Something weird’s going on

I thought everything had gone really well with my recent hysterectomy. I left the hospital and took it easy for three days. I used ibuprofen for controlling the pain because I don’t like the side effects of narcotics. What I noticed when I eased off the Advil was this funny feeling every time I emptied [...]

Junk Drawer: Stephanie Lee

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to take Stephanie Lee’s Junk Drawer Metalsmithing class. The class was held at Diane Havnen-Smith’s studio in Clackamas. Diane served a delicious lunch and the smaller class size provided a more intimate gathering. Diane has an amazing little cedar house in her back yard which was a heavenly place [...]

A&S: Stephanie Rubiano

The first class I took at Hampton Art & Soul was Stephanie Rubiano’s Perching Pixies. This was the first class of the week and I was excited and anxious to get started. I didn’t read the materials list as thoroughly as I should have and brought prints of my images, they should have been copies. [...]

Shopping therapy

I participated in some shopping therapy this weekend. Steve and I drove to the gorge on Saturday. The drive is beautiful and Hood River is such a quaint little city. Multnomah Falls is one of the most beautiful places in the state (though we didn’t stop). We really wanted to go to the coast but [...]

A&S: Susan Lenart Kazmer

One of the most fun classes I took at Hampton Art & Soul was Susan Lenart Kazmer’s Uncommon Objects in Tassels and Fringe. I had some flashbacks from a jewelry class I took in high school art. I remember learning how to use a jewelers saw, a bench pin, and a vice but for the [...]

A&S: Michael deMeng

I took Michael deMeng’s assemblage class Morpheus Box at Hampton Art & Soul. I was nothing more than terrified. If you’re familiar with his art, it’s pretty intense; filled with depth of meaning, strong passion, concentrated color, and interesting (not to mention strange) found objects. So far from my sense of style (think architectural pieces, [...]

A&S: Sally Jean

I took two classes at Hampton Art & Soul taught by Sally Jean Alexander and her husband, Brad: Little Pink Houses and Bottle-icious Broaches. I respect Sally’s no-photo and no-visitor wishes. These policies add to the value of the class as well as increasing the demand for her jewelry and classes and protecting her business [...]

How was your weekend?

My weekend was okay. I had a hysterectomy on Friday and was discharged from the hospital on Saturday and was ordered to take it easy no matter how great I felt for three days. Former period cramps were about a 15 on the pain scale but the minor tenderness and discomfort from surgery is about [...]

Hampton Art & Soul

I returned home last night from a wonderful art-filled vacation in Hampton, Virginia. I am so happy I went because I made so many new friends. That is a big accomplishment for me. I am usually very shy. Often I feel uncomfortable around others who I perceive to be superior to me in some way [...]