Coming to California!

Hi gang!  Hope you'll forgive the nervousness, I made my first videos to talk about my upcoming classes at CREATE Orange County in June!  (Anyone who knows me KNOWS how much I dread being on this side of the camera!)

Rockin' Resin Reliquaries  Friday June 1, 2012

Carved Stamp Papers   Saturday June 2, 2012

A Fluid Romance   Saturday June 2, 2012

Please tell your friends who may live in the area, I have a few open spaces in my classes still!

Tennessee Anyone?

Hi gang!  I've been out on the road again, and working on some new workshop ideas for NEXT Year's workshops!  I keep meaning to post pictures, and will soon, but every time I go to do it, the camera is not where the computer is.

Vintage Vessels

I will be at Townsend Atelier in Chattanooga this weekend, with some fun classes, and there are a couple of spots left!  I would love to have you join me, and check out the awesome studio space Stan and Peggy Townsend have put together!  Click here for more info!

Vintage Vessels
Enjoy polymer clay in its finest hour by creating a one-of-a-kind box!  Delight in creating lovely faux-aged vessels to store the most precious of trinkets.   Learn how to use Knead-a-Mold to cast lovely old jewelry pieces  accented by hand rolled and textured forms.   Rubber stamps and metal paints give depth and dimension, while mild acidic washes allow us to enjoy the very best of “instant” aging. The resulting new pieces have very old souls.  Each student will receive a plentiful  materials kit.

Stamped & Stencilled Journals
These richly patterned journal  pages explode with color and visual depth. The binding technique is especially for pages to lie flat when opened.  Students will use stencils and stamps in a unique layering technique to create signatures and covers.  This journal is a treat to hold, and even more enjoyable to use! You’ll find the creation of the pages so much fun, I’ll have to stop you so we’ll have time to bind the journal!  The color and excitement on the pages will give you a great jumping off point and inspire your journaling every time you see it!  Each student will receive a plentiful materials kit

The Studio is comfortable and well equipped, with every luxury.  Spacious, with plenty of room to spread out and work, this well located studio has plenty of free parking!  Hope to see you there!

MI here I come!

I am barely back from Art & Soul in VA, and Charmed I'm Sure in PA, and have had exactly today and tomorrow to unpack, and repack for my workshops at Small But Mighty Art Studio in Haslett MI. I will be posting photos and re-caps when I get back from MI.

If you are in the area, I encourage you to join us, Dusty and the girls in the Lansing area have a wonderful and active art group- something that is a rare and precious treasure! They are welcoming, open and true artist seekers with curious hearts yearning to learn on their art journeys even though they are all vastly talented!

Small But Mighty Arts for photos, MAT lists, directions and contact info!

Good thing I have Mike to keep the home fires burning during these trips!

Upcoming workshops!

Sweet Salvage Stories- reclaiming an old childrens book as a journal - will be offered in MI

One of the reasons I'm so busy these days is I'm preparing for all of my March Workshops!

March 1-6 I'll be at Art & Soul Virginia in VA Beach! Teaching 3 workshops and vending! Yahoo! I'm sure I'll be shopping a bit too. Can't pass up an opportunity to support my fellow artists and shop their goodies. Stamp Carving & Pretty Papers, Stamped & Stenciled Journal, and A Fluid Romance are the fare offered up! The wonderful Glenny and Marie can get you all fixed up to attend here.
Vintage Vessels- Polymer clay, Metal paints and acid washes will be offered in PA and MI

March 9-10 I'll be teaching 2 workshops at Charmed I'm Sure Studios, of the Jean Van Brederode fame! I'm sure Mechanicsburg PA will never be the same, but none the less- I'm going to share Fluid Romance and Vintage Vessels with the willing participants!

Stamped and Stenciled Journals will be offered at Art & Soul in VA

If you are in PA and interested, please contact the fabulous Ms Jean Van Brederode on Facebook OR javb2000@aol.com Jean or I can send you a pdf flyer with more info, should you like one!

A Fluid Romance- an exploration of Fluid Acrylic paints will be offered in VA and in PA!

Then home for a few days, to see the familial units and it's off to Haslett, MI March 16-18, and the Small But Mighty Arts Studio. 3 days of fun in store with Spring Fling Journals, Sweet Salvage Stories and Vintage Vessels! There- the go-to-gal is the Charming Dusty DeHaven at DeHavenDesigns@gmail.com Both Dusty and myself can forward you a pdf flyer with all the deets should you want more info!

Happy Valentines Day!

Wow- just skipped in under the wire. It's been and unusually busy time in the McKnight-Holbrook household. We are always busy, but this is literally 20 hour a day working busy.

I did this piece earlier in the month, when I had a little more time. It's unusual color makes it my favorite right now. That, and the fact it reads "there's no politics in love!"

Hope you are all enjoying your loved ones today!

Art & Soul Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Anyone who knows me, knows how ecstatic I am for the opportunities I have to teach and attend Artistic retreats of any kind. One of the premiere retreats in the country is Art & Soul. Some of the very best instructors and classes offered ANYWHERE are offered as part of the Art & Soul experience.

I cannot begin to tell you all the wonderful people I've met throughout the years, all the skills I've learned and all the wonderful things I've seen and experienced through these events. The most wonderful part of all, is that they are open to ANYONE of age who wants to attend. All you have to do is sign up! All this wonderful, life changing, fulfilling energy is there for the taking. You will be met by like minded new friends, creative visionaries, and supportive, well informed instructors.

I'm participating in this Art & Soul Blog hop and Giveaway to help introduce you to some of the other instructors. In particular, I would like you to join me in admiration for Barbe Saint John.

Besides being cute as the dickens, Barbe has been published in Belle Armoire Jewelry, Jewelry Affaire, Steampunk Style Jewelry, Artist Trading Cards and is co author of 1000 Steampunk Creations. A mixed media artist, who thinks of herself as a modern day alchemist/archeologist. Barbe has a unique talent for transforming broken, rusty, vintage, lost, forgotten, sparkly, torn, and tarnished things into stunning new works of art.

You have 4 wonderful opportunities to take workshops with her at Art & Soul, Virginia Beach!

On Thursday March 1, she's teaching Industrial Geek

Then Thursday evening, it's Steampunk Charms

Friday March 2, Ancient Futuristic Steampunk Art Dolls will fill the hallways!

And on Friday evening you can catch her teaching Immortalized Resin Filled Bezels

I look forward to seeing more of her beautiful art work in person at Art & Soul, won't you join me?

Now- Drumroll please....... Details on the Giveaway:-)
The Giveaway prize is so generously being donated by generous Judy Gula of Artistic Artifacts. Who, by the way has a WONDERFUL onsite store at Art & Soul Virginia Beach as well.


So what do you have to do to win? All you have to do is leave a comment on what type of art workshop you would be interested in taking and why. On Jan 31, I will pull a random generator number, and that lucky person wins the jammed-packed-full-of-goodness ephemera pack! Make sure your email addy is current, so I can contact you, and get your prize to you ASAP:-)

Want to jump on the blog hop train at a different station? Yesterday was Liz Kettle's blog hop stop featuring my very good friend Jean Van Brederode, (who I first met at an ART retreat) and tomorrow is Jenni Horne. Stop by and see what all the fun is about!

***UPDATE***
I printed all the comments out, cut them apart, and mixed them up in a bowl. Mike pulled the winning comment out, and the winner is...drumroll please...
Barbara Hagerty!!! Congrats Barbara, I'll be contacting you for your snail mail addy so Judy can send you the awesome prize pack! Thank you to everyone who commented, and those who have emailed me!

Hearts Alight

Wow! 2.5 weeks down after Mikes spinal surgery, and I've left the house only 2 times so far. Banking and pharmacy. You would think that means alot of work is getting accomplished. You would think. However, the reality of it is that except for the week my in laws were here to help out, I've gotten NOTHING done on my list of goals. NOTHING! And I am frustrated! I have tons on my plate, enough to keep anyone busy for a year! And the faster I go the more I get behind. So I decided I WILL get at least one thing done today. I will be teaching 2 separate sessions of "Hearts Alight" at Red Letter Journals- one on Jan 28th, and one on February 11. So today, I will carve out some time from nursing duties and take and post photos of the sample pieces I created for the class. And, I will deliver the samples to Red Letter Journals to go on display if you want to see them for yourself in person.

"Hearts Alight"

A fast paced, yet lighthearted mixed media class. Artists will enjoy combining collage techniques, painting techniques, Distress Inks and Distress Paints, rub-ons, stamps and paperclay sculpting to fashion 3D focal points for their creations.
Supplies needed: Apron, paintbrush or 2, 2 different pieces of printed scrapbook paper. All other supplies will be provided. Artists will go home with a completed piece of art!