A New Look

A NEW LooK!!  We all need a new look now and then don't we?  Today is only 8 days into 2012 but I've been busy making changes.  I've reopened my Etsy Shop," Petie's Place" and my dear friend Julie (Julz) Kinsella created this beautiful banner for me.  She struggled with the placement of ART I've created, making it totally original and mine!!  Thank you Julz for sharing your talent!
Tomorrow a brand new Misty Mawn class starts and the excitement in the group is building. Everyone has been making beautiful journals and inspiring me to try my first one TODAY.  Yep..today is the day!  I've already met so many people that are starting the class tomorrow and last year many of us took Misty's class together. This past year I've watched so many people blossom and spread their wings. This year will my year of Practice*Practice*Practice!!  The generosity of fellow artists is heart warming... so many people share their knowledge and talents FREE..Amy McDonald, Manon Visser, Rachael Panagary, Effy Wild, Tamara LaPorte, Kristen Powers just to name a few.  And congratulations to Tamera who just got published!  I know I wish I had room to name everyone!!  So much talent!!  I'm happy to have met all of my art friends.  And I have to mention one of my inspirations, Janice Scherer..wow!!    I wish I could name all of the people that have influenced me this past year, wonderful, talented, generous artists that continue to grow!!
There are so many fun and exciting things happening for me this year and one of the biggest is meeting so many of my Facebook ART sisters at ARTFEST!!  So many of us met last year in Misty's class and have also taken other workshops together.  Many of us are meeting in Seattle to get the week started off with some fun exploring together, Seattle may never be the same after Lyn Tivenin, Frannie DeLeo, Jaci Swarts, Jodi Kincaid, Carlanda Brown Williamson and of course ME arrive a few days before Artfest to play and get to know each other. I'm sure by March there will be many more of us in Seattle before heading to Fort Worden. The more the merrier!!   And I can't leave out the fabulous workshops we'll all be taking. We've all made our own choices on workshops, there were so many fantastic artists teaching.  We'll be staying in the Madrona aka "The Nunnery".   This is my first and last time to attend Artfest since Teesha and Terry Moore have decided to end this part of their career.
Thanks to Jane Powell of Random Arts in Saluda, NC, I'll be hosting Jodi Ohl (who was just published in Cloth Paper Scissors)  and Sue Pellitier (who has been published many times) when they come to North Carolina to teach their workshops!  I was already excited just to meet them and learn from them but I'm extra thrilled to be able to have them stay with me while they're in our beautiful area.  And thanks to Jane Powell of Random Arts for bringing so many fabulous, inspiring artists to our little corner of the world to teach.
And I can't leave out Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch who I'll be taking a three day encaustic workshop from.  One day at Random Arts in Saluda and two days in Asheville at Fleta Monaghan's studio.
By the end of April I should be so totally saturated with ART and FUN and workshops and my intentions are to concentrate and use what I've learned.
BUT...I'm not only doing artsy phartzy things!!  I have FAMILY too!!  My grandson, Patrick and his beautiful fiance' Jen will be getting married the end of April so we'll be off to Florida to attend the wedding and enjoy my family or a few short days.   From there we're going to Disney World..my first time!!  We'll be meeting Artist Lu, another fabulous artist, and her husband who are helping us with our DW details.
So much to look forward to, so much to learn, so many wonderful people to meet in person, so many people to see again, so many trips and so much fun!
I hope you're all having an exciting, artful year too and I know I'll be meeting so many of you ....somewhere.
Love you all..you're my inspiration!!  Welcome 2012!!   I am here!!
Petie

Like me...a Work in Progress!