Apologies in advance, but this is gonna be one of those teaser updates!? I just finished the very sweet Arts Business Awards for COSE, but I can’t show them to you until after the winners find out that they’ve won!? I toyed around with the idea of showing a sneak preview picture with a black rectangle blocking their names, but decided nope, I’m just gonna make you wait.? Cause I’m mean like that.? But I will tell you that not only did they come out way cool (with many thanks to Liquid Image’s amazing printing), but I have some darn nice photos of them too.

But I couldn’t leave without sharing something new, so here is my new cool “fresh from the studio” copper egret:

peas and luv to all……………………………… C.

There are lots of rules in Middle School — some of them important, and some of them written into handbook law just so the kids don’t annoy the teachers in a particular way (for example, I have a “no singing” rule in my classroom.? Not because I’m a cold-hearted meanie, but because after hearing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” daily for nine weeks, I deemed it critical to the safety of the children.)? And some are Big Rules, because they seem like they should be — despite having no practical manner of implementation.

Like “No weapons in school”.? Seemingly a Good Rule, yes?? To an outsider, of course.? To someone who knows Middle School boys, yeah right.? I believe it was Naomi Dunford who once remarked that when all traces of violent toys are taken away, a boy will chew his toast into the shape of a gun.

So I give my kids a group project to end the quarter.? (It’s a survival tactic.? “Group projects” are a way of engaging students while simultaneously sparing the teacher from massive amounts of last-minute grading.)? Design a board game, I say.? We talk about different styles and how some of the classics came about.? They create brightly-colored cardstock boards and make notecards with a billion trivial questions.? The girls make cute games with candy and rainbows.? The boys make this:

Now in my defense, I did not ask the students to bring in anything from home.? Pinky swear.? And while I am fully supportive of our actual armed forces, I am less supportive of their plastic counter parts — for many moral, environmental, and “job retention”-based reasons.? (But then, I’m a girl.? It’s quite possible that I just don’t “get it”.)

But when I saw the sheer enthusiasm on their faces, the painstaking attention to detail, and the manner in which they named each of the little plastic pieces and parts… “the Castles are the tanks… the pawns are the troops… and the Bishops are the FLAMETHROWERS!!!”, yes my friend, that is where I lost it.

Carry on, boys.? Some rules are definitely meant to be broken.

Okay, so it’s a week (or so) older than new, and I wanted you to be the first to know about it, but you’re the second.? Cause I already posted them in my shop and some lucky person already bought one.? (Now aren’t you sorry you missed the boat?)? BUT, rest assured, they are still the new cool thing on the block, and you can still have one custom-made just for you, and if it makes you feel better, yours will be even better.

…and they are very cool.? They are sleek and clean, made of stacked etched metal.? I wanted to go in a more graphic direction, after making a billion or so maps.? Maps are wonderful, but very much about itty bitty picky detail.? Sometimes you just have to break out of that and cut a smooth, curvy shape.? I haven’t done much with this sort of “clean” graphic feel before, because honestly, I didn’t realize I could cut a straight line..!? It’s harder than you think!? Tape a pen to to the end of a ruler and try signing your name.? Kinda like that.? I practiced on a bunch of random letters to get the hang of it.? Ironically, the only word I can spell from them is “Badass”.

I have a few color combinations available, and will be adding different sizes over the next couple of months as well.? If you want a gift and need one sooner, just email me!? Copper is the 7th anniversary gift, and these would look great in an office… just sayin’…

okay, so it’s been a while since I posted — in case you haven’t been updated since, rest assured all is well!? My daughter is back in good health, and questionable taste in music.? In fact, she is preparing for her first formal dance tonight with The Boy.? The Boy, as in the one who is also My Student.? The one to whom, during the course of a phone conversation, she felt compelled to tell My Age.? As if she didn’t know this was breaking All Rules of Etiquette Whatsoever.? As if having my students believe I am 27 is a bad thing.? Even if it means the smart ones do the math and wonder for a split second if I really had her when I was 12.? Geeeeezzz.

But I digress.

Today was the day of The Dance.? Despite the fact that the dance is at night, preparations fully begin hours in advance.? Now I’m not saying she was nervous.? I’m also not saying she put her stockings on in the car, managed to ruin them in record time by puncturing her thumb right through while pulling them up, or that we had to make an emergency run to the nearest Rite Aid so she didn’t have a panic attack.? And I’m not mentioning that she blurted out? “DEODORANT!!!” at the top of her lungs as we were going 60 on the freeway as she remembered the other thing she forgot.

So while I didn’t say this, I did what all good moms do — found the one thing that would put her at ease: the Simon & Garfunkel CD.? We drove the rest of the way belting out “Ceeellllia… I’m down on my kneeees… I’m begging you pleeaase to come home…” with quirky smiles on our faces.

She got to The Boy’s house in good spirits, with only a quick flash of terror as the yippie dogs jumped on her 15 minute-old stockings.? She even took the obligatory “date pictures” semi-willingly.? And The Boy even bought her a lovely corsage.? Still, the “mom math” question remained: if the dance starts at 8pm, and dinner is at 6pm at Panera, where does the other hour and a half go?? (Let’s face it, even a teen can’t stretch a turkey sandwich out to more than half an hour.)

Turns out, The Boy decided to earn his cahones back.? After being beaten soundly at air hockey, (my daughter has an unbroken record,) he did what any good man would do — challenge her to a video game she has never heard of on his turf.? So she spent her “pre-dance” date time playing Call of Duty wearing an evening gown and no deodorant.

Which, I suspect, was exactly the way she would have wanted it.

ever have one of those weeks?? Where the roller coaster goes from zero to 60 to zero to backward to upside down and then gets stuck there? and you have to wait for five hours to get rescued?? and by “rescued”, I mean wait by the phone all afternoon to find out from the guy in the know if it’s bad news or really bad news?? Me TOO.

The week actually started off great — I got my copy of Studios in the mail, which was very exciting :}? (I’m on p. 118, cause, you know, you might look)? I took it in to show a colleague and one of my students got wind, and suddenly there were “high fives” all around? :}? (+5 because students are not known for thinking teachers are professionals.? Or actual people, most of the time.? They tend to believe we either sleep at school, or live in a box.)

Then… the blizzard hit.

Then… I found out I received a rather nice commission that I can’t really tell you about yet, but is quite exciting : }

Then… 12 more inches of snow and 2 more hours of shoveling.

Thursday was the ENDURE exhibit, a lovely event hosted by e4b, a beautiful office design showroom.? Had a chance to talk with some wonderful people, 90% of whose names have unfortunately escaped me.? (And by “escaped me” I mean I really really tried to learn them, but it is a skill I do not possess.? And by “90%” I mean give or take 10%.)

Then Friday hit.? Message on my cell that my daughter, who should be at school, is in the Emergency room.? Doing nothing even remotely educational.? In fact quite the opposite, as they were turning her little brain to mush by giving her loopy drugs that made her completely incoherent.? Meningitis was tossed around as a possible culprit, after she spiked a massive fever.? They confirmed bronchitis & influenza, but her dad opted out of the invasive meningitis test, which involves puncturing a hole in her spine (gahhhh).? Instead we’re on round-the-clock surveillance and high doses of meds to keep her fever in check til we go back in next week.? I’m not sure I’m qualified to monitor any kind of medical condition, but here I am.? Thoughts, suggestions, and bad jokes welcome.

Join RED DOT Project for the launch of our first theme-based curated online collection, featuring the artworks by Robert L. Stockham, Qandle Qadir and Chris Zielski.? The collection will be live February 11 through March 15, 2010 at shopreddotproject.org

ENDURE is a nod to the importance to the work of these artists in terms of both techniques and materials.? ENDURE alludes to the meaning found in art and the art-loving community at large.

Our physical launch is hosted by environments 4 business located at 515 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.? Join us on February 11 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.? Meet the artists and shop the collection.? We look forward to seeing you!

As I was up to my elbows in muck at work today, I thought about the notion of “redefining normal“.? I spent a good chunk of my morning recycling hundreds of pounds of clay for my ceramics class.? And, laugh all you want, I suddenly realized that while this was a perfectly routine thing for me to do, it was probably not normal for the rest of the civilized world.? And it dawned on me that fairly soon, it would not be normal for me either.

While I won’t call it a skill, there is a certain aptitude in digging clay from a bucket and working it into usable condition.? I know this only from watching my students, who approach the container with dread and lower their fingers in slowly and cautiously as if they’re reaching into a basket of vipers.? And they look away and wince, every time.? Before they touch the clay.? I’ve never understood.? And then they dig out a couple of fingernails full and pretend they’re done.? I reach in and slap another grapefruit-sized chunk on their hands with a cheerful “there you go!” before they have a chance to walk away.

If this wasn’t going to be my normal, I tried to think of whose it would be.? I did a little mind game, trying to think of as many other professions as I could.? I got as far as my friend who is a ceramicist, then nixed it because she probably has a machine that does this for her.? Nope, really — none that I could think of.? Then I tried to think of all of the other crazy skills I had learned in this job, and where those might be useful, but discovered that they’re really pretty “niche”.? For example, I am quite good at telling if a kid is really going to throw up, or just wants to get out of his next class.? And if they are going to throw up, I am rather adept at getting them escorted out of the room fast enough that it doesn’t happen on my territory.? I am also darn good at fake-remembering my students’ names.? Quite good, actually.? I can either get them to think I know it without actually remembering it, or stall them long enough that it comes to me.? Either way, they leave with that charming little “she does remember me!” smile on their face, and I breathe a silent sigh of relief.

The biggest change I will have to my “normal” is the sheer number of people I am surrounded by.? I’m a pretty shy person, so dealing with 150+ people each day was a decent system shock when I first encountered it.? Forcing myself to interact with each one individually daily, in two-minute chunks, is kind of like the teacher-student equivalent of speed dating.? To go from that to being solo will be a pretty big adjustment.? I guess being self employed is not just a matter of economics — there’s a social and emotional paradigm shift that goes along for the ride.

Still bracing, and making sense of it all.

[For the record, the above picture is not me recycling clay, but up to my elbows in muck after cleaning out a clogged downspout drain pipe a few months back.? One "normal" I'd redefine quite happily.]

one piece, a journey in pictures:

Hello readers!? Today’s Balancing Act features a lovely collage artist I recently discovered.? Jennifer Mullin is the talent behind? tinyartbyjmullin.etsy.com, an amazing collection of small original collages, prints, and notecards.? I’ll admit to thinking I was familiar with most of the cool collage artists on Etsy — stumbling across her shop was like finding a secret hideaway of tons of fun little things.? I adore her “Comfy Chair” series of eclectic chairs in rooms created of cut patterned paper.? When I asked to interview her, I had no idea she was a high school teacher, but this gives me one more reason to love her!? Speaking from experience, finding the time to create after 150 teens have drained your energy is a feat in itself — I can completely relate to her love of working alone, and the difficulty juggling being a “good teacher” vs. a “good artist”.? Enjoy~!

1. Tell a little about your business — what do you make/ sell, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

I make original mixed media collage and fine art prints, and I have been selling my work on Etsy since January of 2008. I?ve been creating mixed media collage since 2006 and I love the spontaneity of it all. All I need is paper, scissors and glue! Its portable media ? I often bring my art to work and make things while my students are busy making things of their own. (I?m an art teacher.)? Before I got into collage I was a painter, and I got tired of the time it took to set up and take down/clean up to actually paint. I really love to oil paint, and with the smell and chemicals it takes, I find it hard to paint at home. Collage is quick. I have a table in my studio that is constantly covered in papers and pens. When the mood to create hits me I just have to sit down and go to it!

2. How does it differ from your day job (creativity, skill, autonomy)?

In my day job as a high school art teacher, I am around art and art making all the time, which is great! What I don?t enjoy about my job is the non-art business that I must keep up with ? grading, organizing, planning, discipline?. This may sound crazy, being that I am a teacher, but I really like being/working alone. Artmaking is a pretty solitary pursuit and I like that. I can fashion my own little world in my collages.

3. What has been the most challenging part of juggling a business, day job, and family? How have you gotten through the difficult parts?

I often feel like I have to neglect my art to really be the best teacher I can be and I have to neglect my teaching to really concentrate on my own artmaking. I really haven?t found a good way to balance the two. I often fantasize about being just a part time teacher and part time artist, so I could have more time to do both things better. But, I don?t see that happening anytime soon. So, art often times gets pushed to the wayside until I?ve got a break from school. During the summer when I am not teaching, I try to do art on a full time basis and really stock up for the rest of the year.

4. Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job??

I am an artist, and I have an almost constant yearning to make something. That is why being an art teacher works so well for me. I love that I can use my passion for art to inspire and assist my students. I am an art teacher today because of my high school art teachers. I hope that I can keep the inspiration train going and inspire some of my students to take up a career as an art teacher!

5. Give one organizational or business tip (or product) that has been invaluable.

Keeping up an online presence and regularly creating new work for my shop really seems to help me. I find that when I am regularly tweeting, writing on my blog, and reading and commenting on others blogs, I seem to get more action in my own shop.

6. Some people use a side business as a way to slowly change gears from employee to business owner. In the future, do you ever see yourself transitioning to full-time entrepreneur? If so, what would ultimately help you ultimately make that leap? If not, what benefits do you enjoy with your current situation?

Yes! I would love to be a full time artist! I?m still working out how I could make this happen. I dream about finding a wealthy patron like the Medici family was to Michelangelo. (Ha!) In the mean time, while I search for this patron, I am trying to branch out and find other places besides Etsy to sell my work. I participated in two shows at a hip local gallery this past year and am hoping to do a big outdoor art fair this summer. If it doesn?t work out that I can make a go of being an artist full time, at least it can give me a little extra spending money.

7. Any additional words of wisdom you?d like to share?

Developing a successful online business and following takes time. I have to constantly remind myself of that and try not to get down when things are not selling. The longer I am at this the more I realize that if I make a good product that I am proud of, it will eventually find a good home with someone!

Beautiful work, Jennifer — best of luck in both your art and your teaching!

Well, I kinda sorta killed my koi : (? I’m still a bit in shock, as they’ve been around forever and I’ve kind of gotten used to the little buggers.? But the aerator wasn’t aerating, and we’ve had a wicked Cleveland winter, and well… that’s about all it takes in koi-land.? Some of you know that I wasn’t a huge pond freak to begin with — truthfully, it was a “crazy ex-boyfriend” kind of thing that only grew on me once the “crazy” part was gone.? When the stress of the relationship was over, and frankly the stress of having such a massive project left on the shoulders of someone with zero knowledge whatsoever (me), it really did end up turning into quite a tranquil little bit of zen heaven.? And part of that zen were three gorgeous koi: bright yellow and white, blue with silver, and olive with gold.

They weren’t the only fish in the pond <insert your own euphemism here>, they were just the biggest and the brightest, at over 12″ each.? I don’t know how long koi typically last, just that at seven years old these lasted at least six years, 350 days longer than any fish I’d ever had as a kid.? And they were actually more like pets.? They would eat from your hand and let you pet their backs (which were kind of soft, like an underwater flannel).

A friend asked if I would replace them — probably not, as they’ve had plenty of baby fish over the years, and the pond was getting pretty full.? Unfortunately none of the little guys are full koi, though there are some koi-goldfish mixed.? (Not hard to tell when you see a goldfish with an olive mohawk on it’s back.)? I’m assuming/ hoping the little guys all survived okay, but time will tell — will be looking very hard in spring to see little buggers down near the bottom.

…………………………………………….. C.