Maybe it was the truly great women who signed up for Bean Up The Nose Art's "Quickie Class: Matchbox Valentines" last Saturday evening . . . one of whom said at the end of class, "We've been giving a back seat to our creative needs. And they need to climb up into the front seat now!"
Maybe it was the art journal page Bean Up The Nose Art made the morning before, envisioning holding the class space and the folks in it with fun and love.
Maybe it was the terrific class venue: Sunny Day Salvage, in Fairfax, CA (which we've talked about here before).
Maybe it was the bubbly we provided :)Whatever the reason, whatever combination of them, we are most grateful for getting to "teach" one of our most fun, rip-roaring classes so far.
By "teach," we mean that the eight women who were "students" needed only about 30 seconds worth of explanation of how to turn matchboxes:
into Valentines. Then, the rip-roaring began. Because those gals were off and running. Rummaging through the materials provided. Sharing scissors, glue, pinking sheers, Dresden foil bits . . . and lots of jokes and laughter about . . . well, what girls say about Valentine's-type topics. Folding, glueing, cutting. 
This is not an exaggeration: what I did after the first 30 seconds of "instruction" was help find more glue. Pour some more champagne. Pass around the chocolates. And in the 90 minutes we had together, these women created matchbox Valentines much more cool and innovative than the sample I'd pulled together. For example.
This one ended up including a PUZZLE on the inside!
Another artist composed and folded a two-sided story book into hers.
Three-dimensionality ruled.
And voila! Folks went on to design and make their own bounty of Valentine's cards, too.
What an absolute treat to spend that Saturday evening time with women who jumped in with such gusto, who were creative and confident and content in their makings-of-love. It was a gift to me to be in the company of folks who already believed they could make art. Who understood already that, as one woman said of the students she teaches to sing when they think they can't, "They're not failing. They're just confused." Who already knew that when we doubt ourselves as artists, we just need to get ourselves unconfused and unstuck. What joy to spend that time with eight folks already grounded in this understanding, who confidently went forward and made SO MUCH COOL STUFF! And who were funny, and kind to each other, and supportive -- of the folks they already knew, and of the new friends they made that night. too. It was one of those times when I giggle inside with glee, in delight at what is going on around me, and thinking I also get paid for it :) Thank you, "students." YOU RULE!!!!
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And now, a plug for our next Valentine's Day Quickie!!!
Hoping that if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will stop on by the new studio space and
Yep! Come on over to 2 Florence Ave. in San Anselmo, CA. From 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. this coming Saturday afternoon, February 4.Bean Up The Nose Art is teaming up with two other great local artists to provide a one-stop shopping spot for Valentine's Day goodies: cards, mugs, jewelry, and other gifty-goods!
We're joined by Willow Older of Cheeky Kiwi Creations.
And the fabulous Suskia, who makes great steampunk-and-more jewelry. (My bad: this photo does not do it justice.)
And awesome felt creations.
And, of course, we've got cards for you:) 
Hoping to see folks here this Saturday afternoon. Cool indoor studio space. Bubbly and treats while you shop. What's not to like? Thanks for playing :)
1 comment:
Your class sounds amazing and it looks like it was such fun!
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