What a year it has been! I'm taking some time closed in on a snowy week, reflecting the past year and anticipating the next. Last year I traveled to Monterosso, Calabria in the southern part of Italy, and this year we are putting together a tour to share our experiences in the region.
Art and Soul Italy February 15 - February 22, an "off-season" trip featuring visits to local artisans and trips to the surrounding towns in a relaxed atmosphere...guided by Antonio Parisi, owner of agriturismo Villa Velia and host extraordinaire.
Velia Parisi will be our chef and hostess and instructor in a cooking lesson featuring cuisine of her ancestors, in traditional southern Italian recipes. I've been fortunate to have meals at Villa Velia...you're in for a treat!
Woodcarving and clay sculpting with Pasquale, blacksmith demonstrations and wood lathe turning with Maestro Ciccio, dyeing fabic naturally with graphite with Nella...strolling on a photography tour with Sue or participating in a writer's workshop with Stu. All of this bookended with trips to Pizzo, Tropea, Filadelfia, Tiriolo,Serra San Bruno and of course, Monterosso.
If you would like to learn more, see our website at www.artandsoulitaly.com
I think you will fall in love with the region like I did...and relax. The weather is still a bit cool, but unlike January and February in the Northeast, it is in the 40's on average, sometimes cooler, sometimes warmer....but not -9 like it was in Enfield when I was walking about in Monterosso last year! It was a delightful respite from the winter.
I was pleasantly surprised with all the beautiful plants, fresh local citrus and the architectural details on our walkabouts.
It is a small tour, minimum 8 and maximum 12. If you're interested, let us know soon!
Seatweavers!
Last year was full of new seatweavers...from demos at farmers' markets, classes at Fiber College of Maine, New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, Coventry Arts Guild, private tutoring and most recently furniture students at North Bennet Street School. All told, there were over 100 people learning more about seatweaving in 2019 from Redux For You.
For a little tour about Redux For You and the Seatweavers' Guild, Inc, take a tour through this presentation (it takes a minute to load, be patient)
Classes 2020
I am currently scheduling for 2020 and there are a couple new venues being added. Join our mailing list to stay posted! Please share with interested friends and on your social media connections. New classes are also being proposed in Manchester, CT, and West Hartford, CT, both central to CT and easy to get to. We'll share when we can.
The first classes of the year will be at the Northeast Basketmakers' Guild April 24, 25, 26 2020 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Hartford-Bradley Airport, Windsor Locks, CT.
I'll be teaching Porch Weave (already sold out!) Fiber Rush Stools and Josephine Knot Basket.
The venue is centrally located in CT. Check out the website for more info.
I am SUPER EXCITED for the 13th Annual Seatweavers' Guild gathering this year which is returning to New England. It will be held in Hull, MA, near Boston. There will be so much to see and do! If you are a Guild member, be sure to come...if you are not a member, it is open to the public. Joining the Guild as a single member is only $35 a year. You might turn into a #chairnerd !
Save the dates: July 24-26, 2020
Make a vacation out of it...we're compiling a list of cool things to do in and around the Boston area to make it a fun, destination event. Check it out HERE
Web and Graphic Design
With all these classes, chairs and adventures, I haven't forgotten about web design, graphic design, photography, presentations and marketing! I've been busy working on Art and Soul Italy, Seatweavers' Guild, Talespinner Press and more...if you're in need of a fresh website or some marketing graphics, contact me at suemuldoon@suemuldoonimages.com
You can see a gallery HERE
Since I'll be traveling in February, if you need any chairs repaired, I still have some openings...so contact me for a quote.
Sue Muldoon divides her time between 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional work. She bounces back and forth between photography, web design and graphic design to seatweaving (chair caning, wicker repair, rush, splint, etc.) and basket weaving.
Basketry started as an add-on to seat weaving because there was material begging to be used in more than one format.
Sue’s career has always been creative, from wallpaper hanging and interior painting to a lengthy career in the floral industry as designer and merchandiser. Wood carving, furniture refinishing and upcycling furniture in novel ways using unique materials like leather belts, ties and alpaca wool set her apart from traditional seatweaving methods.
Color is rampant and unapologetic.
Where some might see a chair, Sue sees a statement. She spends the majority of her time now repairing seats (an unabashed “chairnerd” and webmaster of The SeatWeavers Guild, Inc) but enjoys branching out into basketry.
She considers her seatweaving work to be part functional and part emotional. Along with repairing chairs, she repairs the memories that are attached to seats that are in demise and disrepair. The joy on a client’s face when they see family history brought back to functionality is inspiring.
Her photography and design work enable her to get the word out about what she does, and her skills in social media are in demand from farmers markets, growers, artists and authors.
Creating special baskets for her most rapt audience, her 4 and 9-year-old grandsons, keeps Sue busy and inspires her to teach them to appreciate nature, natural materials and art.
A frequent instructor at various sheep, wool and fiber festivals and art retreats and farmers markets, she enjoys sharing seatweaving and basketmaking to new crafters and artisans.
You can see Sue’s work at www.reduxforyou.com and www.suemuldoonimages.com