Halloween and more...

I have been so "out of the loop" here lately!  Sorry about that!  So much to write about and so little time...I haven't really taken my advice to slow down, but I will... someday....

Today was Halloween and it was a lot of fun. I didn't "dress up" the house like I did last year, but I did put some pumpkins on the front walk that lit up as well as the "Michael Meyer" music which was on a censor.  Kids really liked that!  I was going to be a witch again, but didn't FEEL like it!  Next year, I will be more prepared with the green makeup and feel a little "Wicked" again.  I just put on my little school girl mini skirt and put my hair up in pony tails.  OUCH!  I forgot how much it hurts to wear your hair TIGHT in pig tails for any length of time... that was what I remember from school...OWEY!  By the time I got my costume off and hair down, I felt ready for bed.  The puppies NEVER really like all the commotion of "trick or treaters", as we get well over a hundred kids each year, but at least I finally figured it out and just leave the door open with the chair inside (with doggie gate across the door).  The dogs can get up and see outside, bark and carry on, but it's better than the doorbell ringing every two minutes and them going "nutzoid" time and again.  It was pretty warm tonight.. in the 70s and there weren't as many kiddos as I had thought. Great!  Now what do I do with all the leftover candy!?  I am surely not going to be eating it. I guess Kev takes it to work with him.

I was trying to find pictures of me with my hair up like this from high school and couldn't figure out WHY and how I looked so different, besides the fact that I've aged about 30+ years, and I figured it was 'cause I have a 7 head (Three more than a forehead) without my "bangs".  Ugh!  Bangs!  So, now I know why I don't wear my hair up tightly anymore.

David Jones Style Lettering

This past week, I took a workshop with Ewan Clayton (UK) out at the McKinney Roughs Nature Center.  He was teaching "David Jones' Style Lettering" and did a great job at it. I would show you some of the work I did, but I am going to save it for a surprise at a later date, perhaps... We'll see. If I decide against that idea, then I will post it.  This is what his style of lettering looks like, though... The work that Ewan is holding up is Kate B's.  She didn't end up using this, but I thought it was quite nice.  For two days, we studied David Jones' works and tried to make the letters "our own". It was very fun and just a creative outlet.  Much of the workshops I take are trying to get the letterforms "perfected", like the teacher's "exemplar".  It's a daunting task, but this workshop, the way Ewan taught it anyway, was fun and relaxing.  We went around the room many times to each person's station and helped them by critiquing what was working and what wasn't.  Ewan came around individually, too, to help us in the process and give us a little of his "keen" eye which enabled us to get to an "end result".  Many pieces were still a work in process when we left, but I think everyone knew what direction they were heading in, at least. What a wonderful teacher Ewan is and a sweet, genuine person.. full of knowledge. Impressed!!

One gal, Patricia D. (in green) came all the way from St. Louis to take this workshop! What a trooper.  She is a hardcore calligrapher, as you can imagine and so was the gal whom she came with on Thursday, Linda Jones. They drove down from Dallas together and stayed at a local member's house.  They didn't even know the member, but she just left the door open for them, as she was in Houston for the night...She just asked if they would feed the old, yellow lab for her.  Too funny!

Other than that, just the regular, mundane tasks of work, chores, errands, dr. appointments and LIFE has been going on for me!  I haven't really had too many exciting jobs come in.  Since I put all our professional, freelance calligraphers' contact info on the front page of our calligraphy site, my task of trying to either find someone to take a job or take it myself has become less and less time consuming, thankfully!

I'm still very busy and loving the Presidential duties of the guild! I think I've "got it down" for now... almost time to give it up... 7 more months and counting! 

Till next time.... XO's 
Stay healthy and happy !