River Garden Studio

the thread that weaves

 

I have two workshops coming up this summer.  

And already I am making plans for them,

getting bags full of treats

and supplies ready for my students

and becomming more and more excited.

This is my first workshop,

July 20 and July 21, 2012

 

I wanted to start with smaller,

more intimate workshops and

find some beautiful places

that I can return to year after year.

Maybe next summer

try for some larger venues as well...

And so I have picked two coastal towns

in the Pacific Northwest for my workshops.  

 

The first is at Earthtone Studios,

in beautiful Camano Island in Washington State.  

Sue Simpson is hosting The Thread That Weaves

at her beautiful studio that overlooks the Puget Sound.

 

 

 This is the course description for both workshops...

The Thread That Weaves

Embark on a journey of creativity and exploration as you create a mixed media, one of a kind Artist Book with me and hosted by Sue Simpson.

With the Island and the Puget Sound as our muse, this journey will begin with the use of vintage papers, rice and textured papers, silk,  old dictionary pages, gesso and matt medium to make beautiful surfaces for the pages of our books.

 

Then we will explore the art of design, composition and layering with Roxanne's cache of papers, metal bits and ephemera.  We will connect, stitch, wire, collage, tie, wrap, hang, dangle, construct and weave all in your own Artist Book.

Please join me on this artistic journey of creativity while we immerse ourselves in the process of making a book that is filled with art that reflects each of you, your memory, your life and your dreams.

 

 

Students are encouraged to bring personal imagery or embellishments, found objects, pieces of nature, metal bits and inkjet color or black and white images for collages.

Other items to bring to the workshop are: white gesso, matte medium, scissors, glue sticks, paint brushes, favorite stamps or ink pads or mark makers.

A delicious lunch will be provided both days, and with the shoreline only a short walk away Earthtone Studio's is the perfect setting for this workshop.

 

 

 

Follow this link to read more about

or register for

"The Thread That Weaves."

 My second workshop will be at Sage Place in beautiful

Bandon by the Bay,

a small coastal town in Oregon.  

 

 

these days of may

It started like this.  Spring rains soaked the ground and the softest greens covered the earth.

 

And the green surrounded the earth inside and out.

 

 

And the first flowers were borne.

 

 

Inside art was being created.

 

 

This encaustic painting "Vetus Piri, Old Pear Tree,"

was part of a work sent to  Jenn Mason for

"Feed Me: The 7 x 7 Show" in Brookline to benefit Meals on Wheels.

I was so honored to be a part of this show!

http://www.facebook.com/FeedMeThe7x7Show

 

Even the shops in Ashland celebrate spring.

 

 

 

 

 

And my daughter and I eat lunch out in the courtyard of Dragonfly 

and love our moments together.

 

 

 

Out in my gardens the green is so bold, 

she thinks she can share her world with color.

First yellows, then purples and red.

 

 

The wheelbarrow thinks it must be somewhere enchanted.

 

 

And even the roof of the dog pen is decorated.

 

 

Another new painting, waiting for a name...

 

 

 

"At the Center There is Always Light"

 

 

and color, and dreams.

 

 

And the world spins around the sun.

 

 

Ideas bloom.

 

 

and these days of may will always be remembered...

 

(these last paintings will soon be in my Etsy shop)

A day with Leslie Marsh

 

The very last day of my trip back east was spent with Leslie. I met her through blogging about five years ago.  I have to say that the people I have made friends with through visiting their blogs and writing back and forth with are just as wonderful in person as the are in their art, words, and photographs.  Leslie beauty shines through all that she does!

 

 

I awoke to this Cardinal singing in the treetops outside.  We don't have these birds out west, and I have always wanted to see one.  I never knew they had such a beautiful song! There was also one at Karen's house when I stayed their earlier in the week...  Leslie took this photograph and sent it to me after I got home.

 

 

Leslie's studio is filled with inspiration and collections.

 

 

Everything invites creativity.

 

 

This fabric with the bird on it caught my eye.

 

 

And so did this old clock.

 

 

We speant our afternoon at "terrain" at Styer's. It is owned by the same people who created anthropologie.  You can definately see similarities in the designs and decorating.

 

 

The lighting was amazing...

 

Here is Leslie in the mirror.

 

 

I loved the green everywhere and these bowls.

 

 

And here is Leslie with her camera.

 

This fountain was next to us while we ate.

 

 

Our lunch was lovely.

 

 

 

She took this of me.  Having fun for sure.

 

 

And with these images I was on my way home.  Hopefully I will go back next summer!

 

 

Stay tuned, next week I will share with you springtime in Qouthern Oregon!