Happy Holidays everybody!
It has been an entire month since I last posted, and if you are still here then thank you very much for staying loyal! So many things have happened over the last few weeks, I hardly know where to begin....
The Grand Opening Art Show for my little shop was a huge success. Our town and all the creatives in it responded positively and made me feel very welcome. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but content. It was also a good day to collect ideas and suggestions as to what I should carry, so another order was quickly made. In fact, I have been fine tuning the supply list and ordering items pretty regularly. This is sometimes difficult to do, each company has a minimum order and some of them are quite high. My pockets are not that deep, so I have to be very careful about the items I choose. I have since added supplies for fiber artists, ceramic artists and a much larger line of children's art supplies.
Requests for classes have been overwhelming, I am trying to keep up, but there are many things that I am no good at, and need to find other artists to teach, So I am focusing on the things I can teach. The little 5" x 7" canvas above was my first class. The idea was to make a Christmas Collage and then scan them and make them into greeting cards. It took two sessions instead of one, but some very lovely pieces were created. I am teaching a weekly private drawing class with a family, and that has been wonderful. It has been a learning experience for me as well, fine tuning the lessons to match their ages and abilities. Keeping the younger ones excited and engaged will be a challenge I hope I am up for. I have hosted two birthday art parties, and they were a huge success. Each little girl received an 8" x 10" canvas panel, and made their own collage. Moms brought in the treats and we had a quick photo session at the end, so their work can be posted on the shop's Facebook page. Everyone had a wonderful time, and I have another one booked for early January.
Plans are in the works for many more classes to get the shop through the down time of January and February. I am thinking of a Tangle Tuesday (zentangle), Art Journaling, Mixed Media Medley, Book Binding, and Expedition Art: Exploring Your Creative Potential. I plan to instigate an Open Studio Play Day a couple days a month, to encourage artists to gather and socialize. Mr. How2 and I are heading to California to the Craft and Hobby Association Convention, for a few days in January, and I am hoping to bring back all kinds of tips and samples.
On a personal note, we had the proud and sad task of watching my beautiful daughter head off to boot camp two weeks ago. She joined the Air Force and the job she wanted came open about three months earlier than expected. It was a whirlwind time, catching up on all that she needed to do to back out of her life here and prepare for being gone for eight weeks. I am missing her especially for Christmas, she has only been allowed one phone call so far, and she sounded tiny, lost and alone. I know my job and said everything I could in a two minute conversation to cheer her up and keep her strong. I write her a letter everyday, and add little doodles that I think will make her smile. I have the care of her cats for now, making this a FIVE cat household! Before you ask, yes, it is chaos.
Well, that should just about catch you up on everything happening here, I thank you again for coming by for a visit. I plan to get back into the swing of this from here on out, so check back when you can.
Until next time...enjoy!
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