Patt with Two T's

 I started to respond to Laura's comment on my blog about Bad Art Night being one of the very best things that happened this past year, but decided I should write about it in the blog and post so more people can hear about it.  We meet twice a month on a Friday night and bring whatever type of art we want to work on and explore.  The beauty of BAN is we can experiment without expectations and desires of perfection.  I've loved seeing what people bring and how they challenge themselves.  We've seen photographers try painting and non-artists try water color and several other art forms.  I watched fascinated as Beverly used wire cutters on coat hangers to create a new form, Laura and Kristine and others worked on transfers from digital photos, Nancy taught us all how to make 'squishies' with acrylic paints and glossy paper, and I started inheriting everyone's cigar boxes to decoupage and cover with buttons and beads to transform them into treasure boxes. ...

 I'm sure many people are writing their end of the year blogs today...and I hate doing what everyone else does, but I'm doing it anyway.  When things are on my mind, I feel compelled...  A year ago I said this was going to be a good year--11 is a favorite and a lucky number.  I might have to chose another favorite.  This year sucked for many people.   I've seen friends lose houses and businesses, and everyone's finances took a nose dive again.  I have high hopes for 2012.  Things have to change.  Every year I write down a few things I'd like to bring into my life for the new year.  I've done this since the early 90's and I don't read it again till the next year.   Sometimes it's only a word; sometimes it's a phrase.  I can't say it works well--I'm still writing annually about some things I've wanted to change that still haven't, but I'll write it again tonight.  Maybe I should try reading and focusing on those topics mon...

  Such a busy time these days, but I managed to get a massage in this afternoon after morning Pilates and lunch with Jed.  I've spent the week rearranging my office to accommodate my new computer--I needed a flat surface for the trackpad.  And I needed to combine my office with my beading/jewelry creating, which I'd never done.  I've gone through drawers and moved things that haven't been moved since they were brought in here.  Good time to vacuum under and around everything too.  I've also done some knitting for my nephew Jeff.  He's moving to New York and I wanted him to have a warm hat to wear from his auntie this winter.  The colors were inspired by Laura, and I found a style that's long enough to cover his ears.  So tonight I decided to go to Bad Art Night even though I'd had a busy day.  Matthew was making calzone, so I said I'd be back in an hour, but fortunately told him not to wait dinner for me.  He made Italian calzon...

 I woke early this morning, around 4 or 5 am--not sure since the power outage knocked out my bedside clock--and started writing this blog in my head.  Great...now what was I writing?  I know it started because my brother-in-law heard the word blog at lunch yesterday and asked what is a blog and what do you mean, I've been in your blog?  Don't you have to ask permission to put me in it?  Who writes them?  Why?  Who reads them?  Why?  So that made me start thinking about all of that and more.  I know when I wrote about Peru, I had at least a dozen people tell me they'd read all about it and loved hearing my stories.  I also know my own husband has never read my blog and shows no interest in it.  Funny, my blog-reading peeps all know how I felt about the trip and the canopy walk in particular, but Matthew had NO idea.  I mentioned it last week and told him it wasn't my favorite trip (after he said how he'd love to return to ...

 So here it is:  my new computer...got the IMac last week.  Never one to do anything the easy way, I bought the trackpad instead of the mouse.  Now I have to learn how that works and since I never liked using the pad on laptops, this is a new challenge.  The computer is beautiful, the graphics awesome--I'm transfixed when the screensaver comes on. First, they're always different, so I never know what to expect, and second, it's like watching a colorful slide show.    Many things are different on the Mac--like finding commands I often use.  I did sign up for a class, and my first one is this week.  I'll see how helpful this is before signing up for another one.    I bought the one-to-one, so I don't have to sit with 15 other people and have someone ask, "How do you turn it on?"  I've been in that class before and it wasn't fun.  Nor did I learn anything especially when they partnered us up and I landed with the one who did...

I decided to practice on the new IMac I got this week since I have always been an avid PC user since the 80's.  I've already locked myself out of the computer once and frozen the touchpad...it's a lesson on patience.   Not my strong suit.  I know I can't add pictures today to the blog since I have no idea how to do that...  but I do have my first one-on-one class next week, so maybe I'll feel more comfortable and know how to do more by then.  I'm going to keep a notebook of questions to ask. Shows are over for this season, which is great.  I like doing them, but it's so much work to get ready--create enough things to show, plan displays, set up and take down--that I'm always glad when they're behind me. I did have a good time and enjoyed showing my new jewelry and textiles.  This was a good year for fingerless gloves, felted hats, and handmade flowers. Hey Check it out....I just added a photo to my blog with my IMac!  I'm so easily impressed wi...