I can not believe how things have turned out this spring. I thought we would be home for a few weeks while this virus ran its course. Well thank goodness I am not in anoffical city, state or federal position becuase I would be way off. Art Happens on Tarboro closed March 18, opened for one day when Phase 1 came to NC. I ended up sick the next day, no not COVID but it was a wake up call. I did not want to open and potentially be the place where people got sick. So needless to say Art Happens reminds closed for now. 

During "stay at home" time I did a lot of  work on the house, She Shed and gardens. I did finish up and "graduate from the Master Gardeners Program also. I am doing The Artist Way with an artist friend of mine, Sari who lives in Seattle. It is great to get together on Sunday evenings and support each other. We will probably continue on with a Artist Book Club. Love it!

In the home studio I have been collaging and art journaling, it is so much fun to do something that is not part of your artistic life but a trail of the path. Oh my goodness I have purged books and magazines. It is amazing how many I have and really don't need anymore. The new open space is comforting.

I have been in the studio to work and did a repair, framed three pieces. Fred goes with me and we have a blast. He does scare people walking by when he charges the front door unless he is asleep! I do not mind working by yself, i have done that for years so it is comofrtable. Part of my work at the house was clearing out and setting up She Shed as a stained glass studio at home, the only draw back is not electricity which means no soldering, no ac for the summer,  no heat for the winter! But is it a work in process.

The damage on the front of the building has not been repaired yet, contractors are working another big job right now. Trying to be patient.

​What have you been doing during your down time? Learn anything new, make anything new?

Here is March 1! I think that means spring is around the corner, right?  I can not wait for it to warm up a little. The buds are popping out and things are about to be greening up.

This weekend was the Marblescope Class and we had a blast. There were two in the class, Suellen and Joy both went home with beautiful pieces.

I was busy this week making stained glass pendants and stained glass earrings. The one pendant second from the left top row looked like it has mountains in it so I left it wireless. I love making these. I do admit I get stuck making the same shape repeatedly when I sit down down for a long session. I think I need to just do a handful at a time so I don't make them all the same. Is there a shape you'd like to see? 

 I also received a wonderful package in the mail this past week. I am on the Alert List for any auctions that have a David Ramsay Sellars painting in them. Well one popped up up in Stockholm Sweden and I did win the auction. It is titled "Falkland Palace" and the label is from the back.

I just love getting the notices of David's pieces at auction. David Ramsay Sellars is my great grandfather on my maternal side. I now have four photocopies of originals (my Mom's siblings all had originals and they took photocopies to share with each other) and fifteen originals. I wish I had a fraction of his painting talent.

So it is raining out right now. Schools got out 3 hours early because of the impending snow storm. Stained Glass class is canceled because we follow the school weather emergency policy.

Yesterday people were shopping for bread and milk. I guess they are making milk sandwiches!! :)  And yes there was still bread in the store!
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Today Fred and I were on a  walk Downtown when we were interviewed by Spectrum News!  Too bad I don't have a tv that gets cable! It was quick and fun. Fred behaved himself. 
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Here is the Spectrum News Crew heading out to cover the Snow Storm of February 20, 2020 in Wilson NC! I

will update you after the storm. Right now at 2:39 pm 02/20/2020 it is still raining and 41 degrees out. Weather says snow starting at 3 pm at 60% and continuing until 3 am Friday when it drops to 40% and 32 degrees.

Stay warm, stay safe and make sure you have bread and milk!

Keep art in your heART!
​Kim

Today was Second Saturday for February. It was a great day at Art Happens on Tarboro.

Visitors during the day were amazing. Met a woman that was born in Wilson and came back today with her husband to visit the old stomping grounds. A property investor looking for rental housing as well as commercial property. Father and Daughter- I met the father at a Christmas Party and daughter signed up for a upcoming class.

I made 12 new stained glass pendants that will be hanging in the studio on Wednesday.  I also changed out the front windows a little bit.  It just felt so good to be in the studio today. 

Second Saturday project was Copper Wire Heart Earrings and 9 people came and had fun- everyone went home with new earrings. Thank you Donna for bringing your crew!

Thank you everyone that came to Art Happens on Tarboro today, you made my day! And come on back to visit soon.

Today is National Fun at Work Day. Everyday I go to work is a fun day! I get to do what I love and share with people, can;t get much better than that. Today some friends are stopping by around lunchtime on their way home from the beach so I will be taking a lunch break for sure.

Spent Monday in the studio cleaning up, I tend to collect things and they take over. So big push on front room at studio yielded 5 black bags of trash and 2 big boxes that will be donated to SCRAP to see if someone else can use the supplies. Let's face it there is only so much time and so many projects one can use/do. Fred helped and keep bad robbers at bay. Well he thought they were bad robbers or at least assassins hired to take care of us! He has a very active imagination! 

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I also went through the stack of repairs to weed out what was truly worth repairing and what should just go to stained glass repair heaven. There is a backyard in Springfield VA with some stained glass buried in it, archaeologists will find them one day and wonder what their story is. 

What do you do at work to make it fun? Is your job fun? What did you want to be when you grew up?

Can you believe it is the year 2020? I just can't believe it, years ago I thought the year 2000 was wild, well this one is wilder!   

Plans are underway to make this year amazing. New teaching venue, new gallery representation, new look to the studio and new artists in the studio. More to come. I am taking a step back and focusing more on stained glass this year. First Fridays will have stained glass focused demos. Second Saturdays will have a Make It Take It jewelry project.

I purchased quite a bit of glass- Desag, Bullseye and more. I suggest you have some experience before you invest in these brands of glass as they are higher priced but they are amazing. Added a new workbench so we can have more students and more space. Also got a new batch of pattern books in.

I hope you have wonderful ideas and projects to work on this year. I am going to stretch myself to to do new works. I also will let you know of any opportunities to take classes at other venues, both within and out of state. I think it is paramount to learn from different instructors because it broadens your knowledge base and also supports other instructors. I value all that I have learned over the years and the fabulous instructors I have met in New Mexico, Hawaii, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.

Hope everyone is having a great start to the New Year and New Decade!
​Kim

Did Christmas come early? Or am I just behind?
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So I usually send out Christmas cards and presents weeks before Christmas.... not this year! I sent them out a week before and was sweating it that they would not make it. I need to put a timeline on my 2020 calendar so I am not caught off guard next year. I had planned to make Advent Calendars for my sisters and daughters and fill them with jewelry goodies like last year but it did not happen because I remembered it December 12 and had not made a damn thing yet. Ugh!

Santa was good to me. Patrick came home for the third year in a row. Love that boy! I know the girls could not- Meagan just started a new job and had to work day before and day after.  Michelle has a hard schedule to match up also. We did talk and it was wonderful. I also talked with my sisters on Christmas. I think the last Christmas we were all together was before our Dad died so that would have been 1978. I can not remember if they came home before Mom sold the house in 1985. Time has taken those memories. I do have great memories of childhood Christmases and photos and slides to look at.

2020 for Art Happens on Tarboro and Kim S Joy Stained Glass is looking good. The store will be offering more stained glass supplies and lots more stained glass based classes. Last year I was all over the road trying to figure out what people might want. I did not make excellent choices so I have decided to step back and offer the classes and workshops that are close to my heart in hopes that others will fall in love with stained glass also.

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I will also be doing demos on First Fridays. At the January 3 First Friday I will be demoing the Hand Tools of Stained Glass and how to use them. I know a lot of you know how to use them, this will give those that have not tried stained glass a chance to see them in action.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to seeing what you are going to make in 2020. Please email me photos of some of your 2019 projects and I will share them with the rest of the VIPs on the mailing list, if that is ok with you!

We only have 3 full days left to the year. Let's make them three amazing days!

Remember to keep art in your heART!

​Kim

I dropped off the latest batch of Beerings at the Downtown Public House. The rack is full and there are lots of new ones to choose from. These Beerings are only found at DPH aka Downtown Public House 113 B Goldsboro Street Wilson NC. Stop by and check them out along with the beers and ciders on tap and the huge selection of beer that you can pick your 6 and take home.
The Beerings are made from recycled beer cans from DPH and are only $5/pair. Get your Christmas shopping done while having a cold one.
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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!