Our Studio Muse for the day...

When I knew I was coming to the US to teach, I started looking for some classes I could take too.  Learning for me is vital as anything else I do.  I had managed to secure two classes for myself in-between my own teaching schedule.  Unfortunately, one fell away, much to my disappointment but the one that held was a day painting @ Jenny Doh's with some of my dear art friends... Chrissie, Kathy (KJ) and Kara.  We planned it well in advance and we were super excited.

I was nervous, excited and I knew I was going to be out of my comfort zones but I was almost desperate for it.  We decided to paint a big acrylic piece, a portrait.

Jenny asked Kitty if she could take some pictures of her so we could all paint her.  I loved that we all painted the same reference and I love that we painted her.  It just felt so right.

We decided to work with this image.  I loved that hand and I knew right away, I wanted to paint it.

Step 1 - sizing up - It wasn't easy but I was enjoying

Step 2 - highlights first, middle and dark

Step 3 - trying not to freak out completely

I found this new approach rather intimidating.

I struggled with new techniques and a different way of painting, thinking and approaching the canvas.  My whole body resisted and I was uncomfortable.  I loved step 1 and 2 but by the time I reached step 3, I was feeling panicked.  We stopped for lunch but I could hardly concentrate at lunch because I was a little freaked out, right.  The truth was, I wasn't sure I was going to find my way back from the mess I was making.  I was doing some deep sighing, a sign I'm struggling.

Hahaha... that being said, it felt good to be so uncomfortable.  Jenny was fabulous and I loved her teaching methods and approach.  It was good to be learning new things.

I was happy where I left off and I have brought her home to finish, but I haven't gone there yet.  I know I will.  For now she's up #inmystudio.

What an incredible day.  I haven't felt this challenged for a long time and I'm so grateful for the time, the lessons and the togetherness of this day.  Truly one of the highlights of my trip.  As for my Kitty girl, she watched the whole day and loved seeing all the versions of herself start to emerge.  It was an incredible experience for both of us.

Thank you ladies, for making this dream a reality.

The many faces of Kitty - each one holding elements of her and her character

I'll remember this day for a long time.  My heart was overflowing.

Much Love, Jeanne-Marie

Teaching @ Jenny Doh's

I'm a huge fan of this incredible woman who in as remarkable in person as she is online.  I feel so honoured to have had this opportunity  to teach in her beautiful creative space and to meet her in person too.  Not to mention, the crowd she attracts.  It was quite something.  I was particularly excited about teaching this class because we mostly all knew each other,  online and/or in person and the excitement was contagious.  I wasn't nervous but more excited. I was quite emotional, in the best way.

Jenny's Studio is full of beautiful art and Kitty was loving all the powerful messages that totally speaks her language.  I was utterly in awe of it all.  What a place to experience.  You gals are so lucky that you get to come here for classes as often as you do.  I'm so thrilled you have this.

Lindsay said it looked like she was having a coffee date with Taylor Swift :-)

Day 1 - Kitty and Lindsay went out for the day.  Lindsay is Kathy's daughter and they kindly offered to entertain Kitty for the day.  She took her out thrifting and for her first coffee and great heart to heart chats.  I was so grateful - thank you Lindsay and Kathy.

My Sweet Dottie Friend - we meet in Italy 5 years ago and this year will be our 3rd trip to Italy together.  Can't wait

This sweet girl and I got to create here together and again at Kara's studio - what a treat.  Thank you Jen

Oh my, this beautiful lady - I love that we are friends and have ended up being such good ones too. Kindred Spirits.

Two beautiful women, who are old friends and who are so dear to me and I got to hang with both of them. Lucky me.

Old friends and new getting together, some of us for the first time and some of us, again.  It felt like a reunion of sorts and it was magical.  I got to meet my online friends that have been so dear to me and who I go way way back with.  I can't even tell you how much that meant to me.  Again, thank you to those who flew in, or drove so far to take this class and I'm thrilled we got to create together.

I am carrying you all in my heart.  Thank you for choosing to spend these two days with me.

Jen's beautiful work

Michelle Hilliard - incredible

The Gypsy Cafe - I was immediately in love with this wall - where we had lunch on Day 1

The level of work was off the charts.

I soooo loved teaching this class and I loved how open everyone was to trying new things.  I think I am in love with teaching paperclay.  My favourite part was the one on one work with each person on both days.  I loved seeing how inventive and intuitive everyone was.  It was such a beautiful group of woman and the class dynamic was incredible.  Thank you for making it such a joy for me and thank you for teaching me too.  The level of work was so inspirational. 

We had our lunches together and some of us had dinner together, those of us who stayed in town for the night.  I adored the personal connections so much and all the spoils.  Thank you.

At the end of day 2, we had circle time of sharing and vulnerability - what a precious way to end an incredible two days.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, this was an incredible time for Kitty and myself, one we will never forget.

Hello SanDiego... Hello Beautiful Chrissie

I have no words to express how excited I was to be meeting my sweet Chrissie friend.  I was literally giddy.  Kitty kept asking me what was wrong with me.  Hahaha, I was just so a precious moment for me.  Jim and Chrissie collected us from the airport and we arrived back at Chrissie's home in the dark, settled in and all had supper together with her beautiful family.  We sat chatting into the night, it was delightful.  I immediately felt at home and like we had known each other forever.  I loved Chrissie's family and I loved that we got to hang with her daughter, McKenzie too.  There was an ease that flowed and I loved it all.  What a treat to just slot in to their everyday life and move through the days and the moments together.

We had a full schedule heading up to Santa Ana several times and I was so grateful to Chrissie for charting us backwards and forwards and arranging as much as she did for us.  She was truly remarkable.

Beautiful Encinitas, San Diego

We had a gentle Friday at home, getting my packs ready for my weekend class @ Jenny's.  We took a beautiful walk to Downtown Encinitas for views and tacos.  In the afternoon we popped over the Chrissie's neighbour who was also South African and we had a lovely visit.

So San Diego / California felt more like Cape Town to me, the climate and foods were more similar and of course, the laid-back coastal vibe.  It felt good.   We were still getting to bed early because the days were so full of new things and full of adventure and the stress of traveling too.  We had been in the States for almost 10 days, our clocks were finally resetting, albeit East Coast time it was still easier than being on South African time.  That being said, I was still waking up all hours of the night, to chat to Digz and Corks and wide awake at 3am (North Carolina timezone).  The nice thing about that is that I got to have a lovely chat with Phyllis each morning.

We were missing her and Daisy a lot and Bob too.

xoxoxo

Courteney's first Uni Exhibition and we were across the world...

It was pretty heartsore for both Courteney and I that I would be missing her very first University Exhibition.  Not being there for her for this huge milestone was a biggie for both of us.  Digby wasn't in the position to help physically with his injury so it was stretching for all of us.  For me, in letting go and trusting she will be okay and for her, knowing she could to do this, alone.  I had total confidence in her but not being there to see it in person and for her to feel my love, pride and admiration for her work... OUCHIE!  Some of the pieces I hadn't even seen yet.

She did beautifully.  She worked through the night to get her exhibition pieces finished and her space set up and Digby was so proud of her.  Luckily for videos and messages, I got to be part of it as much as I could.  I was missing them both so much!

First year students work in all the disciplines... drawing, photography, sculpture, painting, printing and new media.  It's fast paced and it really has been an intense time and a massive adjustment for all of us as a family.

So proud of you, my girl!

First semester done and half way through your first year of University.

xoxox

So close but so far...

How beautiful is this city... I can't believe I was in Chicago and I didn't get to leave the airport.  I have friends here, dear friends and I wish I could have included a few days to visit but my schedule was so tight.

So close but so far... It's still on my bucket list for sure.

It is so beautiful from up above.  I'm so glad I got to glimpse it.  I also got to see Lake Michigan from above and that has always been something I have wanted to see, ever since I was a little girl.

All a little surreal.

Another Wishlist Item - check!

This happened in Chicago...

A soft pretzel was on the Wishlist and boy was it worth it.  We don't eat bread / gluten but we weren't about to miss out on this.

It was warm and delicious and we are still wondering why we don't have an Auntie Annies' here in South Africa.   Once again we will try and find the recipe and Kitty will attempt to make her own.

As you can tell my little foodie was in heaven.

Auntie Annies Soft Pretzels

All American Diner...

This was definitely on Kitty's American Wishlist and when we drove home with Phyllis on our arrival day, we spotted Pop's Diner.

We knew we needed to go.

It was only open for breakfast and lunch.

We couldn't wait!

It was everything we had imaged and hoped it would be and it was truly a delightful moment in both of our hearts.  For Kitty it was everything she had seen on tv and it delivered right down to the chirpy waitress.  And for me it was so wonderful for me to see Kitty's dream come true.

---

Diner Coffee

How perfect is this interior

Waffles, banana & choc chip - it was good.

We tried lots of new foods...

We even got to try biscuit and gravy and it was nothing like what we expected.  We had no idea the gravy would be white.  We also tried grits.  It was good to learn and discover new things.  It's exactly what we hoped for.  Kitty being a total foodie too, discovering, experimenting and trying new things was a highlight of note.

The sweet sound of music

After breakfast, Kitty got her long awaited ukulele, we love the color she got and she made sweet tunes the rest of the trip.  We spent a beautiful day in Hendersonville with Phyllis, slow and relaxed.  We stopped for coffee and took in this beautiful town.  We couldn't have asked for a better day.  The down days were some of my favourite days.  Time to chat and connect deeply, to share stories and get to know each other.

'Devil's on Horseback'

On our last night in North Carolina, on our way home from Random Arts Studio, we popped in to have tapas at this sweet spot and Phyllis introduced us to 'Devil's on Horseback'.  I think they might have been the most fabulous things we have ever tasted in our lives.

We have found the recipe online and we will be making them for sure.

We without a doubt LOVED Southern food as much as we loved the people.

Thank you so much Phyllis, Jane and the beautiful people of the South, we ate together, we visited and we connected and shared.  It was a truly remarkable time and I could share forever about this leg of my trip and the photos too many to share them all.  You left a lasting impression on our hearts and souls and I know we have grown just by being together.  Thank you, for the love and most of all for the beautiful Southern Hospitality that we had heard so much about.

For the folk that flew in and traveled from far especially to meet me and to work together for the few days that we had, I'm utterly humbled by this gesture.  Thank you, you will never know what that sacrifice meant to me.

It filled our love tanks to the brim.

Next stop was Chicago on our way to San Diego...

My kind of bears...

In Hendersonville they have these creatively painted bears all around the streets.  They are commissioned works by local artists and at some point they get auctioned off and the proceeds go to the charity or cause who commissioned each artist and piece.

I just love this initiative. I loved them all and what a special way to beautify your streets.

First time, in person teaching @ Saluda

On Sunday Jane organised a meet and greet at her studio in Saluda.  It was a cheese and wine and an answer and question session, open to anyone who wanted to meet me.  It really was a wonderful time.  The questions were great and I got to talk about my journey through the past few years of my art that lead me to my Teabag Exhibition.  I was nervous, I don't have the loudest voice so I had to use a lot of energy to speak up.

Kitty stood by my side and handed me water when I needed it, and I needed it a lot.  I am not that comfortable having everyone looking at me so having her beside me was rather anchoring.  And she was a lovely distraction too.

Kate Thompson and Phyllis Riley

Thank you for capturing this Phyllis Riley

I love this capture so much

After this time, we did some teabag demonstrations and I did a painting session for some folk that got to stay behind and paint with me.  I met some new people and it was lovely.  We didn't have a lot of time and my paints were fighting with me.  The humidity level was high and the aircon was on and my paints felt like plastic goo so I was struggling.  Not easy when you are doing a demo.  I've always pretty much worked in the same climate so weather issues didn't even cross my mind.  Luckily I had my sweet friend Phyllis Riley standing right beside me the whole time and her gentle presence made me feel okay.

Thank you my friend, you will never know what that meant to me.

My nerves were edgy and my hands were shaky but everyone was so kind with me and helped me find some calm.  It was my first time doing something like this so the stress was to be expected.

Loved hanging with Kitty and Phyllis in between sessions @ Random Arts.

Thank you Random Arts, Jane and Phyllis for hosting me and for allowing this to be my first experience.

On the following Tuesday and Wednesday I taught SoulBearers and I was so excited to be sharing this class and I felt less intimidated by it.  And playing with clay is kind of nurturing for me, so I felt more encouraged that the shaky hands would be less of an issue and it was.  I only had a few moments when everyone gathered close around that my hands would take on a life of their own. :-)

I think being utterly in love with paper clay definitely helped.  I had no idea how I would respond to teaching in person, in this forum. I was either going to love it or hate it.  And I have to say I absolutely loved it.  

Most of all I loved the people and the soul connecting one on one during the lessons.  I learn as much from my peers as they did learning from me and each other and that to me was the most magical part of all of it.  

Demo number 2 - a seated SoulBearer

I'm so grateful for the incredible artists I got to meet and I feel I made such precious connections.  I will never forget this time.

---

Meeting these beautiful people in person was my biggest highlight to my trip in Saluda.  Everyone was truly amazing and blessed me in abundance.  Generosity and kindness was off the charts and I couldn't have hoped for more, it was beautiful in every way.

How beautiful are these girls.  I feel so blessed to have had these precious moments with all of them.

What an incredible bunch of souls.

My life has been deeply enriched by these incredible ladies - I know I'm a little changed after this experience.  And I know Kitty loved every minute of meeting you all.  To all of you who showed her how to play her Uke - it was a moment she will never forget.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

xoxoxo 

Kate came to play...

Jane Powell had asked if I would paint her last cabinet door for the Random Art's Kitchen and I said... "yes".  It was a bit harder and bigger than I expected and the pressure to do something special was on.  Kate was due to arrive too and I was rather excited to meet her.

Kate and Phyllis are good friends and often get together to work in studio.  It was a dream come true to be in studio with both of them.  I got to work behind Kate and see her panting this exquisite piece all day.  I loved being able to watch her process.  I worked on my cabinet door and Phyllis was working on two different paintings.  I couldn't believe I was sitting in Phyllis' incredible studio working with both these amazing artists.

My Kitchen cabinet door

Kate in Action - Photo by Phyllis

I'm so grateful my door was done but I just wish we had more time in studio together.

I'm so grateful Kate drove out to stay over with us, I know it was a long drive for her.  But it was such a treat for me.  We all went out to dinner together with Bob too.

All 'n all, another fabulous day.

Thank you Kate and Phyllis - this will be one for the books.

Jane with her new kitchen cabinet door.  I loved all the doors.

Beautiful Asheville...

We headed out with a mission and that was to explore Asheville.  Phyllis started us in the art district and we got to enjoy the graffiti art in this designated area.  It was a visual treat of note.  And a brilliant day for our instamatic cameras.  What an area.  I love that they have made a space for local artists.

WHITE DUCK TACO'S

It was the first time Kitty and I had ever tried Taco's and it was heaven, right there.  To date, we haven't been able to match White Duck's Tacos.  We came close in San Diego but we will keep looking.

Thank you Phyllis for the intro, we might be a little addicted.

Bangkok shrimp was incredible.

---

After lunch we headed to Cheap Joe's Art Stuff.

What a cool art shop.  I needed to pick up some basics for my first class.

I love art shops and I was quite keen to see the local ones and if what they had on offer was very different to our shops.  Michaels and DickBlicks were definitely on my list of art shops to visit too.

I even got to pop into Phyllis' little art shop in Hendersonville called the Starving Artist.  It was a real treat. 

We absolutely loved this building 4 Floors of artists studios and spaces.  Live demos and artists working and selling their work.  I was so blown away by this initiative.  

Beautiful sites in Asheville

I love this image with the flag blowing - the view from the Sky Bar.

Honey Heaven in Asheville - a little honey tasting session.

 A delightful book store with a Champagne Bar.  What a beautiful way to end this perfect day in this creative town.  My artist heart was overflowing.  Phyllis is a brilliant tour guide.  We had the best day.

We once again headed home and headed straight to bed.

Thank you Phyllis.

Love Jeanne-Marie

Our first full day in America...

After a goodish night sleep we woke up ready to gently take in our first full day in the United States.  I think our first stop being North Carolina, was the perfect entry point for our journey into the US.  We had heard about "Southern Hospitality" but seeing it in action took us by surprise and we truly loved all of it.  Arriving at Phyllis and Bob's was a soft landing and we needed it.

We woke up to good coffee and sweet Daisy Girl loves and Phyllis who is every bit as wonderful in person as she is online, well even better.  She has remarkable capacity and is one funky mama.  She is very much up with the times and styling all the way and Kitty and her hit it right off.  Phyllis worked through Kitty's American Wishlist, no problem.  I know this for sure, we will never forget our precious time in the South or our time in Phyllis' home.

First stop... 

A trip to the Grocery store was the first thing on our list of things to experience because we had heard about the choices... and we were blown away, for sure.  The chip lane (I say 'lane' because it took me around 20 seconds to walk the length of it)... the variety.  GOODNESS me.

"I love MILK DUDS" - became our favourite line this whole trip.

We popped into Walgreens to get American adaptors for your equipment and everyone was so genuinely friendly in the stores.  The friendliness really bowled us over.  After a few errands Phyllis took us through to meet Jane Powell from Random Arts and to see the studio and I took my box of goodies for set up.  It was perfect.

On our way home we stop off for an all American Burger at Wendy's... another wishlist - check.

We headed home and crept into bed early.  Our clocks were out of sync for sure.

Long haul... the anxiety was real.

All I can say is traveling long haul isn't for the fainthearted.  I was anxious to be flying so far and for so long.  The furtherest I've gone is Europe so this was new ground for me.  All I can say is I was grateful for my buddy who was so excited to be doing her first international flight.

Everything was so exciting... her blanket, earphones, movies and the aeroplane food.

She was delightful.

But even her delight was waning after two long days of voyage and navigating 5 flights, the different airports with short layovers and the time zones were killer.  The stress was real and my anxiety was off the charts.  I know there is lots of stuff happening in and around the world at the moment but the angst at security check points were a little more than intense.  And a MotherDaughter traveling duo just seemed suspect to some, right?  I know the times require it, but my nerves were edgy by the end.  

We arrived at sweet Phyllis exhausted, in dire need of a shower and not able to put another morsel down our throats.  A shower and bed is all we could manage.

We were so grateful to have a soft landing at Phyllis'.

We are home...

We are back home and unpacked and surviving the jet lag and busy catching up on love, life and everything else.

We are happy to be home and back with our loved ones and pups... nothing like distance and time away to make the reconnection sweeter.

I'm busy going through the pictures and thinking how I'm going to share our journey.  Please bear with me as I find my way with this.  I'm busy working through all my emails and letters from while I was away and I will touch base as soon as I can.

As for this girl of mine, she was a pleasure to have as a travel companion.  I'm so grateful for her and our trip and that we got to experience this together... it changed us completely, from deep within.

For now, I will leave you with one thing that seems to be the only thing I can truly get out of my soul at this stage and that's...

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

Thank you for having us, for loving and accepting us, for graciously hosting us and filling our hearts to the brim with generosity, kindness, hospitality and abundance.

We have come home expanded... heart and soul.  I can never thank you enough for what this trip did for my Kitty girl, it came at the most perfect time for her and I know it's been an absolutely defining moment in her life.  The gratitude and emotions are spilling over and I'm not sure how to contain all of that.  I hold in my hands these beautiful keepsakes of our time and the rest remains in my heart to tap into during the next while and I look forward to unpacking that more with you.

All my love, always... Jeanne-Marie

Final Magazine Spread...

My final magazine spread for my TinyBags story.

Premier Lounge Magazine

I loved that they included this piece on a full double page spread... because it was one of my Dad's favourite pieces.

  These are not magazines you can buy on the shelf anywhere, they are especially placed in private airport lounges. I'm thrilled to say that my Aunt and Uncle were flying to the UK to see their daughter when they stumbled across this in their Airport Premier Lounge.  I just loved that.

So grateful for the exposure.  Thank you once again Premier.

NightCapped Girls...

I don't know what to say about these two girls... they have continued to perplex and challenge me from the beginning.  

I spent some more time and many more layers on these two.  My first layers were rough (see my previous post) and I felt rusty and frustrated and my canvas wasn't playing nice.  

It's been an interesting journey but I'm happy to let them rest here a little.  I may come back to them a little later.  But for now, I have some study time ahead of me this weekend.

 I also have some blank canvases calling my name... I can't wait.

Getting my brushes wet and my eye back in...

I am loving just showing up to paint and see where it takes me.

It feels like such a luxury at this stage of my life and schedule.  My filming SD card was full but I wish I filmed this, especially the painting of these hands.  They were teaching me some tough lessons.  But wow... I loved it and learnt so much.

I am so grateful for these past few days of painting and I hope for many more.

"Holding my inner thoughts and words..." -  it's busy up there, in my mind sometimes but it's in the painting and creating that helps me order them.

I am still on such a journey of painting hands and I love including them in my work but I find they can still catch me off guard and I still have to work through my inner struggles about them.  If you find you have similar issues and are looking for an introduction tutorial to including hands in your work... My mini tutorial is still available.

Come paint with me...

As you know, I am guest teaching on Let's Face It 2017 - I knew in my mind and schedule I had to start filming my lesson but to be honest, I've hardly turned on my camera this year.  There just hasn't been time with all the exhibition, auction and interviews around my TinyBagsofLove.  And of course, prepping for my trip and you know, life serving us curve balls.

Time is never on my side, I know this is a reality for many of us.

When I am filming myself, the pressure is on and I feel it in all ways.  As my dear friend Robin Jane says... it feels more like performing arts. What I've been doing to get comfortable in front of the camera again, is to keep the camera rolling and hopefully capture something that I will love and that will be good enough to share.  The joy about doing that, is that sometimes I forget it's rolling and I can get lost in the process rather than focus on the performance.

This canvas was heavenly to work on and I knew in my Stabilo draw up, I was already in love and then watching them unfold was just such a joy for me.

I look forward to doing my lesson for you when I get home.

In between life...

In between the craziness, I managed to squeeze in some studio time at Dale's.  I was so exhausted because I had just done a 4 hour round trip to drop Corks off out of town for a race and I managed to make it to class.  I didn't feel inspired for anything but it sure did feel like therapy.

And I needed that more than anything.

The thing I love about this kind of play, is that it's pretty hard to make an ugly plate and there is something so therapeutic about pushing beautifully carved wooden stamps into beautiful raw clay and then receiving a beautiful outcome.

It feels like a promise and we can always do with that...

Love Jeannie

This little Soul... spoke to mine

I loved making and painting this little Soul...

"In her quiet wisdom, she understood the value of humble autonomy and
with a maternal grace and a tenderhearted openness,
she embraced all she needed to".