River Garden Studio

on the sunny road

I am home from my first workshop...

if I can only put into words this experience.

Lynne and I traveled through

two of my favorite cities northward,

seeing new sights.

Clouds moved over to let the sun shine through.

When we arrived here this flower caught my eye

as it lay on the window sill.

rags sat in a pile ready to be used.

And four lovely artists joined me

in a beautiful discussion about

just what is 'the thread that weaves' through our art.

Heidi

Yonnah

Binky

Sue

pages were laid out...

and the process began.

After the first day we took a walk to the beach.

We waded in the water.  

I have never seen so many shells

as there were under our feet.

We paused for pictures... lynne, sue, myself, heidi)

Sue and her husband were wonderful hosts.

And I slept very soundly through the night,

even through a huge coastal thunder and lightning storm.

My heart was full.

And our second day began...

Objects were attached.

We feasted on amazing food.

This is Sue and I.  

She is one of the most

beautiful souls I have ever met.

I am so thankful to have her in my life.

And we said good bye to the island...

The cities, and greeted familiar waters 

as we traveled over the mountains to home.

I learned so much on this trip.  

What I know is that this is where I belong.

Making art.  Loving nature.  Teaching what I know.

And being grateful.

On the sunny road.

 

I have one more workshop this summer...

It is at Sage Place,

in beautiful Bandon, Oregon...

a seaside town that I love.

If you are not busy on the 3rd and 4th of August

Please join us!

this summer of mine

Summertime.

A time for visiting friends, 

at the lake's edge...

and falling in love with the wildlife.

A freshening of spirit.

Finding new places filled with the old

and re-purposed.

 

 

and seeing beauty on the surface.

 

 

And in a simple task.

 

 

Avery, our part time summer guest

who brings joy with her smile.

 

 

And deserts, which we usually never have!

 

 

Summertime brings time to explore,

and time to laugh.

 

 

To look at the inside from outside a window.

 

And to coulnt the days until my first workshop.

I get ready the bags of treasures and supplies for my students.  

I found these for a really great price...

They will add something special to their books,

don't you think?

And find time to create little tags out of old slides.

This will be a mini-lesson in between the book-making...

And here is a little more about my summer workshops

here and here.

 

Summertime.

A time to reflect.

To share and to put my dreams into words...

 

in wonder

 

I have been reflecting in wonder at it all. With my camera in hand i still try to find another way to look at an object. When I sit on the grass with my dogs i try to see the world from a few feet off the ground, when a branch drapes over my head, I look closely at it's leaves, their veins and their edges.

 

Each flower that opens draws my attention. This summer is different for me because it will not end on September the first as it always has for so long.

 

And I spend my days at home like this.  Check my mail, drink my coffee and soy milk.  Look at blogs, tumblr and facebook. Dance workout to Worldbeat Radio.  Garden, pull weeds, dig holes, transplant overcrowded flowers and plant new ones  and then water.

 

 

 

Then, after lunch and a shower it is my treasured art time...

 

 

 

I have been finishing up my sample books for my workshops here and here.  Well, almost finishing, they still need some attachments, some notes, thoughts and dreams, special images or drawings.

As I have created these books, they have guided me along without design.  

 

 

 

But I am remembering each step so i can teach this art that I love.  

 

My goal is not for my students to create books that resemble mine, but to learn to create from their own intuition, their souls, and to let their art muse guide them as i have learned. 

 

Special deal for "The Thread That Weaves" at Camano Island!  Sign up with a friend and you both receive a $50.00 discount off registration!!  

Spaces are going quickly, so hurry and register today by contacting Sue at Earthtone Studios! And read about the beautiful setting for this workshop here.

Thank all of you who have sent me well wishes by commenting here or on facebook or emailed me.  You have helped me so much with this new beginning.