ARE YOU READY?!

I'm just asking, are you in a state of general preparedness? I find that being in such a state alleviates much of the daily panic that can result from a lack of organization.

That being said, I own 3 tape measures & cannot find a single one. I could take to using my mother-in-laws method of measuring (walking hands) or guesstimate, or use an 18"ruler and do some math. Instead, I will place project: measure upstairs bedrooms on a back burner for the distant & illustrious day when the tape measures return.

I can, however, crack open some white & and burnt umber acrylic paint and paint some bones*. Which I am off to do.

'ta!

*boy, that sounds macabre & slightly illegal. I mean (of course) paint pictures OF bones, not paint ON bones that are questionably lodged about my house. Because there are none of those, unless the dog has a stash of which I am unawares....

Crafty ain't all bad...

Usually I reserve the right to look down my nose at people who are crafters.
I don't know why--must be residual art school influence. Because, to be quite honest, I enjoy making stuff with my hands--from food to paintings to blankets. I get a great deal of satisfaction from the "I made that" when people ask where stuff came from. I also get a little warmth when I can say "my friend so-and-so made that".
To that end, today was "teacher appreciation day" at little man's school. The PTA sent home letters suggesting each child bring a single stem for their teachers and the PTA would have buckets of water for them (in my head, this translates to buckets of dandelions). I would love to send a flower from our garden, but our daffodils & hyacinths have gone kaput, and the alliums have yet to open. I thought about tissue paper flowers, but we had already done that this year. So instead, I made flower pins out of felt. And yes, I just happened to have a stack of felt in assorted colors. And some spare buttons. And some giant (2 inch) saftey pins for the back. I guess in addition to being an artist (note the beret & glass of wine) I am a closet crafter (pay no mind to the giant rag bag of fabric)

Word of the day

Exhaustion?
Exhilaration?
Accomplishment?

I have finished 3 series of pendant jewelry for etsy. I have figured out what to do for the dia de muerte challenge (deadline in 9 days) and I feel I have a substantial body of work with which to gain entry into a show/sale (deadline in 19 days). I have also figured out what course I am qualified to teach at the local art center: printmaking!

I have been doing lino prints for 14 years now. Granted, I often by-pass the actual linoleum for an easier-to-carve medium, but the principle is the same. And from reading the offered courses, I get the impression that the desired result of the class is to come away with a finished product. (Unlike art school, where the result is to push your skill set forward & gain knowledge in a medium) I was leafing through the offerings hoping for a silk screening class. (No such luck) That was when I noticed that there aren't any printmaking classes AT ALL. Which is a shame, because it's a handy skill to have. So I thought I'd toss my hat in the ring & see what happens. First I figure I should wrangle together a portfolio of works.

And in other news: Spring has arrived! We are a few measly weeks away from the last frost date! I am going to try to set up a studio in the garage so I can work (sort of) outdoors. Also I have about 20 packets of seeds that need planting.
But who cares?! The weather is warm & the birds are singing!