Exhausted

So very tired.....I keep meeting myself going and going.....I leave the house at 7:30 in the morning and return....14 hours later....  I think that my kids forgot who I was, because they actually did their chores today.  I have a guaranteed subbing job through Tuesday of next week, so now I need to reschedule my meeting with my mentor.  I have turned down work every time I have had meetings, but I can't afford to lose a solid 4 day stretch like that.  I have been reading the essays for my new semester in January....My goal is 1 a night, bits and pieces....

I still have things to get wrapped up before I can go......finishing touches you might say on some pieces....

1st day at Macys

Yes, today was my first regular day at Macys!  I think that I did pretty well at rolling with the punches.  The time went by very fast, and I had a great time talking with customers.  Tonight I stopped into the Marsh gallery at Herron for the "Material Muse" reception.  I had a good time talking to some of the other students along with Danielle Reide.  My only concern now is that I may not get a day off this week to just get in some studio work, besides my few hours each day.....Oh well...

Here is a bad photo of the painting that was based on the photos I took and posted last week......This is the first of a small group.

Need another Job

I got an interview for holiday help at Macys in Greenwood tomorrow.  I have no idea what I would be doing, but I guess at this point it doesn't matter as long as I can still get some studio time in. 
I started a painting...based on that photo that I took of the back porch which was a reflection, and at times, it is how I feel...blurry, not sure about what I am seeing...somewhat a hint of aloneness, solitude, the sublime.  I am working on this in layers of colors with only gradual shifts in colors. This one is small, only about a 16x20..roughly I didn't measure it.  This was an old stretched canvas that I had painted on before, but was not happy with the end result.
I also made a mold today of tree bark out of plaster.  I have plans on using it for the surface of a figure.
I got another 20 feet added to the rug...length that is not size....ha ha
I have been doing a great deal of introspection....why am I like what I am?  Did all of the past really twist me, or did it make me stronger, more resilient?  At my age, at this point in my life I have the courage to ask these questions, to take out my sword and face the demons.

Happy Birthday!

Yes, it is my birthday, and I had a full day of subbing at Hawthorne Elementary today.  Came home then went back out to grab something from the store.  I made a vegetarian lasagna and zucchini bread (no sugar and lowfat), but I ate more than enough.  By the time this was over with, it was 8 and I was beat...I turned into a stuffed vegetable.
I got a nice email from Hannah stating that my paper was good....thank God.....I always feel that they are terrible.  I have to look for jobs on a consistent basis, due to getting TANF.  It is not very much, and at this point I do not know where I am going to get the $$ to get back to school, or even pay for staying there.  We are struggling bad and it is making me nuts and feeling very closed in...not a creative atmosphere to be surrounded by at this time.
This week has flown by, and I don't know where and I want it back!!

One of those weekends!

I really hate it when no matter how hard you try to get something to work...it doesn't!  I got my base made (plaster part poured) for my sign that I did months ago, but didn't make a base so that it could stand up.  Yes, I procrastinated....only because it was not the main idea of the piece.  I tried and tried to get the types of glues that I had on hand to work, but to no avail.  So that has to wait until I get paid again so that I can go get some epoxy that I have used before for ceramic piece assembly.  I did as much work on the rug as I could and it is slowly getting bigger, but it takes 3 bags for 3 feet of length, and I am out of brown ones again....Today, I started sewing together the circles pieces for my "Family of Four" piece that ...Yes I procrastinated again....  I got the main part done, and since this piece really was an odd ball from the other stuff that I was making, I put it aside for a little while.  I did find a chair for my vignette that goes with my quilt!!  Yeah!!

I am ready to do some painting experiments based on a picture I took...a little on the sublime side, but it is fitting to my moods at times, very true to my life.  I feel that I am running out of time, and I have thoughts that I am trying to work out.  UGH!

Winterizing in the Studio!

I have had a mini vacation from (nonart) work for the last 2 weeks.  My first week was spent in the studio prepping for my visit with my mentor, but the second I spent insulating and closing up holes in my studio walls.  We put a door at the top of the stairs and added another receptacle and a ceiling light for the stairwell.  On breaks from that I was getting in some research time along with currently getting my paper put together.
I found a chair along side of the road near the house which will fit perfectly into a small vignette that I am creating in my studio.  So I had to sweep the floor.  I guess my studio might creep out those who prefer a pristine environment to work in, but I prefer a space that I can get messy without worrying like crazy.

Crazy Month

This is my craziest month of the year with 5 birthdays in the immediate family running from October 10th- November 10th.  I finally finished my quilt, which relates to memories of my childhood.  My Grandmother and Aunt Mary always made these 9-patch quilts out of scraps laying around.  I made my version of this "family favorite" out of things laying around, but mine were out of drink cans that my family consumed.  This was a very time consuming process and a total of 486 cans were cut apart, pattern traced on them, cut again, and then folded in shape.  I started this project just before my last mentor meeting in September, with 36 cans to show her the idea and how it was to take shape.  The total hours were calculated up around 70-80.  Sheesh!!!  I also made more plates and started a different project...okay a few other ones.  Here is the finished quilt.