Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! Creative Fun!

                        

      Join Liz Miller, CDA 

and myself, Gail Schmidt

  

 for a FUN filled end of summer weekend!

   

When summer starts to end we want to give it a fun send off!  So we'll gather at Liz's treetop studio, Artful Endeavors, in Raleigh NC August 24 - 26 for lots of art and laughter as we come together and turn our creative energies to a variety of media. 

The bulk of supplies are provided with your class purchase so you can travel light and all levels of experience are welcome and encouraged.

I will be teaching a fun journal you create from scratch with lots of techniques applied!

 

Liz will be teaching two projects! A unique layered greeting card that you will be able to personalize with your own colors, patterns and design choices.

 

Then Liz will help you explore acrylic painting techniques as you learn to create depth and in this wetlands landscape.  Learn  to capture the beautiful reflections of still water. No experience with painting or drawing required!

Register now and save your seat! You will find all the details,

 plus pricing and registration information HERE.

 

Art Bottle, Market Bag

A couple things walking out my workroom door today to go to the Corner Nest for sale.

Canvas Market Bag/Tote

Art Bottle...I love the way this turned out. I wasn't sure when I started. Not the first time that has happened. ;-)

 Back of bottle. This actually began as the front. How things change as you work.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend planned!  Mine is kind of up for grabs.

I'm Teaching a Live Workshop!

Gosh it would be SO fabulous if you could come. Yes! You! We could finally meet in person. Three days of glorious creating in several mediums. I will be teaching a fun and easy journal! Details and registration information coming SOON! I'm very excited! It's been years since I taught a live class!

New Artwork

I know I have been quiet lately. Just a lot of thoughts, thoughts and more thoughts swirling through my head these days, so much so it sometimes seems there is a cacaphony in my head.  To muffle the noise I turn to my art. I am starting to try my hand at some jewelry so if you create jewelry be kind and do not look to closely at this humble beginner's necklace.

I call it Simple Life

I was recently inspired by an article in Cloth Paper Scissors about prayer flags. I had not heard of them before and when I did some reading I was entranced by the concept. Here is what Wiki says:

"Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.

By hanging flags in high places the Lung ta will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags which are sensitive to the slightest movement of the wind, the air is purified and sanctified by the Mantras.

The prayers of a flag become a permanent part of the universe as the images fade from exposure to the elements. Just as life moves on and is replaced by new life, Tibetans renew their hopes for the world by continually mounting new flags alongside the old. This act symbolizes a welcoming of life's changes and an acknowledgment that all beings are part of a greater ongoing cycle.

Because the symbols and mantras on prayer flags are sacred, they should be treated with respect. They should not be placed on ground or used in clothing. Old prayer flags should be burned."

I decided to try my hand at my own interpretation of the traditional prayer flag. Rather than string several together in the manner of a banner, I decided to make mine as single panels, more like a wall hanging but meant to be hung outdoors,where they can carry their message on the wings of the wind out into the universe.

 

 Like most of us, I love boxes. I think of the boxes I embellish as the perfect spot for safeguarding special photos, love letters and beloved trinkets.

 I hope you've liked my offerings of the heart.

Have  a blessed week my lovely friends, you are all special.

A New Class and A Big Sale!

It's time again for my annual storewide Birthday Sale. These birthdays absolutely insist on coming around every year don't they! My day is actually Saturday the 5th but I run the sale the whole week of my birthday. So starting today, May 1 through Sunday May 6, everything (except workshops and gift certificates) in the store is marked down 25%!

So please come help me celebrate this week and grab some great deals!

Another piece of news is that we have a new class opening June 28 over at Creative Workshops that I'm real excited about. I've been a Cat Kerr fan for a number of years and feel honored that she is going to teach a workshop for us! If you have not met Cat yet, please stop by her blog, In the Light of The Moon and check ot the beauty she creates!

"My Home Song" ~ A Soldered Pendant

Cat Kerr

 Thank you everyone for the comments and emails about my dad. I apprecite them very much.

Happy Tuesday my friends, hold fast to those you love while you can. 

In Memoriam

Thank you all for your kind wishes for my dad. Unfortunately he passed into the hands of the angels Monday morning. It was shock to us all and we are still reeling from trying to process the reality of it.

Yesterday we held a beautiful and private family memorial for my dad. He will be missed by his loving family so very much. Friends and family alike, we all looked up to him. He was cremated and today came home to be with my mom.

They would have been married 61 years soon and their marriage was a treat to behold.

I am so blessed to have had such a great man for a father and to have such a loving family surround us in our time of grief.

 

Doyle Alford Yeiter  

January 23, 1930 - April 16, 2012 

You will be greatly missed by all Dad

You were our hero.

                                                                  

A Little Jewelry Fun

I've been a little MIA for a bit and it may continue off and on for a while. Just know I'm not ignoring you. My dad was put in the hospital last Thursday and it has not been a good ride. He was diagnosed last year with incurable interstitial lung disease and really had a hard time with bouts of pneumonia. Today on top of that he was diagnosed with a cancer in his left lung. So far this is all we know and hopefully by this weekend we will know more from the doctor.

In the meantime I am leaving you with a few images of some jewelry I've been creating to sell at the Corner Nest. I'm working on wrist cuff type bracelets and then I have some pendants planned. This is totally different from what I normally do so it's been a creative shiver of fun for me.

 Got to play with bits and pieces of vintage laces and bling, and new for me, some sari silk, which I fell in love with. This last image is a cuff totally wrapped in sari silk which I love the look of it. All the cuffs are lined with tea dyed muslin.

Happy upcoming weekend dear friends! Treasure those you love!