ArtJournalFest 2009

Back from an amazing time in Port Townsend, Wa. I went there to attend the first artjournalfest. I met up with the lovely Kecia and Keli and spent a day in Seattle and then on to Port Townsend. The fall colors were glorious, living in San Diego, I don't get to see such intense leaf colors. The city of Port Townsend is the most charming city I've ever been to. Victorian homes, a darling downtown with artsy shops and yummy eateries and water views that take your breath away, all this AND some of the nicest people make this a place I look forward to returning to many times. On top of all this, art seems to play a very big role here....what more could a girl wish for?
I took classes with Traci Bautista, Anahata Katkin, and Karen Michel. I feel so inspired! Graffiti designs on paper and muslin with Traci was so freeing and a great start to the days ahead. Impulse collage with Anahata was pure delight. It's just so amazing to watch her work, she is fast and doesn't seem to let mind chatter get in the way of creating....I so admire this! Karen Michel's class was also very inspiring and liberating, we altered photos using kool aid, coca cola, watercolors, pens and awls to scratch in shapes and recreate the photo. I did a lot of audible ohhing and ahhing!!!
It was also great fun to meet up with Kecia, who I met at Artnest 2008. She is fun, feisty, very creative and has a great passion for photography among many other creative interests. Plus, she's a Virgo! A girl's gotta love her Virgo friends, they keep the world together!!
Now it's time to unpack all my new art supplies and inspiration and do some serious playing!!!

Begin Here

Well there is no time like the present to begin. So, I will dip my toe into this blog world at the urging of my beloved husband. He thinks I have a lot to say. I do love many things such as art, fashion, perfume, books, travel, music, psychology, dreaming , especially daydreaming and did I mention shoes! One of my big dreams came true last month. For a long time I have voiced that I wanted to see or be in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I was frustrated because it seemed that tickets were always sold out or that the timing just didn't work. On 9/9/09 I read somewhere that it was a particularly auspicious day to plant some wishes into universe, so I grabbed some paper and started jotting some things down, ending the page with my wish to see HH ( I hear Richard Gere calls him this!). A week later I wake up on a Saturday with the WORST kink in my neck...could not move my head the entire weekend. Called my acupuncturist on Monday and set up an appointment. On Thursday I walked in the door and he causually asks me if I'd like to see the Dalai Lama that weekend. A kind soul had extra tickets and my acupuncturist and his wife couldn't make it. I forgot about my neck pain...I was floating! So exactly a week from the day of my crinked neck, I was sitting in the Long Beach arena listening to HH! I cried and smiled the entire time. He is so dynamic, so real, so alive. His message is that of kindness and compassion. I wish I had more elaborate words to say, it was so moving and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity, I will remember it always. Now I'd love to have a private meeting with him! Time to pack my bags for Dharamsala! Until then, I will savor this memory.
Ok...first blog post down.