The Art Teacher

It says:

Those who can

Do

Those who can't

stand the the thought of a world without creativity

TEACH ART

Can you name all the colors in a 12-part color wheel?

Goodbye Peyton, Hello Brady

Every morning, while JR are getting ready for work and school we watch Mike and Mike on ESPN2. The running gag for the last few weeks has been Mike Golick's fascination with Brady Quinn, the Notre Dame QB in the NFL draft this year. I do not follow college football, so I don't know anything about Brady Quinn. Yesterday was the draft. We were at a basketball tournament in Jeffersonville, IN. We had a long break between games, so we went out to lunch. One on the parents had recommended Cheddar's, so that's where we went. We were seated facing a big tv tuned to the NFL Draft. At one point I looked up at the screen and saw an object d'art. I said WHO is that. It was Brady Quinn. Peyt, ol'buddy, it's been fun, but I'm leavin' ya for the Browns. The Colts picked some WR from Ohio State.

I am SO glad basketball is almost over. Whit's team has advanced to State, so she will have at least one more weekend. Mother's day weekend. The Indy 500 Mini is next Saturday. I am a nervous wreck. I never saw myself doing anything like this. I am an artist, not an athlete.

This the lower right leg of my artjeanz. I told Whitley I wanted them to whisper "art teacher". She said she could see the "art teacher", but wasn't sure about the whispering.

Love/Hate

Today, somebody told me that we only have 18 days of school left. I didn't believe it, but then I counted, and she was right! I love having the summers off, but I hate the way the art room starts to look empty this time of year. All the big projects are done, the art show is over and kids are finishing up their last projects of the year. It means saying goodbye to another group of fifth graders and sending them off to middle school. I will be moving into two brand new art rooms when school starts back in the fall, so that means I have a lot packing to do and a lot of throwing away.

I worked on the jeanz a bit tonight and cut threads. I have a feeling Whit and Court won't be too crazy about these crazy jeanz. Sorry, girls, your mother is art teacher about to turn 40. Hang on!!

Distraction

I have been working on these jeans instead of the stuff I really need to work on, y'know, the stuff with deadlines. I can't help myself. Ever since the Quilt Show (yes, I'm still beating that drum) and seeing the jeanz made and worn by the Artgirlz, I have been on a mission to make my own pair. I cut these old jeans right up the side to make it easier to machine stitch all the stuff. These have a flower theme - duh - and a big Frida K on the other leg. Pretty much pink and orange. Most of the fabs came from Chicago. Here's what happens - I go to work on a Real Project and I see the jeanz and my sewing machine and I MUST sew a bit. I limit myself to one bobbin full at a sitting and then get to work. I am doing "scribble sewing" around everything and may add some hand sewing later.

I haven't trimmed any threads yet, by the way.

Actual Work from the Virtual Studio

These are my journal pages from last week, so they were what I was working on last Friday and Saturday in Chicago. I colored penciled the images on Saturday, intending to use them in a circus-themed tunnel book I have been dreaming of making. I did some watercolor in my room at the Doubletree Friday nite and early Saturday morning, then I made the little quilt from fabric I bought on Friday, then added the people. This year's journal was passed thru many hands last weekend in the Virtual Studio and during my classes. People who were watching around the edges of Make It U asked if they could look at it while I was teaching. Someone asked me if I had been considering that the book would be on display, in a way, and if that had influenced my work, you know, being conscious of other people looking at it and wanting it to look good. Turthfully, I thought about that for maybe 30 seconds. That's something I have come to realize about my process - I do not think about whether or not anybody will like it or get it or want to emulate it - I just make stuff. That is a bit of a duality with me, because I totally care about what other people think of ME. Am I nuts? Don't answer that. I will show you my art all day long and talk about it and tell you how I do it, but when it comes to *me*, the person - yikes! Know my art, I guess, and know me.

Yesterday was about a 20 hour day, with taking Whit to school for her 8th grade class trip at 5:00am and then picking her up at 1:00am. She had fun and there were no problems. Two soccer matches today and I got in 11 miles at well under minimum race pace. The mini is in 2 weeks and then I am never running again. Not really, I only tell myself that to get thru these long workouts.

While in line at Walmart, I read thatJessica Simpson and John Mayer got married -say it ain't so! And that Ryan Phillipe is dating Lindsey Lohan. What does this have to do with art - nothing - but read the header. It's my blog. I'll show some art and talk about stuff.

Signs and Wonders

WOW. A lot has happened since we last visited.

I drove to Chicago - via the Dan Ryan Expressway - I wonder how people do THAT every day?

I saw the sun rising over the bare fields of Northern Indiana and the smokestacks in Gary, both of which were equally pretty to me. I saw the Chicago skyline, up close and personal and thought about the Twin Towers, which I never saw in person

I spent 2 days at the Quilt Show and met the BEST people. I met Pokey Bolton,editor of Cloth Paper Scissors and Quilting Arts, after knowing her thru email and phone for almost a year. She has a great new book out about ATCs (I have some cards in it). So many lovely people came by the Virtual Studio to visit and talk about art. Thanks to everybody who signed up for my classes at MIU. I was nervous that nobody would!

The strangest thing was meeting Cheryl Prater in person. It was like we had always known each other. People thought we had been friends for years and were shocked that Friday was the first time we had met face to face. Cheryl, I am so glad you sent me that email in December. I would have never done it.

Above is some of the fabric I bought. One booth had 15 fat quarters for $20!! I met the Artgirlz and bought some wool beads. Too much shopping too little time.

I drove home on Saturday and got into a bit of white out driving. It's mid April!

I saw a bald eagle on the highway near our house eating a carcass of some kind. The first time I ever saw one in the wild. Amazing.

Two Days to Go

I have two more days to get everything ready to take this circus on the road to Chicago. This is the beginning of my journal for this week. Of course, it is a quilt theme. I left at 7:30 this morning and the girls had a track meet after school, which started late, of course. We didn't get home until 8:45. They did well, both had wins. Whit ran a beautiful 800, staying right on the heels of the first place runner until the last turn and then crushing her. After the meet, Whit was telling us how she went around and talked the girls she raced against and told them "good job" and all that stuff. Courtney said she couldn't do that because she was SO far ahead of everybody she never saw their faces. Little stinker.

My to do list is shrinking, but the countdown to 4am Friday is going much faster. That's not a light at the end of the tunnel. It's an oncoming train.

Happy Easter

Urban Cowboy is on CMT right now. Love that movie. John Travolta movies have taught me so much over the years. I based my entire opinion of Manhattan on Saturday Night Fever, on Stephanie's description of what it was like to work there. Stayin Alive taught me to quit while I'm ahead. Urban Cowboy, that county songs are about real life and that fancy shirts are NOT the answer. I'm not really a huge Travolta fan. He has been unavoidable.

FOUR DAYS - scream of excitement - until Chicago! I actually checked 3 things off my to do list today! Did I happen to mention that the district wide art show is next Monday? So that means I have to have about 100 pieces of artwork matted, labeled and ready to set up right after I get home from what I am sure will be a whirlwind 2 days at the Quilt Show.

Eggsicles?

It was about 80 degrees here on Monday. It is below FREEZING with a WIND CHILL today! At least there won't be any melty chocolate bunnies tomorrow. It is a mere 5 days until MIU in Chicago. I have a short to do list before I leanve at 4 am Friday morning, but it will be enough to keep me busy. I am going to give myself an assignment every day and no going to bed before it is done. I'm not worried about not being ready to go to Chicago. I am much more concerned about tanking when I get there.

The girls have track practice Mon and Wed, track meets Tues and Thurs, soccer practice Mon and Thurs, basketball practice Mon and Thurs, basketball games Fri, Sat and Sun. I just realized today that the outfits I planned to wear for MIU are all wrong and lame. Hate that. No time to shop for anything else. Maybe nobody will notice.

I hope you find lots of eggs and no black jelly beans.

In the Process

These are this week's journal pages so far. I don't think I have posted any of this year's project while the pages are in the process. I am thinking of the song "Colorful" by Roco DeLuca and The Burden. Go put it on you Ipod right now. And while you are at it, check out Paolo Nutini and Robert Randolph and The Family Band.

I have got SO MUCH to do in the next week in getting ready for Chicago! The girls have track, soccer and AAU basketball right now, on top of homework and maintaining straight As. They love to be busy and are so competetive. Sports practice of any kind for them is serious business. I don't where in the world they gottheir hard core, all or nothing attitudes. All 3 of us are running the Indy Mini in about 30 days. I have really had to work hard to get ready for this. I am always asking myself what in the world I think I am doing trying to run 13 miles in one session! I have to get in a 10 mile run sometime this week! We have an AAU tournament this weekend, Fri nite and Sat and the Sunday is Easter and the trip to JR's gramma in Martin County.

Hollow or solid - which do you prefer in your Easter Basket? Cadbury Creme Eggs - Love 'em or hate 'em? I would rather have no chocolate bunny and only Cadbury Creme Eggs, not the caramel ones. My girls like giant hollow bunnies, and of course, those wretched peeps. When they were very little and still did trick or treat on Halloween, Easter was the day I threw out the leftover Halloween candy and I threw out the old Easter candy on Halloween. Now, we don't have enough of either one around to have leftovers. It's funny how your day to day life changes as your kids grow up. It's been over 2 years since I packed a lunch - NOBODY takes their lunch to jr high. Miss Picky Courtney is sometimes very hungry after school. I never do their hair anymore. They clean their own bathroom. I guess that's a good thing about them growing up. But I still miss frilly Easter dresses and new white patents a little.

Out like a L.A.M.B.

Or a Peep. We went shopping yesterday - the mall, Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabric, Michaels (bought nothing), TJ Maxx (where the girls found the new Gwen Harajuku purses[that's why it's L.A.M.B. at the top] which I did not buy for them) and Target. The girls bought Peeps at Target. The colors they chose are a crime against sugar-coated nature. Aren't they hideous? The red ones are especially repulsive. Are they sunburned? Emabarrassed? Coated in paprika? You'll be glad to know that they are exclusive to Target, so CVS and Walgreen are safe.

On my spring break goals, it's a mixed bag. As of today, I got the 25 miles, but I have had to walk some of them due to a nagging injury that I can't get to reslove. I didn't clean as much as I wanted, but I made huge progress on a ceratin project and got the bulk of my Chicago materials prepared. After a bout of insomnia and nightmares, I did manage to get caught up on sleep, which is the most important part of spring break - to go back to school refereshed and full of energy to tackle to the last seven weeks.

It's warm today,but...

it's Indiana in the spring, so the weather will be a roller coaster for the next six weeks or so. I don't know how many times friends of mine have gone to Florida for the week and the weather has been nicer here. Went shoppping after church. Picked up a few things for the girls. Mommy got some a dress and a couple of tops, cheap at the Tanger outlet.

I feel almost obligated to stay up late tonight since I don't have to get up in the morning, but I doube I'll see 11:00pm. Did you watch Peyton on SNL last night? Isn't he a doll? So much better than Tom Brady. Tom Brady WISHES he was Peyton Manning. Have you ever watched that show Cold Case? I never want to, but it always sucks me in and I have to see how it ends. I am back to reading The Memory Keepers Daughter. I haven't picked it up in over a month. I was reading today in the car. There was a passage in there that gave me goosebumps. I hope to finish it this week.

A Book So Nice I Made It Twice

These are little - about 5" tall by 3"wide - two signature books with canvas duck covers. There are doors and windows cut out here and there throughout the book, so you can peek thru to the next page. I had been thinking about what kind of journal I wanted to make to take to Arrowmont to document my class this summer. The class is called Printmaking Funhouse, so I came up with the house idea for the book. These are just (I am going to use an unnecessarily pompous word here) prototypes. I love using primed canvas in place of case paper. It acts like paper, but has the durability of fabric. I am going to make an accordion book with wooden covers and the text block from primed canvas. I will use either little tacks or staples to attach the covers to the pages, something decorative. This book might become my Arrowmont journal. I adore little artist books, but it seems that big books are more attractive to the masses. I love something that is just the size one person can look at it. You don't (and can't) get that level of interaction with a huge painting. Not saying I'm right or smarter or anything. It's just my personal bias. I guess some people want to say different thing with their work. Some yell and some whisper and some of us simply do not wish to impose. It's a dilemma, alright.

The Crabby Crafter

I am thinking of changing the name of my blog to Postcards from the Crabby Crafter. I am NOT a crabby person by nature, and, really, I am not a crafter. I just think it would be funny to do something like that fussy old lady on the Hallmarks - is it Maxine? - about stuff like burning your fingers on the hot glue gun, printing out stuff backwards and breaking sewing machine needles. Y'know, the stuff we all do all the time that can really drives us nuts. I had an idea this week for a certain book and I have made 2 of them. I will show you a picture tomorrow. I accidentally left them at the studio.

I am on Spring Break!! Nine days of busy freedom. I started working on my kits for Make It U - Chicago after school today. I do hope you can come over and take my class. I will just DIE if nobody wants to take my class. I promise it will be fun and I will tell you a great, true story about why I make purse-shaped books.

My To Do List for Spring Break

1. Prepare all materials for MIU

2. Run 25 miles

3. Figure out what I am wearing in Chicago

4. Take the girls to the dentist

5. Get my hair done - touch up roots and trim

6. Make a skirt from my precious Anna Maria fabrics

7. Finish the project pictured above.

8. Go shopping - girls need bermudas. Hard to fit. This could take all week.

9. Sleep

10. Clean

I really hope I can sit at this computer on April 1 and say that I got it all done.

Red, Black,Brown and...

Cobalt Blue. I was thinking purple or turquoise, but I had some of these blue scraps and they just worked, so blue it is. Have you ever made something a bunch of times until it becomes so boring and pedestrian that you quit making it and then you rediscover it and it seems so cool again? This is a single-sheet book structure that I first saw, made in a different way, in 2002. This one began as am 18 x 22 sheet of watercolor paper that I washed with watered down brown acrylic paint and then stamped with foam printing plates. The book is made by folding, cutting and refolding. No glue or sewing. It gives you front and back covers and pages 1 thru 6, so it's not too big a task to finish a whole book.

What am I putting in this book? Not sure yet. Working on it. I think this is the project I am going to demo at the CPS Virtual Studio at the Chicago Quilt Show. Come see us and visit for a while.

I'm In

My favorite magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors, announced a call for submissions on The Editor's Blog a few weeks back in conjunction with the Big Quilt Do in Chicago next month. One of the challenges was to make a 12 x 12 paper quilt with a Flower Power theme. The paper quilts chosen would be exhibited at the Quilt Show. I only decided to make a quilt last Thursday and the photos were due yesterday. My first idea was the sunflower quilt I showed you in the sketch yesterday. My second idea came to me last Friday at school. My Friday school is in the middle of a build-on and renovation. Since the holiday break, I have been in a temporary art room, with one temporary wall of bare sheet rock. Ug-ly. On the first Friday in January, my students wanted to know if we could draw on that ugly construction wall. I asked the principal and he said why not so I drew a huge garden scene on directly on the sheet rock and the kids colored, added details and drew more stuff until the wall was bursting with color. The wall is coming down soon (tomorrow, I think) so last Friday in art class, all my students drew the wall on a 12 x 18 paper and we talked about how some things just aren't meant to be permanent and how much fun it was to draw on a wall in school. So my second quilt idea, and the one I actually made, was inspired by that wall and my students. Here is a sketch of the wall.

I found out today that my quilt has been chosen for the show in Chicago. I'm happy.

Back to Good

That was last week's song, but this is NOT my journal entry. It's a sketch for something else I was working on from Thursday until yesterday afternoon. I still did my daily art, but as of Thursday, when I found out that a certain thing that I have been waiting to have resolved will not be even close to resolved for another month, I knew I had to get back to normal. Back to good. See, this thing that has been out there in the universe has had me in quite a state. I have felt frozen in my work, upset tummy, grouchy and not sleeping well. I guess I had a certain impression of things and then I find out that my impression is off base and I feel like an idoit. Not that feeling like an idiot is anything new for me. There are just some times a country girl with a delicate heart needs to be careful of getting her hopes up.

So the point is

I've gotta get my head outta the clouds or out from under a rock or wherever it' s been and make some good art.

And keep hoping that everything will turn out okay.

THE best fabric EVER invented

I got this fabric today from the friendly dude in brown. They are part of the Bohemian collection by Anna Maria Horner. Please visit her site and read her blog - such a talented girl. The fabrics are even better in person. The colors are so unusual, but spot on. I've never seen anything quite like them. Now I have to figure out what to do with them. I am sure some will turn up in journal covers.

It is cold and windy. Winter doesn't want to give up. It is less than 3 weeks until our Spring Break. We aren't going out of town or anything. Sometimes it's nice to stay home and in your pj's until 3:00pm and then kill a couple of hours at Starbucks and then rush home just in time to get dinner on the table and pretend like I was super busy all day. I will devote one whole day to cleaning the home studio and another day to cleaning the remote location. I need to throw away so much stuff. I should let my husband clean out the studios. He would throw stuff away!

This has been a strange evening - everybody was home and done with everything before 5:30! The girls only had track until 4:40 and just a dab of homework. We had supper done and mostly cleaned up before 7:00. Seems like it would be a great night to make some stuff and play in art materials, but all I want to do is go to sleep!

It's a Long Way to the Top

If you wanna rock n roll. Or run a half marathon. Or raise kids. Or have a successful career. Or make good art.

Have you ever purposely done something in public that you are not good at? Voluntarily let you weakness show in front of everybody? More than once in a year? I am the world's worst runner, yet I did a 10k yesterday and a 5k last month. Oh yeah, and next month we have a 10 mile and then the Indy Mini in May. What was I thinking back in October when I signed up for this? Why?

I will have to make myself a cute artsy t-shirt with something cool on the back to wear at the mini. No need to waste any time on the front, but I know I will get passed bunches, so the back should be interesting as a community service.

It's ab0ut 6 weeks until the Big To Do in Chicago at the Quilt Show with Cloth Paper Scissors. If you read Cheryl's blog last week, you already know I have a super cute apron to wear.

The Husband Test

As you know, my husband and I have two daughters. While they are many years away from getting married, I talk them quite a bit about the importance of picking a good man to marry. We are (only half jokingly) making a husband test. Question #4, for instance, is Are your teeth naturally straight or did you have braces? The latest question we have added is #6 - Do you have any aspirations of becoming a rapper? This is deal breaker. Look at Brit. We don't need any more good little Southern fried church girls ending up bald and in rehab.

My daily art from last week turned out icky. I think I shall staple the pages together so no eyes may fall upon it. I wasn't feelin it last week. Preoccupied.

Project Runway stars on other shows - Nick Varreos was on The Hills, teaching at FIDM - y'know the school where Heidi dropped out and that other girl goes to pout before working at Teen Vogue. ho hum. Emmett McCarthy was on What Not To Wear. He has a shop called EMc2 and the gal getting new threads went in there to shop and Emmett rang her up.

Blake is on AI right now. I really like that kid. The pic above is Court at the Spring Art Show last year in front of a quilt made by one of my fourth grade classes made of handpainted blocks with Matisse inspired motifs. Her shirt says Trust me. I'm a Blonde.