Messy Sue's class
Wow- another mega trip to CREATE mixed media art retreat, with the car loaded to the gills. Literally, had to sit with my purse on the floor between my feet, as there was no room to put one more thing!
Classes were fabulous! Treated myself, and enjoyed
Sue Pelletiers class to warm up for a great week of creating! Never been in such a messy room! Half an hour worth of creating, and the entire floor was covered with plaster powder! They broke out towels, and brooms and shop vacs and then the ever-bubbly and hardworking Sarah from Create was actually on her knees wiping the residue!
Happy Birds Sing class
Next day, my class with the lovely creatives who rose to the Happy Bird challenge! Amazing to me how we all start with the exact same materials each and every time, and yet, no two books look alike at the end of the day! Have to say, the class rooms were so nice and spacious! And that fun bubble plastic on the floor- whoo hoo! Love to step on it, because it sounds and feels like bubble wrap! My wonderful Mike was the toastmaster, watching carefully as the clays baked, so the artists could continue on with other tasks.
Dot and Nancy enjoy the nice large classrooms
After teaching The Happy Birds Sings Journal class all day, it was time to rush over and set up for vendors night! I was particularly anxious because we were launching my new line of polymer stamps. I am so thrilled to proudly say that the ENTIRE line sold out, and we took tons of orders for more in less than 3 hours! All the other goodies seemed to sell fantastically as well. Again- Mike, my hero, never looked up for the 3 hours, he was so busy ringing up sales! Thank goodness for him- I would be so flustered, but he was fabulously unfazed.
In person, it looked alot longer than the photo shows!
Our schedule said we had 1 hour to set up 16 feet's worth of our lovely goodies! I was a little stressed that we wouldn't make it, as we had so many bits and pieces, but it actually worked out just fine. At an antique shop earlier this year, I found vintage suitcases with the initials on them. The initials spelled out ART! Can you believe it? They called to me, and of course I snapped them up to vend with. They ended up being just what we needed for transportation and packing. Thank goodness they were a LOT lighter going home.
After we packed up that night, and got to eat dinner, it was about 1 am. I was exhausted, but it was a happy and fulfilled exhaustion!
Up early the next day to set up the classroom for teaching A Fluid Romance class. The lovely spacious room was soon filled to the brim with wonderful, open and creative students. The work that comes out of this class is always amazing, and I am always so happy to share these times with students, and experience their breakthroughs with them. I can't tell you how happy I am at the end of each day. Filled to the brim with happy bubbles....
Lots of room to move around and spread out creative treasures! Most came away with not one, but 2 completed projects! They got so excited they used their practice canvasses too!
We headed home the next morning, and got in around midnight. I've been unpacking and restocking supplies ever since. Art & Soul Portland is just a couple weeks away! I've also been busy writing up proposals for CREATE 2012. Hopefully, you'll see me in Irvine next May!
I've been in the throes of getting ready for Portland Art & Soul next week. That means, house is neglected, studio is trashed from rushing about and packing kits and goodies, friends haven't been seen as I've been swamped. Last night, after 2 solid and FULL weeks of writing proposals and creating new art, I decided at 10:30 to come downstairs and join hubby for a few minutes of mindless tv and relaxing together. I have been checking and rechecking lists day and night, and was a little stressed and tense. I needed to unwind. I barely sit down on a comfy spot on the sofa when I catch something out of the corner of my eye. I ignore it, thinking it was reflections of light or something. A few seconds later a much more obvious movement. Mike and I look at each other in that split second before I jump up screaming BAT!!!!! I ran to the bedroom and slammed the door. (It was every girl for herself at this point!) Mike said so very calmly- honey, just calm down a minute, and I will get it...Calm down you say? Calm down? A disease ridden, flying vermin is in MY comfy home, where I stretch out and relax, and you say calm down???
EEEEEWWW! I can deal with them in the barn- that's THEIR home, and they eat the mosquitoes. I can't deal with them in my family room, when I'm comfy and tucked in my jammies for the night! It seemed like forever- (the 1 disadvantage to having a 2 story open floor plan) but Mike cornered the critter with a blanket in all places- MY STUDIO!!! My safe haven, my sanctuary where I spend all hours of day and night ALONE. Holy Bat-Crap did that ever creep me out! But Mike- calm as ever just opened the window and let it out... I didn't come back upstairs the rest of the night, waited for daylight-I think where you see 1 bat- there is bound to be another! How in the WORLD did it get in? Mike had been cleaning out the barn, and had opened up both of the top floor haymow's to let light in. I guess one (I hope just 1) of the little creepies decided what's good for Mike is good for him. So did he fly in the door? Did he hitch a ride on Mike's clothes? EEEK it wigs me out to think about it! 
I'm calm now, and back at last minute tasks getting ready for Art & Soul. Teaching 3 classes there- A Fluid Romance, Green Art Goodness, and the Happy Bird Sings clay covered journals! Still plenty of time to sign up and join me~ there are still a few open spots in the classes!
THEY'RE
I'm excited to be preparing for classes. It feels good to check and double check my lists and workbooks and I enjoy stuffing the workshop kits and goodie bags for class. I love making the samples. And I make multiples, just to make sure all goes smmmmooooothly during classes.
As many of you know, I injured my arm and shoulder and have been down for the count for several days now. The Dr. said ICE would help....BOY was she RIGHT!!! Little did the Doc know I have a stash of beloved ICE Resin that I have been experimenting with! I can't say enough good about it, I've been using it in my Knead-a-Mold molds I've made, I've been using it with my polymer clay, I've been making jewelry, and I've been using it in my journals and on paper!!!This stuff is amazing, I've had no problems from fumes, and it's so user friendly! 
It's been 100% crazy around these parts- not enough hours in the day, not enough days in the week, not enough weeks in the month to get done all I need to. It seems that after a 18 day visit from the little, the house and studio are wrecked, the paperwork drudgery (like insurance & bills- I hate reading that stuff!) has piled up, my mojo is shot, and I'm having trouble finding my usual stride of getting things accomplished. 
I'm busy developing new classes to propose, and getting together supplies for upcoming classes. I'm also trying to get a few outstanding swaps completed and in the mail. 
I love finding new ways to re-use my own work. I hope you are all enjoying your summers too!