Crafting while traveling

Part of my traveling adventures is checking out art galleries and working studios.  I love making arts & crafts and trying new techniques while on a trip.  I learn so much when I do this and I get so inspired.  While in Asheville last month I stopped at a paint your pottery studio that also had fused glass. I love making fused glass pendants and was ready for the next level of making plates.  I wanted my plate to have a neon outer space feel.   Random pops of color with not a lot of definition spiraling through the universe.  I definitely achieved my goal and I love the results.  My collection of fused glass plates is beginning.

August Crafting

August was an amazingly creative month with lots of crafting, traveling, site seeing and art ventures.    I settled in more to my creative space and celebrated my one year anniversary 'living la vida beach!' I have lots of ideas manifesting now and I'm enjoying the creative process.  

Today, I've made space in my narrow and small studio for a long folding table.  This clean virgin area holds many creative possibilities.  Should I continue dyeing and stamping fabric, quilt or sew, paint or collage, weave (now that I made room for my loom at the other end of my studio).  What's a girl to do?  I have space to work on my computer projects, my good sewing machine is finally fixed.  So many options.  I think for today though, I want to enjoy this blank canvas. (uh table?)

Exploring Asheville

After a nice trip I am now sitting peacefully in my colorful island cocoon.  A few weeks ago, after searching high and low (north, south, east & west) for the last 21 years, I finally found my 'Shangri La' in Asheville, NC.   I have been on a quest for a town that my heart and soul resonated with.  I experimented with Arizona, New Mexico & Colorado.  Looking for areas that were creative, artistic, spiritual, mountain living, Native American influence, culturally diverse, free thinking, environmental, wellness centers, hippie dippy, still elegant and sophisticated and a days drive to the ocean.  I'm an adventurer an explorer by nature.  Growing up as a military brat turned me into a restless modern day gypsy.  I've never felt grounded or at home anywhere.  I've had immediate connections to places, but not a sense of 'Ahhh!'  I'm now ready to explore the possibilities that Asheville could provide.  I'm not going to hop right in and make something happen.  I'm going to let God and my inner wise voice (my heart) guide me.  Not my head.  I'm in my second half of life and time is moving rapidly.  The moments are to be savored and enjoyed.   No longer plowing and trailblazing through life.  I don't have to plant the flowers, I can take time to smell the roses already there and finally enjoy the journey.  It doesn't have to be home, it could just be....

Artful Road Trip

Yesterday my friend Suzanne and I rode the ferry to Ockacroke Island.  A great little artist community with fun pirate history.  We hadn't been there since 2009 when we did the craft show there.  Not much has changed the ferry ride was as relaxing and wonderful as I remembered.  I love the smell and feel of the salt sea air blowing on my face?  The wild horses were out, people were riding beach bikes and trikes, driving around in golf carts.  Very 'islandy' !    I hadn't gone art gallery shopping in years.  I'm over the shame of having to use a walker.  So, I found my own rhythm and enjoyed the beautiful day.  I loved going to the marina and watching the sailboats.  I so adore driving the back winding dirt roads of the village and stopping at the fun art galleries.  The best of all was eating tacos at the food truck.  The best tasting mexican food I have eaten in years.  Then bringing Thai food home on the ferry and eating it two hours later and it was still warm.  The views, the water, the sun, the sites and the smells of a wonderful artful road trip.  My creativity cup 'runnith over', I'm content and full.

Yarn Addict

As most of you know I suffer from a very strange affliction.  I love wool, cotton, silk, bamboo, nylon and all kinds of natural and man made fibers.  I also love all the colors in the rainbow and more.  I adore texture, bits, bops, feathers and eyelash.  If you didn't know it by now, yes, my name is Michelle and I am a 'yarn addict.'  Everywhere I travel I look up the yarn shops in the area.  For the past 10 years I have been stopping by the Knitting Addiction shop first in Kill Devil then in Nags Head.  Now Jeanne the owner has taken her show on the road.  The Knitting Addiction Truck making its stops up and down Hatteras Island this summer.  Love it!!

Art Venture in Asheville

After my wonderful session with Uplevel Your Business and Christine Kane.  My friend and 'Soul Sistah' Suzanne took me on a mini Art Venture in Asheville.  She's visited here for years and participates in the Biltmore craft show during the month of August.  As you all know I have been house bound for a couple of years and haven't been to an art gallery, yarn shop, or upscale hip restaurant in quite some time. Suzanne and her husband Paul were quite the hosts, they were patient and kind and assisted me with my walker/rollater and other paraphernalia.  We had a great time.  I really needed this kind of 'Art Therapy'.  I am inspired again to make and create, got lots of new ideas and remembered some old ones.

Here we are in front of the art gallery, both wearing Suzanne's 'Clothes Encounter' designs found at www.Arttowearhouse.com

Having a cocktail spiked lemonade with vanilla Stoli and cucumber.  Um, um good!

Gazing and dazing in a huge and fabulous yarn shop.

Thank you Sue and Paul for a wonderful Art Venture!!