so many inspirations, so little time...

There are SO MANY amazing inspiring blogs and websites out there, sparking so many ideas that my list grows longer and my time grows shorter. I came across Threadbanger today, with great ideas for refashioning old clothes, and that led to freeplaycraft with so many lovelies - art, craft, food and life... She has an adorable vintage style apron she made posted right now - it inspires me to show my own.I used fabrics left over from my baby quilt making days - I had wanted to make a full skirt but didn't have enough fabric, so I found this saucy pattern (McCall's 5284) with the ruffle that curves up the backside, et voilà! I actually wear this get-up to work - that's one of the advantages of working with 7 and 8 year olds! ;-) I've also made the half apron from the pattern packet, and then Willow gifted me one that she made from her old duvet cover - a lovely yellow floral, so it looks like aprons are becoming a thing with me. I saw a fantastic one on a fellow student at ArtFest - sort of crazy quilt inspired - that I would like to try to emulate some day.

Meanwhile, yesterday the long cold winter had us in its grips again with temperatures in the 30s and hail and snowflakes.Shoobie loved it, but I am so ready for REAL SPRING to arrive! I stayed warm in the "studio" (I am liking my new worktable!) working on trimming my young weavers group's latest project to make journal covers, and had fun painting doodles and swirls for my own sample of the project. But I really want to get to work on my topsy-turvy doll idea before it fades away.

One just has to get busy!

April 17

Happy birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy birthday Linda Lulubelle
Happy birthday to you!

Later that day...

I am the luckiest mom in the world! My girls came over to give me a spectacular mini-surprize party, complete with hiding and jumping out! (How did they become so sweet? I know they didn't get it from me...) Willow made her fabulous garlic-tomato pasta dish - yum! and Emily baked a chocolate cake - still warm when we ate it. Scrumptious! The gifts: Johnny Depp movies (more yum!) and the Frida Kahlo Fiestas cookbook I had admired - can't wait to read through it. Lots of DVDs and beaded bracelets and more from dear Paula, to help us restock on goodies after January's burglary. YAY! And my kiddos at school made me birthday cards - sweet! It was a very happy day indeed.

B-day girl gets to lick the spoon!

My mini-Martha Stewart girl sets a sweet table!

Baubles, bangles, and beads - Thank you, Paula!!!

Masterpieces of art from my second graders

Happy happy, joy joy!

a few more ArtFest highlights

Finding Festi: I couldn't make it to the Festal Virgin gathering on Day 1, but did make the pilgrimmage on the last day to honor Festi. I'm wearing my new Esmeralda scarf, woven by fellow ArtFester (whose name I shall find and giver her due credit!).

I stayed at the Olympic Hostel, just around the corner from the Schoolhouse classrooms. I had a great view of the castle and this sculpture.

At dinner on Thursday I sat with Margaret and her dormmates, and they were so sweet to invite me to tag along to the bonfire with them. It was beautiful!

I splurged a bit at Vendor's night! Along with the scarf I mentioned, I collected these treasures from Katie Kendrick, Annie Lockhart, and Kelly Rae Roberts. Beautiful, fun, inspiring! And I have a list of other artists to collect from in the future!

Combing the beach in Bee Shay's Handful of Curiosity class: Myriad textures of seaweeds, driftwood, crabshells and sand, the wind wanting to lift me upward as I spread out my wings, happy memories of childhood popping kelp bulbs. The emotional connection was strong, intimate, I felt so at one with the moment.

Show and Tell: So much to see! So many classes to take in the future! (Student work from Anahata Katkin's class, Judy Wise's class, and Laura Mika's class - gorgeous! there was so much more - I took a gazillion photos.)

Trades: I was so nervous, wondering if anyone would even want to trade with me. Silly girl. People were so nice, and I'm so glad I did it. It was like trick or treating for grown-ups: eye candy instead of chocolate (fat free but just as satisfying!).

Making art, of course!

Best part of all: Connecting with people. Along with the amazing teachers, I met the nicest people like Arlene and Kathy, Emily and her sweet family, Jamie in the Art Asylum, Margaret and Francie, and my dearest, wisest roomie at the hostel Laura (who may have saved my life), and so many others whom I hope to meet again. Talented and generous, compassionate and funny - good people to be around.

My heartfelt thanks to Teesha and Tracy (such a charming host!) Moore for putting on such a classy retreat with so many talented and encouraging people. Such a huge endeavor, and you do it so well! I hope I can come back again.

happy day

More about ArtFest - tomorrow, maybe - but for now: I'm so happy because I found the inks that we used in Bee Shay's class! I know in some parts of the country it's not a big deal, just go to Michael's or whatever, well I DID and they didn't have them. But the Universe was smiling on me today, illuminating a little shop I've driven past every day all year and never knew what it was, and today I could see it was a stamp shop and yes they have Ranger re-inkers, so I bought some and ran home and got my hands all beautifully spreckly from spritzing papers and leaves and such. Sun was warm and glowing, illuminating the flower petals from within.

Spring, rebirth...new beginnings.

Musing on ArtFest

been mixing up my journal unintentionally lately - it's confusing, but that's me: scattered all over the place.

Still processing the retreat experience. In brief I can say that it is incredibly well-organized, a very classy act (starting with chocolate mints and the niftiest thermos with the logo on it in the registration goody bag!), inspiring teachers, and SO many kind and encouraging artists every which way you look. I am so glad I decided to make trades, because the trading on the first night was crazy and wonderful and made me feel giddy with happiness. I had no idea.

I was amazed by the talent all around me. From Linda and Opie O'Brien I learned some techniques I would probably never have learned elsewhere in my life, and the way everyone's basic kit turned out so incredibly different was such a blast to see. In Annie Lockhart's class we got to experience her beautiful energy and generosity. In a way I wanted to copy some things other people were doing, but then I felt good just doing my own thing. On the third day I had Handful of Curiosity with Bee Shay. I loved the whole structure of the class, from the introductions to the beach walk, the time to process, the demonstrations, and the project - tiny but powerful - I felt so emotionally in tune with that class, and for that I am grateful.

My "Who's Your Dada" doll from Linda and Opie O'Brien's class.

(Evil Dentist Imp!)

The transformable collage calendar from Annie Lockhart's "Daily Times" class.

"Handful of Curiosity" tin #2, from Bee Shay's class. #1 is at top of post.

Now back home after my great big art binge, it's back to work but I'm still caught up in that whirlwind, at least in my head. I'm asking myself if it was a life changing experience for me, as others have stated it was for them. In a way I think I was expecting something like lightning striking, it would hit me all at once in a very dramatic way, but I guess it's not like that. It's hitting in bits and pieces. It started hitting even before I went, just when I decided to go, made that commitment to my creative self, gave myself permission to care and nurture that part of me.

And then the reaching out to the community - in small ways, but big for me: making trades, making little connections on the Yahoo list, asking if I could sit with different people at meals even when I was feeling terribly shy and just wanted to go off somewhere by myself.

The after-effects have yet to be seen, but there has been one big change back home already: previously I posted my "studio" - I was working on the bedroom floor. When I got back from af I had to take a nap, but I couldn't sleep for long because I had a bee in my bonnet as Grandma Marge used to say. I ran to Home Depot and bought two hollow core doors to build myself a proper work table!

I have decided to take the advice of that crow on the beach during Handful of Curiosity - it was bobbing its head, telling me "Yes! Follow your heart - you have found your path."

Today Sara at work revealed that she'll be leaving us next school year to do her photography thing. I jumped up and hugged her, I was so happy for her. Happy for anyone and everyone who can take that opportunity to fully commit themselves to their heart's desire. Maybe someday that will be me.