Where Do I Begin?
So many wonderful things happened in the month of April. It was a glorious month for me, full of classes, taken and given and most especially full on wonderful people. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of pictures of the wonderful people but I do have picture or two to share with you.
At the beginning of April I had an amazing opportunity to attend ArtFest in Port Townsend, WA. I love ArtFest and I have from the beginning. Last year was the first time I hadn’t attended. And it was looking like I wouldn’t be going again this year. Every year the spots sell out almost immediately for this glorious celebration of mixed media arts. And I hadn’t signed up for it. Money has been tight around here (now, I’m not crying poor, poor me, it’s just that this wasn’t at the top of my spending list) and signing up for an event that I wasn’t teaching or vending at is pretty much unheard of around here.
But I trust the Universe to provide when needed and a spot opened up at the last minute and I was able to purchase it using some tax refund money. Now, I had warned the Mailman that I was thinking about doing this, trying to feel him out. He kept saying that it was up to me and that I didn’t have to get his permission. Well, once we cleared up that I wasn’t asking for permission but was trying to find out how he would feel about me splurging on ArtFest, he once again said it was up to me. Well, you know what I did. Yee Haw! I was going to ArtFest.
Now I know a lot of folks at ArtFest so it wasn’t quite as intimidating as it might have been going out of town by myself and taking classes I hadn’t even signed up for but again, the Universe was looking out for me and I got absolutely wonderful classes. I had The Ultimate Journal with Thomas Ashmann, Personal Icons (I think that was the title) with Anahata Katkin and Butterfly Boxes with Stephanie Rubiano. I almost couldn’t have picked better classes. And I had almost everything needed for the classes. So only 2 days after finding out I could go I was off to Port Townsend.
What can I say? It was wonderful. I got to see a lot of folks that I adore, catch up with friends, learn some cool stuff and make some fabulous new friends. I wound up staying in the dorms. I loved it. It is like your own little cocoon (as Connie Newbanks remarked), a warm comfortable little place to call your own. It was great and my dorm mates were a warm and friendly group.
And I got to meet up with some dear sweet ladies I had met in Virginia at Art & Soul last May, Carol and Bunny. We missed hanging out at the bar late in the evening. It was wonderful to see them again.
And when you are in Port Townsend stop by the Post Office for a look at a kinder gentler past with fabulous wood counters and lovely metal worked grilles.
The classes were great fun. It really was a treat to not have to know anything or have the answers. Heck I could have skipped a class If I had wanted to, but you know I didn’t want to. In Thomas Ashman’s class (the Ultimate Journal) I wound sitting next to none other than Judy Wilkenfeld, she of Red Velvet Creations fame (More about Judy later). I had a great time getting to know her a bit as we both deny hoarding the chocolate kisses at our table. We fumbled through a few tricky spots with our journal but had a pretty good time with them. 
And Thomas was kind enough to dig up a bunch of washers I needed to attach this handle I had. A very patient guy.
The next day was collage and painting with Anahata Katkin. I love painting. I don’t let myself do it enough. But it was amazing to see the work that came out of that class in only a few hours. I love Anahata’s energy and bright spirit.
And then there was Stephanie and the butterfly boxes. I love my box. I used a photo out of the Smithsonian magazine as my father made me promise long ago that I would not add wings to any family members. Sigh. But the photo was great. And the class was great. It was good to use the jeweler’s saw again. And I learned some great sawing techniques and really realized why the deep throated saw is the way to go if you need to buy one. I, of course, already own a not deep throat saw.
But one of the most touching parts of ArtFest was when a small group of like minded folks gathered and got to bask in Judy Wilkenfeld’s book, The Twelve Tribes of Israel. Oh….my...god! This is an awing, humbling, breathtaking piece of work. And to hear the love and passion in Judy’s voice when she shared with us the inspiration and challenge in creating this masterpiece. To view it on her blog check out the entry for March 21, 2008
So while this is only a brief little touch on ArtFest, it will have to do. There are so many more things to share with you all. Next up is the Newport Paper Arts Festival.
Thanks for listening.
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