Alma Art

New Book, TV and More Exciting News!

2008-05-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

In the past month and a half I have been diligently working on a new book due out next year that will be published by North Light Books. I am extremely excited to be able to share fun projects and ideas with everyone. I'll keep you posted as to when it will be out!

On Friday, May 9th, KC Cowan, Tom and Bill from OPB came to Sisters to interview me for their show, Oregon Artbeat for television. As you can imagine, the days leading up were nutty...lots of cleaning, painting walls, making pillows. I restrained myself from ripping out carpet. These three individuals were so much fun to be with and made me feel very comfortable. They filmed me shopping at my favorite fabric store, The Stitchin' Post here in Sisters and then here at my studio and house. I've never had a tv experience so it was interesting to see the process. They have a wonderful program and I recommend checking out some videos on Oregon Artbeat on the their website, opb.org. There are many talented artists out there making incredible and beautiful work.

Here is an image of my latest work, "Be the Light." It is a small preview, but a better image will be on my website within the next week. I'm proud of this piece as it is my largest Telamadera Fusion to date and managed to keep all the layers (six!) flat!

More exciting news...I created a line of rubber stamps of several of my images. You will be able to order them directly from my website. I'm working on samples for you all to see very soon.

Well, lots of news lately. It is wonderful having this to share with you. Thank you for visiting my blog. May your creative path be filled with inspired action and beauty.

It's Official- We're Teaching!

2008-03-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

The Way We Art will have it's Grand Opening in it's new location at Sisters Art Works on April 11th, 2008. Come celebrate with us! We have our new schedule of classes too (see below) and we are very excited about that!

The Way We Art- Upcoming Classes
204 W. Adams Street
Sisters, Oregon
Corner of Ash and Adams
We gladly accept Visa and Mastercard

Fabric Art Collage- Spend the day playing with fabric, paper and
dimensional paint as you explore composition and color. We will create gift cards and small artworks in a fun and supportive environment.

Instructor: Alma de la Melena Cox Cost: $70.- & $5.- supply fee
Saturday, April 19th from 9- 4pm (with one hour lunch break)
Contact: 541-419-2227 or alma@almaart.com

Altered Journals- Using beautiful bits and old forgotten books, you
will create a personalized journal that will feed your soul and nurture your whimsical tendencies. A little mid-morning snack will also be served. Come and have fun with some other women as you learn a little something about yourself in the process.

Instructor: Katie Estvold Cost: $45.-
Saturday, April 26th from 9-12 am
Contact:efamily@outlawnet.com

Knit and Felt A Bowl Workshop- Knit and felt a heartfelt vessel
ready to receive whatever is precious to you. You will knit a bowl by the fireplace, felt and embellish it with beads and/or needle felting in one day, in my home.
This class will support and expand your creativity while we share our passion for knitting with each other. Please join us. Snacks and lunch provided.
Instructor: Tricia Biesmann
Saturday, May 3rd from 9-3pm Cost: $60.-
Contact: 541-410-6813 or biesmann@outlawnet.com

Wine Necklace Workshop- Does your wine bottle, or any bottle for
that matter, need a new look? Join Cindy and learn to make a one of a kind, unique necklace for that special bottle! They make great hostess gifts or just to dress up your kitchen. All supplies are included in class price. Join me for a fun Saturday morning!

Instructor: Cindy Summerfield Cost: $42.-
Saturday, May 3 from 9-12 pm
Contact: 541-325-3277 or lucyraye@bendbroadband.com

Gearing up to Teach!

2008-03-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to be moving our gallery, The Way We Art, to the Sisters Art Works building where we will have the space to teach lots of classes. I'm putting together a Fabric Collage Class, where I'll demonstrate making cards and a no-sew mini quilt during a Saturday in April. I'm excited and hope I receive lots of interest! One of my partners and good friend, Tricia Biesmann already taught a Felt-a-Bowl workshop that was a success! We are very proud of her.

I am thinking of offering a Telamadera Fusion technique On-line class. I'm in the planning stages right now but was hoping to receive some input from all of you out there who might be interested. What I'm thinking is .....offering a four week session where I am available via e-mail to answer your questions during two hours, two days during the week. Participants would receive detailed how-to instructions, a detailed supply list and my support during the four weeks. The cost would be $80.- for the four week session. I'm eager to hear if this interests anyone!

Thank you everyone for your support and enthusiasm about my work! It makes my heart sing!

News and more news!

2008-02-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

I have much to share! I'd like to say I've been sitting by a pool in the sun, hanging out with my friends.......but wait, I have! Please see the CHA news for more on that. First things first.......The March/April issue for Cloth, Paper, Scissors (#17) has been published. I am so happy to to have my process shared with you all in this beautiful publication. You may see the first page of the article by going to my website. Since I have been reading Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Quilting Arts Magazines it has been a dream for me to see my work in their pages. I am honored and excited!

I am a partner in a gallery here in Sisters called, The Way We Art. Tricia Biesmann (PB Designs) and Lucinda Summerfield (Denim and Silk) and I are proud to include Katie Estvold (Sparrow's Cottage) as our new partner. Katie is a multi-talented artist and wonderful friend. She not only designs beautiful websites (check mine out :)), but she is a gifted artist who is passionate and an expert on history, particularly women's history during the 18th century. She is currently creating inspired Stationary Boxes that you'll just love. Check out her website! We all had the opportunity to recently attend CHA, the Craft and Hobby Association's tradeshow in Anaheim, California.

Yes, we enjoyed some pool side delights but only after we had spent countless hours enjoying and absorbing all there was to see and do. We heard two sensational speakers, Suze Orman, financial expert extraordinaire and Jack Canfield who wrote the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and is a fantastic motivational speaker. Jack, you changed my life! The whole experience was magical as we made some important business connections and met some wonderful people. I finally had the privilege of meeting Sherrill Kahn with Impress Me rubber stamps. She was at the Jacquard booth impressing all of us with her talent and enthusiasm. Sherrill is who encouraged me to write my Telamadera Fusion process in Cloth, Paper, Scissors and has convinced me to create rubber stamps of my designs. I met another wonderful soul, Carol Murphy (altered by design and joggles.com ) who shared her ideas and work with me too. I am happy to have made a new friend.

Now back in sleepy, snowy Sisters, Oregon, I am working on a few projects. I can hardly wait for you to see "Be the Light," my largest Telamadera Fusion artwork to date. It measures four feet by four feet. I recently met a gifted woodworker who will be creating my wood substrates for me as well as my mirrors. I am so grateful to have found someone local to help me. OH! I finished painting my studio too. Yes, those are the pics above. Jamaican Blue and Buttercream on the walls make my heart sing. I love it!

Basketball season is over for the kids, and not a moment too soon. Did I just say that? No, I love sitting on wood bleachers for four hours on Saturdays and for four hours on Sundays! I even kept some splinters just to remind me how fun that part of the experience was :). Truly, it was a delight watching my beautiful children improve and have a blast with their teammates. Mike and I are gearing up for Lacrosse and Track and Field next. Let's hope it stops snowing!

Thank you all for visiting my website and blog, for your kind and generous comments and for your continual support of my artwork. You rock!

Letting go... of the oars

2008-01-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

My good friend Shelly asked me to make this for her. She always reminds me to turn downstream and follow my bliss. Thank you Shelly!

2008-01-20T22:23:00.000-08:00

The day started with a visit from my wonderful friend Nancy, my roommate from college.....we've made lots of memories in the over twenty years of our friendship. There have been lots of miles, four kids, husbands and busy lives between us and you know what is so great? We can still sit and talk for hours. We can take each other back one moment and then soar right into sharing our dreams, the next. Not so much has changed in these twenty years, but then really everything has, too.

Katie Estvold Launches Alma Art Website

2008-01-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

My extremely talented and creative friend, Katie Estvold designed my new website that she launched last night. I am elated! It is streamlined, crisp and simply wonderful. Thank you Katie for giving my work a special place to show off :). Please check out her amazing graphics at www.almaart.com. See her unique and inspired artwork and passion at www.sparrow's cottage.net.

I love how Katie has taken her love of history and her appreciation of the lives of women in the 18th and 19th centuries and has created an aritistic expression that is so unique. Her passion speaks to us through her multilayered canvases, her dolls, stationary, her words......she invites us into a world so many of us know so little about, teaching us that we can all live with authenticity, joy and creativity with the stirrings of our soul. We just need to take the first step in honoring our unique expression.

2008-01-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

I'm elated...just posted my first image! Thank you Katie for your help! It seems the photos I tried previously were too large. This was the sunset we saw our last night on Maui a week and a half ago. It was about 75 degrees, with a little breeze. Mike wanted to bring the torches home. We'll try to re-create something for him here in the snow :).

Hello and Welcome to my Blog!

2008-01-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

This is my first post on my new blog.....I'm a little nervous, but excited to venture out into uncharted territory. I decided to take a walk in the forest at the edge of my neighborhood in my pajamas this morning. I'd never done that before - a walk in my pajamas. I guess it is a day of 'firsts' for me. I returned to my studio to work on a commissioned artwork that a friend asked me to create. As soon as I've completed it I'll show you an image.