My Tribe

"We evolve at the rate of the tribe we are plugged into."
Carolyn Myss

I had been writing and re-writing this quote into my journals for years...put it in many of my paintings (and sold a number of them). And (drum roll please), I've found them. My art tribe! This was our second meet-up. Two of the first nine of us weren't able to be at our new site/time (though Michelle did come up for a day, so we were 10 on Saturday), we did recruit two new women for this retreat, so there are 11 total now.
These first two photos are of our first collaborative book that the amazingly talented, infinitely generous and sadly blogless Penelope created for us. It is filled with quality photocopies of a few of the journal pages we each created on the first retreat, recipes of some of the meals we enjoyed there, favorite quotes, favorite art supply sources, memories of the weekend (GSD) and so much more.

The amazingly talented, wildly generous and sadly blogless Penelope brought her coil binding supplies and taught us some great methods for coiling binding and using the holes punched for binding in other creative ways. I made three coil bound journals, and once they are filled I will likely change the binding to one of the other creative techniques she showed us. For now they will be coil bound because they lay flat for creating. The first two of these photos are of the little 4 x 4 journal I created for our son. The inside of the cover has a little snippet of his great-grandmother's quilt (my grandmother) that I have treasured since I went away to college.

This is a "junk journal" I made with some of the recycled cardboard that folks brought for the sharing tables (yes two tables filled with papers, stickers, tags, magazines, tons of fun stuff). (Have you tried these Holiday Jo-Jo's? *so* tasty!)
My second junk journal. A kleenex box as the base...note the back cover has the window where the kleenex came out, I filled the window to be viewed on the inside of the back cover and covered the opening on the back. One of the photos of the inside of this journal shows a practice card of my calligraphy for a class I took years ago. Before going on this retreat I went through my studio and put a great majority of my papers into four canvas totebags.



My notes on Sunday, trying to summarize all the tips and techniques I learned over the weekend.


Find your tribe. It's freeing and fun and worth the wait. Cannot wait until our next weekend -- in January 2010!

Art Journaler's Retreat

We made books. This is one that Dawn made, accordian folds glued onto a fabric binding. I'll post more samples of them later.
Some wonderful photographs from the weekend. I have missed taking these kind of photos, capturing textures.
Four of us went for a walk to the beach and really loved the fresh air and the photo opps.
Catherine busy at work on the journal.

More staycation photos. From a picnic at the Ballard Locks.

Been crocheting a bunch of toddler toys. This is a sample -- also making eggs, bacon and fruit.

what i did on my summer vacation (august journaler's retreat)

Bleach pen work on a photo that Rose brought to the retreat. I heart the bleach pen. Another of my heart collages. I heart my heart shaped collages...I also made a transfer of one of my designs. I'll show y'all that later. I think I might put it on a plain t-shirt, or maybe a totebag? Hmmm.A re-worked journal page. I took a page that I had worked, re-worked and added again...And I still hated it...so I covered the whole thing with these large graphic flowers in semi-transparent, shiny acrylic paints. I love the page now. Can't decide if I'm going to journal on it too. Thoughts?
The borders are done on these 2 two-page spreads for LM's journal.

My mixed media journal i created on Friday. This was one of my top goals for the weekend, I brought a pile of various papers that I wanted to mix up and sew into a journal. I love it...and I journaled in a bit too...
Some sketching of ideas that developed from pouring through books and being at the retreat for a couple of days.

and once in august...

goodness gracious! i haven't posted in a long time...
needed to get at least this one post in in august!

returned yesterday afternoon from a *delightful* journaling retreat near Mt. Baker.



view of our work area from the hallway upstairs...9 quite generous workstations ... many brought trades, others brought items to share -- magazines (Departures met with resounding success...if any readers have access to those...I'd love a little package of those in the mail, or dropped off at the house if you know me :)),
rubber stamped tissue paper,
teeny glassine envelopes,
strips of scrapbook paper,
piles of inspiring published books to pour through,
piles of our journals to pour through,
a great big box of music to journal by,
a few bottles of wine (i think we all showed remarkable restraint in only drinking with our evening meal and later),
baked goods,
homemade soup with nettles,
yummy recipes from great cookbooks,
hot tub time,
hikes,
lots of laughter,
a few snores :),
a bit of teaching,
a lot of learning,
total restoration!!!

thanks to you all ... long may the "gussies" meet and collaborate!
special thanks to Gwen and Catherine for finding this place and starting the ball rolling!





(view from Liesel's space to my mostly picked up space on Sunday morning...her final journal entry of the weekend experience).

Enjoying the "Staycations"

Woodland Park Zoo. We had a great, great time. LM saw some of the animals and enjoyed the beautiful landscaping and all the people.

Had to buy a new computer...our last one crashed, we are still trying to find someone to help us get all of our photos and videos off of it so that we can print all of our photos of little man.

The 4th of July show was a bust. I am so proud of all the work that I created for it though ... and hopefully I'll have a chance to show and sell it somewhere up here soon.

painting buddhas (and more)

Been knitting and crocheting lately in snippets of time. Working on a combination of granny squares and knitting...will show these when I've finished them.
Taking little trips to all the cool places in the Seattle area. Love this sculpture.

I'm so proud of my latest pieces.
Here's a sneak peek.
I'll show more after the show.
If I'm really lucky it'll be good I took photos because they'll all sell! :)

Artists Garage Sale

see you in Mulkiteo on Saturday... at Rosehill Community Center 304 Lincoln Ave.





Great stuff at Great Prices. See you there. :)

http://www.artscouncilofsnoco.org/events.html
(for some reason blogger isn't letting clickable links in right now)

A favorite view on our walks.

I'm working on Buddha after Buddha for my upcoming July show. We are so excited to see all of our friends and family -- maybe even a hike with LM around one or two of our favorite walking around lakes in the Bend area.
I also am continuing to sort through my art supplies to gather together piles of fabulous things to sell at the Artists Garage Sale in the Seattle area in June. (I'll post a link later when I hear for certain that I've received a space there). Out with the old, in with the new.
Thinking of new and different things to do with the booth this summer. Suggestions? I really should have styled this shot better, though this is the real look of the booth, because it was July and so hot that we couldn't really have the sides up all the way because it is *so* hot under the canopy in the heat of summer, you simply have to have the sides all open to catch any and all breezes that come through.

Teaching at the UW Experimental College- cancelled

Sigh. Not enough for me to run the class at this time. Though I am hoping to offer a private class this summer. I have a couple of folks on the list for the next class. If you are interested, let me know, I'll keep you informed about the upcoming class date.


Precious Metal Clay: Create Your Own Silver Jewelry
You will learn quick and easy techniques to create professional quality jewelry today. Using techniques adapted from earthen clay, metalsmithing and polymer clay create silver earrings, pendants and charms. Experiment with texturing tools, rubber stamps, molds and canapé cutters. An innovative material, PMC is composed of microscopic particles of silver suspended in an organic binder. When fired in a kiln, the binder burns away leaving a piece of pure silver jewelry.

Skill level: no art experience necessary
Kit includes: handouts, one package of PMC+, firings for one package, use of tumbler, kiln, patinas, texturing tools and use of all materials & tools throughout the class.

Tell your friends. This class will take place on Saturday, May 16th on the UW Main Campus. Call 'em at 206.68.LEARN to register.

Randomness and Centering

I am painting buddha after buddha...ever trying to find my center every day. I do plan to have a dozen for the 4th of July show in Bend. (Though I will post them to etsy in the meantime...) This one still needs to be framed...one day I'll be getting that table saw to speed up that process.

We were recently in Spokane for the Pacific Northwest Conference of United Church of Christ. I love these people! We had a great time meeting new folks, enjoying our hotel room with a great view of the river (not any of these shots, I for some reason took no pictures of our view), I love balconies! sat out there a couple of times and added sketches and ideas to my journal. LM *loved* the swimming pool...will definitely be staying at hotels with pool access from now on.

Years ago when I lived in Pullman I joined a large group of friends who ran/walked the Bloomsday Run. It was a great day. Gotta work on getting ready for another similar experience. Goals. Always with the goals.

We didn't take this ride, but it sure looked like it'd be beautiful.

LM has discovered mirrors and loves to play with the baby.
Great big batch of chili made and stored in the freezer.