I couldn't be happier to announce that registration for A Secret Garden Affaire is OPEN!
Please come see all the details and excitement that has gone into preparing yet another wonderful retreat for my creative friends! If creativity, romance, femininity, relaxation, laughter and friendship is calling out to you then you will want to join us in 2020! We would be so honored!
I couldn't be more thrilled to announce that I will be hosting another event in 2020,
A Secret Garden Affaire!
The joy and excitement of bringing together so many lovely ladies this year for A Dreamy Bohemian Affaire was a much needed recharge and reminded me about everything I love about hosting these events! It was magical!
Continuing on the journey of everything I adore, this new secret garden theme will be all about romance, florals, shabby vibes and lots of beautiful feminine dreams and colors. I say this every time but I can't wait to share with you my vision for a relaxing weekend of friendship, creativity and laughter. It has been quite a year and I know I need something special to look forward to!
I am most excited about sharing with you the amazing team of artists that have agreed to come along with me on this new adventure! I am beyond honored to bring you these creative souls who have inspired me for many years. Not only will they dazzle you with their talents but the projects they've created for this event are SO gorgeous!
Our Garden Girls Creative Team is made up of the following romantic creatives ~ Arlene Baker, our lovely millenary, beading and floral artist truly talented beyond measure, Jane Blanco, our exquisite doll whisperer and painter who makes my heart swoon, Rita Reade, my beautiful Italian artistic muse, skilled in all things soldering, assemblage and tattered, and Beth Leintz, our fabulous vintage expert in everything embroidered, pieced, and loved. We will be joined again by Cynthia Shaffer who always captures so many cherished moments behind the lens just at the right moment giving us lasting memories to hold on to. And then there is me, promising to take care of your needs, make you smile and create a seamless weekend of inspiration for you to enjoy!
If you've attended one of my events in the past, you already know that this is something I do with a heart full of love and giving. I can't wait to share with you all the details of this beautiful gathering and do hope you will join me again or come for the first time! There is no better joy then bringing women together, making new friends and witnessing the beauty that can happen if we encourage, support and understand each other in a creative environment. Let's make something beautiful in 2020!
I am so honored to finally share all the details for next year's A Dreamy Bohemian Affaire! Working together with such talented artists designing beautiful projects and putting my special touch on every aspect of this unique retreat has been beyond joyful. Piecing together dreams and magical moments to share with others brings me true happiness! I hope you will join us for this beautiful adventure ~ creativity, relaxation, friends, and laughter are right around the corner!
It is with a heart overflowing with joy that I'm announcing my Spring 2019 event,
A Dreamy Bohemian Affaire!
After a rejuvenating hiatus from my weekend themed Affaire's and some very sweet convincing from past attendees, I'm thrilled to be back and offer what might be one of my most favorite themes yet! If you love a laid back vibe, dreamy visions, feminine creativity, and a sense of renewal, you won't want to miss this weekend retreat!
While all the exciting details will be forthcoming, including a new workshop format that will provide even more inspiring opportunities, I CAN share my Dreamy Creative Team with you!
Robin Dudley Howes, Colleen Moody, Marianne Machado (top row)
Kim Caldwell, Cynthia Shaffer, Sylvr Sharp (bottom row)
I couldn't be more honored to collaborate with such an amazing talented and genuine team of women! Not only will they be bringing you new artistic learning experiences but also projects that will fill your spirit with treasures you will cherish for a lifetime.
If you've attended one of my past Affaire's, you know that I pour my heart and soul into creating an environment that is both inspiring and nurturing! It is always a labor of love but the great joy of bringing together women, made up of new friends and old, and witnessing the beauty that happens cannot be surpassed! I feel refreshed and renewed! I do hope you will come join me!
After a wonderful weekend workshop in the studio, I often think about a comment my Mom typically makes when my family and I head home after a visit ~ "the house is so quiet when you leave". With my son off at college these days, going from 18 wonderful ladies to 3 of us definitely quiets things down! I do love the peacefulness of alone time but I LOVE the excitement and creativity of having a house full of lovely ladies!
I was lucky enough to host another workshop with Colleen Moody in the studio where lucky girls created their own Treasure Keeper doll assemblage.
Here we are all ready to go! Excuse the iPhone pictures ~ I need a sign on my forehead that reminds me to use my big girl camera! I do love this too dark shot though because a. We look still fresh before she started teaching and I was running around plating lunch and washing dishes and b. It's a nice look at my pinky pretty studio in the background.
Here are our alien dolls basking in the sun! Not to mock our creations but seriously without paint, clothes and hair they do sort of resemble something other worldly! It was a great lesson in hanging in for the journey and not immediate satisfaction. These dolls needed time to blossom!
See what I mean! Better! Phew! Colleen in her wonderful patient teaching style, walked us through designing, sculpting, painting, costuming, bonnet making, antiquing, modeling paste and all sorts of techniques to make these beautiful dolls and their customized drawers. In just TWO days!
Here's my finished girl and some close ups!
She just makes me smile! Thank you again to Colleen and all the ladies for gracing my home once again! What's next?? There's much art still to be created! Stay tuned!!
Join us for a lovely day visiting our favorite Southern California flea market and antique spots Roaring Twenties style! Travel by luxury motor coach and enjoy an exclusive reception, goodies and bargains planned just for our flappers. There can't be a better way to shop than sitting back and letting our fabulous buggy driver figure out the driving and parking at each stop! Our tour will include the incredible Long Beach flea market, home to over 800 vendors, the Orange Circle, filled with more antique shops, retail treasures and eateries than one can count and an end to our day at my favorite bargain lace shop! Don't be surprised if there are bus games and all sorts of frivolity in store! You won't want to miss this incredible day of touring!
You can register to join us HERE!
I don't know about you but I've had a slow start this year and feel as though January has been my month to ease into 2015. I recently sealed the last box of holiday decor and jumped right into springtime around the house. There really isn't much winter in Southern California! Between making lists and focusing on what is in store for this year, I took out some time to create in the studio.
This mixed media collage is from an online mini-project by Christy Tomlinson. I love watching her messy fabulous get down art style! Of course, if you know me, you know I'm more of a lacy vintage art girl so I mixed it up a bit, skipped the tin foil and masking tape steps and came up with my own version of this pretty project.
What's an art piece without millenary, lace snippets, seam binding and old book paper quotes, right? The wings were such fun to make too ~ paperclay, stamps for some texture and then paint and glaze. I chose to hang my dress from an old vintage spool wrapped with the loveliest blush pink thread. I just knew I'd need it for something!
I found this old quote in a sweet vintage book from 1818 called Love and Friendship, A Little Book of Thoughts arranged by J. Ellis. I am a total sap when it comes to the people I love. There are always ups and downs, as with everything in life, but if a friend is "in" so am I! The passage reads ~
The Love of a Friend
Like music heard on the still water;
Like pines that the wind passeth by;
Like pearls in the depth of the ocean;
Like stars that enamel the sky;
Like dreams of Arcadian pleasures;
Like colors that gratefully blend;
Like everything breathing of pureness ~
Like these is the love of a friend.
Every year around this time I tend to get a bit introspective. Thinking about the year. Remembering the good and the not so good. One might say that 2014 was not on my top 10 list. It began with some personal health issues for me, placing my elderly father in the hospital and later into assisted living and helping our oldest navigate a difficult decision to come home from his first year of college. You could say we started out in crisis mode vs sailing into the new year with an inspirational exercise and diet plan.
Quite honestly, there have been many challenges this last year and there were moments I felt somewhat lost. However, in between all those moments, there has always been much to be grateful for ~ a beautiful new day, a roof over my head, food in our refrigerator, my supportive husband, my amazing children, my parents, many dear friends and, of course, art! Creatively speaking, 2014 was amazing ~ I created more than in year's past, remodeled our garage into a studio, hosted some wonderful events, attended several fabulous classes and workshops and even redid my website and this blog. Art definately was there for me many, many times this year!
And while many of the stressors that began my year still exist ~ I am here! I am grateful! I am hopeful!
Ironically, over the last several years I began collecting vintage mary statues. This lovely madonna above is my newest find. Not being raised religiously, I began buying these spiritual relics more from a sense of awe and some sort of connection ~ I just went with it and trusted there was a reason. As I type this post today, I feel in my heart that right now they are reminders to have faith. Faith in myself. Faith during the challenges that will surely come. Faith that something spiritual is watching over me and those I love so dearly. Faith to just let go.
I wish much the same for you ~ my much cherished family of bloggers, FB friends, and IG inspirers! Whether you are near or far, much magic is in my heart for you this 2015! Let's hold on tight and see where this crazy adventure called life takes us! I am ready!
I couldn't be more excited to be hosting a Colleen Moody workshop here again this March! This is our third time collaborating together and each time just gets sweeter! Hope you can come and join the fun!
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