Category: Teaching News

Dare to Be AMAZING

I had the opportunity to work up a class for the Scrapbook Expo coming up in Puyallup in July. My friend Jen over at Nani Ke Ola Scrapbooking is exhibiting and asked me to design a class as well. I was thrilled at the opportunity and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

The class, called Inspiration 101, focuses on techniques while giving the student the tools to make the project their own. Here is the class description and a few photos.

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What inspires? How do we motivate ourselves and others? What is mixed media and how can we get started? In Inspiration 101 students will begin to answer these questions and more as they learn to employ mixed media techniques to create inspiration panels.
Join us creating positive messages of inspiration! Inspiration panels are 6×6 canvases of hope and positivity. Designed to bring a smile to the face and a gleam to your eye, these panels make perfect gifts for others as well as yourself. Give one to your daughter reminding her she is beautiful just the way she is, give one to your son reminding him that he can reach his goals, give one to a friend experiencing a loss reminding her that she is not alone, or put one up beside your bed to remind you to wake with a smile in your heart! The possibilities are limitless.
Students will leave class with one 6″ x 6″ inspiration panel they have created and will learn basic mixed media techniques including working with inks, sprays, powders, adhesives, paper, stencils, pastes, found objects, canvas, and much more!
There are endless configurations for creating inspiration panels and through discussions about composition, theme, and the creative muse students will gain the confidence to spread their creative wings and make inspiration panels at home.

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Would you take a class like this? I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Ready, Set, GO: it’s time for Art & Soul

I know, I know. I promise to be a better blogger and then a month or two will go by without a word from me. I have the very best of intentions, especially as I write a post or add something to the site but then life creeps in, okay sometimes it blows in like a tornado. As I sit in my studio, typing on my laptop with the sound of the Seahawks vs Bears game in the background I find that I love many things: kittens, best friends, making art, meeting with friends, playing Mafia Wars on Facebook…the list goes on and on.

Do I “love” blogging? I think the simple answer is no. I’m not used to anyone (besides by best friend, Dabby) much caring about the thoughts that roll around in my head. Perhaps if I were younger I would feel differently, but each time I post I find myself asking the following questions. 1) “Did you offend anyone with this post?” and 2) “Who is going to care about what you’ve written?” I think this is why I haven’t publicized my blog. That isn’t to say it’s stopped me from blogging. I just don’t do it on a regular basis. Enough about my blogging angst let’s talk about something fun: Art & Soul!

I am SO excited to be teaching at Art & Soul Retreat. No only do I get to teach with my dear friend Stephanie I get to reconnect with friends from across the country. If you’re attending Art & Soul, please make a point to stop by our table at vendor night and say “hi”! I can’t wait to reconnect with old friends and make some great new ones as well! There are still classes available. If you live in the Pacific NW, I encourage you to check it out! Until next time (and we both know there’s no telling how long that will be) have fun and laugh often!

Art & Soul | Registration Open!

Online regirtration for the fall Art & Soul retreat in Portland opened on Sunday, March 15th. The retreat runs September 30th through October 5th. There are hundreds of workshops that span the entire spectrum of art and craft.

To learn more, visit Art & Soul Retreat and select Portland workshops. Our class, Little Shop of Memories, is sure to be a fun day of creativity, learning, and sharing. We hope you’ll join us!

If you have any questions about our class, please e-mail us.

Art & Soul 2009 | Teaching Update

At long last, the classes for the Portland retreat were posted at Art & Soul Retreat on Sunday. There are wonderfRock & Rollul classes available representing many different mediums and skill levels. Instructors include: Louise Duhamel, Stephanie Lee, Michael deMeng, Richard Salley, Jane Wynn, Helga Strauss, Lisa Kaus, and Dj Pettitt.

Our class, Little Shop of Memories, is a both a technique and methodology class. Students will learn techniques (wood preparation, painting, adhesive, and crackle techniques) and overall project methodology (at least the unique way we approach design). To view additional sample photos, please visit the Little Shop of Memories gallery.

Class sign-up begins on March 15th.

Art & Soul 2009 | Instructors Announced

2009 Art & Soul Theme
2009 Art & Soul Theme

Cottage Craft Productions announced the instructors for Art & Soul in Portland. I am thrilled that my good friend, Stephanie Rojas, and I will be teaching at this event again (for the first time since 2005). We are thrilled to be a part of Art & Soul along with a stellar lineup of nationally recognized instructors that includes: Stephanie Lee, Michael deMeng, Daniel Essig, Helga Strauss, and Louise Duhamel just to name a few.

Additional details of our class, Little Shop of Memories, will be forthcoming soon.

Art & Soul began in 2003 with one retreat held in Portland, OR. Today retreats are held annually in Portland, Hampton, VA, Asilomar, CA, and other destinations. To learn more about Art & Soul, visit www.artandsoulretreat.com.