KEEPING AT IT...

 

Oh my goodness!  I was so busy creating last week that I did not stop to chat with all of you.  Shame on me!  Deep down, I am sure you forgive me, as you know how time flies when you are having fun (or how easily I am pulled into little art adventures)! 

I had a great opportunity to teach my first art class last week.  Remember when I told all of you that napkin collage is a new addiction of mine?  Well, I did my best to recruit a few more people.  I taught the collage process to 4 wonderful ladies that were very good sports and they all did a wonderful job!  All fabulous, don’t you think?  And Meredyth was having so much fun that she continued on, with a frame she brought with her!  So I do believe I succeeded in my mission of sharing this new addiction.  I do have a few more ‘naked’ birds waiting for the next class to create their masterpieces.

Can you believe they all started with the same set of napkins?  How cool is that!  

From back to front, Meredyth (2), Sue, Jane and Elayne's.

I really did enjoyed teaching this little class.  I hope to do more classes like these.  I have already found another fun project to teach and have purchased the materials in preparation for the next little class with this fun group.  I hope they will LOVE this next one too!

Last week discovered a wonderful little art studio just outside Jackson, MI called USArtQuest.  All because I started working with the napkin collage and they created the PPA adhesive that I use.  Not only do they sell great supplies, they also teach classes.  I thought I would try them out.  Nancy and I headed down last week for a collage painting class with Susan Pickering Rothamel.  What a delight!  We laughed, created and learned a few new techniques.  In a short 4-1/2 hour class we painted and collaged a landscape.  Can you imagine a better day?  If you are out this way and want a fun little detour for your day, I would highly recommend the classes here.  I will be back for her class next month… maybe I will see you there?

The tops and edges of the mountains are different papers adhered and painted over and the small parts that look like flowers are mica chips and prills.   

It needs a bit more work, but a pretty decent start for my first collage painting.

I am a bit on overload in my little art world currently, with 3 weddings in June.  I am working on creative gifts for all three, in addition to updating a wedding cake topper and making an acrylic mixed media book, I want to create a fun new necklace to coordinate with my dress for the wedding in 2 weeks.  You might ask why, but then you realize, it is just how I am wired.  Oh, I am not complaining, because I LOVE creating.  Just stressing on getting it all done.

I have gathered up some wonderful little beads and charms to create this new necklace to go with my dress for the family wedding.  It is quite a fun, larger than necessary, pile of fabulous little trinkets just begging to be a part of the new creation.  I am hoping this funky necklace adds that little sparkle of fun that will complete my outfit for the wedding.  I really need to get moving on this and start assembling!  Did I mention it needs to be done in less than 2 weeks!  Oh my.

I did managed to squish in Mega Meet (a scrapbooking convention) in Detroit, MI, about 2 weeks ago, what a great place to gather fun supplies for the mixed media books and lots of great pieces for an acrylic book that I am working on.  It has just been go, go, go with all different art mediums.  What a a fun couple weeks learning and trying new things!

Remember to keep working on your art and exploring new ideas.  You might just find something new and creative that keeps you excited!  =-)

REFRESH YOUR ARTISTIC SPIRIT

What a fun, inspiring extended weekend we had in Kentucky! It was wonderful, having been so busy these past few months, to take a break and refresh my creative spirit.  Our schedules today are pretty hectic and it is important that we all stop at some point in our lives and refresh ourselves, whether it is for our art or just our inner souls.  My favorite part of any little vacation is to go on a hunt to take in the local art.  This provides two things for me; one, that I can hopefully bring a piece of it back home to admire and remember the little adventure; and two, spark those creative juices in my soul to come back and work on my art with a renewed passion.  Seeing the art that others are doing, has a way of ‘pushing you’ to take more risks with your art.  It is always wonderful to admire all the hard work of these talented artists.  That is just what Nancy and I did.  

  

Outside art in Berea

Berea, KY was quite delightful.  We spent the day admiring all the wonderful work the artists in this darling city were up to.  We walked from one handmade shop to the next.  Between the college students and the local artists, there was inspiration wherever you looked.  Whether wood, metal, glass or fabric the pieces were beautiful and creative.  When I walked into these shops and studios, my mind wandered and my spirit lifted.  They put their little ‘twist’ on many common items from whisk brooms that had a little flare and a lot of color, to amazing inlaid art for your walls and everything in between.  The people of the town were very engaging and loved to share their passion for what they were doing.  We had fun little chats with store keepers and an impromptu tour of the Gastineau Studio workshop to see how he designs and forms his beautiful metal jewelry and pewter pieces.  

Because this town is also very focused on recycling as well, they had what was called poopoo paper!  What a hoot!  It is exactly what you are thinking.  They recycle it all!  It was a wonderful day filled with art, laughs and lots of fresh air!

 

Then onto Rocky Hill, KY to spend 2 days using our hands and refreshing our skills at paper crafting.

Within the countryside of Rocky Hill, KY is a beautiful B&B and art retreat called PK Glitz.  They specialize in glitter and embossing powders.  In our small, focused little group we refreshed our techniques and built upon them.  As is the tradition at PK Glitz, a few of us headed to the train tracks with our pennies to create a few of our own souvenirs from PK Glitz!  Our final project was this cute little recipe book.  Janelle gave us a few of the B&B recipes to start off the book with.  I may need to try these on a few family and friends.  What I love about Janelle’s classes is that we explore ideas and she allows us to add our own twist to the projects.  She provides the basics to get us started and we add our own little flare.  We all share ideas and it is fun to see where everyone takes it.

  

My wonderful little escape to Kentucky has come to an end, but the gracious spirit of Kentucky will be with me for some time.  The people we met could not have been nicer and more engaging and the art was very inspirational.  I come back to my studio ready to create!  Now it is your turn to refresh your spirit! ;-)