Sunday

Good Sunday Morning,

Wow did it ever cool off yesterday, great weather for sleeping as long as it warms up during the day. So here it is Sunday morning, I have been home from Convention for a week and I am already planning the next one. Paulette and I are thinking about going to Creative Painting in Vegas which is February 27th -March 4th. There are a few classes we are interested in, alot of times it is more that I want to take a workshop with a certain teacher or learn a new technique rather than the subject matter. If you want to grow as an artist you have to try different techniques, mediums and teachers, you will always learn something from everyone. You might not realize it at the time but I find this to be true.

I finished the special order I was working on and it was picked up yesterday. The customer was very happy which makes me very happy. It was a rack that was going to be used for a little girls dresses and shoes. So of course it was pink and had sparkles. Here are a couple pictures of it, in progress and finished.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday and finds some time to be creative.

Update on Ott Lite

Paulette just told me that the Ott Lites that I was telling you about last week are on sale at Costco $5 off this week. Of course they are because I already bought on, never fails. Oh well. Hopefully you will be able to take advantage of this. I think they are great when you are taking a workshop, perfect for travelling.

New Books

So while in Ohio at the trade show I picked up some new books for the shop. If you want one give me a call.

Columbus Ohio

Just wanted to post a couple more pictures of Columbus, we stayed across from the Ohio Supreme Court Building, it was an Art Deco style. There were a couple interesting fountains outside of it, and I just loved the sculpture with the glass ball. There were alot of beautiful sculptures and statues, unfortunately I didn't get a chance to take pictures of them, definitely a city I would visit again.

It was a really hot and humid week, on Thursday there was a pretty wild rain storm, here is a picture I snapped after the storm. You know everything is bigger in the States.

And finally, it is Edie's Birthday on the 19th, at the time when we bought her the cupcake we didn't know that. We thought it was either that day or the next, the cupcake was really nice but the box tipped and the top got squished. Don't you just love her fancy wine glass, cheers Edie.

Home

Good Morning,

We arrived home safely on Saturday night, all of us had workshops on Saturday morning but Sharon's finished at 10 instead of noon and Edie and I knew we could do the rest on our own so we decided to hit the road early and drive right through. It was pretty uneventful except for witnessing an accident on the opposite side of the road and a speeding ticket on the 401.

So on Thursday Sharon and I did a Coloured Pencil with Betty Love, still lots of work to do but we both enjoy working in this particular medium.

Edie did a Poppy (of course) with a British teacher, not sure of her name. It is looking really nice, I think she just needs to do the background. She could have finished in class but she wanted to go shop some more at the trade show. This will probably be a workshop at the store.

Missed getting a picture of Edie and Sharons projects from Saturday, here is a mid work shot of mine, it is a oil painting of a Tree Peony. The workshop was with Bev Birdwell, she has a new book out which I will have to get in, all in your face florals.

So when I get back into the store I have alot of projects to finish but first I have to finish the special order that I am working on and then get some projects for the next schedule ready. Busy, busy, busy.

Day 3

So yesterday we all had workshops till 5 and then the trade show was at 5:30. Quite honestly as I write this for the life of me I can't think what we did yesterday, so I have to look at the pictures. Okay so I had a workshop with Lynne Deptula and Judy Diephouse, it was a Holiday Traditions Recipe book, in the picture I am almost done just need to finish the cookies, the spine and the lettering. This is something I will definetly be teaching at the store.
Edie did a Wild Rose on a lid for a glass bowl, it isn't quite finished but it would be a nice little Friday night workshop.

Sharon did her first Watercolour, don't know the teachers name and Sharon is asleep now so I can't ask her.

So after our workshops we went to the trade show, and of course I got some great ornament packets. I also have Renee Mullins new book for the store so if you want one call Odette and tell her. They will be back with me on Tuesday, pretty sure I will come home with Jamie Mills Price's and Willow's new books.

After the trade show we were parched so off to the corner gas station for some wine and beer. Of course we didn't have a corkscrew so Edie just pushed the cork into the bottle with scissors. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

2nd Day

So we all had a great day today. All our projects turned out really well, all the instructors were great. Edia had an all day Coloured Pencil Workshop with Pat Lentin, she really enjoyed it but as you can see didn't finish it. Sharon's first workshop was with Rodney Ann Bensman, also a Coloured Pencil, a Giraffe, she has it packed so I will get a picture of it later. Sharon and I were in the same class at 6, a Oil Painting with Debra Welty. I love it, well we both did, it was supposed to be till 10 and we finished at 8:30. I will definitely be going to her booth tomorrow night to see what she has in the way of packets.

1st Day

Okay so here is a little recap of yesterday. First we went to this great Outdoor Shopping Mall, so beautiful, of course we had a mission. Beads..Beads...Beads...for those of you who are regulars at the store you know that I have a Pandora Charm bracelet, and then Sharon got one, and then Paulette got one. And yesterday we hooked Edie in, so of course we needed to get Charms for them. Here are the girls on the way to one of the shops and also a picture of one of the sitting areas, just really nice.

After shopping and lunch we headed back to the hotel to get our stuff to actually go do what we came for 'Painting'. All of our workshops started at 3 till 9:30, Sharon did a Mixed Media Piece using Golden products, Edie did a 'Watercolour Pencil' technique class. I did a 'Oil Painting'. I really enjoyed my class, Lynne Mathieu and Judy Hawkings from the Guild at home were in my class. Poor Judy was hobbling along due to a broken bone in her foot. Here's a shot of Lynne and a couple of more of Earline Padgett (the instructor) and of my painting, which I am almost finished then I will post the finished painting.

The Girls are in workshops right now, I dropped Edie off at the Convention Centre bright and early this morning 7:15 for a 8am class till 5. Then Sharon at 12:15 for a 1pm -5pm class, did I mention that I was the Shuttle Service. At 6pm I will meet up with Sharon for our 6-10 workshop. So I guess that is all I have to report for now.

HOOT

Greetings from Columbus, Ohio

Sharon, Edie and I arrived safe and sound after an uneventful drive, we went through some beautiful countryside. I didn't realize that there were so many Vineyards in New York and Pennsylvania. Of course I did all the driving because as some of you know I am a bit (just a bit) of a control freak shall we say when it comes to driving.

Our workshops start tomorrow at 3pm, I am painting a Red Amaryllis with Earline Padgett (just love saying her name). Not sure what Sharon and Edie are doing but I will take pictures and post them tomorrow night. The trade show starts on Thursday with a sneak peak for registered attendees. You know I will be getting ornament packets to teach. Lydia and Marilee are also here so I will touch base with them. Lydia will be working in the Princeton Booth during the trade show and demoing also.

Columbus is a beautiful city from what I have seen so far, tomorrow we will be going out before we have to get down to the business of why we came.

Before I go I have to tell you about a great find from Costco. Paulette had called and told me about it and then I picked up on also. It is an Otto Light that you recharge so you can take it anywhere it it only 23.99, look in the aisle with the school supplies.

Well I guess I should sign off and get to bed as I have been up since 5 this morning.

Just In

Good Morning,
I hope everyone had a great long weekend, can you believe that there is only 5 more weeks till school starts.
So Paulette and I had a great time in Atlantic City, I actually did quite well on the Penny Slots, figure I was up about $400.00. Of course I didn't come home with it had to spend it on a new watch etc.

Just got Holly Hanleys new book in on Friday, and she signed them so I have 5 signed copies in the store. If you would like one give me a call. As usual Holly has put out a great book with wonderful projects.

Also just got the newest Paintworks Magazine in.