Fresh offerings, plus twists on traditional favorites...

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” ―Vincent Van Gogh

I've got but a moment to pop in here (still knee deep in all those boxes that keep arriving!) and tell you that we are THRILLED to be announcing the line-up for our autumn events and workshops all the way to December.

(And I have a HUGE announcement I've been dying to share with you... at the bottom of this letter.)

It's been a delight to dream up some fresh offerings with new-to-our-Atelier artists and makers, as well as come up with some twists on traditional favorites.

For instance, we have the amazing Annie Pajcic coming from Jacksonville, Florida to guide attendees in "Paint & Presence," an impressionistic art workshop on Thursday, November 5th.

And, oh-my-goodness ~ we are going to learn to make baguettes in our newly expanded Atelier space! Yes, the scent of freshly baked bread and all that goes with it (think: delicious fillings) will permeate the shop the evening of Thursday, October 22, when Pazotti Bakery teaches the art and science of sourdough.

If you want a taste of what's to come in the October 22 workshop, we'll have Pazotti in the shop for a bakery pop-up on Saturday, September 12th (the day of Sidewalk Sale - one of my favorite days all year!):

As for our returning guest artist/instructors, some fresh takes on fan favorites are coming:

✨We've got Molly Squires returning to teach her 5F Formula of Floral Design, this time with an autumnal vibe, on October 24.

✨Suzanne Conner also reprises new editions of her Art Journaling for Joy classes, with fall and Christmas themes. Suz is also introducing another workshop, Autumnal Collage Wreath.

✨We are also offering two opportunities to take Liz Snowden's ever-popular collage classes: Nativity Collage and Angel Collage. (So, no need to choose. You can do both. 😉)

Finally, what I have been absolutely chomping at the bit to tell you ~ drumroll, please ~ we are overjoyed to announce that our friend (and Annie Sloan's brand ambassador) Tristan Merriam is returning to teach his Joy of Chalk Paint Masterclass on October 17th & 18th!

You may recall that Tristan came here from the UK last summer. We all had such a blast that we invited him back, and he is delighted to return to enchanting Thomasville, this time in the autumn ~ and this time on a weekend.

On top of being an artist-in-residence, a designer on two BBC shows, AND co-host of The Colourist podcast, Tristan is a fellow Annie Sloan flagship stockist with a shop called Doghead Designs in Somerset, England.

To get a taste for Tristan's style and personality, give him a look on Instagram. Oh, you'll get a kick out of his son's shop tours:

If you weren't able to make it last summer due to timing (or because it sold out so quickly!), this is your chance to learn transformative techniques inspired by Annie Sloan’s legendary approach ~ in a vibrant, creative atmosphere filled with inspiration and community connections.

You can check out all of the upcoming workshops (in order) and purchase your tickets in my Friday Favorites below or HERE.

We've also planned some other fun events and pop-ups, but I'm running out of space, so we'll chat about those next week (when I also plan to share.... read the PPS below).

xo,

PS:

Don't let the word "masterclass" intimidate you; whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned painter, this October weekend is your chance to elevate your skills and ignite your creative spirit!

Also, if you participated in this 2-day workshop last July, know that Tristan will be offering a fresh perspective with new projects this time around, so please join us again ~ and let us know if there are specific techniques you'd like to learn or be refreshed in.

PPS:

Hannah and I cannot wait to show you all the new items in the shop! Next Friday, we hope to be ready to give you a shop tour and introduce some new collections. It's all coming together beautifully. In the meantime, do feel free to stop in to see it in person while we're "fluffing." 🤗