The most recent hurricane was my escort the week I traveled to teach at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. Most of the storm had passed by the time I flew into Atlanta and thankfully, the Folk School was not impacted by wind or rain, however they did sustain some damage from lightning.

We had shirt sleeve weather the days I was there although it was VERY humid and frequently I was sprinkled with light rain on my daily walks to and from the studio. Frankly, the moisture felt fabulous! And wouldn't you know it, when I arrived home a second hurricane (from Mexico) brought coveted rain to our own southwest neighborhood, so I felt right at home!

In North Carolina the forest scents were amazing, rich and tantalizing, inviting me to take my time and breathe deep. As I strolled the moistened, wood-chip covered pathways, I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of mushrooms; numerous varieties and quite colorful. I waited patiently for the fairies to pop out from underneath, and although my expectations were high, I never did see one.

I’ve returned from my week-long metal embossing and bookbinding class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. What an exciting week! My class was full with eight amazing “creatives” who arrived eager to learn the Repujado and bookbinding techniques I had planned and then put them into practice, and beyond!

They all s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d and stepped outside the box and their comfort zones. We were able to learn so much from each other because of the supportive environment that exists at the Folk School and (apparently) no fear. The Folk School is non-competitive and camaraderie is contagious- and I can't wait to go back!