last night.

i truly do not know where to begin to tell you about last night. i've been sitting here looking at the blank screen for 15 minutes, because i can't figure out how to capture the excitement.

(photo courtesy of ms. mommycoddle)

so i'll share a few tidbits, and let molly's and jennifer's pictures tell the rest. (note to self - don't even bother bringing your camera to your own opening. and don't worry that you didn't take any pictures, as long as you invited your flickr friends.)

(photo courtesy of ms. mommycoddle)

first of all, i truly felt like all of you were there with me last night. molly and jennifer were there, of course. and i was wearing martha's wrap. (which is stunning and felt amazing and i love it and can't wait to wear it again. maybe tonight to the 3rd grade play. do you think that's too much!?) and erin had seen all of the work before it went for framing and hanging. and when i walked into the gallery last night, there were those pretty orange flowers (the ones you see in the photo up there) waiting for me from alicia, and heather, and rachel. i mean really. it was as if you all were there. and that was so special.

(photos courtesy of ms. mama urchin)

second of all, the gallery looks wonderful. they did a spectacular job with the framing and the hanging - neither of which i had anything to do with, but they really made my paintings look good.

third, there were so many people! family and friends and people i didn't know and other artists (who so kindly introduced themselves to me). and the weather was beautiful. and the doors to the gallery were open to the courtyard outside. and there was wine. and there were brownies (i couldn't help it). and the atmosphere felt so festive.

i really was a bit nervous going into last night - not knowing how i'd feel, standing there among family and friends and strangers with my paintings hanging on the wall. but it turned out to be terrific fun. really, terrific fun.

and then this morning. i got up and took the kids to school and ate breakfast and packed up my car and went out to paint at a very special farm. the weather is perfect again. and it felt so good to have my hands in the mess of painting again. so good.

so there you go, in a nutshell. you can see all of the work that's hanging in the show in my flickrset. and you can contact the gallery directly to inquire about pricing or purchasing.

and one last thing. thank you. all of you. really. for your feedback and encouragement and friendship and support of me and my painting over these last months. really. thank you.

Comments

[Grace]

Congratulations, Em! Even though I wasn't there physically, even though I didn't send flowers, I was thinking about you and there with you in spirit. And I felt a little special, too, knowing that you shared this dream with me so long ago.

Congratulations. It looks so beautiful to see it all hanging there!! Oh my goodness!

[Sarah Jane]

What a fantastic evening! Beautiful!

[Vanessa]

Congrats It looks lovely and I am sure it is 100-million times better in person.

:)

[julia]

mazel tov!! everything looks so lovely. glad to hear it went well. big hugs!

[Mama Urchin]

It was wonderful to share in the moment with you. Everything was just lovely. Totally worth the trip!

[ani]

so happy for you! i wouldn't be able to choose; they are all so lovely.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Looks great! Amazing work. I'm so happy for you!

[Louise]

This is an awesome accomplishment. Congratulations!

[Ali]

I can feel your glow all the way from here. And it makes me smile.

[Sarah Jackson]

I'm sending a warm, congratulatory hug. It looks so beautiful and important hanging there. I hope someday I'll be able to buy one and hang it on my wall.

[erin]

i think i see red dots!!! do i?{and i am so proud of you, for saying it and then doing it. well done, friend.}

[Allison]

How tremendously exciting! congratulations. :)

[martha]

so so happy for you:) I was thinking about you all night.the paintings look so good all together.congratulations.

[Kerri]

You're paintings are glorious! I especially love the one in the last photo. The red in it delights me :)

[luckybeans]

Wow. Beautiful, Emily. The birth of the creative process, adn so very much to be proud of. I so wish I could have been there, too.

[sandy]

Congratulations Emily! It sounds like it was a wonderful evening. We're sorry we couldn't be there.

[Barb]

Congrats on a beautiful show! I live near Solomons but am going to try to get myself up to Lutherville to see it in person. I have been enjoying Habit all year, and happened to click over to your blog at just the right moment. So inspiring! :)

[shari]

i'm just so excited for you emily. sounds like a wonderful evening.

[Hannah]

Emily, I'm so very excited for you! This was a huge step and everything is so ok lovely. Congratulations are definitely in order. Well done!!

[amisha]

everything looks so, so good emily! what a perfect night.xox