The first adult art class in the new studio.

 So, this is how it started... Just keepin it real!

But, it ain't how it starts, now is it?!  ha

 I was pretty darn excited.  My Aunt Bonnie, in the denim shirt, leaning on the table, asked me to do a one day art retreat.  She'd always wanted to attend a three day, but didnt' know if her body could stand it.  So, I wanted to pack a WHOLE lotta goodness into this one day for her!  I planned on doing two mixed media canvases, with lots of techniques taught, and two pieces of jewelry.

 We started with this little house.  You've seen this one before, more than likely.  It is one of my favorites.  We decoupage paper, add washi tape, get inspired by quotes, add stencils and sprays if so desired...

 ANd I had all these fine ladies here who wanted an artistic adventure!

 In fact, let's introduce... Far left, apparently meditating is my Aunt BonBon.  She is JinJin's older sister.  Her daughter, Cherry, is in the purple hoodie.  She messed with me my entire childhood (ha, who am I kidding, and teenhood and adulthood) about Staci being her favorite.  Oh yeah, Cherry?!  Is STACI putting on an art day just for family?!  huh?  Ok... well, then, Aunt Bonnie brought her friend, Peggy, in the grey sweatshirt.  Far left in the red is Pam.  She was also at my Color Finder 1.0 retreat, (which by the way, I am tentatively scheduling again for March 21-23).  Far left right is my friend, Lila.  And of course, you know JinJin.  Brooklyn, standing in the center has also been at a 3 day retreat.  She also worked for me prior to finishing her degree in speech therapy and moving away.  Well, she's back!  So, now I get to hang with her!  yay.  In the plaid is my cousin, Steve's, wife, Tracey.  Steve is my Aunt Betty Lou's son.  My mom had 5 sisters and 2 brothers.  And they'll all tell you that she's the only one who didn't have to pick cotton.  "She would lie around on the porch and wave her bottle when it was empty", like a baby diva, to hear Aunt Betty Lou talk about it!  ha.

 In the far rear are Katie and Avery.  They were only 15 and 16 years old.  Katie is the daughter of my daughter's principal at school.  They were young, but you would've never known it.  They acted quite maturely!  Ok, so now that we are done with the introductions... let's move on.

 Pam went on ahead and got ambitious with her art project!  She just found something on Pinterest and decided that would be her subject.  Go ahead, girl!  She did pause for a nanny nanny boo boo photo to be sent to her cohorts from the last 3 day.  We created a private FB group and we all still stay in touch.  I love that!

 Oh, wow.  How could I have left Jenn out?!  Jenn, in the blue tee, married my other cousin, Drew.  Drew is Cherry's son and Bonnie's grandson.  Feel like family yet?!
Above, the girls are learning to construct a necklace with jumprings.

 And here ya go... in the matter of only a few hours, this is what they created.  I was downright proud!!  And check out that studio in the back.  It has quite a bit of work to go, but I decided (the night before!) to have this art day in the studio, as it needed an "inaugural class", and this needed to be it!!

 The two young ones found pics on their phones to work on on their larger canvases.  I mostly wanted the group to use a brayer to apply the background, just to know that is an option.

 And I loved how everyone's house turned out so differently.  I even painted one.  I cannot believe that I failed to take a photo of it.  And I missed all the jewelry.  Pam has hers doubled around her neck in the photo below.

 One request was that we do something "springy" or Easter-y.  I think I rocked my BonBon and Miss Peggy's worlds by not telling them what to paint.  I just gave them a few potential subject ideas and let them rock it out.  Same with these... Cherry handcut the eggs from scrapbook paper, and learned to use ghost letters and sprays for the words.  Tracey (sorry, T, I am unsure of the spelling and too lazy to go to FB to look!), knew exactly what words she wanted, and kinda knew she wanted a bird.  I had a sample bird from a pack of Christmas stickers, and she said, "That's the one!".

 Bon and Peggy went with Easter baskets.  And JinJin did the "I love you to the moon and back".

 I absolutely adore what Pam did.  She claimed she'd never free painted like this before.  hmmph!  Looks pretty darn awesome to me!!

 And so when it was all said and done, the girls walked away with a handful and neckful of greatness.

 I have on my immediate agenda to come up with a public calendar of art days (Saturdays), make a set schedule of my retreat dates, and determine a weekly night art class.  Emery, who now works primarily for MoJoy (how bout that?!!), is working on getting kits together, so when one comes into the studio, they can determine which kit they'd like to work on, when it's a "Free" art night.  Other nights, the project will be chosen and the class will work together.

 Oh... to prove I'm SERIOUS about this art gig.... I bought a kiln this week!!  AND.... I bought a whole bunch of ceramic blanks to paint on.  Does anyone remember the crosses that Staci and I painted and sent out from St. Jude?  We also did little polka dotted blank pendants with "believe" on them.  Well, I've ordered both of those, along with lots of other fun stuff.

 So, look at your calendars.  Start thinking of the month that would work best for you.  I'll tell you that June will be my "slightest" month, as I will be on vacay.  And I have someone potentially renting my space for a writing camp for kids and teens.  However, I am considering about 4-5 coming with me for a few days at The Beach Club to make art there. (It was fun, wasn't it, Suzy?!)

So, how can I say this... except... you are worth it!!  I posted a quote I saw on Pinterest this morning.  I LOVE it... it says, "For those determined to fly, having no wings is just a little detail".  I believe that.  If you want it, make a way!

 Alrighty, speak up, y'all.  Let me know specific classes you'd like to see offered, dates/ months, that are best for your travel.  Media that you'd like to see used.  And even specific projects can be emailed to me at mojoy@att.net.  I LOVE new ideas.  I mean, the more the merrier, right?!

And to all of you who told me how you wanted to "Feel" this year... thank you.  I will be addressing Bingo cards today.  Hope to get them out by Monday.  And my word is "Excited".  I want to feel "Excited".  ("Enthusiastic" is a close second.)  So far, so good.

 The Law of Attraction says you can manifest anything you want.  I can honestly tell you that this year, I have TOTALLY been excited and felt a welling up of gratitude that I've never felt before.  I might just be busier than ever before as well.  So, I know I can't blame, "cause I just have so much to do".  Nope.  I'm grateful for that, in fact.  I get to be a PT, help many, many women who need me desperately (pelvic floor issues), touch the lives of children and their awesome families who need hope and physical and emotional healing, work with people to help them discover their greatness and potential through art, teach children the importance of being thankful with art projects on a weekly basis, raise two of God's most awesome creations, live with a super supportive man WHO COOKS, travel to fulfill my "excitement" bliss, life coach women who help me as much as I help them, teach leadership to a super awesome bunch of people who love my company as much as I do, and.... ready for me to stop!?  Ok, Ok, I will.  But, all that time consuming "stuff" can be seen as a burden or a blessing.  I choose to be inspired by it.

And one more thing... I LIVE IN HIGH FAVOR.  I am claiming it.
Blessed!
Mo