A Look at Seaside Sessions-Spring 2020 (pt. 1 of 3)

One week ago, today, we welcomed a group of enthusiastic Creative Explorers to our first event of 2020. We convened in a beautiful waterfront home on the canal in Ocean Isle Beach, NC for 3 days of creativity, community, and camaraderie. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the results!

After arriving and tending to the less creative tasks (unloading a passel of art supplies, tasty treats, and making 7 beds), we put our eyes toward adding a few personalized touches to the space that would contain our artistic adventures once our guests arrived.

…and arrive they did! By the early evening of Wednesday, March 11th, we had a house full of creative cohorts ready to dive into our time of collaborative learning and making. After taking a few moments to get better acquainted with one another, we enjoyed a meal of pizza accompanied by wine and followed with freshly baked brownies.

Not wanting to waste a moment of our time together, we had an evening of creativity at the ready for our guests. Each was provided with two plain “everyday ornaments,” a complete array of Marabu Alcohol Inks, and an assortment of tools and paint markers. Following a brief demonstration of various application and layering techniques, they personalized their ornaments in the manner of their choosing. As we departed for the night, their inked beauties were left to dry. The big reveal would take place the following morning.

Our Creative Explorers came down to breakfast to discover their creations aglow in the early morning light — suspended from silvery ribbons in the living room window. What a beautiful beginning to our event! We are always amazed at the complete individuality and variety that results from providing a group of creatives with identical materials — the outcome of our Opening Night was no exception!

Our recap of all things Seaside Sessions - Spring 2020 will continue tomorrow as we revisit our first full day of creative discovery. Until then, be safe and be kind and try to add a little beauty to your day!

~ PLA & MDP

Welcoming the New Year

As we stand on the brink of this vast New Year, we hope that your holidays were happy, healthy, and heart-warming. We look forward to loads of creative discovery with you all in the coming year! This is the place to be for keeping an eye on all that we have coming your way. If you want to know about it before it hits this blog, be sure to sign up for our Newsletter.

By way of an update: Spaces are filling for the first of our Seaside Sessions 2020. If you plan to join us in Emerald Isle in March, don’t delay — reserve your spot, today!

Let us make the most of this shiny New Year… We’ll be back with more mixed media merriment, soon!

Until next time,
- PLA

Thoughts on Thankfulness and the Way Forward

Today is the day we pause to give thanks for all that we have; family, friends, health, meaningful work, and human connections. We here at Your Creative Connection are thankful for the past year, which was one of success, exploration, disappointment, and a renewed commitment to our goal of presenting unique, woman-centered, creative experiences to the world.

“Expectation has brought me disappointment.
Disappointment has brought me wisdom.
Acceptance, gratitude and appreciation have brought me joy and fulfilment.”
― Rasheed Ogunlaru

As we contemplated our next ventures, we used the experiences of the past and lessons learned to inform our plans. Secure in the knowledge that what we have to offer is valuable, we are grateful to the women who have supported our vision thus far. As we transition to our next endeavor, we appreciate all we’ve learned, and forge ahead in the direction of joy and fulfilment; not just for ourselves, but for everyone we encounter along this journey.

As we launch our newest venture: “Seaside Sessions,” we hope that you will join us during one of these intimate, curated gatherings of creative exploration by the sea. Full details will be forthcoming soon, so be sure that you are ‘in the know’ by becoming a newsletter subscriber.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may acceptance, gratitude and appreciation bring you sustained joy and fulfilment.

Until next time,

MDP

Looking Back, Looking Ahead, and Looking Around

It’s hard to believe that our Art in the Parks Series is halfway through (!) We have had SO much fun meeting and making with our Creative Explorers. We thought that you might like a little look at what you have missed, so far…

There is plenty more discovery in store, as we prepare to welcome more folks to the March and April events. This series was designed to make including creative exploration a little easier, for new explorers and seasoned hands. Virtually all of our offerings can be carried along and applied to your other artistic endeavors. Make plans now to join in the fun!

Art in the Parks in March will feature Michelle’s magnificent mark-making mastery — you won’t want to miss it!

In seeking ways to encourage community building, we have established a virtual gathering place on Facebook — we call it The Virtual Circle, and it’s a great way to take part in the creative discussion (even if you are too far away to join us for our monthly events)! Join us! We are stoking the creative fires there with regular weekly content, such as: Wondering Wednesday, Thinking Thursday, and Seven for Saturday. This week’s Wondering Wednesday included a poll wherein we wondered what folks considered the biggest road block to creativity in their day-to-day. This conversation is ongoing, so come visit us in The Virtual Circle — take a look around, and visit with your fellow Creative Explorers. We’ll see you there!

Until next time,
~PLA

Making Space to Create

Mine is a custom-built studio in the daylight basement of my home. Designed and built by my husband who is also an artist, it is where I spend most of my time when I am not teaching art to children and people with disabilities. Before that, it was our guest bedroom. Before that, it was in a corner of our apartment’s master bedroom—a desk, a chair, a lamp, and a 3-drawer cabinet (I don’t know HOW I managed to create what I did in that space!). Whether yours is a spare room, in your garage, in a shared space with other artists, or your kitchen table…it doesn’t really matter where you create—it matters that you make space TO create. I truly believe the world would be a better place if everyone made space in their lives to create. We know that art can soothe and alleviate stress (which is why the adult coloring book craze was a success), and it can also open new areas of discovery, give a sense of accomplishment, and yes, make the world a more beautiful place. And, as one study found, creating art rewards your brain.

We here at Your Creative Connection have made providing welcoming spaces for women to create our mission. Something special happens when a group of women get together to create, either independently, or in collaboration. The laughter, the creative sparks, and the camaraderie are infectious. This is what we strive to present, to mixed media artists as well as those who are simply curious about a project or technique they’ve seen and wish to try.

Our Arts in the Parks series continues in February with: Notan: The Japanese Art of Light and Dark. Our creative space will be the Halifax Community Center in Raleigh, on Saturday the 16th. We hope you’ll join us to explore this elegant, and intriguing design method. Seats are limited, and registration is open now. Click here to reserve your seat, and to learn about the other creative events in the Art in the Parks series.

I hope you will make space in your life to create—the world and your brain will thank you for it!

Until next time,

MDP

New Year, New Creative Opportunities

The advent of a New Year brings with it hopes, dreams, and plans to live a better life. If your plans for 2019 include the desire for more creativity in your world, we humbly suggest that we have wonderful ways for you do so, in the company of others who desire the same. Our Art in the Parks series of creative experiences offers everyone—not only those who call themselves artists—the opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of creative pursuits. If you’ve been wishing there was a way to try out a technique without the expense of purchasing all of the supplies and equipment, we’ve solved that for you. If you’ve been wanting to explore new ways to express yourself, we’ll provide that, too. If you’ve been thinking of venturing into a new area of endeavor, and have always fancied yourself a creative soul, then our Art in the Parks series could be exactly what you’ve been searching for! We have assembled projects and techniques which we hope will pique your interest and get your creative juices flowing. But, if you need help in the creative juice area, we, or your fellow creative explorers will gladly assist—it’s all about making creative connections (that is our name, after all!). Take a look at what we have to offer for your creative enjoyment over the coming months here in Raleigh, NC.
All events run from 1pm to 4pm, tickets are $50 each, all supplies, light refreshments, and surprises included:

Saturday February 16th: Notan: The Japanese Art of Light and Dark
Halifax Community Center
Notan is a Japanese design concept involving the play and placement of light and dark elements as they are placed next to the other in the composition of art and imagery. Explore this simple yet visually stunning artform with us and discover its secrets (it’s not nearly as mind-bending as it looks!).

Saturday, March 23rd: Make Your Mark: Ready, Get Set, Stamp!
Sertoma Art Center
Making your work uniquely yours can be a challenge, and it’s often difficult to find the perfect image to make a project truly sing. Why not create your own? Join us to experience the “Zen of carving”, and try your hand at other methods of stamp-making using a variety of materials, many of which you may already have on hand.

Saturday, April 27th: Folded Book Magic: From Flat to Fabulous
Hill Street Community Center
Whether you like to write poetry, compile lists, sketch on the go, or have a beautiful place to store your photos, this even is for you! We will construct a lovely concertina book with customized covers that will be a perfect reflection of you and your creative voice. You will leave with a completed book and all of the know-how needed to build your own library of folded tomes.

Are your creative wheels turning? Do you see projects which speak to your creative soul? Great! Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early. And, because more is truly merrier, grab a friend, or your whole group; we’d love for you all to join us.

See you there, and Happy New Year!

And the Winner Is...

*Drum roll, please…* We are happy to announce that Amy Roswick is the WINNER of our 1st Anniversary/Cornucopia of Creative Goodness Giveaway! Congratulations, Amy! Thanks to everyone who played along: subscribing, liking, sharing, and following our offerings on social media. Stay tuned, we have more creative goodness in the works — 2019 promises to be quite colorful, indeed!

It’s not too late to join in the creative exploration of our Art in the Parks event series! Our 1st gathering is Sunday, December 9th at Millbrook Exchange Park in Raleigh. For all of the details, click on the Our Events tab above. Should you have any questions, please reach out. We are always happy to help.

See you soon, and congratulations again, Amy!
~ PLA

More Loot to Love!

In this weeks installment, we are sure to have something for you to be thankful for.  As mentioned in the announcement for this venture, we said we would be including original work from each of us.  I am here to give you the low-down on those inclusions *w00t!*  In addition to these bits of eye-candy, be sure to read to the end for extra opportunities to add some creative mojo to your holiday preparations!

First off, from the wildly talented Michelle Davis Petelinz of Kindred Spirit Studios, we have a gorgeous alcohol ink pendant on a black, cotton cord with an adjustable chain.  These pieces are absolute stunners – photos do not do them justice (as with most shiny things).  It will be just as at home with your favorite jeans and denim shirt as with your fancier duds for a night on the town.  No two are alike, so you can rest assured that you are getting a true, one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art.

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Then, from Penny L. Arrowood of Art Paper Love, we have a trio of marbled magnets mimicking the mineral Lapis Lazuli.  *wow – try saying that 3 times, real fast!?*  Created on Ampersand Stampboard substrates with multiple layers of Marabu EasyMarble and backed with a super powerful neodynum magnet, these lovelies will dress up any notes that they hold.  Their glass-like finish is the result of a layer of resin that gives them additional depth of color.  Whether they reside on your fridge or your filing cabinet, they will bring beauty to your day and add a little art to your day to day surroundings.

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Just a reminder:  it’s not too late to play along!  You have until tomorrow (11/30) at Midnight EST to take part in our 1st Anniversary Giveaway of The Cornucopia of Creative Goodness.  Please see the announcement blog post for all of the details on how you can earn entries into the drawing for this amazing bag of plenty!  Take a look at our Instagram feed to see each weeks additions, and don’t forget to join us on Instagram and Facebook tomorrow for the final inclusion.  The winner will be announced on Monday, December 3rd.  Will it be YOU?  It could very well be – but you can’t win if you don’t play! 

Seats are filling for our very first Art in the Parks series event – don’t miss out on a surefire way to add your own signature style to your gift-giving this holiday season!  Join us on Sunday afternoon, December 9th at the Millbrook Exchange Park to explore Monoprint Magic: Gorgeous Cards, Wraps, and Tags. You will leave loaded with inspiration to add pizzazz to your gift presentation this year, and take home tips, tricks, and techniques that you will use year-round next year.  Cost of $50.00 includes workshop, all materials, light refreshments, and Your Creative Connection surprises throughout!

Finally: this week marks the close of our weekly Thankful Thursday postings. After a year and a month, we are turning our attentions toward other ways to provide regular content here on the blog. We fully intend to continue this practice, and it is our sincere hope that we have inspired you to regularly reflect on those things for which you are thankful – on Thursdays and every other day!

Until next time,
~ PLA

On This Day of Giving Thanks....

We thank YOU, our loyal readers for your comments, your ideas, and your support of our mission, which is to bring you unique events designed to increase your creativity and connection. The year since we last wrote our Thankful Thursday posts on Thanksgiving Day has been one of excitement, exploration, discovery, disappointment, and ultimately, a strengthening of our resolve to continue on this path. We strongly believe in what we’re doing and presenting to the world, we are thankful that we get to do something we dearly love, and we are grateful that we get to share it with you, our Creative Explorers.

On this day of Thanksgiving, we also want to let you know that we are grateful to be listening to and learning from you. Our latest endeavor, “Art in the Parks,” which will begin on Sunday, December 9th has been designed with you in mind. This monthly series of mixed media events will be full of useful information about new techniques, there will be many opportunities to express your unique creativity, and we’ll show you new ways to use ‘old’ favorite art supplies. We are eager to have you join us for one or more of our events through April of 2019 and beyond (more about the ‘beyond’ in a later blog post, so stay tuned.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of Thanksgivings,

Michelle and Penny

So... About That Giveaway

Last week, we mentioned that we have LOADS of creative goodness in store for this month of our 1st Anniversary.  Part of that includes a FABULOUS Give Away that will take place at the end of this month.  We are grateful for all that we have learned and experienced in the past year, and we are translating that into a Cornucopia of Creative Goodness (yes, I am totally aware that it looks like a mere, decorative gift bag – but I can assure you it is oh-so-much-more) that will be shipped to 1 lucky winner on Monday, December 3, 2018.

“Well, you MUST send that bundle of inspirational happiness to ME!” I can just imagine you exclaiming at this very moment!  …and mayhap we shall, gentle reader – someone WILL win – who’s to say it won’t be you?  It is super simple to play, and you will have many opportunities to get your name into the pickle jar of possibility throughout the month.

In order to get in on the fun, you must first Subscribe to our (embarrassingly low-volume) Newsletter.  This simple act makes you a winner straight-away!  Our Newsletter Subscribers are the Inner Circle of our operation – the very first to know all that we have happening – that will be a choice place to be in the coming weeks, as we have several juicy things in the works! Are you already a Newsletter Subscriber? Thank YOU! That means that you are ALREADY entered in the drawing — read on for how you, too, can earn extra entries… 

Once you have done that, you can earn additional entries by taking part in all that we have to offer and share online in this month of gratitude.  Participation will be logged daily in the List of All There is to Know, and we will choose a winner at month’s end with the use of a Random Number Generator (sadly, we no long have the services of Wito the Wonder Dog to perform such tasks for us).

Here are a few ways you can score more entries, this week:

• If you have not already done so, Like our Facebook page – for a bonus entry, SHARE this post! (These alone will get you TWO entries — one for each action)

• Follow us on Instagram, and comment on our Friday Favorites post (for one entry)

• Follow us on Pinterest, and snag one of our Pins – we have all sorts of creative
  eye candy there. (for one entry)

We will be adding new content to the Cornucopia of Creativity each week, this month — including, but not limited to: Friday Favorites, Original Artwork from each of us, and MORE will be amassed in this delightful satchel come the end of November. Don’t miss out! Start today, and maximize YOUR chances to win it ALL!

Until next time!
~ Penny & Michelle