I am just back from my first Design Outside the Lines Retreat of the year. Marcy Tilton and I had a delightful creative group who came to gather around fabric, sewing and surface design play in Santa Barbara, California, (info about our retreats are on both of our websites- Marcy’s site: www.marcytilton.com )We have two more this year, one in Sisters, Oregon in June and one in Taos , New Mexico in Sept. Both unique venues we love sharing with fabulous, creative women who want to come and play and grow their work.
First Friday was hands-on in the studio~I used some of my new stenciled/painted pieces to decorate my studio with a Valentines theme.
First Fridays of each month in Ashland, the galleries are open with new shows, music and wine tasting. This month, it was a great evening to share in some hands-on with the community. Since I have been enjoying some new direction in my fabric painting and stenciling…I spread out a canvas in the studio and had visitors print, doodle and write as they came through. My Jr high friend, Cerie, came and drew heart designs that I cut them out as stencils for everyone to use. I like to use acetate…but for this quick collection of new stencils, I used manilla folders…and they will last for lots more printings.
The fabric we all created inspired several bags. The bags will raise money for a scholarship for several kids to come to my Make Your Own Treasure Box Class in March here at the Art Center. I am enjoying coming up with generative activities that can add energy and support this community where I live- and this was a fun one I will tweek and do again.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW~
Here is how the studio is looking this month. I am just starting in on my second Ethan Allen chair. I have been inspired lately by the graphics and applications of Foransetti-you may want to goggle him…wow- very inspiring! Anyway, you can see on my chair…I have ‘mocked up’ the idea of the chair unzipping to expose blue sky ,clouds and a bit of Ashland skyline…
this will be great fun to create. I’ll let you know how it is progressing.
New Cards, prints and Sketchbooks from my Illustrations-
I have started creating prints and cards from my drawings….my first offerings are on my website, and Here are my first 2 sketchbooks !…the perfect size (5″x8″) fits nicely in a purse. They are available on my website starting this week.
STICKS & GREENS~
with Spring coming on here in Southern Oregon, we are being blessed with some amazing weather and the trees are all verging and ready to pop out in blossoms and fresh greens! I know it will inspire some drawing of plants that I can add to my card collection.
About this ‘blogging’ process…..although I still can’t figure out lots of the basic things about using this amazing tool…(like how to get the pictures inserted where I want them…and how to find the 2 drafts of this Feb. past I already started!!!!) I will persist, knowing I will get better. Right now I am just feeling VERY lucky I have this post to this point and I can hit the publish button with a feeling of real accomplishment! I know some of you are responding to these blogs….and I am not always sure how to get back to you-so be patient with me. What really makes my heart sing? To know you are running off to play with your own creative stuff!
Lots of Creative Joy to you all, Diane










