Happy Wedding Day!

Hello All!!! Did you get up "at the crack of stupid" (as Tammie would say) to watch the Royal Wedding today? You know I did!

I set the alarm for 4:40 - got up and made breakfast:

• English Breakfast Tea


• Crumpets, Tea Biscuits and Marmalade


• Fresh Fruit


• Eggs and Bangers

Yep -- I'm a good mother (once a year - LOL) And I HAD to celebrate!

What a beautiful wedding!!

Today I am wearing my "Fastenator" :) If there was ever a day when a lady can wear one around town, this is it and I'm taking FULL advantage! :) Love me a "fastenator"!!

I follow a lady named Claire who writes a blog called from "blah to Ta-Da"- all about crafty recycling projects. This week she has been making Fastenators out of everyday materials. If you're interested in making your own -- check it out. Here's the link

Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

Some "Inspired" Headbands

As many of you know, I am off to Donna Downey's Inspired Workshops in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited and have been creating different things to wear and bring to the event.

Here is something else... Shocking, I know -- a headband! I love my headbands!!!

This one was quilted after using the same process as the houses in the previous post. I just stamped with a couple of Claudine Hellmuth's stamps, Doodled with some new Faber Castell PITT Pens that I recently got into the studio, created some laces flowers and added a little elastic to keep it on my melon :) hehe... So fun! Thanks for hanging out with my today Wendy while I created it! Love having people in the studio while creating!!

Wendy has put the felting bug back in me.... so watch for some of that tomorrow. I may just have to felt and watch some wedding on TV....

Have a creative day!

OKAY - I love this!

I had Soooooooooooooooooooooo much fun playing with this little wall hanging. Oh my God! Right up my alley - I had a smile on my face throughout the entire creative process. Yippeee!!

These are three Canvas Houses (the largest is about 12" tall). I gessoed, painted and colorwash sprayed my canvas sheet with my Crafter's Workshop templates like you have seen me do before (cause I love doing that) then I cut the canvas up into house shapes and decorated using some string and scrap pieces of lace -- and the sewing machine. YEP!!! I am loving this whole sewing thing!

Once I had my"front faces' the way I wanted, I sandwiched a piece of cotton batting (okay, it was polyester) between it and another piece of canvas cut to size and quilted them together. Eeeeeekkkk... So much fin!

The bird was from a 7 Gypsies piece of Conservatory paper that I cut out and then transferred to a scrap piece of canvas. I then cut and sandwiched it with the batting like before and quilted it. Double Eeeeeek!!!

I have soooooo many ideas running through this brain of mine. Hum, what to create next!?!

Have a creative day everyone!

Hey Art Doll Lovers!

I am VERY excited to announce that Laura Haviland (Character Constructions design team member and fellow Canuck) will be teaching a FABULOUS art doll class at Mixed Minded next month -- I hope you can join us!

Fashionista Mermaids will be taught on Saturday May 28, 1:30 - 5pm at Mixed Minded held at the Holiday Inn, Kitchener.

You will be creating an "aquarium" backdrop:

And this fabulous Art Doll Mermaid that will hang in display in front of it.

How fabulous!!

For more details about this class and the other fabulous classes offered at Mixed Minded - please vist the website!

Looks great Laura!! I know this will be a FANTASTIC class!

Happy Easter!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Happy Easter everyone... hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend!

Painting on Sewing Day?

***Please note - the studio is closed for the long weekend and will re-open for our regular studio hours on Tuesday at 11am***

Yes, we did! For an hour or so at least :)

Anna came in a bit early for our sewing night yesterday. She spied some NEW STAMPS I got into the studio Wednesday and we were inspired!!! Take a look at this Hydrangea Stamp from Stampendous

I first saw these stamps in a Donna Downey Inspiration Wednesday video and had to get them in. Stunning.

Leanne was in on Wednesday and was telling me of a Watercolour project she did by stamping on Tissue Paper with Archival Ink, sealing it to a piece of Watercolour Paper with Matte Medium and then painting the image with watercolours. OH YEAH, Anna and I had to do this with these stamps. Out came the paints! *wink* This is what I created:

It's mounted on a 8x8 MDF Canvas from KaiserCraft. I adhered a piece of vintage musical score to the canvas with Claudine's Matte Medium and using a combination of her Tan and White Studio Paints, created a wash to blend it all in. I then inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink to finish it off. Oh yeah -- the watercolour was mounted on a couple of pieces of 6x6 chipboard that I cut and adhered to the canvas to give it a little "pop". See.....

Me like-y :)

Anna's was fantastic too! and had a completely different look. Love that!

Painting complete we cleaned off our tables and were joined by another 4 crazy girls for our sewing night. I created an Anna Butler skirt to wear to Inspired next month-- a couple of ruffled flowers too! How fun!!

Like those stamps? Also in the studio right now is the Dahlia

On its way are the Rose and the Peony:

And soon to be released - Tulip, Tiger Lily and Dogwood!! Yum!!

Have a fantastic Easter Weekend everyone!

See you when I re-open the studio on TUESDAY at 11am!

Swimmy Swim Swim little fishy

Those of you who follow me on FaceBook know that this weekend I had a little down time and felted.

Just playing around I thought I would try to create a "creature" of some sort. As my thinker was thinking, Regan and her fish plight popped in my head. You see, Regan's daughter received some fish for her birthday (something she wanted -- a pet :) ) and all last week one by one they started dying on them. So Regan was telling me about all the dead fish and a very sad little girl. I thought, that child needs a fish that won't die....so I felted it! See... one immortal fish:

complete with felted kale and in a fishbowl too. LOL
Stephen next door (dog guy) thinks I should pour resin in it and make bubbles (lol) but I'll spare you all that!

Have you felted yet? It's so much fun!
If you'd like a basic needle felting class, come on in -- it's free with purchase of the felting tools AND THEN....take a class from the expert, Carmi Cimicata. She is teaching 2 felting projects at Mixed Minded where you will not only use the same tools to felt beads and a brooch but you'll use the tools to add other fibres too! FANTASTIC!!!! I hope you join us!

Okay, Okay....

I've been told. Yes, it's been a week since my last post. Sooooooooooooooooooooory faithful followers. I have been so busy getting things put back together from ScrapFest. I think I am ready to get back into regular scheduled programming now. YAY!!!! Bring it on! So -- wanna know what's new? I got in the ICE Resin order that I made at CHA along with pewter bezels and a fabulous book by Jen Cushman. Yippee!!!! I know more than a few of you have been waiting for this!

ALSO ON THE RESIN FRONT. My friend Carmi started a new blog on behalf of the people who create Envirotex Light (her resin of choice). I'm sooooooo excited for her! Be sure to follow her RESIN BLOG and even sign up for her fabulous class at Mixed Minded. She is teaching TWO classes to do with Resin at the event and I couldn't be more thrilled! Come and learn from the expert!! Congratulations Carmi!


A novice over here.... I took to making my first pours EVER! I started small and on the cheap (as I am a beginner). I have these very sweet bezels for sale here in the studio (the largest is .85 -- so not a big investment in case I mess up!) I started by simply using a circle punch and punching out a piece of pattern paper and attaching it to the base of my bezel. I did this with ..... wait for it..... my XYRON X!!! Yay Xyron (more to come from them soon *smile*)! So happy it worked!! I then followed Carmi's instructions and poured. I placed an old Making Memories embellie in it. Success!! Then I got more daring... Note the Tim Holtz embellie with - small glass beads from the dollar store. Yep .. getting there in my daring "resinating" *smile* So, I thought. That's cute -- now lets add some more stuff!! Here is a punch out of one of Graphic 45's images (On the Boardwalk Line) then I took out my Viva Decor Lovelies!! Yep -- the glitter is the Viva Decor Glitter Liner and the Pearl is the Viva Decor Pearl Pen. LOVE LOVE LOVE how this turned out and the fact it didn't react with the resin! Yahooooooooooooooooooooooo!

So, armed with this knowledge I created a bezel with dried flowers a la Carmi's tutorial...... and thought okay.... that's a flower inclusion, viva pearl and glitter pens, beads... why not vintage book text. OMG.... LOVE the transparency!!!

So, now I'm a pro, right? HAHAHAHA ...whatever!!! :)

But I am definately full of resin confidence now SO I got out something that reminds me of my dad (and something that was his) and thought I would throw it all together to make a special pendant. Note the confidence.... yes, that is a Pewter Bezel from Susan Lenart Kazmer's ICE Resin line. LOVE!

How'd I do? Not bad for a beginner me thinks! I still have lots to learn and lots of playing to do but WHOA this is FUN!!

Happy Creating all!

THANK YOU TO ALL who came by our booth to say Hi, purchase some fun craft supplies and see a few demos or two! We love being a part of ScrapFest and hope you had a great time!

At the end of the day the girls got a little silly!! Sooooooo, I thought I'd share.

Look who wore my tu tu today -- yep! That's my kid .... ain't she cute!? She was a big help in the booth today. Thank you, Emily!

Emily and Terri - pictured below.... were two of our Apron winners. With a donation to Japan Relief (through the Canadian Red Cross) people were entered into a draw to win one of 4 Aprons created by me and signed by Donna Downey. Thanks everyone! Every donation matters and we raised 100 dollars in support .

The fabulous people at Xyron had some fun with us at the end of the day too. (more to come on this.... I have exciting news to share next week - hint hint)

Look what they made Regan, Lucy and Jen......................

Yep -- they be pasties. OMG..... You people slay me!! :)

THANK YOU AGAIN to all for EVERYTHING!!!! I love what I do and I love that I am able to share it with you.

Lisa and the ScrapFest team.... you are FABULOUS!! Thank you again for allowing me to be a part of your amazing show!! *smooches*

Now --- off to set the studio back up! I bet you'll know where to find me tomorrow! *wink* WATCH FOR MORE SCRAPFEST "IN REVIEW" POSTS LATER THIS WEEK!!!!! :)

Friday Night at ScrapFest

So.... I had a great day with everyone at ScrapFest! What a kickoff.

I thought I'd share some pics before I "turn in" and get some sleep so I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning! Can't wait to see you all there!!

These lovely ladies took my make n take at the ScrapFest Interactive Booth hosted by Scrapbooks & Cards Today. I showed them how to make their own custom ink pads!! :)

And here I am getting ready to teach Canada's Largest Make N Take .. yep me and 225 students! It's all good!!

Alright... for those who heard the "TuTu" rumour -- yes, it's true. THAT's A LOT OF TULLE!

I'd love to know what I am reacting to! Hi Jen!

See you in the morning!!! Drop by to see us at the Art House Studio Booth! Have a creative weekend everyone!

SCRAPFEST!

Today is the day!!

It's time for SCRAPFEST in Kitchener!

Just a reminder that the studio is closed this weekend so we can attend this event. Tickets are available at the door if you'd like to drop by the Kitchener Aud and check out the 45 paper craft vendors! *smile* See you there

A little whimsy in my life...

After a busy week, I needed to create something -- something fun. *smile* So... I got out the paints, some templates and some molding paste and set to work. Whatcha think? Hope you had a creative weekend!! I'm going to be busy busy busy getting ready for ScrapFest this weekend at the Kitchener Aud! I hope you're going to be there! Drop by our booth to say HI!! #510

havin a little fun with Donna... and good eats too!

So, here I am getting ready for our next event -- SCRAPFEST in Kitchener this weekend! -- fondly thinking of our weekend with Donna Downey last week and thought I'd share these! *smile* Donna was invited to teach at a CHA Canada thing in Toronto after our event in Kitchener ....so... I needed to make sure we got there Sunday evening. Since we needed to eat and I didn't get an opportunity to take her on a tour of Toronto I figured the least I could do was kill two birds with one stone and have dinner and "show" her Toronto.... from the CN Tower that is! What fun!! We had a blast! For those who have not done this before, the CN Tower is a tourist place - they have everything from gift shops to photographers. These photos were taken before we went up the tower in front of a Green Screen. Funny enough....the photographer said we were by far the most fun couple she had that day! LOL YEAH!! mission complete!*wink* THANK YOU AGAIN DONNA!!! For everything!! We LOVED having you here and are already counting down the days until your return to our area next year (hint hint) AND I can't wait til May when I come see you at your "Inspired" event! Whoop whoop! *HUGS* ..... cause we know you're a hugger :)

Attn sewers and Wannabes!

We've been having "sew" much fun in the studio lately teaching me how to sew on my new machines! hehehehe I've been practicing and practicing and my art has been littered with little bits of it lately :) It's all good! One of our sewing gals is the very talented Regan D'Agostino! Regan has created a fabulous pattern to make this Super Cute Bag and I'd like to invite you to come and take a class. Bring your own machine, Regan will provide you with her pattern and guide you step by step through the process of creating it. There are Pleats and Pockets in this one!! The class will take place at the studio on Saturday April 30 at 1-4pm. The cost is $18 (plus HST). Bring your own machine, and your favourite fabrics (the pattern will tell you type and quantity). Class space is limited!! Book early and SEE YOU THERE!!!