I feel like a kindergartner planting that little lima bean seed in the Dixie cup and setting it in the sunny window of the classroom, anxiously awaiting the outcome. Seriously, so much fun!

I have been tending to the boxes each day with water and love, keeping them free from debris and falling leaves. Watching, hoping, watching, and waiting.

And here we are! Two weeks in with beautiful little sprouts popping up and out of the soil. Some veggies are bigger and more brazen than others. The radishes are true champs; and the peas are already looking hearty and beautiful.

I'm so excited! I know it's a very minor step in the process, but I just had to share the progress photos with you.

I have also since planted seeds in four more SFG boxes and we have six more lined up and ready to fill with our Mel's Mix recipe of:

• 1/3 vermiculite
• 1/3 peat moss
• 1/3 compost (from as many sources as possible)

It's been such a fun process so far and I can't wait until these little babies are growing into edible food for my kitchen!

I'll keep you posted.

Happy Spring!!

We planted a wide array of veggies that we eat often here in the Caddel household and I am now ready to lovingly attend to the cute little symmetrical squares to be sure that they are happy, sunny, and well-watered as we move forward to the sprouting stage.

We used this great soil recipe called "Mel's Mix," which comes highly recommended from those in the SFG circle. It includes:

• 1/3 vermiculite
• 1/3 peat moss
• 1/3 compost (from as many sources as possible)

If you are interested in learning more about the Square Foot Gardening method, I highly recommend reading this book. It's very easy to follow and a really great way to grow your own food. We have built 14 of the SFG boxes and utilized almost all of our backyard to accomodate them.

We figured that if we are going to do this, we might as well go big and move forward down the road to self-sufficient gardening. You can also see a glimpse of our composter back in the right-hand corner of the yard. We are really enjoying using it too - it's such a great tool for a home garden. The whole planning, building, and planting of the boxes been a great learning experience and lots of fun so far!

Seeds planted in the first four of our Square Foot Garden boxes (click to view larger)

I will keep you updated as to the progress of our seeds; as well as when we move forward with filling the next round of boxes with soil and planting round two.

Fingers crossed for some pretty little sprouts popping up soon.

And I will leave you with this beautiful little quote from May Sarton, which says:

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. "

Let me tell you though, I had forgotten just how tricky it is to heal a head tattoo.

The first few days are fine, as the close Bic-shave that's necessary for tattoo work to be done on the dome is still quite fresh, and the ink is easy to clean and take care of.

But man, when those prickly hairs start growing back (which is super quick), it not only forces the ink up and out, but it sort of collides with the aftercare products (btw, I'm currently using Ink Butter and I love it) as well. Because let's face it, lotion + fuzzy hair = sort of hilarious trying to make the two cooperate and become friends!

Now that my ink is starting to flake off, it's extra itchy, as if there is colorful dandruff exfoliating from my head. What would Head & Shoulder say about THAT!?

I'm not complaining though, don't get me wrong. I am SUPER excited to get this head tattoo rolling again. It's just quite an adventure...this head-healing scenario, and so very different than healing most tattoos.

Not to mention that I dare not shave my now-fuzzy noggin for at least another week or so...and believe me, the clippers will be begging me to bring them out and switch them on once you can't see traces of ink any longer. Doh! ;)

Bananas are a great vegan substitute for eggs in many recipes and I use them often, so having a few tucked away in your freezer is a smart idea.

If you see your bananas closing in on their last day, one fun usage for them is this cookie recipe. I call them Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Soiree Cookies because they are like a little party of ingredients that collide and delight!

They are really easy to make, so let's get started.

Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Soiree Cookies

Ingredients

• 2-3 very ripe bananas (depends on the size of the bananas as to whether you use two or three)

• 2/3 cup canola oil

• 1 1/3 cups sugar

• 3 teaspoons vanilla

• 1 1/2 cups flour (add extra tablespoons if necessary to get it to good creamy consistency, when blending the flour mixture - see below)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 4 cups quick-cooking (not instant) oatmeal

• 1/2 cup of raw, unsalted sunflower seeds (can use a different kind of nut if you prefer)

• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips (I use Ghiradelli's semi-sweet)

Instructions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray baking sheets with oil (or use parchment paper, which is what I prefer).

2) In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas well.

3) Add oil, sugar, and vanilla; then mix with bananas.

4) Add in the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix until just moistened.

5) Add oatmeal, sunflower seeds, and chocolate chips.

6) Make sure that oats are well moistened (if dough is too slippery, add a few tablespoons of flour until the consistency is nice and creamy).

7) Use a cookie dough scoop or spoon to add little round dough balls onto cookie sheet.

8) Bake 10-13 minutes depending on oven - watch them carefully after about 10 minutes.

9) Remove from pan and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

10) Enjoy!

*Makes about 4 dozen

Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Photo by Nigel Wedge

You can read all of the nitty-gritty details on the website, but the gist of this art book project is that we are bringing together an all-star cast of artists from around the world, collecting photos of their octopi-inspired artistic treasures, and building it into a hardback, coffee table-style book full of eye candy.

This collaborative effort seeks to honor the artists' work, while supporting arts education and keeping creativity alive in schools; as ten percent of the profits from book sales will go to an incredible charitable organization called donorschoose.org that connects donors to classrooms in need.

While I am thrilled to once again work alongside my tattoo artist friends, this project is particularly exciting because the door is open to artists of not only the ink industry, but also to those skilled enough to: draw, paint, sketch, photograph, sculpt, sew, build, carve, write a poem about, crochet, design a piece of jewelry, bead, woodwork, knit, and the list goes on.

So if you are a creative soul or you know of someone who is, please forward this information along. We are currently accepting submissions and will be until April 6th. This is your chance to bring octo-creativity to life and share your work with others. The reception so far has been amazing and I am blown away by the excellent artwork that has already been sent to my inbox. Please spread the word and be a part of the Eight Arms of Inspiration troupe.

For questions on how to submit, please visit the Eight Arms of Inspiration website.

For Facebook users, please join our FB page so you can keep up with the latest and also catch glimpses of the submissions that are rolling in.

Tentacle love,
Jinxi

Photo by LordKhan

*This is a repost from a Valentine's Day post on JinxiBoo a few years back...
but I love it so much, I figured that it wouldn't hurt to play it again, in case you missed it before.

A mom and wife herself, this Philly-based artist has honed in on what she knows best, by focusing most of her exceptional work on family and child portraiture, with a special emphasis on tattooed parents. This fusion of worlds results in memorable shots that combine the candid devotion of a family and their love for one another, with the vivid tattoo artwork that explodes through the camera's lens.

Jamie caught the photography bug at an early age, using a little 110 film camera and keeping at her side as a constant companion. So driven was she to learn the craft, that she became skilled at developing her own photos in a darkroom by the time she was in fifth grade. Between formal classes and the self-immersion she dove into, she learned all that she could about the art of photography. Siever went professional a few years ago and decided to put her passion to work for herself.

In the tattoo and artistic-rich city of Philadelphia, Jamie is a constant fixture when it comes to being a "go-to-girl" for tattoo photography. With a focus on newborn, child, and family photography, she keeps busy with on-location sessions; and is especially keen to accept gigs that involve tattooed parents and their little ones, whenever possible.

I was thrilled to nab an interview with Jamie and learn about how she was drawn into the photography world, what she is doing now, and where she sees herself headed in the future. I hope you enjoy learning more about this inspirational shutterbug. Not only are her photos a breath of fresh air, but the beautiful person behind the camera is a delight as well. Enjoy her outstanding photography and words in today's Art Spotlight.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your kids, husband, family, and life in general?

I am a mom to a four year-old boy. I am married and have been for nearly eight years to a man who makes me laugh until I run out of breath. We have two pit bull mixes, Gracie and Zoe, who drive us nuts and make us laugh, and who sleep under the covers with us. I am an organic food eating, progressive-education supporting, FDA-mistrusting mama who loves hearts and the beautiful light before sunset, and driving with the windows down.

Where do you guys reside and where is your studio located?

We live outside of Philadelphia in Delaware County. I actually don’t have a studio. When I shoot newborns, I go to my clients’ homes, and I also do a lot of family shoots outdoors. I always kick the idea around of a studio, but I like to be inspired by the beautiful outdoor light and I also like to keep it convenient for my new parents.

When did you first become interested in photography?

I’ve always been the person behind a camera, since I was a little girl. I took pictures everywhere with my little 110 film camera; eagerly taking it to be developed at the drug store and waiting for what seemed like forever to get that package back. In fifth grade, I learned to develop photos myself in a darkroom and continued to learn about that process through high school. When digital came, I embraced but with a point and shoot. Once my son was born, I just wasn’t happy with the photos I was paying for or taking myself with that, so I bought a dSLR and seriously studied everything I could get my hands on.

What was your first camera and do you remember what/who you first shot?

I know I had my 110 film camera, and then later a borrowed Leica 35mm camera. I took a lot of photos of my little brother, of ephemera, of things like a broken engine I found outside.

When did you decide to go professional? Can you tell us about that time in your life?

I had a crazy one-to-two-year period where I was shooting clients, working at a law firm, being a mother to a two year-old child, and being a wife to my husband. It was insane, because I would be up so late, and then getting up with my son. Something had to give, and I knew eventually that my passion for photography would win out. It did.

Your work is so fantastic! Were you formally trained in photography or are you self-taught?

Thank you, Jinxi. I took quite a few classes in my education before college, and I have taken workshops and classes as an adult as well, but I didn’t attend college for photography. What I did was read every website, book, online course and photoshop book I could get my hands on.  I do think that my elementary education degree does help me when I’m photographing kids, though! 

Can you tell us how your focus on shooting newborns, children, and families came to be?

I’m a former teacher and a mom to a four year old. I shoot what I know - and where my eyes today see beauty. I see it in the way my little boy looks at his dad, and I see it in the adoration that a mother has for her child. I see it in the love that a family has for one another; the way they laugh together and know each other better than anyone in this world. So, it was natural to me to shoot those things that I know and that resonate in my heart.

Of course one of the things that drew me to your work was that you include many tattooed parents and people in your projects. Tell us about this direction and what you love about shooting those with inked skin.

I love the contrast of inked skin against a tiny naked baby’s skin. I love the beauty of my clients’ ink and figuring out ways to use that to create my own art. The human form is so lovely, and I love how tattoos enhance that beauty.

Something I love about it that I didn’t realize at first is that I’m also loving that my work is shocking to some people. It’s helped me to realize that there is a segment of the population who is genuinely surprised to see a heavily-tattooed person as a tender, loving parent. I’ve always been someone who likes to challenge what people think and why they think it. At first, I was pretty surprised that my beautiful client portraits were giving some people pause. It’s only made me love doing it even more.

What are some recent projects that you have been working on?

I have an ongoing tattoo artist spotlight that I’ve been working on for a while. Philadelphia has some really amazing tattoo artists, and it’s been great getting to know them. Not to mention, it’s great access to some of my favorite subjects! From this project has come some of my favorite photos I’ve taken.

What's up next for Jamie Siever Photography and where can readers see more of your work?

I blog my sessions as I shoot and edit them and post them to jamiesieverphotography.com, and my current portfolio is always visible at my website jamiesiever.com.

What goals do you have for the year ahead in the regards to your photography?

I’ve said for a while that my goal is to be the person who comes to mind when someone who has tattoos wants to hire a photographer. In the year ahead, I will be working to achieve that goal.

Which photographers, artists, or people inspire you and influence your work?

I’m inspired by tattoos and tattoo artists - not just for the beauty of the pieces themselves but for the artistry in the shading and the use of light. I really like what Zach Arias is doing today with educating photographers and his use of light is outstanding. Richard Avedon’s work is something I go back to a lot, also.

What one word best describes you?

You know, I’ve been mulling this one over for weeks, since I first saw this question. It’s a truly difficult one because I do feel that I have so many sides. As I say on my website, on the outside, I look like a soccer mom, but inside, I feel like Zach de la Rocha. I’m kind and friendly but doggedly determined, especially when I believe in something. Is saying “multifaceted” a cop out? If it is, I will say that the one word that best describes me is “mother.” Since having my child, nothing I do is not without his influence; how I think of things, how I view the world, when I buckle my seat belt; who I am is now infused with being a mother.

What one word best describes your work?

Genuine.

How can prospective clients book you?

I can always be reached by email at jamie@jamiesiever.com

Any final words for JinxiBoo.com readers?

Family is the most important thing. Well, family, forgiveness, and french fries.