 Hi, I'm Sandy Olnok, artist and paper crafter, and today I have a huge group hug and a gift for federal workers and contractors affected by the shutdown. This darling group hug stamp by Waffle Flower seemed perfect for today because it's National Hug Day. While you watch the coloring, I first want to let you know that there's a National Hug Day sale over at Ellen Hudson's, link in the doobly-doo. But what I really want to talk about is a little of my heart that I want to give as a gift to those who are undergoing the craziness of not getting paid right now during the shutdown. No matter who we all blame for it, the workers do not deserve to have their pay withheld or to be furloughed. And stay tuned, there's going to be treats for everyone else as well later in this video. I've been donating to groups that are supporting the workers. The biggest one for me is Chef Jose Andres Group, World Central Kitchen. Jose is completely and totally my hero. I love when people use their skills, money, and influence to help others. And Jose has been doing that. He's been providing meals to long lines of hungry folks. I've also been giving to food banks, go fund me's, and others as I find them and I urge you to do the same. Support your local food bank right now more than ever. But I wanted to find something else that I could offer as a thank you to these workers and support for them. They're hardworking people and while I can't cook for them and they wouldn't want me to, and I can't pay their rent, I can offer a little solace for the soul, a little bit of art. So from today until the day the paychecks start to arrive again, I'm offering my whimsical sketching online class for free to federal workers and contractors who are affected by the shutdown. It's a drawing class that you can do with whatever pencil, Sharpie or other pen you have, and a piece of paper of any kind. So there's no supplies to go purchase since you don't have any budget right now. Anyway, this class will be just perfect. The class shows you how to do some whimsical drawings that are relaxing and will hopefully help to keep your mind off your troubles for a little while. The stamps that I'm coloring right now reminded me of some of the fun pictures in class with lots of images in a single drawing. Now for everyone else, I'm also putting my other drawing classes on sale as a National Hug Week sale through next weekend. And as a heads up in February, I'm also going to be launching an intermediate class called Casting Shadows. And you just might want to take the drawing 101 class in advance of that if you want to learn realistic intermediate shading in that new class. Okay, for the federal workers, contractors and their spouses, here's how to get the free class. Number one, register for an account at art-classes.com if you haven't already. Number two, email me from the account email that you registered with or tell me what email you registered with so I can add the class to the right account. Number three, in your email, I need something to show that you're one of the affected folks. So you need to include a modified photo of either your government employee ID or your $0 pay stub. And when I say modified, what I mean is blackout personally identifying information like social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, account numbers. I do not want any of that information. I don't need it. And I don't want that photo hijacked in any way that would compromise your identity. And I just need a way to know that you're one of the affected folks. And as soon as I add the class to your account, I'm going to delete your email. So that will not be stored in any way by me. And number four, I will add the class to your account and email you to let you know that it's there. For everyone still watching this video, please do me a favor and share this video on your Facebook, your Twitter, your blog, wherever you share things. So the people in your circles of influence who are federal workers or contractors will hear about free art class and maybe be encouraged to take it. If you've taken the class before, share a picture of something that you have created in the class as well. So they can be encouraged that they too can dive into their own art. Don't forget that you can pick up the sale drawing classes using the links in the description on this video or over on my blog. Remember that this offer of a free sketching class is good until paychecks are released. I am hoping that that's really soon. Not for my sake, but for those in need. I'm praying that our leaders will reopen the government quickly and let you all get back to work and that they start to figure out how to be grownups in Washington D.C. You, the federal workers, the public servants of our nation are amazing for serving the rest of us the way that you do. And I want to say a hearty thank you to you and give you a great big virtual hug. If you enjoyed this video, please click that like button, share with your friends and family, and I'll see you guys another time.