Let’s Start at the Very Beginning…

A little over a week ago I was off on another amazing art retreat.  This time I was in Paducah, Kentucky for the StencilGirl & Friends Art Journal Retreat sponsored by StencilGirl Products and Ephemera Paducah.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend something like this, I say don’t think, just go!  There were nearly 50 students at the sold-out retreat and we were split in half for two days of studio sessions.  Our teachers were none other than the fabulous quad team of Traci Bautiste, Seth Apter, MaryBeth Shaw (StencilGirl owner) and Pam Carriker.  (Please click on each one to find out more about them. You won’t be sorry!) Kristin Williams, owner of Ephemera Paducah was our hostess and she had it mastered.  We had pop-up demos from Mary C. Nasser, Glenda Miles, Sherry Canino, Kiala Givehand and me :).  From my end, it was seamless.  I won’t spend a lot of time talking here.  I want to show you some work in progress and pictures of our projects. Oh my, this was a whole new world for me…

Art Journal taught by Traci Bautiste-Loved the different types of tools we could use to make marks. Traci had a wealth of knowledge and was very creative.

Art Journal Page taught by Seth Apter- I learned about layering and rust-making in an easy relaxed environment.  It was a a happy place.

Art Journal taught by Pam Carriker-Stretched me beyond with realistic art. We had a lot in common, namely rubber-stamping and tole painting!

The beginning piece… I could have just left it this way.  The organic look to this spoke to me.

The not-quite-finished-but-getting-there journal page.

Art Journal taught by Mary Beth Shaw.-The “free-to-be-me” and express myself through gel press printing and mark making was so much fun! I want to go back!

Honestly, all the teachers were so good, I could never pick a favorite! I met so many wonderfully, talented people.  Everyone was so kind.

Here is the Paducah School of Art & Design, Ephemera Paducah and friends…oh, and me! The school was AMAZING! All I needed was a bed, because I suppose you have to sleep, right? Ah, it’s overrated. Art-where you never stop making. Loved the brick mixed with the industrial. Everything is art.  And the looms in the corner….ahhhhh!

This was our actual classroom at the Design School…

Ephemera Paducah, the store, the classroom and the living quarters for the teachers called “The Loft”. The best.

I was so honored to get to do a quickie demo showcasing frisket and Spellbinders die cutting!

And let’s not forget the sweets I had to make. Thought it would be quicker to make cookies than to pack 65 goodie bags…think again! Three days later…

Well that was it! One of the nicest events I’ve been to, well actually, I have had an amazing 2017. All my events have been the best! Certainly blessed.

XO,

Debi