symbolic icons workshop and a blog giveaway!

Yee-haw! I got myself organized (and rested!) enough to share pictures from my weekend in Ashland. Needless to say, Anahata Katkin's Symbolic Icons workshop was fabulous! I have a few pictures to share from my very charmed weekend!

The charming all started on Friday. I took the day off so I could make a day of driving down to Ashland, get settled and have some time to explore the town. I intended to get up at the buttcrack of dawn and leave by 7:00 am but I decided not to hurt myself that way. Instead, I got out of the house around 9:15 AM and then still had to make a stop at Kinko's to make some color photocopies. Turns out, of course, that was meant to be because when I was at Kinko's, I meant a woman whose collages just got into gallery at the Portland Art Museum. Her name is Connie Barnes. I can't find any links to her right now but when I do, I'll share! She was so charming and I was super happy to meet her. It totally jump started my artsified weekend!

The rest of my drive down to Ashland was uneventful (I like it that way!). I stopped for gas in Sunny Valley at the Covered Bridge Country Store and did a bit of exploring. I learned something about myself on this trip. I am a bonafied "city slicker." Why do I say that? Well, I was almost hyperventilating over this little photo op.

There were a couple of kids (children, that is) in the back of this truck and when I asked if I could take a picture of their goats, they looked at me like I was nuts. "Shhh-ure, lady." Maybe I am nuts because I ADORE this picture! :-)

Here's the covered bridge that puts "covered bridge" in the "Covered Bridge Country Store."

Ashland is such a lovely town. Here is the view from the parking lot of my hotel.

Um, yeah, nice town. :-)

After checking into the hotel, I headed into downtown Ashland. It was bustling! Ashland is home to the popular Oregon Shakespeare Festival and August is right smack in the middle of it. Lots of Bard and period stuff going on throughout the downtown area.

I popped into a few shops including a cool used book/antique store called Shakespeare & Company. The shopkeeper said she needed to close but would reopen if I wanted to come back in an hour or so. How fabulous is that??? I went and found some dinner at a spot called Pangea. Here's a picture I took while I was waiting for my Dukkah Earl.

I had some time so I sat at a table in the front window and wrote in my journal and chatted with a few other diners. I then headed over to Lithia Park to poke around and happened on an outdoor performance of The Green Show. Enchanting! I then went back to the antique store and bought a few bits including a copy of I Ching. I've always wanted a copy ever since I read Ariel Gore's Atlas of the Human Heart. After all this, I guessed my way back to my hotel. I thought for sure I'd made a wrong turn but since it was a gorgeous evening, I couldn't bring myself to turning around. Turns out the road I was on pretty much led me right back to my hotel! My trip was charmed, I tell you!

Okay so enough of Ashland, let's get to Anahata and PaPaYa! Sigh. Anahata is fabulous! She is absolutely beautiful, both inside and out. So warm, so kind, so giving, so gracious, and so sharing. Her mom, Gina, is a gem as well. Between the two of them, the love at the PaPaYa! warehouse is palpable. I am here to tell you that if you are ever out and about and see any PaPaYa! products, you should buy them and feel very good about buying them and supporting this family in their art. Their shop is a beautiful, nurturing, loving space and just walking in, I was made to feel welcome and comfortable. I was happy. Here are a few pix from around the warehouse...

 

So the women in Anahata's class were incredible and absolutely added to my wonderful experience. I quickly connected with a woman named Gina, who just quit her job to find her joy. Wow! She was a woman with wealth of knowledge and experiences. Super cool! I also met two fabulous and talented sisters named Camille and Kim! They were so fun and it was very apparent they loved and respected each other. I just adored watching them interact. Made me miss my sisters. :-) Here's a picture (from left to right) of me, Kim, Gina, and Camille on our fast shopping trip into downtown Ashland during our lunch on Sunday. I LOVE this picture!

Oh and here is a quick pic of all my treatly prizes and goodies I picked up over the weekend.

I also got to meet the fabulous Cassondra. Oh yeah! This girl is awesome and crazy talented! Cassondra said I could show her art on my blog here but I saw that she already has her fabulous pieces posted on her Flickr account. Anahata discovered Cassondra's work in July and talks about it here! Oh and also, this sweety pie of a lady is so generous and so kind! I couldn't help but covet her amazing vintage ephemera goodies (vintage labels, check from 1947 and a VERY OLD logging tape measure) and so what did she go and do? She shared with me...

S'wheat! Thanks again Cassondra. :-)

All the women in the workshop were so fabulous. Anahata really encouraged a communal environment and we all truly responded to that. Slowly, and definitely by the end of the day on Sunday, we because one large group of artists encouraging and supporting each other.

Okay, more pix!

Anahata and me. Gorgeous woman with an incredible bright light and bright heart.

The workspace. Full of color and light. And two sweet kitty cats too! That's Anahata at the far right of the picture.

Here's a picture of me with the three pieces I created over the weekend...

Here's a closer view of my favorite of the three.

Pretty wild, huh? My other two pieces I'm not so crazy about and will either work on or just move on.

In Anahata's book "Journaling the Journey," she says "the only way to make beautiful artwork, is by making ugly artwork." At first I didn't get that but now I do. Things aren't always going to be pretty the first, second, or even the THIRD time out. This is SUCH a liberating concept for me! The piece above came out the best, I feel, because even though I didn't plan anything out, I felt connected to it and felt like I was able to react to it. It was my second piece on Saturday and all my brain chatter had quieted down, just as Anahata predicted. The other pieces, I see now, were just exploring and practicing. They really just kind of exploded out of me, onto the paper. No rhythm, no groove. I'll probably just walk away from them..and that'll be okay. :-)

Oh I want to mention that Saturday night, several of us including Anahata met up at a spot called Tabu for an exceptionally delicious dinner, margaritas and dancing. I didn't stay long enough to witness this but apparently, someone I keep talking about is a VERY GOOD salsa dancer! :-)

Sadly, Sunday the workshop came to an end. I hopped in my car and made my way home. I managed my fluid intake much better so my drive back home was a bit quicker than the drive down - and one of my two stops was to get a pie from Heaven on Earth. Yum!

Okay so if you've made it this far, I thank you! And now for the BLOG GIVEAWAY!

While I was at the PaPaYa! warehouse I bought a few goodies. How could I not, I ask you?! I LOVE labels and went plum loco for these PaPaYa! Book of Mailing Labels. (sorry - I'm being lazy - my picture didn't come out and this one is perfect!)

I will do a drawing for a set of these amazing labels on Saturday, August 18. If you would like me to put your name in the hat, then please leave me a comment on this post and you'll be in!

Good luck and hope you have a fabulous week!

*****

ETA:  So sorry, my lovelies, but please note that the giveaway is closed. Check here for the winners! :-)

*****

Comments

[Erica B.]

Sounds like a fun adventure! I love how your artwork turned out!

Erica in ABQ

[Regina]

Hi Michelle,
What a great artsified weekend. And Ashland does look completely charming. Thank you for sharing your experience, and your goodies!

[Lilli]

Oh that I could've been there! Looks like a perfectly idyllic journey. Love that room you had your class in.

Look at that huge spool of baker's string!

Great post, honey :)

[Julie]

oh my GOD! What an awesome trip! Everything- I guess I am a city slicker too...what a dork. The pictures are amazing, the art you made- amazing...the STUFF! AMAZING!! I think EVERYONE should quit their jobs. Crimany- I did it. So can you. Ok...time to settle down. I am so awe-struck this morning reading abotu this trip...off to check out Anahata's book! :)

[Linda Richter]

Love it all. Did you buy that HUGE thing of red and white twine there, too? I'm feeling envy coming on. Great blog!

[Robyn]

Sounds like a great time, and I think ALL your works are fabulous!
Going to check out Anahata's site.

[Wendy Updegraff]

You know we are long lost sisters right? I love her work! You are so lucky to be able to take her classes. Your pieces turned out amazing! I have purchased a lot of her stuff from her website in the past and love every little thing! What a fun giveaway.

[doverdi]

Looks like you had an awesome time. Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Suzan]

WOW!! You are so lucky to have went to Anahata's class!!! WONDERFUL stuff!!

Please add me in the giveaway pot...thank you!!

Suzan
thriftycollageartist

[Jana]

Wow, what a lot of great photos! Your weekend story is so rich with details---and the photos completely illustrate your fun! Loved your goat picture---laughed at the kids (children's) reaction to your photo request :). Isn't Ashland fun? Last time we were there it was for a soccer tournament (in Medford but we stayed in Ashland). It was so fun wandering around town and like mentioned above we too discovered a fabulous breakfast at the Morning Glory cafe. The view from your hotel parking lot looks like something I'd choose to paint! I also love the vintage check from Albany---especially how the shop address is listed as First & Sherman St. rather than a number! The artwork you produced is amazing! Looks like a lot of new techniques, fun and play went into them. Where did you get the photos used in them? From your own stash or were they provided? The one with the little girl & dove is so sweet! Such Fun!! Thanks :)