Dear Twenties,
Wow. We had some good times, didn't we. We met when I was in college. I was studying theatrical set design. I ate from a lot of those Lipton Instant Noodle packets. I had awesome friends (one of them, this guy named Daniel, asked me out several times. I finally told him no). I wore overalls often but, looking back, no one else did. Probably not cool.
Sweet twenties, you've seen me live on both sides of the coast, in the Far East, and now you've brought me back home. You saw me go from a college grad, to an English teacher abroad, to a set designer, to a freelance graphic designer. You saw me sell my first painting and do my first big art show. You ran my first 5k with me. You were there when I married that Daniel guy and we had two kids. We did a lot together. And it was awesome. But I'm moving on now. No regrets. Only happy memories. I will always remember you fondly.
Sincerely,
Arian
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Dear Thirties,
Hey. I have to admit. I wasn't sure how I felt about you. You seemed kind of old and serious. But now that we've met, I think I'm going to like you. You seem like a fresh start. I've seen how you've treated the friends who met you before I did. They seem confident, successful, more understanding of who they are. They know how to use their strengths and refine their weaknesses. And it seems like you have less tolerance for some of the things that hovered over my 20's--some of the fears, worries, insecurities. You know better.
No pressure, but I'm expecting a lot out of you. I expect more art...lots more art...art shows, art sales, collaborative art, live art, artist friends from near and far. I expect you to take my creativity to more places, to more people. I expect a lot of open doors.
I expect more kids, whether we DIY it or get them pre-assembled. I'm cool with either. But I did see a sweet little African American toddler in the library the other day. She babbled at me for 10 minutes and, if she was available, I would have taken her home with me.
I expect to run farther, be stronger, and be more and more conscious of what I put in my body. Afterall, it needs to last me awhile.
Oh, and I'll introduce you to my husband in a few months. Be good to him. He's been very good to me.
Take care.
So Daniel and Andrea threw me the sweeeetest surprise b-day party this weekend. One of Cincy's best coffee shop/art galleries, open mic, tables full of art supplies, a spread of tasty food, wine, cider, and about 60 friends and family. Nice work, guys, nice work. I knew it was a good party when people I'd never met before started showing up. Always a good sign.
Speaking of camera, I got a REAL CAMERA for my birthday!!! It's such a good camera that I don't even know how good it is yet! I haven't ventured beyond "auto mode". I'm looking forward to using this blog as an outlet for exploring all the camera's capabilities!!
Playing with the new camera and the boys at the Levee.
Leaves!!
Hudson's "dinosaur eggs" (hard-boiled eggs dyed in a colored oil and water mixture.)
I think I've spent the most time dreaming about this little spot across from the foot of our bed. We've never had our own mantle before and now we have two! The perfect spot(s) for a well thought out display of art, photos, candles, and whatever else I dream up that will no doubt change with the seasons.
Not exactly sure what I'll do here yet but I know I want to somehow use these winter wonderland photos that Granny took around their land. Since she passed away my family has been sorting through all her belongings and photographs. These ended up in the throw away pile. But then Papa went back later and rescued them--he just couldn't bring himself to throw them away. So cute and heart-breaking. I love the colors and memories in them and will gladly give them a place of honor on the mantle.
Such beautiful details! It's art and I love it.
Time to get into comfy clothes, grab some pumpkin pie (also love it), and catch up on The Office. Gooooood night!
YAY!! So I just finished the front cover of the book I've been referencing over the past couple months. My mom (Lena Wood is her pen name, for those of you who know her otherwise) and I started work on the book this past spring and it's been quite a project!! Hopefully we'll be wrapping it up over the next couple months.
We've got the keys to our new apartment and we're packing like mad to get moved in this weekend. Isn't it so pretty? Here's a little tour of the place!
Our bedroom with decorative fireplace and cool old-school radiator.
The boys bedroom ( Hudson is excited about the secret-club-house-sized closet)
Living room with sweet green fireplace. It doesn't work but it sure looks pretty!
Dining room (now if we only had a table to put in it)
Butler pantry (now if we only had a BUTLER to put in it!)
Cute eat-in kitchen with door to the back porch. I love that I can be cooking dinner with the back door open watching the boys play out back. And there is plenty of space for party guests to keep me company when getting ready for a dinner party (YAY for holiday dinner parties!)
And our cute little yard with just enough room for a little grilling, a little container gardening, a little picnic, or a tiny little snowman when winter comes.
So I think the weekend in Memphis was really good for us. Not only was it fun, relaxing, and inspiring, but it was a little mini vacation from the madness. Now I'm ready to kick these deadlines in the rear end, be a packing/moving/unpacking machine, and start work on another art show!
One of the weekend's highlights was my first live painting experience. Live band, several hundred people watching, and an hour and a half to start and finish a painting. Fun stuff! Hope I get to do it again sometime!
Here's the finished product, in line with the prayer theme of the show. And here's a little video to show the process. (The wide format doesn't quite fit here so it might be best to follow the link.)
