TJ's Creative Connections

I cannot describe the people and charged atmosphere of the recent Creative Connection Event in St. Paul!  I was only able to make it one day, but in that short amount of time I managed to meet some incredibly arty new friends. Have a peek at the Studio Mailbox Facebook Page if you want to see the photos of me in shock and awe when meeting all the mixed media artists I've followed for so many years from my computer screen.  I cannot explain how it felt to walk and talk among them and realize that they are real!  This must be what it's like for kids who go to Disney World and meet their favorite mascots that they've only ever known as cartoons!

  After breakfast I had a morning class with the famous Traci Bautista.  It was very interesting listening to her discuss her business and I look forward to the access we'll be getting to her instructional videos.  I'm particularly excited about one of her lessons for making .pdfs from the Mac's Pages program.  Ever since I started with my Mac, I've grumbled about not having Word.  I was surprised to learn that Traci does all her documents with Pages and that me think that if she can do it, I can do it! (And yes, she is as stylish and cool as she looks on-line.  I was loving her wild jewelry and stripey toenails! Amazing).

My afternoon consisted of two different business panels, both of which were full of information.  I got a better understanding of licencing and agents as well more ideas about publishing.

Normally at events like this you take away one or two really big things that resonate with you.  For me, this was when agent Lilla Rogers was talking about the hours of work artists need to put in before they achieve excellence.  I loved when she was discussing competition in the art world and said that the wedges aren't getting smaller, the pie is getting bigger.  She also told us that "people buy your joy, so make it your top priority!"  I could have listened to her wisdom all day.  If I understood correctly, she's either already writing or considering writing a book because she loves to help artists on their journeys.  So let's keep an eye out for that!  (And can I just say that after so many years being immersed in German, I found it really confusing to focus on discussions in English!  So forgive me if have any of this wrong!)

The icing on the cake was meeting artists such as Kelly Rae Roberts, Beth Nicholls, Liv Lane, Melody Ross, and designer Holly Becker author of both Decor8 and Haus Maus!  I was thrilled to meet some new local people who I hope to get to know better as well as the elusive Heather Valentine from The Sewing Loft (we missed each other all day and then in the last moments of the conference as we were leaving the building, we found each other! YIPPEE)...

After so many years of disconnection, it really was incredible to be included in something like this.  I feel so lucky and grateful to be off on such really great start back home in the USA...

Kelly Rae, Liv and TJ - Beth was there too, but she was operating the camera!

Comments

[Jenny Lee Wentworth]

How cool is that! Happy for your creative connections that day! Send me your new address so I can send you some love in the mail!
Your friend,
Jenny :)

[Andria]

Wow! What a great welcome back to the US, to make all of these new friends and meet all of these illustrious artists. I will have to check out your Facebook page, too! Welcome home! (How interesting that all-English poses a challenge!!)

[TJ]

Thanks ladies - yes I was in heaven meeting these artists I've admired for so long!

Jenny, we're actually still in a hotel until our apartment opens up on the 1st of Oktober-- but I will be sending my friends my updated address soon! I'd love some mail art...
xxx tj

[Veronika]

What a great and exciting start to your life back in US. You seem so much in your element, I can foresee many happy, creative days ahead for you :)

[Thesewingloftblog]

It was so great to meet you! Next time, I promise not to be so mysterious!!
~Heather

[1st. lady of kleinochsenfurt]

Hallo Tari. Schön, dich so glücklich zu sehen! Miss you! Silke

[Mary]

Hi TJ...Oh, lucky you getting to meet Traci...I think I've taken almost all of her online classes. I guess you are getting settled back into life here in the US again.
Mary

[Jenny Lee Wentworth]

Hey girlie, I'll have some mail waiting for you! Hope your eye heals up quick, thinking of you.:)
♥Jenny