Emotional Rollercoaster

On Saturday, August 3rd, we lost our sweet Sadie. She was just over 12 years old and she was our fur baby. She had suffered from skin allergies for most of her life. In the last several years she also suffered from awful arthritis in her back legs. She never complained though, she was always a happy pup. Yes, she could be stubborn, but that was as much a part of her as her very expressive eyebrows and her "Chewbacca" grumbling. 

She was by far the sweetest, most loving dog. She helped me keep my sanity after losing my mom. She would stay by my side and lay her head on my lap whenever the sadness overwhelmed me. She certainly knew who the soft touch was in our house (my husband) and would gaze at him longingly whenever he had food, not to mention, follow him anywhere. She also liked having conversations with several of our friends who knew how to speak "Sadie". She was definitely a people dog and believed everyone who came to the door was there to see her.

Our house is so quiet without her and there is a definite hole in our lives and hearts that will never be filled. I know someday we will get another dog, but there will never be another Sadie.
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I did have something positive happen today, I received acceptance into Kent's 20th Annual Art in the Park . It will be held on Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th at Kent's Fred Fuller Park. I'm really happy about it as I did very well at this event last year. I hope this year will be just as successful. I feel I have a lot more to offer and definitely new and unusual items, such as my beadwoven images. I also hope the weather is beautiful and the turnout is huge.

Frameable Pieces and Upcoming Events

This is my second frameable piece. This one is called "Into Chautauqua Lake".
It was created using over 20 different Delica colors and consists of almost 4,300 beads.
I created and sold a cuff which featured these trees as well,
though it was based on a different photo.

Here are both frameable pieces..."Into Chautauqua Lake" and "Serenity".

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, July 21st at the Terry Macklin Center in Solon, OH from noon until 5:30pm
(Proceeds will benefit the Cleveland Animal Protective League)
and
Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th
at the St George's Fellowship Center in Fairlawn, OH from 11am to 5pm both days
(Proceeds will benefit Jade's No Kill Rescue)

I will also be participating in the Oddmall "Chrishanukawazmadan"
on Saturday, November 2nd at the Clarion Inn & Conference Center in Hudson, OH
from 10am to 6pm

 After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided not to apply for Winterfair in Columbus this December. If, by some crazy chance I had been accepted, I would have to be prepared to spend three very long days on my own, as well as have enough pieces to last the entire event. An event of that length would require months and months of preparation and I have not had enough time this year with work and the shows I've already accepted. Next year I am going to plan out which events I would like to apply for and keep them to a minimum. I would also like to inquire about having my pieces in the Cleveland Natural History Museum gift shop or the Akron Art Museum and possibly at the Don Drumm Studio. It is still my goal to create art full time and I'm hoping the experience I've gained through these shows will be the catalyst to make that goal a reality.

1st Art Show was a Success!

On the 8th and 9th of September, I participated in Kent's Art in the Park and it was an amazing first art show for me! I was extremely nervous about it beforehand and didn't sleep much at all the night before, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience, even with the rain and chilly temperatures! I had a lot of interest in my pieces and sold quite a few. I made enough to cover all my costs (including the tent!) and still made some money...you can't ask for more than that!

I would like to thank my family for all their support. To my sweet husband; thank you for all your patience and putting up with my beads and jewelry covering every surface in the house, for setting up and taking down my booth and for supporting me each and every day as I create, and especially for telling me, "Don't worry, if it doesn't work out at this show, there's always another one." To my beautiful girls; thank you for your love and support and giving me new and fresh ideas all the time. Amy, thank you so much for being there and helping me both days...all day, I couldn't have done the show without you! To my brother-in-law, Todd (of http://toddalanstudios.com/); thank you so much for the display ideas and prodding me to charge more for my art.

I would also like to thank a very special couple, Pete and Lois; I know it was my art that got me in the show, but they wouldn't have looked if you hadn't shown them! I cannot thank you enough for that! And I hope to be a part of Art in the Park every year from now on.

I'll post pictures of my booth set up as soon as I get them from my dearest!