Shakerag Workshops

I have been working at Shakerag for the past couple of years. I really love it. Last year was amazing. I was a work study and participated in Chris Bucklow's "Developing a Visual Language". Chris Bucklow is a painter and photographer from the UK, you can see his website {here}. I met some incredible photographers, had great conversations, ate wonderful food, and just enjoyed being on the mountain and having some time to myself everyday.

This year I was a Studio Assistant for Susan King, a photographer and book artist from KY. Her workshop was all about developing ideas for artist books. We were fortunate to have a perfect mixture of personalities (you can see a few of them above) in that workshop so our conversations were incredibly inspiring. Best of all I had the opportunity to renew my friendship with Lesley Patterson Marx.

The above image is from Shanna Leino, a book artist from NH. I was her Studio Assistant this year as well. You can view her books and her beautiful handmade bookmaking tools {here}. She taught Late Coptic Binding. We built our books from scratch; pasting papyrus sheets together to make our boards, cold tooling leather covers, and hand filing brass pegs. It was one of those "working til the wee hours of the morning" classes, but so worth the effort. Shanna has a gift for bringing people out of their shells, at least she did that for me.

The above image is from Dan Essig, who I will be the Studio Assistant for next year. Check out his website {here}. There are still spots available in his class and you can register at the Shakerag Workshop site {here}. If you ever have the opportunity to take a workshop ANYWHERE...you need to do it. Any new experience is an opportunity to grow artistically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many places offer scholarships or work study opportunities. It won't hurt to call and see if you qualify. DO A WORKSHOP THIS YEAR!

Women's Work

Nancy Youdelman works in mixed media and memories. Her paper, bead, and button constructions remind me of both the types of clothing I wore myself as a child and the materials that I enjoyed using in my childhood. She studied with Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro at CalArts. I first saw her work around this time in 2007. She was showing at the Donna Seager Gallery with two other book artists. This gallery is a treasure and if you haven't seen it, you can view all their artists work {here}. 

Lieve Prins

While preparing for a demo recently, I began a search for artists who use the scanner as a camera. In the process I fell in love with this woman who works in a tableaux style that is similar to my own. I am REALLY excited about her and I hope that you will visit her site and let me know what you think. {Lieve Prins}

Burda Style

I made this little dress from a pattern I printed off on my home computer. I downloaded it FREE from Burdastyle.com.  They have tons of free patterns and lots of great ideas for no-sew clothes (if you don't know how to sew). If you find a pattern you like, but it's not in your size...no worries, I have found a website that gives easy instructions on how to adjust pattern sizes. You can visit it {here}. Happy sewing! Post any pics of things you make! I'd love to see them.

Girly Girls

One of my favorite blogs is Gathering Spriggs. The reason? Because it is girly, for girls who aren't afraid to be girls. Visiting always gives me a welcome break from my own cream and gold interior and takes me back to hiding in the garden as a little girl surrounded by aqua, pink, and sage. Ms. Spriggs Thompson also has two etsy shops that are equally wonderful. You can visit the blog by clicking on the link in my blog lists to the right OR visit the stores {here} and {here}.

Images and Affect in Group Psychotherapy: The Interaction between Art and Psychodynamics

I met this fella last year at Shakerag who asked me to be a guest speaker at the Carolinas Group Psychotherapy Society Fall Conference this year. He was in a workshop where I talked about my process and how I use self-discovery techniques to develop my work. So he was happy to meet me and I him and now here it is time to go to NC and do the talk. The official postcards, brochures, etc. are out and you can see them {here}. It is mid September and I haven't even thought about how to organize this talk. It is just simmering right now. Can I just say that I am SO excited about spending the weekend with these folks?!  One step closer to grad school? maybe.

Pinky Bass: photographer

Work based on her sisters battle with cancer and the subsequent loss of her sister, her parents, and her eldest son to cancer. Pinhole photographs with hand stitching.

It's not easy to face your pain full on and it is even harder to put your hands in it, but that is what artists do every time they get involved with a work like this.That is why this kind of imagery has such an impact on me. Evidence of the artists hand is always successful in pulling me in. Not going to talk too much about it. Just give it a {look}. I think you'll like it.

I want to ride my bicycle

I want to ride my bicycle.I want to ride my bike.I want to ride my bicycle.I want to ride it where I like.

I just bought a brand new bicycle and one week later sprained my ankle and have been on crutches ever since (now entering week 5). BLARGH! I visited my bicycle today. It looked lonely. Poor Bikey. I will be riding you soon. 3 more weeks until I'm healed!

Here I am...with corn

I always wanted to join the bloggin' community, I just didn't know that I had anything interesting to say. So I will just use this blog to share anything I am excited about. Right now I am very excited about CORN! This is a recipe that my mom gave me and I have made it ALOT. Sometimes replacing the corn with squash or zucchini. Everyone loves it, try it and see if you like it.

1 can of whole corn drained

1 can of creamed corn

1 cup of sour cream

1 box of Jiffy corn muffin mix

1 stick of butter

1.5 cups of cheddar cheese (or soy cheese)

Add everything in a bowl and mix it up. Grease a pan, pour in the mixture, and bake for 30-45 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven or until knife inserted comes out clean.