I'm back-maybe.

Hello followers!! Wow its been over a year since I wrote here. So sorry! Just trying to keep my head above water lately. What have I been up to?
Teaching my classes:  Acrylic painting,  jewelry making,  and polymer clay. Please feel free to check out
        my website at www.pam-paints.com.  I teach in Peoria and some painting classes in Bloomington,IL
        too.
        I have a mailing list for painting students. There is a yahoo group to join for our Clay Guild.
Still working at M's still. Love it! (usually)
Did some house improvements before Christmas. (My tree is still up....) Our kids and grandkids
       were all home and it was awesome.
Recovering from a back & a separate knee injury- nearly there. Getting older sucks!  (Notice I didn't say OLD)
I am growing my hair out! Hubby wants to know why. I don't know... I just miss long hair and thought I'd try it.
I've decided I'm NOT much good at writing blogs but will try to keep this up more often. Hope you are
all having a fun time and staying warm!   Pam

I'm BACK...

Wow its been too long! I've been so buzy! Doing what you ask? ha
Well some classes are back at MICHAELS. (where I work too) yipeee.
I am teaching beginner Fine Art classes using Grumbacher acrylics there now. I have morning and evening classes for each project and we "strive" to complete the projects in one session! This is actually cheaper than my "old" classes since we can do them in one class and we are mixing colors so, once you get the basic kit (with a coupon of course!) + a very few extra colors I use, you are all set. You aren't required to use the Grumbacher tube paints, but its cheaper in the long run, easier and I love, love, love them! They are fun!
You can get all of the schedule & info on my "classes" page at my website at http://pam-paints.com 
But of course I have to give you a sneek peek...

These are my own designs and that takes some time too. hmmm what else? I'm still teaching polymer clay at hobby lobby here in Peoria too. We have a new manager  at work and I'm getting more hours than I used to, but I love it. We had the Washington Fine Arts Society festival in August and my sweet hubby came too and sold his awesome handcarved canes and walking sticks. They attracted more attention than my jewelry. ha. But I did ok too.
    Summer flew by so fast and now its beautiful weather and cooler at night. I love it. Less hot flashes!
If you know someone that might want to paint- share my blog or website with them or have them email me.
I love teaching!
tata for now.  Pam

City Museum!

Check out the photos I took on our trip to the City Museum in St. Louis!
OMG these don't begin to show how fantastic it is. If you ever get the chance-
do go there! We had a fun group of 14 people from the Washington Fine Art Society & CI|Creative + riends and family. It was a blast.

I like this idea...

An Easy Way to Plan Meals for a Month

Do you have a hard time with meal planning?(yes!!!) Do you find yourself at 4:00pm still trying to decide what to fix for dinner?(yes!!!) Just having a really simple plan will give you the freedom of not having to stress over dinner all day. This can work if you love to cook or cooking just isn’t your favorite thing to do. At least it can relieve you of the pressure of having to over think dinners. Adjust it to what your family prefers to eat. If they like seafood or Chinese food put that into one of the days of the week. If you choose to have ground beef every Thursday, then you know you’ll have to thaw it out before you go to work or go about your day. Your family will also know what’s planned for dinner everyday so you won’t here, “Mom, what’s for dinner”. Or if you’re running late coming home, someone else can start dinner for you. Plan your grocery shopping around your weekly schedule. If you can get about five meals planned under every category you won’t duplicate any meals for 35 days. Here’s a sample meal plan:







Monday-Mexican: Tacos, Burritos, Taco Salad, Enchiladas, Fahitas, Quesidillas

Tuesday-Crock pot: Soup, Stew, Chili, Casserole, Stroganoff

Wednesday-Chicken: Chicken and Rice, Scalloped Potatoes and Chicken, Sweet and Sour, Cranberry, Barbeque

Thursday-Ground Beef: Casseroles, Spaghetti, Hamburgers, Meatballs, Meatloaf

Friday- Anything Fast and Easy: Hoagies, Hot Dogs, Grilled Cheese, Salads, Frozen Meals

Saturday-Meatless: Pizza, Tortellenni, Stuffed Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Pizza Spaghetti

Sunday-Crock pot: Roast, Steak, Stuffed Peppers, Pork Chops, Ham

very behind

Ahh I'm so far behind in posting! Sorry. It's been tooo long of a winter and I"m so happy to see
some green buds peeking out. It energizes me!

I got the SWEETEST surprise today. My friend sent me a card...just because! She is sooo good at
making cards and doing paper crafts! She has lots of yummy tuts on her website: Go see!
http://www.carlas-scraps.com/  Here is the card and inside it says "Wishing you an awesome spring".
She even polka dotted the envelope.

I have been lax on getting my classes going. I didn't have much energy all winter but spring is helping me alot.
I decided to make a couple Fairies out of clay! The shop, "Moon Dancer" had a Fairy Tea Party and so I made a few things to put in there. (It was a sold out event!)   Here is a write up on an artist friend, Amy Boettcher's website at Something Unique Studios - she has a photo of a table with my Fairy, dragon, 2 butterfly shadowboxes and a tiny fairy sitting on one. I did another fairy but her pic didn't work.
Hubby is making something that smells yummy so am going to go eat and then start on a canvas for a class. yeah! Have a great day!
Pam

Hello yaalll

Boy its been too long! Christmas was hectic but great! All of my kids and their kids were here and we saw

both sides of our families. Much driving but so important. I've been in "overwhelmed" mode lately I think but

I'm trying to get back into gear with my classes! I miss my students! Soooo wanna see my next painting class? Isn't this snowman teapot delish! fun to paint too.

I'll send out the dates and info to students very soon but must go to work asap. I"m also having a clay class(yipee) on Feb 13, Sat.  1-3:30 or later. We are making hearts, hearts, hearts.   Later yall!

success rocc's!

Wow What a week! The "Art Works" event was a huge success. I was shown painting at the civic center on the evening news! Wish I knew how to capture it as a video. (giggle). I taped 2 channels and watched another. They showed me in the blurb of upcoming news and hubby and I are like "what"!! He's like" Why did they show you first???" (Got me! grin) I still have to watch the other 2 that I taped, but have had a few"I saw you on the news!!" "can I have your autograph?" comments. (yea right!) ha.

To get a great rundown, visit Amy's blog for pictures and details: http://tinyurl.com/yzuhc42 I am honored to be included in her "army"! What a blast. Also it made national news in the NYTIMES! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/08/AR2009110818085.html