What do you get when you mix stunning landscapes, a generous host, terrific food, great people, and a class taught by Michelle Ward? Answer – a perfect weekend. This was my first trip to Valley Ridge for a class. I doubt it will be my last. The views from the classroom were amazing especially since the foliage was just starting to turn into those beautiful reds and yellows. 
I have enjoyed Michelle Ward’s art and her blog for quite a while and now I know why. She is amazing. She is encouraging to all and generous with her ideas and art. Plus if you put a can of spray paint in her hand she turns ordinary things into extraordinary. Soon I’ll post the photos of the art I created there – it still needs a few touches before it’s finished.
When I’m painting chipboard, ribbons, die cuts, really anything small, I like to use a journal page, or in this case, a piece of cloth. Then when I am finished with the intended project, I just use up any leftover paint from my palette to fill in any blank spots. 
A bit of white paint and one of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer’s stencils create a fun pattern on top. I used a dry brush in areas to show the texture of the fabric.
I used the fabric to make a “spinal reinforcement” for a booklet for an upcoming project. I was so pleased with the results I used the rest of the fabric to make more!
A page in process. I’ve been loving circles and arrows lately. Not sure where this will go next but I do know that I really wish I had a free motion foot on my sewing machine for this one….