My Squam Experience

Rockywold Deephaven Camp

Holderness, New Hampshire

I returned home exactly a week ago

from attending Squam Art Workshops

and I am still processing the journey that unfolded

there for me!

How do I put into words just how I feel 

about what I experienced at My Squam . . .

knowing that I can't possibly express

 exactly what I want to share and give it the justice it so deserves!

I don't think I truly can ...  BECAUSE IT WAS MAGICAL!

I am still processing all that I experienced at Squam last week,

and I don't want this feeling to end.

I want to remember all that I did, all that I learned,

all that I experienced and remember the wonderful people I met.

I have attended two Squam by the Sea journeys

and Squam in the City last fall,

but nothing compares to the "original" Squam

at Squam Lake in New Hampshire.

It was by far the most beautiful retreat experience for me!

I decided to share my favorite photos 

from my Squam experience last week ...

I am touched beyond measure that I was able to attend, 

to teach a Zentangle® class

and share this drawing process with 40 attendees! (WOW!)

I was happy to be a small part of an amazing group of people,

close to 200 attendees!

To be close to Elizabeth, 

(founder and creator of Squam Art Workshops)

who will always have my heart,

and Forrest Elliott, Mindy Tsonas and Nina Gilbert

(her outstanding team)

what an amazing job they did!

Enough said ... here are my pics

Hope you will enjoy and get a feel for my five days!

Opening night adornment

Yarn bombing everywhere

Walking the many paths

Yarns by Shalimar yarns for a tapestry

Isn't the packaging adorable!

Another art fair treat I brought home

Me and Mindy united (photo taken by Elizabeth Duvivier)

How I adore this beautiful soul!

Elizabeth reading my favorite poet Mary Oliver

in our magical writing class

Ice beauty during the Art Fair

The beautiful heart showed up everywhere

Story time with author Clara Parkes

I purchased her sock knitting book!

My art fair treat from Maya Made

New sock knitting bag

Always have to take at least one selfie!

Connecting with Susan

My Love Notes Project partner

My altered book class with Colleen Attara

Knitting in my pj's by the fire

The perfect venue for my Zentangle® class Friday morning

Best class helpers ever!!!!

Creating a class Mosaic of finished work

The BEST class helpers ever

How blessed was I!!!

Awesome and attentive class

Sweet Nina concentrating

My Instagram that day

Cabin Artwork created by

Elizabeth and Forrest

(Wished I could have brought home!)

Morning peeking through ... ready to start each day

Creating a nature mandala before class

Writing class venue

"Writing your own Myth" class with Elizabeth

Facing the blank page ...

Dream Catcher created by 

the beautiful Mindy Tsonas

for all

Adding my dream to the dream catcher

Attending a natural remedy workshop

Always inspiring words to be found

My writing sisters ... we shared a lot together

My Keens walked many a step

Anxious to get into the Art Fair on our last night

Yes I am Yogiknitgirl and I LOVE Ravelry

So fun to meet the gang in person!

Saying goodbye to Squam Lake the last day

Being greeted on Wednesday arrival

The dock at our cottage

The view from our room

The beautiful woven Heart there to greet

Best Roomy ever!

Inspiration during Altered Book Class with Colleen Attara

My view while writing on a Saturday morning

So much inspiration here

Gathering for a group photo

(photo taken by the amazing Forrest Elliott)

Daily inspiration adorning my cabin bedroom

See what I mean??????
If you ever get the chance to attend a Squam
please give yourself that gift!
They are magical, soul refreshing,
loving and safe.
So much goes into the making of such an experience
and I am filled to overflowing.
I will step lightly for awhile,
take care of my soul
and be ever so grateful
for what I took home with me!
Thank you Elizabeth, Forrest,
Mindy and Nina!
xoxoxo

Along the pathway at Squam

My Tapestry . . .

Just Beginning

Now hanging at my studio window

I am a Weaver!

It feels good to say it,

because it has been way to long 

since I have done anything creative at my looms!

I am sure you have done this as well . . .

strayed away from an art form you love,

only to learn something new . . .

something that distracts you, interests you,

and pulls your attention away.

For me it has been learning the Art of Calligraphy,

teaching Zentangle® and SoulCollage® classes,

all good things, but take an immense amount of my time!

As you know I am a Poet,

I love to read it, share it out loud and write it!

I recently wrote a poem from my loom's point of view,

sitting in the corner . . . unattended, unloved and unused.

It certainly made a point with me!

I asked myself why I hadn't woven anything,

for so long ... even years?

Why have I let everything else get in the way?

I didn't have any answers, only to say that

everything has a season,

including our arts.

So I put a warp on my tapestry loom,

gathered some beautiful fibers

and began a trial piece,

just to see if I remembered the tapestry techniques.

It sure felt good to see it progressing!

Tapestry weaving is just like life . . .

taken slowly

you will grow in patience and knowledge

if only you will learn

to slow down and enjoy the process!

It feels good to just sit at the loom

and see where it leads me!

Fiber Stash

Just getting the feel of it again

Adding a little adornment

I learned Tapestry weaving when my son Curt

was only a year old,

I remember leaving him with my mom

once a week

for a two hour lesson,

Curt is soon to be 35 years old!

Weaving has been a part of my life for a long time,

it is something I turn to over and over again,

and also what I leave behind from time to time!

It is a constant reminder of who I am

and what I can accomplish!

I love the song "Tapestry" by Carole King

 (my favorite singer in the world!)

" ... my life is but a tapestry

of rich and royal hue ..."

Life is full of colors and textures,

experiences and life lessons,

friendships and family,

and so much more.

I am grateful that my weaving

reminds me of all of that ...

all creating the woven cloth of my own life.

Work in Progress

Wishing you fun and rest

during this Holiday weekend!

Sending out love

Donna Lee

Learning the Art of Color Theory

My Mandala Color Wheel

I have been taking a Color Theory Class

with my Calligraphy teacher

Betsy Rivers Kennedy

the past few Monday nights

and I must say I am learning

more than I thought possible.

I wanted to learn how to create my calligraphy

by mixing my own colors . . .

I have received more info than ever!

We started out right away learning

mixing and color theory

and it felt so good to instill the proper

way colors are mixed into my head!

Betsy's paint collection was

unbelievable!

 Just a few tubes of paint!

We started by mixing the three primary colors

in gouache and getting the right consistency,

and then we began to fill our palettes

Just beginning to mix gouache

Starting with the Primary Colors

I know that Red and Blue makes purple

Red and Yellow makes orange

Yellow and Blue makes green,

we learned that in school right?

But actually mixing it,

trying to get it right,

I was learning all over again,

it felt really good!!!

We then went on to Secondary colors and more!

My mixing of colors

During our second class we learned about

shades and tints,

my color was yellow,

which is a difficult color to work with,

we painted and mixed carefully

and created our own color charts

This Tint exercise was so fun ... I learned a lot!

Learning Shading ... Yellow mixed with black turns green!!!

The next exercise was to learn how to fill our dip pens

with our gouache

and write with it!

Making sure the consistency of the ink was 

what we wanted,

what fun was that!

We also practiced on black paper too,

which I totally loved!

I just love this pic!

I'm learning so much from my teacher,

Betsy is amazing

and I consider every minute with her

a blessing to be learning from someone so multi talented!

Her pen collection alone is inspiring,

I drool whenever I get near her calligraphy pens!

Wow ... just wow!

Next week ... working with Complementary Colors

and writing a favorite quote of ours

in Calligraphy!

I never want to stop learning, 

it is good to get out of your own comfort zone,

try something new and grow,

be with new people.

I'm grateful to have this opportunity,

cause I am totally in love with

Calligraphy

and I plan on getting really good at it!!!!

May your week be filled with love,

happiness and many happy moments.

Donna Lee

How do you see yourself?

Just playing around!

This past Sunday I was able to

attend a Calligraphy Workshop

with the sweetest teacher

Amy

of

Sincerely Amy Designs

It was an afternoon of cocktails, cupcakes and calligraphy,

filled with fellowship, sharing, laughing and inspiration!

I enjoyed the experience so much

and learned a lot from Amy!

She is amazing!

The afternoon was a gift I gave myself.

So happy to have this photo with Amy

As I was leaving the workshop,

I saw this amazing mosaic mirror

and couldn't resist taking a picture!

Don't we all love taking selfies from time to time?

All week I had lots of ideas for my blogpost today,

but somehow the question

"How do you see yourself?"

just kept coming into focus for me.

So I decided to write about it today!

It isn't an easy question,

and sometimes, on certain days,

I certainly don't want to answer that question!

What do I see when I look at myself?

A soon to be 58 year old grand mommy,

a wife and mother, a semi-retired Optician,

a friend, sister, poet, artist and teacher,

a child of God,

and a positive and loving person!

I feel that I'm living a pretty balanced life

right at this moment,

and it all feels delicious!!

It is important to re-evaluate 

how we are doing from time to time,

check in with yourself ... see if there are any imbalances!

Trust me, your body will let you know,

your mind will send you signals,

and your heart will always know the way!

Life is a balancing act,

each and every day

Don't ignore taking care of yourself,

take time to nourish your spirit,

it is so important.

If you see yourself in a positive light,

you can then be ready to give to others,

trust me ... others need you!

How do you see yourself?

We can always look at the negative side of things,

and no good can come out of it.

Take time to "take a selfie"

Write down all the positive things you can think of

about your beautiful self,

concentrate on those characteristics,

NOT the bad things going on in your life.

You may just be surprised at the list you come up with!

This beautiful spring season,

I wish you joy and abundance,

happiness in all things,

most of all

I wish you peace and understanding!

Love yourself today!

Donna Lee