artBLISS 2012
This years retreat was WONDERFUL. How do you capture all of the learning, bonding, sharing and laughing in words? I may have found a solution: by filling this blog post with all kinds of pictures, I hope you can feel for a few moments what it was like at artBLISS 2012. For the many students who attended, and the instructors/ facilitators/authors – Jeanette and I thank you.
We all shared moments that won’t be forgotten – from reconnecting with old friends, meeting new friends, and learning many new skills to add to our toolbox of techniques. We have had such great feedback from those that attended that this retreat was a nice, intimate size conducive to both bonding and feeling supported as a jewelry artist. We do hope that if you were not able to attend, that you’ll think of joining us next year and that I’ll be posting your picture in a blog post just like this one….
Scenes from Kerry Bogert’s class, K.reating A.rt B.eads
Sandi making a stringer!
Frankie, Elisabeth and Dawn – all returning artBLISS attendees!
Julie Anne with her new lampwork beads
The Meet and Greet reception: door prizes, appetizers, chatting with friends, shopping for art jewelry, meeting instructors and having books signed by several fantastic authors! whew – a lot to pack in to one evening!
Christine and Douglas Damm – hailing all the way from Vermont
Kerry shares her new book, Rustic Wrappings with Anne
Jeanette and I – happy to be your artBLISS cohosts for the 3rd year
Stacie Florer – so thrilled that she is amongst the great line up of instructors this year!
Romancing the Wrist by Christine Damm
Ranch Hand Earrings with Stacie Florer
Susan and Stacie.
I just have to say how great it was to meet Stacie myself ….after following her travels, stories, and jewelry designs for several years, and developing a great across-the-miles friendship.
Melissa, LeAnn and Michelle – now this is the perfect example of jewelry designers/bloggers meeting in person at artBLISS! This group of ladies came from Maryland, North Carolina and New York!
The annual charm swap was coordinated by Dawn Gallop this year – just look at the beautiful handmade bags she created for each of the swap participants! She is a paper artist extraordinaire! To see a great blog post with pictures of all of the charms, see Patti’s post.
A quick picture with jewelry designer and author, Erin Siegel – before her macrame demo!
I love that several of the attendees bring their whole families when they travel to artBLISS.
My husband and boys stopped by each day – here they are with Dawn’s boys!
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True Colors by Kerry Bogert
Patti working with sheet metal
Kerry and Anne
Anne’s sketch and bezel coming together
Amy of Zoozii’s lampwork presses, sporting a beautiful vintage hat she found antiquing in Leesburg the day before.
Lori and Kelley did a phenomenal job organizing all of the beads for the Bead Destash Social.
Swapping beads!
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Snaptastic with Kerry Bogert
Amy, Kerry, Joann and Patricia
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Heavy Metal Beads with Stacie Florer
Jen, Kathleen, Bette (now what is she doing with those pliers??), Melissa and Sally
Tracy creating a metal bead
Nancy working at Stacie’s amazing station
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Macrame Flower bracelet with Erin Siegel
Kelley, Lori, Nancy, Erin and Jeanette
Erin and her wonderful MIL, Nancy
So excited to learn macrame techniques in Erin’s class! This is my finished bracelet.
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Color Your World with Christine Damm
Kerry, Heather, Jenny and Christine.
I was really thrilled to finally take my first polymer clay class with mentor and friend, Christine Damm. I have admired her work for years so it was just so great to see her in action in class, sharing her talent with such passion. Below you will see the pendant I created – starting with an ivory clay base (Christine’s special blend!)…..using my own mold from a vintage floral button – loved learning how to do this in class….adding layers of texture and color ….. then the final piece colored with oil paint.
Presenting the graduating class – Color Your World
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Elemental Bracelet with Stacie Florer –
Here is a beautiful, finished bracelet by Dawn Gallop
Thank you for joining me in this artBLISS 2012 recount.
We would love for you to join us in 2013. If you’d like to read more experiences from this year’s retreat (and I hope you’ll be completely convinced you won’t want to miss the 2013 event), here are a few blog posts to visit by both attendees and instructors:
Soul to Substance
Pretty Things
Modern Nature Studio
Kabs Concepts
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Erin Siegel Jewelry
Beads for Busy Gals
Photo by Kathleen Lange Klik
p.s. Jeanette has named our artBLISS mascot (as the dress form was so dubbed), Eleanor. About time she had a proper name!
