Wedding Pictures and No more Fashion Design!

It seems like no time at all since I was in Puerta Vallarta for the wedding. The picture is of the bride and groom and both families. What a cute couple! Usually I go to weddings with this pessimistic view point and kind of guess how long the wedding will last. But these two are very cute and it looks like this might be successful.
This week I had two fashion design ideas. Both of them bombed. No more fashion designing for me! The next batch of skulls turned out better because I switched paste. I used the old flour, water and glue recipe. This is better for the balloons. The good news is that it is so hot, the skulls dry fast. The bad news is that it is so hot. Only 17 more skulls to go!

Bad Vibes

Today I was working on the Day of the Dead skulls and had technical problems. The skulls "imploded." A balloon is the base of the skull and when I poked the hole for the eyes, the balloon didn't burst exactly. So, I had to scrap two of the three skulls I was working on. I am thinking the glue really bonded to the balloon and so I am changing to the paste that Kathy suggests. I will do one with new paste and then if it doesn't work, it's the balloons. The third one I had to build up but it was salvagable.
I attribute this to the fact that right before I went to work on them, my friend and are were talking and complaining. I have tried to be so--well, if not positive, then not negative. And we were just on our merry way complaining like we do. This is what we talk about. So I will try to reverse the bad vibes tomorrow with positives all day! I think it affects my art!

Thrift Store scores!

Got back from Mexico--about which more later when I have time to upload some sweet pictures of the newlyweds--and decided to go to the Community Thrift Store on Arrow in Covina. I truly scored. I got a huge bag of punchinello in silver and a navy(?) for $1.50 and some lace used to make thongs. Another big bag for a buck fifty! There must be 20 (?) yards of pink panty lace. Then there were these front of thong things (for lack of a better term) made with net and ribbon sewn on them. In various colors. And som black velvet ribbon front of thong things as well. I am so naive that I kept wondering what they were used for until there was an actual made thong in the bottom of the bag! I thought the black would enhance a lot of things for me. We'll see about the others.
I also bought a large glass relish tray for $2 to replace the one that got taken by someone else at the last party I brought stuff to. Why I only buy stuff like that at the thrift store.

Mardi Gras Woman

Everyone at Art Society liked Mardi Gras Woman, but me! I liked the other two smaller ones I made--pictures later. Mardi Gras woman got trashed before I left for vacation.

Stress?

This week has been the most stressful of my life---without someone dying. The work continues to be hard and demanding is the name of the game. And I received word that my boss wants me out by next year. The reason? I am not bilingual. No, the reason is I am bilingual--and getting better all the time--but I remind her of the previous boss. And I could be fluent in Spanish and still not be right for her. So I am looking at options.
Summer School is over and testing cntinues. With an added bonus of testing the Kinders on entry skills as well as language. But... one more week and I will be finished for the time being.
I did another skull with wallpaper paste and glue this time. I will paint it this weekend and post. It is smaller than the others. I will need more balloons if I continue to do this project. Sculpting the paper mache has been fun for me and relazing. I need to do more to alleviate the stress. Oh! and find another job.

And another one bites the dust!

Today I heard that another teacher--a true gem!---had been offered and accepted a job a the new magnet school. This leaves us without a sixth grade teacher and a CELDT administrator. And a personal friend. I am truly learning the need to be flexible and to be one of those "door closes, window opens" kind of people.
But... really, the art is all. I have finished another skull but will not upload yet, since i may want to tweak it a little. This one has a lot of glitter on it. And those eyelashes I got from Kelly, they're on there.
School is becoming more successful as I gain the students' trust. They are writing better all the time.
To take my mind off the impending loss of Marlene, Matt and i went to RiteAid where they had cotton candy ice cream and I had a half a scoop. It was delicious! Mood altering ice cream!
And finally, "I remain confident and unaffected by negative attitudes around me." That's my new affirmation. Does that mean my own????

Freedom?

The new principal has begun to change a lot of things at school. This is somewhat upsetting to me, but since (so far) I have not been asked to move rooms or been observed, I am relieved. But paranoid!
On another subject, Matt has been here two weeks now and he is setting into the boredom. He does some chores for me every day, but it is so hot now that I feel guilty asking him to do stuff.
And in the art area, I have completed one Day of the Dead skull. I have downloaded a picture of the first one of what will be many. I certainly like doing these! The instructions are in Kathy Cano Murillo's book, La Casa Loca. Thanks, Kathy!