Art has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I think that interest is a direct result of being surrounded by my paternal grandmother's paintings growing up. She was a classically trained artist in the impressionist style who studied in Philadelphia and abroad. Her son, my father, was a television producer and director in New York while active in regional theatre.
He designed and built sets for many productions staged in Bucks County. In addition, he inherited the editorship of J. Gruber's Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack [www.almanack.com] from his mother as a direct descendant of the founder, John Gruber. His line drawings complimented the woodcuts that illustrated the page tops of that publication. 
was equally artistic which became evident when I came across a portfolio of pencil drawings completed in January, 1878 by both maternal great-grandparents. So it would appear that I have artists on both sides of the family whose talents have filtered down to my generation: My sister is a teacher of needlework with ANG and EGA chapters in Virginia. One brother is now the editor of that publication listed above. Another brother has designed sets, lighting and sound boards for productions in both Pennsylvania and Atlanta, Georgia.
As for your correspondent, in school, I must have taken every art course offered. Drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. in the hopes of emulating these prodigious predecessors. While these interests persist, paints, clay and chalks were put aside in favor of other artistic ventures. These new pursuits included many of the needle arts such as knitting, sewing, needlepoint, blackwork and counted cross stitch, all of which were easy to pick up and put down without the need for a special space. New art forms are always looming in the background and periodically take the lead. One point of interest is precious metal clay, but more on that another time.
For now...well stay tuned...
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