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What a week... It started with turning the clocks back which is a little traumatic and a final good-bye to summer. Yesterday, I took down my 40+ pieces of art from the Birdie's Cafe Gallery, today I unpacked the van, tomorrow I load up the van (to the gills I might add) with hand-printed shirts for the Mistletoe Mart, (and I vote--hope you all do too).

The Mistletoe Mart runs for three full days (YIKES! I've been known to lose my voice on day one.) But as they say, "It's all Good."

In this issue:

Getting by with a little help from my friends
New works at the Mistletoe Mart
Dec. 6-7 Studio Tour--mark your calendar to visit Byrdcall Studio and more
Free Sketches
A new feature for my web site: Newsletter Archives

What would we do without our FRIENDS?

Thank you, friends. Yesterday, Virginia and Mary dropped what they were doing to help me take down and carefully bubblewrap about 40 framed pieces of art as we closed the 2-month exhibition at Birdies. Thank you, friends.

My friend, Debi, graciously offered to work all three days to help me with my booth at the Mistletoe Mart. Now I know she must have other things to do...but she's my angel this week.

And many of YOU helped me out, like true friends, yesterday and today. I was feeling a little blue about making such slow progress on my rya rug-making book lately, so I blogged about my feelings and asked for advice.

Click here to read the short The Byrdcall Blog ... but mostly I'd like you to read the supportive responses I received. Some of the responses were posted on the web site, and many more were sent to me by email directly. I especially want to thank the following sweethearts for advice that was eye-opening for me. If you would like to post your emailed advice to the blog page, I welcome you to...Your great advice could be helpful to many others who might feel "stuck."

Thank you: Teri, Heli, Sherri, Judy, Doug, Cindy. Allene, Laurie, Holly, Deanna, and Ted. Ted really hit the nail on the head with this advice:

<< ... Stop writing a book. Think instead of dumping out everything you know about rya rugs. Think about saying everything you want to say about rya rugs. Don't worry about organization, structure, flow or anything except dumping out everything. Don't give in to even a little bit of editing. Concentrate all of your energy on emptying yourself....>>

Wow, YES, I can do that. Thanks, Angels.

The Mistletoe Mart

Check out my handprinted shirts, greeting cards, and framable art.

Mark your calendar: November 6, 7, and 8. Go to this web site for details: Click here. At their web site, you can print a coupon for $1 Off entrance fee, regularly of $6 for adults and $1 for kids under 12)

It's a great show to find unique things. (And bring shirt sizes for your holiday shopping list.)

A quick preview of my latest linocut hand-printed on shirts: I guarantee that if you wear this shirt into the JeannieBird Baking Company, (opening SOON on Main St. in Westminster) you will light their faces up with a BIG smile. I printed about 2-3 of every size in random colors.

Carroll County Artists' Studio Tour

Only One Month away: Dec. 6-7

I really want to impress upon you my hope that you will come by the studio this weekend to meet me, see my artwork, and maybe take home a gift for someone you love. (Remember, most of my available works are hand-printed shirts for $25 -$30) But truly its more about the connection and fun, than sales or shopping.

Dec. 6-7 from 10 AM - 5 PM. The brochure is out and the web site ready for you to peruse! Click on brochure below to go to web site. There are many artists in the county welcoming you their studios. (But I'm the only one who serves homemade beer and wine!) ;-)

And as a special feature for someone (or sometwo) I have these two charcoal and pastel sketches that I did back in 2002 at a figure drawing class at Common Ground on the Hill at McDanial College. I really like these sketches (obviously since I've not taken them off the wall for ten+ years), but now I need the wall space. I'm not going to frame them or mail them to any one, but if you like one or both, let me know by email. I will give them away this month, and they can be picked up at the Studio Tour. (Free!) They are drawn on 18" x 24" paper.

and

These are what you might call "early Byrds."

This month, I updated my web Site to include

Archives to my Newsletters

If you subscribe to my newsletters, this is no big deal because you can always click on the archives links to the right on this page.

But it's great for me because so much energy goes into these newsletters, I'm thrilled that someone who stumbles upon my newsletter can see month-by-month what really goes on in Byrdcall Studio.

If you ever think of a friend who might enjoy my newsletters, please don't hesitate to share or forward a copy to them. I sure appreciate the exposure to interested folks. Thanks.

Now GO and ENJOY the day....

Enough sitting in front of the dang computer.

Thanks for taking the time to read to the bottom of this newsletter. Feel free to share this with anyone you think would enjoy it. If you don't subscribe, and would like to, simply go to my web site and sign up at the bottom of ANY page. While you are at it, why not sign up for my blog postings too?

Create on!

and Happy Fall!

Melinda