A Dream is a Wish the Heart Makes

While Katie was here 2 weeks ago I showed her my bucket list that I had written in my journal. It isn't a long list and one of the entries is not skydiving (I did that in my 20's when I was crazy.) No. The entry above is part of the list. Katie and I shared our dreams and agreed that doing these things sounded incredible - a very, very long shot - that we needed none of these things to be happy and complete. And that was and is true.

But then while I was dreaming onward after Katie's departure a small miracle happened on her end. Oh, she has some magic up her sleeve, that one has. She twirled her little wand and shared with me that Kristin and Bill Steiner had invited her to teach in Italy. "OMG", I screamed as I read the email. "Now I get to go to Italy and take your class! We get to go to Italy just like we talked about!". I was on cloud 9. What could be better than going to Italy and taking a class from Katie in that wonderful setting? What indeed.

So then Katie wrote, "I think you should e-mail Kristin. I think she may ask you to teach too." And now the punch line. Katie and I will be teaching concurrently from Sept. 20-26, 2009 in Orvieto, Italy. We will teach in separate classrooms but the little wine tours and extra-curricular activities will be combined in most instances so that all of us, all of us together, will get to study, play, laugh, visit and have the dreamiest time together in this beautiful setting. I'm so excited I can hardly breathe and my good man John will be there too admiring all the vegetables in the market place and trying out his rough Italian on the locals.

There will be more information in the future but just to put a bug in your ear; the classes will be small and personal. We are staying in an old convent. We will live our dream - and maybe you'll want to come along!

Busy Hands Happy Heart

A couple of friends arrived this morning just as I was putting the finishing touches on this 18" x 24" canvas. We discussed making books and women entrepreneurs among other things. I've always joked that women are the egg counters in any family (John says the reason chickens are so happy is because they can't count their eggs) - women are detail oriented as well as incredibly good at business (okay, that's a generalization but I believe it). There is a great deal of organizing going on in Portland among women in the business of art and a new Yahoo group that you can join if you are interested called bizladiespdx. Word.

I distracted myself. The painting. Here is a detail. I used FolkArt Papier Glass Finish over the clouds. I'm liking the glass finish against the matte paint.

Embedded mica into the skirt area of the dancer. Just sprinkled it into a thick layer of gel medium.

It's a simple story as old as time. Loving makes us happy; makes the fear and sadness of life less important. I hope your heart is open to it in all its many permutations. Under the skin we are all very similar. Similar to other humans as well as all the birds and animals that also express affection and concern for each other. Isn't it an astonishing world we inhabit, bound together by love? Each one of us a manifestation of that care and nurturing we've been given. It gives me goosebumps.

No Time For Daffodils

I've gotten outside 3 times this week to prune and work in the flower beds. I feel wonderful about that. The daffodils are open here and the buds are swelling on the flowering plum which will open in a matter of days. I'll send you some flower love soon but I'm swamped by all the things I've signed on to. I'm just a girl who can't say no.

I've cut some stencils, made more class samples and resisted signing up for a workshop I want to take (so far I've resisted) because I really shouldn't make any more play time for myself. But in the spirit of procrastination, I'm taking the time to post my latest journal pages. It just makes me so happy to share. And I get more done when I'm happy.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. heeee.

Plaster Book

Stephanie asked me to post my plaster book when I got it done. Well, I'm not sure it's done; I may add a binding onto the cover and some other gee-gaws yet, but it's done to the point of sharing the pages so here we go.

This is the opening page of the book. Watercolor, PVA glue (clear) and wood glue (yellow). With the glue I was going for a wax look without using wax. Of course wax would be fine to use on plaster too but you gotta experiment. Each page is 7 x 8".

And now we'll proceed through the pages. Instead of puncturing the plaster pages, I sewed through the canvas and then looped the linen thread around each wire that passes through the spine of each folded page at top and bottom. Collage and acrylic on plaster.

The page on the left is sumi ink, collage and watercolor. On the right is a foam stamp and StazOn black ink on plaster with watercolor and acrylic. Lots of sanding.

Acrylic paint and masking tape to lift off the surface of the paint and some Fresco Flakes from Stewart Gill. You can make fresco flakes too by painting on waxed paper and then peeling the paint off when it is dry. I dream in fresco, in plaster, in sun washed shades of ochre.

The bye-bee again (can you say "Dingos ate my bye-bee"?) and a stencil of the running french juggler I snagged off Leighanna's blog.

From Australia we travel to the Far East. Honestly, where was my head while I was making all of this? I like the page on the right because it looks like those worn plaster walls in Mexico that are painted a different color halfway up. Mexicans have the best house paint colors in the world. Okay, Mexico and Italy. I've been thinking a LOT about Italy lately.

And thus ends the plaster book. My clever friend Emma had the great idea of making a plaster shrine out of the same material; approaching it as you would paper mache which you already know I love. So now I have that twirling around in my head too. It's getting very busy up there - ha ha! That's it for now. (kiss-kiss) Your turn to make something and show me now.

RAEvN's Nest Art Retreat

Another new retreat this year is RAEvN's Nest in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, hosted by Kim Rae Nugent. This retreat will be held October 16-19 and the sign-ups begin on March 1st although to get the classes of your choice guaranteed you should have your registration postmarked on that day. I am teaching three classes; encaustic collage (samples above), the Artful Journal, and a business class for those of you ready to take flight and sell your work.

The town of Cedarburg is old and lovely; we will be staying at the historic Washington House and the Stagecoach Inn. I have a friend with close ties to this town and she speaks of it with great affection. She says it is lovely, with an old-world gentleness. Never having been to Wisconsin, but hearing such glowing things about the area from my friend, I jumped at the opportunity to travel here to teach.

Of course I've said many times how much I love teaching the journaling class. My journal is the engine that drives all my dreams in life. To live consciously, kindly, with a mission to help others who aspire to living a life of joy. Right livelihood, clear relationships, choosing a path of wisdom. Making visible what lies within the heart. It is so healthful to express our dreams and to make them manifest in a work of art.

Over many years I've gained useful business experience. I'm taking a workshop on grant writing in March so that I can add that to my business class. I want to be able to help others have a life of making art if that is what they are set on doing. Although I have never applied for a grant myself that is one way artists finance their work. We'll talk!!

Regular programming to resume in the next post. It is also Art Unraveled sign-up time for Phoenix in August but that is an established retreat that you probably already know about. If not, there is a link up there to the right where you can read about the classes I'm teaching there. And I have more exciting news brewing here too. I'll be working on that today. Thanks for stopping by.

Squam Art Workshops

"Expressive Faces in Mixed Media" - one class I'll be teaching at Squam Art Workshops.

In September of this year I'll be teaching at a brand new venue in Holderness, New Hampshire. I met Elizabeth of Blue Poppy blog at Artfest several years ago and we made indelible impressions on each other. That was the first year I stayed in the dorm with private rooms; I remember glimpsing into Nina's room across the hall and seeing the netting and twinkle lights she'd hung around her window with a view of the water beyond. I would hear Nina's soft voice in the hallway as her friends greeted her, soft murmurings instantly recognizable. Elizabeth had the room next to mine; Carla was also in our area and we stayed up late one night exchanging stories. It was magic.

"A Page in the Life: the Mixed Media Journal" - this is the cover of the workbook handout for the other class I'll be teaching at Squam Art Workshops.

Now Elizabeth has created this new event and happily has invited me to be one of the teachers there. I am in amazing company with Misty, Nina, and a host of well-known others including Grace Bonney of Design Sponge who will be giving our keynote address on Wednesday night.

I've included some of the photographs of the Rockywold-Deephaven Camp for you to study. It looks to be a wonderful place to spend a few days at in September, don't you think?

There'll be canoeing on the lake, wonderful meals, a carefree time to study with artists, writers, crafters and more. Andrea Scher, Penelope Dullaghan, so many of my blog heros will be teaching.




It will be an amazing journey and I couldn't be more excited. This is my year of new discoveries; friendships, places, stretching myself further than ever before. If you feel like opening the door to new experiences and amazing networking, please consider joining me and the others. Now go here and check out the website and the terrific lineup of instructors. Tell me if it doesn't sound awesome.

The Visitation

This weekend erased the last vestiges of winter gloom. My good girl Katie loaded up her car with art supplies, food and jammies and drove down for a weekend visit. She made me the apron in the photograph above and she brought warm weather, spring and the joyful vibration of her kind spirit with her. It is a sort of wonder, I think, the way a well-loved friend can comfort your soul. And so we had a time out of time.

We started on Friday night with the IEA meeting at Amy Stoner's house. We share a 'no-guilt' potluck before each meeting and this one included 2 kinds valentine cupcakes. I couldn't choose so I ate both.

After an enthusiastic discussion, the dozen of us trooped downstairs into Amy's studio and I did a demonstration of a shellac technique with torch and hot wax. We only ignited the shellac once and put the little flare up out quickly. Much laughter. (I hope Amy's husband isn't reading this!)

Everyone who wanted to got to try out the technique. This is Katie having a go.

On Saturday we grabbed a latte and headed over to Diane's studio for Stephanie Lee's Plaster workshop. Although I took over 70 photos I am going to keep this short; only to tell you that a small class at Diane's studio (classes limited to 10 or less) is the most personal instruction and fun you will ever get. I sat right next to Stephanie and soaked up all her fabulousness for the entire day. We had the best group of plasterers you could ask for, the food was wonderful as always with snacks and hot beverages all day long. Here is one of many things I made.

I know - it's as ugly as a skunk but I never laughed harder and for that reason I 'll never be able to look at it without remembering all the joy bound up in it's making. Katie brought the hand door knocker that we used for casting - I had wooden numbers and the picture frame was from a small metal object. I brought the collage elements (photo of my mother). I call it the cake.

We also made plaster book pages. This is one of mine. I'll show it to you bound with the others once they are cured and finished.

Of course there was an after-party party at the local party place. Duelling cameras and all of that. The others will post photos too but these are my favorites. Diane and I above; isn't she a cutie?

Sue Hadden, Katie and Stephanie. We talked art, babies, husbands, life, friends, future plans, hopes, dreams, wishes. Just like the sewing bees of a century ago, the gals like to get together and let loose. There is a spiritual aspect to so much laughter and friendship. It is good.

I only had one of these bad boys so don't go thinking I'm a lush. I'm pumped now to work and play and share with you. I'll get caught up one of these days. Thanks for stopping by.

My Latest Big Thing

Breaking news: the sun comes out in Portland!! So welcome to my studio - today we'll be going over the new trick I learned at my last IEA meeting that I've been applying to every thin piece of art in my studio. You know, those beautiful works lying around that you did on 1/8" plywood or matboard. You wonder how to hang it. You dont want to mess with glass and frames but you want something a little more appealing than a pin in the wall. So here's where my latest big thing comes in.

Raid the wood shop for some strips of scrap. Grab your sweet little japanese saw (or whatever you have) and cut two pieces approximately the same size. Now put a screw eye in each one as shown in the photo above. Dont wire it yet. We'll use that yellow colored wood glue to glue the strips to the back of the art first. Let it dry overnight. The material in the picture above is matboard on which was a lovely painting but the matboard had warped. So the wood also flattened the mat.

Here is the same piece hanging on the wall after a wire was attached. See how the piece hangs out from the wall forming an intriguing shadow on the wall? Do I love this? You bet I do! And you can do it too with simple tools and a little bit of forehead wrinkling. (Both paintings by Misty Mawn.)

I leave you with another journal page. I bought new stencils this week and have come up with a spray box so the house can stay the color it is. I broke down and made up a bucket list. (Should I add Burning Man? There's still room.)

And thank you to Maralena for giving me the "You Make My Day" award. She has a very good blog that you will want to check out and I'm honored she thought of me for this award. I hope there is something to bring each of you a little joy today. It's there, just look for it and give thanks when it appears. It will deepen your well of pleasure. Happy Heart Day.

A Passion for Plaster

On Saturday I'll be taking a class from Stephanie Lee and we'll be making things with plaster. I can hardly remember a time when I was not in love with the material. Maybe growing up in Arizona in a small stucco house sensitized me to the beauty of trowelled, textured walls. Maybe seeing a similar effect on the ochre, sunstruck walls in Italy reinforced that love. Certainly I remember dreams where I am walking down narrow alleys with plaster walls on either side of me; walls glowing with saturated color, modulations of caramel and butter against an azure sky. And then there are frescos with their dry surface; the work of Marcia Meyers. Although I have done a lot of experimentation on my own I know I will learn new things in this workshop. I know because I have taken a workshop from Stephanie before and in following her work I see she is a curious artist who always searches for and finds new ways of using her materials. So I am very excited.

As if that weren't enough reason to be excited, dear Katie is coming down to stay with me and take the workshop too. If you live near Portland I think there may still be room to join us. We'll be the ones with huge smiles and plaster on our aprons. You can read all about it at the Innerstandings website. Of course your girl reporter will be there with her camera.

Saturday Scribblings

The SUN came out today - convertable weather and to celebrate I did some spraying, stencil cutting and playing in my journal. I can't stop looking at websites that feature fonts and calligraphy; studying the shapes and character of letters and how they work on the page. So that's what I played with today.

I bought a new stencil cutter and used it to cut this stencil but burning plastic fumes is not something I'm very comfortable with. Why doesn't anyone consider the artist's health when they come up with these things? I love my exacto but felt like I should have experience with the gizmo since I'm teaching a stencilling class. Do you other stencil artists like them or do you use the exacto?

Look what was in my mailbox yesterday. This is from a lovely woman who I've met online. She is a wonderful artist whose work you can see here; we befriended a couple of months ago when I found her blog and through her words, immediately felt drawn to her. It must be something in the water here (she is a Portlander too); we have the nicest people in this town. Such a beautifully wrapped gift that it was difficult to unwrap it.

Look. How did she know? That I'm a Pisces, love things relating to the sea, especially shells, the iridescence of seaglass and the perfect copper nest sheltered within. How beautiful and appropriate. Thank you, Allegra. I do love it.

Now go to Allegra's blog right now and look at the unbelievably gorgeous vintage czech glass and amethyst wire lace necklace that she is giving away as part of the One Heart One World celebration. (Feb. 6th entry). Oh my, someone is going to be very, very happy. I think you're going to want to leave a comment.

This is the finished page that I shared in an earlier post. I had the best time this last week visiting with my sisters in my imagination as I worked on these pages. I love to entertain myself, to drift away on a cloud of imagination, to fill the hours with dreams and creativity.