So getting back to sharing with you all about my Art in Ashland adventures. Have you been around blogland and seen all the FUN FUN photos from this amazing event? Anahata, Pam, Amy, Natalie, Kari, Romy, Rebecca, Christine, Pamela, and Liesel all have pictures up! Anyone else?
I'm feeling a bit emotional right now just reminiscing about this amazing event and the fabulous people I know and met. I'm SUCH a lucky girl! Also, listening to this song which makes me think of this video puts me in a emotional state too. Oh and have you seen Matt's latest video??? Jana sent it to me awhile ago. Not sure why, but it makes me weep. It's a happy weep, though. Matt dancing in Gurgaon, India is MY FAVORITE!
Whoops...look how I got sidetracked? It doesn't really take much.
Okay...so on Monday night, after Amy's Rejuvenated Jewels class, we were shuttled to PaPaYa! warehouse via this double decker bus! We were quite the spectacle travelin' down the road!
Kari and I on the bus. Okay...not sure about the maniacal look on my face but this is SUCH a cute picture of Kari, I had to post it. She's SO photogenic! :-) Oh and I took this photo just MOMENTS before Andrea called me! Andrea - this is why I got such a kick out of our conversation!!! LOL!!!
A few pictures from the warehouse...

Anahata and company prepared an amazing adventure for us complete with margaritas and the best guacamole I've ever tasted. She also gave us the go ahead to do some wholesale shopping in the warehouse. Can you believe that??? Oh we were all OVER the moon! To be in her warehouse surrounded by all the color and positive energy, not to mention like-minded people was just incredible!
Kari and Hope...
The inspiration board in Kathleen's workspace. Jealous...!
Random beauty, also in Kathleen's workspace...
Me and sweet Rebecca...
(As you will see, I'm a big fan of the self-portrait!)
Okay so then Tuesday was our last class, Symbolic Icons with Anahata. I reluctantly am sharing my creation with you. I'm just not terribly happy with it. I think the reason is because I knew I had taken it too far. I loved the class, loved the techniques, loved the lessons learned but I think I was fadin' and just lost my ability to say when.
I saw a picture of this piece on someone's blog in an early stage and I LOVED where it was at that point! Ugh! Lesson learned. Set a timer!!! Okay...movin' on...
Here are pictures of the other art works and artists...

A picture of lovely Romy and her piece...
And the incredibly talented ArtsyMama, Kari, with her piece...

And another wildly talented girl, Sally Jean...
Tuesday night was the closing event, *sniff*. A Cupcake Soiree was held at a VERY lovely shop called Prize. I REALLY should have taken more pictures because on other visits when I've asked for permission to take pictures, I was told no. On this ocassion, when I asked they said yes. However, I really just concentrated on taking pictures of the fabulous peoples. I think you'll still get a feel for how lovely of a shop Prize is.
Me and the very dear Genevieve (Hi!!!)...

My buddies and roommates...Cassondra and Kari...
My peep Hope, me, and dear Natalie...

Me and the fab Romy...

The talented Pamela and me...
CRAZY talented Sally Jean, me and the brilliant Anahata...

Me and two very fun women, Pam and Amy...

I look at the gorgeous smiles of these two and it reminds me of WHY I wanted braces. Just gorgeous smiles, gorgeous souls inside and out. Truly.
Very talented Liesel. Check out her necklace! She is going to be teaching her techniques in a class at ArtFest 2009!
Last Art in Ashland picture...our last night in the hotel. I think every night we made Bailey Shivers and just hung out. One night we made our silver charms (thanks again Natalie!) but the other nights, we just lounged and soaked up each other's company. The whole Art in Ashland event was ridiculously amazing; however, it will be the quiet evenings spent with Natalie, Cassondra and Kari that I'll go to time and time again in my mind for some of my sweetest Art in Ashland memories. You girls are the best! Thank you so much for your generous friendship.

Okay, so before I get all teary, I have just a few last bits to show you. On the drive home from Ashland, Miranda, Josh and I stopped off at the Oregon Vortex.
Ah jeez! this place was as corny as we had hoped for! Silly, silly fun!
As we made our way home, we also stopped in Cottage Grove and saw this AMAZING mural of Opal Whiteley. LOVE this woman!!!! you can read more about this beautiful mural here. It looks so much more lovely at this site...I had to crop because of all the construction going on around it!!!!
And then just one last photo of my sweet girlie who made the trip to Ashland with me. She and Josh made the trips to and from Ashland just as fun and memorable as the event. Stopping at random places, listening to Lead Belly and listening to them play cards in the back seat...just made my heart happy. Miranda is taking the summer off from school and work. She's lookin' for a job now and she has an appointment with a counselor at the local college next week. But for now, she's spending lots of time with herself, friends and the 'rents (Glen and I). I'm happy for her. And she seems completely happy too, which makes my life whole. :-)
Take care and see you soon.