Art and Soul Countdown

6 days until Art and Soul!
One week from tonight I will be sitting with Diana Trout and other creative souls in an Art Journaling meet-up.
I will have finished a busy day in my first workshop - Bevy of Books with Albie Smith.
Other classes are with Sally Jean Alexander and Traci Bautista (with whom I have been wanted to take a class with for a long time!)
I am hunting and gathering my supplies and hopefully will ship them up to Virginia. In the meantime, I am making up some trades to bring with me so I can join in the fun!


Sally Jean's book

Traci Bautista's Book

Fat Books 2010!

I'm counting the days until Art and Soul in Hampton. (nine days...)
This year I participated in not one but two fat book projects!
One had a pocket skirt theme (not sure if I took a photo of that page)



The second book has a 'Wonderland" theme. A hostess will put all of the participant's pages together and the result is a fabulous chunky art treasure. I can't wait to see and receive them at A&S!!

Hip to Make Rice

The most fabulous looking appliance for your kitchen - one you will want to keep out. I don't count carbs - I cook rices and steel cut oatmeal in this every day. It has a catchy little start and stop tune and keeps my food warm. Japanese design at it's typical greatness.

New Scarf for Tank

I can't resist him, can you?
Imagine walking by him and he looks up at you with those soulful basset eyes. Just try NOT to pat him.
The new embroidery tools on my sewing machine came in handy making Tank a new scarf with his name on it. He looks so coordinated!

Journal 365

I finally made my journal for Pam Carriker's Journal 365 class. I had never made a handbound book like this before. It was a lot of fun to create, even though I had to substitute some materials. I am looking forward to the art that will fill it!

Magazine Junkie - French Love!

From the moment I saw you peeking out from behind a large stack of magazines in the Milan airport it was love at first sight. And I have been fortunate to find you over and over again somewhere between the home decor and craft departments at my local B&N. Oh, Marie Claire Idees you are just perfect, too bad I can't read French! You are eye candy, with both contemporary and traditional photographs that will inspire everyone. Things for home, self, children, gifts - I never tire of you. Someday I will be able to read you - until then I will still cherish and enjoy you.


Love the magazine month after month. And I have now discovered a quilt magazine called Quilt Mania (okay, it's not new but it is new to me.) Printed in France, it has the wonderful photography and eye catching layouts that I love, and best of all it is printed in English! I can't stop looking at the latest issue. I 'borrowed' it from my store to 'review'. I don't know if I want to put it back for sale. It features traditional and art quilts, a Japanese exhibit, and even has a pattern included. My kids are going back to school tomorrow. I vow to make time to read a bit more of this magazine. And I don't need a translator.

Welcome to My Personal Blog

I have been regularly keeping up with my store's blog, which has been very enjoyable, if not a bit challenging thinking of things to post that would be of interest to my customers. I have also hesitated to put anything of my own personal artwork on it, as I feel a bit shy - or maybe inappropriate - mixing business and pleasure (even though in my lucky world they are connected!)

I kept a personal blog sporadically in the past called but I feel like I have outgrown it - that it doesn't represent me as much. So I chose to start again. I actually started after returned from Art and Soul in Hampton, VA last May. So inspired to create my own art and be less afraid to share it. Looking back I only posted once and then life got in the way and the store came into my life. Fast forward almost a year and I am back.

I have signed up for an online class with Pam Carriker, whose artwork has always inspired me. It is called Journal 365 and it lasts for a whole year. I am trying to motivated myself to stick with a project long term (not an easy feat). I am also in the middle of participated in not one but two fatbook swaps for the upcoming Art and Soul retreat. Thus I decided to create a space where I could post my personal work and connect with others like me, without mixing too much personal with the wonderful goings on at Three Crafty Ladies. Of course everyone is invited to read both!

So I begin my journey again, super charged creatively and hoping that I will stick with the online class and this blog. Happy crafting!