Blazing Star Herbal School

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes ⚡ looking ahead...

Tony(a) Lemos and the Great Pause

 

It has been a while since I introduced myself in this space. 

Hi,

I'm Tony(a) Lemos (she/her/hers). I go by Tony and more often these days simply "t". I have been running BSHS since July 0f 2020! Twenty two years! Thats 22 cycles of beginner/intermediate Tuesday Apprenticeship and 20 cycles of the Therapeutic Herbal Apprenticeship, a few memorable Aromatherapy Conferences, and many many other programs all of which I am so grateful for the most amazing community which has formed around our programing and consulting! With all that said this post is going to outline some changes, some of which are already happening and some in the works behind the scenes. It is an exciting time and I hope many of you will join me on the next phase of this journey!

                                                        (photo credit Emmy Markham)

 

As an healer and artist, the Great Pause, which is how  I refer to the CV19 pandemic, gave me time, a lot of time, for reflection and reinvention. So, I want to take a few moments to reintroduce myself in these spaces and let you know what has changed. 

One of the big things that has happened with now Zoe launched! This fills me with happiness and also creates some empty space for me to expand in directions I have been contemplating for some time. 

You may have already noticed some new offerings in Botanical Art and Alternative Photography Processes. I am partway through a personal commitment to make art every day for a year. (@365artlog)

Coming soon I’ll be offering more Creative Retreats and workshops in the Garden, kicking off with an Eco Printing one in August.

Launching before the end of the Equinox the new podcast “Dreaming in Green - Art in Conversation with Nature” and a fresh website (yes this space will be moving to) tonyalemosarts.com where you’ll find info on all the above plus upcoming craft shows, and public art exhibits.

In order to make room for these new offerings, I have discontinued the Advanced Apprenticeship in Clinical Herbalism and I will no longer be taking one on one clinical appointments. But don’t worry I will be offering some group in person and online health/creativity/lifestyle coaching sessions following my 12 month protocol. The beloved Tuesday apprenticeship will continue without changes!

And speaking of room - I am interested in how some of the space I am not filling might allow for new collaborations, creative endeavors and support for the collective good. Got an Idea? HMU. 

As you can see, my belief in connecting Women+ to Nature is still front and center and I am expanding in ways that feel true to who I am today. I will always believe that through this connection to each other and our Places, we become Whole and healthier physically, mentally and spiritually.  Our Wholeness/Holiness then contributes in turn to the health of our communities and our Planet. 

“We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we've lost our connection to ourselves.” Andy Goldsworthy

 

in deep gratitude and much love, 

-t

Cyanotype 101 Workshop

A Creativity Retreat in the Garden

Cyanotype 101

A One Day Workshop
Sunday June 28th,  11-4 pm

 

 

The cyanotype (Prussian-blue image on a white background) also known as ferro-prussiate or blue print process or simply sun prints, was invented and named by Sir John Herschel in 1842 and is one of the oldest photographic processes. It was popularized by Anna Atkins, one of a handful of women working in photography in the mid-1800s. Atkins also had the first published book (in1843) using images made with the cyanotype method, called 'Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Flowering Plants and Ferns.'

It is one of the easiest printing techniques you can do at home without expensive equipment or a photography darkroom. The chemicals needed are easy to find and inexpensive (because there are no precious metals involved) While this was a very popular printing process for engineers well into the 20th century, it is becoming increasingly popular with photographers and artist wanting to expand their creativity with printing.

In this workshop participants will make dry cyanotypes from found plant material, and digital negatives* as well as experiment with wet cyanotypes using suds and kitchen spices. At the end of the we’ll also discuss toning and staining cyanotypes, and how the process can be adapted to other surfaces.

Who is this workshop good for? 

Any creatives – who want to jump into the world of alternative photographic printing techniques. This is one of the easiest printing techniques for photography. All levels welcome

 

Cyanotypes are amazing for making one-of-a-kind prints and collage papers for mixed media art. Sometimes results are predicable, sometimes they are not. We will work with the sun as our UV light source, and the sun and weather at the time will determine the intensity and sort of cyanotype prints we produce.

 

Location: Blazing Star Herbal School, Conway MA

Cost $160 (including all materials) 

Register using PayPal or email  for Venmo