I do not understand where the time goes! I know it's such an old cliche' but the older I get the more this is so apparent to me....time vanishing, that is! Like in a blink of an eye, almost. It hardly seems possible to me that it has been almost a full year since my last post. As you all must know by now I am not a huge blogger, and things that pull me from working in my studio can create angst for me like you wouldn't believe! I am sure there are many other creatives who feel the very same way....such as it is, even I have to admit that I am way overdue for a post, so here it is. My primary objective every day is to get to be in the studio as fast as I can....
Last summer I worked on various projects, which I will get to in a bit. My main project was teaching my online class, "Imaginarium - Anthology of an Art Doll" on Artful Gathering. It was a huge project, the class was five hours long in duration and I had a record number of participating students! As an artist and a teacher I was amazed and thrilled to see the wonderful work created by so many students! Each doll unique in it's own right, just as we are all individuals and unique...it sure made my summer a pleasurable one and will hold those memories close to my heart forever! I saw friendships being formed by many and there was a wonderful camaraderie that existed amongst all of the students in the workshop which made it even more special....the stuff dreams are made of!
The fall brought some fun things in store for my husband Jim, and myself! A wonderful trip to Disneyland with our daughter, son in law and twin grandsons who were celebrating their fourth birthdays! A whirlwind of fun and excitement packed into two days....so much fun and being grandparents is truly a gift beyond compare!
On our return home I unfortunately came down with a horrid case of bronchitis and was sick on and off right up until the holidays....not.fun. In between we were able to create a wonderful donation to ALS of Nevada's Annual Art Fundraiser....the piece you see above is a true labor of love. We collaborate on many projects together and this was a result of one of our latest! I want to make more of these, but finding the time is becoming increasingly more difficult. A gallery where I show my work would love a few of these and perhaps it will come to fruition...time will tell.
On our return home I unfortunately came down with a horrid case of bronchitis and was sick on and off right up until the holidays....not.fun. In between we were able to create a wonderful donation to ALS of Nevada's Annual Art Fundraiser....the piece you see above is a true labor of love. We collaborate on many projects together and this was a result of one of our latest! I want to make more of these, but finding the time is becoming increasingly more difficult. A gallery where I show my work would love a few of these and perhaps it will come to fruition...time will tell.
I love the holidays, especially Halloween! These are just a few samplings of what went on in the studio late summer and fall of 2014! A much anticipated trip to Sedona, AZ...one of our favorite places had to be cancelled due to the tenacious bronchitis I was dealing with. But I sure had fun creating my little Santa Elves in the meantime....see below!
I work on ideas for teaching an online class almost a year before it comes to fruition. There is a lot of work involved on the idea itself, if it is feasible (which most ideas are) and the planning and prototyping, experimenting and designing....Jim, my husband is a master woodworker and we work well together on designing ideas that we think will work for a workshop....this past year I have been thinking real "tiny"! I had been seeing a lot of little art houses on Pinterest (one of my favorite places to peruse), tried a few and I was hooked! Then the real work starts of coming up with an idea and having it evolve to where I am happy with it. And that is when I knew my next class had been born, "Tinytopia and the Magic of Little Things"! I am fortunate to have a talented craftsman to build me just about anything I may need or want....so I can specifically design something exactly how I want it....grateful is my mantra, for sure! So many different techniques and projects will be in my new class!
It's time for me to get into the studio today....I have lots of work to do in preparing for my newest class. I do hope you can join me this summer on Artful Gathering, and I look forward to seeing you there...our summer's spent creating are always the most enjoyable...full of new discoveries, learning new techniques, sharing and for many a whole new world opens up! I love teaching a workshop and am looking forward to this coming July with great exuberance....please join me in a whole new little world, a world that you will create that will be all your own!
"The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind" ~ Kahil Gibran