Art Review 2009

Commissioned Piece

Copyright 2009 Valerie Jones

 

I am not one to make yearly goals because they very rarely are achieved.   “Live by God and He’ll do the planning for you”…that’s my motto.  I did make a list of goals for 2009 and I only accomplished one of them.  I decided to make a list of accomplishments for 2009 and share them with you.

2009 Accomplishments

January – Held an exhibit for my students; took a quilting class

February – Completed “Colors of Fall” colored pencil painting

March – Sewed aprons; Opened Etsy shop; completed “Wedding Day 1920” colored pencil painting

April – Bartlesville Art Association Spring Show – sold “Colored of Fall” painting; completed “Homecoming” colored pencil painting

May – Verdigris Valley Exhibit; Completed “Intermission” colored pencil painting

June – Sold artwork in the OKMozart shop; taught grisaille/colored pencil class

July – Vacation; completed graphite “Gerber Daisy” drawing

August – Taught colored pencil workshop – textures and metals; taught ellipse class; began teaching at Washington County Elder Care

September – Began teaching cat portrait class

October – Taught colored pencil workshop – textures and metals; prepared for the Bartlesville Art Association Fall Fling

November – Completed graphite commission

December – Completed colored pencil commission

January – December - Created a correspondence drawing course – Had 2 students take the course throughout the year.

January – May – Taught a colored pencil step-by-step portrait class

April – May – Taught a beginning drawing class at Hobby Lobby

August – December – Taught a colored pencil cat portrait class

Completed 10 paintings/drawings in 2009  (This is less than 2008’s number of 13 paintings/drawings)

2010 is looking to be another successful year.  I have two exhibits coming up in January and February.  I am in the process of creating a website.  I hope to attend a workshop in June.  I have a workshop to teach in August.  I’m sure God has other things planned for me this coming year also!

Happy 2010!!

How Do You Spend Your Time?

Copyright 2009 Valerie Jones

I took this picture the other day of a tree at work.  It was a picture perfect day outside and the reds just shone on this tree.

My question to you today is - “How do you spend your time during the day?”  Are you doing things you want to do, (art for example) or are you spending more time with things  you feel you should do? 

I made a list of 5 things I spend my time doing during the day and as it turns out, they are all things I have to do, work, cook, clean, raise children, and I forgot the other one!  There is no time for creativity.  Oh, I remember the 5th one now.  It is watching television in the evenings.  Watching television isn’t something I have to do.  It’s what I do to wind down after a hurried and flurried day of constant activity.  I usually draw while watching TV, so it’s not a total loss of time.

I’d like to hear if you spend your day in a creative way…

Commission Finished

Graphite on Strathmore Series 500 Bristol Plate

Copyright Valerie Jones

Word of caution – Don’t finish a piece of artwork late at night…it leads to sleep apnea.  That’s what happened to me anyway.  I finished this commissioned piece last night around bedtime.  Well, I had to stay up awhile to wind down!   I’m still only showing a partial of the drawing because it is a gift.  I might show the whole thing in January.  You all will have to remind me.

I really enjoyed working on the Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate drawing paper.  I was able to achieve a realistic texture for the skin.  It also let me erase and re-apply without any differences in the texture of the paper.  The Strathmore Series 300 Bristol Smooth won’t allow much erasing before it messes up the tooth of the paper.  It’s more student grade, so that’s to be expected, I guess.  Also, the Series 500 Bristol Plate is 4-ply.  I like to work with thicker papers because they are easier to control.

I didn’t realize how much of myself was put into this drawing.  After I was done, tons of tasks came to mind that I’d shoved to the back burner.  So, today was a busy, busy day.  I got a lot accomplished, which I am thankful for.

Have a beautiful day!!

Cat Portrait Complete

“Shorty”

Colored Pencil on Stonehenge Paper 8” x 10”

Copyright Valerie Jones

I am finishing up a class on pet portraits.  We drew “Shorty” over a period of 9 weekly classes.   Some students are still working on her but most of them have finished.  She was fun to paint.  This is our family pet, but I based the lessons from Anne deMille Flood's Realistic Pet Portrait book.   One of my students brought some white India ink to class and we used it for the whiskers.  We had impressed the whiskers first using a stylus.  Then, as a finishing touch, we added the ink.  It was an awesome tool to use.  It works better than a white colored pencil and isn’t as thick as acrylic paint.

Work in Progress #2

Work in Progress – Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol

Copyright Valerie Jones

I have been steadily working on this piece.  I usually spend at least one hour of an evening.  Last night was not a good evening to draw.  I was exhausted from working at my day job, working on this drawing, and getting ready for an art sale with my local art association.  I’m in charge of getting the art sale together for the art association’s members this year.  Thankfully, the dear lady who worked with it last year has been a huge help.  I’m still tired this evening, so I’m not sure if any good drawing skills will abound tonight.

Happy drawing!

Principles of Creativity

Work in Progress

Graphite on Strathmore Bristol 500

copyright Valerie Jones

I am revisiting The Artist's Way and thought I’d share with you the Basic Principles that every artist has within them.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

The Artist's Way

By Julia Cameron

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.

2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life – including ourselves.

3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.

4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.

5. Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.

6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.

7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.

8. As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.

9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.

10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.

Cat Portrait

I am currently teaching my students how to draw a cat.   I have detailed instructions on how they need to layer each color, how sharp their pencil needs to be, and how light or heavy of a pressure they need to use with their pencil.  I also have work-in-progress pictures of each step for their reference as they go along.

Here is an example of a step.

Step 17 - Demo 11 – Color: Henna - Point: Very Sharp – Pressure: Medium

Apply Henna to the darkest areas of the ears, pressing harder in places to give shape to the ear.

Here is one of the work-in-progress pictures.

I am toying with the idea of possibly making project kits for you to purchase and try for yourself.  Let me know if this is something you’d like to see from me.

I had the best thing happen to me today while teaching at my new job.  One of the participants must of had a great art day because when we were finished, she gave me the biggest hug.  Don’t you just love it?

Work In Progress – Graphite Gerber Daisy #2

Copyright  Valerie Jones / Graphite – Carbon  Drawing 

Things took on a new chapter in my life this week.  I started a new job working at a daycare facility for the elderly.  My job duties are that of an art coordinator.  The first few days were extremely overwhelming as I try to figure out everything that is required of me and what is needed by the people that participate in this wonderful program.  I’m excited about all the new things I get to learn about Alzheimer’s and the effects of aging.  There are great things that these people can achieve through our world of art.  I don’t know yet if I will be posting my experiences here or not.

Anyway, above is my latest attempt at relaxation.  I have another work in progress that is colored pencil.  I haven’t worked on it much lately.  Time is precious these days.  The kiddos started school this week, so routines are starting to fall into place.  Maybe in a few weeks, things will settle down some.

Ellipses

Today, I found myself practicing ellipses. These are tough to draw! The other day, I went to the library with the kids and found myself checking out a book by Alexander Russo, The Challenge of Drawing . If you are new to art or an experienced artist, I recommend looking into this book. It is comprehensive and detailed.

I taught a workshop this past Saturday on Texture and Metal with colored pencil. We all had a blast!

Gerber Daisy

Graphite Drawing

Copyright 2009 Valerie Jones

Here’s my latest attempt at drawing.  I didn’t keep close track of the hours it took to create.  I’m estimating 5 hours of drawing pleasure.  This was done using graphite pencils and willow charcoal.  I had never used willow charcoal before.  I am pleased with the smooth, rich darks it creates.  Don’t use it until you are done with your drawing though.  It tends to easily smear.

Happy drawing!

Criticism

My lack of posts lately have been from exhaustion and vacation.  I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you.   I took some great photos while in New Mexico.  If you haven’t been to Santa Fe, Albuquerque, or Madrid, New Mexico you must go sometime in your lifetime.  Many, many art galleries to be seen plus a lot of local culture.

Copyright 2009 – Valerie Jones

My topic today is criticism.  How do you handle those times when people seem a little cruel and misunderstanding about your art?  Does the child within you step out to lick the wounds?  I read an article today from Body + Soul magazine, the May 2009 issue.  It states when someone lashes out at you in criticism, their inner child is speaking to you.  What insecurities could this person have that we don’t see?  When you realize this,  it is easier for your inner child to respond to the criticism.  Take a lesson from the criticism instead of burying it deep within you in anger.  Although we’d like,  we aren’t going to be approved by everyone in this world.  So, take a deep breath, exhale, and move forward in positive action towards the criticism.

Petunia Mystery Solved

Petunia – Grisaille

Copyright Valerie Jones

The petunia was done with the grisaille technique of layering grays (in this case, graphite) with colored pencil. The grays being laid down first allows the shadows to be in place, thus a lesser need for more layers of color in the shadow areas. I think this took me around 5 hours to complete. I didn’t keep track of my time very well. It is done on a 4”x6” piece of smooth bristol paper.

• Merriam-Webster’s definition of grisaille -

grisaille

Main Entry: gri·saille

Pronunciation: \gri-ˈzī, -ˈzāl\

Function:noun

Etymology: French, from gris gray, from Middle French

Date: 1848

: decoration in tones of a single color and especially gray designed to produce a three-dimensional effect

He’s Not Finished With Me Yet

This might appear to be a completed work in graphite…

In a few days it will be much more…  I’ll give you the details in another post.

Brandon Heath’s song, “Wait and See” has been running through my head as I work on this piece, “You’ll have to Wait and See,  He’s not finished with me yet.”

How amazingly true that God isn’t finished with us yet.  Keep moving forward…

OKMozart Festival

Today starts the weeklong event for the OKMozart Festival in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. My artwork along with many artists from the Bartlesville Art Association will have their work for sale during this event at the Bartlesville Community Center .

Gallery hours:

Friday, June 12 - 5:00 PM to Close

Saturday, June 13 and Saturday, June 20 - 9:00 AM to Close

Sunday, June 14 – 12:00 noon to Close

Monday June 15, Tuesday June 16, Wednesday June 17, Thursday June 18 – 9:30 AM to Close

Friday June 19 – 9:00 AM to Close

Drama in the Arts

Do you create drama in your life when you aren’t doing any artwork?  I know I do.  I get easily irritated over the smallest of things.  Give me 10 or 15 minutes of drawing and the restlessness goes away.  Those few minutes at the drawing board gives me strength to face the day.

It is not irritating to be where one is.  It is only irritating to think one would like to be somewhere else. ~ John Cage

Often we are restless, irritable, and discontent because we are not cherishing the life we have. ~ Julia Cameron

Make a list of things you cherish or are thankful for.  Keep the list limited to ten.  (ex: “I cherish my morning coffee.  I cherish alone time.  I cherish the beauty of flowers.”)

Lips in Colored Pencil

I thought I would share with you some of the lessons I teach to my students.  Last week in class, we drew lips in colored pencil.

Reference Photo

First, we used light washes for the skin tones around the lips.  The skin tones were created using the following Prismacolor colored pencils.

Cream, Light Peach, Jasmine, Pink Rose, Yellow Ochre, Beige, Peach, Peach, Blush Pink, Rosy Beige, Goldenrod, Blush Pink (again), Clay Rose.

In the darker areas of the face we used, Pink, Burnt Ochre, Mineral Orange.

We burnished the whole face with Light Peach.  After burnishing, we added a light layer of Greyed Lavender and blended with the Colorless Blender.

For the lips, we left the highlight area the white of the paper.  We then applied a light wash of Peach, Blush Pink, and Pink.  To the line where the lips meet, we added Dark Brown, Henna, Terra Cotta and Tuscan Red.  We also added Henna to the shadow parts of the lip. 

One thing to remember about lips, the upper lip curves in and the bottom lip curves out.  The upper lip is always darker than the bottom lip because it curves in and doesn’t receive the light.  The bottom part of the bottom lip is darker because it is curving down toward the face.

Print these off and try them for yourself!

The Intermission

"The Intermission"

copyright Valerie Jones

14"x11" Prismacolor Colored Pencils

on Stonehenge paper

Something I learned after I finished this piece is to not quit right before the miracle. Keep on keeping on. I kept on working on this piece after I thought it was done. My husband and friends critiqued it for me and found some things that could make it better. Unwillingly, I changed them. If I hadn't changed them, I would have been unsatisfied. I am thankful that I tweaked it to its finish.

I became so preoccupied with this piece because I wanted it finished in time for OKMozart that I let friendships slide. Too much busyness makes it difficult to have faith. Faith in God, faith in ourselves, and faith in our friends. As Julia Cameron says, "Faith thrives on routine." Well, my routine was definately off while I worked on getting this project accomplished. And all those above mentioned things, faith in God, faith in myself, and faith in friends wavered.

By keeping on regardless of the outcome is an act of faith. Faith that God will get us through the drought, through the project, etc. The outcome doesn't have to mean anything to anyone except ourselves. God wants us to go through the process. He didn't create us to quit. He created us to keep on keeping on. Your inner artist will survive. Keep the faith.

As I speak of keeping on, visit my friend Rose Welty's new website and blog. She is a person who keeps on keeping on even when she doesn't always feel like it. You'll be amazed at what she accomplishes.

Work in Progress

Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Stonehenge paper

14" x 11"

Copyright - Valerie Jones

As I mentioned in a previous post , several of my friends have new websites and blogs.

Belinda Lindhardt is an Australian artist, graphic designer and illustrator. She has some beautiful artwork on her webpage. Most of her work is for sale. Be sure to check it out. If you need some help with design, I'm sure she'd be happy to assist you!

Vonda Evans Fine Art

Spring is here! Along with the new growth of the season, a few of my aquaintances have created websites or new blog sites. Over the next several posts, I will share their valuable information with you.

Today, I want to spotlight Vonda Evans Fine Art. Vonda creates beautiful fine art using colored pencils. She also teaches the art of colored pencil. Vonda is a very patient person who I know anyone would love to learn from. In addition to her artwork, she does photography. Take a look at her site and say hello.

Painting Sold

Colors of Fall

5"x7"

Colored Pencil on Stonehenge

Copyright Valerie Jones

The original of Colors of Fall sold to a very special friend's son. You can purchase prints or cards of this piece at Valerie Jones Art .

Sneak Peak

Here's a sneak peak of my current colored pencil work in progress..............

Baby Kitties

Here's what I've been busy with the past few days.....feeding 4 baby kittens. Their momma disappeared and their owner (in-laws) went on vacation. So, I couldn't say no to these precious souls. My husband named this kitten "Thomas O'Malley" from the Aristocrats movie.

I have a new work-in-progress. I haven't gotten too far with it, so not much to show yet. I need to get it done in a month. Not sure if I'll pull it off but I'll give it a good try.

Happy days!!

Finished or Not?

I was on a roll last night...drawing the night away. I stopped without putting a background in. I worked on this today and put the background in. I don't like how it turned out. I should have made the background all one color or left it white. It looks like my son is floating in the air or his head is growing of grass.


This piece is titled "Homecoming". Our children are adopted and I chose this format because they came home to us partially grown. Thus, the half-face portraits.

I'll sit on this one awhile before I call it finished. I've already sprayed workable fixative on it, so it's not going to be much fun to change.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter!

Living in the Now

Work in Progress

Colored Pencil on Stonehenge

Copyright Valerie Jones

How many times do you say, “I wish things were like they used to be?” That phrase can get us into a lot of trouble. Choosing to live in the past will only bring regret to today. The day will be filled with despair. A day filled with despair will get no art done. There will be no room in us for inspiration. We won’t be able to see the beauty in front of us for the fog we have created around us. We need to train ourselves to live in the now and not in the past. God is moving us forward with each new day He gives us. He doesn’t move us backwards. We are the ones who choose to go backwards into what we “think” we would like to have.

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” NIV

So, when you think you are living in the desert of despair, remember that God is always creating a new thing in us. Let's teach ourselves how to enjoy what is given to us with each new day!

Shop Now Open

My goodness! I have not blogged in quite some time. Sorry for the absence. I have been busy getting items ready for sale on Etsy . My shop name is valeriejonesart . Come by for a visit. I'll have new sewing items for sale soon.

Grandparents Finished

8"x10" Colored Pencil on Stonehenge

I completed the painting of my grandparents. They were married in 1920. Grandpa was 21 on his wedding day. I don't know what age my grandmother was. They had 17 children together, which included 2 sets of twins! Grandmother lived to be in her 90's and Grandpa lived to be 101. All of the children are still living except 2. They all are still missed to this day. I'm not sure what number I fall into with the grandchildren. My father is number 11 of the children. One of my aunts had 12 children and another had 9. So, I have lots and lots of cousins. Grandpa was born in a dugout in central Kansas. Can you imagine?!? Those were tough times to be living in. There are many, many stories to share, but the most important one is the love of God that my grandparents taught the family.

Grandparents WIP

As I am painting my grandmother, questions flood my head of what I would have liked to ask her about her wedding day. There is mystery behind the unsmiling lips. Did she make her dress or did she buy it? So on, and so on.....

I'm not finished with my grandfather's suit. The reference is very dark and doesn't show much detail. I got tired of working on it, so I chose to work on the dress for awhile.

1920 Work in Progress

Here's a preview of what I'm working on now. I'm using Prismacolor French Grey and Sepia colored pencils on Stonehenge paper. The picture is of my grandparents wedding day in 1920. My grandpa was born in 1898 and lived to be 101 years of age.

The Process

Focus on the positive. Learn to focus on the process and not on the finished product. ~ Julia Cameron

I have found the above quote to be a very true statement. I am learning to tell that to my students. Some of them seem to focus on the end product and not enjoy the process of art. The process of drawing or painting is extremely satisfying to the soul. Like today, I was kind of bummed. I decided to work on some art and what do you know? I enjoyed the process and healing came to my soul.

The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Did you know that people who offer you encouragement are people who believe in you? Yes, they believe in you. They believe that you are capable of the encouragement they offer to you. I find that thought encouraging in itself.

If we go down into ourselves, we find that we possess exactly what we desire. ~ Simone Weil

Look deep into yourself. Do you find that you possess what you desire?

Leaf - Complete

"Colors of Fall" copyright by Valerie Jones

7"x5" Colored Pencil on Stonehenge paper

I am finished with the leaf! It took approximately 15 hours to complete and I used 49 colors. I might change the name of the piece later to something more catchy.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Leaf Steps 12-19

I finished the leaf on the left.

Step 12 – added Tuscan Red in the deepest shadow areas.
Step 13 – added Pumpkin Orange in the shadow areas.
Step 14 – re-defined veins using Cream, Limepeel, Canary Yellow, Dark Green, Olive Green. I added Dark Brown and Light Umber on the stem.
Step 15 – applied Canary Yellow to the light areas.
Step 16 – added Light Umber and one of the greens to certain light areas.
Step 17 – added Raspberry and Black Grape in the shadow areas.
Step 18 – defined every area of the leaf and applied color as needed.
Step 19 – blended with colorless blender.

One of my goals for this year was to work 10 hours a week in the studio. Well, lesson plans have taken over my studio time. I haven't had as much time to paint but hope to get this done sometime in March.

Be Good to Yourself

I think it is time for a dose of inspiration. I have been reading too many blogs of late that have the “blues”, including myself. We have had trouble finding the inspiration we need to create. We are tired, worn down, too much thinking, not enough rest, etc. Our inner well is dry.

A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller. ~ Paul Klee

Every moment of one’s existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit. ~ Norman Mailer

We are becoming smaller, dying a little more each day instead of growing, mentally, spiritually, and artistically. I could say, read your Bible. Get into the Word of God and focus on the positive. Yes, I can say that, but have I been doing that? Ashamedly, no. Should we give it a try? Definitely! We will be no worse off than we are now. We can only become better.

How do we better ourselves mentally and artistically? Go to the pages! Start writing in a journal every morning before your day begins. Write three pages of raw, unedited script about what is going on inside of you.

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. ~ Henry Miller

Lately, I have had a heightened sense of things going on around me. It’s rare because normally I go around in a fog, trying to get through the day. So, be aware! Inspiration is just around the corner or in your own backyard.

Take yourself on a date to your favorite place to find inspiration. Go alone, don’t even take the dog. Go to a museum, art gallery, coffee shop, library, etc. Go once a week. If you are working at full speed, take time to go twice a week. Our inner wells dry fast and we need every source of inspiration we can find.

Being an artist means ceasing to take seriously that very serious person we are when we are not an artist. ~ Jose Ortega y Gasset

Now, go out and do something good for yourself. I know I am in the weeks to come.

Cheaper by the Dozen

I took a quilt class yesterday and we made this quilt top. The picture doesn't do it justice. The colors are more vibrant in real life. The pattern is "Cheaper by the Dozen." It was fun to sit the whole day away in front of the sewing machine. It didn't require as much thinking as a piece of artwork requires. **Smiles**

Clementine - January 2009 Virtual Sketch Date

This month's photo reference was given by Jeanette Jobson . I first tried sketching this with Derwent's Inktense pencils because I thought a blue background would go nicely with the orange color of the clementine. Since I'm not a brush artist, this attempt did not go well. So, I went back to graphite to do a quick drawing. This took me about 1-1/2 hours to complete. I used the following pencils: Ebony, 4B, 2B, & B. It is drawn on a smooth bristol paper, 110 lb.

Leaf - Work in Progress

Steps 6-7

As I continue my progress with the leaves, I added Goldenrod and Yellowed Orange over the whole leaf. (Steps 6-7)

Steps 8-11

Then I added Crimson Lake in the shadow areas that are red. I also started pressing harder with my pencil to apply more color. I noticed that the right corner in the shadow part of the leaf needed more Black Grape. I applied the Black Grape before putting Crimson Lake on top of it. (Step 8)

I added Orange in the highlight areas and anywhere else I saw Orange. I think I ended up covering most of the leaf in Orange. (Step 9)

I added Pink, Beige, Deco Pink (discontinued) in the blemish areas of the leaf. (Step 10)

When I stopped, I was using Scarlet Lake in the highlight areas that are red. (Step 11). I’m not done applying the Scarlet Lake but you should notice the difference on the next post.

I'm at the point in the painting that is requiring me to look very closely at detail. I love this part of the drawing process. I will begin to increase the pressure of the pencil and also begin to add little bits of different colors throughout the painting.

Leaf Details

I decided to share with you the step-by-step process I am taking with this painting. This is done on a 7" x 5" piece Stonehenge with Prismacolor colored pencils.

After drawing the outline, I took a Dark Green pencil and lightly applied it in the red shadow areas of the leaf. I am using Dark Green because it is the compliment of red. Putting these two compliments together creates a rich shadow color.



Next, I added Celadon Green in the highlighted areas that are red. Then I applied Black Grape over the Dark Green. I added Canary Yellow in the yellow highlight areas.

This took approximately 1 hour to complete these few layers. The other leaf that is almost finished took between 3 - 4 hours to complete. I usually wait until last to complete the background. I know, I know....it's a no, no. I will tweak the leaves after the background is complete.

2009 Art Goals

These little kids didn't seem to be behaving themselves during lunch.

I usually do not make goals in life because very rarely are they met. Our Creator frequently leads me in other directions. This year, though, I decided to try to set some goals around my art. I would like to further my career with art in 2009 and need some guidelines to go by.

2009 Art Goals
Create a newsletter
Create a website
Egg Tempera techniques
10 hours studio time each week
Enter 3 – 4 local and international exhibits
Promote correspondence drawing course
Blog – minimum of 3 entries a week
Research teaching by video
Promote commissions
Create a price list

I am thinking about setting studio hours to help keep me on track. I don't believe that creativity should be rushed so I have had trouble having enough pieces available for shows or sale. I would like to know if you have studio hours and how that works for you.

Sister's Birthday

My sister turned 50 this past week! So, in celebration, I baked and decorated two cakes for her party. I'm still a rookie at this cake decorating thing but it was fun to do. Everyone seemed to like the taste of the cakes for which I'm thankful. The best part....my sister had a wonderful time.

I have a list of goals that I am working on to share with you all. I'm still working out everything I want to put on my post, so be patient.