FUN at ART & SOUL - VIRGINIA

Tracie Lyn and I went to Virginia to teach at Art & Soul. What FUN we had and What a GREAT group- students and faculty!

This is an experience all its own. Having been to the east coast only a couple of times and never being in Virginia this was especially exciting. The hospitality of Art & Soul faculty and all participants was truly FABULOUS!
Tracie and I were humbled by the overwhelming FRIENDLINESS and GRATEFUL that several of the participants chose to spend a couple of days with us so we could share our projects with them. Each day we taught we had a TERRIFIC group where all were eager to learn and the room filled with FUN and LAUGHTER as they created BEAUTIFUL pieces of work.

As always Glenny and her staff were WONDERFUL! They met us with smiles and warm hugs! It was exciting to see everyone again! Jan Harris greeted us with a big smile and gave us the cutest bird pins. I immediately placed it on my name tag.

The night we arrived was vendor night and WOW what great creations! After being in total AWE of all the creative energy surrounding me I took a walk around the room to see everyone. There was so many BEAUTIFUL things that I was TOTALLY overwhelmed! Although I was exhausted from the flight and my office move that was completed the day before I left, I wanted to see everything there was to see. Since I wasn't vending Tracie told me I could go take a nap but it was WAY TOO EXCITING to do that! Instead, I stayed to help Tracie since she was vending.

Next to us was LK Ludwig and Bee Shay. Talk about two KIND and FRIENDLY ladies! Behind us was Sally Jean Alexander and her husband. Sally is also very SWEET and FRIENDLY. Keely Barham and her mom were there - Now I know where Keely gets her smile!


Isn't this bird ABSOLUTELY the CUTEST little thing. Keely made it and it's big eyes captured my heart! It begged me to take it home so, of course, I DID!

He now is nesting in my studio.








Lisa Engelbrecht was there and was all smiles as always. I so envy her and her talent! Isn't this piece of her work BEAUTIFUL!!!.


I LOVE it!!

After the vendor fair ended Tracie and I headed to our room to prepare for the class the next day.

The class was our Journal House. Here are some pics of the fabric the students made and a couple of houses.

















Aren't these BEAUTIFUL!!! We had a BLAST teaching and our students were simply the best!

The next morning we taught our "Nature Preserved Journal" This is a really fun class for us as we love showing the students how to use dried flowers in their work and also how to use fresh flowers right away in their creations. Again, another FABULOUS group of students!















After we finished the journals we showed them how to make bookmarks, tissue paper and stationery with the florals.



Everyone's creations were FANTASTIC!!!






Tracie and I were THRILLED when they each told us how happy they were that they took our class. They each especially LOVED all the different techniques we taught them and how they can use these techniques in most of their artwork - from fabric to papers to scrapbooks and albums.

























After a FUN FILLED evening with Lisa and Jan, Tracie and I packed our suitcases. The next morning we began our flights home and once again laughed and reminisced about our experience at Art & Soul!


THANKS to our students for spending their days with us! Thanks to Glenny and Staff for a EXCITING experience AND Thanks to all our friends for their FRIENDSHIPS !

Dreaming of Italy

This tag that Kirstin made me has goes with me everywhere. I use it as a book mark but its message has a deep meaning for an adventure yet to come.

Kirstin and Bill sent me a WONDERFUL brochure about Orvieto. As I looked through the brochure and read about this most ROMANTIC and ARTISTIC adventure I began to ponder the experience that lay ahead.







DEPOSTION is a beautiful marble sculpture created by Ippolito Acalza and dates to 1579. What details and OH, how it has survived the passage of time. I can hardly believe I will stand close to it and observe it's beauty first hand.









The Renaissance cloister of S. Glovanni church founded in the year 900 then was rebuilt at the turn of the 17th century. WOW! I have only dreamed of seeing this timeless beauty close up.











The senic view of the this BEAUTIFUL and CAPTIVATING village where art abounds and creativity is felt in every breath. I can hardly wait to watch the sunrise and sunset surround each structure with a colorful glow.




Tracie Lyn and I are planning a nonconventional journal class for our students. We want them to capture the surroundings in a way that will continue to remind them of the fun and excitement of walking the enchanting streets of Orvieto. We plan to show how to incorporate the botanicals and other elements available into a journal filled with memories of a time with friends whose talents and creativity come together in a place where the greatest of past artists also gathered and created.

We would LOVE to have you join us on the FANTASTIC journey! It will be time to go before we know it so if you are thinking about going please contact Kirstin and Bill for the details. You will be traveling and creating with friends so this is a GREAT opportunity to see Italy in a way you would not see it on an ordinary trip. This experience is planned with the creative soul in mind.

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US!!!

I just wanted to share and remind all of you to "Imagine Your Dreams!"

REMEMBERING CHILDHOOD DAYS

I received a beautiful bouquet of mums for Easter and will be planting them in the garden as soon as the threat of frost has past. Today I wanted to something special with them so I decided to take the real flowers and create a collage. As I created this piece I remembered the wonderful spring days of my childhood.

How happy I was when the days began to get longer and the flowers began to bloom.

I lay in the grass staring at the stars
Wondering how many were in the sky,
Wishing upon each one as it fell...
Watching the sparkles upon the dew
And dreaming of angel fairies
That would fly around the flower garden
Kissing each flower goodnight.

What fun the days would bring
As I would help grandmother remove the weeds
That hid among the floral carpet.
Each tiny flower's bud held a beauty within
And would open with a smile as the sun
Rose high in the sky.

The tiny angel fairies would fly happily about
As each bud's smile would reveal a deep and pure color.
I would dream that each fairy had a special
Way of helping the flowers look as beautiful as possible.
These tiny and lovely creatures were everywhere...
And always seemed to be happily going about their work.

Butterflies would kiss the flowers....
One by One....
They would open their wings and float gently
On the summer breeze.
Each flower smiled as the butterflies moved
Happily from one to another.
I would sit silently in the midst and...
Sometimes the butterflies would light upon my cheek
And I could feel is soft and gentle kiss.

When nighttime came I would watch from the window
And see the sparkle of the fairies
As they folded the flower petals.
The lovely botanicals would bow their heads
And sleep throughout the night.

WELCOME FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Today is the first day of spring. I finished my picture of the dandelions and added my favorite butterfly the Monarch!

HAPPY EASTER, MY FRIENDS!

Waiting Anxiously

Today was a beautiful day with the sun shining brightly and a pure spring breeze. With tomorrow being the first day of spring I began to think about nature's awakening and the blossoms that will soon grace our countryside. This put me in the mood to paint some flowers. So I decided to begin a painting of the most common flower on our landscape.......the DANDELION!





While sometimes a gardner's annoying botanical it is a beautiful little floral kiss to the green carpet of the yard. It is very sweet and attracts bees and butterflies in abundance. And you can even make a very sweet jelly from it's blooms. When I was a child I loved to blow the white seeds from it stems and watch the tiny seeds float through the air.

As soon as I arrived home from work I grabbed a piece of fabric, brushes and paints and began painting these small and colorful florals. I wanted to share the start of this painting and to wish all of you a Happy Welcome Spring Day!!!

Artistic Fun with Friends

As Tracie Lyn and I boarded the plane last Friday we were giggling with anticipation. We could hardly wait for the 4 hour flight to begin, then end so we could begin our creative adventure. We talked of our plans to incorporate fabric distress techniques in with the bird painting. We wanted this class to be fun for everyone.

Nearing our destination we looked out the window of the plane where we could see the majestic Mt. Rainer on one side and Mt. St. Helen on the other! What a view! AND this was ONLY the beginning!!! We are arriving in Portland, Oregon.

Once we had gathered our baggage we hurried out of the airport terminal and there was our dear friend, Ruth. She had patiently awaited our arrival and was ready to take us to the BEAUTIFUL retreat where we would spend two fabulous days with a TERRIFIC group of artists. We were in AWE as we arrived to the MOST scenic country home one could only imagine. It seemed a dream that we would be staying here among nature’s BEAUTIFUL landscape lined with trees that touched the sky and a pond for ducks and other wildlife.

Many new friendships would be formed here and artistic talents shared.

Our room was right next to our hostess, Glenny’s, art studio. I was so envious of this spacious and well organized studio. It was going to be a real treat to have our class in this lovely room.

Once we settled in we took a tour of the breathe taking landscape surrounding Glenny’s home. Just look at this view out the back windows and from the deck!





Saturday we arose early to get the studio ready for the class. As each student arrived we introduced ourselves and the atmosphere was strong with friendships already forming. Here are some pics of the fun-filled and creative day!! Everyone there WOW-ed us with their talents.













Abby, our youngest student, was very devoted to her artworks and couldn’t lay her brush down. Can you believe this TALENT!!!!









This was the most relaxing and exciting day! These FABULOUS ladies have talents that are pouring from their veins and talk about kind and generous! They made food and treats that were the BEST gourmet!



















Sunday came and it was time to leave. As we gave Glenny, Tammy, Lorna, Connie, Jan, Maria, Suki, Abby, and Ruth a hug goodbye we knew that these past two days we had made lifetime friends.





Dear Ruth drove us to the airport and we boarded the plane for Missouri. We felt a bit sadden to be leaving majestic Portland but giggled with anticipation of our future return in October. We are anxious to return and see our PRECIOUS new friends!