Adventures in Orvieto, Italy | Tracie & Marylin Huskamp Fiber Nature Journal

An Altered Fiber Journal from a Nature Inspired Sojourn of Italy

Dates: May 17 - 23, 2009
Instructor/Leader: Tracie and Marylin Huskamp

Trip Description
Come on a wondrous journey, where we will explore ways of
capturing nature’s flora, fauna, and wildlife of Orvieto. During this
week-long workshop, students will:
• Construct an altered fiber journal from a vintage book cover with
luscious dyed, distressed, and painted fabric accordion pages.
• Gather natural elements to press, preserve, and incorporate into
our work.
• Work with photographs from walks through the landscapes of
Orvieto, and transform photo images into hand painted memories
by making sketches of nature onto fabric.
• Work with and mix acrylic paints to develop our illustrated subjects.

Each new page will be easily added to this on-going altered journal as part of an intimate
record from this fabled Italian sojourn. Using plain muslin:
• Learn a fast and easy way of drawing your image onto a fiber surface.
(No Drawing Skills Are Required!)
• Use this sketch as a guide to aid in bringing your drawing to life using
simple acrylic paints.
• Learn how to extract your subject from its fiber support giving you
options for placing painted elements onto a completely different
background.

In addition, we will:
• Explore unique methods for distressing fabric to turn a plain
background into a work of art.
• Preserve and use delicate bits of nature in your journal.

Composing from various altered fabrics using the hues of the
Italian countryside, and gathered words and verses, beautiful
journal pages of nature will emerge that are sentimental and
memorable. No experience needed - just a sense of adventure!

Itinerary
May 17 - Arrive Orvieto, group dinner
May 18 - Capturing nature with photographs, Introduction to Italian
                culture, wine tasting, Orvieto walking tour
May 19 - Dyeing and distressing fabrics, vineyard tour/wine tasting,
                visit Orvieto shops
May 20 - Fabric painting, preseving flora and fauna, Etruscan caves
May 21 - Creating the page, weekly market, cooking class
May 22 - Journaling in the landscape, binding it together, visit
                Etruscan necropolis
May 23 - Show and share, Depart Orvieto

Details
Cost - $2350. Fee includes six nights double occupancy lodging and basic course materials. Single occupancy available for an additional cost. Because the tour is meant to expose you to the local culture, meals are not prearranged or included. Travel costs are not included.

Click here for registrations and terms, or contact us by e-mail, phone or writing at the contact information below.

A trip for companions is available for $1750.

Meet Tracie and Marylin
The members of this mother and daughter-in-law team share a love for Marylin’s oldest son, and are both passionate about art!

Marylin is a self-taught artist, who loves mixed media and fibers. She's worked with these mediums for over 40 years. She carefully blends ribbons, lace, yarns, fabrics, buttons, and other ephemera to capture the viewer with vibrant colors and interesting textures.

Marylin’s work has been featured in Somerset Belle Amore September ‘07 issue, Somerset Altered Couture Winter ‘07, Cloth Paper Scissor May/June and July/August ‘07 issues, and a feature article in Fibre & Stitch Web Zine Issue 3. Visit her blog
http://MarylinsNouvelle.blogspot.com or e-mail at MarylinsNouvelle@yahoo.com

Tracie Lyn Huskamp holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Design with an emphasis in Fine Art. She is a freelance Product Designer/Illustrator. Her designs sell through national retailers, and one product was featured on the TV show, Extreme Home Makeover.

But it's her passion for mixed media and collage that fuels her creative spirit, and leads her journey of artistic discovery. Striving for the perfect balance and integration of elements and processes, Tracie enjoys making art that is thoughtful, intricate, & beautiful.

Her work is nationally recognized. It has appeared on Somerset Studios cover, and in feature articles in Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Stampington’s Artful Blogger and Life Images, and the Premier Issue of Quilting Arts Gifts Special Publication. Visit her blog at: http://TheRedDoor-Studio.blogspot.com, e-mail TheRedDoorStudio@yahoo.com