I had an amazing time!!!

Conference was so much fun.. I learned so much about lessons, got ideas, and got to know a bunch of great art teachers. I even got to make some stuff in workshops. And, of course, the vendors! I have never been to a place like that before. I got so much free stuff. They were so nice, just handing art supplies out. I was in Heaven. Also, they were selling lots of books at discount prices. I bought several books; mostly on Mexican, African and Chinese art. These are places where my knowledge is lacking. Hey, I need to learn and improve! I had such a great experience. It is hard to put into words.

A sign:

My hotel room:

My region:

We got back late last night and then I went right into parent teacher conferences (more conferences!) today into tonight. I have to get up early tomorrow for conferences, but after that, I'm off from school until Monday. This week will be a great time to make some great art. I will post more of my pictures from NYSATA later. I might have time tomorrow. It's snowing so hard outside right now, I might pray for a snow day!!!!

I'm leaving, on a jet plane... or mini van.. or whatever.

I've packed my bags, switched my money to a small wallet instead of my huge one, and got out of bed at 5AM; everything I've needed to do before a trip I've done! I'm also taking a sketch book with me. I'm taking one that is almost full, so if it gets stolen, I know the person liked my art and didn't just need a sketch book. On that note, I've got to go get the pack and play (my Dad is probably on his way.). Everyone have a great weekend! I'll talk to you again Sunday night.
P.S. To all my artist out there, check out google today. Awesome.

Sometimes doing something difficult is only difficult until you try it.

Scared. Angry. Forgiveness. Panic. Frustration. I can honestly say I've had quite a big day. Emotions were running high in my household! Anyway, high emotions make for great art. Except I was to distraught to make any art. Tomorrow is conference, I can honestly say that I am excited to go. This will be my first time going. An entire place were people will have the exact same interest, and job, as me! I am brining my sketchbook and will post as soon as I get back on Sunday. (No post until then.) I leave you with glimpse into my life. A hallway rainbow. My students' one color collages, made from magazines. I know I said I would never put student work on the site, but I hung them on the wall. It counts, because I say so.

Our coffee filter turkeys, because I am a cool teacher, and even big kids need to have fun.

Yummy! Yes, I made these all by myself. I did these butterfly cupcakes for a teacher lunch that I went to. They were impressed, and I was too!!! They came out much better than I thought they would. And yes, you could eat every part of the butterfly.

Aaron gave me roses a few days ago. I love my husband.

Oh, the things I must do...

Last night I went to a party at Maria's. It was amazingly fun. It felt good to chill out with new people. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have my husband by my side. He had to work. :o( Today was a relaxing day. I worked on my art most of the day, a little cleaning, a little cooking (not so much cooking!). I've been working on my ATCs. I have lots of ATCs that I've currently working on. My first set is for one of my bestest friends, Chris. Chris has a crush on Sarah Palin. If you know Chris, you would understand this completely. My second set of ATCs is a mixed bag; these ATCs I will be bringing to my NYSATA conference on Friday. I will be handing them out like business cards. Pretty clever, huh? The last set of ATCs I wanted to do was based on the book From the Mixed -up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is one of my favorite books in the entire world. It is about a pair of kids that run away from home to go live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The same person, E.L. Konigsburgh, wrote and illustrated the book. The illustrations are prints, and they are so beautiful. I had two copies of the book, so yesterday I started to cover this old canvas with pages from the book. It was a painting I did for a friend who I no longer have any contact with. I covered it with pages from the book yesterday before the party, and today I painted it purple and a really pretty shade of blue. When it is finished, it will be a painting of the main character, Claudia, a character I could really relate to during different parts of my life. I tore out all the illustrations from the book and I am going to use those to make a series of ATCs. It's on the to-do list. So I leave you people here with some ATCs I made for conference.

"Never Too Much"

"Lucky"

"Spring"

"Sugar and Spice"