All Hail The Queen!

WOW! Hi dear readers! I had the most wonderful art experience yesterday. Well, if I am being honest (I always am! Honest!), it was a bonding, learning, fulfilling, happy, soothing, creative experience. Please allow me to introduce you to The Queen's Ink. If you are not already familiar with it, it is an absolute gem of a shop in Laurel, MD that has been around for over two decades! It has a lovely Maker Space, and is filled with things that make me drool.... think ink! pens! paper! rubber stamps! paint and brushes! It is also filled with inspiring creations that are so full of energy and life you will be tempted to just stare at them...'How did someone make this? How did they think of this color combination? Look at their personality shine through in this piece!

The location of this dreamy shop is a big part of its charm as well: Savage Mill.

The Savage Mill is a historic cotton mill complex in Savage, Maryland, which has been turned into a complex of shops and restaurants. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is located in the Savage Mill Historic District. Buildings in the complex date from 1822 to 1916.

There are shops and restaurants, a banquet space (we saw a bride and groom entering their reception!) a great coffee shop and heaps and heaps of history here. One shop in particular caught my eye, and the owner explained to me her mission of supporting artisans all across the USA. "I buy what I love and I put it in my shop!" is how she explained it to me. I told HER that she and I must have the same great taste ;) You should really pop in there some time. Jules and Kate

Now, back to the workshop I attended. It's one of those synchronicity/serendipity things that I absolutely LOVE! Over the summer, I bought an ADORABLE book for my classroom about two of my favorite subjects: Matisse and a cat. Guys. Check. It. Out!

I was so taken by the story and pictures, I did some research on the author and illustrator, Joan Waites. GUESS.WHAT. She is from Maryland, lives near me AND was giving this workshop yesterday at the Queen's Ink! I hadn't been to the Queen's Ink in YEARS (pandemic. real job. lots of kids., etc., etc., etc.) I couldn't believe my luck that I had found all this out in time to sign up for the class and it actually fit into my schedule!

There were other wonderful attendees, gorgeous supplies, the beautiful teacher, Ms. Joan Waites and the Queen herself, Ms. Patti Euler.

I learned SO much, made new friends, and am hoping to have Ms. Waites come to speak to my students in the classroom! I met a wonderful woman who lives in my same town (!) and teaches art that Lifts Spirits at her local church. WOWWWWW!! I met another lovely person who is downsizing and wants to donate her craft papers and rubber stamps to my classroom! I talked to The Queen about possibly sharing my decoupage love with a class at her shop. Like, can you believe the wonderful-ness of all of this?

I feel so blessed, and happy, and energized for the new school year. I'd like to thank all of the incredible women I met yesterday who encouraged and inspired me.

Goodbye summer, I will miss you madly until June!!

Yours in Decoupage and Creativity, ~Amy

P.S. Just for fun, here are some more snaps. Enjoy!