Back from Create Chicago 2012...

Well, I made it back from Create Mixed Media Art Retreat in Chicago last week.

I can't tell you how much fun I had, how much I enjoyed meeting and creating with my students and just enjoying the general atmosphere of creativity with my peers.

I thought I would finally share with you guys some pictures from my trip and of my classes and vendor booth...

 

Lydia, my best friend and the most awesome person on the planet! 

Wed. Driving up to Chicago from Arkansas we encountered a great antique store put inside a really old school building. They had some neat stuff inside and outside...

 The aliens have landed...

 

When we got to Lisle Ill on Thursday we went to the Morton Arboretum. It was such a beautiful place to go. We had a great time there and the food there was the best I ate all week!

 Lydia above

Myself below...

 We went into the maze and got lost, it seamed so simple looking down from the big tree in the center. lol.

 

And the reading garden below was so nice and cool. Birds were chirping, water was bubbling, and the plants were wonderful!...

 

On Friday I tought my first class at Create, the Metal & Rust Tag Journal class...

 I think we all had a very enjoyable day.

 I had an amazing teaching experience and loved meeting all these wonderful people...

 Messy hands, the sign of a true artist... :)

 Working on our tags...

 

 Very busy ladies...

 

Below, the tags and book I was working on in class to show the techniques...

 

 My class with their finished books. I love how everyone's books are so very different and all reflect their personal styles even though we all used the very same techniques. So inspiring!

 

And below is Linda, winner of my favorite student award! Not that there was such a thing. She said my class was the best class she has taken in 3 years of going to retreats. WOW! Really?! Thanks Linda! (Everyone in class called her a brown noser, wink ;) lol

 

 

 After class I rushed around like a crazy person getting all my stuff down to the ball room to set up for the vendor fair... (note to self next year take something with wheels) (I totally meant to take lots of pics because there just aren't enough pics of the Create vendor fairs, but I was so busy I didn't even take my camera) Luckily my uber supportive best friend was there to help me with these kinds of things and these are the pics she took of my booth...

 After I got my booth set up I had time to go around and visit the other vendors and bought a few things myself.

When the fair opened there was a mad rush of folks looking for fun stuff and it was crazy, but fun!

I sold almost all the artwork I took and about 75% of my jewelry, not to mention most of the supplies I took. It was a very positive experience.

 

On Saturday I tought 2 classes...

Dirty Hands Make Great Art: Found Object House Canvas

Sorry about the sideways pic, it just would not load, even though I turned it the right direction several times! Urghh!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE everyone's projects. They are all soooo cool!

 

And Saturday night was my Textured Solder class...

It was short and sweet, though I would have preferred more time to hang with everyone, it was late and everyone was exhausted I think. But we had a very good time anyway!

Everyone did such a great job, and I was inspired by one of my students soldering iron, it wasn't quite hot enough for the technique I was teaching but it did create a really interesting bark style texture that I really can't wait to try out. I'm going to have to try it!

There was so much inspiration everywhere you went at this retreat.

I can't wait till next year!