So I did it. I took the plunge and put in my resignation in at school.
Happy dances!!!
Yes, Darth Vader lords over all the happenings in The Handmade Classroom.
Well, happy that I will be now embarking on the adventure of supporting myself with my art. Yes, folks, this will be my last week of having only the blurry-eyed, wee hours of the morning for work in THC, and conforming to a schedule someone else makes for me! WOOOOOO!
Sad, though, that I will be leaving a building full of inspiring people behind, as well as a class of twenty children whose lives I’ve played a little part in as their Pre-K teacher. But I’m already planning awesome art activities for them for when I go visit.
Breaking free, living the dream…the one where you live week to week, not knowing if you’re going to be able to pay rent (which I’m lucky enough not to have to pay at the moment)…literally making a living with my own two hands. I really can’t describe how it feels. I’m a little nervous. I’m a lot excited. I’m ready to work hard and look people dead in the eye when they ask “what do you do?” and say “I’m an artist. I have my own business. I make everything with my own two hands. I believe 100% in what I am offering to the world.”
There will be a multitude of new things happening…including my most recent move toward all eco-friendly packaging and a NEW STUDIO!! Don’t worry, you’ll be kept well in the loop with photos and the usual long-winded commentary!
There will also be lots and lots new creations in all forms rolling off my table.
New pomegranate tree in progress.
New strawberry patch in progress.
A character from one of my favorite folk songs…it’s a surprise!
But The Handmade Classroom will still remain…itself. A place of learning and imagination, where old stories are told in new ways.
On this auspicious occasion, what do I do? Make a mix CD of course. It will accompany me on my car rides to and from work on my last 5 days of having a ‘real’ job.
The theme of this collection, if anything, is passion. And perhaps the notion of breaking free; passion for what you believe in, shown in whatever way seems best and most effective to you, while breaking free of the confines of what people around you may find ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable.’ Some are protest songs against war and social injustice, others are simply snapshots of the world at the time they were written. Either way, they are inspired and inspiring pieces of writing…and I thought I would share them with you.
- Lay Down – Mott the Hoople
- What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
- The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
- Ship in the Sky – Woody Guthrie
- For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
- Hurricane – Bob Dylan
- Woman King – Iron & Wine
- Power to the People – John Lennon
- I Shall Be Released (Live) – Joan Baez
- If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out – Cat Stevens
- My Back Pages (Live) – Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Roger McGuinn
Check out this video of the performance live at Madison Square Garden in 1992 (a classic for rock fans, and completely old news…but it still makes me smile!)
12. Sky Pilot – Eric Burdon & The Animals
13. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Simon and Garfunkel
14. Lost Woman Song – Ani DiFranco
15. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
16. Cliquot – Beirut
16. A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
17. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
Mmmm…this is a good one! It makes me want to take a drive tomorrow somewhere just to listen to it. But I won’t. Not when there are so many things make for the lovely folks who continue to graciously support The Handmade Classroom. Cheers, as always!
Handmade by Aly Parrott 