Well, the summer job search is coming to a close. I have a couple of places I'll still apply to but for the most part I'm prepping to close the job search in lieu of work and possibly going back to school. I'm finishing up my lesson plans for my work at a local private elementary school teaching art and technology with additional hours working as a reading para. I've been looking into possibly getting certified to teach. I want to work in a museum or at a college/university but the world is harsh and it is exceptionally comptetative. I have a family and I want to help support it in a more permanent way. My master's degree is not providing the kind of help in securing a job that I thought it would so alternatives must be considered. I'm definitely angry that my family is regularly held against me in my job search and so now I will look for other means of employment. If this means going back to school again, I will.

As far as my art goes, I've been on vacation and had family visit so I took a little break. I've started a couple of new paintings though and am prepping to begin the commissioned pieces for a local restaurant. I'm going to begin series of watercolor illustrations that I'm excited about as well.

I recently lost the cord to my sewing machine, bought a new one and then found the old one (of course). I began working on some quilted gifts and a couple of things for my own house today. It's really nice to sit down and create in a way that is useful and will be cherished. So much of my painting collects dust. It's briefly admired for my "talent" then shoved in whatever storage space I can find to wait for the eventual viking funeral it will have sometime in the distant future (an event I dearly look forward to;) My quilting though will be used and loved and maybe even passed down in some circumstances.