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Here is another illustration from that assignment.
I thought I was feeling better, but have ended up back in bed for the last two days. It's so frustrating. I have so many things to do and have a hard time taking the time out that I need to recover. I just want to bounce back and be myself again.
If you pray, please say a prayer for me. I could use all the prayers and well wishes you can muster!
Oh my, I have been a walking zombie for over a week. So happy to finally feel like myself again. I've been suffering from an ear infection and the flu. No fun. So if you've emailed me or left a comment, I will eventually get back to you, I'm just behind on everything at the moment.
I've been working on a little assignment for a Spanish kids magazine, here is one of the finished pieces. And by tomorrow I should have a few new prints up on my site. Well, old ones, but new ones for sale!
So glad to be back!
Okay, I have been dying to tell everyone this news! It's now official, I'm the new Regional Advisor for our chapter of the SCBWI here in Southwest Texas!
The what? SCBWI is the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. The organization is broken up into geographical chapters run by volunteers. The regional advisor is the one in charge of the chapter.
It wasn't an easy decision. It's a big job with a lot of responsibility. I've been mulling it over since April, thinking, "Could I do this?" And by November it was, "Should I do this?" And in January it became, "Yes, I want to do this!" I love the SCBWI! The people that I've met through this organization have been incredible. I hope to offer as much support and encouragement to our members as I've received over the last 3 years.
I've been the Illustrator Coordinator for our chapter for a few years. I've organized meetings, brought in speakers and made sure the illustrators had a voice on our planning committee. I also helped put together our fall conference. I have a great group of very dedicated volunteers to work with. Planning things, running meetings, public speaking, these are all natural things for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
So that's it, that's my big news. I know you were all hoping I was having a baby or got a book deal or landed yet another television appearance. Nope, nothing so heart-stopping. But exciting to me all the same!
Studio Friday's topic this week is fear.
I'm afraid I'll never meet the expectations that I set for myself.
And now that I've said that, it's time to work on letting that go. I am flawed and lovely. Full of great ideas and always pressed for time. My life is mundane and yet miracles surround me everyday. I plan too much and never finish. I am just me. I try my hardest, sometimes I flourish, other times I'd like to run for cover.
The monthly to-do is floating around in my head. I don't think I'll worry about it much this month. February is officially a catch up month for me. I have projects that need to be finished, lose ends to tie up.
Articles that need to be sent out. 1 & 2
Postcards for an event in March.
Sponsor stuff for the Bead Cruise.
Press Release for my Bead of the Month.
My little day to day lists are full of things to finish. It's hard to look at the bigger picture this month, when so many things need to be cleared out of the way.
Oh I have something official to share with you. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to let the cat of the bag. I know, shame on me for keeping cats stuffed in bags, but you'll just have to wait.
Here are some polymer clay links for you:
A nice polymer clay blog, devoted to the subject.
Polymer clay that is art.
I love this jewelry/bead designers take on polymer clay, very nice. She has a great mix of silver and other beads with her work. I like it.
My all time favorite polymer clay artist: Cynthia Toops and a few links to see her amazing work: here, here and here.
And then there is this, which is just a big whole hunk of clay. goodness sakes. Which oddly enough makes me want to tackle a large cane. It would make my life so much easier. Maybe I'll give one a try this week, but more like a size of a Swiss cake, not a layer cake for crying out loud!
Come back tomorrow for my monthly to-do list and other beady news.
Bead for Life is an organization that is helping fight poverty in Uganda by teaching communities the skills to make beaded jewelry.
They have over 150 previously destitute families in Africa earning a good living way through their bead making. How can you help? They sell jewelry on their site, you can host a Bead Party, make a donation or link to their site. For more information visit www.BeadforLife.com.
They have a section that you can read about some of the people who's lives are being changed by this program. They've been written up by Oprah and supported by Clay Aiken. They offer a very unique way to teach people to help themselves!
Today is the day! I spent some time putting up a few prints for sale on my website. Some of my favorites are up along with the mermaid that will be on HGTV.
So many new things are up on my site, you just need to go check it out, while you are waiting for the show to start! (Amy!!!) Including my transition from jewelry and beads to mostly beads. Which is scary, change can be scary. So the dragonfly and matching earrings are the only jewelry left. Humblebeads is now a bead shop!
I think I'm going to go crawl under the blankets, drink a cup of tea and enjoy a book until the show airs. I earned a little time off today!
