Day 6: Our Favorite Things-Art Supplies Series: Paper - Pt. Deux!

Welcome to Day 6 of
"Our  Favorite Things - Art Supplies!" Series.  

In no particular order; Jodi, Penny, and Jean will take turns sharing a few of
their creative must-haves.

Hello, gang -- Penny here, again.  Did I throw you with the title for todays post?  My love of paper is indeed voluminous -- quite worthy of spilling into another rapturous post.  Today, I am speaking specifically about handmade papers.

There is something of the luxuriant and exotic inherent in handmade paper.  Many of them have the feel of fine textiles.  The crisp translusence of rice papers offer myriad possibilities; while sturdier natural fibers in banana paper or Nujabi can easily be finished to mimic leather (!) If bold, vibrant color is your thing, there is a world of color at your fingertips as you peruse lokta, mulberry, and other handmade varieties.

I had the good fortune to meet a family of paper-makers on a trip to Seoul, South Korea in the spring of last year.  In the short time I was in their tiny, street front shop *practically a stall* I encountered fellow shoppers that included:  a mother and daughter buying HUGE sheets of handmade paper to cover the walls in their dining/living room, university students purchasing papers for art projects, and a handful of fellow lovers of the refined pulp.

Another of the many reasons I love handmade papers is for their versatility.  They make for lovely additions to many forms of creative expression -- collage, card-making, home decor, and *of course* book making.

Patchwork Papers
A sewing-themed collage with a background of handmade papers
"quilted" with smaller squares of seed catalogue illustrations.

Grass (2 of 3)
Collage on 300 lb. water color paper.

Handmade paper as book covers
highlight the construction of this journal.

So...  How about you? 
What is your favorite way to
incorporate the beauty of handmade papers
in your creative endeavors?

For your chance to win our Fabulous ReMe Favorites Prize Package, please post your answer to the question below, in the comments section.  You'll also earn an extra entry for each time you share this post on social media.  Just be sure to post a link to your share here for us to count your extra entries.  (All entries must be received by 12:00 Noon, EST, on September 3, 2015.) 

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It's not too late to join us on Ocracoke in October!

Please use the link on the upper left side of this page to register.

When the link disappears, we’re full to capacity.

Stick around as the countdown continues.  We look forward to sharing with and learning from YOU.  

Day 3: Our Favorite Things-Art Supplies Series: Paper!

Welcome to Day 3 of
"Our  Favorite Things - Art Supplies!" Series.  

In no particular order; Jodi, Penny, and Jean will take turns sharing a few of
their creative must-haves.

Hello, gang -- Penny here.  In the continuation of our current series, I'm excited to share one of my favorite things with you:  Paper!  I fully realize that, to many, this will come as no surprise at all.  I am known to be quite the Paper H.O. *Heartily Obsessed*  Today, I am speaking specifically about art paper(s).


Far and away, my favorite Art Papers to work with are those from Strathmore.  I work most often from padded stock.  This is for several reasons:  
    -  it is economical (allowing one to accumulate variously sized papers for customization without multiple cuts to acheive 'standard sizes')
    -  it is frequently available at local retailers (either through Art Supply outlets, such as Jerry's Artarama -- or through mass market retailers, like Michael's or AC Moore)
    -  it is readily available in many formats/finishes, and allows me to tailor the finished project to the job it is designed for.  My favorite papers for Art Journaling are Mixed Media and Watercolor papers; while a better/less bulky choice for writing and/or sketching is Hemp Charcoal Paper
    -  it is rather easier to store than larger/bulkier parent sheets of paper. 

Plenty of options in size, format,
and paper finishes

Speaking of parent sheets (or, whole sheets of paper -- often 22x30 in. or larger), when it comes to working from larger stock it is hard to beat the luxuriant feel and substantial structural flexibility of Stonehenge -- a 100% cotton, printmaking paper made in US.

Luminous, rich, and with a superb feel
Stonehenge offers limitless possibiltiies for the book maker.

So...  How about you? 
Do you have a favorite Art Paper that is your "go to"
when building a book or
working within a commercially produced journal?

For your chance to win our Fabulous ReMe Favorites Prize Package, please post your answer to the question below, in the comments section.  You'll also earn an extra entry for each time you share this post on social media.  Just be sure to post a link to your share here for us to count your extra entries.  (All entries must be received by 12:00 Noon, EST, on September 3, 2015.) 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

It's not too late to join us on Ocracoke in October!

Please use the link on the upper left side of this page to register.

When the link disappears, we’re full to capacity.

Stick around as the countdown continues.  We look forward to sharing with and learning from YOU.  

Friends of ReMe -- OR -- Our *not so* Super, Secret Weapons of Mass Hospitality

Greetings, hale and hearty readers!  Welcome to the 1st day of Spring!  Penny here; I was remiss in my last posting in not mentioning one of my MOST favorite things about the wonder that is ReMe.  It occurred to me, after the fact, that it is "favorite" enough to deserve its own post!  Without further ado, I give you the splendiferous, the amazing, the incredible, the heart-rendingly generous, and  tantalizingly-mind-blowing Den Mothers!

Debbie Keen - Mother October & Theresa Zurku - Mother May
...the planets aligned last October, and our Den Mothers met on the beach!

It has been said that "it takes a village..."  If your village is fortunate enough to have two dynamos such as these, you are very fortunate indeed!  Beyond being blessed with the friendship of these lovely ladies for years before we entered into business together Jean, Jodi, and I are doubly blessed by having these dear friends supporting our efforts in a most 'hands-on' manner!  They are both incredibly endowed with huge hearts, quick minds, and a shared willingness to go the extra mile to bring the dream of ReMe to its abundant reality.  ...and we are so lucky to have them!

Our Wonder Women
(clockwise from upper left)
Theresa Zurku, Debbie Keen,
Theresa & Jean, Penny & Debbie, and Jodi & Theresa

From the Kitchen to the Classroom, and all points in between, I am convinced that what we do would be severely diminished were it not for the incredible gifts that each of these women bring to our bountiful table.  They have embraced our vision with enthusiasm, brought their own unique touches to the offerings of each season, and are ever at the ready to do more - help more - dream more to the betterment of all concerned.

Rest assured that if your plans include being a part of ReMe, you will experience the wonderment of our Den Mothers first hand!  From your arrival to your departure, you will be well attended to in the finest manner. 

Until next time,

Looking Back with Love: Penny's Recollections of ReMe Ocracoke October '14

As the month of February gives way to March, and we come one step closer to our 2nd year of ReMe Retreats on Ocracoke Island, I wanted to take a few moments to share some of my own favorite bits and pieces from our event, this past October.

First Sunset
as captured Monday, October 20, 2014

1st Group Shot
Debbie captures the group, as I capture it all

We welcomed our 2nd group of ReMe Sisters on a stunning October afternoon.  As the house filled with lovelies and their luggage, the laughter rolled in exponentially!  By the time we gathered on our sound-front beach to ogle the sunset, we were well on our way to another week of wonderments!   Tours conducted, a brief orientation, and an evening of creativity and snacks -- we were officially underway.  As early as the first night, the magic of the island was evident:  music drifted through the house along with the strains of laughter and refrains of "OH!  Me, too!"

Smiles All Around
The Class of ReMe Ocracoke, October '14
...by midweek, they look as if they've known each other for years

Our amazing guests fully embraced our class offerings, and their delight with each creation was a gift unto itself.  Painting sessions with Jodi yielded a bevy of beautiful abstracts and a colony of vibrant and whimsical lighthouses.  In their time with me, our courageous students completed two different book designs and made great strides in creating content for their new journals.  In their classes with Jean, they not only grabbed the brass rings they texturized, etched, and further embellished them, creating multiple pieces of wearable art!

Painting with Jodi
(l - r) Patti P and Victoria F, Jodi in action, Lorie G, Lynn O, Beth B. Zoe N, and Jodi

Metalwork with Jean
(clockwise from upper left) Victoria F., Kim C., and Jean - Jean's Treasures - Lynn O - Lorie G. in action - Brass Rings

Circle of Friends
Little Leather Booklaces from their class with yours truly

Journal Happy
Patti P. was one of many merry sew and sews
during my Long, Tall Book of Days class

Beyond the hands-on learning/creative aspect of our Retreats, we have dedicated time to appreciate the people and the place that make our beloved flagship events so unique.  We welcome special, local guests to evenings at the Inn with us; we are hosted by local friends and businesses for precious evenings of extended hours with wine and cheese.  From a visit to the beach to collect found objects and natural treasures for use in their classes, to outings to local landmarks (The Ocracoke Lighthouse, The Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum, and Springer's Point), our guests aren't merely at a place for the week we are together, they are of that place -- fully immersed in the stories, traditions, and rhythms of where we are.  Sound like a dream?   It's all too real!

Panoramic View
Our trip to the beach was under dramatic skies

Amy Howard
Storyteller, Artist, and Administrator, Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum

(clockwise from upper left) Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum, a view from the back yard,
The Ocracoke Lighthouse, historical quilt, and a kitchen vignette at the Museum

A Visit with Miss Della
(top to bottom) Jodi, Victoria F., Zoe N., Debbie, and Lorie G -- Happy Shoppers
Miss Della -- Queen of the Fig Cake and Purveyor of fine Fig Preserves and Syrup
Miss Della's green thumb on  display

Lovely Leslie Lanier
Bookseller Extraordinaire and Hostess with the MOSTest!

That is the very reason we say that ReMe is more than a Retreat -- It's a Remarkable, Extraordinary, Memorable Experience!  It is true for our beloved guests as much as it is true for each of us.  Throughout the times between these magical gatherings, our thoughts return again and again to the treasure trove of incredible memories that we share of the special time spent with the amazing women who have become a part of our living dream:  ReMe Retreats.

Final Sunset
as captured Friday, October 24, 2014

With immense thanks for all that was 2014, and great excitement for 2015 and beyond,

One Last Look
With 2014 in the rearview, Jean, Jodi, Theresa, Debbie, and I look forward
to all that 2015 *and beyond* holds for ReMe Retreats.
We hope to see you soon!