One week later...

St. Bernard's well floor (interior) Edinburgh, Scotland ©2012 Megan Chapman

Dear Readers,

It has been a busy week getting settled back in Arkansas and it went by quickly with visits from friends and fellow artists. Jennifer Libby Fay was still in town visiting from Kansas City, so we tried to make the most of our time together. We spent some time updating and enhancing our social networking prowess. Stewart, Jennifer and I were tweeting, google plussing, facebooking, and blog linking fools for several hours. Also this week, my long awaited fortieth birthday present arrived from the super talented Flannery Grace Horan. It is a ring with a 17.01 ct. Mandarin Spessartite Garnet and Rubellite Garnets and Peridot loose inside to make it rattle. Is also has ocean waves carved on the side, and a secret seahorse carved on the back in the sterling silver. It is a magical piece of jewelry.

This week my Mom who came over to give us some fruit filled fried pies, which were a welcome treat and respite as we took a break from cleaning the kitchen to visit and catch up. My friend and fellow artist William Mayes Flanagan also came over one evening and we talked and enjoyed some Scottish Ale on the deck listening to music and talking politics.

Stewart and I picked up our combined exhibition,  I thought I would find you here, from the Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville where it had been on display during March and April and enjoyed a visit with our friend, fellow artist and patron Sharon Simmons. Then later we headed over to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to enjoy the sunny, cool weather, the wild flowers and art. You can read Stewart's review of his experience there by clicking here. It was a lovely day.

We took care of some business and ordered some of our panels for our upcoming July exhibition, A place called home, from a local company Perrodin Supply Co. We are excited to be able to support this local business and of course we are getting excited about starting the process of creating the work. We had another visitor, as friend and fellow artist Linda Sheets paid us a visit, it was so great to talk and catch up and hear of her upcoming projects and be around another artist and like minded individual.

This week, I have been busy unpacking studio boxes that were filled and left behind for four months while I was away. I am making the transition and moving back into my home studio. It is an arduous task filled with a lot of memories, some good and bad. However, it is great to touch my things again and remember how they all fit together and to create a whole new environment for myself and Stewart to paint in again.

Besides all this we have been planning an exciting event for June and making some other plans for various future exhibitions. It is a thrilling time and we have been going non stop since we hit the ground. We have enjoyed some lovely evening walks, enjoyed the farmers market, and seen a goodly amount of art and of course it is wonderful to see and hear from so many of our friends here.

Like I said last week, it is good to be back. Now, I better get back to it!

Until next week, keep fighting...

Love,

Megan

PS. For all you locals, we are looking forward to seeing you May 20th at the Block St, Block Party!