Zentangles

I started a Zentangle journal a while ago. I find it to be relaxing to work in and it's a natural thing for me to do, as I have always doodled when I talk on the phone and at other times when my hands are idle. I've already completed 30 pages in the journal, so I thought I would share a few of them with you.
It is really a mindless style of art because you really are just serendipitously letting your pen go with the flow. I am working in a Moleskine journal because I like the smoothness of the pages and using a Sharpie Retractable Pen (not the marker) to create the designs because it glides effortlessly over the page. You can see more of my Zentangle Journal pages here.

In other news, my friend Brandy Faulkner is one of the guest artists on the Crescendoh website this week. And she was nice enough to feature my little backyard retreat as a part of her featured article. You can read Brandy's touching Art Saves story (as well as Tracy, Rachel and Teresa's stories) by clicking here.

ArtFiberFest Round-Up

Just wanted to post some miscellaneous photos from ArtFiberFest before I close the chapter on this inspiring retreat. Above is a pic of the front of the registration packet. All those felt "orbs"  (Fiberfest's theme this year) look like they'd be fun to make.

I put together this little photo album, featuring some hand-stitching and my perfected French knots, thanks to some how-to tips from Ruth Rae. I used Ellen's tutorial from our spring Joli Paquet blog here to make the album.

I bought this sweet little needle book from Charlotte who was selling them at the Vendor Marketplace on Friday night. It was a cinch to put together. I think she may still have a few of them left here.

Here's a photo of the beautiful campus at Reed college. Trees and other lush plants abound!

Relaxing and patiently waiting for the cafeteria to open for breakfast.

Here we are at our "tree house" table after breakfast. Two stories up, the view was amazing!

(Clockwise around the table, starting at the left: Me, Linda, Tammy, Juanita, and Cindy)
Linda and Cindy in the dorm. I love how some of the girls made their rooms all comfy-cozy with quilts and pillows from home.
Juanita and Lori hanging out in the kitchen of Bidwell Dorm. The dorms were brand new and beautiful...makes me want to go back to college again!

Make room! - The Queen (AKA Lory) has arrived, wearing a crown made in Alisa Burke's Creating Royalty class and scarf from Mary's Felt Collage workshop.

Rice Freeman-Zachery showing off the latest addition to her wine bottle installation.

Show and Tell Night was held in each of the three dorms on Saturday night. It was so much fun to see everyone's creations on display.

Tracie showing off one of the topsy-turvy dolls from Roxanne's class.

Here is Linda's funky rug hooked bird (nicknamed Bobby Dax) made in Mary Stanley'sworkshop.

Tammy posing by her Enchanted Felt Cottage made in Charlotte Lyon's class.

Texas friends and travel partners, Juanita and Cindy. It was so fun to finally meet some of my cyber-friends.
Thursday night we attended Mini Workshop Demos held in each of the dorms. (Yes that fireplace is in the dorm - times sure have changed since I went to college!) Reenie Hanlin showed us how to knot knit with her beautiful hand-spun yarns and fibers. 

Charlotte Lyons showed us how to make this darling little mini cottage.

And Pam Garrison showed us how she makes her gorgeous "Anthropologie Inspired" coffee filter garlands.

Sunday came way too soon and it was time to say our good-byes and leave our beautiful setting in Portland. Time to return home with our heads full of wonderful inspiration and memories. Thank you Teesha and Tracy for a truly remarkable experience! 

As we flew out we could see a glimpse of Mount Hood in the foggy distance. Back home to the reality of laundry, dishes, and the drudgery of everyday life. But not for long! We are heading off to our cottage later today to spend some time with our friends who are visiting from Florida. I'm hoping to put together a new journal before we leave so I can work in it while we are gone. 

AFF:Part One:Art Studio Journal

Oh what fun we had at ArtFiberFest...Oh, I'm so sorry to bore you by repeating that comment over and over again. But it truly was the best! I highly recommend that you try to attend an Art Retreat, even if it is right in your home town (right Tammy and Linda?) because it is so inspiring and you leave with so much excitement and renewed energy. 

My first workshop was taught by the talented Roxanne Padgett. Roxanne is super organized and brought a wealth of supplies and let us use them all. Not to mention the cute hand stenciled folder filled with goodies she put together for us.

Roxanne taught workshops on all three days and the one I took was called Art Studio Journal. In a way these journals reminded me of those cloth books we had as toddlers with all the interactive features. However, this one was for grown up artists with pockets and places to hold art supplies to carry along with you.  
Pockets, pockets, and MORE pockets. I think we were secretly trying to see who could create the most pockets inside our books. The page above features removable tags to hold fibers and a palette of watercolor crayons along with a paintbrush so you'll ever be without paint.
I had a bear of a time with my little Janome sewing machine in this class. As everyone else's machines were purring along quietly, mine was chug-a-chug-chugging the whole time in between the bobbin thread jamming up and my muttering choice words of frustration. I hope I didn't annoy too many of my classmates! Thank goodness for Reenie, who sat next to me and used her magic touch to get the machine moving again.....for a while anyway!
I used one of my needle-felted flowers on this page and made a note pad of paper back at the dorm to fit inside one of the pockets. There's even a place to slip in a pencil on the left side!

I used a lot of Amy Butler fabrics in constructing this journal. Love her fresh graphic designs and nature inspired color palette.

Here we are all working away on our various journals. Thanks so much to Suzanne who sat at the table behind me and let me borrow her pinking shears. Suzanne always comes prepared!

Next time I'll show you what I made in Charlotte Lyons workshop on Day Two!

Off To Portland

This will be my last post until I return from ArtFiberfest in Portland. I've been running around like crazy making sure I have everything I need to bring for the workshops. I'm taking classes from Charlotte Lyons, Ruth Rae and Roxanne Padgett. Charlotte will be also teaching a mini workshop along with Pam Garrison, and Reenie Hanlin. I'll be sure to take a lot of pictures to share with you when I get back.

Potting Shed, Revisited

Some of you may remember a post that I wrote a long time ago about the cute little potting shed/garden house that my DH designed and built for me. Yes, this is the same wonderful hubby that is building a shed up at our cottage, but that one will be strictly for him. I told him he should start up a side business making these, because I am certain there must be other ladies like me who would love a little getaway like this.

We opened it up this past weekend. (We use it to store our patio furniture during the winter since it is not heated.) We scrubbed and swept and gave it a thorough spring cleaning. So I thought I would take some more pictures to share with you.

Come on in and sit a while ~ Perhaps you would like light refreshment like a cup of tea or glass of lemonade?
I got this angel fountain from the shop I used to manage. It was an extra one sent in error by the manufacturer, who told us to keep it instead of sending it back. Who am I to argue with that decision? The water creates such a soothing sound and is great to have running when the neighbor decides to mow his lawn at the exact time I am spending a relaxing moment in the retreat.
These are a few of the pillows in my collection. They make the wicker loveseat all comfy and cozy ~ perfect for curling up and reading a good book.
This chair is my all-time favorite and was made by an artist who sold her things through our shop. My favorite part is the little hand-carved chickadee sitting atop the back of the chair.
I had this basket of flowers personalized specifically for the potting shed after reading that the word FOLLY means, "a building constructed strictly as a decoration, having none of the usual purposes of housing associated with a conventional structure. A folly originated as decorative accent in parks and estates and is used in the sense of fun or light-heartedness, not in the sense of something ill-advised."

We used recycled vintage windows (and french doors) in the construction and the view is as pretty as a picture. Not much is blooming at the moment except for the bleeding hearts on this side and. . .
. . .blue columbine and a fragrant Miss Kim lilac out the window on the other side.
I found this sconce at a flea market, rewired it myself and added the beaded shade for a touch of shabby chic elegance.
An inspiration board for garden dreams. . .
And a cute little desk for writing or drawing. I bought the nest lamp and hand-painted the shade.

Two little love birds sit in a flea market find cage. The color was perfect. . .I couldn't resist!

That's all for today....stop back tomorrow for more photos!