Where is November rushing off to??

Where is the time going? Wasn't halloween just a minute ago?
I have been busy with the Artist E-pprenticeship. I had more information than I thought, so I have gone past the Nov. 15 end, and now I have to get the download ready.
http://artist-e-pprenticeship.blogspot.com/

I spent Thursday and Friday at my sister's house. I had the JOY JOY JOY of picking up a 6 month old puppy and delivering it to their house!
We surprised the three kids and it was just great!
He is a shetland sheepdog. Doesn't he look a lot like Lassie?
He has a wonderful sweet personality.

Now I am back home and seeing that a colony of dust bunnies have moved in. I think they want to play on the laundry mountain!
I have a nice quiet day today. Perfect for cleaning up... or writing!

LET'S CELEBRATE!!!!

FINAL BLOOD RESULTS ARE IN.......... ZERO ZERO ZERO 
The number is 0 tg and that means ZERO thyroid cancer! 
YES!!!!!!!

After 6 months waiting for testing, and ultrasound, rai 131 testing and blood, blood, and more blood.... ZERO.

I cannot believe it.

Now I can finish this cry of relief.... and make plans to move on!!!

THANK YOU 
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOUR KIND WORDS AND PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS!!!!!


(dear facebook friends, I am sorry for the cross posting! XOXO!!!_

Watercolor and pastel approx. 22 x 30

Working on Artist E-pprenticeship! My clay art illustrations have been published in Scholastic uk, but not here in the US. You do not need a published picture book to put together school visits.

What you do need to do is to take a step back and look at your artwork and how it translates to children's art. And you need some knowledge of school curriculum and how you can apply your art to that.

I am going to help you.

I am going to give you what I know, what I have done, and the steps you can take to build your own programs. It is all up to you!

It looks like the information, format, and instructions for sign up should be ready for Friday October 1! 

Thank goodness for uber-smart web-people! 

Until then, make some art!

http://artist-e-pprenticeship.blogspot.com/

You are so worth it!

I have been working on the ARTIST E-PPRENITICESHIP today.

Fees!

If you want to be a professional artist, you have to act professionally. 

To me that means I show up early, I have prepared a thoughtful, fun, lesson plan that exceeds the expectations of the venue, my paperwork is in order and I get paid for my work.  

Isn't it so difficult to feel comfortable about setting your fees, pricing your work, valuing yourself! 

It is hard enough to declare yourself an artist! To see your art as REAL, to see yourself as REAL and then just when you get all those ducks in a row... you have to get the swans in a row too!

The swan is the fees, the value, the beauty of getting paid so you can continue on... getting paid makes art possible! More art! More programs!

After all, if we the artists do not value ourselves how will anyone else?

this bill is for illustration purposes only! do not attempt to print! ; )

TGIF write!

Busy writing weekend! Polishing up the Artist E-pprenticeship class info. and

working on my middle grade novel.

Because I write in the kitchen window seat, and my hub works from home, and one college son is in and out to work and classes, and another other college son is home recovering from wisdom teeth removal, they talk to me when they come and go from the kitchen so I started wearing ear buds.  They think I can't hear them and it has cut down the interruptions!

One of my writer friends gave me this cute door knob sign. But without a door knob, or a door, I decided this morning to wear it! ; )

I hope you have a happy writing/creating weekend!

I almost forgot. My assistant sits in the window seat too!

professor gibbs dreaming of plot points and character development!

Home from the Writing retreat!

Home from the Writing Retreat weekend in beautiful Maine!

One of our fabulous children's book writers is also the owner of a lovely campground in Poland, Maine... yes, near Poland Spring!

Since Tam can't wander far during the camp season, which doesn't end until October, she invites a group of us to come twice a year and write, share and relax!

Doesn't this look relaxing?!!

I have no problem writing, and I am very good at relaxing, but then there is the SHARING. OY.

I wish I could say I just pick something and read it without any angst at all. And even though I am in this lovely setting with these smart, talented, thoughtful, writers, I still get nervous when it come time to share.

It actually starts the week before, when I start freaking out that I am not worthy. That my writing is not good enough, that nothing is new enough, that I need more time. Knowing of course that there is not enough time in the world. That I will always have this last minute feeling.

So, I ignore it. I hear it, I wallow in it, then I ignore it and I pack. I make copies, I pack the car and I start driving.

By the time I finish the 6 hour drive, I am tired and happy to see my friends. Then I really remember that I am safe with them. My words are safe here. 

We meet Saturday, sit in a circle of chairs and each read. We spend 20 minutes on each person's work. It is a long day, and when it is finished, we walk to the lake, we have a big dinner and too much wine.

I am thankful for all of them. They heard my story (I read a picture book) and encouraged me to submit it.

Here are some of us, hanging out after a long day of reading... and successful sharing!

What do I do when I get home from a long, creative weekend? I sign up for Mondo Beyondo DreamLab!

Will you be there too? 

I thought I could handle doing that, while I finish the E-pprenticeship plans!

Registration will open October 1!

Writing retreat weekend!

I can't wait to go to make Maine for an annual writing retreat.

Friday, I leave for my long drive to Maine. A fun get together on Friday night, then Saturday we share some writing. Zoinks. 

I have the next few days to figure out what I am reading. 

A chapter from my middle grade?  A new picture book? 

I read a picture book last time and everyone's insight was so valuable I was able to polish it up! There is nothing like the kind eyes and ears of this group of talented writers to see where I want to go and how I can get there!

I hope you have a creative week to polish up some of your works in progress too!