Personal Mythologies, special two day class in L.A.

I'm very happy to announce that I will be teaching a special two day class, Personal Mythologies, at Stampin From The Heart in L.A., the weekend of July 2nd and 3rd. Yes, I know it's 4th of July weekend, but what a better time to take advantage of a rare three day weekend and spend two of those days making art?

Class time is Sat, July 2nd 10:30-5

Sun, July 3rd Noon to 4:30

There will be tons of techniques, ideas, food to nibble on and lots of inspiration!

There is a slideshow below and I am bringing the sample to class this Sunday for you to see. If you have any questions, please email me. To sign up, please phone 310-391-0466. Space is limited.

Personal Mythologies

Every time we crack open a journal, we are telling our own unique story.

In this very special two day workshop, you will learn not only how to create your very own personal journal made by your own hands but also how to express yourself fully and in the moment upon the pages of your newly bound book.

You will work in your journal both days. I will be teaching you a variety of techniques, ideas and prompts to use in your journal. You will have lots of instructional time but also between each idea, I allow for guided play time, but I do teach both days. The second day is not a play day.

Expect to learn: bookbinding and constructing a personal journal, choosing a journal that fits you, making a journal your own, mixed media collage, composition, design, pen work, layering, journaling, self expression (how do I say what I want to say), making a page work and much, much more.

Be prepared to walk out with a new journal, several pages completed, a detailed handout and your head (and heart) bursting with inspiration, new ideas, possibilities and the knowledge that you can successfully express yourself in journal form! You will love this journal and this experience!

Supply list: A hardcover book (any size) to use as the journal (note, we will be tearing pages out of our books and sharing some of our pages in class). I will have some books for you to use, but in case you have a book you’d really like to use, please bring it. Scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes), a few of your favorite glue sticks

If you want to bring food to share in a communal meal, that would be lovely. We will have lots of munchies to nibble on as you work!

I hope to see you there!

November 12 journal page

You know you're at the used bookstore a lot when the guys at the register comment that you're "finally leaving" and "Why so soon?" telling you that they just bought over 500 books that you need to check out. One quips, "Don't worry, they'll be back tomorrow."

If you're in L.A., you need to go to my favorite used bookstore- The Iliad. It's a rare occasion that I leave without buying anything. That store is dangerous! Dangerous, I tell you! We've been going there for several years now. We followed them from their old location to their ever expanding and delicious new location. Be prepared to spend some time and a couple of bucks browsing their shelves. Did I mention that they have couches, too? Sit and peruse your selections before buying. Try to get out without spending at least an hour and a couple of bucks. They're open late too, which is a big plus!

*****

Who out there has a Polaroid Pogo? What do you think? Is there anything else (hand held, small, portable) on the market like it? Would you recommend it? Thanks!

Soul Journeys-A Deck of Cards Workshop

Saturday, October 25th in Thousand Oaks, CA, I will be debuting this class:

Soul Journeys-A Deck of Cards

Saturday, October 25th
Thousand Oaks-Private Studio (open to the class for this workshop, email Kelly for more info and to sign up)
Workshop hours 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In this unique workshop, you will create a meaningful deck of soul journey cards. You will assemble a deck of cards with collage imagery, rubber stamps and mixed media. Each set will be unique to the creator (no two sets will ever be alike). You will work with special exercises to create a unique set of personal imagery cards. You will learn new mixed media techniques, tips and tricks. You will also learn new collage ideas including composition and design tips. You will walk out with your own deck of cards and a special carrying case (also made by you!) You will love this class and the cards that you create!!

Supply List: Roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, scissors, cork backed metal ruler, 3 1" bristle brushes (to paint and glue with), container to hold water in, Favorite Glue Stick (if desired), selection of collage ephemera (including background papers and focal images), permanent black inkpad (like Versafine). Please note the instructor will have an array of mixed media supplies including acrylic paint, rubber stamp and collage ephemera, but to make this class more meaningful, please bring a small selection of collage ephemera.

Interested? Questions? Want to sign up? Email Kelly at EGorey99 (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

Hope to see you there!

New store *alert*!!!!

There's a NEW store in Los Angeles!! It's called Millie Papercrafts. My friend Kara told me about it last night. My jaw dropped when I saw it!! What a cute space filled with paper that I *love* and stamps too!!!!!! And *the* cutest dog (next to my sister's dog, Dewey) named Millie. Millie wanted to shower me with love and kisses when I walked in (what a cute pooch!!) Jennifer, the store owner was great to talk to!! The store is extremely inviting and chock full of fun stuff. They even have space in the back for classes!!!

The store is open:
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11 - 7
Wednesday 11 - 7
Thursday 11 - 7
Friday 11 - 7
Saturday 11 - 7
Sunday 12 - 7

Millie Papercrafts is located at
138 N. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Between Beverly and First
Parking is available in the back
(323) 934-4900

This is dangerous ;) a store that is a mere 5 minutes from my house!!! I'm very excited!!!

*****
David, Tristan and I went to see a film last night-RASHOMON at the Academy on Wilshire (cheap tickets for one of our favorite movies-yay!) Any ways, there were a LOT Of Japanese people-FROM Japan - there because it was recently restored, etc...Amazing that people traveled so far for this event-it's a tribute to Kurosawa's brilliance. We sat in the back row. After the film ended, we were the first ones up and out (to go see the director, Akira Kurosawa's exhibit of his personal items, diaries, photos, stamps (!!! he carved his own chop style stamps), etc... So, we all go down the stairs and I turn to my right and see a Japanese film crew (!!!!!!! ACK!!! I KNOW what's coming!!) Sure enough-we start to book it across the hall (for some reason we seem to be a magnet for film news crews). The lady news reporter starts FOLLOWING us saying "Excuse me...excuse me..." I stop (David and Tristan kinda kept going...) and she asked if we could be interviewed. I really don't like being interviewed (and David and Tristan are worse then me!!! SHY!) So I look at David and I really don't know how to say no to this lady (she was very polite). Any ways instead of interviewing the 3 of us at the same time (which would have been BETTER and would have worked) they interview us separately starting with ME (ugh-I was horrible), David was great...then they go to ask Tristan questions and he starts to run away!!!!! ha ha ha ha ha!!! I am still laughing. I shrugged my shoulders and told the lady again "I said he was shy!!" LOL!! It was very funny!!!! I still can't get the sight of Tristan RUNNING away out of my mind and am still laughing about it!!!

Those of you in L.A. should visit the Academy's lobby and 4th floor gallery space to check out the vast amount of Kurosawa memorabilia. Check the website for specifics.

You can also see Akira Kurosawa's drawings online here.

The 4th floor has a catalog available (for $25) of some of his artwork. Amazing, beautiful work. Towards the end of his life he wasn't writing scripts, but solely working from his drawings, paintings and sketches. His work is pure poetry in motion.

To think that he was almost completely blind when he directed Ran...the majority of the artwork that is at the Academy is post 1985!!!

Go rent Rashomon, you won't regret it.

Lynda Barry workshop in West Hollywood!!!!!!!!

The following was in my inbox just a minute ago!!! Can you tell I'm excited!??!!?! I already emailed to sign up...I'm sitting here with fingers crossed.


Hello beautiful future students!

We are INCREDIBLY HAPPY to announce our TWO-DAY class with LYNDA BARRY -- "Writing the Unthinkable" -- in LOS ANGELES, CAIFORNIA!

ONLY 50 students admitted! Act now, or forever stand there and hold your pen! (sorry...)

Please also note! This class is for students 18 years old and UP!

It's happening WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th & 20th -- class hours 10AM -- 4PM both days!

Our class will be held in a very accessible building in West Los Angeles -- we will tell you exactly where when you sign up for class!

TUITION is only $325.00 for this action-packed two-day class in L.A.!

How do you enroll? It's SO EASY! Simply reply to our secretary (that's me, Betty Bong) at fromthedeskofmarlys@yahoo.com and we will write back with our simple and satisfying, check-or-money-order-straight-to-Lynda-in-Wisconsin tuition payment instructions! So very old school!

You will also be able to sign-up and pay tuition via Paypal in Lynda's eBay store, SHOP! SUPER! MARLYS! later this week, but the costs will be slightly higher, due to bummer cyber fees and such!

And HEY! PORTLAND, Oregon! We will also be teaching a two-day class for 50 students in YOUR town in NOVEMBER too (Sat & Sun, Nov 8 & 9) -- so hold your circus peanuts and stand by for that announcement very, very soon! There is *NO* waiting list or hold list available for this class! Just stay tuned, please! Thanks!

There are TEN SEATS left for our SAN FRANCISCO class on SAT & SUN, NOV 22 & 23, FYI!

And heads-up, CHICAGO! We will be teaching another class there SAT & SUN, JANUARY 3 & 4, 2009 -- stand by!

But most importantly for now -- hey, hey sweet L.A.! What's it gonna be? We are standing by! Act now! LOOKING FORWARD to seeing y'all in WEST HOLLYWOOD!

Thank you!

Betty Bong, secretary
Writing the Unthinkable with Lynda Barry
fromthedeskofmarlys@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/writingtheunthinkable