"Dear Diary..."

import/export business

although I was a bit scared, I managed to export my other blog posts as a file, and then import them into this blog.
the point is to morph the two into one, so please be patient as I copy, edit, and delete.
hope to have most of it done today, so that I may downgrade again, and save more money.
unfortunately these days, it's all about the money.
I did go to Blogspot, as several of you suggested, but had a great deal of trouble with it.
(probably because I'm on a Mac, using Safari, and we still have dial-up.)
and I've been using Typepad for a long time now, and really like many of the features that are available to me.
we'll see how this all shakes out.
I will also be deleting my website soon.
just need to simplify, put everything in one place.
I will keep you posted (no pun intended), and will have some new things to share soon.
later,
Patty

changing the way we do...

actually, it's just more of "making do."

and, as my husband has often told me, I am the Queen of Making Do.

I've decided to downgrade my typepad account, to save a little money.

as far as I can tell, none of the features that I care most about have been affected...

yet...

I'll keep you posted.

I'm also considering deleting my website, since most of that info. is duplicated here, and morphing my other blog into this one.

I've explored the free blogging world this month, and I'm hesitant.

baby steps.

so here goes the downgrade...

(did anyone hear a crash?)

later,

Patty

resolve

as I said yesterday, I'm not one for making resolutions.

but one of the things I want to get back to this year is posting art on Illustration Friday.

and with this week's theme of "resolve," well, I just had to!

I may not post something every week, but I'm going to try to visit more often.
still "tweaking" the blog design, and running into problems trying to post, using this new, improved typepad system on Safari.
so I've switched to Firefox, at least for blog posting purposes.
it's a pain.
but I'm making do.
because, I am the Queen of Making Do.
which reminds me, I have some "mending" I have to do.
(does anyone do mending anymore??!?)
later,
Patty

here's to the life that is waiting for us...

decided we should start 2009 with a new look, banner, color scheme, etc.

not finished "tweaking" yet, so check back often to view the transformation.

I'm not one for making resolutions, but the very act of starting a new year has to make you think a bit about what happened in the past, and what changes you'd like for your future.

and this Joseph Campbell quote sums it up for me pretty well.

I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff in the past eight years or so.

not just the physical clutter.

(still working on that!)

and gradually, I've come to terms, let go of certain dreams, in order to heal and move on.

when my first marriage ended, much of the life I had planned ended.

it took some time, but I reinvented myself, in a way.

now, I realize that the dream of being a stay-at-home-full-time-artist is neither practical, nor probable.

I've returned to a portion of my previous life, as a teacher.

a substitute teacher.

and I'm loving it!

and as time passes, I'm finding that I'm no longer in a creative black hole.

I'm enjoying my artwork, again, in moderation, knowing that paying the mortgage does not depend on me selling collages as fast as I can make them!

don't get me wrong - I still want (and need!) to sell my work, but I just can't do it the way I've done it in the past.

change is good.

by the way, the new banner is for sale.

it's a 4" by 12" canvas, with vintage buttons, letter tiles, and words cut from an old children's book.

if you're interested in purchasing it, e-mail me.

now, back to the celebration.

woo-hoo!

later,

Patty

 

class at Assemblage

it has been quite a while since I posted anything, but I've been very busy as a substitute teacher, and getting the last of the holiday greeting card orders packed and shipped.

we also had to put down our sweet old cat, Thumper, recently, and it has left a huge hole in our lives, in my heart.

she was almost 17, she wasn't in pain, but her condition was irreversible.

she was tired, and it was time.

I have encouraged our family and friends who would normally send Christmas gifts to send a donation to the Door County Humane Society instead.

there's a link in the left column here if any of you wish to do the same.

yesterday I taught a class at Assemblage in DePere - what a fantastic shop, and Teresa couldn't be nicer!

we made Christmas cookie plates, reverse collaging on clear glass plates.

she always has something going on, so check out her website and class schedule here.

now, it's back to packing cards, and then I will reward myself with an afternoon of art-making - I'll share the project I'm working on later.

later,

Patty

customer appreciation sale

in appreciation to all my customers, old and new, I am running a sale of my Christmas cards on my etsy shop. 

from now until December 10th, all these cards are just $1.50 each, shipping included. 

this is the lowest price these cards have ever been, and I'm hoping to clear out all that I have in stock. 

the new year will bring lots of changes, and we're going to start fresh. 

AND, anyone who orders at least NINE cards will receive a tenth card FREE. 

thanks again to all who have supported my artistic efforts in the past, and happy holidays. 

later, 

Patty

vocalizing again

quote of the day

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do."

Benjamin Spock, American pediatrician and author, 1903-1998

today I was subbing for the elementary music teacher, and I must admit, I was scared to death.

even though my degree is in music, I was an orchestra teacher, and definitely (ask any of my former students!) NOT a singer.

nor a pianist, to any degree.

I could lead any group, and "pound parts," as I called it, on the piano, but I never accompanied my students in any performance.

and, I actually think it made them better musicians.

they did not have a loud piano, or electronic music track (ooh, don't get me started on that one!) to follow, and had to rely on counting and listening.

anyway, I had K, 1st, and 2nd graders today, and I'm pleased to say it went very well.

Mrs. Regularmusicteacher was extremely well-organized, and everything I might need to know was in her notes and lesson plans.

I think I could actually do this again...

later,

Mrs. O'R

"no whining" book sale

although it's very difficult for me to part with books, I realize that's it's once again time to sort through, deal with the excess, clean out, and make room for new.

cope, adjust, and move on.

(that's what I tell my students, when they begin to whine.)

so, with no whining, I have listed 20+ books in my Amazon storefront, and have priced them to sell, as they say.

every book, whether paperback or hard cover, is just $5.

(plus shipping.)

all of them are in like new condition, and are also listed here, on the blog, in the right-hand column.

please give them a good home.

later,

Patty

"no whining" book sale

although it's very difficult for me to part with books, I realize that's it's once again time to sort through, deal with the excess, clean out, and make room for new.

cope, adjust, and move on.

(that's what I tell my students, when they begin to whine.)

so, with no whining, I have listed 20+ books in my Amazon storefront, and have priced them to sell, as they say.

every book, whether paperback or hard cover, is just $5.

(plus shipping.)

all of them are in like new condition, and are also listed on my art blog, in the right-hand column.

please give them a good home.

later,

Mrs. O'R

do you love auctions?

I especially love silent auctions, and I am participating in one right now.

the Fairfield Art Center in Sturgeon Bay, WI will be having their annual holiday fundraising gala on November 20th, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm.

besides fabulous food and wine and music (provided by my friend, Brenda!),

the evening will also feature a silent auction, with artwork donated by many Door County (and other) artists.

I created and donated a collage with the quote from my banner, "Art is not..." but I forgot to take a picture of it before I dropped it off last week!

crap.

but those of you in this area can see it (and start bidding!) NOW.

the show of auction items, in the main gallery, opened last Friday, and you may enter a bid on anything that strikes your artistic fancy anytime between now and the end of the auction on November 20th.

so even if you cannot attend the gala, you have a chance to see all the wonderful donations, and put in your bid.

gallery hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm.

hope you have a chance to stop by.

later,

Patty