crisp fall days

These last few days have been the very definition of fall in northern Michigan - crisp and cold, with the sounds of raking leaves off in the distance. (I mean, really, they're great mulch - why would I need to rake them???)

Today is supposed to be a sunny one, albeit cold, and I believe we're getting out "little yellow" and seeing where it takes us. I'll post pics of our adventure.

I've been working in the studio quite a bit - Kendra, my latest passion is earrings because of you. Yes, I have several more journals to make before the craft show, and LOTS of cards to get done. But... I have been making some fun earrings in that "shabby chic" style I seem to like so much. Each and every one of them is one I think I would like to wear, so I won't cry too much if they don't sell. LOL.

I also made a killer necklace, bracelet and earrings based on bracelet kits sold by Kaari Meng at French General. I saw the little glass beads that looked like pearls, and well, that was it. Just had to get them, and then I did my own "take" on her idea. OOOHHH, that set is not going anywhere. I wore them to my cousins wedding a few weeks ago, and must admit I looked smashing!! (LOL) Well, at least I thought I did.

Kendra gave me some wonderful earrings - if you're coming to the Manistee craft show, her booth will be right next to mine, and you'd better stop and check it out. She does these fun and funky earrings that are great, well made, and really affordable. I think she's going to do really well at the craft show, so come on out and support her - her booth is "Forced to Create." I'll post pics here shortly. Next I'm going to see if she'll get an etsy store up and running, for those of you who live away from Michigan. If she will, I will - it's actually one of my goals after this year, to open my etsy store again.

Well, enough ramblings - have an artsy day, everyone!

Okay, I'm back, I promise

One of my goals this school year, was to post regularly here and at the ASBDA Blog. (For those of you who are my art friends, you probably don't know that I'm the National President of a Band Director's organization this year - we have a blog - I need to post regularly, quite frankly) I haven't so far, mainly because my mind has been totally consumed here with stuff from work. Hopefully I'll be able to write a little about this some day. For now, no. Suffice it to say, however, that I feel very humbled by the feeling of support I have had. Nonetheless, I have found my thoughts totally consumed by this dark fog, and now, ever so slowly, I feel that I am coming out of it. So, I plan on beginning now and posting regularly. What is it that I say to my students constantly???? "START WHERE YOU ARE." You can't go back, you can only go forward, so Start Where You Are.

Today, I start again. Where I am.

It was a horribly wet, rainy day yesterday, and we had Homecoming - which meant a parade (it was sunny for that, albeit cold. COLD.) And then the football game. Started sunny. (and cold. COLD) and got colder, and darker, and colder and darker, until it began to rain. AND THEN TO SNOW.

Not fair.

Today, however, was pretty sunny throughout, and was while cold, bearable. I put on my hoodie sweatshirt & was just fine. It was nice to get a lot of things done. I got to cross a lot off my list today. That always feels good.

And it felt good to start. It felt good to smile. It felt good to feel lightness again.

To all my friends out there - I hope you have a light, sunny, bright, warm day!! I'll have more to say in a few days. Until then - start where you are! (it felt good to take my own advice!)