This Will Make You Hungry

Visual Journal Challenge #2
(If you have no idea what I'm talking about visit here)

That Girl was so disappointed that we are not going to go out this very minute and buy her new high-tops that she refused to pick today's challenge.

Did you notice that it's not even 9 am?

And who needs a pair of high tops in the summer, anyway? That's just weird.

So, I saved the day and picked from the Magic Bowl. Have fun with this one.

 

All we really need is butter right now. But, I am now on a cholesterol reduced diet (hello, forties!) so I really shouldn't even get that. Then again, I do have French ancestry and you really can't claim you're French if you don't have butter in the house, right?

Lost focus again, didn't I.

Well, at least you know who you're dealing with.

Bonne chance!

GO!

Day one and we are psyched. Well, some of us are and some of us are still asleep. And by some of us, I mean That One and The Other One.

We're used to that.

That Girl could not wait to attack the Magic Bowl and dove right in once she was appropriately robed up enough to take a picture.

Note to self: We've gotta do something about that nail polish.

Here y'all go - Challenge #1.

Another note to self: do something about that nail polish after all the gluing.

Have fun, get messy and please share.

You can email your creations to caroline@shopzazu.com. We'll post a round up at the end of the week. Can't start today? Just jump in when you can ...

Get Set ...

We've got our journals.

We've personalized them.

We're ready to roll!

2011 Visual Journal Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

Who's joining us?

On Your Mark ...

I told you I'd be back ...

I hope you will follow me, my kiddos, and some creative pals this summer as we tackle our ...

2011 Visual Journals (imagine inserting James Earl Jones' voice here)

See. I told you this was going to be fun.

My kids, This One and The Other One, and I have spent the last several summers working on this project together. This year, I will including my younger two kids, The White Sheep and That Girl. Together our ages will range from 6 to 44 years old. Not including you, of course. I don't know how old you are.

Here's the gist:

Every weekday I will post a challenge.

You will accept that challenge.

You will email me a photo of your completed challenge. (caroline@shopzazu.com)

On the weekends I will do a roundup of all photos I receive.

We'll all share.

It'll be fun. (There will probably be random prizes along the way. TEASE!)

You need details?

The challenges may or may not be artistic in nature. (How vague was that?)

You may use any form of media you like. (Go ahead, paint using maple syrup. It won't fuss me)

If you've got them, please get your kids involved.

If you've got friends that would enjoy this - get them in on the game.

Enjoy playing along and don't sweat it. Perfection is not important. Trying is.

Need an example?

One of us randomly pulls a challenge out of the magic bowl. If the puller doesn't like it they may try to sneakily chuck it back in and pick another one. Although I try to police everything - no promises on that one. Often times, The Other One decided that he has a much better idea and wants us to try it his way. As long as it doesn't involve setting anything on fire, we usually go along with it. 

Here's the magic bowl.

And here's our dog. Her name is Magic, too. 

And here's our other dog. We are convinced that he dreams about sleeping.

And here's our other dog. He looks ferocious at this angle, doesn't he? Never noticed that before ... no wonder the neighborhood kids are scared to come over.

Okay, lost focus there for a minute.

I do that sometimes.

Okay, a lot of times.

This is what a challenge or prompt will look like:

 

What materials do you need?

At our house we use a variety of journals. I feel strongly about using whatever we have on hand. I am using a book I enjoyed reading and was probably not ever going to read again. Also, it was one the NY Times Best Seller List for about 87 years, so I'm pretty sure everyone else has already read it to. Yes, Tom Hanks was in the movie. That wasn't as good.

The Other One says he is using his Middle School History/Civics binder. He did not open it the entire year of eight grade, so it's pretty fresh. (Note: you're going to hear a lot about The Other One. He's pretty fresh, himself.)

You don't have to use a bound journal.  You don't have to use paper. We do because with all the people and things that reside in this house, we would absolutely lose them tout de suite. Also, we like to go back and "read" them again. Reflection is good for the soul, you know. But then again, sometimes you've got to just let stuff go. Decide that for yourself.

As for the other stuff you may need, well, that could be anything. Pencils, markers, pens, crayons, glue, glitter, collage materials - whatever makes you happiest.

We have all kinds of collected things all over our house that I hope will sacrifice themselves for great art this summer.

Yes, you may even paint with stuff you find around your kitchen.

And this is what it may look like when it's done: 

Or it won't look anything like that because it is YOURS! 

This challenge starts on:

Monday, June 20th

To repeat: 

Monday, June 20th

  

A Creative Kick-Start!

Hi. It's Caroline. Owner of Zazu and Trollbeads Studio.

I was just sitting here wondering how to keep all my kiddos occupied and brain-fed for the entire summer, keep the fun stuff happening at Zazu while I am at home tending to said kiddos, and start up my newest website - Trollbeads Studio. And ... how am I going to do all of that at the same time?

Meanwhile, over at the Zazu blog, it was getting pretty quiet.

Hear that?

Yup, crickets.

Posting was sparse. Comments were sparser. Ideas were sparsest.

This is me. (I swiped this pic off the internet. It sums the sitch up.)

Luckily, I know where to go whenever the "stuff I gotta do" is pulling me in a number of directions. That's right. I hit the Crayolas pretty hard.

You didn't expect me to say Crayolas, did you? 

I can be funny that way.

So, in normal-person terms, I can explain it this way; whenever I get stuck, I turn my creative juices way up in a seemingly different direction. This seems to un-stick me from wherever I am and I have a pretty good time in the process.

And you get to follow along.

How'd you get so lucky?

Details tomorrow. I promise. Get your juices and your Crayolas.

Viva La Vera!

Meanwhile, back at the Zazu ranch, we've had a couple of days to assess the success of our first EVER Vera Bradley launch.

How fast can you say "stampede"?

Those who know us wouldn't say we exaggerate. They may think it, but they'd never say it.

We can state, however, in total candor which of the new products in the Vera Bradley Spring Release really tripped our trigger.
   
1. Deco Daisy - Black and white and red all over with a deliriously fun daisy design! Simply striking, it combines both Asian and art deco influences into a bold, lively arrangement that will be a delight to carry through summer, fall, winter and spring. Inside, a statement-making, classic houndstooth pattern.

 

2. Tech Organizer - Techie + Organized = Bliss! Here's the sitch on this gem:

• Four elastic mesh pockets hold everything from power cords to flash drives
• Double-zip closure opens like a book, while the two carrying handles keep it moving
• Includes an ID window
• Two elastic bands can hold a power cord adapter
• Great for storing a handheld gaming system and games

#3. PARTY CUPS!!!!! Maybe it's because I went to college in the South, where these are de rigeur, and by de rigeur, I mean a must must do for any and all get-togethers. Maybe it's because I've got four kids who have a constant case of the dropsies. Or ... maybe it's because I live in one of those kinds of neighborhoods where on a beautiful Friday afternoon you and your posse naturally gravitate on one another's back decks to, um, discuss HOA issues and such.

Whatever the reason, I LOVE THESE PARTY CUPS. (Did I mention that they are dishwasher washable? That's kind of the best part ...)

And that's our top picks.

For now.

There's new stuff coming next weekish and we'll be sure to send you the hot skinny on that, too.

A New Holiday Tradition!