Flashback to 2006

Back in 2006, Nicole Steiman, owner of The Artbar in The Artist's Village located in downtown Santa Ana asked me if I would like the chance to be published in a "make it in minutes" book she was writing for Lark Books titled Quick & Clever Gift Wraps.  I was over the moon that she would ask and of course took on the challenge.  There were many entries and Nicole told us all that it was not up to her which projects would be chosen to get published.

The first project I submitted was a baby girl 6-pack gift carrier.  About a month later, Nicole told me that the publishers stated there were not enough items related to baby boys and would I mind creating another one (in 2 days!)  

I thrive on challenges and work pretty well under pressure, and of course I didn't want to pass up the chance to get my entry in the book! :)

Well, it paid off - my Baby Boy 6-Pack made the cut for the 2007 publication!

I used decorative papers including paintable embossed wallpaper, gingham ribbon, pompoms, and rubber stamps of a baby footprint and handprint to "paint" imprints on the container.

Inside the 6-pack I placed a teddy bear, a onesie, wash cloths, a baby bottle, teething ring and large decorative diaper pins.

Just another way to upcycle those 6-pack containers.  But WAIT!  What about those Starbucks 4-packs? 

Don't forget, the month of May is Inspiration Emporium's packaging challenge.  Stop by our blog and join in the fun to win $50 in Emporium dollars!  The challenge started this past Friday and will end on June 5th at midnight.  We all have "throw away" packaging so what are you waiting for - upcycle or recycle!

* See previous post for my upcycled art supply carrier

Mark your Calendars! Sunday, May 31st at La Maison Rustique

Sunday, May 31st, I will be teaching a Vintage Optical Lens Necklace class at La Maison Rustique - "The Barn" in Temecula, located at 39195 Avenida Antonovich in beautiful Wine Country Temecula, California.

The workshop is $30 (yes, you read correctly!) and includes everything with the exception of a pair of detail scissors and any special photos you may want to use to create your necklace. The photos you bring need to be no larger than 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

If you're interested in taking my class, register now! Just click on the BUY NOW button (see right hand column of my blog) to pay on-line through Paypal. And don't worry if you don't have a Paypal account - you don't need to have one to make your payment! It's quick, easy, and safe.

This will be my first time teaching at La Maison Rustique. It sure would be nice to have a good turnout. The class will be held from noon to 3pm.

Here are some additional photos of "The Barn" . . .

Doesn't this look and sound like a really fun day of creating, shopping, and meeting new friends?

And since it's a Sunday afternoon class, how about some mimosas? *smiles* Now really . . . what could be more fun?!

Saturday, Part Deux - I've Been Published

On December 1st the 2009 Somerset Studio Gallery was to be released. However, when I was at the Artbar on Friday for their sale, I saw this issue on the shelves!

I feel very honored to have my Recycled Coffee Filter Doll as one of the published pieces on the Expressions Page of this Winter edition.

Thank you Stampington!

you can find the article on page 111

click on the photo to get a closer look

Quick & Clever Giftwrap Book Entry

Yippee! One of my two entries made the final cut for the Quick & Clever Giftwrap Book by Nicole Steiman of The ARTbar!

CIGAR BOXES IN WINTER 2007 GALLERY

My collaged cigar boxes were published in this issue of Gallery - Winter 2007.

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID - NEVER A BRIDE

This is a doll I created that was published in Art Doll Quarterly, Winter 2007 edition.

The doll's skirt is made from folded pages in a hard cover book. The head of the doll is a rubberstamp (Stampland's Headress) that I stamped and enlarged so that it would be in proportion to the doll's body.

I created the upper torso of "Bridesmaid" from a black foam material and painted the dress with periwinkle blue paint. Once assembled, I glued the body in the spine of the book. The doll stands on her own.

Memories Under the Lens in Belle Armoire Art to Wear

One of my favorite things to create are little collages in vintage optical lenses. I first learned how to do these in a class that was taught by Carolyn Waitt a few years ago. You can just imagine how thrilled I was to have some of my favorite pieces featured in an article titled Memories Under the Lens in the September/October 2007 issue of Belle Armoire Art to Wear magazine! If you are not familiar with this magazine, it is one of Stampington & Company's publications.

Where you can find my artwork . . .