New School ~ Fresh Start

There's a new badge posted on my sidebar and it represents the new school I'll be attending ~ The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

I had to make some abrupt changes this past semester with my studies as I was having waaaay too much trouble balancing my work projects and classes. While on break I discovered The Art Institute and found them to be a much better fit for my schedule and college career budget.

I'm starting off slow, one class for now but that feels just fine for now. It's tough balancing everything but better to do a little of something than nothing, right?! I'll still be majoring in Graphic Design, a switch I made last semester when I realized the skills I was learning could be immediately used in my day-to-day work, whoot!

So wish me luck as I dip my toes back into the waters of education, hopefully with a fresh start and a much easier schedule things will be a bit more manageable this time around. I'll let you know~

Back to School

Yes... it's back to school this week as the spring semester begins at AAU. It's hard to believe it's been a year since I returned to college for my degree in Art Education. There's a little change in the weather this semester though as I'm moving into a new major ~ what for it.... Graphic Design!

I know, I know... it's really a no brainer. While working on my classes last semester I realized I was able to immediately utilize the skills I was learning ~ an invaluable quality for this 'starving artist'. So with a little in-depth thought, after all teaching is near and dear to my heart, I decided this would be the best avenue to take.

I do hope to have more opportunities to post about some of my assignments this semester, I know alot of you enjoy seeing the assignments we work on and as long as they're not too technical (= boring) I'll be sure to share.

So here's wishing all my fellow students a very happy and successful semester!

Enjoy~

Quick Reminders ~ Party & Win

Just popping in with two quick reminders ~ If you haven't had a chance to sign up for the fabulous Gypsy Dreams blog party being held this Saturday (yep, that's tomorrow!) then be sure to check it out, it's not too late to sign up and should be loads of fun for all!

And... don't miss a chance to enter my September giveaway ~ last month's winner was #1 so it's never too early to enter for a chance to win!

I hope you've all enjoyed a wonderful week!

Enjoy~

Back to School

Well it's finally back-to-school time around here and this year's a little different ~ not only are my son and I returning to school but my hubby is too! Yep, he caught the school bug over the summer and has returned to college for his degree in business. He hopes to teach business ethics some day and I think he'll be great at it! I'm a bit envious of his scheduling though ~ he's on a trimester schedule so he moves through his classes much faster than me.

Still it's great to back at AAU and I'm super excited about my classes this semester ~ turns out they're related to what I do ~ Digital Illustration and Digital Tools, what a hoot! Although I know alot about the programs I use, there's always so much more to learn and one day I hope to create digital magazines like this one by House of Fifty ~ isn't it fabulous!?!

I'm also really excited because I get this amazing student discount so the required copy of Adobe Creative Suite CS5 will be dirt cheap! Me wanting this suite of programs is about the same as my hubby drooling over that new Camero he covets, so I couldn't be happier and I'll tell you ~ if I'd known school would be so economical I would have gone back years ago!

So off to school we go... our son is now in his final two years of high school and we're off too~ that much closer to our futures. What are your back to school plans? Are you sending your babes off for the first time or returning yourself? Perhaps you've decided to take one of those fabulous art classes offered by Willowing & Friends. Whatever the case you're never too young or old to learn something new so I hope your September plans bring you loads of smiles!

Enjoy~

Catching Up

My week of catch up has begun now that the hubby is off to his new job. His time at home with us wasn't all worry and stress though ~ after landing the new job, he got to work on that honey-do list I mentioned before and managed to scratch off a pretty big item for me...

He built another trellis for the front of our house and I just love it! We put one up last spring on the side of our front porch (pictured below) and the Sweet Peas & Morning Glories have really taken it over. Since we're not used to being city dwellers it serves as a lovely natural barrier between us and the neighbor's house that stands six feet away. The new trellis measures a whopping 8 x 8 feet so it's anchored directly into the base of our porch. I just can't wait to see it filled up with green foliage and sweet smelling flowers!

I have some new custom orders to share with you later in the week and I really need to find time to create that vintage back-to-school theme that's been rumbling around my mind. In the meantime I hope you all have a wonderful and safe week ~ stay dry & warm!

Enjoy!

Daydream Believer - new blog theme

In the mood for something fun & fresh? Here's a new theme to capture the teenage heart in us all! Whether you love the playful whimsy or are just young at heart there's loads of options and freebies with this new set...

Daydream Believer

I went with a doodle kind of feel for this theme and with four backgrounds in each size, 2 and 3 column, you can really mix things up. There are even a few fun badges for some added splashes of whimsy and one you can personalize by adding your own photo. I had loads of fun creating this new theme and I hope it brings you even more fun on your own blog!

To view all the elements simply click the title or image above.

Enjoy~

School Spirit

It's been a long time since I've used the words "school spirit" and meant them for myself. However, next week I will be starting college to study for my degree in Art Education. It's taken me a long time narrow down exactly what it is I want to do when I 'grow up' but some personal experiences over the past few years have helped me narrow it down...

I truly enjoyed my time guest teaching a jewelry class at our local high school a few years ago but it was the recent experience of donating excess jewelry supplies to a woman's shelter that was the final deciding factor. The reason being that I offered to guest teach there, knowing full well there was no way I could step foot inside without a teaching degree under my belt. And so the search began for an accredited online University.

I believe my final choice of going with the Academy of Art University is a great one and I'm excited to be starting my first classes next week. I'm sure it will be a long haul with many lessons learned along the way but in the end I hope to be better equipped to contribute toward art in the future ~ that and a more stable income wouldn't be bad either.

I know there are several friends out there in blogland who've expressed an interest in having me post about assignments and so I will do my best to include a posting here and there about current projects and such.

My new venture coupled with our family relocating this coming spring will keep the faeries and me excessively busy over the next few months and so I will be cutting back on custom order projects ~ taking them on a direct contact basis. In the meantime, my repertoire of free and low cost blog themes and elements will still be here for the taking and hopefully I'll have time to post a new theme here and there.

Enjoy!