Pin Keep Samplers

 

I've been admiring these pin keeps for awhile now and even purchased a couple this past year.  I love how pleasingly plump they are.  I watched a tutorial on how to make them and then went to my craft table and winged it.  Usually they're made with one fabric on the top and one on the bottom or in some cases four squares sewn together for the top.  I decided to make mine sampler style which is a fancy term I use when I have no plan.

I will have 12 kits for this pin keep at Tinsel & Treasures.  I also plan to teach my method at a future class {remember those? :}

 

It's a great project to use your scraps and broken bits on.  If it can be secured with a needle and thread you're golden. 

 

More peeks soon!

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Class Peek

Some of the product I've been waiting on for Creative Camp Out classes is finally here.  Here is a peek of some of the items on my desk that I've been having fun with.  I LOVE the little sequined hearts and the faded wooden tickets.  It's nice to be back in create mode!  Next peek will be extreme paper dolls!

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Jewelry Class With Debby Anderson

Saturday I enjoyed a fabulous jewelry class with Debby Anderson of Romancing The Bling.  This is the necklace that we made.  I chose to substitute a photo of my Grandma in my pocket watch.  This was Debby's first official class and I have to say...she really brought it.  We covered a lot of ground in this class!

I had a great time taking this class and am happy to share that I will be hosting two more guest teachers this year, the first being Colleen Moody in May and the second being Natalie Hansen in August.  If you're local to me you won't want to miss either of these classes.  More to come on their projects soon!

I've been working and will continue to be working on some projects that I can't reveal but I miss sharing so I thougtht I would make this "Studio Awareness Week".  I have daily wordless posts lined up for you filled with studio photo goodness.

Art Is You - Evening Class {& My Where Abouts}

This September I'll be teaching two classes at Art Is You in Petaluma, a full day class and an evening class.  This canvas collage project is one of my favorite classes and will be taught in the evening.  Sign ups begin in just a couple weeks so check it out!

I've just returned from a cruise to Mexico with my parents.  I roomed with my folks and we had a blast!  At one point I was looking over at my Mom on her bed and my Dad on his overhead bunk and we were talking and cracking up about all kinds of things and I thought...everybody should have the experience of being an adult traveling with their parents.  It was fabulous!

Precious Metals

A few weeks ago I taught a class called Precious Metals.  We embellished vintage tins to organize and store some of our small supplies.  As I've said many times on my blog, our family loves to go camping.  I spend more time packing my art supplies than my clothes.  It's so nice to have small containers like this to fill up and throw in a basket for the trip.  Each one ends up being so unique, I just love them. 

My favorite would have to be the long hacksaw blade container in the photo above.  This will transport my colored pencils in style.

Even the inside of the tins received some special treatment!

Creative Camp Out Retreat - Project Peek #1

Hi there...I've been waiting for some decent lighting so that I could take some pictures for some blog posts this week.  Up first is one of the projects we'll be making at this summers Creative Camp Out.  This cream colored retro pail is the perfect vessel to house all of your wall paper scraps or vintage papers.

Of course we'll embellish it once we've papered the outside...

And then tie a bow on top for the sake of prettiness.  Because...it's what we do right?

In case you don't have the info on the Creative Camp Out I will share it here. The cost of the retreat is $450 and it includes 4 classes, 3 mini classes, breakfast, lunch and lodging. I'm only taking 18 ladies for this trip and there are only 6 spaces left. Please let me know if you'd like to attend and I can give you the rest of the details!

Moving Right Along...

So with Halloween behind me by mere hours I've begun working on Christmas projects.  Tonight I made the stocking for 1 of 2 classes we'll be doing on Saturday.  Once I get started with a needle and thread it's hard for me to put it down.   I did however resist my impulse to stitch over every square inch of the fabric as is my norm...

This is a good size stocking too, you could really load it up with a bunch of small gifts which is exactly what I'm going to do since Gracelyn said that she wanted it to be hers. 

I love this star with the mish mash of buttons.  It was really easy, I had a glittered star that I put down and I put a dot at each point and then sewed a button over each dot.  Once I did that I took embroidery floss and wrapped it in a star pattern twice.  If I wasn't so tired I wouldn't have thought of it!  Stitching into the night has it's advantages.

Creative Camp Out In Review

I had meant to post about the Creative Camp Out as soon as we returned last Sunday but I'm just now catching my breath.  The family just left for Football and Cheer practice and the house is empty and quiet! 

The girls are so cute with their ringmaster mustaches that were in their circus book kits for fun.

Below is the always wonderful Laura Himm and the lampshade that she made on day 2.





And below is Cindi, Ruby and Linda observing some journaling ideas for their Smash book...

This giant tree shaded our two tables nicely, which sat right in front of the two lodges the girls stayed in.

I want to thank everyone who went and made my first retreat a success.  It's a definite - we're doing this again next year!

Creative Camp Out Project Peek - Mini Class

In addition to the 4 classes that I'll be teaching this upcoming weekend I'll also be teaching two mini classes.  The class above is 1 of the 2.  I used hanging file folder labels, cutting pieces of paper to size.  After I decorated each one I slid them in and hung them on pretty ribbon.  There is so much that you could do with a bunch of these...decorate your dress form, hang them on baskets in your studio {yes please!}, attach one to a gift or let your little one wear one as a necklace.

I'm so excited about the retreat!  I'll be sure and take a bunch of pics to share next week.

Creative Camp Out Project Peek - Stash Box

Creative Camp Out Project Peek - Smash Journal

Until the retreat weekend is here and gone I only want to show some peeks of the projects we'll be making.  This is the outside of my Smash journal that I mentioned a few posts ago.  This is such a great jumping off point for people who are journaling beginners or for those that have journaled for years.  This is the type of class where when I say it's time to finish up to move on to another class I get that big collective sigh that tells me everyone wants to keep working on it.  That's a great feeling for a teacher!

Smash

Have you seen the Smash line by K&Company?  I love it!  It's new and hard to find so if you see it ya better pick some of it up.  One of our Creative Camp Out classes will be a journal in the pink, or vintage style book.  The pages are adorable!  See the pen?  It's a pen on one end and a glue stick on the other.  So clever. 

And check out some of these fun extra's including pockets, journaling cards, etc..  I started my sample this afternoon after the flea market and I love how it's coming along.  I'll post a progress peek later in the week. 



Enjoy your July 4th holiday tomorrow!

  

Our Giggly Gathering

If you were at Saturday's class then you already know that we had a great day together. This was my biggest class to date and if I worried at all about it was for a fleeting moment. Everybody had a wonderful time and at one point I just stood in the middle of the room and took in all of the happiness, chatter and giddy laughter. A big heart felt thank you goes out to all of you for making it so fun.

The picture above is one I took before class of one of the kits. Lots of pretty little pieces. Here's one of my little market area that I set up on the side of the room. It had trims and flea market finds and lots of pretty ribbon...

And our workshop area for the day {I know...the weeds in the backyard...who has the time?}.

So much fun. Thanks again!!

Project Beginnings

I've begun gathering supplies for the July camping retreat. I've been collecting these wooden child shoe forms for one of our classes. I have something in mind for this project and this is the very early beginnings of it.

I have just two spots remaining and the date has been changed to July 29-31st. The planning for this event is off to a great start and I've got so many ideas it's hard to choose the class projects. Please let me know if you'd like to attend, I'd be happy to send you additional info.

Art & Camping Weekend - Save The Date!

Many of you know that I've been talking about hosting an art & camping weekend for ages. Well, I've set the date! I will be hosting this event in Petaluma, CA the weekend of July 15th. This event will be limited to 12 peeps as I will be renting 2 cabins for our stay. You won't want to miss this!

Our workshops will be outside in the sunshine, they'll be great food cooked for you by yours truly, campfires and girl talk, maybe a swap or two, shopping at a few great shops and quite possibly some late night karaoke at the local dive bar.

If you're interested or if you've expressed interest in this get a way before please email me or leave a comment. Lots more details will be forthcoming!!

March Class

After my last post I hope it makes sense why I haven't posted many projects in the last couple of months. I've really been wanting to share something handmade that wasn't a recipe. Those of you that were in the January class saw these dresses on my work table. They were a submission turned workshop, and we decided on March 5th.

While I'm not big on giving them, I know several members of my family like to receive gift cards, and in some cases, cash. I'm also not a proponent of giving the card on the trusty little hanger it comes glued to or buying a $5 card that someone else wrote either. Each of these dresses have either a small envelope, a magnetic purse or glass vial to store a gift card or money. The back is perfect for writing a sweet sentiment to the recipient. Simple envelopes sewn from wax paper protect the "card" but give the receiver a hint that something pretty is inside.

In other news, today is my 14th wedding anniversary. Yep, he's still buying me glue after all these years. We're off to spend the rest of the week in Las Vegas thanks to my darling Mother who graciously offered to keep my kids. It's going to be downright GLORIOUS I tell you.

Creative Class!

Today I taught a private class for 3 sweet friends. Take a look at the mannequins they made...



Each one turned out so different. Check out the loot on those girls! After that class we made gigantic spools. This was a really fun class. Again, they're all different. Check out the one made by Debbbie that is Halloween themed.



I haven't forgotten about sharing my flea market finds with you. I got a new computer this week and it took a little minute to get everything set up. I LOVE it! I traded my Mac for a new PC. The Mac was great but I just never found the time to figure it all out.

I have been wanting to make some green faced witches with my Character Construction stamps all week long. After my nephews homecoming game tonight I think I'll come home and stamp a few with my 4 year old.

Ribbon of Every Color

This is the last of the French ribbon that I've bought in two dozen colors to arrive. I will be selling this gorgeous yardage at my home studio classes and at my upcoming trunk show. The colors are SO rich, I've never used such fine ribbon. Don't expect it to look like it does in the picture though, I will have pulled the wire out and treated it by the time it's ready to sell. If you're free on the 18th please come see me at Tinsel & Treasures in Alamo. I'll be posting some sneak peeks by the end of this week as well as a TON of pictures of my latest flea market finds.

Nested Goods

It's been awhile since I've shared some projects. I taught this shadow box of nested goods this past Saturday. I'm thinking about teaching it again at a future studio class. Here is a picture of the contents.



I never tire of these old doll heads...



this compartment was so pretty I wanted to leave it empty...



old accoutrements...



an interesting floating glass glittered frame...



wonderful old fabric measuring tape...



special buttons on button cards...



closure and closed box...





I really enjoyed making this box. Lately I'm all about making things that I'm going to use, not just admire. I decided this box is just the thing to rotate some of my "better" finds in and out of. Where do you put the button that was $8.00 at the flea market? Not in the jar of 1,584 regular buttons that you have right? Or a trim that is wonderful but old, old, old. Some things deserve a special place to live until the right project comes along don't you think?

Paper Doll Parade

I don't get a chance to make paper dolls very often and I forget how fun they are to play with! Last Saturday we made a bunch, here are a few that I made. Some of the girls came up with extra cute ideas like adding the cat {she had a dog} on a leash {Laura} and putting the birdcage lady in a wagon {Cindi}. Love, love, love the way they turned out.