Travel Thoughts

So, school has begun, and along with it a number of things that made me think wistfully back to summer time. (Is it summer vacation yet??) One of my favorite pics was snapped through the windshield of our rental car in Flagstaff, AZ. I know, it's not 'artsy' or even very exciting, except if you look closely, you'll see the "Route 66" sign there, plus all those wonderful western cities and the arrows. I just loved this intersection - I remembered seeing it the last time we drove through here, 4 years ago. To me, this looks like the crossroads of America.



Next weekend, after our first football game performance (more on that another day) I'll get up very, very early Saturday morning and fly to Milwaukee, get a rental car, and drive to Valley Ridge Art Studio to take the Cardboard Visual Journal class with the wonderful Katie Kendrick -- I've talked to others who have had classes with her before, and they have always raved, so I'm really, really excited. I also poured over the article she did about this journal for 'Cloth, Paper, Scissors' magazine. Yes, my supplies are packed, and I've left just a little room for a change of clothes and a toothbrush. I can't wait!!! I know in many ways this week will drag by as I anticipate this wonderful adventure. Happy Sunday, all!

Beginnings

So, today was the first day of school for students. It's always fun for me to see the students for the first time.

Do you remember a time when you did exactly the opposite of logic on the first day of school? I do, and I think of it every year on the first day of school. I had gotten a beautiful new top and pair of pants in a very fall like color, and very fall like in their style (they were really meant for cool weather). I just couldn't wait to show off my new 'duds' - they were very stylish & I felt like a queen. Yes, of course, the first day of school was very hot. I wouldn't be detered, and wore them anyway. Funny how I remember it to this day, so I guess everything is meant to 'be' something - it doesn't matter if it becomes it's intended purpose or not -- I still think about my need for style over my need for comfort at that time.

I watched all of the young girls today, so many dressed up in their finery -- how I smiled. Bravo - continue to think about style over comfort from time to time. There's nothing wrong with it, as long as it makes you smile! And sometimes, like me, it will make you smile for decades!

Speaking of smiling - this picture of Mike and my father in law Al makes me smile. They wanted to borrow my car (okay, my new toy) and go for a ride while we were visiting. I knew that Al would love to get a chance to drive it -- look at their smiles -- what do you think?

The only disappointment of late was the fact that we missed out on the last day of the fish market for the summer. It is about 45 minutes from our house, and we decided that Monday we would go there & have one more fish fry for the summer. Convertible top down, we drove, anticipating what we would order. As we approached, we both said out loudn- "I think we've got a problem." Yes, you're right - they were already closed. Well, beloved fish market, we will be back next spring, perhaps even on opening day, we are so wanting our fish dinner (Mike, whitefish or snapper, me, shrimp or scallops). Until then, we will smile with the memory of this summer's delightful dinners on your picinic tables on the front lawn. Yummmmm......

First Day of School

Okay, so it was the first day of school for teachers. You hear all about getting "kids" ready for the first day of school, but what you don't hear about is all the big "kids" are getting ready, too. We think about wearing just the right outfit, and making sure the alarm clock is set just so, and the freshness and the newness that a new "year" brings. I always feel like I get several fresh starts every year -- the start of school, January 1, the start of a new semester, spring time. I feel like I'm really blessed with all the beginnings of my life.

So what about the endings? Well, being a teacher who is with kids from the 5th grade until the 12th grade, there is a sense of ending as each group graduates. Today I missed seeing one of my recent graduates who was home for a couple of days. Drat - I really like to connect with them -- she wanted to tell me how hard college marching band intensive week was. (She told all of this to the gal I work with) She wanted to tell me all about all the new stuff in her life - dorm, room mates, marching band drills & music, classes --- beginnings for her, ending for me. I wish her well, and I know she'll be back to see me again soon to tell me all about her new adventures!

This spring (speaking of beginnings) the bush at the front of the house again bloomed and produced these amazing flowers -- they smell sweeter than any flower I've ever smelled. I love them, and don't have the foggiest idea what they are -- perhaps one of my friends or readers would be able to tell me what they're called. We are going to redo our porch this fall or next spring, and I'm afraid I'll lose this bush and not know what to replant, so I'm on a mission to find out what this thing is. Anybody have any ideas?

No art today - too much school stuff to do. I'm also working on cleaning out closets and the junk rooms. Yes, room"s". But that's not for long -- I'm on a tear and want to have clean, neat rooms again, throughout the house. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Well, it's back to cleaning, gardening & getting ready for kiddies tomorrow - till then!

More Garden Goodies, more summer fun

The garden looks so good now, all the colors of late summer - the beautiful greens and reds and yellows. I made a tomato pie yesterday, and when I brought the tomatoes in they were still warm from the sun. What a great joy for all of the senses! And again, we got to share it with friends last evening to celebrate the end of summer and the start of a new school year -- what a joy! Thank you for a great evening!







Earlier in the summer, the peonies were in full bloom - we have several gorgeous colors of them blooming in one big mass right outside the back door -- they are a great way to welcome in the summer, and I post their pictures here to remind me of the wonderful summer that was, and how it began in a burst of blooms.

Earlier in the summer I had the chance to reconnect with one of my college roommates, Pam. She was visiting her mother and we arranged for a dinner and evening concert together - what a fun evening we had. There are those people, who, even after a long time apart (we promised it would never be that long again!) you can sit down with, start chatting, and it's like you were never apart. Well, for me, that's Pam. Thanks, Pam, for sharing all the great things you're up to these days -- I can't wait to see some of your wonderful art quilts. (Isn't it crazy how our lives have taken similar paths -- she doing art quilts now, and me doing other forms of art making?) Pam, do you remember us all sitting around in our dorm room doing cross stitch, way back when? Ha! Makes me smile, just remembering it!

I'm also getting ready to go to Valley Ridge Art Studio in a couple of weeks -- I'll be taking a class with Katie Kendrick that I am so excited about being able to take. She did an article in "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" magazine about a cardboard visual journal that I poured over when it came out. In fact, I bought some cheesecloth & a roll of gauze bandage, because I was so inspired. And then, of course, work and obligations got in the way, and there those items sat. So then, when the Art Unraveled schedule came out, I was heartsick that she had a class offered on doing just that journal that was opposite the DJ Pettitt 2-day class that I absolutely felt that I *must* take. A HA -- Valley Ridge published their class schedule and there it was!! Fortunately, with a little fancy scheduling, I've been able to take the class, even though I'll be rushing in at the last minute (sorry, Katie...) and rushing out probably just before the class is over. But.... I get to go!!! So, I've been studying the supply list (the cheesecloth and gauze were not a problem!!) and I'm hoping to put all of my treasures into the suitcase today, so that each time I walk by it, I will smile. I'm so excited, and Valley Ridge is a most amazing place with a vista and a wonderful ambiance -- inspires the creativity!



Well, off to the last day of 'getting ready' for a new school year. Yes, I'll do some prep work, but I also have a convertible ride to a great fish fry waiting! I can't think of a better way to get mentally prepared!!

Apple Pie, Garden Goodies & lots of Art

Here's an apple pie, I made with early season fresh local apples. There is nothing that makes the house smell better than baking bread or apple pie. Yumm. And the fact that we got to share it last evening with friends and some of Mike's great homemade ice cream was even more special. Thanks to our friends for a very special evening to celebrate the close of summer!





Fresh green beans picked in the garden about 5 minutes before this picture was taken - I LOVE fresh out of the garden green beans - these were still warm when I couldn't wait any longer and eat several right out of the bowl!


Art Unraveled was tremendous - a wonderful gathering of great people. I got to reconnect with people I see only once a year there, and made some great new friends!


My classes included "Sumptuous Sumi" with Jill Berry, where we worked with Sumi Ink. This was my first time with this wonderful product, and I loved working with it's dark rich color and ease of application. I also loved her paper choice. Both 'gotta gets' on the list!


Sumi ink done painted on this yummy paper with a feather

Sumi ink "symbols" drawn and then painted in with washes of color.

I also took a two day class with the wonderful DJ Pettitt. She is a great teacher, and all of our paintings came out looking so fabulously different! My table partner made a great pair of paintings that are as different as mine as night and day, and they are fabulous. Alas, I didn't get permission, yet, to post, but as soon as I do, I'll post them here!






Another great class was with Judy Wise - Art Journaling. I got to use the journal I had made before I left for Arizona, and I got to use some of the painted pages I had made in Kelly Kilmer's Color Theory Class (a wonderful class, by the way!). It was fun to see Judy's journal pages in person and then sit and try new techniques in a relaxing, nurturing atmosphere!

My joy for the day spilled onto the page. It was fun to draw and paint like a kid again!


Using several techniques we learned/practiced in Judy's class, combined with some of the extra paint colors I had put in my journal from Kelly's class - although not finished, I enjoyed doing this. Aren't the carved stamps yummy?

It's the end of the Labor Day weekend, and for we teachers, it means the beginnings of the new school year, and the end of summer. Beginnings and endings. Each has their place - I have had such a wonderful summer, I hate to see this come to a close. However, the opportunities that a new school year brings are always exciting! Here's to a wonderful summer and a school year filled with possibilities!

Class at Valley Ridge

Class with DJ Pettitt at Valley Ridge was so much fun! I learned so very much - I can't believe what I made. I painted a face! The first day was so tiring, but I was smiling as I left. I'll tell about the 2nd day and post pictures in my next post. Here are the pics of first day art made.

Months and Months

Okay, it's been months and months since I last posted, and I promise I'm going to learn how to do this, so here goes. To my friend in California, I'm going to try to post some of my artwork here so you can see what I'm up to, until we can meet again & see each other's work in person. To anyone else who stumbles across this blog, well, I'll try to make it not so boring.

I'm very excited about some of my art travels coming up. I will be going to the Valley Ridge Art Studio in April to study with DJ Pettitt. I'm very excited to do this, and have seen the sample on her blog of what I'll be making. I love her way of painting on canvas and hope I get to see some of the things she has posted in person.

In August, I'm going to be going back to Art Unraveled. Confirmed, I will be in the following classes:

1. Sumptuous Sumi by Jill Berry


2. Ravishing Ribbons by Olivia Thomas


3. Texture Texture Everywhere by Donna Engstrom


4. Wonderful World of Color Theory by Kelly Kilmer (I'm so excited to get to take this class, finally!!!)


5. Figurative Fabric by DJ Pettitt


6. Drawing out the Inner Artist by Raina Gentry


7. Painted Mixed Media Journal by Judy Wise

I'm so excited to get to take all of these classes -- Kelly's class is one I had to forgo the last time she offered it so I am SO happy to get the opportunity to take it this time. This is the first time I will have two day classes, and I have 3 of them -- a two day class, and two two-night classes. But, if I am going to go to Arizona to take these amazing classes with these amazing people, I guess I'll dive right in and sleep later!!

I thought I'd show you one painting I have worked on - I'm not sure how much really shows up in the picture, but I used layers of sheet music (I sure have a lot of that around!), other pieces of paper, and some milking machine filters -- I love how they absorb the paint in funny ways, and add this amazing texture. I like to layer them together on top of each other. I have another similar painting that I'll post later.

Happy Easter!