The Art of Thankfulness

Its a good thing when you get to mix business and pleasure and that is just what I got to do this weekend in Reno with 12 fearless first time jewelry artist who gave it there all!

Nancy started the class by sharing how to create a mixed media angel pendent. once the girls altered the angels it was my turn to show them how to twist and coil wire.

(view slide show)

sore fingers aside they all had fun! and ever one in this class did one amazing job!
(“A project similar to this will be stepped out in "A Charming Exchange"
and can now be pre-ordered)

On Friday Night I went out with friends and was treated to a most amazing night, we had drinks and dinner at Charlie Palmer's followed by a performance by the stunning BB King and his band.

When this man walked onto the stage you felt his presence... the music filled the air but after each song he would take his hands cross and cover them over his heart
or take them up and place them in front of his head in graduate and thanks for all his gifts, for the music, then BB would talk and share the story's of his life ... AMAZING!

His Thankfulness of his art touched me so deep... for some times when I am trying to work things out in my head ... I find myself so thankful right before the creativity comes out, I some time will just bow my head down and rest it between my hands and give thanks for what is trying to come out of me.

If we focus on the good things in our life, even more good things will come.
We must always be thankful for all the beauty and grace in our life's.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. —Meister Eckhardt

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I just got back from a very self indulgent trip!
when 2 moms take off for 6 days and leave the kids at home it is a treat beyond words!


Nancy and I spent our days site seeing, shopping , eating and drinking pool side

and lets not forget the countless trips to the most amazing spa !
ever inch of our body's were scrubbed and massaged into a blissful submission!

(view as slide show)

Puerto Vallarta
is at the base of a rain forest and lets just say I never new that my knee cap could sweat!

But the charming cobble stone streets

The kind venders selling there street food

and the lush green follage made it all worth it.

The people of Mexico were all so friendly and lucky for us they all spoke English, because the only Spanish word I know is Margarita!

I came home to a few fun art treats
I got this great Banner from Jen Bowles
I put it up in my studio above my sewing table.
Jen had no idea what a nut job I am for old mother of pearl buttons but on my banner she used some from her mother in laws button box who's name was Ruth as well so it was a extra spacial treat for me! :)


(Dolls from left to right by: Sally Sal, Kara Klein and Tammie Moore)

these are the dolls that I received from the Tammie Moore
paper doll swap... I put them on my glass pantry door in my kitchen so please excuse the mess!


Tammie also included a little good bag filled with some of her resin charms! I can not wait to do something fun with the crow head!


Sewn atc's
These are ATC's from a monthly swap I do with a group of girls that Wendy Cooper (she does not have a blog) has put together, each month is a new theme. You can see my card that i made for the group here.

I have needed to a little break from art and creativity as my life has been so full with deadlines.
I now find my self in a creative cocoon , ideas have been swirling around in my head... but none are fully formed or ready to come out just yet.

Here are a few goals that I have for now:

1. I want to play with my house a little and move things around and regroup and nest.
2. I will get back to yoga (and to help inspire me I will make this Amy Buttler, nigella yoga bag )
3. update my blog and website
4. finish reading: Eat, Pray, Love that I started in Mexico.
5. allow my inner muse to dream a little more before she comes back out to play!
   

"Beauty is one of the rare things which does not lead to doubt of God." — Jean Anouilh

book is complete and art studio's

I had a really bad cold! and it may have taken me three boxes of tissue
(puffs with lotion) and 2 boxes of Tylenol cold medication and many cups of hot mint tea... but this past week Kelly and I feverishly completed "A Charming Exchange" and it is now in the hands of our #1 craft editor with 8 more piece of jewelry on there way to her. With the BIG part of this project behind us Kelly and I can now spend some much needed time with our family's that must believe that we have up and joined an art cult!

(this is are new, almost done outdoor fire place we had dinner outside the last 2 nights trying to decided what kid of table we want to get, we are leaning towards round)


As promised here are the 2 amazing art studio I got to visit when I was in Reno:

The first one belongs to mixed media artist Nancy Nelson and I must add that this studio was totally organized until I showed up and completely trashed it! Nancy is one amazing collector of all things vintage!

This is the weaving studio of Toni Lowden the driving force behind Artouring, Artouring offers a cultural “behind the scenes” look at the artistic community that makes its collective home in the Reno-Tahoe-Virginia City area. Tours take you into the artist’s studios that are not normally open to the public, to meet and talk with them and to see their work.

I will be heading back to Reno at the end of the mouth to teach a 2 day mixed media art jewelry work shop along with Nancy and Toni for the artouring group.

But for now I need to pack up for a little rest and relaxation trip to Puerto Vallarta, mexico, I leave this Saturday, I am a lucky girl! I can not wait to be inspired by all the local art and colors!