Happy Wednesday!

So today was totally a little whirlwind in its own right. After pullin' sheets of paper until 2:30 in the A.M., I found myself suddenly not tired anymore-so I did some much needed catching up on e-mail and things of that nature...and then out of nowhere it was 4 AM, and then I was writing in my journal and then all of sudden it was 7:30 and I was waking up still in my clothes from the day before. Gotta love this Hudson Valley lifestyle!

Spent the day at R & F Encaustics in Kingston, NY and fell head over heels in love with everything about the place. And the medium!

I think I was born to work in wax, and couldn't be more excited about the pieces that 'arrived' for me throughout the day.
Then it was back to Rosendale, and Chris (the studio manager and an old friend) had some cervezas and comida at the Rosendale Cafe-a much loved place from the days I spent stomping around this little town. The sweet potato burrito was to die for!! And they had orgami windchimes with a Yoda! We were going to go for a late day hike but then ended up at the Cheese Shop where I found a slew of adorable vintage dresses from India and some fun stuff to give to friends.


And of course the fun couldn't stop there, so after taking several videos and photographs, we put some paper to dry and headed back to Kingston for some more cervezas! Snapper McGees's was a trip...the local 'laugh till you can't breathe' man (George) was there and kept telling Chris and I about the Vietnam war amidst single word exclamations such as 'kaleidescope' and 'menagerie'. Good words, my man!

So now here I am...tired as hell, but in love with being awake. Why do our bodies need so much sleep anyhow? I swear that I feel better when I deny myself of this sleep business....sounds crazy, but it seriously makes me feel more alive.

Anyway. Should have videos up of my NY random-ness pronto.

New York whirlwind.

I am in the great state of New York. After the most wonderful Sunday morning ever, I hopped over to the airport only to find that my flight had been delayed...then even after we boarded, they made us sit on the runway forever only to get to LaGuardia and sit on the runway there as well! It was a bit ridiculous to say the least. Then began my journey to Port Authority which led to more waiting because I missed the bus I was hoping on catching, and didn't get to my destination (Rosendale, NY) until almost 2 in the morning.

Yikes. I was one exhausted lady...

Then up early to start my first day of papermaking at Women's Studio...all in all a productive day-pulled paper until almost midnight, but still have many ideas to work through tomorrow. It has been great to be welcomed back (again) by all the folks I lived & worked with here...it's as if no time has passed at all, and I'm still that spunky little recent college grad who showed up here from Savannah almost 2 1/2 years ago.

Funny how everything changes and then nothing at all does!

Anyway, I should probably sleep...or eat...or cut stencils...or just exist away from this computer. Yay summertime in New York!

Gonna Go Be Amazing Everywhere.

Yes, it's true. This is exactly what I intend on doing for a good long while...years and years and years, people!

I just can't describe it.

Life has begun to serve up some of the richest moments with the most beautiful people lately... I feel like there is a golden glow surrounding everything I do, and honestly feel like just about the luckiest girl on the planet. Yesterday when I was at Home Depot buying wood and supplies for the shop, I realized that I had chanced upon free hot dog day! So after putting my stuff in the truck, I walked back over and the hot dog man called out to me and said, "Why look at that little ray of sunshine! It's not every day you see a woman walking around with that big of a smile on her face."

It was probably the best off handed comment I've ever received, and really brought things full circle...when you truly enjoy life, the others around you have no reason not to as well! So thank you, Home Depot hot dog man, you made my week.

As far as the week goes-it has been rather intense. After teaching my summer seminar workshop last week, I was thrown into proofing for our visiting artist project, then had to show up at 8am every morning to assist our art educators workshops, as well as record, as well as try and finish the new songs I've been working on, as well as get ready for the workshop in NY next week, and of course also try and have a little fun with the people who inspire and make me feel lovely & wonderful! Quite a plateful...but luckily I've stayed afloat.

I also managed to find my way into the old Atlanta prison farm and do a 10am 'attempt at glamour' photo shoot...












And I played on the proofing press while assisting the workshop this week...fun!



Well, time to hit the road.

The remnants of the infamous 'pink dye party'

This is what happens when you throw an old white tank top in a bathtub of hot pink dye...and decide that it needs something else for completion...so why not pull out an old stencil and some cans of spray paint?!
Hurray for spontaneity!

And there is much updating to be done, so look for another blog post within the next day or two. The summer of 2008 is turning out to be all sorts of amazing!

Over the past week of my life...

I have learned many things about many things. I've started to see the crazy meandering road that is my life path with a new sort of clarity, and even though things are far from perfect and always a far cry from being set in stone, it seems as if I've developed a new vein of energy to tackle the 'now'. My heart races at the thought of the next second, and even more at the notion of having million and trillions of them to live!

Since returning to Atlanta last Sunday, I've been busybusybusy and consequently tiredtiredtired! I taught a 5-day printmaking workshop for highschool students, started printing a edition of prints for the next SCAD printshop artist collaboration, had an interview for a possible art position working with Islamic artists/exhibitions, was invited to participate in a show at MINT gallery in August, wrote the music/and lyrical beginnings for (another!)new tune, took part in a bathtub rope/clothes dyeing party and somehow found time to get some sunshine.

Oh and I found another sweet hangout spot, Top Flr. I've attempted to find these little niches since moving to Atlanta, and still have only a handful that I truly adore. It definitely reminds me of a more low key Sapphire Grill-and having worked there for awhile in college, I totally have a soft spot to associate and now turn over with reckless abandon. Ha. And....

-they have Pisco
-their food (especially the truffles!) was really good
-the wine selection ain't run-o-the-mill
-there were good people sitting at the bar (always a plus for conversation)
-AND it's right down the street from where I used to live

So basically everything has been moving along swimmingly, and I can only foresee good things happening with my volunteer work beginning soon, my first (solo) show at Kavarna on Thursday, more SCAD workshop action next week AND of course my trip to NY on the following week! Not sure if I mentioned it already, but I received a scholarship to take a workshop at Women's Studio (where I used to intern) that covers papermaking & encaustics. I can't wait to slip into all day every day art making mode...and especially the papermaking...it's seriously zen all rolled up in paper fibers!

Anyway, here are some photos to compliment all the words:

Me and my students! Aren't they lovely?

Working away...



They made some damn good prints, and were running the presses on their own.




This is my demo print-miss that place (Catskill mountains).

And this what happens on a rainy Sunday when I hang out with my friends. First we eat a lot of food and watch a chick flick and THEN we dye 50 yards of rope hot pink. And of course there were a few shirts, socks and misc. items thrown in for fun:





Priceless.

Country Lessons

I always find it amusing that just when things are getting a wee bit depressing, life has a way of coming back and saying 'sorry for the tears, here's a fun time or two to make up for it!'. Well thank you, life. I've had the most marvelous week in Indiana...seriously. Here are a few things I've seen/done/learned since arriving last Thursday-I'm calling them my 'country lessons':

LINDSAY'S COUNTRY LESSONS

1. That somehow my alcohol tolerance increases radically while I'm at home.
2. It's much more fun to drink outside on friends' porches and around bonfires.
3. I sleep immensely better when I don't hear Moreland Avenue.
4. I can survive what I'm calling the 'Chesterton, Indiana pub crawl'.
5. My family's house/property is incredibly gorgeous-more than ever!
6. People from Indiana couldn't care less about discussing the nitty gritty. love it!
7. Diner food is better here than anywhere else.
8. I love weeding. Seriously. I could weed a garden all damn day.
9. I can now say that I've shot a gun. and I liked it!
10. I can make a whole room of people dance if I ask nicely.
11. I drive a mean manual track.
12. Life is better with a horse in the yard.
13. I feel more 'me' in the country.
So that's it for now. Hurray for Indiana! And hurray for having a damn good vacation in the homestate! It's back to Atlanta on Sunday...