creativityUNLEASHED by traci bautista

a fresh new face & upcoming workshops

I've been playing catch up for the past few weeks...the story of my life. After a fabulous week of workshops and catching up with friends at Art Unraveled, I headed back home to the Bay Area for a few days to spend time with my friends and family. I co-hosted a baby shower for Maristelle, my best friend from high school, which was quite an event with around 100 people. It's always great to go back home...I really miss the Bay.

In between all the travel, I've been redesigning my website. If you haven't been to my website lately, check it out!  I have done a mini REVAMP, which was way overdue.  I still have a few more tweaks and additions but now it's much easier to navigate and full of color. You'll find alot more pictures and  supply lists for workshops. I've updated the events section with my 2008 workshops and special retreats in BALI, TUSCANY, AUSTRALIA and SANTORINI. I will be updating my shop, downloads and project sections soon.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Come take a class and play, learn new mixed media techniques...paint...stitch...bind...collage!

SEPT 14-15- More Than Memories | Schaumburg, IL
To register call: 847.755.0861
I will be teaching Graffiti Bouquet, Colorful layers.doodles.monoprints., & macramé journal.

SEPT 28-29| Rubber Chicken | Gaithersburg, MD
To register call: 301.963.4302
I will be teaching Graffiti Bouquet, doodles & letters, colorful layers, & DIVA art journal.

OCT 5-8| Art & Soul | Portland, OR
Visit website to regsiter.
I will be teaching various workshops and selling my artwork!

OCT 17-21| ArtFIBERfest| Port Townsend, WA
Visit the website to register.
I will be teaching three FIBER workshops. Come play!

{in the studio}

Here are a few projects I've been working on the past couple of weeks...

[the magical cottage] a new mixed media painting series...

custom handmade invites for my best friend's baby shower...

...designing, sewing and painting a new garment for my final Duncan "Express Yourself" ad campaign which will be in the next Altered Couture Magazine.

Valley Ridge = {a magical place}

After a hectic couple weeks, I couldn't let this week get away without posting about my recent travels. The past two weekends I've been on the airplane six times and in Chicago twice. I attended CHA (craft and hobby convention) where I worked in the Duncan Crafts booth making reFASHIONED t-shirts. I helped people create altered t-shirts and previewed the new T-shirt transformers and iron-on crystal heat tool (which by the way is FABULOUS!) Then came home for a week and found a new art studio in Santa Monica, so I've been moving in between. I'll post pictures and tell more about that later.

I just returned from Wisconsin... 

Fireflies...fairies...singing and dive-bombing swallows...I experienced a FANTASTIC weekend retreat at Valley Ridge Art Studio, a magical gem tucked away in Muscoda. About an hour and twenty minutes from Madison, Wisconsin sits an art studio that overlooks a gorgeous set of sprawling green hills and valley. The grounds are full of luscious plants, flowers and trees. The melodies of birds chirping wakes you in the morning, while the sounds of crickets and cicadas buzz in unison at night. In the evening we enjoyed a bottle of wine and a selection of tasty cheeses and watched the sunset behind the trees. As dusk set in the fireflies started to glow...SO BEAUTIFUL...I don't get to see that by the beach in California.

Freedom (one of my little Yorkies) was the honorary studio dog for the weekend. She had a blast running through the grass to chase the rabbits but most of all loved being spoiled by everyone.

I taught a two-day Collage Unleashed workshop in collage and bookmaking. My students made AMAZING handmade journals and learned a plethora of painting, printmaking and collage techniques.

Kathy and Bill, the owners of Valley Ridge host a one-of-a-kind workshop experience complete with open studio time and YUMMY homemade lunches. If you want an intimate workshop setting and be inspired to create ...Valley Ridge is a must! I will be teaching there in September '08. I just got home and I can't wait to go back! Well...off to pack and move into my new studio!