…..and today, like most days i am packing from what i haven’t even unpacked from my last teaching trip!!  But…i can honestly say i am loving every single minute teaching on the road this year!  Well, maybe not the time when i missed connecting flights and arrived at my destination 7 hours AFTER i was supposed to teach a class?  Stuff happens, when you’ve traveled all over the country, on 36 airplanes since January 10, 2013!  This is my “heart with wings” painted journal that i am using for class inspiration in my workshops.  It’s symbolic of my life, taking my passion and flying creatively and literally all over the country.

It’s bliss, creating, painting, journaling, sewing, laughing, sharing and nurturing new friendships along the way.  The first half of this year has been such a whirlwind, and i am intentionally making myself embrace every single moment wherever i am.  Having raised my awesome four kids in so many busy years, carpooling, going to sports and school activities, etc., i was always a spaz, in constant motion ready for “the next thing to do”.  At this point in my life, (now that the kids are grown and on their own) i’ve forced myself to truly “just be”, be present in right now, and not worry about what is coming next, what i have to do, how busy i am.  Because if i get caught up in all that my head will explode!  Making myself 110% present, I am so very blessed each and every time i schlep way too many art supplies, and set foot into a classroom where eager, sparkly souls are eagerly waiting to put on their own creative wings.

Being a “travel teaching empty nester” is such an honor and privilege.  I can share my passion for art and creativity and give wings to others.  I embrace every destination and venue, stop, breathe, “just be” and cherish the moments.  From the bottom of “my heart with wings”, I want to thank you if you’ve taken my classes and workshops this year.  And, you can check out my travel teaching schedule tab at the top of the blog and see if i’ll be in your area soon.  Join my creative adventures and let your artsy self fly!  More than likely i will be FLYING to meet YOU!  

Congrats to “Sandy” who left this comment and is the random winner of the TAP Class with Lesley Riley.

  Sandy, email me (jzsharpe@yahoo.com) with your email address and i will connect you to Lesley for your class prize.  Thanks to everyone who left comments.

Do you know TAP?  I’m sharing today’s post for my friend Lesley Riley who invented this amazing product to transfer artwork or photos onto multiple surfaces.  She has a cool new online class about TAP that will bring your mixed media art into another dimension.  

I can’t wait to mix my artwork with fabric and my free motion sewing.  As shown in the top photo, you can even draw, marker, and PAINT on the TAP paper and transfer those images!  I am having a ton of fun experimenting and made a print of my very favorite piece of art onto fabric and combined it with some of my favorite colorful designer fabrics. 

You can learn more about this cool product in Lesley’s new class that is a true mixed media art adventure.  You can even WIN a spot in Lesley’s class by leaving a comment here on my blog or the blogs of my other art friends listed below.  Let’s get TAPPING!!
Create with TAP Transfer Paper

Wabi-sabi what?  Here’s a post that is “outside of my art box”, and it’s fun!  I’m so excited to be a part of my friend Serena Barton’s blog hop today, after reviewing her brand new book “wabi-sabi ART WORKSHOP”.  She even has a blog about the book HERE.  Serena is an incredible mixed media artist and a sweet, wonderful soul,  a fellow instructor on the teaching circuit with me.  When you pick up this beautiful technique book, you’ll see that my artwork is way, way different from the “wabi-sabi” art on pages with detailed techniques and samples.  I think i am so intrigued with this art principle, because i like the way “wabi-sabi” sounds when you say it, LOL!!

Check out my other friends sharing their “wabi-sabi”.  As artists, we are all so unique and our different approach to making art is what makes sharing our work such a magical experience.  Many of my closest friends are artists with styles that are completely the opposite of mine.  The beauty of these rich friendships is that we celebrate and share our artwork and talents. 
6/1: Sara Naumann
6/3: Jill Berry 
6/4 Carol Sloan 
6/5 Liz Kettle
6/6 Joanne Sharpe
6/8 Seth Apter
6/9 Alicia Caudle
6/10 Pam Carriker

I love Serena’s book and i am “playing in the wabi-sabi sandbox”  today, sharing my own interpretation of the concept in how i make my own mixed media art shown in this painted and stitched mini quilt.

Wabi-sabi is creative concept as Serena defines in the book as: “a Japanese term that refers to that which is imperfect, impermanent, aged, humble and authentic.”  I especially responded to the ideas of “imperfect and authentic” with my free motion quilt.  It is very organic where line and color are guided by the randomness of how the painted dye spread on the white fabric.  Stitching enhanced the image to allow the “happy accidents” to pop. 

 This is my “wabi-sabi”….feeling the brush create the colorful image…. the sewing stitches following the organic movement in each painted puddle… it’s authentically handmade celebrating the gorgeous imperfections.

Serena’s book is full of techniques and ideas that i can’t wait to try!  It’s the kind of book i know i will read over and over, taking me out of my comfort zone, inspiring new directions for my artwork.  I would like to use my vivid bright color palette with some of her really cool mixed media techniques while embracing all the principles of wabi-sabi.  These concepts challenge my creativity, bringing me to a to a higher spiritual level with my art, to embrace the world and celebrate imperfection and happy accidents.  

To enter, go visit Serena’s new wabi sabi art workshop blog. Leave a comment there for the prize drawing on June 8th.  Have fun finding your own “wabi-sabi”!