So Much in the Future!

I was up early this morning and these were my thoughts I wrote:

I'm up early
amazed at the stillness
the quiet peace
until I listen closely
hear the wind through the trees
the birds singing their morning song
even the full moon setting calls to me
as the cats cry out their plea for breakfast
and the voice in my head says coffee please

I've been busy this morning continuing with listings on eBay, trying to sell off some things to appear I'm not really hoarding anything.  Check out some of my listings if you want.  Here is a couple of items and links then you can check on see all my items.  It takes a fair amount of time to photo, describe and list items so keep checking as I will methodically be adding things.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171420816451?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171419918690?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Most of Sept. I will be traveling in France and Italy.  I'm so lucky to be able to take such an adventure and am looking forward to it very much.

After my travels I will be going to Missouri to participate in the Weavers' Guild of St. Louis annual sale.  Then visit my folks along with my sister Jan before I head to Texas to teach at Art Retreat at the Prairie.  I still can't believe I'm going to get to stay and teach at Rachel Ashwell's Prairie!  It looks so fabulous and I can't believe more people aren't signing up to come!  Barb Solem of Vivi Magoo puts this retreat on and the classes offered along with the accommodations are so unique!   Don't you want to join me for a class or two at this incredible setting?

Here are some more pics of fabrics and scarves I'm teaching how to botanical and rust dye print.  It's so fun and magical to take leaves, flower petals, onion skins and rusted relics, wrap them up with fabric and see what transpires!

I will also be teaching a garment reconstructing class where we take gently used and unloved garments and create a new one with them.  Perhaps adding bits of vintage lace, embroidered doilies, and old interesting buttons.

Art Unraveled Journey

I traveled to Phoenix and back for Art Unraveled.  My classes were amazing!  I have little documentation.  I'm always so bad at taking pictures when I'm teaching.  Someday maybe I'll get an assistant (hint hint sister?).

I arrived on Wed. and got to spend time with some friends. Kate Thompson, Joanna Pierotti and I visited a bit and then I met up with Leslie McCarthy and we went to SAS Fabrics.

Thursday evening I taught rust marking on ribbon and fabric strips.  It's always magic when the prints appear from the rusted objects and you get these repeat, superimposed images!  The students did some very cool pieces and I did not take one darned picture or get their contact information.  I get so caught up in the process of doing I don't think to document.  sigh.  I would love for anyone who took the class to send me pics if you have them!

Friday was the garment reconstruction class "Workshop Runway".  I cannot believe the wonderful garments people made!  All were so different but started out as button down shirts!  I had the presence of mind to snap a few shots before we modeled these at Happy Hour.  There were a couple of students who didn't show up for the runway and I missed them!

The garment I'm wearing was a group challenge piece that everyone contributed to the design and it was auctioned off at the end of the runway show and the money donated to The Youth Development Institute.  Jill Berry took the panoramic group shots and Jill also emceed the fashion show.  Thank you for the wonderful job you did Jill!!

Saturday was vendor day so everyone was busy selling and of course buying!  Kathi Ligon was a wonderful helper and I thank her from the bottom of my heart and hope she will help me next year!

I had a few days to hang around, see friends, and rest up a bit.

Tuesday I took a class with Tory Brokenshire.  We took old porcelain doll heads and covered them with sculpey clay and added the facial features with the clay.  The heads got baked and then we painted the faces, attached arms, and added garments.  I felt mine looked more like the original English nanny, maybe Mary Poppins? A Nomad? than it did a Santos, but having never made a doll like this before I was happy with it.  Tory was a wonderful instructor!  And look at the diversity of dolls made.

Joanna Pierotti took this photo of me with my doll.

Joanna with her doll and Tory.

And now it's time to start working on applications for next year's Art Unraveled!