Between the Vines

Seminars in Italy - part 2

Here are some fun photos from my second location of seminars, which were in Como, near Milan. My hostesses were Anna and Brigitte from the Cartoleria Curti shop. Thank you for making our time there so special, it was truly memorable...you have a neat shop full of goodies to tempt those wanting to learn and classes available to nurture the creative soul. The food was divine and the well organized seminar had every detail paid attention to. It was impressive, bravo to you!

 
This first photos is of Anna, myself, Maria Laura, Flo and Brigitte.
 
This is what you get for talking when the camera clicks!! :) On a side note, the sun was SO incredibly bright, it was blinding...hard to keep your eyes open for the pic.

 
Here we have M.Laura, translating my direction. She did such a fine
job, I must thank her again for all her help!


A couple of the students giving Flo a smile...

 
Here are some of the students watching me demo.
 
Watch carefully girls.... ;)


An up close and personal demo...

 
Students breaking for lunch...


Everyone working hard...

 
Brigitte taking photos...

Working on Hailey Hare...neat surface!

 
Paint, paint, paint!

 
(How did she do that???)

 
I can't tell if she is dazed and tired.....or happy and enthusiastic? *g* lol

 
On some of the surfaces, it was easier to stand up to paint it...


Here I am checking on the students...they all did really wonderful!

 
I believe this is Natascia and Patrizia...hi girls!

 
Flo catches Sabrina laughing at something.... :)

and here she is getting a pic with Flo and I!
Flo and I both thought there was something about
Sabrina that reminded us of our designer friend,
Colette (of http://cathedralofdreams.blogspot.com/) :)

 
Here is a photo of Agnese, myself and Sabrina...
(There were many photos taken during the course, but I am sorry
that I don't have more pics with everyone individually posted here - these were some that
Sabrina had emailed to me...thanks!)


Elena and (Yikes, can't remember her name!Sorry! ) are engrossed in painting...

 
Paint, (breathe)....paint, (breathe)...paint, paint, paint!

Everyone did just great, honestly, I was very pleased. Thank you to all the students that attended my courses, I know I pushed you to your limit...lol...but I think you learned a lot and I hope you had fun!!  I also want to thank everyone (from all the classes in Italy) for all of the beautiful gifts that you bestowed upon me, I will treasure them....grazie! Check out Flo's blog for more photos from Como, we did get a lot of the same photos so I won't bother posting them here on mine.

Ciao, Ciao  ~  Kiss, Kiss!





 

  

Seminars in Italy - part 1

I wanted to share some photos of the first series of classes that were held at the Castle de Serravelle, in Vittorio Venetta, near Venice. Our hostess Sabrina, along with Marcello, did a wonderful job for the students. Bravo to you both! We enjoyed our time with you and all the students, there were lots of laughs and even a few tears.  I have fond memories of the classes...I hope you enjoy the pics - I could not remember everyone's name, (sorry!)...but I did
remember a few!

    
Carla, myself and Barbara - these two girls were our breakfast mates, they were staying at the castle also, so we would meet up with them every morning...hi girls! Mmm..miss those croissants!
 
Miss Flo, hard at work prepping the inserts for the next day's class...thanks girl!
 
Above and below, girls working on the Christmastime Santa.
 

 
Carla and our hostess, Sabrina flash a smile.

 
Me with Sabrina 2 (there were 3 Sabrina's in the class!) This one kept us laughing, though she had a few tears after the seminar was over...so sweet. Do you like the apron that I wear? That is
compliments of my friend the Tolefairie, Roxanne Jarvis, it says: Jamie paints...between the vines! :o)
 
Working on Santa still...
 
Some of the girls had fun occupations...
Sabrina 3 <far left> worked in the fashion industry in Milan, Eddi <next to Sabrina>
was a wedding planner *g* and yikes, my memory escapes me...but the girl on the far
right, works for a large hobby and craft company in Itlay.
 
Sabrina, Cristina and Manuela working hard...
 
Me with the girls from Portugal, Cristina and Manuela...
 
(The girls watching me demo...)
 
(Me, watching myself paint...????) lol
  
(Cute red glasses...)
 
(Busy, busy, busy...)
   
Flo catches Marcello taking pics at the seminar.
  
The girls working on the Treasured Times Panda.
  
(Working on Bailey Bear...)
 
A group of us out to dinner...
 
(Smile!)
 
(Sisters...hi girls!)
 
Flo and Sabrina flash a smile...

Those are just a few pics from the classes in the first location...thanks everyone for the great time!

All's well...

I know it has been a month of Sundays since I have updated the blog. :) So many things going on, so little time...yadda, yadda, yadda...I know, I know... <lol>

The trip to Italy was incredible...the sights, the sounds and most of all...the dear students. What an incredible step into another country's culture, it is so rewarding to see/feel/touch the way they live and note the differences (and similarities!) in our countries. Italy is such an old country, it was a pleasure to immerse ourselves in the experience.(I was so saddened when the earthquake hit, not only for the devastating loss of life...but also in this culturally historic place.  To our Italian friends, our hearts are with you...)

Now, if you have heard me talk about my first trip to Italy in 2007, you know that I was impressed by how artfully beautiful this country is.... every little thing in Italy breathes ART.  I suppose that is why I feel an affinity to this country...it really touches my artist's heart. ~ I simply soak it all in...every little detail is paid attention to here...(maybe that is why I enjoy it so - all that detail! *g*) Simply bellissimi (beautiful)! 

The students and hosts were simply wonderful...and I *really* enjoyed my time with you all...I will post some fun class photos in another post. But, right now, as I am on the subject of detail, I want to show you a few little things that caught this artist's eye...

(Quaint buildings in Vittorio Veneto)

(a beautiful villa on Lake Como...no, not Clooney's *g*)

(We caught this beautiful church while driving...)

(In Venice...)

(The cathedral at St. Mark's Square...wow...incredible paintings, a painter's paradise...)

 

(The window shots with flowers and vines, peeling plaster....*sigh*... so paintable....)

(LOVED this shot! Those vines are totally covering up the window...now that would be looking out "between the vines".....<lol>)

(Great old door...)

(enchanting windows...)

(more vines creeping across this old building...)

 

(loved the warm hues of this scene...with the gondola and the way the light hit the water in the narrow canal...)

Okay, those were just a few neat pics...more to follow...of course Flo has a ton of photos already up on her blog, so check those out...she took many more photos than I!
Back with more....