We Believe!

During the holidays, our days seem to be filled with so much more love and gratitude. We focus on family and friends and even those in need. The world seems to be filled with an ever-present feeling that all is good and things can turn out great. It's a time for miracles. A time to believe. And so we just wanted to take a moment to share some of that holiday love with all of you!

• We believe that we are fortunate to live in the most magnificent and miraculous world.

• We believe that the magic and the thrill of the holiday season stretches on beyond December.

• We believe that we are all rich when we count our family and friends as the treasures they are.

• We believe that all of you and those whose lives you touch will be blessed with laughter and love.

• We believe that peace is already present, when we focus on being in the present moment. 

• We believe that home is where the heart is. So from home to home and heart to heart, the warmth and joy of Christmas lives within all of us.

• We believe that all hearts are filled with wonder and curiosity, enough to make the world go 'round.

• We believe the creativity of art fulfills our lives and adds to the richness of our being.

• We believe that art creates new and lasting friendships with our soul's tribe.

• We KNOW, that each of you have brought love, light and joy to Art & Soul and we are thankful for you every single day of the year!

Happy Holidays from the entire Art & Soul Family!

Glenny
xoxo

Colorado Here We Come!

I am tickled pink... and blue... and yellow... and purple... that Art & Soul will be hosting a brand new event in Colorado Springs, beginning next May! We have an amazing lineup of mixed-media workshops in store for you, featuring lots of new talented instructors and unique projects.

Learn all about the Birds & Beeswax with Nicole Austin

Whether you are new to making something creative on your own, or you just want to push the boundaries of your artistic knowledge, we have classes in all your favorite categories! Do you want to try your hand at working with beeswax, fiddle with fabric, apply layers and layers of juicy bits of papers to make a collage? Or maybe you want to work with clay, shrink plastic or enamels to create a one-of-a-kind piece or jewelry? We've got that!

Make Vintage Town & Country Animal Jewelry with Leslie Blackford

How about creating and assembling your own journal, practicing the zen art of zentangle doodling, working with watercolor pencils, or trying your hand at photo transfers? We've got that too!

Lisa Chin's gorgeous Sunless Printing fabric creations

Or maybe you want to sew something, dye fabrics, manipulate metal or try making abstract art for the first time? Well, we've got that too! And all in one place, for a jam-packed week of complete and total creative bliss. So come join us amongst the beautiful red rocks of Colorado, hang out with your art tribe, and replenish your soul with some well-deserved play time!

Art & Soul Colorado

May 29-June 3, 2018

Hotel Elegante
Colorado Springs, CO 

Registration is now open... and we have a special offer for you! Register for classes before December 15th and receive 10% off your total order of $250 or more. Simply enter the code COSPRINGS at checkout to get your early registration discount.

Zentangle with Deb Prewitt

I know fall days and the hustle and bustle of holidays can get pretty busy, so take a little break, grab yourself a warm beverage and browse our website to pick out your favorite Colorado Springs workshops. You can browse our selections by class descriptions, by individual instructors, and even by example project photos. Sign up today to make sure you don't miss out on any of your favorite classes!

Let's Face(book) It... We Need YOU!

Do you love Art & Soul? Are you a social media aficionado? Is marketing and promotion in your wheelhouse? Do you enjoy inspiring others? Well then... we need YOU!

We are looking for someone to join our team and take the reins of all things involving social media. You'll help create buzz about our upcoming retreats. You'll promote our teachers and classes. You'll inspire the thousands of followers we have and make them feel like part of the Art & Soul family... in real time!

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining our team as our social media expert, contact Glenny Moir at glenny@artandsoulretreat.com today!

Virginia Beach Classes Are Up! Registration Starts This Friday!

Will you come join us next Fall for our Art & Soul Mixed Media Retreat in Virginia Beach? Yay! We're so happy to have you. As always we've got dozens of full day and evening workshops to stretch your creativity, lots of fun events, an on-site store that's to dye for, a Vendor Extravaganza for all your hard to find knick knacks and amazing original art, and so much more!

We've put a preview of our classes online... you can check them out here. Registration goes live on November 20th and we have a very special EARLY BIRD OFFER for you! If you sign up by January 1, 2016, all of your full day workshops will be $135 and your registration fee will be $35! That's a $15 savings on both! It all adds up.... or should we say... subtracts!

Virginia Beach Art & Soul

September 26 - October 1, 2016

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

So visit our website and get more information about our Virginia Beach Event... our relaxing beachfront Hotel... the creative Workshops we have to offer... and our fabulous Instructors!

Kansas City in Full Swing!

Well, we're at the glorious Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO and our mixed media art retreat is in full swing! There is something about this hotel that is difficult to explain unless you experience it in person. You immediatley feel welcomed and embraced. And its not the staff — it is the HOTEL. And its EXACTLY what Art & Soul is all about.

Classes are in progress and students are busy making, making, making. Just check out this Steampunk Airship Chime from one of Erin Keck's students. Too cool!

And here are some of Erin's students getting their etch on... in her Shoe Cobbler's Journal workshop. They hand crafted some amazing books!

This adorable lounging feline is the class sample for Doris Arndt's Here Kitty Kitty workshop. Can't wait to see the colorful creations her students come up with.

And speaking of colorful, I'm so proud of our very own Cathy Taylor, shown her at her book signing...

Her new book, Pigments of Your Imagination is hot off the press, and chock full of ideas for using Alcohol Inks in your art. It really is stunning!

So that's just a sneak peek at what we've been up to. There's a whole lot more going on. If you're in the area, stop on by and we'll fit you into a class!

© photos courtesy of Jean Van Brederode

Let's Play on the Bay!

Art & Soul Virginia Beach... ahhhh... what can we say? Talk about creative inspiration! What better to inspire your creativity and need for a relaxing getaway with like-minded souls, than with Mother Nature herself!

All of our venues are special in their own way, but along the sandy shores of the Chesapeake Bay, the views are gorgeous from sunup to sundown...

And everywhere in-between! Every room at the Virginia Beach Resort has a view of the shoreline.

And each one has gorgeous full-length windows that let in the sunlight... just begging you to pull out that class project and play some more!

The classrooms are spacious enough to spread out and enjoy your workshops!

And at the end of the day, the waves are calling to your little toesies.

And did we mention the comfortable rooms, the amazing restaurant and bar, and the friendly staff who puts up with our creative messes and treats us like royalty?

Art & Soul Virginia Beach, VA

September 28 - October 4, 2015

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

So come join us for an amazingly inspiring mixed media art retreat, in an amazingly inspiring location. Let's play on the bay! For more information and to register for our Virginia event, visit our website www.ArtAndSoulRetreat.com

Portland Art & Soul... Special Announcement!

Students and teachers alike... you don't want to miss this!

A very timely lecture — Building a Business in the Arts — will be presented by Kenneth and Bonnie Kahn. The workshop will be jam packed with everything you need to know to present and protect yourself in today's art market.

Art & Soul Portland

Building a Business in the Arts - Special Event!

Friday March 6th

6:30-9:30

Sheraton Airport Hotel

Here's what you can expect from Kenneth and Bonnie Kahn in their extremely informative workshop:

Attorney, Kenneth Kahn has over 25 years of experience practicing Law. One of his specialties is Art Law. He studied under the world’s authority on Art Law, Attorney and Professor Leonard DuBoff . Kenneth is a highly sought after lecturer and takes great pride in educating artists about their rights. His lecture will cover the following topics:

• What artists need to know about their rights when they display their art in public and private places
• Visual rights act
• Copyright Law
• Negotiating Contracts

Bonnie Kahn has over two decades of working with artists as a museum curator, gallery owner and small business advisor through the Oregon Small Business Development Center. Her lecture will cover the following topics:

• How to succeed in the business of art
• New avenues to explore marketing your art
• Steps to build a supportive client base
• How to network

This special evening presentation is a must for those who desire to take their art into the business world. This workshop is available for $90 and spaces are limited, so sign up today! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet face-to-face with experienced professionals in the law and art field at a fraction of what it would cost for a legal consultation. If you make and sell art, this is your opportunity to be in the know... now!

Maintaining Momentum After Your Creative Retreat!

Okay... did that headline grab you or what? If you have ever been to Art & Soul — in the midst of super-creative teachers, students, projects and techniques galore — you know how it is when you get home. You intend to keep the momentum going, but then life gets in the way.

That's why we are absolutely thrilled to have Jill Allison Bryan from Creative Oasis Coaching teaching a workshop on How to Maintain Your Creative Momentum Even After Your Retreat... at our retreat! So here's a little bit about Jill's workshop in her own words... take it away Jill...


Have you ever felt delightfully wrapped up in the creative cocoon of a fabulous retreat or workshop focused fully on the joy of creating and surrounded by oodles of other supportive creative souls also totally engaged in experiencing their creative bliss? Wow! It’s an amazing feeling, isn’t it?

Have you ever found yourself back in the real world just days later feeling that joyful creative energy evaporate as your busy daily schedule, never-ending to-do lists and obligations take over?

You’re not alone! Luckily, using the gentle yet powerful (some would say magical) methods of Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coaching, we have a wonderful variety of ways to continue to ride our creative waves.

That’s why I’m so happy to be able to share my special workshop, “So In The Flow –Maintaining Your Creative Momentum Even After the Retreat” on the final day of the 2014 Portland, Oregon Art & Soul Retreat, which runs for a whole week — from April 7th through the 13th. (you can find the line-up for seven full days of mixed media art workshops here). 

We’ll spend the day together exploring a potpourri of fun prompts, activities and discussion topics designed to help lucky participants return home from Art & Soul feeling ready to stay in the flow and maintain their creative momentum.

It will be my absolute pleasure to send enthusiastic creativity lovers back into the world with a treasure chest of tools and techniques designed to help them move past procrastination, perfectionism, overwhelm and other creative blocks that may await.

Until we meet in Portland, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. – If you’d like to receive Jill's Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration) as well as her e-booklet, “Permission to Be Creative 101” you can sign up for both right here.

 
Well, Jill... I'm already inspired to be inspired! Or is that re-inspired! So everybody... check out her workshop and stay inspired even after the retreat!

Portland Art & Soul

 Jill Bryan, Creative Oasis Coach

So In The Flow –Maintaining Your Creative Momentum Even After the Retreat

Sunday, April 13, 2014 

9:00am - 4:00pm

So... What'd You Get?

So... what did you get for Christmas? If you read this blog, have been to Art & Soul, or are entertaining going to Art & Soul... I bet you had some creative items on your holiday lists this year! Maybe you got some new fabric?

Or perhaps someone blessed you with a bevy of beads? Yum!

Maybe you were in need of a fresh start and you got some blank canvasses? A little intimidating for me, but maybe not for you!

Did someone gift you some cool craft supplies? Rubber stamps, masks or some fun embellishments?

Or maybe you got some cool art supplies, tools or equipment? Squee!

Perhaps you got a copy of one of your favorite mixed media magazines and you enjoyed reading about new ideas and techniques over the holiday break? I hope so!

Maybe you got a juicy new journal... or a sweet set of paintbrushes. Perhaps you received some new wire working tools or a few colorful tubes of paint. Whatever you got,  I'd love to hear all about your favorite new art and craft supplies! So... what'd you get this year?

Merry Craftmas & Happy Glue Year!

When the hustle and bustle of retail extravaganzas and big box store bonanzas has become the new norm, handmade gifts and cards sometimes get lost in the shuffle. But not here in the creative realm of Art & Souler's, I bet! I'm sure you crafted a darling little card, or hand made some gifts this year. Maybe you prepared an amazing table setting for guests, or decorated the house with extra flair. No matter how you expressed your creativity this season — be proud of yourself for keeping the true spirit of art and individuality in the Holidays! 

And thank you all so much for your support of Art & Soul Retreats. Each and every one of you! Students and teachers alike. Taking time out to replenish your soul in a creative way is no longer a luxury — it's a necessity!  And I appreciate you choosing to play and have fun with us year after year. You are part of our success and I wish you the Happiest of Holidays and the Most Creative New Year Ever!

~ Glenny xo

Portland Early Bird Special Extended!

Art & Soul Portland 2014 registration is hopping and classes are filling up quickly. So we've decided to give you some pre-holiday inspiration to sign up today... before you get too busy with turkey dinners and holiday shopping. So here's the deal...

If you register for our Portland 2014 Art & Soul before November 25, 2013, your classes will be the 2007 price of $135!!  So don't hesitate. Register today to make certain you reserve a spot in all your favorite classes. With our easy payment plan and different payment options, it makes Art & Soul the most affordable retreat for you. And don't forget... we offer gift certificates too! Why not tell that special someone this is exactly what you wanted for a holiday gift!

Art & Soul Mixed Media Retreat

Portland 2014

April 7-13, 2014

Check out our website for additional information on our Portland 2014 event! You can browse by workshop instructors, class listings, or by project samples. Either way you look at it... it's going to be tough to decide! Happy browsing!

Fondly,
Glenny and the Crew

Can We Peak Your Pinterest?

We're so excited to let you know about a new feature we've added to our website class listings... a Pin It button for project photos! Now you can pin all your favorite classes to Pinterest for your own boards... and you can help us spread the love... all at the same time!

Here's how it works... when you're on the workshop description page, like the one above, simply click on a photo...

The photo will pop up as a larger image... and in the bottom left-hand corner, you'll see the Pin It button...

Click on the button to add it to your collection of pinboard interests...

And a dialog box will come up that looks like this. Underneath the photo you can add any pertinent information such as... the instructor's name, the class name, the retreat name, location and dates... and any other pertinent info like what type of workshop it is... journaling, art doll, jewelry making, painting, etc. Then just pick the Pinterest board you want to add it to (like, Classes I Want To Take!) and voila! You've got a visual reminder of all the classes you like.

If you are not yet familiar with Pinterest... you should definitely check it out and then join! With a name derived from a "pinboard" of "interests" this site lives up to and exceeds the idea of a vision board. It's the one place in this world of social media that is pure inspiration. And it's so much bigger than that cork board over your desk. You can Pin up an unlimited amount of wishes and dreams of all shapes and sizes! If you consider yourself someone who loves mixed media art and attending retreats to increase your creative skills and learn new techniques... Pinterest can be one of the most valuable tools in your art box!

Happy Pinning!!

Artists Beware! E-mail Scam Circulating!

This week our lovely Graphic Artist was the recipient of e-mails that could have led to a very bad case of identity theft... or worse. She wanted to share her story with you on our blog so that you can be aware of this scam. So here's what happened...

She received an e-mail — from a man named Bill Curry — with an inquiry about one of her top selling products... a handmade arcade style Knock Down Doll...

From: Bill Curry <emadamiduro01@gmail.com>

Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 10:36 PM

Subject: Tillie Knock-Down Doll arcade-style plush doll

 

Hi,

I'm Bill Curry from California. I was going through your works and my eyes caught this particular piece, I want to purchase it as I am moving to a new apartment next month. Kindly let me know if you still have the piece available and also let me know it's final price and more information about it. I will be waiting to read from you.

Regards,

Bill.

------------------ 

She thought it was a little odd the way the e-mail was worded, but she's a nice person and thought, "who am I to take off for grammar? I sell items internationally all the time in this cyber world and lots of people speak broken English". Although, she felt it was a bit strange that he used the name of the product but did not indicate where he saw the item. But she replied with the information he requested and a link to her Etsy shop anyway.

Soon after, she received another e-mail from Mr. Curry. But that time she had an uneasy feeling in her gut after reading his reply. Red flags were popping up all over the place... 

From: Bill Curry <emadamiduro01@gmail.com>

Date: Wednesday, July 25, 2013 9:08 PM

Subject: Payment and pick up

Dear Michelle,

Thanks for your prompt reply.

Unfortunately, I'm on my way to France on an official trip (I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks.

If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to South Africa soon and I'm trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode.

However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff to get set for the pick up of the piece from your place as I MIGHT be delayed depending on how things goes.

P.S. In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your contact address and phone# so I can get a check prepared and have it mailed out to you right away.

-----------------

Following her intuition, Michelle googled "Bill Curry California scam" and sure enough, found numerous posts and articles about this same person, using the same name*, and even the same e-mail address... as far back as 2008! And in each article, the e-mails sent were worded the exact same way!

She wanted to warn all you lovely, hard-working artists out there to be careful when you reply to queries and what type of information you give out. It's too easy to these days to fall victim to identity theft. Trust your gut and ask yourself some important questions. Here's a few things that made Michelle think twice about "Bill Curry".

• The broken English and poor grammar.

• His name is Bill Curry, but his e-mail was emadamiduro01@gmail.com. Not even close.

• He knew the exact name of the product, yet there was no mention of where he had seen it. 

• He's giving too much information about his life, "If you'd like to know..."

• If he's some big-ass, jet-setting Marketing Executive, why does he need to send a check? Doesn't he have a credit card that he can use to purchase the item directly from her shop?

• Instead of having to send the item to his "shipper", he's going to have the shipper personally drive to the New Jersey coast and pick it up at her house? Really?

• He wants her address and phone number. Michelle doesn't even give potential dates that information! And why does he need her phone number to write her a check?

So there you have it. Michelle's intuition saved the day, and hopefully by sharing this, it will save someone out there from becoming a victim too.

*Michelle also wanted us to mention that when she found the articles on this scam, there were other names used, but the e-mail wording was exactly the same. Sellers.... beware!

Art & Soul Radio... Interview with our Host Lesley Riley, Mon. July 22

Lesley Riley, the host of Art & Soul Radio for the past three years is the guest on this, her final show.
 
Artist, surface designer and former show guest, Jane Dunnewold, turns the tables on Lesley and conducts the interview of this multi-talented artist, instructor, writer, craft book author, artist coach & mentor and soon to be former host of this Art & Soul Radio show.

Lesley 's books include: Quilted Memories, Fabric Memory Books, Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur and Create with TAP Transfer Artist Paper. She is currently at work on her 5th book. She is the creator of, TAP Transfer Artist Paper the state of the art in transfer paper, and winner of CHA's 2011 Most Innovative New Product award.

Lesley teaches workshops internationally and online. After having conducted 76 interviews over the last three years, Lesley is stepping down to follow her own advice that "art is what you make it".

 

So please join us as we turn the tables for this inspirational chat Monday. And remember that all our episodes will still be available in the archives!

Art & Soul Radio featuring host Lesley Riley
with Lesley Riley
Monday, July 22
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio




Want the opportunity of a lifetime? 
If you're interested in taking over the hosting of Art & Soul  Radio, promoting our amazing retreat, getting the opportunity to speak with talented workshop instructors, and providing exciting and interesting content for our mixed media audience, please contact Glenny Moir with your credentials!

We'll miss you Leslie!

Hands Up... Get Your Hands Up!

"So, what the heck are these ladies doing?" you might be asking yourself. Well, it's our very own Liz Kettle having her students do the spine dance, of course! "And what the heck is a spine dance?" you may wonder... 

If you've ever taken any type of class where you created... well... anything... you know it's easy to get all hunched over, totally engrossed in your project, and by time you go to stand up.... ouch! My back! So Liz likes to take some time during her classes and have everyone get up and stretch their spine. And oh, it feels so good!

She learned this technique from her Pilates coach — although it's actually derived from the Franklin Method which is very similar. Here's a little step-by-step so that you can try this at home. It may seem a little complicated... so make sure you read all the way to the end where there's a special tip!

First, stand straight and relaxed. 

Tip your pelvis in (forward), open your arms wide and then bend forward towards your pelvis. Kind of like doing a crunch, but standing up.

Pretend you are holding a big ball between your pelvis and your arms.

Then tip your pelvis back (stick your butt out).

Arch your back gently and open your arms wide and bring them back as if they were wings and you are a big bird.

Do that 3-5 times gently.

Second part is side bends...
Put one leg out to the side slightly and bend gently toward that side with your opposite arm overhead. Switch sides. Do that 3-5 times each side.

Last part..
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your hands in front of you shoulder width apart… elbows bent and close to your ribs.

Rotate your upper body only keeping your hands directly in front of your shoulders. You can’t rotate very far. Then walk your lower body in the same direction to bring your feet right under your shoulders. Repeat until you have gone 360° then reverse and go the other direction.

Got it? Good! Now get up from your computer and do the spine dance! And if it sounds a little complicated, here's a special tip...

Just get up and stretch. Any way you do it, it's great for your creative longevity! Hands up, folks...

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for An Artists Life with Jane Dunnewold, Mon., July 8th

Jane Dunnewold is a professional artist and teacher, the author of "Art Cloth: A Guide to Surface Design on Fabric" (Interweave 2010) and several other self-published books.She teaches internationally and maintains Art Cloth Studios in San Antonio, Texas.

 

Her passions include the psychology of artistry and meaning - and she is especially interested in "writing" and "making" as integral aspects of the creative process. You can read more about my work and see other inspiring images by visiting her website - complexcloth.com. This year, Jane is President of the international Surface Design Association.

So please join us for our inspirational chat this Monday...

Art & Soul Radio featuring Jane Dunnewold
with Lesley Riley
Monday, July 8
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio