On occasion, I can 'spin a yarn'. (Actually, I really do know how to spin yarn...haven't done it in years, but I do have that skill. #RandomFacts) But the yarn I am spinnin' today is the story of how it came to be that six days into my June series, and after a pretty big Amazon order- I completely abandoned my idea, made six new pieces from scratch and went in a brand new direction. I had it all planned out, my summer artin' I mean. I had planned on FINALLY playing around with these alcohol ink things- that was going to be my June series. I had won a gift card and went on a big #TreatYoSelf shopping spree courtesy of the husband's Amazon Prime account. The packages started coming at the end of May and the last one actually arrived today. Alcohol inks, Yupo paper, blenders...heck, even materials for what I was planning for my July series, too! I was on top of my game. I felt really organized. I totally adulted. #GrownWomanStuff But then on June 5th, I saw the news that accessory designer Kate Spade had died- she committed suicide. And it just really stuck with me.The thing is...I'm not really a designer handbag kinda girl. Growing up we never had money, certainly not for fancy handbags and shoes. Heck, when Keds were popular I couldn't afford them. I remember my stepsister gave me her old pair, which I couldn't fit- I took off the labels and glued it to the back of my plain white shoes from Rose's. I probably didn't have my first 'designer' handbag until I was teaching at Indiantown Middle School. I won teacher of the year and one of my gifts was a Coach wristlet, picked out my my super stylish and fancy friend Siddhi. I had never had a real Coach...well, anything. After that I did go through a period where I would buy the smallest Coach wristlet for myself to mark milestones...but that was it as far as me buying fancy things for myself. My cousin Krista gave me her old Tory Burch shoes (barely worn!) because she got another pair since those didn't fit her quite right. My friends all chipped in and bought me a vintage Badgley Mischka bag for my birthday one year, it is super sparkly and I only bring it out 'for special' (like granny's old fancy towel set)....and I John's sister gave me one of their mom's vintage Fendi bags, one of my most beloved pieces, another piece I only bring out on special occasions. Those are my 'designer' pieces. Everything else is a thrift or clearance find. And the thing is- I never owned a Kate Spade bag. But the fact that someone so talented and notable took their own life...it just made me think about how things aren't always as they seem. Folks can be hiding so much hurt, even if they seem strong, or seem like that have their life together. We are fragile- all of us, designer or no-name brand...we only have one life to wear. And I just started thinking, |
At the end of my series I started thinking about bridal gowns from different cultures...and that led me down a internet rabbit hole. I found waaaaaaay too much. I narrowed it down a bit and just jumped in and started drawing. Lucky for me my good friend Siddhi was only a text away to give me some leads on designers. I checked out designers she told me about from India, and then found even more...next thing I know I was immediately swooning over all the details, and of course the SPARKLE. Gahhhhh. I have already requested that she renew her vows so I can get all gussied up and see this beauty first hand. (oh, and she also did a traditional american wedding, so she had a second WHITE gorgeous dress...'cause she is fancy like that!) |
Okay...enough already, here is my daily work, and some extra pieces 'cause I really LOVED this theme!
When I was searching for my next wedding gown to draw for my #WeddingBellesJLG series I came across a familiar face in a Maggie Sottero ad- Liris Cross! Liris was one of my favorite models from the last season of Project Runway. I loved that they included the plus sized models...and you know, it was just a great bunch of ladies overall. But Liris- she really did steal the show whenever she was on the runway. So congrats Liris- loved seeing you in those glamorous gowns! You look AMAZING! |
Brent and I did a walking field trip with the students- walked close to 5 miles in south Florida in May (it's bascially already summer)...and then we did our art opening that same night.
Both went AMAZING! And now that I have had a full day to recover I can tell you all about it, so have a seat, get comfy, grab your coffee and keep on reading.
First off... 'Art Tours by Brent'
A little about my boy 'B'. I know I have mentioned that he is a surfer but he also a Lake Worth local- and proud of it! He knows all about the history of Lake Worth and whenever he gets a chance he is more than happy to tell you all about it. And he makes it FUN, and always infuses ART into the narrative.
So, Brent has mentioned this idea of a 'walking tour'...ummmm...I think ever since my first year at LWHS. This year- he made that idea a reality. We left with a small group of students around 8:30 in the morning and got back just in time for the bell. We were literally on the move ALL DAY and walked as far east as you possibly can- the Lake Worth Pier!! We meandered our way there and back through the downtown area, looking at the various murals...we did SO MUCH!
Okay, I am getting antsy- I gotta show the pics!
Please note, I will try to get the names or a website/info for any artists that I didn't properly tag- B probably knows them. I just wanted to get this blog post up and share with the world It really was a great experience. Many of our students walk to school, most live nearby and even though some of them had seen a portion of the art in Lake Worth I could see they gained a greater appreciation for it from this trip...and were more knowledgeable of the rich cultural- within walking distance to school and their homes.
Thank you to all of the folks that made the time to talk to us- you empowered our students with the possibilities of heART. You made them feel like a part of the larger artistic community here in Lake Worth and Palm Beach County. You made them feel important. You inspired them.
And Brent Bludworth...YOU are the one that made all of THAT possible!
Next.. our opening at CGMS!
And maybe you are just as crazy as us LWHS art teachin' folk, 'cause that is EXACTLY what went down. I mean, there was about a two and a half hour period for us to go to our respective homes and bathe, get fancied up and grab last minute items to bring for the opening...heck, I even made it over to Ross to pick up a new dress AND I squeezed in a 20 minute nap. But we made it happen- our fourth show at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery.
Just for fun, here are links to blog posts about our previous shows;
May 2015, 'Fish Out of Water'
May 2016, 'Surfer's Paradise'
May 2017, 'Beauty and the Beach'
The first year we were both like...ummmm...here's our work, yay! We didn't have a plan really, we just knew we were working towards a show in May. Each year has been totally different, and totally FUN! Here are some pics from this year;
So that's my story- and why I slept all day yesterday. Literally- ALL DAY. But I would definitely do it all again- I feel great about how I spent my time!
A special THANK YOU to Joyce Brown over at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery for supporting not only the art students at Lake Worth High School- but also us teachers!
We were out of school on Wednesday for graduation...yay! Brent and I got ourselves presentable to join the rest of the staff in seeing the class of 2018 across the stage and off into the world. |
Waaaay back in May 2009 John and I were living in Greenville, NC...and we were working on our graduate degrees.
And then...
I graduated with my MAEd.
This was a HUGE deal for me. Not only because I worked SO HARD for my degree...but honestly, I worked so hard to go to college in the first place for my undergraduate degree. When I was growing up for the early part of my life it was usually just me and momma. She worked second, sometimes third shirt at a local factory to make sure the bills were paid. We stayed with granny some, we stayed with friends...things got better but money was always an issue. I lived in a three bedroom, one bath- no central heat and air. It wasn't ideal, but we made it. Regardless of the instability in my life the one thing that was always there was my mom's love for me and her certainty that I WOULD go to college. I never doubted it. I didn't know how- but I never doubted that I would go.
So I did. I was awarded a North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship and I was able to attend ECU for my undergraduate degrees in Art Education and Textiles. But I didn't stop there. It took me some years later to begin the coursework and get back into it- but I pushed myself to go back and earn my graduate degree, and my National Board Certification the next year.
So when these pictures came across on my FB timeline today, it brought me back to that time, that joy- that love for learning. I'll never lose that, not ever.
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Artist and Art Teacher
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