Create!Studio ~ Let's Get Together and MAKE STUFF! ~

There is something about this line in Miranda Lambert's song Automatic

that resonates in my artist heart:

 

Whatever happened to

waiting your turn

doing it all by hand

'cause when everything is handed to you

it's only worth

as much as

the time put in

 

 

I think my new friend and sister "creatologist", Renae Meisner,

of Create!Studio in Rapid City, South Dakota,

would agree.

I was privileged to teach one of my favorite mixed media art classes

A Note To Self

in her studio last Saturday.

 

Before and after class,

Renae and I visited and visited.

I suspect we could've sat down and chatted into the wee hours of the morning

about creating all kinds of things

including the lessons we both have learned

about daring to begin a creative business.

 

Once our guests began arriving and the warmth of humming voices

filled the studio

the nervous excitement began to flow.

 

Soon, ladies dove into a pile of patterned papers

and the fun begins.

 

 

There is something beautiful that happens when you make something by hand.

If you take the time to create something with your hands,

in inevitably requires your heart and soul.

 

 

 

You create from what is truly important to you.

You create what you feel.

You create and something happens

that is tough to explain.

 

Renee and I visited about how connections seem easy when

creating.

About how maybe it is because

in order to create

we have to let the guard crumble a bit

and be real

and vulnerable.

 

Something miraculous happens layering paper and decoupage

and paint and words and meaning.

Lisa's piece above is one you could linger over and look

for detail after lovely detail.

 

There must be a letting go in the process.

It is a brave thing to make something

and then let people see it.

It is a scary thing

to look at a white canvas.

 

The photo above shows Brenda's collage of scrapbook papers,

a beautiful quote she brought from Pinterest

and lovely layers of paint patterns;

all of which create a special place to honor her treasure: grandchildren.

What wonderful fall-ish colors!

 

But each of these women brought their hearts

and filled up the white space with beauty and meaning.

 

Julie created a gorgeous color-filled collage

from Mother's Day cards from her daughters

and included each one's hand written name in her piece.

How precious is that??

 

Jamee and Tami

dove in with words and color and paint.

I love the words that they keyed into and highlighted.

 

I have to mention designer Melody Ross and Full Circle Exchange.

Melody designed this tissue paper for FCE.

I bought it for gifts, but have used it in my collage classes.

Not only does it spark something beautiful in the women and their art at my classes,

Full Circle Exchange is a company doing something well and good and right

in this broken world.

FCE creates jobs and job readiness for female refugees fleeing

circumstances we could never imagine.

I love using their products and sharing about them at my classes.

You can learn about the company here:

Full Circle Exchange

Learn about Melody Ross and her company Brave Girls Club here:

Brave Girls Club

 

You can see in Jamee and Tami's projects

the typewritten words that they have highlighted in these next few photos.

 

 

Leslie made this gorgeous collage of all things mountain biking.

When she discovered what you can do to paint

with a paper towel,

you should have seen her go!

 

 

Janell made this happy bright piece with so many scrumptious layers.

Perfectly fall and perfectly joyful!

 

I love the feeling of trying something new

and realizing

I can do this!

 

I see it happen again and again.

 

Renae's piece is such a rich example of taking scraps that one might throw away

and collecting in a few color families to put together such depth and interest.

This will be so lovely on her wall.

 

Each one has a clip so that they can place "A Note To Self" in it

or a photograph of a

moment that matters.

 

Below are photos from my March "Note To Self" class at Sturgis Photo & Gifts.

 

I love that no piece is ever alike.  Ever.

You can see values, treasures, beliefs, and accomplishment

in the pieces and in the faces below.

 

If you are interested in attending a class,

here's what's next:

 

October 23: 

LIVE YOUR SONG: mixed media art class at Sturgis Photo and Gifts

Details here:  Live Your Song

 

November 15:

JOURNAL YOUR JOURNEY: mixed media art journal class at Sturgis Photo and Gifts

Details coming soon!

 

 

To reserve your spot for either of these classes,

call Terri Jo at Sturgis Photo and Gifts at 605-347-6570

 

You can also visit Renae Meisner and myself at our art booths

at the upcoming Pinedale Bazaar at Pinedale Elementary School

in Rapid City, SD, on November 8, 2014.

At my classes,
I use a variety of materials from old vintage books and wallpapers,
to scrapbook papers from KandCompany, BasicGrey and Stampin'Up,
the Full Circle Exchange tissue paper,
old sewing patterns, brown paper bags.
You can decoupage so many things to create a one-of-a-kind background.
I provide sheets of words and many women bring their own quotes or verses.
Note:  I'm not affiliated with any of the companies listed above.
They are just some of my favorites and I encourage you to visit their sites.

Join us!