New Studio Space and a Soulful Workshop

On April 15th I moved into my new studio space at 1600 Meeting Street here in Charleston, the building is newly renovated as creative space for artists and creative businesses, its a wonderful idea. It reminds me of our old studio space in Brooklyn, in a renovated warehouse full of other artist's spaces. That creative energy all in one building is infectious and I'm beyond thrilled to be working surrounded by other creative people again.

It was with much joy that I kicked things of in my new space with a fantastic Soulful Prayer Flag Workshop on April 23rd, co-taught with my endlessly creative friend Em Falconbridge. Em and her family spent a gorgeous sunny week in Charleston visiting us, our kids played so well together and we had some beautiful beach adventures, but that's for another post!

Getting ready for the workshop was part of the fun, setting up Balinese baskets that I brought back from my trip in January and filling them with delicious fabrics and ribbons, stamps and paints. All of the colors and textures just make me want to dive right in!

All of the women who came to the workshop were mothers, finding time within their busy schedules to gift themselves this creative day. So, we began in a circle of women, honoring our time together, each selecting a word to focus on for the day and talking about how we nourish ourselves through creating. 

All while keeping our hands busy making a nature mandala and working with felted wool to create flowers.

I always feel a spark of magic when I'm in a group of women so tuned into what they are creating. We chatted and crafted, before moving onto a couple of demos, Em and I did lessons on xerox transfer and silk screening both onto fabric. Then everyone jumped in and began designing their prayer flags using the newly learned techniques with burlap as a base for the flags and all kinds of loveliness from our bins of fabric and details!

It was so much fun watching everyone choose just the right details for their flags and assisting as they came together over the course of the day.

 

Our break for a buffet lunch that we enjoyed outside on blankets in the sunshine was welcome and relaxing, then everyone hurried back inside to keep working.

And with Em on the sewing machine stitching up layers for the final hour of the workshop, everyone was able to leave with a string of five gorgeous layered prayer flags that they were deeply proud of.

It was such a treat to facilitate this amazing group, I can not wait to see pictures of where their soulful flags are hung in their homes.

I was also thrilled with the teaching dynamic between Em and I,

and after this workshop I'm even more excited about the In Our Element retreat that Em and I are running on Cape Cod May 30th through June 1st. It's going to be a weekend full of such goodness! Not only will we be creating soulful prayer flags together, we'll also be doing Nuno Felting, Leather cuff bracelets with our friend Liz, and I'm thrilled to be teaching painted dream catchers.....

Oh yes!

For all of the information about the In Our Element retreat, and how to sign up, go

 right here.

There is a full weekend rate that includes all of the juicy classes, supplies, yummy food and lodging in a cottage by the sea. There is also a day rate if you live within driving distance of Craigville Retreat Center and just want to come for Saturday! We'd love to have you join our circle by the sea!

xo