Marti Dickey Ashby

[Marti Dickey Ashby]

I've never done a blog before. I didn't know what to title it, so I gave it my name hoping it'd be easy to find. Was it? I actually have an online blog plan in my future so this will be my first run at it.

I've started a new business! Not having anything close to a business background, it seems to be going in way too many directions at the moment. I would love for you to click on my FB page and then click "like." Is this allowed on here? If not, please disregard this (but do it anyway). ;)  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Purple-Flamingo-Studios/125718500916...

I haven't been painting for way too long. I finally began an oil painting yesterday. It's not all that great, but I loved the feel of applying the paint. It's one of the finest sensations. I've mostly been doing collage and encaustic in various ways including combined with photographs. If you do go to PFS's page, you can see some of my art work as well as my daughter's. She's amazing, says a totally objective mom. 

I hold workshops in my home studio. Daughter Erin and son Grant are very involved in helping me do this as well as branching out on their own creative paths. 

I'm really excited about our 50th reunion. It will be a lot of fun to reconnect with old friends, do the stroll, share a few cocktails, and laugh. I imagine the room will be full of laughter and stories. Thick with memories. 

So ... I'm still living in Salt Lake City. I'm divorced, live in a sweet little Victorian close to downtown. I moved my studio to my home and turned my cute little parlor into a place for making art and holding workshops. I want Purple Flamingo Studios to be an environment where people come to make art who have been convinced in the past they could never do it yet have wanted to. 

I have 3 amazing grandchildren. I love being with them more than just about anything. It's so much fun to see their individual personalities form. What's been absolutely the best is to observe my big sons be such tender fathers. And to see the personalities of these grandchildren evolve. They're so funny. Seriously funny.

I guess that's enough for now. 

Is this what a blog looks like?  :)