KJ McLean

Is it possible for a creative person to work, go after a new career and still continue to do what he or she loves? Well, if you look at KJ McLean, the answer would be yes. KJ is a teacher who is studying to be a dental hygienist, and yet she has made rugs, cross stitch minis and digital designs shaped like Gothic windows. I admire her tenacity for pursuing all these things at once and hope that some of it will rub off on me! To see KJ's work and what else she's been up to, visit her blogs Thinking Out Loud and A Created Life.

Lora Severson Photography

If you have a thing for rustic old barns, beautiful flowers or martial arts, then Lora Severson Photography is the place to go. Lora's photography, is quite remarkable, and you can order any of her prints as is or already framed and matted, which is extra convenient. Lora also has a lot of gift items to choose from. For example, she has T-shirts, keychains and greeting cards with sunflowers on them. Also, for that person in your life who has finally earned his or her black belt, Lora has a great selection of martial arts gifts, things that you can't find at the local discount store. (Lora herself has a black belt in Taekwondo, which is impressive.) She also has stock photography, a blog and a bunch of other options, so please visit Lora Severson Photography and check out all she has to offer.

A Bit of Nostalgia

Sometimes, I miss some of the TV shows I grew up with, and I am thrilled when an old favorite is resuscitated via reruns. However, what if it were possible to own a fictional piece of the past? Would you buy it? Well, if your answer is yes, check out MyPartyShirt.com. MyPartyShirt.com has T-shirts with cool graphics inspired by shows from the 80's and 90's. Are you a Home Improvement fan? Well, get your own Tool Time T-shirt. How about Saved by the Bell? Did you wish you could hang out at the Max? Pretend you did with a shirt that has the restaurant's logo on it. MyPartyShirt.com also has T-shirts inspired by Boy Meets World, Full House and Fresh Prince. Fun and functional. What a combo.

Check out my new header

I've been meaning to replace the Simpsons version of me with a more elegant header from some time, but since I've taken up babysitting my nephew for the past several months, I hadn't had as much time on my hands to regularly modify my blog layout. Well, I sneaked in some time early this morning before the baby got here to finally come up with something. When you get a chance, take a look and tell me what you think. I designed the header using GIMP, a free software similar to Photoshop. Today was the first time I actually got a chance to play around with it, and although the software is pretty good, I'm still stuck on Project Dogwaffle software (also free) since I have used it longer and am more familiar with it. I'll probably like GIMP more over time, at least until I can afford to buy Photoshop. By the way, I plan on posting more in the near future. It's been a challenge lately, especially when you're chasing a 1-year-old nephew around the house. I've seen a lot of artists online that I wanted to blog about, so I will do that when I get time. Don't forget to tell me what you think of the header. Thanks!

Year-End Silliness

2008 was one of the most stressful, ridiculous and exhilarating years I have ever managed to live through. I've seen things I never thought I would see in my lifetime, and I've seen things I wish I didn't have to see. I've experienced joy, disappointment, hope and frustration. After all of that, you would think I would come up with a deeply profound statement to put on my next T-shirt. Yet, this is what came to mind:

i fORGOT tO tURN oFF tHE cAPS lOCK. by reasontolive
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What did I learn from this? Well, no matter how much the economy has affected you or whether the outcome of the presidential election left you feeling elated or bummed, always hang on to your sense of humor. Happy New Year!

Raising Money for an Important Organization

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in Jackson, MS at Mayes Lake State Park on November 8, 2008. Registration begins at 9 AM, and the walk begins at 10 AM. I am participating for the fourth time because I am a member of NAMI, and I have struggled in the past with panic attacks, depression and suicide. Because of my struggles, I have seen the shortcomings in how mental illness is dealt with in our society, and I want to help change that. I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up. It features a link to my team's page where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation. This year, the fundraising goal for my team, The Church Triumphant, is $500. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those who’s lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office. The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission. NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A+" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by The Charity Navigator for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability. Thank you in advance for your support. PLEASE GO HERE TO DONATE

Designing Shoes

Zazzle has partnered up with Keds, and Zazzle artists can now put designs on women's and children's canvas shoes. Artists can customize everything about the shoes right down to the stitching. As soon as I got the email about it, I designed six shoes. Here they are:

nebula by reasontolive
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lilac by reasontolive
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plaid by reasontolive
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parchment by reasontolive
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laser beams by reasontolive
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Browse more Fantasy Science Fiction Keds Shoes

olive bubbles by reasontolive
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See other Food Drink Keds Shoes

This is only the beginning. Check back at this link in the coming weeks to see what else I have come up with. This is going to be fun!

Moran Fine Art

I mentioned in a prior post that when I paint, I prefer using acrylic paint. It dries quickly and cleans up easily. However, I wondered if I would be able to get more depth in my paintings without having to use oils. Well, I have discovered that it is possible after looking at the work of Moran Danan. Her abstract, landscape and music-themed paintings burst forth with color and richness. I noticed that she uses a lot of black and warm colors, and any cool colors she uses tend to be very bright. This combination of colors and her strokes, especially the way she paints flower petals, makes me feel like there should be smooth jazz music playing in the background every time I look at a painting. I've used similar strokes in my digital paintings, so maybe I could try that with acrylics. Please visit her gallery. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Diana Levinson

I saw this abstract artist in action on Martha Stewart about a week ago, so I just had to check out her work on her Web site. I love the colors and the movement in each piece I saw in her online gallery, which contained oil and charcoal paintings and prints made through etching and aquatint. I love the whole gallery, but if I had to choose a few favorites, I suppose they would be Meter, Naples, Diptych I, Meander I, Vertical Tangle and Page from a Sketchbook IV. Levinson also has a video of herself painting one of her masterpieces, which is fun to watch. I usually work with acrylic paint, but I am tempted to grab some oil paint and "go to town." Her work is truly amazing and inspiring.

The 30-Day Creative Challenge

I took the challenge on another forum and had a great time doing it, so I'm presenting the challenge to my readers. Here goes: For the next 30 days, do something creative at least once a day. You could draw, paint, make crafts, write a poem, sew a shirt or whatever it is you enjoy doing or will dare yourself to try. Have a mantra to motivate you throughout the challenge, such as, "Art is my life," or "I am so creative I can hardly stand it!" If you miss a day of creating something, you have to add a day to your challenge. In my case, my challenge ended up being 35 days long. So, go for it! Post your activities here by commenting under this blog entry. I can't wait to see who will take the challenge and what will be created as a result. I'll be waiting... :-)

Discovering Josef Albers

During a 30-day creative challenge, which I will blog about at a later time, I stepped up my game on abstract art and played around with shapes, colors and patterns. One of the digital paintings I created during this time is called "Shades of Gray":

shades of gray by reasontolive
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What I had in mind at the time was an infinite reflection of two mirrors facing each other, but I had no idea that a German-American abstract artist, Josef Albers (1888-1976), was known for creating art with layers of squares and rectangles. I heard about Albers' work while I was watching television, so I was compelled to look him up. Go here for a list of Web sites where you can look at or purchase reproductions of his work. I was unsure about the quality of my digital painting until I discovered Albers. Not only does this make me more confident in what I create, but it makes me want to brush up on my art history.

Got a Mention in the Spring Arts Preview

Every year, the Jackson Free Press does a Spring Arts Preview issue promoting artists, exhibits, performances, etc.  I was mentioned in the "Artists" article, and here's the entry: Latasha Willis, a local artist and Jackson native, has spent the last three years creating graphic designs for T-shirts, posters and other items sold at her Reason to Live store on http://www.zazzle.com. Her most recent work includes nature photos, with which she created a 12-month calendar. Go to her Web site at http://www.zazzle.com/reasontolive*, or her blogs at http://afrobohemianchick.blogspot.com or http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/willis.php. Yay, me! :-)

A blogger found my poem!

I am so excited! My poem, "Nappy-Headed", was posted on a blog by Blogger member StephClan. Here it is: I came to this world with nappy hair And when I was too young to really care I loved to twirl each curl in my hand And appreciate the texture of every strand. But when I got older I was told That the straightest hair was just like gold. My hair got ironed with a metal comb And the smell of burning grease made me moan. I got a relaxer to run from the smoke, But the pain of my overcooked scalp was no joke. I even tried a Jheri curl to give myself a break But being a target of jokes made my heart ache. Oh, the day I turned my back on chemicals and heat, I felt so free - oh, what a treat! I trimmed off what was left of the damaged mess And saw in the mirror what I thought was success. But society said I had lost my mind And that I would run back to tradition in time. I got the strangest looks everywhere And even loved ones frowned at my nappy hair. I can't get a black brother to take me out for a meal Since my hair lacks European appeal. But when I look at my origin, The continent of Africa, where my ancestors had been And the beauty of the people who live there, I saw nothing wrong with my nappy hair. God gave me this hair So I should not be ashamed It is part of who I am Ain't nothin' wrong with it, I exclaimed. So I will wear my Afro, my twists and my coils! I will not allow my confidence to be soiled. Even if my hair is locked and dreaded, I am proud of being nappy-headed. StephClan's blog, African Descent Hair, is a chronicle of her natural hair journey. I've added her to my blogroll to show my appreciation. Go there and see some of the pictures of her hair, which looks very strong and healthy. You can go to my AuthorsDen page and read the rest of my poems.

Bitten by the shutterbug

Since I bought my little digital camera this past summer, I've discovered something about myself: I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY! I mean, I always liked pretty pictures, but I never thought I would enjoy taking them so much. I should have known, though. Throughout my life, I would look at a sunset or a tree or a flower and say to myself, "Wow, I wish I had a camera right now to capture this." I guess I never got into it before because I hated the thought of taking a picture and not being able to tell if it turned out right until I got the film developed. Now, since I get instant gratification with the digital camera, I can retake shots all I want, and I can upload and share my work right away.

sunrise at the park, # 4 by reasontolive
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Bogue Chitto Creek by reasontolive
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These are two of the pictures I have taken that I think turned out very well. I have many more in the Nature section of my Zazzle Web site, which includes my first calendar.

Dramatic Nature Calendar by reasontolive
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I am hoping to one day have more equipment so I can take even better pictures. First on the list: a tripod. This blog entry brought to you by:

Anti-war T-shirt

I know war is a necessary evil, but I still hate tt. Anyway, I was readinganother blog and someone mentioned an old saying about war that I forgot about. Because of that, I was inspired to do this:

WHAT IF THERE WERE A WAR, and no one went? by reasontolive
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If you can't read the print well, it says, "What if there were a war, and no one went?" I tried to use a larger image, but for some reason, the text kept disappearing every time I enlarged it. To see a bigger image, just click on the shirt.

Congratulations to Zazzle's Office Humor Contest Winner!

If you don't laugh after seeing this, you should get your funny bone examined.

Hug Your Boss Mousepad by ttfisher
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"How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog" by Todd Stauffer

Todd Stauffer is the publisher of the Jackson Free Press and has authored and co-authored several technology books, especially on Macs. I have a blog on the Jackson Free Press Web site, so I have known Todd for a couple of years. He gave me an autographed copy of his latest book, which is jam-packed with information that would benefit novice and professional bloggers:

In the book, Todd explains how to create a blog, drive traffic to it, improve the look of it and even how to make a little money from it. Reading the book confirmed some things I was trying already, such as joining affiliate programs and RSS feeds, but I did learn some new things such as what a trackback is. If there were a college course on blogging, this book would make a great textbook. If you are serious about blogging, I suggest you get yourself a copy of Todd's book from Amazon. It's an excellent reference tool.

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Join me at StartupNation

StartupNation is a Web site "by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs." With your free registration, you gain access to an online community of entrepreneurs that you can network with. The site also has advice about:

• starting and running a business
• setting up a Web site
• filing for a patent

and a lot of other goodies. Members also share customer testimonials, and StartupNation even has a top 100 list for successful home-based businesses. Click on the button below to view the profile I created, and while you're there, create a profile of your own. See you there!

This blog entry brought to you by:

My Zazzle Office Humor Contest Entry

Decided to keep it simple and direct:

get your own @#$% coffee by reasontolive
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Congratulations to the Zazzle Holiday Card Contest winner!

And the winner is...

Snow Deer Template by PaulHonatke
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Congratulations, Paul! Enjoy your $1000 prize!

My Zazzle Greeting Card Contest Entry

I decided to create a Kwanzaa card since I know there will be a lot of Christmas entries.

Kwanzaa Greeting Card Template by reasontolive
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This card is a template, which means you can add your own photo and text. Hope I win something...

Digital artwork by Shane Gilreath

Good use of color and repetition of subject matter - need I say more?
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Lisa Overton Robinson

Lisa, a private art instructor, has bachelor's degrees in art and Spanish. In addition, she does Web design and photo restoration. She also hosts an art camp every summer and is a gallery director at Go Creative Arts and Athletics. Go here to see her portfolio.

1st Lite Fine Art Portraits

Dawn Rosenburg, a Mississippi artist, has an impressive portfolio of portraits and retouched photos. Her infant and scenic photos are my personal favorites. Go here to see Dawn's collection and contact her if you would like for her to take some photos.

Should I order my products in bulk and sell them on consignment?

I have thought about doing this for some time, but I wonder how practical it would be to do so. Even though I'd get a bulk discount and a contributor discount, it would still take a lot of money to order enough products to make an impact, especially when it comes to T-shirts. I was thinking that by selling my products on consignment locally, it would draw customers to my Web site. I would combine this with buying my own products and act as my own billboard, so to speak. For instance, I could buy myself a T-shirt and put my URL somewhere on the shirt, like on the back. I would love some feedback on this.

Ideal products for tweenagers

Products courtesy of Zazzle contributor CustomT_Shirts, whose illustrations would be attractive to the young and the young at heart:

Cute Funny Girl I am Not A Nerd by CustomT_Shirts
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Pretty Gold Chain Blue Topaz by CustomT_Shirts
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Floral Design Top by CustomT_Shirts
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Pretty Cute Gold Pearls by CustomT_Shirts
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Cute Boy Skate Board by CustomT_Shirts
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Cute Funny Girl by CustomT_Shirts
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The last shirt was given a Today's Best award by Zazzle on October 20. Congratulations!

"Just In My Own Little World" poster

This whimsical poster by Zazzle contributor newbpainter would be great for a little boy's bedroom. I wish I could jump into it and hang out for a little while:

Just in my own little world by newbpainter
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Apple of the Eye Studio

Zazzle contributor lemlime's gallery has products made with "Christ-centered photography." Closeups of plants and flowers with vivid hues, landscapes and Bible verses make this collection sing. Examples:

Faith Alone by lemlime
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Connected by lemlime
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Who I am by lemlime
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lemlime has a 2008 calendar available for sale, and each month features a photo of a flower and a Bible verse. I suggest that you get one now since 2007 is coming to a close.

Apple of the Eye 2008 Calendar by lemlime
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Love your work, lemlime! God bless you.

Awesome photography

Nature itself is beautiful, and that beauty is heightened when scenes can be captured on a photograph. One such photographer who does this with excellence is Zazzle contributor photogenic_pics:

That Kiss! by photogenic_pics
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sunset gift by photogenic_pics
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Bunny In Tall Grass by photogenic_pics
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moth war by photogenic_pics
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robin by photogenic_pics
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Vicky Brago-Mitchell, Fractal Artist

This artist has hundreds of beautifully generated fractal images published on Zazzle (as bragova). Here are some of them:

Mosaic 2 by bragova
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Cosmic Flower by bragova
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Seaweed by bragova
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First Rose by bragova
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Explosion by bragova
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Multicolored by bragova
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She also has wallpapers available for download and artwork for sale at these sites: AllPosters.com Art.com artprintcollection.com Cafepress.com