I love clouds.  I am amazed at how they form and change in an instant.  How no two clouds are alike.  How the sky and ocean reflects and contrasts.  How complex each cloud is with a wide range of values and shapes.  How subtle colors of grays, blues, pinks, and purples are tucked into the crevices.  

​Can't talk more.  I have to get out my paints and try to capture this images! 

I've been working with watercolor for a couple of years now and loved the transparency of laying down layers and layers of color.

So, I was never that excited by trying an opaque paint because I thought it would be more like "coloring in the lines" rather than mixing on the page.  But my sister-in-law told me she loved working with this paint so I thought I would order a start set and experiment for myself.

This is the first thing I painted-- just threw paint on watercolor paper to see what would happen and I had three major surprises.  When watered down a bit, the paints became transparent!  AND, they mixed beautifully on the page.  But the best thing of all, the paints stayed vibrant and didn't become lighter like watercolors do.  

I'm excited to start experiments with other surfaces to see how these paints are different than watercolor and how I can use both paints at the same time to achieve different affects.

Geesh.  Now I have to buy a whole lot more gouache tubes to fill out my palette.  What a terrible problem to have!  (Off to the paint store!!!)

It's been a long time since I created a new class but this idea has been in my head for several years:  How to teach an advanced Stupendous Stitching class.  I'm calling this class "Fiber Art Fun" and it can be 1/2 or full day, depending on how many techniques I can teach per session.

Besides learning how to use decorative stitches in circular patterns, I will also be teaching double needle stitching, hand embroidery over ribbons, and how to crate new stitches with your sewing machine.  

This is a great class to take before my Stupendous Stitching class since you will come prepared with lots of advanced techniques you don't get in my basic class.

And, yes, this class is for all levels of sewers -- even beginners!