Valley Ridge with Flora Bowley

 My friend Pam and I have just returned from 3 days of painting with Flora Bowley. The workshop was held at beautiful Valley Ridge,with amazing hostess, Katherine Engen. I've been to Valley Ridge once before and the property and studio are just amazing. So beautiful and peaceful. Katherine is moving onto new adventures, so Pam and I took advantage of the studio time, knowing that things are changing for Valley Ridge.

Flora's class was just amazing. It was not about pressure or perfection. It was very calm and peaceful, full of gratitude and appreciation. A wonderful way to look at life and present a workshop.Makes me want to incoporate things differently when I teach as well.

Her painting style is a process. It might take 3 days to paint a picture, it might take a week, a few weeks or more! In the beginning of the class, we were all ask to make a commitment about our goal for her class. Mine was to not to get caught up in walking away with a "masterpiece" (just not realistic). I can get easily frustrated when painting for the "magic" to happen and my goal was to just be patient. Every morning, we would recommit or remind ourselves to our goals. great philosophy to keep  yourself on track! I left feeling peaceful, content and grateful.

It was also a treat for us all to have Flora's mom and sister, joining in on the fun. It was their first time taking a workshop with her - how cool is that?

 here's a little section of one of my paintings, a bird soaring to new heights.

 I flew into Chicago, where Pam picked me up. Then we drove 4 hours to Wisconsin. We had fun along the way and of course did a little antiquing.

 

 for my birthday present (Happy Birthday to me!), Pam painted this sweet little picture for me. I feel so lucky to have a piece of art created by my dear friend. It's titled, "She waters her garden daily". yep, that's me!

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The rest of the post will be visual . I'll let you imagine the rest of the story as it unfolds through my photography. enjoy!

 

As always, thanks for tagging along!

summer is slipping by

Wow, August is just about over. Where has summer gone? I feel like I've done nothing summery, yet I've been busy as all heck. I've been a terrible blogger, but what can I say? It's summer and is anyone really reading anyway? I've had Dillon home, company and catching up on projects. I unexpectedly had some deadlines to meet which had me crazy busy for about 2 weeks (and a bit stressed to tell the truth). I'm finishing up my online class with Artful Gathering and now need to figure out how to do my dvd's of the class. (students have the option of purchasing a dvd when class is over). In a few months, I will be selling the dvd's in my etsy shoppe from my class, "Soldered Flambe". I also had a lovely overnite in NYC, visiting my friend, Pam. We walked 5th Avenue for Summer Streets, which was a lot of fun. Then we stopped for lunch before continuing to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge (also very fun!) I took this picture of the dragonfly in Brooklyn, down by the water.

So that's what I've been up to. headed back into the studio to finish to sewing commissions and then I have to get ready for all my fall obligations (teaching, hosting Michael deMeng, more teaching and traveling). I also fly to Chicago and will be driving to Valley Ridge art studio with Pam to take a class with Flora Bowley (my birthday present!)

latest work

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here's my booth at a store where i am selling, in Pt. Pleasant, NJ. The store is called, Sea and Green.
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new work:

this one will be added to my website
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this one will be going on my website. the doll is made of PMC (precious metal clay) and it is a piece i made last summer at Valley Ridge in Wisconsin while taking a Nina Bagley class. the piece above her head is a sterling Victorian perfume funnel.
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this one is at the shoppe in pt. pleasant. it features a tiny vintage metal calendar.
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this one is going on my website
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this one is at the shoppe in pt. pleasant

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this one i made for me!
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Monday i made 2 other steam punk metalicious necklaces and took them to the shoppe on tues. they sold while i was working that day. i didn't even have a chance to take a picture of them! i was wearing the one above and i think it really helped show them how cool they look!