Here it is the day before Thanksgiving and I am in the store dreaming about Steamed Pumpkin Pudding. It is hard to concentrate! There are so many things that need to happen at the studio-
1) post December classes on website, Facebook and 2 community calendars
2) put December class samples in the window
3) work on side light commission drawing.... finally found the 4 x 6 ovals I need!
4) make tags for Alvin's new pieces
5) get the December newsletter out
6) work on Lena's lampshade 
7) make Christmas pieces
There is more but I don't want to bore you!

I am hoping all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hopefully you will be with family, if not make the most of your day and treat yourself to some yummy food you would not normally eat!  That is what I am going to do. Also going to binge watch The Crown.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is the Christmas Parade in Historic Downtown Wilson. It is chilly out and so far the rain has held out. Lots of school bands, dance companies and new this year is Barton College Football Team and Cheerleaders. Looking forward to some good college football!!!! I stayed in the studio as it is damp out. I ran out to get a few photos, you can see below.
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This afternoon a girls soccer team from Prince William County, that are here for a tournament, are coming in to make the Beaded Wire Wreath. Should be fun with fifteen 14 year old girls! Can't wait to see folks from the "old neighborhood".

On Black Friday we will be having Make it-Take Its all day starting at 10 am, call the studio for more details at 252-650-2530.

On Small Business Saturday there are still seats available in the 3 D Stained Glass Christmas Tree on November 30 from 1-5 pm.
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It is pouring rain right now, glad the parade missed this downpour! 

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you and yours have a wonderful day! I will be spending the day curled up on the sofa with Fred and Wesley watching Season 3 of The Crown, don't judge I love Queen Elizabeth!

It is cooling down here in Wilson! It was 47 yesterday morning and actually cold in the house. I did not want to get out of bed and neither did Fred or Wesley! We finally got out of bed and started our day.

This has been a hard week. Last weekend we started clearing the back corner of the yard to start putting up the Fred Fence! The pile for branches and wines was huge.  And yes there was poison ivy in there! And it found me... my face, neck, wrists and ankles are covered with blisters.  Having my friend Cindy helping sure makes the job go faster and more interesting. We even had a contest to see how many wacks it took us to drive the t-posts in. My record is 14. Fred is going to be so surprised when he is finally running around it in the yard. We put a back door on the screen room so we can just let Fred out through there instead of walking out kitchen door and opening gate. I will take photos when it is all done.

I am working on a commission piece for my friend Tedd. It is a a Green Bay Packer panel. This is it cut out, still need to grind, wrap with copper foil, solder and frame.  Here is a photo of it on the workbench. 

I have few other pieces on the bench that are in the works.... a job to complete for a student, a repair job and 2 commissions to work up.

Are you ready for fall? Do you have any big projects on your plate? I love the season with all the soup options. The squashes are calling me to throw them in the soup pot. I need to find some seasoned firewood. I did get the fireplace screen put up and the cracks were sealed. Looking forward to a fire in the fireplace this winter with Fred and Wesley curled up in front of it.

Thank you for everyone that supported American Craft Week at Art Happens on Tarboro.  I am looking for new projects that we can do next year. If you have any ideas for classes or workshops that you would like to take or like to teach please let me know. Would love to share the experience with you!

Happy Fall to you!

Remember to keep art in your heART!

​Kim

Where did summer go? It seems like yesterday was the end of spring! I wish I could slow down time. I had so many plans for the summer and now they have to move to fall or wait util next summer for sunny day products.

Lots going on in September.... Wilson Active Artists Association Annual Art Show, new classes, new projects. Check out the Classes and Events Pages. Second Saturday September 14 we will have a Make It Take It bracelets for $3.

Big things are coming in October, Art Happens on Tarboro is participating in American Craft Week October 4-13 and we will be have classes and workshops everyday. Click on the link and then on North Carolina and scroll down to Art Happens, it is near the bottom because we are in the w's for Wilson. Jewelry, stained glass, mixed media and more!

I hope you had a good summer and made memories. This summer I grew in knowledge and experienced many new things. It was truly a learning summer.

All the best to you and your,
​Kim

Do you ever have days when you feel like not seeing anyone or going anywhere? Woke up today and felt that way. I did have to take Fred and Wesley to the vet this am so I had to leave the house and see people. I do love the staff and vet at their doctor's. Fred was crazy this trip. He hates getting his nails trimmed, I can not do them. So we go to the vet where he is muzzled and held tightly. Today he cried and yelled like a baby. We talked about a relaxer for the next visit so he will not be as anxious. Wesley got switched to sensitive skin food as he is licking spots down to the skin. He growled like a mountain lion and hid in a cupboard ever chance he got. Let's face it.... both of them were angry as hell this morning.

This week I signed up for classes in Street Photography,Insect Micro Photography, Bird Photography, Astro Landscape and Landscape Adventure Photography. I am looking for a new media, just want to expand my personal experience and knowledge base. I have taken a Street Photography course before and it was very eye opening- it was uncomfortable in the beginning asking people if they minded if I took their photo. As the day went on it became a lot more easy to approach strangers.

In the studio this week I will be cleaning up the art class supplies as Homeschool Art will be starting again in September. I am hoping the class numbers will increase. Teaching art with kids is so much fun.

I have numerous stained glass repairs on the workbench waiting to be done. Mailing a commission piece to new home also. Two lampshades that need to be picked up by their owner that have been done since mid July.

The job I really need to do but am not looking forward to is taking new photos of my Etsy items and Artfire items. My photos right now are not crisp and are not the feel I want to convey. When I look through other Etsy or Artfire stores I am amazed at the quality of photography.

I am working on class/workshops for American Craft Week October 4-13. I really want to have numerous new classes I want to introduce and think that week would be great timing. If you were to come to class during Craft Week what would you like to take/learn?

What are you up to? Have you created some yummy pieces this summer? Did you try anything new?

Remember to keep art in your heART,
​Kim

This morning I played hookie from work! I went on the final Eyes on Main Street Walking Tour. It was a good size crowd and the newest Resident Photographer, Vicky Roy was with us and he shared the insight of his photography. It was great to hear how Jerome managed to get some of the photographs.  I learned about the Library of Congress Photograph Archives. Truly amazing how much I have learned about photography since moving to Wilson

Tonight is the Welcome Potluck for Vicky at the Eyes on Australia Gallery. It will be fun to see all the supporters of Eyes on Main Street there

Hope you are having a great summer and enjoying yourselves. Remember to leave time for some art in your schedule!

Keep art in your heART
​Kim 

Well today was a productive day in the studio. I updated the website with classes for August, did 5 days of Tailwind (scheduled Instagram), started background work on a repair job and  designed 2 Pet Memorial stained glass pieces. I had wanted to do them for awhile but kept putting them off. I got 4 cut out, ground and wrapped. I will solder them tomorrow but thought you might want to see them where they are now.
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​The bigger ones have red hearts for the 3 toe pad. They are for Nanook and Gordon, my sweet studio dogs that crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Nanook's is black and Gordy's is black and white. A little sad working on them but cherish the wonderful memories I  have.

​I will post photos tomorrow when they are done.

The weather has been very hot here in Wilson and the humidity has been high to add to it. I know you  all have heard me complain about the cold and now the hot. You are probably saying "Kim can't you ever be happy?"  Yes I can and yes I am. The weather just seems a common conversation thread. I know we are lucky with our weather when you see the fires in California, the Tropical Storm off Louisiana and the draughts throughout the world.

This past Thursday I was a vendor at RAW Arise at The Ritz in Raleigh. The turnout was amazing. There were close to 70 vendors there, numerous music acts and a fashion show. The amount of people that came from Wilson to support us was truly amazing. Thank you Wilsonians!
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I am in the studio today making up the calendar for August..... some new classes popping up! I will load them on the calendar here on the website Sunday afternoon. Check it out and came and create along with me!

I am really blessed. A year and a half ago I moved here and fell in love with Wilson. I have some wonderful neighbors. I did join the  neighbor association- Daniel Hill Neighborhood Association. I have learned a lot about the history of our neighborhood, it has been through some rough times but the community always pulled together to help each other through good and bad. Love it.

I belong to an amazing Church family at St. Timothy's. From the very first day when I walked it and met Susan the Greeter of the day I have felt like I came home. Over the year and a half I have come to know and love many members. I was confirmed in June of this year. If you are looking for a Church that makes you feel at home and supported St. Timothy's is the place to go!

I joined the Wilson Active Artists Association the month after I landed here. It is a group of artists that has been around for over 50 years. In December I was elected President..... ok there was no one running against me! These artists are a very special group of people and I am glad to call them fellow artists.

Before I moved here I reached out to Andrea Horton Morton that owns Horton Morton Art Studio (formerly known as Art at 123) and when I got here I became one of 6 guest artists in her studio. Andrea has been such a wonderful friend and sister in art. Love you Andrea!

I became a transporter for the Wilson County Humane Society. Since Fred hates other dogs I can not foster but wanted to help. I have driven cats to Richmond and numerous dogs and cats to Wake County Animal Shelter. Our shelter here is town is small and only has a 72 hour hold and then the animals are euthanized so the Humane Society tries to find shelters, rescues and fosters to save as many as possible. It breaks my heart to think of all the innocent animals that are put down because of overbreeding, surrender and abuse. Please spay and neuter. 

Master Gardener? Not yet but started the training this month. We have only touched on soil and fertilization and I am already learning so much more than I thought I knew. Now I know why my tomatoes explode on the plant!  I am sorry Dad that I did not pay attention to you when you tried to share your gardening knowledge with me. The process will take a year and 40 volunteer hours of work. Will keep you posted.

Fred and Wesley are such good company. The two feral girl cats that hang out in our neighborhood love Fred. They coming running when they see him when we are walking. Wesley could spend all day in his Catio ( screen porch) watching birds at the feeder and hummingbirds visiting the feeder and flowers outside the Catio. Fred had his first Dog Sitter this past week and seemed to love it. Isabella came over before the sit day to meet him and he fell in love with her! Know I can take longer day trips knowing he is taken care of.

Well I have procrastinated long enough I need to get back to work. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and doing things that you enjoy.

​Remember to keep art in your heart! 

BUY A TICKET

GET FREE STAINED

GLASS EARRINGS!








 Big push to sell tickets between now and July 4! Everyone that purchases a ticket from me will receive a pair of stained glass earrings as a thank you! I need to sell 20 tickets and have sold 4! Who wants to help support a stained glass artist in her journey? Here is the link to my page and where you can purchase tickets..... ​https://www.rawartists.org/kimsjoy
I appreciate your support!
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I posted all the Art Happens on Tarboro classes and events on the calendar tab on the website.  Some new classes and some oldie but goodie classes too!

As July gets closer what are your plans for the month? Any projects in the works? Unfinished projects that are calling your name to wrap them up? Taking any trips? Let me know what's going on with you.

Keep art in your heart!
​Kim

 Well with the help of friends David and Dani, Art Happens has merged with Kim S. Joy Stained Glass. So much better to have all under one website. One calendar, one events page and one blog! Let me know what you think!

You can visit Art Happens via my YouTube Channel if you have had a chance to visit the studio in person. I hope to get more videos up of work in process and tips/tricks.  Here is another video form the studio. What kind of videos would you like to see?

A big shoutout to Andrea Horton Morton for helping with the videos today.
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New pieces came in this past week- Dreamcatchers by Judy Aycock. She does custom dreamcatchers and of course flat dreamcatchers.

GPO (Girls Pint Out) are coming later this month to make the Copper Necklace. It is a fun stress relieving class. Nothing like ladies wielding hammers smacking copper wire on steel blocks!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Hard to believe that July is just around the corner.

Remember to keep art in your heART