No Hill for a Stepper

Melanie and I 
At the beginning of the trail,
about to climb 
Old Baldy,

in Garner State Park.

It's been almost a month since we returned home from our annual week long RV trip
to a great RV park situated on a bluff just above the clear crisp water of the Frio River.
It's nestled among beautiful gnarly live oak trees and several pretty high hills
(which are considered mountains by this Texan).
The trip is definitely one of the highlights of my year.

I think we have been going to this park for well over 8 years.

I went with one BIG goal in mind...
to once again climb, what is known as,

Old Baldy.

Mind you, it would not have been my first trip up to the top, 
as I have climbed it probably 3 or 4 other times.

But, not for awhile.

I was determined to do it this time....

a gift to me on my 56th birthday!

I, along with my daughter, Melanie, 
took out the very morning of my birthday to conquer 
"the mountain".
It is quite inspiring when you reach the the top, 
as there is a huge additional pile of rocks there...
with the United States flag flying high and mighty in the wind
(when it blows)! 

I have to tell you....it felt good.....going up,
but especially good coming down!

I have been traveling quite a bit this past year to teach.
Tucson, AZ., Houston, TX., Coronado, CA., Round Top, TX.
and
Phoenix, AZ.
I have one more teaching gig for the year, and it's next month, 
once again in Round Top,  
Art Retreat at The Prairie.
I am way excited, 
as I will be teaching three new classes.

 From Rhinestones to Infinity
 This is a fun new class for me.
I have incorporated a huge vintage rhinestone brooch into this design,
along with some beautiful links called Double Infinity links.
These links were designed, and came straight from my friend Cindy Wimmer's book, 
The Missing Link,
 which will be out next month.
I, along with many other wonderful jewelry artists, 
was thrilled to be one of her guest designers.
Cindy has a pre-order link for it 
here.

 

I'll also be teaching another new torch fired enamel class

at The Prairie...

Ruffled Poppies

Lots of fun techniques in this class!

Scroll down the page and read all about it here.

Last, but certainly not least,

I'll teach a fun bangle class on Sunday.

Birds of a Feather   

So, won't you come flock with us in Round Top? 

 I can't begin to tell you how much fun we have at this intimate setting.  

And, how can you not love anything Rachel Ashwell inspired?

~ diane~
xo

Coronado Dreaming

The time went by way to quickly....

Art Retreat by the Beach 

is now a sweet, sweet memory packed away 

in this itty bitty brain of mine.
I had loads of fun with two of my fellow teachers and dear buddies,
Riki Schumacher & JoAnnA Pierotti.

I knew this one would be special.

But, they all are.
Think this one just a little more though =)

On Friday I taught one of my favorite cuff classes,

On a Wing.

(side note:  I'm teaching this class at Art Unraveled,

and it's filling up fast =) 

Here's my Friday buds.

Sally, Mary, Jan
Dawn, Joan, Marilyn, =) and Crystal
*****
Saturday was another great class day,
as I taught 

By the Sea,  
which is one of my gilding with solder classes.
I love teaching this technique, and have to tell you I never tire of it! 

What a special group of ladies on Saturday....
Marilyn, Joan, Ann
Sally, Celelesie, =) and Celeste
Here's a few of their creations.

I love the amazing attachments they brought along to place on their collars.

*****
Sunday I taught one of my torch fired enameling classes that I call
Framed.

I love teaching this class.  

But, the tiny mother of pearl belt buckles are becoming more & more difficult to find, even though I think I might have one more batch =)

*wink*

 Here's a couple of student's pendants.

Aren't they just the best, and so full of personality?

Oh, don't want to forget....

we also went on a group field trip that Saturday to The Attic, 

a sweet antique shop on the island...

all planned by our lovely hostesses

Barb & Erin.

What a great group of ladies!

*****

BTW....I have just finished a second enameling class,

and 

it will premiere at  

Art Retreat at The Prairie,

in Round Top, Texas...this Fall.

Barb is about to open up registration any day now....

Hope to see you there,

or at my next teaching gig, 

which is next month...

Art Unraveled,

in Phoenix, Arizona!

Time Flies When I'm Having Fun

In just 4 very short weeks, I will be standing in Tucson, Arizona,
as I'll be there teaching three classes 
at 
Art Retreat in the Desert.
Two classes are first timers for me, 
coming from my teaching bag of tricks.
On Friday, February 8th, I'll be teaching

 Watchful Resin Charms with a Splash of Bangles
 We'll be pouring some resin in some fun little vintage watch bezels,
that can be used in the class I will teach on Sunday,
or as fun charms for the 
bangles we will also be designing in class.
Have to tell you, these bangles can become addicting.
You can wear a heap of them all at one time, 
and you won't be able to sneak up on anyone if you do!

They are fun and quite simple to make.
Really.
On Saturday, February 9th,  
I'll be teaching my second new class,

Time to Nest

We'll be playing with vintage mother of pearl buckles, recycled sari silk, 
vintage mother of pearl buttons, and a cool watch bezel...
that you can fill to your heart's desire. 
Then on Sunday, February 10th,
I'll be sharing one of my favorite techniques in a class 
called
The Gilded Heart

 Lookie what you can make....you will love it!
Here's a piece that Maria, one of my talented students,
made last October in the class I taught at The Prairie.

 BTW, Barb will be opening Spring registration
any day now...here,
for Art Retreat at the Prairie!
Now, back to the Desert...
I do hope you can come to Tucson as Barb has a field trip to the 
Tucson Gem Show scheduled on Thursday before the classes begin.
I know I'll be on that bus!
And, today she announced that she'll have
Magnolia Pearl 
clothing at the retreat in Tucson!
She had some of Robin's latest designs at The Prairie last fall, 
and of course who can resist Magnolia Pearl?
They, themselves, are works of art.
Take a stroll online to see her beautiful clothes.
You will love them.... 
*****
If you'd like to see where else I'll be teaching in 2013,
I now have most of them posted thru August, 
so just scroll back up to the top of my blog, 
right under the header you will see a tab that says
Classes.
They are ALL listed there, and right next door you will see a tab for my  
On-line Classes.
This is where you'll see all the details posted for Artful Gathering 2013.
Yes, I will be teaching two online classes there once again this summer.
More details about which two will be revealed in a couple of months!
I have lots of things going on behind the scenes...as always, 
but...
 if you are on Facebook, I'd love for you to friend me,
I seem to be there a lot more these days than here!

This was a class picture taken on Sunday just before I taught my class,
On A Wing, at The Prairie!
It was a magical day....love you guys!


  

fall is just around the corner at The Prairie

"Hope Flies"

a new cuff series, I call "On a Wing".

It will make its debut at

The Prairie 

this fall.

Along with

"Framed"

A class full of technique...torch fire enameling, 

metal work, drilling into delicate mother of pearl,

and more.

And,

 "Queen Bee"

Gilding With Solder

Registration is now open here, so don't hesitate,

word is beginning to travel ~ FAST!

 

take me back to The Prairie

The Prairie was a dream come true...for both Barb and I.

And, Deryn.

Deryn and I actually ended up staying next door in a B&B called Meyerland Farm

which turned out to be quite the experience.

The farmhouse we stayed in was the original family farm house that Pat and her husband Felix Meyer, stayed in while the house they are now living in was built.

The very first afternoon we had an opportunity to sit in these rockers and sip a glass of wine, while the cool breeze poured softly across the long front porch.  All I could smell was the mounds of star jasmine that grew in a flower bed next to the house.

 Even the little screened in porch would have been a great option any of the days we were there.  But, we had teaching to do, so that never happened.

Each morning we arose, walked across the yard to the "big house" and enjoyed the most scrumptious breakfast spread you could imagine.

I can't believe I don't have a picture of any of them....just too excited I guess.

Then we would hop in my Expedition, and drive less than a quarter of a mile, actually just down the road to the next gap, to begin our day at The Prairie.

Look at this beautiful classroom at the Ranger Lounge.  

Barb and Erin had decorated it beautifully.  The students were amazed when they arrived and found their names on some special "Prairie Flowers", along with personalized name tags & gifts to boot. 

Day One began and ended without a hitch, and for that we were most grateful.

And, in the process, some beautiful pieces were being designed in both our classes.

 This was Kelli's Crystal Confetti in progress, 

which she finished once she got home.

 Marcy had her's on the next day!  It was gorgeous!

Several of the ladies, 

once they attached their focal just couldn't add another thing to it... 

they were just that stunning!

I couldn't agree more.  

Sometimes more is too much.

Here's Lee with hers on before she left that afternoon.

And, this was Rita's in progress sometimes during the day!

All so different, and all so beautiful.

I was proud of each and every one of them.

Here was Deryn's classroom, held on the opposite side of the Ranger Lounge,

on the first day.

It became mine on the second and third,

as I taught a new two-day class I call

Impressions.

The first day was filled with metal prep work.

 First inside.

Then outside on the back porch of the Lounge.

Erin became a pro with the Dremel.

Once these steps were finished, it was on to etching.

Here are some of the finished pieces made on the first day, 

after they enjoyed "playing" with Gilders Paste.

That evening after class, Barb had made reservations for us at 

Royer's Cafe, in Round Top.

The food was delicious, but the company was out of this world.

We laughed so much, and had such a great time....I have to tell ya,

I would do this all again in a heartbeat.

Day Two of Impressions

held more time outside, but this time laying down solder.

 What a great day with some great ladies.

It  ended with some beautiful pieces.

I am so proud of you ALL!

Below are LeeAnn's.

These are Agnes'.

And, then this is Erin's cuff...

Gosh, it all went by so fast.

And before I knew it, it was time to go...

But, not before I rode the scooter!

 Okay, I do some crazy things when I am WAY tired!

This was one of them.

Thank God, I didn't fall down and break my neck....

I was driving Deryn and I home!

So, if you are wondering if this is going to happen again.

Well yes, as plans are now in the works for two retreats in the Fall.

In September Barb will be having a mixed media art event, 

and then in October Deryn and I will once again be teaching jewelry classes...

all new ones!

Watch for more details here and at Vivi Magoo.

You won't want to miss any of them.