What People are Saying

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I knew when I walked in and saw PINK FLAMINGOES, I knew that I was in a MAGICAL place.
When I realized that there was GLITTER all down the stairs, I realized I was HOME.  Each wonderful person I met made me realize that I was with KINDRED SPIRITS.  Michael deMeng's workshop on Sunday--pure NIRVANA!!!  I was there for only one day, but at the end of the day, each of my chakras was SPINNING faster than ever before and colorful sparks were radiating from my fingertips.  Ellen and Sallianne, thank you from the bottom of my striped socks to the top of my purple-hatted head!!!  Trish

Elizabeth - October 2010
Hi, just wanted to thank you for putting on another wonderful week of art. My classes were excellent (Lesley Venable was very warm and welcoming, we all made great pieces in her class, she stayed late so even us stragglers got a piece done. Michael DeMeng was wonderful as always, really enjoy his end of class wrap ups where we get to see each other's pieces. He has encouraging and supporting comments for everyone. I leave his classes feeling like a "real" artist. Keith LoBue fantastic teacher, always learn tons from him - I don't suppose you could convince him to move to the states and be available year round for classes :)
I really also like that you have the free table and that the vendors kept their stores up longer than the one night.Looking forward to next year! Thank you both.

Laura - October 2010
I attended one day only--Saturday--and it is carved into my heart. Who knew that events like this, that people like this, existed? Not I. A bazillion thanks to all.

Mrs Pom - October 2010
To all my students, to the vendors, to my friends, to all whob stopped me to say hello, to those who went out of their way to tell me they read my column, and most of all to the indefatigable rays of cheer a/k/a SAL and ELLEN, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!! Cannot wait till next year! Xxooxx Loretta Marvel a/k/a Mrs. Pom

David - October 2010
Thanks to Sallianne and Ellen, the wizards behind the curtain, for putting together another great year of Art Is. Thanks to the instructors who shared their knowledge and helped us stay on the yellow brick road. Thanks to the vendors who brought along their Emeralds and other shiny things (sorry, but 'rusty things' didn't fit this particular metaphor), and who helped make my wallet so much easier to carry ;).  And thanks to all my fellow adventurers, who were willing to share the journey and so much of themselves along the way. It was wonderful to see some old friends and meet so many new ones, feels great to be part of the ever-growing Art Is family.

Sharon - October 2010
At home and contemplating the bags of "STUFF" which must be absorbed back into my life. Oh my.It was a wonderful weekend! I think I have shared several times the fact that this month marks the official FIVE YEAR date for my breast cancer recovery (Ending my tamoxifin prescrption was the closing act).............this weekend with you and the wonderful women/men of Art is......... was a joyfilled beginning of the rest of my life. I am so grateful to the gods, my karma, and YOU for bringing about my participation.

Merrilee - October 2010
I've done alot of conferences in my day, but here's what stands out for me about Art Is....: The teachers! The learning! and, the joy of seeing El and Salli moving about through the days, taking care of little things and decorating here and there....Speaking for myself, I adored this opportunity to be with great friends, to learn from the absolute best and to have a "no drama" experience. That is priceless to me. You ladies are ROCK STARS, no you are SUPER STARS!!!! Thank you for your attention to detail, your obvious dedication to the participants and your very hard and steady work throughout the year to make this event what it was for me: one I will be back to again and again. Love you, ladies!

Di Russell-Horn - October 2010
Well ladies, it's been a harsh "back to reality" week here, wishing I was transported back to last week at this time, sharing, creating, laughing, making new friends, spending lots of time with old friends and back in the Art Is..Family.  Sal & Ellen, words cannot even begin to express my thanks for all that you two do to make this event fabulous. The smallest attention to detail did not go unnoticed. You are truly remarkable women and I thank you for everything.  It is such a unique group of women and men that come together and form the perfect circle of friendship and sharing, not to mention the incredible art and energy   So thank you to everyone for an incredible week! See you all next year.

Mary - October 2010
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to ellen and Sal for an amazing retreat. Each year just gets bigger and better. The spirit of caring and sharing was abundant throughout the retreat. It was wonderful to spend creative time with my daughters Marcy and Christy, and dear friend Merrilee, to great old friends, meet new friends, and learn from the best. I am already looking forward to next year.

Rosemarie - October 2010
Sal and Ellen, teachers, students and friends, thank you for making this new Art Is You kid welcome.  See you at March Madness.

Angela - October 2010
Love you ladies!!! You have created a type of love that only ancient philosophers have written about. You know agape love!!

Mama Gwen - October 2010
Thank you Sal and Ellen.  The week of wonderful Women and Men with such creative and artistic talents was wonderful.  I miss Oz the land where every thing is possible. Back to the real world but staying creative everyday.

Colleen Athens - October 2010
Sallianne and Ellen...Thank you so much for the fantastic week of Art Is....It was truly my "BEST Art Experience" Yet!  It was pure excitement to connect with so many creative people and learned so many techniques in one place...I am  still in "An ALTERED State".  

Absolutely Everything! - October 2010
Ellen and Sallianne for putting on a great event and inviting us to come as vendors...
...and to everyone who visited our booth...it was fun to meet everyone and maybe we will see you up in our neck of the woods someday...please tell us, if you come, that you met us at Art is you!
Kate and her gang from AbsolutelyEverything

Ruth - October 2010
What a wonderful gathering this was! My special thanks to Sal and Ellen for all the care, time and hard work that went into creating such a nurturing and stimulating experience for us all. I was so struck by the warmth, acceptance and sense of inclusion that permeated the space and our hearts.  It was wonderful to meet new friends, to learn from my instructors and fellow-students, to come home to myself with so much time to create without distraction. Thank you to you Wizards who made it all possible. I've truly been to the Land of Ahhhhhhhhhhs! With love and appreciation,

Merrilee - October 2010
Oh, el and salli and all of you wonderful teachers and friends, I had such a wonderful time at Art Is. I'm looking forward to next year. Is there a chosen theme as of yet or are you working on it? See, I just can't wait! I have never ever been to a conference before where I felt such a focus of attention and teaching on the students! What a family you've created dearest Art Mamas.

I'm still looking at my creations. I learned and now I know what I can do with the SKILLS I picked up. Only thing is, I will say my daughter freaked at my humorous piece done in Pamela Hastings class and suggested that it made a good Halloween decoration. Thank you to the kind soul who put the dinosaur head with light up eyes and a mouth that kind of...opens...with a plastic shield and a strange sound. It has given my family many hearty laughs!  Love, Merrilee

Pamela Hastings - October 2010
Every single person involved in Art-Is Is Wonderful!

Sue - October 2010
...It was a group of art chicas making some kick ass snowmen! it is like that is what i was meant to be doing yesterday! so thank you!!! i LOVE your peeps! warm ,fun, down to earth and great senses of humor! It was a great day!

Mary - October 2010
I'm back home, somewhat unpacked, and still trying to come back down to earth from the Land of Oz at Art Is. This was my first time attending, it was an incredible experience for me, and I want to hold onto the magic of new friendships and awesome classes and wonderful feelings!

Judy - October 2010
I love what was said about unconditional Love and encouragement- Sal, Ellen and the other artists who teach and attend make this one very special retreat! I look forward to next year !!

Sue - October 2010
Thank you, thank you thank you to Sallianne and Ellen, and all the fantastic teachers and workshops. I'll treasure my flamingo always :).

Beverly - October 2010
To all of my art-is-you sisters (and a few brothers too), thank you for the artistic support, smiles, hugs and laughs. i had such a fantastic weekend! and to those that supported my inaugaral Rusty Crusty Always Dusty vendor night, i can't begin to tell you how validated i felt. if sal and ellen will have me back i would love to participate again next year. hopefully i will get the website thing going before then - i will keep you posted. In the mean time i will keep my eye out for more cool junk.

Pamela Huntington - October 2010
To all my wonderful students, friends and those who went so far above and beyond to help me this weekend... thank you from the bottom of my heart...I so appreciate each of you who took the time to talk with me and share stories of all kinds ... art and life. And a special thank you to students who brought work from other years to show me... so we could re-enjoy these lovely pieces together!!  To Ellen and Sallianne... fabulous work my dears... enjoy a bit of rest in a lovely bed of  poppies!

Marlene - October 2010
I am still trying to bring everything into focus ~ just popped out of the tornado of a whirl wind of an event...  between all the generosity, kindness, caring, bonding, friendships & love and most of all the CREATIVITY blew my mind...  I can say that I am truly blessed to have had the pleasure of experiencing such an awesome event...  Sallianne & Ellen ~ you gals ROCK & I can't "thank you" enough...  I still think it was a dream like Dorothy's...  but instead of the OZ Cast looking at me when I come too, it will be all of you... xox ;)

Lesley - October 2010
Sal & Ellen, I can't tell you how emotionally, spiritually and creatively uplifted I feel after I leave Art Is.  It truly is a very special event run by two very special women and I feel very honored and humbled to be counted as one of the family. Thank you to you both!!

How do you say thank you to someone for ............

1. Giving you the gift of friendship or
2. Hugging you like they love you because they do or
3. For encouraging every part of your creative journey because they are there with you every step of the way or
4. For accepting you just as you are where you are or
5. Choosing to spend their creative time with you when they have so many wonderful choices in front of them or
6. For their believing so much in your art and your ability that they want to help you progress farther or
7. For just stopping by to visit either in the classroom or at vendor night or when you are just too pooped to go any further and you are relaxing on one of the nicely provided sofas or
8. For loving your angels as much as you do because of their background and the love put into them or
9. For their generous and sharing spirits or, mostly,
10. For every kindness and encouragement, and tear and smile given freely and happily for the propping up and helping out and the memories that I can't figure out how to repay (if that is even possible)?

All I can say is thank you to my Art Is family, each and every one of you, your smiles and excitement and creations and laughter are like some sort of artistic helium that encourages me to go higher and higher. I love you all (in the South we would say ya'll or all ya'll) and cannot wait to see you next year and the year after that and so on. Merci Beaucoup my family & friends.

Teri - October 2010
I didn't think that it was possible to enjoy myself more than I did last year, but this art is....was even better. Loved every one of my classes [and finished stuff!!]. Each teacher was terrific. The breakfasts and lunches were yummy [what happened to them at dinner, tho??]. And a special thanks to everyone who gave such nice/encouraging feedback on my SteamJunque pendants--it gave me a nice shot of confidence.  Can't wait until next year!!

Naomi - October 2010
This was my first time at art is....you.  i had heard great things about it, but things are not always what is advertised.....well - i can say that the event was as good as advertised!!  classrooms were comfortable (though a bigger garbage can would have been good), meals were yummy, classes were well taught, and everyone was helpful and supportive and just good fun!  It was a wonderful event and it was a joy to be there.  Thank you to everyone - from those who did all the work of organizing and planning  to each person who smiled and said hello to someone they did not know (yet)

BRAVO and thank you for letting me be a part of the fun!

yipppeeeee!!

Sandra - October 2010
I just wanted to say thank you to not only Sal and Ellen for all they did to make Art Is...a wonderful retreat, but to each and every one of you whom I met and interacted with, from the vendors to the instructors to the students to the hotel staff and to Jo Packham for her inspirational story.

Eileen - October 2010
Thank you so much Sallianne and Ellen!  yet another wildly successful, fun and amazing Art Is!!!

Cheryl - October 2010
Thank you Ellen and Sallianne for another great Art is You!, and Thank you to all that visited my booth, see you next year!

Navel Jelly Studios - October 2010
THANK YOUUUUU! we had a wonderful time as always

&rew - October 2010
I had a fun time at Art Is You retreat and I thank both of you for doing such a GREAT job of running the whole thing! Wow! Let me tell you what I liked:

1. The lunches are GREAT! They're very good, and so are the breakfasts, too. I didn't take advantage of the omelet station, but I will the next time I come back.
2. Love the glitter on the steps!
3. I really, really liked the fact that you allowed plenty of time for the vendors to set up their booths, and also for letting the booths stay up longer than most of other retreats would allow. I know of one retreat where the organizer would allow only ONE hour for the set up time, and then the vendor fair is open for only TWO hours! Lots on pressure on everyone - both the vendors and the customers. I love being able to see the booths at your retreat at leisurely pace and not have to worry about making up my mind on what to buy within a very short time frame!
4. I didn't know that the black bags were from IKEA!!! COOL! And thanks so much for the Apoxie - never seen it before and I'm glad I got something to try out!
5. Yes, Sal, you're right, I did enjoy both Michael Albert and Diane Trout! I still could not get over the fact that it was Michael Albert who did the art pieces that were exhibited at Gershwin Hotel (third floor) many years ago, and I never thought I would meet the artist himself. And I enjoyed his talk! And Diane - she's good. She is smart to figure out the experience level of each student, and gave excellent advices based on the student's experience level.
6. Yes, Ellen, people do talk too much...:-) And I have to admit that I would have like to talk more, too, if I didn't have to pay for the class (totally unlikely). But since I knew I paid the instructors to teach me, I had to make sure that I would get better value for my $$ by keeping my mouth shut, LISTEN, and then learn by doing something.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sal and Ellen for making the whole thing a real fun-loving event!

Sue 2010-03-15

I heart Art-Is!!!

I hated leaving yesterday, and was sorry I didn't have the energy to do the etching class as well. I'm fairly certain I was avoiding goodbyes. I don't like those very much. :-O  You girls knocked it outta the park! Keith and Tom together = genius and I hope they both return. I overheard Tom saying that it was rare for organizers to help him pack up his stuff. It's those caring touches that make Art-Is unique and very special.  It was lovely to be with my tribe once more before October! And I met some really cool new members, too! I miss you all already.

Colleen 2010-03-15

I took the same class, Found 2 Finish and I feel the same way Mary does.  I feel so much more comfortable with static materials.  It was so interesting to see 2 different views on techniques and thought processes and I am happy with my "Metal Muse", still have a bit more to do.  I had no intention of coming home with this much done.  I had really wanted to focus on technique, but it looked so much fun I just kept going!!  Can everyone say Foredom k2230 Flex shaft kit?