Here's a link to a blog that hosts all of Teesha and Tracy's spankin' new journaling ala Journalfest videos:
and here is a shopping link...cause it is getting close to that time of year!
and to close, what looks like a cabbage rose to me...from Pike's Place Market.
Have creative adventures everywhere....including the web:)
Michele
We were enjoying a late Saturday lunch at The Backstube when the Reno Aces creature - I mean Mascot walked by and waved at Misha
and this is how she reacted...
It was pretty funny.
Lucky me! I was in Port Townsend at Fort Worden again last week, this time for Journalfest .
This rainbow greeted us wednesday late afternoon and everyone took it as a positive omen of wonderous adventures to come!
I love being yards from the water...
downtown PT from a pier
First class on Thursday was with Traci Bautista - my book is upside down int his photo, long story
so here's another pic back in my dorm room, right side up! Diet Coke on the window sill to keep it cold...cause it was just a wee bit chilly, especially for this desert rat.
Traci demo-ing
the view from Traci's classroom...
Next day was class with Anahata Katkin, Papaya Design
Anahata demo-ing her technique
class room pic...
and if you read her blog, you'll recognize this man ... anahata's hunka, hunka burnin' love
Set out one day after class to snap a pic of a deer..had to drive around three blocks to find this doe:) that's just one of the delights of Port Townsend. there are deer everwhere. One evening I had to stop for a buck in the middle of the road. Then I saw he was standing there looking at his doe and their baby, on the other side of the fence. They are so close that if you have your car window down, you can smell the musk. For the life of me, I don't understand how and why people hunt and kill these beautiful, serene creatures.
and also took this very "typical" PT pic
My last class on saturday was with Roxanne Padgett
I only partook in lunch at the Fort Worden cafeteria this time so I had a chance to dine at dinner with Michele Unger a few times at the Noodle House next to the Rose Theater in downtown Port Townsend. In fact, some how or other I managed to enjoy asian food every night I was in PT!
Here's me and Michele
Journalfest was about a quarter of the size of Artfest and was a chance to reconnect with some of my California Art Girl friends... here's Maria with her beautiful new Stephanie Lee journal
and Roberta having the time of her life at after class journaling time in The Commons and thinking, "boy, what I wouldnt give for some decent Mexican food right about now!"
and Karla, after exclaiming over and over in class, "I am an artist!" showing off her great pages from Anahata's class ..we had alot of fun in dorm 225 after classes and until the wee hours of the night and next morning...
Saturday morning before class I had breakfast downtown and found this...
Left on Sunday to spend the day in Seattle...
The GPS shows me in the Fry!
This woman, an apparent Burning Man refugee , ran out barefooted on the deck of the ferry to be one with the icy cold wind. Some pre-teen boys were watching her and their commentary was hysterical...one even saying that he couldn't look cause her underwear was showing. I guess you would have had to have been there...but it was pretty amusing. (pic taken from i-phone form inside, where it was cozy warm).
After sleeping on this torture rack for four nights at Fort Worden I was very happy
to pass out in this on Sunday night at the Mayflower...zzzzzzzzzz
after visiting somewhere I haven't been in years...Archie McPhee
new, larger location and they continue to offer the odd and unusual like these acupuncture mannequins.
Obligatory trip to the market. Jennifer told me about an antique store on a side street...which i found, but only about 20 minutes before it closed. Next time, next time:)
Gotta love what you find in cities....
Went to Daiso ...the Japanese $1.50 store - LOL and Uwajimaya, the Japanese super-store...WOW! Both are in seatle's international district
Many, Many thanks to Tracy and Teesha Moore who started the Artfest retreats over 10 years ago. They are kindness and light, creative genuises and genuinely good peeps.
I have to admit, I didn't want to leave my fellow art tribe members...it was that much fun!
Have Creative Adventures Everywhere!
Michele
Heading out to the first ever Journalfest in Port Townsend...staying in the Fort Worden dorms and taking a great line-up of classes. Here's the journal I'm bringing - decorated with collage materials Teesha sent us in our confirmation package.
Front:
Back:
Took Misha on a long walk before my trip - she jumped in a new to her pond:
came out with this:
and dropped it at my feet. very strange - she doesn't play with tennis balls on land...
I also caught the Chuck Close exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art before it ended this past Sunday...that's Chcuk on the right, FYI
Can you take photos at a Museum? I don't know, but I had my i-phone and it was just too tempting.
Happy Autumn Colors!
Michele
I took a 6:40 am flight to Portland on Wednesday and arrived fairly comotose which meant I circled the airport in my rental unit before finding my way to Alberta Street an hour later and somewhat awake. My first stop was the neighborhood health food grocery for some coconut juice to rehydrate.
My Art and Soul classes didn't start until Thursday so I had a day to explore. Let the adventure begin.
So here's a little (unedited photo) tour of some Portland signs and murals...while it was overcast at times my whole day was filled with bright, vibrant colors and sights!
A sweet sign for a whiskey bar....
Not sure what this is all about:
In orbit since 1959! When's the 5-0 bash??
Is it DOnut or DOUGHnut?
Yummy!
Michele
Back from a delicious trip to Portland for Art and Soul. Took a b-zillion pics because there is soooo much eye candy up there in the pacific northwest...let's start with my classes!
Moi and Ms. Ann Baldwin, author of this wonderful book . Ann told us this was her Last Mixed Media Class EVER because she was going to pursue her photography career. I have taken a number of Last Classes Ever and am wondering why that is..in any case, the class was informative and fun and a good warm-up.
i set up a little gallery of my baldwin class art in my hotel room!
Saturday's class was Michael deMeng . i decided it was imperative that I figure out this whole assemblage craze that has been totally intimidating me. What a great time. Michael is a sought after teacher and I can see why - he's great.
My finished pieces. Michael commented that I was a bit of a rebel and didn't use his color palette. I don't think he has any idea the extent to which I controlled myself!
This is a an actual Michael deMeng piece...wow.
Sunday and Monday was DJ Pettitt's class. I am an avid reader of her blog and was so excited to land a spot in this sold-out class. DJ is a talented artist and a creative, gentle soul...oh, and did I menton she is also a dedicated pet mom to Tula?
Not yet completed but you get the idea...
the binding with buttons picked up a few weeks ago at Tanner's
The start of an inside page - finally, a place to use my buttons!
And now for something totally different but Portland related, of course...Misha and the pricey pet-boutique toy I brought home for her and Puzzle...
The poor toy a few hours later. ...courtesy of Misha. Puzzle takes care of his toys for years but Misha is the annihilator!
Some more random Portland pics to complete this post...
I was drooling!
bowling balls as lawn art
flower pot on porch
I was there but now I'm back - more pics soon. Meanwhile...
Live The Creative Life!xoxo
Michele
I'm busy getting ready for Art and Soul next week...here's a shot of some pouches I made for an ATC swap among 22 artists...everyone will be making an extra ATC to be sent to Marian, who usually organizes the swaps, but this year is recovering from surgery. I'll have a step-by-step tutorial here soon, but the pouches were made from an idea gleened from a Lynn Perella class and a pattern from a Sas Colby class.
It has been unseasonably warm here so I did this whole project outside. Good thing, since I managed to get paint on my birks, the flagstone patio, etc. My confession: I am messy and I love bright colors!
Have a bright and creative day,
Michele
Patty, Carol, Pam and I headed over the Pass to Sacramento yesterday at 7:30 a.m. for the 2nd-Sunday-of-every-month Sacramento Antique Faire on 21st Street between X and W (not west) Streets.
It is not easy to take photos of a cheetah running 0-60 in about 3 seconds, even when your SLR is set on the "sports setting." The three cheetahs at the Animal Ark are run once a week and the public is invited to one of these runs each month. Highly recommended...details here at Animal Ark . The next one is Balloon Race weekend.
When we were there the female cheetah, Zulu, had a bit of an upper respiratory infection so her caretakers though it best if she didn't run. This did not make Zulu very happy, and she paced in her enclosure hoping they would change their minds, which they did not.
Some photos of the two males, Moyo and Jamar, running...er....flying....
The turnaround ...faster than Phelps!
Which end is which?
Just a blur...
A beautiful sky ended our evening....
Heaven....
Lots of fun...put Animal Ark on your list of things to do!
Michele
A couple of weeks ago John and I attended the Animal Ark's annual cheetah run. More about the cheetah run in another post 'cause those pics are on a different camera!
This event is one from my bucket list and it didn't disappoint. Before the cheetahs ran, Master Falconer Martin Stiasny (below with eagle and John) presented his "Birds In Flight" show. After the show we had the opportunity to meet his one-year old eagle, who is still in training. John was very impressed.
I'm not sure what I think about being so close to Mr. Eagle....
Look at those claws!
Here's Martin's falcon in his little custom-made falcon hat. It keeps him calm when he's not performing.
Animal Ark is a great organization that is worthy of your support!
Hug your pets today!
Michele
