I don't know if blogging about Handmade U Spring Semester unblocked something, but I am definitely feeling up for some more! I am motivated to get "caught up!" :-)
First up...did you see the moon on Saturday, May 5? The media was referring to it as a "super moon" and around 8:30 pm, it was super! I started snapping pictures and got some great pictures using the zoom. I set up the tripod and got lots of shots just like this...
Very cool, right?
Okay...so on to a bit of catch up. It has been a very busy, crazy year so far. In January, I attended the Play Retreat in Port Townsend, Washington. While I was there, I made the decision to attend Artfest in April. I knew it would be tricky to juggle Artfest because it was two weeks before Handmade U in Omaha, Nebraska. I thought it would be more than I could handle but after months of back and forth deliberation, I signed up. This was to be the last Artfest ever so I figured I had to go for it!
Artfest 2012 was my fifth Artfest and while I don't regret going, I felt out of sync most of the time. I think it mostly had to do with the fact that I stayed off campus and so I missed out on the shared meals in the commons and all of the trading. The brightside of the whole affair was renting a room from my lovely friend, Marilyn, who lives in a beautiful cottage in Port Townsend.
Along the way to Marilyn's house, I did get a little lost but it was worth it because otherwise I wouldn't have stumbled upon these lovely words written on a community art center...
A very perfect sentiment for Artfest.
It's actually never a bad thing getting lost in Port Townsend. There is always something gorgeous to see.
As for the classes at Artfest, I mentioned I signed up late but I was still able to pretty much get all the classes/instructors I wanted! My first class on Thursday was Dave Steele's Metal Adventure Journal. I LOVED this class! I was very comfortable with the bookmaking component but had never worked with metal before. Dave is a very patient and knowledgeable teacher and I finished my journal in the class. That made me WAY happy!
The book is about 4 1/2" x 5 1/2".
Friday's class was Misfit Dollmaking with Lana Guerra. I thoroughly enjoyed the techniques that Lana shared. She is a very fun teacher. I didn't get very far with my doll unfortunately. This was a new medium for me so I think I got way too ambitious. The possibilities are endless! One of these days I will finish it...or not. But I will make dolls. :-) Oh and I did sit next to a very charming and gracious woman named Ellen. We're friends on Facebook now. Love that!
Saturday's class was with the ever delightful and super talented Mindy Lacefield. I was looking forward to this class most of all...mainly because Dawn was going to be in this class too. My super friend, Sarah, was to be in this class but she had to leave Artfest unexpectedly. :-(
I am in love in love love LOVE with the techniques I learned in Mindy's class. Here are three paintings I painted during class...
Right when I got home, I went out and bought lots of flourescent paints! I can't wait to play with them! Here's a pic of Dawn and I taken during class. Dawn is SO talented and hanging out with her absolutely enhanced my whole Artfest experience! Goodnight, Dawn Sokol! :-)
Before heading to Artfest, I started putting together a souvenir journal (of course!)
I just finished it and am thinking of making a little video as a way to share all of the insides with you. I just need to carve out a bit of time to do that. Until then, here's the first page in the journal...
Lastly, here's a pic of the commons at Fort Worden! I hope it's not the last picture I ever take of the fort. The era of Artfest has passed; however, there's talk of something else on the horizon involving Fort Worden and Port Townsend. Hopefully we'll all get a chance visit the fort again...for the next big thing, :-)
I'm so glad you made the decision to go. Artfest would not have been the same without you. I stayed off campus with a friend last year and felt that same disconnect. This year I went back to dorm living. Loved the immersion.
I hope our paths cross again, Michelle.
Posted by: amanda | May 10, 2012 at 04:17 PM
hi michelle....your blog always inspires me to just go for it...hugs tabitha
Posted by: tabitha | May 10, 2012 at 05:18 PM
I LOVE the journal!
Posted by: kelley | May 12, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Love this post, still wish I had been there! Perhaps we need to plan a mini-gathering at the Fort some time, have a few days hanging out and exploring PT (and visiting Insatiables, which strangely is not even mentioned in this post???) Love, love, love your little journal, looking forward to the video!
Posted by: Cynthia | May 16, 2012 at 04:14 AM