ArtFest 2012.......A Retrospective The End

This picture represents a milestone.  I said a MILESTONE people.  I actually completed a bound book.  Not by punching holes and adding rings, not by stapling down the middle, but by HAND SEWING using and awl, tapestry needle and waxed linen.  Now, there is nothing wrong with the other methods I mentioned, don't get me wrong.

So, why is this so important?  Because it is my third class trying to do this.  I have been book binding chaallenged.  What was the difference you ask?  We spent six hours doing nothing but learning the technique and since I am a slow learner, that is what I needed.  In my other classes, we painted and prepared our pages and then learned the binding technique in the afternoon.  I am a very visual person and need to see you do it slllloooowwwlllly, so I can understand.


My last class on Saturday, March 31st, was "Get Your Sheet Together" and was taught by my good friend, Brenda Beene Shackleford.  She assured me that I would be able to complete a book.  I was very skeptical; but I had to support my friend who was teaching her first class.

BOOK NUMERO UNO:

The class worked together on book 1.  Brenda took us step by step through the process and Lo and behold, I completed the book.  Whoo Hoo.  But wait, it gets better.

BOOK NUMERO DOS:

Oh Yeah, that's right, you got it (can you see me doing the happy dance).  I completed a second book right after lunch.  This time we worked on our own and Brenda came around answering questions and offering advice.

I was having so much fun and pretty proud of myself too.

The first picture is of  BOOK NUMERO TRES
I felt Happy and validated.  I had done something I told myself I could not do.  Now, I want you to understand the key phrase here, "I told myself I could not do it."  So for the past two years, I have been a bumbling idiot trying to learn similar techniques for book binding and failing miserably because I TOLD MYSELF I COULD NOT DO IT.

Now to the good part.  I have been so busy since I returned from ArtFest that I have not had a chance to really work on anything since I got home.  First it was Holy Week and I was very involved in the liturgy at my church, St. Thomas More Community Catholic (shameless plug) in Henderson Nevada.  Then, I had to do my taxes (had to pay so no need in doing them any earlier), and I work from home so I was really busy.  Oh yeah, the good part:

Guess who made this book........ME a couple of years ago using Kente Cloth and a simple sewing technique.  What is the difference?  I was at home by myself, figuring things out looking at youtube instructions.

I was not allowing myself to be intimidated, thinking I was not good enough to be with the other talented artists around me.

Guess who painted and decorated this book......ME again.  This is a book with items of my trip to Paris.  I will show more of it in another post.  When did I make it?  Oh let's try 2004.  I have been taking classes, viewing youtube, reading books to teach me how to do something I already knew how to do and had forgotten all about it.

I know it seems crazy, and I have been laughing at myself for a couple of days.  So what did I get out of this very special time at ArtFest2012?  The privilege to BELIEVE IN ME and for that I will be eternally grateful.  Teesha and Tracy, thank you for offering a place where I could come and meet the likes of Orly Avineri, Brenda Shackleford, LK Ludwig (who was so very patient with me), Jill Berry, Lisa Bebi, Theo Ellsworth, and any other teacher I may forgotten.  Teachers who gently nurtured me and allowed me to "Create, Not produce" (I get it Orly).  Thank you for providing an opportunity to make so many friends that I cannot mention them here, but you all know who you are.  Most of all, thank you for allowing me to finally get the message.....BELIEVE IN ME.



ArtFest.......A Retrospective Part 2

March 30, 2012

Today I attended the class "Postcards To The Edge"  conceived and taught by Orly Avineri.  This was the second year that I participated in a class taught by Orly and I was eager to participate.

The main premise of the class was to "Create....not produce".  Orly has a way of getting the student to dig deep and bring out elements of the creative spirit long hidden.

The method used for creating was interesting.  We used cereal boxes as our substrate and found objects as collage elements.  We painted, made images of our hands and spray paint as we designed cards using prompts given by Orly.

The picture below started out as my least favorite post card; however after working with it and using the Prompt, "This little Piggy...."

As we built layers on our card we made a template from craft foam of our hand.  With the instruction to get as much of your hand on the card as possible, I closed my fingers so that the hand would fit.  When I looked around the room, I was the only one who closed their hand.  The effect was that the molding paste rimmed the outer fame of my hand giving the image of a door instead of fingers.

I went up to Orly for another piece of foam so I could start over and she told me to try and use what I had, there are no accidents and it should be used.

Well, I painted and sprayed the image and it captured my heart because it looked like my hand was waiting to hold and help.  But back to this little Piggy.  When I heard the prompt, the following came to mind:


This little piggie (sic) went to surgery.
This little piggy had radiation...
This little piggy has spent time healing
This little piggy has hope.

I am going to frame this card, I love the colors and the meaning.....This trip to ArtFest is the first trip I have taken since completing treatment for Breast Cancer and so the entire retreat has special meaning for me.

FRIENDS FOREVER.....

This picture is of Friends I met at the first ArtFest I attended in 2010, Brenda, Karen, Jenny and Anita.  For the past three years we have talked in between retreats, shared emails, encouraged endeavors and planned.  When we get together at ArtFest, we share meals, classes and laughter.  Now that ArtFest has ended, we plan to get together once a year and create.

I could go on and on, but I will stop and save the rest for part 3.    Take care dear reader and remember to "Create....not produce."

ArtFest.....a Retrospective

Doesn't that title sound great???? that is what ArtFest can do to you.  Not sure how long it will take me to finish this post, but I am starting today 4-4-2012 with a really groovy title.

This was my third year attending ArtFest and the last because, it has ended.  No more ArtFests as we know it today.  Just writing this seems to unreal and it makes me realize how much I missed out on talking myself out of attending when I first discovered it about 10 years ago (more on that in another post. 

I think I am going to Chronicle a little something from each day.

Beginning with March 29, 2012:

I am calling this "Outside Bistro"

  Lisa Bebi's Vintage Village Colorbook class.  This class opened my eyes to impressionist painting.  This was definitely out of my comfort zone, but was a boat load of fun. We painted copied images, not using precise painting but by glopping paint in the image to give and impressionist appearance.  I am going to try this with some of my own photos. 

This was a good day.  I learned that I did not have to change my water every five minutes.  I learned to let go and just enjoy the process.  I learned that it sometimes takes a while for the painting to grow on you.  Anita Webster my good friend was my table mate and we just enjoyed the day.

This is my Favorite. I it is not finished,
but I love how the colors on the girls dresses pop out.

I do plan to finish this picture because I really like it.  I cannot wait to cut it down to size and coat it with medium and varnish.  I will definitely frame it.






I will be posting more pictures over the next few days; however before I end today the picture below

This is a copy of a trade that I made.  I painted rocks using house paint and matte medium.  I also wrote my word for the year, "Focus".  they were so much fun to make and I am going to make more.

Until next time.....remain on the journey

Let the Fun Times Begin!!!!!

The time has come......ArtFest time is here. 7 am flight to Seattle. Hang out at airport, then shuttle to Fort. I will chronicle my time if I get a chance. If not, I will post on Sunday night. Cheerio and smooches everyone.

ArtFest is almost here

I have to get this thought out.  ArtFest is coming.....I have my plane ticket and at 7:00 am on March 28th I will be flying to Seattle.  I am arriving early because I like to stay a few hours to explore prior to 2 pm when the shuttle leaves for Port Townsend and the Fort.

I am going to take the Monorail from the Airport to see where it goes.  I think I am just going to ride to one end and then make the return trip so I can get back in time.  Since I am a bus person, this should be fun.

My trades are made and boxed up, I have completed the majority of the gifts for dormmates and some special friends.  My supply box will be closed tomorrow morning, no last minute stuff for me.

This is the last ArtFest and I plan to immerse myself in the entire process, I will be taking plenty of pictures so I can remember what wonderful times I have had.  For year I put off coming to ArtFest for one reason or another.  They were not really valid reasons, more fear than anything else.  But....when I treated myself to ArtFest for my 60th birthday, my artistic and creative life blossomed and I have never looked back.

This is not to say I was not creative prior to attending ArtFest, because I was. I have made greetings cards since 1984 with some success.  However my creativity has moved to a new level, I am working with other medium and enjoying the process.  Making trades and sharing the work with others is really major for me and I have become more adventurous over time.  I have participated in ATC swaps and taken on-line classes.  I often worry if people will like my work and that can hinder me.  But I realize that, it is what I think that means the most.  I will know in my gut if something works or not.

Plus, I have a new motto if someone does not like what I give them, they can always through it out.  This keeps me from needless worry.  I sincerely appreciate the effort and artistry of my fellow creative spirits.  It takes a lot to put yourself out there and I applaud everyone who tries.

Artfest is a little over 2 weeks away......I am so excited and humbled.

Water Falls of Life

Run off from Glaciers cause the most beautiful waterfalls

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how I want to spend the rest of my life.  What do I really want to do?  Work, create, travel, sit at home and watch television, volunteer???? There are so many choices and it can at times cloud your mind.

Have you looked closely at a waterfall?  Have you noticed that there are some that gush forth with great force?  Have you seen the ones that start with great force and whittle down to a trickle?  Then there are the ones that are a continuous small stream meandering slowly down a mountain slope.  All beautiful and all having a grand purpose in the scheme of nature.

A slow meander

My life has been like a waterfall, sometimes gushing for with great force, moving hither and yon, so much to do and so little time.  There have been times when events in my life started out with such great promist only to whitle down to a trickle and being abandoned by the side of the road.  Now in 2012 I prefer for life to be a small continuous stream of wonderful adventures that slowly meander through the remaining time I have left, bringing me joy and beauty.  I prefer to enjoy the simple things of life now and start each day with a smile.

Replenishing the sea

 Each Waterfall ends up in a field of water; a lake, the ocean, a small stream.  It replenishes the water that naturally evaporates.  That is what I want to be to the friends, family, strangers I encounter on my journey.  I want to be able to replenish their spirit by sharing my experiences, my laughter, my love of life; my mistakes and my successes.

I want to be a viable part of the Waterfall of Life.

Crochet Project

Crochet Envelope

Ok, I finally got the crochet envelope into my blog.  It took a while but I figured it out.  Now the next step is getting it to Pinterest.  I will prevail.  I shall not be denied.

momoo50's photostream

momoo50's photostream.

 I am trying to learn new things and the only ways is to test things.  It is fun to finally let go and just try, if I mess up I will start over again.  The main thing I am trying to learn is how to get specific pictures from flickr to my blog and then to Pinterest.  That is the project for the weekend.  I will write and let you know how I do.  This is goingto be interesting.

Welcome to 2012

This rainbow represents how I feel about this new year of 2012.  Rainbows appear after really hard rains.  They appear to show promise; they appear to show that the rain was necessary for growth and cleansing; they appear to give hope.

2012 is a year of hope for me.  It is a year go grow and blossom after the hard and at times torrential personal rain of 2011.  2012 is a year of promise; it is a year of cleansing and growth both personally and spriritually; it is truly a year of hope.

I start this year with much thanks.  Thanks for being a survivor; thanks for strength I did not know I had.  Thanks for concrete evidence of how the Lord works in my life.  Thanks for creative opportunities that kept me from going down a road of sadness and gloom.

These simple rocks were painted during an online class I took called crafting your best life.  Each rock show, a quality I found within my being in 2011.  I have to keep these qualities alive and well inorder to move on to the next stage of my life.

Chickens of the World get a New Lease on Life......

Today we have a picture of a very happy chicken.  I am in the second week of radiation therapy.  So far it has been going well.  Not many major side effects except for one.  I have lost my appetite.  It has officially gone on vaca.  I have also lost the taste for Chicken.  My closest friends and family members know how much I love chicken. I am the Bubba Gump of chicken, I can eat it any way on any day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Well, not any more.

The chicken in the picture is dancing because it knows it is safe for a while anyway.  What have I been eating? Oh salads, tuna fish, soup and fruit smoothies.  It is all good and I am amazed at the fact that I do not miss the meat.

I had planned to purchase organic chicken and other meats to be free of all the things they are given to enhance their growth.  The type of cancer I am being treated for is related to the production of too much estrogen.  Since I am way past menopause (it came early at age 43) I did not think I was producing estrogen.  I realized today it was all that chicken made extra big and juicy with growth hormones which include estrogen.  I did research to make sure my thoughts were correct, so it is no joke.  If I had been a moderate chicken eater, I may not be going through this today.  I had the test, I am not carrying the gene, so chicken is the scapegoat for now anyway.

You have to be able to find humor where you can and if it has to be at the expense of my dear friend chicken, so be it. I cannot say if my taste for chicken will gradually return, but for now the chickens of the world can feel safe, because today, if there was just me and one chicken left on the earth, it would be safe.

Thank You Beautiful Lady

For as long as I can remember I have loved my Aunt Vera.  In fact I used to say "when I grow up I want to be just like Aunt Vera."  She is my Mother's only sister and her elegance is mesmerizing. 

Aunt Vera is an artist.  Her work exhibits her quiet elegance and for over 30 years she taught art in the Detroit Public School System.  Each year she worked to help arrange an exhibition for students at the Institute of Arts in Detroit.  She taught her students to love drawing, painting and collage.

We never really talked about art when I was a child, I just watched from the sidelines and could see how much she loved what she did.  She was the first person I knew who actually loved her job.

 On Aug. 4, 2006 my mother died quite suddenly and my aunt and I comforted each other.  Again with her quiet elegance we shared Thanksgiving dinner (it has been a custom for her and my mother to go to dinner on Thanksgiving and the first one after her death was especially hard). One of her paintings hung in my mother's house. When I sold the house, she asked if she could have it back since the spirit of her sister permeated its pores.

May 2007 I moved to Nevada-I just needed a change of scenery.  At Christmas that year I sent my Aunt a card I had made.  She called me and I will never forget the words "Girrrrlllll, you are truly an artist..."  Those words were so special to me---My beloved Aunt Vera appreciated my work.

During the past 4 years we have had many discussions about art and various techniques.  I send her samples of my work (Mother's day cards, Birthday cards, etc) and she continues to praise and validate me.

As I said earlier I always wanted to be like my Aunt, encouraging, loving, artistic and wise.

I love her deeply and will never forget the quiet lessons she taught me.

The picture today was painted by yours truly in October 2010.  My first attempt at still life, I can thank Aunt Vera for the courage to try.

Well I will be a Blue Nosed Gopher!!!!

I said that statement and had to laugh at myself.  Why did I say, "Well I will be a Blue Nosed Gopher?"  I am in the process of organizing my office/art studio.  I have so much stuff, excuse me, Art Supplies and I need to get some order.  I was placing and order for some storage drawers and decided to order a new set of drawers because the ones I have now are pretty rickety.  I found a good price for the drawers and as I was getting ready to click the add to cart button---my brain had the following conversation:

"Hey let's try and remove the wheels, maybe it will be steadier."  Right brain said "Sounds like a pretty good idea to me."  So off I went, moved all of the drawers, turned the cart over and the wheels would not budge.  Left brain:  Let's get something to pry them off."  Right Brain:  'Good thinking" (right brain is always so agreeable).  I run to kitchen drawer and get a screw driver because it is pretty heavy duty and may do the job.  The I look at the screws holding the cart together, "Hmmm, Left brain says, they seem a little loose, wonder what will happen if I tighten them?"  "Let's try", said right brain.

So I take the screw driver and start to tighten the bolts on the top and bottom, as I torn the screw driver the cart gets really steady.  You have to understand I have had this thing for nearly ten years and it has wobbled for that long, not once did left brain speak up.  To make matters work, I have two of them. Today I had decided to get new carts and throw the rickety ones out because I was fed up with them.  The more I tightened the sturdier it got, who knew?  When I finished  I exclaimed "Well I will be a Blue Nosed Gopher" and laughed.  In normal fashion, it takes me a while to get a clue.

I am happy, I love my cart and after I finished this post, letft brain has informed me that we need to do the same thing to the other cart  Hmmmm..... time to get busy.  The picture today is of my now beloved and colorful cart.

I am excited

This is a picture of a page I am thinking of using for the cover of my Art of Giving journal.  I am taking a class faciliated by a very talented and spiritual artist, Regina Lord.  Why am I excited you might ask????? Because except for the Blue Moon ephemera I collaged on to the page, I painted the entire page myself including the flower, thank you very much.

I have been spending the last two weeks working on my pages and I like what I have done.  I did find out that I like simplicity.  I do not like a lot on the page, but I do like what is there to stand out. 

The glossy middle of the flower is a glass bead I found, and I used a stencil for the words gratitude and faith.  Need to add a little journalling, after all it is a work in progress.  More pictures later in the week.  Take care and be creative

7 Months and Counting......

Fort Townsend, WA, picture of some of the buildings at night.  I mailed my registration today.  I am so pleased and excited.  March will be here before I know it.  I have started conceptualizing my trades for this year.  I am calling it "mixed bag" because it will be a smattering of different things.  I have 7 months to get them together so I will work a little at a time.

Life's changes

During the past week I have come to realize that I do not have to write a book to add thoughts to my blog.  What a relief.....I am taking the Art of Giving online class given by Regina Lord of Creative Kismet.  It is a 30 day class an we are creating an art journal.  The class is both thought provoking and a lot of fun.  I will post some of my pages later in the week.  So for today, I am posting a picture of tape that I made from adhive tape and alcohol inks.  With the Popularity of Japanese Washi take increasing, there have been a lot of suggestions to try and make your own tape.  I did and it was fun.

I promised myself in April, that I would spend this summer creating and so far I have been doing just that.  It is time to put all the techniques I have learned throughout the years to good use.  I am also keeping a word of the day journal.  I have the cutest little book called a Mnemosyne (bought it from Jetpens.com) and each morning when I sign on to the computer for work, I right down the first word that comes to mind.  Next I have to go back and decorate the pages.

Art tool I used today that I have had for a long time:  Xyron 150 Create a Sticker machine.  Oh man, I made my own stickers and used them.  Now I need to make more.  Hmmmm this will save me money.

Well, until next time.  Let me know what you are thinking.

I am online - Arthousecoop.com

I am so happy today.  I am online.  www.arthousecoop.com
I participated in the sketchbook 2011 project and my book has been digitized and is available for viewing.  Info needed for review...Glenda Hoagland, theme:  It Must Be...(which is chosen from the on the drop down menu) then enter city - Henderson and State NV.

This is such a treat for me.  I really took a chance and participated in this project.  I was not confident in my ability to fill a book with drawing, so I did a collage of pictures from my various travels, hence the title is "It must be...time to hit the road".  The pictures here are the cover of the book and one of the pages in the book.

Stop by and take a look.  It is time for me to get started on my book for 2012.

I have to do it my way......

I realized today that I really have to stop worrying about what others think.  What do I mean you ask?  I live alone.  I eat dinner at a tv tray and have a large dining room table that sits empty.  This table allows me the space I need to create; my drafting table is just too small.

I became ashamed after a friend made comments about my arts and crafts taking over.  I really felt bad and moved all of my thing from the table.  It looks very pretty, but, it is begging to be used.  I can hear it calling me, "use me to make cards, use me to make books, my molecules miss you."

It was then I realized that I put too much stock in what others think.  I stopped knitting and crocheting for over 10 years because my husband thought it was a waste of time.  How sad.  I stopped making cards because I convinced myself that the work wasn't good enough.  I stopped going within because I thought nothing was there.  How sad.

This is the funny part.  My husband died in January of 2001.  I was sitting the basement one Saturday morning in October and the thought hit me "Hey....there is no one to complain about me knitting..." I turned off the TV went to the yarn shop and bought yarn and needles and have been knitting and crocheting ever since.  I have made some of the best gifts.....

I am in the process of putting my art supplies back on the table.  My cutting mat is in place.  I have the most beautiful plant in the middle of the table and it will stay there.....it brings life to the creations.  Oh I feel so happy to be able to look at my table and see the things that make my heart sing.  I have made thank you cards, completed ATC for the Wild Card Swap and have startd backgrounds for the June Swap.  Gosh am I happy.

So, I am going to use the rest of my life perfecting my way of doing things.....should prove to be very interesting,

until next time......

Time of a Lifetime.......Annual ArtFest Retreat

I was reviewing my posts and find this one that I never published it was originally written April 11, 2011....enjoy

I returned yesterday from my second ArtFest Retreat.  Why do I call it a retreat?  Because it is a time for me to reconnect.  Reconnect to the part of me that loves to create.  This was my second year a ArtFest.  I was a lot more comfortable and was much more observant.  I got a chance (thanks to my creative soul sister Colleen) to see Port Townsend and taste its special flavor.  I had three outstanding classes from three outstanding teachers:  Jill K. Berry - Spontaneous Deconstructed Journal;  L K Ludwig The Big Book and Orly Avineri - The Art of Correspondence.

I have to say that each class brought something new out of me.  Deconstructed Journal class showed me how I could be spontaneous in creating a journal, and I love the technique Pochoir (I could tell you what it means, it's more fun to google it and see for yourself).  The Big Book class allowed me to play with the technique of scraping but it also showed me that I do not like binding books by sewing them. Give me a bind it all any day.  Love, Love, punching them holes.

The last class was The Art of Corespondence and I must say it was the best way to end the session.  The class was centered around making Post cards.  If you look below you will see a picture of one that I made.  You start out with a large sheet of water color paper, use ink, paint and imagination and the result is nothing less than spectacular.  I was thoroughly amazed at what I produced.

I love ArtFest and plan (God willing) to attend again next year.

I changed the page

I did it, I tried to like the cutesy page, but it just wasn't singing to my spirit, so I changed it to the one I wanted in the first place.  I loooooveeee the color spashes in the background.  Isn't life like that really?  Anyhoo, I am happy

Creating through Cancer......

A couple of months ago I changed the background of this blog to reflect my creative side. I looked at it over time and did not like it. I tried to change it but the page for change would not open up. I was really bummed about that. Today I realize that this is the correct page background for this time in my life. It is colorful and cheerful. Over the next few months I will need this as a reminder to be colorful and cheerful.

You see, I have breast cancer in both breasts. It is in the early stages and highly treatable. I will undergo radiation therapy on both breasts at a minimum. Not sure about any other forms of treatment. I had a lumpectomy of the left breast on May 20th and will have a lumpectomy of the right breast soon. This way I can have radiation therapy at the same time on both breasts.

I plan to spend this summer creating; blogging and journaling about my experience. I find that sitting down and letting the creative juices flow is quite exhilarating. In fact it puts a smile on my face. I will be working on Christmas presents, perfecting background painting techniques and just plain having as much fun as possible.

There is no time to feel sad, Sure there are moments when I feel a little down, that is normal. What I refuse to do is let it control my life. I have had a good one and expect to continue in that vein. I have a lot of changes to make in my life over the next few months.....I don't really know what they are at the moment, but I am sure the Spirit will lead me, just like He led me to write today.

The picture today is part of a collection of post cards I created while at ArtFest in Port Townsend, Washington this year. I had so much fun creating and I plan to continue. So, for today, I am going to work on the Family Reunion Souvenier book, complete ATC's for by Badbaby monthly swap and complete the lapghan I have been working on for months.

Until next time......