Clay Classes!

I'm pretty excited! Tomorrow I get to take my first actual clay class! I must say that our polymer clay guild, mmpcg.org, has really helped introduce me to caneing! Beth Ackley, http://www.destined2clay.com/, could easily teach a class herself! Beth is the driving force behind getting Lynne Ann Swarzenberg in to teach the class.

Lynne Ann, http://www.riverpoetdesign.com/, will be teaching her Fabulous Foliage and Petal Mania classes. I have played around with caning a bit, but this is a whole new level! I'm looking forward to learning something new from a master!

We need to use Kato Clay, which I love working with. I must say though, the Milwaukee area doesn't have an outlet where you can walk in and buy it (that I know about)! Online or road trip are your options! Hence, the road trip with my hubby this afternoon! Kenosha and Hobby Lobby. Good times! I'll shop for my Art Camp while I'm there.

I got a bit miffed yesterday after making a mini road trip to a high end art store that has it on their web site. When I asked if they had the Kato, I was told they could get it! I tersely answered that I could too, in this day of the internet, that was useless. Bad form Mrs. Fesser, grace would have been better!

end of the year blues

Well, I am down to only 5 classes to teach until the school year is officially done, and summer vacation begins.  It makes me sad in some ways.  I'll love the time this summer to get my private lessons sorted out and my business organized and kicked up a notch, BUT, I know there are students who I won't see again.  I don't like it when they don't come back to our school, or they move up to middle school.  

I love how they pull the "teacher" inside me out and draw out a creativitiy that sometimes I wonder about.  It has been said that the best definition for creativity is being able to identify a problem and solve it.  The problems faced in a class room sometimes aren't so hard to identify, and a bit harder to solve.  Flexibility and the willingness to "punt" is a great asset!  When dealing with the amazing personalities I get to work with, the flexibility is where I learn how to be a better teacher, and often, person.

The First Time...

...I have blogged.  I guess it's time I enter into this millennium!  There are several blogs I have booked marked that give me creative inspiration.  Maybe this will be one like that for someone else. 

Today was a creative day, thank you God!  Started with French toast for my husband and me, down to the studio for some work on polymer creations for the Bead and Button show, planting cilantro and making my snap peas happy with something to climb, finishing work on the polymer, making business cards, added product to my artfie.com shop, and now a blog.  It's 4:00 pm and I still have time left on this Memorial Day for more!

Speaking of Memorial Day,  THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!