**Today is the last day to get 50% off my online classes and to enter for all of the giveaways being offered on THIS post**

{Did you know I hate to fly?}

Seattle is one of my favorite places in this country.

I don’t know if it is the mountains mixed with the green trees and the water or the artsy vibe that is everywhere I go.

{A little plane sketching to keep my mind off how much I hate to fly:-)}

I do know that many people that I love dearly live in the PNW and THAT draws my heart back time and time again.

I would also like to let you in on a secret.

Come closer…

The weather is always really, really nice when I am in town.

Really nice.

Coincidence?

I think not.

There are only two conclusions to be made.

1) The weather in Seattle is always awesome and everyone is lying to keep the rest of us away

2) I make the weather beautiful

You decide but I think there is something to #2.

I headed to Seattle this time to teach for the second time for Serena Berry at her Nurture Your Creative Seed retreat.

This retreat is held on Bainbridge Island and it is the most incredible environment for a teacher and students!

I only take four teaching jobs a year because of the age of my children and I don’t like to be away from my family.

I feel like this allows me to be super picky about the places I teach.

I love to have intimate teaching experiences and to really, really connect with the women.

{After this post please scroll down because I have a two day workshop in Cali that I can’t wait to tell you about}

I flew into Seattle a few days early so I could spend some much needed time with my dear friend Lissa.

Lissa loves so many of the things I love and it is a treat to be spoiled by her.

Our two short days together we packed with good food, a little sight seeing, beach walks, dinner on the patio, grapefruit margaritas, photo taking at the nursery, hiking, getting freaked out on high bridges and lots and lots of laughter.

I love her so much and wish I didn’t have to travel so far to spend time together.

After our sweet time together I made my way to the ferry so head to Bainbridge Island.

I think the ferry and this island is just dreamy and I can picture myself there in a second.

I came in a night early to join friends for dinner on the island. It was a full table to amazing creativity and I am smiling now just thinking about the beautiful souls I get to clink glasses with.

{THIS is where the teachers stay.  I didn’t want to leave}

The next day all of the women arrived for the retreat.

It was four days of creating, trust, uplifting words, collaborations, laughter (so much laughter), friendship, bravery, sunshine and raindrops.

I loved teaching with Stephanie Lee!  WOW…she is just hilarious, depth and talent all mixed together. Love that girl.

Serena has so many good things coming this year that I hope you get on her mailing list so you don’t miss any of it.

Serena makes the retreat. She is so welcoming, warm and caring and one of her many gifts is a generous spirit of hospitality.

******

I know that many can not take the time or money (or both) to attend a retreat that is why I am so, so excited to share with you a two day workshop I am doing in California.

I am so honored to be teaching a two day workshop in Jenny Doh’s Cresendoh Studio!

Here are the details!

Storytelling Through Papers and Portraits
with Jeanne Oliver

2-Day Workshop, August 9-10, 2014
in Studio CRESCENDOh
207 N. Broadway St., Suite L
Santa Ana, CA 92701

mailbox@crescendoh.com

There are times when your creativity begs to be a scavenger, collector and a storyteller. The scavenger in you finds beauty in strips of old wallpaper, the smell of vintage books and the patina in a collection of lost love letters. You take your findings and bind them with string waiting for the moment to bring them out again. The collector in you finds inspiration from music, poetry, paintings, conversations and the tiny beautiful moments of the day-to-day. You take your collection of beauty and tuck it away … but not forever. The storyteller in you takes your treasures and your collections, rearranges them, sorts them and creates them into something new and all your own.

Join me for two days of bringing your stories to life through vintage papers, sketching, charcoal, ink, acrylic paints and words. Day one we will create multiple pieces of art through creative exercises using ink, watercolors, charcoal, mark making and paint. Day two will be about bringing your treasures, collections and words together to create a completed painting. Bring your favorite items from your own scavenger hunts, words from your collections and we will start a story together.

SCHEDULE:

  • Arrive & Settle: 9:00 :: Time for students to arrive, settle in, and grab a cup of coffee.
  • Class Segment A: 9:30-12:00 :: Class time with Jeanne who will demonstrate and guide the 1st part of class.
  • Lunch & Stroll: 12:00 PM :: You can choose to brown bag it or take a stroll to one of the many hip and artsy eateries in the historic Artist’s Village in Santa Ana, like The Gypsy Den, or Lola Gaspar.
  • Class Segment B: 1:30-4:30 PM :: Class time with Jeanne who will guide the 2nd part of class.
  • Show & Tell, Clean-Up & Depart: 4:30-5:00 PM

For more details and/or to register click HERE.

If you are coming from out of town please contact Jenny or myself and we will help you find a good hotel.