Dog Days of Summer

It seems like my life has switched suddenly into slo mo mode. Not much going on around me. The garden is growing but nothing much is ripe enough to harvest. The sun just shines down, the bugs and birds fly about, Bubba and Blueberry sleeps, and I, I just putter. I had so many plans to do to the house and such, but I have been so busy doing artsy things, they all fell to the wayside. Now, I guess I am just sorta resting up from all the motion of traveling, and creating. And, heck, I can always paint walls, or whatever tomorrow, or the next day, right? Here is a list of major things that NEED to be done: House painting-inside and out. Windows replaced. Carpet replaced. New sofa. New bed for DH. Curtains laundered. New shower curtain and rugs in small bath.
etc. etc. I don't know what it is, that makes me just think about this stuff instead of doing something about it, except I am just enjoying the fact that I can take as long as I want to do it. I told myself all week end that I would do something on Monday. Now today, I am saying well, what does it matter if I wait a day or two (or more)? Instead, I have watered in the yard and worked on a ZINE about drawing, and now I am blogging and in a minute I will be dyeing wool with Kool aid. How Kool is that? Hope it turns out as lovely as I see it in my head. What will I do with it? Make art of course! What else? I guess I will start searching the net for another art workshop to go to. I admit it, I AM HOOKED!

Free Woman and Happy Artist!

Well, it is official! I am retired. Only 15 more days to work and I will be a free woman and happy artist. I have a full schedule already. Camping with family for Memorial weekend, then a road trip with family starting on June 6, and then an art retreat starting on June 25th. I think there will probably be a camp out for 4th of July too. Then I want to do a couple of one or two day road trips if I can get a roady partner lined up. Then there is the July 24th camping and who knows what other week ends of camping. Hows that for easing out of the work environment? It doesn't sound like I will have much time to be artsy but that will come when everyone settles back into life after school starts. I also have an idea to make a giant maze around the acreage somewhere...quite a ambitious project so I may not get to it too soon. And I have to do some painting ON and IN the house...it is screaming at me to do something to make it feel and look better! And cooking! It has been so very long since I have had the time or energy to cook...I am actually looking forward to that! And sewing...just some artsy efforts there. Is there such a thing as free/intuitive sewing? I am hoping one of the workshops at the art retreat will get me going with this. I thought I would also do some gardening, but since I have all these trips planned, I don't think so, as keeping it watered when we are gone is a problem. Then, when it cools down in the fall, I have to learn how to do some digital art on the computer!
Whew! Hope my energy holds up for all of this wishful thinking ideas. And, I probably have more things I want to do, but can't think of everything in one sitting. LOL

Group Art Swaps

The worst winter months with the cold and snow are coming to an end. Spring must be just around the corner! I have passed these months in relative bliss. Bliss because I have had PROJECTS. I am most happy when I am involved in some sort of project. It gives me something to visualize and work on mentally as I go about my mundane activities.
This winter, I enjoyed some new experiences in projects in the form of a Tea Box swap and an Art Doll Healing Doll swap. I have not exchanged this type of art before but I loved it. The Tea Box I made and sent to MA is highlighed on Lani the Puppetmakers Blog, http://14secretsforahappyartistslife.blogspot.com/. The tea box I recieved had wonderful things in it. The picture I hope to post here shows just some of the "goodies" I recieved in the Tea Box that came to me from Maria, in Texas. Thanks one more time Maria! All in all, this was a very satisfying activity to help pass the winter doldrums away.
The otherr swap, Healing Dolls, helped too. It was fun to come up with a concept, then follow through with a theme. I hope I am able to post a picture of the doll I made, and eventualoly the doll I will recieve.
My husband, who has no projects going, has bemoaned his tiredness of the winter. What a blessing art, art swaps, and art groups are. I loved this winter!