Well, it didn’t take long to decide that Blogger was easier to use, had more features available and more support, so I’m making a permanent move. You can find me now at

http://curlysqueue.blogspot.com/

Please come visit me in my new home. I’m reaffirming my commitment to try to make more regular posts (that still sound wishy-washy doesn’t it), but chatting away to no one in particular does seem to be getting a bit easier.

Hmmmmm…..I thought I’d look at Blogger again. I copy and pasted ALL of my WordPress posts back on Blogger. They just allow you to do more things. They’ve added categories or “labels” and you can run the Etsy mini and AdSense.I’d love to hear from others if they have any experience, good or bad, with either of these options.In the meantime, I’m going to post on both for a bit and see how it goes. 

That was probably the fastest trip we’ve made to Colorado. And, we were so busy we didn’t even get to truly appreciate the surroundings. The Boulder Jewish Festival was great fun though, despite the more Kansas-like temperature of 90 degrees. I sold several paintings, lots of prints and cards, got to pitch a tent for the first time, and we had the opportunity to catch up with some friends/family we hadn’t seen in a long time. I was even asked by the event coordinators about the possibility of designing the event t-shirt for next year. A good day all around!

Rachel always enjoys her cousins Allison and Colin who came up from Denver for the day. 

Hannah had a wonderful day chatting for hours with Becca! They had so much to catch up on after their first year at college. I enjoyed seeing her too, and only wished I’d gotten to see her mom too. Thanks, Becca, for purchasing the Peace Hamsa painting–I hope you’ll enjoy it!  

Tomorrow morning we leave for Boulder, Colorado. Maybe the long drive will be relaxing after all of the craziness of getting ready. I did finish the three paintings posted earlier this week, but didn’t get to any others. I’m really worried that all together the painting won’t make a big impact in that huge tent. But, with the new print rack and greeting card rack it’s sure to be a better presentation than before.

Here are the finished paintings:

Round Shalom Mandala

Peace Hamsa

Tree of Life Vista

More news and pictures next week when we return!

As I crazily get ready for the Boulder Jewish Festival I thought I stop for just a minute to make a long overdue post….

The Omaha Jewish Festival was soooo much fun! Great people to meet and they were all so helpful. This is the finished setup and we’re waiting to go!

These are a couple of paintings I just finished.

And, this one was started yesterday. At this point in the process I always wonder how it’ll get to the point when it’s finished and what it’ll look like. I hope to get it and another one or two done before Friday. Wish me luck!

…longer than I realized. I haven’t posted in over a month now. After working 12 hours today, I don’t have much energy left, but I can add a few pics. These are a couple of new paintings I’ve done recently….

I’ve sold quite a few paintings lately. The Omaha Jewish Arts Festival was very successful and Boulder is coming up fast! I have to make time to paint some more, but the paid work sure is nice to have. I may have to go back and revisit some themes just to have paintings without investing lots of time in conceptualizing. Not the ideal situation, but being so busy is good and I can’t complain.

I packed up two more paintings to get sent out today. What a bittersweet time–knowing I’ll never see the piece I’ve invested time in again, and yet knowing that someone else, a complete stranger, will get pleasure from my work. It’s still always hard to say good bye.

My, it’s taken a long time to get this wrapped up. I’ve just been soooooo busy with good, paying work. I’m posting this and then I’m off to bed. Gotta get up early and get back to the other stuff.

I sent these sketches to a client this morning. They are roughs for a painting to be given to a Rabbi’s daughter who celebrated her Bat Mitzvah last Shabbat. There just wasn’t time in my schedule to get it done before the event, but I hope she’ll be surprised to get the gift afterwards. The client has chosen the first sketch–we weren’t sure that a girl should be pictured lifting the Torah for someone in the Conservative Movement. The trees of life will be done in jewel tones to look like stained glass and the “ner tamid” or eternal light will shine down on the special moment.

The last two weeks have been spent designing business cards, stationery and greeting cards for a new client. It’s enjoyable work and is helping to pay the bills while Boyd finds another job. The company seems great to work for, too-yay! These are a few of the things of done recently.

I also thought I’d post some final pictures of finished paintings.

This is one I’ve had sitting around for quite a while unfinished. I finally got it out and put the finishing touches on it for the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. It’s one of the few without religious symbolism–something I need to try more often.

The next five are ones I posted earlier while in progress. These are the finished paintings and I’m please with the way they turned out. In fact two have already sold!

Since I’ve spent so much time at the computer the last couple of weeks, transitioning back to the easel seems difficult. It’s hard to pick back up again–thus writing a blog post is a good way to procrastinate. But, I have got to get a couple of new commissioned pieces done. So, as hard as it is to pull myself away from the computer, I know that once I get going I’ll start rolling along. It’s the starting that’s the hard part. Ok, here I go…. 1….2….3….. ok, no more putting it off. Here I go!

Ok. Now!

On February 7th I had a most exciting opportunity! The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit has come to Kansas City and Union Station, a very important event for our community, costing millions of dollars. A gala opening event was planned for all of the major benefactors, complete with a ribbon cutting by the mayor. I was asked to participate in the gala opening festivities, an incredible Middle-Eastern Marketplace created in the lobby of Union Station, where artists’ wares were displayed for those waiting to enter the exhibit.

Directly “under the clock,” my paintings were on view for over 1300 people to see in a setting draped with cloth, filled with plants, the smells and sounds of a Bedouin market and people wearing authentic costumes. What an amazing opportunity for an artist to introduce their work to art lovers from the community!

It was thrilling just to be a part of such an event. I went in with no expectations for sales. I was blown away by the comments of people who viewed my work and the number of sales I made. The event was such a success and created a wonderful prelude to viewing the main event that vendors were asked to return throughout the rest of the weekend.

I spent the next four days with six of the returning vendors and had a great time. Not only was the exposure terrific, but so was getting to know my talented colleagues: Limor Katz-Evans, Ella Klara; Mia Rosado, Mia Rosado Jewelry; Val Ostarch, Adventurous Jewelry and Artifacts; Barbara Scott, Monegaw Springs Natural Soap; Mark from 5B&Co. Candlemakers; and Eileen Smith, Nassi Art.

Thanks to Gayle Krigel, Keitha Kaminski, Andi Udris (President and CEO of Union Station) and all of the Union Station staff for inviting me to be a part of this incredible event!