The artist that sees their own world with inquisitive eyes is so inspiring. The gatherer, the maker, the inventor and the one that takes what is around them and uses that beauty to interpret their own art. This kind of artist is truly Auria Bohn from Tuscany. Whether she is making her own ink, charcoal from grapevines, foraging the hills of Tuscany or getting her hands messy in the studio…her eyes are open to the world around her! It is …
My Favorite Moments | The Cottage Table Experience Italy Retreat
I have often found that while traveling it can be hard to process beauty, significance of moments, the impact that the journey is having on me, the relationships, what I will choose to bring home in the way of gardening, food, decorating, lifestyle etc. I am a processor but most often after the trip. It will steep in me for days, weeks, months and sometimes years. Travel has impacted how I entertain, make art, use beauty in my day …
Two Days Until Our Semi-Annual 50% Off Sale!
The first pizza in Italy always deserves celebration Nothing beats our favorite little tucked away pizza place with a glass of Chianti. The kids even had their own table so we had a little date night but Kelly was left with a girl that makes this face If you are a member of our creative community and network you know what is coming! If you are not a part of our network THIS is the time to join (it is …
The Cottage Table Experience | Italy Workshop Registration Is Open!
We are back from our family trip to Italy celebrating Jack’s college graduation and my 50th birthday! It was absolutely beautiful in so many ways and I will be sharing more in the weeks ahead. The first 9 days of our trip was just as a family and then the next 7 days I joined friends for Daune and Keith Pitman’s The Cottage Table Experience. I was receiving so many messages asking whose retreat I was on etc. and if …
The Jeanne Oliver Podcast Episode Fifty | A Celiac in Italy with Catalin Varela
In this episode Jeanne is talking with functional nutritionist, celiac guide and expat living in Florence, Italy, Catalin Varela. As the founder of The Celiac in Italy, Catalin teaches online Italian cooking classes (all gluten free, of course), consults clients on traveling safely in Italy as a celiac, and is an English+Italian speaking resource for all things gluten free Italy. Catalin Varela is a 20-something American living in Florence. She was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2016 …
An Artist in Lombardy | With Sara Luisa Pozzoni
In 2018 I knew that 2019 was going to be the last year I led overseas art workshops for the foreseeable future. As much as I loved gathering, teaching and traveling it was the most deep knowing that it was time and I had complete peace about my decision. Then 2020 changed all of our worlds and I was not only grateful that I didn’t have scheduled trips to cancel but it also was a reminder how much I had …
An Artist in Tuscany | With Carolyn Peeler
In 2018 I knew that 2019 was going to be the last year I led overseas art workshops for the foreseeable future. As much as I loved gathering, teaching and traveling it was the most deep knowing that it was time and I had complete peace about my decision. Then 2020 changed all of our worlds and I was not only grateful that I didn’t have scheduled trips to cancel but it also was a reminder how much I had …
Documented Life Project Art Video {Creating with Ephemera}
Good Morning! Thank you so much for joining me! I am so honored to be a part of such a talented group of teachers and students. I am excited to be the featured artist for the Documented Life Project and today I am sharing my videos! I have just returned from teaching in Italy and one of the classes I taught I thought would be perfect for this challenge. I adore vintage ephemera and it is really the main thing …
When Italy Steals Your Heart {Again}
As I was making my way to my plane at JFK my mind was focused on a sick boy at home, camp details I was missing, empty arms that I wanted to be in and just the tug I feel anytime I leave my family. I had a nine hour plane ride ahead of me with the other teacher and at this point we were basically strangers. By the time I got to my seat Stephanie Ackerman was already there …
Top Ten {Amazing Art Retreats}
Happy Friday! I recently asked other friends and artists to share some of the art retreats that they have loved or are a part of. My list goes beyond ten because I didn’t want to leave anyone out. Maybe you will find the perfect retreat to get away, relax, create, connect and explore. {The retreats are listed in no particular order} 1.) Paint Mexico City 2.) A Painted Journal 3.) Plaster Painting with Stephanie Lee 4.) Autumn Vermont Getaway 5.) …
If you know me at all you know this makes me so happy!
It is pretty exciting to me to be asked to combine my love of art with my faith! There are few things that determine my day to day as much as my faith and the creativity that the Lord as placed in me. Those two factors have everything to do with how I make a home, raise my children, run a business, love my friends, open my home and grow my marriage. If you have taken any of my online …
The First The Living Studio {Lake Como}
I am back from the first The Living Studio and I am feeling tired, blessed and changed. I am also a little sick but that will pass:-) I had dreamed of traveling with other creative people to beautiful and interesting places near and far. My desire was to get out of our comfort zone and create not just in a studio but out where life is really lived I wanted to see people capturing their experiences with their art supplies …
The Living Studio {Lake Como}
**SOLD OUT** Do you remember when I first told you about my idea for The Living Studio {city art walks around the world}? “I wanted each retreat to be one of a kind. Each city has a heartbeat all its own and I wanted to hear it and share it. I wanted the retreat to revolve around the exhibits, some of the best food a city has to offer, finding the perfect cafe, creating art each day inspired by the …
Italy {Bellagio and Off To Florence}
I have loved looking through my Italy Instagram photos for these posts. I didn’t pick up my camera very often and I have to admit that using mainly my phone made me enjoy the moments more. I want to make a book with all of the Italy Instagram photos and I will let you know what company I go with (and how it turns out). We are now on days 5, 6, 7 and 8. You can read about the …
Italy {Days Three and Four}
I mentioned in my last post that I didn’t sleep the whole night before I was to teach my first class in Bellagio. You can get really tired after teaching for hours anyway…but add no sleep and you can be in trouble fast:-) So, I knew my only choice was to get a good breakfast and pray. That is exactly what we did. The only place I knew I could get a gluten free and protein breakfast was at our …
Italy {days one and two}
{all photos in this post were taken with my phone camera} Before I share anything I have to start here…. The fedora. I have begged Kelly to wear hats for years. I think he finally just felt sorry for me and how pathetic I look when I beg. It only took going to Italy to convince him to trust me:-) My mom came from Illinois to watch the kids for two weeks. Two. Weeks. She still was smiling when we …
Being In The Moment {Instagram, Paris and Normandy}
While I was in Paris and Normandy I found myself reaching for my iPhone more and more. With my camera phone, Instagram, fun filters and editing it is so easy to capture moments and love the results. I find that my kids smile more with the camera phone, I can take photos of myself and friends with ease and I catch the little moments more. I just find that images are captured that truly show us in the moment…and I …