NEVER ENDING?

Relevance

Wednesday evening I was in conversation with a lovely young woman named Natalie. Evidently, she had seen the Celebration of Women series before and we got to talking about it and what prompted it for me.

The realization that came out of the conversation for me was just how pertinent much of the thought behind the work still is today...and will be as long as the current powers that be hold sway over our governance.

So it still behooves us, both women and men, who believe in what this country has stood for for centuries to speak up, stand up, resist, and hold fast to the ideals we have always believed in.

ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD

Beckoning road

All the local artisans are about to pack it up and hit the road, closing shop for another festival season here in Laguna Beach. It's been swell, but all good things need to draw to a close.

If you have not made it to the Sawdust Art Festival yet, we are open through September 1, 10 to 10. Great music, great art, great food, great classes, great fun....so why not?

TEN DAYS BUT WHO'S COUNTING?

Yet another older journal piece

As I write this it is the start of the ten-day countdown to the end of the 
2019 Sawdust Art Festival season. After 20 years I have many mixed feelings about taking leave.... I am both excited and a feeling a bit nostalgic at loss at the same moment.

What will be behind the next door? At this time I have no idea at all, but look forward to the adventure of not knowing.

For now, ten...nine....

GETTING BEHINDER?

Long ago journal page

Alas! I think I am getting behinder and behinder as the summer winds down. Less than two weeks remain of the month and of the festival season. Getting to everything in this birthday week has been a bit of a challenge. 

Two blogs per week. That is my promise. Since this is the first one of this week and the weekend looms, guess I'd best get real busy.

A bit of a cheat perhaps, but here is the first of those blogs. Not much to it, but angst, but....
Well, I have to get to that journal page for this month and spruce up my booth at the festival for the penultimate weekend.

MID-AUGUST ALREADY? HOW CAN THAT BE?

Camillia's journal

As the herd of goats bleats in the morning air across the canyon, I am mesmerized by the sound...until....

Whoa! It's past mid-point of this month of August and there is still much to do. Not least of these tasks is to get to creating something for my pages in this fun monthly Round Robin journal.

I have had several ideas for what will transpire, but of course, Bill Watterson's Calvin comes to mind with his words stating that last-minute panic is his inspiration. I will try to not let it go quite that far. Maybe after the weekend hullabaloo settles???

We'll see. 

SIDEWAYS

Tumult

Sometimes things just seem to go sideways, don't they? 

I was spending a delightful Monday evening at the Sawdust Art Festival. The air was cool and refreshing. The music was good. The crowd was filled with interesting people....

At about nine I sold a framed print and took it off the wall. Placed it on my chair and reached for a bag....

Bang! Down it went and broke the frame. Well, I had another at home, so after apologizing I offered to re-frame it and deliver to their motel the next day.

In the morning I upgraded the frame and delivered as promised on my way to San Clemente. Being early for an appointment I stopped to enjoy the view at the harbor and could not find my phone. Hmmmm. Must have left it at home in my rush out.

Later, on arriving home, no phone. Mad search through house. Tried calling from another phone. No answering ring. Back in the car. Maybe I had it at the motel. ...

I walked in and almost before I could ask, Jack, the man at the desk held up my now shattered phone. I was just happy to have found it and thanked him profusely.  He offered up a referral to Smart Cell Repair in Tustin. I took it, but thought I would probably simply use Verizon, thinking it would be easier.

Back in the car. Heavy traffic through town. Arrived to grab the only parking spot remaining at Verizon. Quote to fix was over $300. Mulled it over and ordered a replacement iphone 6. 

Home again. Used neighbor's phone to call Smart Cell Repair. Quote was considerably less. Well....might as well give it a try. I always have this ordered phone that I am not obligated to take.

Tossed and turned all night of course, worries about this, but off I went this morning. Google Maps gave me horrible directions, but guy filling his car with gas was right on. So I finally arrived.

Out in less than 30 minutes. Upgraded screen, all repaired for $100. I'm a happy, grateful camper!

Side note: We sure do forget just how much info we rely on the cell phone for. I could only remember two phone numbers stored there.

ATTITUDE: HALF EMPTY? HALF FULL?

What do you see?

It has been said that your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life...kind of a half empty/half full thing. 

Proverbially, the idea that one sees the glass as half empty is the pessimistic view. On the other hand, half full is an optimistic view. Opportunity? Trouble?
Hmmmmmmmm

Good or bad, I tend to err on the side of half full...maybe even edging toward full. Am I too Pollyanna-ish? Nah! The world swings back to the wonderful all too often for that to be the case.

I ask what do you see in the image above left...I see the full moon in the most brilliant of stormy skies. Just can't help myself. Life is good. Hope you feel the same.

SUMMERTIME BLUES? NO WAY!

Loving the blues

Summertime here in Laguna has been truly a blessing weather-wise this year so no feelings of malaise or blues for this gal. (Well, traffic is still what it always is in the summer, but....)

I have been working on putting the fall schedule of workshops together and the first one has already generated some signups. We will be focusing mostly on the use of alcohol inks. 

I provide a variety of papers to use, tiles, and all other materials needed to create some color-rich pieces.  And instruction, of course. All this for just $75.

Won't you come play?

When:  Sunday, September 22 from 11 am to 4 pm
Where: My studio space in beautiful Bluebird Canyon here in Laguna Beach.
Why?:  Well... some great folks always join in; it's a lot of fun; you'll get to play with all kinds of techniques; good food to share.......

Need I say more?

email me at cherril@cherrildoty.com

BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN?

Fun to do

A lot of folks tell me they don't think they can do one of the fun Sunday Studio Workshops that I offer. The truth is...they most certainly can! 

It doesn't matter the skill level with which you begin. Everyone proceeds at their own pace.

What seems most important to me is that each and every participant has a good time and feels super comfortable with the play at hand.

I am always reminded of a quilting circle. It doesn't seem to matter what particular focus we have...It's all about the camaraderie and good spirits that come about during the day.

Won't you join our circle of joy?

Check out the dates in the July 29th blog post!