Moss Whispers

Feels so good to be back on MossWhispers! I’ve been busy going through old teaching files, and shedding a few skins in the Studio to make more room for Wild Workshop times!  Today was November Workshop #2: Weaving Wild Wonderful Chair/Stool Bottoms with old belts or neckties. I’ve not been one to spend much time advertising workshops, so I attendance is small. This seems to be a gentler way for me to start… and definitely allows more one on one fun stories and connection time! The greatest thing is that it becomes more of a shared project time!

This workshop participant brought an old rocker that belonged to one of her grandmother’s. When we took off the last of the very old caning rope, the chair began to ‘fall apart’…so gluing and clamping became our first priority! The caning had been what had held the chair together. Then cleaning and waxing the wood with a non-toxic beeswax. Probably the most fun was sharing and weaving stories together as the chair bottom began to take shape. I’m so proud of her work of art! And it was fun to relearn the art along with her!  And her Granny Chair definitely has a whole new spirit and stylish seat! The belts do a great job at holding Old Granny Chair together! A much better use of belts that around the waist!

… finished!

Announcing Upcoming November Workshops! Please SHARE! Y’all Come!

Mornin’ Everyone! Need a little help from my friends! Could you give me some feedback? I’m getting ready to advertise for Fall Workshops. Which offerings do you think would be more appealing and fun for people? Could you vote? or give feedback?

1.  Create a Fun Chair or Stool
2. Make Indoor Moss Terrarium/Moss Container Garden (evergreen!)
3. Construct a Fairy/Elf/Gnome House for Magical Friend (even with lights!)
4. Start a Family Shoe Fairy Tradition!
5. Make a Cloth Bound Book for special friend!
6. Use Studio and Supplies for an Individual/Group Project
7. Other suggestions?

After I decide which ones to offer first, I’ll work out the details. Post times and prices.

Later I will be offering workshops for children as well. So many options from up my sleeve and from my studio!

Here’s a little more information for now:

These are one session workshops, designed to be taken home that very day unless otherwise posted.

1. Fun Chair or Stool Bottom

Learn and using techniques to create a woven chair/stool bottom using old belts, neckties. etc.

2. Indoor Moss Terrarium or Outdoor Evergreen Container Garden:

Learn/use techniques and supplies to create a variety of indoor terrarium gifts from options such as ‘bell jars, ball jars, domed covers.  Or… Learn how to create and care for your own outdoor evergreen moss container garden.

3. Fairy/Elf/Gnome House for a Magical Friend

Use natural materials, power and hand tools to create a sturdy fairy house/elf/gnome house and the magical dweller for a young friend. (this could take two sessions)

4. Outdoor Birdhouse:

Use power tools, old seasoned outdoor wood, old tin and wooden roofing, and natural materials to create a sturdy birdhouse for a gift or for your yard. If put up this fall, it would be well ‘seasoned’ to be ready for spring birds, or just in time for wintering birds looking for unique, warm real estate. (could take two sessions). Also learn simple techniques for placement, mounting/posting your birdhouse to protect the birds from snakes, squirrels, etc. (could take two sessions)

5. Shoe Fairy Tradition 

Create a new Family Tradition for special occasions or family overnite gatherings, or even mailed suprise visits from The Shoe Fairy. Design your own shoe fairy system, shoe presentation, and create a ‘stash’ of magic for the upcoming visits. Share your own Family Traditions, ex. Elf on a Shelf, and learn from others. Together you all may create a winner!

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6. Open Individual or Group Project in Studio (could be repeated times)

Open Project Workshop Time
Come ‘open-minded’ to decide what project you want to do after you get here! Or bring an idea of your own. I will have offerings, plus you can let your magical muse loose and see what happens:
Available supplies:
woodworking: power and hand tools available as well as a variety of wood pieces, glues, screws, nails, etc.
clay work: slab or free form (I don’t have a kiln, so we’d have to take your work somewhere to be fired.)
painting: watercolor, acrylic, tissue paper painting, …(I have oil pastels but no oil paints.)
mixed media: collage, paper, cloth, gesso, papercraft
jewelry making: using a potpourri of supplies, etc. (I’m not that brushed up on fine motor jewelry-making techniques, but we can teach each other

7. Your Suggestions

What would you like to see offered in a country setting with some other creative souls and a workplace with supplies and inspiration?

PLEASE LEAVE SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENT! THANKS! Ann

SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday Workshops begin October 30th, 2013, at ACIU Studio, here on Thunder Mountain! Now that writing and painting is getting more detailed and taking longer, and while I’m rewriting some of my older stories, I need to ‘sit a spell’ and tell you about what’s going on in the studio! My wonderful friend, Becky and I have been sorting, re-sorting and I’m slowly thinning out some of the pieces I don’t need anymore to sculpture my life. And soon I will be announcing upcoming StudioProjects/Workshops. Here’s one I’m looking forward to sharing soon!  LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GET on the LIST! I’m taking a limited number of people, so that we can have a ‘good gathering number’ and plenty of fun workspace for each/all!

Refurbishing Old Chair Bottoms! Bring your old ‘cane less chairs, old belts, old ties, and we’ll have a good ole time creating something fun for your house or for a gift for someone special. Here’s an example of one I did, and what an ’empty chair bottom might look like before you start. This is not traditional chair caning. Instead we are using things on hand to make strong woven or quilted/covered bottoms.