back from Art and Soul!

I just got back from Art and soul at  Virginia  beach. It was such a beautiful place and hotel for the event. Glenny moved it this year to a smaller hotel right  on the beach. My desert dried out  body loved the water and a  long walk after classes at sunset was perfect .The first evening at sunset  I  gathered shells for my students  to use the  next day in class .  Then I went out for tuna sushi another non desert food sooo YMMMUY!!!!!I met up with old  friendsand made new ones    and  was able to give my down under  blog friend  Jen  Crossley a big hug. Yes, she was there  teaching her wonderful art !!!!!!  I taught  Paper Clay "pups and wheels" and one kitty too. And my  3 times a charm, no  solder charm class .My students  blew me away as my student always do . Here are some images.

 Art and  Souls next event is vegas .  June 13 - 18 2012.

my class  - 3rd times a charm

my class -  pups on wheels 

one of the fiber arts classes 

Wow get a load of this class room set up .....

And the copper enameling class taught in that class room  !!

I finally I gave  Jen   ( Crossley) a big hug we laughed that this was all that we had the time to do .  

And yes that is me with my new "real" me  look.

 I let my hair grow out and I love not coloring it anymore .

The hotel was RIGHT  on the beach and this was our view !!!!

I made a new friend too , plus many others  with less hair.

Heading back home on the road  after a  long flight and then a 3 1/2 hour drive to Bisbee .

This is some of the fun to be had class wise at 

Las vegas Art and Soul 

See  the dress on the far  right that is "Alterations" one of 3 classes I will be teaching . 

The man chair

The favorite spot in the shop for  man and beast  is the "man"  chair .  When  I opened the shop one of the things I wanted was a place for the  men to sit while the women shopped . The chair is very popular . Q tip ( our shop kitty)  is  especially partial to men  so she has taken to  hanging  out  in the chair and waiting  for them to come  in and sit down . This is Kim's partner . I have to say I was very surprised  how many people like cats.  I feared it would be a problem when we took Q tip in, but just the opposite. I would say 99% of the folks just love her and the men do too. In fact one big old farmer type picked  her up one day and draped her over his shoulder and said AHHH she reminds me of my big ol' barn cat I lost years ago. 

Glad to be back !!

New things going on at blissbee www.blissbee.net 

Life is full-life is busy ....It is going to "bee" a good year for blissbee and me !My word this year is ACCEPTANCE what is your word for the year??

"Princy"- she makes fine shawls too !!

Sweet Baby Jane   !! Carol popped into  the store  like a gypsy selling her wares  and I feel in love !!

Lorie Garver -  Her angels just fly out the door 

                            "Never more"  our new line of body  and  my altered spoons
                                                             
                                           

New "Eyebobs"( readers ) I  love the bifocals, clear on the top readers on the  bottom.

more "Princy" over "Magnolia  Pearl"

Todays class was  "love potions" a  soldered bottle, and findings

  I also  added  some charms from the  new charm line in our shop .

And Jenny Doh's new book CREATIVE PILGRIMAGE with a how to by yours truly .

Thanks  Jenny they sold like  hot cakes  this weekend . Everyone love you !!

Taking a blog break

Taking a blog break  Please Visit Our Blissbee Web site  www.blissbee.net !! Hugs to All Julie 

In memory of Steve Jobs ....

"Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”-  Steve Jobs 

lusious !!

Thought I would post some images of the luscious clothing I carry in our shop !!!! Wish I could afford it myself tee hee . I carry three lines- Meg by design- Magnolia Pearl and Vintage Kitty. If you guys know of any hand made clothing artist that are looking for a shop to represent them I would love to  hear about them as I am looking to expand more in that direction .

Stepping back in time ...

Down the street from our little shop is an amazing shop called "Optimo hat works"  owned by Grant Sergot . The other day I stopped in for a visit and came out an hour later with tons of  photos and a new passion for hand made Panama hats. I have never been in a more beautiful shop ! Hence the reason I wanted to share these images with everyone. One feels like they have stepped back in time  over a  hundred years ago and yes almost every thing Grant uses  to form these hats is from the 1800 and early 1900 hundreds  . He also fitted me for a hat using one of his many strange antique contraptions .Well I hope you enjoy these images.  PS Grant's  lady friend  makes hand cut rubber stamps . Hope to visit her soon too !!

types of bows you can select Grant  only uses vintage ribbon.

A very amazing hat  hand woven into a  very  tight weave. Grant gets the basic   hat forms form artisans  in south america and then he forms  them into what  ever style you want  and stretches  them to the  exact fit of  your head . 

Notice the weird scary bumps on the side of the pattern  taken from my head. Am I growing horns ????