Catching Up

I created this little 4" x 4" collaged canvas for the lovely Lisa (Oceandreamer) recently and it has found its way home so now I can share. The photo does not show the depth of colour - the canvas was coloured with Twinkling H2Os and is quite vibrant. This was such a fun piece to create.

This amazing charm necklace arrived the day before I left for the Art Journey Workshops and was the subject of much discussion and praise in Fremantle. It is the result of a swap hosted by Kim (Art Dogs Life) and is something I will treasure forever. The charms were made by (working left to right) Shara Kreisssl, Laura Duet, Me, Kim, Dawn Rice, Kim, Lisa Call, Dot Christian, Heather Simpson-Bluhm and Pinar Donmez. What makes it extra special is that participants came from both sides of Australia, several states of the USA and Turkey! Thanks again for hosting this one Kim!

This weekend I am back to lists, household chores, marking and other school work, etc. For tonight I am free - I have flitted from the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors to practicing Nina knots on a necklace and back to the computer to check on the rest of the world. How blessed I feel.

Lesley Riley Workshop

Works in progress. The first book, made of painted interfacing, is almost complete and has a wonderful soft leather texture. I used some of Lesley's fabulous images to explore the concept of aging as a woman and may add some more journalling. At the same time I want to keep a lot of the wonderful rich colour showing through.

The folded book is sitting on loose pages I prepared in class, on lutador, and I will make them up into a book in the near future.

This was a fun class, and Lesley is very clear in her instructions; she kept everyone moving along in the morning to get their backgrounds prepared and the afternoon was spent relaxing with embellishments. Lesley was also very, very generous with supplies, and was so kind to all of us, as we struggled with the inevitable tiredness after three days of workshops.


I have just heard that the next Art Journey Retreat is in Melbourne. Unfortunately teachers can not take holidays just any time so I am glad I had decided to save to go to an overseas retreat next.

I left this retreat and drove the five hours home with a full moon clearly visible to my left, for most of the drive. As I drove it reflected on my car window and I reflected not on the weekend's padding - but on the art I had created, and absorbed, and the people I had met. My heart sang, a peace came upon me and I felt centered, somehow the moon was essential to that. It put things in perspective.

Nina Bagley Workshop

I had a blissful 'art day' at home yesterday and finished attaching the chain to my booklace. It was 38 degrees here today (for my American friends that's celcius - and hot - It is 100 degrees F) and my students were fractious so it is nice to come back to this piece of art.

Nina (said nine-a) was a delight to learn from, I knew she would be kind, wise and gentle. What I did not suspect was feisty - who forgot the mica? and why did those staff kick us out of the room so early?

Nina was very patient with us, her students, as she taught drilling, aging and the famous Nina knot, repeating the process step by step until we were all able to make joins with 'some' competence. I want to add some more beads into my chain but don't have all I need to age some more copper so will leave it for now.

I was working a lot with butterflies before I went away -feeling as if I was emerging and beginning to fly again; praying for the strength to 'rise up on wings as eagles'. The birds are, for me, an in between phase - the next step forward on my current journey.

I so enjoyed learning from Nina and seeing her heart on display, both in the way she taught us and in her own jewellery (which is even more beautiful up close), and would have loved to have had time to chat with her about her artistic process.

Michael de Meng Workshop

Let me begin by saying that Michael de Meng is an awesome teacher and this was my favourite workshop of the three I completed on the weekend… and yet there was a journey to that point.

I took this class to challenge myself, to move outside of my comfort zone. At the time I signed up I was in a paper phase, and Michael’s dark colours and focus on celebrating the lives of the dead, as well as the very abstract nature of some of his work was an enigma to me.

I love this picture with the sun on the shrine and will have to find a sunny spot to hang it.

I entered the class on Friday morning tired, with a knot in my tummy and wishing that this was not my first class, I was feeling quite inadequate. My friend Sally was there to encourage me. However we were both a little bemused when after a brief introduction (both to Michael and liquid nails) we were encouraged to get some things that appealed to us and begin designing our shrines. I was muttering, ‘But how?’, ‘What is the process?’ and more.

And yet by morning tea a form was taking shape, an idea of art, not driven by the head but the heart (hence the winged being with an empty head). An idea of art emerging triumphantly from within. As I write this, I realise that the centredness (another Julie word) I arrived home with began here.

Michael gave some amazing colour combinations for paint to the whole class. For the rest of the day he moved around being available to everyone, without favour, and yet never imposing himself on any group or art work. If you get a chance to do a class with Michael take it! He is so generous with his praise and help, and in the end his organic teaching style releases individuality. The shrines are not clear on the photo of our end products – but each of us ended up with unique works of art. After a shaky start I would have quite happily spent three days in workshops with Michael - and the liquid nails!

I have a couple more Nina knots to tie before my booklace is finished, and a little work to go on my fabric journal so will finish them and blog them as they are done.

Happy Feet Have Wandered Home

....and not just Miss Maggie's, however, she does look delighted to be back.
As for me I am centered again.

I had a delicious time catching up with wonderful friends, old and new, and soaking up art chat and teaching. Tomorrow I will start to blog the art I created while away, and reflections from the wonderful workshops.

I had to post these photo's first as my journey started with an unhappy puppy dog. On Thursday after I left Maggie I drove safely to Fremantle, through unseasonal rain, interspersed with wild dust storms! The combination served to have me arrive a little fretful and definitely tired. Only to be met very quickly by the wonderful Dawnie who took me out for soothing cups of tea before we met other friends for dinner. It was wonderful to catch up with friends I don't normally see. I met some wonderful women whose art I have admired for many years as well. It was good to share stories, see each others faces as we chatted and have the flow of conversation not possible in an e-mail - the pasta was good too!

Packed!

Packed? Yes
Ready? Ummmm ...
Guilty?Yes

I am packed and ready to drive off up to Art Journey Retreat in the morning. I have more luggage than the average family of 4 and KNOW I will not have taken something I want. But as the retreat is being held in the bustling city of Fremantle I have managed to convince myself there in nothing I cannot buy, if needed, when I get there. My Mum is organised to visit daily, at least, and take care of Hamish, Charles and Phantom. Maggie is packed for the kennels - and I really do not need her looking at me like this all night, my heart is already breaking at leaving her.

Poor love the moment she sees a case she is bereft. This Mama's girl can have the best of care but would rather be with her Mum,and have no attention. That love is both the most amazing blessing and a bind.

I am always an emotional wreck before I leave home - and end up enjoying myself once I arrive. I have been looking forward to this Retreat for almost a year and now am almost numb with a combination of anticipation, fear and excitement.

I will take photos, and keep a journal, while I am away and hopefully will be able to share with you on Tuesday.

Stay safe.

I must create ...

I took time away from chores today to make these last two cards, and with them came peace, and the decision to give myself permission to create every day - no matter how busy life is. Art is sustaining. Having said that, I have achieved a lot this weekend and I can now see the possibility of setting off for Fremantle, and Art Journey Retreat on Thursday!!! Yeah!

I am even getting excited again. Yes, there is a lot that could go wrong - but there is a lot to be hopeful about, and I am going to be meeting up with so many friends while making new.

Have a peace filled week.