Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Make it Your Own: 11

One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching how every participant creates artwork that is truly their own. At the end of every workshop, no two pieces are the same.


I also find it exciting when I come across artwork online that incorporates my product lines. Seeing how different people use these items in such creative ways is always inspiring. I love the wide variety of styles and unique choices. Click each link below for more details on each and click here to see other posts in this series.

(Spellbinders Drip Drop Die Set)



Kim shares a video tutorial of her layered artwork using a number of my products (PaperArtsy Paint Set 1Eclectica 01 Stamp Set; StencilGirl Make it Count StencilTechno Star StencilUrban Outsiders StencilUrban Bar Stencil; Spellbinders French Text StampSplatter Proof Die SetPocket Watch Die SetGridiron Embossing Folder)






Check out the video which shows the ever-expanding book that Maura made using some of my products (StencilGirl Products You Got This StencilInside Out StencilTechno Tag StencilPast Present Future StencilTransform Stencil; Spellbinders Robo Square Die SetWindow 3 Stamp; PaperArtsy Paint Set 1)

(Spellbinders Drip Drop Die Set; StencilGirl Explore Stencil)

Linda Ledbetter
(Impresssion Obsession Fireworks Stamp)


Linda had a six-page spread (and cover shot) featuring my Spellbinders collection in the August 2016 issue of Australian Simply Cards. Good on ya Linda!

Sunday, January 29, 2017

The Sunday Papers: 1

Welcome to The Sunday Papers. Grab a cuppa, get comfy, and turn the virtual pages. 

FACE OFF


CARD CATALOG
Lori Zimmer

DYNAMIC CERAMIC


VIDEO REWIND

OPEN STUDIO

MUST SEE 

Nick Cave - Until - Mass MoCA
On View through August 2017


SURFACE


ART CRUSH



Wilma Millette

Friday, January 27, 2017

Extra Special

I love to teach and each and every one of my classes is special. But...sometimes I am able to be a part of workshops that are just a bit extra special. Perhaps they are in a unique location, part of a bigger retreat or a collaborative experience with other artists. In all cases, I hope you will consider joining me at some of the following extra special events coming this year. You can get more details on my entire teaching schedule on my workshop page.

At the Improve
A one-time-only collaborative workshop with THE Mary Beth Shaw.

--Mary Beth Shaw's Studio - St. Louis, Missouri - November 11-12 - Registration Open - workshop now full. thank you.

A Library of Memories
A special, multi-day workshop and the only one I teach my found object assemblage work

--Donna Downey Studios - Huntersville, North Carolina - March 10-12 - Registration Open
--Pacific Northwest Art School - Whidbey Island, Washington - June 8-11 - Registration Open
--Fibre Arts Australia - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia - July 5-11 - Workshop Full
--Fibre Arts Australia - Woodlawn, New South Wales, Australia - July 12-15 - Registration Open

Art is You Mixed Media Retreat
Thrilled to be back on the west coast for the best retreat there is

--Art is You - Santa Rosa, California - April 4-9 - Registration Open
--Debuting a new, 3-day workshop: Table of Contents
--Debuting a collaborative workshop with Kecia Deveney: Animal Magnetism

A Case of Curiosities
Returning for two retreats in collaboration with Roxanne Evans Stout in the magical land of Taos

--Mabel Dodge Luhan House - Taos, New Mexico - March 26-April 1 - Registration Open (2 seats left)
--Mabel Dodge Luhan House - Taos, New Mexico - October 22-28 - Registration Open

Art Adventure Retreat
First time teaching in Wisconsin 

--Shake Rag Alley Center - Mineral Point, Wisconsin - August 25-27 - Registration Open
--Teaching 3 classes: Book of Moments, 52 Card Pickup, Collage Camp

***plus workshops in New York, Connecticut, Virginia, Massachusetts, California, Kentucky and the UK - all on my workshop page.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Mix and Match II

When I design new products, I am always thinking about how they can be used to create layers and  dimension - which to me are hallmarks of mixed media. I also try to develop my collections so that they work with each other. As new lines are released, I want you to be able to integrate them into the supplies you already own.

With that in mind, my new collection with PaperArtsy was designed and engineered to work seamlessly with some of my stencils previously released by StencilGirl Products. There two companies were on board and I cannot thank them enough for coming from a place where different companies can actually support each other rather than compete as adversaries. Good people!

These are my new stamps and Wood Chips from PaperArtsy. You can easily see how they work together...


Here are my Insider and Outsider stencil from StencilGirl.


Both collections. Same sizes. Same shapes: square, circle, star, tag and bar. The layers you can create by intermixing all of these products is exponential.

With that in mind, I asked several of my favorite artists to play with all of these products and make magic. Each created two projects and have shared their step-by-step process on their blogs. Today I am highlighting the incredible creations of Gwen Lafleur. Yesterday I shared the wonderful work of Martice Smith II. 


Gwen had attended my Library of Memories workshop at Art is You Stamford in 2015. There we made a hinged-panel container embellished with assemblage that served as storage for a handmade book. I was excited to see that she used my PaperArtsy and StencilGirl products to create a new Library of Memories here.

This is the outside of her closed container. Looking closely, you can see my Wood Chip circle, Outsider star stencil, and several star rubber stamps. And a whole lot of other amazingness.


Open the container and you will find more goodness, with an assemblage embedded within the left panel and a handmade book nested inside the right.


Here are the two pieces separated. You might also notice my Drip Drop die from Spellbinders layered on the book cover. Many of my Spellbinders die cuts are also sized to worked seamlessly with all the new products.


I love looking at this angle of Gwen's handmade book.


The inside pages of the book are filled edge to edge with stencil, stamp and Wood Chip layers.


I was also pleased to see that Gwen chose to use many words and design elements from my other stencils from StencilGirl as well.


You can head over to Gwen's post to see many more images. Head over to my online shop to purchase the stencilsstamps and Wood Chips that were used in these artworks. They are available now.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Mix and Match I

When I design new products, I am always thinking about how they can be used to create layers and  dimension - which to me are hallmarks of mixed media. I also try to develop my collections so that they work with each other. As new lines are released, I want you to be able to integrate them into the supplies you already own.

With that in mind, my new collection with PaperArtsy was designed and engineered to work seamlessly with some of my stencils previously released by StencilGirl Products. There two companies were on board and I cannot thank them enough for coming from a place where different companies can actually support each other rather than compete as adversaries. Good people!

These are my new stamps and Wood Chips from PaperArtsy. You can easily see how they work together...


Here are my Insider and Outsider stencil from StencilGirl.


Both collections. Same sizes. Same shapes: square, circle, star, tag and bar. The layers you can create by intermixing all of these products is exponential.

With that in mind, I asked several of my favorite artists to play with all of these products and make magic. Each created two projects and have shared their step-by-step process in tutorials on their blogs. Today I am highlighted the amazing work of Martice Smith II. Join me tomorrow to see what Gwen Lafleur made.


Martice created this wall hanging that served the dual purpose of not only looking amazing but also concealing a secret.


As you can see in the next photo, part of the hanging is hinged - revealing what is at first glance concealed to the eye. I absolutely love art that is interactive because it invites the viewer to become one with the art.


And look at this detail shot of the piece in progress...oh...the texture! And you can see how the Wood Chip and both the Insider and Outsider circle stencils layer so well together.


Martice also created collaged tiles using my stamps, stencils and Wood Chips. You can easily see in this picture how all the shapes work well together.


 I am loving the layers she used for these tiles: wood, paper, paint, wood stain, modeling paste. stamps, stencils and Wood Chips.


And there is that texture again...


You can head over to this post on StencilGirl Talk to see many more images and a complete tutorial. Head over to my online shop to purchase the stencils, stamps and Wood Chips that were used in these artworks. They are available now.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

New Spellbinders Dies

Every January, timed to coincide with Creativation - the annual trade show of the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) - new products are released from art and craft companies. It is both thrilling and humbling for me to be part of this tidal wave of creativity. This year, I have releases with 4 companies and today I want to share my new dies with Spellbinders.


My collection of dies are abstract and not shaped like any obvious object, as is more typical of many dies on the market. It is important to me that you as the artist are able to make all my products your own and use them in ways that reflect your individual style. Two different artists can use the same die cut in this collection...and nobody would ever know.

TRIFECTA


DRIP DRY


BROKEN MAZE



SHIELD


LOOP DE LOOP


STEERING WHEEL



RAY OF LIGHT


The items in this collection will not be available for purchase until March 2017. In the mean time, you can check out my earlier collections of Spellbinders dies here.