urbanrosary

Change

JoAnnA (you know the one).... from Mosshill Studios.... www.mosshillstudio.blogs.com. She and I have been good friends for something like 30 years! It's kind of scary to think about that, but it is true.  

Several weeks ago JoAnnA phoned and told me of her idea to teach "art workshops" online. I thought it was a great idea!  We spoke about doing a workshop collaboration together.

  

The original plans was that I would visit her in her studio, and we would film a workshop together creating altered bottle art.  I have spent some time with her in her studio and it is such a great set up.  She has such passion and is so good at what she does.  She simply is a natural. Unfortunately, she lives so far away that I didn't know if we could actually make it happen.  

She suggested that I consider creating my own workshop, teaching soldering, and specifically the class on creating devotional altered art bottles.

In my past, I have taught all kinds of things that included arts and crafts, but it was usually hands on, or one on one!  But I started to think how much I would love to do this.  A video workshop!  I started thinking about it alot.  Why not?

On a personal note, along with thinking about my workshop, I have been watching a lot of www.ted.com.  It is a site representing the greatest thinkers on technology, education and design.  I am what is considered at "Tedster" (a person addicted to Ted). At night, when I fall asleep I whisper into my boyfriends (Scott's) ear, "I love Ted so much"....not knowing what to think, he usually displays some type of facial expression that is featured in the photo below....you get the idea....! My point is...that on Ted.com there is speaker after speaker presenting to the public ideas that create CHANGE, and promote creativity on all levels.

Change is happening at a rapid pace, why not ride the wave of something more innovative like a workshop online?  What better way to connect people to their creative spirit?  I watched this happen on JoAnnA's Art Doll Workshop!  So, I am in the process of doing my own "Devotional Art" online workshop.  I am gathering together all the supplies that I need and can offer to my students and fellow creative junkies.  I will keep everyone informed and should have everything up and running soon!

Below, I am featuring one of the Devotional Art Pieces that I could offer supplies for. I have this great connection to a designer that produces these wonderful mercury glass vases with a metal rose attached to it.  They are heavy and range in sizes from 3" to 6" inches. I thought these might work well with the workshop if someone wanted me to supply these as the base for their own altered bottle.  I will also be able to supply chandelier crystals and copper foil too.

A 3" mercury glass vase is featured on the piece.

I found this little quote...

We cannot escape fear.  We can only transform it into a companion that accompanies us on all our exciting adventures, Take a risk a day....one small or bold stroke that will make you feel great once you have done it.

Well....that's all I have for now...in the meantime its back to the "drawing board"....

xo_Cathleen

   

Check out my Slide Show!

Nothing to show

In light of our present situation....our Country's present financial situation....I struggle to hold on to what I have been doing.  I wonder why bother?  And can I afford to take the time?  Today after many bad days, I decided to buy a notebook and once again start on my journey through a book called the "Artist Way".  To give up on my creativity, which is what I have abandoned on many occassions in my life, for many long periods as well.... is to give up on a part of "me".  A big part.  

There are those that do not believe that I am an artist.  That to call yourself an artist has to fall into some criteria or box.  There are those that want to box you in. It makes them feel safe.  Being an artist isn't always about being safe, it is about being adventurous.  Creating art might be about being extreme in expression or maybe crafty and calculating in expression.  Expressing oneself creatively is always risky, risky, risky.  You become exposed on many levels. 

JoAnnA at Mosshill Studios is teaching a great class on making "Art Dolls".  She is loving her new "position" as a teacher.  Teaching and participating in a class is appropriate for some of us at this time.  Because creating art connects us to something inside of us.  Something that needs to be expressed....whatever that is.  There is a story to tell and it creates a magic.  Magic that some us need right now.

Some of us need to be prodded along.  Artist need to keep creating.  It is their calling.  I see people including myself going back to the "land" or the "hand" so to speak.  For instance, a dear friend Gina who works in labor and delivery at a hospital decided to crochet her three grown children blankets this holiday season.  Her children can wrap themselves in her love.  Something from her own hand.  

Another friend tore up part of his lawn and is now growing a "victory garden".  The seed is planted, nurtured, watered.  The plant grows providing extra food for his family.  There is a joy that comes from that, that can not be replaced. 

JoAnnA's classes are leading people to make something with their own hands, creating a connection to themselves.  In the "Artist Way" there are some basic principles to creativity that I am going to share....because presently I have nothing to "show". This is a good place to be, because out of the ashes comes????  I am taking the time to think on these things....

1.  Creativity is the natural order in life.  Life is energy: pure creative energy.

2.  There is an underlying, in dwelling creative force infusing all life....including       ourselves.

3.  When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's           creativity within us and our lives.

That all I have to say for now....

Love, Peace and Hope

Make a Smilebox postcard

Hearts on Fire

I found these red mercury hearts and had them in a little container.  I wasn't sure what would become of them.  I was just waiting for some little spark of creativity.  Sometimes my creative ideas come fragmented and other times I know exactly what I am going to do.  This was a fragmented process.  Like JoAnna from Mosshill Studios I love mercury glass, and to utilize these hearts in altar devotional pieces was something I was wanting to do in some way.  I decided I would do something that spoke of passion, love, expression.  Using the red coral, I felt that it could symbolize fire, energy and movement.  The crystals are the light.  So with all the elements in motion, I created the series I call...HEARTS ON FIRE.

 

 

Editing my Typepad Photos and Posts....Awrrrghh!

Yesterday, while I was finally posting new photos and adding to my blog, my computer crashed several times.  SO....here my photos sit on my site...stretched and deformed (they didn't look that way when I previewed the blog...)and I am not able to edit anything here because the computer crashes everytime!  Getting through the type errors and bad english might be painful....:-(

JoAnna at Mosshill Studio's give away creation

 

Joanna Pierotti has this great give away on her site.  Just tell her your wish or prayer for 2009 and see if this is angel could be yours.  JoAnnA has amazing creations and her creative expression is endless.  I believe her site has a new look as well.  Thanks JoAnnA for being such a great friend, mentor and patient teacher!

My Grandmother's Altar has a new home

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone here!   I took some time off from my blog because we moved to the downtown area of Boise in this great historical area.  The house is 100 years old.  Initially, we didn't think it needed that much work, but it turned into a little more of "a project" than we thought.  Also, moving just when the cold weather was beginning was a little challenging while holiday festivities were in full force taking most of my time.  We are now seeing light at the end of the tunnel....

My boyfriend Scott

 (this is him in his holiday outfit...notice the holiday tee shirt?)  This how both of us looked most of the time this past month.  In the midst of all the painting and organizing.... he managed to make, finish, and paint one of the built-ins in the bedroom area for my "budding" altar.  

Finally, I was able to unwrap and unpack the items I inherited from my grandmother's altar.  It was such a great gift to put her favorite pieces with the devotional art I have made.  

With the mirror behind the pieces, the reflected light makes it much more beautiful than the photo indicates.

Broken pieces put back together.....

This beautiful vase was given to me by Linda, aka "Copper's Mom".  Linda is a friend from Ojai, CA.  who asked me to made a devotional piece with this vase.  

When I received it, it was broken in two pieces.  Most would have thrown it away, but Linda saw the beauty and the possibilities.  She asked me to put it back together symbolizing the healing of broken things and lives.   Actually, she is a creative/artistic person herself.  

When I saw the vase, I knew immediately what I would do with it.  I glued it back together, and to heal the cracks I took cooper foil and created a vine with the eternity symbol which was put on the front and back of the vase.

I completed the vase with a flower mandala.  Using the amber droplets coming out from the center of the flower, it give a lot of motion to the piece.

   

Bruce's Fishing Altar

My boyfriend, Scott, has a wonderful Altar that he made in memory of his good friend Bruce that died last year.  Together they had been colleagues and fishing buddies for over 25 years.  Scott never had a brother, so he considered Bruce a brother and mentor.  Many stories have been told about him, but sadly I never had the opportunity to meet him. 

Recently, Scott took an annual trip to Yellowstone to flyfish with a couple of friends who also knew Bruce.  In the memory of many fishing expeditions together, Scott took the altar with him.  Usually it hangs in his office along with some fishing photos from the past and a few Altar Bottles I created.  

In Yellowstone, he put the Altar on the cabin mantel and leaned Bruce's fishing rod right where Bruce would place it at the end of a long day fishing. 

Together they remembered his influence on all of them professionally, and as an incredible sportsman and writer.