Holey Moley, it has been too long.

I can't believe how long it has been since my last post. Sadly that is how long it has been since I have done anything creative too. I am now on the path of sorting through all my art supplies and giving/selling what I don't need or can't put in storage because of the unnatural heat here in Phoenix. Why storage, you say. We are moving to Guam in March and I can't take it all with me. Plus I need to try an focus a little better on what I am doing. I am planning on starting up teaching classes again there on base and see where it leads. I also want to sell my stuff on etsy. Anything to not have to get a regular job. I want to be able to enjoy the island life while we are there and be able to be more involved with Erik's school. My only dilemma is if there is an adequate craft or bead store on the island or am I going to have to have it all shipped in. I am thinking the internet is going to be my best friend for three years. One good thing is that Guam is a US territory so it is the same as shipping within the mainland in most cases. Either way I will make it work.
I have also become a Facebook junkie and realize that I am going to have to cut back on that too. Limit myself to 3 or 4 hours a day instead of 10 or 12. Just kidding, that would be my husband logging that many hours.

I am going to be starting a fundraiser for Three Angels Children's Relief that will culminate in an Ebay auction. I have never done something like this before so I am flying blind and going on my instincts. Any suggestions would be great. I will post more details as I figure it out. Three Angel's is an Orphanage/School/Medical clinic in Haiti that my church supports and sends people on mission trips. Several people at Parkway have already or are in the process of adoption kids from there. It is an amazing place that really needs the financial help. I will share more details later on in the announcement blog for the fundraiser. It will be great.

Well so much has happened since the last post that I will just have to tell it all over time. I am planning on keeping more up to date on here, especially since we are moving. Hope all of you had a festive Thanksgiving. See you on here again soon.

The Mermaid

Way back at Christmas time I visited my BFF Jen and she gave me a blank doll that she made. It was a prototype that didn't make the cut for what she was doing. I took it home and started playing. It had kind of a squarish shape which was puzzling to me. So I wrapped a piece of bright pink fabric around it and waaalaaa, she became a mermaid. No more square. Her necklace is a bracelet Dave brought back from Hawaii, the shells are from a piece I got at Goodwill, and the rest of the stuff is all reused material. That is my goal for the year, reuse and recycle into art and jewelry. I love the challenge of creating from what others either give away or throw away. LOVE IT.

Year Gone By, Year Yet Lived

This past year has been one of ups and downs. Mainly ups. We joined the most awesome church in January, Parkway Christian Church. We now have the most wonderful group of friends who are now more like family. The photos are from the first time we packed lunches to feed the homeless here in Phoenix. In the last two months we have handed out over 600 lunches. God has worked some real magic in our lives.
Art wise I am in sort of a dry spell. I finally have a dedicated room for my studio and have hardly been in there to even organize it. I would love for someone to come organize my home. Wow that would be great.
As we finish our first year in Arizona we look forward to 2009 to see what God has in store for our lives. Thank you to all of you who are so supportive and I treasure all your friendships. Hope your new year is as wonderful as you want it to be.

Great Saturday!

I had the most fantastic day at the Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix. I went to see the Dale Chihuly exhibit and is it fantastic. I was there for only 2 1/2 hours and took over 300 photos. I am definately going back to shot more pics. I will go in the afternoon this time to capture them in a different light. It is simply mind boggling how they put some of these pieces together. If you are anywhere even remotely close to here, make it a priority to come see the exhibit. You will be blown away. It will be here until May 2009 so there is plenty of time to plan. Here are a couple of photos I took, I will post more later.

Erik and the Onion Ring

Well I just can't believe how fast time goes by. I am currently working like mad and trying to keep up with my school work. I am sewing some curtains for Erik's bedroom. They are black & white checked (like a racing flag) on one side and bright red on the other. His room is the brightest blue ever, like you need sunglasses to go in there in the daylight. I am going to paint all his furniture red and put a black & white check boarder along the top near the ceiling. Dave is going to paint a huge Lightening McQueen and Mater on the big wall or a giant race car. Erik hasn't decided yet which he wants. Oh yeah he wants his closet door turquoise and his bedroom door purple. They are the colors we painted my studio and Courtney's room. I figure why not, it is only paint. I will try to take decent pics and post them when it is all done.

Also I am going to start another blog (like I need something else to do) that is for family & friend stuff. That way this one can stay just art stuff. Not saying that you don't all enjoy my family rantings but I want a separate place to post more family happenings. Everyone is envited to look at that one too. So for the last time, maybe, here is a pic of Erik and his unusual way of eating onion rings.

Erik's First Day of Kindergarten

I am so happy and sad at the same time. My little guy is now in school. What a production this morning to get him there. He went to bed at a good time last night but when I got up to take my friends to the airport at 4am guess who was wide awake. He fell asleep on the way to the airport and didn't wake up till we got home so he is going to be one tired boy when I pick him up at 3pm today.

If you can't tell, he is the one with the blue backpack looking at the camera. They were standing in line to go into class. He did good though, no tears. Although he did have a bit of a scared look when the parents had to leave. I know he will be fine and so will I, but it is the beginning of a new chapter in his life. Before I know it I will be posting his graduation pictures. I still can't believe his oldest brother is 27! Life is so short, enjoy every minute.

Happy 27th Birthday Justin!!

My oldest son was 27 on June 12th and I am so remiss in posting this message. Oh well he knows his mom loves him very much and is very proud of him. He is in the Navy and is on his way to Hawaii as I type this. Will be gone for about 2 months. What a hard assignment. I got to go to California and celebrate his birthday a few days early with him so it is all good. We had a great time. That is when I took this picture of him and his Gramp. They are such good buddies.