Are you a parent of an Autistic child?

 I really recommend the blog  I came across called Autismepicenter and they  have lots of information on Autism.

• What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
• Autism Treatments and Interventions
• Autism Potty Training; Help
• Autism toys
• Autism Types: Clearing Up the Confusion
• And much more.

http://www.autismepicenter.com/autism-treatments.shtml

Are you a fan of the Pretty Little Liars

Alison's Pretty Little Diary


You can read Alison's Diary on ABC Family

http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/pretty-little-liars/photos/alisons-pretty-little-diary/473081/473004

College Days and The African Thinker

This weekend I was invited to a farewell party for a lovely young lady who is flying off miles away for college. Having recalled my own college days (a looong time ago) in a foreign country I wanted to make a gift for her that would be unique and at the same time remind her of home. I was going for something intellectual but at the same time cool (since this is a teenager). I must confess it was somewhat of  a challenge for me and having had a number of sleepless nights I ended up dozing off at my computer, when I woke up the image of Auguste Rodin's, Thinker came to my mind and I was like that's it! I will do a metal art card version of "The Thinker," with a graduation poem inside and a "cool" quote on the front. I also decided to use an earthy palette. I am glad to say she liked the art card! Quite an accomplishment pleasing a teen. I hope the words will carry her through her college years and I wish her much success and happiness as she embarks on this exciting new journey. All the best Wendy!

 Wendy's Thinker: Quote reads, "Question Everything."

Sienna Thinker: To Buy Artwork E-mail minjete@gmail.com ($30)

Description: 4 by 4 inches, Embossed Metal Miniature Painting

Blue Poet Thinker: To Buy Artwork E-mail minjete@gmail.com ($30)

Description: 4 by 4 inches, Metal Miniature Art

At the same time that I was thinking of an art gift for Wendy I was mulling over what to make for a new friend who was nice enough to share with me some of his wisdom a few weeks ago. He was described to me as an, "artistic genius who is ahead of his time," and lest I embarrass him I will stop there. Anyway having met him and in line with the genius description I thought I would create a metal art, Africanized version of "The Thinker," for him. Since I was also told he used to have dreadlocks I titled the piece, "African Thinker/Maina with Dreadlocks." I am at the sketch stage, I still have to transfer it to metal and then decide on a paint color. I will add the pictures of the completed metal art piece once it is done. You can find art gifts with the the "Thinker Art Pieces" at my Zazzle Store.

Thinking of You_African Art Postcards by Injete by Injete
More African art Postcards

Beware Thinking Man: Miniature Metal African Painting

 African Thinker: Handmade Metal African Art Card

Again??? Really???

Ok so what's up?  Forbes,  really? All of a sudden we're on everyone's radar! Very cool though! check it out here.

Flashback

It was late 1960's early 1970's.  There is a picture of me with peasant top, bellbottom jeans and "frizzed hair" the style of the times, I would braid my hair in as many braids as i could and then let it dry and unbraid it for effect.  Yeah, I was cool.  Artist in training.  I stood in the picture amongst my best friend and siblings, all who looked quite "normal". My Nanny cringed at my independence and free thinking.  She would tap me on my bare belly when I wore short shirts and very low bell bottoms and lecture me about how I looked.  It didn't matter. I knew who I was then and it didn't matter to me what anyone thought.  Boy those were the days!

In junior high we had all the required classes to take in a specific order, the usual curriculum, plus the girls had home economics (sewing and cooking) and the boys had woodshop. I loved home ec. we all had to sew an apron, mine was a purple calico with a heart shaped pocket with the word love embroidered on it. It was one of several chosen to be on display during a PTA luncheon for all the Mom's. ( my apron round robin friends will enjoy this)  Invaluable lessons were learned in those classes and I feel sorry for today's students who because of budget cuts and other reckless decisions don't get to experience this.

Then came freedom.  We could choose what we wanted to pursue further. well, I wanted woodshop. The times were just starting to change and it was a whole new experience to let a girl into woodshop.  The first day of the new semester, I was on my way excitedly to class when I was met at the door by the teacher, my guidance counselor and another student, a boy.  well it seems they overbooked the class and a choice had to be made. I knew as they all stared at me as they told me of the dilemma that they expected me to bow out gracefully.  Sorry fellas, not happenin. So it was decided to flip a coin, i won and promptly excused myself and went in to take a seat in class.

My mother loves to tell the story of how at Christmas break, all the boys got off the bus with a jewelry box they had proudly made for their Mom's for Christmas. Me? I got off the bus with an end table!  I loved woodshop and continued to take it until I went to high school where it was no longer offered.  In addition to the end table, I made a coffee table, 3 legged stool,  a reproduction of the art stools in our art class, a baseball bat on the lathe for my brother, bowls and mini woodturned vases.  I spent every available minute in that shop, even skipping lunch to work there.

At home I was embroidering on my jeans, making candles and in general probably driving my family crazy with my next "project"

My muse was loud and strong and I followed her with conviction.

In high school things changed though. The art teacher was intimidating, you could hear him yelling all the way down the hallway. It was a known fact that he only liked students with "real" talent, so i never signed up for any art classes. I would walk down the art hall, with the metalsmithing studio and the art studio and wish i was in there. I envied all those students who were. But I didn't feel "good enough" for the class.

OK, so i'll pursue that nursing thing instead. I got on the college prep track, became a candy striper in my free time and set my sights on my future.

In my first year of high school I was grounded for 2 weeks for spending the night at a friends' house so that i could go see the midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I was told i couldn't go and I went anyway.

So I spent my prison time painting the ceiling in my room. My bedroom had a dormered ceiling and i painted a scene of the Emerald city with the yellow brick road on one side and the hookah smoking caterpillar on the toadstool with Alice and all the beautiful flowers on the other all with my acrylics.

I still wore my independence proudly, making clothes that were my own style, wearing my hair the way I wanted but my muse was being silenced. Little by little her voice was growing more faint.  I started to conform. I was growing up right?

So here I am, all grown up, desperately trying to find my muse again, needing to follow her on MY path. I know I am heading in the right direction. This blog is my connection to her. There are moments now when i can hear her screaming in my ears but the words are still undecipherable. I have faith though. I am just so grateful to know she hasn't left me completely.

Back to School Snacks

Chew on Your Pencil

Ingredients

• Cheese sticks
• 1/2-inch-thick slices of bologna
• Mustard
• Bugles corn snacks
• Raisins

Instructions


For each pencil, cut off one end of a cheese stick so that it's flat. Use a paring knife or apple corer to cut a 3/4-inch circle out of the bologna.
Dab one end of the circle into the mustard, then attach it to the flat end of the cheese stick.
Snap off the end of a Bugle so that its edges are even, and gently press it onto the other end of the cheese stick. Slide half a raisin onto the Bugle for the pencil tip, and you've got a snack that's just write!

Back to School Snacks

PB & J Blossom Sandwiches

Ingredients

• Bread
• Peanut butter or cream cheese
• Jelly or jam
• Water bottle cap

Instructions


For each sandwich, cut two slices of bread into flower shapes with a cookie cutter.

Cut a hole in one of the slices by pressing a water bottle cap into the center.
Spread the peanut butter and jelly on the whole piece and place the slice with the hole on top.