Look! It’s a Little Lotus Book! This is an example of one of the books we made in the Books and More workshop we did at the Studio on February 3rd. It was everyone’s favorite because it’s easy to make and very unusual because it opens like a lotus flower, sort of like unfolding one of those crazy maps. Anyone subscribed to my Shards blog by midnight tonight (how dramatic) will be in the drawing to win this book and the directions on how to make more. TGIF, fellow artisans!
I’m doing a presentation to the Trinity University Women’s Club on Valentine’s Day about establishing places of creative belonging, and I came across this poem describing one woman’s feelings about her own special place. Read it if you like, then at the end I’ll tell you about the poet:
At Home in the Summer Mountains
I’ve come to the house of the Immortals:
In every corner, wildflowers bloom.
In the front garden, trees
Offer their branches for drying clothes;
Where I eat, a wine glass can float
In the springwater’s chill.
From the portico, a hidden path
Leads to the bamboo’s darkened groves.
Cool in a summer dress, I choose
From among heaped piles of books.
Reciting poems in the moonlight, riding a painted boat . ..
Every place the wind carries me is home.
This was written by Yu Xianji, a Chinese poet who lived in the 9th century during the Late Tang Dynasty.. It’s amazing how women have always expressed a need for a special – even sacred – place of belonging. To read more about Yu Xianji’s remarkable life, click here.
I have been busy, busy getting ready for tomorrow’s Open Studio and Sale at the new Lyn Belisle Studio– it’s going to be fantastic. Alison stopped by yesterday and dropped off some of her beautiful jackets and scarves and fiberarts – and wait till you see her Feng Shui valentine-kits-to-go! She’s so funny and creative – I get first pick!
Speaking of Valentines, Friday’s freebie is a set of three vintage Valentine clip art pages to use however you want – wrap a little box, make a collage, print them on mauve or ivory paper – or just file them away until the must beckons. I found them online, public domain, so have fun. Here’s a sample, and you can get all three pages right here.
PS You know how to make a heart symbol when you type on a windows computer, right? Just make sure your Num Lock key is on, hold down the Alt Key and type the number 3? On a Mac, use the Character Palette. ♥♥♥
What a swanky event! This was a beautiful show – very elegant, very well-attended – many thanks to Janice Cooper and friends. I was proud to be included. You can tell in the pictures that I am beaming like a possum because people liked my paintings 🙂 Photos really don’t to justice to the wonderful work by my fellow painters and sculptors and fiber artists, but here are a few:
1. Don’t forget to come to the Open Studio Follow Your Heart Sale at the new digs this Saturday, 11-5.
2. Check out this new idea – Candle Shards – collaged clay face and artisan paper wraps on those great wax-coated battery candles that can be set on timers. I’m keeping this one (it has a little “home” milagro tied into it), but will have half a dozen at least in various sizes on Saturday. If they sell well, I’ll make more. They are so pretty!
It’s always fun to have someone win the Friday Freebie when I don’t recognize the email address – but here is the winner:
smsickmann@sbcglobal.net
So congrats on claiming the little silver face pendant shard. Send me your contact information and I will get it to you ASAP! I posted a quote from the Dalai Lama on Facebook today that reminded me of my friends – you guys are the best – thanks for your tolerance and honestly and compassion.
“We need to encourage an understanding that inner peace comes from relying on human values like love, compassion, tolerance and honesty, and that peace in the world relies on individuals finding inner peace.”
OK, happy weekend, everyone!
Amazing! It’s a real object! I was working on some shard faces, and this one was just a little too big for a Spirit Doll and a little too small for a Scent Shard. It’s a lovely moon-silver face with a stretchy gold cord. All of you loyal blog subscribers are in the pot, and I’ll get a friend to draw a name tonight and then send everyone an email about who won. Will ship if you’re out of San Antonio, of course.
And just FYI (speaking of Spirit Dolls) – there’s just one spot left in the March 3rd Spirit Doll Workshop. My friend Karen Martin has donated a huge box of fabric swatches for us to use. If you want to grab this spot, I have a new easier-to-find PayPal page on my website, or just email me.
Thanks, and TGIF!!
Once a year I get to grab my guitar and hit the road to Quihi, Texas, a small town on the outskirts of a slightly larger small town called Castroville. My buddies and I in the Medina Mud Band (loosely founded in 1979 and still going strong) throw an annual fund-raiser for Inner City Development, a non-profit community group that does great things for San Antonio’s West Side. There’s dancing, beer and tamales, a fantastic Silent Auction, and a chance to do the two-step at one of Texas’ oldest dance halls. Here’s a little homemade video from last year’s gig. So if you’re around this weekend, come out to Quihi and have a great time for a good cause. 
The first workshop was so much fun. I don’t know if it was the new space or the combination of personalities, but we had a blast. And this is just the first half! Yesterday we made the clay faces, and then Wednesday we’ll meet at Ann Pearce’s next door to do the beading and jewelry creations. I’ll take photos of those so you can see how the final pieces turned out. If you’re interested, there’s a repeat of this two-part workshop on February 17th. Thanks to Chris, Jill, LeAnn and Susan – I had a fantastic time with you guys.
Today’s the Studio semi-official opening – hope you can drop by. I was hoping my awning sign would be up, but, alas, it’s still not ready so you will just have to use your fine creative imagination. It’s a Zen banner, Grasshopper.
However, I did want to tell you about two new workshops in case you wanted to reserve a spot before I put out the sign-up sheets at the opening party today at 3:00. I’m excited about both of them – they will be new territory for me, although I’ve studied both subjects. Just email me if these sound like something you’d like to learn more about – Spirit Dolls (March 3rd), and Mala Meditation Bracelets and Prayer Flags (March 17th). Here’s the info – click on it for the printable version. Hope to see you today at the Studio! Come hungry. It’s a place of creative belonging – and noshing.
