Complete Ideas, Opposites and Villanous Happenings...

Thought I'd show you this drawing in its completed form. It was the one that I posted on Wednesday (I think) that wasn't quite finished yet. I may or may not add any color to this. I kinda like the starkness of the black and white.
I finished it while I was sitting at a sporting event this week.
When I write about looking around for drawing inspiration, I truly mean it and I do just that.
If you'll notice the little curvy dotted lines at the lower right hand side,
yeah, the ones coming off of the idea seed pod...
That is the "Family Circle"ish trail that one kid took with the basketball he was dribbling.

Inspiration.
Find it everywhere.

I had a little dental surgery yesterday.
(I'll spare you the gruesome details...which involves a scapula, bits of bone grafts and my gums). 
Needless to say today I am feeling a little, um, non-creative.
Hey, I could use that in my "Sketchbook Challenge" sketches...which, for this month,  the theme is "opposites".
Day before yesterday I was feeling very creative.
Today I am not feeling creative.
That's pretty opposite if you ask me!

All joking aside, I was remiss in not mentioning the Sketchbook Challenge new theme on Tuesday.
This month a good friend of mine, Laura Cater-Woods, had the pleasure of choosing the theme. Laura is a fabulous mixed media studio artist that lives in Montana.
Her work truly reflects her oneness with nature- the ebb and flow of Mother Nature as it connects and interacts with Laura's life.
Go and take at peek at her wonderful collages for One (brainchild of Virginia Spiegel).
I'll begin working in my sketchbook today (hopefully).

Now, as far as the title of this blog post goes, I should explain something.
I'll bet you're thinking that the "Villainous Happening" was my dental surgery...
Well, villainous as it was
 (even though my doctor  is NOT a villain)
 (he's quite the OPPOSITE) (oh my! another idea)
that's not what I was referring to.
While sitting in that dental chair, I thought a lot about a new class that I am planning.
That is where the "villainous happenings" title comes in -
I'm working on a technique based class, not a project based class like I usually do.
It's going to be a mix of medias, a mix of materials and a ton of different ideas to alter  fiber and paper.
A "Mixed Media Miscreant".
Or  "Mixed Media Mayhem".

A lot of people ask me about the materials that I use, the substrates and the different techniques.
 I think this workshop will be a great way to introduce the  participants to the wide range of supplies that I use.
We'll play with a variety of different (and odd) materials, learn to question "What if I did this..?" or "Wonder what would happen if I...?"

You'll learn to look at things differently as you learn to let go of your artistic inhibitions...

Sound like your idea of fun?
Stay tuned for details.

Part Two

I was going to do another post on the class at Jane's shop
last Friday, but she did a great post on her blog...
so I'm going to cheat (with her permission) and point you in that direction.
It was a one day class but this project will be GREAT as a two day class!
I can't wait to teach it at the "Textile Evolution" retreat in Colorado (at the Franciscan Retreat Center) this fall.
The folks that take the class there should be able to actually complete the project...
and we all know how frustrating it can be to
bring home yet another UFO.
So mark your calendars and send in your registration!

Weekend Workshop

Well, I should have done an exit poll after Saturday's workshop to see if the description was true...
I said "Fast, fun and easy..." and I do believe that everyone thought it was!
Everyone had their project almost completed by the end of the day. A few hand stitches here, a dozen (or two) beads there and a couple of finishing quilting seams and these babies are ready to hang on the wall.
These ladies amaze me at how well they worked today. I'll admit that I had done a (ton) a lot of prep work before ever stepping foot into the shop but they worked (while chatting, laughing, shouting and eating) non stop all day.
Oh, except for the shopping breaks...
Anyway - here are some pictures -
run over to Jane's blog to see more.

My friend Tonya - just working away (hmmm...or just talkin' away...?) on her beautiful wall hanging.

Here is a closer view of her piece.

And Jane, working away. I wish I had a close up picture of the quilting that she did on her piece...I was quite impressed with that.
Karen and Tonya obviously in awe of something that someone was saying...
Here is my friend Betsy's wall hanging. I love the way that she colored her face. I had provided a variety of transfers for everybody to choose from. We used Glossy Transfer paper and Sheer Heaven - one of my favorite transfer mediums and one of hte few that actually work for me.

I showed them how to take a transfer face up a notch or two with a drawing pencil and paper stump...I love what they all did!

This is a great example of making good use of cosy class space!

Karen Hope's wall hanging here. I love that they all used similar design placements but tweaked it a little bit to suit their own tastes.

These ladies worked very hard today but had a great time.

Thanks everyone for coming to class!

I'm thinking that I might use this class next year when I do a retreat in Colorado Springs...

Oh, I didn't mention that, did I?

I'll have to share some great news with you later on that...

It's All Good.

I've Been Painting Again...

But it's a secret...
well, not really.
Only because my camera is not behaving...
For some reason, each time I try to take pictures,
you have to set it on a different flash setting to get a decent photo...
and then it's not that decent.
Go figure.
But, the Good News is this -
I've completed one of the fiber pieces
that I've been so busy with!
Great!

It's for a class at Random Arts.
A Rust Media Wall Hanging.
And I would love to share it with you
but
well, you know...
the camera issue...

But I can tell you this much.

It involves a stack of rusty strips of fabric, Kim Wipes, lace,

old tee shirts, pantyhose (new not used), tyvek,

drawer liner, mixed media fabric paper,

crocheted lace (by me!), gilded images,

drawn faces, beads, hand quilting

machine quilting and driftwood...

wow...

Doesn't that sound great?

All the rust dyed pieces have been

done by my husband and me.

Check out my teaching schedule

and

Random Arts for more details on this awesome workshop.

It truly is a

"One of a Kind" wall hanging!