My final count for the year is coming soon.

2009 has been a busy year. Here is the Year End Wrap Up
I was the featured artist at Two Twelve Arts for January and February.
Then my show was at the Saline Library in March.
I taught classes at Quilting Unlimited in August.
My sister Connie and I shared a booth at Summerfest, my first street art show.
In September we did it again at Harvest of the Arts.
I participated in Art Walk in October, with my quilts on display at Macs' Acadian Seafood Shack.
And I had a booth at the Good Thyme Garden Club regional meeting.
For 9 months I sold my art at Artistica Gallery in Dexter.
And in November and December I was the featured artist at My Favorite Cafe, in Saline, with 30 pieces at a time showing and for sale.
The year ended with the Holiday Art Market at Two Twelve Arts.
I learned a lot.
Lessons
1. It is hard to keep up with producing work continuously. My stock of art is very low.
2.The things I think will be a big hit rarely are.
3. If I really love a piece, and kind of want to keep it, someone will buy it quickly. This is a good thing, but I miss some of my quilts.
4. Even though it slows me down, it is good to experiment with new ideas.
5. All the time I spend playing with beads is not financially profitable, but feeds my need to make stuff.
6. Being a very productive artist, and selling a lot of the work, does not make one wealthy. Supplies cost a lot. And I need a lot of supplies to be so productive.
7. I need a bookkeeping and filing system.
8. Just because I want it, is not a good reason to buy it.
9. I bought a lot of art work by artist friends this year. I am happy I did so. I feel like I am surrounded by friends all over my house.

Rick and Jeff, hard at work installing the tracks for 212 Arts hanging system.

Deb and Jeff, Santas' Elves, cut and hang tracks.

Rick, Santas' Elf, as he hangs rails.

The first rail of the hanging system at 212 Arts.

Christmas in Albuquerque, at Karens' and Pokis'. Rick, substitute petter, at work. We put in many hours of petting while visiting.

Poki doesn't understand why Karen got empty pans and dishes.

We did a little hiking. Looking back down as we start to hike in Bear Canyon.

Memorial rock sculptures on the path.

The north slope.

Bear canyon.

We hiked in Bear Canyon. Poki got cold feet.

Poki wanted to come home with us. We wanted him too. We were the auxiliary petters all week.

My brother and sister in law came to Karens' for dinner on Christmas eve.

A Kachina in the plaza.

One of my pals is shown here.

Another alley of shops.

This grillwork is lovely. I got a picture of it last year too.

A colorful shop.

One of the little alleyways.

A view of Old Town square, in Albuquerque.

The Indian vendors in Old Town. They had beautiful bead and silver jewelry.

Karen and Rick, by San Felipe de Neri church, in Old Town.

These are bracelets. Or they will be when finished. I'll add beads to them, and show you when they're done. This will make the count 360.

Having a good time at my nephews' wedding, with 1 of 2 brothers, and 4 of 5 sisters.

Some of my silly sibs.

Dancing with my Sweetie.

I am trying to not do anything. So I made these two scarves, one for my sister. Numbers 354, 355

I have been busy making tableaux of holiday decorations. My 5 sisters are coming to visit.

A scarf, made for Genevieve, the Summer Princess.

Another one finished, number 353.
Candle and Branch.

Bird in a Tree, new today. This is hanging at My Favorite Cafe. number 352

Two more new quilts. Birds and Berries, number 350. And Pear Tree, number 351.

Christmas Roses, number 348.
Goblet of Flowers, number 349.

I have been busy with Earth Challenge details. We have about 23 artists and more than 35 pieces for the show, and I am waiting for a few more. I have ordered a new hanging system for Two Twelve Arts, thanks to the show participants and donors. At least 18 of our artworks will use the new system in January.
I have an installer lined up, and am waiting for answers from 2 potential judges. Keith McGuire has pictures, and is designing the postcard, that will advertise our show. I think you'll be very proud of this display. The show will be hung by January 4th. The reception is Jan. 15, 7 to 9 p.m. Hope you can all come to see it.

A new scarf. I will keep this one. It's short, not too bulky, and has no extra doodles. I like to be streamlined. 347

New necklaces! This was fun. Numbers 340-346. I am going back to my old camera, since this one is not doing as I wish.

All the making stuff has caught up with me. I had a class in the morning yesterday, 9 to 12. Then I spent the afternoon cataloging and pricing all the stuff I am putting in the Two Twelve Arts Holiday Sale. The sale is this Saturday, from 10 to 5, I think. Anyway, it took me all afternoon to tag the things that were ready for it. I have 18 felted purses, 20 quilted purses, 16 pins. Not yet tagged:14 collages, 6 necklaces, , 17 painted faces on pillows, and a few odds. And I'm going shopping for more stuff to finish a few things.

So far, there are 20 items for the Earth Challenge. I expect more Friday. This show is open to Bagettes, Cakeeaters, and Running With Scissors members. This will be a humdinger of a show. Be sure you are included. You people are very creative, and talented.
Give me your entry by Friday, along with a check for $15, and an item the size of a greeting card, for sale for Food Gatherers. Remember there are prizes, too.

A hanging lamp my talented daughter Karen made. We mailed her sticks from our red twig dogwood bushes, she made this. Cool, huh?

My booth for the art fair today. It was a fun day.

The tags are made, the racks chosen, the boxes packed, and the car loaded. I am ready for the Running With Scissors Holiday Art Sale tomorrow. Come see us all at the K of C Hall in Berkley, on Twelve Mile Road. The show is open from 10 to 4.
The picture is stuff I have been making for this sale, and there is more.

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving, and time to spend together with family and friends. Hopefully all the seasonal household preparations are done by now, and you can put your feet up for a while. Life is fleeting, memories last beyond your time.

This happy group at Two Twelve Arts, made Christmas stockings for Saline Social Services. It was the first gathering of the holiday. On December 5, come to the Holiday Art Sale at Two Twelve. Thirty artists will display a wide range of wonderful things for sale. And there will be free gift wrapping of your purchases. Do all your shopping, and let us wrap it up for you.

Silk Sunflowers, a new quilt. This is about 21" by 25". Number 339

This is the Cousin It scarf, with fringe.

Sorry for the blurry picture. I added sequins and a 3D leaf. Help! I can't stop! 338

Another wild and woolly Cousin It scarf. Number 337.

Alright, I couldn't stop. Eight more flower pins. Four have been sent to ABQ, four more go to Games Night friends. This is number 336.

I have a new die cutter, and I made these 14 pins today. Some are going to the teachers at my daughters' school, some to friends. I'll count this as only one, 335.

There are 18 pillows with faces, so the count is 334. They are Naughty or Nice pillows. They say "Naughty...I intend to stay this way", and "Naughty is my best behavior," as well as 16 more things. They are all different, hand drawn, and painted.

I had extreme amounts of fun today. It was so fun, it was almost toxic. I can hardly wait to share this fun. I made all these felt flowers, and more. And I'm getting a die cutting system so I can do it at home. I promise, this is dangerously fun. I'll call it all just one item, number 316. But wow, it was much more than one point of fun.