Graduation....DONE

Graduation has come and gone.  The gown and hood are draped over the chair in the dining room; cap accessorizing the table.  Flowers are brightening up every room and my red pumps are waiting for another adventure, as they wait patiently in the hall.  Photos are coming in through Face Book and email and I am left with great memories, a wonderfully supportive family and group of friends... and a few blisters.    

Endings and beginnings

Endings: Thesis is almost done...within the week.  Graduation is less than a month away!
Beginnings: Last Tuesday I was offered a full-time job after I graduate in May, so happy!
In other news: 
My wonderful boyfriend Andre surprised my with a beautiful bouquet of tulips for landing a job, working hard and just because he loves me!  When I got out of the library at midnight (Wednesday) he gave them to me!  :) ...Thank You!  They are lovely and make me smile!

I also got to have lunch with an old friend and BFF (who is trying to make it on Broadway) who was in town - Thai food, stories of past adventures and sharing of artwork.

so about that blizzard

so about that blizzard...didn't venture out in it. i listened to npr allllllll day and there were so many accidents everywhere, but especially the highways. Apparently they don't plow the highways well...ever...or until it's done snowing, it's a brilliant cost-effective move, yet cripples he city because no one knows how to drive in it. i brushed 6inches off my car at 7:30am, and another 8-9inches at 7pm! I had to shovel my car out to move it across the street. so needless to say the birthday weekend surprise visit didn't happen :( my good friend was waiting for flights and each one was cancelled and my other friend said it was even bad for Syracuse! Luckily, I will be Albany bound in a month...yay!

so last night my baby took me out for a birthday dinner, anywhere you want he said! so i said sushi please! it was amazing to say the least! we also indulged in some hot sake, which was a first for me....mmmm...and homemade mocchi ... Plum House THANK YOU!

update

it's been far too long and far too many things have occurred to blog about. homework is a sea of times new roman letters, size 12 font, swirling through my brain and pouring out my eyes. i have to take a break from it to let it soak in.

i miss having a paycheck, i think i've said that. i miss even looking forward to the paycheck, seemed to get me through the 2week block. now i drive and drive and gas up and nothing. my internship has started and is kickin up speed. so much so that i wonder how i will accomplish everything.

i have punk rock hair, says dre. i feel like i am wearing a wig. i don't recognize myself in storefront windows, yet the reflection is mine. i like change, but it'll take a few days to get used to bangs and black, straight hair. i call it my 29th year crisis. almost...

i wish i were still kickboxing with my trainer. i think i need to paint. i have an idea for my next piece...it'll have a johnny cash meets johnny thunder feel.

More Art

Pictured to the far left is my art therapy apron, made with fabric crayons on paper and iron transferred. Inspired by Jack frost on my windshield.

On the right, my art therapy doll. Made of a wine cork, 2 types of wire, mirrors and sculpty. Of course it was suppossed to be made out of tape and I thought tape was stupid so I changed the rules, I do that a lot, not play by the rules...some things never change. :)

Finals tomorrow and Wed, then I will write more. Hello blogging friends.

Greg, enjoying the posts, hopefully the 4 of us can set up a Skype date?!

Recent Art

Some recent art projects.

The tissue box of superheroes to help you dry your tears

Superman, Spiderman, Captain Planet, Batman and Mighty Mouse

The Octopus Obsession

Glass Project

Painting on glass with paint markers

My Go America Design

Created for my Dad.

How does one make a flower vase masculine...

...put a FLAG on it :)

I don't think my parents blog, so hopefully this post doesn't ruin the surprise. Gearing upp to head to Augusta/Portland for Turkey Day!

Octopus Completed

Brooke and Octopus unite!

Octo-underside

My octopus art therapy hat!

So yesterday, my octopus took on a life of it's own. A long journey we have had together. Paper mache, pipe cleaners, wire, paint, puff paint, and egg carton sections.

Now onto glass, painting on glass, and painting my mask.

4 weeks and counting...

4 weeks left until the whirlwind ends and I experience a reprieve for a few weeks that will fly by faster than I think. Classes are still going well, and I don't feel like I am going to havea breakdown yet, so this is positive news! Aiming for straight A's, but don't know what I would do with myself if I got them anyway. Still thinking about Sweden as a possibility.

6 onesies sold! Business cards made and included in the sales. Enjoying doing art, for arts sake. Deciding I do not like oil paints, the smell is awful, lightheaded and clean-up is how can I put this....annoying (to keep it PG). My latest project, a series above, I used oil paint with printing and it greatly increased cleanup and dry time. The carving/print is of my grandmother, Mimi. Printed on tissue paper, in copper/silver, and printed on fine handmade paper. All very different.

The octopus hat should be done by Friday, photos to come. A paper machie project for Art Therapy, which could be used in a therapy session as a prop or a client could use the procedure to create something of there own. This hat has taken on a life of it's own, that's for sure!

6 years

6 years Monday, Nov 8...Dre surprised me with dinner out and a beautiful pink sweater. Tuesday, I made a steak dinner with tortellini and salad, a man's dream meal -meat and carbs and cheese! It's been a nice week, getting busier, but still making time for a little stress release/exercise. Feeling good, could be "The Firm" workout video...off to work now.

Have a wonderful day!

week 6

well, oddly enough we have settled into a routine of eating after i get home from classes, choosing one thing to do on the weekends and homework first.

the workload has been manageable, which scares me...it's a lot but I keep signing up for more. i like the stuff though :) so far I have straight As and I would like to keep them!

Went to Bristol Mtn Sunday and looked at the changing leaves. They are still not at peak but the yellows and orange color were beautiful. A gorgeous warm Fall day. Apple picking and pumpkin picking this weekend YAY, Dre found a cool place that even has horses .

One of my best friends from college surprised us Sunday afternoon, with a txt saying I'm in town, let's hang out! So Andre, Josh and I went to dinner and picked up Nick for drinks. It was so nice to see him and Dre and Josh had fun playing pool...good times. good friends and the homework still got done!

Week 5 continues...

After many ours of homework, a graduate student decides to put a paper mache bowl on her head. You gotta have fun with the work, right? This is a work in progress (obviously). I thought I would post a picture, though, giving myself a break from the copious amounts of work I have.

Break over...

Week 5

This was my first attempt at oil painting. The application was a little thin, but I didn't really mind. I painted this at Michele and Mike's while Mike and 'Dre made dinner/watched the oven and Michele taught me oil painting. I am enjoying this painting thing, maybe you've got something there Greg! ;)

Week 5 is proving to test our knowledge of APA style, our endurance and dedication. I got it though! Got my first paper back and I got an A!

Looking forward to Thanksgiving Break, although I am not sure it will be much of a break! A few papers and projects due over the break. Not sure where we will be heading, only time will tell.

Day 1 - student-hood

I beautiful morning, strata, Hess to fill my tank and I was early. i wore my new black pencil skirt, yellow v-neck, perfect black flats and ice blue LL Bean backpack. full of excitement and nervousness. Classes were amazing and we even did art! can't get into any detail, but I was happy about my choice to go back to school.

Made a few friends (?), even had a lunch buddy! more than I expected. made some contacts and situated my schedule for the week. Looking forward to tomorrow.

A red butterfly walked with me, or maybe I followed it to a labyrinth and then I followed it back to the building my class was in. no joke, i am not sure if i was following it, or it was following me. thought of Benny, who said he's always be in butterflies. i smiled and got goosebumps. I've never seen a red butterfly before. leave it to Ben.

encountered a butterfly, toad and a deer today. the deer was male and had like 12 points, right in the middle of the road near my school and the toad was not phased at all by my presence and the butterfly seemed to be dancing with me or playing a little game.

welcomed home to a wonderful boyfriend who had cooked me a beautiful candlelit dinner, cleaned the house and had a glass of wine waiting for me. a beautiful end to a awesome day.

here's to more of the same...

Calling all artists...

you know you hit a certain level of addiction when you have an amazing experience and think..."i need to go home right now and blog this!"

i hit that level on Saturday and if I hadn't already had plans, I would have been doing just that, running right home to blog. It all began Friday after my run. I took a quick jaunt around the neighborhood; it felt good; 45minutes later, I was making myself a vegetarian burrito and reading the local free paper. Calling all artists...

Calling all artists... I want to do this. I want to try. So I immediately started planning my project idea, which turned into a 2 hour nap on our newly acquired couch (thanks Mimi). Note to self: no project planning on the couch. I quickly started trying to make up for lost time, considering my art project needed to be submitted for entry and approval in less than 48 hours. nice. I have always enjoyed working under pressure. While trying my hand at watercolor, I realized although I could successfully finish this piece, I would need more time.

Saturday was a sea of photo editing, cropping, and running around town. Enlarging photos, matting, naming and framing with an occasional snack. 5:38pm I ran into the High Falls Gallery where I went to enter my submissions. Since they close at 6pm, I wasn't doing too bad! I was nauseous all day, uncertain if my work would be selected. As I watched the words roll of the woman's tongue, these are very good and you have very good prices, a sigh of relief.

...

I have realized that waiting to be notified of selection into an art exhibition, entry into art school or being in a critique is my equivalent to a job interview. Many people close to me are interviewing right now. I have a new appreciation for the stress they must be under. I felt like my entire being, who i was, was being judged. And the worst part is that you know that you are giving your best and sometimes you don't get the bone.

But this time, I got the bone! Opening Reception of "Contrast" September 26 - High Falls Art Gallery, Rochester, NY. 3 pieces, one me.

crunch time!

Found myself restless last night and unable to sleep consecutive periods of time. Taking advantage of the day by cleaning, yes actually cleaning, unpacking, organizing and possibly using a screwdriver...just call me Ms fix it.

Pleased with my progress and looking forward to getting things in running order for he school year. got lost in the underground tunnels yesterday, oddly enough I thought I was headed to the pool...reminds me of the joke kids used to play on Freshman in High School.

My brother and I devoured some Abbott's custards last night, complete with a waffle bowl! mmm...

So much to do...but with a clear head we'll take it one box at a time. :)