Painted Pumpkins...

Put away your knives..   here's an alternative to carving *smile*

I created these for my Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine blog post "Tuesday with the Team"

Check it out by clicking HERE

....see my Crafter's Workshop stencil "Whimsical Vines"? *smile*

My Mission....

to create a face I like!  hehehehe

Tonight's USTREAM broadcast had me creating a face.  There were technical issues with USTREAM so there is no recording tonight (sorry about that) ...  but then again, that may be a good thing. *Smile*

I cracked open my new journal book - the Dylusions Creative Journal - to create this page.   I am going to make this journal a "faces" book where I can practice and create people parts *smile* -- find my style.   I'm looking forward to playing some more.

Here's my first go at it.....

Not bad for a first shot -- the writing says :
Remember to play.  Have Fun and experiment with things that scare you.
AND above all else remember that no two faces are the same. PLAY

and that's what I plan to do.   Thanks to those who joined me this evening.
Have a creative weekend!

Carmi's Back!!

I am so happy to welcome back Carmi Cimicata who will be teaching a Kumihimo class in the studio next month!

Date:  Saturday November 17, 2012  

Time:  1pm - 3pm 

Location: The Art House Studio (40 Ainslie St N, Cambridge ON)

In this special class you will learn the simple but elegant craft known as Kumihimo.

Kumihimo meaning "braiding" in Japanese, has a long and prolific history in Japan.  During the Middle Ages, Samurai Warriors would braid 800-1000 ft of cord to be used in a suit of armor during battle.  In 18th and 19th century, Kumihimo became popular amongst weavers and other textile enthusiast.  The hand held Kumihimo disks are a modern adaption of the original tool used by Japanese craftsman to produce many various styles of braid.

Carmi will teach you the classic 8-strand braid, which is the basis for every project you see here.  Once you make a braid with rattail, the most popular Kumihimo stringing material, you'll understand why adding new and exciting fibers will make your braids one of a kind.

For almost a year Carmi has been posting samples and "how-tos" on www.dazzle-it.om for the John Bead Kumihimo products launch.  She also has many more samples on her blog www.carmi.ca

Class Supplies Needed 

To take this class you need good hand eye coordination.  The braiding goes quickly. If you have a fishing weight (fishermen know what I mean) that will be helpful but not necessary.   Scissors.  Feel Free to take notes or pictures.

Class Kit You Receive

Will include a Kumihimo Disk, one complete findings set, rattail and instructions.

Teacher will supply string for knotting, glue, toothpicks, wire/paper clips and rattail.

My mind is swimming with ideas on how to incorporate this braiding technique in my wearable art projects!   HOPE YOU CAN COME!!

CLICK TO REGISTER ONLINE

InLinkz.com

or call Karen at The Art House Studio 519 267 6620 

Another "Art House" arrived on the weekend

... and she used my stamps from myStamp BOX to create it!
OMG -- Love!   THANK YOU, Linda!  You did a marvelous job!   Wouldn't you agree?

I hope you all get a chance to come by the studio to check these out in person....  my wall is really looking SPECTACULAR!

Painting, painting.....

and getting ready for my Grand Opening on Nov 10!

I FINALLY got some colour on my walls!!   I had "visions" of making the frames that showcased my stencils into brightly coloured "art" houses...  and here it is! (wish the pic was better but you'll have to just come and check it out for yourself soon!)

 I am not "quite" done yet -- I am thinking that one house needs shutters bedside the window and the purple house needs a welcome sign....  but that is for another day.

....cause.....

While I had the paint out, I painted my supply room door.
Say goodbye to ugly shade of grey (really, did nothing for me *wink*) and say HELLO to a fabby RED door!   Tada!!!!

Again, need to add a 3D "supply room" sign me thinks BUT -- that, as I said, is for another day.

It's all coming together!  Yahooo!!!!
Now time to take care of some other "assignments"!

Have a creative day everyone!

Grand Opening Celebration - November 10

Due to "my Jen" sunning herself in the Caribbean and a large "trick or treating" fall extravaganza hosted by the Cambridge Downtown Business Association next weekend, I thought I'd officially open my Cambridge studio on November 10.  Details and official invitations will be sent to everyone on our mailing list in a couple of days, but I hope you re-mark your calendars and join us on the 10th!

Workshop Schedules will be available next weekend as planned AND if you'd like to come see all the festivities (and bring your little trick or treaters), here's the flyer about what's happening in Cambridge next weekend (click to enlarge)

Another Art House Arrived this week!

...and it's INTERACTIVE!   Wow!  So much fun.
This was created by Ruth from Cambridge:

The wings flap and the doors open to reveal a fabulous artful quote from Rachel Ashwell that I just had to share:

"The beauty of art is that we all see different aspects that inspire us, so inspiration and design keep going and going; we inspire and are inspired.  I find that when I let my thoughts and mindset live in a place of creativity, life is good."

Come on by the new studio to see this and the other fabulous canvases in person!   And don't forget -- our GRAND OPENING in CAMBRIDGE is on Saturday October 27 from 10 - 4.  Hope to see you here!  I'll post and email an official invitation soon!   ..But mark your calendars!

THANK YOU, OSHAWA

I am home from a wonderful weekend at ScrapFest in Oshawa.
Thank you to all those who dropped by my booth to say hi and to all those who had the opportunity to take my in-booth mini class.

As promised -- I did record the mono printing class so you can all use it as a reference.

I showed event attendees how to use Gelli Printing Plates to create some fabulous one of a kind backgrounds with some Perfect Pigment paints, and then we stamped with my Family Trees stamp set from myStamp BOX and heat embossed the tree images with Sticky Embossing powder.  This video shows me adding the copper gilding (Gildenglitz from USArt Quest) to the sticky embossing which we did on Friday night.  Those who did this class with me on Saturday added the Stickles Dry Glitter instead.  Either way works great and I hope you enjoy the video

Happy printing!! *smile*

Off to Oshawa

Jen and I are off to ScrapFest Oshawa!  YAY!  Hope to see you there.  For ticket and site information, please visit the ScrapFest website www.scrapfest.ca

I'll post when I can.  Love to share some photos with you!

The Cambridge Studio will be closed while we are away and will reopen for our regular studio hours on Tuesday at 11am.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Some more art houses came in...

I know I've said it before but I LOVE this challenge.  I know I have lots more coming in...  and can't wait to see those too!!

Here are a few more to wet your whistle.

This one was created by Gillian from Hamilton.  LOVE the Colours!!!!!! And people always stop and touch the beads, Gillian! :

Ava from Simcoe created this canvas...   

so sweet and loving the brick stencil with texture paste in the background.

And this fun canvas was created by Chloe from Toronto 

using my Crafter's Workshop Stencil!  *smile*

Thanks so much for creating these, ladies!  I have displayed them on my wall and LOVE the colours!!  So much fun!  I'll post more as they come in.  Wondering what these were all about?  Here's the original challenge post

Happy creating!

Asian inspired textural canvas - USTREAM Follow

I had such a marvelous time on USTREAM last night chatting with the gals and creating this sample canvas using the Bird Song Paper line from Graphic 45 and some wood embellishments from Prima Marketing and Paper Butterflies from Petaloo.

Yes, I said sample canvas.  I will be displaying this alongside the paper line in my booth at ScrapFest in Oshawa next weekend.  If you are going, be sure to drop by the Art House Studio booth to see it in person!!

Here is a closer view of some of the texture.   See the molding paste through the "fish scales" template from Crafter's Workshop?  And look at that colour! Yummo!   LOVE LOVE LOVE Silks by Luminarte.  Its the layering effects these give that really make it pop!  ... and the coloured UTEE rocks my world too!  *wink*

Thanks again to all who joined me live last night while I created this.

If you'd like to watch my USTREAM broadcast, here it is on youTube.   I am merging my videos to a NEW CHANNEL and I hope you subscribe.   I will be putting my USTREAMs there as well as all my technique videos...   These will slowly move over to the new place over the next few weeks.  Have fun watching!

Some Card Making at CropFest

Christmas Card Class - CropFest Nov 2, 2012

What are you doing on Friday November 2nd?

I am so happy to be a part of CropFest at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Center on Nov 2 & 3, 2012.   I will be there representing the studio and teaching 3 classes at the event.   The actual crop sold out in  about 24 hours a couple months ago BUT...  you are welcome to drop by, say "hi" and take one of the fabulous classes offered by Virginia Nebel and myself.

This 1 hour card class uses my new stamp set with myStamp BOX - Christmas Blocks
We'll be inking with Crafter's Workshop stencils, embossing, and on one card - even sewing. Looking forward to sharing the class with you.

ARE YOU GOING TO SCRAPFEST IN OSHAWA next weekend?  Drop by my booth to see these cards in person.   For more information about CropFest Cambridge and ScrapFest Oshawa, please visit www.scrapfest.ca

REGISTER for the Christmas Card Workshop HERE

See you there!
Have a creative day!