An Artful Gathering

The Countdown Has Begun!

On Thursday, the Artful Gathering begins in Grapevine, Texas!  As I'm sure my readers know, this is an annual event that I put together for members of my online group.  This year there are 19 of us signed up to attend.  I've done most of my packing - well, that can't be correct because my dining room table is still piled high with "stuff".  Hubby just walked in the studio door with yet another of those rough totes.  So the countdown really has begun!  Four days until I begin my next art retreat - YES, I'm going a day early and beside myself with excitement!

I'll share some of the 08 Artful Gathering pictures:

This year I hope to be able to fill in that center space with 6' tables running end to end - that way we will be a bit closer together and have a bit more room for our "stuff".

 

It was a western theme and friend Linda had on short pants so she added blue jean "legs" to her outfit just before we went out to eat at a barbeque place - what else to kick off last year's Spirit of the West art retreat.

 

And this cowgirl is definately up to no good - FUN no good that is!

 

In a few more days I'll be telling you all about the fun at Artful Gathering 09 and sharing new pics with you.

What A Time!

I have been trying off & on for a week to get into my Typepad account - "no could do" but I'm finally here!

I have been so very busy for the last 3 months getting ready for this year's Artful Gathering and I'm down to packing two more rough totes with supplies and re-packing my art bag.  WOO HOO in capital letters.  Each year (this is the fourth one) I seem to get more and more excited about this event.  Nine more days in the countdown!  I guess this is the main reason I've not been able to take enough time to get signed into my blog.

Of course as I talk about my Artful Gathering retreat, I'm also working on a "Do Your Own Thing" (Temple, TX) art retreat for August, the Smoky Mountain Art Retreat (Maggie Valley, NC) at the end of October, another "Do Your Own Thing" retreat in early November, and the yet un-named art retreat in Salado, TX (4/10).  I've become quite a busy woman with my art retreats

I'm still trying to set aside a bit of time for ART  - here is a hangie danglie I created a couple of days ago for a club project (butterfly theme):

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day  - It should be a sweet and peaceful day, perhaps a bit of anticipation, a day filled with those little pink sweetheart roses and love and laughter - I wish that for all mothers. 

My rose was more of an orangy-red, the celebration was hectic, not peaceful - well maybe I should say it wasn't quiet, but it was filled with laughter and love!!  

My daughter and SIL were planning to make brunch for me today - My husband went to the grocery store this morning around 10am and he didn't come back and didn't come back.  Finally he appeared and I rush to the back door to help him carry in the groceries.  He did not want me to come outside = I could see a long stemmed rose bobbing around in the back seat of the truck and thought he didn't want me to see my "flowers".  So back inside I went - he was unpacking groceries and my sister Diann phoned me AND the doorbell rang.  Hubby dashed to the door and in walked my girlie girls - one with a card and one with that "bobbing" rose that was in the backseat of the truck - I had to laugh as I never ever suspected that the girls were in the truck.  Hugs and kisses all around.  Then my daughter and SIL and two older grandkids came over.  They brought omelet fixings and other breakfast foods.  My SIL makes the best omelets so we put him to work - oh and there were also chocolate covered strawberries - YUM YUM!   It was a perfect Mother's Day celebration for me.  My son will be coming by later today .  I feel so very blessed to have my children and grandchildren!

  

Reporting In

It seems like I've been away forever - I hope to begin blogging more, beginning right now!  Last weekend I held one of my "Do Your Own Thing" Texas Art Retreats.  Several of my regular attendees were there, and we had such a nice time.  I was able to get quite a lot accomplished during the weekend - a set of May Day 4x4s were completed along with a set of Patriotic 4x4s.  Then I created 31 rolodex cards for a swap I'm in.  I also completed the design for the page I will create for a fat book - so far 35 people have signed up for it and there may be another one or two before it closes.  I also worked on the "design" for an assemblage for a friend who is becoming a GiGi (grandma).  I'm not sure I'll go forward with this design, while I liked it, I think I need to work on the colors a bit more.

Here is a picture of the May Day 4x4:

Here is a picture of an autograph page I've completed for the Artful Gathering - that's just around the corner - June!  At the Gathering each attendee will create a page (or I should say 17 pages) to go into the "autograph books" and when they are bound we will then pass them around and each person will "sign" the back of their art.

 

The caption says "Roses are red, violets are blue, don't you wish you were here too!