Reflecting on my first public Tucson workshop at Arizona Poppy Shop

My first in person Tucson workshop was last Thursday at the wonderful Arizona Poppy Shop in Downtown Tucson. Photo by Rosie of Sonoran Rosie.

Teaching watercolors in person was one of my favorite pre-pandemic parts of my business in Washington, D.C. I had continued teaching virtually, which I still love (and offer for groups of all kinds), but there is something special about creating in person. And it’s extra special when the space is as lovely as Arizona Poppy.

A view of each student’s setup for the evening.

I customized my traditional watercolor flowers to complement the desert plant life used in Sonoran Rosie’s products and I had to include the eponymous Arizona poppy, of course!

Thank you so much for having me!

We decided to add a second date after receiving some inquiries after the class had sold out and we have 5 spots left for Friday’s class. You can sign up by clicking the “add to cart” button below.

Heidi Nielson's work, including OHEI Studio featured in This is Tucson

It really felt like a dream to be featured in This is Tucson. I spoke with reporter Elvia Verdugo earlier this month about my practice, the large role that art has played in my healing, including most recently from a miscarriage, and my love of Tucson.

She also highlighted some of my illustration and design work that I create for OHEI Studio.

Huge thank you to ThisisTucson.com ! What an amazing way to be welcomed back to the desert.

STYLE II Phoenix Long Weekend Trip

Phoenix Trip Packing list - illustration by Heidi Nielson of Desert 2 District Design

I've been illustrating my packing lists for a while now and it is one of my favorite traditions. I used to hate packing, but now I kind of look forward to it because it helps me visualize my outfits and gives me an excuse to draw tiny clothes and traveling essentials. 

The last time I posted one, one of my lovely Insta friends suggested that I post some outfit pictures from my travels to see how I styled the clothes I packed. I didn't have time to do all of my outfits from my trip to Phoenix, but my long-suffering husband took photos a couple photos for me. So here goes... facing my fear of having my picture taken head on!

OUTFIT

NO 1

Here's a second picture to see the full outfit.

I like to travel with separates that all pair together so I can reuse pieces. I ended up wearing these boots twice and the vest twice. The boots are thrifted from Goodwill, the vest is thrifted from ThredUp (similar here, this is seriously one of my favorite sites EVER), and the dress is from asos (purchased a while ago, it doesn't look like it's available anymore). 

The weather in Arizona was just beautiful. Definitely makes me miss the desert. I certainly can't wear this type of outfit (at least without a coat and tights) in D.C. this time of year!

OUTFIT

NO 2

We spent a wonderful, beautifully warm and clear day with my family out in the desert. My family is very into the outdoors and adventure so we spent the day riding ATVs, hiking around, doing archery (my family has some interesting hobbies to say the least) and making food surrounded by the Superstition Mountains. It was FANTASTIC.

I wanted something comfortable, but still stylish and unique. Poppy Apparel totally delivered with this super versatile jumpsuit. I seriously wear it all the time--it's so comfortable. It looks like it's also not available anymore, but if you want to check out their other clothes, I actually have a discount code for you all! Use code "desert2district" to get 10% off your order. In addition to this jumpsuit, I got an adorable high-waisted swimsuit that I can't wait to take on our next trip. 

Thanks for tuning in for my first style post! What are your thoughts--packing list or no packing list?

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

I'm Heidi, the creator and owner of Desert 2 District Design. I moved to D.C. in 2015 after spending most of my life in Arizona. I absolutely love D.C., but found myself a little homesick and missing some of my favorite desert plants (cacti, of course), the endless sunshine, and the laid-back vibes of the Southwest, so I started painting as a way to unwind and to bring some of the desert to my new home. It's been almost a year since I started my Instagram account, and I've been so surprised and grateful to find this beautiful and supportive community of artists and art lovers. 

If you know me from Instagram, you probably know that I love to paint (mostly watercolor), letter, bullet journal, and collage. I'm hoping to share more of my art here, but to also share more of myself--my love of travel, reading, cooking delicious vegan food, and yoga. 

I hope you'll follow along and say hi!