Case of Curiosities: 2019

I am counting the months/weeks/days until I return to Taos, New Mexico for the 4th Case of Curiosities art retreat held with Roxanne Evans Stout.

There are three two no longer any spots remaining for this special extra-special art adventure. 

This 5-day, 6-night event runs from March 17 to March 23, 2019 and is being held at the magical Mabel Dodge Luhan House.

Each participant will embellish and fill their own unique Case of Curiosities with handmade books, collages, paintings, assemblages, scrolls, shrines and tapestries. 

We will stitch, weave, connect, construct, assemble, build, write, sketch and paint over 5 glorious days.

There will be gourmet meals, in the dining room that once hosted Georgia O'Keefe, Ansel Adams, DH Lawrence and many other artists along the way.

Expect special adventures. In the past we have...

...explored the Taos Pueblo, said to be the oldest, continuous community in the United States

...had access to a private selection of rusted treasures at Two Graces Gallery

...gone on a once-in-a-lifetime buffalo run

...visited local artist studios, including the studio of Leighanna Light and Thomas Ashman.

If you would like to be added top the waitlist, please email me at shap97@gmail.com

NEW: ATC Mixup Stencil

Thrilled to reveal the newest addition to my stencil collection at StencilGirl Products: ATC Mixup Stencil.

This large, 9" x 12" stencil, has been divided into 9 equal segments, each sized 2.5" x 3.5" - the exact measurement of an ATC or Artist Trading Card.

Six of the segments are filled edge-to-edge with grungy graffiti graphic goodness - symbols, makes, letters, words and numbers.

The other three segments are filled with repeating patterns of symbols - grungy rectangles, crosses and circles. Perfect as is or just right for adding to your mixed media backgrounds.

ATC Mixup is available now at my online shop. 

And for more stencil inspiration, check out this post on the StencilGirl blog to see the other 6 ATC Mixup stencils released from Andrew Borloz, Jennifer Evans, Kristie Taylor, Carolyn Dube, Pam Carriker and June Pfaff Daley.

Looking to go large? See my original three stencil releases that fill a full 9" x 12" stencil with grungy goodness.

How It's Done

I love creating and designing products for the art/craft community. It is always a fun, creative challenge to come up with new ideas and to then turn these ideas into reality. Designing has become a passion of mine and a process that I am fortunate to be able to repeat many times each year.

It is important to me to always be developing as a designer and to never produce a product simply for the sake of making sales. I always want my releases to be inspiring, unique and new. It is with that in mind that I created my newest sets of stamps with PaperArtsy. 

My earlier releases with the company were primarily designed directly from elements within my mixed media artwork. My two newest sets are instead developed from my photography. Each stamp started with an image taken on my travels which I then digitally altered to bring you a more useable design. The trick here is finding images that are both unique, interesting and with a good amount of contrast. Thought it would be interesting to take you behind the scenes and to share a few before, during and afters.

Photograph

Digitally Altered Image

Stamped

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Photograph

Digitally Altered Image

Stamped

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Photograph

Digitally Altered Image

Stamped

These stamps are available to purchase in my online shop. 

Already beginning to think about what I can do that is creative and different for my next release...

Abstraction Reaction

Had a chance to make my annual trip to Westbrook, Connecticut to teach at PaperCraft Clubhouse this past weekend. Believe you me when I say a good time was had by all. Not sure if if we laughed or painted more. Maybe it was a tie. 

On Saturday, I taught Abstraction Reaction and the results were stunning. See for yourself...

 

StencilGirl + Emerald Creek = Magic

What do you get when you take 14 helpings of StencilGirl and mix that with 14 helpings of Emerald Creek? Well the answer is magic of course. And one major blog hop and giveaway.

Emerald Creek and StencilGirl are truly a match made in heaven. Both are small, family-owned and run companies. Each has taken a traditional craft product (embossing powder/stencils) and applied their own very special spin. 

So come celebrate this pairing by seeing the amazing artwork created by 14 talented artists.  Oh...and did I mention there is a giveaway (scroll down for info)?

Possibility

(sold. thank you)

My contribution to the hop was created using one of my all-time favorite stencils, Creative Halo designed by Pam Carriker. She has 4 stencils in her Halo series and by total synchronicity, my mini circle stencils fit inside the halos, given you many more creative options.

Working on a painted sheet of watercolor paper, I used a sponge to press adhesive from an embossing pad through both the halo portion of Pam's stencil and my Crossed stencil. 

My stencil was then embossed with Rocky Road Baked Texture and the squares in the halo were embossed with Deep Sea Baked Texture, Patina Oxide Baked Texture, Rocky Road Baked Texture and Hammered Metal Embossing Powder.

Collage and much mark making were then added to the surface. The word Possibility, from my new Impression Obsession Journal Jargon 5 stamp set was the finishing touch.

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Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive $50 in Gift Certificates to Emerald Creek and StencilGirl Products!

Enter to win by leaving a comment below.

Then be sure to visit the other blogs in the hope and comment to win.

The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN!

One winner will be chosen at random from all blog comments!

(One comment per blog please.)

You have until Tuesday, August 21st at 11:59pm Central Time to leave your comments. 

Winner will be announced on

StencilGirl Products Facebook page and Emerald Creek's Facebook page on Wednesday, August 22.

Blog Hop Order:

August 15

Mary Beth Shaw

Seth Apter (you are here)

Gwen Lafleur

Kim Evans

Eileen Hull

August 16

Mary C. Nassar

Tina Walker

Josefine Fourage

Jenny Marples

August 17

Debi Adams

Janet Joehlin

Emma Ivemey

Katelyn Grosart

Vicki Garrett

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