Well, here it is, September 19, and Fall (or Autumn) will begin in just a few days. Although the cooler temperatures are better for running, walking, and other outdoor activities, I am not sure that I'm ready for Summer to be gone.
Summer is my favorite season. I love the sunny skies, warm weather, and water ready for swimming. Overall, this has been a busy summer full of trips and catching up with friends while working on the full time job search. It is just so hard to think that really cold weather will be here before long.
Alas, I have had to start thinking about Fall anyway. Tonight I just got Mr. Pumpkin, my harbinger of Fall, posted to the Lucky Jones™ website. On the past two Saturdays, I have exhibited the art books in shows. Now, it is time to work on additional products for the Lucky Jones™portfolio.
So long Summer. I'll miss you.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
It's About Time!
Yes, I'll type it again - It's About Time! It's about time that I get an updated blog entry published. Although the April Fool's Day entry was good (sorry to those that actually thought that I had made another O's book club), it shouldn't have been out there for three months without follow up.
Anyway, I've spent the last few months attending trade shows and thinking about refocusing my business. I'm excited about my new ideas, but it will take a little bit of time to get them implemented. In the meantime, I'll be out here in blog-land writing about what comes to mind and keeping you updated. Hope you'll keep reading!
Anyway, I've spent the last few months attending trade shows and thinking about refocusing my business. I'm excited about my new ideas, but it will take a little bit of time to get them implemented. In the meantime, I'll be out here in blog-land writing about what comes to mind and keeping you updated. Hope you'll keep reading!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Lucky Jones™ Art Books Added to Prestigious Oproh Book Club
Chicago, IL: Lucky Jones™ Art Books have been added as a selection to Oproh’s Book Club for the month of April. The Lucky Jones™ books join others such as Found in the Jungle by Jennifer Smith, The Wonderful Man by Lisa Johnson, and An Airplane Ride to Nowhere by Joe Bob Skye on the Books to Watch list.
“I am so excited that Oproh is going to put her microphone down and replace it with crayons,” said Kim J., creator of Lucky Jones™ Art Books. “Both The Lucky Jones Everyday Animals Art Book and The Lucky Jones Silly Space Art Book will offer her an outlet to develop such skills as hand / eye coordination and right brain creativity,” added Ms. Jones.
Developed in 2009, Lucky Jones™ Art Books are not ordinary coloring books. Kim J. personally hand draws all of the artwork and then reproduces it into coloring book form, adding in “imagination pages” that allow the artist to create his or her own masterpiece. To learn more or to order, visit www.luckyjonesart.com.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Being Green for a Day
Well, St. Patrick's Day is almost over - except for those that are in later time zones or are still enjoying green beverages such as Kool-Aid. This morning, I realized how hard it is to find green clothes in your closet when you actually need them. Any other day, it would have been easy. Today...noooo.
I had a quasi-casual / professional luncheon to attend, so the first thing that popped out at me - a green t-shirt - was a no go. (Thinking about it now, the green Cabbage Key t-shirt might have been very appropriate if corned beef had been for lunch. Ha!) Finally, I found the green crop pants I own. But wait - it wasn't that easy! Should I wear crop pants to this event? Was it spring-like enough in Nashville to wear them out? Did they make me look fat? Ugh!!!
Finally, I decided to wear the green crop pants with a long sleeved white shirt. Overall a decent decision. However, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to worry about finding green clothes once a year? The frog that has been on the home page of the Lucky Jones™ website is lucky. He didn't have to worry about what he was going to wear today. I colored him green from the beginning! Plus, I was nice enough to add a hat with a shamrock to his outfit. Froggy really should be thanking me. Look at all the time I saved him! Plus, he doesn't look fat in his outfit!!!
I had a quasi-casual / professional luncheon to attend, so the first thing that popped out at me - a green t-shirt - was a no go. (Thinking about it now, the green Cabbage Key t-shirt might have been very appropriate if corned beef had been for lunch. Ha!) Finally, I found the green crop pants I own. But wait - it wasn't that easy! Should I wear crop pants to this event? Was it spring-like enough in Nashville to wear them out? Did they make me look fat? Ugh!!!
Finally, I decided to wear the green crop pants with a long sleeved white shirt. Overall a decent decision. However, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to worry about finding green clothes once a year? The frog that has been on the home page of the Lucky Jones™ website is lucky. He didn't have to worry about what he was going to wear today. I colored him green from the beginning! Plus, I was nice enough to add a hat with a shamrock to his outfit. Froggy really should be thanking me. Look at all the time I saved him! Plus, he doesn't look fat in his outfit!!!
(Froggy has ditched his hat for this special blog appearance)
Alas, Froggy's days on the website are numbered. However, if you missed him there, he is always found in The Lucky Jones Everyday Animals Art Book. With the art book, you can dress Froggy in any color you want! (Have you ever seen a blue frog with orange polka dots???)
Good night!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Developing Your Own Creativity
This past week, artist and author Whitney Ferré launched a new online Creatively Fit Program. Whitney has been teaching others to use their right brains for years, and now her teachings are even more accessible to those throughout the world. If you are looking to bring your own creativity to the surface, check out what Whitney has to offer.
While developing the art book idea, I was fortunate to have a conversation with Whitney in Nashville where she was kind enough to share her viewpoint on coloring books with me. Thinking about this conversation, the idea of imagination pages for the art books was born. Although traditional coloring books do develop skills such as hand eye coordination, they also do not let the artist freely express himself or herself. By including a small element of the previous coloring page as a starting point, I thought that the artist could then use his or her own imagination to create a new masterpiece. So far, this has been well received.
Now that you have creativity on your mind, get out there and express yourself. Use your own right brain. Visit Whitney's website and look for her upcoming book on Creative Kids. Color outside of the lines!!!
While developing the art book idea, I was fortunate to have a conversation with Whitney in Nashville where she was kind enough to share her viewpoint on coloring books with me. Thinking about this conversation, the idea of imagination pages for the art books was born. Although traditional coloring books do develop skills such as hand eye coordination, they also do not let the artist freely express himself or herself. By including a small element of the previous coloring page as a starting point, I thought that the artist could then use his or her own imagination to create a new masterpiece. So far, this has been well received.
Now that you have creativity on your mind, get out there and express yourself. Use your own right brain. Visit Whitney's website and look for her upcoming book on Creative Kids. Color outside of the lines!!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Connection Between a Concert and Creativity?
After a challenging search for tickets, a friend and I were able to attend the Billy Joel / Elton John concert in Kansas City this past Saturday night. This was the fifth time in about 16 years that I'd seen the two play together in concert. The show is that good.
When I started thinking about what to write for this installment of the blog, this particular concert came to mind. At the show, both performers shared their talent and the fruits of their creativity. Two piano men, two songwriters. Many of the songs they have composed are classics that everyone can sing along with either in the shower, in the car, or at the show.
The good thing is that everyone is creative in their own way. Some just may show it in a more public way than others. How do you show your creativity? Let everyone know by replying to this post!
P.S. Oh, let me turn off my Zippo Lighter App on my iPod Touch. The concert is over.
When I started thinking about what to write for this installment of the blog, this particular concert came to mind. At the show, both performers shared their talent and the fruits of their creativity. Two piano men, two songwriters. Many of the songs they have composed are classics that everyone can sing along with either in the shower, in the car, or at the show.
The good thing is that everyone is creative in their own way. Some just may show it in a more public way than others. How do you show your creativity? Let everyone know by replying to this post!
P.S. Oh, let me turn off my Zippo Lighter App on my iPod Touch. The concert is over.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
From Wire Harnesses to Art Books - Huh?
Okay, the first thing you may be wondering is....what is a wire harness? Well, a wire harness is a bundle of cut and terminated wires that is used in the electrical system of your vehicle (car, pickup, heavy truck, RV, snowmobile, etc.) Without wire harnesses, you would be stuck in one place if you depend upon motorized transportation. When I accepted my last corporate job, I had no idea what a wire harness was. However, over nine+ years, I learned more than I ever needed.
So after nine years, one would think that I would be sad about being laid off - or should I say - having my position eliminated. Actually no. It was just the beginning of a new adventure.
With this new found freedom, I thought a lot about what to do next. The obvious answer was to get another corporate job. One location that I decided to target was Chicago, so I created posts on LinkedIn looking for networking contacts. Ann Farrell, owner of Quantum Endeavors, was nice enough to respond - and not for the free food and/or drinks that I had offered in the posts. Before meeting with Ann, I really hadn't thought about engaging an executive coach. Ann didn't even try to sell me on it. However, I became intrigued about the idea of having an objective outsider help me figure out what to do next and how to not relive some of the career mistakes I had made in the past.
Early in working with Ann, she talked about "doing what you love". Coming out of that conversation were memories of a trip to visit my friends that live in Paris. (Hooray for frequent flyer miles and friends that live in cool places!) During the visit, I started drawing for their daughter, who would then take over the coloring duties. When I left, I decided that I would create a coloring book for her. Eureka! I love to draw, and coloring books would be a good fit for my natural style. This became my new business.
Although I continue to look for corporate positions and other opportunities, I plan to pursue the art book path because it's fun. Just know that if I can make the leap from boring wire harnesses to fun art books, you can make a change and start doing what you love too! (Oh, and if you have wire harness issues, please don't contact me. I'm an artist now!)
So after nine years, one would think that I would be sad about being laid off - or should I say - having my position eliminated. Actually no. It was just the beginning of a new adventure.
With this new found freedom, I thought a lot about what to do next. The obvious answer was to get another corporate job. One location that I decided to target was Chicago, so I created posts on LinkedIn looking for networking contacts. Ann Farrell, owner of Quantum Endeavors, was nice enough to respond - and not for the free food and/or drinks that I had offered in the posts. Before meeting with Ann, I really hadn't thought about engaging an executive coach. Ann didn't even try to sell me on it. However, I became intrigued about the idea of having an objective outsider help me figure out what to do next and how to not relive some of the career mistakes I had made in the past.
Early in working with Ann, she talked about "doing what you love". Coming out of that conversation were memories of a trip to visit my friends that live in Paris. (Hooray for frequent flyer miles and friends that live in cool places!) During the visit, I started drawing for their daughter, who would then take over the coloring duties. When I left, I decided that I would create a coloring book for her. Eureka! I love to draw, and coloring books would be a good fit for my natural style. This became my new business.
Although I continue to look for corporate positions and other opportunities, I plan to pursue the art book path because it's fun. Just know that if I can make the leap from boring wire harnesses to fun art books, you can make a change and start doing what you love too! (Oh, and if you have wire harness issues, please don't contact me. I'm an artist now!)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Welcome to the Blog!
Hello and welcome to the Lucky Jones™ Art Books blog. This is my first time writing for a blog, so this should be an adventure - just like creating the books. Hopefully I can keep you entertained and/or informed.
Thank you to everyone that has supported me during the last few months. The idea of creating art books came quickly, and it has been fun. I look forward to to the road ahead.
Until the next entry...
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