GYBP GIVEAWAY WINNER and I TAUGHT MY FIRST NEEDLE FELTED LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP at ARTSPLACE

HELLO EVERYONE,

I would like to thank everyone who have visited my blog during the GYBP and for leaving all your very lovely comments for me to read.  They were all greatly appreciated. 

 I would also like to thank Vicki again from "2 Bags Full" for hosting this great GYBP....It was wonderful to visit old and visit new Blogging Friends.  Below is the photo of the Giveaway pressies I Hand Made with Love for "One" lucky person. 

I received 58 Very Kind and Wonderful Comments to read.  I wish I had a pressie for everyone.  This time I ask my Sweetie to give me a number from 1-58 and he said, 38. 

Number 38 comment was from Terriea at
 " Terrie-.-Smiling....."  Congratulation Terriea.

Terriea said,
  So pretty and lovely treasure box. I love felting and stitching. The mixed media creation is truly a darling little thing. Your blog is amazing. I follow you immediately

Thank you Terriea. I will email you soon. 

 THE STORY BEHIND, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY THE SEA...

Needle Felted or Painting with Wool...
A Wild, Remote, Peaceful and Magical Highlands.

I created this Needle Felted Landscape that I call

 "Scottish Highlands By The Sea" 

during the month of January 2014.  

I had this scene in My Mind for some time. A good friend Carolyn from "Carolyn Saxby Mixed Media Textile Art"  gifted me some very lovely "Sea Glass" that she collected at
 St. Ives Sea Shore a couple of years ago.. I wanted to put these very special wee treasures back in the sand By The Sea ever since seeing them glimmer in my hands. Thank you Carolyn for the Inspiration for this art piece... 

My Sweetie renovated our Master Bathroom last year and I choose the theme of "BY THE SEA".. 

 When the back is Finished,  "My Needle Felted Wool Painting" will be going up in its special spot soon.

Why I choose the "Scottish Highlands" along with the Sea..

My Sweetie's "Grant"
family name can be traced back to 1697 from the town of Dunbar, Scotland. My DIL has been researching the "Family Tree" for several year. Thanks Robin for sharing your family history with me.

 I have never been to Scotland but this is how I imagine the "Highlands" would look with "Wooly Sheep" roaming about and with the beautiful "Heather" blooming everywhere.

In this photo I used "Art Yarn" to create "Texture" and it also created a horizontal line between the Mountains and the Highlands near the Scottish "Crofters Cottage".

The "Heather" I created with 
"Arctic Rays Wispy Fringe" thread so they would shimmer in the sun.  I also added wee beads to give the art piece lots of sparkle too.

I added dimensional "Rocks" along the shoreline to create "Rock Pools" that would Gleam like Jewels in the Sunshine.  I also wanted the "Rocks Pools" so the "Ceaseless Thunderous Waves" had something to crash into.. as they break into the "Beach"..

In this photo you can see the beautiful "Shimmering Sea Glass".  I used 5 wee pieces in all.
  
I also created "Tyvek Beads" to give the beach wee pieces of "Drift Wood".. 

I also added "Sea Shells" collected from the Florida Beaches that was gifted to me by a friend.

  The Highlands would look lonely without wee

 "Wooly Sheep" roaming about..

More Sea Glass, Rocks, Drift Wood, Sea Shells and also several Vintage Shimmering Rock Beads I bought many years ago.. The Copper Badge with the word "Inspire"...which My Sweetie made for me.

My Sweetie also made the Copper Badge that says "Faith".. Faith has always given me the strength to endure difficult times and it also gives me confidence to go beyond my comfort zone to do things that I have Only "Dreamed" of doing!!! 

 The Story Behind My First Needle Felted Landscape Workshop!!

My Friends and I visited "Artsplace" during the local Holiday Arts and Craft Fair.  We stopped in to see the Art displayed at Artsplace.  While I was talking to the lady at the desk we started talking about Needle Felting and I said I had been needle felting for sometime.  She asked me to email her some of "MY Needle Felted Art" which I was very happy to do. 

Two weeks later I received a message asking me to teach a "Needle Felted Landscape Workshop. Kris and I talked on the phone and My Workshop was set for February 1st. 2014.  To say the least I was truly very excited and at the same time very very nervous..  VBG

Thank You Kris for giving me the Opportunity to "Teach Art" at Artsplace...

 
The "Artsplace" is the most beautiful building. It is surrounded by Beautiful Art inside and out.

This is a photo of the Bi-Monthly Publication for the Newaygo County Arts and Culture Connections.

This was the Felted Landscape Workshop description.  It seems unbelievable to see My Name Published in it to give an Art Workshop..

My First 8 Wonderful Artistic Students. 

I created a PDF workshop Pamphlet for My Students with step by step instructions on how to create a Needle Felted Landscape from start to finish and plus much more. 

The workshop was 4 hours long.  Everyone had the front of their landscape finished.  All they needed to do was to add embroidery and beading if they wanted to and finish the back.. which I gave them instruction on how to do..

Everyone was so very kind and everyone laughed and chatted and we all had a fun time.

 All my worries and nervousness just vanished when I started talking and teaching my students.  I was told over and over again how much they were all enjoying the class.

 I was surprised when ONE student asked, is this your "First Time" Teaching Needle Felting??

I laughed and told My Students that My Dear Husband told me NOT to tell my students this was My First Class.  Very Big Smile....  Everyone laughed and said, they would of never know.

  Kris came in to visit us several times to show visitors to the Center our class and the student's art.

 Several students were interested in taking another class and Kris asked me If I would be willing to teach another workshop.  She told me there was several people on a waiting list for the this class that missed out.

 So I am now booked for another Needle Felted Landscape Workshop on April 12th.
  
Below is an up close photo of all the student's art piece.

A Pond in the Woods....

The Desert Southwest.....

A Mountain Sunrise...

An Autumn Reflection....

A Mountain Waterfall....

Sand Dunes and Beach Grass by a Lake.....

Ocean and the Beach....

Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park..

All My Lovely Students with their Very Creative and Beautiful Needle Felted Landscape..

 I will always "Cherish" the Very Fond Memories of My First Needle Felted Landscape Workshop!!!

  Thank you ALL..

My Sweetie gave me the Most Wonderful Valentines Card.  
It said, that Being Next to you is MY HAPPY PLACE!!!  Being Next to My Sweetie is also
 "MY HAPPY PLACE TOO"..

I am hoping the Calla lily will last a long time. I enjoy seeing a wee bit of Spring in our Home...

 Our Winter has been the most brutal in 35 years... Endless snow blizzard after snow blizzard.  I was experiencing "Cabin Fever" Big Time so My Sweetie took us for a Day Drive.  It was on a rare Sunny Day and OH, did we have a great day.. 

 More about the Day Trip Next time. A Belated Happy Valentines Day to You All. 

Thanks for stopping to visit My Blog and leaving your lovely comments to read... 

The British Isles holds a special place in My Heart and I have been sadden to read and see the photos of the horrific flooding in the south of England.. My thoughts and Prayers go out to you all.. 

Hugs Judy