christytomlinson

the world is a beautiful place!

hello friends! wow that last two weeks have been the most amazing adventure! Ben and I, and two of our kids (preston and allie), just got back from a two weeks teaching trip to Australia (with a stop in fiji on the way! :)).

I was so excited this last spring when Jane Davenport, the creative genius of Aussie land, asked me to come be the first teacher to teach in her Studio down under! Of course I was thrilled and said yes!

My kids and ben have spent time with Jane and loved her so much, she said they MUST come with me! So.. the four of us, decided to make a trip of it. I knew they would probably never get the chance again.. so it was just something you just do right? Usually I travel and teach to make income for our family, but this trip would basically be paying for itself and allow me to bring ben and two of my kids along to experience something they would never forget! and it was AMAZING!

(us heading on our first of four flights to australia)

Our first stop was a layover in fiji. We had a 3 night layover there, and so decided to venture off the big island and head to a smaller island to enjoy the TRUE Fiji experience of white sand, blue, turquoise and green waters, and calm clear water, as far as the eye can see. It was only a short 1 hour boat road, so we decided just to do it! We would probably never have the opportunity to come back again, so we were going to make the most of it! (not to mention the beaches were horrible on the mainland near Nadi, and the prices for hotels were CRAZY expensive!).

(being greeted by the locals as we arrived on the tiny island we stayed on. Plantation Island)

(just getting off the boat and staring at all the beautiful fish right there on the beach! see our little huts there in the background?)

we had an amazing time snorkeling, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, reading, sleeping, creating art and just relaxing on the beautiful beach right in front of our little bungalow.

(just sitting under a palm tree, working on my embriodery, looking at the beautiful ocean! look how calm it is! I spent most of my time IN the water.)

We seemed to get on this weird sleep schedule as soon as we got there and found ourselves going to bed when it got dark (like 8 pm) and getting up right before sunrise every morning (around 5). I LOVED IT! nothing better than to watch the sunrise each morning, when the island is so still and everyone else is still sleeping and nesting in their beds.

(in our pj at 5:30 am, just enjoying the high tide of the water, quiet moments and the sunrising each day)

After our layover in fiji, we hopped a plan to Brisbane where we rented a car and headed to Jane's house in Byron Bay, about 3 hours away. Driving on the other side of the road was CRAZY and fun and scary all at the same time! Australia is beautiful!!! On our way to janes, we stopped at a nature Zoo, (allie found a brochure on it, in the airport and insisted we stop to go see the Koala Bears!) it was called Lone Pine. IT WAS AMAZING!

(this was the ONLY thing she wanted to make sure she did while in Australia! hold a koala bear!)

We saw so many beautiful cute koala bears, allie got to hold one, and then they had this HUGE massive area of free land, where kangaroos just roamed and jumped around and you could go inside and basically feed them, pet them, sit around and hang out with them. It was SOO cool!

(this little guy was so cute, allie ended up just hanging out with him and sitting by him for like 15 mins, petting him!)

We also made a stop at the Brisbane LDS temple, which was so beautiful as well!  Then we headed on our way to ms. Janes for our 10 day adventure in Australia!

Jane's house is near the beach in a beautiful junlge like setting, what they call the "bush". From her deck you can see the ocean and rolling hills of green beautiful jungle trees and plants of every kind! AND animals! It honestly sounded like you were in the jungle too! all the cockatoos and kookaburras and birds chirping all day long. Seriously music to our ears!

(this is a picture of us setting up for the retreat/class part. but normally jane has couches and comfy chair all over her deck, where you could find us each morning watching the sunrise (and pretty much any other time of day, when we weren't out sightseeing)

(sunrise the first morning there. um yes please and thank you.)


We spent most of our time just hanging out with Jane and her awesome husband Angus! Who makes the best BBQ lamp chops ever! (and the best salads ever). The kids went to the beach, the water-park, Jane took them Trapezing. We went shopping to some handmade outdoor markets (hello i was in heaven).

(allie, jane and I shopping down in Byron Bay having THE BEST NACHOS in my life!) ps. Don't you just love Janes smile??!

(ben and I enjoying the "gold coast')

(below is a cool shot of the kids trapeezing! they learned how to do this in just one hour!)

 

But mostly we just sat on Jane's deck everyday and painted, made art journals, laughed, being silly,  talked and enjoyed the amazing company we were in!

(i brought a Dyan Reavely small art journal with me and pretty much wrote  and created art in it, everday of the trip. I mainsly just used my stabilo and watercolor pans I had brought) 

(me art journaling for the day, and ben painting. Seriously life couldn't get any better. This is the day jane introduced me to COLORING PENCILS and the magical world in which they can trasnform your drawing into detailed pieces of artwork! Hello, now you can't pull me away from my Prismacolor Pencils! EEK!)

Jane showed me how to make an art journal out of pretty much anything and I showed her how to make stamps and printing plates out of foam! (its one of the techniques I show in the mixed media studio class I am teaching with big Picture!) 

( I drew her this stamp and then let her keep it.. so she drew me one too! it was a win win!)

Here's a fun little video with Jane and I showing you peeks at the art journals and stamps we made!

 

(this is the cover of my art journal, i decided to start with that first, so I could have something pretty to look at when it wasn't open!)

 

(this is the back of the journal if created, where Jane give me and Allie a mini course in how to use coloring pencils and draw her signature Jane girls! I treid REALLY hard not to Christyfy it!  Hello I am in love with PrimsaColor pencils now! I bought a bunch from her shop and then i came home to find I had purchased a bunch last year and totally forgot about them, because I didn't know how to use them! I love when I learn how to use new products!! )

 

I ALSO bought a set of Jane's Peerless Watercolor Sets (she has her own line of colors with Peerless) and she showed me how to cut them up and make your own "travel" palette with them out of cardstock and glue! The colors are beyond gorgeous and some of the most pigmented watercolors I have ever seen! they have become another favorite!

(seriously aren't these gorgeous!!)

AND of course the MAIN reason I was in australia was to teach!

I  taught two different weekends while we were there, to two fabulous groups of women! I HAD THE BEST time with them!

(this was our first group of girls! we did the quilt girl (one of the girls I will be teaching in my upcoming fall course!)

(this was my finished girl, which I gave to jane to remember me by!)

Seriously nicest people you will ever meet! AND I LOVED Their accents! The funniest part was when I was talking and I turned to them and said, "sorry, I am talking too much" and they all said.. NO! We love hearing you talk! we love your accent!"  I have NEVER EVER been told I have an accent! I have traveled all over the world and in the US and people always just said that I talk "regular". Nothing cool or special about it.  So  it made me giddy to hear them say I had an accent! I was like.. so does that make me cool because I have an accent? and they said YES! so i made it a point to always talk in public wherever we went, so people could hear my accent! lol.. it was like a little kid. Hahaha. I LOVE the australia accent. oh my gosh, simply beautiful! Sometimes a bit hard to understand.. :).. but I LOVED IT!

 

(my second weekend class.. we found some fun lanterns and galrands during the week and mr. Benny hung them up for us :) Thanks ben!)

(this was a two day class, and we created both a quilt girl and what I call my "flower girls".. also going to be in the Fall on-line class coming up!)

(my finished quilt girl for week two.. THANK You to Toni, Gen and their mom for the beautiful vintage wallpaper they brought me! I HAD to use it!)

(here is the flower girl I made.. she is probably one of my FAVORITE girls ever! I also gave this canvas to Jane as well (though I made sure to scan it on her scanner before I left, so I can make a large canvas print of it). It was Jane inspired.. maybe that's why I love her so much!)

I loved spending time with Jane, I loved having my family there. I seriously could have stayed another week. ANd most of you know me, I get homesick SUPER fast. SUPERFAST! even when I am surrounded by family or friends on trips. But this trip was so different! I didn't want to leave!

I felt so relaxed, so at peace and so inspired by my surrounding and the creative juices that were flowing between Jane and I, as we created each day. Even just taking walks to the beach, or down the street was just food for the soul. My classes were the funnest for me, they have ever been! I usually get super worn out, tired and loose my energy after day one. But this trip, I was bounding with energy, excitement, creativity and loved every minute of it!

(this is me day two of week 2 teaching.. and I was still just GIDDY and happy to be teaching and creating! it's amazing the setting Jane creates, that just makes your soul and body feel rested and happy!)

It probably helped that we found ourselves on the same schedule as Fiji, and went to bed each night before 9 pm, and were up at 5:30 in the morning, watching the sunrise on her deck. Reading our books, journaling, or just enjoying the view.

It was just amazing. We have already decided to go back next year and teach again. This time, it will just be Ben and I traveling, AND THIS time, Jane is going to teach a day class too, so it will be a three day workshop!

 

(jane always wearing cute floral headbands and flowers in her hair, decided I needed to wear one too :). Im pretty sure she is the only one who can get away with it lol. I MISS HER GOOFY SELF!)

That will be next november sometime. But I am already counting down the days! I thought the flight would kill me with my fibro and I was pleasantly surprised it didn't! Totally we flew 19 hours. (the main flight, from Los Angeles to Australia was a total of 14-15 hours). Then we had to get from idaho falls to LAX too. that didn't include layovers, but honestly, wasn't bad at all! I would do it again in a heartbeat! Which is funny because after 18 hour flight to South Africa a few years ago, when I taught.. I swore I would never fly that long again! I proved myself wrong.

I took lots of things to keep me busy on the flight which probably helped.. art journaling, watercolors, mixed media supplies, my embroidery and a REALLY good book I couldn't put down! (Unbroken.. you MUST READ IT!)

(i actually got a lot more down on my embroidery than I thought I would!)

Plus they had loads of tv and movies to watch on your own personal tvs. If you ever fly to australia, I recommend Fiji Airways. They were VERY inexpensive compared to everyone else AND their service was AMAZING. The planes are gorgeous and they just have a awesome staff. I thought it would be worse because the flight was so cheap compared to alot of other companies, but I was pleasantly surprised and felt bad for pre-judging them :). 

Plus having the stop in Fiji, to break up the long flight was PERFECT. On the way back our stop was only 5 hours, but it still was nice and relaxing. We slept, read, did art. They even had showers in the airport you could use. (ps. if you ever fly through fiji.. go downstairs where the bathrooms are, and they have this large open area with long couches everywhere and no one is down there! It's quiet and you can sleep, or relax and its COOL down there! upstairs was hot and smuggy! So theres a tip for you :).

I did miss my kiddos at home though and was ecstatic to see them when we got home! NOw back home, our sleep schedule is totally off lol and we find ourselves staying up until 3 or 4 am and sleeping until 11! NOT GOOD! I feel like half my day is wasted! gonna have to work on that schedule because we have a She Matters Art Retreat here in 10 short days!

well thanks for letting me share about my wonderful experience to Australia. If you ever get the chance, you MUST go! And Visit down in Byron Bay. It's simply beautiful! Small town, beautiful beaches, away from the huge crowds you find in other cities and towns. Promise, you will love it!

Next week I will be announcing my new Fall workshop AND a giveaway for my upcoming workshop with Big Picture! The Mixed MEdia Studios Workshop! Watch for that tuesday!

happy thursday!

xoxo

Christy

New She Matters Class, HUGE sale, New Products, Graduation and more!

Hello friends! holy cow it's been a LONG time since I posted here! things have been crazy busy around here with friend and family in town, bradens graduation, re-organizing our warehouse, end of school year awards, programs and concerts. CRAZY! I have been sharing all of this process on my facebook and instagram.. so hopefully you are following me there!  

But now "Summer" is officially here for my kids.. wahoo! and I feel like life can slow down a little bit!

Excited to announce with you my She Matters 2 Day Workshop in july at Studio Crescendoh in Santa Ana California, with Jenny Doh!

 

I taught last year at her studio and FELL IN LOVE with her space, the format and just getting to know the students! Her studio sits right downtown old Santa Ana where they have the funnest shops, art galleries, art studios, ma and pa food shops. AMAZING experience! and seriously it's just minutes from the beach! perfect summer getaway for a little sun and creating at the same time. 

This year I will be teaching two new projects, TWO full days of teaching!  Plus I will be providing you with ALL of the materials needed for BOTH days! SO no need to bring ANY Supplies! AND of course no class is complete without a bunch of She Matters Goodies! You will go home with a bunch of wonderfrul She matters presents..  so it's going to be a TON of fun! Just come and relax and no need to have to stress to pack anything!

This is one of only two times this year I will be traveling in the united states to teach.. so hope you will join me! 

For more details and how to register.. visit Jenny's website HERE.

SUPER excited!!!

Also guess what? Ben has been working hard in the warehouse for our Scarlet Lime Online Store,  creating space and moving things around.. for over 100 new products in our store! SO excited about it!
This week we are having a sale on EVERYTHING in the store.. EVERYTHING.. 20% off!

That includes all the new, all your old favorites and all newly listed clearance items! wahoo!!

Simply use code: newproduct14

at checkout!

(this code can't be combined with any other offer or on previous purchases).

We have TONS of new fun things to share.. New heavy Body Acrylics from Dina Wakley, including her new stamps and stencils! 

(thanks Dina for the picture! xoxo )

 

New Stencils packs from Heidi Swapp, new stencils from Julie Balzer, Prima and Crafters Workshop! New Watercolor goodies, new rubons, new paperpads, new embellishments, new chalk tapes, new project kits..

and my most favorite new things.. NEW Color Bloom Sprays from Prima!

These are awesome beautiful sprays perfect for splatters or all over coverage on mixed media, cards, watercolor and scrapbooking projects. AND the cool thing is you can refill them twice with water and still have potent color! Crazy awesome! 

Keep in eye out in the next few days for a new blog post with videos from both Dina and Prima on how to use these! SO excited!

and for those of you who are taking the Boot Series workshop.. we have finally got in the Tim Holtz ink Pallets for your watercolors!

Wahoo! you can find those here!

So hop on over to Scarlet Lime.. to check out all the new items! Sale is good until Friday at midnight!

AND sure hope you join me at Studio Crescendoh! You will love the atmosphere and the lifelong friends you will meet there.. can't wait to spend time with you!!

happy tuesday!

xoxo

Christy

 

International friends! Registration for Canada and Australia now live!

 

woah! That was fast! I thought it might be a week or two until I had this information but guess what?  Signs up for my classes in Australia and in Canada are now UP!  I have posted them below!

Canada Friends!

I will be teaching in Edmonton, AB Canada.. August 6th at the Scrap Addicts store!  these girls are just so much fun and I can't wait to be in their store!!

Details are on their website HERE, ( if you scroll down on their main page you will see the details!). And you have to call the store to register which is listed on that same page!  .. or you can call the store directly at  587-523-1713 ! I know there are only a few spots left! So check it out now if you are interested!

 

Australia Friends!

I am so excited to be able to come teach at my dear friend.. and the very talented Jane Davenport's
Studio! She is located in Byron Bay... outside of Brisbane!  I will be teaching 2 different classes at her "Nest". A one day class  September 27th, and a two day class, October 3rd & 4th! . (two day class we will be creating two projects).  All the details are on her Website! Again.. I think she is already half full.. so don't hesitate! I would SO love to meet you!  Details are HERE on her website!

 

I will be posting details about my July Class in California in the next couple of weeks.. AND details about our Mexico Retreat as well!  If you want to keep up to date on all of my classes.. you can by clicking on the link in the header at the top of my blog that says "retreats". It has all the information listed for any places I will be teaching at including dates and links!

well I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! I am excited this weekend because a bunch of my good friends are coming to see me for the weekend! I can't wait! it's going to be a girls party all the way.. late nights, lots of laughing, good food (not prepared by me lol).. and just much needed relax time. Can't wait!

happy wednesday!

xoxo

Christy

It's HERE! Fall 2014 She Matters Retreats!

 

First off.. Friends.. can I just say WOW!! and THANK YOU!!! from the bottom of my heart and Allie's heart!!!

THANK You so much for your sweet generous purchases of her Vintage Earrings in her Etsy shop!

Because of YOU, she was able to raise MORE than enough to go to camp.. in-fact enough that she is going to use the rest of it, to pay for her cousin to go to camp with her!  SO HUGE HUGE THANK YOU!!  YOU not only helped her raise money for just one person to go to a life changing youth camp.. but TWO!

you guys seriously.. truly rock! thank you so much!

by the way.. the response to her shop was INSANE and she ended up with way more orders than she expected, so they may be a few days later than expected. She has to handmade each one (they aren't pre-made, so you can choose the style of the earring back).  So she has been working hard all weekend, but still has a lot to do before she can ship!  so thank you again..

SO what else is new? We have finally released our 2014 Fall She Matters Dates! Many of you have been waiting since February for us to list them, and a few weeks ago I did a blog post about why we hadn't yet asWe had been waiting for our son Braden,  to get his 2 year LDS mission call! You can read more about that in that blog post (and what his 2 year mission will entail).   Missionaries don't get to pick the day they leave for their mission, and because of that, I DIDN'T"T want him to get his call and find out he was leaving the week before, the week of, or the week after the retreat! 

That would be an emotional wreck of HUGE sorts for everyone.. but especially me! lol

  He actually kept telling me to just announce the dates, because ALL of his friends had gotten their calls and they were all leaving in early to mid summer. Our First retreat date was set for the Week of September 10th.. and he was SURE there was no way he was leaving that far away..

well.. guess what?? lol. HE IS! he is leaving SEPTEMBER 10th!!! I am SO glad I waited!! lol.. oh that would have been a BIG old mess to reschedule! lol.  He got hismission call during our last retreat and he is going to ........ (watch the video!!)

 

 

We are all so excited for SO many reason.. one of which that is the ONE place he requested we go as a family this summer before his mission, because there are many church history sites there.. very significant to the church.. including the Sacred Grove and Hill Camorah, which is an amazing experience to visit.  So when he read he was going to this mission.. we all just screamed for joy! he also felt strongly he would be going to New York State.. which is just simply crazy.. so it was an emotional day for us!

So Proud of him and his decision to go! it was just a REALLY neat night.. having all of the retreat girls there.. and all of Braden's friends and our family.. just way cool

 So NOW onto our Fall She Matters Retreats!!

as I mentioned.. because of Braden's date of entering the mission,  we had to do some moving and figuring out.. so our two fall retreats will be in October and November of this year! Just 3 weeks within each other. Going to be FUN!

Besides our She Matters Fall retreats here in our home, I will also be teaching three other classes this summer/fall (not retreats.. just one and two day classes).. one in Australia, one in Edmonton,Canada, and one in California. I will be posting in the next little while when they are officially announced.  We will also have our Mexico Retreat announced sometime in the next few months as well! that will be in Feb of 2015.

 

Before I list the links to the fall retreats..  please know that I have already sent these out to those on a wait-list from previous retreats and those who emailed to be put on the list. So we only have a few spots left!

We currently only have ONE spot left in our October Retreat (updated.. SOLD OUT)

.. and 4 spots left in the November retreat (updated.. Sold out!)

*if you would like to be put on the waitlist for either retreats, please email me at [email protected]

 We would LOVE to have you join us in the last few spots!

Here is the link!

She Matters Fall Retreats

 Thanks again truly for all your support of me and my family. So many of you commented and were so happy for braden when I posted his video on Instagram and youtube. IT REALLY meant a lot to him! Also SO grateful for you support allie in her fundraising efforts as well! AND ben and I!! In our SHe Matters retreats! THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

xoxo

Announcing my 2014 Winter & Spring She Matters Retreats!

Well hello! First off. WOW and THANK YOU For all the wonderful comments about my blog post from Monday. It so nice to put your heart out there about something you love and have people "get it" and respect it! so THANK YOU!

As you know from reading Monday's blog post.. I wrote about my first every She Matters Retreat I hosted a few short weeks ago. I am excited to announce the Winter and Spring dates for 2014 today!

I will post a link to MOST of the information below.. but here is a little bit about each one!

 

She Matters Winter Mini Retreat 2014

(update! only one spot left!!)

This retreat is my FIRST mini retreat! It will be a four day retreat hosted here at my house & studio in small town Idaho!  It will be hosted in January and January in Idaho is a BEAUTIFUL time! We have oodles and oodles of white snow.. warm cozy nights and days. Its simply breathtaking. This is an ALL inclusive retreat which means it includes ALL your lodging, ALL meals, ALL snacks, and ALL your supplies as well! You do NOT NEED To bring a thing.. except your paint clothes and an open heart and mind! (and maybe an extra suitcase lol)

The theme for this retreat is going to be centered on the many sides of She Art. As you may know from my current, A girl a day, 30 day challenge.. I have been really enjoying exploring lots of different medias when creating my girls. Both faceless and those with faces. There is so much more to she art then paper, glue and paint on canvas. Besides this technique, we will also be exploring using charcoals, pastels, watercolors and more! We will also be creating girls with faces, girls without. Whimsical girls, and realistic girls. This retreat will be ALL about girls :).

The dates for this retreat are

January 29th-February 1st 2014!

FOr more information on this retreat.. the cost, what is totally included, what you can expect and options for LOCALS!! (yes we will have an option for locals who want to attend.. ONLY 2 Spots available!).. click below!

 Mini Winter She Matters Retreat 2014

update.. only one spot left!

************************************************************************

The next retreat we will be hosting is

She Matters Week Long ARt Retreat

This retreat is a 6 day retreat and is full of SOO Many wonderful things and again hosted here at my home & studio! This retreat is in April.. where spring is just beginning and the buds are starting to blossom. Sometimes if we are lucky.. we still have a little snow left (for those of you who just can't get enough!

Again this retreat is ALL Inclusive which includes you lodging, meals, snacks, ALL your supplies and wonderful treats and presents! So come ready to shed winters long coat and spread your creative heart into Spring with us!

It will also include a wide variety of techniques and finished projects.. such as faceless girls, girls with faces. A gelli plate printing class, and a large canvas abstract class on easels. THis retreat has it ALL. ANd the best part is that I get to spend an ENTIRE week with you!! wahoo!

This retreat is April 21st- 26th 2014

To find out MORE about this retreat, what it includes, what will be happening each day, and payment option.. click below

Spring She Matters Week Long Retreat

Sorry currently sold out..

************************************************************************************

I am SO excited about both of these retreats! I hope to be able to see you there, to spoil you, to teach you, to love you and to inspire you! Come let my family and friends.. just take care of you for a week and let your soul and mind and creativity sour!

Thank you again for your support in this dream of mine! YOU ALL TRULY ROCK!!

if you have any questions about these retreats.. email me at [email protected]

Happy Wednesday!

xoxoxo

 

Nurture your Creative Seed.. Winter Retreat

Hello friends!
So many of email, instagram, & Facebook me asking me where I teach in person!  Well besides hosting my own retreat.. like the She Matters retreat I JUST finished a week ago! I also travel just a couple of times a year to other retreats in the US and around the World. I really limit these retreats, and really it's just because having 6 kids & running a kit club, a mixed media store and online classes.. Its SO hard to be gone.

Next year I only have plans to travel 3 times to teach! In California, Washington State and in Europe! (details coming soon for those retreats). In the next couple of weeks, I will also be announcing 3 retreats for 2014 that Ben and I will be having Here in my person home and art studio..one of which will be a mini 2 day retreat.

The First retreat of the year that I will be traveling and teaching at.. is the OH SO WONDERFUL Nurture your Creative Seed Retreat!

  I attended this retreat this past Spring.. as a students and it was a MAGICAl EXPERIENCE. Serena just creates a wonderful retreat venue for a small group of women. ALL inclusive and it's on the beautiful Island of Bainbridge.

I blogged about my experience .. HERE in this post.. If you would like to read about it!

BUT I was very excited and said YES immediately when Serena asked if I would come teach.

AND the best Part is I get to teach with the VERY talented Junelle Jacobsen! One of my dear friends! MANY Of you know her because you take her workshops here on  my site! SEriously talented girl. (I get to take her class too and BOY does that excite me! Lol)

The treat is February 27th-March 2nd. 2014!

It's an ALL inclusive retreat (includes your meals, snacks, lodging, etc).

Its limited to only 12 women total AND Saturday her, Junelle and I posted it about it on our facebook pages.. AND now there are ONLY 2 spots left!! SO if you have been wanting to take a class from both ME and Junelles.. SERIOUSLY go now! 2 spots wont last long!!

If you would like to find out more about this amazing artsy bonding experience.. and walk away with life long friends (I know I did last year).. you can find out all about it HERE on

The Nurture your Creative Seed Website!

Can't wait!

Later this week I will be sharing with you the retreat I just recently had here at my house.. my SHe Matters retreat. It was TRULY a life changing experience for me!

Happy Tuesday!
xoxo

Hosting my first Art retreat ever.... what can I say but MAGICAL

Hey sweet lovely friends! Yes I know.. another week gone by without a blog post. BUT i have really good reason! Last week, (as I mentioned the week before).. I was hosting my first ever Art Retreat at my studio! A few months back, long time friend of mine, emailed me and asked me what the possibilities would be of me doing a "mini" retreat for her, her sisters and her mom! Of course I had already planned my two big retreats at my house/Studio for the year and didn't have any intention of adding anymore, but I also knew her and knew her family and thought, well.. this actually could be fun and a good time to get my "feet wet" so to speak as it would be the first retreat here at my new/old house and my art studio! So I said yes and as it got closer and closer, I can't tell you how NERVOUS i got! Seriously nervous and sick to my stomach! lol. I mean I was okay with the "art" side of things, but I also wanted this to be a magical experience for them as well, as they were spending their time, money and being away from their families and jobs to come have an experience that I HOPED would change their life. Most of them did not currently create Art or do any type of mixed media at all. However all of them are so talented creativity in some way.. I knew they would pick it up right away!

Day one:  I headed South, to my meet them in a town about 45 mins away from my studio..  for a little shopping excursion to one of my FAVORITE vintage stores, Vain & Vintage. I was nervous but SUPER excited and ready for this adventure to begin!

When they first got out of the car, I got even MORE nervous and overwhelmed,

and when they introduced each other, I couldn't even remember their names and right off the bat, called one of them by the wrong name. AND not even the name of any of their sisters! lol. Just completely off based wrong! lol. Which is normal for me, but I think the nerves were also making it worse! So we shopped and had lunch at this amazing little place next door, and then headed north to my new/old House and studio to get started creating for the day!

When we first arrived, Ben gave them a tour of the new/old house, as well as the 6 acres.. and the warehouse (where we ship all of our mixed media products from Scarlet Lime). That was actually pretty fun and casual and helped set my nerves a little bit.

Then we headed into the studio where I had little gifts and goodies waiting for them.. (fun little treasures they could use during the week, but also take home at the end).

It was fun to do little things here and there, that hopefully made them feel special. I wanted this retreat to be all about them!

So we jumped right into backgrounds and paintnig faceless girls! We spent the entire day painting, getting messy, eating tons of delicious snacks that Ben had put out for us.

He was awesome by the way. He seriously made everything go so much smoother for me, always popping into to see what we needed, kept the food bar stocked with new goodies all the time. Would put out the blankets and pillows everyday for the outdoor creating area.. and light the candles that were in the mason jars,  each night, that lined the walkway to the studio.

We finally decided it was time to get dinner around 7:00 pm, and they headed to check into their hotel, while I ran home to put on Pj's and see how kids were doing lol. Then we met back up at the studio for just a fun "creative" night of painting and working on what they had learned during the day. We stayed and played until around 11:30! Just a magical day!


Day two we started out finishing our faceless girls from day one, then had a delicious lunch outside on the blankets, under the lights, ben had provided for us.  One of the requests Liz wanted, was to not only do a She Art girl, but to also do something a little more abstract. So I decided to take this project outside and we worked in the beautiful yard, surrounded by the trees and views of the mountains!

Ben even made us a couple of impromptu "easels" out of Old doors we had left over form our "new/old" Old. It was awesome.

Seriously he made them in less than 5 mins. He just rocks. We painted all day

and then again that evening we met up and created and painted and worked on more backgrounds and girls until 11:30 again! I was shocked at how well my body was holding up, being up so early and staying up so late.. Plus just being on my feet all day long! I really was having an amazing time. I also think that finally having this DREAM of mine.. to teach at my own studio and be surrounded by the quietness of where we live and the beautiful outdoors and the fun bright colorfulness of my art studio.. I think it just pushed my body into hyper drive and gave me amazing stamina despite my fibro.. for the entire week! It was crazy and awesome!

The last day, they took a chance with me and decided to be bold.. and let me teach them how to do a girl with a face!

Its a lot more intimading than a faceless girl, but I really wanted to show them the techniques and give them the confidence to go home and really try something new! To really feel like they walked away with creating something they didn't think they could do. AND guess what? They did freaking AMAZING!!

i was blown away by their creative talent! Most of them had never painted before but like I said,, creative women. And they just hands down, created the most beautiful inspiring women on canvas. I was so impressed and happy they decided to take that leap!

For lunch I took them to my favorite "hometown" burger place, to have just good old fashioned burgers, homemade fries and the best shakes you'll ever have. THen headed back the studio for an impromptu yoga session on the lawn (led by the awesome cutie, Rochelle).

( loved that most of them were in long jeans and long sleeves and sweatshirts. For me, it was SUMMER weather, and I was in short sleeve shirt and carpi's! lol.. but they are from Arizona and our weather in the 70"s was more their "fall" or spring weather.. but it was PERFECT weather for being outside!)

It was awesome and MUCH needed, because we spent the new 5 hours finishing our abstract paintings outside.. going from this..

to this!

They had planned on leaving earlier in the day, but I talked them into staying as late as possible on Friday, so we could get as much painting in as possible. I really wanted them to walk away with finished pieces and feeling like they had accomplished something wonderful! I just didn't want them to leave. I had made new friends for life and honestly told them, they were welcome back ANYTIME to just come and hang out and paint with me! (i hope they will too!)

I know for me, the experience was magical. I felt at home, at ease and at peace in my own studio, just being surrounded by my creative "home".. you know?

something to share..

so as promised I wanted to share with you some of the things I made this past week at the

Nurture your Creative Seed Retreat!
Our First class was with the very talented Ms. Jeanne Oliver and I immediately fell in love with her collage lessons! First thing we did was collaged 6 watercolor pages, with vintage wallpaper, vintage ephemera, paints, and more! We were painting them to make them into a handbound journal at the end of the retreat.. this was SO much fun!

So we spent the morning creating those.. then in the afternoon Jeanne shared her techniques for painting her beautiful girls!

This was the one Jeanne painted for us! I took this picture during the process so she wasn't quite finished.. but I still love it!

So then I went to town.. finding my courage to create too! and this is what I finally ended up with..

I actually had put the patterned paper down on her hair and had planned on painting over it.. so I just had the pattern under the paint.. but once I got it down, i actually fell in love with the look and decided to leave it just as it was! I love those happy unexpected things that happen with art as you are just going with the flow!

So then we had the evening to just work on our journal pages some more.. but I had had so much fun doing girls.. and since girls is kinda of my thing, I decided to use my journal pages as 'backgrounds" for painting some more girls instead!

So I spent the rest of the night and ended up with these fun girls.

I don't know why but my girls all ending up on the right side of the journal page? lol

But I had so much fun just exploring and painting All night! I would have stayed up and painted the last three.. but I knew I would be tired and hurting the next day and didn't want to miss out on Mindy's class! Can I just say Jeanne was SUCH a fun teacher! oh my gosh.. that girl is SOO funny! I have been friends with her for years and I know she is that way for me all the time.. but during class she just has this awesome way of making you feel RIGHT at home and really making you feel comfortable! She is a great teacher too! helping you feel confident in what you are doing! LOVED taking a class from a dear close friend! What a fun thing to do. I mean I have painted with her many times.. but to actually take a class from her, was beyond my expectations! LOVED IT!!

WHich by the way.. I LOVED how different both classes were! Jeanne's is obviously VERY vintage and classic.. and Mindy's style is just whimsical and fun!

So the next morning we started out with the very sweet, adorable and tall (why I always thought mindy ws short. i don't know? lol) Mindy!  OH be still my heart! LOVE THIS GIRL!!

She had us start  the day be creating two our own handmade paper.. and then  backgrounds on canvas..

with Mindy giving us some really fun prompts to do! Fun things like "draw your favorite word but with your non dominant hand.. or scribble with your eyese closed with a watersoluable crayon. It was REALLY fun actually! She is an awesome teacher for getting your playful, let your hair down.. side out! We finished the morning by painting a cute little whimsical bunny! I couldn't get my page to feel right, so instead of trying to make my background mesh and fit.. I just created a second animal friend from the background.. and it seemed to work! lol

Mindy was TRULY an awesome teacher! It was SO so relaxing..

then after lunch we worked on the second canvas, and moved onto to creating a girl! (she started us with the bunny so we weren't so apprehensive about doing faces.. which was a VERY smart thing! lol.. it kinda helped ease us into it!)

So here is the girl..

she isn't quite finished. I didn't spend any time creating later that night because it was our last night and I wanted to talk and hang out with the other women there as much as possible! So she still needs some words, and some background issues and texture fixed.. but again.. Mindy just was so much fun!

so that's my fun weekend! Jeanne and Mindy were both amazing teachers. and like i said earlier this week was JUST so wonderful! I really want to go back! Like next week! lol (Serena can't you just plan another one for this spring? Lol)

anyhow.. just had a great time! Thanks again for letting me share!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo

 

Christy

 

Nurture your Creative Seed...

So I am back from the art retreat I attended last weekend. I blogged about going about a month or two ago. It was a small retreat that I was DYING to attend. Mindy Lacefield and Jeanne Griffin Oliver where teaching and the retreat itself was hosted by the beautiful  Serena Berry. It was called Nurture your Creative Seed

 

 

It was held on a small island outside of Seattle, Washington.. near on the water.

 If some of you are on my facebook page.. then you KNOW I almost didn't go. Last week was HORRIBLE as far as pain. I hadn't had one pain free day in like 4 days.. and it was coming time for me to leave and i was SO worried I wouldn't be able to handle the flight and drive to the island (we flew into Seattle then rented a car and took the Ferry over and drove another 40 mins to the beach house. It was only actually 15 miles away, but its a beautiful drive through small towns and gorgeous scenery). I was worried though! I thought, what if I wake up thursday morning, and am in complete pain, and my meds won't work and I get on the flight and I am dying and want to just lay and the floor and cry. So i had decided not to go, and then I got an email from one of the girl attending.. telling me that she actually was coming because I had said I was and she had been so excited to meet me and that is the reason why she was coming. Then margie kinda gave me a pep talk too and so did my friend Chrissy. I also knew if I didn't go, i would miss out on meeting Junelle for the first ime and I had been SO looking forward to it! And SO after thinking about it.. I was decided to put my faith in my Heavenly Father and take the leap and go! I KNEW once I got there even if I was in pain, I would be okay.. because I could just hang out.. it was only the traveling that was holding me back.  So I had posted that on my facebook page and SO many of you.. I think over a hundred comments and 200 hundred liked it.. and said you would PRAY foR me and all would be well and you were proud of me for doing it anyway..  and guess what? Miracles do happen and our Father in Heaven DOES love us. He wants us to trust and take the leaps sometimes so he can bless us. I woke up thursday, with SO much energy! I had gone to bed at 12:00 and got up at 4:00 am, and I still felt insanely GREat!

(this is a picture from the BainBridge Ferry heading over to the island from Seattles Port)

 

 

ALl day long, I felt wonderful. Granted I was still taking my pain meds, but they were actually WORKING and I felt normal! (recently I have been taking my pain meds and they haven't even TOUCHED the pain I have been in). And it was like that the ENTIRE week! I even took my oils and only used them ONCE! AND the even craizer thing is the weather wasn't warm.. it was actually in the hight 40's and rainy and I STILL felt wonderful!  I woke up everyday just feeling SO amazing, and normal and wonderful and I felt SOO blessed I had taken the opportunity to go and to be blessed by the amazing experience and women I met there! 

 So I wanted to share some pictures of it with you. I have to say TRULY, it was exactly what how I want my own personal retreats to feel. The schedule wasn't crazy busy. it wasn't jammed packed full of "stuff".. it didn't need to be. It was nurturing and warm and there was  sense of calm. We all pretty much just wore our pj's the entire time. and no make up. etc. I did the ENTIRE time. So you will see lots of pictures of me with hair up and makeup free.. but it's okay :). We woke up every morning and had a wonderful healthy breakfast prepared by Serena.. and were able to spend some quiet time before the day started!

this is a vew from my balcony of my room in the house.. I spent quiet a few moments here, sitting and reflecting and just listening to the ocean..)

(a vew of the kitchen from the living room.. our "gathering space most of the time)

then when every had had a chance to get "ready".. We made our way to the smaller cottage out back and created art with each of the teachers! Serena and the teachers, had added some wonderful personal touches to the space.. not over the top.. but just enough to feel cozy and inviting!

Jeanne wrote us all little messages on the tables! so cute!

of course getting messy was one of my favorite parts too!

We spent a day with each teacher and I loved it! it felt so relaxing! We had a wonderful cozy lunch in between, again SO healthy but it was just delicious. ( I had lentils for the first time  and I LOVE them!) and usually would take a leisurely walk on the beach or in the woods.

(junelle and Jeanne documenting the beautiful scene)

Me getting my "feet wet. don't you just love my sweats and boots lol. Totoally my outfit the whole weekend.

Found this "sand heart" on the beach.. and HAD to take a picture! always see God's hand in everything we do..

Junelle just bringing her JOY to the entire week.. LOVE HER!!

Then when everyone was well rested from lunch, we would head back into the studio to learn some more!

(this is Jeanne Oliver and Junelle .. LOVE the excitement and happy on Junelles face. SHE IS SUCH a happy person! always smiling and always laughing! LOVE HER!!)

Dinner was amazing and then after dinner we just sat around in the cozy house and talked, laughed, ate delicious HEALTHY snacks (there was absolutely NO candy present.. and I usually am a candy addict.. and i didn't miss it at all! Serena made us incredibly healthy snacks that fed our bodies and it was just what I needed!).

the "late nighters" as I call us  (we had earlier risers and late nighters. But us late nighters would stay up late each night painting and playing in the studio, and then every morning around 6:00 the early risers would get up and you could hear gathering downstairs, talking, sipping morning hot drinks, some even went for walks, etc.. before breakfast.. but it just felt SO cozy and at home. (I  was one of the late risers, and would get up, take nice hot bath, sit out on the cozy deck outside of my room, and then would saunter into the kitchen right before breakfast time was over and eat a wonderful healthy meal. Serena had breakfast for us, open between 8-9.. anytime you wanted to come so it accommodated both early risers and late risers (those who had stayed late painting :)). I truly found it SOO thoughtful that she would schedule it that way! it felt so relaxing and not pressured to hurry up and be somewhere at a certain time.

Serena also left us little notes all around the house and studio.. reminding us to love  ourselves and this time we had together!

She created a TRULY nurturing space for every ones needs. THE Only wish we all had was that we wished we had just ONE MORE day.. one day to just take in and soak in all that we had learned from the two days before, relax in the wonderful setting, take walks, explore, etc. We did a lot of that during the other days too between classes, but I would have loved one more day to do that as well. I was also very nervous going into it, to meet new people. I had originally planned to go with one of my closest friends.. Chrissy and she wasn't able to go at the last minute. BUT luckily Junelle Jacobson decided to go, and though we had NEVER met, I was SO excited and yet nervous to meet her! We text all the time and talk on the phone all the time, but what if in person we just didn't "mesh"? silly me.. really silly me lol. It was like seeing an old friend that I had known for a lifetime!

it was the same way with all of the women there! The first night, after dinner, we all gather around the fire in the cozy living room and shared what had brought us to the retreat, and a little bit about our creative path.. and I was BLOWN away by the strong, beautiful stories I heard. They all had such wisdom and positive outlooks on life and even though each one had been through trials that led them to art and healing from it, they knew that they were blessed and could see the good even from the trials they had. LOVED meeting and spending time with these women!

it was a really positive, loving, and nurturing group of women. I loved it. I fell instantly in love and stayed up late each night talking to them individually.. as much as i Could. I wanted to get to know EACH of them and know their stories! It filled my SOUL. The entire experience was something I have realized I need in my life. I NEED to take that time for myself. I came back so peaceful and rested and ready to take on everyday life again. ready to face my fibro (which by the way.. came back instantly the day I got home.. darn little bugger lol).

(This is junelle and the morning we were leaving.. don't we look so restful and peaceful!! TRULY! )

 It also gave  me some wonderful ideas for my own retreats. I guess I had always assumed that in order for a retreat to be successful it needed to be jammed packed with constant planned activities and it really doesn't. It just needs to be a quality experience, with a nurturing, creative place. Where you learn and are also given time to have quiet as well. It was the perfect mix. I LOVED It. I also LOVED meeting Mindy too. wow that girl has a sweet soul about her. She is one amazing creative person and I am so blessed to have her as a life long friend!

 

I also got to hang out with Jeanne Oliver who was already a very close friend and it was SO great to re-connect with her and just sit and talk and laugh. She is SOo funny. She kept us all just creaking up. OH man I love that girl!!

I already told Serena to put me on the list for next year. I want to come back. AND as I have said before, I don't want to travel very much to teach but that is ONE retreat I would totally teach at. She even made it VERY relaxing for the teachers as well. It just is the perfect environment for me. Can't wait to go back! I can't wait!  I encourage all of you.. to take the time and money.. which I know is so hard for all of right now, to justify spending stuff on ourselves.. but TRULY i would suggest saving your money and taking time from family, work etc.. to attend retreats like this. And everyone is different.. I prefer the relaxed, calm, quiet ones.. but there are ones that are bigger, jammed packed and full of activities all day long. But whatever suits your fancy go! I think the best way to find out about them is to just go to your favorite artists blogs and see where they are teaching at! that is what I did! I wanted to take a class from Mindy and found about this on her blog! It turned out to be just what I needed! I for SURe will post here when Serena holds her next one.. and also if she will let me come and be a teacher for one of them, (me and junelle thought it would be SO fun to come teach together).. I would in a heart beat too! I know I have my own personal retreats I am doing this year, but sometimes letting someone else plan and prepare for it, also helps the teacher have a nurturing experience as well.

So.. thanks for letting me share my experience!  I am going to share with you all the Art I created too.. but wanted to share with you first the nurturing and healing experience I had. I will share that on thursday! I was SOO blessed to go! It was a scary thing at first to think about going, not really knowing ANYONE, and having to drive a little ways to get there once I flew into Seattle.. but it so funny how you make things in your mind SO much more crazy and big then they really are lol. Catching the Ferry and driving to the retreat was a piece of cake and actually one of my favorite experiences as well! it kinda all fit together. can't wait to go back!! eek!! lol. Make me super excited for my own retreats this year! Excited of those of you that are joining me here in Idaho and also in mexico! can't WAIT!

well hope today is  wonderful.. NEXT week Junelles CLASS begins! the Art of SPRIng! So I will be posting probably next monday.. the sneak peeks of her class! (it starts tuesday) for those of you still on the fence about signing up! You are going to love what she has done with the class! We are also wrapping up the She Art Workshop no.3 but like with ALl of my classes, they are always still open.. and I SOO encourage you to join us in that one! I will be posting pictures in a next couple of weeks of things students have been creating and you will be blown away by it! TRULY amazing!

Have a happy tuesday! thanks for being apart of my life. xoxox

Studio Crescendoh, Art Saves and She Art Goodness

happy monday morning sweet friends! (afternoon to some of you i guess ;). The weekend was relaxing and non productive, which means I just spent time hanging out with my kids and husband and that is ALWAYS a good thing!

I just wanted to come on and write a quick post about two things!

First off.. TODAY is the LAST DAY to sign up for the 3 Spring online Workshop Special! This spring I have three e-courses I am offering..  She Art 3 (which starts in a week!)  Behind the Art and The Art of Spring with Junelle Jacobson! (you find the links and read about each one HERE on this page)

I have been offering a special where if you sign up for all 3 workshop, you receive a $15.00 discount, but ALSO receive a scrumptious kit in the mail that will have some of my favorite artsy products! INCLUDING an exclusive stamp! This kit with shipping is worth OVER $25 or more.. and ships out in mid-late march! (before the Behind the Art class starts).

SO if you would like to take advantage of this special.. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY! The value of this is over $165.00, but the cost is only $129.00 You can sign up here!

 

Now onto Studio Crescendoh! Last year my dear friend Jenny Doh,

(artist, owner, editor, writer and curator of the wonderful artsy community, magazine &  website, Crescendoh),

 

 

 asked me if I would come teach in her studio in California this coming year..

 I explained to her that this year I was not going to be traveling at all to teach.. just offering retreats at home and teaching online classes... BUT that because I TRULY adored her.. and what she does for the art community

, what she does for artist and for the creative soul.. I would be completely HONORED to come teach at her amazing studio! (if you aren't familiar with Jenny and her Art Saves mantra.. you will be so completely filled with creative goodness by getting to know HER, her website, her community and what she believes in and stands for)

  So April 20th & 21st,  I will be teaching a 2 day She Art Class! Jenny has done a wonderful job of writing up all that the class will include.. on her website, So I will link it here..

BUT I thought I should let you know, I put this on my facebook page last friday night and Saturday morning Jenny texted me and told we had already filled all but 4 spots! wow! Crazy! So.. I know there are still a few spots left if you would like to join us! I know my other retreats here, and the one I am hosting in Mexico (which again.. said I wasn't going to travel.. but man when I went there, I fell in love lol).. but those are all sold out now, and were alot more expensive. THIS is a great alternative to a full week retreat. It's just a weekend class and the cost is minimal! I would SO love to meet you and have you join me!

YOU can read all about that class, what the course includes, what I will provide, what FUN we are going to have.. on THIS PAGE HERE..

She ARt Studio Crescendoh!

I was telling Jenny Saturday morning.. I TRULY Do have amazing friends, blog readers, customers. TRULY. Just blessed and grateful and amazed at the support you all give me.TRULY TRULY grateful.. please know that. I would not be doing what I do without all of your support and love. My heart is very full for you all today. BIG BIG loves going your way.

okay.. now I am all tear-eyed.. lol.. it's a monday.. it's a good day for good tears right?

So whats happening this week? Well hoping to have some videos done for you with the January and February kit! one or the other :) and also wanted to share with you some girls I have been working on over the last month. So watch for that this week!

I hope you all have a wonderful monday.. I know how stressful they can be. They are my most stressful days.. not sure why. So I hope today is just pure magic and you give yourself a BIG hug from me today!

hope to see you in the Spring online Workshops and Hope to see you in California at studio Crescendoh!

xoxo

Happy Monday!