Last day of summer...

It's the last day of summer in our household. In Florida, it will still be scorchingly hot for another 4 months possibly, so seasons change around other things. Like the beginning of school. My daughter, who just turned 13 on Saturday, begins virtual school this week. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, it's kind of a hybrid between homeschooling and public school. She gets all of the same curriculum as the brick and mortar school, but doesn't have to go there. Regardless, school is school and it means the end of summer. We just want to absorb every last bit of it before it's gone. 

So, on this last day of summer, my husband wants me to go help him in the backyard for a bit. Did I mention how scorchingly hot it is? Anyway, I bite the bullet and head out, because he is right, it will go much faster with 2 people working than one. There isn't a ton of stuff to be done, just a little cleanup, and what usually happens is that when I get out there, I can't stop! Just one more clipping...let me replant this raggedy milkweed for the butterflies...oh, how would this look over here?  And Voila! I now have an outside art station! 

All I did was clean up our old potting table and moved it to a shady spot! And I salvaged a piece of plywood from the garage and painted this sign to let everyone know..."feel free to make some ART!" 

I'm looking forward to working out here with the lizards and the trees. It will make an excellent drying table too. Everything dries so quick in the sun. Not to mention spray painting! Isn't it amazing how just a little re-arranging can inspire you? I feel like I turned a key in the Universe! 

Happy Art for Happy People!  That's what I always say!

Until next time, Lovebeams to you!

A Whirlwind Kinda Day (Part 2)

Luckily, for the second part of this whirlwind day, the drive home went superquick! I don't know why that is. Do we actually bend time depending on our anxiety/happiness levels? We've all heard that time flies when we are having fun...is it really true? I guess that's a question I can save if I ever have dinner with Stephen Hawking. Anyway, I stopped by my house to get water and candles (the 2 items I was designated to bring) for the art show. 

As I drove the 5 minutes it takes to get there, it started raining HARD. I was going to make it just in the nick of time (again) before the 7:00 start time. I fully expected there to be sparse attendance given the storm that was underway. I was happily surprised to see the parking lot full and the art house FULL. There is just something magical about this place too! I know it sounds like I say that about a lot of places, but there is just something so special about these gathering places, where creatives join energies...a certain kind of alchemy takes place. 

The show, entitled The Way, is an Artist Way retrospective, celebrating 20+ years of the Artist Way in Central Florida (it runs through August 28th, so go check it out). My dear friend, Cheryl Jones Evans, has been the facilitator for that many years contributing to widespread artistic growth in creatives and the community. Our Fearless Cheryl had just recently (as in days) undergone heart surgery and for the first time was not going to be able to organize this show. elle o'dowd stepped in to grab the reins and bravely organized everything so that the show could go on! Grateful hearts all around!  

Here I am with Elle, celebrating our creativity and honoring Cheryl and the Artist Way! Awesome job gettin' er done, Ellie!

Here I am with Radha, one of the newest AW members, and her lovely daughter.

The show is a fantastic culmination of many different artists who have gone through the Artist's Way course.  I am so happy to have the newest members, my very first Artist Way group, included in this event. For a few of them it was their first time putting their art out there in this type of setting. They all are simply phenomenal! With quite a few red dots too! Bravo!  So proud of you all for showing up. 

This only part that was missing from this amazing night was, of course, Cheryl. But I know that we each carried her around in our hearts the whole night! Thanking her, blessing her, and loving her back into health. This show wouldn't have taken place without her. It is through her that I have connected with most of the people in the room. And as I begin another round of the Artist's Way, I hope that I will do as good a job as she has done. 

Until next time, Lovebeams to you!

A Whirlwind Kinda Day (Part 1)

Saturday was one of those days that starts early and ends late and somewhere in between you just want to head home and curl up on the couch. But I didn't! I worked my way from point A to point B to point C and my heart was much happier for it. 

I taught my first class out at Art More Place in Melbourne. I was feeling a little bit anxious about the drive, but I had my trusty GPS guiding me and made it just fine (just in the nick of time, but we don't need to go into that!) I was pleasantly surprised to find out that what I thought was going to be a 6-person class had blossomed to 11!  I quickly set up with the wonderful Sherri O's help and away we went. I just knew I was going to love it at Art More Place. How can you not? It is a magical open space with lots of swirling good energy and I even got to say "Hi" to Myrtle!  LOVe.  

We had a fun group and I think everyone did an awesome job.  It's not about producing a perfect painting, but more importantly devoting a day to creativity and joining together in artistic community. I think I will be seeing some of these artists again for my upcoming mermaid painting class. 

Due to the enlarged group, we did run a little over, and after finishing and cleaning up I quickly said my Goodbyes and headed out on the road again in order to make it to the Artist's Way Celebration at the Casselberry Art House! (see Part 2)

Until next time, Lovebeams to you!

The Summer of Summer Camp

Summer Camp has come to an end at The Craft Shack!  Don't get me wrong, it was a great experience...but....I'm glad to have a week-long break afterwards! This was my first year of teaching kids on a regular basis. Each week, they would tentatively come through the doors not knowing what to expect. For some it would take a day to relax. They all loved doodling on the tables. As soon as a marker was put in their hands they would start to open up. As the week progressed, the short-lived shyness was surpassed by raucous laughter. Their wildness awakening with each blob of color, snip of yarn, and smudge of glue. After snack time, there were days I felt like head monkey wrangler. I have made a mental note to get a little bell instead of trying to raise my voice above theirs. There were lots of things learned by both them and me. I especially loved seeing their unbridled creativity. I especially loved the kids who hunkered their heads down in creative action and then would spring up, "look at this, Miss Shari!" And on the flip side, I  thought I might go crazy if I heard the phrase, "is this good? is this good? is this good? is this good?" one more time. YES, it is all good. I loved all of their crooked lines and jagged edges and smiling faces. Just the fact that you are here and you are getting messy and creating is GOOD. I hope you will carry these memories with you into your future...I know I will. Now, off to find a bell!

Until next time, Lovebeams to you!