Thursday, August 16, 2007

From the Desert to the Land of Fire

Hey all,

So here I am back in Missoula for a few more days. I head to Wisconsin on Tuesday to teach at Valley Ridge (one of my favorite venues). Earlier this week I left the scorching temperatures of Phoenix, only to return home and find the state of Montana in flames. The fires are everywhere. I live in town, so I'm not really at risk but plenty are. It is downright nasty out...unless you like smoke.

Art Unraveled
Had a great time at A.U. Very busy, between teaching, vending, drinkng coffe, book signings and...yes drinking a martini or two with...well everyone. One thing that I love about these big events is being able to connect with people you haven't seen in a while. I have students who I see once a year, others I see at every venue I teach. So through the years you form friendships that make it seem as if the gaps of time never exists. This is especially true when I get to see the other instructors. I see them here and there and everywhere and it is always a treat. I once overheard someone complain that the teachers always hang out together at these venues (I'm not really sure why that is a bad thing). What I think people sometimes forget is that we are all working at these retreats and it is nice to have someone who you can understand the frustrations as well as the joys of this strange lifestyle.

Which brings me to my next photo:
Yes it was a long week and we all deserved a bit of a celebration...and how.

Gifts
people are so nice sometimes
I received some really great goodies from students and friends.
A student in my Six Million Dollar Anatomy Man Class literally gave me the shirt off her back...she was wearing a Six Million Dollar Man t-shirt. Don't get any ideas...she changed first.

I got a kiss from my girlfriend Judy via her blog buddy Angie...once again don't get any ideas...it was a Hershey Kiss charm.

Tim Holtz gave me twenty pounds of typewriter letters (not the keys, the metal things that make the mark...whatever they are called)

Carlotta gave me a prosthetic leg. That's right an entire leg. Apparently she carried on the plane with her. I have to admit part of me wanted to leave it behind...not because I didn't want it, but because I kept thinking that if I left the leg in the room the maids and the staff would wonder what ever happened to the man with one leg and how did he not notice that his leg was missing. Its the type of thing they would talk about for the rest of there lives. But it was way too cool for that...so I brought it home...who knows where it might show up.

Speaking of gifts...when I got home I found a package from Mary of Devils Claws. Here's a photo. Once again I'm not sure what I'll do with them but they are totally cool.

Some Business stuff.
I had a person email me saying that I should mention that I have Anatomy Men at my online store. Apparently she had searched and searched until she stopped by the store and found out we had them listed. The Dollar stores are hit or miss, so if you can't find these guys we have a stockpile. If you're interested go HERE

Also, for those of you who took the the Weird Wonderful Windows Lightbox class we are in the process of putting kits together for those of you who want to continue on with this theme.

6 comments:

Xanthe said...

I'm so glad you're coming to the Badger state! I'm in your Friday class at Valley Ridge. Yay! I can't wait! Enjoy Wisconsin!

X-----

Julie H said...

Oh Michael - love this post I am sitting at work giggling!

I got my first order from your store last week - bliss. If you promise to let me keep having it at that price I will tell, your copper mesh is the cheapest anywhere on the net! Of couse I love my other goodies and am on the second reading of the book - this one much more slowly.

Lesley Riley said...

I just about spit out my Diet Pepsi reading about leaving the leg in the room - good one! You are always so witty. See ya in Portland. Enjoy Valley Ridge and tell them all hello for me.

donna joy said...

Had to laugh at the idea of leaving the leg in the room~a friend and i made mummy dolls w/barbies in a hotel once-and left them to dry while we were in a class-just knew those maids were crossing themselves every time they passed our room...

Anonymous said...

I guess giving to Michael is in the air!! :)

yes I too had to buy something over the summer! (just got back into town a couple dayz ago) I couldn't refuse these strange lil pieces... I have know idea what they were used for, but I knew you would like them!

I received your art piece, it is amazing, well...more than amazing!! I am quite pleazed to be the proud owner of this piece! :)

drove through Missoula while the fires where burning~ wondered if you were in town~

xo ~Bella
p.s. I can't find your address to send the lil' doo dads~

Veleta (Sammy) said...

I am so excited... Hubby said I could sign up for your six million dollarm man class ArtnSoul in Portland! This is so out of my league, so am going to just let loose have some fun..