Thursday, March 19, 2009

Home again.....

The Creative Soul Art Retreat was just wonderful !!!!! I did two classes with the wonderful Stephanie Lee, some of the results below. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience with soldering, butane torches, etching, casting. I was a bit daunted at the thought of taking this class as I have little (really..... no) experience in this area. What a blast! I looove that little butane torch!
The picture above is of the pendant I made in the first day of class and the journal we made on the last day. Both were made using a copper base and solder flooding technique. I have soldered part of an antique indian silver bracelet to the front cover of the journal.
The journal measures 6" x 3" and has gorgeous plaster pages..... not sure what I will put on these yet. To finish it off I will be making a binding using fabric and either beads or pearls (will post pics of that later). This is a close up of my pendant and also the plaster pages. Really enjoyed making these pages, getting all messy and smushy. If you ever get the chance to do one of Stephanies classes... jump at it. Such fun and you come away with some wonderful creations and so much knowledge and confidence.


And for you button enthusiasts..... my friend Jo and I (in our travels before the retreat) found this fabulous Button Shop in Glenferrie Road, Armadale. A real treasure trove... we were in there for an hour before we took a breath! The buttons, lace and wools were amazing.
Well the retreat is over and I had the best time. I had a couple of days with my art buddy from Queensland, Jo Wholohan before the retreat and a few days after the retreat with my art friend from Western Australia, Shirl. We found lots of wonderful shops and art goodies before and after the retreat.
I have to thank my gorgeous sister for Lee for making my friends and myself so welcome into her home over the retreat and helping up find our way around Melbourne. She spoilt us all rotten...talk about the hostess with the mostest! Thank you !
The retreat itself was such FUN. Lots of concentration in our classes but lots of fun out of the classes. Bevlea and her Creative Soul team did a fantastic job!!! They had everything covered so we were able just relax and make art. Lots of wonderful trade stands too!
Got to catch up with a lot of my online friends and it was so lovely to meet some of the girls whose blogs I visit too. Hopefully will catch up with some of them again next year as Bevlea already has next years retreat planned and ready for action.
Next post I will share my face painting from my class with DJ Pettitt with you all.
Take care.
Jacky xox



30 comments:

Lady Di said...

Hi Jacky, it was great to meet you at the retreat and share some seriously talented games of pool ... LOL!!! Love your book from Stephanie's class, it's just phenomenal ... can't wait to see how you make it your own. I'll come back to visit - keep in touch. Diana.

Jen Crossley said...

Jacky it was wonderful to spend some time with you .The book you made was just gorgeous.LOved our shopping trip to bunnings alot of laughs
Jen

Leanne Pizio said...

Hey Jacky,
It sounds like you had so much fun on your retreat. And the book is AMAZING! Plaster pages....so much fun. I can't wait to see what you put in it.
Leanne

Karin Bartimole said...

Hi Jacky, thanks for your visit :)
I absolutely LOVE your journal here - the textures, size - everything about it. Very cool!! The pendant is quite beautiful, too - somehow soft and intimate even with metal as the medium. you've obviously mastered all the new use of materials and techniques! Karin

Philippa said...

Hi Jacky, so good to get away for a few days and replenish the creative stockpile! We have the NZ Quilt Symposium coming up at Easter and I'm really looking forward to the time out. I'm very interested to see what you will do on those plaster pages - being a fabric girl that's well outside my range of expereince!
Thanks for the visit and compliments on the collaborative quilt. I have the upper hand again as daughter very busy with sport this week! What a relief...
Philippa

Karen said...

sounds like you had a great time, a real battery re-charge. Good for you!

rivergardenstudio said...

Jacky, this work is wonderful, I want to see more... What a beautiful pendant and book! The class sounds like it was so fun! You are so lucky to have taken it! Roxanne

Lee said...

Hi Jacky, thank you so much for your kind words. I absolutely loved having you, Jo and Shirley stay with me for a few days - I'm only sorry that I was so busy and couldn't spend more time with you. The book you made looks great & the pendant looks totally gorgeous! Lee xx

Jeane Myers said...

wow, Jacky - these are just amazing! - beautiful work - I keep hearing about these plaster pages - the sound like a very cool idea!

Julie H said...

It was so good to catch up with you Jacky. Your art all turned out so well - love your book and I only spoilt myself a little when I went to the button shop with Dot.
Big Hugs

Gaby Bee said...

It sounds like you had a great time on the retreat. The book you made looks fabulous and I'm totally in love with your pendant :-)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Gaby xo

Ro Bruhn said...

Your book and necklace look fabulous Jacky, you did a great job. I'll have to check out the button shop, it's a new one to me.

Linda Vincent said...

Hi Jacky - glad you had a good time! The pendant is absolutely beautiful; you must be so proud of it.
Love
Linda x

Dot said...

Jacky - you did such a wonderful job in your classes! I love the book you made in Stephanie's class (you are so clever). The plaster pages are amazing - and look like a lot of fun to make (love your word ' smushy - what a great word!).

And your bird's nest necklace is stunning. Am most impressed with your jewelery making skills.

Julie and I enjoyed our visit to that button shop too (be still my beating heart).

I agree that the retreat was wonderful and very well run. Will be doing a blog post of my own about the retreat over the next day or so.

Much love fellow art friend :)

Dot xx

Dot said...

P.S Laughed out loud at Lady Di's comment about our pool game. It was certainly fun (if not very skilled!).

Jo Wholohan said...

great to spend some more time with you and more to look forward too, thanks again for everything xxxx

Anonymous said...

yahoo!

I finally got to meet you in person, and by the way, the photo of your nest pendant does not do it justice, nor the gorgeous bracelet on your book.

I am ready to embellish mine now..

Elizabeth said...

What glorious pieces Jacky!! It sounds like you had a glorious time on your retreat, and to be Treated like royalty by your sis!! The plaster pages are very intriguing- a freind does glorious watercolors on clayboard- which is plaster....... The cover is beyond gorgeous and I can't wit to see the binding. I don't think that you could have gotten my out of the button shop- I would have to pay rent I think!!!
So glad that you ahd a good time!
Hugs!
Elizabeth

Nic Hohn said...

Jacki I loved meeting you! And didn't we have an awesome game of pool.I haven't laughed so much for such a long time. You are great value!I enjoyed your smiling face when ever I saw you.
xoxox

jo horswill said...

Hi Jacky, sounded like a great fun retreat!!! The work you did is amazing.
Jo xx

A bird in the hand said...

You can do anything you want! I love the plastered-page book.

xo

ArtPropelled said...

Jacky, you have me drooling at the thought of a class with Stephanie and visits to that amazing button shop. I love the journal and nest pendant! Plaster pages? Now that sounds different.....and wonderful!

Anne said...

Hi, Jacky! Sounds like so much fun! I love the bird's nest pendant you made. And your journal is fabulous! :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow your Journal ad pendant are stunning ,What a result for a fantastic weekend .Im so glad you had a Good time .You Sooo deserve it after the stress of them Awful Fires .
Love from sesga xxx

Zorana said...

Oh Jacky - your journal and pendant are amazing! You picked up new techniques so quickly. I just started playing with plaster and love it! I wish I was in the class too.. Can't wait to see what you created in DJ's class. xo

Bel said...

Hi Jacky I am so glad you had a great time at the retreat. The book and pendant you made in Stephanie's class is so gorgeous, can't wait to see some more of your creations. So sorry we didn't get to meet in Melbourne. I am hoping to attend the retreat next year, so excited. Take care Belinda

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh what a wonderful experience.. I almost feel refreshed just by your telling of the tale.. Wish I was there.. The work you created is fabulous!!! It must really build the enthusiasm level of jumping into the next project... Take care!!

Sam Marshall said...

Your book is divine.xx

Sara lechner said...

the texture of the cover is wonderful!!

martha brown said...

Jacky! Your face that you made in DJs class is fabulous!!! and I just love your nest necklace. You are so talented!!!