More from the last few months

I haven't done too much in the way of travel in over a year. Just a drive to the lake or to visit a local microbrewery here or there. So when I got a chance I jumped at it. Last month my sister Kacy got married in Carson City, Nevada. Carson is a looooong way from Missoula, Montana, let me tell you! My two young co-pilots and I drove the 15 or so hours down over 2 days and back over 2 days with 3 days of visiting sandwiched between. By the time we got back I was grumpy, tired, and cramped up from driving.


And, although I was super excited to see my family and be in the wedding of my little sister, we'd just started moving into our new house and had a ton of work to do. We were only half moved out of the old house by the time we left. Michael stayed back for both work reasons and to take care of the zoo while the kids and I were gone.




I really like my sister's new husband Cory. He is a stand-up kind of guy. He's taking on my sister (not easy, I know from experience) and her 3 lovely sons. It takes a special kind of man to love another's kids as his own. Kacy and I have been blessed with the men we found.


The wedding was beautiful, and so was Kacy. Mia and I even got nice looking bride's maid dresses (thanks Kacy!) which is important for not looking like an overstuffed sateen armchair. I didn't get any pictures of Jiah at the wedding. He hid around back with the other restless boys until the ceremony started. Not much for primping with the girls, I guess.

Jiah and Mia loved hanging out with their cousins. It had been years since they all got to be together. Grandpa was lots of fun for them too. He brought 3 of his bizzillion guitars so the kids and he could play together. My oldest nephew Andy is quite the brilliant plucker! I hear he's a trumpet player too. I can't wait to hear his first album in a few years.

Just before the trip to Carson City and just before we moved into the new house, I started an internship at the Zootown Arts Community Center. I am the Pottery and Glass Fusing DIY Center manager. The internship involves working 4 or so hours per week inventorying, clear coating pottery, ordering supplies and bisque, and hosting a Saturday Ladies Night pottery class. So much nicer than cleaning houses! But I actually come home messier when I'm clear coating. That's drippy very stuff.

The last 2 weeks my job has been trying to get the kiln to work too. It's been having some technical difficulties and the pottery has been building up because we can't fire it. I replaced some parts and wires the other day (Melanie, electrician extraordinaire!) but it didn't fix the issue. Hanna, the director at the ZACC, is on the case and I'm sure it will be fixed soon. She's like Wonder Woman and my kindergarten teacher wrapped up in one person. I'm pretty sure she can fix anything.

Goings on and On goings

I guess I've been busy. Probably too busy. But if I wasn't I wouldn't know what to do with myself. And besides, soon it will be winter and I'll be wrapped up on the couch for at least 4 months. SAD and all. Ick... So, what have I been doing? And what am I going to do?

Lessee, I'm about to hang some pictures in a shop downtown for our First Friday Art walk. AHH! I got finagled into it because I know the owner of the shop and her brother is photographer who has a studio at the Ceretana. It's a Ceretana group show, so I have to do this or I'll be black balled by both my friend who owns the shop and the studio peeps. I'm thinking of hanging one of my older acrylic pieces and one of the quilts I have been working on. Not certain on this yet, but I've got 3 days to think on it. We hang on Tuesday. (sounds horrific, doesn't it?)

This is the quilt I just finished. I have framed it and pinned it to foam core board rather than hanging it. It feels more "artsie" that way.

I also just got an invite to be a craft vendor at a fair in November. I have never done one of these, but the chance to unload some work and make money is tempting! I've amassed quite a few random knitting projects and I've made some Christmas ornaments out of paper cloth. I was also thinking of making prints of a couple of my favorite paintings and trying to sell them too. We'll see. I haven't said one way or the other yet. Plus it's $50 to get in. That may be the "decider".

These are some gloves I just finished. I would probably do a few more pairs for the fair. But these are MINE!

Oh yeah! Yesterday I volunteered to teach as a sub at the ZACC again. I think I like this gig. Too bad it isn't a paying one. We made Picassoesque self portraits. The kids got a kick out of that! One kid thought he'd be a skeleton with multicolored bones in the wrong places. Halloween on the brain, anyone?

just another day in paradise

I had a blog all planned out about how my art class went and what we did. But I decided not to write it. I'm not feeling very originally creative lately. Nothing I write or draw or paint is coming out right. (I've had 4 typos in the last 4 lines!)

So, recap of the class: I gave a talk about nature journaling, they made journals, they made nature themed ATCs, they watercolor/sketched flowers and plants from the ZACC garden. It was fun and they all survived.

I've dropped an ATC swap that I was sure would be fun and I'd have lots to contribute... but I am blank. I've done lots of sketches and I hate them all. There's only one swap I'm in now and it's about inspiration. A tag book about art and inspiration. Sounds fun, right? *gah!* Hopefully I'll find some before the tags are due!

Part of the problem is that I have kids. My kids are great! They are young and energetic and also artistic. But they also require a lot of attention. I am used to having AT LEAST one full day a week to my self to be quiet and creative. Since the kids have been out of school I've not had one day fully alone. I am in need of some "me" time. I want to turn my music up loud and sit in front of a page and zone out. I can't really get creative until I'm in a zone... and that requires NO INTERUPTIONS! ahem...

Plus, my "me Wednesdays" have become "errand running Wednesdays". Today I sat in the lobby of Tire-O-Rama for 2 1/2 hours to get my brakes fixed for them to tell me they didn't have the right part, come back on friday.

I have been knitting up a storm though. I only learned to knit in (I think) the end of April and have so far made: 3 scarves, 3 purses, 1 project bag (think a duffel for yarn), and I'm in the middle of a beanie for my son. But following a pattern isn't the same as true creative expression.

I can't belive I'm about to say this: I can't wait for the kids to go back to school!

This is Mia being the zen warrior I wish I was

ME? an Art Teacher??

Last Thursday I had a meeting with a fabulous artist and person, Hanna at the Zootown Arts Community Center. Hanna is the director/founder/teacher/woman extraordinaire of the ZACC. She's going on vacation to Alaska and needs a substitute for the first 2 days for a session of the kid's summer camp. And she asked ME to fill in for her! I am soooo completely flattered.

I've been volunteering on Fridays at ZACC and have put some effort into reorganizing the supply room so it's all accessible. All the people I've met there are wonderful. It's a great place.

In our meeting I got the lowdown on what I was to do in the class with the kids and how it should run. We are going to be making nature journals. How cool is that??
First day, we will put the journals together with book board and watercolor paper. We'll punch holes and thread the bindings. Then we'll do small ATC sized drawings of the plants around the building, feathers, skulls, etc. On the second day, I'm to demonstrate watercolor and pencil "observations". Then they'll do their own.

I ordered some books on Amazon to bring along and show the kids. I got "Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You" by Clare Walker Leslie and "Creating Nature in Watercolor: An Artist's Guide" by Cathy Johnson. I just hope I get them in time! The class starts on the 20th.

I think it all sounds way too fun. Maybe I will quit my day job cleaning houses and be a full time art teacher... maybe. (keep dreaming, kid)
But seriously, I am so excited for this opportunity, I am dancing on the inside.