April After Artfest!

April 19, 2012..how is that possible?  I was just packing for Artfest a few days ago!  These photos are of our home away from home at Fort Worden, The Madrona 277~!  We had a huge amount of space, a fantastic view and best of all is that it was a wonderful place to meet friends and make new ones!  Prior to Artfest several of us met in Seattle to become real life friends, not just facebook/skype friends.  Carlanda Brown Williamson came from Boulder City, NV, Jodi Kincaid from the Portland, OR area, Lyn (Livvie)
Tivenan from the UK, moi from NC.  Our very first night we had the best ever slumber party.  On Monday night we met more fabulous artist friends at the Black Bottle, Pam Holderman, Ronna, Frannie DiLeo, Jenny Wentworth, Matilda Bee, I hope I'm not leaving anyone out...









On Monday we had a fabulous breakfast at Lola's and then explored Pike's Place and International District.  On Tues we took the Ferry over to Bainbridge.  Of course we had to stop and explore the cute town of Winslow!

Eventually we made our way to Port Townsend and did more exploring and EATING!  The food was sooooooo good!!
ARTFEST was everything and more than I had heard.  It's creative, it's magical..it's, it's, it's..hard to explain if you weren't there.  The very first day..I dropped my bags in my room and went to check out the upstairs..who's standing there chatting in the Madrona kitchen..OMG..Danielle Daniel and Mindy Lacefield.  I'm sure I was standing there dumbfounded it took me so off guard!  Meeting so many people that I had known for a long time in online workshops, meeting so many of the fabulous teachers, taking workshops...sitting around discussing our adventures at the end of the day. Our housemates were a wonderful mix of talented artists and amazing women.  Ilene Heyman Harris, Megan Thompson, Janna Sammons and her adorable sister in law Betsy, Jaci Swarts, Ronna Perry Currier, Pam Holderman, Elene Nosyreva, Danielle Daniel, Francesca DiLeo, Lyn Tiverten, Carlanda Williamson,  Jodi Kincaid and me!
.  The ocean view every morning.  It was all good!!  I took three workshops and loved each one of them..Stephanie Lee, Mary Beth Shaw and Misty Mawn.  They're all such great teachers, so generous and so talented!

And for our last night..are you ready for this???  It was Carlanda Brown Williamson's birthday and we had a surprise birthday party for her at the Madrona. (yes she was 29)   Livvie had asked Misty if she would come to the party and she said YES!!  Wait..it gets better!!  Livvie had also arranged for us to purchase one of Misty's paintings for Carlanda's birthday.  Misty was so generous!!  Wait..it gets better!!  So it's the last night of Artfest, we're having a surprise party...want the guest line up???  Misty Mawn, Katie Kendrick, Judy Wise, Stephanie Lee, Kecia Deveney, Danielle Daniel, Juliette Crane, John Hammond, Keli McKinley Hansen, Pam Kirshenbaum, Carrie TuTu Clayton
 and of course all of the wonderful housemates of the Madrona!!  So the best part of Carlanda's birthday was that we all got to make more new and fabulous friends.
The entire trip was a dream come true from beginning to end, meeting lovely, talented, warm friends, spending time with like minded women, laughing, making art, eating, sight seeing, shopping..sigh...re-entry was difficult.  Much more difficult than I expected it to be.
Here are a few of the photos from the trip..lots more in my albums on Facebook.

My plan was to do a short quick post about ARTFEST...how do you do that?  Actually I did keep it short.  :-D   Thank you to everyone that helped make this such a wonderful trip!!  And I apologize for anyone I left or who's name I misspelled.  I love you all and thank you for sharing your experience with me.
Vendors night..did I mention Vendors night??  I met the sweet and talented Sunny Carvalho and Carla Sonheim just to name a couple.   So much talent in one room and I got to see and touch so much artwork that I had only seen photos of.  Send money!!  :-)

Since I've been home..this should be a whole new post so I'll keep it super short.  I had and got over my first case of bronchitis.  I created and sold a painting.  I've signed up for some exciting workshops this fall at Random Arts in Saluda, NC.  Kecia Devaney is going to be there in October and Tracy Verdugo in November.  And maybe..keeping my fingers crossed..maybe Katie Kendrick..maybe.  So many exciting fun things happening!

BUT..the very best is my Grandson, Patrick's wedding is next week.  I'll have a new (official) granddaughter..his bride, Jen!!

After that it's Disney World...will I get mouse ears???  What do you think??

Thank you for visiting my LONG blog and I hope you enjoyed it enough to leave a comment and follow me.  I promise the next one will be shorter!  Maybe...