Your only requirements for participation in Free-for-all-Fridays will be to

1)   if you have a Facebook page, "like" Shannon's Studio FB page (different from Shannon Christensen Fine Art FB page) and 

2)  send me your email address for my mailing list here on my website welcome page. As of yet, I don't send out group emails, and haven't used my email list, but one never knows what the future holds so I am collecting those interested. I have some fun, secretive ideas but I'll tell the email subscribers about that later. 

Well, that's it. But don't forget, Friday we'll start the first Free-for-all-Friday. Come back and see what I mean.

All the fam was here except for Barry, though we got to see him through video chats.

I'll try to post some of what we did and how we put it all together so fast later.

I did this one time a few years back (here) - where I had people send in an image and painted a portrait. That's the portrait I did above. I had fun with it so I thought I'd do that again, just on a much bigger scale. Because 50 is big!

Here's the how-tos and what-fors -

#1 Upload an image to Shannon's Studio FB page, here
#2 Leave your email in a private message on FB or my website
#3 Optional - Leave a thought about birthdays, turning 50 or      
       whatever you think of
#4 Optional - It would be nice if you 'like' the recent      
       Shannon's Studio FB I've opened up 
            (I'm switching over from the Shannon Christensen Fine Art FB page)

Since it's a celebration this will all be fun and flexible. So? Are you in? I'll know if you upload a photo.

Fifty is just different. It seems like a transition. And permission. And... 

Okay, I'm back. I went and looked for a word to best describe the feeling I was trying to convey. And I found it --- concordant. I've never used that word concordant in my life. No time like the present, since it fits. I feel like fifty is coming into agreement, harmony - concordant. Or concordance. Or concord. Whichever. Whatever, it feels like it's the long process of the coming together to contentment.

I'm content with where I am. Not the content that wants to sit and slide. Not the content that doesn't want improvement or see the need for it. Not the kind that doesn't want a challenge or two. (Okay, maybe only one.) But the kind that recognizes and respects goodwill, harmony, friendship, love, because of pain, contention, loneliness, and heartbreak. In the little scheme of things it's like a personal peace treaty.

But, this really wasn't what I was going to talk about. At least not in such depth. What I wanted to say was that I've been thinking about this for a while and I've come up with a way that I want to celebrate turning 50. But, this has taken up too much space already so I will tell you how tomorrow. 

Tell me what art scene I should dress for next.

I printed the new insert and she folded and filled it. What a life saver!! I'm beginning to really like these kits. Made my life a little easier when my kid was trying to make it harder. Here are the contents she put inside.

Here's a download with the name space left blank. I've added a few direction with the measurements so that you can print it off with your own name if you want. Hope the idea comes in as handy for you as it has me.

So many performers that they had to line up on the outer ring of the audience. Three of my kids were part of the group and it was a thrilling experience for them.

A dance tribute to the Joplin tornado rebuilders. Actual people who live there performed this one.

Again, just an awesome celebration that doesn't come along very often.