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Mork and Mindy and The Makerie

 

I went to Boulder, CO to the Makerie and Flora Bowley’s class.  My first stop was this house.  Recognize it?  If you do, you are showing your age.  It’s the house from Mork and Mindy, the sitcom staring Robin WIlliams.  Yes, I searched out the house.  Okay, I Googled the house and then used my Garmin to find it.  Then I went shopping on Pearl St. which is the cute little area where Mindy’s dad had his music store.

The Makerie was at Chataqua, an adorable little place from a time long ago.  Wonderful little cottages and  houses.   My room was decorated in Quaker chic and it let me soak up the sunshine and enjoy the peace the mountains radiated.  No tv. All relaxation and art.  Throughout the weekend it was clear that this was an event that came from the heart.  Ali Dejohn had  personal touches in everything from our boxed lunches to a library of art books and fresh cookies to the welcome bag of goodies.

Such magnificent mountains so close, I had to take a hike. This sign was posted at the start of the trail. I  am a city kid, so I read carefully.  I really wanted more details on how you fight back – I think my main fighting skill is hair pulling and I don’t think that would bother a mountain lion.  Just saying…

On to the art!  Flora Bowley was well worth the flight out there.  Watching her process and being able to ask her questions while painting- heavenly!  Looking forward to taking more of her classes in the future!

She not only nudged me out of my comfort zone, she sent me 3 time zones away from it.  The canvas below was one I was finally getting comfortable with when she said we were giving it away to the person next to us.  We would not be getting it back.  I received my neighbor’s canvas. I’ll share how it turned out on Friday.

Just hope I can swing the time to head out to the Makerie next year!  The event was filled with wonderful people and great conversations.  It was such a treat to be able to relax and enjoy because they had it all covered, including my pesky food allergies. A great weekend with friends and art- what could be better?

{ 15 comments… add one }

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  • Rinda May 9, 2012, 10:36 am

    I lived in Boulder, Colorado one summer, and this brought back such fond memories. Thanks for the post and have a great day!
    Rinda

  • Cynthia May 9, 2012, 11:25 am

    Gorgeous scenery and gorgeous art!! Thanks for sharing the beauty.

  • Corrine May 9, 2012, 2:12 pm

    Looks beautiful, the place and the painting, coming straight from the gut and the heart. Yes, I remember Mork and Mindy and the house……ha ha. xox

  • Terrie: Creative Explorer May 9, 2012, 4:54 pm

    I’m envious; this looks like SO much fun! Wonder if she ever comes to the Seattle area? I’ll have to check her teaching schedule….. Looks scary, but fun.

  • Paula - Buenos Aires May 9, 2012, 6:45 pm

    Oh, how exciting! Great idea Googling the house!!!
    The setting is breathtaking and the name of “Makerie” absolutely brilliant.
    Very cool canvas, so many details to take in.

  • Lynn Lucas May 9, 2012, 10:34 pm

    What a beautiful place to make art in…… Great piece too, lovely colours, shapes and depth.

  • Valerie-Jael May 10, 2012, 10:13 am

    Looks like you had a fun time at a great place! Valerie

  • iamrushmore May 10, 2012, 2:05 pm

    I just got Flora’s book and it’s so beautiful. she must be so amazing to work with in person. love that you found the mork and mindy house. I am of the age that I actually WORE rainbow suspenders. (not my finest fashion moment, but I chalk it off to being 11)

  • Mary in IL May 10, 2012, 5:34 pm

    what an incredible experience!

  • Gwen May 11, 2012, 5:47 am

    Lucky you attending Flora’s class….I love the canvas:)
    xx

  • Ginny May 11, 2012, 9:31 am

    Lucky, lucky you. You are having such amazing experiences. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. Beautiful art and beautiful scenery.

  • Marjie Kemper May 11, 2012, 8:04 pm

    I think I can even hear the M&M theme song in my head…. scary. Love these pics, your painting looks awesome, and I can well imagine the chaos that ensued when told to hand it off. I just went through that at a class where we had only to hand off painted tags, and some people really and truly flipped out.

  • Ann May 12, 2012, 6:40 am

    I remember the Mork and Mindy show! Had no idea that the house truly existed in Boulder. Looks like it is being kept in good shape.

    The sign about the mountain lions and bear DID leave off that critical information one needs in terms of fighting back. In Minnesota, there was an article a while back about a woman who fought off a black bear that showed up in her garage (she left the door open). She ended punching the bear in the nose after it scratched her with its huge claws. She said the bear seemed to be taken off-guard…looked at…and then left. She’s braver than I would have been.

  • Pauline Leger May 12, 2012, 3:19 pm

    Carolyn, i’m impressed that you even KNOW your main fighting skill is pulling hair! LOL. Yes, Mork and Mindy. I remember, sadly. (nano nano). 😉
    The painting is gorgeous. I MUST make it to a Flora Bowley course this year. So beautiful… xoxo

  • Maria May 15, 2012, 11:03 pm

    If I would have seen that sign there would have been NO hike for me, LOL! I am so happy for you that you got to experience a class with Flora in person! I cannot wait for the online class in June to start! Hopefully one day soon you and I will be able to go back there together!