• 45 Days or More prior to a workshop: Full refund of tuition, less a $75.00 cancellation fee.
• 44 Days or Less prior to a workshop: No refunds or credits for any reason.

Registration Fees: The entire registration fee is due in full at time of registration. Valley Ridge Art Studio provides an advance deposit option to make it easier for those with financial constraints to participate in our programs. The advance deposit fee secures your workshop space, and is applied to your entire workshop registration fee. Payment for your fee/materials balance and any other optional meals will be charged to your credit card 45 days prior to workshop. Non-credit card payments will receive an invoice, which is due upon receipt.

Transfer Policy: You may transfer out of a workshop to another program in the same season. Transfer request must be received at least 45 days prior to a program. There will be a $50.00 transfer fee assessed on each transfer.

Credit Card Transaction Reversal: You intended to reserve a workshop and registered for one instead. You noticed your credit card was charged for the entire balance and only wanted to apply $75.00. You would like your credit card credited for the difference. We at Valley Ridge Art Studio are willing to reverse your transaction. There will be a $25.00 administrative fee per reversal request. Your balance will be due 45 days prior to the workshop.

Program schedule is subject to change.

Congratulations Anna and Joe. Center piece on each table.

We spent the night at the downtown Hilton Hotel.  The next morning, refreshed (well not really has I had an extreme sugar hang over from eating two pieces of wedding cake — yes, I ate Bill’s –  love wedding cake) we dressed and headed off to Waupaca to visit two artists participating in the Hidden Studios Art Tour.  Cris Smith’s (a frequent guest at Valley Ridge Art Studio) mother Theresa Drinka was exhibiting her jewelry and her watercolor paintings.  She was sharing her space with artist Charlotte Darling-Diehl, a stone and bronze sculpture artist. 

Charlotte, Cris, and Theresa

As Bill and I toured Theresa’s studio, I spotted a lounging black cat bathing himself on the sofa.  Our eyes met as he graciously offered a seat next to him.  Without hesitation, I accepted.  We meet nose to nose and exchanged breaths in order to become better acquainted.  After our ritual introduction, he succumbed to my gentle caresses and constant attention without complaint.  He entertained me with his persistent purr… his gift to remind me what content sounds like. He reminded me of our cat, KoolAid, who lived to be 23 years and died of old age in my arms.

I sat for quite some time with him.  I don’t remember hearing his name.

I don’t know if it was this cat’s influence or not, but one of Charlotte’s sculptures had caught my eye when we first entered Theresa’s studio.  I have been longing for a cat for some time, but because so many of our house guests are allergic, we have decided against having another cat, for the time being at least.

Drawn to this sculpture’s beauty, the delicate nature of these cats melted the cold hard surface of the soap stone.  You can have these cats …  these two cats lounging, a voice inside me said.

I found a sense of comfort in Charlotte’s work.  The comfort I remembered years ago when our black cat, KoolAid would find my lap; no invitation required.

Carved out of soap stone and now part of our permanent art collection.

Purchased, packaged and wrapped… we set off to the Brenda Wenberg’s Covered Bridge Studio to see Jeanne Weymouth’s work.  Jeanne came to Valley Ridge about 3 years ago.    I was intrigued with her deconstruction and reconstruction of old sweaters.  Last year I drove to her holiday art sale to purchase some of her reconstructed sweaters.  This year, I purchased yet another sweater and a couple of felted scarfs in preparation of winter to come.

Front shot of the sweater vest

Back shot of the sweater vest.

What a great way to incorporate a vintage scarf.

Details of the felted scarf.

Jeanne is teaching a workshop this February at Valley Ridge.  Stay tuned for more information on that workshop.

With a cup of Earl Gray to go, Bill and I set off for home.

All in less than 24 hours.

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