Wednesday, April 04, 2007

ArtFest part two: {the visual feast}

Inspiration Abound...... Before even getting to ArtFest, Cassondra and I headed to Maxine's on the outskirts of Seattle. Teesha had mentioned it on her blog and raved about it. It certainly was full of eye candy and inspiration! We had a great time:)

It was absolutely wonderland inside, full of color and texture and spring jubilation!


Cassondra and I loved these nests so much (below) that we went to the craft store and bought an empty nest and made our own versions during ArtFest. I will post a picture when I get mine back. Cassondra has to send it home to me, since I eventually ran out of room in my luggage:)

Here I am outside Maxine's with my head filled with fun ideas to create at ArtFest!!!!

The trading at ArtFest was a lot of fun. As you can see, my trunk went home as full of trades as it left. Only this time they were of every shape and variety. What wonderful goodies everyone made! I made a charm bracelet for some of the wonderful pieces I received. Others will go on necklaces or be displayed. I *heart* trading!!
Beyond all the classes (see last post) inspiration was all around throughout ArtFest in so many ways. The walls of 8x8" pieces by ArtFest artists were just stunning!




The "show and tell" displays of everyone's work on the last night was awe inspiring! So much fun to see all that was created over the three day event. The pieces below were created in Anahata Katkin's class Symbolic Icons, by the **wonderful** artist Karen O'Brien. Her amazing art can be seen here.




The *huge* pieces below were created in another of Anahata's classes, Funky Wall Paper People. The piece of the woman in the forefront is by Kelly Rae. She sold on vendor night and her work is just spectacular!


The artist tag on these say they were created by Kate Lyon, also in Anahata's class, Sumbolic Icons.


There was some amazingly creative pieces!! Not sure who created this one.

This metal beautiful metal concoction was created by Jeanie Pride.


After leaving ArtFest, Cassondra and I headed to the Fremont Market and Ballard area of Seattle. There we found some wonderful storefronts. This was from a store called Souvenir.


Here's the other side of the storefront.


Of course I found Anthropologie in downtown Seattle. It is a HUGE store filled with wonderful vingnettes of their clothing and accessories paired with "found" items. All of their display artists are local.
Even on the street, Seattle has so much visual interest. This public sculpture was in the Ballard neighborhood.
There is so much to process after leaving ArtFest. I love to come home from traveling with a new way of looking at the world and a fresh set of creative ideas. I hope these photos have sparked your creative imagination. For even more of my ArtFest photos, visit my Flickr ArtFest folder.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing pictures and accounts, makes me feel like I was there. Next year, there will be a next year?
Thank you for sharing your experience!

Merci-Notes said...

oooohhh, sigh. I long to go to Maxine's! I have not been in a boutique since Jan. So inspiring.
Everyones art work is so wonderfuland inspiring also!!! I so look forward to seeing your luxuriant nest!!! (maayyybeee i can have a little artfest this weekend and make a nest too! : )
Say, what very nice pictures of you and your friends!
Welcome Home!

tricia stirling said...

wow. okay, you've convinced me. i'm going to do everything in my power to make it to artfest nest year. just amazing!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for sharing it with us and letting us experience some of the fun! I love it!

Michelle Legler said...

I can hardly breathe with all of the excitement of seeing these pictures! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!!!!!
p.s. I want to live at Maxine's!!

Tammy Gilley said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome! What wonderful memories you'll have from this fantastic experience.

Sugar Bear said...

I feel like I was there with you. Great photos and trades. It has been fun having the Artfest experience through you!
Karla

LindaSonia said...

Kari... I am soooo loving your ArtFest updates and all the other inspiration you've posted. Thanks soooo much for sharing!! xo Linda Sonia

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Visual feast is right!! I especially enjoyed the first few pictures with all the pretty soft & springy decor! :)

One Crabapple said...

OH YOUR ARTFEST POST IS JUST WONDERFUL !

I DONT KNOW HOW WE MISSED EACHOTHER EXCEPT THAT I WAS HERMITING I DO BELIEVE! I JUST WENT TO CLASS AND BACK AND BARELY MADE IT IN FOR LUNCH SOME TIMES...I DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANYONE FOR STARTERS AND WAS PRETTY MUCH OVERWHELMED BY IT ALL.

NOW THAT I SEE YOUR PICTURE THO - I THINK I DID SEE YOU ACROSS THE ROOM - BUT AGAIN ! I APOLOGIZE ! I WAS IN MY OWN LITTLE BUBBLE I THINK !

YOUR POST HERE IS SO GREAT. i AM GOING TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO COME HERE TO SEE IT ALL.

AND YOUR PROJECTS AND TRADES ARE FABULOUS !

WAS IT REALLY ONLY JUST A FEW DAYS AGO ?

Lilli in Vancouver said...

Thanks for sharing: now MY head is spinning too!

Bonnie said...

Hi Kari
Thanks for sharing your Artfest experience,. It looks like you had a wonderful time and came home with amazing goodies! I love the photos you posted. Glad you are backed,missed your blogging!

Tricia said...

i love your images. it made me feel like i was there!

Nerissa Alford said...

Kari
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Since I didn't go, this is the next best thing. Your photos are wonderful.
Thanks again
Nerissa

FrostingsNSparkles said...

What beautiful pictures, that had to be just about the best place in the world to experience! Thanks so much for posting those gorgeous pictures, it's almost like being there. Your descriptions are wonderful, Kari!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing range of artworks! Visual overload! i can imagine you've got enough ideas for one piece of art a day! Lucky you!

Vicki Chrisman said...

Oh, thankyou for sharing your photos here...everything is just fantastic!

The Polka Dot Pixie said...

Oh WOW! Great photos! It looks like you had a blast! Thanks for taking and sharing so many great pics!

Ginny Gibson said...

What a fabulous place. Can't wait to see what you produce next with all that inspiration in your head.

I loved all the art but also adored that cute cake in the shop window!!

best wishes Ginny

Anonymous said...

Wow! So much amazing visual stimulation!

Gypsy Purple said...

May you and your family have a blessed and happy Easter

Jodi Ohl said...

Oh my goodness, Artfest must have been amazing!! I'm sure you came away with a bagazillion tons of inspiration! I'm glad you had such a wonderful time!

sassybead said...

Oh man...I'm so bummed! Heather and I fully intended to go to Maxine's on Monday before she had to fly home, but we were both pretty wiped out and we slept in wayyy too late. So we just hung around all the antique stores near my place. After seeing all your wonderful pictures, we both wish we had made it to Maxine's! It looks like a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours. Maybe next time...

On another note, I'm so glad I went to AF, and that I got to meet you! I just wish we could have had twice as much time to spend with all the new friends we made...

PS - If it's OK, I'll link to your blog from mine.

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