Second Chances - Why Not?

Summer is in full swing, and I have been busy, busy, busy. Doing some space reorganization in my house/studio, getting ready for teaching and vending at Art Unraveled, planning some new classes, planning some submissions to magazines since I haven't done that in forever. I want to be a better, more frequent blogger and show what I have been working on, but, well, that just hasn't happened more than to be on my "to do " list. But, here is my new inspiration wall.

And here is the newest gallery in my house. It showcases the work of the fabulous Keegan and Kennedy.

4 year old Keegan is now designing outfits complete with shoes and purses, using stencils, for fashion models. Scary how well she understands it. She found my book on her own in the studio and somehow just knew what to do. I tried to give her the simplified version of the stencils, but she quickly pointed out what the problem was, so I just showed her the real way, and she was more satisfied on how her work was tuning out. I get the chills thinking about it. Which brings me to second chance number one.

I am still young enough to think seriously about what I want to do for the rest of my life besides sit in a rocking chair. "Back in the day," it took 20 credits to graduate from my high school, and I had 21.5 since I took an extra class in summer school for fun. I had 10 credits in home economics, mostly sewing classes, including clothing design and power sewing which required a daily bus ride to another school in the district for specialized instruction. I LOVED that class like no other. I took it more than once, and did advanced stuff when I repeated it. We took pattern blocks, and made our own designs, all kinds of clothes, including a swim suit and undergarments. Fun stuff. I decided I wanted to be a home ec teacher since no one had told me anything about getting a degree in fashion design or other related design occupations. Then the day came when I told my idea to someone who told me it was a bad idea because I would never get a job. True it was almost impossible to even get a sub job back then, but I told myself, I could at least get a regular teaching job. I focused on teacher and not home ec. SAD! I have told so many kids since then to never listen to someone tell them they can't. Anyway, 30 years later, I know about other programs, and I just might go back and get a certificate or degree in clothing design. Even though I made my own wedding gown and several bridesmaid gowns and such way back when, I am no longer interested in all that grownup stuff as much as I used to be. But I am interested in grand things like children's fashion. Afterall, I have two little muses who think I can make anything with my sewing machine and crochet hook, so why not take the second chance I have and do it, just for the fun of learning? I don't have to go to NYC and set the world on fire. Something I am mulling over seriously. I am getting my info. in order. In the meantime, I have ordered two dress forms in my granddaughters' sizes so I can make them things when they aren't here with me in the studio. I made them each an easy little sundress while they were here one day last week, and it was just so much fun, but in case you have ever tried to continually try things partly finished on a 2 or 4 year old and expect them to stand still while you look and study the situation, well, the dress forms just seemed like the answer. Can't wait for them to arrive. I'm thinking this section of the studio will definitely be seeing some more action.

And for second chance number two, I have good news on a personal matter, even though the majority of this blog is about making stuff. Some of you know that I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2004. Five years out is considered a cure, but the afteraffects can be many. For one, the little pill I had to take every day for five years after chemo caused osteoporosis, and that necessitated a trip back to the chemo room every 6 months for an IV that would hopefully turn things around. I had a scan before the pills and it showed me better off than should be expected for my age at the time, but then after the 5 years, a whole 'nother story. Well, after about 4 or 5 of those sessions, the last being just last month, I was sent for a followup bone scan to see what progress could be seen, and the scan came back N.O.R.M.A.L. Happy tears, for sure, since this means I don't have to go in for that anymore, and I am completely off all post cancer treatments and drugs. All I have to do with my wonderful oncologist is check in in a year for a checkup. I used to wonder why anyone would want his job, but now I get it. He is for sure a master of second chances.

Settling in

I celebrated my first official day of public school retirement yesterday by doing whatever moved me all day, no listening to the little voice in my head telling me that it was crazy too drive across to the other side of the big city to get exactly the brand of locally made hot dogs I was craving. Neither did I listen to the one telling me that I didn't need to detour on the way home from one of the happiest places on earth, wherever my grandchildren are, and go get shaved ice late at night. Nope, I just did it. I also knocked off a lot of "bad guys" in Angry Birds and played in the studio, just "cause I felt like it. I schemed, planned, knocked off a couple of appts. and had a smile pretty much all day.

Today, I am back in the studio doing more planning of a variety of sorts, getting inspired, and messing around in a variety of ways, too. As I was cruising various art retreats online, one site led to another, as it always does, right? and I have to admit, I have Rolodex fever again.

A while back, I was hosting monthly Rolodex card swaps as part of a Yahoo group. Here 'tis, the result of 14 little themed swaps, all in one big project. It was inspired by cards I saw somewhere else online, where, I remember not.

Patty Van Dorin has a different twist on Rolodex art. She calls hers a Scrapodex and you can see more about it on her blog, which includes, many posts:
http://ramblingrose.typepad.com/journal/sprapodex/
Well after she showed hers, a journalfest artist, Brian Kasstle, saw it, started making some, and has a post as well. You may see his here:
http://apaperbear.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/the-rolodex-journal-project-swap/
He even has a way that you can get involved in swapping them. I'm in.

Let's Play!

I have received a few questions about sewing machine availability for students who do not have them or do not wish to tote one across country on an airplane for my Double Double class in Phoenix this August at Art Unraveled.

I have checked with all of the students who are currently registered and they are all bringing their own machines with them. This is great news because this means I still have plenty of sewing machines for use with no one's name on them. These machines are available to students registering for this class, for no additional charge, on a first come, first served basis. These machines are all easy to use; if you can sew an almost straight line, you will be good to go on your own fabric journal!

So, if you wish to reserve a machine, just email me for availabilty before you sign up, and I will update you on the current status, in case of any changes. I check my email every day, so you will get a prompt response.

Looking forward to the event in only about 9 weeks!

janeeileen@hotmail.com

Calling it Quits, Well Almost

As many of you know, I am a public school teacher by day, and I play in my studio and teach art classes from time to time after hours. Well, this June, I am calling the day job quits, well almost. I have resigned my job as an Achievement Specialist, filled out the necessary papers at the state retirement office, and got my letter from the School Board accepting my letter of intent to retire. They offered me no cost medical insurance if I go in and sub just 25 days a year, so I took them up on that. You can understand why if you check the price of out of pocket medical insurance, oh my goodness. The fabulous part of that is that I get to pick whichever days I want to do that, and in what classrooms. Third grade on early release days, which are every Thursday, sound just about right to me. Then I can spend the rest of my time hanging out with my daughter with the grandkids and my daughter who teaches days in a public school/art studio. I get to pick those days, too, which will leave me lots of freedom to do what I wanna do every day when I wake up.
I can also travel some and go to more art retreats. I am weighing over several in my mind right now. I want to go back to NYC in a big, big way. Maybe take a few college classes, not to jump hoops for some degree program, just for the fun of learning. I am fantasizing about putting more of what I'm working on on my blog since I haven't shown much of that lately due to time constraints, and making some of my sketches and ideas for teaching more art classes come to life, too. I'm gonna give all that a year and then see if I wanna get another job that ties me down. I've got a picture from a magazine of a public school bus going down the road which I have been saving to incorporate into a journal page for the last day. The only thing left in 30 years is 30 something days and counting...

Are YOU coming to the party?

Other people call them workshops, but when Kelly is the girl "runnin' the show," I call it partytime. We laugh, we get inspired, we play. For some reason, when Kelly comes to town, each class just is like a girlfriend day, a slumber party without the pillows and jammies, an experience you just don't want to end. Actually we have joked around about turning these gatherings into overnight parties, we just never figured out how to make that happen yet. The next best thing until that gets solved is to sign up for one of Kelly's before dark classes and just see for yourself. And if you have been lucky enough to go before, ya know what I'm talkin' about! She will be at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, AZ from April 8-10 for five classes. Here's what ya gotta do:
1. Go to the site, check out the classes, and pick the ones you want.
2. Call the store (480-946-0007) or go in, and sign up before it's too late.
3. Gather your goods, and get to class!
You won't be sorry. It sure would be nice to see all the Frenzy Sisters there. You know, the ones of us that used to go for all the swaps and other crazy fun. Some of us haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's have a little reunion!

I'm Not Gonna Lie

When I went to my mailbox yesterday to look for a long awaited package, still not there, I found something else: my complimentary issue of Haute Handbags, Spring 2011. I have always liked this magazine because it has unexpected treasures in it, but I honestly have to say, this issue is really kicked up several notches from the ordinary unexpected. If anyone is looking to make a statement with a purse, bag, tote, what have you in this category, this issue is spilling over with inspiration. My article on making a laptop bag, book tote, and purse is on pages 32-36, and I am honored to be among all the other fabulous mixed media artists in there. I'm not gonna lie.

Coming Soon! Gasp!

So as I was scrolling through my inbox, and reading the latest ad from Stampington, I found this: http://www.stampington.com/html/haute_handbags_spring11.html
Scrolling to the bottom I found one of my projects! I actually gasped;I was so surprised. I knew my work was going to be in the magazine, but not in the ad. This is one of three pieces in a set of items I made from old quilts I got at the Art Unraveled shopping extravaganza in the Hannah Grey booth. The other two projects are a purse and a computer bag. The magazine should be on newsstands and in stores April 1. (No joke!)