One of my favorite perks about my job is that my PaPaYa! peeps know the importance of getting deep into other forms of creativity and always open the door wide for me to come join in. Anahata and Gina worked so hard behind the scenes to create an unforgettable event, they really put out all the stops...
From a double decker English bus ride to a ballroom with an adjoining garden courtyard for a classroom! Look how beautiful and happy everyone looks here on the way to visit the PaPaYa! warehouse. Be sure to check out the Art in Ashland group on flickr to see more.
On the top left is the little sketchbook that I crafted in Pam Garrison's class from an antique ledger. Hope took the photo alongside it of me working the magic with Pam's red quill pen. The Geisha on the cover was a gift from Anahata, it's a vintage table setting card. I used stickles to add a little sparkle, actually those little guys are a staple in the PaPaYa! Creative Abandon studio. We literally have a drawer full of them, they are loved!
That day I was sitting next to Cassondra & Hope who graciously helped pimp my project with a bag full of white buttons and tacky glue! On the reverse side I used a print from one of my modern day muses, Sophie Adde.
I was really spoiled that weekend by old friends, and new ones that helped me ring in my 32nd birthday. I had only just met Pam and Amy, who both were so sweet and slipped me little gifts at the opening reception. This bone pendant was one of them, from Amy's treasure trove. Pam treated me to a bundle of vintage wallpapers, that I later used in her class too. They had such good creative JuJu, and shared so many wonderful tips with us in their classes.
I made these necklaces in Amy'sRejuvenated Jewel's class. Which can be worn together or alone. The ribbon clasp idea was inspired by Christine, who was wearing an amazing necklace that day with a ribbon tie that I couldn't take my eyes off of. (Well, how could I? She was sitting right in front of me.) She had the cutest style that one! At lunch I found this hand-dyed ribbon in one of the local sewing shops, it was perfect.
The final day was Anahata's Symbolic Icons class. Where I worked some serious color with this Frida Kahlo piece. The photo I used was from her Vogue shoot in Paris. I first became enchanted with Frida in an modern art history class. I loved learning about she was the first female surrealist painter, and the stories behind her work. We were told that they were going to make a movie about her, and that Madonna was trying to get the role because she was such a big fan of her work. Well history has spoken! Although I love Madonna, Selma was amazing in that role. I really loved the courtyard of her home in that film, the colors were amazing... and it got me fantasizing about owning a peacock!
Above are Ana's class demo's and below is Dana's piece... I love it because it screams 1920's snake charmer!
You could just feel the creative energy build over the past few days at the recent Art in Ashland Retreat. Pam Garrison, Amy Hanna, and Anahata Katkin got their teaching mojo on, and gave us 3 great days in the classroom showing us their techniques in hand-bound books, revived relics jewelry, and mixed-media arts. It was held at the historic Ashland Springs Hotel, whose old timey ambience set the tone for everyone to unlease their creativity giving each project their unique and clever spin.
Hope Wallace, of Paper Relics stayed with us, and was my creative side-kick during classes. I was in total creative bliss with the collection of amazing jewels and vintage beads she generously brought for us to use in Amy's class. I haven't taken a photo of the piece I made in that class yet, but I can't wait to show you.
Above right, she's modeling the special Art in Ashland apron we all drew birds on for Amy... the hotel had an amazing garden terrace just outside the ballroom where our classes were held. Everything was in full bloom.
Hope's getting married in the spring, so she was inspired to create a guest book out of an old ledger in Pam's class. She took the above photo of me testing out Pam's quill on some beautiful vintage ledger paper that Cassandra gave us (that is also sold in her etsy shop), 3 is a lucky number.
I was kicking myself, as usual because I got so wrapped up in enjoying the classes I didn't take many photos of all of the awesome people who attended, and their projects until the very last day. Which I'm going to save for my next post, because they're so good they need to stand on their own.
These are photos from the party at the end of the event, held at Prize here in Ashland. Tiny cupcakes and lemonade/champaign... with a dazzling presentation, and the buzz of happy creative people who filled the room.
I had to ask Liesel to strike a pose for me, wearing the amazing necklace she made (which I hear she'll be teaching how to make at Artfest). Hope took the sweetest photo of Anahata and Sally Jean there.
The PaPaYa crew labored hard behind the scenes making all of the "prize at PRIZE" medalions before the event. Christine Rose Elle wears hers as she signs a classmates journal at the party at Prize. Look at her beautiful handmade beaded tiara! Each teacher gave away an original piece during the party, the winners couldn't stop smiling. It was lovely all around.
