Serious blog neglect but... good news!!!!

Yes, I know, I know... I have neglected my blog in a bad way. But, I have great news to announce! The website for Art Unraveled 2012 is up!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Registration starts in a couple of weeks AND, this year, as part of the 10 year anniversary celebration, there is a discount to those registering early for classes totally $250.!!!! All info at the website.

This year, I will be teaching on the very first day! This will be a painting class all about textures with various mediums. Details of my class are here: Up Close and Personal

The retreat starts July 30 this year! And I can't wait! Great line up of classes too so check it out!

Giving thanks

Where has the time gone?

I'll tell you... it just disappears! Can't believe it's been so long since I posted last! Honestly, I have to blame Facebook. It's so easy to post and keep up with so many all at once, I forget to blog!

What's the latest?

• The Creative Quest, my favorite place to work, has gone out of business. The good news is that while one owner is retiring to just have fun, Kathie is reopening another store, right next door, but it will be smaller. We're hoping to be back open to the public next month but at the latest, the beginning of January.
• I got another part time job working at my church. I work with Children's ministry. I go in during the week, to all the kids classrooms, take inventory of items needed as well as snacks, do the shopping, restock, clean and sanitize, set up, etc... so everything is ready for Sunday mornings. I love being able to create order.
• Women's Bible Study is back in full swing as are yoga classes. I'm thoroughly enjoying both.
• The Women's Bible study group now has a monthly hiking group so I have been fortunate to be able to join them. This morning, we hiked at South Mountain. There were 7 of us today and it was a gorgeous morning! I'll share some photos.

Cool truck at the base of the mountain!

Six of us made it to the look out point.

The whole gang.

The stacked stones create this mountain and it amazes me, to see God's sense of order, even in stones.

You will notice a slight obsession with cactus, particularly those with wounds, decay, or already dead. I think there so much beauty in them.

cool to see new growth popping out... and I think this is a completely different variety of cacti growing out of a Saguaro. Must be bird planted seeds.

It fascinates me how plants grow right out of the rocks. This trees entire root system is exposed in the rock! Very cool.

Sun rising over the mountain highlighting the cactus needles.

LOVE all the mossy rocks!

My life is so busy running from one job to the next (I work 5 different part time jobs and that does not include putting together and teaching classes), taking care of my kids and household... I've had no time to do art for myself. I'm in bad need of a studio clean out and reorganization! BAD need, I tell ya'.

ETSY

Just listed a couple of new kits in my etsy store, one for my "One Page at a Time" book and my "Torn and Stitched: A composition of bits and pieces", both classes taught at Art Unraveled and CREATE retreats.


Also, I am having a 25% off sale on all artwork in my etsy shop! Use the coupon code ARTWORK25. Please help spread the word!

I also got some things listed in my VOP shop. Still trying to work some technical issues out with a secondary email associated with this shop but hopefully, it will be ironed out soon. Waiting to hear back from Etsy. I have a ton of stuff to get listed but it's extremely time consuming so please be patient with me! :)

Whew!

(sketch from my spot in the woods, high up on the boulders)

It's taken a few days to recover from AU. It was a great event but boy, did I hit a wall by Saturday night!?! Exhausted!

Yesterday, I took my boys to Prescott for the day since we haven't been able to go do anything "fun" or vacation-like all summer. Prescott is only about an hour and a half drive north but about 25 degrees cooler! It was a perfect day. We had fun looking in stores in the square in town. Then, we had a picnic at Goldwater lake where we spent the entire afternoon. We drove back into town for dinner. We got home last night about 10:30. It was a nice break. Loved having time in the woods with no outside sounds. Even Sam kept taking about how nice and quiet it was! I took a lot of photos and did one small watercolor painting in a journal... a quick sketch. Felt great! Here are some of my favorite photos. WARNING... there are a lot of photos!!!

boys and their air soft guns

Max trying to look serious but I love the photo.

Love all the moss!
webs

the photo of this crane was taken from across the lake

Sharing our lunch!

Art Unraveled Week!

Yes, it's here! Art Unraveled officially started with the "Meet the Artists" event Monday evening. I have been very busy revamping my class samples for the "Beyond the Bag" class I am teaching tomorrow! Today is the last day to sign up and I'd love you to join me if you are here! Here are a few close up shots of the journals. Yes, these are made with plastic grocery bags and no, they are not fused bags such as you have read about in various magazines!

I will be meeting up with friends for dinner Friday evening before setting up to vend for Saturday's busy event! I will also be participating in a special event Saturday evening. And, on the in between days, I am working with The Creative Quest which happens to be the on-site store for the retreat! Busy, Busy. If it weren't for my mom helping out with my kids this week, I don't know what I'd do. This is always the busiest week of the year for me. It's energizing and exhausting all at the same time... and tons of fun!