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. Happy SITS Day Scraps! I just love all your creativity! Your closet post gave me a little bit of inspiration…. now where did I put that hammer?

  2. Scraps – WOW! Talk about a multi-tasker! If I wanna keep up that title I’m not gonna let anyone I know see your site – I’m eating your dust! I love how creativity bleeds beyond one or two things. Good for your for “going after it” and not settling on one creative outlet. It truly would be a shame for you to do so when you’re so clearly talented on many levels! Keep it up, and thanks for that hidden strawberry cake recipe – it’s looks divine & I can’t wait to make it!

    1. There’s plenty of room at the multi-tasker-top, Bianca–everyone’s too busy multi-tasking to make it to the meetups, though! *wink!* You’re quite welcome for the recipe, hope you enjoy it!

  4. Jennifer, all I can say is WOW. Great blog and site. I just started blogging because my kids are teens – college and high school, and I have time. I don’t think I had the energy you had at that age. I know I don’t have it now but I have a great husband who picks up the slack. You go girl! and I’ll be following.

    1. Can we just give a shout-out to all the spouses and boyfriends and life-partners that are our support systems?! My boyfriend is amazing at picking up my “slack”–the running joke is ‘I’d call myself a slacker but… no.’ He’s so good he does the dishes on the nights I cook AND the nights he cooks, too!

  5. Awesome! We love comics in our house and we go to the “Free Comic Book Day” every year. I will definitely have to read some of yours. The cake looks delicious!

    Thank you for sharing,
    ~Alie

    1. I agree: Awesome! Yay for comics readers! And the best thing about webcomics is they are (almost) always free! And no tracking down back issues our out-of-print issues, either!

  6. Okay, he’s a keeper!!! Mine does most of the cooking and the dishwashing too. I don’t know he puts up with it. We have 3 dogs, 5 cats, and 2 guniea pigs. He saved all the cats from the shipyard he works at and the dogs were all rescues and he walks them for us – I still haven’t figured out what my daughters do. But then I’ve given up trying. My oldest is a sophomore in college majoring in Art. She is going to love looking at your site – I just bought her the “Hundred Monsters”, I think that’s the name because she is definitely headed towards graphic and loves cartooning.
    Again, thanks for letting us watch your life.
    Susan

  9. you have a very nifty blog here. i still wanna read more. 😀 i have been getting into creating thingers and you’re inspiring 😀

    grats on your SITS day 😀

    1. Thank you, Heidi, it’s lovely to be able to share with others–like when I taught cake decorating classes but without the sugar shock!

    1. Precisely! And the opportunities to create are everywhere: from a meal, to a craft project, even cleaning house can be looked at as creating a comfortable home (hows that for spin, lol)! Thanks for stopping by!

    1. Thank you!

      I once had a guy ask me if I wanted a turn on the piano. I said, ‘oh, no thanks, I can’t play!’ He looked at me and said ‘You can’t press a key?’

      Of course, I meant I wasn’t trained, I couldn’t play a recognizable tune but that’s not the point. Pick up a pencil or a pen, give it a whirl–if you look at my first comics, they were pretty dismal but they got better with time and practice. Same thing with drawing: pick up a pencil and play. You don’t have to show it to anybody, but if you keep trying it’ll keep getting better!

  16. I discovered you via the SITSGirls site and I must say, I was immediately hooked. I had to add you to my Google Reader before I could even finish scrolling through the first page of goodness.
    Your writing style is fantastic and I love the variety of topics you cover on here. I can’t wait to kick back tonight (technically I’m supposed to be working right now so blog reading will have to wait. I should probably get on that) with a glass of wine (and maybe a cupcake) and read through all the goodies you’ve posted!

  17. Congrats on your SITS day!

    That strawberry cake looks yummy. Good thing I just had lunch or I’d have an awful craving about now 🙂

    I go to my local craft store and buy something every month. Unfortunately I then put it with all the other supplies and never get around to using them. I keep telling myself “next month…” One of these days I’m going to have to do something…

    I read you post about walking in high heels. Very informative. I look at your shoes and say, “Walk? I couldn’t even STAND in those!” I’ve always had really crappy balance. sigh.

    I’ve subscribed to your blog so I’ll be back when I have more time to look around. 🙂

    1. Art and craft supplies need time to age before they’re ready for use. I’m convinced of it! Why, some of my supplies I’ve carried around for five years or more (some through 3 moves, now, some more than that) and are just now getting to the point where they can tell me, unequivocally, what they’re ready to become.

      Thanks for stopping by and for subscribing–maybe something here will spark one of your supplies to raise it’s hand and say ‘hey, I’m ready, use me!’

  18. Happy SITS day! I’m heading over to get that hidden strawberry cake recipe now! Right before I checked out the SITS site today I tweeted that I was in the mood for serious baking tonight, so finding your blog was heaven 🙂

  19. You have such a lovely blog! What a shame I have only come across it now rather than following the link when visiting nibbles ‘n bites.
    I’ll have to try the strawberry cake some time soon!

    1. Well, that’s the great thing about blogs: you’re never really late as long as the archives are available! Glad you came over and gave it a look and thank you for visiting Nibbles, too!

  20. Congratulations!!! Did you say pastry chef???? Ummm, that is a dream of mine. To know one. To be one. To eat like one. I am in a major food kick right now and that picture of your cake is amazeballs! You, my lady, seem to be a talent hog! Lucky you! I am totally admiring all your skills. I hope you have a marvelous SITS day. I’ll be back again!

  22. Happy SITS day!

    You are one BUSY woman. Chef! Artist! Bookkeeper! Goodness gracious. I admire you. And you’re delicious looking cake!

  23. I love your site! The energy is just that of pulling you in and then your stationary, reading and reading. I love your sense of humor and creativity. You are a power house of information that one can come to for inspiration. Thank you for sharing with those of us out here in the wonderland of the sphere of the net. I shall look forward to reading more and shall be waiting with excitement for that next posting.
    Thank you so very much for powering forth ward.
    Yours with smiles,
    Mira Faraday

  24. Happy SITS day. Wow! You are one busy woman. Love your cocktail blog and that cake looks delicious. Can’t wait to look around a little more.

  25. Happy SITS day! Congrats on your feature! I’m going to have to drop by again when I have some more time to explore. You are one crafty chick!

    1. Thank you! I hope you find some projects that fit your style–if you ever have any crafty questions I’m happy to answer them!

  29. Jennifer, I haven’t had much time to visit SITS since my SITS day back in early January. I totally underestimated how much time it would take to respond to all those comments. BUT….when I saw that you were the FB today, and absolutely, positively had to come by!!! Congratulations, my friend! I loved getting to know you better through this awesome post! You’re always so much fun! I’m in awe of all you do and have done, and can’t wait to see what’s to come in the future. “What to Fee Your Raiding Party” sounds like an incredible and original idea. I’m looking forward to visiting your other blogs.

    Hope this day was a tremendous success.

    Yours,
    Jenn

    1. I think I know what you mean, lol–it’ll take me a while to work through the reciprocal blog visits after today!!! Thank you so much for making time to stop by; ours is a mutual admiration society, I assure you!

  30. Greeting from a fellow Jennifer! Can’t wait to check out more, more, more!

    But first, I feel the need for a cocktail. You know, since you’re offering.

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