snapshot | insects, horses and me

to learn more about "snapshot" click here

one | i spent a good number of hours cutting out these little bees as part of my mothers day mail art project. come back monday to see the final result!

two | these are the stamps i used for above mentioned envelopes - perfect fit right?

three | recent days on the island have hinted at spring/summer but some days it's like winter again and i wrap myself up in the cowl made by my friend louise.

four | louise and i did a photo shoot for the newspaper about local galleries - we didn't know it was going to be on the front page!

five | the something good wrapping paper has been pretty popular - these are my test stamps.

six | an amazing papier mache sculpture by one of the arts at the gallery i work at. it's a life sized foal!

art vs. art | erica lawlor schmidt vs. alexis anne mackenzie

before i introduce one of my favourite new series - have you signed up to receive and "send something good?" you have until midnight tonight to join one hundred and fifty other bloggers in this amazing postal project! 

it's time for art vs art! just like the last session of this game, these two artists have created a very similar* body of work. both use the same type of composition, both are influenced by nature, and both sets are done in collage. but there are also some distinct differences in style! erika lawlor schmidt, whom i've written about before - has a very clean cut and whimsical style. whereas alexis anne mackenzie's images are more loose and eerie. the question of the day is...which do you prefer and why??

erika lawlow schmidt 

all images via the artist's website

alexis anne mackenzie

all images via the artist's website

* they also both have three names!

musings | body secrets

wanna know a secret? i love my body. not always, but in rare moments of clarity i am overwhelmed with love for my own body. i'll be laying on the couch with my hands resting on my belly and i'll suddenly think: what a great soft belly i have - what could be more real than this tummy with its excellent squish factor and definite paunch?

of course these moments of crystalized vision can only arise under very specific circumstances. when i'm not comparing myself to celebrities, or models or even other woman i know (or don't know!). when i forget about health and wellness and rising obesity rates. when i pretend the concept of needing to be attractive in a certain kind of way even exists. only then can i love my curves and my flesh and every single piece of me for what it naturally wants to be.

it might just be me. but i've always liked the organic shapes of bodies when left to do their own thing. tactile-y speaking, i like chubby necks, and pudgy cheeks and droopy upper arms. places for squeezing and kissing and loving offer me a siren call. i like to play with a person's skin and muscle and find myself generally in awe of the human body. specifically my own - not everyday, but at times, on occasion, once-in-a-while, when i let myself just be.

p.s. have you signed up yet for something good? only two more days left before the deadline!

snail mail | manner from germany

i've been holding off on posting about this wonderful package because it includes a gift for my husband's birthday next sunday. but that doesn't make any sense because he doesn't read my blog! christina, from whimsical poppysmic and i did a package swap. she recently moved back to germany and she and her daughter leonie were desperately missing north american staples such as mac n cheese, reese's pieces and crystal light. she posted about the package i sent her here.

i'm embrassed to say that because i waited to post this - i've eaten most of the goodies chrissy sent! there was lots of chocolate, some wicked pen/markers and some amazing german fizzy drink mix (seriously, it's sooo good!). but the most important part was these chocolate and hazelnut manner wafers. my husband just loves them but they are almost impossible to find. i'm so excited to present them to him on his birthday - i just know he'll be ecstatic!

thanks christina!!

slide school | piet mondrian

slide school is a bi-weekly education session (with myself ;) in which i attempt to remember bits and pieces i learned about specific artworks in my university art history classes. i get to peek at my notes, but not online. for more details about slide school - visit this post.

image via

*if you are doing some sort of school project and ended up here, please note i cannot guarantee that any of this information below is even remotely accurate!

title | okay...all of his works are titled pretty much the same "red, yellow and blue" 

artist | piet modrian

date | hmmm, my guess is about 1943

medium | no idea - these modern masters used acrylics and gouache but some of them stuck with old favourites like oil. i'm going to say that mondrian was an oil man. 

art historical period | modern

three facts | mondrian's work is not about being a literal representation of things but rather a celebration of line and colour. i was taught that if you squint and put your thumb in front of your face to cover one of the colours than the painting will appear incomplete. for mondrian, every thing was completely intentional. the goal is rhythm, not pattern.

corrections

title | this one specifically is "composition no. iii with red, yellow and blue" creative huh?

artist | correct

date | 1935 (not too far off, but once you get into the twentieth century accuracy is key)

medium | cooooorrect!

art historical period | neoplasticism (really? okay fine)

blogger project | send something good

*the next send something good project will take place in fall 2012

foreward

hello isavirtue readers! for some of you, this post may be an unexpected surprise. for others, you have come specifically to hear the announcement of the "send something good" project. either way, i hope you all participate in what we anticipate to be one of the largest blogger postal swaps you've ever seen! we ask kindly that you read the whole post in order to get an understanding of the project. if you would like to refer back to the details of this awesome project - bookmark this page. there's buttons on that page as well!

for the rest - i'll let gentri lee, the creator of this project take it from here!

introduction

"I couldn't be more excited about this project. It's going to be a blast! But before I get into that, I want to explain where it came from... Some of you may have heard of a little project called "Package Pals". Last fall a blogger from Germany and myself exchanged packages. They were filled with our favorite treats - treats the other blogger had always wanted to try from our own country, plus some other goodies that were specific to our country. When I posted about it on my blog, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 


The reaction was AMAZING! Everyone wanted their own package pal. So the very next day, Package Pals was born. Over 50 bloggers signed up, I gave them partners, asked them to get to know each other, and then send a box filled with goodies. I was blown away by the creativity. People sent items like: Fry Sauce- a Utah favorite, Sea Shells from the California Coast, Seeds from the state flower of Michigan, home made Maple Syrup from Canada, and so much more! We all had such a great time and everyone couldn't wait for the next round... 


But I was exhausted. It was no easy task, there were bumps along the way, and now that I am in school, I do not have the time it takes to organize another round. A month or so ago I received an email from Kaitlyn. She and Kristy had both participated in the first round, knew my dilemma of not having time (or the technical skills) to pull it off myself again, and had a lot of great and new ideas of how to run it this next time around. 


I was THRILLED, and "Package Pals" become the "Send Something Good" project! (Lets face it, Package Pals wasn't the best name to begin with. haha! Remember, I brought this project to life in less than 24 hrs) They both have the exact qualities and abilities to make this project be what I know it can be. So with new ideas, direction, and a fresh new name, "Send Something Good" is ready to launch! A big thank you to Kaitlyn and Kristy, this wouldn't be happening without them. 

It's going to be a little different this time around. Instead of having a "partner" it's going to be round robin. Everyone will have a different blogger that they're assigned to "get to know" kind of like a secret sister. Read their blog, find out their interests, email back and forth, but don't tell them WHY. When shopping for your blogger, take into account not only their interests, but things that are specific to your area of the world. 


This project is ALL about bringing us together, making friends all over the world, and learning something new about somewhere you've never been. This doesn't require you to spend a lot of money. Get personal in what you include in your package. Maybe a favorite book that you don't mind passing on, a necklace you made, a package of seeds from your favorite flower, or a friendship bracelet! You also don't have to have a blogger from a different country. I know that can get expensive. So just specify your preference when you sign up. 


To sign up, read the fine print below, and then email sendsomethinggood2012(at)gmail(dot)com. you are also welcome to purchase send something good products from Kaitlyn's shoppe at 20% off with the discount code SENDSOMETHINGGOOD. They're the perfect addition to your "Send Something Good" package. :) The first week will be the best time to purchase, it might not reach you in time if you wait. This is going to be an AMAZING project, I can FEEL it! Don't forget to spread the word! "

dates & deadlines 

sign up deadline: april 11.12
opt out deadline: april 12.12
addresses assigned: april 16.12
photos due: april 29.12
mailing deadline: april 30.12
send something good reveal/link up: may 28.12

the fine print

in order for this awesome project to run smoothly, and to make sure everyone has a great time - there's a couple things to note:

one | email your blog address, your full name and your full snail mail home address to sendsomethinggood2012(at)gmail(dot)com. don't forget apartment numbers, street directions (N, W. etc.)

two | those who sign up will have until one week after the project is announced (april 5.12-april 12.12) to opt out (should you change your mind or find you will not have the time) once this time has past, we will consider you committed to the project.

three | if you opt out after april 12.12, this will be very sad. but more importantly, if you opt out at a later date, or don't send in your pictures by the deadline (april 29.12) or don't mail your parcel by the deadline (april 30.12) you will leave a blogger orphaned! *tear...

four | if a blogger should become orphaned for the above reasons, you promise to be open to the idea of sending another parcel out of the goodness of your heart. we hope this doesn't happen, but if it does, we will sent out an APB (mass email) and politely beg for someone to pick up the orphan and send them something good!

five | if you are planning a move in the next two months, it could get tricky because your parcel could technically arrive anytime in april or may. if this is the case, we would prefer that you wait until the next round of this project.

six | ideally you are a blogger, with a blog. that way, whoever gets your name will be able to learn about you through your online space. in addition, you will be able to link-up on reveal day (may 28.12) when we all share our something good parcels! if you still want to participate, but you don't have a blog, or an updated blog, please also include with your contact info five things about yourself and five types of material things that you love.

seven | once your assigned address and blogger has been sent to you (april 16.12), take a few days to get to know them through their blog! don't tell them that you have their name, it will make for a fun surprise! ;) you can also use this time to purchase great "send something good" themed items at shop.isavirtue.net

eight | please send photos of your wrapped items and wrapped parcel to sendsomethinggood2012(at)gmail(dot)com by april 29.12. this is simply motivational and will confirm that you are all set to mail your package. you may also send your photos earlier than this date :)

nine | there is no monetary minimum or maximum in which to spend on your parcel. you can re-purpose household items, make something by hand, purchase special trinkets or re-gift something that you think would better suit your assigned blogger. get to know your blogger and try to send them things that they might like, but you can also share things that mean something to you, or things that may not be available in their location!

art | jessica snow

these are fun aren't they? i felt the need to search for art that was specifically upbeat and even playful. as i mentioned yesterday, everything has been so serious and sad lately. i found jessica snow's work on the art cake and it seemed like the perfect pick me up! this first piece in particular - doesn't it just look like a party on a canvas? or little villages of confetti!

looks like i need something good in my life - if you do too, be sure to check back tomorrow for a fun surprise!

p.s. congratulations to kira from rain or shine who won the something good journal from monday's post!

 all images via

musings | changes

of course i had a different type of musings post planned for today. but sometimes other things come up that need to be addressed. isn't that the way life is? i should probably wait a bit before i post about this - let the dust settle if you will. but if i do that then i won't write about it and kristy says i need to be more personal and forthcoming on my blog.

on sunday, i found out that i would essentially be losing both of my jobs. not right away of course, but new things are afoot for both of the galleries i work at and it seems i might be lost in the waves of change. i can honestly say that the conclusion of this part of my life is through no fault of my own. if anything, for the past six months i have been delighted with my work, my schedule and where my career was headed.* but that's the arts industry for you - while always inspiring, it's never as stable as you would like it to be.

in addition, we just found out that our rent is going to be increased considerably. to add to the confusion and uncertainty, it seems inevitable that we will have to move. it feels to me like everything is falling to pieces all at once and i have no idea how to stay in control.

lots of decisions need to be made - perhaps this is the time to move away from our beloved island and back to where our families live. but that option comes with its own expenses and downsides of course. trying to find a job, in this market, in this location, in the industry i desire seems literally impossible and i'm feeling so lost and hopeless right now.

here's hoping i can find the energy to turn things around and redirect my life to a point where i feel happy and balanced once more.




* nowheresville apparently.

snail mail | script envelopes and vintage postage

i made these script style envelopes awhile ago but i haven't used all of them yet. i was just really excited to use my vintage canadian postage from send more mail - but i wanted the envelopes i put them on to be pretty and special. do you like them? my closest (in my heart) but farthest (in distance) friends can probably expect one of these in the near future. i just love sending something good!

speaking of that - i would like to send you something good too! i made an extra journal (see last image) and want to send it to one of you. click follow on the sidebar (if you don't already and leave one comment on this post telling me your favourite piece from the something good line. and don't forget to check back on thursday for the big blogger postal party reveal!

win me!

sunday sins | fast food

before i discuss the topic at hand - i need your help! on my original sin* list - i chose meat as one of the vices i should give up cold turkey** for two weeks. the reason i chose it was because it seems more admirable to be vegetarian and all of the politics surrounding food consciousness. but the truth is, i don't eat that much meat. it's actually quite unhealthy the things i substitute for meat and so if anything - i really need to eat more (happy meat anyways, as kristy would say).

so what should i give up instead?? ideas? the original list is here to avoid repeats.

for the past two weeks i tried to give up chocolate. hold now, don't jump to conclusions! i'd say i did quite well considering...(considering: i LOVE chocolate). i avoided eating chocolate about 70% of the days. and much of that consisted of chocolate chips in my chewy granola bar. although i must admit - it didn't help that christina sent me a care package from germany filled with chocolate! (more about that on an upcoming snail mail monday). this was a hard one - no doubt about it!! what do you replace chocolate with when that is what you are craving?

burgers and fries. steven magsig. oil on canvas. via

for the next two weeks i am giving up fast food. this includes the ones that aren't greasy and traditionally "bad for you"*** like subway and tim hortons and greek pitas. i'm hoping for an ace on this one and we just went grocery shopping last night so there's no reason for me to eat outside the house for the next two weeks!



* a little biblical humour anyone?
** haha - the irony!
*** you know what isn't bad for you? in fact - it's something good...