Mayacama Spring Workshop

we were so lucky to have a beautiful day amidst all these melancholic rainy days to have our first workshop up at Mayacama Golf Course. Unlike my usual workshop- with introductopns and timely demo's, people just wander in when they are ready. I wouldn't think it would work and yet it does! Amazing creativity and houses were made by all nine house builders, ages 4-11. Three story ladders and four floor buildings, houses of windows, and even a basketball hoop! I am scheduled for another workshop at Mayacama Mid-August. Thanks to everyone who shared the day with me.

Fairy Pirate Ship?

"arrr matey" isn't something one usually imagines coming out of a fairy's mouth...unless you are 4 and 6 year old boys. But when our friend Stephen, at the last workshop, offered to let me turn his curved piece of palm bark into a ship for the boys, Phineas couldn't resist. There is a bunk bed and dining area below decks, a turn-able captains wheel, and a pine cone crows nest.

Now the pirates and the fairy pirates battle it out in our driveway- where the ship is washed away in cement storms and margarita daisy bush whirlpools. Its a bit like Waldorf vs. the mainstream, since the one team seems to be small handmade gnome felt dolls, with wool faces. And the other team is made up of small plastic pirate figurines. Actually- I think its wonderful that my boys navigate the stormy educational seas with both, their imaginations easily mapping the middle ground.



the smallest pirate.

January 2011 Studio Workshop

Like right before a party, the house is so clean- so too with my studio. All the neat baskets of acorns and bark and pine cones and earthy glazed bowls I made in college holding blue marbles or soft green lichens. And then, from these simple materials spring up, seemingly magically, wonderful woodland houses, full of imagination. And then, after everyone has left with their new treasure, I am left with quite the mess! But full of ideas and inspiration I often then create my own house. Today I built a pirate boat out of a wonderful large curl of palm frond that one of the dads brought. I will post in when its finally done.

In and Out- Root Retreat

I made this one for the Winter Faire and sold it just after. Hello-Goodbye.

Another Great Workshop at Berkeley Rose School

A New House for the New Blog

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Peacock Pavilion
after a couple workshops I was just bursting with some ideas and this house is the result! I think its the tallest one yet at just over 3 feet tall.

from the top it looks a bit like a peacock...




the back view

Last Summers Workshop

Ely's Birthday Workshop for One

Ely's Fairy House
BYOF
bring your own fairy? Ely brought his and built the house to match.




A private workshop for Ely's birthday. I usually have a minimum of 4 houses being built but it pays to know the artist, eh? It was fun to be able to really focus in on one house. I built the furniture as part of his present.