I've been so negligent in writing this blog, but hopefully things wont get in the way like they've done in the past....

I just want to say that Travel is everything. It opens your mind , heart, and soul. I have met some amazing people with my journeys with Craftours, as a tour manager. Not only the clients, but the service people we get to work with, along with the local guides that all greet us, and welcome us into their lives.. It might be that happy face at the jewelry artists we visit, or a laugh with the Japanese Shibori team....It's all so fulfilling, and makes life so interesting and rich. The flavors, colors, and sights, swirl into a kaleidoscope of memories, and life lessons, some of the most magical moments of my life have been on the road. I say never turn down the chance to enhance, and color your experience on this planet. It's oh so worth it, once you step into another country, or sip that first passion fruit mojito. You become alive again, the daily mundane black and white of life suddenly becomes aglow in color! Go grab some life, it's out there XXX D

I'm off to Norway stay tuned for pics of my knitting and crochet tour! It's been nice being home, cooking and water jogging in the lagoon near my home. Its so peaceful, makes you a new person! At the end of a day emersed in clear turquoise water, you come home to shower your sun warmed skin, it's a sheer delight. #luckywelivehawaii #ocean #Hawaii #artistsinhawaii #haleiwahomegrown

From a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, to a class in Shibori dyeing, we will bow to deer in Nara, visit magnificent temples and stroll the fabric street in Tokyo.
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Japan is a rich culture, I actually got tears seeing the story of a famous kimono artist, it was so very touching. An evening of Japanese traditional food, and dance proves to be an educational look at the lives of the "Geisha ladies" with a question and answer period. They were so accommodating, sweet, and willing to answer all of our questions.

There is so much to say about Japan, it's probably one of the safest places I've been on earth. I was at a coffee house, I sat down outside at the tables and saw a young girl leave her lap top, coffee and phone on the next table. I couldn't believe it, and immediately went into "Mom" protective mode...lol A few minutes later she came back out obviously having used the restroom, and I said "I watched your things for you." She just smiled gave a bow, said "arigato." I was blown away at how safe it was, that would have been gone in 2 minutes any where else.
I hope you can join us for sushi , sake, and so much fun. Treat yourself to a Christmas present, rent a kimono there, dress the part and we will do Japan in 2024. Click the Craftours link above for specifics, oh and I will be Urban Sketching, and teaching a class how to start your sketch journey and practice.
I'll change that dialogue in your head that says
"I can't draw" XXX Much Aloha, Deb

Here is an intro that came out in the "Directions" Sunday newsletter from Craftours......
​Meet Craftours Travel Manager- Deb Haugen! It just dawned on me how sweet my life is, no really, I was going thru pics for this article and realized how damn lucky I am first to be alive, second to lead the life I do, and be surrounded by my family and fabulous people from all over the world. I am so grateful for these experiences. Life really is golden. XXX

Aloha from my little piece of paradise! My name is Deb Haugen, and I’m an artist/designer/teacher from Hawaii. My art career started more than 40 years ago, and throughout my career it has traversed many different paths and mediums. I’ve always been drawn to color, and art in general, that led me to work in Hollywood in art departments on film sets. I worked in film production as an “on set” dresser and as an art director for an independent feature film. I soon realized that supplying my own personal art to production companies was a profitable idea, and I have been licensing my art to popular TV and film projects for many years. I am married to a surfer, care very deeply about the environment, and together my husband and I travel around Oahu documenting a disappearing vintage Hawaii- he with his camera, me with my pen and watercolor. You can see some of the pieces in my SHOP page. They are done in watercolor, marker, and micron pens, or Lamy Safari fountain pens. I like to use smooth Bristol paper as it doesn't pick up paper fibers on my fine tipped pens, and the inks flow smoothly.

Travel is in my blood, and I have the great fortune to be a tour manager/art teacher with Craftours for going on 7 years now. Whether it be in Bali, Vietnam, Italy, or Japan, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to meet many wonderful people on our tours, and truly count them as family now. It is such a joy to teach our travelers a variety of techniques in arts & crafts, collage, urban sketching, fabric design, book-making, and general painting techniques. Art can be a powerful enhancement to our lives in so many ways. It’s a fun way to express ourselves and a meditative way of expressing our inner visions. One of the things I especially love, while I am on tour, is meeting a variety of different artisans who warmly open their homes and studios to our groups. They share with us ancient techniques, sometimes passed down through generations of one family, such as the woodworkers and painters of Bali, Indonesia.

I am happy to invite you to join me on one of my exciting Craftours adventures and travel the world together through a unique and one-of-a-kind experience. If you click on the link you'll see where I'll be headed next. I have a secret....I'm planning a handmade book session, along with a watercolor and embroidery experiment, we are planning on some really exciting tours and crafting in the next 2 years, so hang on, and come join us for a great time of self discovery, travel, meeting artisans worldwide,  and fabulous ART!!!
https://craftours.com/tourcat/deb-haugen/