Think Green! Tons 'o Fun ... !

What fun! Our Think Green! event was a success. We met some wonderful ladies and made some beautiful eggs. Martha Stewart did it again ... Silk Tie Dye Eggs worked like a charm. Take a peak ...

This looks about right for an artist table ... 

Silk and scissors at work!

Ladies hard at work.

The cooking station!

Drop 'em in!

Boiling in vinegar and water (a splash of vinegar ... according to Judy).

Strain 'em out.

Let 'em cool!

And unwrap!

The best part - unwrapping the eggs. You never know what you'll find!

Unwrapping ...

... the finished product!

We just had to stop for a quick coffee break.

Look at our fun, unique eggs!

Reds worked the best.

Such detail.

Swirls!

Writing Prompt - International Fake Journal Month (April)

To get your creative juices flowing, we'll be offering the occasional writing prompt. Grab a notebook or turn on your computer and start writing. Write! Write! And write more! 

Local MN artist Roz Stendahl is the creator of International Fake Journal Month, which means that for the month of April, you keep a journal from someone else's perspective. Create a character, write from the viewpoint of an animal, be anyone other than yourself - you just need to date your entries with the current date (you can't go back in time). See Roz's blog about the project to learn more about how it got started, her current prize incentives and how you can get involved: http://officialinternationalfakejournalblog.blogspot.com/

For this week's writing prompt, chose a character or point of view from which you'd like to write. Jot down some key facts about this person (where they live, how old they are, what their favorite food is, etc...) Have fun with it and let your imagination go wild! 

Are you participating in Roz's challenge? Check in with us and let us know how it's going! And if you're interested in getting together to share your work, let us know. We could even set up an open studio time to work on our journals. 

Writing Prompt - Conversations

To get your creative juices flowing, we'll be offering the occasional writing prompt. Grab a notebook or turn on your computer and start writing. Write! Write! And write more! 

Sit in a public place, such as a coffee shop, and jot down people's conversations. Listen for a while and capture several lines from a few different conversations. Then use those as either story starters or lines for poetry. Piece them together or use them all on their own.

A New Coat of Paint

Hi Fellow Creatives!

March is gearing up to be a busy month for the Art House. There's open studio every Wednesday and our Think Green! event on the 23rd. It's been fun to see our building bustling! What hasn't been fun is seeing the building - dreary, dusty and a wee bit sketchy. It's nothing a fresh coat of paint can't fix!

We wrangled in some volunteers and even managed to scrap up a donated gallon of paint. Let the painting begin!!

More to come - next up, curtains!

Writing Prompt - Music

To get your creative juices flowing, we'll be offering the occasional writing prompt. Grab a notebook or turn on your computer and start writing. Write! Write! And write more! 

Listen to music - maybe your favorite song, maybe something new - and just listen at first, see where it takes you. What images does the music conjure in your mind? What is the scene? Are there people? If so, describe them, what they're wearing, what they're doing, what they're saying. Create a scene to match the song.

Artist Spotlight: Judy Goebel

Our community is filled with creative folk. Join us as we showcase talented artists right in the neighborhood!  

--- --- --- --- --- ---

Judy Goebel 

How long have you lived in Richfield: 

38 years

What is your favorite thing about living in Richfield: 

It's non-pretentious, conveniently located and feels a bit like a small town. 

What (or where) is your favorite "hidden gem" in the area: 

I have a dream that someday Crosstown Creativity can become that gem - perhaps not so
very hidden ... but maybe obscurity is okay. 

What is your creative outlet: 

I have a number. Just about anything that you can do with a fiber - handspinning,
weaving, nalbinding, and, coiled baskets. I do some drawing and painting too. 

Do you have any formal training in the arts: 

I have BA in Fine art from Macalester College. 

Do you have a favorite piece of work you've created: 

Probably whatever I have worked on recently. 

What "artsy" Words of Wisdom can you share with us: 

Everyone has an artist somewhere inside them. Not everyone has found their medium yet - or maybe their medium is non-traditinoal so it doesn't get recognized. Don't get your art materials intimidate you. You WILL spoil some of them. And not every piece of artwork you start will be great. Some will be awful. Don't be afraid. Just go ahead and do it. 

If you could have dinner with any artist, who would it be and why: 

I would like to have dinner (I pick the menu, however) with one of the prehistoric artists,
preferably a women. I would really like to see what we have in common and
understand the roots of art. 

What music are you listening to this week: 

I have not been listening to much. Sometimes quiet is good. I do really enjoy African music. 

Any last parting words: 

Cherish your right brain. Our education system and so many of the jobs we do are all about
left brain stuff: logic, words, structure. Your right brain works a little differently, but if you learn
to listen to it, you will find a lot of good insights that help you be more artistic, more connected
to other people and the world and even help out the left brain.

Plus, Judy has some excellent tutorials on working with a loom.

How to Weave on a Triangle Loom

&

Instructions for Triangle Looms