Do you feel like life is moving too fast?
I know I do.
I propose we all do some slow-creating, kind of like pro-creating, or giving birth to artful things on a slow, but regular, basis.
A true labor love.
A way of being.
This weekend, I was able to do some SLO-creating in San Luis Obispo, California (or SLO as the locals call it) when I gave a couple workshops at SLO Creative Studios.
My first workshop was Blessings in the Wind; mixed-media prayer flags.
I love this class, it’s so fun to see how unique and individual all the flags are, from the color palettes people choose to paint their fabric to the words and imagery that decorate each flag.
We begin with white fabric that we color in a variety of ways using acrylic inks.
Then we stamp designs on the fabric,
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use thermafax screens to add more images,
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and collage words of affirmation on each one
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then we crop the fabric into clean uniform rectangles.
Never underestimate the benefits of cropping, it can add so much to a final composition.
Then we attach the flags to ribbon for hanging.
Carol took her prayer flag fabric home and sewed it into a small quilt, and brought it in on Saturday to show us.
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After class me and my friend Sue, who I’m staying with, went down to Avila Pier and watched the seals play and bark at each other on the docks.
then we stopped in at the cafe at the end of the pier for a glass of wine and chat while we gazed at this beautiful view.
A perfect way to end the day!
Over the weekend I taught Paint and Print-a-palooza, creating unique hand painted and printed cloth.
It was great fun to have Sue take my class and try her hand painting and printing textiles. We might have a new convert to textile arts 🙂
It was a lovey weekend making fabrics with acrylic inks using brushes, salt, and shibori folding techniques. Then printing them with a variety of stamps and thermofax screens.
Lots of beautiful fabrics were made.
What a fun 3 day weekend. I was so surprised to find out I had students that drove from far and wide to take my workshops in SLO! They came from Sonoma county, Lake county, Sacramento, Fresno, Santa Cruz, and San Juan Capistrano. 2 of my students from afar had taken workshops with me at Craft Napa and drove close to 300 miles to take a workshop with me here. I am so honored by that and truly appreciate that.
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Last night, I gave a lecture for the SLO quilt guild and this morning I’m back on the road driving home to Sacramento.
Thanks SLO for my wonderful week immersed in your lovely surroundings.
I’d love to spark your creativity at one of these upcoming events:
August 18,19 10+ Techniques with Acrylic Inks, 2-day Meissner’s Sewing, Sacramento, CA
October 5-10 New Zealand National Quilt Symposium, Christchurch, NZ
Painting Imagery with Textile Paints 2-days
Tea & Ephemera
Paint & Print-A-Palooza
Blessings in the Wind: Mixed-media prayer flags
Keep creating, Judy
ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.
6 responses to “SLO Creating”
This is exactly what I need right now, Judy! Thanks for sharing all those wonderful examples.
You’re so welcome Barb!
Thank you so much for this post and story from your week in SLO…you spoke to my creative spirit in such good ways….and what wonderful pieces were made by your students.
Kristin
thanks Kristin!
This was the second time you’ve been my teacher and I remain a big fan. My prayer flags are strung but not hung yet. Just waiting for the next sunny day. Thanks again.
Hi Sara,
you’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the class.