Jen's Diary on Creativity

Still - Miss Match Diptych Project

2010-06-13T10:00:00.001-07:00

Still - Miss Match Diptych Project, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

This is week 11 Miss Match Diptych Project from the fPOE Etsy Team.
I had the honor of being laura Evans partner for the second time. :) We did one other Diptych together.

You can find Lauras Etsy shop and more of her photography here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/levansphotography

You can find more of my photography here:

http://www.jenniferaitchison.etsy.com

LEFT:
Laura Evans

RIGHT:
Jennifer Aitchison (ME)

Endless -

2010-06-13T09:52:00.001-07:00

Endless - , originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

Miss Match Diptych Project Week 9

Top image by: LorraineVeronica
Bottom Image by: Jennifer Aitchison

LorraineVeronica's Flicker account is here:
www.flickr.com/photos/raineybean/

Lorraine Veronica was a joy to work with this week and I really appreciated having her as my partner. A very talented and friendly girl.

Air

2010-05-18T04:54:00.001-07:00

Air, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

RIGHT: Jennifer Aitchison (me)
LEFT: Laura Evans

Laura's Photography Shop is here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/levansphotography

My partner for this weeks diptych was Laura Evans. She has a beautiful photography shop on etsy. Be sure to check it out :)

Week 6 Miss Match Diptych Project

Silhouette - Week 5 Diptych

2010-05-14T06:37:00.001-07:00

Silhouette - Week 5 Diptych, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

RIGHT: Jennifer Aitchison (me)
LEFT: Andrea Despot

Andrea's Photography shop is here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/andreadespot

This weeks theme is Silhouette and I had the the joy of working with the very talented Andrea Despot. I love how the light seems to move through the plains of our photographs in the same way.

Week 5 Miss Match Diptych Project

fPOE on the front page

2010-04-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

An all fPOE front page that I curated! Congrats ladies!!!!!!!

These are some of the photographs featured in our fPOE team book "She's a Rainbow" The book is currently for sale at Blurb. You can purchase it here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1212605

White Diptych

2010-04-24T16:43:00.001-07:00

White Diptych, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

Miss Match - fPOE Diptych Project
Week 4
Theme - White

Left: Jennifer Aitchison (me)
Right: Violet Bella Photography

On the right is my partner this week Laura from Violet Bella Photography. A multitalented talented artist who creates photography pieces as well as clothes and jewelry. Our theme this week was white and I am always happy to work with a fellow cat lover. I hope you like our sweet diptych this week :)

Laura's photography can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/violetbellaphoto
Her Jewelry shop is here :
http://www.etsy.com/shop/violetbella

You can view more Diptych Photography at:

missmatchproject.blogspot.com/

Outdoors

2010-04-18T05:48:00.001-07:00

Outdoors, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

Miss Match - fPOE Diptych Project
Week 3
Theme - Outdoors

Left: Silvia Reitsma
Right: Jennifer Aitchison (me)

On the left is my partner this week Silvia Reitma. A very talented photographer. I was happy to share a sunset with her from the same sun on different parts of the globe. The sky in her piece is being influenced by the volcanic ash over Europe. I hope that our piece reflects the joy and peace of a moment connecting with nature.

Silvia's work can be purchase here: http://www.silviareitsma.etsy.com

Vibrant - Miss Match Diptych week 2

2010-04-11T07:36:00.001-07:00

Vibrant - Miss Match Diptych Project

Fine art Photography Diptych by:
Left:
Morgan Kendall

Right:
Jennifer Aitchison

Morgan Kendall was my Diptych partner this week. I love her work. Her photographs have a beautiful dreamy quality. You can check out her online store here and see more of her Beautiful artwork:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mkendall

I am member of the fPOE (female photographer of Etsy) group. We recently started a diptych project where we pair up with a team member and create a piece of artwork based on a descriptive word.
Check out the Miss Match Website to see more pieces from this week.

From the Miss Match Diptych Project
missmatchproject.blogspot.com/

Miss Match Diptych - Week 1 - Domestic

2010-04-08T13:40:00.001-07:00

Week 1 Domestic, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

DOMESTIC

Fine art Photography work by:
Left:
Mandy, Bryant

Right:
Jennifer Aitchison

I am member of the fPOE (female photographer of Etsy) group. We recently started a diptych project where we pair up with a team member and create a piece of artwork based on a descriptive word.
This is the first week of our project. I was lucky enough to be assigned the very talented Mandy Bryant. The members of our group reside all over the world, but my partner just happens to be an Indiana girl, like myself. I am so happy with our result :) Check out the Miss Match Website to see more pieces from week one.

From the Miss Match Diptych Project
missmatchproject.blogspot.com/

Anemone Flowers

2010-03-22T10:23:00.001-07:00

Anemone Flowers , originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

Purple Anemone Flowers.

These are hand cut prints of my original watercolors. I sell them in my etsy shop for people to use for Wedding, event , party and holiday decoration.

Perfect for escort cards or place cards, great Spring and summer decoration

Table Numbers in Green Mixed Leaves

2010-03-01T13:35:00.001-08:00

Table Numbers in Green Mixed Leaves, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

Today I finished adding these New Table numbers to my Etsy Shop. They make me feel like Spring is near and I really love the way that Grey, Green, and cream look together. I hope you enjoy them. :D

I Hand watercolor painted each leaf, then scanned them into the computer and printed them on an 80 lb Creamy Natural cover weight paper with a tiny grey fiber in it. These hand cut leaves are mounted with 3D tape so they are slightly raised giving a little lift. There are 3 each of 3 types of leaves, a total of 9 unique. The table numbers have been printed in a lovely font and attached with a three dimensional adhesive.

Pink Lily Pond Small Cards

2010-02-26T08:44:00.001-08:00

Pink Lily Pond Small Cards, originally uploaded by Jennifer Aitchison.

These are some new cards in my Etsy Shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenAitchison

Approximately 4"x4" Perfect for Place cards at Events, Weddings, Baby Shower, Signs at a buffet meal, Tea Parties, Birthday Parties ect...

I have designed a whole line of Lily Pond Themed Paper goods. :)
Come Check them out:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenAitchison

Marching Into Myself

2010-02-06T16:05:00.000-08:00

Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Marching Onward by: Jennifer Aitchison

Thinking lately of how important it is to March foreword. You always carry the roots of what you have been, and the character and knowledge you have acquired. Still, there is so much room for improvement, and time will not stop and wait for you to catch up. I think there have been times that I stopped marching and watched it all go by. Maybe those moments are a resting point, a period where your life takes a breath. Surely it must not be healthy to stay in that moment for too long. I want to march foreword with strength, even though I am tired. I want to march foreword with confidence, even though I have not been sure of myself in the past. I want to march foreword with a tenderness for what I have been, even though I can see room for improvement.

A Walk in the Freezing Fog by Jennifer Aitchison

Spring Rain

2009-05-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! I have been so excited wanting to run outside and take a photograph of every single flower and leaf that unfurls, unfolds or pops open. I love the rain, but with a toddler and camera in tow I have to dodge the raindrops, and there has been a lot of rain. So sitting here playing around with a few images that I have gotten over the past week.... Here is an ode to rain. :)

At the base of a grand tree are lovely Spring Beauty flowers and May Apples (I prefer to think of them as fairy and gnome umbrellas)

The First Fern I Have Seen

This is the first fern I have seen this year in the marsh. I am so excited to go find more very soon.

A flowering tree in the Indiana Dunes State Park. These little buds are just starting to open and appear to be waiting for the rain to stop. I need to look this up to be sure of what it is, maybe someone could give a suggestion. :)

Opposing Views

2009-04-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

Opposing Views

by Jennifer Aitchison

Available for purchase here : My Photography Shop

These are bloodroot flowers. The leaf of the bloodroot is wrapped around the flower bud as it emerges from the ground in early spring. The leaf doesn't fully expand until after the flower has bloomed. Bloodroot flower petals are shed with in a day or two of pollination so the flower display is short lived. Bloodroot flowers can be found growing in Eastern North America. The flowers are produced from March to May, with 8-12 delicate white petals and yellow reproductive parts.

Goodbye Grandpa Bilinski

2009-04-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

Mr and Mrs Bilinski

always in my heart

and

my son's beautiful eyes

On Joy and Sorrow

Kahlil Gibran

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater thar sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

Hepatica

2009-04-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

At Last

I love wildflowers. Every spring I get to know them a little bit more. The very first flowers of our season are just starting to rise from the ground in the forest. Here are photographs I have taken this week of the Hepatica flower. The first is titled "At Last" and can be found in my photography shop www.jenniferaitchison.etsy.com

In case you were wondering ...

Hepatica - genus of spring wildflowers of buttercup family Ranunculaceae; leaves three-lobed (in shape of human liver) and remain green all winter; delicate blue, purple, pink, or white flowers on short, hairy stems; grow to 3 in. tall; native to woods of eastern North America; also grown in Europe and Asia. Hepatica is named from its leaves, which, like the human liver (Greek hepar), have three lobes. It was once used as a medicinal herb. Owing to the doctrine of signatures, the plant was thought an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may be used as an astringent, demulcent for slow-healing injuries and as a diuretic.

Hanging out with Yellow Tulips

2009-04-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Tulips are one of my favorite flowers to keep in a vase on my table. I love their long stems and their beautiful leaves and the way they seem to almost breathe as they are following the sunshine around the room. Here are some photographs that I took over a couple of days. I hope you enjoy them. If you click on the title it will take you directly to my photography store.

A Tulip Conversation

The Companionship of Tulips

Miss Tulip Take a Bow

Migration

2009-03-17T14:01:00.001-07:00

"MIGRATION - directed, regular, or systematic movement of a group of objects, organisms, or people"

I keep seeing all these beautiful birds moving through the sky and I think, hey, I need a migration. Maybe I do not need a migration, but instead a vacation because I do not think I actually want a directed route. Anyway, back to the birds, they are so fascinating to me. I want to stop them as they move North and ask where they are from, offer them a cup of birdseed, listen to their stories. I keep watching for the ones who will not live here but are just passing through. My favorites are the Sandhill cranes. I have heard their very familiar song four different times this Spring and have not been lucky to see them yet. It's ok though, still nice to hear them. Has anyone else heard or seen them?

Jack Pine in Spring

This is my most recent listing in my Photography shop. Our area on the Southern tip of Lake Michigan has the most far south reaching Jack Pine trees. They were left here by glaciers as they melted and receded North. Their cones need fire to open. These trees seem to be so awkward to me yet balanced, maybe that is why I think they are so beautiful.

Lemons and Blogs

2009-03-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

A pair of Lemons

Blogging, Oh what fun!

Just a quick note to say I was featured in two blogs today. They are both so very beautiful, I wanted to share. Run Alice Run is a beautiful blog that featured my softening storm photograph. She has two etsy shops where she sells the coolest magnets and buttons and mirrors and wedding favors. Really cute stuff!

I especially love these of course:

click on image to go to Piping Hot Pa pers

The other blog I just found myself in is pasaii design stu dio . My "A Pair of Lemons" photograph is there with some other gorgeouse lemons. She also has two etsy shops featureing her fantastic illustrations on wedding invitations, stationary, jewelry, fine art prints ect....

This Cardinal collection for weddings is so cute:

Click here to go to Pasaii Paperie

While on the Subject of lemons, here is my other recent lemon photo titled "Lemons on Blue"

A couple of bright yellow lemons on my grandmother's china is a great way to push out the winter grays, so I tried to capture this little burst of color in my life.

Lemons on Blue

I was blogged about today :)

2009-02-18T08:12:00.000-08:00

One of my fellow INcrowd Team members (Indiana team on Etsy) featured my photograph on her blog today. I am touched, what a great way to start an otherwise rainy day! :)

Here is her blog: Nilochainn

Also, I am glad today because I sold another photograph in the Victorian Bushfire Appeal store on Etsy.

It is a shop that has ben set up in response to the fire tragedy in Australia the has claimed so many lives and homes over the past couple weeks. Etsians from around the globe have donated items for sale. 100 percent of the proceeds of the sales in this shop go to the Australian red Cross. I still have one photograph up from my Soft Autumn Series and there are hundreds of other items up for sale that have been handmade by artists from around the world, be sure to check it out. Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Soft Autumn Two

Seven Facts about me you may not know

2009-02-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Honeytree Photography ,

to list 7 things about myself you may not know,

and to tag 7 other bloggers to do the same.

Here are my

Seven Facts about me you may not know:

#1) I am a Vegetarian, and I love to cook. I have never really liked meat and have gone back and forth my whole life.

Two and a half years ago I made a commitment to myself to eat the way I feel in my heart is the right way for me.

I have never felt better. :)

#2) Being the oldest of 6 children has given me the gift of knowing the lyrics to almost every song on Sesame Street. I use this wealth of knowledge to impress my son...

"J", Joe, jeans, and his jelly beans, Hey, let's sing a song about "J"

#3) I quit smoking cigarettes 3 years ago. It was one of the most difficult things I ever accomplished, but yesterday I chased my Son up a sand dune and never had to stop and catch my breath :)

#4) My husband and I were voted most artistic "boy" and "girl" of our High School Senior Class.

#5) I always thought of myself as a lazy procrastinator, but lately I am thinking that I have actually been an unfocused workaholic.

#6) One summer I developed a personal relationship with a hummingbird who visited me every single day, and called me over to the window to chat. Irregardless of the way I have been made fun of, I am telling ya..... IT HAPPENED!!!

#7) I love to walk along the beach and find little treasures I never really look for them as if it were a task but wait for them to come into my view. I always feel centered and present while doing this. :)

Ok, Now I have to find 7 lucky new bloggers to write their 7 facts.... go check out their blogs :)

Here they are:

Colby Aitchison

Urban Junkies artist lounge

Julie Magers Soulen Photography

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Playing around cleaning my home and rearranging things, thought I would add some more little treasures to my blog. About 10 years ago a friend and I found this cute craft project in a Martha Stewart Magazine. These little wax paper hearts look so delicate but they have lasted 10 years and they still look just as beautiful as the day we made them. My friend is no longer with us, but I think of her when I pull out these soft pretty hearts every February. They have a way of catching the light on a long gray overcast day and bringing in some warmth. I have about 25 of them hung around and they make me smile :)

I went to Martha's website and found that the instructions are still up!!!

If you want to make some for yourself, get the instructions here: Crayon Hearts (Martha Stewart)

A few other goodies to share. This month I got these absolutely sweet Glitter Needle Felted Wool Acorns from an etsy crafter called True Luxe.

In the photo you can see a little bit of my husbands dunes watercolor painting, it was in a local juried show last year and I love it so much.

I am excited to frame my Little Chickadee print by Allison Trentelman, her etsy store is called Rocky Top Studio. I like the way she captures

the wonders and beauty of nature in her artwork.

After the Storm

2009-02-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

It is Saturday morning! Sitting here watching the sun rise over the very deep piles of snow and water and I am just realizing that today is going to be a huge melting flood. Everything looks very wet outside and I hear the temperatures are going to rise to at least 50 degrees. We have been in a deep freeze for so long now, I will have to find something fun to do outside with my little guy and a camera today for sure.

I added this photograph of lake Michigan to my etsy store today. It was taken late in the fall after a night of severe thunderstorms. In the morning the air was full of calm and peace with beautiful sunlight, there was only a light breeze, but the water on the lake was still telling the story of the storm with high and fast waves. What an amazing morning that was.

Here is the listing for : After the Storm

Cardinal and Gnome Treasures

2009-01-28T14:49:00.000-08:00

When it is super cold and snowing outside I spend more time looking at all my little treasures in my home, moving them around into little vignettes and deciding where to hang artwork. I just want to say I love these two new things. My sweet husband got me this super beautiful vintage German gnome for Christmas. I was pretty surprised, I had no idea, I guess he found it on Ebay. I think his turquoise coat is pretty nifty. :) My other little favorite thing is this gorgeous little cardinal photo that i just got from ara133photography . She has a great photography shop on Etsy. I have been enjoying seeing this little guy in treasuries on Etsy and finally ordered him for my own home. I love how he is so still and so full of energy at the same time. He may just fly right out of the frame. I have tried to get this shot of my own neighborhood cardinal so many times and failed. :) I will enjoy getting this framed sometime soon.

ara133photographys shop is here: http://araphotography.etsy.com

Buds in an ice cube

2009-01-26T09:29:00.000-08:00

Winter in Indiana. It is a rather cold winter, but somehow filled with warmth under the ice. It is amazing to me how ice can cover a branch this way. Seemingly holding it still as if to stop the growth, but maybe that perspective is all wrong. Perhaps the ice covers the branch in a moment of stillness and calm, magnifying the beauty of the sleeping buds. The ice will only harm this branch if it jostles and blows around. This is a moment for the branch to stay still, calm and appreciate the beauty of this very moment.

Burning in Ice

2009-01-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

I added a new image to my Etsy store last night. It is called "Burning in Ice" The print looks really nice on Lustre Paper, but I will be placing an order soon to see how it turns out on Metallic Kodak Paper. I have some more ice photos that I am working on and I am hoping that the silvery sheen of that metallic paper is going to set them off nicely. Until then, does anybody know what sort of berries these are? I have googled and picked up books and I cannot figure it out. The red berries seem to have exploded out of a yellow shell. When I found them on my morning walk all encased in ice it seemed like they were literally "frozen" right at the moment of explosion.

Today I am Thankful for:

Leftover spaghetti sandwiches on buttered toast.

Christmas Morning 2008

2008-12-31T06:23:00.000-08:00

Ben with a Partridge in a Pear Tree

This is Benjamin on Christmas Morning. he has just looked under the tree at all the gifts and returned to the stairs to sit and smile gleefully to himself. He seemed a bit nervous. After a little while he went and got a tiny tractor from his stocking, returned to the stairs and played with it for about 45 minutes. Needless to say, Christmas morning took all day! But it was lots of fun. This Christmas was overshadowed by all of his milestones. While we were busy with bows and cookies and decorations, Benjamin became more independent. He learned how to take the gate off the stairs and will not allow it to go back up. If I am upstairs, he

is downstairs and vise versa. He can get into his car seat all by himself, and lets me k

now it. He has no need for a high chair or booster seat or shopping cart or stroller; That part is pretty frustrating :( He is way to little to not need those things. His favorite place in the world is the library, yesterday he seemed to be asking to go there, took me all day to figure that out which was frustrating for both of us. On the 23rd he slept through the night for the first time in his whole life, Ten pm until six a.m. I am hoping for more nights like that. Words seems to be stringing together into sentences, words we did not even know that he knew. All this is in the past two weeks! I can tell that 2009 is going to be a fun year for us, watching our little baby learn how to communicate with the world.

We hope the New year brings happiness joy and good health to all who read this!

The Aitchison's

Etsy

2008-12-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I have been posting Photographs and other handmade things on an awesome website called Etsy. There are so many people from around the world creating beautiful things and selling them on this site. It is pretty cool, check it out. I added an etsy mini to my blog as a link.

Benjamin and I have spent our fall and early winter playing outside in the woods and taking photographs. This week with the temperatures reaching into the single digits, we have not gotten out as much. This weekend it is suposed to reach the nice warm toasty 30's, we will venture out then I am sure. :)

I will attach a photo from the last ice storm we had. Everything around us has been candy coated in ice. It is beautiful to me, but of course that is because I have not had to drive anywhere this week.

Hope everyones holidays are warm, healthy, and happy!

Painting Tiger Lily .... or, bubbles bubbles bubbles

2008-09-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

Our friends have opened a super awesome children's store. My husband and I (with some help from our son as a hand model) did some painting and design work for them. Here are some snapshots from Tiger Lily Kids. It is located right next to their other store Tiger Lily. Both stores have several articles of cool clothes designed by local artists, as well as lots of merchandise.

Nap time on the job. I guess it is hard to work to be a hand model. I am sure he didn't mind coming to work with us though, this may be the only time in his childhood that Benjamin is allowed to have free range of a children's store after hours. :)

An Unforgettable Day!

2008-07-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

FINALLY ... A Painting!

Now that my sweet little baby boy is becomeing a toddler, I am finding moments of time to sketch in my sketchbook, and work on some artwork. Learning how to use pastels. They are a lot of fun. I feel like I am getting a bit of "paint" time in my 20 minutes of artistic freedom. It is pretty easy to quickly walk away then resume the next day. No brushes to wash, no wet paint to put away. I think I might keep learning about this medium for a while :) I am not sure if this painting is finished, or maybe I will restart it, but I am not sure where else to go with it, so I am going to take a break.

This is from a set of photos that I took on a fantastic day in March 2007 along the beach. I felt so restless that day. Such a long, long winter. Everything started to thaw, then quickly refroze. There was a paper thin layer of sparkling ice on everything, even the air. It seemed like you could literally feel the intense energy below the thin ice layers, just waiting to break through. As I walked and walked along the lakeshore I felt connected to Mother Earth and what she was going through.I felt that all of nature understood what I was going through. A few days later my son was born on a beautiful 70 degree day.

Spring Morning. Vote!!!

2008-05-06T14:27:00.001-07:00

Aquarian Sibling Birthday card

2008-01-30T11:50:00.000-08:00

Collage Birthday card for little brother.

Some Aquarians' Birthday cards

2008-01-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a collage birthday card. Some photoshop as well as solid materials.

waking up with baby & sea gulls

2008-01-15T10:07:00.002-08:00

A quick Pastel sketch from a lovely fall day.
A beautiful, still morning, just warm enough to sit outside with the baby. The sea gulls were just waking up.

Pretty soon it will be warm enough to return to this spot & Ben can actually chase the sea gulls :)
I can't wait.

Nursing in the Cosmos

2008-01-15T09:35:00.001-08:00

This is the only oil painting I did in 2007.
Benjamin was in my lap most of the the day. I really enjoyed that beautiful summer day. We sat on the porch under a fan. The full sun burned all the colors in the yard forward. It was one of those long days when the light never seems to change. The Cosmos flowers we gave my Mother in law for Mothers day were in full bloom and dancing even though there was no breeze.