Visit the Strawbale Studio website (www.strawbalestudio.org) for our Calendar of Events and inspiring information on sustainable living! The Strawbale Studio is an enchanting thatched roof structure, located on rural wooded land one hour north of Detroit, which can be toured. The Strawbale Studio Educational Program provides workshops in natural building, sustainable living and natural arts as well as internships & volunteer opportunities. Presentations can be made for your group on site or at your location. Hand-made "Earth Art" sculptures are also for sale. A Case Study of the Strawbale Studio done by the State of Michigan Energy Office is available at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CIS_EO_Straw_Bale_Case_Study_101340_7.pdf

The Strawbale Studio and other projects on the land explore the relationship between people and nature. Local materials found in nature are used to gracefully sculpt spaces that nourish the soul. The Strawbale Studio with its artistic shape, thatched roof and earthen plasters is a unique and enchanting structure! Several other projects and buildings have been created on site as well: an Earthen Oven, aRocket Stove Heated Bench, a wattle and daub structure called the Spiral Chamber, and the new Oxford Kid's Cottage, under construction.



We humans, like all other of earth’s creatures, have an innate sense and ability to create our own dwellings! Throughout the world homes are created from materials at hand. We can reclaim this wisdom and joy, building in community with each other and the natural world! We can also add natural materials and sustainable ideas to our existing dwellings!

Check out the classes and opportunities by visiting www.strawbalestudio.org !

Deanne Bednar writes: I have been involved in natural building 1996 when I studied with the Cob Cottage Company. Previously I taught Middle School Art and Sustainable Futures class. I love nature and using my hands to create and am interested in bringing nature and people back into joyful balance and direct relationship!

I took a Masters Degree program called "Social Ecology" from Goddard College, saw lots of real examples of sustainable living, and out of that program I began to teach a class on sustainability at the middle school level.

Now I am able to bring forth many of the ideas from those learning and teaching years here at the Strawbale Studio and on collaborative projects off-site. I have co-built 4 small natural buildings and illustrated three natural building books: The Hand-Sculpted House and the Natural Plaster Book & The Cobbers' Companion. I enjoy the practical building skills as well as doing sculptural work, and have gotten a lot of opportunity to do ~ and teach ~ both. Currently I coordinate the educational programs at the Strawbale Studio, teaching introductory workshops on earthen sculpting, natural paints and plasters, natural building and sustainable living skills. I love to create and explore, make "Earth Art", forage, ferment, felt, cord....

I am exploring how to live in a way that enhances Life, that supports this awesome, rich and diverse world. I like to share earth-skills with others, learn together and help network those things which are reverential and sustainable. As a member of the Detroit Green Map team, I am seeking to bring forward to awareness inspiring places, businesses and organizations that are already present and ready to serve. In the construction of the Strawbale Studio and "Earth Art", I seek to connect myself and others directly to hope and beauty.

WORKSHOPS & LINKS

See www.strawbalestudio.org for the UPDATED Calendar

You can come to an existing workshop or design one for your group! An example might be the "Women’s Weekend Retreat"

Description: In this nourishing rural setting, you will have the opportunity to explore how natural materials can be used to beautifully shape interior and exterior spaces. Imagine sculpting a niche, rounded corner or arched doorway. Hand-Sculpted Space is possible! We will be spending some time in the Strawbale Studio, an enchanting thatched roof, sculptural building made of natural materials. This “Place for the Soul”, constructed primarily by 4 woman, with the help of many other, is an inspiring example of creating a sense of reverence. During the Retreat you will have a chance to shape a model or sculpture out of an earthen mix - - which you can take home with you. Both indoor and outdoor space will be explored, and the group will collaboratively create a space together. There will also be time for reflection, walks in the woods, or conversations. You are invited to bring words, images, music or objects which represent the sacred, or remind you of the kind of spaces and places you would like to have in your life.

Appropriate for the home-dweller, the artist or interior designer and the curious!

Consider whether you might want to come to a workshop, create a workshop or tour, or consider an internship.

A woman bends to the earth, planting, offering, while the elements of fire, water, earth and air intertwine. Sun rays become tree branches, tree roots become waves, and waves become sun rays...in the Circle of Life. This sculpture is made from local, natural earth. It is colored and sealed with natural pigments and oils. On the back is a hand-corded string for hanging this art on your wall. It is made from local dogbane (in the milkweed family).

Single color: terra cotta or taupe $50.

A color of your choice (send the color, perhaps a clipping from a magazine)$80

Multicolor (pictured below)$95.

Add Shipping cost of $6 per item.

All proceeds go toward supporting the natural building work at the Strawbale Studio.

Make check out to Deanne Bednar,PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371 or use Pay Pal to ecoartdb@gmail.com account.

Additionally you must email your name, address, email and phone number to ecoartdb@gmail.com or mail to Deanne Bednar PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371, so I will know where to ship the art!

This is a 12" labyrinth for indoor meditation. Follow the "Path to the Center". Moving your finger along the ancient design of this Labyrinth is an opportunity to make a shift to inner space, to sacred time.

Made of local, natural clay and sand, and sealed with all natural oils, this sculpture is truly "of the earth".

Natural Earth, medium brown with sealer. $48 plus $5 shipping. All proceeds go toward supporting the natural building work at the Strawbale Studio.

Make check out to Deanne Bednar,PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371 or use Pay Pal to ecoartdb@gmail.com account.

Additionally you must email your name, address, email and phone number to ecoartdb@gmail.com or mail to Deanne Bednar PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371, so I will know where to ship the art!

This Spirited Earthling puts me in touch with a calm, joyous inner essence. A comfortable wildness.

Each Earthling is is unique, individually crafted and hand-made.

Sculpted of local clay/sand earth, sealed with local organic egg yolk with hair and cording from local sheep's wool.

About 8" across, and 2 inches deep. $62 plus $5 shipping.

Make checks out to Deanne Bednar, PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371 or use Pay Pal to ecoartdb@gmail.com account.

Additionally you must email your name, address, email and phone number to ecoartdb@gmail.com or mail to Deanne Bednar PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371, so I will know where to ship the art!

Eyes closed, smiling face, I can feel her dreaming consciousness, warm and happy. She holds that place for us, reminds us of the deeper realms and our true connection with nature.

Each Fairy is individually hand-made and each is unique. Sculpted of local clay/sand earth, sealed with local organic egg yolk with hair and cording from local sheep's wool .... this Fairy is certainly "of the earth".

About 7" across, and 1 1/2 inches deep. $48 plus $5 shipping.

Make checks out to Deanne Bednar, PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371 or use Pay Pal to ecoartdb@gmail.com account.

Additionally you must email your name, address, email and phone number to ecoartdb@gmail.com or mail to Deanne Bednar PO Box 733, Oxford, MI, 48371, so I will know where to ship the art!