Hush Mama: artist/mama |art, memory, motherhood

inspiration. also random.

Posted by hushmamacom on January 18, 2011 1 comment

I have an art box underway and it should be listed by this weekend. It is part of my “dictionary of thoughts” series.
I would love to start a new body of paintings soon. Something to mix my photography and painting…I have never really done that with much success. I haven’t done a whole lot of painting in last 5 years or so and I think it’s long over due.
Thank you Emily for Florence and the Machine. It is on repeat.
Noah and Chloe are wearing 5 or 6 of their daddy’s t-shirts each and our dog, Violet, is going crazy trying to take them off lol.
Time to break it up.

Here is Vi. Also known as the cute dog that helps keep me from crying about Daisy every day.

ReBinder review and giveaway

Posted by hushmamacom on December 27, 2010 9 comments

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I recently received an assortment of Rebinder office supplies and though I definitely like to share my opinions on this blog in my own words, I was so impressed by the information on their website that I struggled with the idea of just copying and pasting their entire “about us”. This is a company making a huge and positive difference.
sample pack
“Each year, over 500 metric tons of toxic PVC ends up in landfills as the result of vinyl binders that people use. Today we should expect more. Products should be made in our country, with our workers, out of responsible materials with the intention that no landfill be required. ReBinder meets that demand.
ReBinder is the only true zero waste office supply manufacturer and the brand of choice for customers looking for sustainable, quality office supplies. Assembled by a local, AbilityOne certified disabled workforce, all ReBinder product materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests and verified FSC and SFI certified sources. With each purchase of ReBinder products, solid waste, greenhouse gas, energy, tree and water consumption are reduced.”

My favorite Rebinder product is the ReWrite Composition Book. I make lists, write down project ideas, and sketch so much that I have stacks of notebooks and sketchbooks around here. These are perfect for me as they can be ordered lined, blank, or graphed.

What a fantastic alternative for schools, companies, and responsible organizations looking to reduce solid waste and lower their carbon footprint!

And the products can be custom printed too.

I recently attended a convention with my husband and we all had to have our plastic badges for the whole week we were there. There were thousands of people and I can’t help but wonder what happened to the badges. The ReBadges are fully compostable.

There so many products available besides the Rewrite Notebooks and the ReBages including:
- recycled binders
- cd sleeves
-pocket folders

“ReBinder is the leading manufacturer of unique green office supplies. All ReBinder product materials are sourced from verified FSC and SFI certified sources and assembled by a local, AbilityOne certified disabled workforce. Our eco-friendly products make a difference and make sense.”

You can purchase a sample pack here- http://www.rebinder.com/green-sample-packs
Or win one!
Like ReBinder on Facebook.
Follow them on Twitter.
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Ends Jan 25th
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and sponsored by Favorite Wigs Shop Name Brand Wigs at Low Prices! Large Wig Selection of Estetica Wigs, Quality Wigs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Abby the prodical cat.

Posted by hushmamacom on December 27, 2010 0 comments

2 years ago we were building a fence and left the backdoor open. Our cat disappeared on that day.

On Christmas day while traveling from place to place I saw a cat a block away from our house and thought “that cat looks like Abby” and prompted Bent to turn around so I get another look to ease my crazy mind.

She turned and looked at our car and I jumped out and carefully scooped her up. It was indeed our Abby.

I pulled up a photo of her from 2007 to convince Brent (and myself) that 2 years later and one block away we had found our cat. This was the little kitty that had made her way to Brent’s workplace 8 years ago and moved into our house before I even graduated from college and moved in.

I could feel that she had milk and I started worrying that she could have cold little kittens out there somewhere. I put a leash on her and we walked to the area where we had spotted her. She led us to a basement window well were a few motionless and long dead kittens were curled together.

I don’t know who is happier, us for having her back or her to be back.
Only our black and slightly evil Sparta kitty boy is displeased.

Everyone keeps saying to her “Abby…where have you been!??!”

daisy.

Posted by hushmamacom on December 22, 2010 2 comments

She slept on the couch with her head in my lap today. She is never allowed to do that but this was her last day with us after nearly seven years. My heart is broken and I miss her so much.
My sweet and beautiful old pup.

Very.co.uk

Posted by hushmamacom on December 17, 2010 0 comments

Chloe is a toddler fashionista. There is no denying it. I have a three year old with her very own sense of style. It’s not easy to find Chloe-approved clothing…just ask anyone who has ever gone shopping with her. But I just checked out Very.co.uk and she made a running list of things she would like to have.
Including but definitely not limited to (haha):

She loves pretty much everything with the Russian dolls.

Noah actually loves new clothes too. But he is more trusting of my ability to choose things for him.
Like this:

He would look absolutely gorgeous in this.

As long as I remember to occasionally throw in some of his favorite characters then he doesn’t complain.
Which Very has as well.

Very doesn’t just have kids clothes and accessories. That’s just my focus right now because these two are going through two sizes and four season a year and I am constantly on the lookout for great deals on trendy clothing for them. I want them to look fantastic without having to pay an arm and a leg in order to accomplish that goal.

Their site is loaded with awesome deals including a Buy Now Pay Later option, 10% off when you open a Very Credit account, and Free delivery (They deliver parcels to addresses within the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. They can also deliver smaller items to service personnel overseas through BFPO.)
I only wish that they would ship to the U.S. *hint hint*

Kakadu Pet Retractable Lead review and giveaway

Posted by hushmamacom on December 15, 2010 43 comments

focus.

Posted by hushmamacom on December 15, 2010 0 comments

There was always a suitcase under my bed when I was growing up. It was blue and old and inside were photos of my mother’s dad, my mom’s yearbook, a photo of her at about 4 years old, and a few black and white photos that were mostly yellow.
I kept them and held them dear.
I never saw many family pictures…we moved so many times and things were inevitably lost in the shuffle. I don’t have a baby picture.
I equate photos with memory. I asked for a camera for Christmas when I was 7 because I already felt the need to document my life. I can tell you when family came to visit, how old Noah was when we went here or there, even when my babies sprouted teeth, because I can visualize the photograph I took of these things. And I can browse the thousands of digital files tightly holding years and years of my life.
I have whole days…almost entire weeks seamlessly captured. The trees, the birds, the sun, my face, everything really but especially my kids.

I sell some photos to stock photography companies. I use them in my art boxes. I share a handful online, put a few in art shows, but I mostly just stockpile them.
I am thinking I may try to sell some prints in my etsy shop soon and see where that takes me…I’ve had much luck with my art boxes lately and am extremely grateful for that.

Fight Club and my kids

Posted by hushmamacom on December 12, 2010 0 comments

I should be wrapping gifts right now but instead I am watching Fight Club and thinking about Noah and Chloe. They are likely asleep right now at their grandmother’s house…and I wish I was performing our bedtime routine.
A hug, a kiss, and a couple games of rock, paper, scissors. Sometimes rock, paper, scissors, bomb, rock-eating-strawberry or whatever else Noah uses to defeat me.
It’s been a long long week and I start really taking them for granted halfway through Tuesday during weeks like this. I count down the seconds until I have a moment of my own to savor. I’ve had my moment now bring on my kids.
They are amazing little creachlings and these are our beautiful little days…lest I should forget.

I am Jack’s lonely mama ♥

iCaughtSanta.com

Posted by hushmamacom on December 11, 2010 0 comments

How cute is this?
That is my living room and no, I didn’t really catch Santa about to place gifts beneath the tree.
I just snapped a quick shot of my Christmas tree and used iCaughtSanta.com to do the rest…it was so easy! Actually, I was quite surprised at how simple it was and I have to admit that it looks pretty convincing.
I can imagine the look on my kids’ faces when they see this.
I loved believing in Santa when I was little and this is a fun and whimsical way to share the memory of that magical time with them.
And I want to share this unique idea with you and your children too!

The first 5 people to visit http://www.icaughtsanta.com/favoritesanta and leave a comment telling me their favorite Santa pose will get a FREE Gift Code valid for 1 photo.

My readers can use the code: HUSHMAMA
and get 25% off your iCaughtSanta.com purchase.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.