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Monday, September 20, 2010

Squam-ed!

I'm home! I am so glad to be back in a warm, comfy bed, but I am already so home-sick for Squam.
I have never been to an art retreat that was so exhausting (and cold!), but so mind altering. If you get the chance to attend, please go. I met so many new friends - I wish I could have brought a few home to play with.
Rustic. Just assume that it will be freezing cold and your room will only have open screens on the windows... and you will be fine. Yes, sleeping in a hat and scarf does help.

Oh what a view! (from our cabin's screen porch.)

Squam Lake has lots of little inlets - the camp sprawls around a bunch of them.
"Sticks & Stones" Class - we had a half hour to integrate some clay into the environment.

"Sticks & Stones" - mud creatures.

"Sticks & Stones" - next we had to create something out of sticks. I made a temple for a horned stick god I found in the woods. The pathway is made from chips of mica. It looked much more impressive in real life.

"Sticks & Stones"- close-up of the horned stick god.

"Sticks & Stones" - my big installation was an archway with a pinecone carpet. It seemed like a good idea at the time... but I couldn't feel my fingertips for 2 days after bending down the saplings and tying all those knots.

This is Brandi - she does amazing pet portraits (www.paintedrabbit.com)
"Painting in a Day"- I re-interpreted my mud creatures onto canvas with acrylics and torn paper. Now they are roguish slugbabies.

And one more time. The slugbabies have gone cute. Well, cuter.
The last class was "Three Tools"- I learned to use a jigsaw, a drill and a tape measure (and a hammer!) I decided to make a dining table for my ... ah, my daughter's dolls. I learned to woodburn too!

I brought the table back to the cabin and sat in the sunshine painting it until it was too dark to see anymore. Aah life is good.

Sat. night was the Squam Art Fair. Large blocks of glowing ice lined the walkways.

Jonatha Brooke was selling her albums (and dressed in bottle caps). She is so amazing. She sang us a bunch of songs she wrote with Woody Guthrie. :-)  If you aren't hip to music, ask your kids, she even has a track on "Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure" - oooh!

The Square Peg Breakfast Club. Funny how the introverts tend to eat near the edges of the dining room. Caryn, Shelly, Carrie, Me, Retta. There were a few others who were fun dining companions, but they didn't survive til Sunday morning.

8 comments:

  1. Wow that looks like a yummy time. The photos make me want to go... I'm in the mood for a nice long retreat.

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  2. I'm with Carole on this one... where do I sign up?

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  3. Ah! I'm too introverted! All this sounds like fun, but I'd have to meet people. And talk to them face to face. Whenever I try this kind of thing, I shrink in on myself, and spend most of my time in my room.

    I'll bask in the pleasure the rest of you take!

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  4. Hi Sandy! Just checking out your blog and look! it's me! haha. Thanks for the link to my site :) Ahhh I'm missing Squam already and having trouble re-adjusting to my "normal" life. Have been checking out the Art and Soul site and it looks like you are coming to New Orleans! Yay! Now to figure out how many classes I can afford to take! Keep in touch :)

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  5. Hi Sandy! I cracked up when I read the "Square Peg Breakfast Club" caption...I forgot about our name. :) I had such a great time with you and everyone else that words cannot express. I was a little nervous going by myself, but it turned out to be the best thing because it forced me to be social and meet and make such wonderful friends. I LOVE your slugbabies paintings - the gray ones on a log especially.... soooooo cute!

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  6. love your sticks and stones shots! what fun! i'll definitely take that class next time.

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  7. LOVE! that archway. Also the colorful painting of transformed slugbabies.

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  8. Hi Sandy! I am one of those who failed to survive until Sunday breakfast :)
    I didn't get to see your paintings during the workshops, so I am glad you posted the photos on your blog. They look so cute! And the table! I envy your daughter, or her doll.

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