Fall Changes

This past week-end the Artfull Hand hosted a Fall Garage Sale. In addition to being able to sell used stamps we opened up the possibilities to anything art related. Our customers brought in things from scrap fabric and fibers to Sissix tools. We had 3- 6 foot tables overflowing and one side counter filled with cool stuff. The sales were brisk as the autumn air on Saturday. We feel that the garage sale was a success.

Fall is a strange time for me. I feel like I want to hibernate. I know it is the Seasonal Disorder that many people have. I really don't do anything for it. It affects me mentally and physically. I can be reveling in the glorious colors, the crisp clean blue of the sky and the pungent scent of burning leaves while also feeling down in the dumps. I know that all of those stimulants to the eyes and nose will soon be gone, swept away by winter's wind and cold. Fall is the time when my Librian nature really comes to the surface as you might be able to tell from my photograph "Autumn Grief" that I posted with these comments. I really tried to balance the lights and the darks, the colors and the composition. I think I did quite well. When I look at this photo I remember the day I took it. It was a fun filled day with a friend on a delightful October day. Ok - you say, " What in the world were you doing in a cemetery?" Well, the answer is that both my friend and I have an interest in cemetery art. We were exploring this cemetery, Forrest Hills, In Kansas City, MO. It has some wonderful examples of sculpture. Not only do we look for interesting and beautiful pieces of art we also read the head stones, wondering about the decease, their lives, their loves. Sometimes we are sadden by what is written. Other times we get a history lesson. And on a rare occasion we are witnessed to the humor of the deceased or their family. Cemeteries are not at all spooky places. They are peaceful and beautiful. I think I will go and take a walk in the neighborhood cemetery to say hello to some of the residents.

Fall Garage Sale

All this week we at The Artfull Hand have been preparing for the Fall Garage Sale on Saturday the 23rd. Several customers have brought in boxes of cool stuff to sell. Last Spring we held a used stamp sale where customers were limited just to stamps. This time we opened it up to anything art related. We have gotten some really cool stuff.
We received yesterday a very large order from Holly Berry House. They have some really cool medallion stamps that when you cut and layer make fantastic designs. And we received an order from OnyxXpressions the Black Rubba Company.. Way cool stuff. You have to come see.

The inner me

This past week-end an artist friend Mai-Liis visited me. Her specialty is altered dolls and shrines. She taught at the Artfull Hand and I was lucky enough to sit in on her class. She suggested that I make my box about me. The inside would represent the inner me....I laughed at this thinking of all the weird stuff that runs through my head. I really don't want anyone to know the 'real' inner me. I might be institutionalized. It was a really fun class. I learned a thing or two. What do you think of the inner me?

Surprised and pleased

Today I pick up my friend Mai-Liis at the airport. She is spending a week visiting and teaching here in MO. The past few days have been very harried. I was exhausted(just tired now). My back is now feeling some better. My sinus infection is under control. I have been wanting to start cleaning up for her. Well it didn't start till this morning. I began to work on the kitchen. DH was in the TV room I assumed watching TV or reading. But then I heard a vaguely familiar noise... What's that I hear? The vaccum cleaner running!!!!!! OMG!!! HE's VACCUMING for me. And I didn't even have to ask for help. Mark it on the calendar! Call the all the news outlets... Lead with..."Married Man Now Domesticated"(My DH would say naw, P_ ssy Whiped.)
But I really appreciated his help this morning. At least we got the top layers of dirt and dust scrapped or sucked up.

The Church Ladies

Yesterday I took the Artfullhand on a road trip to New Harmony Baptist Church in Salem, MO. That was an hour and half drive one way...
My friend Sue went with me. She ran my 'store' while I taught the Church Ladies the polish stone technique and the reverse polish stone. I believe the alcohol inks and the technique were a big hit.
I took several boxes of product with me and set up the store in their beautiful fellowship hall. It continually amazes me the creativity of different individuals. The cards that the Church Ladies crafted were just beautiful. There were some ho-hum ones but really there wasn't a dog in the pack. Good job Ladies! Perhaps you had a talented instructor --"wink-wink"!

All that Glitters

What a Glittering good time we had in the Glitter on Acetate Class yesterday. We had glitter every where. When the class was over the students walked out with their finished cards - sparkling! The students had a bit of a hard time mastering the glue application but they'll get it with a little practice.
The Panda is the project we did in class. It is a Chinese paper cut that I found on the internet. I downloaded it, size it and saved it. Then printed it out on overhead transparency sheet. The other image we did was of a happy Halloween jack 'o latern. With that image we stamped with Stazon directly on to an acetate sheet. The students did a wonderful job of chosing their colors from the Art Institute Glitter choices I had available.

The Big 40

I have a friend that is turning 40 this week. It is a traumatic event for her. I am into my fifties. Turning 40 for me wasn't hard. 30 was. 50 wasn't. I don't think turning 60 will be. Now turning 70 might be I don't know. But I feel 80, 90 and 100 will be a breeze. I e-mailed another friend telling her the same thing. She e-mailed me back saying that the Bible says(paraphrasing) that man's time on Earth(and I assume that means woman's too) is 3 score and 10. That figures out to be 70. So that is why 80, 90 and 100 are going to be a breeze for me. I am not going to worry about one damn thing. I am not going to let due dates or deadlines bother me. Should bes and ought to bes just won't exist for me. I am going to play, sleep, drink and eat what ever and when ever I want to.

As you can tell I am going to be an old woman who just doesn't give a damn about anyone or anything. Now you might say that this sounds a bit selfish. But think about it. If someone reaches the ripe old age of 80 and beyond in this present world, don't you think that they have earned to be selfish? I do.

Oh My Aching Back

Yesterday I hurt my back wrestling with a dog that I was putting into a cage.(For those of you who don't know. I also run my husband's veterinary practice. I am the chief pooper scooper there.)Anyway, this dog was a 61 pound Chow-Chow/Great Pyreenes cross breed. She was a sweet creature who just didn't want to go into the cage. I bent down to pick up her front end to place her front feet in the cage so I could boost her butt to follow. Somewhere during that maneuver she twisted and so did my back. It was one of those times when the pain takes your breath away and you drop to your knees. Luckily, I had boosted her butt sufficiently that she was in the cage and I could lean on the cage door shutting and locking it behind her. I hung on the cage door for a few minutes catching my breathe as she licked my face through the bars.(I told you she was a sweetie) After several minutes I was able to pull myself straight by reaching up and grabbing the top cage door. My problem was that I couldn't turn around and it hurt to stand. I forced my left leg to swing to the left and turned my whole body without twisting or turning at the waist. (OK-- now I was facing in the right direction to leave the cage room but my feet wouldn't work!) That shot a paralyzing thought through my head.(OH MY GOSH! I'M Paralyzed!) Well it took a few seconds for my brain to send signals to my feet and legs to start working. I was able to 'walk', it was more like lurching, out of the cage room holding onto every available appliance, wall, door jam, table or counter I could lean on.
I made it to a chair and just sat. As long as I was still it didn't hurt. Ok good, now I know that I'm not paralyzed but I still needed to get around to do my jobs...
As soon as I could I took some ibuprofen and carefully moved about. As time pass so did most of the pain. I just couldn't stand for any period of time with out pain.
Once I got home in the evening, a heating pad, left over prescription pain medicine and extra pillow helped on the couch. I was moving a little better.
Sleeping wasn't too bad. I did wake up several times trying to roll over in bed. I tried to stay laying on my back instead of my usual pretzel position.
It's a wonder what a little heat, a little time,prescription drugs and sleep can do for an ailing back. I still need to be careful on how I move but it is a lot better today.

Labor Day

Labor day is over. Where has this 2006 year gone? It's September all ready!!!
Labor Day is aptly named as I labored most of the day despite a sinus headache. I was trying to catch up on little jobs that have been escaping me in favor of ones that pop up and seem urgent.
I did get the chance to spend some time on the couch but felt guilty about it. My friend Mai-Liis from Austin is coming to visit in a week and a half and I wanted to really start picking up and straightening. I hope she understands if I don't get around to it. There are so many more interesting things to do instead of cleaning!!!! The bathrooms will be clean and of course her bed, the kitchen too - to some extent but the rest of the house be damn!!!