play

I have been longing for an opportunity to learn howTeesha Moore creates her fabulous journal pages for a few years now.


At the end of January, I finally got my chance by attending Teesha and Tracey's journaling retreat 'Play' at Fort Worden in Port Townsend , WA. I was one of 45 artists who gathered for three and a half days of solid journaling . It was absolute heaven.


We spent the days in a large common room and were provided opportunities to watch several demos on a variety of journaling techniques. Being able to put out all of our supplies and not have to pack up each day was wonderful. At night, the Canadian gang from 6E (Janice, Mo, Ty, Marcia and myself) would gather a few supplies and head back to the house for dinner and evenings of wine, laughter and continued journaling into the early hours of the next morning.


The first night/early morning, I was awoke by an earthquake. It didn't last more than a couple of seconds, but was strong enough to make my heart race. I ran to my bedroom door to see if anyone else had felt it, but nothing but crickets...no one else stirred. I called my hubby back home, apologizing for waking him up at 5:30am to ask if he felt anything. He hadn't, but did call me back at 7:30 to tell me I wasn't crazy and there had been a 4.6(ish) earthquake approx. 35 km north of Seattle (pretty much right where we were located).


So I can honestly say that this retreat rocked my world!


I did have an art epiphany on the last full day. I was looking at what I had created and was so proud of what I had accomplished on my pages that I got a bit weepy (in a good way). I found myself an artistic outlet that allows me to create art on a daily basis...I think I may actually use some of the wonderful journals I have been making for all these years; although I do like the (16) page journals we made at the retreat (using one sheet of fabriano artistico watercolour paper).

I can't wait for next year! But up next, ArtFest at the beginning of April and the first reunion of the 2007 6W gang.


Here are a couple of the pages I created at the retreat. Stay tuned for more to come!