Through the Looking Glass

Well from watermedia printing to resins.............and nary a "made" or "bought" Christmas card in sight yet. Sigh...... December is always a swamped month with classes due here, there, and everywhere. This weekend was resin weekend. Again, thanks to Nancy's wonderful introduction to resin and the terrific Ice Resin site itself, I am finding my way to incorporate what I like to do into wearable jewelry. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with. Now it's on to more painting....those gingerbread houses await, more class preparation, and cookie making. YUMMY!

Look for my local classes here in January at For Keeps Sake, in Jan or Feb (TBD) at New Art Legacies, and a foray to Cincinnati at Stamp Your Art Out on February 25th.

Crunch Time

I've been playing with watermedia prints for quite a few years, yet when asked to do sale artwork, charitable donations, or even try a new class at a new store, it is my go to process. What I never ever remember is how long it all takes, so even though I thought I was on schedule through the first two days in the studio, my studio time yesterday amounted to 22 straight hours (45 minute frozen dinner break). During that time I listened to 10 episodes of Supernatural from last season, Terminator 2, Will and Grace, a Lifetime movie with Diane Keaton doing meth, the X Factor, and infomercials galore. I also heard tons of Christmas commercials and promos for all the new movies coming out around Christmastime. In the meantime, I was knee deep in fibers, metal powders, watermedia, both Golden and Sue Rothamel's wonderful Mica Color palettes (vintage my new fav) .I was also knee deep in the creative process so much so that at the end of the 22 hours I was tired but also at peace because I love so much what I do. Now, if I could just start a few days earlier next time there is a deadline. Note to self.

I am attending the opening of a new store, New Art Legacies, in Fairview Heights, IL tomorrow where all 22 pieces will be up for sale. I also am teaching the class next Friday for those who want to venture into making their own. It's a busy time of year, but a relaxing class that would be great for Christmas gifts. That will be my last class of the year, but I will be at For Keeps Sake on Saturday, January 21, doing my first class at their store. Things are definitely happening. Now I need to get someone to just help me decorate my house for Christmas!

Open House

I have finished my second in a series of whimsical street scenes and have titled this one, Open House. While I was working on this painting, my mind wandered into the insides of each of these unique houses. What would it be like to tour them? I love going to open houses and seeing the decor, the mood, all the touches that owners put of themselves in them. I think most of the houses on this street would have interesting touches that would reflect the whimsy of their owners. Regarding the house styles, clearly their are no zoning laws in effect since almost any flight of fancy can be built. Enjoy your view of my new street. As always, I have a favorite and a continuing theme.

Halloween Couture

I've been fascinated with witches' hats and shoes for the longest time. It must be the umpteen showings of Wizard of Oz during my childhood. It was always a family fest each year when it was on. I DID NOT LIKE the gargoyles at all. So once again I dipped my toe into painting but kept the theme more whimsical, which seems to be my bent these days. I sort of pictured the forest as a store of sorts for witches to go and pick out and try on their hats. The pumpkins were brought in to keep the hats from the forest dirt. Again the colors in this painting were largely done in a subtractive manner and detail added with Pitt Pen. I do like the white areas that show imperfection throughout the painting. At my sister/mentor's suggestion, I am developing a signature of sorts. If you look between the two paintings, there will be some commonality. I'll comment later after you have had a chance to figure it out and comment.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011

One Big Toe Outside of the Box

Fall is here and the hearth and home have started to take priority for me.  I have the first floor of my house 85% clutter free and have both myself and my husband on a short leash to keep it that way.  The canines are not cooperating but I just try not to look at their scattered toys around the floor. 

Many people that know me well know that I am obssessed with houses.  Whether it be on Tumblr, Pinterest, or in my home decor, I am attracted by houses of all kinds, and, of late, the quirkier the better. A few years ago I dabbled in some drawing with Halloween buildings, but once I was done with them, I put that thought away.   One of my goals after I got Sammi off to college was to pursue something I have been afraid to do for a long time...to paint in a representational style.  I can put together images (as in stamping), printing, abstract painting (to some degree), color play and feel fairly good about it.  I know as a child in some kids' art classes, I enjoyed painting, but as I headed towards adulthood, I lost my way.   So, I put myself to the test and decided since I am always touting to do things that are different than what you usually do and play, yada...yada....yada...., I decided to paint.  Houses seemed to be what I wanted to paint again, so I set about it two weeks ago.  I wanted to capture the time the sun starts to go down but often (at least here in St. Louis) you can start seeing the stars and sometimes the moon.  So yes, that orange partial ball is the waning sun.  Yes, the houses are quirky and somewhat whimsical.  I'd love to hear if you have a favorite house.  I do.  I'll tell later on if I get some responses first.  The actual canvas size is 6 x 12" and my medium for this one was heavily watered fluid acrylics applied in a subtractive manner.  The detail was done with an assortment of Pitt pens.  Thank you for visiting my street.  I think there will be more streets coming.  Stay tuned and remember to tell me which is your favorite house!

Boo!

OK...I've gotten autumn under my belt with pumpkin coffee and a mantel that still love to go by and sigh.  So....this weekend it is Halloween decorating and planning for the month.  In that vein, I played today with my go to image company for Halloween, Rubbermoon. It was a fun project.

How to's:  I covered a canvas with Golden's Titan Buff Fluid Acrylic and then dry brush spotcolored it in a linear motion with quin burnt orange, pyrrole orange, quin nickle azo, and oche.  I took a 2" square clayboard and stamped the image on using Black StazOn.  I then colored the image with the same acrylics and set aside.  While waiting for it to dry, I stamped the sentiment on the background with StazOn and painted a piece of aluminum foil with nickel azo and another piece with black to make a small frame.  A few strands of black fiber and it was ready to be assembled.  I think she is quite festive.......

Autumn in St. Louis

Fall arrived at the Curry household yesterday. I spent the morning decorating my fall mantle with everything from white pumpkins to feathers and copper glittered curly qs.  I am quite in love with the bit of seasonal whimsy dressing up my family room.  Meanwhile, the temperature hovered today in the low sixties so I brewed myself my first pumpkin spice coffee of the season and finished these Halloween tags for an exchange.  Harlequin designed papers combined with subtractive paint technique in the same pattern made for a neat vintage look for the largest tag.  I found an old Rubbermoon image for the Tim Holtz ticket and combined it with a Tim Holtz clear acrylic tag stamped with a newer Red Lead phrase to finish this tag series off. 

My classes are now set at Stamp Your Art Out on Saturday, November 12.  I will be teaching Rock 'n Roll:  Brayered Surface Design in the morning and then Kaleidoscope, a watermedia printing class, in the afternoon.  I am looking forward to my return to my old home store and some Cincinnati chili while I am there. 

Ice Ice Baby

OK...so my only kid is in college fourteen + hours away and what have I been doing???  I took a class!!! I know that sounds kind of ordinary, but I haven't taken a class for more years than I can remember.  And, (drum roll) I actually followed the teacher and made the project that I was supposed to.  For those of you that don't know..... I can get very distracted in class.  Usually it is a good thing for me because I've been inspired to go in a different direction, but it is not a good thing for my drawer of unfinished projects.  Oh, back to the class.  Well....I wandered down to a wonderful store south of St. Louis, For Keep's Sake, yesterday to check it out for local teaching and saw Nancy Wethington's samples for her Ice Resin class.  Now I did know about the product, but until yesterday it was in the nether regions of my mind.  I was lucky to snag a late spot in the class.  So excited was I for the class that I did two pieces of art from my scrap bin last night and off I went today.  That proved to be a good thing because I was able to complete four resin pieces total.  Yes, props to me for being prolific in class.  Nancy was well-prepared, enthusiastic, and generous with her tips, techniques, and humor.  The process itself is not difficult, but it was so fun making more art with the filled class and meeting new people.  My dogs are the only ones who wander into my studio at home and they don't seem to add any meaningful value.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I have now bought enough Ice Resin to play with in the fall and several more seasons.  What a wonderful day. 

First Week Pseudo Empty Nester

Well, let's see. Jim is out of town and Sam is in PA so that leaves me and the two canines. I've gotten so many things done on my list that I needed to do all spring and summer. It's been wonderful having the endless time to get them done. I even fit in a rush hour movie yesterday to reward myself. I found myself in a theater seeing "One Day" with a 60 year old man. Interesting to say the least. I've still got plenty to do to get caught up, but I feel like I've put a dent in some things.



Happy almost Labor Day.....I think it is the Japanese Festival again for us. It will be strange without Sam but we can send her pictures. Also, I am working on my classes for Stamp Your Art Out on Saturday, November 12. More to follow on that. Come see me in Cincinnati.

Summer's Over

There has been a long drought here for many reasons. First, Sammi graduated from high school and the summer has been spent preparing for her nest-leaving. We leave to take her to Ursinus College in Pennsylvania on Monday. And yes, I will survive..... I think. We also wanted to spend time with her so we took her to England. What a wonderful week we had in late June-early July. I finally got to step foot onto the Wimbledon grounds, but the Cotswolds stole my heart. It was a trip I'll never forget.

Stampaway was last week in Cincinnati, and I was happy to debut a new class called Painterly Pizazzz. I had 25 enthusiastic students and my wonderful friend, Deb, helping me. I also got to stay at her house and had the best time.

So what am I going to do with the rest of my life now that Jim and I will be pseudo-empty nesters for nine months out of the year? Well, I am going to start teaching again so if you know of a store that would be interested in me, drop me an email. I begin again as of now in November at Stamp Your Art Out in Cincinnati, my old home store. After that, who knows........

I also want to pursue my own art at the same time so you may see some things finally posted from me again.

Happy dog days everyone.....

Beginnings and Ends

This week marks the end of Sammi's years of high school and new beginnings for all of us as a family. By summer's end, Jim and I will be partial empty nesters as we adjust to her being at Ursinus. These four years, marked by our third return to St. Louis, have flown by as wise people told me they would. My focus has been on getting her ready for college, getting her through gymnastics seasons, and adjusting to increasing freedoms and responsibilities. It will be this week that I will take stock on how we've done...... in between the appreciation luncheons, field days, awards banquets, and, of course..... graduation this Friday. The artwork to the right is my annual gift to Barat Academy.

Anniversary Surprise

We received a wonderful anniversary gift from our graduating senior today. What a fun video to reminisce to. It's been a hectic couple of months since I posted. We're caught up in senior moments, college decisions, traveling for gymnastics, sick friends. I can honestly say I haven't been in the studio since March. Things will slow down after graduation and I can get back to being Nancy. But I can never get back this time with Sammi so I am taking it without any guilt.

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone has a happy, safe, and healthy special day tomorrow. I was treated to a beautiful bouquet today and a 5"7" Epic Rose from Ecuador. It's my second year to receive the tall rose from Jim. I loved the one last year and if memory serves me right, it lasted a couple of weeks. Not too bad for an import. I included a picture of it and two of my three men. The other dog, Bogart, was sleeping but Tucker was pretty docile in Jim's arms.

We had a wonderful weather weekend so finally the ice and snow is starting to melt. What a treat to have the ice gone from our driveway. It takes so little.....

Electrifying

Electrifying can mean so many things. I spent another weekend watching gymnastics and that truly is electrifying especially when you see two "10s" given out. In fourteen years of competition, I have never seen a 10. But electrifying to me is also seeing my nephew Jon's photography. He is a natural and last week during the storm took a wonderful macro video with his camera of a melting snowflake that I found "electrifying" in it's simplicity and rare view. When I went to do my inchie, I chose between "joy" and "memories" to showcase the word. It was a tough choice for me because I do find memories electifying when they just pop into your head out of nowhere...good ones and bad ones alike. But the most electrifying feeling I have felt is pure joy so that won out. Enjoy........

Mirthful

It is interesting that mirthful is this week's word and I am experiencing the worst weather of the winter so far. I am less than mirthful right now. My dogs that just slid about 8 feet on the icy patio are feeling even less so. But, as they say--the show must go on. I have a confession to make. I hate clowns and am terrified of them, however, I have a fascination with jester's hats. I make no sense sometimes. Actually, truth be told, party hats of any sort. Linda Malcolm at Lost Coast Designs has at least two wonderful sets of party hats of all sorts and then another must have set of wild animals with party hats. They are definitely for those with eclectic tastes and were perfect for my mirthful Every Inchie Monday theme. Enjoy......

Maudlin

Every Inchie Monday day again.....the week rolls around really fast. This week's theme was maudlin. I couldn't figure out my interpretation until I saw about 10 minutes of Beverly Hills Housewives or whatever it's called. They were bemoaning their youth and they looked stunning. My inchie idea came from that. It's always interesting where ideas find their beginnings. Enjoy....

Snow Day

An unexpected gift of a snow day and I got lost in my studio. Dreams do come true sometimes. This is a piece for my oldest friend in the world that I've found again. I feel so lucky to have made that reconnection since we spent a majority of our time together during elementary school. He was my other half.

Birds of a Feather

I am back in the tundra of St. Louis after quite an eventful trip to the Tampa, St. Petersburg Beach area for five days of gymnastics bonding. This was our fourth year to travel down with Sammi's team and we had a great time, although the weather could have been slightly warmer. Fun was had by all. This season is still surreal since it is Sammi's last under USAG rules so each meet is bittersweet. It was a fun time for her since she had uninterrupted team time and also took home the all around award for the meet after winning bars, beam, floor, and taking second on vault. Add to that the camaraderie of the team, team parents, coaches and just generally the gymnastics world and you come up with the first reason I titled this entry, "Birds of a Feather." Gymnasts are a different breed and those in that world with them all have to stick together. I would guess it is that way for any high level individual competitive sport as well. Well, we did all stick together and it was a memorable time.

I worked on my inchie for the word caring today. I didn't have a clue what I was going to do until I was in front of my bird feeder and saw a male cardinal putting seed into his female's mouth since she couldn't get up to the feeder (the restaurant was quite crowded). Hence, the inchie I made for caring has a pair of birds and the titled phrase. I spent quite a lot of time watching the bird interaction and found it quite amazing.

Powerful

That word means so many things to so many people. For me emotions are the most powerful thing in my life and always have been. This week I experienced a myriad of them....pride, fear, joy, and a little sadness as my daughter began her last competitive gymnastics season unless she chooses to continue in college. All were almost equal in intensity but the joy eclipsed the others when I saw her triumph over some physical and mental challenges. So for me, joy is the emotion I find the most powerful. I celebrate it in my entry for this week's inchie challenge. We leave for Tampa on Wednesday for her to compete again. It will be bittersweet for her since each meet will be her last one with the team. Fourteen years is a long time in a young life.

Eclectic

I noticed an online inchie challenge and decided to have a go. Now whether I will do it every week or not, I guess we'll find out soon enough. But it was very fun to work on this one today for the theme, eclectic. What's more eclectic than a post-Christmas phrase the I added at the end??? Today's "Fa la la" started as a leftover piece of transparency from a local demo last October. It was spot colored with Ranger alcohol inks, texturized with a product called Wood Icing that led to the darker more matte finish, and then gilded with Gildenglitz. I finished it off by backing it to a piece of white cardstock. What a fun time I had with this little piece.

Post Merry Christmas and Happy almost New Year

The rest of fall and holiday season are but a blur now. So much thought, effort, sweat, and sometimes frustration goes into the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas...and then it is but a memory. Our season itself was quite wonderful once we got through senior exams and another college shopping trip to PA the first week in December. We traveled back to PA for Christmas with family and managed to get out of dodge before the blizzard hit the area. My gifts of Christmas were many: time with family, laughter, a peaceful candlelight church service, some treasured gifts that were unexpected. While my family moments were wonderful, my favorite moment came when I was reunited with my best friend in the world for the one year I lived in PA during 8th grade. It was online that I found her, but we hadn't seen each other for 33 years. It was nice to see we could pick up where we left off all those years ago. I hope to see her for years to come.

I have many moments and people to be grateful for in 2010. It was the year of trips for all of us. Lots of gymnastics and college travel in the winter and spring. These trips were soon followed by my nephew's wedding and our summer Japan trip. I will treasure those family moments and the peaceful nature of the Japanese always. More college trips came our way later in the summer and into the fall. Each college had its own flavor and being on these stately campuses made me want to metriculate again...briefly. I took a break from that kind of travel to go on my first trip with my sister in November to the Caribbean. We had a lovely cruise together and enjoyed bonding over jewelry shopping and stingray swimming. I am really blessed to have had all these opportunities this year. Unfortunately, that meant that not a lot of art was done. I am ready to jump back in for 2011! The art above is a little taste...... Happy New Year and a wonderful 2011 to all.

Chills and Thrills

Mike Meador of Coffee Break Designs left us today. I will miss his wit, support, and good-natured demeanor. I feel lucky that I was able to see him at Stampaway and will remember him that way. Although I only saw him sporadically, he was always willing to help when I needed every little thing for classes....yesterday. I took some gentle ribbing, but he always came through. Thanks, Mike...you will be missed by many.

Halloween is rapidly approaching. I finished my cards tonight and managed to do some ATCs to send out as well. Yes, Chills and Thrills is supposed to be askew......I promise.

Willy-Nilly

willy-nilly adv: in a haphazard or spontaneous manner ... That word sums up my September. Maybe my 2010, too. I was pulled in so many directions all month that I got little done on what I really wanted to do and what I did get done was 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there so everything felt disjointed. I got a little of my studio cleaned only to mess it up again so quickly while getting some things out at the last moment. I got Sammi off for her senior year of high school..... and then had a moment after she left that first day. Then I had a week where I realized that I will need to reinvent my life after she goes off to college next fall. Yes, it took a week. I have come to no conclusion on what I want to do....another book? more travel? a job? more studio time? Hmmmmm....... Even my thoughts have been coming and going in a willy nilly fashion. They flit in and flit out and almost get forgotten. It's so fitting that my last artwork of the month celebrates the freedom of willi-nilliness (head nod to Red Lead for the great stamp). I think I will try not to fight it in October, but will embrace the randomness of it all. We'll see how that works.

STAMPAWAY 2010

Well once again it is Stampaway week and it's all happening here at my house. New samples, packing, more packing, more organizing for packing, buying supplies, forgetting supplies and having to go back again and again. But along with that is the excitement to see our small world again, meet incredible students and peer teachers, and get inspired by all the artful discussion all around. I've been going for 15 years and have been teaching for 10 or 11. It is always a week to be remembered.

Hope

It is midsummer and quite tepid here in St. Louis, although Tokyo was not much better. College shopping is in full swing as is prep for Stampaway in two weeks. I am quite looking forward to it. But back to Tokyo....what an experience. It was as if we stepped completely into another world for 8 days. The people were fabulous and the scenery in such a large city was lush and bountiful. We negotiated the subways and learned that just when you think more can't fit...they can. We also managed to handle the lack of English with dignity. Luckily, pointing to food mock ups was socially acceptable.

Summer 2010

Sorry for being in absentia for quite a while. We had a lot of post season gymnastics travel as well as a family wedding, college shopping and, of course, the lousy winter pneumonia scare. It's been quite a busy few months. I am really enjoying the slowing down in summer and have probably done about 10 pieces of art since school let out. I hope to get some of them posted on my main website shortly. This painting was done this morning and was my first foray into using Wood Icing as a texture tool on canvas. It was wonderful to work with after a terrific demo with Mary Beth Shaw last week. I think it is going to become a studio essential. This week was banner since I was able to head to the Collinsville Convention for a few hours with my bff, Tracy. Typical vendors but the day was capped off with an ongoing demo by USArtQuest owner and fabulous artist, Sue Pickering Rothamel. I hadn't seen her for a long time but was entranced as usual with her talent and demo style. She'll be around this summer so be sure to catch her when she's out. It is always worth a few hours.

Scrapbook Page!

I will tell you all that this is about the 6th scrapbook page I have ever done and had no pictures. So I had to do what I do best. My oldest nephew is getting married in May and this is a page to go in a wedding shower album. It was fun to do. I can see why people scrapbook! I am ready for spring now...that's for sure. I love weddings and haven't been to one in a few years. It will be fun.

Lost and Found

I am in the process of trying to find my art muse again. It has been lost for some time now. I still can appreciate art but have not been able to find the desire to produce until last week. I am happy it is here now and am going to try to keep it going.

I never understand why it comes and goes. Part of it is a lack of nurture I guess. Anyone have any suggestions?

It's In the Details

JANUARY 2010

*new year
*new start
*new art
*new honesty
*new resolve

Don Sanderson and David Wilson....you will both be missed. I am lucky to have had you both in my lives, my father and my dear friend.

Fall Musings

Golly....I think St. Louis has been deluged enough over the last month. We've had few days without rain and have seen blue sky rarely. What else is new? Well during the rainy time I did manage to find my desk in the studio and have kept it about 80% clean. I also was lucky enough to have Charla in from Boston for a bit so we were able to have some fun when she wasn't busy working to clean out a house. I had a spider bite that went toxic and within two days my car was totalled (and then totalled reversed) on a poor young deer when my husband was picking me up from a concert because I couldn't walk. Nice run-on sentence from the former English teacher. On a positive note, the husband was able to walk away and I have a new Highlander because of it. Artwise I finally delved into some repousse after having the supplies for two years. Teresa Holt, a longtime friend and incredible artist challenged us to do some metal atcs for the month after demoing it up close and personal. Well, I had a great time doing them and have all sorts of ideas in my head for more. ENJOY ...................................most of the rest of them are on my website

Beginnings and Endings

A heavy post written with a heavy heart. I am blessed to have a core group of people in my life that I love and would do anything for. My life is richer because of these people. I learn daily how to be a better person and thank God every day for teaching me through them. I understand why they have been brought to me. What I don't understand is why those that focus on the negative and tearing people/places down must also be a part of my life? I guess I am supposed to learn from them, too, but these lessons are oh so painful. For me, nothing can hurt worse than the betrayal by someone I considered a friend. It hasn't happened often in my adult life so this took me by surprise. I hope the pain and anguish that is inside subsides for her so she can get on with her life. I will get on with mine. The artwork for today is aptly titled "Life's Beginnings". Happenstance.........

The Perfect Risk

Watching the beginnings of another artist's journey is an intense experience for me. Musicians have always been close to my heart. I have followed my nephew, Jon's, exploration for years and found each phase really interesting. I have admiration for the creativity involved in not only writing the stories in the music but the music itself. What a process it must be. I also have admiration for the songwriter whose lyrics let you see exactly who he/she is in the story. That honesty and vulnerability is at the core of all art. It's simplicity is compelling and the purity of the emotion takes your breath away. I heard a new song by a dear family friend, Eric Sommerhof, last night. Eric spent the last year + with Sammi and his song, The Perfect Risk, will draw you in and make you remember who we should be. Enjoy...........

K A R M A

It has been a jampacked couple of months since I posted anything new. Stampaway was a blast as usual. I had so many wonderful people in my classes and had fun mingling with old and new friends. I couldn't have asked for better weather or company. I stopped back into St. Louis for four days and then left on a 10 trip to the Outer Banks with Jim and Sammi. We met up with my sister and family for a wonderful time. Our house was a former model so it was definitely HGTV perfection. The beach was wonderful and the ocean was peaceful until Bill the Hurricane showed up. But still it was a great trip. School preparation, some teenage drama, and a death in the family of a dear friend dominated the next week before school and then it happened....I have a junior in high school now. Actually one who sometimes thinks she is wise beyond her years. It has been a roller coaster at times. So school is now in session and I am trying to find my studio once again. It looks like a cyclone blew through it. Enjoy this little ATC and I'll try to be back soon.

Diffusion

I have a teenager. Today a driving one with lots of evolving ideas, wants and needs. I feel like I am spending an inordinate amount of time diffusing that teen angst while trying to accept her and foster her growing independence. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Summer 2009

Could it get any hotter in St. Louis? Of course, when it was 70s and beautiful, I was too busy with the last part of Sammi's season so yesterday in the 100 degree heat, Ibought flowers to plant. The three of us planted 5 pots last night and by the end of the half hour I was a drippy, drippy mess. Sammi kept sponging me off...I felt like a surgeon in the middle of surgery. The posted artwork today for the alphabet workshop (letter B) came out of my floral experience last night. The rest of the uploads from today: C, X, S, F can be found on my altered website under the Alphabet Workshop book.

ENJOY!!!!!!!

Nuances

I joined an international artist journal project, Alphabet Discovery Workshop...the first one I have been in besides the calendar since we moved. It is the brainchild of a wildly artistic artist in England, Trish Bee, who has an incredible blog and website.I am so glad I did. I am really enjoying what everyone else is doing and can't wait to have a finished product that expresses where I am at now. Fun!!!!!

Barat

My daughter's sophomore year is coming to a close and each year I do a piece of artwork for the school. This year I went more with graphic doodles. The broken heart symbol is the school's graphic and the words are the ideals they hope they pass on to the students.

Sammi

I celebrate my daughter's tenacity in overcoming injury and family obstacles during her first level 9 season. She represented her gym and her family well at the Western Championships in Bartlesville, OK. In the process, she brought home a medal from beam at both the regional championships and again at Westerns. Well done.....now she gets some much needed rest...........

It's back to art for me now. I haven't been to a store lately but am just dying to get my hands on the new Ranger refillable alcohol ink pens. Anyone have them yet??????

Limbo and beyond

Many times I've wished for a crystal ball but March was definitely a month that I am glad I didn't have one. March was a month of bad weather, of two last minute flights to Pennsylvania, of a wonderful quick trip to Tampa for more tropical gymnastics, and also the month that I spent my last days with my father. I am so grateful for the time that my sister and I were able to spend with him the last few days of March. Hospice said the last sense to go was hearing so we spent lots of time reminiscing and helping him to let go. Donald Munro Sanderson, our dad, a consummate whistler and harmonica player, a tinkerer who could fix everything, a lover of Whitley's peanuts and fettuccini alfredo passed away quietly while we were with him on April 1 and will be missed.

Fiddle Faddle

February is almost over which means we have reached the downward slope of winter. Thank goodness. I spent a lot of time in the studio this month doing this and that. It has been very therapeutic for me. I was very happy with my non-traditional VDay cards this year. I don't think I had done cards for the past couple of years.

Sammi competed her first meet finally after missing three and did about as expected. As a new level 9 and an injured one at that, she isn't going to do any damage until her skills are stronger. We did have about five minutes of drama after she narrowly avoided going down on her neck during vault. You could have heard a pin drop while everyone waited for the medics to allow her to get up. I am not sure I was breathing much. She did finally get up and then proceeded to compete the entire rest of the meet. That's my daughter.

ART NEWS: I was pleased to have an email from Stampington regarding some wall art that they are going to publish in a new specialty publication called Black and White in November. I am currently writing a feature article for that work. And, I am pleased to announce that I will have three classes at Stampaway this year: Elementz, Play it Again, Sam and Resist 2009. More on that to follow.

Will You Be Mine????

It is February and love is all around.....well, it is all around when we get through algebra, gym practice, snow, a puppy who is into pens and is not particular about what kind. You get the drift. I love Valentine's Day and love to doodle so without further adieu, you can peek at one of my cards for 2009. They are all different and fun to do!

On the "must have" front. I am waiting ever so impatiently for Ranger's alcohol ink refillable pens. For more info, take a look at this video and prepare to be intrigued. Be very afraid.

Snow Day

I had some extra time today while nursing Sammi back to health so I uploaded some new art on my main website and one pic for this blog. I had two great classes this weekend at Rock Paper Scissors. I hadn't taught my advanced resist for a while so it was great to get back into it. It is snowing visciously here today so we are bundled up watching The Bachelor. What a day.....................

I've been reading all about CHA and can't wait for a lot of the new products to come out especially Ranger's new refillable pen and the new alcohol inks. Anyone else waiting for anything new???

Elementz

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the holiday season was a whirlwind for us and I am sure we are not the only ones. We made a quick trip to PA to see family and then came back for the myriad of practices that she had to be at. New Year's was a meal at Shogun followed by Valkyrie and some Korbel. We celebrated with Sammi and ber boyfriend and then took them on New Year's Day to Dave and Busters. Much fun was had. Now it is back to business and reality. The canvas artwork here features Ranger's new stickyback canvas and some mixed media applications. Enjoy....it is the flagship for my Stampaway class in August.

I have two upcoming classes here in St. Louis on January 24 at Rock, Paper, Scissors. Then I am on hiatus traveling with Sammi for her season.

Cherish

There is a lot of hubbub to December for me, especially when Thanksgiving is on the later side as it was this year. We are still decorating, buying, and trying to keep up with all the activity. Some days it goes better than other others. Last week was particularly busy as I was also getting art ready for the Bizarre Bazaar. It was a great show and I was amazed with all the beautiful work when I stopped down there this weekend. We got our tree, Sheldon, up on Saturday and then it promptly fell and shattered a few non-special ornaments. We were very lucky that the special ones remained unscathed. Next on the agenda....Christmas cards and an altered calendar collaboration that I need to get caught up on. And, of course, Stampaway class applications are on the horizon. What a couple of weeks!