A Boat Load of Caribbean Goodies

It's been a month since I went aboard the Freedom of the Seas to bask in the sun and do art with Tim Holtz. I have just now finished putting away the mammoth amount of art supplies given to each participant. Each class would yield more and more until I was at the point of being totally overwhelmed.



Upon arriving in Florida, there was a four hour wait to pick up our luggage due to lightening. It's always so laughable that when you are going somewhere fun, there's pretty much nothing that can bring a frown.




Once on board, we found where the classes were to be held, our room and met our dining mates (and women I would be sitting with in class) and of course, the infamous Tim Holtz!





Our Ports of Call included CocoCay, Bahamas





St. Thomas





And the best time ever on St. Maarten











Meeting wonderful fun people......







.....and the cutest newlywed couple ever ~ who now have my Angel and know its story.



And of course, no trip is complete without meeting my "Hot Guy" (and this one definitely was!)!!!!



A week after getting home I received in the mail a beautiful acrylic book made by Brenda, my art buddy that I sat by each day, the one who took me under her wing and showed me what to do.



Thank you Brenda for making my trip so much more enjoyable, for my beautiful book and for your friendship!

Leap and the Net will Appear

I love the word Serendipity and I love it even more when it comes into my life.

Earlier this year there was a small group of people that began a Gluebook group. I was an observer during round one and am participating in round two (it's just in the process of finishing up-but that's another blog post).

The creator and host of the group is Corinne Marie who is so incredibly talented. Equal to her talent is her gift of being this fantastic cheerleader to all, along with her openness to share what she knows. She was the one that suggested the Tiny Book Swap to me, which lead me to the wonderful Catherine Mommsen. She is definitely a gatherer of people and one of the most gracious and inspirational artists I know.

A month ago she created a new group ~ Creative Round Robin Books and asked if I wanted to join. Pitter pat pitter pat goes my heart....of course!

The theme for my book and title is "Leap and the Net will Appear", a quote from Julia Cameron. I have so many ideas swirling around in my head for 2012 ~ I just know it will be a great year. Some of the ideas are a bit big and some a little scary. I am eager for December 31, 2011 midnight to arrive, to be bold and to take that leap.

Here are the beginning pages of my book that will be sent on to four amazing artists.







I'm excited to see what the others will create in it and look forward to its return home just as 2012 begins. Thank you Cori for doing what you do, for being so welcoming and encouraging. And thank you for letting me be a part of your very artful group.

ReUsed Plastic Fun!

I received an email from Paul Perry a couple of months ago. He was forwarding a possible art project/fundraiser called the International Plastic Quilt Project that he thought I might be interested in doing. He also mentioned that maybe Annette Lansing and Cat Zimmerman might want to join in as well.

That week in clay class after the other students had left, I brought up the project ~ the four of us were in! Our task was to create squares (preferably 12x12) made of nothing but plastic (thread could be added if needed). I suggested that we do transfer images via packing tape. The next week we all showed up with our stacks of favorites pictures and began to group them together.

Once grouped, I signed up to piece them together. Cat signed up to quilt them to their backing of bubble wrap and various used plastic bags. Electrical tape was added to edge them and Annette added grommets for easy hanging. They turned out spectacular!!




In addition to the measurements and use of plastic, each one had to incorporate the word "PLENTY".

The first one we titled "Plenty of Europe"....




The second one we called "Plenty of Nature"....




The third one we called "Plenty of Eyes"....




And ending with "Plenty of Creatures"....



Thank you Paul for your vision of what could be ~ such a great collaboration of Professors, Teachers, Mentors and Students from the Gerontology Program.

The fundraiser is going to be on November 4th at 100th Monkey Studios (which is located at 110 SE 16th Avenue, Portland). Hope to see you there!!!!

ClayMEtion

Another session of clay handbuilding has ended. I never would have thought that I would love getting that slab of clay each Friday, but I do.

Part of the reason that I love this class is that I feel safe. Annette Lansing clearly teaches and shows that beautiful creations are in the eyes of the beholder ~ there is greatness even in mess-ups! And she says it's alright to steal, especially anything of hers (she takes it as a huge compliment!).

The class began with masks. One of ladies in class thought mine looked like Nicolas Cage (so know I have a drunk Cage and a sober Cage!).






My most favorite though would be my self portrait. I was excited and giddy the entire time of its coming to be. I love to hold her.




Shelby posed the question the day I brought "me" home, "Question: What is your perception of self portraiture in art? If you are an artist and you do or have done self portraiture what is your motivation/process. If you answer I will do my best to put my ideas into words as well."

I loved Destree's reply, "Self portraits to me are a way of working from the inside out. Sometimes it has been a way to sort through an issue (such as the one I did to quit smoking) or also as a way of manifesting secret desires. Visual work is easier for me to be real with, words have a tendency to choke when they are coming from deep within me."

Making "me" felt very therapeutic (especially when I had to explain to the class why she is my favorite piece that I made).

Thank you again Annette for another great session. You are a fabulous teacher and I am quite eager for Paul to slice me my next slab of clay!

The Pot Washer

Once upon a time there was a pot washer on 4th & Alder. I would purposely miss my bus (several times) just so we could sit and talk and laugh. He was from Roosevelt and I was from Washington. Those evenings would become the roots of a lifelong friendship. There would be moments when he would take my breath away ~ moments filled with unexpected surprises and giddiness and the most beautiful watercolor paintings I have ever seen.

There are moments when he still does.....




I love remembering those evenings with that blond haired pot washer, giggles and missed buses.... and I love that he is my forever and always friend!

Margaritaville Bliss

It came in the mail ~ a wonderful package from the incredibly talented artist Catherine Mommsen.



An envelope containing such wondermous goodies, words and an exquisite box holding one of her very much coveted tiny books!



As I had written before, she and I had participated in a tiny book swap. She emailed me and asked if I wanted to swap books after the swap if we did not receive each others in the swap. Mine were tiny origami books I had recently learned how to make. Hers were out of this world fantastically fabulous. (Of course I would swap!).

She named my book Margaritaville.



Each page is lined with gold ~ each page holds words and wonderful pieces of her paper, art and designs.






Along with her book making talent, Catherine is also a wonderful pen and ink artist!



AND (not that I'm partial) she's from the Northwest with plans to come visit (how great is that?!)!! I already have in mind two fun art places I want to take her to to see when she comes to Portland ~ thank you Catherine for asking to exchange with me and for sharing your art! I am so very privileged to have one of your tiny books!