Trying to catch up on blogging after a non-stop schedule…dramatic pause… It has been cra’y. I would venture to say it has even been cra’y cra’y. There, I said it. The last time I sat down to write was last Wednesday, after I got home from the second basketball game for the week. Thursday was conference night at my school and I knew I would not have many folks stopping by so I brought plenty to do…well, I thought I did. I get to school, check my bag and... my current pad of Bristol board is not there. Now, not a big deal…but to me…kind of a stressful situation. By kind of I mean- I WAS STRESSED. I like to pull all of my paper from the same pad of 11x14 Bristol Board until it’s all gone…and…I had tucked away twelve 4x6 angel sketches that I intended to paint for Atlanta…all left at home. You would figure, no big deal, right? My job is in an ART room for crying out loud. But…it just wasn’t the same…I needed my Bristol board pad…sigh. Luckily, I found a pad of 11x14 watercolor paper probably one I had tucked away for such an occasion. I made myself get over the fact that this paper had a texture to it and moved forward. Instead of resketching my angels to paint I had the idea to create collaged angels, so I proceeded to paint solid pieces of paper, to cut out angel pieces and then construct. I think in my mind I was thinking that this would not take as long. Ummmm…no. Not only did it take just as long, but I had a blister on my hand from cutting the angel parts out by the time I was finished. On a positive note, the angels turned out pretty good, and I did finish twelve to take with me to Atlanta. More on that later. Next up…inventory. I haven’t completed inventory yet this year, haven’t even started my new spreadsheet. Now that I think about it…might want to check and make sure I did inventory for December 2012…oh man… My pal, Nottage, stopped by to help me take pics...here is what inventory looked like... Next day...it was a half-day of teachin' and then I traveled to Atlanta for CHEERSPORT Nationals. This was my sixth year judging. I had to double check- six years?! Yep. Judging this particular competition is a big deal for me, it is probably one of the largest if not the largest cheerleading competition going on right now. This year there were almost 1000 teams. I get to see awesome cheerleading routines from across the United States...see my 'cheer family'...and...there are vendors there selling sparkly thangs. Wait...and I get paid? What.... Oh...and I got to visit with our cousin Jen and her family. Done deal! Pic with Shelby and Stuart A highlight of judging CHEERSPORT is finding Shelby Stout for my annual hug. Shelby and her husband, Stuart, started the March Forward with Hope Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to families battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Stuart and Shelby started this in memory of their daughter, Hope Stout, shortly after she lost her fight with cancer. I met Shelby that first year I judged nationals, I think. It has been so long...anyway, I felt a connection to Shelby. I think it is from losing my best friend, Amy. Now, Amy did not die from cancer, she was killed in a car accident...but I have witnessed firsthand the struggle that her parents, John and Jennifer, have gone through losing their daughter. I can relate to wanting to see the memory of someone you love live on, even when they have passed. So every year I seek out Shelby Stout, sometimes with art in hand, always ready or my hug. I am so inspired by what Hope's family is doing in her memory. Makes me want to do something in memory of Amy...wheels are turning in my brain...will have to think on that a little... So this year, my gift was one of my small angel-collages. Then I started thinking...I need to make a bigger one for the Stouts, they could auction it off...or reprint and use it...something. So I made an 11x14 angel painting and delivered in on Sunday. I hope they can put it to good use : ) Speaking of angels. I left some angels in Atlanta and FINALLY...someone let me know they found one! Yay! I got a notification via Instagram that someone found one of my paintings...hooray! I posted a few pics of my 'angelbombing' from the weekend...I even 'angelbombed' my roomie, Karen! One thing that I was thinking...besides I LOVE the idea of leaving art everywhere for folks to discover...I may have to rethink what I am calling it...now, I picked 'angelbombing' because I was inspired by 'yarnbombing'. I just worry about the negative connotation of the word 'bomb'. For example, when I was leaving my angels in the Georgia Congress Center, I made sure not to use #angelbombing in my Instragram posts, fearing someone might read and just see the second part of the word and panic. Silly? Maybe. Anyway, something that I am considering. ...alright...trying to wind this looooong blog post down, gotta go to the gym and it's getting a little late if I want to get some sleep. (or come home and make more art!) More things worth mentioning...I started some new pieces...one drawing was inspired by the cheerleaders and their big ol' bows...and...ummm...I started a new mini-series on the way back inspired by the ladies I saw going to the church service on Sunday...all bundled up in fancy coats and (hopefully FAUX) fur hats. They looked so glam. I tried to sleep on the plane, but then the word 'baboushka'...it's not the right word, I know...but in my head I thought of that word and I made the connection to these ladies...so I started five new pieces... So...that's about it. Oh, wait. I also may have met a contact on the plane to get get some of my work printed on shirts...hoping that will pan out, fingers crossed...and...about to send some designs I have been working on (not shown on the site) to my contact in CA...again...send me some positive vibes, folks!
To end...here are the pieces from my 6-day hiatus from my blog...just posted 'em tonight to the site and to my blog, FINALLY!
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