My name is Jami and I live in Red Bud, Illinois. I enjoy painting, drawing, writing, and playing the piano so I've created this website to share my works with everyone.
The Paint Palette is a little business I’ve created to paint just about anything for anyone who wants something painted, especially murals.
The Portraits page is for you to view my previous portraits, which I have hand-drawn myself from photographs. On this page you are also able to order your own customized portrait.
The Music section of this website is for anyone who is interested in the music I create. I love to compose my own songs on the piano, and I’ve compiled them into an album. On this page you will be able to sample some of my songs and read the poetry I've written to go with them, and you may also purchase your own copy of my CD.
The links section of this site links you to the websites of my friends, family members, things I or my friends are involved in, and sites I want to share with you.
I hope you enjoy my website. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc., feel free to contact me.
Previous Blurbs
June 9, 2008
Finally writing again! I just updated my website - Check out the Paint Palette to see my latest painting: a canvas of General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard! I don't normally do canvas paintings but I certainly enjoy it! I'm pretty proud of the turnout for this one, so check it out!
In other news, I've been kicking back and enjoying life lately - I've cut back to just working just one job (with painting on the side, of course, but that's not a job that's just fun) and I've got a possible project for my dear hometown coming up. I just got back from a fantastic trip to Arizona and I'm looking into schools for Massage Therapy where I hope to get a career underway. Best of all, though, I'm enjoying spending time with my new boyfriend. Who knows, maybe I'll have a picture of us to add to the Portraits section soon!
Happy Summer!
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March 19, 2008
I've been neglecting my website, I know, but I've finally decided to post something here and do some updating.
Been painting, drawing, all that good stuff, and now I'm selling Lia Sophia Jewelry myself. Check out the links section for a link to their website.
Happy Spring!
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July 30, 2007
Hello everyone,
Been busy lately - I've got a mural project coming up this week and an open house tomorrow. Hopefully there'll be a good turnout, it's at the YMCA here in town and I'll be there promoting Jami's Grotto along with my coworker Robin who sells Lia Sophia and several other independant businesses. Stop by!
I finally updated my Portraits and Paint Palette portfolios, so be sure to check the new pictures out.
Happy August!
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July 2, 2007
It's been awhile! My computer's been having issues lately, though. I think everything's better now.. Hopefully.
I'm going to be incredibly busy this month - family float trip this weekend, vacation to Florida next weekend, and possibly two mural projects (or more) by the end of the month.
I have a lot of pictures to update on the site - different portraits and murals I've been doing, but I don't have time now to do that. So just giving a heads up.
Have a happy Fourth!
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May 23, 2007
Late update - I've been really really busy lately. I've got a lot of updating to do on the site but no time tonight but I thought I'd give you a heads-up. I've done another mural, another bit of wall decorating, and five portraits since my last update so I've got a lot of posting to do.
I'm heading to Dallas this Friday, but not to paint, only to visit. I'm very excited! I'll be back Monday night then that week I'll update the site.
A new business might be on the horizon for me... I'm signed up to sell Mona Vie juice so I'll put a link to that site up on mine as well.
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
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April 9, 2007
It's been awhile since I've said anything here, so I thought I'd drop by to say hello.
I'm swamped this month... Work all the time, odd jobs here and there, plus I've got a sketch for the cover of a class reunion program to do, finish a portrait project I've been working on, do a portrait for my coworker, work on my friend's website, get a scketch to a lady about painting her office, and get back to another person about a laundry room. It's going to be a very full month!
I might be going to Dallas for Memorial Day weekend! I'm pretty excited about that.
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Mar. 21, 2007
I've been busy lately! I just updated the website though, so now you can see my latest projects. They're in the the Portfolio section of The Paint Palette. Still working on the portrait project, but it's coming a long nicely.
I might be setting up a new section of the site. My friend Phyllis and I are working on starting up a little business for backdrop rentals for proms, homecomings, weddings, assemblies, or any kind of occassion where a decorative background could be used or where a photobooth will be present. I'll keep you posted on how that's coming along.
Also, I need to work on prices. I've had some run-ins with how I charge for my work and I can understand where it's coming from, but at the same time if I altered the price then painting the project wouldn't be worth my time. I might be adding a service fee for any projects under a certain amount of money. More on that later.
Happy Spring, everyone!
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Mar. 5, 2007
Just updating for the heck of it...
Got a few jobs lined up right now - canvas paintings for a nursery, a bedroom border project, a quote in a bathroom, and a really cool portrait project.
So that's all for now...
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Feb. 28th, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!
Well, I'm home from Dallas! I went this past weekend, painted, partied with my cousin, visited my ADORABLE baby cousins, ate great food, and had a very great stay in a very short amount of time.
So, now that I'm home, I have pictures up of the completed Classic Hundred Acre Wood in the nursery, so go check it out! Also, I added a portrait to the Portraits section.
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Feb. 17th, 2007
I just updated the Links section of the site. Nothing too exciting, but check it out anyway.
One more week til my trip to Dallas! I can't wait to finish the mural and post pictures of it!
That's all.
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Feb. 12th, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECKY!!!
I'm loving my new job! It's so nice to be able to say that now... So I'm gonna shout it - I LOVE MY NEW JOB!!
And I love being 21... ;) I had a fun weekend with friends celebrating my day. On the 24th of this month I'm going to Dallas to finish painting the Hundred Acre Wood mural at my cousins' house. I'm really excited for that weekend!
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Feb. 5th, 2007
I got a new job! Starting tomorrow I'll be a bank teller. It's a full-time job, but even though that's the case I've got great hours which'll allow me to spend a lot of time at the auto body shop where I've been learning a lot lately.
No word on the mural at the tanning salon yet, but I did line up a project to paint a border in a bedroom.
And, just so everyone knows, my 21st birthday is coming up on the 9th - this Friday!!!
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Jan. 22nd, 2007
I finished the portrait! It turned out great, but you won't get to see it for awhile. It was done as a gift for someone and I have to wait until they've gotten it before I post the picture. I'll let you know when it's up.
The tropical scene has been sketched and approved. Now waiting on the floor to be redone in the tanning salon before I can start painting.
I'm starting out small with advertising so I'll be posting fliers up soon. Then I'll move to putting an ad in the Clarion, the Belleville News-Democrat, and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Newspaper ads are costly though so that might be a little while. I'll wait until my job situation looks a little clearer.
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Jan. 17th, 2007
Sketching mural ideas and drawing a portrait. I need to look up more ideas for the tropical mural.
I just updated both portfolios for The Paint Palette and Portraits. I came across two old pictures I needed to put online and now they're there so go check them out!
Again, if anyone has any advertising ideas for me, I'd be glad to hear them! Just drop me an email.
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Jan. 16th, 2007
New mural project coming up! A tropical scene at TanFastic in Red Bud. I'm going to sketch ideas tomorrow.
Everyone's been telling me to contact local contractors and work something out with them as far as painting murals in spec homes or having them get my name out there in whatever way. Looks like that's a new project for me.
If anyone has any advertising ideas for me, I'd be glad to hear them! Just drop me an email.
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Jan. 15th, 2007
Working on lining up more murals. And finding a full-time job... not too worried about that at the moment though - it just feels good to have moved on from where I was before.
I'll be posting another potrait probably tonight, so you'll have to check that out.
Hope you all have been enjoying the improved website! Don't be afraid to send me feedback on what you think of it.
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Jan. 14th, 2007
I just finished the mural in the children's room and pictures are posted on the Portfolio page in The Paint Palette. Check it out!
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Jan. 13th, 2007
Welcome to the improved Jami's Grotto! My best friend John and all of his genius mind created this for me and I am so excited to share it with you all now! Send me an email to let me know what you think of it.
I will be posting little blurbs here frequently to give you updates and to just ramble about whatever sounds good at the moment. Check back whenever you want to see what I have to say.
Currently I'm working on a mural for another children's room. Painting begins today (Saturday) and should be done early in the week. I'll have pictures up when it's finished.