Traci Bautista & DJ Pettitt Workshop Collage Collaborative

Hi all,



I have been getting emails for more info on Traci Bautista's & DJ Pettitt's Workshop Collage Collaboration.

I am assuming they are coming from my blog as my website has all the info posted.




So here goes:


Collage Collaborative w/ Traci Bautista & DJ Pettitt



Thursday January 31- Sunday Feb 3, 2008



10 am - 5 pm w/ lunch break



2-days Thurs & Friday Cost $350 by 1/12 or $375 after 1/12

OR
4 days Cost $550 by 1/12 or $575 after 1/12



Workshops are held at: The Artists' Nook 402 N. College Ave Fort Collins CO (970) 416-1148



Registration & hotel info at the bottom of this post

Spend 4 days being creative with mixed media artists Traci Bautista and DJ Pettitt.


We’ve created an eclectic collage and painting workshop that combines the best of our techniques to create a beautiful one-of-a-kind art journal with painted collage covers and a no sew journal bag!




Day 1- Thursday, January 31 – monotypes & drizzles

This is a process workshop to learn painting techniques from my book Collage Unleashed, you will create colorful layers with handmade printing plates made from cardboard and fun foam.

Create fabulous painted backgrounds experimenting with printmaking techniques including color scraping, washing, monotype , eyedropper doodles, gesso textures, dyed cloth stamping & stenciling and glazing.
These paintings will be used in the journal you create on Day 3 and the bag made on day 4.
This workshop will be taught by Traci Bautista.


Day 2 - Friday, Feb. 1 - Fabric Painting


Learn step-by-step fabric painting techniques, as you paint images for the cover of the journal that you will make on day 3 with Traci, as well as images for the journal bag made on day 4 with DJ.
Learn painting techniques using washes and glazes, and paint a face (use pattern provided or paint from your own drawing), flowers, an abstract composition, or any combination of your choosing.
This workshop will be taught by DJ Pettitt.






Day 3 Saturday, Feb.2 –


The ART book Create a fabulous art journal combining papers and fabrics from the first two days of workshops. Incorporate patchwork collage covers and paintings from DJ’s Day 2 workshop.
The journal is bound with a funky fiber spine that spills with strips of fabric, macramé, collage bits and explodes with found vintage beads, colorful baubles and buttons.
This workshop will be taught by Traci Bautista.







Day 4 – Sunday, February 3 -

No Sew Journal Bag Use your fabric paintings from Day 2 and create a no-sew bag to house your journal made with Traci.

Embellish the bag with hand stitching. No machine sewing required.
This workshop will be taught by DJ Pettitt .





REGISTERING FOR WORKSHOPS:
Payment or Non-Refundable Deposit is required when you sign up for a workshop. If you cannot make it into the store to register, you can send a check to the store at:
The Artists' Nook 402 N. College Ave.Fort Collins, CO 80524
There is no sales tax on class fees.

OR Pay Online by emailing your workshop request. You will receive an email invoice with information on how to make a payment online.
artistsnook@comcast.net

Cancellation Policy: Participant cancellation, there is no refund but we will gladly contact people on the waiting list to sell your seat to.
Store or instructor cancellation, refund or class credit will be given.


Early Registration Discount given on all workshops. To receive the early registration discount, full workshop fee must be paid by that date listed in the workshop description. See workshop descriptions for more information


Hotel Options:


Best Western University Inn (970) 484-1984


The Artists' Nook has a business rate of $64 per night if rooms are available at that rate at time of booking.
Call the hotel and mention you are with The Artists' Nook and they will let you know if you can get that rate.
Otherwise, their regular rate is reasonable too. This hotel is about 1 mile south of the store on College Ave.


OR


Courtyard by Marriott 1200 Oakridge Drive
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 Phone: 1-970-282-1700

The Artists' Nook has a business rate of $109 per night. Here is the link to receive that rate.
http://cwp.marriott.com/ftccy/artistsnook/


This hotel is 6 miles south of the store off Harmony Blvd.

Hanging out at Home Today!

A perfect day to do so!

We had snow on Thursday, Friday & Saturday. And then again today!

What a way to kick off Winter!



Thinking that the Colorado tradition of, "Now the sun will come out and melt the snow..." would happen....



Well, it did not! It did get up to the high 20's and there was hope but then the next storm came in last night.


I am not a snow whimp! Actually, I stayed at the store until 7:30 pm on Saturday to get all the orders package and ready to ship!


Monday, as I headed up to the store to tackle the "Pit of Doom" in the hallway, I got a call....
The nurses office at school, My 8 year old, Braden had a stomach ache.



He does not fake it, so I knew I needed to head back to pick him up before the "Intestinal Creature from the Rio Muerto" attacked!



El Charro de las Calaveras has saved yet another from.........
the Intestinal Creature from the Rio Muerto!



In record time......Braden will be back at school tomorrow!

Barbara Schneider Featured Artist at The Artists' Nook

December's Featured Artist at The Artists' Nook is Barbara Schneider!

She is a fiber artist from Loveland Colorado. She hand dyes silk, embellishes with fabric cutouts, stitching and more.

Here garments will be on display for the whole month of December so stop by and check them out.

We are going to have some workshops with Barbara. Let us know if you are interested!

Gallery hours are: Thursday - Saturday 10 am - 6 pm

Traci Bautista & DJ Pettitt Workshop Collage Collabortive

Collage Collaborative w/ Traci Bautista & DJ Pettitt

Thursday January 31- Sunday Feb 3, 2008

For more info

Spend 4 days being creative with mixed media artists Traci Bautista and DJ Pettitt. We’ve created a n eclectic collage and painting workshop that combines the best of our techniques to create a beautiful one-of-a-kind art journal with painted collage covers and a no sew journal bag!

Day 1- Thursday, January 31 – monotypes & drizzles
This is a process workshop to learn painting techniques from my book Collage Unleashed, you will create colorful layers with handmade printing plates made from cardboard and fun foam. Create fabulous painted backgrounds experimenting with printmaking techniques including color scraping, washing, monotype , eyedropper doodles, gesso textures, dyed cloth stamping & stenciling and glazing. These paintings will be used in the journal you create on Day 3 and the bag made on day 4. This workshop will be taught by Traci Bautista.

Day 2 - Friday, Feb. 1 - Fabric Painting Learn step-by-step fabric painting techniques, as you paint images for the cover of the journal that you will make on day 3 with Traci, as well as images for the journal bag made on day 4 with DJ. Learn painting techniques using washes and glazes, and paint a face (use pattern provided or paint from your own drawing), flowers, an abstract composition, or any combination of your choosing. This workshop will be taught by DJ Pettitt.

Day 3 Saturday, Feb.2 – The ART book Create a fabulous art journal combining papers and fabrics from the first two days of workshops. Incorporate patchwork collage covers and paintings from DJ’s Day 2 workshop. The journal is bound with a funky fiber spine that spills with strips of fabric, macramé, collage bits and explodes with found vintage beads, colorful baubles and buttons. This workshop will be taught by Traci Bautista.

Day 4 – Sunday, February 3 - No Sew Journal Bag Use your fabric paintings from Day 2 and create a no-sew bag to house your journal made with Traci. Embellish the bag with hand stitching. No machine sewing required. This workshop will be taught by DJ Pettitt .

The Store is all put back together!

We have the store Up and running!

Lots of work but am glad it is done!

It is a quaint shopping experience with much better lighting!

The lights in the shop were not the best even though we had windows! Who would have thought?

Now, I need to tackle the clutter in the hallway......

The pink cloth hides the pile well don't you think!

This stuff is from my studio (aka The Pit of Doom) that I need to go through and bring what I want in my studio and take the rest to storage.

I feel better getting this much done. I got caught up on shipping orders. I have a batch going out tomorrow!

Next, besides the Pit of Doom, is to post last weeks Friday's Found Object Finds, Create and post the newsletter for the store with workshop info on my site, & create a new sample for my Estes Park workshop.....

Yes, I will be teaching a 2-day Polaroid Transfers & a Book in the Round workshop Sat Jan 26 & Sunday 27th. Check out their website for more info

What's up Now??

Here is what drives me outside of my store.....................

The boys!

Keith Lobue emailed me with dates for 2008 and requested pictures of my boys!

He has 2 beautiful children, Twins, a girl & a boy...

He can totally appreciate parenthood... The noise... unpredictable hours. And he wanted pictures of my guys!

So for those who live locally and wonder about my store hour change to Thurs-Sat 10 am - 6 pm and every First Friday til 8:30 pm..

The pictures should explain it.................LOVE MY BOYS!

Friday's Found Objects

FRIDAY'S FOUND OBJECTS...............

Newly items added each Friday to our online store

These are a few items this Friday November 23rd!

Giving Thanks!

Ok, It is cold here! Yikes, So the flowers make me feel summery!

The Thanksgiving Holiday was yesterday! Thinking about Thanksgiving makes me think of.........STRESS!

Why you ask???? Ok, only those who have sane families have to ask this question!

Basically, in our family the stress comes from the overly ambitious menu for Thanksgiving. Not by me of course, she who can heat up a frozen pot pie in 6 minutes..

It is my Mom! I love her but she needs to know that the amount of food does not indicate the success of a holiday meal!

But to my surprise to me this year, It was simple.....

Meat (Turkey- Which had a moment of crisis because the balance on the rotisserie for the grill was not quite right), Potatoes (Sweet & Mashed- ok a little over the top on the carbs), Stuffing (a must for Thanksgiving, yet more carbs), Brussel Sprouts (really good but mostly for my 10 year old, he is cute but weird (I mean that lovingly becuz who at 10 years old luvs brussel sprouts) & two pies (pumpkin & Walnut-tradition)




More Flowers..... My feet are getting cold!


So, I started to think about Giving Thanks!

Not the holiday, but what I am thankful for.


For those of you who know me, I don't pour out the compliments, flow with gushing, gushyness.



But I am grateful, every single moment of every single day! I know that is hard to believe that one can feel that when one cuts you off in traffic, is short with you on the phone, wants more than you can possible deliver...........................


I look beyond that in a person, in a moment......... That moment is what it is and I am not responsible for that reaction.


What I can enjoy is those who cross my path.................... My Friends (which really encompass lots.....each one who walk into my doors at the store, those who email me and so much more)


I cannot truly express my gratefulness in words.... It truly comes from the heart.

I am grateful that I feel this on a daily basis!

My wish for you is that you do too!

A Sad Day!

We had to put our family dog "Max" down today!

He lived 17 years.

The past 2 weeks, we could see each day his quality of life was not what it used to be.

A hard decision but a more peaceful way for him to go.

It totally sucks that pets have short life spans.

Max, you will be missed.... Mostly, by your boys! Rest in Peace!

deMeng de los Muertos

Now, How was Mexico? You ask?







Fabulous! I have never been to Mexico so when I found out that Michael deMeng was doing a workshop in Mexico and over de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), I knew I had to go!







It could not have come at a better time for me! I have been stretched pretty thin trying to balance everything, running away for 10 days to a whole different world was just what I needed!







We had the most amazing group of people who attended the workshop! I got to spend some time with several people from The Artists' Nook network of friends. It was great to have that time away from the shop to spend with them. Connie, Karen, Laurie, Tom, DeeDee, Joe, Fran and an extension of these friends, Amy & Kathy who have visited The Artists' Nook in the past.







I had a really fun roommate, Wendy! Plus new friends, Colleen (the other), Lisa, Melissa, Ramona, Dianne, Sue, Marcia, Kristy, Marilyn, Syd

Colleen Darling coordinated this trip and did a 5 star job at it! She found us the best tour guide, Juan. And planned just the right amount of tours with some additional ones for us hard core sightseers! A superb Job all the way around!


I had 4 days to create art! Go figure! No interruptions of store responsibilities. Just art!











I finished one piece, mostly that is. I just have to glue in my tiny brass number nails and touch up some paint. It is a square cigar box that I covered with heavy brown kraft paper which was wet, crinkled and dried.




deMeng color washes were added on the outside starting with the "uszhh" combo of Quin Gold w/ a little black, then adding goofy grape (dioxanzine purple) some splashes of white then a final Quin Gold wash. The interior was a Crimson with "uszhh" over that.

I am pretty sure I added some Micaeous Iron Oxide on this piece. Love that crusty paint!

The Sacred Heart was purchased at a local Oaxaca store & the metal ray thing behind it was from a Catholic Supply store in Oaxaca as well. The background behind the heart was embossed metal with words that mean something to me, like art, create, live, love etc. Which I added a color wash of "uszhh"


More metal embossed hearts on the sides which I painted and nail my numbered brass nails around. Then finally, the saying "Let your values be your compass to drive your passion" embossed in metal & painted.

This is a saying that I made up for myself to keep my focus on what is important.

Our values, what makes us who we are, are important to keep in check as we go about our direction in life following those things we are passionate about. And mostly, Respecting everyone who touches our lives along this journey.

More about the actual trip in the next post!

Back from Mexico!

Back from Mexico! Reluctantly, I will add!

It has been 1 1/2 weeks since returning, and have been trying to get back into the swing of things!

My new store hours of Thursday - Saturday 10 am - 6 pm have started. This will give me a better balance of Family & Business.

So on my first day back, I took my mom to lunch for her Birthday! She so enjoyed as did I! I have not spent much time with my mother since running the store full time.

It is weird how you miss things once they return but were too busy to really notice their absence.

Too much work & no play!

This can be truly said about my family, my children mostly. It seems like time has slipped by! It is good to be home when they come home from school at least 3 days a week! My husband appreciates me being here too! It is all about Balance!

Here are some amazing shots of the Fort Collin's Colorado sky outside of my store. Two days in a row, one of the artist who have a studio in the Gallery/Studio section of my building pulled me outside to see the amazing sky!

I have some wonderful people in my life! Always, looking out for me!

I am a Bad Blogger!

Ok, about a month or so ago, I posted "Creative Jumpstarts Week One".
Since then, huge turmoil has happened in my life.

Nothing earth shattering, but I have been stretched thinnnnn!

I wanted to post "Week Two" but could not finish a thought process without interruption!

So instead of pulling something out of my.........

I decided to start again, once my demands lighten up....

Will that happen???

Yes, I am making some changes to make sure that happens!

But in the meantime, Enjoy the backgrounds you started

If they call to you to be finished, go with that call!

I am heading to Oaxaca Mexico on Friday! I will enjoy Day of the Dead Celebration, Michael deMeng's workshop & the art of Oaxaca!

A much needed break for me!

I will fill you in when I get back!

Thanks for understanding!

Fun with Michael deMeng

We had an art filled weekend with Michael deMeng!

Lots of happy artists creating & laughing all weekend!

I was not able to get pictures of the Weird Wonderful Window workshop. But Tejae has some up on her blog

Here are some pictures from the 2 day workshop Stories of the Discarded: Assem-blooks

It was nice to have two days to create a piece of artwork.

Here is Michael & I

Ok, the only reason this is posted is that I wanted a picture for my blog profile.

After messing around with it, I finally got one to upload. The directions said I could then delete the post but when I did, It took it off the profile!

I give up! You will just have to see this lovely picture of me until it moves along.

Homework with my Second Grader!

Braden is in second grade.

No, Archery was not the assignment! This was him on the beach on the Oregon coast this summer's vacation!



I am sharing this moment of homework with you so you don't make my mistake!



The assignment was to create several different addition problems for a given number.



Like 19, 1 + 18 = 19, 5 + 14= 19 and so on.



He was working very hard and finally said, "Mom, I need cubes." They use counting cubes in school.



So I looked around to see what we had a lot of!

Pennies, No I did not have enough of these........ What else, then across the room I find a great answer..........Lego's!
Oh, boy do we have lots of those!



"Use Lego's" I said....



He looks at me strange..... NO not the ones you have built, the pieces.



So off he goes to find 19 Lego pieces. I go back to making dinner.



Before, I know it, I look back to see how he is doing on his homework and he and his brother are playing with the pieces.



Stop, Those are for homework, Stop Playing with them!!!!



All in All, We got through the homework with Lego's as our Counting Cubes.

With several times of me reminding him to get back to homework and stop playing.



Note to self: Never use toys as counting cubes for Homework!

Creative Jump Starts! Week One

Ok, I know I promised my next post from the Creative Stumbling Blocks posted last week would be Creative Jump Starts but I got a little Blog happy!
The Current Newsletter for The Artists' Nook with workshop info through November is posted on the website

Creative Jump Starts! Week One!

We all need Jump Starts! Sometimes, to do something just so we can move onto the next thing!

I will present this first series of Jump Starts then next week we will add something else to the base pieces we started this week.

Take The Challenge:

For one week, spend 10 minutes each day doing the techniques listed below!

You don't have to start on a Monday- Just start!

If you want to spend more than 10 minutes go ahead. But at least 10 minutes.

Try for every day but don't worry if you skip a day or only get one day in. The more days during the week you can put aside 10 minutes to do these Creative Jump Starts the better.

Consider it your 10 minutes of fun break in life you so deserve!

Preparation:

Decide what size you want to work on. No smaller than 2" x 3" and no larger than 4" x 6". Cut heavy weight paper (something that can with stand wet) like watercolor paper, chipboard, mat board. Don't run out and buy something. Look around your art supplies you already have!

You will be doing several each day so cut about 20 or so. If you use, something like chipboard you may want to Gesso or cover with white paint. I know the blank white canvas! Don't worry, it will all turn out fine!

The reason for adding the white base is so when you add color, the colors are true and don't interfere with the color of the board. With that being said, if you don't care and want to see what happens keeping the board the original color then Go for it!

Here we go:

Do as many base pieces (watercolor paper, matboard, etc) as you can of that technique/layer in 10 minutes. Remember, it is not a race.

Day #1

Paint one color of acrylic paint on the base piece. It can be craft acrylic paint or your Golden paints. Whatever you use. Try different colors but one color for each base piece.

Day #2

Paint with an acrylic paint wash. Put a small dab of acrylic paint on a palette (disposable plastic lid works great) then get your brush wet, pick up some paint and paint a plain base piece. Do several base pieces and put aside to dry. Experiment with more or less water and see what happens. It is fun to leave puddles and see how it dries.

Day #3

Take a dye ink pad, and rub the pad directly to the base piece. Use one color for each base piece. You don't have to completely cover the base piece. Leave streaks, play!

Day #4

Take a pigment ink pad and rub the pad directly to the base piece. Use one color for each base piece. You don't have to completely cover the base piece. Leave streaks, play!

Day #5

Glue tissue paper to the base piece. It is best to apply the glue to the base piece then stick the tissue paper down. Use whatever your favorite glue for gluing paper. Gel Medium, PVA, Mod Podge. Use any color of tissue paper including white. Create wrinkles in the tissue paper before gluing down. Try not to get glue on the surface of the tissue paper because we will be doing more to this piece next week. And the glue may do weird things.

Day #6

Tear and glue down a variety of decorative papers. The cool handmade papers, scrapbook papers, or even some papers from other projects. When gluing down the papers try strips going across horizonally or vertically, small pieces randomly glued down, or just cover a portion of the base piece with the torn papers.

Day #7

Tear and glue down pages from a magazine. DO NOT cut out pictures. You are creating a background so just randomly tear and glue bits and pieces.

Next, week we will be adding to these pieces. We don't need to know where we are going just have fun getting there!

When you have done your pieces, post a comment to this post that your pieces can be seen on your blog (if you have one)

It will be great to see the variety and the way the pieces will evolve over the weeks!

Happy Birthday, Ian!

Today is my husband's 45th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Ian!

Birthdays are so different when we grow up! Today, Ian will be working all day then off to a Cub Scout Info night he will be putting on at the school.

Honey, Meet me in the Gazebo at 9 pm! I will have a cold beer waiting for you!

This picture was taken while on vacation in Idaho. That is my youngest, Braden, 8 years old.

Ian took all 4 boys on a 2 week plus road trip this summer for vacation. They went to Northern California up the coast to Oregon then onto Idaho. Visiting family along the way!

Here is one more from the trip! What a hunk! I am a lucky girl!

Support Small Businesses

Carolina Moon is a stamp store in Chicago. I am on her Yahoo Group and found out that she was closing.

And today there was a post of Why are so many small businessess closing?

I needed to post!

So here is my 2 cents:

This really hits close to home with me so I had to comment.

First of all, Carolyn, It was sad to hear the news that you are closing. For me, as a store owner myself, The news when stores in the same business as mine really are hard to take.

We love what we do and what we allow others to do, create and grow as an artist. This is what keeps me going.

So the question, Why are so many stores closing?

The economy has something to do with it. We are being more selective on our purchases and It is hard to compete with the big box stores on prices.


What the small stores offer is customer service, learning opportunities and people who share the same interests not only staff but those who come to workshops, classes and shop at the small stores. It is the whole package that the small stores offer.

Yes, you may be able to get an item a little cheaper at the big box stores but if you spend your money with them you are taking away from your small store that really relies on that sale to keep the doors open. Remember, that when you are clipping out your coupons this Sunday!

As for small stores offering discounts.......... It is really hard to do that. The larger stores get items sooo much less than we do that they can offer discounts and it is does not cut as much as into their profits as it would a small store.

I have to laugh at the word profits. To a small store that really means, money to pay the rent & expenses.

So, Shop small business and know your money is supporting the stores that really matter.

This goes for any type of business: art gallery, gift boutique, clothing store, insurance, whatever.



And Carolyn,
This is the beginning of the next phase of your life! We thank you for all that you have given to the Chicago community! And know you are appreciated!

Michael deMeng's Missoulian Newspaper Article

First, I want to make sure you all know why I would be possibly posting something about Assemblage Artist Michael deMeng.

No, I am not a crazed, stalking fan!

Michael & I are business partners in all the Non-Original Artwork. So like, Exclusive Autographed w/Artist Card "Secrets of Rusty Things", Prints, Aprons, Paint Kits, blah blah blah..... I won't bored you with all that.

And I wanted to let you know about this great article about him and book reveiw the Missoulian did....

Finders Keepers Article

Secrets of Rusty Things Book Review

And if you are in the Montana area, Michael will be doing a book signing at:

Liquid Planet in Missoula Friday Night September 14th!

It will be a fabulous time.

Michael will be posting the details on his blog as soon as he returns from Texas!

Great Article, Michael! Have fun at the book signing! I know you will!

One more deMeng note:

We've decided that 10% of the Tarot Card Print sales will go to support the Hunger Project. It is a great organization that is highly rated by charity watch groups. This is an organization that helps fight poverty through some very innovative ways.

Our way of giving back!

Life Makes Me Laugh!

I love it when Life makes me Laugh!

Yesterday, I was running my errands before coming to the store and as I got back in my car at the post office, I decided to put on some lipstick.

Ok, For those of you who don't know me, I am not a girly girl. God, knew what he was doing when he gave me 4 boys! With that being said, lipstick is not my normal thing.

But, I was talking to Susan Lenart-Kazmer at Art Unraveled and we were discussing how right now she wants to dress more like a boy, tom-boyish (Yeah, Right Susan try and pull that off you hot mama) And I was saying how I want to be more girlish.

With this in mind, I was putting on lipstick as a start to my girliness. So here I am using my rearview mirror so I can color in the lines, I was not driving still parked, I promise!

And this gentleman was walking up to the post office on the sidewalk in front of my car. I noticed him staring at me so I looked at him...... And gives me a thumbs up!

I love it! People are so fun!

Enjoy each and every moment! Mostly, take time to notice those small moments and appreciate them.

Creative Stumbling Blocks

Tuesday Sept 4, 2007

I am going to use my blog more like a blog than store announcements.

If you wish to know the News of what's new at The Artists' Nook then visit the website or to have the info delivered to your email in-box, Sign up for my email newsletters in the side bar of this Blog!

I enjoy inspiring artists that come visit me at the store with ideas, suggestions and problem solving the projects they are working on.

So I want to reach out online, help with those of you who maybe having a

Creative Stumbling Block

I call it a Creative Stumbling Block as opposed to a Creative Block because stumbling block seems more like a brief moment in time. Not as permanent sounding as a creative block!

We all have this happen to us at some time or another. Usually, when we are working on a specific project, trying to get it done the way we think we need it to be......... Ok, this is where we get into trouble. Pushing our artwork into the direction that we want it to be......instead of letting it evolve into what it wants to be!

This phenomenon happens very subtly as we work and before we know it, we are frustrated.
How do we get past this?

Here are some things to try:

1. Walk away- Some will beg to differ on this. Some will say work through it! But I find by walking away then coming back to the project later that day or the next day, I can see it with fresh eyes.
2. Evaluate- What is not working...... Are the colors to strong, busy, or just not going together? Does the very large rusty gear you want to attach with only one tiny piece of wire keep falling off? Can you see your focal point or is there too much going on that you need to eliminate somethings? Talk yourself through it and follow your gut!
3. Look at the items you are working with- I find that if I have too many things to choose from ...... I cannot make a descision! Or It starts to get too busy, too much stuff. It is better for me choose items from my vast selection with the gut feeling of what I want in the piece. I will then bring those items to my work area and try and work with those. Too many times I would find myself so busy looking, looking & looking that the creative process cannot happen!
4. Pick up, look at your choosen items- Once you have those choosen items for your project, Spend some time with them. No, not lots of time, but just pick them up and place them with each other in different layouts on your canvas, box or whatever your base. This goes for 2-d work too. Place your images, papers around to see what goes together.
5. Most of all......Listen to your heart, gut instinct Whatever you want to call it. Trust your instincts.

Next Post, I will talk about Creative Jump Starts........................................

A Summer of Learning

I cannot ignore the circumstances that have presented themselves to me this summer.

It is about seeing the positive in what bad news we may get!

What has been presented to me many times in the past 4 months in different ways is that we only have a limited time on this earth!

Sad, I know but really more than that is the appreciation for what we do have, and what is presented to us each and every day!

I have always been good about seeing every positive, loving thing in each person who pass my path each and every day. But we still need to be reminded.

So this is my reminder:

It has been 13 years at least that someone close to me has passed on...... In this past 4 months, I have had 3 people I have known pass on......

3 people diagonosed with illness that could take their lives, 2 will be fine, one it is just a matter of time.

Ok, I just now see the patterns of 3's.

No matter how busy we get, what needs to get done, We must continue to enjoy the small things, the big things and the annoying things that come across our paths each and every moment of every day!

Seize the day! More importantly, Seize the moment!

Love you all,

Christine

August 23, 2007

Just in at the Nook-

Heidi Swap's Masks Finally!
These are great but hard to get!!! Like stencils but the reverse. They are made of vinyl with repositional adhesive on the back.
Just place down on your surface & spray: Glimmer Mists, Color Wash, Spray paint or just acrylic paint over them.

Then lift of and the image will be the color of your base surface! Wow!

Cool New Trims........
A Must see in person! They are from far off lands and nothing like I have ever seen before. Come check them out!

Body of Art Exhibit Results of the Art Challenge on Display But Ending SOON!

This show will end August 31st. Come by and see them before they are gone!

We had a couple come by today from Wales! They get my emails and planned their visit to the states so they could see this show!

September Featured Artist

Tiffini Elektra X

Art Opening Friday Sept 7th 6 pm - 8:30 pm

Take a stroll into the sepia toned, vintage styled, narrative world of classic books & artists of old. A world when Fairy Tales were true stories, Mermaids were swimming buddies, and Omens foretold the future.

Community Happenings

SILVERSMITHING classes offered by Artist Chad Parker
I met Chad at New West Fest this past weekend.
email him for more info cvpark@comcast.net

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POLAROID IMAGE TRANSFER WORKSHOP

Class at the Bellvue Store:
This Saturday the 25th and/or Sunday the 26th,

Bev Perina will have a Polaroid Image Transfer Class from 10:00am to 4:00pm, the cost is $95 and
she will have everything you need to make the image and emulsion transfers. If you have slides bring them however everything else will be provided. Please contact Bev at 556-0887 to sign up, classes are limited to 6 so let her know soon.

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ENCAUSTIC PAINTING WORKSHOP
Join Merrick Bonewitz and Susan McGoldrick (her assistant) for an exciting workshop on encaustic painting. Explore and create contemporary expressions through this ancient medium of pigmented wax.Dates & Times: Aug. 29 (Wednesday) from 6-9 p.m.Aug. 30 (Thursday) from 6-9 p.m.Sept. 1 (Saturday) 10-1 p.m.Sept. 2 (Sunday) 2-5 p.m. More info: email susan@craigspooner.com or call Merrick directly at 979-421-0439 by Friday, August 24.
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CHINESE CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

Friday August 24th 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm at The Poudre River Arts Center 400 N. CollegeFull Dinner will be served @ 6:00 pmCost $8 for adults or Children 12 & under $4Limited tickets available at the door or contact Josh Hart (970) 663-2239
Expand your knowledge & experience China through Authentic Homemade Cuisine, Art Exhibit, Demonstraion, Chinese Calligraphy, Music, Tai Chi presentation & more.

Body of Art Display up for August

BODY OF ART CHALLENGE

JUST A FEW .....SEE MORE AT THE ARTISTS' NOOK