It has been such a thrill to be published in my favorite art publications.   Recently, my work and studio art life was featured in Stampington’s SOMERSET APPRENTICE magazine and the Cloth Paper Scissors STUDIOS publication.  What fun it is to go to the store with your work on the shelves.  It never gets old!

 The Apprentice magazine is a fully illustrated technique book!  This has always been one of my “go to” resources for exploring new techniques and finding inspiration from articles with so many new ideas.

They featured my “faux epoxy” technique in my art journal.  It’s a great way to bling up the pages.

  My son Kevin is the photographer and took these great pictures for the article.  He just graduated from college with a degree in Art Education.  We are so proud to see his first published byline!

 This was my daughter Meghan’s room when she lived at home.  When she moved out into her own apartment a few years ago, we had the place emptied and repainted in 4 days!  Poor Meghan.  It was always a dream to have a nice art studio in my house.

 The best part is having a place to work at all hours, leave everything where it is and close the door.  It’s a dream come true after spending so many years creating on the dining room table then having to pick everything up for family meals!

Where, i ask, did September go!!!!!  I was in a whirlwind and have 20 blog posts ready for this month to catch you up, all fun artsy goodness.  After finishing the Create retreat in Chicago, i returned home to get caught up on some artwork, magazine articles and class proposals.  In the midst, i prepared for two trips to both coasts!  Many airplane rides in the past few months.

Back tracking, here are some more photos for Create in Chicago 30 days ago.  It always seems that i should have taken more pics at these events, but it seems that i am always in the moment savoring the experience.  I’ll have to get better about that.

How do you like my original Vintage Glitter Bottle Mushroom Head Man??  My art friend Kim Geiser created him, and i just about fell over from laughing so hard when she gifted it to me, hysterical!  He’s my Create Chicago mascot and i love him.

Just sent in proposals for the 2012 Create retreat in Irvine, CA!  Mark your calendars to attend May 30-June 3, 2012.  The site still shows the 2011 event, and the staff is still choosing workshops and planning schedules, so stay tuned!

But here are the Chicago girls, totally full from the Color Blast Buffet!  The nicest women ever.  Good thing we took TWO pictures, as everyone was paying attention in THIS photo!

 Some folks were painting this mural in a busy alley way.  Unbelievably breathtaking!  Amazing talent.

 Everyone loves to color in the Copic class!  It was such a thrill to see the students practicing blending on their coloring journals with my flower stamps!  So sweet!

 Artful Lettering with Faber Castell and Sakura pens galore and Pan Pastels!  The girls loved the creamy vibrant color and the palettes were a huge hit!

I can’t remember having a busier month with so many creative adventures!  This blog has been inexcusably absent due to my high volume of art tasks.  It was crazy!!!  Crazy good of course, so let’s review.

The first three weeks of August found me in my art studio conducting 6 Art Camps for 65 sweet little art girls.

Having been a classroom art teacher for 30 years, I miss teaching kids and summer art camp fills that void.  These are “my girls”!

 The cutest little artists ever!!  I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people, families and kids in my creative life.

In the evenings i had several art journaling and mixed media classes with my adult students.  These are my “regulars”.  Love them!

There was also the deadline for art submissions for Art Journaling magazine which i couldn’t miss!  I completed 3 journals and sent them off to Stampington.

Everything arrived safe and sound and was organized into the specific workshop.  The week was amazing!!!!!!!  I cannot adequately express the good feelings returning from this incredible event sponsored by Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine.  The people, the classes, the new art friends, the laughter, the joy, the art……….sigh.

Dear Blog Candy Giveaway Commenters,

Wow wow wow! I was so overwhelmed by every single one of your sweet, encouraging, kind, creative and supportive comments for my stamp and goodies giveaway with Ellen Hutson this week.  Each and every comment touched my heart so deeply.  Your enthusiasm inspires me to create more great things for your artful  adventures!  Stay tuned for many good things to come.

I know, i know, hush up Joanne, and tell us the winners!!!

I have neglected my children.  Not my real children, my rubber kids, my beautiful fun and creative stamps from Art Gone Wild!  Have you tried them yet?? I am so proud of the designs being so interactive and economical.  They were specifically created for coloring, because as you know, i am coloring kind of fool!

 DEFINITION OF ZWIRLZ: “Play the wildly fun, clapping, laughing, dancing, jumping, get-up-and-go game for you and your friends!  Zwirlz is the girl-power, real action game about everything that matters to YOU, like recess, sleepovers, being a babysitter, birthdays and changing the world!”

Each game consists of a lively rhyme written by my friend Jen Shanley (the company owner), designed to encourage girl power laughter, fun, movement and social interaction.  It’s brilliant!  Check it out for your favorite tween girls.

 There are “girl power” coloring sheets that can be downloaded right off the Zwirlz website for free.

 What a i love about this project is that it is a very relevant game for girls in this tech age, that challenges them to get up and move and interact with other human beings!  It’s not just playing a mind numbing video game, it’s teaching girl power, friendship and physical movement through play and dance.  It’s available for iTouch, iPad and iPhone.

Blogging at Luminarte today, featuring my “Color Stories”.  Go on over and check it out and see what inspirations strike using a few color families and circles in your art and projects.  Have a nice weekend!