Menucha

I spent an art-filled weekend with fellow members of the Portland Art Collective at a beautiful retreat in the Columbia River Gorge just outside Portland, Oregon. Three days of art and friends in one of the most beautiful settings you could ask for called Menucha. We were all housed in the Greenhouse building where we shared ideas, successes and laughs and taught each other new art techniques. It was a wonderful treat, especially since I do not normally get to go to meetings that are during the week when I am working. The first day we were there, we were treated to a beautiful sunny day, which we have had a shortage of lately and the second day, after a rainy day, we were treated to a fabulous sunset. Susie Wolfer taught us paste paper and books and Z'anne Bakke taught us a felting technique. Paula McNamee taught us a cool technique to resurface chunky books and Donna Bauermiller taught us how to make inkblot bug creatures. I finished my newest sets of charms - small birds painted on copper photo charms and new tin and metal charms, which I will be using in upcoming bracelets for the shows I am in this fall. To see the art completed by this talented and wonderful group of artists was very inspiring and renewed my energy for and committment to art. Unfortunately the time was short and soon we were heading home again, looking forward to our next retreat in October.