As promised. some posts on the recent trips I’ve been taking.

The first was a trip to Bouler, my old stomping grounds and still one of my favorite places on the planet.

It was the Makerie that brought me back. My first time teaching there, it was delightful down to every last detail. In fact detail, I’m coming to realize, is an Ali specialty. Detail, organization {like seriously fantastic organization} overall loveliness, authenticity and heart ~ that’s what goes into creating the Makerie.

I always talk about the 'top down' theory. Whoever is at the top of an organization, their character and sensibility travel all the way through and down to everything and every person involved. As a teacher I felt completely looked after and cared for.

I’ve had the privilige of teaching at several retreats now and what I’m realizing is that no matter how prepared, organized and rested you are before you get there, traveling plus teaching 6 hour days for several days in a row takes a lot of energy. To feel genuinely supported, so that you can show up and do your job to the best of your ability, is huge. Being efficient and organized way ahead of time so that there is no extra pressure in the final  days and hours, double huge. So thank you Ali - for all of this! And thank you to all of my students who participated in my classes. Could not be a nicer, more creative group as always. And to the Coconuts Sarah, Bel, and Monica so great to see you and finally meet you Anne! And my fellow teachers ~ more new friends to love - Alli, Liesl, Flora, Jenny, Alessandra, Aran

Photos in order of appearance

• always
• the famous Boulder flatirons - just as breathtaking every time I see them
• daisies from Ali welcoming us to our cabin
• comfy 
• Aran - photographing a delicious and beautiful meal {of course} and Ali visiting in the background
• tiny bunny by the cabins
• gifties for my students
• painting on the floor {of course}
• major creativity in progress
• bears and bunnies and foxes - a whole sampling of student work from my classes, Painting with Stitches and Creative Characters, by Elke, Amber, Jaime Corey, Julie and Anne. In 'Painting with Stitches' students had a choice to improvise their own design or use one of my embroidery patterns - I love how uniqe each one is, especially how totally different each of the bears turned out - {a favorite is 'no bad bear' - a bunny in her sassy skirt and pearl necklace holding the bear on a leash}
• special thank you to Angela and Fiskars for being so generous in donating supplies for us to try in the classes - love their crating tools and  a new favorite of mine is their circle punch
• color inspiration found in the midst of creating
• a must eat at: Tangerine in Boulder and have their entree 'Green Eggs and Ham' for brunch
•  daydreaming