Italy 2014 Day One

 

First, sign up for a class with Pam Garrison and Amy Hanna in April 2013.

 

Next wait 18 months.

 

Then fly to Italy with Alisa Noble.

Wait...buy macaroons in Paris.

Land in Florence 24 hours later.

 

to be continued...

Do What You Love

Stephanie Ackerman came to OKC and taught at My Heart's Fancy.

This second class was about doodle, stamp and stitch.

We doodled...

We carved...

My simplistic boxes stamp...

...put to use.

Stephanie doodles on fabric using Prismacolor pens.

I tried it on my new journal inspired by her.

She and I. Really what a doll she is.

Funny, talented, supportive, authentic...

 

 

Playing Cards

Stephanie Ackerman recently came to Oklahoma City to teach a couple of classes at My Heart's Fancy. I enrolled in both because she's great and I love to support people who come here. We get a lot of really great classes going here didja know?

Alisa came into town from the Dallas area. Here is She and Stephanie.

 

We made mixed media collage on playing cards

using lots of products I had not used and now own.

I promptly used my products and new techniques to bust out this journal.

I love this. Love. This. Thank you Stephanie.

The French Connection

From Canada flew in sweet Colette Copeland for a weekend of teaching at our dear Paper Crown here in Oklahoma City.

My daughter having just returned from an exchange program to France spent the morning with us working on her French.

CoCo was so so sweet to her. I melted.

Also Jackie made these, French donut holes, bluebirds and "C" cookies.

I would show you a picture of Jackie but instead there is this,

her thread...

and her freaking banner for her cottage project that actually had people living in it.

There was a cottage class, and birdie making.

Collete brought her wares. Such a loving restraint in her work...

We Oklahoma gals snatched them up without incident. (Sorry Beth, I guess you can give your Collete Original to whomever YOU actually choose.)

Jemellia is adorable in her sporty spicy haircut.

I spend so much time alone using texts, blogs and emails to keep in touch with people, I forget how much I enjoy the actual people.

Collete is set to return to Glitter Market this November. I don't think I will wait that long to spend time with the actual people. And that's called growth mon ami...

Oh! K.C.

I am thrilled renowned American textile artist K.C. Willis is coming to OKC to teach her Collage Camp class at Paper Crown 24 September 2011. Well done Cindy on bringing this artist to us!

K.C. Willis has collaged Americana and Women of the West for many years, really pioneering this form of art. As she works, these saddle gals speak to her. She often incorporates their whispers into the collage. Her work is full of wit and grit.

She usually teaches out of her studio but as taken her show on the road this year with plans to remain closer to her Colorado home in the upcoming year. This is a wonderful and rare opportunity to work with this special artist.

Sign up at K.C.'s site soon. I would not miss this chance for the world. I am so excited to be in her company!

Shine

I recently received a very gracious invitation to a Private Kaari Meng Event hosted by Shea Fragoso and Deb Murray at The Church in Dallas. Jemellia and I attended and were simply elated, dizzy even.

There was laughter, tears, tools and a little bit of embarrassment on my part.

I sign up for these events, workshops and art classes for 3 reasons. First is to create and learn new skills. Creating is life-giving for me and I mean that in the dramatic way it sounds. Creating centers me and makes me return to that divine, child-like self who makes something then runs through the house saying "Mama, look, looky what I made."

 Necessary.

Second is I want to interact with like-minded women. I have always loved the company of women. I enjoy men and their productive simplicity, but I yearn to fly my pink patchwork girl flag. And my classmates get it. I can be my true self. A little obnoxious, a little off-color, emotional and comedic. Also love a kit, a challenge and the task at hand.

Comforting.

Thirdly, it forces me out of my insular world so I am challenged, forced into a group setting, a new physical place, all innately uncomfortable for me. I'm not comfortable walking into a room I have not seen and a group of people I do not know. It is interesting that I have been a college adjunct professor for over 20 years where I am constantly walking into a room of strangers and performing. That is also my best talent. By the end of each semester, I think my students have been introduced to some biological information and understanding on a deeper level. In turn, I am filled by getting to know them and what they remind me about myself. But, I shake and quake before absolutely every lecture, every event and every class of every kind I walk into. The fear is instructive. So I keep doing it. However, I always recriminate and lash myself for what my mouth said.

Uncomfortable therefore instructive.

I am feeling weird and gross after this Kaari Meng Gilded Life event. I have been joking about my love for Kaari for a while. I have gone so far as to say I would just hump that sweet lady's leg because I love her so much. Oh that's all funny until I stammer, stutter and act all goofy-star-struck around her. Yuck on me. What the hell? I mean we are peers in age, why am I such a dip shit? I just was not myself in my own skin in her company. I wanted her to like me so much that I was probably unlikeable. I have two more events to attend where I've signed on for 3 more classes with her. I feel embarrased. I mean, I know it doesn't cross her radar screen because she meets so many people. Oh and by the way, one reason I admire her so much, other than love and respect for her artistry, is the fact that she really tries to connect with each person she speaks to. And hungry 'ol me was making the least out of that.

The above is an amalgam I made of charms given to each student. Initial charm by Shea and Debbie, a flower charm from Heather Ales and a couple of dangles from Kaari's kit.

The outcome.

Confronting fear is the real reason I need to keep doing things like this workshop. To meet new people, see new things, learns new skills, create and ultimately grow. Shit.

Cake Tops and Holly

I have blogged in my short bloglife already about Miss Holly. I am fixin' (yes I said fixin') to do it again. In a prior post , I admitted to having found a pretty avatar on Flikr which I followed to Holly Abston and found that she teaches classes right here in Oklahoma City. Not California. Not New York. Oklahoma! where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. I made her Butterfly Crown and now it lives on a lamp in my craft room, or studio (wait, I might be struck by lighting for saying studio....) okay we're good.

I took another class this last Saturday for a Cake Top Box. Mmmmmm. She has terrific little kits. I love the anticipation of what lies beneath...

The pretties inside the kit. Her kits are so complete, absolutely all you need to bring is your glue gun and an ability not to cuss as hot glue sears your flesh.

Along the way.

Later that day.

My cake top box lives alongside the jadite pieces in my china cabinet.

I will be going to Holly's house later this week because I totally weaseled in Holly's request of my friend Jemellia to make a slip cover for her. See what a sweet little bundle Jemellia brought to class for me just because I am her friend? Clearly that was before she realized I getting all up in her slipcover.

So I will be ogling Holly's house taking my stalking of her to the next level. Lucky girl...