Surfacing....

Just like that....its OVER!!!

Whew!!!!!

First things first....a NAP!!! Then....kids off to Camp Granny's for a bit of a vacation while I finish some workdays....

Can you say...excited!! Yes, she is...especially after her Dad took her out shoe shopping for some new Toms...
You may know where I headed, right....yup...you guessed it...straight to the studio...

I can't think of a better way to wash away all of the rough than in my studio....I've got all of my inks out and sorted for my demo at Jerry's....Inks along with oh, so much other stuff!!!

After my demo...lets just keep the fun going with a play date with my friend Melanie over at Rabbit Hole Art

So...that's pretty much all that has been going on here....just trying to catch my breath a little and shake off the school year.  This Thursday will be a week since the kids left the building, and this girl was truly exhausted!  

Until next time,

Ophelia

Survival Mode...and whats on my easel..

Its Tuesday....and oh, what a relief that is.  One and a half days for the kids left in school, and as I was driving home today, I realized that I am in serious survival mode....











So, here is my journaling for this week...speaking nothing more than pure survival.  Doing what I can to make it through the day, and dragging in DOGG tired, only to do it all again the next day.  My house is seriously trashed from lack of doing anything around here, but...I promise, once school is out...I'll get to it...sigh...All I really want to do is paint and play.  Seriously.

Here is a look at what has been going on on my easel.....

I have been taking an Abstract Painting class on Monday nights, and its oh, so fun.  Way out of my element, but so much fun.

I am not used to the free flowing trust yourself kind of class that this is, but I'm going along with it as it is such a release after a long day of work....  I am learning to not only trust the process, but enjoy it as well, and that, my friends is quite freeing...

Until next time,

Ophelia

Its Birthday Time...

 This little fiesty Princess of ours turns 7 today.  Oh, how time simply flies by.  I can completely remember the day she was born and having to go through all of the battery of test to make sure that she was ready to be born...she was delivered 5 weeks early as a precaution.  Insert one tiny detail here...I was sick the entire time.  The final test was an amniocentesis (I think thats the right word) on the day before she was born.  UGH...double UGH.   I was assured that it would be simple...NOT....once it was over, we all waited - as my family was already here from out of town for her delivery.  We headed home and waited for a call from my doctor to make sure that the delivery was a go for the next day.   When she called, the news was not good...and as always I had options. 
Option 1 - Wait two weeks and do the proceedure again---, my immediate reaction to Option 1 was---NOT!
Option 2 - hold on...let me check with the team of doctors and I'll call you back.... Thanks Doc...that is perfect.
And so, at bright and early AM, we headed back to the hospital....I just love options, don't you!!! 

So, today, we shall celebrate with her friends at her favorite party place....I feel like I have been preparing for this for weeks - I honestly thought it would be simple to have her party somewhere else, which is why I booked it elsewhere, but there is still so much to prep for....and yes, there was art involved...

As party favors, we decided to tie dye shirts for all of her friends....all 25 of them...

So, we moved our art from the studio to the kitchen counter....oh, I wish you could see my hands...but, magic it was.  I haven't dyed fabric in years, and I sure miss the magic in the mystery that it brings.  This whole set up makes me want to head to the basement for the bins of dyes that I have....

So the shirts have been dyed and finished....and since I still have tons of work to be done around here, I'd better get going. 

Oh...and did I mention that I have 4 days left of school with my students....welp....3 and a half, but seriously, I'm not counting!!!!!

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!!

Until next time,

Ophelia



We Survived.....

I hope that you all had a restful weekend filled with all of the things that bring you true joy.  Ours was a quiet, restful - much needed R&R kind of weekend that could not come soon enough....and just as quickly slipped by.....

Thank you all so much for the "love" that you sent last week....it paid off...my son passed his end of grade tests with flying colors....and growth!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you ALL!!!

Today at work begins the remediation for those that did not pass....sigh....the thought of having to go through another testing session just makes me wish for summer vacation to come on already....  I can't stand it....

Which leads me to my studio thoughts....

I just want to be FREE!!!!  Not in my box thats room 131, but free to spend my days as I wish....sigh...

Theres a little dream that is planted in my heart....and, I'm working to grow it.  Some days it feels so far away, and I constantly remind myself--"Don't you dare give up!!"

Enjoy your day everyone.

Until next time,

Ophelia



A Little Tuesday Love..

Good morning everyone,

I wanted to stop in and just get a bit of uplifting for the week ahead.  Around here, its End of Grade testing week...and, well, my oh my are my nerves all torn up.  Today officially starts the test, and I just can't stand the pressure.  My kids at school just work so hard, so I am hoping the best for them that all goes well....and then, my kid at home that puts so much pressure on himself about school and his grades...serious pressure!!!  I will never forget the look on his face back in 4th grade when I got to his school to pick him up and he did not pass his reading test...ugh...I just can't take it...  So...please send good energy and vibes this way...we are shooting for 4's all around...ok...

Now, to the studio...well, my studio away from home at the Durham Arts Council where I am taking my class....

Some nights are just better than others...and last night was just not a good night.  I don't know what the deal is with me and a canvas...not even sure of what.  I start, but then, well thats about it.  I have no idea of where to go, and that drives me crazy.  So, I start, start again, and again.  Thank goodness for gesso!!!

I am not even sure of why this photo is turned on its side.....I think its time to kiss my lovely scanner goodbye.  Its been a good long run, but now, it simply wont work.  So, I have to take the long route with taking a picture with my phone, then email, then...blah, blah, blah....

I hope that you guys have a great week....

Thanks in advance for the good vibes!!!

Until next time,

Ophelia

Journals all over the place...

Happy Mothers Day, my friends.  I hope that you are enjoying your special day...how ever you choose to spend it. 
Here, its been a great day....so far.....my husband took the kiddos out for a few hours, and well, you can probably imagine where this momma went.  Welp...thats after a quick nap of course....





Gosh, my space is a serious mess....such proof that I really do work here...

On yesterday, I spent the most glorious day....I found a place in Durham called the Scrap Exchange...its too bad that I was too wild eyed to actually take any pictures...OMG...a warehouse filled with all kinds of goodness..ALL KINDS!!  I got sewing patterns, maps, blueprints, more giant maps...tags, number stickers, postcards, soooo much stuff....and all of the goodness for under $20!!!!  The back of my car was filled!!!  I spent all day today talking myself out of going back again to get more...seriously, I am in LOVE!!

More work in my journal that I showed you guys in my last post....this journal truly takes a beating!!!

My other table....working in my other journal.  Can you say serious mess....  Just goofing off in my spiralbound journal.  I keep telling myself to just work in only one journal, but, well....thats no fun!!!  I have at least kept it to playing in only two...or three...

Anyway, the family just pulled into the driveway, so I'd better get scootin'.  You guys have a great day.

Until next time,

Ophelia

A New Kind of Wonderful!!

I found myself a new journal, and I have to say, I'm kinda in love.

Its a hardbound....and so far...I've added a few stickers just to begin.  I found these at Jerry's...and they come in a package 3 for $17!!!  The paper is awesome, because I really get them wet with watercolors and they hold up so very nicely!!


I have truly enjoyed working in this journal...well...this is only the first page...but so far, very good....Its by Daler-Rowney a Classic Sketchbook....and for the price, welp, I figured I couldn't go wrong...so as you might imagine...I went back and bought several more!!!  Lets just say, I'm pretty stocked on journals for a while!!

Back to my spiral bound...I've done a few backgrounds to prepare for a class I'm teaching...I think I have been playing to get out of packing for the class for a bit longer...I just have to do a better job at not trashing the place so much when I pack...

I have for some reason lately been on a washi tape binge....I just can't get enough of those little beauties.  They really add a lot of character to a page....or, at least thats what I tell myself when I find them!!!

I hope that you are all enjoying a great Saturday....the little girl and I skipped out on baseball today (for Shame!!) and had a mom/daughter day at her request...I'm in!!!  The girl of mine is already into shoes!!!  Really????


















Have a great weekend everyone....I'd better get busy packing!!!
Until next time,
Ophelia