Gabriel

~Well, we took Gabriel off to the Art Institute of Washington this past Tuesday. It is here in Virginia, not Washington state. The school is located in the D.C. area of Arlington, Va., which is about two & half hours from here. (Richmond)
Lucky for us, my husband was raised in Alexandria and the school is only 9 miles from his mothers home. So, we left Tuesday evening, stayed there & got up & took Gabriel to his "housing orientation". The car was all packed with his stuff.
After orientation, they gave him his apartment keys, they don't have dorms, so they house their students in these very nice apartment buildings. I am not kidding, fancy, fancy.Pool & gym.
They are given Metro Passes, to get to & from the school.
So, we made it to his "new digs" & unloaded the car. This is where we took these pictures.
I thought I did pretty well. I didn't cry, I had done plenty of that over the last 2 weeks or so. Not, big "boo hoos", just little moments of getting teary.
Then over the next two days, man, me emotions were all over the place! Mostly happy & proud, but there was also a "feeling lost" feeling. That I really can't describe.
So, by Saturday, I flat out "crashed" and realized, I just needed to sleep. And, sleep I did. And, when I was not sleeping, I read. Hannah has been reading the "Anne of Green Gables" books.
So, I had joined her. She is already done with the 4th book and over the weekend I was able to finish the first & get half way threw the second book.
Yesterday, I woke up & felt soooo much better!
Now, I can move on to my next project.
I am sure, that all the moms out there will totally understand what I was feeling, this past week.
WOW !
ooo~amy~

~Under the Sea Swap~

~From my "swap buddy"~ Kim Turner at Soggy Dog Studios ~
~My, my I have been a busy girl...~
But, what do we have here?
They are the art dolls from Zan's "Under the Sea Swap", over at Wild at Heart .Zan is one of these amazing ladys, not only is she an artist, but she does so much more~like raising bees, in the city!
Well, they are at least two of the many dolls made. My "swap buddy's" & mine. My swap buddy was, Kim, at Soggy Dog Studios. And, looky at my beautiful doll, I was so excited when she arrived. She is just perfect and those are my colors. She is painted fabric & stuffed, then was glazed. I know just where she is going to live here in my house. It just so happens that I am getting ready to paint my dinning room blue. This precious mermaid is going to live amongst my china.
The second doll you see here, was made by me. Her name is "Emmaleen", my daughter Hannah, named her. And, I have to say, she was a pleasure to make. It feels like she came to life in my hands. She grew a little personality.
She is made of paperclay. Then, a crackle glaze was applied. Then I painted her w/ the blues & greens. Then, I used an antiquing glaze here & there. Then finally a clear coat was applied.
~OH~ and the shells were found by my youngest Rowan, when we were at the beach a few weeks back.~ Then she was mailed to my buddy, Kim, in Florida! What a lucky little "mer-girl", to live in Florida. Specially, since she loves collecting shells, so much.
:)
~amy~

~Wonka Pictures~

Here are a few pictures from "Willy Wonka". In the last picture you can see how large the cast was, I think something like 85 kids ! Ages 6 to 18~
They were amazing, so talented. It was a very exciting show. Brooke Abrahamsen,the director makes all this magic happen with the kids, she really knows her "stuff"~ how she does it~I don't know? But, she is a pleasure to work with, she is also Artistic Director of CYT.
these pictures were taken by Doug Meacham~ my pictures never turn out this good.

:)
amy

~PICTURES !~

~I have pictures !~ For the past few weeks when I would try & post pictures, NOTHING, it was very frustrating. ~ But, this morning, "the puter goddess" smiled on me.~
~I am not going to ask "why", I am just going with it.~
~So, I was going to post about the play, Willy Wonka , that I was working on & the Under the Sea Doll Swap~
~But, I was browsing my pictures & "WOW", so much has happened in the past month or so.~ So much I would have blogged about.~

I will save both of those for the next two days.~ Because, both deserve their own posts.~

~SO~ they say "A PICTURE is WORTH a THOUSAND WORDS"~
my last post had no pictures, this one is all about the pictures.

~Willy Wonka~

~for some reason~i am not able to get any pictures to post~today~So, i must rely on the written word today~

~So~ another 10 days or so have passed since my last post~Must mean I am painting another set~
~I have been~ this one is for the Christian Youth Theatre~"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"~
~I truly love working with this theatre~all the actors are children, ages 5or6 to 18~And, if you are a parent with a child in the show~you are committed to work on the set in one way or another~building,painting,costumes,promotions,props,set changing during the show~then they have fund raisers, auctions,selling concetions & crafts~& so much more~
~I am completely blown away by these wonderful parents, who happily, mind you~they really do seem to be enjoying themselves~give up like 5 to 6 Saturdays in a row~plus they come in on Thursday & Friday nights from 6-9, to work on these sets.~
~I was hired to guide them in the painting of the sets.~Some have painting skills, most do not~
~But, no worry's, they happily take on any task I give them and are genuinely pleased to learn about the scenic painting process.~And~ they do an amazing job.~Everything is looking fabulous~
~And~this is a BIG,BIG show~designed by Arther(don't know how to spell his last name,I will add it later)~so, a BIG set, with lots of fun stuff~"Very Wonka"~Arther, has been there side-by-side~ working with everyone.~It really is an ultimate in family fun.~Seeing everything come together~Very satistying~& one of the things I love about working in theatre~
~BUT~ these parents~ REALLY AMAZING !!!~
~Willy Wonka, opens this coming Friday~

~Great Way to Start the Day~

~I am posting this video~ because it is just WoNdErFuL !~ i saw it on Gritty Jane's bloggy~
~ take a minute & watch it~
~What a Great way to start the Day~
~How dull our world would be without the arts~
~EnJoY~

~amy~

~HAPPY MOTHERS DAY !~

~HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !~
~Blessings on this lovely day~

~amy~

~The Perfect Day~

~I love, love this picture of Rowan & her Daddy~

~this past Sunday~May, 3rd. 2009~ Rowan received her First Holy Communion.~and~ I just wanted to share a few moments of that day with you.~
~It really was a perfect day~and~ I'm not talking about the weather.~Which was one of those sunny rainy days, I like very much.~ I am talking about the feeling of the day~ it was filled with excitement & joy.~
~We had to be at Our Lady of Lourdes, all dressed pretty by 8:00am, for the 8:30 mass.~ I was so, excited that I had troubles falling asleep.~ I had stayed up & finished making Rowan's vial.~By the time I went to bed~ the excitement of the next day, had already set in.~
But, we made it.~just slightly late~
~The mass was beautiful~all the children receiving communion that day~took part in the mass, by bringing the gifts to the alter or giving a reading.~Shari K., who runs the Religious Education Program, did a wonderful job making this mass one that you could never forget.
~And, when Rowan walked up to Father Bob & received her First Communion, I did get very teary & a great feeling of happiness filled my heart.~It was just so very lovely.~
~After a cake & punch celebration at the church, we all met at Strawberry Street Cafe~where we made reservations for brunch.~The celebration continued with family.~
~ It truly was a perfect day~ it was perfect, because it unfolded before us so lovingly.~
~Thank You Jesus~ I Love You~
~amy~