Every year as Christmas approaches, we get buried in colorful junk mail enticing us to shop,shop,shop. Gone are the days where families would hang the same ornaments year after year, here are the days of color coordinated theme trees following the trend du jour. And I have to admit, I love all that sparkle and whimsy.
But...maybe this year we could think out…
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Added by Martina on November 27, 2009 at 1:37pm —
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the Studio will close today , Nov 13 at 4 pm, because we have an event to attend . We will be back tomorrow morning for the Ornament workshop, and the regular hours.
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Added by Martina on November 13, 2009 at 3:48pm —
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Collage workshop TONIGHT at Marchen Studios! Come and make art for your home or someone you love....if you'd like to make a family heirloom, be sure to bring photographs. Choose from a 8x8 canvas, two 6x6 or four 4x4 mini canvasses, beautiful papers, stamps, paint and medium, all included for only 25$ Fun and laughter -no charge ; ) See you at the studio!
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Added by Martina on October 22, 2009 at 8:45am —
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Last Saturday was a fun day for Marchen Studios. We were invited to a "Girl Empowerment Day" event that our friend Cristin Mahaffy put on for the local YWCA. The whole day was dedicated to encouraging girls in their present circumstances, their future dreams and overcoming past hurts. And we finished the day with a little creativity, with everyone designing and making their own inspiration necklace to remember the day with. Smiling faces all around!!!
We made kits for the girls in tic-tac ti…
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Added by Martina on October 20, 2009 at 9:00pm —
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A couple weeks ago we had our summer journal finale. Just like the girls who had been meeting all summer to make pages for their art journal, I had the pleasure of learning bookbinding under the inspiring tutelage of Kelly Rider. She is one of those rare people that, while being a gifted artist, makes you feel like you have it in you too. We had a great evening. Look at the beauty of these handmade, one of a kind journals!!
Kelly Rider instructing our class.
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Added by Martina on September 29, 2009 at 2:49pm —
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I have to admit that every since we came back from our vacation, my mind and my body have not been in sync . At all. My thoughts could be playing leapfrog in my brain, jumping over inspirations and ideas in a rapid fire frenzy, but my body insists that it is, after all, still summer and a poolside nap woul…
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Added by Martina on September 9, 2009 at 7:02pm —
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Hello Members! Yes, all 49 of you! Now that the studio is furnished and running, we'd like to spend a little more attention on the "Social Network" of it all...lets get to know each other!
So here is our first ever challenge: This summer, freeze a moment in time-and then share it with us.
Snap a picture. Alter it. Cut it up, paint over it, collage on it. Write a poem, make a journal page....whatever you want to do to capture your moment in time....DO IT!
So we can see a little glimpse of who yo…
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Added by Martina on July 18, 2009 at 11:53pm —
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Look what i found in my garden last night....just as the sun was setting.....
She gingerly tip-toed down the path, determined to follow the songbirds that were giving their evening concert.
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Added by Martina on July 13, 2009 at 9:02pm —
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Oh, to be so into the moment, that you shrug off the heat, the curious looks, the well meaning comments...just you, the piece of chalk in your hand, and the vision in your head. I have to admit to not ever having been so brave.
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Added by Martina on July 8, 2009 at 6:24pm —
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I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. The funny thing is, I had neglected my garden because I thought I didn't have enough hours to both mark a canvas with color AND mark the ground with color. And I don't, not really, to give both the attention needed for the spectacular. But these days, I find I'm happy to just be doing, spectacular or not.
There is so much beauty in the everyday, so many tiny ordinary miracles that satisfy the soul. If only I choose to take them in. I need th…
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Added by Martina on June 24, 2009 at 5:19pm —
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Here is our newest member, Lauren, with Sarah and Tristan . They came looking for Art supplies and stayed for an impromptu card making session. You never know what surprises you'll find behind our studio door!
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Added by Martina on June 18, 2009 at 4:56pm —
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Saturday Jim and I were manning the studio. Usually when he's there with me, we either sit around the work table with a cup of coffee and kibitz about the state of the world while he watches me make creative messes, or he curls up on the sofa in the members lounge and disappears into a book. Not this time! I have photographic evidence that Mr. Engineer had fun (even if he did make faces at me) wielding a glue gun and playing with corks!
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Added by Martina on June 17, 2009 at 4:58pm —
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A couple of weeks ago my love and I went on another explora-venture. That's what I call it when we jump in the car and let the whim of the moment be our guide. We're somewhat predictable, though, our noses seem to hone in on ocean air. Jim just keeps driving until he hears the familiar sigh that escapes me when I first glimpse the glittering blue. But this time it wasn't just the waves and sailboats that let a big grin wander across my face.
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Added by Martina on May 27, 2009 at 4:32pm —
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When I decided to start my first journal, I thought it would be freeing to put my travel dreams into the confines of a tangible paper, to have them nailed down in black and white. Not ordinary "I've always wanted to see Prague" travel dreams. Evidence of my inner adventurer, so very different to who I am in real life. Big dreams, which in my mind are held tight in the grip of truth, the truth that there is little chance of them ever coming true, depending on what heights my flight of fancy could…
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Added by Martina on April 10, 2009 at 4:50pm —
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If I ever wrote a book, the hardest thing to do would be to decide on the cover. So many possibilities! I love hanging out at bookstores. Being a visual person, the cover design usually makes me pick up or ignore a book long before the title has a chance to register in my brain. I pick my wine by the label design, and, while I don't give a hoot about brand name ( You'll never see me decked out head to toe in GUESS or schlepping a signature bag because of the signature), I have to admit that I am…
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Added by Martina on March 12, 2009 at 2:42pm —
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I don't know why I always fear that, having taken a break from something, I will utterly loose the skill and just not be able to do it again. I feel that way about writing, painting, studying......my bike has been parked next to the garage just taunting me to prove the old adage " it's just like riding a bike.....you never forget". Once over the hump, I usually dive into the deep end to frantically make up for lost time. So prepare yourself for a lengthy blog post.....just kidding. I have spent…
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Added by Martina on March 4, 2009 at 6:53pm —
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