Creative Bliss

What a time I had in Port Townsend enjoying a few days of creative bliss at Art Fiber Fest. Here I am on the Ferry crossing the Puget Sound. I do love an adventure............
This is the car I happened to rent, What luck.............I enjoyed my drive enveloped in the trees and the beauty of the sea air. The rest of the time was spent taking wonderful classes and enjoying the beauty of my surroundings. I wandered through the neighborhood admiring their lovely yards and green foilage, ending my run at the ocean watching seagulls dive down for food. One day it was so cold that my legs were bright red and stinging. I ran back to my dorm and hoped into the shower and just let the hot water get my legs warm, outside the window I could see the ocean and hear the wind ...........it was one of those moments, you know the kind when you are totally connected with yourself and nature. I was still and satisfied.


Here is my room. It was cold I was glad I brought my blanket and coat. At night I would sit and journal and visit with the other Art Fest Gals.......... Just a few photos of my experience, it was fabulous. A doll (Blithe) and my art peice from Alma Strollers class.

My haul from Vendors night. The dolls and yarn are from LampesLumps.

This is Pam Garrisons rug hooking house, we all loved it. Mary Stanley taught this class, it was a big hit. They called themselves the "Happy Hookers."

My friend Laurie trying to imitate this creature........
This is a Wooly Beast from Keely's class. I'm not sure who made this one, isn't it great?

Kristy Steiner with her adorable sister. Who is also an artist of jewelry and design.
Lisa Call's pursescape, made in Keely's class.

Fabric Oddities from Alma's class.
One of Keely's dolls.

My fabric journal from Pam Garrison's class.

Sweet and Sinister

Creative Muse, my swap partner, sent me this sweet and sinister package yesterday. Everything was adorable, So much talent out of this mom who has twins!!!! Where does she find the time?

Look at these roses she makes out of ribbon. I adore these!!! she sales them in her Etsy shop.
Each item was wrapped in black or white tissue paper. In the jar some vintage buttons and a rosette made from silver vintage thread.
In each canister there are adorable vintage items, buttons, black sequins and ribbons.
And the cookies.......they are delicious. I need this recipe Stacy!!!!
thank you Stacy "Creativemuse". If you get a chance go and visit her lovely wares. This is another fabulous swap hosted by artsy mama go to her website for more sweet and sinister.

Happiness in the Mail

Do you love to get packages in the mail? I do..... they make me so happy.



This came from Sweet Petunia a jewelry designer and teacher who came to the nest last summer. I was the winner of her blog drawing. This bag is from Trader Joes. All the goodies were with it. Thank you Lisa ...you really made my day.

Artfest

Yesterday a big surprise in the mail, my Artfest booklet. It is adorable........ the theme for this year is Forest Walk.

Some of the art work was made by some of Teesha 's friends, for a Zine she is creating called Hedgehog Log. These pieces were made by Pam Garrison, love her work.........


This is my first year going to Artfest. Julie and I are going together and what a treat it will be, to spend some days making art and looking for Hedgehogs?
Some exciting things happening at the nest for February......................

Real Life

Today was one of those days that you just can't get into a groove. Everything seems pointless, i felt like a leaf floating in the wind trying to make sense of what I am doing. Knowing what I want to feel like, not knowing how to make it happen. I prayed, then went about my day trying to see God's beauty and love. I got called to the school because Gracee( my first grader) wanted to come home. She was missing me? imagine that. So I went to her class and had lunch with her. As soon as I walked into her classroom she ran right to me and hugged me like there was no letting go , she showed me her paper dog and introduced me to her friends. We had lunch together then played hop-scotch on the playground. I felt so Happy!!!!!!!!!!I I love spending time with children and have done so for most of my life. I was so grateful for those sweet faces. that turned my day around.

Then I was just looking for something to listen to while I did the laundry, and remembered Melody Ross's blog. She is the founder of Chatterbox. I listened to her podcast. It was so real, raw even, about her struggles and triumphs with life. It made me think. I want to be more real....... more open. That is when life happens. People connect. Living Honestly and more open.

Something real about me. I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for the last few years. Depression runs in my family. Things that were so easy for me became hard: like getting up in the morning, going out with friends, playing games, even running and doing art. All of things used to make me happy, yet I couldn't force myself to do any of them. I pushed people away and started turning inward for support, and there was nothing there. Depression is hard to explain. I remember years ago I knew all of these Women who were on Prozac and I judged them, Saying "if they could just do this............they wouldn't need the drugs". I was wrong, sometimes people do need the drugs. It is hard to explain when you feel like you have lost someone, yourself. The real down point for me was when I watched home videos of myself and I was laughing and having fun. I was so sad........I missed her..........I didn't know how I had changed so much. You may know people who are depressed because of thier circumstances or the way they are living. I had nothing to be depressed about, from the outside looking in I had everything. I have learned some coping skills and had lots of support from my husband. I Keep hoping someday it will go away, in fact I have asked God to help it go away. I have come to realize that God lets us have things like this in our lives for a reason. It is to learn to love.........It is all about love, this is the purpose of living. I love others who struggle with this. I love myself more for getting through hard days, I love my family more and they have learned to love me more. I love God more for sending help whenever I ask, and he always does........

What is in Your Studio?


Random pics of things in my studio. A piece of fabric that is yearning to be made into one of those darling aprons.
A basket of eggs and nests from the Art Nest. I just can't seem to change these yet.My Misty piece that I love.......with my Art Fiberfest doll waiting for some inspiration. Help..................
Vintage Bulbs just waiting to be put on a tree. I have had a big holiday mess in my studio all summer; that I am now going to put away until after Halloween.

What is in your studio?? Post a few photos on your blog this week and leave a comment directing us to your studio..........

Little read

On Monday I had the best day. I woke up late... drove to my favorite piece of road and biked for about an hour, sat in the sun and enjoyed the beauty of the mountains, went out to lunch with my daughter, then spent the rest of the day making this little book. It was a wonderful day and a great feeling to have time to myself to make Art.



I collage some of the pages in the book using a tape technique I learned from Sally Jean. Some of the pages I collaged then ripped them to fit the book, using tape to adhere them after the fact.
Then I added my doodles and more paint. The Tape takes on such a cool texture.


My Halloween pages. These were so fun . I could do a whole little Book on Halloween and Fall.

Surprisingly this is all done in a little memo notebook. I didn't know if it would hold together but the tape has strengthened it. I left some pages taped and painted so I could add little bits and pieces as I get the chance. I punched out peices of the leftover collage for added interest.

I have an obsession for old suitcases...These are two of my favorites filled to the top with vintage fabrics and finds. Do have a place to store your things???