When I first went to Bali, Indonesia I had no idea what to expect. Something exotic, hot, amazing landscapes? What I came away with, is so much more.
Landing in Denpasar it hits you smack dab in the face,  you understand now you're in for an adventure.....one you'll never forget. 

I sat and watched the travelers arriving, all of their long journeys showed on their faces. Glad to be on the ground finally, and still with an air of excitement. I met Kandy our guide there, and his daughter and as we went careening thru the night I knew I was going to love it here when he said, "Welcome Home to Bali". Laughing, the music blasted, the windows down blowing nights sweet breezes as we talked. We ended up chanting a Hindi mantra we all knew, his daughter loved singing kirtan too!. I knew right off we would be fast friends.

A Craftours experience always includes a fantastic hotel room, and I was not disappointed, arriving to rose pedals in my dream of a bathtub after traveling for over 22 hrs. I was in the town of Ubud, in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia, is known as a center for traditional crafts and dance. The surrounding Ubud District’s rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, are among Bali’s most famous landscapes. .Ubud is one of those places where a holiday of a few days can easily turn into a stay of weeks, months or even years. The size of the town's expat community attests to this, and so do the many novels and films that have been set here, creative responses to the seductive nature of this most cultured of all Balinese towns. This is a place where traditional Balinese culture imbues every waking moment, where colourful offerings adorn the streets and where the hypnotic strains of gamelan (Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments) are an ever-present soundtrack to everyday life. It's also somewhere that is relentlessly on trend – a showcase of sustainable design, mindfulness, culinary inventiveness and the very best that global tourism has to offer. Come here for relaxation, for rejuvenation and to have what may well be the most magical holiday of your life. I could actually live here, the vibrancy of life is intoxicating.

Here's a few pages from my sketchbook, Ubud and all of Bali really draws me in. I LOVE it so much. XXX Deb

.....So excited to announce my "Urban Sketch Tuscany" tour. This coming April 18-28 2020, we will be exploring Tuscany, Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Montecatini Terme,  and Rome. This is a fantastic opportunity to create a new form of Art in your life, and add to your creative skills list, all the while soaking up the wonderful Tuscan environment. Urban Sketching is a creative new activity to learn, and enhance your everyday creative life!  Details click the link.....

​https://www.craftours.com/trips/?page=tuscany-sketching-0420

A lot of people have negative messages playing in their minds about art and drawing, we're going to change that.!  We'll flip the switch on those negative thoughts,  and show you how to begin a sketching practice, how to "see" so you can interpret the experience in a beautiful new way. You'll learn how to start the practice of daily drawing, all it takes is 15-20 min. each and everyday to re-program the negative messages of "I just can't draw" that you have playing in your head. It's time to see the new you in all your creative glory, add to your skills, and truly enjoy something you will cherish for the rest of your life. Remember when you were a child and drawing was an important?  Something happened....You probably started school, and the mean child next to you commented on your drawing, "That doesn't look like a cat"....from then on you doubted your abilities. You use to enjoy drawing, and drew with abandonment, creating fanciful monsters and people in all colors. Something happened, something negative flipped your creative switch, well this class will help you to get that childlike enthusiasm back, and that carefree attitude back into your creative life.  It's going to be fun, no stress, and we're going to laugh a lot, enjoying la dolce vida! ( the sweet life)

We'll explore materials, and begin with simple drawings in a gorgeous chandelier-ed classroom in beautiful Tuscany.  After our first class we'll go exploring, stop to enjoy pizza in this quaint Italian city to then re-group and lay our sketchbooks down in the piazza near our hotel to talk about what we saw, and how we approached it. Urban sketching is a sharing experience, and we provide a safe and non-judgmental way of learning from each other. Suggestions of course, come with questions, and we learn with each attempt in this new art form for us. The doors of understanding come as we practice, shop, eat, and drink wine! Haaa can it get any better than that? 

For those of you that will continue onto Rome with us, I'm so glad to be able to introduce you to a well known Italian artist who an "urban sketch" teacher, for a special 2 hour class. You will have the chance for one on one questions with her also. Maybe she'll show us some secret spots to draw in Rome? This is a real treat to be able to have a class from a local Italian artist. Very excited about this...

All in all this trip is an amazing opportunity to soak up the good life in Italy, experience it's people, places, food and wine,  all the while making lifelong friends,  learning and growing your creative skills with beginning instructions for Urban Sketching and Watercolor washes. Any questions feel free to ask...Ciao,  buona fortuna..........xxx Deb Haugen

Hi, I just wanted to tell you about the most amazing trip I have ever made in all of my travels. Bali...... it's a long way, but so very worth the long hike. I left Honolulu, and flew to Shanghai, it was great to stretch, get a tea at Starbucks in the airport, just enough time to get one of those Chinese name stamps I have always wanted. You know the red ink stampers that every Chinese artist uses...I got to see him carve it right there at the airport, sipping my chai. $50 dollars but well worth it. Haaa It's probably like 20$ in town. I ran into 2 people backpackers from Maui and sat and chatted with them for a bit. You meet the nicest people on the road.

If you love Arts & Crafts, exotic locations, jewelry, and fabric-batiking in particular, you will go crazy in Bali. The shopping monster will have a hold of you. The artisans you will get to meet, and watch in the creative process go back generations in their families. You will have access to places most don't even get to enter. My suggestion is to take another bag inside of your regular suitcase. It's very warm in Bali so keep your clothing light. Cottons are the best, you WILL sweat, keep well hydrated, and you will be fine. It might be a good idea to bright a light jacket in case of rain, but keep it light, remember this is tropical rain and still hot.

Bali is a photographer and artists dream come true. The images above are just a few of the hundreds and hundreds that I took. Just walking down the street to an ATM you will probably come across a temple, flowers, and a sight you've never seen before. The land is rich in moments to be captured. This coming Nov. I will be escorting a group for Craftours again, details are below.....for more info go to.....​https://www.craftours.com/educators/deb-haugen.php

Bali is without doubt one of the most exotic, fascinating, and cultural places around the world, and no one can take you on a crafting adventure better than Craftours!  We have designed every day of your journey to enhance your creativity and inspire you in ways you never thought possible. Our Craftours Celebration of Arts and Crafts in Bali includes a hands-on batiking workshop, a masterful woodcarving  and jewelry-making demonstration, and a painting workshop. Space is limited, so take advantage of this Early Booking Discount and sign up today! - Jim West
PACKAGE INCLUDES: 

• Round-trip International airfare from Los Angeles to Denpasar, Bali. (Business/First Class upgrades available)
• Round-trip transfers to/from the airport and hotel in Bali.
• Private deluxe motor coach and driver the entire time.
• 5-star hotel accommodations in the central part of Ubud & right on the ocean in Nusa Dua. (Suite upgrades available)
• Most meals, including daily breakfast, some lunches & dinners.
• Optional Balinese Cooking lesson with a master Balinese chef.
• Tour and batiking demonstrations at a well known Batik Factory.
• Extraordinary batik fabric shopping at low discounted prices.
• A demonstration of silver jewelry making by local artisans.
• An opportunity for a minimal charge to have a foot massage and fish pedicure. (for a minimal charge)
• Tour of a Balinese coffee plantation and opportunity to by the famous Luwak Coffee.
• Professional Craftours escort throughout your entire journey.
• Four different hands-on arts and crafts workshops with local Balinese master instructors. (class kits included)
• Optional visit to the Elephant Safari Park to ride and photograph these amazing animals.
• Shopping in the Ubud arts & crafts market for hand-made Balinese items.
• An optional visit to the Bali Bird Park.
• Sightseeing tour through the famous Sacred Monkey Forest.
• An optional "fire ceremony and dinner" at the home of a local Balinese resident.
• A private tour and demonstration at an Ikat Weaving Factory.
• Shopping for Balinese paintings in the largest art gallery in Bali.
• A professional local Balinese tour guide during the entire journey.
• Commemorative gifts & more!