I got what I asked for

In my last blog I asked for more time. What I meant was that I wanted more hours in the day to be able to do the things I love. What I got was exactly what I asked for......more time. Yep, I'm still here, breathing the kicking (actually I'm typing - no kicking involced), and time is still ticking away. They say (who is they anyway?) "be careful what you ask for". I should have asked for more FREE time. So I really did get what I asked for. "They" were right - darn them.

I just got back from Las Vegas where I attended my fifth Clay Carnival - a wonderful four days of taking workshops from eight national polymer clay instructors. As always it was super duper fabulous, but somehow this year it seemed all the more wonderful. I wasn't sure why so I've been reflecting on it. I think it is many reasons - I know so many of the attendees now that I feel at home, the teachers are so much fun and always informative, and I guess the main reason is that I can get totally lost in what I really love......creating.

I am sharing with you a photo of the group that attended (I'm Lavender Girl sitting in the front row) and a sculpture I did in Leslie Blackford's class. It is a pregnant mermaid. I'm not sure how that idea came out of my brain, but I bet I've got more crazy ideas in there. Now I just have to get more FREE TIME to let them out.

I just need more time

I need more time, much, much, much more time. There are so many things I want to do, and isn't it irritating that 8 hours a day has to be spent sleeping? (although I must admit that crawling into bed at night after an exhausting day is a really nice experience - it's the waking up in the morning part that I don't like too much)

And this week I've been sick with a nasty cold, so I'm at home with lots of free time, and don't feel like doing a thing. Blowing my nose, drinking lemon juice, rubbing on Vicks and coughing have consumed my last three days.

But today I think I'm about to approach finally feeling better, and then watch out....I'll be a whirlwind again trying to squeeze a million things into each and every day.

Three weeks ago I hosted Lindly Haunani for a polymer clay workshop and she was AWESOME. The photo is Lindly and me in front of my house. We learned so much and we laughed a lot. I love getting lost in the world of creating. It makes my heart sing. And speaking of hearts......the other photo shows one I made in her class. And I even got so bold as to post some for sale on etsy. I surfed around etsy yesterday and it seems there are a LOT of sellers. Wonder how many buyers will notice my little hearts?

Anyway, thanks for visiting me. I haven't seen the outside world all week, so this is my way of getting out there.....even if it is only in cyberspace.

Friends I've never met

In this crazy modern world, we are bombarded every day by flashing billboards, gas pumps that talk to us, email overload, etc, until sometimes I (and probably you) would just like to be on a quiet desert island with our thoughts - and in my case with all my art supplies!!

As an artist, I belong to many yahoo groups where ideas and shared and people post about this and that and this and that and......

My favorite on discussion group are the artists that have taken Mary Ann Moss' "Remains of the Day" online class. You can read about this wonderful class and "meet" Mary Ann by going t0

http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com/ Mary Ann is one of the friends I've never met.

And if you decide to take the online class (which I HIGHLY encourage you to do) and make some of your own magical journals (I am still working on my first one, but have high hopes of finishing soon......my, my.... doesn't life get in the way sometimes?) then join the yahoo group.

Today, Rita (who is another friend I've never met) posted that she is celebrating her 100th blog post, so I thought I'd share her blog with you.

http://www.tatteredpast.blogspot.com/

Forgive me if I ramble, but it is 6:30am on a Saturday morning (why the heck am I up so early?? to kiss my hubbie as he leaves to coach his cycling team on a 70 mile ride today)l

Anyway, I haven't posted in a long time and Rita has inspired me to get back to my blog. And I believe that I promised some of my friends - including some I've never met - to share a photo or two from our recent vacation in Utah, Oregon, California and Arizona. 3,800 miles in ten days (yes my butt is numb). It was oh so long, but oh so magical.

Now I am working toward my 100th post. Stay tuned.

hugs to all

Annie

My teenybopper adventure

Ok. Just by writing the word "teenybopper" I am dating myself, but last week's experience made me feel young and teeny and bopping!! Ed and I went to the Sugarland concert. (If you aren't a country fan, they're the best duo around.) Opening for them was Danny Gokey. If you're an American Idol fan, you'll remember Danny. His set was really cool and he has a beautiful song called "I Will Not Say Goodbye" that gave me goose bumps. He told the audience that he would sign autographs after the show, so Ed bought his CD for me and I stood in line like a teenager waiting to have him scribble his autograph on it for me. When I finally got to the front of the line, he looked up at me and said, "Purple hair. You're rockin' in my book." (if you haven't noticed, I have a little streak of purple in my hair - have had it there for about 16 years or so. I like to think I started the colored hair trend!) And at that moment I felt like I was back in the 60's and a silly teenager. It was a great feeling. But....I digress.....back to the concert. Little Big Town also played and they were good, and then came Sugarland. Their tour is called "The Incredible Machine" and their whole stage setting was very steampunk. (I feel kind groovy knowing what steampunk is.....I'm not such a fuddy duddy....really!!) So I danced and sang and whistled and clapped all night. The next morning my feet were sore and my throat scratchy and my hearing impaired - but what a GREAT night. Now in 10 days I get to see my favorite country male.....Toby Keith. I might possibly faint if he looks my way. But I'm teeny, so he probably won't notice me!!

I love my mom

Last week, my wonderful, adorable, fabulous mother came from Arkansas to visit me. We had SO MUCH fun. We ate sushi, shopped for wedding dresses with my daughter, went to a baseball game and saw 4th of July fireworks, attended an opening at my gallery where she met many of my friends, surprised her with tickets to "Beauty and the Beast" and went to Santa Fe to see the SOFA show. (Sculptured Objects and Functional Art). The day before she was going to fly home, she tripped over our dog and got an ambulance ride and a night in the ER!! She dislocated her shoulder, but was a real trouper and when they got it back into place, she was almost good as new. Here is a photo of the two of us. I love the photo. And I love her. My mom is the best in the world. I miss her.

Protected by the Secret Service

So....When I'm not being an artist, my job is Development Coordinator at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. One of the things I do in that position is coordinate events. I have spent the last few weeks preparing for the dedication of the human anatomy lab - now officially known as the "Leonard M. Napolitano Anatomical Education Center". Dr. Napolitano was the former Dean of the Medical School and his daughter is, of course, Madame Secretary Janet - in charge of homeland security. She attended the event and we were surrounded by Secret Service and Police. It was all quite exciting. One of the agents saw that I was working hard and gave me this medallion. I thought it was pretty cool. I guess I was in one of the most secure places I could be in last Friday. But now the Secret Service have departed and I just have to trust my own instincts to keep me out of danger!!

It didn't last long!!

So take a look at my last post.....my lovely new art studio, and compare after a little more than a week of working in it. The table has already exploded!! But notice if you will the wooden plaque I bought last week (on sale...66% off!!). I may be messy, but at least I'm following my heart. And my heart says "DO ART". I've never heard it say "CLEAN THIS UP". So I'm basically just doing what I'm told. Can't blame a girl for following her heart. (However, my mom is coming to visit in three weeks, and a little voice inside me is yelling "CLEAN. CLEAN. CLEAN.". I think as long as she doesn't open any closets I'll be ok.

A real place to make art

I have been talking about turning one of our bedrooms into my art studio for many years. Well......(drum roll please)......last weekend I finally did it. Everything is labeled and in it's place (so now I can't find a thing!) and the top of my work table stayed clean and clear for about 18 hours. When I make art, it is similar to what I do when I cook - I pull out every pencil, pen, paint, stamp, tool, paper, glue, etc (or in the kitchen case.....every single pot and pan). There is still more to organize, but it feels so good to sit down at my table with art intentions. It might only be a bedroom, but to me it is a fabulous studio and I can see great things happening!!!

Oh my gosh I'm a winner

I am so excited!!! I just won this month's polymer clay challenge on "Poly Clay Play". Here is a photo of the piece I entered. The challenge was to make something with a cane and my entry was a bracelet I made after taking a class with Sarah Shriver last year. Go check out the Poly Clay Play website at http://www.polyclayplay.com/.

This has been a great week. I also got my blank art journal in the mail so I can start working on "The Sketchbook Project". I now have until the end of the year to fill the book (oh my gosh there are a LOT of pages to doodle on) and send it back so that it becomes part of a touring show in 2011. Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country. After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view. Check out their website at http://www.thesketchbookproject.com/.

Gosh I love being an artist. There. I've said it out loud!!

So where did my post go?

I just spent 15 minutes pouring out my thoughts to the world (or whoever it is that reads my ramblings here) and when I hit publish I got some weird message and everything was gone!! So what I was telling you was that while recovering from shoulder surgery, I have had quite a bit of down time and have spent many hours participating in some online courses.....Carla Sonheim's "The Art of Silliness", Mary Ann Moss' "Remains of the Day", Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen's "Complex Collage" and Traci Bautista's "Creative Doodles". All the classes have been wonderful, but have only served to aggravate my SAS (short attention span) and caused me to flit, flit, flit from one idea to another. I have managed to create a few pages in my art journal and take lots of notes so that when my shoulder is back to normal (will I never be able to pursue my dream of being a trapeze artist!!?? ha ha) I'll have TONS of ideas to follow through on. In the meantime, here are a couple that I'm not too embarassed to share!

Tuesday's Treasures and Thoughts

So I started a blog some time back and now recently I feel the need to incessantly post (I looked that word up to make sure I spelled it correctly - it means "continuing or flowing without interruption".) Yep, that's me. I met a new blogger online today who talked about suffering from SAS (short attention span). I told her she was my new best friend. I hope she doesn't think I'm a stalker!! Anyway, check out her blog.....it is quite amusing. http://artkerfuffle.blogspot.com/

Today's treasure are my two animals.....Muffin Moulin Rouge (she wore that head piece for several minutes and I laughed myself silly - well....sillier than usual) and Tobie (who is wondering if I am about to give him a biscuit).

That's it for me today, now I must go and incessantly make some more art. I hope there is never a cure for my addiction!

May Monday Madness

So, we are in May already? OH MY GOSH. Where does the time go? I have so many art projects I have in my head, and my shoulder is still recovering from my rotator cuff surgery.....but getting better every day. I was even able to make some funky polymer rings for our "Heavy Metal" show opening in the gallery on Friday (thanks to Ronna Sarvas Weltman for showing me the technique) and some funky whimsical sculptures (thanks to Julie Haymaker Thompson for showing me the technique). I am never so happy as when I'm creating something - well, maybe when I'm eating some great sushi or a yummy pizza, but then I don't have anything leftover to show for it!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday. Does anyone really READ my blog?

hugs to all

Heather Campbell ROCKS!!

I met Heather at a workshop in Sundance, UT almost two years ago and when I saw her work I fell in love with it and iinvited her to teach in Albuquerque. She hadn't taught any polymer workshops yet, but after a little bit of bugging on my part, we set a date and this past weekend she came to Albuquerque to thrill us all with the projects she taught. Heather is an awesome artist, a wonderful friend and she is at the airport now, waiting to fly out.....and I miss her already. But the GREAT news is that she is coming back to teach a mixed media "Self Portrait" workshop next year, so stay tuned for dates. This is a photo of one of Heather's creations that I bought. I will treasure it always. Thanks Heather. You are AWESOME.

www.purpledoorart.com (take some time to look at Heather's website and be amazed!)

Stuck between

So you have all heard the saying "stuck between a rock and a hard place" right? Well, I'm stuck between C&C - stuck between my Computer and my Creativity. I've been recovering from rotator cuff surgery, and since I haven't been able to do much at all (yes, of course it is my dominant arm!) I have been spending many hours surfing the internet, looking at artist blogs, creative websites, etc and my mind is TOTALLY FILLED with a million projects I want to begin. I want to paint, and journal, and collage, and sew, and bead, and work on polymer, and maybe a little time left over to work in my veggie garden this year. Will someone PLEASE invent a pill I can take that will allow me to NOT have to sleep? I need more hours!!!!

There is never enough time

I know we all feel like there is never enough time in the day, but I'm especially feeling it today. There are so many things I want to do and so many projects I have in my head and I get frustrated because I let things slide (if I don't clean out my garage and set up my art studio this spring I may just go CRAZY!!). Last night I finished a little drawing I will share with you. I am taking an online class with Carla Sonheim called "The Art of Silliness". I have told myself all my life that I can't draw, and Carla is making me realize that that thought is just plain silly.

Artfest 2010

Despite being only 3 1/2 weeks post rotator cuff surgery, I managed to travel to Port Townsend, WA to attend Artfest for the second year in a row. I think being there not only re-inspired me, but helped me in the healing process. So many talented people all together in one place. Sometimes it is almost overwhelming.....but certainly in a good way. I stayed in the dorm this time and had a lovely spartan room in a building that was right next to the water. I can't wait to go back again next year!!!

Is it REALLY already March?

Here I sit at the computer - typing left handed with one finger......yep, getting over rotator cuff surgery!! And yes, it hurts, but after having a wonderful phone session with intuitive healer Nanci Drew (http://www.nancidrewintuitivehealer.com/) yesterday, I am realizing that this injury and surgery were not an accident (oh yes, I fell off a chair into a brick wall with my shoulder) but a message from Spirit (or whoever you feel is controlling the universe) that I need to slow down and reset my priorities. So with lots of time on my hands (off from work for approx six weeks) and a right arm that isn't currently good for much of anything, I have lots of time to think about things are are really important. OK......I won't get too philosophical now (plus my left hand finger is getting tired!)

In two weeks I am off to ArtFest again - a wonderful mixed media retreat in Port Townsend, WA (http://www.teeshamoore.com/). I won't be able to really participate with just one left hand that is pretty uncoordinated, but my surgeon said I was ok to travel (taking along my body sling of course) so I am going to go and hang out with the other artists and soak up some creative vibrations.

I will try to be better about updating my blog - and try to learn more about how to post interesting things. The attached photos are pieces I created for a group I joined called "52 Creations". I am supposed to create one new piece of art a week, but now that I'm "wounded" I guess I'll only have around 40 creations. But that's ok. Spirit says so!!!