No that is not the price my last art print garnered at the last charity auction….nor is it the number of images I have taken this year.  It is the number of tourist that visited Savannah last year.  Today - we were tourists in Savannah.  We learned lots of cool things about Savannah and some of them are probably even true.  We took this tour as part of a new project I am working on for Savannah.  Can’t tell you more than that - but it is going to be pretty amazing.  But aren’t all of my projects?   I highly recommend getting reacquainted with your beautiful city or one close by.  The best part is checking out of a hotel and only having to drive 45 minutes home!

I hope you are having a wonderful, restful 4th of July holiday weekend.  Tonight, we made our annual pilgrimage to the Mill Creek Park to see the annual fireworks.  Of course we had to eat a few hot dogs, some popcorn and lots of other great, heart-healthy food.  Every year, I always say that there is no way the fireworks could be better.  But again this year they were magical.  Edie Grace is pictured here with her friend Shaye.  Fireworks are always better when you watch them with a great friend right?  Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope you are pausing to reflect on how fortunate we are - even when we are being inundated with bad news about the economy and high gas prices.  On our worse day, as Americans, we are SO much more blessed than countless others not so fortunate to live in here.  So, if you have great health and a great family - then you have all that you need!

Have a Safe and Happy 4th!

I can not remember how old I was when I had my first gallery opening.  I can tell you I was not seven!  What a fabulous and memorable experience for Edie Grace and all of her fellow campers at Art Camp.  For an entire week, Edie Grace was submerged in all forms of art at the Averitt Center for the  Arts and the Betty Foy Sanders Center for the Arts on the GSU campus.  Their final project for the week was an exit show in the main gallery at the BFSA at GSU.  She had a great week and I was impressed with the final results at the the exit show.  Edie Grace wants to invite you by our window - where we have recreated her show for all of you to see.  She wants you to know that she is available for custom commissions if you like what you see.  I want to offer a special thanks to the Averitt Center and the GSU Arts program for running this camp this summer.

   Edie Grace has a summer filled with great camps..but so far last weeks No Joe’s Clown Camp has top billing so far.    The camp was held at the Averitt Center for the Arts.  Edie Grace and her classmates spent the week learning all things “clown”.  On Friday evening, they starred in a clown circus on the big stage at the Averitt Center. 

Edie Grace had a blast.  I wanted so bad to take off the week and join her.  DeWayne is always concerned every year when the fair comes to town that I am going to join up.  I LOVE all things carney.

This week, Edie Grace is at Art Camp.  Tomorrow night she will have her first exit show.  I am looking forward to seeing her week of work - her masterpieces hanging in a real art gallery.  She is SEVEN…wow.

Hope each of you are joining Edie Grace in having a GREAT summer!

We have spent the weekend taxiing Edie Grace to birthday parties.  Saturday she traveled to Jesup to a swim party for one of her Pinewood friends, Adley.  Edie Grace was so excited that she was able to dive down to the bottom of the 12′ pool.  She had a blast and enjoyed seeing some of her school friends over the summer. 

Today we went to Monkey Joe’s in Augusta to cousin Mackenzie’s party.  Monkey Joe’s is a cool indoor playground with indoor inflatable’s.  Edie Grace had a blast with her cousin and her friends.  We have had a blast - but we racked up some serious miles in the “TV” car as Edie Grace so appropriately calls it.  There is simply not enough week in this weekend!

The Circus is in town…the circus is in town…AND Edie Grace has joined!!!

Don’t miss the show!  Call 212-ARTS to get your $5 ticket.  There won’t be any lions or tigers or bears (oh my!) but there will be lots of family fun.  Edie Grace has been part of a week long clown camp and she says the circus will be great. 

Come join us Friday nite at the Emma Kelly theater at 7:30.

Hope to see you there!

NoJoe’s Circus

Joey “NoJoe” Thurmond and his traveling circus are on their way to the Averitt! Alongside NoJoe, campers from the NoJoe circus camp will be showing off their circus skills! NoJoe’s Clown Circus is a high energy show with a circus theme. With silly magic, goofy animals, great juggling, amazing balancing, and other CLEAN family entertainment. NoJoe, the “WORLD’S BEST MANNERED CLOWN”, will have your audience saying please and thank you before they know it. The audience will not be able to look away for fear of missing what is coming next! You supply the children and NoJoe will supply the LEARNING, SMILES, LAUGHTER, and FUN!

Time: 7:30pm
Cost: $5.00 per person

If you haven’t checked out Todd and Bob’s brand new space you are totally missing out on the coolest stuff anywhere!  It is so refreshing to walk off of East Main street into a store filled with home decor that would rival anything you may find in Atlanta, New York or LA.  Really!  If you don’t believe me, come take a look for yourself!  One day when I was in their store a lady walked in and said, “Wow, I have just walked into HGTV!”  And that is just how you will feel!

One of Todd’s specialities is silk floral design.  At the new location he has a glass windowed studio so you can watch him create.  Just bring in one of your old pieces that needs updating, pick out some new pieces from his vast array of silks and let him work his magic.  Better yet, come in and pick out a container and the silks and let him create the whole thing!

Whether you need some pieces to update your table for entertaining, patio furniture for outdoor living, water features to bring some Zen to your life or just want to be inspired to tackle the whole house…they can most likely accommodate your every wish.  Todd even offers holiday decorating, but you better call today…his list was full VERY early last year.  If you enjoyed our tree last year…it was a Todd creation!

These images are from their open house and window debut.  (And one from a client’s house.  Todd created the pieces that flank the portrait)  When you go see Todd and Bob…tell them Lori sent you!    

  You never can start out too early getting to know your elected officials.  This weekend we worked in a visit from our United States Congressman John Barrow.  John is a great friend of ours and has been very responsive to all of Edie Grace’s requests.  Unfortunately, he was tied up at some other important function and missed Edie Grace’s seventh birthday.  He made it up to her with a personal visit this weekend.  We are looking forward to visiting him at his office in Washington soon.

In Edie Grace’s slide show that we put together on her birthday some of you may have noticed that Edie Grace has pictures with Governors, Senators and other important elected officials.  One great thing about my job - is having the opportunity to work with and meet many influential leaders.  They have all been very kind to embrace Edie Grace.  How many of you can name your elected representatives - let alone have pictures with all of them?  Yeah…I guess we do take lots of wonderful things for granted.  Of course, DeWayne says it is NEVER to early to start prepping her for her Senate or Gubernatorial campaigns.  However, she and I are focused on completing second grade at this point!

Another year of school and another year of dance.  Edie Grace’s dance school - Statesboro School of Dance held their annual recital Saturday on the “big stage” at the GSU performing arts center.  The capacity crowd enjoyed the incredible show.  Edie Grace had a blast and survived THREE costume changes without mom’s help backstage.  She is such a big girl.  Her dance buddy little Shaye makes dancing so MUCH fun.  Mrs. Shay, the instructor, is due any day with her second child.   She survived both shows without having a baby. Miracles do exist!  Thanks Mrs. Shay and little Shaye for another GREAT year!  Edie Grace wants me to tell you that they all SCREAMED at the end after the curtain closed.

Edie Grace is OUT of SCHOOL for the summer and she is SO EXCITED!  Friday was Pinewood’s last day of school.  Edie Grace is officially a SECOND grader - YIKES!  So where did that year go?  She had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Teresa Perkins, and teacher’s assistant, Ms. Lisa Oliver.  Edie Grace received a few honors at honors day which you see her and Mrs. Perkins proudly displaying here.  She also wanted one LAST picture in her first grade desk.  But, of course, the best part of the end of school is the SUPER end of school party.   One of Edie Grace’s classmates’ parents were brave enough to host the class to a water party at their home.  The party was a BLAST!  Edie Grace will miss her friends this summer - but is looking forward to staying on top of her AR reading so Mrs. Perkins will be proud. 

Edie Grace has a full slate of fun summer camps she is looking forward to.  Her third year at the recreation dept. camp — which allows her LOTS of trips to Splash in the Boro, several art camps, of course, another year of High School Musical Camp, and to mix things up, a week of Clown Camp.  She needs a personal assistant to keep up with her summer activities.  Edie Grace will keep you posted on her summer fun.