I've made a big decision....now let's see how committed to it I can be.

I'm going to try to find one thing every day that I'm grateful for.  Heaven knows I have a million things each day that I give thanks for, but I want to try to pick just one, every day, and jot it down, so that when I look back over time I can see how many blessings I have.  It may seem silly, but when I'm feeling not so grateful, or perhaps a bit whiney (who me?), I want a place where I can go and remember all that I have to be thankful for and learn to stay in the moment.

A grand idea perhaps, but I'm going to try.  And today is the first day.  So, I'm grateful for...............

I am so lucky to have a great farmer's market right down the street from me each Saturday morning.
I try to get there every week and treat myself to some wonderful locally grown produce, some sweet treats from a local bakery, and beautiful flowers for the house.
It's hard to be in a bad mood when there's so much beautiful bounty to enjoy.  And the fact that the market is on the grounds of a historical farm that has chickens (I LOVE chickens!) with the ocean across the street, well, it doesn't get much better than that.  Fresh organic food that I can enjoy visually, and afford to purchase - that's a lot to be grateful for.

Had the LOVELIEST day with two wonderful friends today - Tina and Amy.  Both drove down from Boston to spend the afternoon with my hubby and I at the beach in our neighborhood.  We packed up the car with a huge umbrella (which of course kept wanting to blow away but was a godsend!), a picnic basket full of yummy schnacks and drinks, and a couple of big blankets.  We parked our arses on the beach for about 5 hours and didn't want to leave - the weather could not have been anymore perfect.  About 82 degrees with a light breeze and a few clouds.  We just spent the afternoon catching up and telling funny stories.  I'm so grateful for the people in my life who take the time out to share their lives with me.  I've met so many great people over the years, and count myself so fortunate to have great friends.

I'm so grateful for the beautiful flowers that are blooming in my yard.  Since this is my first summer in our new little beach cottage, I only have potted flowers on my front patio.  This spring I cut down and removed all of the wild shrubbery in the front of the house and the landscaper cut in some beds, composted the earth, and mulched the areas so I'm all set to start planting....just as soon as I can decide what the heck I'm going to do with the space.  Still, it's a nice predicament to be in.  Now all I need is to sit down with a few dozen nursery catalogs and go to town - and dream of next spring.

It's official!  I'm going to be in my first juried art show on September 3rd in East Greenwich, RI.  I am extremely grateful for this...time to spread my wings as an artist and show my stuff.

I'm going to be selling my hardbound and softbound blank art journals, funky earrings and necklaces and a few other fun things.  Now I'm in the process of creating the look of my tent.  Since my art company's name is Gypsy Girl, you can bet that the tent will look as close to a vardos (gypsy wagon) as it can, with lots of bright colors and draped fabrics...and even gypsy music on the CD player. 

Stop by if you can...and be sure to check out the company that's organizing the event - Festival Fete.  www.festivalfete.com  

I love having friends who "get" me.  Hosting art days at my house is such a treat.  Now that I have a dedicated art room, it makes it easy to invite people over to hang out and make art together.  And I love how they inspire me!

Seems like there's always some reason to share the space and spread out all the art supplies and get into it up to my elbows.  I'm grateful that I have the opportunity and space to be able to explore my artsy side this summer - and to see where it takes me.

Really.  What is better than having your own little plot of land and having a garden deliver fresh veggies to you all summer long.  What a treat it is!
The garden is really starting to yield it's bounty and we're enjoying tomatoes, cukes, onions, lettuce and peppers...and that's not counting the yummy zucchini that our neighbor contributes weekly to our doorstep.
There's just something wonderful about stepping out of the front door, walking to the side yard and picking dinner off of the vine.  Life's good!

My life is filled with orange cats.  Three of them to be exact - and all males.
Magoo has been with us the longest.  A rescue pet from the Potter League in Newport, he has an atrophied front leg (they think he was born with it) but it has never slowed him down.  Calvin and Tim were rescues from Potter also and they came home together - how could I adopt one without the other?
So now every day when I sit on the patio with my morning coffee, I am surrounded by three sunbathing orange cats who are forever grateful that they've been able to retire at the beach.  Sigh.

Never one to complain when I have a crazy idea....
Always goes with the flow and rarely gets upset....
Thinks that a color outside of the lines kinda gal is the only way to go...
Believes that life's a journey better shared with someone special....
Loves to bring me flowers for no special reason, just cuz I love flowers....
Says he's a regular Joe-Sixpack kid of guy, but is really the most special person I've ever met.

He's pretty easy to love and I'm glad he's my partner in crime.

I LOVE art supplies.
I love going to art stores and browsing up and down the aisles and checking out new products.
I love getting a package from UPS and opening the box to find lots of fun goodies inside.
I love sitting down with my imagination and letting it go wild with all kinds of crazy artsy ideas.
I love having a dedicated space in the world where I can explore my inner artist and let her try new things.
I love art - art has saved my life.

I love all kinds of music.  Right now I'm really into Gipsy Kings - since I'll be playing that mostly in my crafts tent in September, to go along with my gypsy theme.

And even though my husband Brian is not the world's best guitarist, I love his enthusiasm for music.  He is constantly humming some song that's rambling around in his head, and it makes him a happy guy.  I wish we had the opportunity to see more live music, but I'm grateful for when we can.

Music adds so much richness to my life...I'm grateful for all the notes and the silence in between.

After more than 25 years apart, my niece Connie has reconnected with our family and I'm so glad she has.

Today is her birthday - 43 to be exact.  It's been a long, hard road for her, something I understand all too well, but she's on her journey of recovery and I'm happy that she's decided to include me in her new life. 

Just one more reason to celebrate today - Happy Birthday Connie!

OK, I know...I let some time lapse since the last one.  I'm working on that.

But for now, I'm really grateful for art friends.  I went to a HIVE After Five art night last night at the Wild Colonial in Providence, where I learned how to make felt flower pins - what fun.  Best part is always just gathering with a group of women and making art...it keeps me inspired and of course grateful that I share the planet with so many talented and enthusiastic women.

What would I do without color?  It surrounds us everywhere we go, but we seldom take a moment to revel in it's beauty, do we?

I've always been one to pick the bold bright colors - don't get me wrong, pastels are pretty, but boy oh boy, nothing gets me going like magenta, turquoise, lime green and bright yellow!  How could you not be in a good mood when you gaze on all those great colors?

One of these days I know that I'm going to steer away from my "norm" and work in more soft and muted tones, but for right now, I'm going to slather on all the wild and vibrant colors I can put my hands on - especially in my journal work.  No matter what I have to say on the page, you can bet it's going to be accompanied by lots and lots of vibrant color!

My friend Kerry mentioned to me the other day about SantaCon NYC.  Never heard of it?  Neither had I!  Well, it's an annual gathering of people who all dress like Santa and then party at local bars and have a fun time.  When Kerry mentioned that she wanted to go to NYC this year to attend it, I of course thought Why don't we have one here in our little state (Rhode Island)?  So we're going to host a Santacon Newport 2011 on December 3rd!  Still in the planning stages (obviously) part of the event will raise canned goods for the RI Food Bank, and also funds for Finnz Fundz, a RI non-profit that helps families with children with Cystic Fibrosis.  I just love it when a plan starts to come together....check it out at www.santaconnewport.com.  It's going to be a blast!

I've had the good fortune over the past few years to host an event called Walk A Mile in HER Shoes, an international walk for men to end domestic violence & rape.  I really admire men who are willing to lend their voices, and don women's high heels to walk down the street in to show their support for the women in their lives. 

This year's event is being hosted by Central Falls, RI Councilman James Diossa on October 1st.  Check it out at www.riwalkamile.com.  These guys rock!

I am so grateful that I have meaningful volunteer work.  In my early 30's I found my calling - working with survivors of domestic violence & sexual assault.  Being myself a survivor, I've found this to be the most meaningful part of my life - working to help other women who have experienced personal violence.  I firmly believe that there is nothing as powerful as speaking out and telling your story to help others become strong enough to speak out for themselves.

While there's no such thing as a cure, I believe that together, as a community, we can all do SOMETHING to end violence against women.

OMG - I LOVE fabric.  I love COLORFUL fabric.  I love the bright colors and bold patterns.  Nothing is better than buying a length of fabric, rolling it out on the table and deciding what to make with it.....watch the video below for a little inspiration!

Sorry I've been offline for a few days.  Just got home after a mandatory evacuation for my little neighborhood in RI - see what living by the beach can get you?
Seriously, I evacuated with my hubby and three cats to a hotel a few towns away and came home today.  Luckily our little beach shack is safe and sound, just a few branches down.  A neighbor lost her car (a complete total!) due to a falling branch, and we just got the power back on a few hours ago, but all the casualties at our house were in the fridge, so we're extremely lucky!
I'm very grateful that we were able to get out safely and get back safely.  I have a very healthy respect for Mother Nature, so when she's in a bad mood, I just get out of the way!  Sending love to all those still affected by the storm and hoping things get back to normal soon for everyone.

Yesterday was the very first time that I had a Gypsy Girl booth with original items to sell.  I had the great honor to be a part of the Festival Fete East Greenwich art show and what a day we had!  The weather could not have been any more beautiful and everyone was ready to enjoy the Labor Day weekend. 
And the artists....the artists were just amazing!  I felt so welcomed and embraced by all the other artists there - it was very humbling.  And may I just say that Jennifer and David who run Festival Fete are nothing short of spectacular...they made sure everyone was very well taken care of - from water and snacks all day, to providing change if you ran out.  What a class act they are! (www.festivalfete.com)
And I would be completely amiss if I didn't mention how grateful I am to Kerry Burns, my art partner.  She worked the booth with me all day and her hubby Patrick even helped my husband Brian and I set up and break down the tent!  We love them!
I can hardly wait for the Holiday Show on November 25 & 26 at the Providence Convention Center!  Please come by and say hi!

Every year I produce a benefit production of Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues", to raise funds for organizations working to end violence against women around the world.  Time is getting nearer to start the process of getting the ladies involved again, and I can't wait.  I'm so grateful that the women in my community are willing to lend their time and their talents to help me put this all together. 

And while there are MANY things I love about doing this every year, my absolute favorite part is getting to know my cast and crew.  Each year brings new faces into the fold, and the veterans step up and mentor the newbies...I just love how all these strangers end up as close friends by the end of the show. 

There's something about the community of women that just rocks my world!

I LOVE having parties.  Any excuse to gather friends and family works for me!
I have a tendency to overdo I admit (I LOVE decorating!) but there's nothing better than putting together all those ideas that have been brewing in my head and then making them come together, and to have my friends enjoy it!  It's taught me how important personal connections are, and I'm grateful that I have a space to offer people to come, relax and just enjoy time together.
So I'm thinking the next gathering will be a Dia de los Muertos party (Day of the Dead) in early November.  Sugar skulls, bright colors, great food, and honoring loved ones who have passed on...let's see how this all turns out!

I'm so grateful when I get a moment to step back and reflect upon how far I've come with my artwork and the realization that I really AM an artist.  Sometimes it just takes seeing myself through someone else's eyes...
I spent a lovely morning with my good friend Kim at a local Starbucks while she was waiting for her little car to be serviced.  A good excuse to enjoy a decadent beverage and some girl talk.  I brought along my portfolio of recent art journaling pieces and a few mock ups of note cards and calendars I'm thinking of marketing at my next art show.  I admit that I'm always a bit hesitant to ask friends what they think of my art....I freeze somewhere between breathless anticipation and gut-wrenching fear.  I can handle it when perfect strangers don't understand my art, but it can be ego crushing when a close friend raises her eyebrows and proclaims that she finds my choice of colors "interesting".  Yeah, interesting...the kiss of death critique in my book.  That's always the sentiment when someone doesn't want to tell you they think you should put away your paintbrushes and go back to corporate life. 
So I took a big breath in, and pushed my portfolio across the table and waited for the pleasant "oh...how interesting", but I should have known better with Kim.  She couldn't have been more pleased!  Yes, she oohed and aahed over the artwork, but she was even more excited to see that I have finally embraced the belief that I really AM an artist.  And how proud she is of me that I am challenging myself every day to make art.  Leave it to Kim to remind me how grateful I am for the inspiring women in my life...and how they really "get" me.

I taught my first art journaling class today (I have really missed teaching art!) - and can I just say...people never cease to amaze me!  I mean - look at these pages - spectacular!

What a talented group of ladies I had the pleasure of sharing the day with...I'm not sure who learned more - them or me!  My youngest student was only 10 and I was completely blown away by such talent in a young woman...and the older ladies were not too shabby either!

I think what I enjoyed most, though, was the energy in the room.  Everybody shared their supplies and ideas willingly, and whenever anyone started to talk down their art, everyone else chimed in and reminded us that ALL art is beautiful...and it IS!

I'm really looking forward to teaching more classes...I can't wait to see what my students teach me next!

Sorry I've been gone for a while.  I've been undergoing some major dental work and have been under the weather for the past few weeks.  It's all come to a conclusion by finally losing a tooth (extraction) after a failed root canal, and now I have to have a bridge made.  Ugh.  Still, I can't help but reflect upon how grateful I am to have access to good dental care, and that I have the ability to afford to go to the dentist - two things I don't take lightly!  So I will continue with the saga of dental work for a few more months and hope to stay mindful that even though there is pain, I have the ability to do something about it, unlike many people in the world.  My mouth says thank you.

I have been up to my elbows in glue this past week!  How crazy does THAT sound?

The good news is that I have been given a great opportunity by the FestivalFete folks (www.festivalfete.com).  I'm going to be in their holiday show at the RI Convention Center Nov. 25 & 26, and they've asked me to create a display for them.
So.....I am creating six 8' tall collaged holiday trees...and it's going to my idea of the Christmas trees that Santa forgot. 
Imagine it....a forest of twisted funky brightly color collaged trees, wrapped in white lights and colorful fringe - in all the colors of the rainbow.  I think it's going to be really cool!  But for now, I am ripping paper and keeping my hands in glue in order to get them done.  Looks like this is what I'll be doing until Thanksgiving, so wish me luck.  Better yet, stop by a take a peek!

Today was the annual Day of the Dead celebration...and I took a moment out to remember all the loved ones in my life who have passed on.  The person who always comes to mind first, and who is closest to my heart, is my Great Grandfather - Karoly Refi.  He came to America at the turn of the century, a 16 year old gypsy escaping Hungary, who boarded ship in Belgium and was processed through Ellis Island and made a life for himself in New Jersey. 

I had the great good fortune to live with him when I was 6, until I was about 14, when he had to go into a nursing home at age 95.  He passed away at 96, mostly because the Dr. said he was tired of living, but I miss him still.  I wish I had spent more time listening to his stories of the old country and what his life was like as a gypsy, but I was just a child and didn't know better then.  What I do remember is how he always encouraged me to do well in school and pursue my artwork - I was always dabbling in some kind of project and he was one of the few people in my life who showed enthusiasm for what I loved. 

Now he's my guardian spirit and I named my company after him - because I am a Gypsy Girl (ciganylany in Hungarian!).  Miss you grandpa.

I am so excited and extremely grateful to now be represented by Ready, Set, Go Consulting!  My hard bound and soft bound journals, along with my line of blank cards, are now being sold to local stores through my new rep!

This has really been a dream come true and I'm actually a little bit dizzy about it all....you know how sometimes you dream of something for so long that if, or when, it happens you can't quite believe it?  Well, that's how I feel right now!

My rep David has been traveling around RI showing my work to stores and I'm starting to get orders for the holiday season...let's hope it continues!  But for now, be on the lookout for my Gypsy Girl blank art journals and cards in a store near you.  Better yet - know of a great store that would like to carry them?  Let me know!

I'm so grateful that I live in such a beautiful little state like Rhode Island.  Having lived up and down the east coast, and traveled to more than half the US states, it's still my favorite place to live (though I love to travel, it's always wonderful to come home!).

Living so close to the beach has been such a treat this past year.  Whenever I'm feeling sluggish or uninspired, I just walk one block in one of three directions and I'm at the water...it's so great!  Whether it's strolling along the edge of the beach, or sitting on the dock down at the marina, it's been really great to be able to be so close to the water and to soak in it's inspiration.  Just the colors of the water, the beautiful stones and shells I pick up as I walk, and the sound of the seagulls, remind me how fortunate I am to call this tiny little state home.  So today I'm grateful for where I am right now (that's my cat Magoo on the front porch of our old house).

I'm grateful for all of the inspiring women I've had the good fortune to call friends.  Back in 2000, I started producing Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues" as a way to bring awareness about violence against women around the world, and to make a difference locally in my community. 

I've produced the play every year since and over those years I've had the opportunity to meet Eve and now call her friend.  Amazing to think that one woman can impact the world in such a big way, and change the lives of so many women!  She's one of the most gracious and open people I've ever met and it's great to know there's someone out there doing the hard work of making the world safer for women & girls.  Be on the lookout for our V-Day Cranston production on March 4th...check out our website for more information!

I hope you have the chance to thank the inspiring women in your life today - where would we be without them?

Wow...I've been gone awhile, haven't I?  Sorry about that.  I've been gearing up for a holiday art show right after Thanksgiving so I've had my nose to the grindstone in my art studio, working till 2AM every morning.  Whew.  If nothing else, this whole experience has taught me how grateful I am to find inspiration in small things.

I wanted to have something eye catching at the front of my booth for the show, and somehow this pink & black mannequin just really spoke to me when I was in HomeGoods this week.  Needless to say I couldn't just leave her as she was, so late one night this week I stayed up and sewed her a funky outfit (I just KNEW I'd use that lime green tulle, turquoise sequins and hot pink boa for something!) and made a great sign to wish everyone a funky holiday. 

And because the show is promoted by Festival Fete, I just had to make a necklace for her with their name - kind of my thank you to them for jurying me into this show.  Stay tuned and I'll let you know how my second show goes....wish me luck - or better yet - come by the Gypsy Girl booth and say hi!

Gosh I just love my life!

I had the BEST TIME at the Festival Fete Holiday Market these past few days.  I met so many wonderful people who are interested in exploring the world of art journaling, and best of all, I had many folks stop by to tell me how much they LOVED my forest of misfit trees!

OK, so did I mention that I spent a solid 6 weeks making five 8.5' foot trees collaged with all kinds of crazy paper and fabric and strung with lights and feather boas, as my homage to all the trees that aren't quite "perfect" and don't get bought during the holiday season?  Well, I made the Dysfunctional Family tree, the Peace tree, the Not Everything is Black and White tree, the Ode to India tree, and the It's Raining Men tree...and people really GOT IT!  They read the banner about how I made the trees and what they were about and really had a good chuckle for themselves.  I am THRILLED!  And I even sold one of the trees (I'll let you guess which one!) that will be auctioned off at the December Gay Bingo night in Cranston!  Hehehehehe!  I couldn't be happier.

So I want to give a shout out to all of you who stopped by my Gypsy Girl booth - whether it was to chat, to show me your holiday purchases, or to buy some of my art.  Your support of local artists is what keeps us going!  I know it was hard to choose where to spend your money - that show had some AMAZING artists, didn't it?  I have to say the quality of work was unbelievable, and such creative folks!  No wonder I love my life!

Well it's official....our first annual Santacon Newport was a great success!

On Saturday about two dozen people (several of them traveled from NYC!) gathered in Washington Square in Newport and we started the first Santacon escapade and what a blast it was!

We visited 10 establishments in 11 hours and by the end of the night we were all jingling our bells and having a great time.  We raised over $100 for Finnz Fundz, and lots of canned goods for the RI Food Bank and had some fun along the way.  We even joined the Christmas in Newport tree lighting and spread a lot of good cheer around.  Check out our pictures of the day/night here.  Can't wait till next year!!!! (that's part of the group with the band Rusty at One Pelham East).

I often take my good health for granted....like I'm sure many people do, right?

Today I am home with a 101 temp and sore throat, body aches and chills - time for the flu I guess.  I got a flu shot, but my husband has been ill for the last week, and now that he's getting better I guess it's my turn.

I have had a compromised immune system since I was a young woman - a left over result from a traumatic head injury when I was 13 that left me in a coma for 10 days.  I lost my sense of smell (which can sometimes be a good thing, can I just say?) but also lost my speech and ability to walk straight, so I had about a 2 year period where I had to relearn my basic skills.  One of the things that injury left me was an allergy to ALL antibiotics.  How scary is THAT?  So now when I get ill, I have to treat my illness in a holistic way...which basically means it takes me at least twice as long as most people to get over a cold.  Bummer.  But I am still eternally grateful that I'm able to be as healthy as I am...every day of life after being in that coma has been a gift I try not to take for granted. 

There's a lot to be said about having good health.

Since I'm not Christian, it's always interesting to see what we end up doing for the holiday season each year.

This year we enjoyed a lovely dinner at our house on the 25th with my mother-in-law who lives in Newport, and my sister-in-law who is visiting from Italy.  A small party but lots of fun!  Had a yummy smoked turkey shipped from Tyler, Texas and I made all the trimmings (and may I just say that the blue cheese mashed potatoes were heavenly!).  I even made my Great Grandmother's famous Hungarian butter cookies for dessert.

But honestly, the cutest part of the table setting were these adorable little penguin cakepops from Sweet Indulgence in Warwick, RI.  Kerri Fusco is an amazing pastry chef (and my MIL is addicted to her chocolates!) and she's always coming up with something different every time I visit her shop.  I can always count on her to add that extra something special to my party tables....thank goodness for talented people in my little community!

So here's hoping that you and yours had a wonderful holiday season, however you celebrate.  I'm grateful for friends and family, good health, and a million other things I try to stay mindful of each day.

Never thought I'd be saying this, but yeah, I'm grateful for family.
A few nights ago I spent the evening with my hubby's extended family...cousins, aunts & uncle, mostly local folks but a few traveled from far away to join in the holiday merrymaking.  And you know what?  It was a real blast!
I'd forgotten how much fun it can be to stand in a room full of people who have a long history together.  My husband was regaling me with stories of his childhood and his cousins were chiming right in.  The fun part is to see how much you still have in common with them - they are all people I genuinely like and would choose as friends if they weren't relatives by marriage!
Now if only I could say the same thing about MY family.  I have no contact with either of my sisters and their kids, but I've learned that it all turns out just like it's supposed to be.  For right now it's a good thing that I don't get caught up in all the drama that my family swirls itself around, and that's okay with me.
So here's to looking forward to more family-in-law gatherings in the new year.  And hoping that 2012 brings great things to everyone!

Dear heavens - where have I BEEN all winter?  Well, it's obvious that I've been hibernating, but that doesn't mean I haven't been grateful each day during the past almost 4 months since I posted here.

I've been squirreled away in my little studio just surrounded by my wonderful paints and pens in every color...but still I'm grateful today for the color green. 

Everything is starting to pop in my little corner of New England.  The grass is growing like crazy already (it's not even April yet!) and all of the trees are already starting to bud.  I took a walk around the property yesterday and even my hydrangea plants that I transplanted to the side yard in the fall are starting to green towards the base and the buds are starting to swell.  And it's supposed to get cold again this week - yikes!  I sure hope nature is smarter than we are and takes care of all the beautiful plants in my yard. 

For now I'll just sit back, open my windows a crack, and enjoy the show.

I am treating myself today and having lunch with a dear friend I haven't seen in quite a while.

Kat and I go waaaaaay back.  Okay maybe not THAT far back, but we've been pals for about 18 years or so.  Really, where did the time go?

Kat was my mentor in my younger days, and the first outwardly vocal and passionate feminist I ever knew.  She was always talking about politics and women's rights and issues, and after the initial scare of being in the presence of someone who was so together, I let my intimidation slide away and she and I became fast friends.  She's taught me a LOT over the years, but mostly she's just always been there for me.  She was the person I turned to when I finally decided to get out of a violent marriage, and she never judged or blamed me - just said she wanted me to be happy.  It's because of her genuine and kind nature that I have come to love women as friends.

So today she and I are going to be putting our heads together over lunch and talking about a myriad of things - local politics, the Presidential race, women's rights, love and relationships, and chocolate.  I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day!

So, I had a stress test last week, because I'd been having some issues with shortness of breath whenever I exerted myself, and I went to see my dr. yesterday....turns out I had a small heart attack.  Yup.  Who knew?

I've had about 10% damage to my heart, which she says is not that bad (really?) - but the good news is that I can make changes and that this was just a warning.  All I can say is wow....WOW.  I have obviously taken my health for granted and will be doing things differently from now on that's for sure. 

I'll keep you all posted as things progress, but right now I feel okay and I'm optimistic that I'll be getting better as the days go by. 

This is going to be an interesting year....

Glad to say that I've been adapting to my lifestyle changes - eating better, walking, taking much better care of myself overall.  Too bad it took a heart attack to have it happen, but grateful for the second chance, believe me!

I've been working little bits at a time on my new line - sassy pants!  It's been a lot of fun creating the funky ladies and original stories for these cards and posters.  I never really knew that I had such a quirky sense of humor, but now that I'm putting it all down on paper, hey - they're kinda funny (and sassy!).

I should have the entire first line - 28 ladies and stories - available for their debut on May 12th at Primavera in downtown Newport, RI for the trunk show.  This is very exciting, and a lot of fun.  I'm grateful every day that I get to do something I love for a living...and won't be taking a minute of it for granted!

My lovely friend Kim Baker, aka the big haired poet, invited me to attend a lovely event last night to celebrate national Poetry Month.  I went to the Narragansett Library to see the photos of Seth Jacobson and listen to Kim's ekphrasis poetry.  Don't know what that is?  It's basically poetry that's written about artwork.  Seth is a local RI photographer, and Kim wrote poems about several photos he's taken.

It was a nice little crowd and Kim's poetry is always so inspiring.  She has such a wonderful presence and delivery that even the non-poetry lovers can really appreciate her way of story telling.  And I must admit, her piece about the Elvis Presley lamp in the window was clever, clever, clever.  I love people who have a way with words!

So this was my first night out since I've been feeling kind of crappy lately, and it was a great way to spend an evening.  I'm looking forward to enjoying more Origami Poets in Rhode Island and hope you'll join me.

I'm grateful for my talented friends!

I am so grateful for birthdays!  Today I turned 54.....really?  54!  Wasn't I just 24 yesterday?

The great part about getting older, is hopefully getting a bit wiser too.  Time is the great teacher, isn't it?  I have learned (and re-learned) so many life lessons along the way.  I've repeated the same class over and over a few times, but I think I've finally learned the basics of what makes a life worth living.

Friends...art...kitties...flowers...music...laughter...chocolate...hot showers...so many wonderful things in the world, and I'm grateful that I get to enjoy each one of them almost every day (the chocolate, not so much!).  So thanks to all of you who sent birthday wishes my way - I've had a wonderful day and look forward to another year of celebrating on a daily basis!

I spent the weekend up to my elbows in dirt, manure, peat moss and flowers!  What could be better?

Since I haven't really done any landscaping to our (relatively) new house, hubby and I were out in the yard all weekend creating what I hope will be beautiful wildflower gardens.  Around the front of the house we planted hydrangeas of various colors along with several rose bushes.  And in the very front of our patio we created a perennial garden that is meant for butterflies - and it must be working because it was FILLED with butterflies this weekend.  We could hardly get the plants into the dirt before we were swarmed by several beautiful winged creatures...including the robin that has nested in the tree next door, looking for a few fat worms that we excavated from the ground!  Gosh, I just love this time of year!

I can't believe where this wild ride of taking the time to create a new business has taken me in the past 6 months.  My first juried show was in Sept 2011, and here I am 9 months later, with my own rep and having the opportunity to show my line at the National Stationery Show in New York City next week.  Wow!  This has really been incredible.  If you'd told me when I started out that I'd have come this far this fast I'd have never believed it.  My goal was to sell enough product to pay for the space rental at the Sept show and maybe make a few dollars more - so to end up here already (in 15 stores!) has completely blown me away.

I'm extremely grateful for everyone who has supported me along this journey.  My husband who is my biggest cheerleader (and he looks so cute in that uniform!), my friends who have encouraged me by laughing at my stories and telling me I could do this, and my sales rep David and his wife Jennifer - without their 30+ years of experience and knowledge I'd have never been able to get this far.  So I have a LOT to be grateful for today (and every day!).  I'll let you all know how the show goes when I get back on Tuesday....I can't wait!

OK - I know.  It's been forever.

But seriously, I decided to take the summer off and just enjoy my time on the planet.  After the recent health scare I'm putting more time into taking better care of myself and just doing what I want, when I want, with who I want, and can I tell you something?  It's been WONDERFUL!  This has been the summer of Nancy!

I'm still spending time in my studio and have branched out into making a line of shrines that I call Sassy Saint Shrines - and I'm having a blast doing it!  I participated in my first art show since the spring (yesterday + today) and have gotten great responses about them (and made quite a few sales, thank you!) so this looks like a direction I'll continue in for a while.  I'm not certain which holiday shows I'll be doing just yet, as I don't want to fill up my schedule too tightly (I like this loose and flowing lifestyle!) but I know I'll be participating in the FestivalFete holiday show December 1 + 2 in Cranston, RI - so come check them out and say hello if you can.  And in the meantime, don't forget to take time to be good to yourself.  Remember, you're the only YOU you've got!