Craft Warriors

Harper has been keeping busy with lots of craft projects.  And somehow a headband and ribbon worked their way into the mix.  So, meet Harper Massey, Craft Warrior.

And  I picked up some unfinished craft projects of my own.  My mom sewed about 50 little stuffies for me to use when I was in the craft fair mode, and I don't think I finished a single one yet.  Determined to get some of these finished this time.  I have a long ways to go though!

In a mood

Oh yes, I was in a mood today.  It wasn't a very good one.  I had to take a break do some journaling.  I promised myself I wasn't going to start another big journal yet (the other one is pretty much full), but I needed to play big and messy, so I cracked open another big journal.  I don't think this page is quite finished, but it was good enough for a mood change.

What's Next?

My friend Heather (of HA! Moments) asked what I'm going to do next.  Good question.  I think I'll ...

...Finish some artwork for my studio.  This is a 30" by 30" canvas I started a while ago.  I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who will want to look at it, but it's my studio, so that's that.

...Maybe even work on this 2012 journal that I only finished about five pages in so far.  It was supposed to be a workshop proposal for teaching, but now it's just for fun.  I'd better hurry up or I'm going to have to squeeze 2013 and maybe 2014 on there.

...Finish the custom artwork orders that still aren't done.  And one of those is for Heather... no wonder she wants to know what I'm doing next!  Kidding. :)

...And try to capture more moments like these.

There and Back Again

Art & Soul Vegas was awesome.  Great students in all three of my classes!  Really generous, and a lot of fun.  I somehow didn't take photos during class, but you'll have to take my word for it that they made awesome projects. I was super impressed and inspired by all the creativity.  I had quite a few students who were attending an art retreat for the first time.  It was really fun to see them jumping in whole heartedly.

This was the first time that Doug came along with me for an art retreat which made this one fun too.  For Father's Day we took a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon.  Doug had been there before and even hiked to the bottom and back up, but it was my first time seeing it.  Pretty amazing.  I'd just recommend that if you want to go that you find a time when it isn't so darn hot.  (See temperature gauge below!)

For me, Art & Soul was a great finale to my art retreat teaching experiences. I may send proposals to teach classes again someday. For now, I'm happy just to reflect on all of the lessons I learned and the great joy of so many talented and fun people.

Saucy Manner

I was making paper packs last night for my Art & Soul Vegas classes, and I found this.  Thought it was funny... especially the part about talking back to the teacher in a "saucy manner".  (You might have to click on it make it large enough to read it.)

Jumpin' June

Yep, you've been busy so far, June.  Just as we thought you would be.  So far this month, we've been to a wedding (hubby was best man, and I was impromptu photographer with my father-in-law)...

Oh, and I made cake toppers for their wedding cake.  The bride and groom for the top and the three girls for the lower tier.

And then there was a four day trip to Bismarck, North Dakota for work.  Ummm... no photos from that trip.  The people were a lot of fun, but I wouldn't say that Bismarck is especially scenic.  Sorry, Bismarck.  I'm sure I didn't see the best parts of the area.

Over the weekend, we went to the aquarium in Newport, KY where Harper got to touch her favorite animal, the sea star.

And I got to stare at the octopus.  Not as long as I wanted to though.  And it was on the move!  So fascinating.

I couldn't help but snap a shot of this spider crab.  There were three in the tank, and they were kind of creepy somehow.  They did seem more like HUGE spiders than crabs in person.

Harper got to visit Mighty Mike, a 14 foot crocodile.  She decided that blowing him a kiss would be better than giving him a hug.

 Harper loved visiting the jellyfish too.  That boy in the background, not so much, I guess.

 And we visited some birds... you can sort of see one in the background.

Ok, next up for me in Jumpin' June is work, work, work (of course) and finishing kits for Art & Soul Vegas.  I leave Thursday!

Oh, June.

Oh, June.  I've been simultaneously looking forward to you and dreading you, June.  Trying to take lots of deep breaths lately. Lots going on with work and upcoming travels which means less brain space for fun stuff.  If I'm very honest, I don't deal well with more than one upcoming function to think about.  And right now there are three things upcoming:  a weekend wedding (my husband's nephew), a work trip to North Dakota, and Art & Soul coming up.

I've been trying to doodle a bit to relax, but there hasn't been too much time or energy.  I've been wanting to fall asleep at 9.  Ok, my husband would say that's what I always do.  {Insert raspberry here.}





Doodles.  In the Mega Journal, I've been using a pencil to draw first for the first time in a long time.  Not sure how I feel about that.  I kind of like the spontaneity and challenge of living with the permanent marks I made with pen.  Plus I don't enjoy the physical act of erasing and all the little eraser pieces all over the place.  Silly, I know, but true.