Class Update

We had a great first day of class in Greenville! I truly love working in the gallery space.
All of the beautiful artwork surrounding us was such an inspiration. I can see scheduling another class there soon.
I'll try to remember to get photos on the next day of class! I had my camera with me but it stayed in my purse...
We were so busy that I forgot all about it (as seems to be my habit!).

I'm busy unpacking and repacking supplies, class kits and other necessary items (like, um...clothes?!).

I'm SO excited about teaching at Textile Evolution again this year!
I'm excited to be spending time with my peeps Liz Kettle, Judy Gula, Tama Brooks and Laura Cater Woods also!
Maybe someone there will be more diligent at posting photos than I was last year. I just get so busy that I forget! And I have never developed the "Facebook" habit...

Okay, break time over...
back to packing.
Um, I mean unpacking and repacking.

Textile Evolution/Colorado Springs

Going back to the retreat that I taught at in Colorado...
I forgot to add a link to the retreat center that we were playing at...I mean working at.
If you go the their website, you can find lots of photos to show you around the place - but I'll add a few of my own for you.
True to nature, I've loaded them backwards from what I really wanted to...and I'm too lazy - too busy- to go back and change them.

All the instructors stayed up at a separate building, so each morning we had a beautiful and inspiring walk (a short one) to the main building.
I really wanted to show the family of deers that ran (almost) right up to Liz and I the first morning - but they will be last in line.
This shot was what I saw behind the building that Judy Gula (from the filled to the brim with goodness store Artistic Artifacts in Virginia). She taught a dyeing class. Her students had the MOST fabulous fabrics to show each day. I do believe that she will be teaching next year...you should grab that class if you want to learn the fast and easy way (or down and dirty) on fabric/fiber dyeing.
Aren't those just great colors?

Here is our group joining back up for dinner one night (probably the first night since my pics are backwards!). The rooms were huge in this place - very well laid out and lots of room to play (work).
Liz set up an inspiration area - provided stamps, dye, inks, pens, fabric, paint, journals, glimmer spray, mistyfuse...you name - she provided it for everyone!

Here is the mountain that we saw each morning when we walked to the main building - maybe Mount St. Francis?

The building to the right of the photo is the classrooms that Laura Cater Woods and Judy Gula used.

Okay, here is the "Family Photo" from the first morning walk! This mom and two babies came running up to Liz and I.

I was on the telephone with my husband at the time. The scene from that movie where the dad and kids are lost in the woods came to mind - you know, the one where the deer has red glowing eyes and begins to beat the dad up...

Hmmm...well, it was a while back...

"My, what big ears you have"...

Here is a side shot of the building that we slept in - a fabulous rock building.

And look at the texture of the tree bark to the right of the photo!

I got a couple of close ups of that for later use.

Okay - that ends my update for today.

We are packing up for the West Greenville Arts Festival.

There is also the US Cycling Pro Championship in downtown Greenville this weekend.

If you attend that event, be sure to drive another couple of miles to the arts festival.

Booth #26!

Journal Pages and Baseball Fields

Those of you that read my blog know that I love to draw my own journal pages.
I've been known to sit at baseball games and pull out my compact watercolors and paint. Don't you know that the little kids would love to come and paint with me? I'd let them actually...I figure that if they had the courage to ask, I'd give them paper paint and a brush in a skinny minute.
Anyway, here are a few new pages for your viewing pleasure.

I'll share my inspiration for the one below...
a baseball field. Yep, if you look closely, you'll see the images above the bird box closely resemble an outfield light post thing (whaddaya call that?). The flower beside is is an artistic interpretation of a baseball field - come on people!
Work with me here!
The leaf stem represents the space behind home plate (that's where my husband stands a lot!).
The top of the flower is spread out like the outfield shape - albeit a very loose interpretation.
That just goes to show you that no matter where you are, you can be inspired!
I have a drawing in my sketch book that I made when we were at the Citadel one weekend. It is totally based on the shapes at and around the ball park.
I have always looked at the world around me in a little different way (no snickers).
The micro world is much more interesting than the big picture.
One class I took last year (I think) was with Laura Cater Woods.
It's an online class, you should check out her schedule and get on the waiting list. You will really be able to find inspiration anywhere you go. Literally anywhere.

The shapes for the mushroom stems came from a picture that I took at a state rest area stop...

yep, the ferns were unfurling , shedding their winter coats. The gentle sway and swirl of the stems captivated me. The way that they appeared to be like young children fighting to get the best view- all arms and legs, pushing each other out of the way.

Don't you know people really wonder about us (Mr. Wonderful and I) when we stop in our tracks, practically lay down on the sidewalk for a picture...

at a rest area.

You know, I say let them wonder. I'd rather they join us as we realize the beauty in the little things around us.

Won't you?