Flying to MARS

In less than a week I'll be flying off to MARS.  I do love the looks I get when I say that to people.  Nope, not flying to the planet.  I'll be heading to the Sierra Mountains in California.  MARS stands for Mountain Art Retreat Sleepover.  This will be my third year of getting together with a fabulous group of women who are artists.  All of them live in California.  I'm so very lucky to be included with them.

We spend the weekend creating art, gabbing, eating, laughing, drinking, creating more art, laughing some more.  I learn new skills.  Create some good stuff and have a WHOLE HECK of a lot of FUN!

MARS is held at a YMCA camp above Grass Valley.  Lovely trees, a lake, places to walk, sunshine to sit in and the potential to see bears, but haven't yet.  There are assorted cabins that different groups of the 25 of us stay in.  I'm in the Golden Bear cabin, which makes me a Golden Bear Girl.  There are six of us in the cabin. I share a room with my pal, Sharla.  Lindsay and Karen share another room.  Paula and Joy are in the 3rd room.  A seventh woman was supposed to join us this year, Marilyn.  Unfortunately, she had foot surgery and can't come.

We share treats with each other.  This year I decided to decorate the chocolate that I always tend to bring.  I'd picked up some plastic palate knives and, with the polka dot paper to wrap the chocolate, I created some bears.  Thanks to my friend, Kelly, for the encouragement the day I made these in her studio.

We also make little gifts to share with everyone else.  This year I decided to use some of my needle felting and made barrettes for everyone.  I figure if they don't want to wear in their hair, they can attach to clothing.

So here's a basket of barrettes.  I've enjoyed looking at them all month.  Love the colors.