My last day of work was today...

Today was my last day of teaching. I had to say good-bye to my 34 awesome 5th graders. It was such an emotional day. They presented me with a "Connecticut Survival Kit" which included the following:

1) a handmade fleecy blanket with a huge red heart appliqued on it. The blanket is to wrap around me on those freezing days and nights so I can feel their love.
2) purple (my favorite color) fleecy socks to keep my toes toasty while I'm wrapped in my blanket.
3) a wonderful book that describes all the sites of New England.
4) boxes of different teas and hot chocolate to drink while I'm wrapped in my blanket wearing my socks and reading my book.

I also got from a student a silver charm with the work CREATE. She wanted to thank me for doing the art journals every Friday in class. She said that she didn't think she was creative until she started the journal. Hers is BEAUTIFUL!!!
To add fuel to the crying fire, my husband sent a HUGE bouquet of flowers to my school, I received a dozen red roses from a boy in my class, and more altered letters and cards that one could possibly imagine. I was in shock.
Now, I get to sit home for a month before I move with my 3 sons to be with my DH in CT. It's a good thing it's a month away...hopefully the swelling of my eyes will go down by then.
I guess I'll have lots of time for art now.

Something's cookin' for Barb!

This is for a RR journal for my friend Barb. Her journal is made from an old cookbook. This was very challenging for me since I don't cook! There is a mini bundt pan and a spoon hanging off the side. You can't see them. I hope she likes it!

A challenge for Altered Designs...

Kelly posted a challenge to use the hands that I used in my 3x3. This is my interpretation of that image. It's how I feel right now...like I'm holding the world in my hands...

Sunday in California!

We're back from our trip back East. I had LOTS of laundry to do, a house to clean, and school plans to make. So...I decided to finish my 4x4s for a Polka Dot and Paisley fatbook I'm in! It was a great way to spend a Sunday! Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a happy turkey day. Mine was lovely, eating here at my in-laws house in upstate NY. I am so incredibly burnt out from looking at houses and checking out Newtown, CT, the thought of cooking was not appealing at all.

I wish I had better news but my house still has not sold. We did secure a GORGEOUS lakefront property to rent for three months. Now my children can register for school legitimately. The superintendent of schools here was very nice; he was going to let me register my kids with the promise having a permanent home in 120 days! After that, we would have to pay tuition. The Newtown school district is impacted. But because I showed up with my realtor and I'm a teacher as well, he was going to "bend the rules". Now we can have them there guilt free.

Back to the lakefront property...it is simply gorgeous. It is a 3rd home owned by a multi-millionaire. He was originally going to rent it to a director to a movie being filmed here, but the director never signed the lease. We really lucked out. The house is completely furnished, and I mean furnished! I guess I have something to really be thankful for this year!

Until I have more news...have a great time celebrating with family and friends!

OUT OF ORDER!!!

OK...hopefully that got your attention. I'm currently in Danbury, CT with Gary (yay!!!) and the three boys. It was a VERY uneventful trip which is a miracle when traveling with my sons! Today is the day we hopefully get an offer on our house. If that actually happens, we get to put an offer on a house out here. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let that be the case.

I can't do any art for a few days, but I will try to give an update as to what's going on in in my insane world!!!

Have a great Thansgiving everyone!!!

I had time for the challenge

on Altered Designs. I feel like I don't have time to breathe; art is a REAL treat right now! But I just love this image. ANd I don't want to fall out of the loop.

We had another Open House today,,,

so I took the boys to see American Gangster. I just love Denzel Washington. The movie was long but very good. When I sat down to make my 3x3 this evening, I found this image and for some reason it reminded me of the movie. So I named this one "Frankie and Johnny" in honor of the Open House and the movie!

For whatever reason I felt like making two 3x3s. Maybe because I haven't made one in 2 days and I don't have to go to work tomorrow. Wahoo! A day off! Anywho...this one is titled "H". H is for home, Honey...hold me, help, HOUSE FOR SALE!!! Ya think I want my house to sell and see my husband or what?!

I'm in a "Dark Book" RR with a group of fine ladies!

The top photo is my cover. It's made from 2 5x7 canvases. The second photo is what you see when you open the journal. The last photo is the back of my book/sign-in page. This should be quite the interesting RR because I usually work in light colors. The artists in this RR are awesome; this is going to be short but sweet!

A "Non-moving" Piece.

I just didn't feel like thinking about the move today. Instead I just wanted to focus on my class. The day was loooooonnnnnng! The students were tired and I had such a headache and didn't really feel like doing anything when I got home. Then I remembered the promise I made to myself about the 3x3s and tried to make a happy piece. It certainly made me forget about the move for awhile!

A Peaceful Day...

Which is really hard to believe! I managed to avoid all parental contact, although I did get a few emails from parents that I couldn't ignore. I'm really happy that the parents are letting me have my privacy concerning the move and my last few weeks with their children undisturbed. I do have to meet with them for Parent-Teacher conferences and that will come with a lot of questions! But it will be my last week working when that happens.....

I made this piece because it was a happy, peaceful day. I don't seem to get too many of those lately. Perhaps I'm on an upswing (and my house will sell??? )

The Tears Fell...

I had to tell my students today that I was leaving. This was so difficult for me to do; I knew how they were going to react. It seemed like everyone was crying, boys as well as girls. Those that didn't cry just sat there in shock. I turned their world upside down and it felt just awful. The amazing thing to me was how quickly the news spread after school. School dismisses at 2:45 and by 2:48 I had students from every grade level in my classroom! I was truly amazed. I'm NOT looking forward to the reactions from the parents. (They're going to be angry; how could I possibly leave?) I now know that I have 13 school days left with 34 of my favorite 5th graders. I want to make the best of it!

Lend a Hand?

This is how busy I was today. I could have used an extra hand several times today. Since I didn't have one, I figured I'd just make one for myself! All I know is that I'm SO happy it's the weekend.

I have to go to my son's wrestling tournament tomorrow. I wonder what kind of a 3x3 that'll produce!

I'm moving...

And man, is it a move! My family is moving back to the east coast after living in California for the past 9 years. This is a BEAUTIFUL area to live in, but the schools in this state are horrendous and the cost of living is out of this world. It is also extremely crowded; we miss the beauty and tranquility of NY state.

So, we're moving because my husband got a WONDERFUL job opportunity in Connecticut. Both of our families live on the east coast and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to go back. Needless to say, my children are not thrilled, but they are very understanding and I think a little sick of California living as well. My oldest (18 years old) is having the hardest time out of the three boys. He goes to the local community college with a bunch of his friends and would like nothing more than to stay. But realistically speaking, he knows it isn't feasible.

I'm currently miserable because my husband is already in CT working and I'm here in CA teaching full time, taking care of the kids AND working like a slave to keep my house neat and clean for the people who are coming through. I HATE THIS PART!!!!!

To get through this move, I thought about keeping a written journal to record this whole pain in the arse experience, but then it hit me...why not record this experience by making the 3x3s that I love to make? So here we go...

This is the first piece I made on October 29th. It's called "Get a Grip!" I used blue acrylic to reflect my mood and Kosher salt for the tears I've been crying just about every day. The wings will help me fly away from all the stress. The red crown represents the fire I know I still have somewhere inside me...it just needs to be rekindled.

This piece was made on Halloween. I was home all alone. All three boys were out and about. I ate dinner by myself, had a glass of wine, and made this on the kitchen table while waiting for the doorbell to ring. I also worked on a RR journal that evening as well. First quiet and completely relaxing night I had in a long time...

I made this one this evening. It's called "SELL MY HOUSE!" I had to lower the price of the house because the market here is just horrible. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude, but it's so incredibly hard. the houses here used to sell in a day; LITERALLY! Now they're on the market for weeks. I'm not a happy camper.

Check back tomorrow...I'm going to try to make a 3x3 everyday...