January 2013 – this is it, the last day of the first month of 2013. For me it goes down in history as one of the coldest times since I came to Canada. And that says something as I have been here for 33 years and two months, but who is counting?

Despite the cold and most often grey days I have been marginally productive  organizing my year. I have responded to a couple of calls for entry for upcoming juried shows – we shall see where this will lead.

Best of all, I have been looking ahead to my many travels during 2013. I contacted my travel agent to inquire about my flight to Europe last week and was completely surprised that “the pickings are slim” already for a reasonably priced ticket to Italy at the end of September. Much time was spent making decisions, comparing calendars and working out a budget. I am happy to share that Colin and I are off to Europe for most of September. We will be visiting family in Germany, fly to Rome to explore the city for six days (I know this is not time for Rome… but we will make the best of it!!) and then move on to Sulmono, Abruzzo for the workshop I am teaching. The class was confirmed last November and I am so pleased to be one workshop leader who has the luxury of really planning this special trip. There are still openings; so far we have an intimate group of five students. Several husbands will be along as well to explore the region while their partners are participating my workshop. So, if you are looking for something special to do during the last week of September, consider Abruzzo, Italy!

Closer to home and in the near future I am gearing up for a weekend of teaching in Moose Jaw. The class is nearly full, I am told. I can’t wait to reconnect with friends and new students alike for a weekend of embellishment and creativity all around.

The design classes from my studio are in full swing, and just over the last couple of days I have received emails from students expressing their enthusiasm over the homework exercises. I can hardly wait to see what everyone has accomplished when we get together in mid-February and mid-March.

Aside from a slide-lecture on creativity at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery on February 27th and a one-day workshop exploring the elements of design at the same location on March 9th I will not venture far from the studio. Here is to hoping I can actually pull some fabric and start the sewing machine…

April brings the SAQA Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico where I present a seminar about “joining and staying on the teaching circuit”. I can’t wait for the networking opportunities and best of all, opportunities to capture Santa Fe and the area with my camera. I have been planning how to pack for a few weeks. My friend chuckled a little while ago saying: “I am all worried about what to wear and you are worried how you get your photo gear there without damage…” Clothes? I totally didn’t think about having to pack for a banquet, the presentation and other networking sessions. I guess my jeans won’t do…

From May through the end of June I will be away teaching in Southern Alberta and B. C. And then there is August – Art Quilt Campus 2013, the first of a new annual venture I am committing to. Last week brought three emails reserving the remaining spots for this educational retreat. A waiting list is in place, just in case!

With nothing better to do in -32 C weather we took advantage of the clear roads and sunshine (at least close to home) and drove to Shekinah yesterday. It was wonderful to experience the venue in mid-winter. The main workspace is bright, even on a cloudy day and the lodge has such an inviting ambiance that I can hardly wait to come back with art quilt campus participants on August 11th. I brought along a close friend, another former Emma Lake instructor. He is expressing interest in booking time for a group of painters in 2014 after touring the lodge with all its comforts.

The sun is out today, the thermometer hovers near – 30 C right now (it warmed up a couple of degrees during the past hour) and it is time to get organized for the next few days.

 

 

 

31 Jan This entry was published on January 31, 2013 at 10:42 am. It’s filed under Creativity Update, Journaling, Studio / Workshop / Creative Space Challenge, Travel, Workshop Opportunity and tagged Abruzzo, Germany, Italy, New Mexico, Rome, Santa Fe, SAQA, Saskatchewan, Shekinah Retreat, Sulmono, workshops. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.