Other teaching opportunities have opened up, to include teaching surface design at local non-profit artist group in town. I’ll post more about this when the details are finalized, but I have to say I’m excited to share my joy of creative play.

In other news, my big secret will be revealed next month. I am so anxious and excited about this, but I must wait until I’m told it is OK to share the news.

My big news for this month was hearing that a piece I submitted to the 2012 Quilting Arts Calendar competition was selected as a finalist. The winners will be selected mid-February. I am so honored to be a finalist, I know the talent that enters this competition. Quilt artist Susan Brubaker Knapp is also one of the finalists. I met her a year-or-so ago and have been a fan since. Her work inspired me to create my entry, so you can imagine my honor to be in her company as the Quilting Arts staff makes their final selections.

My inspiration for all of this occurred in August. I had to make the difficult decision to put my old and sick German shepherd dog out of his misery. For 12 years, he was part of everything I did and making this decision rocked my core. His passing forced me to think about what I was doing with my life. I realized I had gifts to share, so I decided to really pursue teaching opportunities. I also realized that I have a passion for what I do. Creating things is more than just a hobby, it is the core element of my being. So, I am placing more focus on creating and then sharing what I make with others. This year I am hoping to inspire people as others have inspired me. It took “The Perfect Storm” (aka my dog) to show me the road.

Finally, I’m able to display the complete finished piece of the Carolina Mixed Media Artists Guild M4 Challenge. My process was posted on C&T Publishing’s blog today. Check it out:

Altered Timtex Background Up For the Challenge

This piece is available for purchase on my Etsy Store:  http://nanettesayz.etsy.com/

In my two prior posts, I wrote about my connection with friends and how they support me and inspire me. I have never been in such a good place before.  Not to say life hasn’t been good to me, but I don’t remember ever having such supportive friends, such as I do now. This is truly something for me to be grateful for this new year…I feel such positive energy and inspiration.You just can’t sit idle with all this creativity around you.

Take a look at my friend Jod’s blog… Sweet Repeats … She wrote about a play night she hosted at her house this week. We had great fun talking and working on our projects. Jodi’s fabulous, she’s been through a lot in her life, but is always positive. She is driven to meet her goals and succeeds with such grace. One of her goals has been to get published in Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine…the current edition (Issue 22) is her second time being featured in it. Yet, she’s humble about the experience. I think I’d be dancing and shouting whenever I could.

Another friend, has also been a creative asset and is a little peeved that I haven’t said anything about her yet. Ms. Anika the oldest of my “children” is mad that her younger sister has been featured twice in my blog posts this past month. Ms. Anika does not particularly like her sister so you can understand the sibling rivalry occuring in my home right now. So in honor of “my oldest,” I post a picture of Ms. Anika nesting in one of the knitting projects I’m working on. Hope you enjoy it! And here’s to a happy, sucess-filled, and prosperous Null Nine for all of us.