Books and Baubles Weekend!!!

Well, it's been two weeks, a flight to Florida and a monster storm that left my girl alone without power since our busy, busy creative weekend!

Everyone did beautiful work with paper, fabric, beads, metal, dried flowers and bees wax, grommets, threads and buttons...

We chowed pot luck style all weekend, had a fabric store field trip, shared gifts, stories, materials and ideas. Once again it was a pleasure to host such an explosive bundle of energy. Slip out directions, ideas and a packet of supplies and off they went into colorful worlds of stitching, folding and gluing. Breaks for food and back at it!!

Annie having way too much fun!!!

We led 13 lovelies through the steps for

• painting paper
•  ironing wax bags with dried flowers and bees wax
• stitching folded fabric paper scraps of this and that
• wrapping wire, beads, buttons
• punching holes and squishing grommets
• putting them together to create wonderful textural books!

 Kathy Nessi in model mode! 

  

 Followed by Loretta model mode!

Linda's beautiful dried flowers...

 

 Ellen concentrating!

 Betti

 Loie

Linda and Thea playing with wax and the iron...danger...

 

Elizabeth

Maddie, Linda and Loretta...

 Maddie and Elizabeth working hard!

 Nancy folding paper above and stitching below...

 

 

Steph and Sandi at it!

 Maddie

 Thea's Pile! Thanks for shopping Thea!

 Linda's Snow Peeps were for sale...Love them...

Betti packing it up!

Thanks again everyone! The food was great, appreciate all of the efforts that went into making it a great weekend! Looking forward to summer!

June 21-23

Solstice Fabulous Fabrics!!!

Pillow Talk!

 

Worked on pillows last fall that mixed up printed and painted cottons with commercial  fabrics. Also mixed free motion machine work with hand embroidery. My favorite combo.

At some point I went through the studio and found projects that were half finished and whipped them into shape. The piece below started as a self portrait on paper, was then printed onto fabric and combined with scraps to make the front of the pillow.

The Yellow pillow had also been hanging on the felt wall for some time, so onto the work table she went, and she too became a pillow top!

This little lovely is that inner peacenik that can't quite understand the insanity!

And "in progress" is Miss Thimble Head...the thimble came from a Rebecca Ringquist scrap bundle! This girl is VERY happy to have that hat!!!

Getting last minute details done for our workshop this weekend. Thirteen lucky creative women heading this way! Also packing for Florida...heading out to hang with the sisters next week!!

Squam Spring '13 Excitement

Well it is very cold here in little rhody today, but those with Spring Squam Art Retreats on their minds, it's all sunshine, lake views, and making stuff!!! The news is coming in about cabins and classes! Got my info and am also very excited about getting a space at the Squam Fair!

 Mona LaPierre all the way from Portland, OR braving the water and working her magic with knitting needles!

Busy Knitting hands Everywhere!!

 Last year I spent my class time with my camera and teachers Amy Gretchen and Thea Coughlin. It was great doing the classes back to back...helped me pound in the information! Still practicing!

The Spring Session is closed already, so you can bet that those who made it to the pre-reg page are happy indeed!

xxxx

Jan Gathering 25th - 27th!

Alright, the Winter Extravaganza is in place for the end of Jan. Linda Willis and I will be guiding the lucky attendees through tasks combining paper, fabric and wire. Do what we suggest, do what ever you want!!! No Prob!

As usual, there will be fab food, lessons learned, new friends, and a safe creative space!! Help fend off that pesky winter chill by giving yourself the gift of warm and inspiring weekend!

For a few more details you can download:

the flyer

registration form

If you have any questions about what we will be doing...payment plan...etc please let me know!

And spread the word to others that might be interested!!

Summer Fun with Needles!

Well as usual, I am a couple of months behind my blog self. Had a wonderful time in New Hampshire with all of the springtime Squamettes! New and old friends, lots of laughs good food, beautiful landscape and new skills!!! What's better than that?

 These girlz are crazy knitters...all the time everywhere!! I was studying my camera!

 

Embellishing Fun in Little Rhody!

Steph's Handiwork.

We had a great weekend at the end of July with seven eager students and five enthusiastic "staff" members: Linda Willis, my sis Allison Stilwell, her sidekick for life, Midge Baudouin, and my girl Sue. The focus was on embellishment techniques and after Midge shared her stitch style with the group, they were off and running. It was a powerhouse of skills and energy. Very exciting to watch the work develop!

Midge sharing her approach!

 

 

Nancy and Midge...

 

 Sandi, Maddie, and Betti paying attention.

 

 Elizabeth

 

Stitching By the Pond.

 Miss Linda...stitcher extraordinaire!

 Loretta and Elizabeth

 Steph and Maddie working.

 

 Sandi focused and flying on her machine!

 Nancy working on paper/fabric leaves.

Everyone worked hard, had good food, walked around the garden, went shopping, shared stories and goodies. It is gratifying to offer a safe and relaxing space for hard working women to set up shop and settle into a creative mode for a couple of dayz. Thanks to all!!

***** Next gathering...Save the Date *****

Jan 25. 26. 27 - 2013

Baubles and Books

Kerr Grabowski Rocks!

 

Well, way back at the end of March in the faraway kingdom of Indian Rocks Beach, in the Tampa Florida region of the world, Linda Willis, my Sis Allison and Midge Baudouin gathered with a roomful of other creative types with super teacher Kerr Grabowski to learn Deconstructed Screen Printing! Kerr is the blondie below with red apron.

Check out her website for images of her amazing work, instructional cd's available for purchase and her list of teaching adventures. If you are interested in surface design you will be thrilled beyond belief!!

 

Linda on the left , Al in the green and Midge in black and white...

  

Screening away...i don't know who...maybe Midge...

 

 One of my screens ready to go...this was water soluble crayons on the screen...

Sister student pulling a screen...

Checking out the results! The results were always no fail!!!

Have been working on this piece that was printed in Kerr's class.

She has been machine and hand embroidered with some additional screening.

 

Also working on healing a sprained back. Getting ready to head back to work next week and driving to New Hampshire for Squam and a couple of photography classes and art in the woods!