"Getting All Doll-ed Up" Art Exhibit

Hi All,

Here at the Artists' Nook, we like to throw out Art Challenges/Call for Artists with a Theme.

In the past, we have called artists to art out a Bowling Pin (Bowlarama in May '06), a Swimsuit Form Torso (Body of Art August '07) And Recently,

"Getting All Doll-ed Up" Include a Barbie Type Doll in a piece of art.

Here are some of the entries to this Challenge/Call:

Our Next Challenge/Call to Artist is for an Exhibit in July'08 and the theme is:

Transformation of the Mundane: Take items from everyday life and tranform into an art piece.

Open to all near and far!

All the details can be found on our website at: http://www.theartistsnook.net/art_challenge.shtml


Enjoy this last challenge:


By Marilyn Ryan

By Joy Farinelli




By Travis Parry

by Michelle Parry

by Linda Folkerts

By Kristie Bowman


by Kat Peters-Midland

By Jayne Bramley

by Christine Webb

By Becky Hawley

by Becky Hawley

by Joy Farinelli

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let you know that I have posted Found Object Artist-

Keith Lo Bue's workshops on the website!

And Registration is now open!

Precious Little: The Poetics of Found-Object Jewelry 3-day Workshop

Thursday April 24 -Saturday April 26th 10 am - 5 pm
Cost $375 by 4/5 or $400 after 4/5

Join noted American art jeweler Keith Lo Bue on an energetic exploration of unusual and unexpected materials in jewelry making.

Through hands-on projects and thought-provoking instruction, students will learn the varied methods of selection and assembly this limitless palette demands.

No previous jewelry experience is required; all that’s needed is enthusiasm and the desire to work with your hands.

Whatever your present focus, you will come away with new insights into the possibilities of your surroundings.

Copy-Machine Etching

Sunday April 27th 10 am - 5 pm Cost $140 by 4/5 or $165 after 4/5

Master a quick and easy way to etch designs and lettering into brass or copper using a normal Xerox-type toner copier and some simple tools.

Excellent for use in jewelry, assemblage and collage.

Alternate methods of easy etching will also be covered.

Weathering and Distressing Techniques

Monday April 28th 10 am - 5 pm

Cost $140 by 4/5 or $165 after 4/5

Got a brand-new piece of metal that you'd love to make look old and worn? How about some wood? Or glass?

Using a few tools, some simple solutions and a sprinkling of know-how, we'll get that distressed look that will turn your new material into an artifact quicker than you can say Antiques Roadshow!

Keith Lo Bue is a jeweler, sculptor and teacher who has work in many major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. His work has been exhibited all around the US and in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland and England.

Take Care,
Christine Webb
The Artists' Nook
402 N. College Fort Collins
(970) 416-1148
www.theartistsnook.net

Feb 20, 2008

Lots Added Online......Newly added items to the online store!I have been busy taking pictures of product and uploading to our online store! Whew!

The Newly Added Items Section is filled with....

Golden Brand Gel Mediums, Textured Mediums, Glazes, Molding Paste Diamond Glaze, Omni-Gel, Fabric Tac


Embellishments- Extra Large Eyelets/Gromments, Halo Brass Charms, Mini Brads, Brads that look like Upholestry tack heads,


And of Course we cannot forget the New Find for the Week!

This Time Lock is great on just as is but if you so desire to take it apart, check out all the gears on the side view! Learning, Laughing and Great Art!Upcoming WorkshopsWe had a great time this Saturday creating riveting pendants with Travis!
He will be running another Totally Riveting Pendant workshop to accommodate those who had plans this past Saturday. Let me know if you are interested, And I will give you the details.

Susan still has a few openings in:
Thursday Creating Containers & Bezels
Friday Weaving & Crocheting Wire
Saturday Objects and Elements is Full but we are taking names for the waiting list.

Exploration in Mixed Media with Cory Celaya early discount pricing will end this Friday Feb 22nd! We will need a pretty accurate head count by Friday so please register if you are intending to do so!

Basic Soldering/Image Under Glass w/ Christine Sunday Feb 24th 10 am - 1 pm or 2 pm -5 pm

Keith Lo Bue's Workshops should be posted in a couple of days! Stay Tune! Other Art Happenings Jennie Kiessling-Michler Featured Artist in the CoCOA Gallery will give an Artist Talk about her art on Saturday Feb 23rd at 3 pm.
I attended her first one and it was great! Don't Miss it!

Up Coming Art Exhibits for March and First Friday Art Walk

CoCOA Art Gallery will feature Frank Stanley
"Motors, Moustaches & Masterpieces" Art Opening Friday March 7th 6-9 pm

The Artists' Nook Gallery will feature

Aneesha Parrone
Aneesha works with fibers, metal, natural materials creating beautiful woven art pieces
Art Opening Friday March 7th 6 pm - 9 pm Aneesha will have a weaving demonstration during the Art Opening

In The Poudre River Arts Center upstairs will be:
"Getting All Doll'ed Up"
The Artists' Nook's Call to Artists to incorporate a Barbie Type Doll into your art piece.
There is still time to participate. Click here for more info or email me at artistsnook@comcast.net

Here is a sneak peak!

"Sanctuary" by Joy Farinelli

Susan Lenart Kazmer Book Release & Signing of

"Making Connections" at The Artists' Nook Friday March 7th at 7 pm


And, The Center of Fine Art Photography Will be Moved into the back section of Poudre River Arts Center!
Yeah!

Take Care,
Christine Webb
The Artists' Nook (Home of All Things deMeng)
402 N College Ave Fort Collins CO
(970) 416-1148
AND

Michael deMeng
http://www.michaeldemeng.com/

This week happenings!

Feb 11, 2008

Check out the Online Store
New Finds, many more Magazines, & a few other added items

I have been cleaning up the Newly Added Items section!

It now shows items I have added in the last couple of weeks only! Easier to see!

Of Course, the weekly Found Object Finds........

And have added quite a few Magazines, Current Issues and Back Issues......

Somerset Studio, Somerset Life, Artful Blogging, Altered Couture, Art Doll Quarterly, more back issues of Altered Arts Magazine and more!

Plus, a few more items......

Clear & White Caulk that Michael uses in his workshop for the safer adhesive!

Lutradur, a great non-woven material that looks like mulberry paper but is STRONG!

You can:

Paint it- Heat set paints w/ an iron

Sew it - edges don't fray

Stamp it

Iron-on Transfer on it

Heat it with a heat gun to melt the edges

Make books, purses, envelopes...... Check out the Premiere Issue of Cloth Paper Scissors- Winter 2004 Or the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors

For More Lutradur ideas!

Workshops Here & Abroad!
The Artists' Nook Workshop & Michael's Workshops

The Artists' Nook Workshop Discount Pricing will End Soon on:

Susan Lenart Kazmer's Workshops

March 6-8th-

Discount Pricing will end Feb 14th.

Creating Bezels & Containers 3/6 have only 5 spots left!

Crocheting & Weaving Metal Wire 3/7 have only 7 spots

Objects & Elements 3/8 have only 3 spots left!

PLUS, Join us for Susan's Book Release and Signing Party on Friday March 7th at 7 pm.

Pre-Order your signed copy of "Making Connections" and we will ship it to you on Monday March 10th!

Cory Celaya's Exploration in Mixed Media Discount Pricing will end 2/22!

Don't miss the opportunity to save on these Workshops!

---

MICHAEL dEMENG Workshops

He may be in an area close to you!

Here are the workshops that still have openings in them for the first half of 2008!

Check it out:

Stamper's Warehouse DANVILLE California

Friday Feb 29, 2008 "I Can See Clearly"

Saturday March 1, 2008 "Morpheus Box"

For More info or to register: www.StampersWarehouse.com

Located at The Village 101-J Town and Country Drive Danville, California 94526 Phone: (925) 362-9595 customerservice@stamperswarehouse.com

Scrapbook Territory BERKELEY California Thursday Feb 28, 2008 "Light Bulb Shrine"

Sunday March 2, 2008 "Six Million Dollar Anatomy Man"

For More Info: http://www.scrapbookterritory.com

1717-A Fourth St Berkeley CA (510) 559-9929

Art and Soul Portland Oregon

October 1-6, 2008

Michael will be teaching several workshops and they fill up fast!

Plus, Judy from Red Velvet Creations will be teaching too!

Here are the details:

Workshops will be posted on March 1, 2008, along with detailed information on registration, activities, and policies. Registration is ONLINE ONLY, beginning March 11 at 1pm, West Coast time.

On the Art and Soul Website at:

www.artandsoulretreat.com

Random Arts Saluda North Carolina http://www.randomartsnow.com/

50 E. Main Street 828-749-1165

or email: randomarts@charter.net

Fri.May 9, 2008 - Assemblooks

Sat. May 10, 2008 - Morpheus Box

Absolutely Everything Topsfield, Massachuetts 30 Main Street Phone: 978-887-6397 http://www.absolutelyeverything.com/

May 30- June 1, 2008

Art Happenings
Locally & a great exhibit in Portland Oregon!

February's Featured Artist at The Artists' Nook

Tejae Floyde

Tejae's wonderful Polymer Clay hearts each with a different saying on them will be on display through Feb 29th!

Colorado Coalition of Artists (COCOA) located in the same building as The Artists' Nook

Featuring the art of Jennie Keissling-Michler

Jennie will be giving an Art Talk about her work on Saturday Feb 23rd at 3 pm.

Check out CoCOA's art workshops

If you are in the Portland Oregon Area

Don't Miss:

The Guardino Gallery Presents

Tabor Porter & Chris Giffin

Mixed Media Assemblage Artists

Feb 28th - March 25th with an

Art Opening Thursday Feb 28th 6-9 pm

Guardino Gallery is located at 2939 NE Alberta, Portland Oregon 97211 (503) 281-9048

www.guardinogallery.com

Take Care,

Christine Webb

The Artists Nook

Susan Lenart Kazmer Book Signing!

Release of Susan Lenart Kazmer's book with a Book Signing!

At The Artists' Nook 402 N. College Ave Fort Collins, CO

"Making Connections" Book Signing March 7th at 7 pm.

Taking Pre-Orders Now for a Signed Copy!

Cannot Make the Book Signing?

No Problem, We will ship you your Pre-Ordered Signed Copy to you!

The wait is over for Susan Lenart Kazmer's fabulous book

"Making Connections" A Handbook of Cold Joins for Jewelers and Mixed-Media Artists

We are inviting everyone to get a signed copy by placing a Pre-Order for the book now!

We will ship your signed copy on Monday March 10th!

We want to make sure we order enough copies.

So if you live locally, come in and order yours today!

The signed copies will be available by Pre-Order only.

Orders need to be placed by March 3rd!

UpComing Workshops at The Artists Nook

A Totally Riveting Pendant-
A Riveting Experience w/ Travis Parry

Saturday Feb 16th 10 am -5 pm w/ lunch break Cost $85 Must register by Feb 10th so we can receive supplies in time for the workshop

Basic Soldering/ Image under Glass w/ Christine

Sunday February 24th 10 am - 1 pm OR 2 pm—5 pm
Cost $50 per session

PMC Workshops w/Senior Instructor Peggy Houchin at her Home Studio

PMC Certification Level 1 - Contact Peggy for date & times

Precious Metal Clay Certification Level 2 Saturday Feb 23 & Sunday Feb 24th at Peggy's Home Studio

Contact Peggy for more information at: houchin00@lpbroadband.net or 227-6856

Michael deMeng will be teaching at Art Unraveled in Phoenix Arizona August 3-10th!

Registration opens Feb 15th! More Info at http://www.artunraveled.com/

Featured Artist for February:

Tejae Floyde

Tejae's work will be up for all of February. To see more of Tejae's art, visit her website www.tejaesart.com

The Artists' Nook Newsletter

Current Newsletter filled with Workshop info and ....Traci Bautista, DJ Pettitt, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Cory Celaya....

The Current Newsletter for January, February & March is posted on the website!

Great Workshops with Guest Artist & Local Artist too!

Newsletter HighLights!

Traci Bautista and DJ Pettitt workshop's early discount pricing has been extended through Saturday Jan 19th!

I have had a hard time getting back in the swing of things after the Holidays so we will extend the discount pricing....

Don't miss out on taking a great 4-day workshop with 2 of the most sought after artists in the USA! Traci Bautista & DJ Pettit!

Workshops with..... Susan Lenart Kazmer have opened!!! She fills up fast so don't wait!

Susan Lenart Kazmer Containers & Bezels-Cold Join Workshop March 6th!

Cory Celaya's Exploration in Mixed Media Series ......

Olga by Cory Celaya

This series of workshops will push you as an artist no matter what level you are!

This is an on going three day workshop will meet every four months.

Each 3-day weekend can be taken separately and you will learn valuable information in each series.

But to fully push yourself to a new artistic level, It is suggested to take all of the series.

Art Challenge..."Getting All Doll'ed Up"

Create an art piece using a Barbie type doll in your piece.

It must be publicly acceptable for display.
We will have pedestals for display 3-d pieces.

This show will run Thursday March 6th Saturday March 15th in the Main Gallery at Poudre River Arts Center
More info

A Great Thing....

Paula's Kit Club is the best Paper Arts kit around!

Paula's Kits are based on a theme and are filled with the best papers, ephemera, embellishments, a rubber stamp and more!

But, It gets better....

Paula has teamed up with Kaari from French General to bring you..... French General/Paula's Kit Club Jewelry Club!!!

With these Wonderful Jewelry kits, You can choose to make either a cool bracelet OR necklace or Both!

You Must Enroll Now to get in on the next set of kits coming out in April!

Don't Miss Out!


Take Care,
Christine
The Artists' Nook
402 N. College Ave
Fort Collins (970) 416-1148
http://www.theartistsnook.net/

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!