in the studio: preparing for the big six!

i created a hand drawn & watercolored jo by returning to inspiration 

found on jam fancy on etsy and pinned on my pure delight pinboard.

using black and white fabric reminded me of my 

spunky cool awesome friend erin

 and so i had to make her something wonderful 

and spunky and fun in a gift bag all of her own.  

for the big six party boys: fabric gift bags.  an absolute tradition.  

special classroom treats.  a new tradition.

jo couldn't invite all l9 of his classroom pals for the big six outside school, 

so we had the big six at school with donut holes at lunch 

and these treat bags filled with a few goodies for the end of school.  

his class was so cute and funny and appreciative of the donut holes.  

such fun.  glad that my boy has been so cheerful and excited.  

i'm delighted.  

in the studio: a quilt for my boy.

my mother has saved a couple of unfinished quilt tops.  

if memory serves, my grandmother made this one.  

i'll fact check and edit if i'm wrong about the patchwork story you read here.

as i was preparing to use this on our dining room table for a bit, my son stopped me claiming this quilt for his own.  he wanted me to put it on his bed right. then.  so, i made a decision not to put it on the table but instead see if i could quickly whip this into a simple quilt for his bed by his birthday celebration which is fast approaching.  we'll see.  

i see fabric that was used in my mother's 4H uniform.  i'd love to know stories of as many fabrics as i can.  i love the colors.  love, love the yellow with little white dots.  love the purple & black.  love the combinations. 

and my grandmother hand stitched everything.  i'll serge to keep it strong, as you can see the stitching pulling away here and there.  her stitches will remain.  i love that.  what a gift.  

in the studio: birthday celebrations for K!

the tables were set.  the birthday girl arrived ready to work, 

setting the table with place cards for each guest.  

everyone created, young and not-as-young together. 

watercolor works lined the wood floor. perfect. 

the ac worked away quietly.  beautiful! 

the tables at the end of the party, slightly askew, thankful for use. 

the space was blessed.  i am blessed.   

more photos to come by K's AMAZING mom! 

in the studio: Birthday Celebrations + how to have your own!

here you see the inside of a mini creativity kit for the birthday gal soon to have a birthday celebration in the studio.

vintage stamps, buttons, sequins, rik rak, fabric, feathers, papers... a sweet sampling for mixed media fun.

coin envelopes and acid free paper are ready for mixed media invitation creations.  these can be uses as little gifts for the guests to receive when they attend the celebration gathering as well.

the box is lovingly wrapped with a sweet little card from me.  a photo from called to create adorns the front, with a lovely little clothespin.  i may add a little wooden print circle to the clothespin as an extra special treat. 

for your own Birthday Celebration in the art+spirit studio, which includes a Birthday Celebration Menu of art+spirit projects that you can select for you and your guests to create during the gathering. 

We celebrate together, enjoy the food and drinks (you provide your own) with a table set banquet style with art materials (i provide). Birthday Celebrations are meant to be a time of creative party in a sacred space honoring the birth and life of those we celebrate and love. i lead you into a celebration of friendship through guided imagery and our hands create.  we create our own works to take home and create a piece for the birthday celebrant. in the process, we name the one we love and what he or she adds to our life.  we name these blessings aloud and write them on paper.  we bless the birthday gathering through our time, creative energy, and presence togther.

Birthday Celebrations are a way to bless those we gather with and a way to bless the one who gathers us together.   i love that a fellow sister & kindred spirit speaks to this as similar to a blessingway. what a lovely comparison. we bless the child within. we bless the soul we are now. we know we are loved and we share the love we have for others in this sacred space together.

read about my son's Birthday Celebration & a local author's Birthday Celebration.

How to book your Creativity Circle Birthday Celebration!

    if you love to gather with your kindred spirits, family, and friends around a table, share stories, and celebrate through creativity, your next birthday should be celebrated in the art+spirit studio!  we gather together in celebration with food, drink, and craft. projects are created around the table with the invitation to create provided by the artist & hostess, suzanne l. vinson. to schedule yours, contact suzanne at slsvinson@me.com.

picture a table filled with food and drinks and a banquet style table filled with vessels of colorful ribbons, vintage buttons, thread, sequins, rik rak, ... with colorful candles lit.  sewn goodness sample project: each brings his or her own felted sweater and we create in celebration of life and friendship.  each works to create a custom wreath for the birthday one and leaves with projects made with willing hands.  other project choices are on the birthday celebration menu, which you will receive when you contact suzanne.

$225 + food & drinks (or bring your own) for a 2.5 hour party for up to 12 guests. you can extend the length to 3.5 hours for an additional $75. 
$2-4 material fee per guest (varies depending on the project) 

life stories: celebrating five.

2011 marks five years of ordained ministry, five years of living in our cozy home, and a treasured five year old boy.  moving into the sixth year of motherhood, the ... year of ministry (is it thirteen?), and life lived with my loves, i am sensing the need to really be present to my calling.  i sense the spaces that are opening before me to continue melding my art+spirit gatherings, retreats, and my art.  i am so, so thankful.

as i move into a new month in my son's fifth year, i wanted to be sure to share the marking moments from his birthday celebration in our art+spirit studio.

a cake designed by my boy on a trip months ago special for birthday #5.  we celebrated decorating the cake together, using the fun painted "jo" figure we made for birthday #3. birthday celebration rituals continue to inspire and delight my soul.

other rituals are seen: handmade goodie bags filled with goodness that has a vintage flair (vintage flair in some form since birthday #1, baggie photos from birthday #2). the happy birthday banner introduced birhday #4 (showing other tratitions of handmade cards & pennant banners since birthday #1), birthday crown from birthday #3, and photos of our boy that we have hung up each year since birthday #1 adding his growth along the way (outside the range of this photo).  the banner and photos show up the morning of his birthday to celebrate all the steps before. 

each protects their dragon eggs.  

using a box saved for a special purpose and part of a broom, games show good aim and a sense of reuse.    

busy crafting hands.

we treasure these moments and these days. now to finish the last of the thank you applique shirts and thank you cards! it's time to cherish our friends again and share this goodness. cheers!