september in the studio

Autumn is coming!

I'm writing this on Labor Day weekend, and even though summer doesn't officially end until September 22, there's already a nip in the air and the local squirrels are busy burying walnuts all over my garden.

I've also been working on a new website all summer and I'm happy to say, "Yay, it's finally live!" 

With a better designed class schedule, links to the Camp Cactus blog, my Etsy shop and a brand spankin' new checkout system, I'm pretty jazzed with all the changes, and I hope you will be too. 

Here's the link: 

campcactuspdx.com

I'm also excited to announce that I'm offering a very special weekend Santa Doll Workshop in October.

This all-inclusive class features two full days of instruction, lunches, materials, and lots of tips and tricks. By Sunday afternoon, you'll come away with a beautiful St. Nick of your own design.

There are only 8 spaces available, so sign up soon!

Here's wishing you a warm and happy end of summer, 

Cheers,

Jane

Getting warmed up for World Watercolor Month

World Watercolor Month starts July 1st!

 I'm shooting for 31 days of tiny watercolors...will I make it?

Follow me on Instagram: @campcactus

doodling at the pub

Last night some friends and I walked over to our friendly neighborhood pub for a little sketching session. Here's mine:

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

it's true!

(photo borrowed from here)

Here's a little glimpse into what I've been up to in the studio...

new in the etsy shop!

Owl hats made of the softest fleece...check 'em out in the Camp Cactus etsy shop!

raw materials

Every day while walking the pups I find things. Beautifully colored leaves, gnarly twigs, mosses, bark, flower petals and seed pods.


I'm never quite sure what I'll do with them, although sometimes I'll just see something and get a fully formed picture of some finished piece in my head, just by picking the object up and holding it in my hand. Mostly, I just bring interesting stuff back to the studio and play with it awhile, creating different little vignettes and arrangements until sparks fly.


Lately, I've started to think the universe is trying to tell me something, because every day - EVERY DAY - I've been finding these beautiful, shiny black crow feathers. No matter where we walk, they're waiting for me somewhere along our route. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with them yet, but at this point I think I almost have enough to make an entire crow!


Got any ideas?