Tuesday, November 1, 2011

KC Willis's Workshop ROCKED!!!!

 {the fabric table, I took that top piece}
Really....I mean REALLY Friends???
Is this what an Art Retreat is like?
Is this what I've been missing ALL my life??


 Yesterday, I spent the entire day with KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch & some of the
most delightful, talented & creative women you could ever meet.


 We gathered at a Community Room in Huntington Beach, California.
I got there a little early as they were setting up tables of fabric, paper,
sewing machines, baubles & buttons. It was a FEAST for the eyes!


KC had brought some absolutely AMAZING pieces of her original
fabric collages & had them set up for us all to look at & fall in LOVE with,
I LOVED them ALL!


Now, I'll tell you a secret...
 I'm a little bit of a KC Willis groupie, all though she wouldn't know that.
I have been following her work & her on-line workshops for years &
quietly coveting her work.


 Not only does the textures & layers & time worn images of her work appeal to me,
but her STRONG WOMEN & their SAYIN's & QUOTES, have captured my heart!


"Inside Every Woman a Gypsy Girl Dances by the Fire."


KC Willis also had these fabric collage envelopes that were pieces of art themselves,
filled with three CD's of workshops & demonstrations on how to create
some of her most popular techniques & art work...pretty cool right!
You can find these HERE if your interested.  ;)


A stack of some of her yummy goodness!!!


I wish I could have gone back today because she was teaching how to make
these awesome Mixed Media Collage Books.


Here's a couple inside pages she had at the workshop as an example...


aren't they FABULOUS!!!


This flag is to die for, it's spectacular with all it's vintage fabrics, red ticking stripes
& multiple vintage image transfers...loving EVERYTHING about it & you can get it in a kit!!!


So what can I say about KC?
She is a spirit filled with light & it's contagious.
Her mantra is 'Give it ALL Away'...you will get back more then you could ever imagine.
She reminds me of one of the Strong Women in her artwork...
she's funny & sassy & I adored her!
{check out her ministry work at The Pine Ridge Reservation on South Dakota}


She holds nothing back, she teaches you ever little technique she uses to create her Magic...


and as we all started our own creations, KC's Magic filled the room & we took FLIGHT!


This being my very FIRST workshop, I can see how you could get addicted to the process,
being surrounded by so many creative & generous women was a delight.


Friends, I had SOOOOOO much fun working on my own creation!  ;)
I learned how to be brave sewing with layers of  fabrics, fibers & papers,
I learned to embrace the accidental mistakes that happen when creating
& I learned that Aleene's Tacky Glue can hold almost ANYTHING in place!! lol

{Marilou & KC Willis}
But best of all, I was able to hang with some of my bloggie friends in person & have the
sincere pleasure of meeting KC Willis the artist, the humanitarian, the 'SPITFIRE'!
It was an AWESOME day!!!!


Driving the 1 1/2 hours home from Huntington Beach, I reflected on the perfect day
& as I made my way up my mountain, I looked in the rear view mirror & saw this.
I pulled into a turn out, grabbed my camera & as I caught the sky's last bit of color
I thought how very Blessed I am & once again,
there's NOTHIN like a Western Sky!!!  ;)
{stick around, my creation reveal will be my next post}

XOXO
vintagesusie

11 comments:

Blessed Serendipity said...

Awesome and beautiful! I would of loved to of taken that class. Love all the layers of treasures and textures.

Danielle

Dianne said...

Wow! Looks like you had a blast! Love her work too! And can't wait to see yours!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

You are a lucky ducky girl. The workshop looks like it was over the top fun. Good for you for being able to attend.
I can hardly wait to see what you have created. Oma Linda

Debby said...

That workshop looks like so much fun. Can't wait to see yours.
ANd that flag......can it be ordered, the kit I mean.

Unknown said...

So fun, my friend!! I had signed up for one of her classes, and it got cancelled, because every one got sick!!! Looks like it was a wonderful time.
xo
lynn

Alice said...

Oh my what fun you had! I'm so jealous as I've never been to a retreat before.

Unknown said...

Awesome post and pic's you took. I'm glad you made it home safe and sound, I was thinkin' bout' you and the fun and creative day we had. The book class was awesome and yep, I forgot my camera but will post tomorrow, though I wish I had more pic's. The book class was fantastic though it did have a smaller crowd so we each had our own table. It was a power on and stretch to finish the book but I did except for adding the words and embellishments. Most of us figured we would do that at home so that will be another post in itself too. Hugs to you my friend, Marilou xoxo

Kathy jo said...

Looks like an amazing class~Can't wait to see your treasures from the day~and that sunset WOW!!!!!

XO~Kat

Anonymous said...

OMG, I am in love with KC Willis too! I went to a 5-day workshop at her studio in Colorado a couple of years ago. We made some awesome things and she is just the most adorable thing. I'm glad you got to work with her too.
Marcy Antle
mantle@piedmontcenter.com
www.queenmarcyoriginals.typepad.com

Suz said...

Susie,
This is amazing. I am from South Dakota and both Jud and I have worked with kids from Pine Ridge. I worked in residential treatment and often took kids home on the weekends and he worked as a doctor at the regional Indian hospital in Rapid City. We know first hand how bad things are there.
I also love KC's works and have been a follower for ages. I would love to go to her workshop and it is definitely on my bucket list.
Your work is well...breathtaking!
Big hugs,
Suz

Lily's Lace said...

ooooooooooo, I can't wait. I have followed her for years! Charlene and I are going to Canton tomorrow so maybe I can find some cool embelishments and ideas. Does KC supply the image and materials for the classes???? DO you sew and bring your own machine??? so many questions to ask. Love this post!!xoxox-cin