Exciting News and Improvements All in One Week

I do not know where the time has been this week. I haven't been able to read and write a single blog. I haven't really found time even for Facebook. Otherwise it has been a pretty interesting week for me personally. One thing I was really excited about was that my boss finally was able to get a guy to bring me a tall ladder from another YMCA branch. If you didn't know, I am painting a mural on the playroom walls at the daycare I work at. I've had a height issue, with my step ladder I still could not reach the top of the wall. I now can climb up and reach the ceiling. I can actually finish painting some walls for the murals. This week I haven't been able to paint too much, but it has been awhile since I have updated about how much I have gotten and thought I should share. If you want to see past pictures of the room you can view them on some older blog posts here: http://sfaesyartwork.blogspot.com/2010/04/getting-somewhere.html and http://sfaesyartwork.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-new-job-and-new-semester.html . A lot has been done to the walls, but they couldn't be completed before. Seeing it coming close to becoming completed I think not only does the ceiling need to be painted white but so does the poles and beams. The red metal stands out a lot and I would like to see it blend in more. Also in these pictures is alot of things in the way to view the walls good. The room has been used as a classroom for childcare teachers to receive certifications and also toys that need to be transported to other YMCA branches. They had their last class this past week and I hope they take the toys away and clear out this room so it will look closer to the big open playroom that it will be.



Yesterday I got exciting news! I recieved a phone call at work from someone from the Downtown Frankfort Interest Board. If you didn't know I live in Frankfort, KY. Though we are the capitol of our State we didn't have too much going on in interest of the arts. Always a thing here or there randomly and they were never big. Or so I thought. Downtown Frankfort has many independent stores, resturants, and shops. The board wants to encourage the growth of this wonderful environment. In June they had a thought of an Art Walk. In only a month they were able to set up 22 stops with wonderful feedback I hear. There is only a gallery or two in the area so many local shops and resturants feture independent artists to decorate their space. I had no idea. Plus the woman who helps pairing up independent artists with these shops is actually a daughter of one of my dad's good friends. My dad would talk about how a great sculptor she is, but I have never seen her work.

The reason they called me though was after the Franklin County Fair they saw the newspaper article announcing the winners in the art division. They had a great idea of setting up an exhibit to feature the work of winners in the fair. They contacted people from the fair about who would be good people to help set this up. Amazingly my name was one of three brought up. I enter my stuffin the fair to make a little money and also get my name out in the community. I guess it's paying off. I was so excited!.... and still am of course. It was so random, but so great.

So now the next Art Walk is September 24th. That night we have our last community Summer Concert Series and it's the night before the World Equestrian Games begin. We have people all over the world staying in our town and all over our state. We really hope the people from these countries will come out and enjoy a night in the local community before the games start. They can attend the Art Walk and the Summer Concert Series. So not only that night am I organizing and managing Franklin County Fair Art Show Winner's Exhibit but my work will also be featured in it. We are also able to put are work up to be sold. I really hope some wonderful things will come from  this great opprotunity. So obviously a lot more to come as I work on this. :D!!!!!!


I just played around with some collaging techniques this week and this is what I came up with. It's a little interesting. I'll play with some more but I think I love the collage portraits I do more.
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Blogs, Workshop, Dress

Now it is hard for me to post as often as I like. I have several things I want to update and share, it's getting a little hard. I began to find all these lovely blogs that I love to read now (I need to update my list in my sidebar). I even won my first giveaway on a blog. Every night this week, I get my computer out check email, Facebook, and Twitter before moving on reading the blogs. Next I know I am tired and ready for bed. It seems that time will be approaching soon for me, so I can't make this long and catch up on a lot I want to.

Normally I spend the weekends spending a good amount of time catching up on my blogging. This weekend I can not. My sorority is having are Summer Workshop. At home I will fall behind but I have not seen my sisters basically all summer, so it will be nice to see them and get ready together for this Fall semester. Maybe I'll get a chance to blog there but I doubt it.

Also the dress my mother (cough, cough.... and me) has been working on will be completed tonight. I am so glad. I will show my Pi Phi sisters this weekend and I'll show you the end product real soon. Last I tried it on, it looked really good. All is left is hemming the bottom of the dress. Exciting!!!
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First Pen and Ink in Years

My second mixed media collage of my friend Rachel is done. I have been showing the process on here and I finished it last sunday right before Ihad to enter it in the fair. It has been in a barn for the county fair all week and now it's back at my house. I almost feel like I may have rushed the process a bit. Especially when I was completeing the face. Because I feel this way I'm not entirely happy with it. It is all mental though because I do think it looks nice. Who knows? Give me your opinion.


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Not Really My Sewing Project Anymore

It quickly came apparent last night I have almost no sewing experience. I had no idea how to read the markings on the pattern. Mom showing me how to do it became her almost basically sewing it all. I have been able to cut the fabric out and sew the straps, but that's about it. I picked the pattern from how the dress looked, but had no idea the sewing I would need to know to complete it. It requires pleating and altering because it doesn't fit my body shape quite right. I have no experience with any of this. I'm watching and trying to learn. For right now though, it has become my mother's sewing project. At least I know my mother is doing this right and I can't screw it up too badly. So I'm in here writing my blog, while she's in the other room sewing my dress. I feel bad. This was my project. I wanted to complete it, but I just don't have enough sewing experience to do something on this level. This really sucks.



The other day I picked up my artwork from the county fair. I had won in a few areas and got a whopping $27 check for my winnings. The thing is I also had the most points of all that entered in the art division so I also won the sweepstakes prize. The prize for it was $15 gift card to JoAnn's fabric. Not big winnings at all. The economy has taken it's toll on the fair for sure. Three years ago my winnings was three times as much and every year it gets more puny. I got a first place ribbon is watercolors still life, sculpture, pastels, acrylic painting of a landscape, and pen and ink. I got a second place ribbon in acrylic painting portrait and watercolors landscape.
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It Has Been A Busy Week

This week I have been busy and I have been unable to get on the Internet. Sleeping has been my friend though, so that felt nice. Last Sunday after reading Cloth Paper Scissors Studio Summer magazine, I felt had an epiphany (hope that's spelled right) to how to make my mom's bedroom and our craft room more suitable for my mom's scrub making business. It would also allow more work space in the craft room for me. Internet was out from moving the stuff around since the modem was in my mother's bedroom. It's not done yet, but it is work-able now for the weekend sewing project.

College is starting up soon, for sorority women means preparing for fall recruitment. I was needing to get a fuchsia dress to wear one night. I could not find one that was long enough or appropriate. So the crafty girl in me decided to sew a dress then. I bought the fabric and pattern over a month ago, I think. Well mom has been busy sewing scrubs, I haven't sewed really since grade school, and I needed help. I sewed a pillow first to make sure I wasn't going to completely screw this up. Now I need the dress this Friday so I can show it to show my sisters. That way if I screw this up (I really hope I don't), I have some time left to try and find one again. So today and tomorrow will be my sewing days to start and complete this dress. Wish me luck! So I don't have to worry about it during the week when I am working and possibly working and organizing my mom's room again.
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Photo Challenge Wrap-Up

Day 17 - A picture of what you wore today. I'm not wearing it yet. But I will be soon. I'm about to get ready to go to my brother's party to celebrate him and his wife's first house together. This is what I will be wearing.



Day 18 - A picture of you and a best friend. I always disliked the best friend thing. I have a lot of really good friends and I don't like to pick one over the other. The first picture is my friend Rachel. We have literally know each other since she was born and after 21 years we are still great friends. The next picture is me and my big sister in my sorority. I haven't seen her all summer and it has felt so weird. The bottom picture is with me is Kay and David. I can say that David is my best guy friend. He can drive me insane, he did more in high school than now, but things wouldn't be fun without it.




Day 19 - A favorite picture of yours. This a picture of River Street in Savannah, GA. Lucky one night someone had their ship on the river so I could get a great picture of it. I really wish I could have a second home in Savannah. After living there for a few months, I miss it dearly.


Day 20 - Any picture that you want. This is my baby girl Cass. We have 5 dogs in my house. Out of all of them she is my baby girl. She loves to cuddle and sleep with you. I miss her so much when I have to live in my dorm room.
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Posting Every Day Is Hard

This photo challenge made me realize that posting every day is very hard to do. Days I knew I would not be able to get to my laptop, I would have to write them the day before and set to post the next day. I missed the photo challenge yesterday and won't be able to catch up until this weekend. My sister has a deadline to finish her book in 2 weeks. To help her I will be watching her boys and providing ideas when needed (so I must be current with her writing). Also artwork is due for the county fair on Sunday....... oh I have two pieces to finish, and three more I planned on completing. I still have to mat the pieces. Oh did I tell you my brother and sister-in-law just got their first "house" together. They are having a party to celebrate on Saturday for friends and family. What is free time?

Also this photo challenge has made me realize that I not doing as much with my art. I love photography, but it's not my forte. I want to focus more on my work and projects. That's what I am trying to grow and improve in. I'm still participating in the Get Prospective project. I just can't do this every day any more. I will finish though, just probably not until Saturday.
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Photo Challenge Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of you more than 10 years ago. I love pictures of me when I was little. Probably because I love childhood. I think most people love their memories when they are a child. Also I work with children on a daily basis, so I feel like I almost never have to grow up. Not until they are acting up then I have to do my teacher voice.

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Photo Challenge Day 15


Day 15 - A picture that you edited. This was a picture from an assignment when I was a Graphic Design major. I've always loved this piece. It's the moment when Snow White bit into the apple. I did this with Photoshop.
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Photo Challenge Day 14


Day 14 - A picture taken with your cell phone. This was one taken a few months ago. I was driving home from my college campus on the interstate and my tire blew. I knew I had a leak in it but didn't realize it was that bad. It was a cold night, phone almost dead, and I didnt want to waste my gas. So instead of leaving my car run, I just had the battery running for my phone. Yeah...... my car battery also died waiting for my brother to come and help me with my tire. Now I have another tire with a leak in it. I tried to get a patch but they said they couldnt do it because it has a tear. That was two weeks ago when i found that out and I have yet to get a new tire. I know I'm asking for trouble. I'll need to get one soon, since I will be driving on the interstate twice this coming week.
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Photo Challenge Day 13


Day 13 - A picture from last summer. This was exactly one year ago, the night before July 4th. This is a picture of me and my good friend Hannah. I miss her terribly. She goes to WKU, which is, I think 2 hours from my home and another hour from my college EKU. We are on the opposite sides of the state it feels like. Our work schedules also make it impossible to visit each other. I work M-F 9-5:30 and she works all day Saturday and Sunday. Her birthday is coming up next week, July 7th. So HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY HANNAH!!!!! I miss you......
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Photo Challenge Day 12

Day 12 - A black and white photo. This is a picture of my mother and uncle when they were children. I think it is so wonderful. It's a classic children's moment you just try to capture. I think it is even that more special since this is from the 1950's.

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Photo Challenge Day 11

Day 11 - Post one of the oldest pictures you have in your Picture folders. This is a picture of my great great grandmother. She is the native American woman on the left. I wish I knew more about her and her culture though. This is all I have.

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