While it’s relatively straightforward to create a gratitude list of positive aspects of our lives, how do we cultivate gratitude for the less pleasant ones? Is it truly important, beneficial, or even feasible. Join us for a SoulCollage workshop where we’ll create cards and delve into the theme of the month.
Vampire Unicorns, 3510 N.E. Third Ave., Camas, will offer a Rose Salves Workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Students will explore folklore surrounding roses and their gentle herbal properties, then create a rose petal salve to soothe the skin and spirit. The cost is $45. Register at vampireunicorns.xyz.
Explore creativity, history, and connection through a hands-on program for adults. Participants will learn about a variety of quilting traditions, then use interlocking bricks to create their own unique compositions. This is a six-class series, and participants will attend all six classes. Classes meet Mondays from 1:30–3:00 p.m.: October 5, 12, and 19; no class October 26; then November 2, 9, and 16. Call 503-655-8540 to register or join the wait list.
Learn how to create brick stitch & fringe style beaded earrings using seed beads, thread and a beading needle. Natalie Mitchell will briefly discuss the history of seed beads in the Native American community and their uses in regalia, jewelry and art. Registration required and opens October 18. Both sessions are required, please be able to attend 11/8 and 11/15.
Join local artist Elizabeth Higgins for weekly workshops focused on creative expression, mindfulness, and supportive community connection. Designed as a sanctuary from daily stressors, these sessions emphasize the joyful process of making art rather than the pressure of a finished product. Perfect for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to experienced creators looking to refresh their practice. All premium studio materials are included in the tuition fee.
Class Times: 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. on Mondays
Tuition per Session: Resident $79 / Non-Resident $119 (Materials included)
Slow down and see the world around you with fresh eyes. This four-week session uses the quiet patterns of the natural world to anchor your attention in the present moment. Through gentle, guided, and meditative sketching exercises, you will learn to quiet a busy mind and relieve daily stress. Elizabeth will introduce accessible mark-making techniques that make sketching feel approachable, helping you overcome the fear of the blank page and establish a sustainable, deeply personal daily sketchbook practice.
Topics Covered:
Dates: Mondays, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, & 10/26
Event Code: 34836
Experience the liberating and playful art of paper collage. By cutting, tearing, and arranging everyday found papers, hand-painted fragments, and text, you will bypass the technical anxieties of drawing and jump straight into raw visual storytelling. This course balances mindful, intuitive play with fundamental design concepts. While enjoying a relaxed studio environment, you will discover how to arrange bold abstract artwork that expresses your inner landscape.
Topics Covered:
Dates: Mondays, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, & 11/23
Event Code: 34837
About the Instructor:
Elizabeth M. Higgins is a Portland‑area teaching artist whose work centers on creativity, nature, and mindfulness. She holds a 100‑hour certification in eco-therapy and brings a gentle, encouraging approach to her watercolor and nature-journaling classes, inspiring students of all ages to explore art joyfully. Her vibrant work is shown at her Hillsboro studio and Grey Raven Gallery in Beaverton.
Website: Elizabeth M. Higgins — https://elizabethmhiggins.com/
Past Classes ArchiveThe following previous topics from this season are now complete. Please contact the registration program desk if you would like to be notified when these seasonal topics return to the calendar.
Seasonal Watercolor Journaling & Nature Drawing (Spring 2026)Held weekly across April and May 2026, this foundational workshop invited beginners and nature lovers to connect deeply with seasonal shifts. Utilizing the principles of eco-therapy, students ventured into outdoor environments to observe regional flora and fauna firsthand. Under Elizabeth's gentle guidance, participants learned to blend delicate watercolor washes with organic line work to document the textures, shifting light, and quiet rhythms of the Pacific Northwest springtime landscape.