Old is New

                (click to enlarge)
You are no doubt wondering what I've been up to lately.....on a bit of a mania (yikes!), albeit a good one. I have come up with lots of new pieces cause I am simply exploding with ideas.

I've been teaching my private lesson students (at the store) and that is just so much fun- I adore working with people one on one, we accomplish so much and I can tailor the class precisely to their needs. In fact, most of my students come with a specific project in mind and I work with them to accomplish it, "releasing" them once they are confident to proceed on their own. I feel a bit like a Mother Bird, pushing them out of the nest, watching them fly. And they are brilliant of course, capable of so much more than they ever imagined. When I was a kid my Grandpa Hoffman used to say that I should be a teacher. I hope he is watching now as I enjoy this so very much.

In other news, I am more obsessed with texture than ever before. I'm using the Wood Icing paste and it works beautifully with my stencils, so that is quite nice, yippee! These are a couple pieces I finished this week. The techniques here are similar to the ones I am offering in my Three Times Charming class at Art Unraveled in August. Check out the website for details regarding all the classes - still space in both of mine!! And I hear all these people say "Phoenix in August?" Well, guess what, St. Louis is August is ?!? too, as are many areas. So seriously, I welcome the chance to stay in Phoenix making art with other fun peeps - what could be better? I will also vend my stencils and introduce other new items (hint - can you say rubber stamps? They coordinate with the stencils). Yep, you heard it here first.

Well, I gotta boogie and get outside for my walk before the weather turns too beastly. We are having an early hot spell. I hope this does not mean we have been propelled directly into summer? But you never know, we are in St. Louis, after all.