What I have learned in the past few days....

(Above: Sample from class, painting that was donated to auction today, and a picture of my messy school table)

This Year of Art is now turning into 2. So do I rename the blog or keep it the same? Hmmm... Think I will keep it for now:)

I had the time last week to do some reflecting. I got the opportunity to travel alone to a workshop (for work) in Kentucky. The drive was a work of art in itself. A friend of mine loaned me the book The Shack on cd. So I put it in and began the drive, not knowing what exactly was in store for me. Scared and a little uneasy about going this alone, I drove on. (side note: if you have the chance to read or listen to The Shack...DO IT! http://theshackbook.com/index.html This book blew my mind and filled my heart to limits I could not imagine)

Anyway, after getting to the hotel and then to the class, I realized immediately that I was in the right place at the right time. I met the most amazing women (and men). They welcomed me in and took me under their wing with smiles and grace...and a LOT of laughter.

When the class ended I really didn't want to leave. I was going to miss the designated driving position that I took on, the deep talks with my table mate about God, the impromptu songs that we all burst into for no apparent reason, the dancing, the learning, the laughter and the joy that I found in learning about these women.

I had to leave so I packed my car and put in my cd/book and hit the road with a smile on my face. (decided to stop by and see my parents..Love them to death!) By the time I reached Huntsville I had tears streaming down my face and was so swept up in my book that I missed the turn to my house. YIKES!

I made it home to a family that looked a little different to me. They were all happy and smiling. (Dad had done a GREAT job as usual) Thanks babe. I gave them all a hug and told them each one by one how much I truly loved them. Boy am I glad to be home:)

Biggest lesson learned this week....Life is about enjoying each and every single moment..not in the partying up kind of way...but in the taking it all in kind of way.

See it ...smell it..feel it...taste it...and then past it on...

Enjoy!

Ahhhhhh rest.

I am at a class for the rest of the week. Ahhhh awayyyyy. I just don't really know what to do with myself. No work, no kids, no husband, no cleaning or cooking (not that I do much of that anyway:).

I walked in to my room and saw the big comfy beds and promptly ordered room service and CRASHED! I guess I needed a little time off. I will keep you posted on the class.

Enjoy!

Madison Spirit

A big thank you goes out to Gregg Parker. He is a freelance writer with the local newspaper, The Madison Spirit. He gave us the opportunity to have an article in this week's paper.

We had such a good time doing it. Thanks a ton Gregg. You rock!

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/madison.ssf?/base/news/1237367764320360.xml&coll=1

Artistic Finishes 'based on honesty, hard work, talent'
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
By GREGG L. PARKER
For the Madison Spirit writeone35758@yahoo.com
Painters create decorative, faux finishes for clients

While launching their business Artistic Finishes, Michele Lee and Ricky Sauls learned to ask for help and avoid trying to do it all alone.
"When there's an opportunity in your life to do what you love, close your eyes, say a quick prayer and jump," Lee said. With Artistic Finishes, Lee and Sauls combine their talents to create decorative and faux finishes on cabinets and walls, painted murals, custom art and sculpted trees.
Another specialty is trompe l'oeil, or a painting style that creates an illusion of the reality of a photograph. An example is a fake door painted on a wall.
They started their business Jan. 1.
Along with their lead artist duties, Lee is business manager and Sauls is creative director. Greg Lee, Michele's husband, handles the accounting responsibilities and the Web site, www.artisticfinishesstudio.com.
Having a team of two allows them to complete jobs in a more timely and efficient manner, "therefore enabling us to accommodate the needs of more clients," Lee said. "We're a company based on honesty, hard work and talent." Artistic Finishes, in its beginning stage, has generated more response than the owners expected. They've recruited help from their families.
"We assist designers and home and business owners in creating an inviting and inspiring atmosphere through decorative finishes," Sauls said.
An important factor for success is compassion for their company and its clients. Also, they can create samples that can be replicated on a much larger scale.
Lee and Sauls enjoy their work because "every job is a new challenge and adventure. We get to meet many wonderful, new people," she said. There's no monotony because customers' requests are so diverse."
They say they feel great fulfillment when a job is complete. "We enjoy looking back and seeing our client smiling at what we have created for them. That makes this all worthwhile."
Currently, they have separate studios in their homes. For the future, Lee and Sauls hope to have a small, brick-and-mortar showroom to offer art classes and to show samples of their work and custom pieces for sale. However, they're keeping their plan simple for now.
"We want to be able to continue to do what we love. We hope to keep this a small company that gives quality work and personal attention to each and every customer," Lee said.
For more information about Artistic Finishes, call 508-7518, send e-mail to info@artisticfinishesstudio.com or visit www.artisticfinishesstudio.com.

New Location for Art!

I was contacted by Debby of FastFrame.

http://www.fastframe.com/storeLocations/store.php?id=3858

She asked if I would be willing to bring some art down and sell it through her store. I was very happy to do it.So here are some of the pieces I took to her. She will be selling them in her shop.

There are a total of 7 small 5x7 watercolors and 2 larger pieces (Safety and Her things)

If you are in the area and get a chance, stop by and take a look or....just say hi to Deb. She is very talented with her framing! She can make the smallest piece of art look like a masterpiece!

Thanks Debby for the opportunity.

Enjoy!

Artwork by Michele Lee

Copyright 2008

Clay Conference

Had a great time today at the Clay Conference. Gina Hurst and Alissa Ramsey did a GREAT job! Thanks girls for inviting me. You rock!

You know...God works in funny ways sometime.

As I was checking in I was very nervous...as usual. But I looked up and saw one of my "girlfriends". http://pickmybrainsart.blogspot.com/ She was actually coming to the event today and I didn't even know it. Hmmmm. So needless to say my nerves were at ease with her smiling face in the second row. Thanks for taking pictures today Ang.

I also got to meet some really great people. (that's the part I love the most) Some who were just starting out and some who were getting read to jump ;-) Good luck to all of you.

Here is picture from the day.

Enjoy!

What a weekend! Whew!

Sorry for the short posts here lately. This week has been a tornado!

Off course there is work, but the weekend has been filled as well. On Saturday I had the opportunity to paint...yes I said it..PAINT. Gosh now that is a stretch for me huh? No, really, I was given a wonderful opportunity to donate my day to a great cause. My dear friend Carol V. is opening a new center for Autism and wanted me to take on the challenge of painting. So we gathered a team of volunteers together and off we went. The sad part is that my camera AND cell phone where both dead. So no pictures. But not to worry, we will be painting again next Saturday. I will take some and post them then.

Next up..Sunday...ahhh the day off.....not so fast...I got a call from Gina and Alissa over at the clay conference. http://www.alclayconference.org/ They want me to come and give a small speech/testimonial about "A Year of Art" So I will be doing that tomorrow. If you are out that way, stop by and give me a shout at 1pm.
I guess I can give up the lazy, restful, much needed sleep on Sunday morning for a little limelight. LOL
All kidding aside I can't complain...well I can but what's the point? I am blessed to even have the energy to have a weekend like this. They werent always this way you know ;-)

I will post pictures on all this later. But for now...it's time for sleep.
Have a great weekend and
Enjoy!

THEY ARE DONE!~

Well it has been a very very long week. Trying to put all the finishing touches on the Panel Series and have them ready by Thursday was the goal. And we did it! Ricky,Noelle and I worked very hard and are tired...but THEY ARE DONE! And it's Friday! TGIF. My family hasn't seen me for any length of time for 2 weeks:( I am really going to have to make this one up to them. But my husband is so sweet. I don't know how he does it. But he works his job, comes home,takes care of EVERYTHING and still smiles at me. Thanks babe:)

They are now hanging in the clients home:)

So...this will be the LAST post about these panels...YEAH! I am sure you are all ready to move on. It will be nice to get back to casual painting. The art festivals are coming up soon. YEAH!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Enjoy!

Another day...Another Panel

My working buddy Ricky and I have been busy at work getting the final panels completed. They are due on Thursday and will be delivered to the clients. Hopefully they will have a smile on their faces when they receive them....fingers crossed:) Here is a picture of the next one I am working on. I will post them all for you to see at the end of the week.

Enjoy!