Simple holiday pleasures!

I am never shy about the terrible way I handle stress. It pushes down on my head and cuts off my oxygen supply and the only thing that saves me is something creative.

Getting the tree up and decorated was not just a creative project, but it tested our patience, my patience and since it fell down over and over and over, we had to recut the trunk, and in the end I tied it to the wall. It was a 3 hour project just to get it to stand up! In the end, I think I won, so far.

... and outside, we have just a bit of snow. I usually put wreaths in the windows, but the boys complain that they shake at night in the cold wind (and they are not willing to suffer sleep for decor-wierd).

anyway, this year I put greens, pinecones and ribbon together... I think it turned out okay and it doesn't rattle the windows! So we can all sleep.

Happy Holidays and Sweet Dreams to all!

Etsy!

I still have some bracelets in my etsy shop!

Hello out there!!

December already!
It has been a busy fall.
I finally was able to spend an entire day in my studio yesterday. On one hand my studio is a refuge. No phone, no internet, all my wonderful art treasures, but on the other hand I have been thinking of giving classes there. Or creating a gallery space.
 I think making a community space could work also.

hmmmmm something to ponder. What do you think?

I hope you are feeling creative, because it is time to spread your wings!

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! ; )