cool enough ;)

So here are some pictures that I took with my handy dandy Canon PowerShot SD700...I'm no professional, but if I might say so myself, some of my pics are perty darn good :)
Enjoy!

P.S.
I got my tattoos done...just waiting for them to heal before I take pictures of them because really, do YOU wanna see scabby flakes of skin? Din't think so.

Gettin' Inked

So guess what?!
I have finally made an appointment with a local tattoo parlour to discuss design options and fonts for a few tats I am going to get.
Yes, I said the word few: one, is existing and the other two will be new. Three equals few doesn't it? :)

What I'm going to do is get both my kids names on my wrists (well, we'll see how much it hurts first) and also enhance and sexify my GiddyUp tattoo. I was quoted about two hundred for all, but that could change depending on how involved in design my tattoos will be.

And of course as a graphic designer I will naturally oversee the design in all stages. I have some preliminary sketches done already, but I would like to work with the tattoo artist to get their take on it because maybe they can suggest something I didn't think about.

But I'm excited!!
I've been wanting to get more tats for years and now I am finally just going to do it! Yay me! And of course I will blog my progress and then soon enough comes the official picture gallery! Hoorah!
Hoorah!

You Knew You Grew Up in the 90's When...

This list made me laugh till I almost peed my pants.
Almost.
What are your memories of the 90's?

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE!"
2. You can sing the rap to "The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air"
3. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey from "Blossom" and that "How Rude!" comes from Stephanie from "Full House"
4. You remember when it was actually worth getting up earlyon a Saturday to watch cartoons.
5. You got super excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
6. You remember reading "Goosebumps"
7. You were there for the Yo-Yo craze and had to have the Bumble Bee
8. You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, wax off"
9. You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school.
10. You remember the craze then the banning of slap bracelets and slam books.
11. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence...Not...
12. You knew that Kimberly, the pink ranger, and Tommy, the green Ranger were meant to be together.
13. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
14. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates
15. You ever got injured on a Slip 'n' Slide
16. You remember when almost every guy owned a skateboard and the video game tony hawk.
17. You wore socks over leggings scrunched down
18. You safety pinned your jeans and worse Hypercolour shirts.
19. You remember boom boxes vs. cd players
20. You knew what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare"
21. You remember Alf, the little brown alien from Melmac and Vicki the Robot from "Small Wonders"
22. You remember New Kids on The Block when they were cool
23. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
24. You played and or collected "Pogs" and had to have the best "slammer"!
25. You used to pretend to be a MIGHTY MORPHIN Power Ranger and you owned a Skip It
26. You had at least one GigaPet or Nano and brought it everywhere
27. You watched the original Care Bears, and Ninja Turtles
28. You watched Roseanne and identified with the family functions of that show.
29. You remember when the new Beanie Babies were always sold out.
30. You remember a time before the WB.
31. You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"
32. You thought it would be so cool to be Alex Mack.
33. You know the Macarena by heart
34. "Talk to the hand" ... enough said
35. You thought Brain would finally take over the world
36. You always said, "Then why don't you marry it!"
37. You remember a time when you didn't own a computer
38. Best of all you remember the computers with black screens and green letters.
39. You made paper scrunchies to see who you'd end up marrying.
40. You wore Exclaimation perfume.