If I’d Known You Were Coming…

Everyday Adventures

Oh, wait, I totally did! So I baked a cake.

Hidden Strawberry Cake

Hidden Strawberry Cake*

Alright Artsies (how does that sounds for a name for us? thoughts?), we’re going to have some new folks around the blog, today tomorrrow, because… tadaa! It’s Wedneday’s my SITS Day!

UPDATE: Due to some tech issues–they happen, we roll with it–my SITS day is now Wednesday, so if you come here on Tuesday and are a bit confuzzled, no worries, we’re just having a little fun with the timestream 😉

What’s SITS? It’s the Secret’s in the Sauce–a line from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes AND an amazing group of women that are all about supporting each other in the Blogosphere. If you’re a blogger and haven’t checked them out, you really might want to!

Cocktail, Anyone?

Cocktail, Anyone?

For those of you who have happened here because of that lovely linkie they gave me, today, welcome to Scraps of Life and the 64 Arts! I’m so glad you’ve stopped by. I love all things creative, about as much as I love lists (and crossing things off them!) and the 64 Arts is a list of accomplishments pulled from a very old source but it still pertinent to this day and age. To find out more, check out the beginning of this odyssey: A New Direction. For the cliff’s notes about what we’ve done so far, check out the Arts so Far for topics and some of my favorite posts.

But, silly me, can I offer you a drink before we get on with the getting to know me?

Bits and Scraps

My name is Jennifer but that name was incredibly popular in the mid-70s and, after being one of 4 Jennifer’s in my 3rd grade class I began my search for the perfect nom de plume. After buying this domain in 2003, I ended up stumbling into the screenname and nickname Scraps, so that’s what I go by online for writing and comics.

See, I have a very uncreative day-job…

I have a very understanding boss.

I have a very understanding boss.

And my need for a creative outlet (or 10) is immense. First it was food: I did double duty as a full-time bookkeeper and a full-time (evenings) culinary student and took a leave of absence to do my internship and beyond as a Pastry Chef. Funny thing, though, I like paying my bills (on time, even) and cheffing wasn’t being too helpful on that front. So I checked it off my master to-do list and went back to bookkeeping.

Next was art: More night classes and a plan to go back full-time but, divorce happened and I needed to support myself. I’ve always been a crafter and a long-time scrapbooker, and around the same time I started my autobiographical webcomic (like a blog, but with lots of drawings and fewer words) I became the Arts & Craft Expert (their title, not mine) for eHow.com. When the writing gig ended I got more time to do my own work, and that’s when I went a little blog-overboard.

Plenty to go Around

… and a little something for everyone!

I’ve now got 2 comics online: my life-inspired one, Cocktail Hour, and a geeky dating comic, Where the Geeks Are.

Even though they are both on hiatus, there’s plenty of archives to read through. Comics aren’t just for boys and they aren’t all super-heroes, either! Me? I’ve been described as the heroine in my own chick-lit novel.

Not that that’s a bad thing (keeps life interesting).

The reason they’re on hiatus is my current project: What to Feed Your Raiding Party. I’m combing my love of food and comics and the desire to help and creating a cookbook that half comic book, too! If this is something you’d like to know more about, feel free to check out the progress diary.

Speaking of food, I’ve got a dedicated food blog: Nibbles ‘n Bites. The occasional recipe (like the one for the Hidden Strawberry Cake, above) interspersed with plenty of foodie opinions and ideas.

And, if you’re in need of a drink, you might find my cocktail blog, Sips & Shots, to your taste. Each Friday I post a new drink recipe to get your weekend started off right.

Finally, if you’re like me and like music playing pretty much all. the. time. you might find yourself getting into some musical ruts. I like a wide variety of music and really love finding music no one (okay, few) have heard before. Get in on the secret at my monthly podcast: Random Acts Radio.

Okay, that’s Me!

Now, I’d really love to find out who you are! Comments are great and I do my best to respond (either via comments/email or by visiting your blog) to every one I get. Let’s get to know each other better!

Oh, and one more thing–If you like hand-knit items and want a chance to win one, check out last week’s post (Today’s Cowl)–all it takes is a comment (on that entry) to enter the drawing!

220 thoughts on “If I’d Known You Were Coming…”

  1. Congrats on it being your day! You have a great blog here – I love artsy stuff and am notorious for starting about 47 projects at a time and never quite finishing them 🙂 I am excited to look around a bit more and check out your comics!

    1. Thanks for stopping by! Oh, I’m all too familiar with the UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) in my craft room. But I see it as a way of always having something else to work on 😉

  2. Jennifer you sound like so much fun! (I have a sister named Jennifer that was born in the 70’s.) I’ll have to come back and check out your raiding cookbook and your arts. There are so many things I want to do, but there just isn’t enough time in the day.

    1. If I could figure out how not to need sleep (unfortunately I enjoy sleep, too, lol) I’d get SO much more done.

      See–everyone knows a Jennifer from the 70s, it was an absolute epidemic! (I think I read somewhere, though, that the trend had something to do with Jackie Kennedy naming her baby girl—the one that was stillborn? history is not my strong suit—Jennifer Patrice and just everyone wanted that name for their little girls.) Blame Camelot!

      Thank you for stopping by 🙂

  4. Hahaha, I LOVE your sense of humor! Finding a blog that makes me laugh and that is well written seriously just makes my little day.

    Happy SITS day – so happy to have found you, I’ll definitely be following you now 🙂

    <3
    Linds

  5. I had no idea you did comics, how cool! And I LOVE that you are a scrapbooker! Lord knows I love it. I was so excited when I saw you were the featured blogger today! Hooray!

    1. Aww, thank you! For me, comics and scrapbooking are very similar–since my comic is about me (well, the first one is) it’s like scrapbooking the memories that I didn’t have a camera around for. That, and I use my ZIG writers to ink with–they are so much more comfy to draw with than the traditional art pens.

  6. Happy Sits day Jennifer! Your writing is delightful and full of energy. I love how you have combined different loves into new projects such as your foodie comic. And your phrase “better living through creativity” is necessary for our world. I look forward to digging into more of your work and creative pursuits.

    1. Thank you for those wonderful compliments. I agree, if we can do just one creative thing a day–even if it’s just a doodle on a post-it or jotting down an idea that popped into our head for later–our lives are that much richer and it makes the decidedly un-creative moments easier to get through.

  7. What a fun blog! I am not a very crafty person (wish I was) but I love reading craft blogs. Congrats on your SITS day!

    1. Having style is every bit as creative as traditional arts and crafts–creativity is everywhere! Even so, books need readers just as much as writers, so everyone has their place in the crafty world 🙂

    1. It keeps me sane 🙂 And my Mom (our dinner guest the evening I made it) is still raving about the cake. When you’ve got Mom’s approval you know it’s a winner! lol

  10. It looks like there’s so much to sink my teeth into here. I’ll have to come back later when I have time to really look around.(bookmark) I love your comics!!
    Have a great SITS day!
    Cindy

    1. Isn’t that one of the best things about the Internet/blogs? Being able to put a placeholder for when you need something next and not having to wonder ‘oh, where did I see such-and-such again?’ Thank you for coming by!

  11. Congrats on your big day! You are one busy lady. I can’t believe you found the time to bake that beautiful cake with all your other projects! Very inspiring.

    It’s time for me to rest on the couch now.

    1. Well, I made the cake for a dinner guest this past weekend, used it for my food blog, Monday, and then got to use it for today, too! It’s what one of my old chefs would have called working smarter, not harder 😉 Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your couch-time!

    1. Why can’t there be more than 24 hours in a day, right? Thank you for coming by, today, and I’ll still be here when you get another moment 🙂

  13. Your have so many talents! In this day and age of technological advances I think we sometimes forget the joy that can be found in creative endeavors. Glad to “meet” your blog. Enjoy your SITS day!

    1. Thank you! There really is nothing like the feel of pencil on paper and seeing a recognizable shape come out, or taking a cake out of the oven at just the perfect time. Life’s simple joys are the best 🙂

  16. Wow, you are one busy person! I love Artsy Fartsy Crafty stuff. That’s what I’m all about. I look forward to following and learning more about you and what you do.

    1. I admit, I’ve always had a “problem” being still—something’s always going on and I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂

  17. Happy SITS Day. I love your blog. Hope you enjoy your day. I am gonna go check out some more!

    1. Thank you so much! I’m really over the moon about all these comments and I’m looking forward to finding some new-to-me blogs in the process of returning visits 🙂

  18. Wow, sweets, knitting AND geeky comments?! Kindred spirit for sure! lol Congrats on being the FB today, enjoy your day in the spotlight!

  19. Happy SITS day! First of all the color palette here is just lovely! The orange is so bright and cheerful, I just love it. I can’t wait to explore your 64 Arts list. I love lists. =)

    1. Lists are fun, aren’t they? So organized and check-off-able and, yet, there’s all sorts of things hiding under the surface! Enjoy exploring!

  20. Oh for the love of…that should say “comics” not “comments”. I should never visit the FB first thing in the AM. 😛

  21. Stopping in from SITS to say happy day! I am so happy to have found your blog and can’t wait to look around a little more!

    1. Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans… or something like that! I figure the one-day-delay just meant I was super-prepared for when it did happen!

  25. What a totally FUN blog you have. I can’t believe the number of posts you have. That you thought to start blogging in 2003? WOW, you are the WOMAN! I am a crafty blogger, sometimes I feel I could give it all up, but then what would I do? You look very talented and I will have to visit some of your links and see some of those recipes. I hope you have a great SITS day!!

    1. If I remember correctly, Blogger was around as early as 2000 (I may have started an account then but I don’t think I did anything with it). I’m still amazed that blogging IS what it is, now, since it seemed such a wasteland back in the day!

      Thanks for coming by, today!

  26. happy SITS day! You are so fun and full of life! Oh, and I’m a Jennifer, too, so I totally get the name change!

    1. A local friend of mine (and, obviously, another Jennifer) used to call the bunch of us all in the same social group the all-Jen basketball team 🙂

  28. OMG Jennifer, I think I so need you in my life. I am very glad they featured your blog today! You are truly talented and immensely inspiring! I can’t wait to explore you blog further!

  29. Congrats on your SITS day…looks like you are all prepared and I can’t wait to check all of you links out!

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