creative inspiration...

Hi, Honoré here,

I've just returned from a week-long quilting workshop in Sisters, Oregon - my absolutely most favorite place on earth. For the past four years, I've made this annual May trek to Sisters and have returned, over-flowing with ideas and inspiration for any number of quilty mixed-media artistic endeavors.

I think this year's workshop filled me with over-the-top inspiration because we went beyond just intuitively stitching bits and pieces of fabric together to make an art quilt. We also learned about and played with a variety of techniques for making marks on fabric, for example: using stencils with oil pastels to printing using the Gelli Plate to carving stamps for stamping to making shibori, just to name a few of the techniques we tried.

Along the way, we discovered new techniques that appealed to us and proceeded to engage us in more in-depth exploration. We made mistakes...and that was A-OK!

I think that workshops are truly one of the best ways to be inspired and The Queen's Ink is one of the best local resources for inspirational, creative mixed-media art workshops.  Through them, we're provided with the opportunity to flex our creative muscles, to make mistakes and learn not only how to do a technique but also, what appeals to us, what gets our creative juices flowing. A workshop gives us a chance to try out a technique without making a full-blown investment of materials and supplies. One such technique that comes to mind is encaustic- the new (ahem, an art form that has been traced back to ancient Greeks) art medium that has taken the creative art community, all branches, by storm. Have you toyed with the idea of doing a piece of encaustic art?

 Well, now's your chance: Guest Artist Jess Greene is coming to The Queen's Ink the weekend of  June 21 - 23 for an in-depth exploration of encaustic. Jess was so intrigued with the medium that "she quit her day job as a teacher and spent a month-long residency in Spain in 2011to paint in encaustic." Go here to read a guest post, written by Jess, that highlights her love for the medium.

Here are a couple of Jess' class samples:

Looking at these photos, one cannot tell  they are encaustic pieces...but, in real life, they are not only intriguing but also,very textural. Treat yourself to learning and experiencing a new medium without having to make a trip to Spain (though that doesn't seem like such a bad option - smile)... check out the class descriptions and give the shop a call! Hurry, 'cause classes fill up f-a-s-t!

Hoping to see you there,

Cheers~

PS. Art quilters use encaustic in their works, too...

a quick tour of Art Asylum...

This past Saturday (April 27th) was the date for The Queen's Ink Art Asylum artist showcase and silent auction. All day long the space right next to the shoppe was filled with people browsing  displays, chatting with the artists and making purchases. The photo essay that follows is just a sampling of the 20 artists who were there sharing their insane creativity. I especially enjoyed seeing the work of fellow classmates and workshop instructors I've met over the past year.

Decorated cigar boxes were popular; each one unique. This one was from The Peddler's Gallery

Lorie of the Peddler's Gallery

 Mari O'Dell of Enchanted Journey Design, created this wonderful color wheel made from flip flops; ingenious.

These ladies are two of a trio: A.N. A's Custom Creations who create hand-crocheted wearable art:

 Just For Fun's Kathy and Mary Kay make these fun soldered pendants and ornaments:

Monica  and Kathleen offered custom birdhouse albums and other paper home decor.

Donna and Val have an interesting twist on their business: they are event planners and they make unique hand-made gifts and home decor. Whoops, no photo. Visit their blog: Two Snaps and a Twist.

Suze Perrott, mixed media artist, has taught several classes at The Queen's Ink. It was to drool to see a lot of her work on display; this is just a small sampling. ..

suze perott. pinkcrayonstudio.blosgpot.com

 A new artisan, these weathered mugs by Bob Vogtman are made from leather stretched in embroidery hoop; they are unique and colorful.

Ana Maria DiLuigi had inchie art and decorated cigar boxes( definitely for men) on display.

Chris Hines had quite a wonderful collection of handmade and altered books:

The fragrances from Margarita ~ Rose display was delightful; I could've stayed there much longer ~ so relaxing...

margarita ~ rose

Dee Gray makes these delightful Bottled Curiosities; they are her version of of the message in the bottle. Stay tuned as she may be offering a workshop at The Queen's Ink sometime in the future.

shadela.blogspot.com

 I am sorry that I didn't take better notes for this display; I'm not quite sure who the artisan is but I love the welcome and other signs. My apologies...

Sandra of J.Delilah's (and an exhibitor) wrote on her facebook page: "Having a great time at Art Asylum 2013!"

And so did I! Looking forward to next year's event...and I hope to see you there as an exhibitor?

Cheers~

Honoré

PS. And if you were there, we would love for you to share your impressions in the Comments. Thanks.

Art Asylum...where insanely creative artisans reside

Join us at The Queen's Ink on Saturday, April 27th for an insanely creative day. Not only do we have a fabulous returning Guest Artist that weekend (Carol Owen) teaching her handmade books and personal shrines, we have our insanely creative customers turned artisans offering their finished artwork for sale. You will definitely want to visit Savage Mill, so mark your calendars now!

Show Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Reception & Silent Auction: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: The Old Weave Building

Items for the silent auction are being donated by the participating artists. Proceeds will benefit Howard County Blossoms of Hope.

(i heart) Art Journal Freedom...

... Art Journal Freedom , published book by North Light Books, is  Dina Wakley's new book.

My copy arrived last week and would you believe it actually sat on my reading table for several days before I started it. Don't ask me why since  I'd waited for months...go figure.

Anyway, the book is a gem and so Dina.  All the accompanying photos are of her artwork and supplies, including the step-by-step illustrations of the techniques - one per- that accompany each chapter. So, how do I know the photos are of her supplies - 'cause the items depicted show they've been used, including the photo of Dina (that accompanies the artist's statement) complete in her very-painted apron holding her Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Creative Journey journal in a very non-pristine stage.

Art Journal Freedom  is divided basically into two parts: The first half covers composition and the second, color -  both hallmarks and the underlying structure of Dina's work. She says that "if one understands the principles of design and color, you have power over them, even to break them."

Not all the principles of design and color are covered, just primarily the ones that apply to making art journal pages. We are  invited, encouraged and even challenged to not only explore the rules but also to play, experiment, create, express, discover, and yes, even to learn from the messes we make, like combining two complementary colors and winding up with brown soup (I can't even begin to count how many times I've done that, inadvertently ;-)). I found the chapters on color especially valuable and one thing I immediately did was get myself a color wheel.

Those of us who were lucky enough to take a class with Dina when she was at The Queen's Ink last October (or even other places and online) will feel, as we read and contemplate and play with the ideas, techniques, information and inspiration from the book, that we've re-kindled an old friendship. And if  you're at all like me, you'll pull out your supplies, tools, apron, prop up the book and let your muse have a ball! I bet your book will take on the look and feel of well-used - paint splatters and all - and it will be.

Just a note: Art Journal Freedom is not just for art journalers; I think anyone in the mixed media and art/craft arena will find something of value.

I encourage you to take a look at Art Journal Freedom and oh, by the way, reserve June 7 & 8, 2013 - Dina's scheduled a return visit to The Queen's Ink. Details are still being developed, so stay tuned. In the meantime, go experience some freedom in your art journal. And if you have the book, we'd love to read your take in the comments.

Cheers~

Honoré

A bucket list of sorts...

Greetings and Happy 2013! Has the new year caught you off guard as it has me?  Whoa! Not so fast there...I've barely gotten  (actually, I'm not too sure I can even use the qualifier barely) started and I am absolutely astonished that January is practically over!

Though I don't make resolutions I do spend a lot of time contemplating and anticipating the coming year. I always have way too many thoughts and ideas on tap for any given month and the entire year. And I am often stymied by too many choices, so much so that I frequently  don't get started 'cause I can't make up my mind: where to begin!

Going through my mind as I write this post are the following possible 2013 projects:

• creating a  365 something: a daily art journal or a tag a day or a fabric post card or a heart-a-day (inspired by Joanne Sharpe's article in the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. And that Joanne's coming to The Queen's Ink in March is just icing on the cake, me thinks...
• making a fabric art journal. I really love working with fabric, especially choosing bits-n-pieces as I create a palette. 
• decorating more cigar and other boxes...I find this to be an absolutely fulfilling and rewarding project, in addition to being fun! And The Queen has several classes planned in February that take the project to different levels. Can't decide which I'll do  tho' I think I'd better hurry 'cause for all I know, the classes may already be filled.

Jewelry Tray workshop - February 9th

• trying my hand at sketching/drawing and/or doodling. Last fall I ordered the cutest book: Doodling in French: How to Draw with Joie de Vivre by Anna Corba and I've been promising myself, today is the day...you know where that has gotten me...
• in that same vein: drawing. Earlier this week I discovered a digital art journaling app:  Paper.53 for the iPad. It is too cool! And the best part: it's portable and doesn't require tools, paints, papers, etc. And did I say: free? Tho' you do have to pay for some additional tools and paints if you want them. (I will share a photo of a page as soon as I figure out how to do it - I think a screen capture is it and I'm wondering if there is a print function. I think that would be just great 'cause you could then do a page or many, print them out and then adhere to a journal.)

The above list is just a sampling of the smorgasbord of ideas and inspirations bouncing around my brain... and I've not even touched on the PIPs - projects in progress - that call out to me every single day. That's a whole 'nother list.

What's on your bucket list for 2013? Would love to have you share in the comments. And speaking of such, the current issue of Cloth Paper Scissors has some ideas...including a really great article on Donna Downey, too!

BTW: I was at The Queen's Ink a week ago. It has totally been rearranged and reorganized. Get there quickly so you can see first hand how open and even more inviting the store space is!

(when you enter the store, you are greeted by this display. turn right or left for surprises)

Cheers~
Honoré