Hello my long lost blog!

     This seems like unfamiliar territory...I almost needed a compass to find my blog.  School is back in session and it seems I have lost all control of my schedule.  It takes a community to keep me pointed in the right direction.  I am knee deep in important matters such as Boy Scouts, youth football & volleyball, dance & fiddle lessons.  Then there's the pesky business of feeding children & helping with homework.  I bet I don't have to tell you that as an artist...7th grade math is over my head!
     This year I have taken on the task of 8th grade volleyball coach for my local high school.  I haven't played since high school...a lot has changed in the last 10 years (...or so. I told you I wasn't good at math.)  We had our first game last night and we lost.  The good news is that I learned a lot and so did my team.  We get to play them again & then watch out...they won't recognize us with all our improvement.  We'll see how this plan plays out...it looks good on paper.
     Life often gets in the way of art.  The busier I get the further I get from my career goals.  I do try to remind myself that all of these life experiences make me, hopefully, a better artist.  I get inspiration from the things I do and the people I know.  And the busier I get the more I appreciate the quiet time when I get to sit down and create something special. 
     Enough of the 'Hallmark' special.  I'm really not that sappy of a person.  In fact the older I get (29 in Chrissy math) the less serious I am about most things in general.  Everyone should learn to let things slide off  off their back a little more... like water off a ducks butt (or was that a ducks back...I can't recall).  I too need to be reminded of that when I sometimes get my dander up about something...usually when I think my child has been done wrong.  But then I always remember my dad's words of wisdom, "just simmer down."  Sound advice!
     Well that's all I have rolling around in my head tonight.  I'm off to do something creative...Just what I don't know...I'll try not to be such a 'blog' stranger.

-Christine

Favorite Websites!

      I have recently added links to my favorite websites on my blog...I mean 'on-line studio'.   I still think 'blog' is an ugly word.  I have a couple sites that are for artists, one site is for fellow Dolly Parton lovers (Holler if you're out there!),Miss Rodeo Americas website because I am a pageant alumni (hard to believe it's been 18 years since those wild and woolly rodeo days) and my favorite site, instructables.com. 
      The instructables site is great for everybody...especially scout leaders, teachers, & anyone just looking for something fun to do.  I've been a scout leader for years and finding this site has saved me.  Say you have an abundance of paper clips, just search the site for paper clips and find out everything you can make or do with them.  I have also used some of the things I've found for fund raisers and did really well.  Check it out...I bet you'll be there for hours...like I tend to do!
     I must go to bed.  It's the end of the Labor Day weekend.  We took the kids camping at the best campground ever (Grandma & Grandpa's pond. Sorry... there's only one plug in and we've reserved it indefinitely!).  After packing up about noon we cleaned up & took the kids school shopping.  Maybe I procrastinated that chore til the last minute but it was still a good time.  Although...taking 2 boys clothes shopping is a challenge on any woman's patience.  It's funny the difference in their attitudes between Kohl's & Gander Mountain...if the latter wasn't so expensive they could totally outfit themselves for school there, however, I have a hard time seeing how a new .22 is a "school supply." 
   Goodnight readers!  -Christine

Artist for Hire!!!

Hey Everybody!  I have been working on some watercolors lately.  I have a couple drawn out so all I have to do is paint, paint, paint!!!  I will be donating something to the Thornapple Arts Council benefit auction and to the local United Way auction...just what I don't know yet.  Sometimes great ideas hit me at 2am...currently it's 9:24am so I'm a blank on great ideas at the moment.

Only one week left before school starts.  I wish it would go on and on but I know that I will have more time to work on my art with kids gone for the day.  They just seem to want to be fed 3 times a day...that really breaks up a gals creative flow.

One last thing before I go...I am adding my email address & my facebook to this blog so there are more ways to contact me if any one needs to hire an artist...for art, not the dishes!!!

Everyone have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!!!  Honk if you read this!!!

Take care, Christine