Painting in the New Year

Here are a few more of our 2008 painting projects that we can look forward to.

Sunrise Ocean is a wonderful William Powell design that I originally painted with him many years ago in oils. We'll paint in acrylics of course.

The Paris Grocery is a great Linda Lock, altered art design, with texture and photo transfers.





The fruit basket was originally painted by Ronnie Bringle using her fun drybrushing techniques.

We'll learn lots of new techniques from all of these projects.

Holiday Spirit

The holidays are approaching quickly at Artful Endeavors and we are finishing up our 2007 paintings. Next week will be our last week of class for this year! If you would like to come on Wed afternoon next week, 12/12, we are having an open class where you can work on finishing a project. Just let me know if you plan to join us.

And, do plan to join us next week for lunch at 12 noon. We're saving our official holiday party until Jan 5, Sat, 10a - 2p, when we have our open house/welcome back to painting in 2008 party. Come enjoy more paintings from our students and teachers as well as Liz's art for sale. See the new projects coming up in winter 2008, sign up for classes, pick up instructions and surfaces, and bring friends. We'll have some delicious refreshments, too.

It is time to start thinking about Jan classes. The preps are ready for you at the studio. We have some exciting projects planned, many that a lot of you have requested. It's time to register now. Scroll down for the schedule. The web site will be updated soon also.

Please tell your friends and family that we have gift certificates that you can apply to classes or supplies.

After our classes next week, I will be out of the studio, taking some time to enjoy my family, friends, and the holidays. Be sure to come by next Mon, Tue, or Wed to catch me and pick up prep or supplies. I'll be back in the studio Jan 2 & 3, 2008.

Our seminar registration has been fast and furious. Ginger is putting the finishing strokes on our paintings and we should have photos soon. We still have seats available for all days.

Be sure to look at Ronnie's santa below. He is wonderful! Registration is open and seats filling.

We are almost full for our seminar with Ros in July. Call soon if you would like to paint with us. We'll see her paintings later this spring.

Have a great holiday and we'll see you soon.

Ronnie Bringle Seminar

Santa has arrived at Artful Endeavors! Ronnie Bringle's Santa that is. And he is wonderful.

If you haven't registered for our seminar with Ronnie, now is the time.

April 29 & 30 will be our portrait class where Ronnie will guide us in painting a person of our choosing.

May 2 - 4 we'll paint this wonderful Santa.

Check the web site for more details. We'll have this great wood surface available this spring.

Tom Preddy Artist

Student of the month:

Jimmy's Tractor is an original painting by Tom Preddy.

Tom started painting with us because he wanted to paint scenes from around his home in rural NC. His family has been so pleased with his painting that they are all getting in their requests for specific paintings. This is a painting of Tom's twin brother on his tractor in the tobacco field as requested by Tom's sister-in-law.

This is a secret, Christmas present, for Tom's brother, so don't tell Jimmy.

The other students and I were very impressed with Tom's creation and I wanted to share it with you. We'll look forward to seeing more or Tom's paintings.

State Fair Winners!

Our painters had a great showing at the NC State Fair's Decorative Painting Exhibit. I was proud of all of you. Here are some of the entries. Congratulations to all the ribbon winners.



Congratulations to Marlane Nason for winning Best of Show with her original Wine Bottle and Grapes plate. It is beautiful.

Mama Bunny is looking over my entries. The Candy Canes and Tulips took Best of Show for professional pattern. This is a beautiful Kerry Smith design that I painted in Traditions acrylics.



Fair entries are seen by thousands of fairgoers and are a wonderful way for us to share our love for decorative painting and show our good work. Start deciding what you would like to entry next year.

Upcoming projects

Wednesday evening and the Cary group is painting the barn with chicks. I just need to add a few chicks.

This is a great Dorothy Dent design that we will paint in acrylics.

This wonderful harbor scene is an Alva Pittman design from 1986.


The Sailboat in the window, a texture study, is one of my own designs from a wonderful photograph by Kathi Haynes, a local Raleigh photographer. You can see her photographs at http://mkhaynesphotography.com/.
This painting is lots of fun to paint using various types of texture products on canvas, plus creating the look of glass, fabric, wood, and shells with paint.

Shell Beach, a delightful Jo Sonja Jansen design, will be painted by Wed morning group in April.



The formerly named Christmas Goose we will rename the Festive Goose because he is for any special occasion. We'll paint him on Sat, Feb 2 for all of you who wanted to come in from out of town. He is composit design based on a Ronnie Bringle design.

Artful Updates

Between Thanksgiving holiday, my Father having 4 stints inserted, and getting my new computer up and running with all the programs I need, I have gotten behind with my bogs. Well here is our updated information.

New 2008 schedule. Here are the classes, so far, that we have added to our Winter 2008 schedule. Our painters have chosen some exciting new designs and some that they missed when we painted them years ago. I’ll have examples in the studio as soon as I get them painted and photographed.

2008 Winter Schedule

Register for classes at least 1 week in advance.

Tuesday 10am - 12:30p Open Class

Make up a missed class or work on your own project with assistance from Liz.

Wednesday 10am - 12:30p

Jan 9, 16, 23, 30, & 2/ 6 Paris Grocery

Feb 13, 20, 27, & 5 Harbor Scene

Mar 12, 26, & 4/2, The Brook

Apr 9, 16, & 23 Shell Beach

Wednesday 1:30p - 4p

Jan 9, 16, & 23 Slice lemon

Jan 30, 2/6, 13, & 20 Veg Still Life/Kingslan

Feb 27, 3/5, 12, & 26 Tulips in Jar

Apr 2, 9, 16, & 23 Fruit Cocktail

Wednesday 6:30p - 9p

Jan 9, 16, 23, & 30 Barn with Chicks

Feb 6, 13, 20, 27, & 3/5 Sailboat in Window

Or Ronnie’s Fruit

Mar 12, 26, 4/2 & 9 Harbor Scene

Cary Tuesday 6:15p - 8:30p

Jan 8 Finish Barn & chicks

Jan 15, 22, 29, 2/5, & 12 Sailboat in Window

Feb 19, 26, 3/4, & 11 Mountain with Deer

Mar 26, 4/2, & 9 Sunrise waves

Workshops
Fridays

Have you wondered if you would enjoy decorative painting? Or do you just want to express yourself creatively and artistically while meeting some great new friends?

By the end of the class you will have painted a great design and hopefully be inspired to continue painting.

No experience is needed!

Although our experienced painters enjoy these classes too.

All supplies included.

Friday classes are for adults & kids 8yrs & up.

Great for home schooling!

Register at least 2 weeks prior to class.

Fee due at registration

Jan 18 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p

For My Valentine: Stroke Roses

Feb 8 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p

Berries

Mar 7 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p

Spring Bunny

Saturdays

Jan 12 & 13 Portrait class with Liz Must register by 11/26.

This is our introduction to Ronnie Bringle’s portrait techniques and the prerequisite to her portrait class in May 08 where we’ll increase our portrait skills. Choose your subject now!

Feb 2 Festive (Christmas) Goose

Our Christmas goose that many of you have wanted to paint. Lots of varied techniques!

On our last Wed of class this year we’ll go out to lunch together! That’s Dec 12. Please join us if you can.

For our holiday party, we’ll carry on the tradition that we started last year. Since it gets so busy around the holidays, we decided to have our party after new year.

Our Holiday Party/Open Studio this year will be

Saturday, Jan 5^th, 2008, 10am – 2p.

We’ll have an art show and sale with painting from students on display and

Artwork from Liz Miller, CDA.

Seminar samples that we have received will be on display and we’ll have registration information.

We’ll have class samples on display and you can register and pick up your prep.

There will also be all kinds of culinary treats.

Join us, catch up after the holidays, and begin your new painting year.

Upcoming Classes!

Some of you know that I cancelled classes for the last of last week because my Father had a small heart attack and had 4 stints inserted. He is doing great, back home, and doesn’t know what all the fuss was about.

The Friday, Dancing Snowmen Card has been rescheduled for Nov 30, am or pm class. If you were already registered, you are all set to come on the 30^th. If you haven’t registered yet, paid your fee, you still have time to join us. Contact me next Monday.

The Saturday, Winter’s Eve was rescheduled for Dec 1. You still have time to join us.

Sat open class. I’m sure we all have some unfinished projects. Since this Dec 1, Saturday class will be small, if you have a project that you need to finish, including the Pears and Grapes, we will treat this like an open class. Please contact me by Wed if you would like to join us. 10 – 12:30p is $30. 10 – 4p is $70. If you just want to sit and paint with no assistance from me you are welcome also at no fee.

The Candy Canes on Wed evening will start Nov 28. Those of you who are registered will have a week of painting credit for your next class. We’ll complete this project in 3 weeks with this small class. There is still time to join this glass and candy study class also.

Seminar Updates!

Ginger Edwards: I spoke with Ginger recently and she is getting ready for us. During the past seminar with Ginger, we found some wonderful paintings that inspired Ginger, and us, to create a scene on canvas with Plaid's new textured paint for an oil painted effect. And to also paint beautiful zinnias on a functional piece.

We'll also have a "Girl's night out" the evening before the seminar, with fun "make it and take it" projects. Ginger has learned to needle felt and make these fun pins. She was also talking about a cleaver painted domino necklace. Fun, food, fellowship, and painting make a great way to spend an evening.

Registration is open! Be sure to save your seat soon and join us for the wonderful yearly event with Ginger Edwards.

Ronnie Bringle: Ronnie’s Santa, the actual painting, is at Artful Endeavors just in time for the holidays! Be sure to come by to see him.

I’ve also talked with Ronnie and she is ready to get us prepared to paint with her this spring.

April 29 & 30 is the portrait class. This is our second portrait class with Ronnie and we are ready to build on what we learned last year. To take this class you must have painted a face with Ronnie or, she has given me permission to teach a portrait class using her techniques which will also qualify you for her portrait class. (See my note above about my portrait class.) You must register for this class and send me your chosen portrait photo by Jan 23 so that I can get them to Ronnie in time for her to prepare your drawing. Talk to me before sending your photo, please. Photos should be at least 4 x 6” and be head and shoulders only with no extras, no confusing background, no glare spots on the face. We’ll paint on an 11 x 14” stretched canvas. I have more prep information to seminar participants. Our portraits from last year were wonderful!

May 2 – 4, is Ronnie’s Here Comes Santa! He is magnificent! No prerequisite. Please come by to see him. Register early because you won’t want to miss this. We’ll have 3 days to work on this design.

Ros Stallcup: July 21 – 27, 2008. Registration is open Dec 3, 2007! Since Ros will not teach her Va. Beach seminars after this year, I have had calls from these painters wanting information on our seminar in July. I expect that the seminar will fill quickly so don’t miss your opportunity to paint with Ros. Let me know if you haven’t received your registration information yet.

I finally have a new computer! It’s taken me a while to transfer over all this business information. But I love the new computer! Love it! I have updated my programs and still have to find out how everything works. I’m sure you’ll let me know if you have any difficulty receiving this email from the updated program. I had to reenter all the email mail lists, so if you know of anyone who did not get this email, please tell them to let me know.

If you would prefer not to receive emails from Artful Endeavors, please let me know that also. Otherwise, I’ll keep up updated with all our exciting painting doings.

Check the blog for updates.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday!

Be sure to check the blog frequently for new photos and updates.

Signs of Autumn

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the photographs from our vacation. Rick and I had lots of fun taking them.

Be sure to click on the colorful lake scene. It's much more impressive large.

The Doe river was very low this year, but still had lots of nice river rock scenes.

Most of these were taken in eastern Tennesse.

The church was in Greenville, Tnn., a town full of steeples.

Over the week we were in the mountains the colors changed for us providing some of the most gorgeous fall colors we have seen in years.

Finally Fall

Today at the studio I turned on the heat for the first time since we have been here. You'll be glad to know that it does work. It's just so hard to believe that this is the first cold morning this fall.


We've been busy getting ready for our seminar with Sharon Hamilton. Friday was our prep day with a good turn out of painters. They liked the Traditions paints. It was fun and helpful to do our prep together, and very lively. And another good excuse to go to lunch together. Sharon arrives this weekend and we are ready to learn, learn, learn. So much new information from her this year. I have the Traditions paints that we'll use in the classes on stock in the studio.


At Artful Endeavors we have our autumn designs painted and already on display and are now working on our holiday designs. Santa is turning out so nice, each one unique, and this week we start on the Star Struck Santa. We only have a couple more painting months this year and some very nice designs planned. The Watercan & Geraniums in the afternoon and the Candy Canes still life Wed morning and evening all start on Nov 14. I'm working on the samples now. The Cary group will paint the Barn with Chicks, a great landscape to paint if you're not looking for a holiday design.


For those of you who want to get in a fun winter design be sure to register for the Dancing Snowmen card, our Nov 16, Friday workshop, morning or evening. This is a great class to attend with your young friend/relative. Kids 8yrs and up are encouraged to join us. The card is a pen and ink design with lots of options for washes and glitters. Just fun! No experience required.


Or, for those of you with experience, on Nov 17, we'll paint the Winter's Eve Scene. A wonderful Trudy Beard design all in blues and white. Register soon! The prep instruction is ready at the studio.


We're working on the winter schedule for after the first of the year. Be sure to come to the studio and let us know what you are interested in painting.

Remember that our holiday party/open studio day is Jan 5, 2008, 10a - 2p. This is our holiday celebration for all our classes since Dec is always so busy. This will be a good way to start off our new year of painting together.

New Holiday Classes

I have finished some of our class samples and wanted to show them to you before I went on vacation. Prep for the Santa and Russian Sleigh Ride is in the studio.




The Russian Sleigh Ride is our Sat, Oct 26 class.






The Star Struck Santa starts Oct 31 for 2 weeks, day and evening classes.









The Dancing Snowmen card is our one day Friday, Nov 16 class. A fun easy project where well play with lots of paint products. No experience is needed.









I'll be back in the studio Oct 22, Monday. See you then.

Holiday Painting Class Changes

As usual, we have changed the schedule to suit us. We've found some great designs that we just have to paint before this holiday season.

The Wed 10a class will start painting Bobbi Takashima's Jack Frost this week. He's a wonderful Jack Frost and snowman design on a red background with snowflakes. Fun, as usual with Bobbi's designs.

Wed 1:30p class is painting Ronnie Bringle's Big Fat Snowman, a very handsome fellow. We'll allow an extra week on Nov 7th just incase we need it. If we don't, there are lots of ornaments that will be fun to paint. The Watercan and Geraniums will begin on Nov 14 and go 4 weeks, through Dec 12.

Wed 6:30p class will paint the Winter Chickadees, a Janet Moreland design, for two weeks beginning this week, and then on Oct 31 and Nov 7 will paint Deborah Smith's Starstruck Santa, a wonderful design. Fun and easy. The Candy Canes, a great shiny glass texture design by Kerry Smith will begin Nov 14 for 4 weeks. All you Kerry Smith fans come paint this one with us in acrylics.

That's it for now. If you're not painting with us already, come join us so you can help plan our projects.

Margot Clark Seminar

I've just finished a fun week end painting with Margot Clark with the City of Oaks Decorative Artists. I've admired Margot's paintings and wanted to paint with her for a long time. She is a wealth of information and very willing to share her knowledge. She can do amazing things with one brush, her miracle brush.

The painting on black was a very different style for me. We used her miracle brush for most everything in this painting. By the end of the day I felt like I was catching on and ended up liking my painting. Anything new is a challenge at first, but with practice can be accomplished. The pansy painting used sideloading and floating color on top of a brown toned shaded painting. A great technique.

Margot also shared ideas about using the Magic Metallics with me, so watch out for more designs using these real metal paints.

Also appropriate to October, breast cancer awareness month, Margot is a two time breast cancer survivor and had lots of stories and encouragements to share.

Thanks to CODA for sponsoring Margot. Next month I'll teach a portion of the Winter Chickadees, a Janet Moreland design, at the regular CODA meeting.

A Little Green Witch For Halloween

Lot of exciting events are coming up in October.

The NC State Fair starts Oct 12, next Friday. Rick and I enjoy attending the fair to see all the wonderful exhibits, especially the decorative painting in the Craft and Hobbies building. We have such great talent in the area that it is always exciting to see what has been submitted. Be sure to go by to check us out and see my witch. You'll have to look carefully for her, she's small. Rick and I will be sampling the food and taking in the sights. The Heart of Carolina Tolers sponsors Best in Show for the professional and nonprofessional decorative painters . Artful Endeavors sponsors Best in Show for the kids. Love to encourage those young painters out there.

Another great October event is my vacation! We'll be off to the mountains on Oct 14 for a week where we hope to see a few fall colors. I don't know just yet whether to pack tank tops and shorts or jeans and long sleeves.

Then Halloween is approaching. We're trying to have a class for painting my little "greene" witch on Oct 26 if the wood cutouts get here in time. I love painting Halloween designs.

Oct is also Lynn's birthday! Happy Birthday Lynn! You're older than me again for a few months.

Shabby Cottage Studio New Web Site!

Many of you know my friend Gail Schmidt, a wonderfully creative artist who is into mixed media. We've done everything with Gail from walls, to furniture, to postage stamps, well, maybe not postage stamps but small stuff.

She has her new web site up and running and ready for business. You'll find her beautiful originally designed papers, one of a kind finds, and unique items that Gail just knows how to locate, as well as kits Gail has assembled using her wonderful color sense.

Gail designed my banner header for this blog with photos of my paintings and some of the papers she has designed. I love it.

Stop by to visit Shabby Cottage Studio at www.shabbycottagestudio.com.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I'm sure all of you are aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a breast cancer survivor I want to encourage all of you to faithfully do your monthly self check and mammograms. Remember that breast cancer is very curable and treatable if you catch it early. A large number of incidences of breast cancer are discovered by the individual.

It's been 12 years since my mastectomy and I am a great example of catching it early. Liz

Bird watching for the Holidays

This cute little chickadee wants to join us for our Friday (10/12) painting classes.

The class is filling quickly so register soon to make sure you have a seat.

No experience is needed and all the supplies are included. If you have them, bring you brushes and general painting supplies.

Choose either 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p. Be sure to designate time with your registration.

A Certified Surprise

SDP, the Society of Decorative Painters, has a certification e-zine. This is the latest. To my surprize, my painting is on it. Check it out at www.decorativepainters.org/certificationhappenings/cth_09_07/

Preparing for the Holidays

We're painting Fall into Winter at Artful Endeavors! We're finishing our fall designs and they have turned out so nice. I have such excellent students. Plan to join our upcoming holiday design classes.

Our open house was a big success with lots of visitors. Our next Holiday Party/art show and sale will be Jan 5, 2008 just before classes start for the new year. Mark your calendar and plan to bring one of your favorite paintings to show. Last year instead of having "parties" for each class time before we left for the holidays, when everything is so busy, we had one big New Year's party and it went well. So we'll keep up this tradition. And invite family and friends again. What better way to start the new year than sharing our art.

Upcoming classes:

Wed 10am class decided to paint one of Bobbi Takashima's designs, Jack Frost, for the Holidays. I'm working on it now. Jack is painted on a red background with a snowman, snowflake fairies, and snow flakes. A fun design. We'll start on Oct 10, for 2 wks.
Then, we'll paint the Starstruck Santa, Oct 31 & Nov 7. He'll be painted soon also.

Wed 1:30p starts the Big Fat Santa on Oct 3. He is so handsome. You don't want to miss this fellow.

Wed 6:30 is ready to start the Winter Chickadees on Oct 3 for 3 weeks. The afternoon group is painting them now and they are so clever, painted all in Light Buttermilk first and then color added. What a fun way to paint. A great Winter design. Then we'll paint some of Trudy Beard's Snowies in tea cups. If you like the Snowies you'll need to join us for this one. Scroll down for photo.

Cary starts the Tuscan Chicken tonight so we'll be busy for awhile. Our Rebecca Baer magnolia table runners were very elegant. Everyone's painting turned out wonderful. We're ready to entertain for the holidays.

This Sat's class is the White Poinsettias. One of my personal favorites that stays out all year at my house. Give me a call if you would like to join us.

In Oct on Sat we'll paint Jo Sonja's Russian Sleighride. If you like our interpretation of JoSonja's designs you'll love this one. I just need to get it painted!

Our Friday, Oct class is a great Chickadee on Holly design. I paint on an ornament. This could also be repeated on any small gift item. This is the Signs of Christmas ornament. Be sure to register soon so that I can plan for this Oct 12 class. You can choose either day or evening class.

While I am on vacation in Oct, Lynn and Dianne will have some terrific classes offered. It's time to register now so that Lynn and Dianne can plan for their class and have supplies ready for you.

Lynn will teach a beautiful Trio of Pears watercolor on Oct 17th, 1:30p - 4:30p. She'll have all the watercolor paper and paints so this is a good opportunity to try watercolors. Lynn makes it so easy!

Dianne will teach another of her wonderful Bobbi Takashima designs, the Pumpkin Rider, a black cat driving a pumpkin carriage pulled by mice. So delightful. Dianne has the surface, ornament, for you. Oct 17th, 6:30 - 9:30pm. Scroll down for the photo.

Just come by the studio and see all the exciting samples or send in your registration fee. We'll be looking for you in class soon! Painting classes are part of our holiday fun and a good time to work on presents.

Sail boat in the Window

Have you seen my new painting, the sailboat in the window? I was very pleased with this one. A Liz original. Thanks to Judy finding an old photo for inspiration.

It turned out to be a great texture study.
We're using texture product, DecoArt Stuccos, with different applications to create a stucco wall and old wood. In addition we're creating a variety of textures with our shading and hilites such as glass, fabric, smooth wood, and sea shells.

So much fun!

And here are the Winter Chickadees coming up soon in our evening class.



Now I'm working on the Big Fat Santa. He is so jolly and colorful. Photos soon.

Open House at Artful Endeavors

Our open house was a great success!

Here are just a few of our photos of the event. It's nice to have a photographer for a husband.



Most of the time the studio was packed with current students, family, new students, prospective students and interested friends. It was really nice to see those of you I had not seen in awhile and to meet those of you that I knew through email or phone calls but had no face to put with the name.



Friends and families appreciated seeing our wonderful sample of student's paintings.







And we all enjoyed the delicious food graciously provided by many of you. The chocolate fountain was a big success although Lynn did accuse my brother of using a cup.

We were so pleased that we'll plan to have an art show and sale periodically. Our next one will be just after the first of the year when everyone is ready to return to painting after the holidays.

Autumn Art at Artful Endeavors

We've added a couple more classes in Oct. Both projects are one day classes.

On Oct 17th Lynn is offering a watercolor for those of you who have asked for watercolor classes. She'll teach a Trio of Pairs at 1:30p - 3:30p. A trendy contemperary design. The sample will be at the studio soon.



Also on Oct 17th, 6:30p - 9:30p, Dianne is offering Bobbi Takashima's wonderfully whimsical cat driving a coach pulled by pumpkin mice, Pumpkin Rider.

Decorative Painting Schedule Updates At Artful Endeavors

We've added some classes and changed a few. Check out photos on the blog and web site.

I have just finished painting the autumn basket and am very pleased with it.

Next week we are beginning the wonderful Fall Still Life on Wed evening and the Cary group will start their holiday project, the Magnolia table runner on Tue evening. There is still time to get in either of these great classes.

On Sept 4 our Tue morning class will begin a exciting new project. It's a model sail boat sitting in a window. We'll paint all kinds of texture with this project so it will be a texture study with even a little texture product included. Come by to see this design that we are creating from a photo.

Note the Open House details below. I'll be looking for you.
It's time to join our Fall painting!


Artful Endeavors 2007 Fall Schedule
Liz Miller CDA

Tuesday 10am - 12:30p Open Class
Make up a missed class or work on your own project with assistance from Liz.

Sept 4, 11, 18, & 25 Boat in the window

(** Photo on blog and/or web site)

Wednesday 10am - 12:30p

Aug 15, 22, 29, & 9/5 **Peaceful River
Sept 12, 19, 26, & 10/3 **Autumn Basket
Oct 10 & 24 Snowies coasters
Oct 31 & 7 Star struck Santa
Nov 14, 28, 12/3, & 12 Tea Cup Snowies

Wednesday 1:30p - 4p

Aug 15, 22, 29, & 9/5 **DeAnne's Fruit
Sept 12, 19, & 26 Winter Chickadees
Oct 17 1:30 – 4:30p Trio of Pears
Watercolor with Lynn
Oct 3, 10, 24, & 31 Big Fat Santa
Nov 7, 14, & 28 Water can & Geraniums
Dec 5 & 12 Just for Christmas

Wednesday 6:30p - 9p

Aug 29, 9/5,12,19,& 26 **Fall Still Life
Oct 3, 10, & 24 Winter Chickadees
Oct 17 Pumpkin Rider/Dianne
Oct 31 & 11/7 **Snowies Teapot
Nov 14, 28, 12/5, & 12 Candy Canes

Cary Tuesday 6:15p - 8:30p

Aug 28, 9/4, 11, & 18 Magnolia Table Runner
Sept 25, 2, 9, 23, 30, & 11/6 Six Weeks, Tuscan Chicken
Nov 13, 27, 4, & 11 **Barn with Chicks

Workshops
Fridays

Sept 14 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p **Lake in Autumn scene Liz
Oct 12 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p Signs of Christmas: Ornaments
Nov 16 10a - 12:30p or 6p - 8:30p Dancing Snowmen Liz

Saturdays

Sept 29 10a - 4p Liz **White Poinsettias
Oct 27 10a- 4p Liz Russian Sleigh ride
Nov 17 10a - 4p Liz **Winter's Eve Scene

Seminars

2007
Nov 2 – 4 Sharon Hamilton

2008
Feb 29 - 3/2 Ginger Edwards
Apr 29 - 5/3 Ronnie Bringle
July 21 - 27 Ros Stallcup
Sept 29 & 30 Kathie George
Oct 24 – 26 Linda McFadden

Register for classes at least 1 week in advance.

Artful Endeavors Open House!

Saturday, Sept 8, 2007
10am – 3p

Art Show and sale!
Bring your family & friends to see:
Hands on new product displays.
Decorative painting by Liz Miller & students.
Samples of upcoming class projects.

Fall Collection

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. There's a feeling of excitement and energy in the sharp cool air that I still associate with returning to school, reuniting with friends, and attending football games and fall events.

And painting fall designs are my favorite. I love the colors and subjects.

Our Wed evening group will be painting this Fall Collection starting soon. We have loved this design by Kerry Smith and I never tire of teaching it.

On Friday, Sept 14, we'll paint the Lake in Autumn scene with geese flying on a 4 x 4 gesso board. No experience is needed to join this fun Friday workshop taught by Liz. Be sure to register at least 1 week in advance to save your seat.


I'm working on the Autumn Basket, a Sharon Hamilton design, now and loving it too. Watch for a photo of it soon.

Plan to join us for some exciting fall painting.


And we'll get into our Winter/Christmas painting soon: scenes, gifts, ornaments,...

World's Longest Yard Sale

We're back from the world's longest yard sale. It was hot, exhausting, and lots of fun. In the evenings we returned to our motel room in Harriman, TN, hot, sweaty, dirty, and exhausted and flopped down on our beds for an exciting evening of TV. One evening we had enough energy left to go across the street for dinner. The other evenings it was take out or call for a pizza. "Wild women", Gail called us.


We drove about 25 - 30 mi through middle Tn and took our time looking at most of the sites where tents were grouped. At first we stopped at a couple of single houses but soon decided that the treasures waiting for us were not at these houses where we saw mostly old clothes, glass ware, and outgrown kids toys. After all this was a yard sale, lots of junk. We learned to look for churches, town parks, or fields where tents were grouped and sellers were more likely to have antiques or old items we might find interesting. I didn't have anything specific that I was looking for except anything that would make good painting surfaces, which I didn't find. I found myself looking for old books or magazines with great pictures which I did find a few. I love the old graphics and find them very inspiring and we did find some treasures. I had lots of fun looking but really didn't buy much.

At one point I thought I had possibly, perhaps, maybe found an old school book from my childhood that I have been trying to find. A lady seller with lots of boxes of books, and who really wasn't organized for the sale, claimed to have the book "somewhere but I don't know which box it might be in". Well, I looked at every book in every box (I really would like to find this book) and didn't find My Little Indian Pony. I think she was just wanting me to help her organize and find other books I would buy. "I must not have brought it with me." she says. If she is not any more organized at home and she does actually have the book, she may still never find. Oh well, I'll just keep looking. This was a book with a picture of an Indian pony that I traced and traced until I found that I could actually draw the pony freehand. This, along with lots of horse related coloring books, were my first artistic efforts.



Gail found some great buys that she can use for her mixed media art. It was lots of fun looking through the old magazines, music, and papers she discovered. You can read her review of our trip (she is a much better writer than I am) and see photos of her finds on her blog at www.shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com. She has also included more trip photos.

Gail and I had been talking about going on this excursion for many years, saying "One day...". Well, now we have done it. We had a great time and enjoyed ourselves immensely, but, decided that we would not do it again. We are both old shop owners who no longer have shops and saw many items that we could have been excited about for our shops in the past. We also decided that it takes more to get us excited these days too. If we were antique dealers, or furnishing a house, or buying for a business we would have found more to purchase.

Now we're talking about more excursions to our favorite locations the Raleigh Flea Market, Liberty Antiques Festival, Cameron Antiques Festival, and we would like to check out the Metrolina Flea Market in Charlotte. There are always more exciting trips to plan.

Ros Stallcup Seminar

We've been having a wonderful time this week painting with Ros. Here are a few photos of our week.

Ros and I have started a blog for her so be sure to start watching her blog for Gran's news. www.gransgarden.blogspot.com

Next week I'll be on vacation but you can still register for classes by e mail. Be sure to check out the class schedule below and on the web site.

Lynn and Dianne will be in the studio on Wed morning and Wed evening to teach on Aug 1. Otherwise the studio will be closed next week. I'll come back with some interesting stories about the 500 mile yard sale. See you soon!