LizzyHouse

Squam June 2011

Before it gets too far from me, I wanted to talk about Squam this year. I don't have any of my own pics, because my camera didn't even make it to my bag! It's getting to the point that I need someone following me around taking pictures!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I want to just touch on each of the classes, and how I have come to understand myself better through teaching, and pay tribute to what Squam is in my life.

This year I taught another session of block printing fabric. This class and the people who take it NEVER cease to amaze me. Year after year, as I teach this class, the work that people produce is so inspiring. And I love the opportunity to bring people to the inky side of printmaking. My peeps find peace in carving and printing for a couple of hours, and I am always grateful for the chance to facilitate that. I love that a 6 hour class might help you discover talents and expression you didn't even know you were searching for. Every one did such a fantastic job. In this class especially, I was moved by how everyone worked together. Using ink together, moving tables when the power went out together... just a sweet action sisterhood of printmaking. It makes me weepy just thinking about it. But I'll have you know I held it together pretty well the first day. 

For the first time I taught Mini Quilts! I was emotional right out of the gate with this one... I think I've shared it here before, but I started quilting for a couple of reasons, but the reason I came to love it was a need for a kind of healing therapy from a tragic event. But it was through teaching this mini quilt class that I came to better understand the kind of teacher that I am.

I am about your success.

In that, I feel like I am also about failing, in the very best way. Because it's only through the stumbling that we learn to solve the problem and try again.

I give you the tools you need. I give you the pieces to the puzzle. I give you the space, and the guidance. I give you the comfort that I have the knowledge and I am always right there if you need to talk through something, but ultimately, your success stems from the fact that you went out on your own. That way, you aren't learning how to follow exactly how I teach, or have a specific end product that you would compare to someone else's, you are solving problems which will give you more permanent solutions, and let you OWN your success. Hopefully, I am giving you the space to learn to express yourself in a new way. The Mini Quilt class was a testament to the process. There were 16 students, and all 16 students created beautiful, unique pieces, and from those, about 12 were actually finished in the time from breakfast to dinner. The best part of this class was getting to watch these sparks lighting all over the room in people as they discovered where they were going, and what they were capable of. Not joking at all, it was as if there were actual lights over people. It was such an incredible experience. Discovery is such a beautiful thing.

It is because of my Mother, and the incredible teachers I have had in my life, that I am able to enable capability and discovery in my own students.

Also the biggest thanks to Singer Sewing for providing Squam with 20 brand new machines! People who had never sewn before IN THEIR LIVES were able to just take off sewing. And it was because of Singer's fantastic generosity, that: Pixie, Maya, Cal, and myself were all able to offer sewing classes this year! and hopefully more in the future!

The final class was our Champion Ribbon class! and again, I was thrilled to see the beautiful and abundant ribbons created by everyone in the class. The best part was seeing my Peeps each wearing almost all of their ribbons at one time... just how they should be worn. 6 or more at a time!!

Just thinking about Squam now, and the time that I had, and have had in years past...this year was different for me. I have become increasingly busy, and this year I reached exhaustion after Spring Market. I am constantly learning how not to over fill my plate (by over filling my plate!), it helped me reflect on the people, places, and things (nouns) that really matter. I don't think I will be teaching more than a few workshops next year, as part of this refocusing of my life. So stay tuned to know where you can find me.

But know this, Squam has become such a powerful part of me. It's through Squam that I have come to better understand what teaching means to me, how vital it is to connect to the people that fill the seats of your tribe, and also how crucial it is to take a quiet step outside of your everyday life, to breath, to think, to be, and to fill up your creative lamp.

Squam has been so formative to me, and as always, I hope that it can become such for you.

My biggest thanks and continued gratitude go to Elizabeth for continually letting me be a part of the beauty and goodness that are created through SAW.

love to all of my Squam Peeps from this year, and all years past.

 

 

 

updates, the book, and my soul.

updates:

I'm sorry to not post in such a long time! I have needed a serious break, and I am on the road to recovery from heavy exhaustion.

Market was great. I don't think there are very many ways to effectively learn how to do something other than just jumping right in. And that's really how I approached market. I did all of the things I thought would and should work for my booth. A bunch of things did... not having literature because I didn't have anything to put on it did not, not being right next to my manufacturer did not... Long story short, as sweet as my booth was, and all that jazz, I know even better how to make it work in Houston. It's called DISTRIBUTION of work load. You know like what a bride does when she has a specific amount of time to plan her wedding. By this date the DJ is booked, by this date you know whether your guests want chicken or fish... that sort of thing just market stuff. I'll get more efficient. Obviously

 
Thank you to all of you who stopped by, thank you for all of you 1001 Peeps love. We will be starting our Peeps Summer Camp again soon with some very exciting peeps and prizes each week over the summer. The official title of the camp this year is: 1001 Peeps the Fantastic Voyage. Be very excited.

 
the book:

We ran into some snags and had some poor communication with the printer we selected, but it's all on the mend, we are working with a new printer and although the book is running behind schedule. It's hard starting out as a small publisher, but again, diving right in, it can only get better and better! It will be worth the wait! It could not be more beautiful!

 

My SOUL:

My body is here in Texas packing up my things to fly back to Utah, but my soul is sitting on a dock on Squam Lake taking in a little sun, toying with the idea of knitting. I've just gotten home from Squam, and there is something that is nothing short of magic about the place and the people that come together to make it happen. When I get back home and get all my ducks I'll do a post and tell you about it. So maybe, if I haven't already convinced you over the past 3 years, next year will be your year to find yourself sitting on a dock on Squam Lake toying with the idea of creating, and being something new.

 

Squam Art Workshops

I have been thinking about the heart a lot lately, and our capacity as human beings to love, share, care, grow, become, evolve, forgive, overcome, forget, and hold onto the nouns (people, places and things) that we come across in our lives.

I have traveled to lots of places in my life thus far, and when it comes to the places I have been, I feel like I have on occasion left a little piece of my heart there... and somehow it connects me to it, like a direct line to Rexburg, Brussels, Nuchatel, our house in Texas, and for the past 2 years, Holderness, New Hampshire, but more specifically Squam Art Workshops. A little portion of my heart stays there.

There are so many people and moments that contribute to it meaning so much, so much so that I, emotional robot Lizzy, am able to so completely open up to it.

Maybe you need that same chance open up too. Maybe you need to recharge your batteries. Maybe you need to be able to find a little piece of yourself at Squam in June, so you can take with you that clarified, creative, loving, evolving, growing, forgiving piece of yourself you are so fully given the opportunity to strengthen when you are there.Or maybe you're just looking for a good time...

It has been such an incredible moving experience each year, and I think everyone deserves a bit of that. So, won't you come spend the beginning of June in New Hampshire, next to a lake, to be serenaded by the incredible Jonatha Brooke, to eat icecream for breakfast (not me..) and taught dream classes by dream teachers? That is where I will be, anyway...

Registration opened on the 2nd, so hurry on over and see what's available.

These are the classes that I will be offering:

Champion Ribbons

Be a champion! Create champion, first place, number one, best peep of all time, ribbons!

With simple hand sewing skills, ribbon folding techniques, and beautiful champion ribbon making ingredients create beautiful awards for yourself and for your loved ones, so you can be a winner every day!

Kit Fee: $0

Materials List:

Buttons
needle and thread
corsage pins
various ribbons wool felt
*I will have little rolls of fancy ribbon from my stash for sale.

 

Mini-Quilt Class

Create a quilt in a day!

For beginners or seasoned trick sewers learn and use skills for quilting, to create a mini quilt. No patterns needed just a love and desire to create a quilted piece of art! Express yourself through textiles!

All levels welcome.

Kit Fee: $0

Materials List:

Sewing Machine*
Cutting tools: scissors, mat, rotary cutter
glass headed pins
4 fat quarters of your favorite fabric
matching thread
iron*

*some of these items will be available at SAW- please contact us directly if you should need one

Block Printing

Have you always wanted to create your own prints on fabric but weren't entirely sure where to start? Then this class is for you.

Together we will explore the basic ways to carve a block that can be used for printing fabric or paper. In addition, we will learn how to successfully print with them to create beautiful home textile prints. This class will give you a new skill to use for the rest of your life!

All levels are welcome.

Kit Fee: $0

Materials List:

Ink (oil based relief ink)
brayer
palette knife
linoleum block
carving tools
glass for rolling out ink
piece of craft foam
fabric for printing
hair dryer to heat set fabric

back to the analogy... I think our metephorical hearts are either limitless, or regenerating... because I've left pieces of it all over the place... and I'm alright. Come to Squam.

 

 

 

In the Gloaming

I've been writing this post for over a week now.

I had such an incredible experience at Squam this year. Again, I felt so impressed and so inspired, I was completely blown away by my incredible students, I got to spend time with some of MY FAVORITE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET, I made so many new friends, and I was given a gift that I could not have given myself in any other circumstance, and it has taken all week to really process it and except it. 

I want to share what happened and maybe you might find a little peace, comfort, or help for yourself.

I feel like I was given the gift of falling. I had an opportunity to sing with Jonatha Brooke on Friday night at the "Coffee House". I listened to the song for about 45 minutes, went over the words through dinner, and then sang through it about 4 times with her. 2 hours later, having not heard the song again, I got up to sing, and I bombed it, and I was mortified.

When trying to get to the real root of why I was so torn up about not doing well under really tight crazy circumstances I discovered that I wasn't allowed to fail. For myself. But the crazy thing is I looked back, and I never had. I had never dropped a line or a note, I had never not turned something in. I have never allowed it. The more I looked at it the more I realize I prided myself on being in a sense untouchable in that way.

I was so embarrassed and I was really tired, and the more people came up to me and told me how beautiful it was, or how moving it was, the worst it got. I wanted to explain that I am classically trained, and that I have performed for years, and always picked things up in the past, and that nothing like this had EVER happened, but it didn't matter. That's what I've learned in the past week as I have continued to process this. My reasons for being upset didn't actually matter. But I couldn't see what they saw. All I could see was that I had not done my best, and that in the past, it would have been perfect.

So what if it had been perfect? It would have been a nice song. It would have been very pretty, and it would have perpetuated this self imposed need to always be polished even on the tightest of ropes. See! now we are tapping into the real emotional robot stuff. So I truly feel like it was a gift. That had never happened to me before, and for something like that to happen in such a beautiful caring place, I will be eternally grateful.

I learned that I just can't take myself too seriously. When and where do you learn that lesson?

I also learned that I allow others to fall without judgment, but it wasn't something I would have ever allowed myself. No one loved me less. No one thought I was a failure. Jonatha STILL loves me, AND the world didn't end.

Squam is a beautiful amazing place. It's not just about knitting, or sewing, or printing, or painting. People come and open themselves up. It's like everyone is walking around without their armor on, and it's only then when we can truly allow ourselves to grow and change. And it happens every time.

photos by Kimm Branch!

You can eat ice cream for breakfast. You can stay up until 3. You can make something you never thought possible. You can learn new things. You can come by yourself even if you're afraid. You can allow yourself to fall. Someone is going to catch you. What more could you ask for?

And so my love grows deeper for this time and place. Thank you for picking me back up again.

watch this beautiful squam video by the beautiful Jen Gray.

where I am.

I'm home now, collecting my thoughts and other peoples photos. Squam did it again. I'll be back this week with a full post and a farewell before I go under for a little light surgery...

think of me fondly.

picture from Laura Nelkin

Squam

I'm packing up and leaving once again. It's been my life for the past several years to just be on the move. I never thought of myself as on the road, but in a way I am. But not really in a Jack Kerouac sort of way . I'm just looking for the best fit, and I haven't found it yet. And what I know more now than ever, is that I am not willing to settle.

but, Squam is a good fit for me. There is so much love and beauty there

In fact, I am sitting here listening to Jonatha, and she is calling me a little bird. I am just taking a minute to chill out and put the finishing touches on things before it gets really crazy. I have finally let myself take in what's about to happen. I had to push it aside to take care of other tasks and other locations, but now it's tomorrow! and I am so excited it's overwhelming. 

For those of you surrounding New Hampshire, I am implore you to come to the Squam Art Fair! It's sure to be impressive. It certainly was last year! Here are the details:

I will have a table and I have some new little prints, some stationary, some fabric, and some of my faithful old standards. So there will be lots to choose from. Most of which is not actually posted in my shop right now.

Please come! Even if you haven't attended Squam; it's a wonderful way to feel a little bit of the magic.

Ok. Back to packing. See you soon!

Squam Art Workshops!

photo by Maya*Made

I wanted to let everyone know that I am teaching at Squam again this year! I am so happy and excited to head back to New Hampshire this summer for another week of magic and peace! It's like getting to see all my camp friends again.

I'm teaching at the Spring workshop that takes place in early June. This year I'll offer two days (Friday and Saturday) of my block printing fabric class, and one new class, Clever Mobiles! I'm so excited to teach, and meet everyone. Just excited to be there.

It's sure to be a wonderful time. I made so many incredible friends last year. I really think you should come and join us! You can register here.

a little more whole.

I know that we are supposed to be self sufficient. That we should be able to find peace and happiness just from existence. I'm always trying to do that. I think I try too hard. I think I think that if I do it all my self, if I can figure it out by myself, my life, my reason, my whatever, that I will some how be stronger for it.

One of my main goals this year was to not be an emotional robot. I have been one for years, because I felt like that way I would be less hurt by people, by hard times, by failings... but in doing so, I have separated myself from people who would love, and care about me, and in that I hurt myself...

So, I've been working hard to be better. To except people into my life as good, and dear, and broken, and helpful, and beautiful, and funny, and whatever... and this past week at Squam made me feel like it's all possible. I can be open to all the emotion this little world has to offer, and that's ok. There are enough people who love me in this world that I don't have to be afraid of anything.

I've been putting off this post because I didn't know how to say what I felt, or what it possibly meant to me. I have been changed, seriously changed. Not that I needed a major overhaul, but we should all always be working towards our personal betterment, and I feel like I am a little closer, and a little more grown up for it. I am so touched to have met, and been inspired by so many beautiful people.

So here are some little letters. My best way to express all this right now:

Dear Nirvana,
What a blessing it was to share that time and space with you. How grateful I am that it was each of you. I feel like you all took me in, and I am in your debt. I hope that somehow we can be together again soon.

photo by dreamer Laura Nelkin

To my students,
I can't say enough how impressed I am with each of you. The work that each of you produced in the short time that we had together was mind blowing for me, and I always felt like a proud little mama, when a whole section of the gallery table in the dining room was ours, because you were proud too. Please keep producing. Please take risks. Please keep going, and please keep in touch. Always know that any service I can be of to you, I'm yours. Thank you for letting me cry through class. I was moved by your honesty and commitment to whatever it was that you were tasked with. You're just brilliant, and I can't wait to be with you again next year.

Dear Jen and Jonatha
thank you for making me feel like the prettiest most popular girl at camp. Your love has inspired me.

Elizabeth,
Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for picking me out of a crowd, and trusting me with something that is so special to you. Your faith, and love, and commitment to harboring all of the inspiring events that make up Squam have, and will change peoples lives for the better. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

photo by new favorite Maya*Made

To all of you,
If you need to feel a little more whole, need a break, want to be a part of something magical, then make the time, and the effort to do this for yourself. Squam happens twice a year. No prior experience is neseccary, just come as you are and leave as you want to be.

love,

lizzy

Squam Art Fair!

Dear Peeps,

Camp is great. Everyone is being very nice. The mosquitoes are pretty bad though... but in happier new news, this Saturday, here in beautiful New Hampshire, at the amazing Squam Art Workshop, there will be an Art Fair! Cool thing is you didn't have to attend Squam to attend the fair!

Here are the full details:

Saturday, June 6th
7:30 pm - 9pm
Rockywold-Deephaven Camp (Holderness, NH)

For a map to get to RDC: click HERE

The fair will be taking place in the Deephaven Dining room, building #67 on the campus map. Have no worries about finding it as there will be lots of people (and signs) to direct you in.

There are going to be so many great artist selling their work! I have been truly amazed by my fellow teachers so it's bound to be not only inspiring, but a fun event. For Reals...

I will be selling a couple of books, and my fine art prints! I even have a stack of fabric that I think three people have claimed... we'll see who ends up with it.

If you are in the area and can come, come say hi to me! I'll just love you forever

cheers,

Lizzy!