TGIF

This is Kirk at Prom last year. Isn't he cute? He shared something with me last night that he was thinking about doing and I couldn't be more proud of him. I'll have to share later.
Like I said before, I cannot upload photos right now, so I'm having to pull from older ones. That means no photos of any new artwork yet. So, you'll get to see my handsome kids. I'll post a good one of J.T. next. BTW, this is the first Friday night that BOTH of my kids have their driver's license. They're both at basketball games (different ones), and I"m home alone with no vehicle. I sense a pattern.

This week I have painted another small bulldog painting so I can copy it for notecards, 2 mailboxes that I'm almost finished with, and I"m working on a baby shower invitation. I have some canvas fabric that's calling my name, but I'm not sure what I'll be doing with it yet. Maybe tags or bookmarks. On Monday our local museum is having a gourd painting workshop, so I"ll be off Monday. Looking forward to that. In the meantime....

create.
Suzy

Thank you Jesus.

Tonight I just have a grateful heart. I am so thankful for parents that raised me to love going to church and more importantly to love the Lord. We've had a revival at our church this week, and while there are many things I'm praying for..believing the Lord for, I just am humbled and thankful that my boys are saved and that they love the Lord and going to church too. I am so proud of them. I pray when they are old and gray they are still led by the spirit of God. I always say (usually in response to them being only 13 mos. apart LOL)...that the LORD knew what he was doing.

Snow in Louisiana...

okay...NOT today. This was about a year ago. I just could not bring myself to do another post without pictures. Ugh. I CANNOT get my new pics on my computer at home. SO, I thought I'd post a pic of my cute kids.
Kirk is on the left (17)and J.T. is in the middle (16). Kirk's friend Hunter is on the right. They built a very CREATIVE snowman golfer. I thought he was so cute.
J.T. turns 16 on Tuesday (1-20). He will get his license. Can I just say that if your babies are that age where they will just jump up into your arms and give you a hug...just eat it up. Seems like yesterday. Thankfully they still give their mom good hugs.

It's been a good week creatively speaking. I've gotten alot done. All of the mantra illustrations are done, I did this AWESOME Tech Bulldog painting (if I say so myself..) and a cute painting for my nephew's birthday invitations. And then some.

We have a revival at church starting Sunday. Bro. Jack Daniels will be speaking. I'm looking forward to it, as I have not heard him speak since the last revival he did at our church which happened to be when BOTH of the boys were saved. We are singing my 2nd favorite song Sunday morning (the choir). It's by this guy, Travis Cottrell. Look him up. Buy his CD. I first heard him at the Beth Moore convention at Century Tel a couple of years ago.

Good thing I have something to do next week to take my mind off the fact that my friend will be in PARIS and ROME all week. She TRIED to talk me into it. It's week like this however that convince me I made the right decision. I do not want my first trip abroad to be with students. Especially if MY kids weren't going. (they could've, but for a price ). Large price for the 3 of us LOL. And, I couldn't miss J.T.'s birthday anyway.

It's been a long, rough week at school. I'm tired and ready for a much needed extra day off. And that's all I want to say about that.

Create.
Suzy

2009 Mantras

Thanks to all who have been reading my blog and sharing their "word" with me. I have the first group of words illustrated and delivered. STILL trying to get pics uploaded to my computer to share with you. I'm NOT THAT bad at technical issues, but my computer is not reading my camera. It's seriously aggrivating when I KNOW the camera, USB cord, and everything is plugged in correctly...HELLO? It's all plugged in ....so IT SHOULD work!!!
Not. LOL

Hope you don't mind, but I decided to share your words. I know most of my readers are in our Sunday School class and probably have a secret pal. So, I thought you might be interested to know the WORD your secret pal has picked for the year. All of the words are very personal, moving, and thought provoking.

Me: Create
LindaK: patience
DonnaB: Blessed
JenniferF: Peace
AngelaM: Pray
AmandaM(York): Believe
Laurie: Commitment
Brandy: Faith
Paige: Restful
Penny: Gratitude

Create, Patience, Blessed, Peace, Pray, Believe, Commitment, Faith, Restful, Gratitude....

Words of Power.

Create.
Suzy

And the winner is....

LINDA KNOX.

Yes, I had ***17 *** trees this year. Thanks for all who guessed.

moving along....Okay...for those of you this morning that I "slipped" the piece of paper to, or those I emailed, or just plain follow my blog (Jennifer), the idea is for you to pick a word to be your "mantra" this YEAR. You can pass my blog info to other people and the offer is good for anyone who lets me know what word they chose. Here are some examples:

Blessed, Gratitude, Purpose, Create, Hope, Pray, Believe, Power, Determination, Love, Faith, Nurture, Balance, Grace, Humble, Thankful, Silence, Peace, Praise, Happiness, Laugh, Smile....etc.

Tell me why you chose the word if you'd like. I was really leaning towards "gratitude" or "thankful" because that is the way I feel lately HOWEVER... MY WORD IS....

CREATE.
surprise, huh? LOL.
Here's MY definition of create: to take something that exists and form it in to something better. Create in me a clean heart, oh God. Create health, happiness, peace...and the list can go on. I"m going to actually look up the REAL Webster's definition. Get back to you on that one. I want to see how they define the word "mantra" too. Hope I'm using that term correctly.

Okay friends...put some thought in to it, and let me know your WORD. I will illustrate your word for you to have/use this year. Happy 2009.

Create.
Suzy

Contest Update...

I've had a few guesses on the "tree" contest, but no winner yet. You can make one guess per day. IF you came to my house during the holidays...this does NOT include all of the little trees I had placed at each place setting. That would add another 14 to the number LOL. BUT it does include the "forest" of trees that were lit in my mudroom. I loved those this year. It DID remind me of a lighted forest. Ah, the little things.
Someone just informed me that you CAN leave a message on my blog without creating a google account (that is free). Click on the "comments" at the bottom of the post and post as an anonymous user. If you're making a guess for the contest though, make sure to include your name in the comments LOL.
ALSO...BREAKING NEWS.... a friend of mine has started a new blog. Most of you know Becky. It's so funny how friendships develop and we are just kindred spirits. We have tons of things in common...like I could say any word such as "homecoming, jadip, etc." and she immediately knows what I'm talking about. She taught where I'm teaching for years before me and just KNOWS. Funny thing is we laugh all the time at our differences. For example, our waiter arrives to take our drink orders and we both laugh as she orders unsweet tea with extra lemon and I order SWEET tea no lemon. I"m a steak and potatoes kind of girl and she is a eggplant, mushroom, spinach, cabbage salad kind of girl. CHECK out her blog at : www.spectacularsplatter.blogspot.com
Be the first to leave her a comment and I'll talk her into giving you a prize!!!! Or, I'll make you one. Or, you'll get lucky and we both will.

I have another CHALLENGE to all of my readers/friends. I follow several blogs that are talking about this (www.aliedwards.typepad.com) and I think it's a good idea.

*** CHOOSE A WORD to be your "mantra" this year. ***
try to stick to one word. could be a phrase I guess. Immediately I think of HOPE or CREATE. I use those all the time. But, I think I'll give more thought to my word this year. Let me know what your word is and I will make you an original watercolor print of your word.

And see...just as I go to "sign out" , I use the word...
CREATE.
maybe that SHOULD be my word. LOL
Suzy

Surprise !!!

Happy New Year. As a SURPRISE I decided to blog today. I"m sure it's a surprise since it has been since 11-11-08 that I blogged.

Where to begin...
the holidays are over and while I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Christmas season and all of the decorations and stuff...It's so nice to have an empty clean house again. Another one of the "joys of teaching" things. I like the week after Christmas when I can take about a room per day...take down the Christmas decorations and clean that room.
Our Christmas was wonderful this year. Everyone happy, healthy. ALL of my family was home this year. All 29 of us!! AND we had Christmas at our house this year. It was really nice and I enjoyed it. My grandmother (daddy's mom) was here as were Frank, Kim and the girls. They are so precious....but in that super wild age 2 stage. They are so full of life and energy, and did I mention just precious? We took "informal" family pics. I'll upload some soon. NO REALLY...I will. It's on my list. LOL
Back to Christmas decorations...I think I'll start the new
year off with a CONTEST.

*** HOW MANY CHRISTMAS TREES WERE IN MY HOUSE THIS YEAR? ***

This would include big ones, little ones, and all sizes in between. Some just had lights, some have a theme, some are special and some I just like. Now, most of you did not come to my house this season, but in the past I've had 13. THAT IS NOT the number this year...but don't guess some small little number like 2. I LOVE Christmas and especially trees with lights. NOT pre-lit. I do not have luck with lights... I like the small little cheap WHITE lights that never get too hot. Only white lights here. Not a fan of colored lights. Oh, J.T. does have one in his room with blue lights. His choice. SO, the contest starts now. You may call, tell me in person, email me, or leave a comment on my blog. IF you leave a comment, your prize will be better!! The prize for this one will be a hand painted slate tile with a fleur de lis in the background with your name or address.

On to my art news. As always, I have so many ideas and I don't know where to start. I was hoping to have that plan in place and IN WRITING by today. But there's so many things that I like to do and want to do that I have a hard time deciding. Business wise there's: Art Camp, a booth at Canton, post things for sell on Etsy, adult workshops, art kits, after school art, and just start some kind of ORGANIZED small business. I mean there is interest and I do enjoy doing the random things that I do... but I would like to be more organized.
Then...there's little things like my NAME. I've used "THE ART FACTORY"..where we build creativity for years now and I love that. Especially for the art that I do with kids. When I personally paint something I usually sign it Suzy Allen Designs. It really has not been a big deal until I start thinking about a website. I think I will press on as is for now regarding the name.
My other "issue" is deciding WHAT to do. I bought a plaque for my friend that read: "ALL we have to do is decide WHAT to do with the time that is given us". I love that phrase, but it's easier said than done. Just this month I've painted so many different subjects on so many different objects that I could never do a booth at Canton with such a random variety. So, I welcome YOUR ideas.
Thanks to all who have encouraged me this season and who have ordered these random items (pillowcases, parking signs, mailboxes, etc.) I feel as I have felt most of my life...I believe the Lord sends things my way even when I don't know what I want or need. Rather it's opportunities, jobs, KIDS, or just pillowcases to paint...HE always knows what I need. I hope you've been blessed this season and take the time to give thanks.
I promise to make more blog entries AND include photos soon.
Good luck on the contest. First one with the correct answer wins. I managed to get the blog prizes from JULY delivered in December LOL...oh yea, except for Jennifer K and Kelley. Good things come to those who wait, right?

CREATE in 2009.
Suzy