Tomorrow Can't Be August Already?!

I really am feeling like every year the months go by faster and faster than they did the year before!

Is it me or are you feeling the same way?

When I'm looking forward to something 30 days sounds so FAR AWAY! However, it seems like the month flies by before I know it and I haven't gotten done nearly as much as I had set out to do.

August is a big BIRTHDAY month in our Families!

So let me take this opportunity to say Happy Birthday & I love you all TO:

My Brother-in-law David

My Daddy

My Nephew ~ Josh Davis

My Fabulous Hubby!!

My Mother in Love ~ Jan

Speaking of looking forward to things ~ I just love this time of year and the "Fall" Inspiration for my painting/clay classes.  I've posted along the rightside of my blog some of the classes that I'm doing in August. If you are local and want to come and take a class - click on the picture and it will take you to my website!  I have students that 2-4 hours each way to come and take classes so don't let miles or state lines keep you from coming! lol

I recently updated my website with new packets for sale as well as some of my original art ~ which is I have to say is priced to SELL! My studio runneth over with paintings and I've maxed out my space at the Byron Gallery. Plus, many have asked me if I sell my art and what better way to let you know what is available than putting it on my website! You'll find the packets and my original Art under the "My Store" tab on the left hand side of my website. Click on the purple "My Store" to visit now!

I've been looking forward to a ROAD TRIP and attending "HOOT" with some friends of mine  ~ Jenny, Sue, and Barb as well as meeting up at HOOT with Donna & Lori! 

HOOT stands for the "Heart Of Ohio Tole Painters" and it's a convention I've heard great things about and I've always wanted to attend. I'm signed up for some great classes and really am stretching my creative juices with taking a watercolor class and watercolor pencil class, plus of course acrylics & oil classes too!

 

In the midst of all that we're also getting our oldest ready to move out and into his college dorm! YIKES! Makes me feel super super old! and again makes me question ~ where has the time gone?

I know he is excited and I guess I am to that he's entering another stage/season in his adult life!

Hope you have a great day!

Sandy

FOCUS!!
That has been my word of the day but it's been hard to do today! URGH!
I started off the day great ~ big plans to clean the whole house! Jumped from room to room ~ taking one thing to another room and then seeing something that needed to be done - getting stuck in there and then back to the first room. Back and forth lots with little done and then each time I past my studio I could hear the blank canvas on my easel calling my name!

Finally broke down and got the brushes and paint out and painted these Fall inspired hydrangeas.

Have some more work to do on them but I better get back to cleaning since I've made a bigger mess moving things.

Hope you have a great day!

Sandy

Sunflowers in wOils

Mackenzie (11 yrs. old)

Didn't she do an amazing job?! Her grandmother (Janis -below) had shown me some things Mackenzie had painted one day and thought she'd love to take one of my classes. This was her first class with me and her first oil painting and we all loved how well she did on her painting!!

Janis

                                      Mackenzie & Janis 

Roz

Patty

Monica

Sandi 

Barb

Lanelle

Glo


This was my last painting class for the month and I'm looking forward to having the rest of the month to get our oldest ready to go off to college.
Hope you have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Sandy

HOME

Got home yesterday and it's always a nice feeling to come home to your family and sleep in your own bed (although I would have loved spending more time with my sisters and their families). Here are the happenings of this past week ~

Tuesday of this past week my younger sister, her two kiddos, my youngest son and I drove up to TN to be with our older sister and her family after the passing of her Mother-in-love (a endearing term my sister used for her mother-in-law). We grew up first knowing her as Mrs. Gagnon but after marriage and kids that changed to Memere as she treated our kiddos just like her grandkids.

She was a lady totally devoted to her family and had a way of making friends and extended family feel like they were part of her family. She adored her husband Pepere of 50+ years and my sister, her hubby and their kiddos were her life as they lived the closest of all the family and spent so much time together with them.

Sadly a few years ago Alzheimers started taking over and in the end she was ready to go. Her family was all by her side when she went to be with the Lord last Sunday.  My sister had text earlier that morning letting us that the family had been called in and that she was given just mere hours. I was thinking about her so much while in church that morning and praying for her family during this difficult time.

Our message in church that day was PEACE - a word that I've been praying on for months now personally in my own life and now for my sister and her family and of course for Memere.  Half way through the message our Preacher said a greek word and said that is where we get the name "IRENE" from and I thought I was gonna stand up from the pew and say WHAT? I leaned over to my husband and said did he just say Irene? and he shook his head yes!  That is Memere's name and WOW what a jolt of just awesome WOW that came over me in that second. On the way to the car we chatted about that and someone said that was ironic to which my middle son said no, that was planned by God.  I wish I had looked at my watch to see what time it was but really it doesn't matter. I knew that was a sign that she had gone to be with the Lord during that time and what an amazing way to let us know.

My sister was nervous about having to get up and speak in front of everyone at the funeral but when she got up to read a few scriptures - she did a perfect job! You could feel the words and what they meant by the way she read them. My brother in love then got up and from the heart spoke about his mother. Was a sweet tribute with funny stories and memories that brought many much needed giggles to a somber occassion.

Memere's son in law read this poem that I absolutely loved. Had never heard it before so wanted to share it. Has really made me think about my DASH ~ hope it makes you think about yours!

The Dash (    -    )

by Linda Ellis copyright 1996

I read of a man who stood to speakat the funeral of a friend.He referred to the dates on her tombstone, from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

and spoke of the following date with tears,

 

but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.

Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read,

with your life’s actions to rehash…would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent YOUR dash?

Have a wonderfully blessed Sunday!
SMILES,
Sandy

 Flower Pot turned Candle Holder/

Potpourri Holder

Today in paint class we painted a flower pot but turned it upside down with the drip dish on top to either hold potpourri or a candle. I used to make these a lot when I lived in Nebraska and haven't painted one since.  Loved the way these turned out and think everyone did a

beautiful job!

Glo and Mary we missed you two and hope you feeling better soon!! 

I'm excited that I get to see my oldest this weekend! He is house sitting and I haven't seen him since the 4th of July. This has been good preparation for when he moves on to college on Aug. 9th ~ however, still strange to not have him here. 

Have a great weekend!
Sandy

Holiday Workshop 2012

Every year I do an early Christmas class to help my students get a jump start on creating for craft shows or gift making for family and friends. This year I turned it into a Holiday Workshop and gave them a bunch of ideas on taking what they created and making additional gifts or decorations for their home.  We had a busy day but it was such a fun filled busy day!

I painted these snowman pins for everyone as a thank you for attending!

I separated all of their supplies into baggies so that each ornament was prepped and ready to paint and assemble, put em all in these white gift bags with the snowman pin attached to the handle. They were all very appreciative and I think excited to get started!!




















We painted a nativity scene on this block and then embellished it with a bunch of different things to glam it up!

NOEL painted with a "holiday sweater" motif background. Topped with Mod Podge and glitter of course!

The only traditional glass ornament we used in the workshop! Took a white heart and painted a sweet snowman face and halo (glittered up of course) and then attached angel wings to the back!

One of my favorites ~ Poinsettia ornament ~ handpainted, Mod Podge Sparkle on top, burlap around the oval and a pretty satin ribbon to hang!

Window Pane Ornaments ~ LOVE LOVE LOVE the way these turned out. We only painted one in class the one just below but I painted three to give them some options for later creating! The possibilities with this one are endless!  Topped the panes with Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to make it look more like a window ~ something most of my students had never heard of let alone use so was excited to share that new product with em! They LOVED it!

Holiday Sweet Ornament - painted, put together and glittered up to the MAX!

We picked one ornament to take a picture with and the snowman won out!  Notice from the first picture above with all of em and their bags just before we started class and now - TIRED and worn out but still smiling thankfully! I tuckered them out I think!
We all walked out with glitter on us but I think I took the prize for the most! Looked like a disco ball actually!

Of course I had way too many ideas so I have a pretty good jump start on my next Holiday Workshop that will be in September.  This one with be both Fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas though.

TIP: for all those holiday crafters out there!
Add glitter to Mod Podge and mix it together. Apply to something you want to GLITTER UP!*
Will save you the mess of loose glitter flying around.
*Glitter Up ~ sounds like that should be the name of a company huh? Maybe I'm on to something here? hehehe

Have a wonderful day!! Year is half over so get busy on your HOLIDAY stuff now little by little and you won't get so stressed during the holidays!!

Smiles with Glitter,
Sandy

No Longer MIA!
SORRY!! I've been a bad blogger!!

Summer is certainly here and my days are getting away from me! Didn't realize that I hadn't posted since June 16th ~ YIKES! Sorry for those loyal friends and family members that come by often and had to see the same post with no updates!

I had a wonderful wOils class with Ronn from Idaho and Margaret from GA. Both had wanted to learn how to paint roses and hydrangeas and also wanted to learn more about wOils. We had a wonderful time painting together and both did such a beautiful job on their paintings.

Ronn flies back to Idaho today! We enjoyed having you in class Ronn ~ hope you enjoyed meeting everyone that you've come to know through my blog. Keep painting & keep creating ~ you are very talented!




Ronn goes

Ronn's wife showed us her jeans that her hubby painted. She said it's nice anytime she gets a stain on something Ronn just gets creative and paints something over it.















Margaret stayed after her Level 2 Prep Course to paint roses and hydrangeas with us! Always enjoy being around Margaret! She did a beautiful job on her painting and stayed afterwards to get some assistance on a painting she did at home.  

Hoping to get some painting in this week - several unfinished things on and by my easel that are screaming my name!! Will post pictures when I ge those done!

Hope you have a great Monday!
Sandy