Monday, August 18, 2008

On the ZNE Convenzione Countdown







Since I need to wake up before 4 a.m. Thursday to drive myself to the airport for the ZNE Convenzione http://www.znecon.com/, my internal clock must have been practicing this morning when I woke up at 2 a.m. After 90 minutes of tossing and turning and feeding the cat and getting a drink and all the usual stuff, I finally gave up at 3:30 and started making artist trading cards to take to California.


As is tradition at art workshops and conventions, attendees bring small pieces of art, such as ATCs or charms, or little packets of goodies and supplies to trade. I had been procrastinating, thinking I just wouldn't mess with it. But, I woke up thinking how much I love to get other people's stuff, so I figured I'd better do my part. New stuff is always inspiration for new art.


Since I will be meeting Kris Hubick of Retro Cafe Art http://krishubick.blogspot.com/ for the first time and since she bought my very first ever ATC "Free Bird," I was inspired to go all retro (by a year) on myself and make some cards with my own bird and cat doodles on Bingo card backgrounds. Even though Kris is in my state, it has taken us more than a year and 2,000 miles to actually meet! She is one of the ZNE http://www.zneart.com/ original moderators. I guess that makes me a ZNE un-original moderator!


Kris was one of the first people tabbed, and rightly so, by ZNE creator and founder Chelise Stroud-Hery http://www.chelise.typepad.com/, the smiling face above with the famous ZNE tattoo. It couldn't be more perfect that this HUGE first-ever ZNE Convenzione falls on Chel's birthday week. She has worked tirelessly to grow ZNE for more than three years, and now she is not only bringing the convention to culmination with artists and instructors from around the country, but is also working on the 2009 convention!


Now that my trades are done, all I have to do is pack and get myself there. Chel, meanwhile, will probably have to have several small cows between now and Friday. Hopefully, she will be flying high from Tuesday's birthday celebration. I'll be flying high, for real, on Thursday to get picked up by Miss Vicky http://www.cut-it-up.com/ and become a Cali girl for a few days. I'm taking a class by the talented California artist Gina Gabriell http://elevenmorning.com/. Gina is opening a studio called Tangerine in Pleasanton, and we will have our class in her studio space and lunch outside at her home. We are making darling paper clay music boxes. I hope mine looks half as cute as hers (shown at top) when I'm done. Glue gun is packed.

9 comments:

Joanne Huffman said...

Very cool ATCs. I know you're going to have a great time.

Joanne

My Vintage Studio said...

Love the ATCs! Have a great time!
Sharon

Unknown said...

Can't wait to hear about ZNECon! Are you going to the Pullip wedding there?

Sand

Jessica said...

Very nice atcs! I hope to get to see you there - I'm in JoAnnA's class.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

What fun! I want to hear all about it. The ATCs are so cool!

Mrs.Kwitty said...

Such exciting goings-on! Love your ATC's--and that awesome tattoo--too cool! Have a great time.
Smiles, Karen

vivian said...

hi Gina! of course your art work is wonderful!! and everyone else has already told you that! I love that little doll inthe first picture you posted! how cute she is!
have fun on your little trip!
hugs!
vivian

Shari Replogle said...

Can't wait to hear all about 2008 convenzione, I would like to go to 2009. Hope you had a wonderful time!
~Shari

Fifi Flowers said...

Love the figure in the first photo... VERY cute!