Moss Hill Studio

Happy Festivities!!!

She wins best costume in my book!!!

Creative Team Inspiration

Just what the doctor ordered, tools to play with.   I shared a few weeks ago that I am now part of Susan Lenart Kazmer's Ice Resin Creative Team.  I just received my supplies to start creating with and will be sharing on Creative Team Wednesdays, coming again soon.

You can read my introduction here.  This will be the place also where the team will be sharing  projects and tutorials.  I will be featured November 30th for the first time.  Meanwhile, you can visit and meet the team and explore all kinds of inspirational spunk.  In early November, the first featured project will start.

I feel I broke through that creative funk/block and on my way to my old creative self again.  Thanks all for your words of encouragement.  I like knowing I'm not alone on this journey.  Just sharing and putting it out there made a big change.

Okay, back to my studio.  xoxo jo

In A Creative Funk

Not sure what is wrong with me, but it seems my creative muse was left on the east coast.  I'm really struggling to find it again.  I started to make some new online workshop videos but need to start over as I'm not happy with the results.  I have also been working on some new dolls, but it is very slow going for me.  I just want to crawl up on the couch and do nothing.  I don't understand myself when this happens, but I do know from experience that this too will pass. 

Just wanted to say hello and hope you all have a good productive week. 

ART IS YOU DANBURY - still smiling

I flew to New Jersey last week to be with my Dear dear friend, Jane.  I loved seeing where she lived, meet her wonderful husband, Raul, and her precious daughter, Claudia. 

I loved Jane's studio filled with all the things made beautiful.  I could have lived inside that room.  She is a "true" gatherer of special unique vintage goodies.  With her gatherings she creates "heartfelt" one of a kind pieces of art.

A few of her cutie pie Dolly's.

 We then packed up the car and headed out to Connecticut to Art Is You.

Jane and me.  I miss her so much already.

The party begins...

Loved arriving at the hotel to reunite with more cherished friends.  This is my sweet friend, Carol from Rhode Island.  Miss you too, girlfriend.

More wonderful souls, Annie and Taryn.

and more, Delightful Happy Dawn came all the way from England, and Di, the heart of the room.  Hey Di - thinking of you and missing you.  I miss everyone!!!

Everyone is just so much fun and a joy to be around.  Lesley and Tom drove in from Virginia with their doggie Bennie.  Kecia in her pink wig hugging Bennie.  Miss you guys and never did get to say good-bye.  I got to hang with Lesley and Tom in Petaluma, so it was so nice to see them so soon again.  Where next?

First day of class was with Linda, the QUEEN of sewing.  Could have sat with her for days filling up with her techniques.  It seems endless.

Marlene - the girl to Bee and Dawn creating up a storm in their class.  Would have loved to play with them that day.

My Friday Night Workshop, Adorn Me Art Doll necklace was a grand time with so many amazing artists in one room.  You can click on these pictures to see better.

Thank you EVERYONE for taking my workshop.  I loved every minute of it.  Francine, so happy we finally met.  Sending more hugs.

Jane's necklace she created before she even got to my class.  She couldn't wait and just really came to hang out.  She already knows how to do it all.  Hope she will get into teaching because she has a lot of talent to inspire others with.

Sweet Aleta.  Aleta, so happy to have finally met you.  She gifted me with some sweet laces and you should see her presentation.  I love it so much I might not be able to cut into them.  Thank you so much!!!  Sure hope we cross paths again in person.

For fun, Jane and I took Dee's class making this wonderful little winter folk.  It was such a pleasure to meet Dee from California.

Me and Leighanna, from New Mexico, another precious soul.  I love this girl.  We met in Petaluma and felt as if we were meant to be friends.  It was a joy to meet up with her so soon after on the other side of our country.  I took her metal deck workshop and loved it.  Makes me want to return to some of my rustic creating with metals and found objects.  Her work captures expression that I so relate to.

Oh my gosh, Taryn and Scott.  These two are the best and so much fun.  Scott knows how to make our belly's hurt after roaring with laughter.  Taryn is an incredible artist.  You should see their booth design at vendor night.   Everyone just loves these two to pieces.  If you met them, you will know what I mean.  They live very far away, way up in Maine.  Hope they will come to Arizona this winter to visit.  It would be so much fun.  I know Ron would love them too.  Thanks for the lingering smiles guys.

I enjoyed my "Scott-A-Rita"

Sal, Me, Jane and Ruth.  I don't think we ever stopped smiling.  Loved taking another workshop with Ruth.  I can't get enough of them and love her creations.

Now what would a retreat be like without Michael and his lovely soon to be wife, Andrea.

or Keith????  He won that hat.  So fitting, don't you think!

Me and Keith from Australia- a wonderful human and out-of-this world artist in my book.

and LOVED finally meeting my "soul brother" Seth from NYC.  No words, just happiness.  His smile matches his person.

Seth and Pamela.  Wonderful seeing Pam again.  Don't we all look so happy!  We were.

Lucky Jane won Taryn's doll.  It was meant to be.

and now for the FLAMINGO RACE

CHEATER'S AWARD went to Kecia and Jane

Surprising Sal and Ellen, for the 5th anniversary, the wonderful amazing creators of Art Is You.  They are so loved and in return, demonstrate their love and passion with every fiber that runs through these well organized art retreats.  Words can not really describe the unique time captured at their retreats.  You just have to experience one to know what I mean.  Love these two so very very much.  THANK YOU once again, for all your labor of love and making everyone feel like a queen.

Well, I just had to share many photos to tell some of what I experienced this past week.  I am completely exhausted and will bounce back soon.  It's a good exhaustion.  Just have to take it all in, sink it into my heart, and move forward once again to everyday life,  accompanied with a little more bounce in my step.  That's what these retreats do for me. 

This is what I look like today thou - in recovery - smiling.

Until next time...xoxoxo jo