Money And Finances Today

I was sitting here, organizing my thoughts for next year’s art classes.  As you teach art, you find it is an ever evolving endeavor … that is what makes it so fun.  I never create a lesson plan and just plop it into place, using it again and again … I may keep the foundation, but I am always refining it to be more fun, more educational, fresh and relevant. 

Let me just say … oh my gosh, I am so excited … I think I have some really fantastic concepts for classes and workshops.  I can’t share them yet until they are scheduled (so sorry, but as a contract/freelance teacher, good class concepts are my livelihood)… but stay tuned!

Just wanted to remind all you music lovers in the DC area that Music on the Move is going to be tomorrow night at the Kentands Mansion/Arts Barn.  It will be spanish-influenced guitar and piano performances, which is some of my favorite.  It’s a cool concept, you can start in either venue, listen to the performance there, then at intermission, you walk across the street and get to listen to a second concert at the other venue … basically two for one.  There are still tickets available, but you may want to call today for them.  I’ll be at the front desk at the Barn tomorrow night … come on by!  More info in the previous post …

SUPER excited about being featured at the April “Art After Dark” event on April 20th at the Kentlands Mansion.  As some of you may know, I have been painting again … big, abstract canvases.  My work tends to have a soft, ethereal quality, and lots of movement and color-play … but honestly, what I love about abstract painting is seeing what springs forth from the mind, heart and soul.

I may also try to bring some of the avant-garde jewelry I have been playing with, too … we’ll see how it goes and if it’s ready for the public yet. 

For those in the area, I would so love if you would come on out that evening to visit with me and listen to the music.  If the weather is nice, it is incredibly gorgeous to sit on on the porch and enjoy a cocktail. 

And hey, for anyone who acquires one of my pieces for their collection, drinks are on me! ;0)

I love B&W … as if that is really news.  Ha, ha!!
27 Beautiful Black and White Portraits

This Music on the Move is going to be a great event … I am super excited about the spanish guitar music.  I’ll be over at the Barn that evening, come see me!

Happy Leap Day!  What extraordinary things will you be doing with this extra day we have been given?

Well, we haven’t really gone on our hiatus yet … ha, ha!  So much for planning – it is something we will need to do, though, for the business.   We’ll be taking April and May to focus on a few other things that need our attention before the busy summer season gets going, including getting some new artwork completed.  Yeah!!

We will be finishing up this academic year, teaching in March, if you are interested … Art Adventure for 7-11 year olds on Saturday afternoons, Artful Sundays for 3 – 4 year olds with their parent on Sundays (this full, but you can wait list), and Exploring Art for 5-6 year olds on Friday and Sunday afternoons.  You can register through the City of Gaithersburg by calling the Arts Barn at 301-258-6394 or going to the RecXpress site for on-line registration.  I’ve got some fun activities planned!

And we will be teaching summer camps again this year … some familiar and some new … Explorations in Art, I Like to Paint and Draw, I Want To Try That, Stories Become Art, Paper Beyond Drawing and Story Makers.  The art camps last one week and we always have some serious fun and accomplish A LOT.

I will also be at the Main Street Farmer’s Market on Saturdays this summer.  I used to do this when it first started and I am looking forward to getting back to this lively neighborhood market and seeing lots of friends and making new ones.  I’ll have jewelry, artwork and maybe a few surprises with me … gotta spice up those Saturdays a little bit.

So, that is the news from here … winter has been kind of a dud this year … I am ready to get on to spring.

We had a fun evening at VisArts in Rockville last night at their Cocktails and Canvas event, painting.  It was a great way to spend a Valentine’s evening.  It was an artist’s choice night, so you could paint what you liked … they had canvases with sketches, or you could do your own thing.  Everything you needed was there … paint, brushes … wine, chocolate, music.

I started out working on a sketched canvas, but I was just not feeling it, painting in the lines.  Ha, ha!  So off I went on my path and here is where it got to … I want to do a bit more work on it, but I like where it is going.

Hope you had a good day, full of love!

Please help those with Lyme … consider signing the petition.  Thanks!
REMOVE OUTDATED IDSA GUIDELINES FROM NGC!

Midnight Blue, along with Arts Entwine and All is Pawssible, will be going on hiatus in the first part of 2012.  This has been something I have pondering for many months and talking about with my family and advisers and have decided is necessary.  I would like to take some time to study and really rework the business completely.  While I love our clients and what we do,  the business side of things has gotten, well, unwieldy, and needs some attention.   I want to take this time to look at everything … structure, name, brand, plans, systems, procedures, offerings … top to bottom, with the goal of returning with the amazing creations and services that you all love and we are super excited to provide.  For me, it has always been not just about the final deliverable, but the whole experience and I want that to always be exceptional from start to finish for you (and us!).

So … to our current clients with ongoing projects, we will be there for you through the hiatus, no worries, we won’t leave you hanging.  To those interested in working with us on new projects … if you can hold on for a wee bit, we will be back, better than ever.