Hold Dear

art and soul and sabbatical...

Hello there...

It's been awhile since I've done any blogging or blog reading. Life has just been so busy (all good wonderful artsy things!) and then I had the flu (not such a good wonderful thing) plus my day job has really switched to high gear. Super busy. ESPECIALLY with all the Silver Bella prep I'm needing to do! I am hosting a fabric fatbook (the artwork coming in for this swap is SPECTACULAR!) and I signed up to be a vendor. Gulp! I've been stocking up on tons of goodies like crazy these past few months but now I need to put things in cute little packages!!! DOUBLE GULP! (Uh oh...now I want to go to 7-11!)

So I've decided that I am going to officially declare a blogging sabbatical for myself for these next few weeks. I'm declaring it as opposed to just disappearing off the face of the blogging planet. :-)

BUT before I take off, I have one last thing that I've been meaning to blog about!

I had the very lovely pleasure of taking a class with Deryn Mentock in the beginning of October at Portland Art and Soul. The class was called Wingkeeper. It was fabulous! Two days of jewelry-making and techniques! Happy! Here are a few pictures...

Lovely Deryn and I...she is SUCH a fabulous teacher!

Here is the first piece I made...

 
(totally need to re-do those coils...first time with this technique...ugh!)

I made the little soldered "box" in a class with Stephanie Lee at last year's Art and Soul. I just loved it but I could never figure out what to do with it. I brought it to class with me just in case I would be inspired. I was. And I SO love this little piece of vintage lace that's just been hanging around waiting patiently to be used.

Here's the large piece from the class...

 

To make this picture larger, click on it and then click again...I had such trouble getting a good shot of this!

I LOVED learning how to make tassels!

 

Butterfly wing sandwiched in mica.

Sweet spot alert! :-)

That filigree dangly is something I picked up at a junk store in the "single earring" bin absolutely years ago. I think it totally makes this piece!

Okay...so with that, my dear people, I'm outta here for a few weeks! Take care! 

Weekend fun...

I'm telling you, I am SUCH a lucky girl! I get to bop around here and there having some pretty amazing adventures (still need to finish catching up on Artistic Affaire blogging!) but then there are times when I don't even have to leave town to have some equally terrific adventures!

Take this weekend, for example. Last night I had a unique adventure and then since this weekend is Art and Soul, I am also meeting up with a great friend for a day of shopping, eating, shopping, etc. And tomorrow and Monday, I am taking a two-day class with Deryn Mentock. I consider myself very lucky to know Deryn and now to be taking a class with her is OVER THE MOON happy-making! I love her style!!!! 

So last night, my former-online-friend-now-friend-in-real-life, Sue Reaney, was in town with her adorable husband, Jud. I got to meet up with them for a quick trip to Cupcake Jones (two words - red velvet!!) and then collage. After this, Glen joined us for a marvelous dinner at La Petite Provence. It was such a great time!

Our trip into collage, as usual, was a treat. Here's Sue and I with Suki...we adored meeting her!!!

Okay...off I go...so much more to share so I'll be back soon!