ARTandSOULtoo

Cruise Update!

2012-02-03T14:15:00.000-06:00

There are some big changes happening. The dates are changed to January 6-13. I think that's a WAY better time to cruise. More updates as they become available, but I can tell you this much: they are gonna be awesome!

Mixed Media Cruise

2011-09-10T11:42:00.003-05:00

Wahoo! I'll be teaching mixed media jewelry classes for 120 lucky people who go on this cruise! Lucky? Yeah! I LOVE to cruise and Royal Caribbean is my favorite line! The food is fantastic, the service is awesome and...

get a load of the amenities on board this ship:

Navigator of the Seas. A cruise ship or a work of art? Once onboard, we think you'll agree this cruise ship is a revolutionary masterpiece if ever there was one. Not only does it sail effortlessly through the waters of the Caribbean, it contains some of the cruise industry's most amazing features - a rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, an ice-skating rink and an in-line skating track. Dare we say there's more? What about a five-story theatre, a casino, a miniature golf course and a spectacular three-story dining room? This 138,000-ton nautical wonder has it all.

Take a virtual tour of our Voyager Class of Ships.

Interested? Details are on the poster above, or click here: www.ScrapMap.com

The Most Excellent Gig

2011-09-09T16:02:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be teaching on

A CRUISE SHIP!!!

Pinch me! I can hardly believe it!

Is that cool or what? I'll be posting details soon but I can tell you one thing: this baby is going to sell out quickly.

CHA Report

2011-07-21T12:46:00.000-05:00

I got home from CHA yesterday about 4:00. Checked my email, but I could barely keep my eyes open. So I took a nap. Ha!--I slept right through the night. In my clothes. I was too tired to even undress.

As usual, CHA was primarily scrapbooking stuff: papers, adhesives, albums, stickers, embellishments. But the biggest trend I noticed was that even companies that usually carried very cutesie styles and graphics usually had a new design line that featured something Steampunk-y or Grunge-y.

This made me very happy ;) I like the distressed look a lot.

I saw a few incredibly awesome new jewelry-related items and over the next couple of weeks I'll try to write a bit about them. But right now my primary focus has to be getting ready for my classes at Art Unraveled. I'll be leaving in 2 weeks and I like to spend a lot of time preparing for classes. Plus I have to ship a lot of stuff and pack a lot to bring along. Art Retreat attendees always joke that our luggage is one-tenth personal stuff like clothes and the rest is tools and supplies.

Wish me lots of energy and focus--I'll need it!

Junk Journal

2011-07-12T13:48:00.029-05:00

We were planning to move, so I needed to reduce the amount of accumulated ephemera and wallpaper samples. Simple, right?

I saw a link on Debbie's blog for a class that looked interesting: Mary Ann Moss' Remains Of The Day Journal. I saw the preview and went nuts! The premise is to sew together a bunch of stuff: junk mail, used envelopes, ads, magazine pages, photos, paint chips, labels... You get the picture.

I swear if I had any money to spend (and you know I really don't!) I'd spend it on one of these classes:

http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com/dispatch_from_la/rotdoci.html

http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com/dispatch_from_la/full-tilt-boogie-an-online-visual-journaling-class.html

This woman is a genius! I'm excited-crazy-inspired about her work!

So anyway, I started tossing paper into a shoebox. Eek! It really isn't hard for a packrat like me to find plenty of material for a paper project. I was having a problem getting started, so I decided that instead of just throwing together random items, I'd use things I like to look at and to play with color combinations. Guess what--I now have--well, take look:

Purple and green

All different greens plus peach

Turquoise

Pink, fuchsia, raspberry

Phoebe helping me sew

Burgundy, apricot, rose

Phoebe adjusting the stitch length

Sunset colors: purple, orange, gold...

The materials I'm using aren't really the kinds of things used in Mary Ann's class. But her idea really set off some dynamite in my creative center. I think what I have here is a multi-page collage of inspirational colors, handmade papers, bits of graphics and photos and images I like too much to throw away.

I have several signatures ready to be sewn. But I'm leaving lots of little holes and spaces and pockets so I can write in the finished book, and tuck in stuff whenever I'm inspired.

Thank you Mary Ann Moss!

Prize Drawing Update

2011-07-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

EEEK--I forgot I was supposed to do this on July 1st! These are the people who won handmade charms:
Mags, Ewa, Sally
Please send me your street addresses (privately, to artandsoultoo@aol.com)
I'll get your charms in the mail this week!

A Few Charms to Charm You

2011-06-21T14:41:00.003-05:00

If you decide to Follow my blog (click on the link that says "Follow") I would be very pleased. So pleased that I'll randomly award charms to 3 people from my follower list. No obligation. The drawing will be on July 1st or whenever I remember ;)

Regarding the charms below: Please feel free to adapt any of these to your own materials. Unless you deliberately make a copy (which is difficult because materials are usually different) it's not "stealing." I'm always delighted when somebody lets me (and the public) know when they've used one of my designs, but it isn't necessary. Besides, lots of my designs were inspired by other artists' works, but NEVER deliberately copied.

These aren't necessarily the best charms I ever made. They're just the photos I had handy. I thought I'd throw a bunch of them here so you could see what an ArtCharm (handmade limited edition charm) looks like. I added some examples of stuff you can do with your charms, like lampshades and wire trees. Some of them will expand if you click on them.

Charm Tree from ArtCharms Yahoo Group Swap

Art and Soul Blog Hop

2011-02-21T12:07:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the Hop!

Here's a sneak peek at what we'll be doing in Portland at the Art and Soul art retreat:

And:

Want to see more?

You're not going to believe your eyes when you see the incredible classes being served up at Art and Soul. Please check out my classes, then continue the Hop by visiting all the fantastically talented artists' blogs listed below.

I'm teaching three classes: an All-You-Can-Make ArtCharm Buffet based on my book Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry, an evening of Basic Fused Glass, and the all-day-long Layered Light: the Art of Glass Fusing. You can read the class descriptions by clicking on the numbers next to the class titles. And you can register at the bottom of the class description page.

* ArtCharm Buffet (P1139) on Tuesday, Sept. 27th from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Here are examples of the kind of pieces you can create in this class:

* Basic Fused Glass (P1137) on Tuesday evening, Sept. 27th from 6:30 to 9:30 P.M.

and

* Layered Light: the Art of Glass Fusing (P284) on Thursday, Sept. 29th, 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Here are a few examples of fused glass that you can make in one or both of the classes:

And now, let me introduce a few more of the artists who will be at Art and Soul, along with the classes they're teaching. Just click on the name to go to that blog:

Sharyn Sowell

Letterpress 101 - Oodles of Papers & a Paperweight - Mon Sept 26

Letterpress 101 - Handmade Book - Tues Sept 27

Jane LaFazio

Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style - Wed Sept 28

Recycled Circles - Thur Sept 29

Jenni Horne

Fabric Bird Friends - Fri Sept 30

Painting a Story - Sat Oct 1

Rogene Manas

Human Nature Relief - Sat & Sun

Doreen Kassel

Vintage Style Sculptural Tiles' - Wed Sept 28

Beastly Pendants - Wed Eve

Corey Celaya

The Moxie Cuff - Fri Sept 30

Collage for Journal Pages - Thur Sept 29

Wild Fibers Bracelet - Sun Oct 2

Patricia Seggebruch

Encaustic Box - Mon Sept 26

Encaustic ATC - Mon Eve

Tarred and Encausticed - Tues Sept 27

Jump into Encaustic - Tues Eve

Jen Crossley

Brass Bezel and Ice - Sat Oct 1

Mini Etched Book - Thur Eve

Doll Booklet Pendant - Fri Sept 30

Bushman's Mini Journal Necklace - Fri Eve

Barbara Lewis

Enamel Explorations Suitable for Framing - Wed Sept 28

Painting with Fire-Torch Fired Enamel Class is full! - Thur Sept 29

Forging Ahead Bracelet - Tues Sept 27

Treasured Snippets - Fri Eve

3 comments:

Linda Kinnaman said...: OMG Peggy! your post is wonderful, but your work is outstanding! I am so proud of you and so happy for your success and growth! You go girlfriend!; February 21, 2011 11:38 AM
Christine Hansen said...: Oh Peg - these are WONDERFUL!!! I know your students are going to have a blast making beautiful creations! To anyone who HASN'T taken one of Peg's classes - DON'T miss out on this opportunity - Peg is a fantastic teacher and a whole lotta fun to make art with! xoxo, c; February 21, 2011 11:40 AM
Cory said...: OMG what beautiful pieces...every one of them.; February 21, 2011 12:00 PM

Blog Hop Coming Soon!

2011-02-19T21:25:00.002-06:00

OK, I'll admit I'm no computer whiz. My geekness centers more around botany and making jewelry. But I spent the better part of today getting a blog post put together and it's only half-bad *smirk* if I do say so myself. You'd have to know me to realize what a big deal it is to me when I can post not only lots of photos but a bunch of hyperlinks, class descriptions and artists' names.

I hope I did it right. *gulp!*

Monday, Feb 21 is the big day, the Unveiling, The HOP. Ten different artists who have classes at Art & Soul (see button on the right) are linking their blogs to each other's blogs so you can hop easily from one to the next. And if you're REALLY ambitious you can visit all three sets of ten!

Please check it out. And let me know if I did it right.

From Asia, Charmingly

2011-02-17T12:32:00.000-06:00

These are the charms I made for the Asian-themed swap. The requirements were that I had to use paper as the primary material/medium, and that they measured less than 1.5 inches long.

The fan is folded black cardstock, sealed with acrylic spray sealer so it would be water-resistant, and sprayed with gold spray webbing. The webbing made really cool squiggles on the paper but you can only see the edges of it in this photo. I used a Krylon gold-leafing pen on the base and top edge, then added a tiny dangle of vintage red beads and gold seed beads.

The next two charms are made of paperclay tinted with acrylic paint mixed right into the clay and edged with leafing pen. I was going for a Faux Raku look, but I don't think I succeeded. I haven't used paperclay much; I'm accustomed to working with polymer clay and it behaves very differently. Good learning experience, though. That's what I say when an experiment doesn't turn out as well as I'd hoped.

I made about thirty fans (my sweetie-pie husband did all the folding for me!) for the swap and another 5 or so just for samples. Then I made about 15 of the faux raku charms to fill in for some extras. In exchange I got some of the most incredible charms I've ever seen: origami animals and stars, a miniature pop-up book, a locket, rolled beads made from washi paper, and a tiny treasure box that looked like a book but opened up to a secret compartment. There were so many more (a total of 30 or so) that I can't begin to name or describe them all. Every single one, without exception, was extraordinary.

A special thanks to all the ArtCharmers who participated in this swap. These are treasures, every one of them. And so are the friendships I've made in this lovely group!

Your Valentine

2011-02-14T13:22:00.000-06:00

Valentine charms from our recent swap in the ArtCharms Yahoo Group:

I wish I could take pictures of every single one--they're so cute!

Want to join our swaps or learn more about ArtCharms? Click here for more info.

I made more than one kind of heart charms. Here are 2 of them:

Sent with LOVE!

Peggy

Snow Day!!!!

2011-02-13T13:55:00.001-06:00

Last week we had a Snow Day. When I was a little kid Snow Day meant a day off school: a whole free day to make snow people and drink cocoa and forget about homework. It means the same today, except I played in my studio and in the evening I drank red wine. I ignored a long To Do list (my current homework) and just enjoyed an unexpected day off. Except for some serious shoveling.

My front yard:

My back yard with Phoebe doing some exploring:

The alley:

My deck:

Goals and Resolutions

2011-01-01T12:13:00.002-06:00

A goal needs to be specific or you'll never know how to accomplish it or even if you've accomplished it.

I'm journaling--irregularly, but at least I'm doing it--so I have a record of my thoughts from Jan 1 of 2010. This is the first year I've ever done a really good job of sticking to one journal. It's the leather one from Keri. And I'm really proud of myself for actually FILLING it. Well, 6 pages blank, but that's nothing! And if I hadn't had it to look back at, I wouldn't have realized that this was actually a very good year in spite of some ill health/injury this time last year.

Reviewing my resolutions from last year I realized that I accomplished almost none of them. But new goals came along and I feel I've had a very successful year. One of my favorite sayings is that even when you're on the right track, if you're standing still you'll get run over. So I'll continue to make resolutions and then change them as my circumstances change. I also have to recognize that not all goals will be achieved in a year. I can break them up into smaller components, with the added benefit of seeing progress a bit at a time.

Happy New Year

New Work--End of C.E.D. November

2010-12-02T13:39:00.000-06:00

These are the last of my November Create Every Day works: 2 sets of charms for the ArtCharms Yahoo Group Blue, White, Silver Swap.

Create Every Day was a huge success for me except for 2 things: I should have blogged more often and taken more photos.

Selling Online?

2010-11-22T13:56:00.000-06:00

I'm wondering if I should open an Etsy shop. I need a bit of feedback. I sell these pendants for $35. As you can see from the photos below, they measure approximately 2 inches including the bail. They're handmade fused dichroic glass and the bail is gold or silver plated. The problem is that unless you've seen dichroic glass before, the photos really don't convey all the sparkle and depth of the glass.

I'd love to have your comments.

Ta-Daaa!

2010-11-22T12:28:00.000-06:00

I bet you think I skipped out on my pledge to Create Every Day. I didn't. I've been doing 16-hour days since my last post. Here's the result:

I made--from scratch--all this fused glass jewelry. Forgive me for not posting more but right now I have a lot of catching-up to do.

Art-Friends: I'm Grateful for You

2010-11-05T11:50:00.000-05:00

In yesterday's post I shared my discouragement with a project that wasn't going the way I thought it should. Yes, I was whining. In spite of that I got such great responses that I wanted to share them with everybody.

Day 4: Discouraged Already

I'm still working on the same project and today I almost finished it. And it's ugly. I mean UGLY. I was going for the Industrial Look. This thing is totally depressing. There are a lot of things I can do to fix it, but right now I'm just discouraged. 6:30 pm and it's already dark outside. All I want to do is go to bed.

Dana said...I don't think it is ugly at all. I think you have just been looking at it too much and need a break.

Tomorrow is another day.

Jennifer Cameron said...I think it looks awesome. Where's the ugly part?

Elizabeth in NM said...If its too ugly for you, feel free to send it to me! Just kidding, I think it looks great. I agree with Dana, you are probably just sick of looking at it. I'm sure it will be fantastic if you push through. Making art is not easy!

Carol said...I agree with Dana, too. Step back, work on something else and then go back to it. Sometimes something new has to grow on you.

Keri called me with lots more encouragement, and allowed me to talk through my problem with the bracelet.

Thanks for the feedback, everybody. I REALLY appreciate that you took the time to post messages and call!

Dana, you are so right--I've been looking at it too long. Now this morning I have new energy for it.

Jennifer, I think the ugly part is that I was trying to do monochromatic and succeeded too well. (That is not a black-and-white photo! It's full color.) The advice I give to my students (and forget to take for myself) is that “just because it didn’t turn out like you expected, doesn’t mean it’s not good.”

Elizabeth, I love your phrase "push through." That's it exactly! I'm going to write this on a note and post it above my work table

Carol, you summed it up: step back. I need to be reminded to do that.

Keri, you made me laugh. At myself, which is perhaps the most important thing a stuck (whining) artist can do.

I'll post my "fix" later today if I finish it--before and after photos--to see if I succeed.

Day 4: Discouraged Already

2010-11-04T18:45:00.000-05:00

CREATE Day 3

2010-11-03T18:10:00.000-05:00

I was kind of hoping to have a photo today, but that bracelet still isn't finished. It's coming along, though.

Procrastination

2010-11-02T21:03:00.001-05:00

From the Robert Genn Letters (with thanks to Keri Ippolito for forwarding)
http://clicks.robertgenn.com/divided-self.php

The Divided Self (October 29, 2010)
A couple of years ago a subscriber wrote, "You have really helped me with my procrastination. I apologize for taking so long to let you know." Insight like this and a lot of other great items are in the Zingers section at the back of my most recent book.

The game theorist and strategist Thomas C. Schelling suggested procrastination is not a personal weakness. It's more a function of the selves within ourselves who are actually at war with one another. For example, your long-term self says you're going to paint 100 paintings and get yourself a decent gallery. Next day your short-term self cuts in and has you alphabetizing everything in the spice cupboard or cleaning the lake. It's not you, it's your "divided self" that runs you off track and amok.

Interestingly, the divided self also gives powerful creative input. Putting things off may not be all that bad. Getting a second opinion is certainly part of our game. A work of art well sat on may turn out better than one completed to a hasty schedule. While experts identify university professors as the top procrastinators, artists cannot be far behind.

But I'm putting off getting to the point. This letter is about "the thief of time," and how to beat him. Going by my own example, I'm an authority on procrastination.

Recent studies tell us we need to get to know all our different selves. We need to make a list. FYI, here's mine: Responsible Bob. Loves-painting Bob. Hates-business Bob. (etc.)

Knowing these Bobs helps Bob see when one Bob is caving in to another Bob or pushing another Bob around.

Now here's the crunch: The smarter you are, the more likely you'll be to put things off. For smart folks, procrastination may be the norm. "It could very well be the most basic human impulse," says psychologist George Ainslie, the inventor of "hyperbolic discounting," the human tendency to plan practically anything as long as it's sometime well in the future and not now. By taking active steps right now, artists may flourish and stand out simply by beating the norm.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." --Henry Ford

Stick To It!

2010-11-02T12:39:00.000-05:00

Here are 6 tips for keeping resolutions:

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/10/trying-to-get-yourself-to-start-exercising-or-whatever-6-tips-for-sticking-to-your-resolution.html

I Voted (Create Every Day)

2010-11-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

Does voting count as creating? I don't know, but if you don't vote then you don't get to complain. Vote or shut up. Period.

How I Did It (CREATE EVERY DAY)

2010-11-01T19:03:00.000-05:00

I need to write a bunch of class proposals. Why make it a chore? Create Every Day is a privilege--a luxury--FUN!

I cranked up the tunes (Celtic, of course), lit the scented oil warmer (rosemary for alertness), drank coffee (mmmMMMmmm....), wore my PJs, snuggled under my (hand made recycled) denim jeans quilt, and created a wildly colorful jewelry set.

I did it! I created...

2010-11-01T16:55:00.000-05:00

I finished this necklace and bracelet and earrings set today. Some of the components were already assembled, but I'd been struggling with the final arrangement for a couple of weeks. I was going for a mixed media piece--something besides just beads and chain.

Create Every Day

2010-10-30T17:14:00.000-05:00

I did it. I committed to creating something every day. I even started a couple of days early. And loads of people have decided to commit, too. There must be something in the air. Want to join us? You don't need to do anything except decide to do it.

It's Sally's fault. She sent me the article about November being Art Every Day month. Too many people think art every day means painting every day, or finishing something every day. Who says making a gorgeous, mouth-watering, golden-brown quiche isn't art? Since when do I have to finish the necklace for it to count as creating something? And will the Art Police arrest me if I write a song--or part of a song--or sing one--to create for the day?

Relax. We get to make our own rules.

But be reasonable. You don't have to sew a whole new wardrobe in 30 days, although you can if you really want to. You don't have to write your masterpiece book, either. Just take it in little bites. That's how you eat the whole elephant. Little bites.

I wrote a book about ArtCharms with Chris. Guess how. One charm at a time. Am I overstating this?

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Do I have to start on Nov. 1st?
A: Only if you decide to.

Q: Do I have to blog about it every day?
A: Only if you decide to.

Q: Does a sketch (doodle, cake, flower arrangement, closet-cleaning, letter, walk, etc.) count as creating every day?
A: Only if you decide it does.

You get the picture.

Commitment Issues

2010-10-29T11:49:00.001-05:00

I know it's kind of silly, but I have Commitment Issues.

November is Create Every Day Month. I'm preparing to commit to Create Every Day. Notice I still haven't actually said I committed? Yikes. Why am I hesitating? Here are a few reasons:
1. Fear of failure and its attendants
2. Fear of embarrassment
3. Laziness
4. Procrastination

Well, that's enough reasons for now. I'm going to explore these and see what's behind them.

Fear of Failure
I'm not really afraid to fail, but I sure don't like what follows: disappointment and disgust with myself. If I was as good at art as I am at self-loathing I'd be rich and famous by now. What's the solution to that? Maybe I don't want to solve it. Maybe it's not a problem but a tool. It's one of the tools I use to motivate myself. Uh, maybe it's not the best one, but it works.

I'm going to deal with this by heading into it instead of avoiding it. I hereby commit to consciously Create Every Day for the month of November. Notice I said 'consciously' create? We're all creating all the time. But I mean that I want to be mindful and choose my daily contribution.

I'll keep a list. I don't promise to blog about it every day. THAT's more than I'm willing to commit to.

Fear of Embarrassment
So who am I going to be embarrassed in front of? I mean, if my friends read this, and they think I'm a dolt, will I be embarrassed? Yes. But more worrisome to me is the possibility that I'll miss a day, or a week, and be embarrassed about that.

I can either avoid telling my friends that I'm doing this C.E.D. thing, or I can pull up my big girl socks (you know what I mean) and Just Do It.

I'm going to do it. If you're reading this it's probably because I asked you to.

Laziness
What needs to be said about laziness?

I just thought of something. Sometimes I call it laziness when it's actually taking a well-earned rest. Who says I have to be doing every waking moment? When do I take time to just be? Do I get to fill the well every now and then instead of always pouring it out? I don't want to feel guilty when I read or watch TV. It makes sense to decide how much self-time I'm going to allow every day.

Procrastination
I'll think about that tomorrow.

Recovering

2010-10-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm still recovering from Art & Soul. The finished pieces (fused glass cabochons) are all packed up and ready to send back to the artist-students who took my glass classes.

This is what it looked like when I packed it up to send to Oregon. Tools and glass are heavy and I didn't want to carry them on the plane. The boxes each ended up weighing 20 to 30 pounds!

Now it's time to start planning for next year.

Epic Fail--and Rescue

2010-09-24T19:14:00.001-05:00

I can't believe I did this. I procrastinated--just for a couple of days!--on making reservations for the hotel in Portland. (I actually forgot and thought Tony was going to do it.) I have zero brains when getting this close to a big teaching event.

So I just found out that not only is the block of rooms for Art & Soul art retreat sold out, but the only rooms available are quite out of my price range. AAAKKKKK!

I checked the Database for the A&S Yahoo Group to see if anyone is looking for a roomie. I'm hoping, praying, and crossing my fingers and my eyes that somebody will still have room.

Meanwhile, my Mom, who fell and broke her hip a week or so ago, has been in the emergency room twice in the last few days for a dislocated hip joint. Now they have her in a brace so she doesn't pop it out again.

Two days ago the power went out and our computers, which had slowed considerably in the last few days, were "hanging" for every little thing. I wasn't getting emails on time, and it was taking forever to access my blog, Yahoo groups, etc. This morning Tony called the ISP and asked what was wrong, thinking the power outage messed us up. Nope. They said we needed to upgrade our modem. My mind started going $$ $$ $$ and my stomach did a flip-flop. We just bought a new camera after our 10-year-old digital died. Not cheap. And I couldn't afford the kind of camera needed for taking the RAW format photos needed by my publishers if I do another book. I guess I can't afford to do another book.

But then, as it turned out, the upgrade to the modem was free, and done over the cable. Sometimes I love technology!

My Mom, helped by my sisters, has been moved to an assisted living facility in Milwaukee. I'm praying that she'll be happy and safe there.

While I was writing about all my troubles, I got an email from an Angel at Art & Soul Retreat. She has room for me in her hotel room. Her roomie cancelled! And here's what she said in her email: "A few weeks ago I had considered "pairing up" with some of the others who were also looking for roommates to share the room that had been booked. But I figured I'd wait to see if I could bless someone was in dire straits and didn't have a room."

I'd just asked Deborah and Tony for prayers. Wow, nice timing! Thanks. I have goose bumps now. And I feel like the luckiest idiot in the whole world.

What does the Lava Lamp have to do with all this? Nothing. I just like the picture.

Book Signing Party

2010-09-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

This is so cool! The Arlington Heights Senior Center, where I teach, is throwing this party for me! It's a chance for me to socialize with friends and students without being busy with a class. Yippee! Come on over just to visit and have some refreshments. Please let me know if you're coming, so I can tell them how much stuff to serve.

Book Signing 11-3

2010-09-06T12:22:00.001-05:00

Naperville, Illinois

Sunday, September 12, 2010

10am to 4pm

Holiday Inn Select

Grand Ballroom

1801 N. Naper Blvd.

Public Invited

Admission $5.00

Book Signing 11-3

Details here

WAHOO, We're Number Two!

2010-09-04T13:42:00.002-05:00

Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry is number two on the Amazon Bestselling Jewelry Books list again! (The ranking changes every hour, so I'm very happy to have caught it when it happened!)

Thanks so much to everybody who bought it and spread the word!

While I was checking this out, I discovered something interesting and puzzling. It's #3 on the Amazon Bestsellers in Decorating. Is that because people use the concepts and techniques to create home decor, as we suggested in the book? Or is it because you can use it to make stuff to decorate your own self?

Steampunk Shell-and-Lightbulb Charms

2010-09-01T08:28:00.001-05:00

Surprisingly simple, isn't it? Solder a jump ring or split ring to the top of a .22 caliber shell. Glue in a tiny light bulb. Add a jump ring.

You can use a tassel or bead in place of the bulb.

Bullet Necklace

2010-08-27T15:55:00.004-05:00

In the book I titled the bullet charm Bells, Not Bullets.

This reminds me a bit of an Egyptian Collar.

There's a photo of the bracelet on the July 18th post.

Wrapped Loop Photos

2010-08-27T14:32:00.000-05:00

Aargh! I keep trying and these photos won't upload to the ArtCharms Yahoo group. I'm posting them here for now. The bead is one of Chris' handmade lampwork beads. The wrapped loop isn't perfect but it's the best I could do. At least the wire isn't sticking out or sharp, so nobody will get snagged.

Jan's Bracelet

2010-08-27T11:12:00.000-05:00

Another masterpiece by a student who could just as easily be my teacher:

Isn't this awesome? If anybody wants me to post a picture of the bracelet that they made in my class--or a bracelet they began there--please send a photo of it. Thanks, Jan!

Book Study Begins Today!

2010-08-25T13:30:00.001-05:00

CLICK HERE
This link gets you to the Yahoo group where the book study is being held. You'll have to join the group if you want to read the lessons. Ooh, lessons sound formal and these aren't!

For members, click here
This takes you right to the first lesson. Or playdate. Whatever you want to call it.

Do these at your own speed, whenever you want. Or don't do them at all, just join up to be in the drawings for free charms.

Need help? Let me know. Can it get any easier?

Where to Stay in Phoenix

2010-08-23T11:22:00.000-05:00

A post on the ArtUnraveled Yahoo Group caught my attention: Sue was looking for a place to stay while she was in Phoenix, and hoped someone would be willing to take her in for the week. The Australian currency was trading low against the US dollar, and a hotel stay would be very expensive. She said she had references from people she'd stayed with in past years.

The art community is very friendly and helpful. I knew Sue would find someone to stay with. I just wanted to help her out with those references, having stayed with her in my coauthor Christine's home two years ago. So I posted: she was a low-maintenance guest, and there was a possibility that I could get a place for us to stay at least part of the time. I then emailed Sue to catch up with her news. I hadn't seen her in person for two years.

Then came the fateful email, the magnificent missive. Deborah, a total stranger invited us to stay with her for the whole week. Both of us. Although I loved the idea of hanging out with the other teachers and students in the hotel, the state of my finances is pretty dismal, and the hotel is expensive. I checked with Sue. She was game. So we accepted.

I did a tremendous amount of work to get ready for my classes. Other art-makers will tell you that they travel with a heavy suitcase full of tools and materials and a small bag for clothes and essentials. It's even worse when you're teaching and supplying tools to work with. But Deborah offered to accept packages for me, so I mailed a lot of stuff. Probably 50 pounds or so. "If it fits it ships," the ads say. It fit, but it was heavy.

Deborah and I emailed back and forth making arrangements for pickup at the airport and scheduling transportation to and from classes. I talked to her on the phone and was immediately reassured by her gentle voice. Still, this was a trip to the unknown, and I was a little nervous. What if she didn't like us? Or me? I'm such a spreader-outer-of-stuff, also known as slob; what if I made her crazy?

Sue and Deborah met me at the airport. I was disheveled and disorganized. Deborah was elegant and gracious. She was slender and well-dressed, wearing the most gorgeous sparkly Swarovsky crystal jewelry I'd ever seen. Of course she made it. She looked to be about 35 or 40. I was getting ready to feel like a bum when she greeted me, but she instantly put me at ease. I did say gracious, didn't I?

When she opened the door to her home, I almost dropped my bags. Inlaid marble floors, a kitchen and dining area as big as my house, ankle-deep white carpets, gigantic fireplace, decorating to die for....

She showed me to my room: a huge one with a king-sized bed, a walk-in closet, and my own bathroom. A five-star hotel couldn't have been more beautiful or spacious.

Honestly, if it wouldn't have been utterly tacky I'd have posted pictures. Not because I'm not tacky, but because she isn't.

OK, I HAD to show you the pool. And the fountains, and the jacuzzi, and about an acre of landscaped yard.... I even saw a road runner there!

I must have done something wonderful to deserve this! Strike that. I didn't deserve it, it was all a gift.

This is just the beginning. There's lots more to tell about my awesome trip, incredibly generous new friends, and the art retreat I want to attend every year forever.

Stay tuned!

Art Unraveled and Arizona

2010-08-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

Why do they call it Art UNraveled? I found it to be a perfect place to reconnect and knit together so many of my different interests and enthusiasms. As a jewelry nut I was thrilled to see lots of styles and interpretations of the kind of stuff I love, from Found Object Funk to Haute Steampunk and from gorgeous glass to fabulous fibers to rusted relics. Anyone who follows the mixed media and art jewelry scenes would think they'd died and gone to heaven: there were classes by Keith LoBue, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Richard Salley, Melissa Manley, Thomas Ashman, Laurie Mika, Barbe Saint John, Jane Wynn and more.... these people are my heroes and inspirers, the people whose work I admire so much that I have to work very hard to NOT copy their styles.

The photo shows a selection of the work my students did. These pieces haven't been fired yet, so you don't get to see how fantastic they look when they're finished!

Art Unraveled

2010-08-03T19:02:00.003-05:00

My flight to Arizona to teach at Art Unraveled was cancelled! So glad I found another one later in the day. And my Hostess is so gracious... she assured me that my change in plans wasn't going to be a big problem. Whew! Thanks, Deborah!

And here's a bit of eye candy for you: A romantic charm bracelet by my friend Sally, made right here on my kitchen table. We shared charms, stories, and tea. What a delight!

The paper under the bracelet includes pressed ferns from the garden. Remember that you're all invited to come and make paper with me on my deck!

Fused Glass Cabochons

2010-07-24T11:24:00.001-05:00

Here's what they look like:

I made these (above).

Guess which ones were made by my students :-)

Make Bells, Not Bullets

2010-07-18T20:46:00.001-05:00

Make pie, not war. Turn your swords into plowshares and your helmets into fishbowls.

Turn bullets into bells into bracelets.

Groovy.

Lace & Button Cuff

2010-07-17T20:55:00.000-05:00

I'm not hugely into buttons but I got a ton of them from the company I'm going to do demos for at CHA (Craft & Hobby Association trade show). Once again, I was too lazy to set up the light tent, but you get the idea, right?

She's No Angel

2010-07-17T12:40:00.000-05:00

My Winged Steampunk brooch, which I love, is NOT supposed to look like an angel. I hate cute. So there.

Box Latch Necklace

2010-07-16T22:00:00.001-05:00

Believe it or not, every piece of this necklace is the same color. It's just a bad photo. Somehow the mica powder on the tiny fortune cookies picked up the light differently. The coins and box latch are all antique brass. I made matching earrings, too.

I made this for our book: Making Mixed Media Art Charms. My coauthor Christine Hansen liked it so it's hers. Uh, as soon as I'm done showing it off ;D

Junque Jewelry

2010-07-15T13:30:00.001-05:00

Does this qualify as Junque? Uh, I'm pretty sure it does.

Polymer clay beads, lightbulb, key, rubber gasket, button...

These are a few of my favorite things.

I Loooove My Doggie!

2010-07-14T01:29:00.002-05:00

Making Copies

2010-07-14T00:58:00.000-05:00

Remember that guy--the Office Nerd--from SNL? Well, I'm scared of making copies. Really.

I was reading a post by Barbe SaintJohn http://www.facebook.com/barbesaintjohn about people stealing other artists' designs. It makes me sick. Not just the robbery of intellectual property (and I've had my share of stuff ripped off) but the fact that it can happen so easily. There's no protection. That's pretty scary.

Want to know what I think is even more scary?

I'm worried that I'll inadvertently rip off someone else. I see dozens of great jewelry designs every day. How can I be sure that the piece I'm making isn't merely "inspired by" but actually copied from someone else?

I could easily paralyze myself by over-thinking this, second-guessing myself.

How do other artists handle this? How do you do it? Any advice?

Lights Of My Life

2010-07-14T00:12:00.001-05:00

Petunia and Sweet Potato Leaf

I love this color combination: hot pink and bright chartreuse.

I love iced coffee with caramel syrup and skim milk.

I love petting my puppy's silken ears.

I dearly love my husband, my family and my friends.

What lights your day?

Erin's Great Mind

2010-07-13T13:10:00.002-05:00

I made this bracelet a while back and I knew it needed something:

Then I saw something better on Erin Keck's Etsy site:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51414006/ek-original-cutthe-key-bracelet?fref=fb_itemlist

Hers is so much nicer! She uses beautiful antique keys in hers. You gotta check it out quick; the price is right and it won't last long! Erin, you totally rock! If you want to post a photo here, please do!

People Can Be Mean

2010-07-13T12:59:00.003-05:00

Well DUH! Who doesn't know that?!? And yet, when it happened to me yesterday I was really taken aback. I try awfully hard to play nice, and I'm always shocked when somebody poops in the sandbox.

Oh well, what happened is not about me, but it says a lot about the person who hurt me. She's good, but she doesn't get to take all the credit for my success or my designs. Geez! Great minds think alike! Great ideas often pop up in several different places at once.

I would never copy anybody else's ideas. But I am very often inspired by them. I'm not sure I have the quote exactly right but, "If we have seen far it is because we stood on the shoulders of giants."

Two of my giants: Amber Dawn who insisted on quality when I was making quantity, and Susan Lenart Kazmer who broke the mold when it came to jewelry. Both are teachers and both are generous with their ideas.

Steampunk Lampshade!

2010-07-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

I guess you could wear it on your head... if you really want to. But ya gotta love a Steampunk Lampshade! This is what I mean when I say you don't have to make "charms" or even jewelry when you take my Mixed Media Art Charms class.

Amber's Artful Cakes

2010-07-04T15:34:00.008-05:00

You really should see these in person. Even though I looked at a ruler when I first saw her photos, I was amazed (and delighted) when Amber gave these to me for my birthday. They are incredibly tiny!

Let me put it this way: the orange cupcake is about the size of my thumbnail! All three pastel cupcakes fit onto my little fingernail!

These are hand formed of polymer clay, so in spite of the fact that they are yummy-looking, you can't eat them. But what great diet food!

Absolutely Amazing Amber!

To see more of her Awesome Edibles, and lots of other cool stuff, check out Amber's blog: http://inventivesoul.blogspot.com

Just checking...(COMM)

2010-07-03T21:01:00.000-05:00

Our Art Charms book is back up to #4 on the Amazon bestselling jewelry books list. YIPPEE!

After getting the most awesome rating I've ever seen, 5 stars and everything, I guess maybe it's an OK book ;)

Come ON! Check it out will ya?!?

It's 27 small mixed media projects that you can use for jewelry, accessories, home decor, and wall art. There are easy instructions for beginners and fresh ideas for the experienced.

Let me know what you think, OK?

Chatelaine

2010-07-01T17:50:00.001-05:00

The Chatelaine was the mistress of the household or castle, and keeper of the keys. She was responsible for the smooth operation of everything from purchasing and storing food and wine and supplies, to mending, cleaning, paying the accounts and all the millions of other domestic chores.

The Chatelaine wore a belt to hold all the symbols of her office and daily necessities like keys, clock, scissors and money. In time the belt itself came to be known as a chatelaine. Our purses and briefcases are the closest thing to the chatelaine-belt of olden days.

What would you put on your belt or in your bag? Cell phone, keys, money... Not much has changed. Inspired by the belt of old and the countless chores of today I created my own chatelaine of found objects, handmade beads, stones and bones, clock parts, tools, horsehair and handcuffs, religious objects and discarded jewelry. It dangles from a rusty chain on my wall.

A chatelaine for the Modern Woman...

Feeling Overwhelmed...

2010-06-29T16:03:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's just a spacey kind of day. It's like I'm not getting any traction. I spoiled a kiln shelf worth of fused glass by overcooking it, and I'm bummed about that. I did a really lousy job of listening to my friend vent--not listening, actually, but trying to "fix" it for her. I hate it when people do that (don't really listen) to me, and I try to listen attentively to others, but I SO wanted her to feel better...

I know how much I have on my To Do List and I'm overly focused on that. I gotta lighten up and just keep doing one thing at a time.

And then I want to make a dress that looks like this iris from my garden.

Heat Waaaave!

2010-06-27T22:41:00.001-05:00

Why did I wait until the hottest and wettest and most humid week of the year (so far) to make some new fused glass pieces? Fortunately the kiln wasn't running when the power went out this morning. The dishwasher was, though. Yeah, it got pretty moist here. Disgusting. But I love the new cabochons (flat-backed, slightly domed glass "gems") that I'm making. This one is about 2" long. I wish you could see how it glitters, and the depths of color and pattern. So cool! Or should I say hot?

I got a really nice gift today. I read the SkyBluePink Newsletter (you should, too!) and Christina gave my book a really nice plug. Thanks Christina. The Margarita is in the mail! And anybody who wants a great deal on art charm and other supplies should sign up for the SkyBluePink newsletter. That's where I get a lot of my supplies. Their slogan is "Cool Stuff For Non-Fancy Prices." It's true! And no, I don't get anything for endorsing SBP. But you'll thank me.

Susan Lenart Kazmer's New Line

2010-06-22T10:29:00.004-05:00

Wow! I love this stuff! Nice job, Susan. Look for her new jewelry components at Michaels.

I've taken several classes with Susan, so I've made some of the pieces she's selling, like the key with heishe and the metal tags. But some of these charms I'd never get around to doing. Where the heck could I find that cool number 5? Or the enameled bird? And one of them--a little red antique metal toy car--is completely unavailable--sold out. At least, it is at both of the Michaels I've tried. So if YOU have something like that (a tiny antique car--with or without paint and wheels) please share with me! Or rusty metal numbers or enameled... Well, you get the picture. (By the way, Michaels is spelled without the apostrophe. That's for the Apostrophe Police.)

I saw a contest on SLK's website, Objects and Elements, to design jewelry using her components, so I entered it. http://objectsandelements.typepad.com/objects_and_elements
I wanted to incorporate my co-author Christine's handmade beads, so I made these earrings:

I'd love to have made lots more stuff, but time and $$ put a bit of a crimp in that. I do plan to make a huge bib/collar with found objects to wear to Art Unraveled. I found a tea-length black cotton short-sleeved dress at the thrift store that will be a nice backdrop for my big necklace.

Yikes! I have to get ready for class. I'm teaching fused glass this afternoon at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, and I'm still in my PJs.

CHA CHA CHA!

2010-06-20T12:43:00.002-05:00

The CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show is happening next month--July 27-29. http://www.craftandhobby.org/allaboutcha.html
I'll be doing a book signing and jewelry display from 11-1 on the 27th at the publisher's booth. The rest of the time I'll be doing demos at the Stanislaus Imports booth.
Stanislaus/LaSioux Imports
Stan's company sells a lot of great charm-making supplies like the tiny glass bottles in my book. Sorry, they only sell wholesale but I'll be selling a few charm-making supplies here on my blog right after CHA.

If you're going to be at CHA, please look me up. And if you ask nicely, you just might get a free charm--if I have any left!

Our Book Hit #2!

2010-06-14T21:57:00.002-05:00

...number 2 on the Amazon bestselling jewelry book list! And the book hasn't even been released! This is all pre-orders! The list is updated every hour, so this might change. (Dare I even hope for--gulp--#1?)

Thanks a million to all of you who ordered a copy, spread the word, and helped with publicity. Chris and I both appreciate it very, very much.

Love,

Peggy

Bead and Button and Book Signing

2010-06-13T15:21:00.005-05:00

It was interesting. Not exactly exciting: a bit of an anticlimax I guess. I didn't even take any pictures.

I got to meet and chat with a bunch of people, and that was cool. I gave away some charms and found objects, in keeping with the theme of the book, Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry. And of course I got to look at and drool over millions of beads. It was a major effort but I managed not to spend a ton of money. A good thing, too, finances being what they are in this household right now.

Maybe the best thing was seeing my (our) book in print, bound, with a cover, for the very first time. No, that was the second best thing. The best thing was stopping at my Mom's house and showing her a copy. She said, "I'm proud of you, Peggy." It was worth all the effort of writing the book to hear that. I wish my dad had been there.

For Love of Tools, or, Drill Press Synchronicity

2010-06-11T11:48:00.003-05:00

Guess what I got for my birthday. My Art Group pitched in together to give me a gift certificate (thanks so much, girlfriends!) and I ordered a drill press. It's just a little one, called The WorkStation. It holds a Dremel so that you can not only drill but also mount it sideways and use it as a grinder. I can't wait until it arrives. (By the way, It was $49 at Home Depot and $38 on Amazon- with free shipping.)

My old drill press is a pretty simple thing: it holds my Dad's BIG old electric drill. I use it all the time, but it sure isn't portable or convenient. Here's a photo of what I've been doing with my old drill press:

So here I'm all excited about my baby press and then I read Chris' blog about HER new one. I think it's the Mother of all Drill Presses--at least the home-size version. Take a look at it here:

http://www.intuitivesparks.blogspot.com

Awesome, eh?

OK, so if you're not into tools this might not trip yer trigger, but I'm drooling.

Meanwhile I'm laughing about the timing. Chris' drill press article scooped mine. That'll teach me. Next time I'm posting first!

Blogging is Like Pulling Teeth

2010-06-10T20:06:00.008-05:00

I can't figure out why it's been so hard to add to this blog. It's not like I have nothing to say; I have way too much to say. But I'm a slow typist.

I have loads of photos of my new jewelry that I'd like everyone in the world to see. Like this piece I made, now owned by my sister Bridget. I think I'd call it Steampunk style. What do you think?

OK, that's all I'm going to write for now.

International Charm Day!

2010-04-26T17:46:00.003-05:00

It's that time again, folks! And the best place to celebrate is at the International Charm Day blog (see link in the left column). Amber's getting ready to do some giveaways, so get on over there and ENJOY!

ART Unraveled

2009-12-16T14:27:00.002-06:00

I just added a link to the ART Unraveled website. GO! It's an awesome lineup of talented people (yeah, I guess I am, too) teaching incredible classes. This is cutting edge stuff! And it's an art retreat; you take classes but you also socialize, meet other people who are as crazy about art-making as you are (or more so!) and swap stuff, buy stuff, sell stuff, make stuff... OMG it's awesome.

Thanks

2009-11-24T08:19:00.002-06:00

So many people left lovely comments about my jewelry on Facebook. It really makes me feel good when somebody likes my work.

Today I feel like doing cartwheels. If only I could do them without breaking my neck.

More Classes!

2009-11-23T11:44:00.003-06:00

Dazzling Dichroics--Fused Glass Cabochons

Classes I'm Teaching

2009-11-23T10:39:00.004-06:00

These are the photos for the Charm Bracelet/Necklace classes I'll be teaching at ART Unraveled (AU) in Phoenix, 2010. Woo hoo! I'm so pleased to be accepted! I'll share the website and registration information very soon. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at:
ARTandSOULtoo@aol.com

New Book Cover!

2009-11-23T10:27:00.005-06:00

OK, I think this is just the tentative cover, not the final version. But it'll give you an idea, anyway. It's from the promotional brochure that goes to bookstores and distributors. Click on it to get a larger view.

Yes and No

2009-11-22T09:15:00.000-06:00

Yes, I've just been accepted to teach at a national art venue. (More about it later.) And no, the Madison A&S art retreat is not going to happen. Not this year, anyway. The promoter's health took a bad turn and she was forced to cancel Madison. Fortunately her other shows are still on for 2010, and I hope to be accepted to teach at one of them.

So, woo hoo and boo hoo. Ya win some and lose some.

A New Direction

2009-09-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

I finally did it. I revealed a photo of myself. Honestly, you wouldn't think it's a big deal, but I have a terrible case of Photo Phobia.

I had to do it. I've been accepted to teach two classes at the new Art and Soul Retreat in Madison, and I had to submit a photo and bio. I couldn't be happier about teaching these classes. And that's my new direction: I've taught for many years, but never at a national-level show. And I wrote a book! It's coauthored with my friend Chris Hansen, and will be released in June of 2010. I did the process photography for the book, too.

It feels creepy to write a bio for myself, but it was required for the application process. Here it is:

BIO
As a mixed media artist, motivational speaker, and teacher with over twenty years of experience, Peggy’s goal is to provide a safe and non-judgmental place to practice the four E’s: Enjoyment, Empowerment, Exploration and self-Expression. Her classes focus on having fun as well as learning techniques. She earned her Master’s Degree in Life Coaching with an emphasis on Creativity, and leads workshops devoted to claiming one’s Creative Spirit through art; her business name, ARTandSOULtoo, reflects that combination. She currently teaches fused glass and mixed media jewelry, polymer clay, paper making, metal working, gourd art, WishCrafting, and assemblage. Her book Making Mixed Media ArtCharms and Jewelry will be released in Spring of 2010.

At a later date I'll post the class descriptions and some photos. But I can't promise that I'll keep this blog updated. It's more fun to make art than it is to write about it.

International Charm Day

2009-04-28T10:13:00.000-05:00

Today is International Charm Day! I thought this would be a good time to blog. I won't promise that I'll keep it up, since I already have all I can do looking at everybody else's blogs, but at least for today I'll post something. Head on over to Amber Dawn's www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com for prizes, classes, and activities.

In the last few years I’ve been in roughly four dozen charm swaps. My collection is astounding! I know I should post photos, but do you have any idea how much time that takes? And making charms is so much fun that I’d much rather make new ones than take pictures of old ones.

Last week I heard from a publisher (Kalmbach, publisher of Art Jewelry and Bead & Button magazines) that the jewelry book I wrote with my friend Chris Hansen is going to be published. This is a dream-come-true for me. There’s still a lot of work to do. I still have to take something like 300 photos and do a bit more writing. But—Yippee—I’m going to have a for-real book with my name on it. And I’ll actually get paid!

My glass jewelry is sold through a lovely gallery called Artisan 133. I recently started selling my glass platters there, too. But the economic trouble of the past year was just too much for a new venture, especially one selling art, and they’ll be closing up shop. It makes me so sad. I loved the place.

I’ve been teaching Art and Craft classes at the Arlington Heights Senior Center for about two years now. If you live in the area, you ought to check it out. The classes are varied, the prices are reasonable, the facility is beautiful, and the people are welcoming and friendly. And you don’t have to be a Senior to take the classes. Upcoming classes include Basic Jewelry-Making (“Bead All About It”), a Trash-to-Treasure class called “Junque Jewelry” and a gourd-decorating class in the Fall. I also give classes in dichroic glass jewelry and polymer clay.

A few years ago I earned a Master’s Degree that focused on Life Coaching and Spiritual Direction. I specialized in creativity and art as tools for exploration. That’s why I call my blog (and my business) ARTandSOULtoo. My thesis is that many people find it difficult to articulate their goals or emotions but are able to express themselves through creative activities. For example, I can’t always figure out what life-task I want to work on next, but I can usually describe it in my journal. I use colored pens and diagrams and lists to map out my direction. I visualize where I want to be (or what I want to be doing) in three months or six months or even ten years. (Notice I don’t mention sketches or drawings. I can diagram fairly well, but I never took the time to learn how to draw, and I don’t plan to start now.) I’ll be teaching a class in this, too. I want to call it WishCrafting.

Since I started doing this kind of self-work I’ve accomplished pretty much every goal I set: teaching, writing, making jewelry, publishing a book, working with glass and having my work in a gallery. Now comes the really hard one: exercise and healthy eating. Since the first of the year I’ve exercised faithfully, with one long break for flu/pneumonia, and a couple of short breaks with no excuse but laziness. (I procrastinate until it’s too late.) But you know, I’ve been eating for a very long time (all my life in fact) and I have some seriously deep habits to change. Most of the worst ones involve carbohydrates and snacking before bedtime. I have to figure out a new way to reward myself, since it makes no sense to celebrate losing weight by eating something that makes me gain weight.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment.

Peace,
Peggy