artBLISS Bound!

I am writing this on a Sunday night, after spending the day going over my checklist and trying to make as much jewelry as I can for artBLISS.

I've been working on more projects involving thin gauge metal. As I work with it, I am talking to myself, wandering about how to turn it into either an online tutorial, class or in real life workshop.

The day this posts, I will be in Sterling, VA, most likely running around trying to find the nearest this or that for the this or that's I will have forgotten to pack.

I was talking to my husband today about woulda, coulda and shoulda's...

I hope that I don't go down that road of wishing I would've done something that I didn't know to do, or could've done or should've done in regards to preparing for this new experience after its over.  I want to enjoy all parts of this new direction in teaching--even the parts that I don't have a clue about now, but will later.

I'm all in for the journey and the learning and unfolding that happens during the process of discovery.

I don't know now what I will know next week after the classes are over regarding teaching what I know about metal. Will the creatives in class be excited about what they learned? Will the class meet or exceed their expectations? What will happen this weekend that will be the most surprising?

I haven't been nervous about teaching; no, I have been very excited. I remember being in Sharilyn Miller's wire working class in Kentucky years ago, having already memorized all the tutorials from her book, Bead on a Wire.

I was able to do the class projects easily, but I found myself hurrying to get my project done so that I could enjoy helping out those near me in class that were having a bit more trouble holding their pliers, or getting the wire to coil up right while Sharilyn was busy showing others how to do the same thing.

I couldn't help myself. If I knew the answer, or thought of a way to relate to her students, I just jumped in and tried to help (super late apologies, Sharilyn).

I loved that part of the class more than the actual learning of the class projects. It was thrilling seeing the light shine in someone's eyes when something new to them clicked. I dreamed not of being a great jewelry designer, but about being the one that got to share what she knew with others.

So this weekend, I will get my teaching feet wet...meet some amazing people that I have been interacting with online and finally get to hug...and make some new creative friends.

It's time to do some more soaring...and I am ready to go!

Coming up over the Rio Grande River

First stone set found on the ground after balloon flight...