Caron Dunn

Pixie bed!

2012-02-09T23:39:00.000-08:00

Pixie furniture

2012-02-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

My new little camera just arrived to I'm back to posting pictures. I've been working on little pixie chairs and such for my next class at Castle in the air. I find it so enjoyable to make tiny things my favorite project so far is this little suitcase, I'll share the pattern in class the materials are easy to find if a little unexpected.

Easily distracted

2011-11-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

I am trying to make little hedgehogs today but I can't sit still. So I'm just posting some pics of my dusty distracting shelves.
looking forward to seeing everyone at the SF waldorf school winter fair on sunday!

Raven done!

2011-08-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm done with the Raven sample. I have loved making this fellow, I moved the eyes a bit and sewed on the wings and now I'm ready to make more of this fellows family, and reproduce my pattern for the class. I keep thinking with every project that I'll use up my vast fabric stash, but somehow I always find a reason to buy more stuff.

Raven

2011-08-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

Iv'e been working for a couple of weeks now to perfect my raven pattern, I'm really looking forward to teaching this class! I'm still trying to finess the steps so that it's straightforward to teach. I think It's coming along pretty well though. The eyes came in the mail today, now to finish the wings

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Vintage Botanical painting class at Castle

2011-07-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Next in the series of faux vintage botanical painting, this one will feature the common oak

I'm not a trained botanical illustrator, but I do love to draw and paint plants.

and I love old prints, so in this class we will have fun aging the paper, drawing from the real thing and then

putting it all together to create your own botanical painting.

Mixed media needle felting class

2011-07-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

The first of my fall classes at Castle in the air on September 10th.

Change

2011-01-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

My world is about to change, My baby is off to college, after all the applications and portfolio reviews and finals and somewhere in there the holidays. Now the fafsa is submitted and she has had her first couple of acceptance letters. It's really happening. I am a rats nest of emotions about it. Come september I will be without a kid at home for the first time in 29 years.
   I'm afraid I haven't taught her everything she needs to know, and this has resulted in my turning into the talking encyclopedia of random stuff I may have missed telling her, and believe me when I say she is SO not listening now.
   I'm excited at the prospect of rediscovering who I am when I'm alone, and worry a little that I might not be at all impressed, and then theres that small but persistant nagging fear that I may disappear in a puff of obsolescence. .......  but I've been parenting long enough now to know it never really ends.
See what I mean, rats nest.

Winter Fair Pictures

2010-12-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

Here is my little booth at the SF Waldorf School winter Fair, Sadly this year my booth was on the other side of the school from my friends, so I missed their fine Company, but I did get to meet lots of people and some that I see there every year. I think I've been going to this show for 20 years now but anyone can tell you that I'm not good at dates. The School always makes everyone feel welcomed and it's always a pleasure to attend.

Well I'm off to work at the toy shop now, you see alot of different parenting styles working in a toy shop, at this point I think I've seen everthing, but no, there's always something to amaze me.

caterpillar line up

2010-10-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

These caterpillars are already spoken for, but the rest are filling up a box. next I will be making leaflings.

Getting ready for my Holiday show

2010-10-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Every year I take some of my little toys and wares down to the wonderful holiday fair at the San Francisco waldorf school. It is the only show I do in the year, and it gives me a chance to catch up with friends and students.
I LOVE THIS FAIR. The school is always magically decorated with cedar and holly, the children are totally enthralled! There are concerts and fairy grottos felting workshops and candle dipping.
And this is San Francisco, so the food is amazing and there's great coffee. this year it's held on the 5th of December. come and say hello! I'll post more details and show you what I'm making later.

Little Red Cap

2010-09-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

Little Red Riding hood.

2010-09-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the beautiful work of Salley Mavor, and the fairytale atmosphere of Castle in the Air, this is the doll that I've been working on today, I'm also creating a little forest shadowbox for her to live in.

look in tomorrow to see how thats going. then join me at Castle in the air on October 7th to make one of your own!

all materials supplied, you just bring a sharp scissors and your fabulous creative little self.

Cube puzzle Sample

2010-08-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

This is a class that I will be teaching soon at Castle in the Air, lots of work as usual, but I promise you CAN do this, and think of the creative possibilities!

Drawings from the portrait class

2010-08-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

These are the drawings from the bird portrait class last week. Thanks everyone for a truly delightful day, I had a blast, and loved seeing your work.

Bird Paintings

2010-08-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was wonderful. We had the most lovely day at Castle, drawing and painting. Here are some of the photos. forgive me if the color is a bit, off my camera is on the fritz. I'll post more later, the drawings were beautiful and deserve their own post.

Pinecone box

2010-08-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out the pattern for this pinecone bag/box thing, It's been in my head forever to make this and it's nice to see it come to life at last. It's about 5 inches long and is lined with silk. Almost makes me think I'm good at finishing things, but there are too many unfinished things around for me to beleive it. what I need is a cupboard where I can shut those little guiltmakers away instead of the open shelving I have.

The paragon of animals

2010-08-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about the economy and how so many people who were only just making it have now lost their jobs and homes. I wonder if we will learn to be more compassionate as a culture because of this, I want to see this sense of, we're all in this together, like after the war in England, but I'm not real hopeful.
I have to tell you this little story because It happened about ten years ago and it still haunts me. I was standing in line at the checkout, I think it was Safeway, I was about third back in line. The woman who was being checked out pulled out food stamps to pay for some of her shopping, and as she did this the woman behind her physically stiffened, I watched her take a swift visual inventory of the groceries, among which I noticed a bar of chocolate and some little treat items. And here's the BIG crime, she also bought a lottery ticket, $1 cash. Then, under her breath, but loudly enough for all of us to hear, her the accuser made a nasty little comment, something about using HER money to buy junk and gamble. and how it shouldn't be allowed. The accused hurriedly left the store with her groceries in one plastic bag while her accuser treated the checker to her opinions on the matter, she was disgusted that her taxes funded the stupidity, laziness and wastefulness of these people.
   At the time I was struck dumb by the rudeness of this assault. why did she think she had any right to insult this woman she didn't even know. When you have very little chance of things getting better, when life seems impossible a little treat is a sign of hope. A lottery ticket is a tiny chance at freedom, for exactly $1 you can fantasize and plan the possibility of security, a home a car, and insane amounts of presents for your children. I'm not touting the lottery here, I'm just saying, this is why the vast majority of people who buy the tickets live well below the poverty line.
   The worst thing to be in America is poor, In America the poor are culturally looked down upon without pity as though they did it to themselves, deliberately, (unlike the far away poor, in Africa and Asia who we can have compassion for and give help to while looking good doing so).
If you are poor here you will be assumed to be morally and intellectually defective. If you are a single parent doubly so, especially if you are a single mother.
   Never-mind if you feel alone and scared and are desperately trying to do the best for your children, you and not the partner who left you will be perceived as the parasite if you ask for help.
so here's my question, because it hurts my heart to see how cruel we can be sometimes when we have the potential to be so utterly amazing.
   How can kindness and community and compassion be seen as strength in a place where these values are seen as a sign of weakness.
No really! I want to know how we can change this blame the victim mentality. Any thoughts?

Baby hedgehogs! and birdlings

2010-07-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

There were only three for my class on wednesday night, but as usual we had a great time, and just check out these cute little hedgies chatting among themselves!

At the end of class I demonstrated how to make a little nest

and this morning I had an e-mail from Lynnette (on the right in this photo) with pictures of the lovely little bird in a nest she made after class. this needle felting thing is so addictive!

Cat Lady

2010-07-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

My daughter just returned from her exchange program in France and I have to admit that I only got round to cleaning the bathrooms two days before she returned.
   I had those big plans for spring, going on autumn, cleaning that never materialized, and the grand organizational plan also didn't happen. I did host a craft night at my house and did some illustration and took care of a complete medical check up that I've been putting off for years. I refuse to beat myself up for not getting more done, I want to, but I refuse.
   After all, left to my own devices I learned a few revealing if unflattering truths about my little self, things like..... I will eat corn from the can rather than cook. I can't get rid of craft stuff even if it's been unused for years. I have a book hoarding problem, I hardly ever make my bed,. I talk to myself in public! and this is the worst... I talk to the cats, I have two, Daisy and Bijou. I'm just pointing out that there are two just encase you think I hoard cats too. I was brushing Daisy yesterday (who sheds enough fur to make a whole new cat every other day) and Camille and I happened to make eye contact as I was warbling on in that singsongy voice to the CAT! and I suddenly saw what she must see, DEMENTED CAT LADY! nattering away to an animal who, lets face it, only tolerates me because I feed it.
   Now don't get me wrong, I like to be a considered a little odd, but cat lady? that just isn't the kind of odd I was going for. I believe I had something more romantic and artsy in mind. I may need to get out more.

Cute little animals

2010-06-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

It's such a pleasure to see what my students make in the classes I teach, but the icing on the cake is when I get pics a week or so later of the things people have made following the class using their new skills. These totally adorable little creatures are made by Gail of GailysRoom on etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/people/GailysRoom

Blossom fairy pocket class

2010-06-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

this is one of the fairy pockets we'll be making in my next class at Castle in the air

Fabulae Faciles

2010-06-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

These are the crows that appeared on the paper when I tried to write a story. My mind says write, and my hands go ahead and draw or doodle (is there a difference?) they just can't help themselves, perhaps they are telling me I should write about crows, but I think they're just messing with me.

Still Life with Plate of Cherries

2010-06-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

My daughter left today for a two week trip to France. This time tomorrow she'll be arriving in Paris. she will see the Louvre and the Orsay and so many other places and paintings I'd love to share with her some day. I'm so happy for her and I already miss her.
But I plan to make the most of time to myself.
The house is very quiet, I want it that way. I went to the store and bought fish and lettuce and san pelegrino for dinner, I have been trying to please my children's taste's for so many years that I may have to rediscover what I like to eat when I'm alone.
I have so many Ideas for things I will accomplish while she's away
partial list just off the top of my head:

Pull up the carpet in my bedroom and lay pergo.
Learn some sign language.
Make some dolls for my winter show.
Design a fabric and have it printed on spoonflower.
Re-write my children's story.
Get new moo cards printed.
learn to draw hands better.

I love to make lists, I feel as though I've accomplished something even though I've only written a list of things to accomplish. Tomorrow I will make a real list, one that includes all the commitments I already have for the time she's away. This time I have a new strategy, and this is so new to me it knocks my socks off to think that I've never tried this before! this time I will attempt to edit the list down to what is actually physically possible in the allotted time.
Now I'm going for a walk. will wonders never cease!

BP decoded

2010-06-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

too much of a good thing

2010-06-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

I was at a meeting at someone's home this evening. My hostess's collections of ceramics and masks and textiles were tastefully displayed, her photos and paintings in frames on the walls. Her home was a cosy orderly nest of art.
My collections are are forced to live in boxes and untidy piles all over the house, Old encyclopedias under my bed, paint brushes, crochet hooks, knitting needles, pliers and pencils fill jars and vases. Stacks of old books that are missing their covers or water damaged hauled home because of the wonderful engravings they contain. (see the odd gem above). In my defense, I feel the need tons of visual stimulation to get through my day, but If I don't do something about organising it soon I'm going to end up like one of those people you see on tv that have to have the authorities come and dig them out from their hoarding ways.

Bird Portrait Class

2010-05-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

I'm still puttering about with my bird portrait painting example, and you can see that this little owl is pretty exasperated with me." OMG!!! just put the paintbrush down Caron and walk away..." oh but the egg is not quite right! and you need a little more light green in that eye....

summer classes

2010-05-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

This is miss mouse, she is completely articulated and poseable and made from needle felted wool.
this is the first class I will be teaching for the summer session at castle in the air in Berkeley

Summer class prototypes

2010-04-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

I've been working on these little flower pockets lately, inspired by Omiyage, (little handmade gifts) but more bluebell woodsy than Japanese in style. It would be a lovely package for a ring or any jewel or even a sweet tooth fairy bag. Next I'm working on a Camelia, I love figuring out the patterns for the petals. these are all hand sewn and the little bag inside is made from silk.

Hedgehog

2010-03-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

This is the sample for the Hedgehog felt painting class coming up in

April at Castle in the air in Berkeley

I'm looking forward to everybody making something uniquely their own and lovely.

I've been moping about the house with a cold and I cheered myself up yesterday by finishing this up.

Tomorrow I'm taking a class in Sacramento with Mira Reisberg

It's called

Write, Illustrate and publish childrens books for fun and profit.

I'm hoping it will help me bring some form and order to my kids book dream. Perhaps it will all come together and perhaps I'm just not cut out to do a book, currently I haven't one good idea.

But I'm going to give it the old college try and I'll write about how it's going here.

Camel

2010-02-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

I had a friend years ago, who had a name for that moment when everything shifts under your feet and you see the world as if for the first time, he would say that he had seen a "camel".
A "camel" lasts only a moment, but it takes you completely out of time and space, none of the normal rules apply. Things settle back into place and you go on with ordinary tasks, but something subtle has changed in you. and you are a little more opened up, fragile and alive somehow. Sometimes a color or a smell can trigger it, sometimes its music, it could be almost anything."Camels" are very rare and precious.
I've been longing for a one, and thinking about the amazing things I've seen in my life, and as I feel I'm in a bit of a dry spell camelwise Iv'e been hoping that there will be more in my future, something to take my breath a way and amaze me.
The pictures above are of the little giantess, a giant puppet made and operated by Royal Luxe.

Bird in a nest

2010-02-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

I'm working on my samples for classes at castle in the air, this is the one for the bird in a nest. I can't decide wether to do glass eyes or not? I think I'll take them along just encase. the class is on the 18th of march.

Velveteen, politics and the afterlife

2010-02-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

I have been working recently on turning the main character from Karima Cammell’s new picture book, Commonplace mouse, into a soft toy. I thought you might like to see the prototype. Several of his descendants are on display at Castle in the Air in Berkeley along

with the book and an exhibition of Karima’s Illustrations.

Taking a 2d painting and re-imagining it in 3d is an adventure. I’m getting to the place now where when I look at the picture I can see all the pattern pieces in my head before I begin. After I’ve sketched out the pieces I will still make the prototype several times over changing the pattern adding and subtracting darts and seams, changing the placement of parts till I’m happy. These days I don’t hesitate to re-make and start over, I’ve had to teach myself that if it’s not quite right I stop and remake, no regrets.

Now if only I can apply that to other areas of my life….

These days I’m working on the Molly Ivins plan

"The first rule of holes:

When you're in one, stop digging."

I miss Molly, I never met her but I thought of her as family, she cracked me up and made sparkly pools of wit and laughter and sense in the desert of the endless Bush era.

I have to pinch myself when I remember that there is a beautiful smart caramel colored family in the white house now, Molly would have loved em, I expect all the born agains thought she was going to hell for her views, if that’s where she is sign me up. If I’m going to be somewhere for all eternity the room mates are going to be important, I wanna be with Molly and Wilde and Wolf.

chick chick hooray!

2010-01-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

I know, I'm hopeless, it's been weeks since I wrote anything. I was sick over the holiday with some nondescript malaise that dragged on for weeks, but now I'm better. I've also been desperately searching for a day job.

It's been soooooo rainy here, and gray a lot of the time, but that is in fact the best weather to work with wool, it just seems right somehow. The photo Is the almost complete prototype for a class I'll be teaching at Castle in the air in the spring, just in time for easter. I'm really into making the little copper wire feet so fiddly but worth it I think.

My baby, who is a junior, just finished finals week, she wants to go to art college, and I'm caught between being thrilled about that and worrying that she'll struggle financially as I have.
I can't Imagine Art not being the hub of my world, but it's not been easy. Like any mum I want her to be happy and loved and intellectually challenged, I'd also like her to be financially secure.
I LOVED Art school, it was the best time of my life. I felt as though I was among my tribe, I learned so much and thrived on the intensity of it all. I'll just try my best to do what I'm supposed to do, be there for her and support her decisions.

And possibly.... move in to the dorm with her and go back to art school, hey, we could take classes together! surprisingly she doesn't seem particularly keen on that Idea

THANK-YOU

2009-12-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

Just a little note to say

THANK-YOU
to all the wonderful folks who took my classes at Castle in the Air in 2009. I learned so much from you, and made so many new friends. I Can't wait to see you again and share new ideas and techniques in the spring.
To all the people who bought my little creations over the year, your support means so much to me.
And to my dear friends and family whom I love and treasure.
Most of all to my wonderful amazing children who every day make my world a better place to be, even though some days it doesn't feel like exactly like thats whats happening.

walnut babies hit the big time!

2009-12-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.examiner.com/x-31027-SF-Green-Parenting-Examiner~y2009m12d11-Green-stocking-stuffers-for-children-the-local-angle

City by the Bay

2009-12-09T22:40:00.000-08:00

There's something exhilerating about a great city, San Francisco doubly so because of the slate blue water all around and the crisp gentle sea breeze. It's a city on a very human scale, the buildings are full of whimsy and grace, pale to reflect the sunlight. The people can afford the warmth they share with strangers because they are so spoiled for beauty and art and lovely weather.
   Last Sunday I spent the day at the Waldorf School in the Pacific heights neighborhood. I got up a little late, forgot my camera and lunch at home, and drove down to the city earlyish to set up. This is, I believe, my16th year at the San Francisco Winter Fair. I sell my handmade toys, make new aquaintances, and generally have a great time.
   A little boy, Lincoln, comes to buy one of my little caterpillars each year. Each year he adds a new caterpillar to his bedside collection. We carefully take every one out of the basket and lay them in a row so that he can take the time to choose the one he wants. I love this about him, he considers things carefully, he's my little zen teacher for be here now.
   Sometimes we rush children, I'm already feeling guilty here about all the times I rushed my kids, but hell, guilt that's just being a parent, and I suppose I had my reasons at the time.
   I think about Obama taking his time about the best way forward in Afghanistan, looking at all the angles, making sure all the possibilities have been considered, even if one doesn't like the outcome one has to admire his curiosity and critical mind. Isn't that something we want to encourage in our children? So I'm just saying, when the oppotunity presents itself, there is nothing more beautiful and entertaining, than letting a child take all the time they need to make a decision, however insignificant it may seem to you, like art, its about the process.

Art fix

2009-11-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

I took my little hermit self to thanksgiving get together yesterday, as usual I thought of a thousand reasons not to go, but the curious gregarious person I used to be made me get in the car and drive there anyway. I'm really glad she did that, I almost always am.
After a relaxed thanksgiving dinner sitting arount a firepit talking art and the pitfalls of raising a teenager I got to see my host's amazing new paintings, food for body and soul. I got home and watched Charlie Rose's interview with Tim Burton, a great interview. It turns out that Tim, like me, has the attention span of a gnat, cool to see how he's developed the support system to corall that into such amazing work. I get the impression that for him it's about giving up on trying to get himself together and organized and setting goals and all that feel safe stuff, and more about clearing the deck to free the dialogue with his creativity, if the conversation wanders into unexpected territory all the better to see the unexpected everywhere.

I say this as if I could really do this if I tried, but the truth is that like alot of creative folk I have to sell most things I make just to pay the bills so I can't manage without the lists and computer and cell phone that organise me and distract me. but oh, I ache to try.

Dude Craft: Papercut Portraits - The Tutorial

2009-11-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

Dude Craft: Papercut Portraits - The Tutorial

Miniature Walnut Babies

2009-11-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

Todays production from the little factory of one.

The Nature of Memory

2009-11-13T20:34:00.000-08:00

JUST PRESS THE PLAY BUTTON

Pomegranate jelly and eyeball necklaces

2009-11-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

Some weeks there are so many crazy things going on.
The halloween bat crown class was a blast, there was even a guy in my class! That doesn't happen often enough. (thanks Michael!) we even had time to make a necklace that I came up with the night before. the next day (and I should know better) attempted to do the earth mother thing and make pomegranate jelly, this involved hours of wrestling those little jewels from their skins and pith, juicing the resulting fruit and straining it to make the jelly. It looked very beautiful when I finally got it in the jars, I even did the boiling water thing to preserve it! but it's been 48 hours and it hasn't set yet. I think those pomegranates can sense fear.

Wild Turkey

2009-10-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

I counted 35 turkeys across the street from my house yesterday, Noticably missing all but one of the adult males. They don't seem to care too much though.

Halloween Crown

2009-10-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

Last Chance to sign up for the batwing crown class at Castle in the Air this saturday!
This is going to be a great day we will be making this fab crown using leather formed over a wire skeleton to give a realistic creepy factor to this Edward Gorey inspired creation.
As usual there will be lots of tips and techniques on crown making in general and a creepy goody bag of trims to take home.

Phone: (510)204-9801 Castle in the Air on 4th street in Berkeley to sign up

caterpillars in the mist

2009-10-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

It's been raining on and off all week, all the plants in my yard are delighted because I'm not the best gardener and they finally got watered. It's the perfect weather for making wooly things and sipping cocoa, although being northern California a heatwave sometime in the next few weeks is still possible. I'm working on caterpillars this week as you see and then I'm on to a special project for Castle in the air.

Meet the Neighbors

2009-10-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of years wild turkeys have settled in to my neighborhood. This summer the troop of about 10 had chicks and suddenly there were 40 or more gawky chicks, they are no trouble at all except when the big males were showing off in the spring by chasing kids on bikes, the kids were a little freaked at first, but those big ungainly toms with their falsetto voices and can can girl run are hard to take seriously.

Now that autumn is here the flock has thinned out alot, suddenly. I don't like to think that anything sinister has happened but the adults have mostly dissapeared. today I spoke to my neighbor and he told me that on his way to work last week he saw 3 guys catching them, flinging them in a van and driving away. They've kidnapped my neighbors! I'm very upset about it, but this is not really a sympathetic environment, what with it almost being thanksgiving and all.

Priorities

2009-09-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

My washing is in a pile in the hallway, the studio is in chaos and I've not seen the surface of the coffee table in a week, but hey check out my washing line! I'm dying wool for the class I'm teaching at Castle in the air on Sunday, in Berkeley. Looks like Autumn despite the hot weather.

Ocean mist and cinnamon rolls

2009-09-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

This lovely place is Bolinas lagoon. I love to go to the coast, It sort of puts things in perspective to look out over the pacific ocean. I did walk down to Stinson beach this morning so I could take a picture and show you how beautiful and calm and blue it all is. However, I forgot that it's Sunday and the beach was jam packed with giggly kids and equally blissed out surfers and utterly ecstatic dogs of every shape and size. Although it was lovely to see everyone in such a good mood, that wasn't the picture I had in mind, so I took this picture of the lagoon on our way to Point Reyes Station which is yet another lovely place where there is a Bakery called the Bovine bakery, we bought some morning buns and sat on a bench to eat our breakfast and feed the birds. Paradise.

Warm & Fuzzy

2009-09-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a very busy week at the little factory of one, I sewed lots of caterpillar leaves, made a banner out of scraps from my enormous fabric stash, and made these felt balls. I'm trying to get ready for the winter fair at the San Francisco Waldorf School on the 6th of December. I always promise myself that I'll start in January next year but I never am able to really catch up, I think its a problem of setting unrealistic goals for myself. It's so nice to see at least one box full of goodies fill up though.

I've been thinking about artists who are also single parents.
   This weekend Camille and I are going to the beach, I haven't been for over a year and couldn't afford to go now if it were not for a friend who has a cabin there and let's me trade.
It has been the hardest year ever financially and I need a day to read and paint and walk on the beach.
   If you are a single parent like me trying to make a living with your art or craft (There are no jobs here either) I send you my love and support, we have the gift of being able to do what we love and in many cases teach others what we know and love but the money part is very difficult for most of us, and when you single parent there are not alot of pats on the back and quite a bit of criticism. So from me to you, thank-you for taking on the responsibility of single parenting, thank-you for all the times you do your best to play the role of two parents. Thank-you for bringing up children who are surrounded by creativity and for the art you continue to make because you make the world a better place.

Nevada Territory

2009-09-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

This week I've been in Nevada, a friend of mine is opening an amazing toy shop Called" Little City Items" in Virginia City. She invited me up to spend a few days. and help set up the store. Pam knows everything there is to know about beautiful toys, she was, until a year ago when she sold up and headed for a new adventure, the owner of "The Ark" two stores in San-Francisco and one on Fourth street in Berkeley, all three stores were beautifully designed by her, as is her new store in Virginia City, with help and humor from her husband Jack who is an architect and sculptor. If you are in the area, it's about half an hour from Reno, the drive is spectacular, the history is fascinating and the view from Virginia City is out of this world. Oh, and just incase thats not incentive enough, next weekend they are holding the annual camel races, a tradition since 1960.

The most creative thing I ever did

2009-08-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I like this time of year, the weather cools in the evenings and I'm forced to get a bit more organized as Camille starts the school year, it makes both of us feel we've acomplished something big. This is Camille's junior year and with pre-sats and homework packed classes we both know it will have it's difficult days, but I am excited for her and also a little clingy as I think that soon she will go to college and I will miss her desperately but I also know that If I did my job properly she will not miss me as much. And most of all It makes me think how incredibly lucky I am to have her for a daughter and my wonderful kind Nathaniel for a son.

Rocks and Ruins watercolor class

2009-08-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time teaching the Watercolor class "Rocks and Ruins", at Castle in the Air yesterday, and I couldn't have picked better company for a day of discovering the magic of watercolor. I was tired when I got home but couldn't resist a little more painting.

Halloween classes

2009-08-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

2009-08-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

A long drive to L.A to pick up my daughter from "Innerspark", and back the same day. Now the house is full of hugs and laughter and music again. I missed her so much.

It's already time to brew up halloween projects for my up coming classes at Castle, this one is the bat wing crown inspired by Edward Goreys drawings.

Class Photos!

2009-07-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Simpler Life

2009-07-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

Lately, I feel that I'm running very fast and barely keeping pace with everything that needs to be taken care of. I long for a simpler life. A little cottage with a studio within walking distance, the possibility of travel at least once a year, a little garden, long spring and autumn seasons, time to read, a wood-stove to make my morning coffee and a languid stream nearby..... maybe a couple of chickens.

I beleive this little dream is particularly vivid just now because like just about everyone I know, I'm overwhelmed with things that have to be taken care of. I just need a little breathing room to re-assess my priorities, to daydream, to be creative without any agenda beyond the process itself. It's so difficult to find time to do this, and I would so love to learn to take this need seriously enough to put it at the top of my list. Even if all my responsibilities beat furiously at my door. To bolt the door and turn off the phone, to curl up in my chair and write at the top of my list for the day, 1. Daydream.

2009-07-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

On sunday I taught the fiber arts crown class at Castle in the air. we tried out lots of tricks and techniques including wet felting. I had nine wonderful students including Amelia who was turning eleven the next day and came to make a birthday crown. I count myself very lucky to spend the day in such fine company.

Stephanie Metz

2009-07-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend I took a class with Stephanie Metz, an amazing sculptor working in wool felt. she has the ability to make the felt seem solid and bonelike and I love the idea of taking the softest part of the animal and sculpting the bones with it. The sculls are my favourite but the work takes lots of suprising twists. I would really recommend seeing her work in person. information at; http://stephaniemetz.com/

Fairy

2009-07-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

Paint your food

2009-07-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today I finally ate a really good juicy peach, after suffering several of those beautiful giant peaches that turn out to be dry and sandy and tasteless (why is that?) you just can't tell from the outside. Peaches are always lovely to paint though.

Bosc

2009-07-06T17:47:00.000-07:00

little Piglet

2009-07-03T21:54:00.000-07:00

I just finished making my sample for the needlefelted piglet class, which is coming up soon at Castle in the Air. This little piggy is about 3.5 inches tall and fully jointed.

Cosy mushroom cottage

2009-07-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

cosy mushroom cottage

2009-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photographs from my cosy mushroom cottage class at CASTLE IN THE AIR on tuesday, we had too much fun! and made an entire village of darling little cottages each one reflecting the unique personality of it's architect.

the Owl and the Pussycat

2009-06-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Such a hot day 108º here in the central valley, I thought I'd post a breezy, watery picture today.

Rocks and Ruins

2009-06-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

Sadly I won't be going back to England to see my family this summer, so I will miss long walks in the beautiful countryside, cream teas, real beer and searching for "green men" in the ancient cathedrals. I will however, be teaching an illustration class at Castle in the Air, the class is called Rocks and Ruins. We will draw and paint travel stationary from trips real and imagined. This is the second Illustrated letters class I have taught at Castle, the last one was so much fun and even people who were new to drawing had lots of success. Today Iv'e been painting samples for the castle website. here are a couple of the envelopes.

2009-06-21T20:17:00.001-07:00