Mud Spun Arts Center Opens in Belchertown

What is this? Deanna Roux, instructor?

Yes, that's what I said, sista (or brotha - whatever the case may be).

Okay, slow down droux. You're getting a little ahead of yourself. Do you want the long version or the short version? ... Just what I figured. Fine, short version it is.

A woman, by the name of Becky Laliberte (a mom and a potter), decided to open an arts center in our sweet little town called Mud Spun Arts Center. She carved out a spot in a building she owns - really a strip mall. (P.S. It's the same strip mall where my kids take music lessons and I had put my business card up on the music shop's bulletin board.)

Becky lined up several artists to instruct 6-week workshops for adults. She was looking to fill a jewelry making slot when she came across my business card at the music shop.

See, I can do short version.

The arts center is currently conducting open registration for the following:

~Elements of Drawing
~Clay Tile Making
~Beaded Jewelry Design
~Woodcarving

Mud Spun also offers:

~"Clay with Us" Get Together
~Individual Potter's Wheel Instruction
~Art Camp for Kids
~Oil Painting Workshop

Check out the Mud Spun registration form for all the details, including dates, times, and very reasonable prices.

Oh, and did I tell you? I'm instructing a workshop!

It's been a while...

I really need to catch you up on things around here. I think I'll give you a short list now and then a few full-blown articles in the next week or two.

Bob and I at the DCU Center, Worcester, MA 12/09/07

HOLIDAY ARTS HAPPENING

I'll start with the HUGE art show by stART on the Street at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on December 9. Their shows are so well-organized and this one was set right before the holidays in a very popular venue with the Boston Pops on hand. Wow! So what was so huge about it? My expectations. Great people, low turnout. But ma hubby was there to keep me smiling!

HARMONY OUTREACH DONATION

My husband, Bob, and I - along with about 30 people from around the country - were able to donate a nice bit to Harmony Outreach this holiday season. Our bracelet project is still going strong - but with a change. A portion of the proceeds will go to sponsor a child at Harmony Family House. I'll be sending out a summary to all who participated and of course write about it here as well.

ON TAP FOR 2008

A few things I'll be focusing on this year:

~taxes (ugh!) - I need a system
~show schedule - only the best of 2007
~collaboration - with my sister Deborah
~gallery/boutique presence - I have some new contacts
~skill enhancement - precious metal clay, silversmithing
~new products - fun ideas coming
~writing - my local newspaper and my blog

I'm looking forward to getting back out to shows and meeting new people. That's what keeps me going.

I wish you and your family a healthy and safe new year!!

Harmony Outreach Bracelet Project

This gorgeous bracelet has a very special meaning. It’s a symbol for anyone who is lucky enough and blessed enough to have built their family by adopting a child – more specifically, a child from China.

This bracelet is custom made to fit a specific wrist – either adult or child. When you purchase the bracelet, I will contact you for measurements.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of these bracelets will go to Harmony Outreach, a 501(c) (3), non-profit organization.

Harmony Outreach helps to save abandoned babies and children in China by ensuring they receive the medical treatment, therapy or schooling they need while they complete their journey from abandonment and hopelessness to redemption and love.

They do this through Harmony's “Three Steps to Hope” program:

• Step one is foster care – the child is cared for in a loving home setting at Harmony Family House.
  
• Step two is surgery – the child’s special needs conditions are corrected.
  
• Step three is adoption – the child graduates from the program and is adopted into a loving family!

The significance of each element of the bracelet is explained below:

• GENUINE GARNET BEADS – The Chinese believe that an invisible red thread connects a child to loved ones throughout their life. The color red has become a symbol of Chinese adoption and safe travel.
  
• STERLING SILVER CHINESE FAMILY SYMBOL BEAD – The Chinese symbol for Family is the focal bead in this bracelet and the focal desire for so many who come to adopt a child.
  
• STERLING SILVER LADYBUG – The ladybug has been a symbol for good luck and Chinese adoptions for the past several years. Among the adoption community, a sighting of a ladybug means your child was born or perhaps the referral stork is in his flight.
  
• STERLING SILVER HEART CLASP – The heart represents the love you will or currently do share with your special adopted child and your family.
  
• STERLING SILVER HOPE CHARM – This charm symbolizes the hope you have in your heart that you will find a child and your child will find you. It also stands for the hope that we share for all children who need a family to love them. Additionally, the hope charm represents Harmony Outreach's Three Steps to Hope.

I was approached -- via my Etsy shop, by a potential mom, Rachel Meyers, of a potentially adopted child from China -- to help Harmony Outreach … please read my original post to learn more.

LUCKY BUG

The ladybug is a symbol of good luck in most countries. As a child who grew up in the US, I was taught if a ladybug lands on you, make a wish and blow her away saying “fly away home.” And, among the adoption community, a sighting of a ladybug means your child was born or perhaps the referral stork is in his flight. Either way, a sighting of that spotted beetle is lucky.

LADYBUG LORE

In the Middle Ages, in Europe, insects were destroying the crops. The Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon the Asian beetle came and ate the aphids. The farmers began calling the insect ‘Beetles of Our Lady’ - eventually known as ‘Lady Beetles’- then ‘Lady Bugs.’ It is recorded that the red wings represented the Virgin’s cloak and the black spots represented her joys and sorrows.

It was a much later invasion that forever connected the ladybug to the Chinese adoption community. In 1998, there was a delay in referrals. That was the summer that much of the US had an invasion of ladybugs. Immediately after, referrals poured in with larger numbers than ever. So, there is a solid foundation for the lore.

WHY CHINA?

Chinese adoptions are becoming increasingly popular in the US; American families choose to adopt from China more often than from any other country. In fact, since 1992, more than 50,000 Chinese orphans have been placed with American families.

Adoptive parents consistently cite the same reasons for choosing to adopt from China.

• Chinese children are generally very healthy and well cared for.
• Both girls and boys available.
• There are many waiting children with special needs available.After 3 months, all parental rights of birth parents are severed, and all rights revert to adoptive parents.
• Adoptive Parents need only make one trip to China.
• Adoption can be finalized while in China if both parents are present.
• Chinese adoptions are very affordable compared with other international adoptions.
• Travel conditions in China are extremely safe.

WANT MORE?

Harmony Outreach:
http://www.harmonyoutreach.org/index.cfm

Adoption process:
http://www.harmonyoutreach.org/index.cfm?pg=doc&id=188

Adoption info and resources:
http://www.harmonyoutreach.org/index.cfm?pg=doc&id=153

Reach Out With Harmony Outreach

Harmony Outreach is an organization that helps to save abandoned babies and children in China by ensuring they receive the medical treatment, therapy or schooling they need while they complete their journey from abandonment and hopelessness to redemption and love ... learn more.

Harmony Outreach is run by a husband and wife team, Lisa and John Bentley ... learn more.

They need help raising money to pay for Harmony House, where the children are cared for by a local Chinese family who act as their house parents until they're adopted ... learn more.

You can help by sponsoring a child ... learn more.

How exciting...

I've been featured on a fellow-artist's blog. Please take a moment to visit's Eva Felicity Design's blog.

psst...have you heard about Etsy?

Etsy is your place to buy and sell handmade goods. It's a tight little community of only 550,000 registered users, 60,000 of whom are individual artists selling more than 700,000 of their handmade creations.

My shop on Etsy (shameless plug) features unique jewelry using sterling silver, natural gemstones, seashells, leather and glass. Designs are organic in nature with vintage, Asian and oceanic elements. But there are tons of other artist types - potters, watercolor artists, knitters, sewers, candle makers, woodworkers, glass artists - to name a few. Also, this is the place to go if you're looking for a very specific piece - try searching "purple people eater" and you'll see what I mean.

It's super easy to create an account on Etsy - which you need to do in order to buy or sell. But you don't have to give any personal info if you don't want to; you can even be totally anonymous. Once registered, you're able to use all the cool features like chatting in the forums, learning about events and how-tos in The Storque, shopping by categories and marking your favorites for later reference.

Speaking of favorites, above are some of mine. This gives you an idea of the quality and variety of items out there. Enough with this, just go already. You won't be sorry!!

So, go to Etsy now and journey to the land of handmade and find out how you can shop by a specific shade of any color, by a geographic location or by time travel! And no, Rod Sterling is not your guide.