A huge stencil sale begins tomorrow (Sunday, November 29) at SGP, and you'll have three days to make some terrific choices for yourself or for gifts! HERE are my designs, but there are SO SO SO many amazing patterns and images, so look around. Sale ends Monday, December 1st. Take advantage of the deal….you deserve a treat this year.
Go visit HERE. Use code joy25
The Winter issue of Somerset Studio arrived this week. My column features Buttonhole Books – named for the style of binding. It was a really easy method to stitch together pages with an exposed spine. I loved it. There's something really satisfying about working on a project that just fits into the palm of your hand. Here's a sneak peek from Nov/Dec/Jan, out soon at your local bookstore or it can be ordered online at Stampington.com.
For the article I made three books, wrote my text, and took 20+ photos. Since the magazine was a little skimpy on what was shown I have decided to share many more views here, because I can! You'll see the completed books, as well as the full sheet painted papers used as a foundation. It's always fun to start a journal with paint + stencil backgrounds….great jumping off platform, and plenty of opportunities to enhance, elaborate, and unify a spread with more color, pattern, or repetitive motif.
Stencils in these books are from StencilGirlProducts.com and GreenPepperPress.com, as well as some hand cut designs. Rubber stamps used are from ShopTheInkPad.com and GreenPepperPress.com.
Another terrific bundle of creative videos from Nathalie's Creative JumpStart. The theme for Vol. 4 from 2018 is Now We’re Cooking: Mixed Media Art Recipes. My particular segment is titled: Let's Have TakeOut. Ha! Clever of me, right? It's about subtractive stenciling. Loved making the video, some samples from it are shown above.
Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 4 is the fourth collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2018. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 unique and super talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics. This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity! Learn more and read a description of the lessons HERE
It's a good time to scoop up this deal, especially if you missed it back in 2018.
Here is a list of the 12 artists and their lesson included in this collection:
And here is a peek at the projects included in this bundle:
I just got my copy of the new Somerset Studio – Aug/Sep/Oct 2020. My column is usually featured in "departments", and you'll see my name listed, but the article and art is actually by Kim Collister. My article is there, but found in the Table of Contents under "special features". Turn to page 122 (thanks Sharon for the heads up). The theme for this issue: Home is Where the Heart Is. Always a favorite subject for me, I made some art to hang in our home. I've been doing a lot of that lately and it makes me so happy to be safe at home and working in my new studio. Using up lots of painted papers on the work table, and a few special cuts of Italian marbled paper, along with the ever-faithful black cardstock, I made three pieces, driven in size by the frames I had available. Such a blast!
It's a terrific issue, grab a copy at your local bookstore or order online. You can even get a digital download HERE.
Another bundle bargain from Nathalie's Studio: Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 3 is the third collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2017. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 unique and super talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics.
The theme for 2017 was Mix/Match/Master and I enjoyed the assignment – sneak peek above.
This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity!
Learn more, read a description of the lessons, and sign up HERE
My friend Nathalie is at it again – presenting a bundle of creative mini workshops, revisiting some projects that were revealed in 2016. Here's a chance to "jump" back in with her special offer. Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 2 is another great collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2016. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 different talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics. This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity!
My assignment was Matisse + Spray Paint. Twist my arm, right? Had a blast making my first ever video. Learn more, read a description of the lessons, and sign up HERE
The newest Somerset Studio has arrived. The theme for this issue was using words in art. I literally used just one word, in many different ways. It's a little game I play with myself from time to time, to try something familiar in a new way. The first time I worked with Believer is explained HERE, a blog post from 12 years ago. You can read more about it all in the May/June/July issue – it's a very handsome magazine, filled with beautiful articles. If you don't have a subscription you could always start one, since shopping seems to be out of the question right now. Single copies also available on Stampington.com
In the article I mention that Fallon and I exchange "believer" items annually. We've had jewelry engraved, and in a pinch we will take a pre-made "believe" and dangle on an "r". Here's some of them….
And I also tell the story of how Fallon was deciding on which college to accept….when she saw the "sign" on my studio wall….the red R we placed behind our word years before ended up being the logo for the school she chose: Rutgers. Love when that kind of synchronicity reveals the right answer.
I'm off to look for the Super Moon. Last one of 2020. Hope you're staying well.
Literally, it has been a year since I blogged. But what a year it's been. I'm pleased to be finally set up in my studio. In the previous house I had all my books, my business, my computer, and my art supplies all in one space. In this house I have an office for my computer and business, a library for all our books, and a studio that is just a studio. Took a while to get everything organized but I'M WORKING IN THERE!!! I'm a lucky girl.
Whether there was an imposed quarantine or not, being home it just the ticket for me on any given day. My plan for 2020 was to get back on here and become a regular poster. It's mid-March and I've finally carved out a few minutes. At least it's still Winter, though only for a couple more days. You'd never guess it….our flowering trees are blooming, the sunny days are gorgeous. It's 50-something now and will be in the 70s this week.
Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I always like to say: Be Well and Behave. Now I really really mean it….behave so you can be well.
See you again soon. XOXO
It's a beautiful Fall day and it's hard to imagine that two months from today it will be Christmas. In July I felt like I was in a time warp as my mornings in the studio were spent making these ornaments, then by afternoon I was floating around the in pool. It was weird to channel the holidays while wearing my flip flops. That's the nature of working for a publication. This week I'm in the middle of a project that you won't see until February. In case you haven't heard, Somerset Studio is moving to quarterly for 2019. In a time where we've learned that Stampington has retired a number of publications, and that Cloth, Paper, Scissors has closed it's doors, I am grateful to still have this creative platform. I've been a fan and reader of Somerset since the inaugural issue in 1997.
With a handful of inexpensive supplies, you are poised to make a host of ornaments. Spend and afternoon with a friend, sharing your materials, and you'll have plenty of glittering globes to give away.
Here's a sneak peek of my article that appears in the November/December Somerset Studio:
Do you remember making similar pinned-sequin-ornaments as a kid? Chime in and tell us about it.
Back in May I began what became an ambitious project. Starting with much different plans, the thing took on a life of its own and eventually morphed into using a familiar medium in a new way. I will show you the results tomorrow. Below is a sneak peek where I used my Damask stencil, rolled across it for an impression, then dusted with gold powder. LOVE how the powder sticks to the clay and stays there after baking.
New-to-me: using clay to mimic hands and faces. Here's a peek at the hand process. Stay tuned for the update on the finished pieces tomorrow.