Lovely Alice in Wonderland swap receipts!

A beautiful pink box (seen in background of top and bottom photos) arrived today chock full of Alice goodies from my partner Adina in Maggi's Just Add Glitter blog Alice in Wonderland swap. What an overwhelming bunch of loot! There's a covered journal, body butter, Godiva's chocolates, jewelry-making goodies, some darling Alice fabric, gorgeous ribbon and all sorts of detailed, hand-made Alice theme greeting cards, since Adina is a scrapbooker and card-maker. I don't know how I will bring myself to use them! But I must, so other people can enjoy them, too. Thanks, pard'ner!

Yummy Color Books to Devour

What gets your blood pumping? For me, it's anything to do with color as I described in yesterday's review. And if color has to do with arts and crafts, so much the better for me. A fabric store feels like a candy shop to me, even though I don't sew. Bins of buttons, rows of embroidery floss make me feel like Willy Wonka. Same with bolts of cloth, skeins of yarn, thread and other rainbow-hued notions.

If fabric stores or sewing or quilting excite you, too, then you’ll be gushing over Material Obsession: Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke (2009, Stewart, Tabori and Chang, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 208 pp. $27.50. Note, there is also a second book). I can barely sew a lick and have never quilted but the vibrant colors are what drew me to the book. Quilters, I am sure, will appreciate the handiwork even more than I could, as well as the included patterns and templates.

My favorite quilt in the book, called The ‘Burbs, inspired me with its rough-cut, crooked, child-like houses and paper dolls, a deceptively-simple looking riot of color that just might make me give quilting a try. As the book says, “the thing to remember about the quilt is…let yourself go! This quilt is a recipe, not a pattern…There are no rules here-just cut, sew and enjoy.”

If that’s not enough to suck you in, then the names of the quilts will get you, too: Annie’s Garden, Three-Ring Circus, Cowboy Baby, Gypsy Squares. These aren’t your grandma’s quilts, but the ages-old process is the same. Projects range from easy to intermediate and advanced, with basic quilting instructions included for the beginner. And if, like me, you are a beginner who may never actually begin, you can enjoy the coffee-table-book quality of the photographs of the quilts and fabrics in this soft cover volume. Textile-great Kaffe Fassett, whom I first discovered in my yarn-stash phase, lends his thoughts to the forward.

For those who get their color kicks from paper, the very fun All Wrapped Up! Groovy Gift Wrap of the 1960s by Kevin Akers will have you oohing and ahhhing at all the paper possibilities and cringing over all the vintage gift wrap you wadded up and tossed decades ago, if you were tearing open gifts as a kid in the 60s, like me. This Chronicle Books compendium (255pp., $22.95) was published in 2005, but it my color quest; I just discovered it in a museum gift shop. I was drawn to the full-page and many double-page spreads of gift wrap from my childhood; I was sure I recognized a few. It is a vintage-lovers’ delight, from the psychedelic swirls and paisleys to the child-like, cartoon-ish people and oh-so-60s fonts and colors.

I originally thought I might (shhh! Don’t tell!) cut out some of the full pages for use in my paper-crafting and altered arts (not creating plagiarism of course, but for personal enjoyment), but then, like so many other books in my library, I realized it was too beautiful to redact for my own use. If you appreciate graphic arts, the Mod era or even if you got a ribbon in gift-wrapping in 4H as a youth, you’ll enjoy this thorough compendium and color explosion. More than half the pages are full-color reprints of vintage wrapping paper.

Whatever your color vehicle of choice, from flowers to yarn, embroidery floss, beads, paint or fabric, there’s inspiration wherever you go. While beading might not be your thing, looking at the color wheel through a beader’s eye or studying hues in skeins of embroidery floss can lead to a brand new combination or idea for a project in your own area of expertise. Sometimes, I think my area of expertise is buying beautiful books!

Here are a few more of my recent favorites. The titles will denote their area of focus, but don’t limit yourself to only things you already know how to do. Remember, it’s all about the colors! Sew Sunny Homestyle, Tonne Finnegar, 2009, David and Charles, 158pp., $24.99

Fabric Art Collage, Rebekah Meier, 2009, C & T Design, 96pp., $26.95

Embroidery for Little Miss Crafty, Helen Dardik, 2009, Walter Foster Publishing, 96pp., $12.95 Embroidered Effects, Jenny Hart, 2009, Sublime Stitching LLC, 158 pp., $24.95 (Note: this book is spiral-bound and includes many pages of hot-iron transfers and a pocket for storage). I can’t wait to make something from all of them, but even if I don’t get to it soon, I’ve already enjoyed pouring over the pictures many times over. You will too.

Swaps bring out the best in friends and art

Random swaps sometimes bring the nicest surprises. Recently I was assigned to swap a spring artist trading card (ATC) with Rachel Christy in our Flickr group that I help moderate, The Faerie Zine. I was not familiar with Rachel or her work or our other partner for that matter, Patty Porter.

When I checked out Rachel's work on her Etsy site, I noticed she embellishes trinket boxes. Like me, she covers them with paper, tissue, glitter, baubles and other goodies. So we agreed to swap a paper box as well. Ironically, our box swap resulted in nearly similar boxes. I sent the pink box above shown with the Cabbage Queen ATC I made for her; she sent turquoise, and we both used a face image from Sandra Evertson.

But lucky me! Rachel was generous enough to send not one but two! boxes. Today was a great sunny day in the Midwest to photograph these. In the heart-shaped, mermaid-embellished box she tucked a bunch of ephemera/art supplies to keep me creating. Visit her Etsy shop for more goodies like these.

A breath of spring arrives!

Just when I thought another snow flurry in Indiana in March would leave me stark raving mad, this lovely little breath of spring arrived in the mail from Rachel for The Faerie Zine Bunny/Spring ATC swap.

Rachel makes the loveliest boxes and sells them in her Etsy store. We are also doing a 1:1 box swap- can't wait! Gotta get my cards and boxes done this weekend and will post pics. My other ATC parner is Patty, Eclecticarchivist.

And I really can't complain. Although it is gloomy today, it was sunny and 60+F degrees yesterday. Just a little tease.

Also another bright spot received are the two blog awards (top right) that I received last night from Lisa Kettell, who is one to always share in her bountiful art tidings.

Published: My Cards in Take Ten magazine

My local stamp store, Stamping Day and Night in Fort Wayne, is always so kind to call when they get new art or stamping magazines in and to hold them for me since I travel. The latest call from Sarah and Lana was a special treat since they informed me I was published! When I picked up my little pile of magazines: Take Ten, Stamper's Sampler and Somerset Studio Gallery, all by Stampington and Co., of Laguna Beach, CA., yes indeed, there was my name and a greeting card I had made on p. 26 of Take Ten, Dec-Jan-Feb 2009.

The card uses the boy king stamp from Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous and a brown kraft library card/tag, pocket and envelope as well as puffy typewriter key stickers, an embossed initial paperclip, ribbon and several layers of papers to say "Smile-It makes people wonder what you've been up to." I'm smiling since I've finally gotten published by this major rubber stamping and art card magazine, the definitive arbiter in card-making.

Before I even drove away from the store, I discovered another one of my cards on p. 135 of the same issue. I used the template from an earlier issue of the magazine to make the "welcome baby" red dress card with buttons and ribbon added. I also made a matching blue bandana envelope, not shown. Naturally, I had to run back into the store to show off my other page!

I'm hoping this will bode well for the altered art, collage and jewelry I have submitted to Take Ten's sister publications, Somerset Studio (altered art), Belle Armoire (altered clothing) and Belle Armoire Jewelry, Somerset Holidays and Celebrations, and the upcoming Marie Antoinette magazine.

Miss Vicky's Fall Workshops: Fun at the Funny Pharm in California

My good friend, the inimitable Miss Vicky Breslin wants to help west coast crafters get their holiday projects done early, while holding to the "Handmade Pledge." So, she is offering a series of great workshops at her shop in Colfax, CA in her historic apothecary building, and in her home location, the gold-rush town of Dutch Flat, CA.


Her 'No Frill Fall Workshops' will be Nov. 18 -23, (Tuesday through Sunday), 9am-9pm at The Funny Pharm, 30 North Main Street, Colfax, CA and 32770 Main Street, Dutch Flat, CA. You can even stay for the week! Sleeping Arrangements: Tues, Wed or Thursday at the Dutch Flat Hotel next door to workshops.

Rooms are based on 2 people in a room 50.00 per night or 5 people in a room, 30.00 per night. Please call Vicky directly to book the rooms at 530 389-2233, or 530 220-4103. To keep the expenses down there will be a potluck breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dessert too!

No frill Class fees: $10.00 per class plus supplies.

Card Making Class: Use a hand printing press. It works with the vintage wood type. You can make all of the holiday cards you wish & have a fun time doing it! Vicky will show you how to set the type.....the rest is up to you. Black ink will be provided. This will be available all days!

5 Minute Collage: Learn how the experts make such amazing collages for their background art projects. It is a very fun, fast moving and a surprising hour of fun. Available every morning at 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Soldering Class: Vicky will bring a soldering iron & all supplies needed to make all kinds of glass hanging stuff!Like houses, ornaments, ovals, rectangle & squares.You can use your 5 minute collage paper too. Every day at 10:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Gift tags: Using Glimmer Mists & Stencils we will make tags that will dazzle. You can monogram them with the printer!Every day 12:30p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Altered Silverware: This is the most creative silverware possible. You can make a hanging piece of silverware, a rack for the kitchen, place card holder, pin or necklace.
Every day 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Image Transfer: Learn how to use the new Golden digital grounds to copy all kinds of images to all forms of materials. Paper, fabric, foil, gel skins, acetate etc. Every day 4:00 p.m. to 5:00p.m.

Image Transfer BookMake: a cloth book using the fabric transfers made in the image transfer class. 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Chart Your Path: Paint on a piece of wood. Learn how to measure it out & make compartments to house all kinds of ephemeraThis is a very fun class to do on a cutting board.5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday

Game Board: Make a game board using your family photos. We will use scrabble letters to spell out family names. You will need a vintage game board for this project. 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday

Convex Glass: Use our vintage convex glass to house a fun moveable art piece.You can make it on a card. canvas or whatever your heart desires. These are all very old pieces. Learn how to drill holes in them and screw them into your piece. Friday 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Bracelet: Everyone loves the button stacking class! Vicky will teach you how to stack & add beads. We will then turn our pieces into a fabulous bracelet. Friday 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Resin Jewelry: Make fun jewelry out of resin. We will make a few charms & turn them into a fabulous necklace or a charm bracelet.Saturday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Frozen Charlotta Jewelry: Using these very vintage dolls we will make a very unique piece of jewelry! Give her wings or a saltshaker hat. Guaranteed beauty.Sunday 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Cupcakes: Crochet the icing & then add a vintage flower to the top made out of vintage sheet musicSunday 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Wire Working: Using rebar you will create rustic looking ways to enhance old bottles. They make great hanging candle lightsTuesday. Wednesday and Thursday 11:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Initial Photo Necklace or Magnet: Make a fabulous initial & back it with a darling vintage hand tinted photo. Then solder it for the amazing finish. These make the most charming gifts. Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 2:00 p.m. to 4:00

Crown Making: Using cardstock we will make the most amusing crowns. We will add vintage jewels to bedazzle them. Tuesday 11:00 to 1:00 p.mSo let's have some fun & get our holidays started.

Remember to take the handmade pledge!

Please make your reservations now: Miss Vicky 530 389 2233 or email vicky@cut-it-up.com .
You will be given class supplies list when you register!

Paper Box Has a Bad Hair Day

It doesn't really go together, but this paper whimsy box was created with background inspiration from ABC's "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money." I think Tim Daly, Donald Sutherland and Peter Krause were my muses tonight. Such serious eye candy on mindless TV.

The box is a paper-covered wood box with two different sizes of aged rose florals. The face is courtesy of Sandra Evertson's book, Fanciful Paper Projects. I decoupaged the face to a wood ball that I had painted dark pink. Thinking I would make a hat or hair, I spent about an hour curling tiny strips of paper, only to end up with frills that look like they belong on turkey legs, or feet, or whatever it is that sticks up.

So, then I tried to make a cone hat, which of course made her look like a Conehead. So I started to draw on black pincurls but stopped myself from going black by using a gold marker, thinking I could always go darker later. Not sure I am happy yet, but I sprayed on some gold glitter for good measure and will study it in the a.m.