want to paint a lemon still life?

crafty anonymous

I went with a friend last night to a card-making workshop at the Paper Source in Bethesda. I have painted watercolor notecards and postcards, but have no experience with scrapbooking and the decorative card craze that has swept the nation. My friend makes beautiful cards all the time and signed us up for this two hour workshop last night just for fun.

We stopped for dinner after work on Bethesda Row and then arrived at the Paper Source just in time for the workshop to begin. I LOVE anonymous opportunities to be creative, where nobody knows what I do for a living and there is no pressure to perform, just the opportunity to be a student and create.

At one point someone commented on my card in process, and how much they loved the drawing I was working on, and I held my breath to see if my friend was going to "out" me.... but she didn't. She said something like.... "isn't she great, she's looking for a job - maybe she should work here!" and I grinned at her and the evening moved along.

It was such a nice, playful evening and I even had some time to shop before the end of the workshop.... with my busy schedule time to shop in a store is a rare treat.... and I brought home some surprises for Virginia.

Good for the soul!

some of my artist friends

Yesterday one of my artist friends from my former studio at the art center had made plans to come and visit my new space, and I was so looking forward to seeing her and catching up. As it turned out she surprised me with a visit from a second wonderful resident artist friend who came to see me and my new space as well, bringing flowers and thoroughly delighting me when I answered the door.

It was so great to see them and they took me to lunch at the Irish Inn to celebrate my new digs, and we chatted and caught up on each other's lives. It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon and I was so glad to spend time with them. We made plans for a faux encaustic workshop at my studio and all agreed that we need to get together more often.

I am so fortunate to have some amazing artist friends and at the end of the day yesterday I got to see another artist friend of mine when I stopped by the art center to pick up some paintings that had been decorating a lobby area. This artist friend had not heard about the party at my place in time to come, and I was so glad to get to see her as well. I told them they are all welcome to come by any time they like as I have missed them and our interactions so much. One of the great things about having been at the art center for so long was building some wonderful friendships with these amazing artists - great, supportive, and kind people.

what's happenin'?????

Another round of oral surgery on Monday for the nightly stress-biting (apparently) inside my cheeks has left me with a lot of stitches and little bits sent off for biopsy. Days before the surgery Virginia filled the fridge with cold and soft things for me to eat in the next few days and Monday afternoon my good friend brought ice cream to the studio and sat with me - well, we had a meeting about some important projects we are working on, too:) The oral surgeon is working on a night guard to help the problem, and we'll see how that goes. Last night I served on the panel of judges for a high school art competition and got to meet some amazing young people and their families.... and the week continues:)

celebrating all sorts of anniversaries

Virginia took me away this weekend to celebrate our anniversary a little early with a two room suite at one of our favorite hotels with a huge jacuzzi in the room. I love that place! We spent a lot of time at our beach on Saturday and Sunday with not another soul in sight (except for a rather large snake that startled me in the high grass) and I found a huge old chunk of blue green glass that was a bottle bottom - about six inches in diameter - as I walked out on the mucky/rocky ground at low tide.

The weather was perfect and it was a wonderful weekend getaway from all the busy-ness. Happy Anniversary, Virginia!

a geode found on my favorite beach

What are the odds of finding something like this on the beach? No idea but I have found several and this is a favorite. I love the beaches of the mid-Atlantic coast.........