I'm excited to announce that I have a couple of bookbinding workshops coming up in Lexington.  They will be at the Bread Box Studio, which is right behind West Sixth Brewery (same building).  The address is 501 W 6th St, Lexington, KY 40508.  They have a parking lot with plenty of free parking.  To prepay for the class, you can send payment via Paypal to reimaginedbyluna@gmail.com or call me with a credit card at 859.420.6536.  If you have any questions, just let me know!

March 18: 10-1 pm 
Bread Box Studio
Lexington, KY
Long-stitch Leather Journal using Reclaimed Materials
$55 prepaid by March 14/ $60 at door

This book-making class will teach a variation of long-stitch, which dates back to at least as early as the 18th century. We will use reclaimed leather and recycled paper for materials. Materials will be included. There will be several finishing options available (as shown in the photo).  Feel free to bring your own bead or something you would like to add to make it more your own. Suitable for ages 13 and up.  [ALL LEVELS WELCOME] 

April 1: 10-1 pm
Bread Box Studio 
Lexington, KY
Coptic Stitch using Reclaimed Materials
$45 prepaid by March 28/$50 at door

This book making class will teach a variation of Coptic Binding, which dates back to the early 2nd century. We will use repurposed book covers and recycled paper for materials.  Materials will be included. This book binding technique is suitable for ages 13 and up. [ALL LEVELS WELCOME]

I participated in an artist appreciation fair at the University of KY today and had help from this young lady. I shared about how I got started, what my process is like, and did some demonstrating.  It was great to share with everyone who came through.  Thanks to the student activities board for having me!

About a month ago, I got to participate in the Kentucky Fried Zine Fest for the first time. I really enjoyed being there and appreciate them inviting me so last min. You should try and come by next year if you can. They even had a table where you could make a page to add to a community zine, which was fun to contribute to.

Thanks to James Haggie and NAMI Lexington for having me lead a journaling workshop at the 2016 KYSTARS Annual Consumer Conference.  We talked about different ways to use journaling and how it can assist the healing process.   I am glad to have had the opportunity and was inspired by so many of you.

Not only are these iron buttons hand-crafted from by a Lexington artist, these iron buttons are also filled with Lexington history.  They are from iron rods that were in one of the barns at Hamburg Place.  While Hamburg Place is currently known for shopping, it was previously a well-know breeding farm for horses.  It was bought by John Madden in 1897.  Prior to this, he had tamed an unruly colt named Hamburg.  [Here is a little background on Hamburg:  His sire was Hanover, winner of Belmont Stakes and thirty-one other races and his paternal grandsire was Hindoo, a winner of the Kentucky Derby, the Travers Stakes and thirty of his thirty-five starts.  Hamburg’s dam was Lady Reel, half-sister to Domino and whose sire was Fellowcraft, a full brother to Spendthrift.]  Hamburg was purchased as a yearling by John E. Madden and proved to be one of the most difficult horses Madden ever broke.  Hamburg raced sixteen-times as a two yr old and won twelve of those starts.  Madden sold Hamburg after his first season, used this money to purchase land, and named it in honor of the horse that helped him buy it.  Madden went on to breed five Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winners and was later inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame and the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.  Hamburg Place continued to be a well-known horse farm until 1996 when it was sold to be developed.

References:
Thoroughbred Heritage Portraits 
Wikipedia John E Madden
Hamburg Place 

I am grateful to live in a place where people are supportive and intentional about supporting handmade and small businesses.   I felt that deep gratitude again this past weekend.  I am happy to say that the pop-up shop was a success and that there will probably be more in the future.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by!  We really appreciate you.   To begin with, we could not have asked for a more beautiful day.  It was cold and rained several days leading up to it, but Saturday was as gorgeous as they come.  We all set-up at Amelia's house next to her studio, which meant Mayapple Creations and myself were in the backyard beneath this fabulous tree.  It was fun being set-up with our full display in a backyard.  The whole ambiance was relaxed, and there was plenty of opportunity to engage.  Sometimes at the larger shows, there are so many folks that there isn't time to get to converse with our customers the way we would like to.  This type of atmosphere allowed for more of that.  We also had food and hot beverages as a treat for our customers.  Again, we do appreciate each and every one of you.

"The Lexington Rescue Mission has reinvented a section of its thrift store at 720 Bryan Avenue to serve residents of the North Limestone community. In addition to providing a place for local artists to sell and display their work, The Bazaar and The Gathering Place at The Bazaar offer a free, creative space where members of this resurging neighborhood can come together...

Artist Melissa Oesch, owner of ReImagined by Luna, crafts journals from recycled material including old book covers and re-claimed leather. Oesch said members of the artistic community, who often experience difficulties supporting themselves while developing their craft, sympathize with the Mission’s efforts to fight poverty. She hopes her booth presence at The Bazaar will extend her passion for journaling to members of the North Limestone community."

Check out the full article here.  Thanks to Elizabeth Troutman for the write-up!

Oh, fun!  One of my journals made it into the Weekender and get a brief mention in regards to The Bazaar's grand opening tomorrow.  Read more here.

I was happy to join the Lexington Fashion Collabortive and participate in the Kentucky Textile and Fashion Expo yesterday.  As I watched the models show off various designs and accessories, I couldn't help but think how fantastically my work fit it.  I, too, deal largely in textures and color and combining the two in a way that is pleasing to the senses.  Whether its various leathers or an old book cover, I greatly appreciate watching people look at and pick up my books, deeply enjoying each piece in its entirety.  I encourage folks to do so.  The texture is a great part of the fun.

Courtesy of GLINTstudios.

Courtesy of GLINTstudios.

Lexingon’s 2011 Mayfest was a delight!  I haven’t done a local show since last year, and it was really fun to get to see so many familiar faces.  I recognized many folks from last summer and appreciate all the friends and family that stopped by.

The weather forecast was not promising, but we made it through the weekend with only a couple hours of light rain on Saturday afternoon.  It did hold off long enough for the belly dancing troupe to get a full (and beautiful) number of dances in.  

I think its safe to say that summer officially happened on Sunday.  It was sunny and toasty—the perfect kind of weather for the amazing “Fashion in Wonderland”.  My friend and fellow artist, Mauricio Crane, organized the fashion show along with the Lexington Fashion Collaborative.  It was brilliant.  There were lovely models in amazing attire and accessories and art installations that the models became a part of.  All of this beauty was backed by some fabulously mixed music.  What a way to kick off the summer!