Don’t you just hate when technology gets in the way of your creative urges? My computer has been behaving more and more erratically lately. For example, it has been messing up my email accounts and my primary quilt design program. Most frustrating , I have tried numerous times to access my blog and although I can get to it to see old posts, I have been unable to post new content on my computer. It finally occurred to me I should try my tablet. Lo and behold, I can write a new post to my blog on my iPad (herewith). Very strange, Sorry it has been such a long time sine I last wrote. A new computer may be in the cards.
I spent a fabulous few days at “our little log cabin in the woods” with my sister-in-law Edie in mid-August. I mentioned earlier that she is an artist and we planned to spend these few days , just the two of us, experimenting together with new materials and mediums. The idea was to “play” with our art with no pre-determined outcomes and to support each other. Working with mixed media is very new to me so this concept was both exciting and frightening for me! Edie has worked with mixed media and collage beforea and was excited to bring natural ‘found’ items into her work with oils and acrylics on canvas. At the cabin we are surrounded by trees of many varieties which yielded pine cones, lichens, moss, twigs, and Birch bark. Lots of interesting colors and textures! Edie was in heaven!
For my part I wanted to combine working with fabrics and small canvasses, using Modpodge as a glue and a way to get a 3-D effect with fabric. I also cut some of my fabrics into tiny squares and made a mosaic using the Modpodge to hold the pieces on the canvas. I really stretched my boundaries but had great fun experimenting.
The best part was that Edie and I were able to bounce ideas off each other and critique each other’s work as it progressed with no value judgements attached. It was an exhilarating process for each of us.
We had such a good experience during those few days that we both wanted to do it again. However, with each of us living on opposite coasts (New Hampshire and California), the idea came to me we should look into finding a workshop that both of us could enjoy (mixed media instead of a quilt oriented retreat) And I found the perfect one to be held next January in Napa CA. It is called Craft Napa (craftingalifellc.com/craft-napa). It will be four days of intensive immersion in two one-day workshops and one two-day workshop. I am really psyched!
SO - talk about new adventures and living the “Big Juicy Life!! Give it a try - you will have a blast!
