Wintry Workshop Day One

"“Earth's crammed with heaven...
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes ." - Elizabeth Barrett Browning























As the leaves begin to fall, and the days get colder, shorter and darker with the earth’s tilt, we move into a season of thankfulness and giving. In this sanctuary we celebrate the gift of our artistic nature by creating handmade gifts for our friends, family and ourselves.

I began setting up the studio before the sunrise....

















I spritzed the studio table with a bit of Joy Juice flower essences by the amazing Lotus Wei. Then I lit a java log in the fireplace so it would be toasty and ready to welcome the girls.

















For the felting water, I'll be adding a few drops of "Nurture the Goddess" shower gel so that it doubles as a hand soak, and we'll be using the lotion on our puckered hands after our wet felting projects. This wonderful duo is a gift to the Mighty Girls from the generous peeps at Bodhichitta Botanicals. Their products are lovely and made with both flower essences and essential oils.






















Before the girls arrived, we received the gift of unseasonable snow flurries which provided the perfect backdrop for our Wintry Workshop. What could be more perfect?






















And then the girls arrived...






















We warmed up with a cup of organic hot cocoa...

































then I introduced today's projects - felted rocks and soaps. Felted rocks are very popular and turning up in design mags and stores like Uncommon Goods. They make wonderful paper weights and are a perfect gift for teachers.

















































While the felted rocks took a tumble in the dryer, we worked on felted soaps. Felted soaps are a real treat and are sold in stores like Anthropologie. We used a natural and wintry peppermint soap.

































The soaps were placed on a drying rack until next week, and I removed the felted rocks from their tumble. They were dry and ready for their gift tags.

















































Did I mention the scalp massager?






















And to finish the morning, we made S'mores in the fireplace.







































See you next week, girls!

MGA Tour - Girl Scout Camp

Share the gift of who you are...
it's why you came to be. - Deborah Latzke






















I drove the beautiful winding roads to the campsite and the scent of Autumn blew though the opened windows bringing with it memories of my own childhood adventures as a scout. As I approached the camp, the excitement was evident and the girls took turns introducing themselves to me. They started their own campfire and began making S'mores. Sated and sticky, we moved into the lodge.

















I sat upon a rocking chair near the fireplace. The girls gathered 'round.

"I want you to picture yourself in this story", I said, "because we are all a part of it...there is great wisdom in this tale and it may be different for each of you. When you find your truth, hold on to it because you will need it for our project".

I read slowly, deliberately, taking time to pause now and then to hold their gazes.

"Those who listen carefully, will here her whisper...all answers are found within..."

When I closed the book I explained that we would be making Wisdom Necklaces based on the messages in the story. The girls were rapt with joy. Together we created miniature oak leaf charms.

















On the back of the leaf, each girl wrote the message that she received from the story.

















When we were finished, I gave each girl a piece of chocolate with a little message under the wrapper and we took a walk in forest before I headed back home.

















Thank you, troop, for inviting Mighty Girl Art™ to circle with you...and remember this, what you believe will become your truth.

With love,
Wendy

Mighty Girl Art™ Scouts

"The secret of making the best person:
it is to grow in the open air
and to eat and sleep with the earth." - Walt Whitman

I am pleased to announce that Mighty Girl Art™ will be making art with the Girl Scouts tomorrow at their campsite !!!

See you soon, troops