Halloween Greetings! I'm back from my three-day event at The Assemblage Studio in DePere, Wisconsin. It was an action packed three days that began with a paper doll social on Friday evening. Everyone in town or out was invited to join us, and we had about 30 friends stop by throughout the evening. Wine and cheese were served while friends old and new joined us for some good old fashioned paper doll making. We worked with fall themed stamps from the Bird & Bee Paperie collection to create this little scarecrow paper doll, which I have since inserted into a theatre set in my journal. It is a rare and wonderful thing to have an opportunity to play with my stamps and sharing that experience with friends is the cherry on top!
We got off to an early start on Saturday morning and spent the first half of the day building our paper doll / toy theatre sets. The doll I engineered was designed to allow everyone the opportunity to add their own unique style to the project, from embellishments to the theatre set itself (built inside the doll's skirt). It was exciting to see how many different ways the doll and toy theatre evolved in the hands of this creative collective.
(If you would like to make one, you will find complete instructions for creating Season of the Witch in the September / October 2010 issue of Somerset Studio.)
On our final day in the studio, we gathered to create The Delicate Nest bracelet. I am not a jewelery maker per se, but a couple of years ago I had the opportunity to experiment with designing jewelry for Jenn Mason's book, Altered Paper Jewelry. Once you master the technique for laminating the collage papers to the charms, you can make a bracelet in just a couple of hours, which was a good thing because I had to make a quick get away after class in order to catch my flight back to Atlanta. It was so sad saying goodbye to friends.
Thank you everyone to taking time out of your busy lives to join Teresa and I at The Assemblage Studio!
Here are a few photos that I took during class:
Teresa Gifford and budding artist Tyler Lambert
Hello from Linda Warlyn!
It was fun watching Linda work! Her doll is really outstanding as you can see.
Linda's doll in transition.
Danine's witch . . . love the way she made the broom so full!
Teresa in creative mode.
Teresa's witch fully glittered!
Tyler's witch in process. Tyler was leading the pack after the morning session and an abundance of ideas!
Jeanne's witch under construction.
Maria Nordin's witch in progress.
I love the way "Z" made her collar ruffled all the way around and standing up behind the neck!
The fabulous "Z"
Teresa and MaryAnn McKeating
MaryAnn's witch in process
Dawn in the background and Sky's witch in the foreground
The self-described "chronically early girls" Sky and Dawn
Of course, being surrounded by so many treasures, there was a lot of shopping going on throughout the weekend:
My friend Jeanne Mueller drove in from Eau Claire, WI for the weekend. So nice to see you again Jeanne.
The lovely Isabelle aka Shoppe Girl
I was the first to arrive and get the shopping underway!
My new friend Tyler Lambert. He was a wonder to behold, poised, abundantly creative and a perfect gentleman. It was an honor to have Tyler in my classroom.
As my old friend Linn Jacobs was fond of saying "Ciao and Meow for now."
Catherine the class looked amazing! I know all who attended had the most wonderful time. I love that everyone put their own special touch to each witch.
I would of loved to have met your new friend Tyler. He is a doll! Thanks for sharing your pictures and tell Maria Hi.
Posted by: jackie | 27 October 2010 at 05:49 PM
What a fun weekend!!! I love all the cool classes, and will have to check out that Somerset Studio article (I am hoping to get a comp copy soon). What a cool shop and can't wait to hear about all the cool goodies you acquired!! I bet the weather was lovely as well.
Posted by: Barbara | 28 October 2010 at 08:19 AM
Wonderful witches and some great photos showing a fantastic atmosphere - thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Marion | 28 October 2010 at 01:59 PM
How wonderful that so many creative people could get together and design such fabulous dolls!! I really loved the bracelet. It's fun to see what other stores carry and decorate with too. Happy Halloween!
Posted by: Cindy Sharp | 30 October 2010 at 11:46 AM
Oh Catherine I need to move closer,LOL.
I just adore seeing your class, it looked like such great fun.
The art dolls turned out fabulous..
I thought your new friend Tyler was great too.
What a truly amazing weekend of art with wonderful you.
I love the bracelet,really really lovely.
Thanks for sharing all your class photo's, I love Season of the Witch... So thrilling seeing you in Somerset Studio too. Big Hugs Laura. xoxx
Posted by: Laura Haviland | 03 November 2010 at 09:42 PM
making Paper Dolls with YOU?
What could be better? :)
Posted by: connie | 07 November 2010 at 12:13 PM
What fun to see this post...LUCKY me got to live that WONDERFUL week-end all over again! THANK YOU again, Catherine, for working so long and hard to make these workshops such unforgetable experiences for all of us and for coming up with those magical projects! It was SO great to see you again. PS I love your description of Tyler..perfect-o! xox
Posted by: linda warlyn | 07 November 2010 at 11:55 PM