Good morning all! It is a beautiful day out. Fred and I went on 3 walks before I came Downtown, he loves his walks. We chased squirrels, young chickens, a feral man cat and a few birds. He also said good morning to the little feral girl cat Mittens, he loves her and she allows him to smell her and she rubs up against him. photo looks like she is trying to eat him but he is really trying to reach her and say hi!

Stopped by the Post Office to mil a package to California- so there are 3 different Priority Envelopes and they are different prices ranging from $7.35 to 9.30. Of course I had packed the $9.30 one! Learn new things everyday! Hope you like the shirt Meagan.

Then a quick stop at the Wilson Farmers & Artisans Market. Picked up some Lemon Cucumbers, my favorite! Sliced by themselves, sliced in a salad, however you use cucumbers, they are amazing. Trying a Lemon Cucumber Tofu Salad for dinner tonight.

Tried to stop at the bank to make a deposit but BBT was closed this am. Did you read about the merge with Suntrust? The new is going to be..... Truist! What? I do not know how they figured that name out. They just better be open Monday! For info go here: ​https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/news/bb-26t-suntrust-announce-merger-to-become-truist/vi-AACN5Xt
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So now I need to get to work after all that lollygagging. Today's project is cutting out a chevron necklace and promoting the RAW Arise show I will be in July 11 at The Ritz in Raleigh. You can check out my artist page, tickets are available through my page. Please come and support Local Artists!

Off to work I go. Have a wonderful weekend and make lots of art!

Artfully yours,
​Kim

It has been beautiful out Friday and Saturday, a breeze and sun sometimes hiding behind clouds. Just beautiful days. In the studio I have gotten the new artwork hung, my photo station is set up, a commission piece designed, my artist notebook updated and new classes planned for next 6 months! 

Construction on Tarboro Street is moving along and construction on the store next door has started. Progress everywhere you look. It is exciting to see new businesses popping up all over. Won't you be my neighbor! Really though there are storefronts for sale and the timing is right! 
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Cindy with her first repair job! A winged cardinal that had broken wings. What a job!  But patience and perseverance paid off. Great job Cindy and doesn't she look happy!

So Art Happens on Tarboro website has merged with Kim S. Joy Stained Glass and Jewelry. It is nice to have it all under one roof. So when you type in Art Happens on Tarboro it actually brings you to the older website which is still live. Let me know what you think and any suggestions are always welcome.

How is you summer shaping up? Hope you are having a good one and have lots of fun planned.

Remember to keep art in your heart!
​Kim 

 

Yesterday was the Ribbon Cutting with the Wilson Chamber of Commerce and Grand Opening for Art Happens on Tarboro. I was so happy with the turnout with the heat, roadwork and construction next door. When we walked out for the actual ribbon cutting, we were met with the port-a-potty being vacuumed out...lovely! Tim Lamm catered the event, Donna Helms Flowers was the photographer. So many friends, community leaders, Chamber of Commerce members and other Downtown Business Owners came to share this special day with me. 

Now that I see the photos I realize I need to clean and paint the Cadillac Visor below the siding on the front of the building. And maybe fix or remove the light fixture that is hanging down. There is a street light to the left of the tree that luminates the sign at night so I do not think I need to have it repair or replaced.

​ What do you think? Should I put an up light on the sign? 

Just want to take a minute to say Happy Mother's Day to you all. I know there are some that have fur kids and that counts in my book! Wishing everyone across the board a wonderful day. I spent some time this morning looking at photos and slides of my Mom, I sure do miss her. Love you Mom! I am so glad my kids got to meet her, Patrick was 4 when she passed so I hope that he remembers her plus I have kept the stories alive in hopes that that helps them all remember their Marmie.

I had a little visit to doctor on Friday and came away with new insight. It is time to get rid of the stressors in your life. Carrying around all that stress will affect your health, take that from me. Some are going to be very hard and some are going to hurt the people that are the stressors but I can not afford to let the stressors weigh me down. Don't worry I am fine just making changes to prevent anything in the future! Takeaway: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!!

Art Happens on Tarboro has three new artists displaying their work. Wilson has been alive with activity- Eyes on Main Street is open and new businesses are moving in and opening.

Chelle Edwards of ibG Creative Design. Chelle is a stained glass artist- her work shows stained glass as the beautiful, versatile medium it is, that belongs in every home or office.  More of Chelle's work can be seen at her Etsy Shop 
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Ray Schmitz of CanTejas Art . Ray is an amazing artist- his work includes, acrylic on canvas, pencil on art paper and pencil drawing. More of his work can also be seen on his website www.cantejas.com

Carole Stoiber also has joined the artists at Art Happens on Tarboro. Carole's work includes watercolor, acrylic, oil and silk painting. More of Carole's work can be seen on her website www.carolestoiberart.com.

​Last week was the opening of Eyes on Main Street Photo Festival. It was an amazing weekend filled with wonderful photographers, amazing lectures, fun parties and great music.  Thank you Jerome De Perlinghi for this amazing gift you have given to Wilson and the world of photography.

I have been busy in the studio doing repairs and working on commissions. The studio is a buzz with activity and I love it. I did bring Fred to work one day. He did pretty well until Jon Snow, the shop dog from next door, came to the front door. Fred can open a heavy glass store door! And he does not seem to like small children in strollers. So his days at work are limited.

Wishing everyone a wonderful spring. Stop by and visit me at Art Happens on Tarboro sometime.

Well it has been raining here in Wilson all spring. The ground is full of water and taking walks with Fred we come home covered in mud! Glad he is enjoying himself.

For the past four First Fridays it has been raining and a couple of people in town are talking about Second Saturday might be a better choice. Need to track the weather for the last months to see if it was better. 

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I just finished two repairs and a commission piece. And then walked in two more repairs. I love the challenge of repairs, trying to make the repair without taking the piece that means so much to the owner and changing it up a bunch. I wish these pieces could tell their story.
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The awning has been removed. The studio is much brighter and looks bigger from the inside. It was like trimming your Russian Grandfather's eyebrows Now I just need to clean and paint the Cadillac Shade so it is not a unibrow! You can see all of the window space now! Love it! Thank goodness the window cleaner comes every two weeks.

I think the dangling light fixture that is the up light needs to be removed or fixed. There is street light to the left of the building and it lights up the sign quite a bit. 

I would love to change the color or the blue siding to teal or purple to match logo but it is not the end of the world.

What would you do to jazz it up a bit? I really do not want to paint the bricks, being historical and all.

Well today is Groundhog Day and in a few hours we will find out if spring is is close or if we have more cold ahead. Weather here says in the 70's mid to late week coming up. I can not wait for warmer weather, the zipper broke on my winter coat last night and I really do not want to go out and buy a new coat this year. I can hear you saying "Kim go buy the damn coat and be done with it!" I know I need to because I will forget next fall and be without a warm coat. Ok I am heading online to look for a warm coat that will keep me warm walking Fred at 5:30 am in 25 degree weather.

Things are going well at Art Happens on Tarboro. We have new artists come in this week. A lady that makes sea glass jewelry and a man that makes mosaic guitars. I will take photos today and post them- I forgot to take pictures last night at First Friday. I have a commission in the works and am coming up with a plan/curriculum for a homeschool art class. 

I have found that time is getting away from me. I made a list at the beginning or the year of things to do and I am already behind! The list includes projects for the house and studio. Like the garbage can full of broken tiles from the garden that is sitting in the driveway that I can not move because it is too heavy, it taunts me every time I pull into the driveway and every time I come out kitchen door. I need to get the hand truck and just move them damn thing!  I did manage to put Art Date on the calendar each month and I did accomplish that for January! Putting myself first finally. 

February 8 is my Stained Glass Heart Pendant class from 11 am to 2 pm, come on down and make yourself a Valentine's gift for you!  There will be time to make 2 so you can MOGO- make one give one!

Wishing you the best February ever! And lots of art work in your future- either bought or made by you.

Keep art in your heART,
​Kim

Can you believe it is 2019 already? Where did the year go? I wish I could slow things down a little, I can not keep up with the speed the days are flying by.

Lots of plans for the new year... classes at the store, work on the commissions that are waiting for me to get to work on them- a transom, a cardinal panel with birch trees and a door, also set up course for visiting artists, and plan a summer camp for this year along with all the everyday things that crop up. Hoping to get some visiting instructors to come do classes and workshops also. What kind of classes would you like to see? 

At home I need to work on the fence line gardens- they did not get any work done to them in 2018 as I was working on getting English Ivy off the Big Pecan Tree in front yard. I am hoping for some nice weather days when store is closed to work in the gardens before Poison Ivy gets bad. Also need to do something about the state of the finish on the hard wood floor in the guest room, there is no sealant left on it and floor is stained from spills. I finally have everything that does not belong on main floor up in the attic, what a difference that makes.

I am working on re-branding my business to jazz it up a bit. No one has complained or said anything, I just feel it is time to get updated. Same colors, same message but new look to packaging, etc. It has been fun learning about branding and working with different products. I am also working on new display for the store.... more to come on that when I find the components.

What are your plans for 2019? Any new things in your future? Travel? And to where?

My studio mates are having a hard time not coming to work in the studio with me! I found out that they sleep all day when I am at the store. Bums! I need to find these two jobs!
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Wishing you all the best that 2019 can bring.

Remember to keep art in your heART!

Kim

After all the work was done and passed City Inspection, the store opened November 27! The first days we had lots of friend visitors and made sales. It was great fun showing off the store and having friends support the vision. 

We were open for A Downtown Christmas December 1 for 10 am to 9 pm. Lots of visitors, many looking for the Merch Search clue. I was dog tired after that long day. 

First Friday was good, a steady stream of visitors and lots of great feedback. Purchased way too much beverage and too much food left over but it is all a learning process. I am hoping to get it down to the right balance of food and drink.

Adjusting to work Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm has been a challenge. I do come home mid day to take Fred for a walk so he is not floating! He acts so sad when I leave in the morning and sits on the sofa until I get into the living room before he gets up. Then he turns into a pogo stick! Hours will be cut back in January to Wednesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, just to see if that has any change. 

I have done three repairs and am drawing up two commissions. It is so good to be back at work and creating. I do love my job.

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The January Class schedule will be going out in the January Happenings Newsletter so keep your eyes peeled.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! What are you creative plans for the New Year?

Remember keep art in your heART!

All the best,
Kim