Brett's Graduation Party!!

Yesterday was our son, Brett's graduation party.  He completed college with a BFA - Graphic Design!  We are so proud of him.  Here are a few of the works he completed while working on his Bachelor's degree.

The 3-legged chair received the College President's Award!

Gazing around the room I was surrounded by all his work.  As I looked at the talent he displays in his creations tears came to my eyes.  I always knew he had a talent that was terrific but to see all of his work together in one room was overwhelming.  I can only imagine the future that lies ahead for him!                              

He is Truly Blessed!

                                                                                                                                              

LOVELY SCENERY & FUN CREATING!

Summer is a time to relax and indulge in fun and frolic. With the official start of this new season fast approaching, many of you are perhaps thinking of a getaway. I would like to personally invite you to join me and my daughter-in-law, Tracie Lyn Huskamp, for two inspiring 2-day workshops in late June at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California!


Idyllwild Academy is located in the Strawberry Valley nestled amidst the picturesque California Mountains, approximately a 2 1/2 hour drive from both Los Angeles and San Diego, or a 1 hour drive from Palm Springs. The campus is a tranquil site, only 2 miles from the village of Idyllwild, yet removed from any urban distractions. There is both on-site and off-site housing. And lunch is included with your registration.

*Sign-up by Friday, May 25th and receive $50 Off your registration when you bring a friend!

Thursday-Friday, June 28-29: Fiber Collage at Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild California -

(Course #AAMCOO - to register contact Diane Dennis at 951-6590-2171, ext 2365 or send her an email at Summer@Idyllwildarts.org)

Create a stunning! fiber collage, by discovering the magic in adopting orphan quilt blocks and using these cast-offs as the foundation for painted fabric appliqué designs. This workshop, suitable for all levels, explores painting appliques by sketching subjects on muslin fabric using a fast and easy technique that requires no previous drawing skills, and working with acrylic paints to give the sketch color and depth. The instructors will share tips and product information for making paints washer friendly. You will learn techniques for extracting these painted elements from their fabric surround, adhering each extracted subject onto a separate fiber surface and how to create 3D effects with particular appliques. We'll also investigate and discuss design principles of composition.

Saturday-Sunday, June 30-July 1: Pastel Art Journaling at Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild California -

(Course #AAMJOO - to register contact Diane Dennis at 951-6590-2171, ext 2365 or send her an email at Summer@Idyllwildarts.org)

This workshop, suitable for all levels, explores that art pastel medium along with methods for sketching from a photograph using a fast and easy technique that requires no previous drawing skills, interpreting color, selecting dramatic color combinations, using drawing strokes to make purposeful yet random looking marks, working with glue alternatives for attaching miscellaneous ephemera. We'll explore idea discovery for recording the everyday, along with exploring the benefits of art journaling, overcoming the fear of a blank page, adding greater perspective by including your words/ writings, and tip/tricks for taking photographs to use as page inspiration.

Idyllwild Arts - Huskamp Workshops

ITALY....PARADISE.....

Yes, Italy is TRULY paradise! When Tracie and I taught in Orvieto in 2009 I was awe struck by the vistas, the people and the artwork both in architecture and in murals. Reading in books or seeing in pictures is just not the same. The preservation of the buildings for centuries is something that the Italians have mastered. Each has a unique beauty beyond words. The eyes are constantly searching for more to see.

All my life I have heard how "young" our country is but somehow it did not register until I visited ancient Rome. Then I realized what "infants' our buildings are. I was embarrassed to think that we tear buildings down when they are still only adolescents. Oh, how old the streets, buildings and statues! What Beauty!





The train tip to Orvieto was filled with fantastic views of small villages, coupled with miles of hills and valleys. When we arrived the view from the train station left us speechless.














An afternoon trip to a local vineyard was no less beautiful!








Off to the market. Wow, what color! Shopping daily for lunch was a treat to remember.
















Then, we spent a couple of afternoons touring Orvieto taking pictures. These pictures would be used to create beautiful hand painted works to remember our trip. Students were excited to learn how to take their pictures then create memorable keepsakes of the days spent with friends. Capturing the details for an artwork to hang on the wall gave them a constant reminder of the days in this wonderful land. Each student chose their favorite architectural find then painted a unique artwork.

One student took a picture of this ancient door.





















Then, using the techniques Tracie and I taught she painted this lovely picture. She also incorporated flowers to remind her of the gardens in the courtyard where we stayed. Later, she added her thoughts on the lines to the right hand side of the picture depicting her most favorable memory.






















We would love for you to join us in September when we return to Italy once more. We have been invited to return to Orieto with Kristin and Bill on another FABULOUS Adventure in Italy!

If you have never been to Italy this is an opportunity to share the experience with a group of friends. We keep our group small so the experience is intimate. Spaces are limited so if you want to go with us, you must sign up right away. This is truly an experience you will never forget. Tracie and I can hardly wait to return to paradise.

The Blessings of the Season

Christmas time is a time I love most. Decorating the house, getting ready for family gathering and celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ with those I love.

This year I wanted to have a winter wonderland since we have no snow here where I live. The table in the dining room is the center of this wonderland.





Hidden away on the china cabinet are the Snowbabies playing quietly.




On the window seat are my two favorite bears, enjoying the frosty trees and view of the wonderland on the dining table.





















The Christmas tree stands tall waiting for gifts to cover bareness beneath.






The beauty awaits the joy to be shared.

Happy Holidays to All!

Ribbon Lace and Button Cuff

Having fun in the studio making ribbon and lace cuffs. Thought I would share some pics.

FOND MEMORIES

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VELVET & LACE

Another class Tracie Lyn and I will be teaching for Ruth Rae is the bracelet made of VELVET & LACE. This is a class filled with fun and intrigue for creating a bracelet resembling a piece of jewelry from the past. Using velvet ribbon, bits of vintage lace, satin ribbon and vintage buttons coupled with a variety of beads and jewelry hardware we will spend the day exploring the art of days gone by.



Techniques will include, not only sewing and triming in a way to give an aged appeal but also the stringing of beads, crocheting buttons and crimping to finish this most lovely jeweled treasure. An optional bonus will be to embroidery a handmade pillow for displaying.














Once completed students will enjoy wearing this bracelet on special occasions or as a necklace with a treasured dress.





Please join us as we take a STEP INTO THE PAST!

EXPLORATION IN MIXED MEDIA

The past few weeks have been filled with a busy schedule of creating Mixed Media samples for the class Tracie Lyn and I are teaching for a fellow teacher, Ruth Rae. She has been ill the past few monthes and is unable to attend International Quilt so we were asked to teach her classes.

As most of our time was scheduled for getting ready to teach our proposed class, it was necessary for us to create samples, class outline and class kits for the students in the Exploration in Mixed Media Class.

Here is a sneak peak at samples:

This is created with various burning effects using a heat gun and candle on a variety of fabric media. RocLon bump is used as the background for the piece.
















In this piece are Roc-Lon Multi Purpose Cloth, various other fabrics and trims all afixed to a vintage quilt piece from a flea market find. Behind the door is a small doll given to me years ago at an art event from a student. I have always loved the doll and wanted to include it in a special piece. This is just the right piece.













Creating this piece was a lot of fun. I made resin paper, created a transparency, then used various fabrics and burning to give the aged look.




I am excited to teach this class with several techniques. We will be demonstrating the resin paper process, review the art of printing transparency images. burning techniques using both a heat gun and a candle on various fabrics, trims, laces etc., followed by assemblage to create a lovely work of art.

Please join us for a day filled with FUN and CREATIVITY!!!

GALLERY SHOW

July 16 thru August 22 is the gallery show at Muchnic Gallery in Atchison, Kansas. I am honored to have been asked to show my pictures created with scraps of ribbons, yarns, threads, fabrics and other fibers. Each picture is a one-of-a-kind creation framed in a black frame.

The artwork provides me a way to recycle scraps and small bits of fibers that I would otherwise toss. I frequently use small trims and embellishments that I find at antique stores. At other times I purchase French trims, flowers, and buttons at a favorite shop in California.

I hope you enjoy the works as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

Once the gallery show is over I plan to include the remaining works among the items for purchace in my etsy shop.


This is a favorite: I call it "Le'Fleur". It has silk flowers, crocheted stem, felted centers in the flowers on black velvet.





This is "Spheres". It consists of three separate spheres placed one on the other, then placed on a black velvet background.



















"Mystique" is the name for this creation. It has a very unique French lace and buttons. The way the lace is made was a bit mysterious to me thus the name for the artwork was born.










"Sumburst" became the name for this work. I created it then decided to have the ragged backdrop to create the look of the rays extending beyond the sphere.


















I have a favorite work named "Sea Beauty" which has captured my heart. It was my very first picure and I just cannot bring myself to part with it. I wanted to include it in the gallery show but decided I would create a sister to it. Thus, I created this piece, " Sea Beauty II". I love the use of the peacock feathers to create to look of a sea creature.





I invite all of you who live nearby to visit the Muchnic Gallery and see my works along with thos of two other artists.

Location:
704 North Fourth Street
Atchison, Kansas

Hours Open:
Saturdays and Sundays 1-5 p.m.
Wednesdays 10-5 p.m

Creating Gallery Pictures

Sorting through all my yarns, threads, fabric scraps, wild flowers, buttons and other ephemera to create artwork for the gallery show.













Stiching ribbons, yerns and threads to create a 4 x 6 inch piece of fabric to include in artwork.















Snippets and bits come together to creat geometric shapes accented with various yarns then stitched onto black velvet before framing.







This piece includes unique trims and floral buttons from France sitting atop a scrap of sheer tuille and stitched to black velvet.






Well, back to creating new pieces.....

May INchie Swap

The Month of May I hosted the swap for my INchie group. The theme was "Flowers". Each of us made a tiny one inch by one inch work of art with a flower. Then all sent the INchies to me so I could make a display.

As I created my tiny works I kept thinking, "How am I going to display them?"



Then as I was searching for items to use I came across some vintage album pages. These will work great!











Now to figure out what to include on them without taking away the unique beauty of each tiny INchie. Vintage Music! and some more flowers!






I began to decorate the vintage pages and create a small canvas for the the tiny works to frame them in the opening of the pages.













Once I finished, this is what each Special INchie Diva Artist received!

SETTLING IN

Since returning home from ArtFest I have been busy sorting, packing and moving items into my new studio. The work my hubby did has exceeded my dreams! It is a beautiful shade of lavender, both ceiling and floor, and has lovely white wood trim and pillar with teakwood floor. Cabinets and office furniture are black.

In the desk and files area there is a small chandelier. A vintage shelf where I have placed cherished items is above the file cabinet.

















In the area where I have all the sewing machines and other quilting items there is a larger chandelier. I LOVE IT!














An island that has wheels so I can move it is located in the center of the room.






Outside the walk-in closet is a perfect place for my bookshelves. (I have lots of books)







This is the most FABULOUS retirement gift! I could not have imagined what it would be like to have a room that is twice the size of the former bedroom I was using for a studio and a lovely walk-in clost. I am VERY LUCKY to have this as a place to retreat and create. Now that I am retired I want to spend a lot of time creating.