ICE ice ... baby!

I am so excited ... tomorrow morning's my Monday-with-Jane art class (it's not really called that, but I call it that; ok, so it's really called "Mixed Media with Paper & Cloth with Jane LaFazio", and it's offered by The La Jolla Athanaeum).

So here's the big deal:

http://www.iceresin.com/articles/using-ice-resin-on-paper/

That's what we're doing tomorrow in class!   Making our own resin papers :-).

As the pot roast is finishing off in the oven with the potatoes & carrots, I'm sitting here selecting images to print (inkjet), and ferreting out cool papers I'd like to try as resin paper.     I'm even going to take some of the monoprint papers we did last week in case that might work ... I wonder if the color would bleed?   We'll see.

Okay, so you want a sneak peak at one of the images I want to make into resin paper?   Here it is:



it's a magpie, of course !!!

 All that, and a post coming on the beautiful day that Ann and I spent at the home of Jenny Doh (Saturday), taking a class from Lisa Engelbrecht - I'm still grinning !!!   My big idea is that I can take some of the bits of resin paper that I make tomorrow and use a little of that when I put together my LE-style art quilt with the blocks I started yesterday.  :-)

~~  Princess Magpie

a day in the company of women ...

... today was a very fine day.   My friend Ann Deakers and I went up to the home of Jenny Doh, for an all-day workshop with the oh-so-talented and very generous Mark Maker / Calligrapher Extraordinaire - Lisa Engelbrecht.   http://www.lisaengelbrecht.com/fr_home.cfm

And the beauty of taking a workshop through Jenny's CrescendoH is that Jenny blogs about it, complete with a big collection of photographs, so fast!   One can just include a link to her post, and voila!  Instant blog post for me :-).

http://blog.crescendoh.com/crescendo/2011/03/a-very-special-day-with-lisa-engelbrecht.html

Once I upload my photos from today, I'll do my very own blog post about today - for now, here's Jenny's "take" on the day.

Wow, wow, wow ...

~~  Davielle
aka, your Princess Magpie

Tracy Porter One-of-a-Kind Bag Giveaway

Just posted about this over on my other blog, www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com -- visit there for ALL the photos and further details ... just hurry, 'cause you don't want to miss the chance to enter to win this GORGEOUS bag ...

Tracy Porter One-of-a-Kind Bag Giveaway

CHA Cha cha ...

Spent about 28 hours at CHA at the end of January ... oh my !!!


I still have some whiplash-like pains from whipping my head around at all the eye-candy. So many beautiful, creative, wonderful new crafting products on their way to a retailer near you.  It's going to be a wild, wonderful year for mixed-media artists and scrapbookers.


Had some fun with Make 'n Takes with my friend Kat. Here's a pic of us enjoying ourselves at the Ranger booth:

Oh, and a shot of the incomparable Tim Holtz doing a demo. Wow. Up close & personal. Well, not so "personal", but you know what I mean. I hope.

Saw Claudine Hellmuth demo'ing some of her new items - she's got quite a line of stamps and a stamp "rocker" coming out -- it was pretty cool seeing her in person, finally.

 One of my favorite demo's, though, was at the Faber-Castell booth. They've got the juiciest, most luscious line coming out that you can use like ink or paint on rubber stamps {or freehand} -- including a great little product that looks like it's in a fat lipstick tube called Gelatos --   

WOW. You're going to love what you can do with all these new Faber Castell products.  You can work with them like crazy, they're so user-friendly. 

It's seriously delicious stuff.

{So now I want to design a half-day workshop around these products, I'm telling you. The rest of the day can be spent on ... art journaling? lettering? something fun and freestyle. Would you come to play?!}

Now I sit here wishing I'd had my camera out the entire time, but I just didn't.  Kat and I were too busy trying them all out. {hence the links and images 'borrowed' from the manufacturers' sites.}

NOTE: due to e-blogger technical difficulties, the way I composed this post - with the F-C images IN this general area, isn't showing up.  You MIGHT find the images at the bottom of the post - who knows?   grrrrrrrrrrrr.

And there's so much more ...

I just received the e-mail yesterday: 
"Mix & Match now in Stores" !!!

Find them close to you and give them all a try.   They're smooth, they're creamy, and they're user friendly {trust me, I'm the perfect human guinea pig for testing something's 'user-friendliness' factor}.

Kat and I saw some great artists demo'ing at CHA, including  Donna Downey and Brenda Pinnick.   They were both at the Faber-Castell booth, and it was Brenda that 'coached' us through the new Mix & Match line.   Here's a photo of all that {Brenda should've given me a look at the pic & taken another - LOL}:


Kat Baker, and me ... I really was MUCH happier than I look here!  :-)

Brenda had a new line of stamps coming out, which we played with.   And now, since I let a month pass before finishing this post, they're already available right here:  
http://brendapinnick.typepad.com/studio/shop-for-stamps.html


So CHA was incredible, and one of the very best bits for me was discovering the work - and the person of - Dyan Reaveley.  As we walked past the {ginormous} Ranger booth(s), Kat and I found    Dyan.  



Dyan Reaveley ~ Art From the Heart

 Her art {read: visual} journals are amazing.   She had a huge old ledger book that she'd done incredible backgrounds in, and her lettering, her images on top of those backgrounds, her entire STYLE - was like a magnet.   She and her work pulled us back for 2 more visits before we left CHA.   


I'm one of those timid artist types that sees a vintage ledger book and says "oh, how can / should I dare to color and gel medium and ink over ALL THAT OLD HANDWRITING?".  


So I asked her.  Her answer was nothing short of genius:   "Why not 'art' over it all?  Otherwise, it's going to sit on a shelf or on a table and nobody's ever going to pick it up again - they might glance at it, say 'oh, cool', and then - what?  If it's an art journal, if it's re-purposed into ART, it's going to have a whole new life."    OKAY, so she didn't say all that.  What she basically said was the first part - the "why not?" part.  And something like "if I don't art on the pages, then it's just an old ledger book that nobody's going to care about."    She also had her father's old mathematics book from his school days.  With his pencil scribbles in it and all.   She'd "arted" in that, too.   THAT is when I asked the big question.  And THAT is when she gave me the big answer.

Yeah, I'm a Dyan Fan. Oh, and her biz card has the best quote on it:

"Always Be Kind, For Everyone Is Fighting a Hard Battle".

Her concise response to my question is what just opened up for me - my eyes and my heart - to REALLY USING all the vintage bits I've collected.   And writing it into the paragraph above {paraphrasing, really, what she said} is when I first put into words - all that I got from Dyan's simple answer.

Thank you, Dyan Reaveley - you rock the art world.   Oh, and did I mention that she's from the UK, and she has the most wonderful accent, and she has a studio / shop of her own, and her Ranger products are fabulous, and that someday, I am going to take a workshop - OVER THERE.   In her studio.  :-)   


Visit Dyan here:  www.afth.co.uk  (that's her Art from the Heart site)  or read her blog here:  www.dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com ...


Oh, and if you see her referred to as "Dylan",  just ask. 


Okay, so I sat on this post for a month - it's time to POST it already.


Your,
     ~~  Princess Magpie





Mix & Match Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils



the new colorful Mix & Match PITT pens



the new GELATOs

it's about art, but it's also about community ...

... I just added a link on my sidebar about raising a puppy for an incredible organization, one that changes the lives of people with disabilities every single day:   CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE.

Their mission?  "CCI is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships."

I know, this blog is about ART.  But CCI has been such a big part of my life and my heart for 20 years now, and I just had to share it with you, my fellow artists.   Not only do I continue to volunteer for CCI, but I have worked for them not once, but twice - for a total of 5 years.   {during my last stint as an employee at CCI, our director once referred to me as a 'retread' !!  hey, I've been called worse ...}

Isn't what we do, in the end, all about community anyway?

    Check out little YARROW and her mama right here; and for more information on CCI, find Yarrow on my sidebar and click to link right to CCI's website.   My dear friend Linda will be co-raising this beautiful pup for CCI with co-raiser Vickie.   I can't wait to meet their new darling!

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of posting on this blog about such an incredible program.

~~  Davielle, aka
your PRINCESS MAGPIE {and little Yarrow's honorary auntie!}

Getting my Lettering On - 2011

You can see the blog post I created this morning over on Traci Bautista's CREATIVITY UNLEASED site right here ...

http://creativityunleashed.ning.com/profiles/blogs/getting-my-lettering-on-in

Besides bidding on and winning a great Traci package to benefit CHARITY WINGS last week, I've also signed up for a workshop with Joanne Sharpe {Oh My Word! Artful Lettering Inspiration Journals) at CREATE in May, as well as {Doodle Soup} with Dawn Sokol at the same event.

So now, in my "learn to letter, Davi" arsenal for 2011, I have the talented & creative:

Traci Bautista
Dawn Sokol
Joanne Sharpe

and if I am very very lucky, a day with

Lisa Engelbrecht in May    (details to follow)

I think if I saturate myself with LETTERING workshops, prompts, practice, and play for the first half of 2011, I can focus the rest of the year on ... all the other mixed media art that I already love and appreciate.

Anyone who knows me and my passion for mixed media knows this about me:   I am attracted to many many forms of art, particularly within the realm of mixed media, and so I collect books, how-to videos, online workshops, and in-person classes with ALL MY FAVORITE ARTISTS / ART TEACHERS that I can get to.

I'll post later my reminiscing of just this morning, standing at the kitchen window, of all the great classes I've taken since January 2009, and the amazing people I have met in those classes, and the generous instructors who have encouraged us all to -- follow our art hearts.

Bless you this beautiful Sunday,

~~  Princess Magpie

craving a trip to the UK ...

... to work with the lovely Dyan Reaveley. you can visit her site right here, and I think you might become as enchanted with her style as I have:


wwww. dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com


or here


www.afth.co.uk (Art from the Heart)

Want to see a peak at why I've become so enamored of her style?

One day, some day, I will be there. And I can't wait!


~~ Princess Magpie

having some technical difficulties ...

as they say, "pardon our dust" - site under construction!

I wanted a different look for my blog as we get rolling into this new year, and am trying on a few for just the right one. I'm liking this "love birds" background, but can't quite get the header just right, so bear with me.

Thank you for your patience (as they say) ...

Your ~~
(technologically challenged) Princess Magpie

This is NOT a Sketchbook - The Sketchbook Project 2011

I have created a "sketchbook" journal for The Sketchbook Project 2011.  My friend, artist Suzi Blu, posted a note on Facebook last year saying she had just signed up and encouraging all of us to do the same.  I visited the site, signed up, and then thought ... "what have I done?!".

However, we were able to select a category, a "title" for our Sketchbook, and one of the choices they offered was This is NOT a Sketchbook.   Perfect.  I like to collage.  I knew that acrylics might be a challenge for the thin pages, and so I used that as the perfect excuse to COLLAGE to my heart's content.

My friends Lyn and Lisa also signed up, and they came up with a brilliant plan:  We would all take a weekend trip to Dusty's (Scrappin' at Dusty's, in La Quinta, CA), where instead of scrapbooking and making cards, we would focus entirely on working on our projects.  

We did it - and we all got a fabulous start on our books.  However - and there's always a however - we all came home with - yikes! - many unfinished pages.

Me, I do well under pressure, so I pulled mine out the day after Christmas and left a table up in our living room for 2 weeks - my poor husband; for once, he exhibited the patience of a Saint.  Saint Mark. 

So then - they extended the deadline for mailing our Sketchbooks by a few days, and it was perfect.  I didn't have to pull out any pages at the end, I filled them all, and I'm pretty pleased with the end result.

I will now attempt what, for me, is a magic trick.  I will attempt to add a link here to the Smilebox album I created of my masterpiece.

Well, that didn't work so well - but I did post again, so look JUST below for the actual Smilebox.

:-)
Happy creating to you all,

Davielle
~~  aka, Princess Magpie

The Sketchbook Project 2011 - I did it !!!

Personalize a slideshow design

my friend Julee Herrmann ...

  How cool is this going to be?  My friend Julee Herrmann (Orinda, CA) of HeArt Collective is going to teach a wonderful class for children.  Read all about it at her link:

#c6638500247451873944

And if you look to the right sidebar of her blog, and scroll down - you'll see a Mermaid Cigar Box that Julee's done with a Suzi Blu online class!  It's fab. 

Be sure to check out all Julee's links on her blog - her jewelry is beautiful ... check these out:


"Faith" pendant by Julee Herrmann





"Pouty Little Princess" pendant by Julee Herrmann



And by the way - she bakes a mean Cherry-Choco Chip Cookie (I think there's even some oatmeal involved?!). 


:-)
Love ya, Jul --

Davielle
aka, Princess Magpie

2 Travelers: 2011: Color of the Year

2 Travelers: 2011: Color of the Year: "Thanks to my friend BETH NICHOLLS of England, who I was fortunate to meet at AN ARTFUL JOURNEY in February 2010 - I've discovered Pantone's ..."

SUZI BLU graduates speak ...



at Suzi's 2010 Birthday Workshop / Stamping Details / that's me, back row, 4th from right)

 Local artist extraordinaire, with a worldwide following, SUZI BLU - rocks.   I have had the pleasure of taking two workshops from Suzi "live", and I have taken several of her on-line workshops.   You just about can't tell the difference, I promise.   

I can describe Suzi and her style of teaching in ten words (okay, so I could come up with twenty or so words, but I'll keep it sweet ... ie, short):

Accessible  (she makes herself available to her students, in person
         AND online - it's amazing)
Courageous  (she's not afraid to tell it like it is, about art, about life,
         about love)
Extraordinary  (in every way)
Generous  (with her talent & techniques, and her heart, and her
      very self)
Heartful  (I am not sure how to define "heartful", other than to say
      it's just SUZI)
Humble   (she is down to earth, she is never pretentious, and she
      never treats her students like they are anything but ARTISTS)
Loving  (you can just feel the love that emanates from Suzi - for
      animals, for people, for her art)
Soulful  (Suzi gets right into the nitty-gritty of life, along with
      sharing her soulful love of all animals)
Talented  (this goes without saying!)
Whimsical  (way fun, way creative, way way way ... Suzi !!!)

And THAT, my friends, is how I would describe Suzi Blu - if you haven't yet, do look her up and SIGN UP FOR ONE OF HER ONLINE WORKSHOPS.  And if you are fortunate to live anywhere near Suzi, sign up for a class with her "live and in person".  I promise you a great time :-) ...

Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

COMING SOON: All the Scoop on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (event)

WOW.  Wow.  wow. 

I left home Wednesday 9-15, headed to Minneapolis all by myself, where I had registered for the inaugural THE CREATIVE CONNECTION event ... I had bags in hand, I had my lecture panels and my art workshops all selected, I had my room reserved, and I had all my class supplies.  And clothes.  (of course there were clothes - to go with every possible scenario: the first day, the first luncheon, the assorted art workshops, for shopping at The Handmade Market, for the gala dinner, the boxed lunch, the editorial breakfast, the PJ party, and the cupcake farewell - although I did NOT change for every single 'event', I did have a nice assortment to choose from.  but that is entirely beside the point).

I may have gone there alone, but I quickly met some wonderful ladies ... one in particular ... LaRue, it was a delight to get to know you and to realize we had signed up for ALL THE SAME ART CLASSES and LECTURES.   "Twin daughters, different mothers", as they say.  :-)  

And as for the event, can I just drop some names here? 

Davielle (me) - The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond - and my friend LaRue

Jo Packham. 
Nancy Soriano. 
Ree Drummond. 
Amy Butler. 
Amy Barickman. 
Ruth Rae. 
Laurie Meseroll. 
Jenni Bowlin. 
Mary Jane Butters.  

The list goes on and on and on.  We had industry experts in many fields - we had panels, one-on-one interviews, and of course, art workshops with all the best of the best.  It was amazing.  So much talent (and oh-so-much estrogen!) all in one space, in one place.   The creative energy was palpable, and it was energizing, inspiring, magical.



This week I am sifting thru all the photographs and all the moo and biz cards that folks shared with me.  When I have it all "together", I will be posting (most likely in several 'parts') about THE CREATIVE CONNECTION.

For now, let me just say ... WOW.  Again.

-- Princess Magpie

Mixed Media with Paper and Cloth, with Jane LaFazio

If you're local (ie, San Diego County), and you are a mixed media artist (or want to explore mixed media art), then this is a workshop series you won't want to miss ...

Mixed Media with Paper & Cloth -
taught by San Diego artist Jane LaFazio

ACORNS & THE QUAIL - mixed media by Jane LaFazio


"Jane will introduce you to new materials and techniques to create art from paper, cloth or a combination of the two. We’ll create layered, textured artworks using collage materials, paint, drawings and thread. Come prepared to learn, explore and have fun with a new project each week. Class will be inspirational, positive and fun, with lots of sharing, laughing and learning from the others in the class. All levels of experience are welcome, and previous students can expect new lessons! "

HERE ARE THE PARTICULARS ...
Mondays, 9 AM–12 NOON

Oct. 4–Nov. 15 (7 weeks)
Location:  San Diego/Park Blvd. Studio
$180 for members of The Athaneum / $205 (non-members),
+ $25 materials fee


Materials:  What to bring on the FIRST DAY: X-acto knife, scissors, sketchbook, pencil and either plain or white muslin watercolor paper (any weight). A materials list for the rest of the class will be discussed - and a $25 materials fee will be collected at the first class meeting.


Questions: e-mail Jane at PlainJaneStudio@gmail.com !!
Call The Athaneum at 858.454.5872 to enroll.

I have taken several classes from artist Jane LaFazio.  First, back in the Spring of 2007, I took her "Watercolor Sketchbook and Journal" all-day class with my friend Cynthia.   WHAT A LOT OF FUN, and what a gentle way to address my fear of drawing.   If that class interests you, visit Jane's website for details on when and where she'll be teaching that as a 2-day workshop in December. 

Jane will also be offering it as an ONLINE CLASS for the first time (details on her site, right here at http://www.plainjanestudio.com/ )

In 2008, when I was introduced to the world of MIXED MEDIA, and was wondering who to ask about such words / terms as GESSO, and MATTE MEDIUM, and MIXED MEDIA itself -- I turned to Jane, asking her where I could take a beginner's mixed media workshop.  And that, my friends, was the beginning of my MM journey.  Thanks to Jane, and the La Jolla Athenaeum who offers multi-session workshops taught by Jane, I have become brave and curious and fascinated by the world of MIXED MEDIA art. 

I have taken two (yes, two!) workshop series (as described above) from Jane, and enjoyed every single lesson offered, and minute spent, in her classes.  And I intend to sign up for this next series !!!

Hope to see you there,

Princess Magpie (aka, Davielle)

KNOW THINE OPPORTUNITY

Great quote.  "Know thine opportunity." - Pittacus. 
{sometimes seen as "Know THY opportunity."}

In case you're asking "Who was Pittacus?", you can check that out right here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittacus_of_Mytilene
Or, if you like, here's a quick rundown: (c. 640-568 BC) Pittacus was the son of Hyrradius and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. He was a native of Mytilene and the Mytilenaean general who, with his army, was victorious in the battle against the Athenians and their commander Phrynon.

One of our grandchildren knew HER opportunity yesterday and made it her reality.

Cara and Kaia and I were on our way to see my nephew and his family at the beach.  Along the way, I wanted to stop in at MERMAID MERCANTILE {hosted the last weekend of each month at OUT OF THE BLUE { http://www.shesellsseashells.com/  }, a cute little shop in Solana Beach}.  

 I was seeking vintage ... pajamas, or a nightie, or something ... for the PJ Party at THE CREATIVE CONNECTION  { http://www.thecreativeconnectionevent.com/  }

So there's the "story":

We're wandering about, each of us lost in our own little fantasy worlds ... 'oh, if only $$ were no object' ... 'i love this, i can't live without it, but what would i DO with it' ... those kinds of thoughts.   And a whole lot of 'why, isn't that clever?'.

Cara sidles over to me ... "Kaia is in love with a chair."

Huh?  A chair?

"You have to come see it.  She's crazy about this chair."

What artsy / interior designer / wanting-to-encourage-creativity-in-the-grandchildren woman WOULDN'T wander over to see just what kind of chair would capture the heart of a 10 1/2 year old ???

     OH. MY. GOSH.   It was darling.  It was vintage.  It had been re-upholstered in PINK SUEDE.  It had BLACK & WHITE (on the bias, of course) double piping all the way round.  It had tufting - with matching BLACK & WHITE buttons.  It was from the 50's.  It was going to appear in a magazine next month.

"No wonder she loves it,", I said.  "Wow."

"Mom, you don't understand.  She WANTS that chair."

Oh my.  Now what?

So Cara asks how much the chair is.  Kaia had some money from her grandfather, a gift for her entering the sixth grade.  Not for school supplies or school clothes.  Just. A. Gift.   Kaia could do whatever she wanted with it, including deposit it in her savings account.

"The chair is $275."

You could hear us all exhale, I swear.  We all appeared, I am sure, crestfallen. 

"That's a lot of money, honey, for a chair.  Even one so darling as that one."

We wandered around some more.  I made my (small) purchases.  Kaia could NOT stop thinking about that chair.  She went back for another (and another) peek at it.  She had it bad.

As we're headed to the car, Kaia says "Mom, do you remember how much is left in my savings account? ".  
Ohmygosh, this kid was SERIOUS.

We drove away, and I swear, Kaia took a last look back.  We all three felt the pain of leaving that chair behind.

We bought lunch to take to the beach party.  Kaia's still doing the math.

"Mom, can we stop at our bank to just SEE what I have in there? ".   Thanks to modern technology, Cara could look it up on her Blackberry - and there just happened to be a branch 5 minutes away.   Apparently, the beach could wait.

In they went.  Out they came.  All I could see was a HUGE smile and a "thumbs up" from Kaia.  SHE DID IT.  She had enough.  Ohmygosh.  That means she WITHDREW her savings.  I had a brief sinking feeling.

But then, guess what happened?  My joy on her behalf took over.   I was so proud that my 10 1/2 year old grandchild LIKED vintage furniture.  I was so happy that my grandchild LIKED flea market / thrift store / treasure trove kinds of places.   I was so proud that she MADE.THIS.HAPPEN. for herself.

Cara quick called the lady with the chair.  "Remember us? My daughter is the one that wants to buy that darling chair.  She just withdrew all but $5 of her savings to buy it.".

And do you know what that lovely lady did?  She took $25 off the chair (which just about covered the sales tax).   We went back, Kaia paid for HER chair, got her receipt (see photo),

and we agreed to return on Sunday to pick it up.

I'm sure you've guessed it.  The girls went home, Kaia cleared out her old stuffed animals that took up THE PERFECT CORNER of her bedroom, they vacuumed and dusted and made it READY for today.  And today, Sunday, Kaia woke up at just about the crack of dawn - envisioning, I am quite certain, THE CORNER with THE CHAIR that she will GO TO SLEEP to ... tonight.

Blissfully your ...
Princess Magpie

Everything's Coming Up ... MIXED MEDIA !!!

Most of you know that my mixed media journey began in 2007, when my dear friend Ann Deakers forwarded the blog address of artist KELLY RAE ROBERTS.

From there, I was off and running; albeit confused many times over by words and phrases like "gesso", "image transfer", and "polymer medium". 

The first mixed media book

I acquired was Kelly Rae's 

TAKING FLIGHT ...  

Shortly after, while visiting the then-brand-new PAPER SOURCE right here in the 'hood, I picked up VINTAGE COLLAGE WORKS by Maryjo and Sunny Koch ...  this was where I first came across the word "scumbling" .. oh my, so much to learn.  {Paper Source Carlsbad: http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/locations/ca_carlsbad.html }

I loved collage as a child.  But way back then, I used glue and water, and when I got really sophisticated, Mod Podge.  {funny, now I can't stand the smell of Mod Podge ...}

You probably already know that the first mixed media art class I took(a 6-week series, actually) was taught by local artist Jane LaFazio, and I was in love from the first minute with ... mixed media with paper and cloth, as Jane's series was called.   I loved it so much, in fact, that when that session ended .. I signed up for another 6-week session, right away.  What a great start to 2009 !! 

And then .. and then .. there was the 'introduction' to Chris Cozen, working artist for Golden (acrylic products extraordinaire) and her many techniqus for working with all the different acrylic products, gel mediums, tar gel, beaded glass gel, etc ... and most especially, her IMAGE TRANSFER techniques.   The fun had just begun !! Chris now teaches amazing on-line workshops with another California artist, Julie Prichard ... find out more right here:  http://www.julieprichard.com/mixed-media-workshops/ ! 

Throughout 2009, I took classes from Linda Blinn, Althea Brimm, Suzi Blu and Lisa Bebi, and more from Jane LaFazio and Chris Cozen.  Suzi Blu, by the way, teaches not only IN PERSON workshops, but incredible ONLINE workshops -- check her out here:  http://www.alovelydream.com/site/Welcome.html

Soon, I began to see Kelly Rae published all over the place ... the Stampington publications, in an article in The Ligourian Press (a Catholic publication), and in a local guide to some lovely city in - Kentucky, was it?  Kelly even began having her work turned into wall art, magnets, stationery, calendars, etc.

But it all came 'round full circle in February 2010, when Ann (the friend who first directed me to Kelly Rae's blog) and I attended AN ARTFUL JOURNEY (Feb 2010)- a three day retreat in Los Gatos, CA ... which I never did blog about here on "I Am Princess Magpie" ... oh my, so much to catch up on.  {FYI, An Artful Journey is happening again, February 17-21, 2011 - visit their website right here: http://www.anartfuljourney.com/ } and I cannot recommend it highly enough.  FABULOUS event.

We took a 3-day workshop with Kelly Rae Roberts (who was just barely pregnant at the time) and Mati Rose McDonough.  What a treat that was!

Shortly after the workshop this February, Kelly had some of her art turned into 3-D "dolls".  I now have one, and she resides in my kitchen, right at the sink - right near a rosary, a crucifix, and a beautiful Christmas card from the late, great Celeste Rast.   They all make me smile each time I'm at the sink, and they all keep me grounded.

But then - while on holiday this month in Montana, Mark and I walked into one of my favorite little shopping spots up there - The Barn, just outside Bigfork - and what should I see but a beautiful display of Kelly Rae items !!! 

They were all tucked into a vintage shabby cabinet, filled with old quilts, bits of lace, frames, old photographs, pressed glass, etc etc etc.   What a perfect setting for Kelly's "GIRLS" !!!

Upon my return home from AN ARTFUL JOURNEY, I opened up my Etsy shop {although it still has empty 'shelves', I have intentions to fill them}.  I also signed up for an on-line workshop with artist Jane Davila ... "Jump Start Your Art Career". 

{http://www.janedavila.com/workshops.htm }   

Then later this spring, I signed up for Kelly Rae's on-line workshop, "Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks to Help Your Creative Biz Soar" {which you can now order as an E-book course from Kelly here: http://kellyraeroberts.com/ecourses/ }

In late July (2010) it was a distinct pleasure and a real treat to spend a day in (Colorado artist) K.C. Willis' "Collage Bootcamp", a full day where we created a piece, start to finish.  I shared this special day with Ann, and with Sally, Diane, and Jen - amongst other lovely ladies - learning all kinds of new ways to put fabric and paper and a photograph ... together. Find otu more about KC right here:  http://www.lipstickranch.com/

{more on collage bootcamp with KC to come ... and a link to her upcoming workshops right back here in So Cal in early 2011!}

And while I have moved on to appreciating other artist's styles of mixed media art, and have taken mixed media workshops from some of the great contemporary mixed media artists ... I will always consider my mixed media "roots" to be those fostered by Kelly Rae Roberts.

 -- Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

The Creative Color Challenge, with artist Louise Gale

my friend Ann and I met Louise Gale
at AN ARTFUL JOURNEY this February, where she participated in the same wonderful workshop that we were in ... taught by Kelly Rae Roberts and Mati Rose McDonough.  

Louise is putting together a CREATIVE COLOR CHALLENGE for August ... just the thing to keep your creative juices flowing in a colorful way.

Yes, I have too many things on my plate (heck, it's a full blown platter by now), but this sounds so fun and so pressure-less.   I mean, really - what could happen if I miss a week - will the Color Challenge militia come after me?  I doubt it.

So THANK YOU, Louise, for creating this fun experience.

You can join in, too -- here's a link to the details.
http://louisegale.blogspot.com/2010/07/join-me-in-creative-color-challenge.html 

-- Princess Magpie
(yours, as ever ... Davielle)

Artful Gatherings - Let's Plan Some !!!

Summer is in mid-swing, and it's time for so many of us to have our vacation getaways {as well as our stay-cations}.

I myself am heading to Big Sky Country - to the Flathead Lake area of Montana - soon.  Mark's parents have a 6+acre, 400 (+/-) tree CHERRY orchard up there, and the Lake to rival all Lakes is right across the road. 

And guess what I discovered up there last summer?  A wonderful QUILTING shop - picked up some really fab cherry-print fabric there last year, brought it all home, and I'm in the process of laying out aprons.  Just don't tell my in-laws - they're meant to be Christmas gifts :-) !!!   You, too, can visit this amazing quilter's paradise:   http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ {and as it turned out, Mark's cousin's wife works there ... who knew?}.


This year, this trip, there will be a whole lotta Huffmans' up there at the same time.   I made a schedule - it ended up looking like an air-traffic controller's schedule - it's going to be just that crazy up there!

Before I leave, I am tending to cleaning and clearing up my ... office.  

Holy Cow, it's become a messy, land-mine filled space lately ... how does that keep happening? :-)

{an image of my desk circa 2009, but it looks like this now ...}

And I will sneak in a bit of art here and there, because I know that the art studio that I so take for granted when I am home full-time ...

will call out to me when I am away, making me question why I am not down there for a bit EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

So I hope some of you, my artful, mixed media (or single-media, it really doesn't matter) friends will want to come over and play after I get home.   We'll have most all of August and then September.  Let's get busy doing what makes us happy !!!

Wouldn't it be fun to plan / schedule {I'm a big 'scheduler' kind of person} some ART PLAY TIME together?  If you'd like to come play, get messy, make art, experiment with supplies -- with me -- then let's make and take the time. 

If you live out of town, you could plan to stay over a night or two, even.  Summer is for Fun, and we deserve to have all the FUN, and make all the ART - that we can, while we can.

LET'S GET MESSY.  Call, text, e-mail, or comment on this post so we can make a plan to have some ARTful fun together.

Happy Summer !!!

-- Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

P.S.  you've just got to laugh when you're on holiday, the car needs some gas, and you happen upon a sign like this one:

I mean, really ... who wants hucks {huckleberries} or cherries WITH ethanol ???