I'm So Lucky!

The last morning at Squam a few of us woke up early just before sunrise, ran out onto the dock in our socks and jammies and stood in awe of the sight around us- mist rising off the water, clouds above the distant hills, the glow of the rising sun expanding. There was a reverent silence as we watched the day begin.
I am so lucky to live in this beautiful place where I can have these moments often. I need to remember this when life gets busy, I'm feeling stressed about getting things done, hurrying on to the next task. Stop, breathe, look around, be present, say "thank you" for my life.

The After Glow-Life after Squam

A week's gone by since I returned from Squam Art Workshops-September edition. My classes exceeded my expectations. Eventhough I've made lots of books the Book a Day class with Christine Mason Miller and Marisa Haedike gave me some new tricks (including the new "MM" -Mason Miller-way to easily bind multiple sections). My memory book about my grandmother is a new treasure. I felt her great love all the while I worked on it.

And Mary Beth Shaw's class was just the right activity for the last class when we were all a little tired- kind of like finger painting in kindergarten. Again, I've done lots of paste painting but her take on it was entirely new and I came home with a stack of paper to use for book covers and face pages.

Sarah Ahearn's class Text and Image was so good for me as she encouraged us to use a wide variety of materials and techniques. She had a terrific class activity that took us out of our comfort zones. My "P" piece was the class activity- chalk pastels are my new find! The One True Love piece uses another photo of my grandparents on their honeymoon in 1927-sigh....


And my cabin mates? The best! We laughed, shared our lives, drank wine well into the night, then met up in front of the fire for early morning coffee to gear up for the day. It was show-and-tell at night as the eleven of us took a wide variety of classes. Mary Beth was a fabulous roommate in Eldorado- the little sister I always wanted!
And can I just say that having Jenny Doh as a cabin-mate was a true pleasure and honor. She IS the person behind the welcoming letters in Somerset magazines, a champion for all of us trying to live more creative lives.

Here's me with little sis MB :)

Countdown to Squam Art Workshops!

Just 13 days to go until the fall Squam Art Workshops. I feel so blessed to be going AGAIN! June classes were terrific, my cabin-mates were the best.
This time I'm in a larger cabin with 12 other soon-to-be new friends. We are right on the water with a wonderful porch looking off across the lake. I'm already imagining early morning coffee on the dock, late nights on the porch listening to the loons calling out to each other.
And oh my, my classes! I start off with A BOOK A DAY with Marisa Haedike and Christine Mason Miller, using long cherished photos of my beloved grandmother as inspiration. I met both teachers in June and am really looking forward to this class. Then on Thursday it's TEXT & IMAGE with Sarah Ahearn-I love her work!! Saturday morning I'm working with Helene Finizio in CONNECTING WITH YOUR ESSENCE-I'm so ready for this one! In the afternoon I'll be with Marybeth Shaw in NOT YO' MAMA'S PASTE PAPER. I've done paste paper before (self-taught) but know I'll learn new techniques and approaches, plus it is so much fun, like finger painting in kinderarten. And on Saturday night I'll be at the ART FAIR with my handmade books and journals.
I live nearby Rockywold-Deephaven Camps and have been there several times this summer already visiting friends so I can tell you that SAW has a glowing reputation there. They are ready and waiting for our return!

Postcards from New York

I've just finished making these postcard journals for a friend - a great project to use all those postcards from trips and collected at art fairs. These pocket-sized journals make terrific gifts. I reinforced the spine edges with cardstock, then bound the covers and page sections together using a coptic style stitch. I love the look of chain stitches across the spine.
I couldn't resist snapping a photo of these fun sock toys at FAO Scwartz in NYC. They were the best thing I saw there. To be honest, I was a little disappointed in the displays- too much of the same style of media-driven toys from movies, games, or TV. Even the books all looked the same- same style illustrations, binding, size, content. I didn't see much to inspire imagination in children.
I just had to take this photo in Central Park! The pidgeons were quite at ease eating out the feedbucket with the carriage horse.

Back from NYC-what a time!

I'm back from my NYC adventure and just getting back into online connections. I have to admit it was nice to be away from email, blogging, and other electronic demands. But I thought often of what I'd like to share here.
Each day I started out with "What part of Manhattan shall I visit today?" as my non-plan. I gorged myself on art every day! I decided to take out memberships to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the MOMA so I could visit each at my leisure- took the stress out of my multiple days in each. Twice I had lunch on the 5th floor of the MET overlooking Central Park.
The incredible metal tree and roots sculpture was fun to walk around and through, but as the afternoon lightening storm approached we scooted down below to safety!
One day I took the subway to Battery Park to ride the free Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (too crowded to visit). Afterwards I enjoyed some very talented street performers. There's much to do in NYC for little or no $$$.

More Books!

I've expanded my collection with some 3-section samples. I love the possibilties for more complex designs as I increase the number of sections. I'm using plain cardstock covers so I can showcase the stitches. To corral and protect my growing collection I covered a box with my pastepaper, but they didn't all fit in! Next book projects will be star books-great options for mixed media.

Days in the Big Apple-What fun!

I've just spent 5 glorious days in New York City- never thought this country girl could be comfortable there, but I was! Transportation is great and relatively easy to navigate so I ventured all over. I confess I stopped dead in my tracks when I came across this street near Times Square- patchwork quilting in NYC! Best morning was spent with new friend Jessica walking around the outer streets of the Garment District. We discovered some fabulous shops containing whole rooms of buttons, lace, ribbon and other great finds. My favorite was M&J Trimming on Sixth Avenue where I found beautiful silk covered buttons from Japan and metal charms with African and Egyptian themes. These will be great on book covers. Then on to the Tinsel Trading Company which has MOVED to new location on 37th Street. This shop is loaded with vintage ribbons, cloth, thread, and some new stuff, too. Don't forget to open all the drawers in the antique cabinets as treasures abound here. Metallaferous on 46th Street is a must for the jewelry maker. Go up the stairs to a crowded but fun room jam-packed with tools, findings, all things metal, plus some beads. I got quite a few copper pieces for book covers and worked hard to resist all the tempting chains, clasps, and other doodads. Lee's Art Shop on 57th Street was our last stop for art supplies. We only hit the first floor (there are four!) so a return trip is required. Jessica also gave me a quick tour of the New York Public Library and the Trump Towers (oh my!). I'm so excited about my little treasures from NYC.