Art makes people happy

I honestly need to catch my breath, things have been so exciting, even this Hip Chick who LOVES fun is reeling from recent events. About a month ago on a whim I went to you tube and typed in "mixed media" and found fun videos of artists doing their thing. This has since ignited a flurry of events that are mind blowingly awesome. Ok as I shared in recent blog posts I found Pam Carriker, Millande, and Gary Reef all on you tube and loved each of their unique styles. Well each of them have their own network of people and from there I have been meeting these incredible artists, all in mere days. I saw Julee Hermann on "Creative Workshops" and I noticed she lives in Orinda which is very close by so I said hey, I have a place in Benicia, yatta yatta. And what do you know she shows up at my hip chick door on friday with her fabulousness and Steph in tow and we became BFF's  instantaniously. They are just like me, they love fun, they love creating and sparks flew!

Let's just say it didn't take any coercing to get them to put on tutu's!! We are already collaborating for a big art event this summer...Each of these talented ladies has plenty to offer...here are some of their goodies...
here is Julee's blog,
http://heartcollective.blogspot.com/
and here is Steph's
http://www.stephjordanincolor.blogspot.com/

then I on Saturday I got to host Anna Corba's art class at the shop. We had 10 people come create beautiful collages and it was simply exquisite. Anna is such a sweet lady and she was the pioneer behind all this vintage crafting that we all love. I have admired her work for years, so to meet her and have her in my shop was truly an honor. I felt extremely grateful watching everyone having fun gathered in my happy place.

Anna provided everyone with a packet full of collage images, she walked us through how to put them on the canvas and then the final step was layering wax over the top. I was so jazzed I didn't think I would be able to focus on making one, but I am glad I managed to pull something together. Now I have a special piece to remind me of this Joy Jar day. Here are some peoples work...

Joanne and Mandi made some beauties

So did Terin who is really taping into her artist. There are more pictures on my facebook Hip Chick Page so if you want to see all the fun look there...it was a magical day. I feel incredibly blessed. I had a big "ah ha" moment recently that I'll share. I was a Women's Studies and Art Double major in college and when I graduated I thought that's nice. Now what? I went on to have my daughter and raise the family and I put art aside. It was only a couple years ago after reading "The Artist's Way" that I reacquainted myself with my artist. And then I followed my dreams to lead me to where I am now. My "ah ha" was this.....This is exactly what a Women's Studies/Art Major does, she has a business geared toward empowering women in the arts. And it's called "Hip Chick Designs."  It only took me 16 years to figure it out, but how wonderful to see the culmination of experiences that meshed together to get me here. It's not the destination but the journey that's the point.