Creative Weekend

I had a wonderfully creative weekend. At my fave local store in AZ, Frenzy Stamper (there is a link in the sidebar) and I took a class from the oh so talented Kelly Kilmer. We painted, collaged, and I learned a new Japanese Stab-Bookbinding technique. We made a visual journal that you can fit in your purse. My buddy, Jeane (http://mizz-frizz.blogspot.com/) had an epiphany during one of the classes and figured out a way to apply tissue paper without stress. You set the tissue face down on wax paper, apply gel medium and invert it onto your book or art where it needs to go and then burnish it on. Voila! NO crinkles, and perfect placement and attachment of colorful tissue to a journal!!! Cool huh?

It was also my birthday over the weekend. I got 2 dozen roses from the Hubby. I have had fresh beautiful flowers for weeks on my kitchen counter. COOL! We went out to dinner, I got to attend a creative class from one of my very favorite teachers and play!!! YAY! Fun weekend.

~Dawn

Lucky Me

Today happens to be Administrative Professionals Day. I used to call it "one of those Hallmark invented holidays". That is until today....

A Phoenix Flower Shop delivery person brought me flowers to my office this morning! YAY! Yes, in fact I do have a real job that takes me out into the world each day. I wish I could just sit and create art and play all day. I work as an Executive Assistant to a CEO. I actually order up flowers for his wife all the time and today he bought me 2 dozen roses!!

Aren't they gorgeous? I feel pretty lucky today.

~Dawn

Surprise! and What was I thinking?!

You may think by the title, that I was questioning my own judgement about my nose piercing. sorry no. I have wanted and wanted it done for years, I even did it myself in HSchool but it grew back together. Last week the delightful Tracey accompanied me and shazam! it was over before I knew it! It wasn't nearly as painful as I had imagined. (funny that the imagination can be a blessing and a curse) I have giggled to myself with great pleasure every time I see it in the mirror.

Now on to what was I thinking?! I signed up for a craft fair at the winks school, ugh, now comes that familiar nausea when I think of having folks view my work. Now, I should be clear that I love doing swaps and sharing the artwork I do with the arty types that I meet in classes and online. The charms I am making are nothing to really dazzle the arty community but from the vewpoint of the attendees of this event they may be, well, kinda out there. Part of me says, who cares, part of me still remembers the judgement you face going out on a creative limb. The fact that I would actually ask for money for something I made is really out on the limb for me. So, I am in freakazoid mode here's how it goes (internal dialog)
................. "these are great...........these totally suck"...........
"people may actually like these"..........."they will hate them and they will ask insulting questions like, whydya put a tiara on a bird?" "and I will have to give them an answer..........what should it be?"........"If I tried to explain your head would explode."....... "no, in this day and age I'd be surrounded by the SWAT"........"what if I made up some crazy story about how in some faraway culture birds are revered as royalty"......... "yeah, that's good" ..........."no they will see me as an imposter and everyone will know I am a fake, fake artist fake storyteller, yada yada yada"

Seriously, I know that sounds mental and maybe it's a sign I need meds but I'm sure out there somewhere, someone can relate.
Do you ever have those feelings of dread about people seeing your work, or what about the first time you exchanged your art for money?
Breathing deeply into paper bag,
~SW

Phew I am tired...

Well now that I have caught my breath, I might have a chance to actually sit down and post to this blog that Stephanie and I started so long ago.

Over the last 5 weeks I have entertained 15 different sets of guests, (most of the soiree's were complete with a gourmet meal, dessert and lots of alcohol, good thing I love to cook! and I need to STOP raving about how great the weather is in Scottsdale...next March we may have more visitors!!!) we had a wine and cheese party for 46 (different than the other guests that visited) with 3 singing acoustic guitarists that played in my living room, driven all over tarnation (is that a word?), attended the wedding of a family friend, attended the Phoenix Film Festival with 12 movies and shorts that I screened, actually eaten out more than I have in months, stayed up past my bedtime more days than I can count (I am getting too old for this!), and recovered from a nasty stomach flu right in the middle of all that. Let me not forget to mention that I also survived a viewing of Final Four College Basketball/my husband's beloved Kansas Jayhawks; as we watched them make history last night crushing Memphis with a 3 pointer in the last 2 minutes of regulation and they went on to win in overtime! Rock Chock Jayhawk!!

and how was your month......?
~Dawn