one spot left for february art nest. . .

a little bird told me there is one spot left for our february art nest retreat!

i guess you could put in a good word with this guy and say you really, really want to come. . .



then you could make a tiny paper chain and count down the 61 days until you would come enjoy 4 days with these amazing artists.





visions of mushrooms will dance in your heads ~~ anahata


nestled all snug in their beds~~ pam


a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer~~ amy

maybe send a tiny note with one of santas elfs to us here in the snow to say you'll go. . .
theartnest@hotmail.com

what. . .you didn't know santa used hotmail? he's a busy guy :)

merry, merry. from the nest

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Come away with me.......... to snow packed roads and blue sky.Aspens taller than the sky...........with white glistening snow sparkling in the sun.
Wreaths tied with bows, welcoming all who come to visit.



Last week I celebrated my nineteenth wedding anniversary by going away with my husband to our cabin in the mountains. There was plenty of snow, firelight, and holiday cheer. We took walks in the snow, decorated the cabin for Christmas, and felt very lucky to have each other. Still in love after all these years.

Married December 17, 1988

you're invited. . .

I can't even imagine how I will wait until February!

Come visit The Art Nest website for more gorgeous photos of the workshops. Talk about eye candy.

Peek a BOO!!!!!!!!

Some exciting things happening at the nest. If you have had a dream of going to an art retreat and hand picking the three artists, these gals would be it. What a wonderful retreat we are planning for February 20-24 . Here is a peek at who is coming.......




these are the packets I sent out to them this week.......I am getting into the Halloween mood are you????

angels

it does feel a little weird making christmas things right in the middle of summer, but i seem to run out of time in december to make lovely things to give away. this lovley angel is one of three angels that can be made with the angel holiday kit, a vintage craft kit i am designing to sell at the art nest retreat and on line in our store if i have any left.

amanda showed me this totally cool glue pen by sakura called 'quickie glue' that works so beautifully with the fine glass glitter on the old german scrap images. i bought mine at archivers. really the best glue pen i have ever tried for super small details! such a cutie cap don't you think?
oh, and how could i pass up that totally cool vintage tape dispenser at di?
50 cents well spent. :)

a day with Kristin

Saturday at the Artnest was spent with Kristin Steiner creating fabric books on the theme 'I am a Woman Who'.
Here is the lovely packet that awaited each of us as we came to class. The lovely display of Kristin's work.



close-up of the flower kristin was wearing. we got the pattern in our class kits.


I have followed Kristin's artwork in many books and magazines, but I was so completely unprepared for how lovely her work would be in person. Even more amazing is meeting Kristin and taking a class from her! She had so many great techniques for combining paint, dyes, stencils, transfers, and ink to fabric. Really opened my world.
What was the most wonderful part of her class though was watching her teach. She has a real gift for expressing so honestly her heart. She invited close inspection of ourselves and what we most wanted to say with our art. She was completely open and encouraging.



rebecca, amanda, and angel with their fabric book projects.
I have taught classes before but have always held back that most personal part of myself and my connection to the art I create. I guess the distilled atmosphere I usually have while teaching helps me feel safer. After being in Kristin's class and being part of what was felt there with her I will never hide who I am again.


i love this picture of misty and kristin. they posed for a picture and then the click of shutters was like a press conference or something. they both disolved into laughter. such remarkable women with such beautiful hearts. J.

Pretty Little Things

Day Two Sally Jeans Class.............what fun we had as we collaged, great techniques to take you to a different level of collaging. While pasting and cutting I had in the back of my mind that I would never want to use this ugly peice of nothingness for my pendant but it actually ended up being amazingly cool.
Many of us did not finish our pendants but, those who did turned out wonderful. We all did however smoke out the cabin breathing in the air of artists gone mad trying to get the flux in the right spot. Sally makes it look so easy and make no mistake this gal has talent....... it doesn't happen in one class unless you are Cindy, Jen....... or... Cathy.......I think Julie and Deb burned the 3a.m. oil finishing theirs. Diana had hers done for the big party at Dear Lizzies......she however is a genius with the sodering iron.i love the sparkle of this photo that Diana took at Dear Lizzies, thank you for sharing. I miss each of you dearly and am still trying to digest it all peice by peice.