Summer's End....School Begins

It's that time again...school's back in session! It's been a great summer with Kelly Rae's class, Susan Tuttle's digital class, and having time to create art, but it's time to get back to the real world I guess. This is a busy time for me as I get my classroom together and lessons planned. I wish sometimes I could be two people (who doesn't?) so I could teach yet have time to create art.

I had to attend a workshop Tuesday that was very interesting. It was based on the book "Teaching With Love and Logic". The speaker had many suggestions that work with children that are uncooperative in the classroom. Sadly many children come to us from chaos. They are the "adult" in the family sometimes. So much in their life is out of their control that in order to establish some control they try to exert that in the classroom. There were many techniques offered that I plan to try that respect the child yet diffuse potentially volatile situations.

Unfortunately I have not had any time this week to get into my studio. I seem to be dog-tired when I get home, or there just isn't time. How do you all find time to create with all the other demands of life? I'd really be interested to know.

Beaches, Storms and a Dash of George Costanza

  The stay at the beach was good for the soul as I had time to sit and marvel at the magnificence of a God that created such beauty. So often, and true this trip, the weather is gorgeous on the day I have to leave. I pondered that a moment and I think it is so we have good memories and will look forward to our return with hopeful hearts.

 One of the things that amazes me at the coast is how peaceful it is and then how quickly violent the ocean and sky can become...and then once again...beautiful.  There was one afternoon when "the sea was angry that day my friend, like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli".

 I have never liked thunder and lightning too much and one big bang was a little too close for comfort. Soon sirens were heard approaching and we discovered that the house two doors down had been hit by lightning. Fortunately no one was hurt and the skies cleared by the next morning.

Here's a few more of those memories I want to share with you. Bathing suits not required.

There were many little found treasures I picked up while on the beach which I'm sure will inspire my art work.  In fact I see my bench is calling me....

New Beginnings

Last week I finished an e-course taught by the lovely Kelly Rae Roberts. Everything I've been searching for about beginning a creative business and then some was there. What would YOU do if you knew you could not fail? Well, that really opens up some options doesn't it? So I have begun to recognize my fears and to take steps to go beyond them.

That first step has been to create a blog. So after a week of designing I think I have finally tweeked it to my satisfaction. Tomorrow is going to be the beginning of a studio overhaul. We are going here to get to get something to help with the redecorating. This is a photo of the studio as it is now.