Art Unraveled-July 30-Aug 7, 2012-Phoenix, Arizona
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Sublime: 1. Characterized by nobility; majestic.
2. a. Of high spiritual, moral or intellectual worth.
b. Not to be excelled; supreme.
3. Inspiring awe; impressive.
4. to convert (something inferior) into something of higher worth."
Wouldn't this apron be the perfect thing to wear to classes? I love it! My friend and Towers teaching partner Sharon, right at this very moment, is running this awesome new class...Tree Castle Apron. In fact, she just posted the first of the videos and they're fabulous. If you know Sharon, you know she's a face painter and seamstress extraordinaire. I think the coolest thing about the workshop is that, not only do you get to learn how to put this apron together...start to finish...
...but you get to learn how to paint beautiful faces...using a medium you wouldn't necessarily think of when you think about painting faces. Don't you want to know how to paint like this:
One of the reasons I'm so partial to this apron is that is was the one she wore during the filming of our Towers and Turrets class. Being silly, I turned the camera on her, wearing her lovely apron; and so she appeared in one of our instructional videos...and now in the video you see here. It makes me smile every time I see this little clip.
Speaking of our Towers class, we're leaving registration open for that workshop until June 1st but....I'm so excited because tomorrow is the first day of class. Let the fun begin!
Spring break...how I love you! Mazatlan...how beautiful you are! Mexico is such an amazing place to relax and be inspired. The weather was perfect, the food incredible, the colors intense. And, the best part...hanging out with my family peeps. Our friends, Pattie and Larry, were kind enough to give us a tour of the old downtown where we dined on enchiladas suizas, a dish I'm going to try my hand at. But, let me show you what we saw in the streets:
Isn't she beautiful? There was so much to photograph, I could barely make it down the street. In fact, I did stub my toe several times, tripping about on the rough sidewalks. The first thing that always strikes me are the colores de las casas. They're nothing like the more understated colors of our homes, here in the States. These colors are saturated, brilliant, thrilling to the eye:
Coyoacan blue...a lucky color for houses. Old Mazatlan is a feast of windows and doors for a collector like me:
Did I mention the food? Mazatlan is a coastal city so there's lots of fish and shrimp. It was divine...
Back at our place, we did the tourist thing, which is ok with me. Tourism is down in Mexico. Publicity on the dangers of traveling to Mexico has affected the people there, in a big way. As scary as the news sounds, we never felt threatened or in danger, in any way. Mazatlan is absolutely charming; the Mexican people, rich in history and culture...kind and friendly.
And...my peeps. I love my guys! (I'm forbidden to post photos of Wife Whisperer and the rest of our crew...they're kinda shy that way.)
One last amazing thing about Mexico...the skies. So rich, it made me want to reach out and grab a handful of gold:
Thank you for touring with me! Vaya con Dios, Mexico. Until next year...
...orange liquor, more sugar and a good dose of cinnamon...zizzling, sparkling and carmelized...
...some other kind of tasty liquor, set aflame and poured from on high...
...topped with luscious whipped cream and a flaming spoon...
...a crusty edge of cinnamon sugar...I think there's coffee in there, somewhere. Panchos. The place for could beer and booze. And, what I'm pretty sure is the best Mexican coffee in Mexico. Muy Bueno!
No areas of abnormal enhancement. Thank you to all of you who commented, here on my blog and on my facebook, and prayed for me. I appreciated it more than you know! My MRI results came back and, guess what...there's a brain in there and it's healthy. And I even got a cd with pictures of the whole she-bang. So cool. Now to get rid of these dang blasted migraines...
I'm having my head examined this morning. I finally caved into my doctors wishes (after some years of resistance) and am having an MRI done. I've battled migraines for years so she wants a head check, just as a precaution. This is my first time for the tube and I'm hoping anxiety doesn't overwhelm me and force me to run out of the room before they can squeeze me in there. I never thought I was prone to claustrophobia but sometimes, when confronted with a small space, I get a weird, unwelcome, panicky feeling. So, anyway...I'm cashing in a few prayer tokens with you all, if you don't mind sending a few my way this morning. Mostly, I'm thinking they won't find anything in there...except my little pea-brain!
Such exciting work continues to be done in my online workshop, The Build Zone. I'm giving you a little tour of the amazing student work that's being created in class. I'm telling you...it's just so much fun to see what comes of it. I'm loving getting to know each and every artist/student in this workshop!
See what I mean? Amazing! If you're interested in taking this class yourself, registration for The Build Zone is still going on until April 1st. Click here for all the info. Also, Sharon and I have the Of Towers and Turrets registration up and running. Some of you have already taken one class or the other but a few of you have taken both. Here's what the results of that combination of classes look like:
And for those of you interested in the Towers class, here are a few class samples by Sharon and myself...
Click here to register for the Towers and Turrets class. On a more personal note, my guys and I have traveled to Mexico and back in this last week. We had a wonderful, relaxing time + I got a chance to see my sweet friend, Pattie...vestia maker extraordinaire... and consume way too many servings of chips y pico de gallo. I've got tons of photos to show but, at the moment, it's noon and I'm blogging in my pj's. My Mexican minute of computer work turned into a couple of hours. Must get dressed for the day...adios.
Consider this post my Adorn Me wrap-up for the year. But know this....I don't give it up easily. I want the fun to last. I want to keep talking about it. I want to keep experiencing the glow. So, instead of just throwing photos up here, I thought I'd point out the 5 best things, for me, about this amazing event. Ready, set, go...
1. The people: By far, the very best thing about Adorn Me is the people. I love being with my wonderful students. And, I get to pal around with my artist friends whom I don't otherwise have the chance to spend time with.
Wrapped in Silk Bangle class
2. The classroom: My students were awesome...talented, creative and inventive. I always learn from you guys! Did I mention that I love being in the classroom?
3. The jewelry--student work: Seeing what my students come up with in class is one of the most exciting things about being at Adorn Me. Y'all inspire me!
4. The jewelry--instructor's work: Adorn Me features some of the most talented instructors of mixed media/found object/metal/wire/pmc jewelry...anywhere. It's the cremedelacreme of jewelry making events and I'm so honored to be included. I love having the chance to see what the other instructors are up to...up close and personal. I coveted Susan's glorious heart, in the worst way. It almost looked like an anatomical heart...huge, deep red, glittering and alive...worn on the outside. I think I can safely say this is the most interesting and stunning piece of jewelry I've ever seen. But, there was also this:
It's lovely, dark and mysterious. Big. It reminds me of the distant thunderheads...swirling ashes...the black center of the earth...twinkling stars in the night sky...dust clouds in the rings of Saturn. I wear it happily.
vendor night winner of my donated necklace
5. The way things work: I know there's a really cute photo, somewhere of Linda Young (intrepid Adorn Me organizer) and myself, but don't know exactly where. So, I'll show you a tiny portion of vendor night, instead. Linda, and her husband Chuck, do a fantastic, professional job of organizing the whole she-bang....classrooms, students, instructors, food, hotel, schedules and who-knows-what-all. They keep it all running smoothly and everyone happy. And, they turn right around and do it all again for Art Unraveled. Btw...I'll see you there, as well. I have the pleasure of teaching my Balance Bronze Bangles (only two spots left...thank you!!) and Little Garden of the Soul classes. I love Phoenix and Art Unraveled, like Adorn Me, is an outstanding event. So, there you have it. Again, humungous, extravagant, gushing "thank yous" to my students...you're the best!
student work from Of Towers and Turrets by Lisa Bommarito--focals from the Towers class + elements from The Build Zone class
Sharon Tomlinson and I had such a great time, the first time around, we're offering it again...registration for our popular online class Of Towers and Turrets is now open, once again! See those awesome handmade, resin filled bezels above? They were made by one of our talented students. You can make them too...we promise! Let us tell you a little about it:
Want to read the full class description and see some class samples? Click here. Want to register? Click here. Let me show you some more incredible student work that came from this class the first time:
Sharon and I were absolutely thrilled with and humbled by the response to this online workshop and inspired by the work that came out of it. We're so pleased to be able to offer it again. If you love collage, painting, jewelry making...even rubber stamp carving...this class has got you covered. We hope you'll join us. Click on over and see our class site.
class samples by Deryn-open backed bezels
class samples by Sharon Tomlinson-towers collage painting
class samples by Sharon Tomlinson-towers bezels
I am wildly crazy about this class! It combines so many of my passions; mixed media, jewelry making and most importantly...building relationships with our students. Here's some terrific student love that we've received:
Isolina: I get nothing done! It's your fault Deryn and Sharon - you have created a collage junkie, LOL. Thank you, this site is better than the invention of sliced bread (whenever that was) LOL. I'm having a BLAST. ;)
Lis: My first online workshop, and it's been so incredibly amazing. Sharon and Deryn are an amazingly complimentary and effective team and I highly recommend this workshop. A series of very professionally executed, and just plain fun, videos guide you through everything from tools and sources, detailed instruction and review....forums filled with lovely, encouraging and highly inspired people bouncing information and encouragement all over, a veritable treasure trove, all of it. Our instructors seem to never be further than a whisper away when you have a question. I love how relaxing yet inspiring it all is. For a workshop that will potentially alter your perspective, teach and refine your skills, and add layers of soul to what you create, just do it. You won't regret a minute of it.
Judy: It is an online class, and the perfect solution for the girl who lives in the middle of a corn field and doesn't have the time nor money to travel to attend some of these wonderful art classes. I can work in my jammies. The class that got me hooked on the on-line classes is "Of Towers & Turrets." This is a class presented by two very talented artists, Sharon Tomlinson andDeryn Mentock. I have been dreaming of taking a class from Deryn for some time now. So when I saw the opportunity to take an online class by her, I didn't even stop on my way to the paypal button. I bought the class and then went back and read about it! WOW, a great impulse buy on my part! Two of my biggest art passions in one class. Collage and metals. Wonderful!
Registration is now open! Go here: http://allnorahsart.ning.com Class begins April 1, but you can join in the fun at any time.
Oh, yeah...a small reminder...my Build Zone class registration is also open, click right here for info on that.
Oh, my my...are we having some fun, or what? Adorn Me has been a whirlwind week of pounding, sawing, twisting, creative and furious jewelry making. We kicked off with a meet-n-greet Q&A session where the students got to grill the instructors. Thrilling!
Then came the classes. Doesn't this look like fun?
My students are so artistic and amazing...
Crowned Gems
Wrapped in Silk Bangle Bracelet
Oh...and, next to my wonderful students, the other very best thing: the parade of friends:
And, the beautiful lady Jane, who likes to shop for beads as much as I do. We did some big damage at Big Stone, on our day off. (Oh, and isn't this bead photo cool? I figured out how to take photos and upload them with my crazy new camera. It's way smarter than me!)
We're not quite finished yet. I looking forward to one more day of teaching, my Little Garden of the Soul class. How I love being in the classroom with my students! I'll have more photos; vendor night, jewelry and more parade...
I'm not sure when I first found Seth and his blog, The Altered Page, but I do remember that, all of a sudden, there seemed to be a buzz surrounding him. I clicked to check him out and was impressed by all the great things he had going on. Seth is an artist who loves to share and he's always sharing something interesting! He's been working on a project he calls "The Pulse"...a fairly massive survey of all kinds of artist's work, thoughts, likes, dislikes...you get the idea. His latest installment, "Collectors Edition," centers on the things we collect. And, boy are they legion! To add to what Seth's already posted, here are a few more of my obsessions:
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