The first day

Today is officially the first day of my retirement.  There, I said it.

Retirement - it is a word charged with lots of emotions.  Especially for someone who has worked at the same job for 34 years, the same profession for 36 years.  Retirement has to do with pulling back - I don't do that easily.  Retirement has to do with easing up - yep, that's not me, either.

So, what will it mean for me?  I think it means new beginnings, but with the same passions, the same energy.  (Well, maybe not the exact same amount of energy - I am 36 years older than when I started this profession.....)  I think it means time.  Time to do things that I have had to pass by, to say "maybe later," or "not yet."

It's later, it's "yet."  Perhaps I will not use the word retirement, but rather I'll say "Today is officially the first day that I begin my shift of focus.  Today, I begin saying yes, stopping rather than passing by, saying "now," not later.

Yep - Today I start shifting my focus.

I know it's been a long time.....

It's been a while (um.... 2 years....) since a posting.  Well, it's time to start again.  Here's to Vittoriabella!!!

Since last I posted I have:

*  traveled to Europe conducting a band of high school students with my husband
*  had a solo art show
*  been a part of 3 art shows where I was one of 3 or 4 featured artists
*  had a bunch of booths at art/craft fairs, some of which were juried shows!!!
*  been picked up by a local gift shop as their "featured local jewelry artist"

and all of the other usual "stuff," too.  Whew.

More pictures and info soon.

My husband, the pilot!  Mike got his private pilot's license today - many years of training & now he's a full pilot!!  I am SO proud!!

Updates from my neck of the woods

I have been creating.  It feels good to get back in the studio and create.  I also took a booth space at an art show that featured only Michigan-made artists.  It was a good show for me, and one of these days, I hope to be able to give you an update about something that may grow out of that show - it could be exciting. 

Here is a view of the booth & my wonderful assistant!

Another peek into my sketchbook from vacation.

TOO long since my last post

It's been way too long since my last post - 6 months.  That's too long.  Life just seems to take priority some times.  Okay, gentle reader, I'll get caught up with you over the next few weeks about what's been going on in my life. 

Here's a peek at my sketch book from my spring break trip last week - we went to Orlando - I hung out at the pool & sketched.  Husband took flying lessons - he's wanting to upgrade his pilot's license to the next level up.  Weather was warm, sunny & wonderful.  (I saw on Facebook that back in MI there was snow.  Aww......)

 And the inspiration for this sketch:

Thanks also, to Alissa Burke for her wonderful classes Sketchbook parts 1 & 2 - the classes were great motivation to make the most of the wonderful surroundings & fill my sketchbook with drawings & color.

More studio shots

More shots of the jewelry area - the metals bench is directly to the left of this shot above.