Last NAILE post and this surprise wasn't a complete surprise. I have to admit though, seeing something I painted blown up taller than me was still a bit surprising even though already I knew it was there.
I'm helping organize the new Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival which will be held next spring, for the first time, during the Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trial in Lexington, Kentucky. Stay tuned! This is going to be an actual full blown fiber festival, all to itself, not a side tent in a large craft festival.
With sponsors including the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association, Lexington Parks and Recreation, Lexington Lions Club, The Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Association, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, UK Cooperative Extension Service, Fayette County FFA... you can believe we are all really excited.
I don't really remember how it came about that we are using my artwork (or actually how I got talked into all those meetings...either, now that I think about it ;-) as a backdrop for post cards, posters, bumper stickers, the website and whatever you'd call this super tall display, but everyone seems to like it and I truly am happy to be able to help.
For inquiring minds, the sheep (left to right) are Punkin, Buddy, Boudreaux, Ewen McTeagle, Miss Ewenice and Henrietta. I apparently have lost quite a bit of weight in my old age (the beauty of painting yourself) and I'm happy my hair has finally gone completely gray, rather than my current Bride of Frankenstein stripe. And yes, Saint Tim, you can click to biggify to check the print quality ;-).
So why did I paint a picture of myself as an old woman? Well, besides the obvious of how I feel some mornings when I crawl out of bed... Over the years I have received forwarded emails of Jenny Joseph's "When I am an old woman" poem. I have received "When I am an old dog woman", "When I am an old cat woman", "When I am an old horse woman"... Never a "When I am an old sheep woman". I decided I would try to fix that.
My original idea was to put it together in such a way as to forward it to my friends and they could forward to their friends and so on, like the other poems. I wondered how far it might go. How long it would stay in circulation. If five years from now, someone might see it and think "I know just who would enjoy reading this" and send it back to me. In the end though, I couldn't figure out exactly how to do that, so Saint Tim printed them on paper for me and I've just sent them out the old fashion way.
Which is nicer anyway.
I'm helping organize the new Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival which will be held next spring, for the first time, during the Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trial in Lexington, Kentucky. Stay tuned! This is going to be an actual full blown fiber festival, all to itself, not a side tent in a large craft festival.
With sponsors including the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association, Lexington Parks and Recreation, Lexington Lions Club, The Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Association, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, UK Cooperative Extension Service, Fayette County FFA... you can believe we are all really excited.
I don't really remember how it came about that we are using my artwork (or actually how I got talked into all those meetings...either, now that I think about it ;-) as a backdrop for post cards, posters, bumper stickers, the website and whatever you'd call this super tall display, but everyone seems to like it and I truly am happy to be able to help.
For inquiring minds, the sheep (left to right) are Punkin, Buddy, Boudreaux, Ewen McTeagle, Miss Ewenice and Henrietta. I apparently have lost quite a bit of weight in my old age (the beauty of painting yourself) and I'm happy my hair has finally gone completely gray, rather than my current Bride of Frankenstein stripe. And yes, Saint Tim, you can click to biggify to check the print quality ;-).
So why did I paint a picture of myself as an old woman? Well, besides the obvious of how I feel some mornings when I crawl out of bed... Over the years I have received forwarded emails of Jenny Joseph's "When I am an old woman" poem. I have received "When I am an old dog woman", "When I am an old cat woman", "When I am an old horse woman"... Never a "When I am an old sheep woman". I decided I would try to fix that.
My original idea was to put it together in such a way as to forward it to my friends and they could forward to their friends and so on, like the other poems. I wondered how far it might go. How long it would stay in circulation. If five years from now, someone might see it and think "I know just who would enjoy reading this" and send it back to me. In the end though, I couldn't figure out exactly how to do that, so Saint Tim printed them on paper for me and I've just sent them out the old fashion way.
Which is nicer anyway.
So, for all the old sheep women out there (and those of us that just feel old)....Enjoy :-).
15 comments:
I did test to make sure the poem is readable. You will have to "click to biggify" and then I had to click the "biggified" picture, which I normally do not need to do. May be just an issue on my end, but thought I'd throw that out there if anyone else is having trouble.
GASP! A sheep and fiber festival DURING the BLUEGRASS stockdog trial? I gotta start saving my money now! I'm sure there will be a ton I need to buy! Yea!
The banner looks teriffic! Your painting talents are just what the festival needed to get started! What a great promotion for both! I have your card with the poem on it..one of my treasures :-)
Given that most of the time I feel old and AM old, that poem is very appropriate for me!
I would love a copy. Do you sell the cards? I'd love to see the horse one too. Your artwork is beautiful!
I love your artwork, and your poem. I turned 60 this year, and have convinced myself that I am now old. I wish I could be as full of grace and compassion and beauty as your "sheep woman". Keep up the good work. I love reading your blog!
That is totally wonderful! I just love the picture and the poem just hits home in so many ways:) How wonderful if you could customize it by putting in the names of the buyer's sheep (meaning if you were going to sell copies of course) Not that I am dropping any hints;) I am thinking I am going to have to get down to Kentucky!
I love it! And so glad I have a copy of your version of the poem, and the artwork. Now...how do I go about finding a way to KY in the spring?
Well done!
What a treasure! It brought tears to my eyes.
It looks fabulous! And how exciting to have a fiber related wool festival! Just imagine. :) I for one, am sure looking forward to it!
I have a little version of the KS&FF card on a bulletin board right here next to my computer. I knew it was you and your sheepies, but it's neat to read the story behind it. I didn't know there was a poem, and couldn't biggify enough to read it - or maybe it's my aged eyes!!
Speaking of feeling/getting old, gray hair and weight, Michelle printed a BRUTAL photo of me on her blog - wish I could repaint THAT image! (And yes, I know that is no way to hand-feed a horse. What you can't see in the photo is the big sign that says 'Don't feed the horses." We were just trying to get it's head in the right position for the shot)
Sara, I'm grinning big to see your lovely artwork featured in advertising a wonderful new event! And I agree with Kristi, if you could customize your poem, I think you'd have special orders filling your studio. (I think that's what kept me from buying a copy Friday.) And would you stop calling yourself OLD? I'm seven years older than you and I'm not prepared to go there yet, no matter HOW I feel some mornings! Oh, and don't listen to Deb W. She is the prettiest thing in that picture, and that's saying something because the horse is no jughead. :-)
Way to go! Promotional materials with your artwork looks great and I'm glad to hear you are so involved in the fiber festival!
THAT'S MY CARD!!! You sent me that card and I love it! My card is famous!
Thank you so much!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
I love your artwork! So beautiful!
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