art workshop
* new workshop
.jpg)
what we keep --
In collaboration with Author Rachel Levy Lesser.
Anderson Cooper tucked his father’s belts into a box for years. I've worn my dad’s cashmere jacket for three decades now. My locket holds strands of Grandma Tillie’s hair from a trim done more than fifty years ago. In my drawers, there are mementos — unused handkerchiefs from my grandmothers, jewels I'll most likely never wear. I can’t part with them, though rarely touch them. Rachel wears her mother’s small platinum wedding band every day. She wears her father’s oversized tank watch almost every day and her grandmother’s antique gold earrings on special occasions only. She keeps a key from her grandfather’s store in her jewelry box and smiles when she sees it. These treasures aren’t just objects; they’re connections to the past. We know our stories aren’t unique — it’s one we all share. What keepsakes have you held onto, and why? What do they say about your story? What do they represent in your life? Now is the time to bring these cherished items out of the shadows and into the light. Join us as we guide you in reinventing your treasures, turning them into meaningful symbols of the present. Through reflection, storytelling, and creative exercises, we'll help you uncover the deep significance of what you’ve kept and show you how to integrate your memento in a way that inspires and transforms. “What We Keep” is a powerful reminder: the past lives within us and can shape who we are today, broadening the meaning of our present-day selves. Rediscover your treasures. Rewrite your stories. Make them visually and
verbally come to life. Join us.
About Rachel: Rachel Levy Lesser is an author, freelance writer, event moderator and writing instructor. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Glamour, Parenting, Modern Loss, Grown and Flown as well as several anthologies. She is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania and received her MBA from the Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan. Rachel is the author of four books including Life's Accessories: A Memoir (And Fashion Guide) which was named one of “11 Memoirs You Need to Be reading Now” by Parade Magazine. Rachel has interviewed authors at bookstores across the country. She has taught writing and journaling workshops at schools, hospitals, nonprofit organizations and at private events.
creating your peaceful sanctuary
What does your special place look and feel like? ...the place that offers you a respite from the day... Is it the beach, forest, or a special spot in your home? Once you arrive, where will you sit? Where will you go? In front of a fire, on the beautiful wicker chair in your garden or directly on the earth? How will you feel upon arrive? Are you reading a book, hiking a mountain or are you viewing the sea?
With materials found about one’s home or from nature, you will create by way of collage and/or paint your own peaceful sanctuary.
patterns, patterns and more patterns
There is something so calming about creating patterns - colors grouped together, squares, triangles, circles, words. All around us, we see patterns. Unbeknown to our conscious selves, these patterns soothe us. They speak to us in subliminal ways. This workshop makes us recognize the joy of creating those patterns we connect with. Materials can include magazines, stationery, newspaper, tissue paper, gift wrap, nature, etc.
Remember too, that colors can come into play as can shapes and movement. If desired, you can consider the mood you would like to reveal - high energy, calm, neutrality... it's all within the flow of your fingertips.
tree of life
Trees - they change with every season, exemplifying the cycle of life with buds beginning and leaves falling. What tree do you connect with? … Is it the willow arching above, or perhaps, the overflowing maple? The magnolia with its vivid blooms or the elm rising high above? We often find inner peace when we walk amongst the trees, enchanted by their beauty and, perhaps too, their spirituality. Like the tree, we often find comfort in our roots grounding us to the earth and grasping joy when reaching new heights. In this workshop, we will create the tree of life that speaks to you – its colors, branches, production of sprouts and/or leaves. Bring pictures from magazines, your own photos, the colors you associate with your tree – paints, crayons and colored pencils will do. We will explore it all in this workshop and gain connection as we embrace the season together.