SLOW SUNDAYS

 It has been such a busy day today and yet it seems like it went slowwwwww.......which is nice being that it is Sunday.  I spent the last few hours working on the website and sending out email campaigns for my next drawing meditation class that is coming up this Wednesday at Columbia Greene Community College in Hudson.  The class is a more advanced class where students will explore drawing on a tan tile with brown, white, black and blue pens.  I hope I have a full class because this one is going to be fun.

When I was a child, I remember Sundays as being full of family and food!  It was amazing to watch the adult talk and laugh.  My family was full of characters who had gone through a great deal and still managed to come away with the most amazing sense of humor.  Most of them are gone now but the memories still make me laugh out loud sometimes when I think of them.  And the food.....oh my God!!!!  How many of you out there remember having Sunday dinners with the family including grandparents, aunts, and crazy funny uncles? I wish we still had Sundays like this.To my Grandmother's and Grandfathers.  May you live inside of me until I am with you again.    I love you all.!!!!!

WACKY WEDNESDAY

Quill & Tangle

Boy, what a month June has proven to be!  It went by so fast but we got so much done around the house with a few flower gardens. But the most exciting thing I have to tell you is about the trip I took to Buffalo to attend Midsummer Tangle 2, a four day, CZT workout retreat.  We learned so much in such a short time that it was amazing.  Unfortunately, I came down with the same thing Jay had and today is the first day that I have been feeling good enough to go through all of my stuff.  

I will post some more pictures in a later post but everyone was so excited to learn about Sonya's class involving tangles and quilling. What a perfect combination.  I will be teaching this class in the near future for sure.  This is the picture of her work.  I will post mine when it is finished..  Until then, I think I will take a nap.

MAGICAL MONDAYS

moving day!!!!!

This morning as I descended the stairs to my studio I had a flashback of what it looked like the day we moved in.  Holy Cow!!!!  Actually, move in day was about getting our stuff into the house.  The day after moving day was the real challenge.  How was all of this mess going to turn into a productive studio space.  I did not even know where most of my stuff was.  Everything was packed mostly carefully........at least it started out that way.  By the time the 11th hour approached however, I was putting stuff in wherever they would fit.  That turned out to not be such a good idea.  But, we got through it and today I am happy to say that the studio is up and running.  There are still things to be put away.  Thread to be organized and material to be folded.  I am happy to report that the longarm is up and soon will be busy quilting a large quilt.  Mostly though, studio looks something like a studio and less like the disaster it once was.  

/TV/learning center

Projects/Classroom area

 Gibbs likes it off course.  He comes down to visit me at least once during the day.  Mostly to tell me that it is time for lunch or dinner or that he wants to play.  I love my new studio and our new home.  This is my Magical Monday thought of appreciation.  Do you have anything that you appreciate today?  I am sure that if you thought about it you could find something.  Large or small, I am just as grateful.  HAPPY MAGICAL MONDAY TO US ALL!!!!!

THE PAINTED PIECE

Painted Samples

                                                                    Catskill has this wonderful shop called THE PAINTED PIECE where you can browse for antiques and refinished furniture.  They also sell wonderful Chalk Paint in beautiful colors.  Yesterday I got to take a class with Cathy Hennessy, the owner, who taught me all of the different ways to turn wood into beautiful statements with the paint she sells.  I had so much fun and when I brought the pieces home my husband thought they were great and agreed that we should paint our kitchen cabinets blue to match the rest of the the kitchen.  Yessss.  Did you hear that Cathy?  The lesson was so helpful that I decided I would share it with everyone who loves DIY projects along with refurbished furniture.  Cathy is a delight and very open and friendly and she is so willing to share what she knows about painting and special finishes.  I hope we become fast friends.  If you want to see more of her shop visit her here at www.thepaintedpiece.net.  Or better yet, come visit her shop on main street in Catskill, NY.

THE CREATIVE HABIT

I read Twyla Tharp's book with the same title years ago. In it she talks about how important it is to have creative rituals.  It is important to be dedicated to yourself by having a daily routine.  It allows you to flow through your day like a gentle river that takes you to wonderful places and allows you to discover beautiful and creative things that surround you.

But a routine takes practice and isn't practice another word to use in the same way as routine?  Yes, but I know that if I practice my daily routine it will become part of my daily creative rhythm.  Is that what a daily routine is?  A daily rhythm?  I think I like that notion.  I will create a daily rhythm.

 

MY FRIEND THE GODDESS MOTHER

Isis

      I have known my friend Joann for many years.  Way back to college/task force days!  Where has the time flown.  We spoke a week or so ago about what has been going on in our lives since the last conversation.  Well, rest-assured, lots has happened in between our talks; some of what we shared was not good news.  Yet through all we talked about one thing remained in focus.  Both of us have been creating no matter what.

       It is always fun to share what we create.  Over the years we have shared gardening, herbal wisdom, patterns, dreams.  I am sure you get the picture.  We always come away feeling energized.  This time however, She gave us a new name........WE ARE THE CREATRESSES!!!!!!  Girlfriends are the best.



I have two classes coming up this weekend.  

April 2nd is going to be held at Olana Castle in Hudson.  The class will be held from 3PM -5PM
Contact Amy (518) 828-0135 

CREATE SOMETHING

FACE OF THE GODDESS

I am a reader.  My husband says I have been that way since I was a child.  It is true.  These days I do more research type of reading concerning my business and how to promote it.  There is so much information out there.  To much actually.  The last market research indicates that good old fashioned mailings are wonderful for small businesses like mine.

I did do a mailing for Creative Meditations and I was invited to three wonderful places where I give classes.  It is fabulous and I love the settings that each one presents.

The picture on the left is one I did quite some time ago but is still one of my favorites.  I am considering putting it into the next gallery show titled Faces and Facades and I am excited for sure.  But the show that is really exciting me is the one they are doing later this summer which is titled Wearable Art.  The images running through my brain are crazy.  I made a vow to myself that I was only going to use whatever material I have on had and boy, do I have stuff.  What a great way to clean up the studio.  Create something while you organize!  I like it.