Buzy Summer

Hello Everyone,

It has been a long time and I have so much to tell you. So have a seat and stay a while. Well first the e-course I took from Kelly Rae Roberts on making a creative business is over and I am still soaking up all the information she shared in her course. I would love to think that I can keep up with her standards and I am going to work hard to accomplish my goals, share my thoughts honestly with others, be more open to the wonderful artist community out there, and start my Esty Shop. I have a list a mile long but it is a good list and I am looking forward to it. Starting with making my blog an enjoyable space for others to visit. As Kelly Rae would say, come in to my kitchen and set awhile. I have always lived in the country and have never had close neighbors so I am looking forward to having good fiends stop by and chat for a while. Be sure to leave me your side of the conversation so we can get to know each other. I will put on some tea and we will have a nice visit, so stop often. I love company!

My daughter and I took our first vacation together since she has grown into a wonderful Mother and Woman. We had a blast! We drove from Kansas across beautiful Colorada into Utah. We talked and sang and laughed for 2 days. And then the fun started again when we made it to The Art Nest Retreat put on by Julie Collings and Candice Elton. They are the best! If you ever have a chance to go to one of their retreats I would highly recommend it. The whole experience is so nuturing. They cook and cuddle you the whole time. And this time we were high in the mountains of Utah in a beautiful log home and we had special visitors, a momma moose and her 2 babies. It was beautiful. I will have pictures to share when I learn how to add pictures to my posts. I had visited a previous retreat they did and I wanted my daughter to know the same experience in her life.

Ruth Rae, an awesome altered mix media fabric designer, showed us her way with fabric legacy books. She is amazing. My daughter had not sit at a sewing machine since she was in the 6th grade and she fell in love all over again. It was so neat to watch her have so much fun sewing again. And Stephanie Lee, found object jewelery designer, found her way into our hearts with a simple but really cool book cover that is never ending. The book covers (front and back) are tied together with ribbon so your pages can be added as you want. I loved that idea because I never have all my stuff together at once anyway. And she also spent time with us about journaling. I had always wanted to write or journal but always had an excuse to start. She gave us nice hints to help us get started on our own. My Mother wrote a journal for over 12 years and I take them out once in a while and read through a few pages. She is gone now but it helps me feel like she is still very close to me. We had a wonderful time in our week of travel and it was nice to get closer to my daughter again.

Now that my traveling is over for the summer and it is so hot in Texas that all my work outside is done in the first hour in the morning, I am taking a box of family momentos each day and sorting through years of living with my Grandfather and Grandmother, and Uncle, and my Mother that has been gone for over 24 years now. Being the only girl with 3 brothers, I seem to have gathered the family treasures to deal with. I don't really mind, it is fun and sometimes sad to go through their lives in boxes. But it is also amazing how much I have learned about them too. These are the items I mentioned in my earlier post about sharing items with others. I will be posting soon about my Esty Shop.

I am addicted to art magazines, I admit it. I can look, look, look, wish, wish, and wish...but I talk about making art but I can make more excuses than art it seems. So...I am giving my self a challenge to take a magazine and start from the beginning and do each project that is showed in that magazine. Mixed Media Artists are so giving of their art and I want to show my appreciation to them by using what they have shared so graciously. So I will be sharing pictures with you as I finish a project.

Which brings up another subject, pictures. I will be loading pictures to my flickr account this week too so that I can share my life through pictures with you too.

Well if I haven't run you off by now, I will say so long for a while but please come back soon. I will have lots to talk about always and hope you will too.

Have a good Monday.

Debbie

I'm so Excited!

May 30th I am beginning my first e-course done by Kelly Rae Roberts. The course is going to be full of information to make your business grow. I am looking toward retirement to be able to do what I want to do and I think I have what I am looking for. My husband and I have been in antiques for 20 years and I love the small things that get left in the bottom of the drawers when you clean out an old dresser or little treasures that you find in dresser bowls or in the bottom of boxes in your bottom drawer. You know, the little trinkets that a penny or nickel would buy with a piece of gum. All the little things in life that mean so much for the moment as they are held in your hand or put in your pocket and then washed. All the little things that we remember having but don't remember what happened to them. These are the things that I like to collect and I want to do something with them. I want to be able to share them with others. I have to because I can't do something with everything I have and I want them to have another life.

So I am hoping through this wonderful class that Kelley Rae is offering I can find a way to share my ideas and love of these little things.

This is going to be such a wonderful way to take a class. You can pick a quiet time to read and absorb the material and yet have plenty of time to ask questions and then read everyone else's questions too.

Class is still open but it starts May 30th so hurry if you are interested. Go to www.kellyraeroberts.com and look under e-courses. Kelly Rae is great!



And I am starting to gather and pack for The Art Nest in June. It will be here in no time. My daughter and I will be driving from Texas to Utah. I think the trip will be so fun too. I will take lots of pics to show everyone what we did.

Until another time...

Another Month is gone.

Here we are in May already. I am just about done with my job and will be fully retired soon...yea!!! I have a busy summer planned. Next month my daughter and I are going to Utah for the Art Retreat with Julie and Candice. I am so excited about taking a class with Ruth Rae and Stephanie Lee and working with my sewing machine again. I made all my daughter's clothes before she started school but that was almost 35 years ago. WOW! I can't believe it. Then I helped my girls sew when they were in Blue Birds and home economics classes in jr high school. Hand sewing has been my passion more than anything over the years. I love to quilt, embroidery, cross-stitch, anything with a needle and in my lap but I have also missed the machine. I have a feeling a new machine is in my future, ha. I hope to have pictures of the class when I get back to put on my site.

July we are on our way to travel the East Coast. I want to go to Maine and eat lobster, New York and see Niagra Falls and everywhere in between. So I will have lots of pictures to share with everyone when I get back.

It has been so nice to spend time in my home, cleaning, organizing, and going through lots of things I have collected along my pathway. I still have boxes from 5 years ago when I cleaned out my father's home to go through. But now I have all the time I want to do what I want. Enjoy whatever you are planning for your summer and please come back and see me. I want to tell you everything.

Happy Birthday to Me

Well, I'm not sure that this is my favorite birthday but getting close to 59 1/2 is one milestone I don't mind...retirement here I come. I am ready to play now. My husband, family, and art are going to be my full time job, in that order, from now on.

I am starting out with a trip to Utah with my daughter to the Art Nest in June. They treat you like a queen while you are there. I cannot believe that my daughter has an interest in art now. She was never interested in any of my "crafty things" until now and I am excited to take this trip with her. Then my husband and I are planning a trip to Nova Scotia this summer. This is part of the country I have always wanted to see.

I just had a wonderful visit with my cousin and her husband. I saw her for the first time last year and they came back again this year. We have just become so connected after all these years. Now we are planning a cruise together for next March. It is so nice to have family. Family is special!!

I have an easy day planned tomorrow for myself to paint and spend time with my favorite friend, Lexy, my black lab. She loves my company. Wishing everyone happy days until next time....

April already

I can't believe it is April already but it sure is nice to see Spring come at last. My brother and wife has been here for a nice visit and the weather has been perfect. We have been able to sit outside each evening on the patio with our wine and a snack. We went to The Oasis in Austin last night and it was a perfect night too, beautiful weather and Lake Travis was full, the boats were out, margaritas and food were great! Great time with family that are good friends too.

Thinking now of my list of "wanta do's" Now that the weather is nice I want to start my foundation mosaic, I have flowers to plant, I have my walkway to finish to my greenhouse, and I want to start painting my outbuildings. I will take pictures during my projects so that I am sure to keep it going.

I have 3 outbuildings to clean out and I want to get my cellar cleaned out so that I can paint down there this summer when it is hot outside but cool in the cellar. I am so excited about retiring and having time to do all the projects I want to work on.

So for tonight I can have good dreams about playing with my home again.

Good night to all and Happy Easter.

Spring in Texas

Home again, home again. I have been in Kansas somewhere since last Christmas. Came home for about 2 weeks, then left for California for An Artful Journey in Los Gatos, CA. What a wonderful time! 3 days for playing in glue, paint, paper, etc. Learned so much and had so much fun. We made a funky chunky coffee table book. It is something that will continue for a long time. A book that I can journal in anytime. I am already planning another one.

Then I went to KC to help my son move. It was cold and nasty but after 3 weeks we had him moved. I know he is still looking for things that his Mother put away for him but I will be back Stephen to help you find everything.

I wasn't ready to come home but work called and for now I had to respond. Soon my time will be my own and when it is I have lots of plans. I have been "gathering" for a long time (as most women do) to mosaic the concrete foundation around by back porch. Weather is with me now and I hope to get started soon, so I will be posting pictures of my work as I go.

Weather is beautiful, pictures are good for the taking, time has slowed down, relationships are growing, time will take care of things that I don't have to worry about anymore. Life is good and I am going to make the most of it while I can.

New Start, New Year

WOW! It has started out with a bang and I have so much in my head it has been hard to keep all my feelings straight. After I returned from Kansas for the holidays, I had the opportunity to go with my Brother and Sister-in-Law to visit missionaries in Managua, Nicargua. What an experience. This couple sold there house and business in Missouri to help the people of Nicargua. What a wonderful and eye opening experience of what people can do with God's faith and love. They take food and medicines to many families that have nothing and teach english and agrigulture in a private mission church on their faith that God will take care of them. And they are doing it! I was able to visit a Mother and Children's Hospital to see the work being done by many faithful followers. I also was able to meet families of an outer community that hang on to their faith to survive. It makes all the difference on how you look at the world when you come back to the states. I want to go back this summer and volunteer anyway that I can.

Texas has had a cold winter this year and I don't even have any garden in yet. I am looking forward to being able to get outside in some warmth again. Even though I have enjoyed setting in the evenings drawing and following many friends on facebook.

I am heading to Los Gatos, CA on Thursday for a 3 day art retreat call An Artful Journey. I am taking another class with Mati and Kelly Rae and I am so looking forward to it. With my supply list in hand I have everything on my list and have been gathering all the little things that make mixed media art so much fun. When I head home I will go to KC to help my son settle into a new place and spend some good time with him.

I will be ready to come home but Sprin will be in Texas again and I will be able to work outside. I am going to mosaic all around the base concrete foundation of our house, I have been gathering for this project for a long time too and I am ready to get started.

I have also decided and with my daughters support this summer I will be able to retire from our consulting business so that I will not be stuck in an office all day! Halleluyah! I will finish out this year but she is ready to take over and I know she will be ready for this old lady to get out of her way.

I have pictures to add and more stories to tell, so until next time, everyone be safe and be happy, that is the most important thing in life.

Omz

Back to Work

Well I'm back in the rut again but I have promised myself that I am going to write a note every chance I get. My daughter called me tonight so excited because she made her first batch of homemade butter. One of those things every kid did in elementary school she has found again. My one child I never thought would settle down is happy with her life on a small ranch with cows, dogs and cats and now making butter. We are planning a small garden this year that we are going to work together. I am so excited to do this with my daughter.

We received so many wonderful Christmas cards this year and I appreciate my wonderful friends and family that still send me cards when I have not sent Christmas cards for probably 5 years so I am sending post-Christmas cards this year to say Thank you. It is late and I still have lots of mail to catch up on so I will say goodnight for now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Happy New Year everyone! I have been in KS for the holidays with my kids and today was our last day :( Everyone will be heading home tomorrow and back to work on Monday. Another year to start with new challanges. My son has a new life to begin and plan for this year and I am looking forward to watching and helping as he goes along. My daughter and I will be traveling with our business more this year and I am looking forward to spending that time with her. This will be her big year to take over the business so that I can be ready to retire next year.

My husband will be 61 tomorrow, WOW, I don't know where the time goes.

Had a great day, cooked for my family again tonight and had a neighbor over. It is now time to say goodnite and be ready to start thinking about going home ourselves. I have a lot of new things to get ready for myself.

wishing you all a good year!!! Pictures and ART are next on my list. Love to all...

2009 Year at a glance

I thought taking Gwen's 2009 challenge would be a good way for me to start 2010 off to a better start on my blogging. I promise to do better in the new year. I have so many new things I want to do in 2010 but the things I learned and did in 2009 is going to give me the strength and a good start on my challenges for 2010.

I went to New York in July. WOW...something I always wanted to do was go to a Broadway show in New York and I went to 3. I took my granddaughter and we had a blast!!! We saw Wicked, which was wonderful and funny. Mama Mia, I love the music! And the last weekend for 9-5, funny, funny, funny! We stayed a block off Times Square with all the lights and sidewalk traffic it was a gas. We saw the Statue of Liberty and 9-11 rebuilding. That was very emotional. We went to Soho and Greenwich Village, that was so cool. I met Rico Fonseca, the 60's artist and was able to buy a couple of originals. Neat guy. Has been on the same corner for 30 years. What a trip.

My husband and I found a little restaurant in a little town close to our home that has the most wonderful honey pecan chicken. It is a nice get-away on a Sunday evening to end a weekend.

Article and Book is the same-Kelly Rae's Taking Flight was so inspiring to me. It made me realize that I had something in me that wanted out and that art of some kind was it's way...so in February I went to Utah for my first "art retreat" that led to another wonderful trip, new friends, a friends night out that I will not forget, and the retreat was more of a treat than a retreat...a treat to make new friends that have the same interests as I do and that feel the same way that I do about letting their feelings and emotions out by paper, paint, and anything they can get their hands into. When I came home I found myself making my own blog, which opened up a whole new world of socialization for me into the art world. So many blogs, so little time.

I also took a class in encaustic (hot wax)I never thought I could know ahead of time what I wanted to draw until that class. As soon as I saw the was transform in front of me I could see the picture I wanted. It is a fasinating process and I want to learn more about it to use in my mixed media pieces.

Norah Jones and Chai Tea came into my world this year. The smell of the tea and relaxed sounds of her voice are so comforting which also took me back to cooking. I have 4 children that I fed for many years but now that it is just my husband and I, I didn't think it was worth the time and work to cook so I gave it up but for the last 2 weeks for the Christmas holidays with all my kids with me I have become domestic again and found the enjoyment of cooking full meals, setting the table for 10 and enjoying my kids and grandkids eating. Funny how there is something about having all your kids back home again that gives you comfort.

I bought an old wonderful loveseat this year, the muted rose colors with big flowers from the 40's that I love. This is the first couch I have had in my house since our last son left home at least 15 years ago. Adding a couch to the living room again made it so cozy. Lexy, my big black lab lover dog, and I was able to take naps in the evening when I came home from work. It was so nice. So I re-arranged my furniture (which I never do) to make a smaller more or intiment room setting and I love it. I will have to post some pictures.

2009 was finding who I was again and giving time to myself to do it. 2009 was "ALL ABOUT ME" and I liked it. I bought myself a deep blue corvette this year just because I wanted one. How's that for "ALL ABOUT ME" so I have a fun ride everyday to work.

I am looking forward to 2010 to do more of what I started in 2009. Art, travel, relax, enjoy, give to myself. But I think the most important thing that I discovered about myself this year is that I am most happy when I am giving or helping others. I want to help in another country with sick children. I alway wanted to be a nurse and I was not able to become one but I still feel like I can spend time and give love and attention to children in need. Even though I know I have to take time for myself I also know that I have to have balance in my life and I believe that balance is giving or helping others all that I can and giving that time to myself too.

This is wishing everyone that might pass this way a Happy New Year and wishing you every opportunity to be or do what you need for yourself, not because it is "ALL ABOUT ME" but because giving to yourself you will find you are giving to others more.