Artsy Pajama Party #2, convention-style! *edited*

When the "artsy pajamas" first became a "thing", I collected photos of a whole bunch of us crazy art teachers modeling the pj's, and I posted about this first "Artsy Pajama Party" here.  And I thought I was done with  pajama pics.  But then, at the recent NAEA convention in Chicago, I was approached and asked "When are we having a pajama party photo shoot?"  My original response was "never", because I wasn't sure I wanted to be seen in public wearing pajamas that, even after cutting off a couple of inches and then hemming them up about 3 more inches, were still way too long and had to be rolled up at the waist.  (Were these pajamas designed to be worn with stilletos??  I know I'm short, but, really????)

But then some other people asked, so I thought "What the heck; just do it!"  I figured we'd all meet in the lobby, in front of the elevators, so we didn't have to walk far in our jammies on our own.  These first two pics are a spontaneous arrangement in front of the elevators.  The gal with her hands in the air is the person who first asked me when we were going to take a photo.  Thanks for the inspiration, Nancy!

Then we proceeded en masse to the "grand staircase" in the lobby, for a bunch more "posed" photos.  I should note that, the night before the photo shoot, I inadvertently dropped my camera outside an Irish pub, and didn't notice it was missing until almost  midnight, when they were about to close, and we were in the hotel room ready for sleep.  Thankfully, it had been found by a nice patron and was returned to the pub the next evening, where I picked it up, just shortly before the scheduled time for pajama pictures!  I had spent the whole day at the convention without the camera.  I am never without it so it was an enormous relief to know it had been found.  It was a bit of a challenge to rescue the camera, because it was ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN AN IRISH PUB.  A wee bit hectic, as I'm sure you can imagine...... 

 A friend volunteered to take the photos (so I could be in them), but with the camera missing until the last moment, I had no time to show her how to use the camera to get the best pictures.  Nevertheless, I think she did a great job, especially in poor light conditions!  Thank you, Steph!  By the way, if you don't already know, I'm the person with the silver and blue hair, posing with hands on hip above.  Contrapposto pose, pehaps?

 I had also invited the NAEA photographer to come and take more "professional" photos of the pajama party, and he said he would.  But at this point, he hadn't shown up and it was getting late, so we gave up waiting for him and took all these pictures with my little camera.  

 We tried to get some photos from above, too! 

I don't know if you can tell from these photos, but it was a very interesting collection of shoes and other embellishments that people chose to wear with their jammies, from scarves and jewelry to boots and flip-flops, the choices definitely reflect the fun group of people.

At this point we had totally given up on the professional photographer, and took a few more pics of our own.  Mostly, we laughed.  A LOT.  As you can see by all the smiling faces.

  I should note that while I sit here typing this post, I am actually wearing my artsy pj's!! 

 Finally, the group started to disperse.  And then, when half of the participants had left to go to bed, a few stragglers showed up.  And so did the photographer, about 15 minutes late!!  So he lined us up cascading down the stairs, he gathered us around the piano, and so on.  I'm glad he showed up, because it is a slightly different group of people in his photos, and my friend who was using my camera had already left for bed, so I have no images of the late arrivals.  He took a bunch of photos.  The best of them are on the NAEA website, in the "miscellaneous" category of Thursday convention photos.  They are copyrighted images, so I don't dare use them here without permission.  But hopefully this link will take you to the pics taken by the NAEA photographer.

By the way - I almost forgot one "late" pajama party arrival!  Check out these two photos below, expertly edited by the fabulous Tricia Fuglestad to add the latecomer!  The "new arrival" at he photo session was none other than new-ish blogger Rebecca Dupree, who charmingly wrote about her "at home" version of the NAEA convention HERE.  Check out her other recent blog  posts, too.  She is sure to put a smile on your face, but also, along with the humor, you will find a lot of truth in what she has to say!  (Rebecca!  Look at yourself in these pics!  You seem to be taller than I remember!)

I wonder what we can do to top this bit of silliness at the convention in NYC next year!  We've got almost a year to come up with another fun idea!

It's an Artsy Pajama Party!! *edited*

Pop the popcorn, heat up the cocoa, open the wine, put on your bunny slippers and your favorite jewels, turn up the volume on some tunes, toss some pillows on the floor, and get out your most colorful nail polish, because we are having an artsy-fartsy art teacher pajama party, and you are invited!  Your age doesn't matter, all you need is a smile and some fabulous artsy PJ's!

So let me introduce you to everyone who has joined the party, starting with Jennifer Love Gironda, pictured above and below:

 It appears Jennifer might just be the life of the party!  Jennifer teaches at Lake Worth High School, in Lake Worth Florida, and she definitely knows how to accessorize for a pajama party!  As you look at the other photos in this post, you'll see lots of other fabulous choices for accessorizing.

By the way - if you are wondering about the pajamas everyone is wearing to the party, they are made by Nick and Nora and are for sale at Target, but this post is not any sort of promotion for the pajamas or for Target.  But, they ARE fabulous pj's!  They are silky soft comfy and roomy, and covered with images of lots of art supplies.  A photo of the pajamas was shared by someone on the Facebook Art Teachers group, and the next thing you know, dozens of art teachers all over the country were running to Target or going online to buy their own pair!  (There's also a really cute pinkish design with sewing supplies pictured, and another design with sock monkeys.)  Anyhow, I thought a pajama party sounded like fun, but since it's pretty hard to physically get us all together, we are having a cyber-pajama party instead!

Some fellow bloggers are among the virtual pajama party attendees, starting with this cutie above, Kelsey Lapin.  Look at her infectious smile (and fabulous red earrings); I want to be in her class! Kelsey teaches K-4 in DeForest, Wisconsin, and blogs at The Artsy Fartsy Art Room. 

Next is Marcia Beckett, above, a long-time blogger friend who teaches K-6 art in a small private school in Wisconsin.  Since they are both from Wisconsin, I wonder if she and Kelsey know each other?  Marcia's art education blog is called Art is Basic, and she also has a personal art blog that you can find here.  It looks like one of her adorable kids is photobombing her picture!

Above is blogger Beth Carter.  I've followed her terrific blog, It's Art Day for a long time, and found lots of great ideas there.  Check it out!

Sheryl Depp is a newer blogger that I met in New Orleans last spring.  We share the same maiden name, so I think perhaps we are secretly related somehow!  She teaches elementary art k-5 at Shady Hills Elementary in Pasco County Florida, and blogs at Primarily Art with Mrs. Depp.

Theresa Gillespie tells me that she retired from the classroom after last school year. She taught over 20 years at the Elementary level and continues to a be a part of the Art Ed community as a graduate level instructor for The Art of Education, so she is now officially in Higher Education.  But I'm looking at this photo and can't imagine she's old enough to have taught for more than 20 years!  Art teaching obviously agrees with her.  She blogs at Art With Mrs. G!.

Some of the pajama party attendees brought a companion:

 Christina Yocca teaches K-5 at Sherman Elementary in Eau Claire, WI, and brought her husband!  He may not be wearing pajamas, but in that fabulous suit, he certainly will fit in just fine with all of us crazy jammie-wearing art teachers!

And  then there's the pets -

On the left above is Dianna Burns, an elementary art teacher of about 20 years, who works in northern Illinois.  Looks like she brought some lovable canine companionship!
On the right is Claire Ross, an elementary art teacher to 530+ kids, who is snuggling with her cuddly ball of fur.  Looks comfy.

And the essential accessories - 

Heidi O'Hanley, on the left, certainly came jazzed up for the party, accessorizing her pj's with an arsty hair ornament!  Doesn't it look fabulous? Heidi teaches art to grades K-6 at Brodnicki Elementary in Justice, IL. And guess what!  She's another blogger! Heidi blogs at Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher. 
And Marla Kenney remembered to wear her bunny slippers!  Marla teaches at Hoover High School in Hoover AL, teaching Art 1, 3, 4, and AP Studio.  I'll bet the bunny slippers are nice and comfy after a busy day at school!

On the left above is Lisa Redditt, who has chosen to accessorize with a beverage.  Lisa teaches K-5 art in Mount Juliet TN, and tells me that this picture was taken after a LONG day - she had taken 120 third graders on a field trip to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Art Museum in Nashville, TN.  I think I'll put Lisa in charge of bringing the party beverages!

Pictured on the right is Holly Uecker-Herman, who is definitely bringing some fun to the party!  Holly is from Comstock Park, Michigan, where she teach young 5's-5th grade.

Look!  A man has joined us for the pajama party! (I wonder how he'll feel about the nail polish activity?)  This is Mr. Lynn Smith, who is a Visual Arts Specialist for 9th - 12th grade at Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School in Little Rock AR.  Lynn teaches Drawing 2 & 3, Painting 2, and Advanced Placement 2-D Design.  I think he totally rocks his artsy pajamas! In this pic he's just trying them on in the store (pretty gutsy, I think!), but he actually did buy them!  I wonder what his high school students would say?

Is it my imagination, or do these two gals above look like they could be twins?  Laurie (left, above) teaches high school (grades 9-12) on Long Island, NY.  Lindsey Foushee (right) teaches at Zebulon Gifted & Talented Magnet Middle in Wake County, NC.   

On the left is M. DeBolt, who teaches grades K-6 in Illinois, and on the right is Linda Schmale.  Another set of look-alikes, I think!

 On the left above is Heather D., who teaches preK-8th Grade art in Antioch, IL. It seems a lot of Illinois teachers have gotten these jammies, in preparation for a chilly windy winter!  If you like interesting statistics, count how many Illinois teachers have participated in this pajama party!

On the right is Kimberly, who teaches Visual Art in Chicago.  Since the NAEA convention is in Chicago this spring, maybe I'll get to meet these two ladies!

Carolina Arroyave (left) teaches K-8 art at Pulaski International School of Chicago in Chicago, IL. (Yup, yet another from Illinios.)  I'd be interested to hear more about her school.  If she's going to be at the NAEA convention this spring, we should definitely look for those bright brown eyes.   
Melissa Durel-Porter (right) runs a kids creative arts center called The Big Red Barn in Ponchatoula, LA. She says "it's not big, it's not red, and it's not a barn- but it is a lot of fun!"  She teaches art to kids ages 3-12 and sewing to kids ages 8 and up.
I think these gals both look so young and enthusiastic!  I bet their art programs are wonderful; but are they really old enough to be teachers?!?

Hmmm another set of look-alikes?  On the left is Charlene Lear, a K-5 Art Teacher in Phoenix, AZ.  I think maybe it's been too hot there to wear the pj's very often.  But cooler weather is coming, right?

 Katie Malone-Smith, on the right, teaches grades 5-8 at Monument Valley Middle School in Great Barrington, MA.  I drove through that area a few days ago, and their autumn colors are spectacular right now.

Carol Haggerty, above, says "it's so great to be part of this crazy fun pj happening!"  Carol teaches both digital and studio art at Millis High School in Millis, MA.  She says that being in the greater Boston area, it's big on sports-pride, and her school often supports the teams with "wear your team pride" days...she imagines it feels a little like this.   I agree!  Carol says "Go Team Art Teacher!"  I wonder what's in her mug...

Jennifer Shelton(left)  teaches Visual Art to K-5 students at Oakland Elementary in Clarksville, TN.
Gail Borowski (right) is a K-8th grade art teacher at Plumbrook Elem, Utica Community Schools Immanuel Lutheran School, Macomb Michigan.  That's quite a mouthful!  Are those all separate schools, I wonder?

That's Kim Defibaugh on the left.  She said she was on her way to NJ for the AENJ conference on the ocean front in Long Branch.  She expressed concern about the storm and possible flooding.  I hope everything was OK!

On the right is Miss S. who teaches Art 6-8  in southeastern PA.  I'm absolutely amazed, as I post these photos, at how many of these gals look like they could be sisters. 

On the left is Dawn DeBaere.  She teaches K-5 in northern Virginia.  I'm curious what that interesting image on her phone is, and there's also some intriguing artwork on her wall behind her that I'm guessing might be hers, because I know she is a talented painter.
Alicia, on the right, says she teaches at Bloomington Junior High in Illinois.  She sure looks comfy!

Oh!  I almost forgot... here's me.  I am three years retired, after a total of 36 years teaching in public school, at all grade levels.  I spent the last 27 of those years in a rural school district in the lower Adirondacks of northeastern NY, where I taught elementary and some middle.  I now work with kids in my little private art enrichment business, and am active in my state Art Association.  I caught myself in a totally rare photo moment, because, while I'm wearing the jammies, I have no earrings on.  I own hundreds of earrings, so that NEVER happens!  I love my comfy new pj's, and am especially happy that a camera is included with all the art supplies pictured on them.  Of course there are some omissions... where is the papier-mache goo?!?  

Now - as with any party, there's always some latecomers.  So glad these folks below decided to join the party!!  There still may be a few more to show up...  let's save them some popcorn and a beverage!

I'm sure that Tamara Dawn Daughtry, above, doesn't lay down on the job, but she's definitely in the pajama spirit in this photo!  Tamara teaches at Satilla Marsh Elementary in Brunswick, Georgia. Doesn't she have a gorgeous head of hair? 

And this is Jessica Botello,  from San Marcos, Texas, where she teaches at San Marcos High School. This is her 7th year teaching art. She has two sections of Painting and Public Art (that sounds like an innovative class, doesn't it?), one section of Pre-AP Studio Art and Four sections of Art 1.  Busy girl!  She needs a pajama party!

Above is Susana Hargrave, who has been teaching 6-8th grade art at Indian Ridge Middle School in El Paso Texas for 18 years!  I love the greenery surrounding her in this photo.  Do you suppose she's wearing her jammies outdoors?

 Below, we've got a couple of latecomer Texas gals.  Wow, we've got a lot of Texans at this party!

On the left is Tracy Heath Evans, enjoying her pj's and hot tea in her favorite mug, a gift from a student.  Tracy teaches elementary art in Plano TX.
On the right is Donna Staten.  You might know her as the 'Pinterest Queen'!  Donna teaches K-5 art in Round Rock, TX.  I'm glad someone thought to bring a teddy bear to the party!  But the thing about Donna's photo that intrigues me most is the shoes she has chosen to wear with her jammies.  Donna is definitely stylin' with a pair of heels, instead of bedroom slippers!

This is Deyana Matt, middle school art teacher at Westfield Middle School in Bloomingdale, IL. She blogs at Mrs. Matt's Art Blog, which is one I've never seen before!  Deyana tells me that it might be a little outdated as her school district changed systems, so her blog was not accessible for many months - eeek!  But we can also see her Artsonia, which is up to date, here.  Deyana shared that she was  the Illinois Art Educator of the Year last year!  Belated congratulations, Deyana!

Look at this beautiful smiling face above!  This is Ashley Hammond, who teaches PK-5 at Munford Elementary School in Munford, TN.  She tells me that her students are always excited to see how she will dress up on themed days at school. She says "I won't let them down again this year! I can't wait for Pajama Day! :)"

Anyhow, I'm so glad you were all able to join me for my pajama party, and I hope you enjoyed meeting this happy-looking group of like-minded people!