What I did during my Summer Vacation.... and what's coming up

 It's mid July in North Carolina and I am now back from France.. I had another wonderful two weeks at Chateau du Pin on an artist residency this summer... making books, going on walks, playing with friends. And now, I'm back home and enjoying being home too.. but with my heart still a little in France.  

View from my bathroom window... of the 15th century chapel, the giant topiaries, and our artist studios on the bottom floor of the north wing

View from the south side. My tiny room is in the right tower on the second floor..  

View from my tiny room in the tower

My studio space for 2 weeks, in the old laundry room.. cobblestone floors, 12-inch rock walls, 16-ft beamed ceilings, 12-ft windows facing south and the giant topiaries..

Tunnel book of the Yellow Room.. where I slept on my first visit in 2005, 2006, and 2025.

The Yellow Room at Chateau du Pin

Tunnel book of he Blue Room, the prettiest in the chateau...

The Blue Room

The two-week artist residency at Chateau du Pin in the Loire Valley of France is now over. Being with eight other artists in this amazing 400-year old castle, walking the beautiful grounds full of ancient trees, ruins of Roman roads, vineyards, luscious gardens, and a menagerie of goats, cats, birds, frogs, ducks, cows, horses.. and under amazing blue sky in the daytime and starry sky at night was incredible. I am so grateful to my hosts, the Gignouxs' for inviting us artists and also for taking such good care of us. The french dinners were delicious! 

If you get the chance, I highly recommend you renting the chateau (through Airbnb) with your own friends and family. There are seven bedrooms, 5 and a half bathrooms, two living rooms, a gourmet kitchen, dining room for 14, an entry hall with a spiral marble staircase, and a tiny library, and a tinier laundry room and 300 acres of lawn, gardens, trails, fields, and vineyards. The link is chateaudupinloire.com

Now I'm back in North Carolina and already teaching books. The new classes at Blam Studio are listed below.

Pastepaper: Fri 31,  10-4pm: $110 Full

PastePaper: Sat Aug 1, 10-4pm:$110

Tunnel Book: Mon-Tue, Aug 17-18; 10-4:30pm; $150

PastePaper: Wed. Aug. 26, 10-4pm; $110 Full

Paste Paper: Sat Aug 29: 10-4; $110pm: Full 

Painted Fabric book: Fri-Sat. Sept 4-5, 10-4pm, $150: (Full, 6)

Book of Doors: Sat-Sun, Sept 12-13; 10-4pm; $150:/p>

Double Door Box: Wed. Sept 23; 10-4pm$120: 

 Double Gatefold Book: Sat. Sept 26; 10-4; $65

Marbling 2 Days: Mon-Tue, Sept. 29-30; 10-4pm; $170:  

Double Door Box: Sat, Oct. 10; 10-4; $120: 

Carousel Book: Fri-Sat, Oct 30-31: $170

Double Door Box: Wed, Nov 11; 10-4pm: $120: 

Tunnel Book: Tues-Wed. Nov. 17-18; 10-4pm; $150: 

Hope to see you around the Book Tables!

Peace Flags

Peace Flags

From Wikipedia: : The Walk for Peace is a long-distance pilgrimage in the United States initiated by Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., promoting peace, compassion, and nonviolence. The walk began on October 26, 2025, and is planned to span approximately 2,300 miles in 110 days, concluding in February 2026."

Yesterday the 19 monks on their Walk for Peace came through Raleigh. I didn't get to go see them in person, but luckily, I clicked on the news just as they were a few blocks from the domed old state Capital building. As I watched the "live video" I was struck by the quiet that surrounded their walk down Hillsboro Street.. en route from Texas to Washington D.C... A single line of saffron robed monks walking in the middle of the 4-lane city street...solidly lined on both sides with layers of people bundled up against the 26 degree weather... the hum of the WRAL drone the only noise. 

A few minutes later the lead monk gave his talk to the crowd of several thousands... all races, ages, and denominations.. he encouraged us to watch our breath... inhaling and exhaling while creating mindfulness and living in that state of mindfulness. He admonished us to look at ourselves in the mirror every day and clean away the dirt and soil of our lives so we could see ourselves clearly. And he counseled us to write down the words, "Today is going to be our peaceful day." He said if we wrote it down, then it would be more powerful, then it would "stick". I have always thought the written word was powerful... chisled in stone... As a book artist I have made that concept a part of my work.

I was reminded of a book I made years ago and constructed as Buddhist prayer flags. These are the flags and the poem Peace Flags... hand-dyed, handwritten, and block printed... to make it stick.

Peace Flags

The Blue Flag.. representing sky and space, symbolizes calmness and wisdom.

Peace, Come in

enter through this gate

and fill this place

with love

forever.

The White Flag... representing air and wind, symbolizes purity, truth, and compassion.

Peace, sleep here...

while dreams play out

the dramas of the world

and the white light

shines on the horizon.

The Red Flag.. representing fire, symbolizes warmth, passion, and transformation.

Peace, whisper the words

that will end all wars

in the hearts of man

and the kingdoms of

the world.

The Green Flag... representing water, symbolizes balance, harmony, and the nurturing aspects of nature.

Peace, fly in the wind

become like the breath

invisible, irresistible, indomitable, inviolate.

Surround us in Eden's aura.

Yellow Flag... representing earth, symbolizes stability, grounding, balance.

Peace, sing hymns

for the trees and the small creatures,

for the heavens and the earth,

and for

me.

The Purple Flag....is not a traditional prayer flag color, it represents the highest power.

Peace, spread your arms

and wrap the world

in understanding

and acceptance

for all.

Peace be with you.