I had an idea. I sketched it out. It seemed doable. I have spent some time on it every day for the last few days, but I was not excited about it. It was like work and not like being creative. I faced the music tonight and threw in the towel. I am moving on. I have many other things to do and there will be other shows to enter.

I think I will work on getting my 3 x3’s rearranged so that I can stitch them together. I also want to seal the edges of each one with paint or gel medium. Maybe that will get my creative juices going.

Registration for the SDA conference had flattened for awhile. We get a burst of people who are clamoring for certain workshops. Then, it slows down until the 15th of February when people can register for workshops if they are not going to the conference.

My next big job is getting photos into a slide show for the jurying for our annual Artists Among Us exhibit at Trinity.

And here are my first 3 drawings in the larger sketch book.

This is the logo for the SDA Conference in San Antonio in June. I love the colors. It is a good thing because I see it several times a day as I work on registration. Registration frenzy has slowed down and so I had a very relaxing day. I got some much needed reorganization in my studio done – still have more to do.

Yesterday, we had a SAQA meeting here which was very well attended. There were a couple of new people. We shared our most important accomplishment of the past year and a goal for the coming year. I guess one of my goals for the first six months is to survive!! I have SDA registration, co-chairing Artists Among Us for Trinity Arts and Lisa and Clay’s wedding. I hope to get in some creative time, too.

Here are my latest two sketches.

I saw the physical therapist yesterday and we decided I knew enough about the exercises and what aggravates my hip problem that I could go it alone and just come back if it is suddenly not working. I am so happy to have this problem diagnosed and will continue to work on keeping myself more flexible.

I can’t believe that it will be Friday tomorrow. At least I am feeling much better than a week ago. It is still too cold. And here is a link to an article about the Twelve by Twelve Colorplay quilts which are down under. Originally, it said I was from the UK – made me laugh.

We are having a temperature inversion with foggy, gray days and cold enough to need down jackets, gloves and hats. They say it is warmer up on Mt. Hood than it is down here in the valley. I took this photo of the Aspens growing along the creek in the Reed College canyon. I love the chartreuse moss decorating them.

I am feeling like I am getting back in control of my life. We got the house cleaned up and all the linens washed from the holiday visitors. I have SAQA here tomorrow so there was an incentive.

I did some drawings today, and I felt very rusty which was odd because I really hadn’t done that many yet. I also am using a really small sketch book so I think it will help when I go bigger, but I feel compelled to finish filling this one. Here they are:

I went down to my studio tonight and was overwhelmed. I have to do some cleanup before I can get myself creating again. Stay tuned.