Did you get out for an inspiration adventure yesterday? We spent the afternoon out soaking in nature and visiting a very creative ceramic studio that is down the road from me. It was our last weekend to go blueberry hunting for the summer. I live in an area with farms in every direction and our little town is in what is known as the 'fruit belt'. My next adventure is going to be apple picking. I love going straight to the source and getting fruits and vegetables. So clean, so good and so close by! I need to learn how to can food. That's on my wish list - I would like to find an elderly lady to teach me how to do it so I don't kill of my family though!
Our second adventure took us a few miles down the road to a farm/studio/gallery. There is a group of artists who live along with lakeshore that have banded together called the Blue Coast Artists and this studio is part of that group. I couldn't believe we waited all summer to visit this place, it's been on my summer bucket list since April! Khnemo Studio features ceramic work by Dawn Soltysiak and other artists. They teach classes, hold workshops and studio open houses. They have a huge gallery upstairs and a smaller one downstairs and in the middle is the working studio where you might just catch the artist in action. Outside there are chickens roaming around, peacocks in an area near the barn and vegetables and honey for sale. It's a very peaceful place. I felt inspired and energized by our outing yesterday. Mission accomplished!
Today's Pity Party theme is a Class of One. I've never actually taken a class at a big bead show since I usually work them, but classes are a big part of the fun. So today let's pull out a favorite book or online tutorial and give it a try. I know this may be hard today since Sunday might be your family day, so maybe your task for today is finding a project that you'll work on later this week.
I'm going to gather with my beady partner in crime today and try out a project or two from Melissa Cable's very inspiring book, Metal Jewelry in Bloom. With minimal tools and lots of creativity Melissa shows how to create a garden in metal. It's quite amazing and one you should put on your list of must have books!
How is your Pity Party going this weekend? Have you had a chance to shop? I did! Have you busted your stash? Did you go on an inspiration adventure? It's been a fun way to avoid all my horrible jealous feelings of missing out on Bead Fest. Be sure to share with me on the posts from the last two days to enter to win a gift certificate from Humblebeads.com.
Today's giveaway is a another $25 gift certificate. In the comments share your favorite online jewelry tutorial with me. I will pick one random commenter on Monday as the winner.
My tutorials that I'm sharing are the ones here on my website, I have quite a collection of free projects that I've designed for my readers over the years. There are two pages of projects, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page. Share your tutorials in the comments below!