Back?

Time to give this yet another stab.

I have Linux, and I am a graphic designer. I learned to use Adobe, but I could not afford the ridiculous prices they charge. I went searching for software that would replace it. I believe my version (Linux Mint) came loaded with Gimp, a popular and suitable replacement for Photoshop. It's been several years now, and I can't remember for sure. I could do most things that I wanted, but I missed Illustrator a lot. It didn't take long for me to discover Inkscape, and I am SO PLEASED to be drawing again! The shortcuts are not at all the same, so there is a learning curve to it, but it sure beat the alternative (which is nothing, because I'm broke at the moment). It also has really nice documentation, including for those migrating from Illustrator. The Inkscape community tutorials are also pretty awesome too. There is actually a lot of content out there that supports this software.

Anyhow, that's enough back story. Just wanted everyone to know there are GOOD alternatives out there!!! Really. Enough. Moving on...

My niece brought a coloring book to Thanksgiving this year, and I have been inspired to make something of my own. It's still in progress though, so no previews yet. Instead, some simples that caught my eye.



As seen on a Pinterest pin tutorial that links to an Instagram page that I couldn't find the original link for. :( The tutorial looks like face painting guide, but I knew as soon as I saw it that there had to be a way to make this in Inkscape.

Sometimes I see things that practically shout make me! Here is cute little label, which I may in the future make into a free printable.



There's more where these came from, but that's for another day.

Cheers!

Abandoned blog

Okay, so I haven't kept anywhere near my goal of posting (at least) once a month. In fact, it's been about half a year since I've posted. A lot of time (just look at the header!), and a lot going on in my life... a baby! Now 10 months old, and the associated aches, pains, and sleeplessness have kept me away. Not to mention a healthy dose of blues stemming more from our underemployment than postpartum. BUT, we are finally back on track, at least temporarily. DH has a new job on 3rd shift, and things are FINALLY starting to look up. A big adjustment for all of us, but my hope is to be able to get on here more often.

So, to get myself inspired and re-engaged in blogging, I visited some other blogs. I have a long list of bookmarks in a folder I call 'browsing for inspiration'. I started with my cousin's blog http://craftynan.com , and visited some of her links, then vistited their links... until I had a very full folder. So... today in honor of getting motivated, I decided to volunteer my two older kids to get involved in the organizing challenge from A bowl full of lemons. We're not officially signed up because the challenge is half over and we're just starting. And let's face it, it's not as high on my priority list as laundry (the washer was out of commission for more than a week - we are drowning in laundry), and I only have limited time when the baby lets me on the computer. That said, who doesn't love a clean house? Here are the pics, one junk drawer for each of us.