“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein

I'm pretty much a meat and potatoes person when it comes to clothing. My favorite outfits consist of jeans and a blue,long sleeved shirt. I roll up the sleeves and put on the most comfortable shoes I can find, be they Berkie's, boots or Keens, and I'm good to go.
But, I appreciate folks who have the imagination and the fortitude to wear "OUTRAGEOUS"  and do it well.
At *Art is You* I saw so many people who seem to be able to pull off really amazing outfits. Some were really wild and some... just looked great in an interesting and artful way.

This was Lorri-Marie Jenkins. 

She is an artist and lives in Benicia, CA. She decided to have her hair done in dreadlocks a few years ago. When this wasn't enough, she started wrapping her dreads in bright wool fleece which, after many washings, have become one with her hair (felted). Amazing! I love it!

This was our master of ceremonies... Rice Freeman-Zachery
She is one of the most inspirational artist that I have listened to. She always makes me feel good about finding the "artist" inside.

I didn't get a clear photo of her this year so I appropriated one from Google images. Even this one is not really clear. It's probably because she never stops moving. But, look at that red hair, the tattoos and the red tutu.

OH, yes... tutu's. Which brings me to another dynamo... Carrie Clayden.
This is her with my sister.

And this is the bottom half of her with one of her signature TUTUs on.

Carrie owns Hip Chick Designs in Benicia, CA.
She was even selling tutus at the Trunk show and sale on Saturday night.

She taught the Pet Portrait workshop that my sister took. She always wears wonderful handmade outfits that have "ARTIST" written all over them.

Then we saw this amazing shirt... in the lobby one day.
This woman was one of the attendees that looked great in a very subdued and creative way. She said that her top was a creation of VonksArt on Itsy and a "adornment" artist named Vainca Bauman.  Here's the link.
There was even a class at *Art is You* that was taught by Lorri Scott on re- purposing clothing and an impromptu fashion show of what people made in her class. I just couldn't take all the classes that I wanted to. This is one I missed. Maybe next year. I took a Nuno Felting class from her two years ago. She's a great teacher.

 

 This woman, above, was more the style statement that I like. More subdued... but creative and eye catching.

I'm sure that I missed a lot of artist and creative outfits.... they were everywhere.

My point to all of this is that you don't have to hide your wild clothing... that beautiful scarf or crazy pair of shoes... in your closet.

Wear what makes you feel good. Sew it, paint it, decoupage it and glue things to it. Make it say something about you.

Dye your hair orange if you want to. Get that tattoo.

Life is short. Be brave and wear your adornments proudly. 

Go ahead and draw with markers on an old pair of jeans.

Rice can't leave her husband alone . She paints everything. These are his famous jeans. He is our resident ~Art is You~ photographer.

So... what are you going to redo, this week?
What can you create that says something about yourself?

“Think left and think right
 and think low and think high.
 Oh, the things you can think up
 if only you try” – Dr. Seuss

 

No, I didn't trip and fall into the Pacific Ocean...

This is quick post to let you all know that I had a WONDERFUL time at The ART IS YOU workshop.
I want to tell you all about the wonderful long weekend of art workshops and fun but it will be a week or so before I have the time to put it all together.
My sister and I had such a great time..

This was the first night Dinner.

Some of the teachers talked about being artists and then there was a question and answer session  after dinner. They talked about the personal process of becoming an artist.... tips on overcoming your inhibitions, thinking outside the artistic box and what their own life experiences as artists were like. 

The next few days were filled with workshops, traveling to town, eating good food, walking, eating good food and DESSERTS.

Eating DESSERTS...

And looking for POTENTIAL places to eat more desserts.

There were wonderful little stores in the downtown part of Petaluma along the river.

There was a grand Flea Market that walked us almost to death.

 But for now, in this moment, I have begun another adventure.
My friend "D" from Montana is here. She drove all the way from Montana to see me and I'm so happy that she is here. There will be lots of talking, walking, photography (she is an addict like me), laughing, playing with dogs, and catching up with life.
I will post when I can. I will catch everyone up on the great workshops and show off some of my artwork.... but for now, I'm enjoying "D"s visit, her dog Wanda.... and the company of this dear friend.