My Block Plaque AKA Karen Michel

I had to try it and viola, here is my 'Cherish' Block Plaque AKA Karen Michel. It was a ton of fun and anything goes. Now that I have my 'prototype', I intend to do more. Perhaps one featuring my trip to Alaska - A gift for sister Karen to thank her for being such a wonderful sister and gracious host. Oh and maybe one for sister Deb too, for being a wonderful sister. I'm so lucky. Ahhh, and maybe I'll do one for an upcoming birthday. They are so cool.

Remember, breathe deep and let your light shine. Nadine

Visiting Alaska

MOOSES. Moose are an everyday experience in Alaska. This guy was at the side of the road and didn't care if we were there or not. Just munching away.

Mo's Birthday Card to Me

Mary Mouat's Birthday Gift to Me

Mary did this piece in a workshop with Karen Michel. Isn't it wonderful?

Art Work by Ty & Marcia Schultz

I love Ty and Marcia's art. Not only are they amongst the neatest, artiest people I know; they are lots of fun. I was fortunate enough to get my choice of the work they had for sale at Artfest. This was my favorite and it now hangs in the studio.

Poppets Gone Bad

We had alot of fun with this little project. It was our journal page for Our Deb to take home to California. Top photo: Created by Deb M Bottom photo: Created by yours truly

Artfest was so many wonderful things. For starts, there was the opportunity to spend good quality time with my dear friend, Mary. We share years of ART growing pains and it only gets better as the time passes. And then there are my 6W roomies and equally dear friends, Mary (ofcourse), Janice, Mo, Deb M, and Our Deb. Our Deb comes with a story but suffice to say she is the token, non Canadian, but she is learning. And there was Ty and Marcia who spent their quality waking hours with us when they weren't teaching - our part time roomies!

Top Row: Nadine, Janice, Mo
Bottom Row: Our Deb, Deb M, Mary
6W Reunion 2009

Every year we each hone a little corner of the dining room table that becomes ours for the 4 nights at Fort Worden. The table, laden with art supplies, chocolate, licorice, and wine, never sees the light of day. Projects and chatter glide across the the smooth surface while laughter bounces off the walls.

Teesha, Michelle, Bee, Dawn, Tracie Lyn and Marylin, Penelope, JoAnne, Jacque, Lynne, Laurie, Donna, Lizard, Dorta, KD, and so many, many more… 554 to be exact. It was wonderful, insightful, and fun. Is that the first time I mentioned fun? My classes this year were the best. Thank you Laurie, Judy and Ty and Marcia for making Artfest my creative sanctuary and jump starting a whole mess of new projects. I brought home an armload of trades from the folks I know and see every year and from the ‘festal virgins’. Great little trades that I will look at time and time again. For those of you who didn’t sign your trade or include a business or moo card, be sure to next time. How will I ever know to thank you when we meet again.

My Portable Shadowbox Shrine from Laurie Mika's class

Port Townsend is a wonderful little village full of delightful shopping experiences. The town folk and proprietors welcome the Artfest attendees with open arms and ‘tills’. I’m sure we give the local economy a big boost after a long winter. If you haven’t experienced Port Townsend, DO. It offers many different events throughout the year, has many delicious eateries and tons of eye candy and art. The heritage buildings have all been restored and are open as fabulous B & B's.

Thank you Teesha and Tracy for another fabulous ARTFEST experience. Visit Teesha’s site and learn more about Teesha, Artfest, ArtfibreFest and JournalFest at www.teeshamoore.com.

Off to Artfest

The week of Artfest has finally arrived. For those of you who have heard me expound about it for the past 4 months, you’ll be happy to know that I will return on the 5th full of inspiration and energy. Check out Artfest at http://www.teeshamoore.com/ and go to Retreats. Woah, I’m getting excited. I’m packing my trades, supplies and bags. I’m so looking forward to reuniting with my AF friends and meeting new ones. I have some great classes. Laurie Mika’s Portable Shadow Box Shines, Judy Wise’s Photographic Memory and Ty and Marcia’s Heavy Metal. Sounds pretty cool, huh?

2009 marks a reunion year for the six of us that stay in Officers Housing 6W (Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA). Three of us didn’t make it last year for various reasons, and after a disappointing cancellation of our workshop at Hacienda Mosaico in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we are anxious to sit around the dining room table late into the night, laughing hysterically, imbibing a little (well some more than others but I’m not telling) and probably making an outrageous amount of noise. But the art that transpires around the table is truly something to behold. And that’s the evenings, I could tell you about the days but that will wait for another post. I get so ‘cranked’ at Artfest – you are all invited to come by the studio when I return and see what I have created while hanging out with a bunch of crazed mixed media artists, the trades I have gathered, and ofcourse my purchases. There are always my purchases!! Vendors Night: Where many of the instructors, attendees and others sell their work and mixed media products. And I always make time to spend in Port Townsend. A seaside community chocked full of eye candy and tickling treats. Hmmm, like that mini phrase ‘tickling treats’! Included are a couple of photos of the trades I’m taking to share with others.

The holidays brought lots of snow, power outages and difficult roads. But we settled in next to the fire, played games, watched movies, ate, chatted, slept, read and did all of those wonderful relaxing things that seem to elude us at this time of year. Walks in the brisk fresh air and deep snow gave us good reason to chow down on all of the sweets that were in the house. We have promised ourselves in the new year to stay healthy, keep fit and eat right. And most of all to remember our friends and loved ones and to share in the joy of living in such a beautiful place and to be blessed with a WONDERFUL LIFE.