Before I introduce you to our next artist, I would like to share this quote:
Woman is born to create. In creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power. To create is not merely to produce a work, it is to give out ones own individuality.-Jeanne de Vietinghoff.
I hope it inspires you like it did me. What a beautiful meaning. Such powerful words. I've printed it out and added it to my message board. Maybe you'd like to do the same. Please post and let me know how it affects you. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Now, I'd like you to meet another fabulously creative woman.
Pamela Armas, or Gypsy Pamela as she is better known, is my “birthday sister”!
She is one of those artists who dreams more and does more in a day than most of us do in a week. She is a riot of color and enthusiasm and kindness. She is an entire circle of friends all by herself!
When I scheduled to shoot Pamela’s creative space, I allotted the standard three to four hours. When Paula Best, whose studio shoot we had scheduled the day before Pamela’s, heard how much time had been allocated, she immediately called me up and, in her own quiet way, suggested that I might leave the entire day open, just in case.
Well, we drove to Mountainair, New Mexico, a dusty little one-block town in the middle of nowhere, and knocked on Pamela’s door. It was then that I walked into a world more wondrous than any I had ever seen.
Pamela has 22,000 square feet of the most unbelievable collections you will ever see in one place owned by one person … and her story is as much of a fairy tale as all that surrounds her.
We walked around for two hours before we even began to shoot, and then we photographed steadily for over 12 hours. We ended up spreading Pamela’s story over three issues of WWC, and we should have expanded it to at least two more.
I may only see her once or twice a year, but I love her as if she and I have been friends forever.
Great DAY in the mornin! :o) What a wonderfully enchanted colorful happy place Gypsy Pamela has created! All of your photos here are great but I like the one where Gypsy Pamela’s sittin’ at her sewing machine best. Her spirit simply shines brightest in that one! LOVE this Jo! xoxo
Wow., where do you even begin!!! Beautiful space! Some women love to get their nails done, or their hair, or spend a day at a spa to unwind. Me, I would love to spend the day in Gypsy Pamela’s studio to be inspired, to dream, to create with her. Thank you so much for your magazine; I look forward to each publication. I hurry to accomplish all of my tasks for the day and look forward to quite time with my ice tea or diet coke and your magazine :) ~Liz Rojas (The Paper Peddler)
Only 12 hours of photos! hee hee- she needs a BnB near by so that you can spend a few days! I am lost in the photos alone- I can only imagine how long it would take to gander every splendid corner of her world!
Beautiful! Eye candy galore!
::sigh:: I just love WWC!!
OMG I think this need to be in a book that is called Where Woman Create & Create & Create…I can not believe 22,000 square feet of eye Candy?? Just when you thought you had seen it all..incredible!!! Jo you really do open up a whole new world to us.
xoxoo Laura
Wow…this was fabulous!!! I just loved it ….and I DO love your blog!
is this a house or an art gallery…..the art gallery is not in house but the house is in the art gallery !!!! awesome creations !!!
WOWZER!!! To be surrounded by all that beauty and fun must be amazingly inspiring!
What a lovely quote.
What an awesome studio! Thanks for sharing. Kathryn :)
WOW!!!
That is a huge studio!!
Looks like a wonderful and enchanting space:)
Can’t wait to read your article about this artist:)
Smiles,
KayEllen
What a magical, whimsical wonderland! I am looking forward to seeing Pamela’s features in WWC!
WOW WOW WOW!!!
This is SO amazing!!!!!
Every time I think This Internet Palate cant get any better,… You find another amazingly creative soul for us to connect to, and be absolutely inspired by!!!!!! I am grinning from ear to ear!
Pamela!~ I am drooling over your precious collections!
Cant wait to devour each new picture! You are So Special!
It just shows us what can happen when someone steps over the doubt and jumps in with both feet into her Creative Ocean!!!
Thank you Jo for sharing Her with us,
I Have found another Hero!
“In creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power.”
This part of the quote is amazing! I feel like painting it on my Truck! Hee hee
Make it a great day!
~Vanessa
The Rhinestone Contessa
Oh WOW! How amazing is that space! So magical and enchanting and very inviting. I feel like a kid in a candy store just looking! I can only imagine what it would be like to visit and hope one day I shall have that pleasure!
What an amazing studio! I would love to create there. So inspiring!
Thanks for sharing.
Have a great weekend too!
Oh goodness ~ Such Inspiration :) Where Women Create is “it” for me, and Pamela’s space has the “WOW” factor – it’s so amazing! I could spend all day there creating away …. I just love it :)
At first I thought you had made a typo. I told my husband about the 22,000 sq. ft. and we both spent some time thinking about it. It’s like having eight 2500 sq. ft. houses in one place! I am so amazed. This is one artist I would LOVE to meet. She’s amazing!
Okay, Pam is in charge of the slumber party, play date that we have been chatting about on facebook. And I meant it when I said I would want to stay for days and days!!
Absolutely Awesome!
Pamela’s smile is contagious, what a wonderfully, whimsical workspace. So very colorful and inspiring.
Thak you “everyone” for all your wonderful comments, emails, and telephone calls! Working with Jo at Where Wome Create has been a great experience, and “YES” we are Birthday Sisters!
I have been lucky enough to visit Pamela’s beautiful and magical kingdom. Not only is it a riot of colours and beautiful creations it also is a place there is warmth and smiles and her hospitality is way overboard. Hope I will get to meet you again next year Pamela
Wow Oh Wow! What an amazing magical space! I am in awe!!
Oh, my goodness…amazing…the fabric alone…but 22,000 sq. feet…incredible!
I could go on vacation in this studio and be sooooo happy…what a joyful studio.
Pamela you are awesome!! After a terrible year I look forward to things that make me smile…and your studio sure did the trick! Thank you for a wonderful pick me up! You are a lovely lady with a contagious smile!
What an absolutely fabulous place to create. It’s like living in Fantasyland. I’m so envious, I’d love to be able to have that type of place to go to everyday. It’s got to make your days a little better even on your worse days.
What an amazing studio!! So full of color and crativity and so much space!
Oh My Goodness! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this studio. All of the color and pattern makes me want to dance. :)
“She is truly Stupendous” I have never seen such characters come to life like this, not in a book, a dream, or as a child have I seen such colors come to life. Shirley this Gypsy has been giving many treasures for anyone to see and cherish. When I see her work I am in another place that I never reached or ever traveled, where their are endless characters that come to life dressed in rich lush colors, textures, fabrics, and harmony galore. My spirit is lifted and I am introduced to creations “never imagined.” She is an original with the gift of sweet inspiration. I have been so lucky to see her work in person. The mermaids sing with a tune in their heart, the gypsies dance without a map, the fabrics move with perfect rhythm and melodies. I feel as if I am in wondrous land. There is an Abundance to the Gypsy Muse: who has treasure that reach to the sea, to the stars, to the sun, and to the moon. I once asked Pamela where she gets her ideas from; she simply said, “Just Open you Eyes and look Around”~
She is indeed fabulous!!!
Jo Packham
President
WHERE WOMEN CREATE
Chapelle, Ltd.
http://wherewomencreate.com
Oh my goodness, how beautiful, both the studio and the artist!
I have had the pleasure of hosting Pam at my now retired Art Continuum. Her booth at our MarketPlace was small but a world of magic unto itself. It was in the center of the ballroom as if it was the Queen of the event. Pam needs to host a retreat at her studio and invite all of us.
Thank you for this article and I look forward to the following two.
Love, love, love the original WWC book and have gifted everyone with it. The magazine too is wonderful and keeps the juices going. One problem though, I keep rearranging my space every time a new issue comes out and that takes away from my art time. I am not sure which activity I like better.
Thank you so much for you kind note. You are right – Pamela is the best! She and I share the same birthday so maybe I can be a tiny bit like her when I grow up.
I hope you continue to enjoy the magazine. All of the women featured are amazing!
Jo Packham
President
WHERE WOMEN CREATE
Chapelle, Ltd.
http://wherewomencreate.com
I am lucky enough to know Pamela, and have her live less than 4 hrs from me! I got to go hang out with her this month and get some supplies! It is such a magical inspiring place!!!!
her smile speaks volumes about her!
I can feel her warmth and exuberance right thru the pictures. That is a place I would love to visit, it’s amazing and obviously so is she!!
Wow!! Pamela’s SPACE is awesome!! What a way to create!!
Irene
I met Pam for the first time this year and we immediately became “yaya gypsies”! She has a personality that immediately draws you in with lots of warmth and love.
Can’t wait for her to visit me again this coming fall! xo…deb
I am trying to find out what the theme is for this years doll challenge….does anyone know????
How cool. I love it! My name is Pamela and I am a member of the “Gypsy Gallery” in Boise ID.
where did you get your gypsy wagons? i’ve been looking everywhere for one.