Time of Your Life

Time just keeps marching on...........I can't believe that it is already Dec 1! Thanksgiving passed quickly and was quite fun. I did my typical Black Friday shopping spree at 4 am and then was exhausted by noon. I was able to finish the first Stampaway class before I picked Dad up at the airport, but then was not able to finish the second class until yesterday.....the due date, of course. I am pleased with the concept.........but always hate running at a deadline.

Next up.......cleaning my studio, I mean..."the pit." I am tired of working in a 4" area..............

A Golden Life

I finally had a chance to work on some art. This month has been a roller coaster and I have not felt creative at all. My dad seems to be better and hopefully his heart rate will stay above 40 so we don't have another scare during the holiday season. My sister was a real trooper once again, dropping everything to go down and make sure he is ok. I am not sure how long he'll be able to live on his own. 81 isn't a great age to be when you are trying to be independent.

This piece of art is just a study in monochromatic gold. It was a lot of fun putting together, although I really wish I could wiggle my nose and clear off my studio desk more than 7". Creating would be oh so nice if I could do that. Maybe I'll work on clearing a foot a day. Next up is the finishing of my Stampaway class for 2007. It is 95% done and I'll post a sample another day. My second offering will have to get finished after Thanksgiving. It is time to clean the house for family coming next week. More on that later.

Nostalgia

I created this puzzle piece and was overwhelmed by nostalgia.......I inherited a box of handmade gift tags (cut with pinking shears, hole punched and attached with curling ribbon) from my grandmother quite some time ago. All of our packages growing up used these tags and many of them had the type of graphic design that the tree epoxy stickers I used had. My childhood and the early '60s came rushing back and I could see more than just those trees. I find it interesting that one image can open the well for many more to come flashing back. Does anyone else have that happen???????

My 2007 schedule will be light due to probably relocation, but I am pleased to say that I will be teaching at Artiscape (May 4-7). I've wanted to participate in Lisa Ohmer's retreat for years but it normally has been during Sammi's competiting season. This year it is not. Check out European Papers for more info. I am sure it will be a great weekend!!!!

Happy Boo Day!

Well, it is the Friday night before Halloween and lo and behold, my plan is to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with Sammi. I love to relive those childhood favorite moments and this year it worked out that we were home from the gym to do it together. Fall has definitely hit here in Cincy, along with the rain and dreariness. I teach here locally tomorrow at Stamp Your Art Out and then will be taking a break for the holidays and throughout most of her competing season that begins in January. It's hard to believe that the holiday season is almost upon us, but knowing that our time changes tomorrow night, makes it a done deal. Last weekend we went to a corn field and went through a haunted maze. Yes, the ones with the chainsaws and zombies. I have been through indoor haunted places, but have never been outdoors in the dark, cold and seemingly evil field. It definitely ramped the scare up a notch. I worked on this Halloween card the next day. Enjoy!!!!!!

The time has been passing at super speed this fall. The faster I go, the more behind I seem to get. Hence, the name of this entry.....falling. I've had a busier than normal teaching schedule while getting Sammi back in school. My trip to Red Lead in September was terrific. I really enjoyed teaching there and getting to see a lot of old and new faces. My demo and classes were both well attended and I was able to socialize with Tracy and Leslie and did some more house hunting. The week before Red Lead I was able to pop into the A.R.T. weekend retreat to teach a shorter class and sign some certificates. I loved being able to put faces with names from that wonderful group as well. This weekend I went to Chicago to Carolina Moon and had a blast. Carolyn was a wonderful hostess and Chicago offered me a beautiful fall weekend. My classes again were well attended and those involved were excited and generous with their spirit. I was so glad to visit there again. I even got to meet Carolyn's cat, Mr. Moon. I have to say that he is one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen.

Artwise, I have been able to just barely keep up with class prep, my calendar and the other exchanges I signed up for in a moment of weakness. The piece below is an encaustic wax extra from a fat book exchange done for St. Louis. I love the contrast between the white and the magenta. I was able to get my class submissions done on time for Artiscape in May. I've never been able to submit before because Sam is usually competing then. I hope my classes were appealing. Stampaway classes are due at the end of next month. I'd better get cracking!!!!!!!!!!

My schedule is light for the rest of the year. Upcoming classes: Sat. Oct 28, Stamp Your Art Out, Cincinnati, OH.

ceLeBraTe

Stampaway is over for another year. It was quite a jampacked six days personally and professionally. It is wonderful to see the same people year after year and to feel the undercurrent of energy and excitement. My classes were well-filled and full of ladies that amazed and inspired me the whole time. I saw some fabulous color combinations and design strategies that I can't wait to try after my studio is CLEAN. That is my goal for this week since I need to gear up for four upcoming events. The piece of artwork above is a sample from my demo today (ignore the lousy paint job on the canvases. Time was critical.) I see a new class in the future................

I took my first carving class from Connie Newbanks early on Thursday. SHE IS OUTSTANDING! Tracy got in from St. Louis on Thursday after my Kaleidoscope class and we scurried out for dinner at Pappadeaux (horrible waiter, great company and conversation). Deb was indispensible to the smooth running of the class and as a chauffeur (my car's steering column ...R.I.P) and I just LOVE having her there with me. Friday's ATC class was sold out and Tracy effortlessloy kept everything running smoothly. We had a wonderful lunch in Glendale and a bit of shopping as well before I took Tracy to a quilting studio to see the quilting machine to end all machines. Friday night was the preview party and it was delightful to browse without being elbow to elbow. I DROPPED A LOAD ON PAULA BEST'S JEWELRY http://www.paulabestsilver.com/ . Saturday I had to leave my friends for a few hours while Sammi was choreographed on floor. I then returned to the convention center and spent some more shopping time with them. Dinner was at Vincenzo's and was fabuolous as was Connie's vendor/teacher party on Saturday night. An illusionist was there that knocked my socks off. Today's demo went fine and I did debut some brand new techniques from this week. I hope everyone enjoys playing with them!!!!!!!!

Off to get some well-needed zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs.





Upcoming Class Schedule ............September: ART gathering, KY........... September: Red Lead, St. Louis, MO............ October: Carolina Moon, Chicago, IL.............October: Stamp Your Art Out, Cincinnati, OH

Happily Ever After?

It is August 1 and Jim, Sammi and I are settling into this new separated living arrangement....as well as can be expected. July brought much travel: St. Louis, Ann Arbor, and North Carolina so I am glad that August brings some time at hour to recoup. This ATC is a sample from a class I taught at Altercations..definitely the need for time at home with my family was in my unconsious.

Hard to Please

Certain lyrics always find their way into my artwork. Does anyone else have that happen? This is the third piece I've used lyrics from "Hazy Shade of Winter" but they always seem applicable to my life.

Lately I find myself questioning why I spend so much of my time wishing, wanting and waiting leaving less time for doing, enjoying, and feeling satisfied. In a nutshell..... I am hard to please and it isn't one of my qualities that I am very proud of.


************************************************************************************ Summer/Fall Class Schedule July: Altercations, Ann Arbor, MI July: Enchanted Cottage, Lewisville, NC August: Stampaway, Cincinnati, OH September: ART gathering, KY September: Red Lead, St. Louis, MO October: Carolina Moon, Chicago, IL ************************************************************************************

Dog Days

Sammi and I have made it through the first week on our own, but definitely being the sole caretaker will require some reshuffling of my art time. I wish I could get her interested and that we had the time in her schedule to get her arting so that I could have more uninterrupted time.

Limbo

Never get complacent with your life because that's when changes knock you right off your feet. Jim's job is in flux so another move is a possiblility, our sixth since marriage, and our third one into the St. Louis area. One of the spreads in my calendar reflected the possible
"motion" coming in our life.

Windy City Report

I had a great time in Chicago last weekend and will look forward to returning. This week has not brought much art at all, although I am diligently working on my calendar for the month. I had to upload this piece from my demo in the resist class. It never ceases to amaze me how breaking up a design can really "make" it into what it should have been in the first place. The hand lettered quote at the bottom really sums it all up! Now I have used that phrase on the last two blogs. I think I have a theme.

Thanks to all who took my classes and I will let you know if a stamp company ever wants to use my handwriting for one of their fonts!!!! You gals rocked and so did the Moon. Those going to Chicago shouldn't miss a trip to Carolina Moon.........I'll be back in October. Below is my current schedule for the rest of the year:

We had a wonderful time in Cayman........It was a great time to renew,rethink, reconnect while asorbing all the vibrant colors that are daily part of life in the Caribbean. I wonder if their good humor is due to the saturation of color and sunlight in their lives every day? It is good to be back, although I am excited to be teaching in Chicago next weekend. I love that city and am ready to meet all sorts of new people. This weekend is taken up with Sammi's 13th birthday and all the preparations that are required for that. Art will take a backseat to Laser tag, pizza, games, ice cream cake, snacks, cinnamon rolls, etc...Most of my time will be seeing to her teammates needs, but it comes once a year and it is good to see her so excited!!!

Spring Fling

I can finally say spring appears to be here in our area. I might add that I say... FINALLY! Of course, that is just before we head to Grand Cayman on Friday, but hopefully spring will be here when we return. I spent some time playing with some submissions today to get them where they need to go tomorow. Definitely my results were fueled by the weather. They were very cheery and fun to go along with the cloudless sky. I do find that my art is influenced by my environment. I wonder what I'll do in the Caribbean??

Addition and Subtraction

I sat here tonight thinking how much of my life revolves around addition and subtraction even though very little of it has to do with math in the traditional sense. I received new inks today from Lindy's Stamp Gang so now I have 17 bottles of Moon Shadow Ink added to my supply of about 500 or so other paints. Because of these paints, I'll need to move or "subtract" other supplies that I am not using regularly. Of course, this company has many other products that can be used "in addition to" the ones I have so I am sure more will be making their way into my studio. Composition-wise I also seem to return time and time again to the addition and subtraction of paint and inks. The ones I worked with today work really well to add and take away to create a mottled effect. I can't wait to sit down again and see what else they can do. That will be more time in the studio and less time doing the household chores..........what else is new?

Harlequin Redux

I continue to wonder what fascinates me about Harlequin design over and over, but at least once a month I do some kind of design that incorporates it and I never seem to get tired of working it. This one is the last spread in my altered calendar for February. I had a lot of fun working with the patterns and mylar accents. I wonder if others find themselves returning frequently to a design scheme.....write and let me know so I know I am somehow normal......

Fairy Tale

If I have the time I normally don't have any problems coming up with Valentine's. I have done everything from black and white ones to non-traditionally colored ones, depending on my mood. This year I decided to go brightly covered for my husband in one that is titled, "Fairytale"........ Our life hasn't always been a traditional fairytale, but even with our ups and downs, we have had our moments of magic. This one was fashioned out of scraps from some of my other seasonal work. NEVER THROW BITS AWAY! I keep scraps of work in a special tub to pull out when needed.

Valentine Mingle

I finally had some time to do some Valentine mingles for some special people and really enjoyed doing them. So much so that I am considering taking this project style and selling them later this year. They sold really well on the Arts de Mer cruise last year and really are a great size for gift giving. I am still thinking it through though, since I consider myself more of a teacher than a seller.

My teaching schedule is filling, although I am still working around family schedules:

A Time to Dance

While normally art focused, I find myself pausing to celebrate my daughter's personal victory at her first gymnastics meet of the year. Since 3 years old, gymnastics has been her life and I have watched, with admiration, her courage and dedication through illness, injury, and the hardships that all gymnasts go through. She has won events before, but last weekend won the all-around as well, which meant enough to her to bring tears of joy to her eyes. Those of you who bought my book might have noticed that my dedication about "taking the chance to dance" was for her. Well, as an addendum......I saw her take that chance and she did dance. Her work ethic and willpower paid off, a skill that will serve her well through life. I am so glad I was here to see it.

Lamentations or Resolutions?

This is THAT time of year where I take stock of what I did and didn't do last year while trying to plan what I am going to do this year. The key problem in that is the word "plan". I have never done that very well, leading to all sorts of predicaments throughout my life. Plans sound great in theory, but when they go awry, they let me down. I am pulled (voluntarily and involuntarily) in so many different directions these days, that plans seem to be unmade as quickly as they are made. I am great at getting my deadlines met, but not so great at anything else. So I have decided that this year will be a "random" year which is a word my almost teen daughter seems to use with zeal these days. I like the sound of the freedom in the word and hope that it doesn't let me down. No resolutions except that I will accept where my life takes and detours me, without worrying about whether I am getting enough done. So, yes, I will have a random year of art this year and will see where that takes me.