Ali the Artist

Many of you know me as one of the LolliDoo® Diapers co-founders. You may not know that I am also a formally trained artist. BL (before LolliDoo®) I was a relatively successful graphic designer.

Part of working through my grief after my brother's death last October, has been going back to my roots. I'd like to share some of my art.


These are all semi self portraits that I did in colored pencils. 

This next group is all acrylic on canvas of varying size. Some of my acrylics are available for purchase on Etsy.

I was very upset by all the anti-gay, anti-breastfeeding sentiments lately and these are my responses. (also available for sale). All acrylic on canvas of varying size. If you'd like more information or are interested in a commissioned piece please email me.

Lastly - a self portrait 

Checking In

Personal:

I haven't been blogging lately - mostly because when I've been inspired to be creative, I've been painting. You can see some of my work on my new website: alisonmanes.comhttp://artist.alisonmanes.com/

I am not a web designer so please be patient with me as I muddle through creating website.

Also - today is my grandfather's 94th birthday and next week my grandmother will be 91. I am feeling so blessed and grateful to have them both still in my life. This is a video of them singing to eachother in 2010:


I am still very much grieving my brother and while I can now function like a human being - I am not feeling motivated to do much. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and prayers; I know that I will snap out of it at some point, just not now.

LolliDoo:

I just finished a Spring Catalog for LolliDoo® and LadyDoo® Rags - take a peek if you are so inclined: GGSI Spring

Also - soon we will be offering embroidered Flair for LollliDuos™... stay tuned for that announcement.

That is about all that's new in the Manes house. Thank you for staying with me through this trying time.

Some Funnies From My Littles

Zoe age 6

Zoe told me that she wanted Aqua Sand for her birthday. I reminded her that she just had a birthday in May. She said, "that's not fair! Why do I always have to use the same date for my birthday?

“Mom, not letting me draw on my body is crushing my creative soul.”

“Mom, I got a comb stuck on the top of my head”-I’m driving Zoe, I’ll get it out when I get home. “OK mom, I’ll just be a helicopter then”

I'm driving kids to school and there is a police car behind me. Zoe yells, "step on it mom, we have to lose the Po-Po".

 

Talia age 4 

"Mom pretend I have a penis but I'm still a girl"

My husband Chuck was cleaning a DVD for Talia. She told him to wipe it on her shirt. Chuck explained that he needed a special cloth to clean it properly. Talia said, "why is everything special with you?" He told her that she was special. Talia replied, "I'm not special, I'm Jewish!"

Dinnertime at the Manes house... Talia, "can I tell you a story?" Sure I replied. "Ok. Once upon a time there was a girl named Kiki. Kiki stuck her head in the toiled and ate a poop. Her hair got wet. The end."  

Talia recently told me that before she was born she went to heaven and asked God if Alison Manes could be her mommy. Sigh. 

 

Talia wearing her goggles as a headband while at a restaurant

 

Road Signs and Sightings from AZ to AR

Chuck, the Littles, Middles and I drove from Tucson to Springdale, AR and back this summer. We saw a few interesting things on the way... enjoy, I sure did.

Just starting out

I saw this sign and thought that it was a joke. Chuck had to explain that it was actually two town; Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte.

This was my FAVORITE - we saw it right in Springdale as we drove in. The locals didn't understand why we had to stop and take a photo.

Littles and Middles happily road-tripping

Self-portrait when I was bored

I don't even know - this was in an abandoned lot somewhere in New Mexico

Unusual

Uncle Sam holding a chili pepper in Hatch, NM

That is one big bottle of booze!

Random figurines in Hatch, NM

On a closer look - I think that is Colonel Sanders with a Chili wreath

The world's largest cross - I think that this was in Texas somewhere

I Met My Work Wife Online

Although I wasn't looking for a business partner at the time - in the age of Match.com and eHarmony it's not that far fetched that I met my work wife on the internet.

It began in 2004 when we were both pregnant and due in May of 2005. Bored and looking for camaraderie I joined an online parenting forum. I quickly found a group of mommies who shared similar parenting philosophies. We chatted online, on the phone and sometimes we had group web chats.

I was in the process of developing a cloth diaper - my vision then was to mainstream cloth diapers. Having no sewing experience whatsoever I sketched a diaper and sent it off to a friend to sew. Once I got the testers back I was dismayed that they leaked and didn't fit well.

Chanda - one of our internet friends - suggested that I call Melissa. She said that Melissa was a brilliant seamstress and she might even have an interest in partnering with me. So I did.

Melissa was in - and our two families embarked on an amazing journey. We formed an LLC in 2007; before ever meeting face to face.

Eventually the Morgan family took a trip our to Tucson and soon thereafter we went to their house in Washington for six weeks. Thank goodness we love eachother as much in person as we did online.

It might not be for everyone but I can assure you that meeting my partner online was perfect synchronicity.


Last summer in Washington we had a girls night.

Pictures from my trip to Washington aka LolliDoo world Headquarters

David our "Seamster" sewing away


Chuck and I along with 4 out of 6 of our kids invaded Carl and Melissa's house.



Ashton cleaning the kitchen




Carl teaching Zoe and Skylar how to make biscuits




Me and Chuck



Rylee made pipe cleaner glasses




Melissa and Carl




Talia hugging Melody rather tightly




Chuck making cheesecake and Carl is teaching Rylee how to make ginger snaps, YUM!



Zoe and I braiding Melissa's hair

Melissa and Ali at LolliDoo World Headquarters

Here is a picture of Melissa and I in front of our shop. I am looking for a summer rental somewhere near Newman Lake, WA if anyone has any ideas :)