Proofing the Spreads

I had a totally surreal moment when I received the magazine spread in an email yesterday for proofing. I have waited for this moment for so long...to be published, not only my art but also my words, in a reputable, beautiful, magazine for art and blogging enthusiasts. I was so excited just seeing the PDF of how the format will look...6 pages filled with words and art that came straight from my heart, telling about my father's death and the diagnosis of my Lyme disease.  

I purposefully left the images of the layout small so you'll have to wait until the winter issue hits the newsstand on November 1st to read it!  I know I will be visiting the bookstore that day and buying several copies! I really wish my father were alive to see this moment. He was always proud of me no matter what, but I would love to share this moment with him. My mom and my family have been my biggest supporters and cheerleaders all along and when a moment presents itself like this one, it makes me happy to make them proud!

The magazine is getting ready to go to print, so they are doing last minute edits. The editor said they may make a few minor tweaks to this layout, but no major things should be changed.  Thanks to everyone who has supported me along this amazing journey. It has been filled with so many sad moments but also joyous moments. So many of you have been there to hold my hand when times were tough and to pat me on the back with words of encouragement when I took leaps of faith. Thank you.

Thank you also, in advance, for coming out to the opening of my art show at The Gallery at 122 Main in Elkton Maryland on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 5PM-8PM. I would be thrilled to greet you and chat with you there! You will see 20+ pieces of my art and photography displayed and a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of my art/photographs will go to the National Capital Lyme Association to support their mission of furthering Lyme (and other tick born illnesses) research, education, support, and advocacy (at both the state and federal levels.) This organization will be on hand at the reception with information, brochures, and a display table helping us get the word out about Lyme to the public! I would LOVE your support! Please pass the word and make a night of it! I would love the opportunity to tell my story and encourage others in their battle against this horrible disease!  If you are unable to attend the event, but would be interested in purchasing a piece of art or making a donation to National Capital Lyme Association, please contact me directly using the contact button on my blog.

Also, head out this Saturday from 11AM-3PM to Arts By the Bay Gallery in beautiful Havre de Grace, Maryland.  I have some pieces showing there and I will be working during that time...so stop in and say hello!

Hugs to all! <3

Working, Working, Working

As seen on a recent trip to New York City

I was happy to be able to take a quick trip to Lynchburg this past weekend to visit my mom. I hate that she lives so far away, especially now that she is alone after my father passed away in June of 2014. I keep trying to convince her to move back north near me, my brother, and her sister, but so far she seems content to stay put. It was good to leave work and homeschooling behind for a while and just relax and spend quality time with her.

I took advantage of the long 5 hour ride home yesterday to type out the article I had to write for my feature in Artful Blogging. I was nervous that the theme of my article wouldn't be what they were looking for. The editor was pretty open as far as topics on which I could write in her initial letter to me, so it really was wide open. I ended up with 848 words (in an 850 word limit). To me it wasn't difficult because as I have been told by my family and others, I can be wordy. :) I sent the article off to the editor yesterday and I received notification today that it was received and approved! I previously sent them 15 high resolution images of my work and that was approved as well. I am so glad I finished way before the August 3 deadline. The magazine hits newsstands on November 1, so be sure to check it out!

Now that I am finished with that opportunity, I need to focus on my featured artist show coming up in the month of October and get some work printed and framed for that. I am currently working on getting model releases and deciding which work I will be putting out there. I am hoping to pair up with a local Lyme support group to raise money for Lyme awareness and Lyme support. I want to give back to the community a portion of the proceeds I make from this art exhibition.

In addition to preparing for the show, I have to get ready to teach Photography to 18 middle and high school Homeschool students. Starting in September I will be teaching a class once a week until May. I am very much looking forward to it, however, I need to get the syllabus and class material list completed before too awful long here!

That about sums up the craziness going on here. I hope your life is filled with things that make you happy and fulfill your soul's desires! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

xo

Get Up One More Time Than You Are Knocked Down

The Kiss- digital mixed media

That sheer feeling of elation when a goal you have set for yourself is achieved. That is exactly what I felt when at 6:41PM yesterday evening I received an email from the managing editor of Artful Blogging Magazine telling me my blog was chosen to be featured in their upcoming November issue! Artful Blogging is a gorgeous magazine published by Stampington and Company four times a year. I've been reading this magazine for years and admiring their beautiful printed magazine, drawing inspiration from many other artists and bloggers. For a long time I promised myself that one day I would have my work in a Stampington and Company publication, but fear of failure held me back for years.

Then, one day in May, I decided that I was being a hypocrite. I was writing blogs about taking control of your life, not living in fear, and reaching for your goals and yet here I was being held back by the very thing I told everyone else not worry about. Fear. So, I decided to get off the proverbial fence and just do it. So, that very day, May 22 to be exact, I wrote a submission email to the managing editor of Artful Blogging...and held my breath.  A week later I received an email telling me that she had received my submission and that a decision would be made at the end of June or beginning of July. Ach...that is a long time to wait. But, what was I to do? I felt encouraged that they didn't say no right off the bat, so I just filed it in the back of my brain and moved on with my busy life.

June passed.  No word.

July began.  No word.

I decided that if I hadn't heard by July 7th, the end of the first week of July, that my blog probably wasn't chosen for publication. July 7th came and went. Darn. I was disappointed, but not discouraged. Since it was a goal, I would just work on my blog for a while and resubmit. July 8th came...my mother called and asked, out of the blue, "Have you heard about your blog submission?" The question stung a bit because I wanted so badly to say YES and that it was chosen. I wanted to make her proud. But, I hadn't heard a word, so I told her the truth, "No, I don't think it was chosen.  I'll have to try again later."

I guess my mother putting it out into the world was a blessing because later that evening, at 6:41PM, my iPhone pinged the alert that I had received an email in my work account. I checked it immediately and was elated. All I read was, "Congrats! Your blog has been selected to be featured in the upcoming November issue of Artful Blogging that hits newsstands November 1, 2015!" I let out a squeal, jumped out of my chair, and exclaimed to the two construction workers in my house at the time, "I DID IT!" They paused in their work, looking at me like I was a nut and asked calmly exactly what it was that I did. I rambled on, my words a confused waterfall of exclamations and explanations, about setting a goal, going after it, and achieving it...My art was going to be published in a magazine I had long adored! I am pretty sure they thought I was possessed at that moment and I am not at all sure they understood a word I said.

I ran around the house telling anyone who would listen, including my daughter's friend who was over at the time, that I had overcome my fear of failure and had achieved a career goal! Elation.  Pure elation. I was proud of myself for overcoming all that has happened in the last year and a half and never giving up on my goals. So, please keep your eyes out for two amazing things happening this fall...I will be having a solo show at The Gallery at 122 Main in Elkton, Maryland, featuring my photographs and my digital art. I will also be published in Artful Blogging magazine, hitting the newsstands on November 1! Thank you to all my family and friends who support me in everything I do and celebrate life's victories with me. I love and appreciate you all. xo