Wonderful Two Days...

I really enjoy having students in my home studio and having a semi-private class is my favorite. They get to learn from each other and explore different things, have another person to get to know and build connections. Eva came from what has become my home-away-from-home, Massachusetts, and Carmella from Quebec. They were well matched skill-wise and we had a wonderful time...
for Carmella's second piece, she made a vessel with pure pelsull...a wonderful wool in lovely heathered greys. This, along with the red c-1/pelsull, was the perfect compliment. Combined with Carmella's skill and you have a winning combo, as you can see! This wool is available at New England Felting Supply by special request (ask Vanessa!)

Eva above working away on her second pod with lots of resists inside :o)
Carmella gently fulling her vessel and some completed pods from the day before in the background.
They learned that ropes take at least an hour of rolling!
Eva's pod after some cutting...

We had such a nice time and I really enjoyed having them and making the connections. I will see Eva again in August while in Massachusetts and hope to see Carmella again too. It was also nice to actually BE in my studio after a change of focus the last couple of weeks.

Today I will have a bit of family time, tidy the studio and get ready to start some piece for a show. You know I will keep you posted!
Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Awaiting...

I have lunch ready, studio tidy and the coffee is ready. I am just waiting for 2 students. Eva arrived last night from Massachusetts and is just up the road at the wee motel. Carmella either did the same or will arrive from Montreal this morning. We will spend 2 days working on pods and 3D forms. Teaching/learning in my studio is always interesting...boys occasionally peeking in, sequestered dog barking, felted things and other art scattered about. I look forward to welcoming them and will post later!

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Neglected

Things I have neglected the last 2 weeks:
My housework
My studio
My art
My Blog (sorry!)

Things I have not neglected:
The boys
Myself
The cooking
Being a soccer mom

I am often asked how I "do it all", well...I don't :o). Ahh, yes, it all gets done and I meet deadlines and don't disappoint (I am careful not to over-commit), but there are things that temporarily fall by the wayside just simply out of necessity.
It is Canada Day today. Happy Birthday Canada! We will watch a movie and do family fireworks and hang out. Later this weekend I will take my youngest to see the musical Billy Elliot in Toronto. I cannot wait. Nothing compares to live theatre in a real big city theatre!
Next week I will seriously tidy the studio and get ready to have 2 students traveling here from a bit of a distance to have a semi-private 2 day "PODS" workshop. Looking at the summer schedule, I know it will go by quickly. I will update you!

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Quandry...Conundrum...

quan·da·ry/ˈkwänd(ə)rē/Noun

1. Perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation: "Andrea is in a quandary".

2. A difficult situation; a practical dilemma

I have completed one of the pieces for the October show I will be in in New Mexico after days and days of back and forth. I have it hanging and it is just missing something. I am in a unique position as it is exactly as I had proposed. It is just like the drawing and sample, but on a larger scale, and (drat!) it is missing something. I will ponder, mull it over and consider what can be done.In the meantime, I will proceed with the set of 3 sculptures for the same show and move forward.

I am still in the throes of end-of-year school matters and figuring out summer schedules. In the last few years, summer has been full of travel for me, teaching here and there, but found this was not a practical plan as I was leaving sad faces behind. You would think as they got older, it would be easier. It is, in fact, more difficult for all of us. I will get there eventually, but won't wish a single day away.I am lucky enough to have people willing to travel to come to me, so I will have some visitors this summer. Looking forward to that!

I also have a plan for the fall that I will officially announce later this summer, once I am all set up.

Visit my site www.andrea- graham.com

Creativity of another sort

Yesterday amongst the tumble weeds of dog/cat hair, it became apparent the house work could be ignored no longer. Floors were vacuumed (The spelling of "vacuum" confounds me), scrubbed...even a base board or two, if you can believe. The hall closet is now free of all the winter boot grit. Shoes, long ago too small for rapidly growing teen aged feet, given to good will. Today some cleaning continues and I am making crumpets with one of my sons. He loves to bake! The studio will then be tidied and READY to go for a full day of felting tomorrow! Is it so?? "See" you tomorrow!
Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Getting my Groove Back

Where the heck have I been? Once again, not sure what vortex sucked me in and when it spit me out, but I feel like I am resurfacing! Dance rehearsals and performances this week for one of my talented off-spring, with a side dish of soccer and then I just may get to that piece on my table. I, along with Jane Thelwell of Anglin Bay Pottery, will be speaking about the Ontario Crafts Council at the Bowmanville High School next week. They have a wonderful credit program for Craft. Fabulous. School almost done and some private students in my studio on the horizon. More interesting update later! TTFN.
Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

News...

I had a great, albeit very brief, visit to Toronto last night for our annual general meeting for the Ontario Crafts Council. With every meeting and event, my affection for this organization, and the people involved, grows. They are so professional, organized and supportive and such an amazing group with a great mix of serious crafts people, patrons and professionals.

I met for a brief moment with Sandra Dupret, Dean/Principal of Fleming College in Haliburton. She will be curating a show of Canadian art at Wayne State University and she has invited me to be included. I am both honoured and excited to take this on. The show will hang in November, so not much time, but I know I can do it.

With summer in sight, and I know it will go fast, I may have a full plate if the 2 projects that were submitted for local grants go through (submitted by others, but that include work for me)

New Mexico show in October, Wayne State U in November. THIS is why I leave lots of gaps in my schedule. You have to be ready for those opportunities that seem to come out of no where which are, in fact, leads from groundwork laid over years of arts practice. Love how those things happen.


Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com