ArtFiberFest... MAGIC was in the Air...

As the plane landed in Seattle I could feel the magic in the air. There is something about Seattle that captures one's heart! Perhaps it is the majestic mountains or the mystery of the sea....or the creative energy that forms when artistic talents merge.....Whatever it is...it captures mind and spirit. It is refreshing to the soul!

Tracie Lyn and I were on our way to ArtFiberFest in Port Townsend but first we had to make our traditional stop at Pike's Market and the little tea shop in Post Alley. We got our favorite goodies along with a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers to enjoy during our brief stay!







Then we headed to the Ferry and off to Bainbridge.
Once we left the ferry we began the drive toward lovely Port Townsend and Fort Warden where we would begin our annual adventure at ArtFiberFest hosted by Teesha and Tracy Moore and their family and friends. The welcome was very friendly as usual when we arrived to pick up our packets. Teesha was all smiles as she greeted each attendee. Tracie and I had decorated our tiny cloth dolls and proudly placed them among the others. Since our schedule has been so busy lately, I decorated my doll on the plane during our flight. I am sad as I didn't get a picture and forgot to pick it up, but I am sure it has found a good home.

After completing our registration we hurried off to our friend's house to get settled. We wanted to get back to the Fort for the opening ceremony as it is always a fun and exciting time. You can feel the camaraderie, friendship and love as you enter the room. Everyone is anxious to get started and to share the moments of the next three days with friends. It has been awhile since we have seen many of them so we anxiously sought out each one to say hi and chatter about all the excitement in store. Smiles and warm greetings were everywhere! It was great to see friends like Syd McCutcheon, Mary Stanley, Lisa Engelbrecht,Kristin Steiner, Pam Garrison,Lori Seavey-Christian, Gail Cowan, Betsey Spencer, Tammy Gilley, Laura Murray , and Deb Lewis. I also met many of the INchie Swap, flower and charm swap participants. It was A BLAST!!!

I spent my first day of class with Denise Warner - What a FANTASTIC artist! Free spirited, talented and very giving! As always I had wonderful classmates and we laughed all day. We were like a group of school girls as we created beautiful fairies from Japanese papers and other fibers.

That night Tracie and I took our good friend, Dawn Shepherd, owner of Mother Rubber Stamps, to dinner for her birthday!
We had Thai food for the first time! Wonderful choice thanks to Bird!

The next day Tracie and I taught our Fiber Journal House. The class was TERRIFIC! Just look at these creations!!!






































That night was the Vendor Show - It was a BLAST!! What Beautiful Creations!

Saturday Tracie and I spent the day in Keely Barham's Wooly Creature class!! Keely is another of my favorite people - AND OH, so Talented! Look at this fabulous little wooly guy I made! Truly an example of one's man's trash being another man's TREASURE as it is made from some old sweaters from the Goodwill!!



Saturday night was Show and Tell - TERRIFIC line up of creations came out of this FANTASTIC retreat! There was so much eye candy!

All too soon it was Sunday morning so Tracie and I had to begin our journey home. We said "Goodbye" to our magical ArtFiberFest and Port Townsend then drove toward the airport to board the plane. As I watched the shoreline and the mountains fade in the distance my heart whispered, "I will be back, my precious friends."

And the Fun Goes On and On.....

Day 2 at Art & Soul proved to keep the fun rolling. As Tracie Lyn and I headed off to breakfast we were excited to begin our second day teaching. Today was the Fused Fragments Extended Journal Class. This is always a fun class to teach as we share the technique of fusing fabrics to cover a journal. And the landscape shape proves a super palette for creating nature's view.

The students arrived excited and ready to go. As they began to create their own color palettes the colors came alive! Each student had combined fibers of paper, yarns, ribbon, fabrics and papers in some of the most interesting and vivid blendings that you could imagine. The eye candy was FANTASTIC!

I wanted to share the pictures of the Beautiful creations these talented artists created during our day of fun and laughter! Enjoy!!!!

This is Linda's beautiful picture of her favorite island.


Betsy did a beautiful fall theme and is going to use her journal in a long vertical fashion.






Just look at Gail's beautiful creation. She did some sewing on hers.












Lisa created a beautiful journal in the most fantasic pink color and put lots of ribbons on the side.




This beautiful journal of Jerrilynn's is very sparkly and had a wonderful bright palette.












Merne captured leaves on her beautiful journal and used a large print as the background.













Aren't these artists just the greatest? We had so much fun sharing ideas and again it was said to see the day of teaching end.


However, our day continued as Tracie Lyn and I took Mary Stanley's class on making felted beads. The class was a great way for us to end our day. I had never tried felting so I truly enjoyed learning this technique. I will definitely use it more. And Mary is a Fantastic teacher!

Sadly we bid good night to all as we headed to our room to pack and prepare for the return home. As we drifted to sleep we talked about the wonderful experiences we had at Art & Soul, the fantastic people we had met, and the eager students that were great!

We WILL be back!! And Cindy and Glenny? Well, they each were the kindess and best organizers. They are truly TOPS!!!

Thanks to all of the students, Cindy, Glenny, DI for taking us shopping, Suki for getting my purse to me, and Ruth - Your husband and son are the greatest!!!

All of you helped make this a SUPER experience!

Day 1 at Art and Soul Portland

Where to begin!! Tracie Lyn and I arrived at Art & Soul Portland on Tuesday evening and checked in to the hotel. It was beautiful! We stayed at The Embassey Suites. Once we had our things in our room we headed down to the Art & Soul office to check in and to get our teacher's packets. Cindy and Glenny welcomed us with VERY big smiles and we knew right away this was going to be a FANTASTIC experience! Cindy and Glenny made us feel right at home. They were helpful and told us how happy they were that we were there!

Once we were checked in we went to dinner, then headed to our room to get ready for the first day of class. It was the Fiber Fusion Journal House class. We were so anxious to share the technique of blending paper, thread, yarn, and fabric together in a fusion to create a beautiful palette of color and texture!

When Wednesday arrived we were excited to meet our students and have a day of fun!

As each student arrived with a big smile we were ready to begin. The fun and laughter started immediately and continued throughout the day!




Here is a picture of Suki and her journal house.

Isn't it beautiful!



















Di made a lovely house with a Christmas theme. I love the kitties on the fabric!



Joyce made her journal with a bird on the front.





Isn't it lovely?!!!














Neinah's house also has a bird on it!





How beautiful!













Ruth made a beautiful Journal House with tiny vines climbing on the walls.





How beautiful!!!



















We were sad to see the day end! What a GREAT day it had been! It was full of FUN, LAUGHTER AND CREATIVITY!

Later that evening Di took Tracie Lyn and me shopping - What a way for a girl to end the day!!!

As we chatted late into the night reliving the WONDERFUL experiences of the day, we could hardly wait for tomorrow when we would be teaching our Fused Fragments Extended Journal Class!!!

More later on Day 2 at Art & Soul Portland!