Going To Maine!

I'm going to Maine in April! My class for the EGA New England Region's seminar has made. I'm so excited. I get to go to Portland, Maine. I get to meet wonderful people. I have to get on multiple airplanes, but that's okay. I don't get to have Maine lobster, but that's okay. Do you know what is in Portland, Maine besides the wonderful members of the EGA? Why, Caravan Beads is in Portland, Maine beadlings, and I have already been promised a field trip! Thank you, Marjie!

And in studio news, it's almost usable. I got the new desk, the ergonomic chair, the lovely rug for keeping my toes warm. I've picked out the color for the epoxy flooring, the walls and the trim. We'll pull up the carpet this week and put the desk in (fortunately it disassembles easily and reassembles just as easily). We'll need to wait until it's just a bit warmer to put down the new floor and then the paint. It is going to be great, especially once I get all the shelves and all the beads in. Pale yellow walls with fresh white trim and lots of turquoise accents. Yep, it will definitely be MY room!

New Look

Okay, so you've had time to check out the new look for the blog, but did you check out the new look for the web site? Please, feel free, and if something doesn't work right just shoot me an email to let me know. I'm trying to catch up on what I used to post for you (it feels like years have passed). My plan is to have new blogs and sites for you to check out and to get into posting giveaways for you. And remember, it's always nice to hear from you. Have you found a great bead/art site that you would like to share? Let me know. In the meantime, keep on beading on.

New Blog

No, not this one. This one just had a makeover.

Silly me! Ha Ha Ha! I started another blog. I wanted to keep the school stuff separate from the beading and family stuff, so I needed another journal. And it will be for school and all the exploits of a middle-aged grandmother in school (I just love that my age bracket is now "middle-aged"). I'll find some other blogs and links for you to enjoy. I think that if I am able to journal my exploits, it might make things easier for me.

On the creativity front, I've got some new ideas. I've just got to find my groove somewhere in between the reading and seminars. It's almost there. I'm making over the "studio" in February. I've got flooring and paint colors chosen. I've got a new desk/work table picked out and a nice ergonomic chair. T-man is making shelves for the beads & supplies. It should be very conducive to work and school.

On the family front, T-man is almost finished with his Associate's Degree. Yay! Ariel has been publishing stories. I'll see if she'll let me link to some of them (and she's ready for her blog). Natalie and her brood are fine down on the coast. I miss them terribly. Everything is copacetic!

So, creative question of the day: What is your go-to color? I bet y'all already know mine is olive green, with a bit of purple. Okay, that's two. But the green is the base. So what is your go-to color for the anchor of your palette? Inquiring minds want to know!

School Daze

This is a BIG adjustment. Keep in mind that it has been over 30 years since I've been in school. Okay, there were a few training classes and beadwork classes scattered here and there through those 30 years, but still --it's been a very long time.

The first night (Wednesday), I panicked. We have online seminars. I had done a walk through seminar to teach us how to do the seminars, but I could not for the life of me remember what to do. So I get into the seminar a little late. Duh. Now I'm stressed and forget that we get graded on how much we participate! Oh crap! I need to start typing!! Fortunately, the prof cut us some slack because she realized we did not have access to our ebook until that morning and there was no way we could read the entire assignment. I had read part of the assignment, so I was able to answer a few questions. I finished the reading (Assessment of Nutrition) and now have to formulate my 150+ response to the questions. And I have to do the same thing for my Humanities class. Both of these are due tomorrow, with follow ups by Tuesday. Crap, crap, crap, crapola!!

I have also found that the arm chair in the living room is not the best place for my schoolwork. I have an Ikea wish list, with a new desk and chair. Redoing the floor and painting my studio aren't scheduled until February. Call me crazy, but I hate the idea of putting the desk together, putting the chair together, getting them situated then having to take them out of the room, waiting for things to dry, then putting them back in the room. I prefer to do it just once. I guess that's why I hate moving. I might have to get over it, though.
I'm hoping that in a few weeks things get a little easier, start running a little more smoothly, and I have a few more hours for me, for my art, for my family. I need to take some photos and get some things sold! I need to design some new goodies. There are things that need to be knitted and stitched. I even need to finish a painting. Things are stagnating! Replication would be the answer. Anyone? Replicator sitting in your garage, just waiting to be used? Please? With sugar on top?