Time to Retreat

Hosting my first retreat recently in Taos, New Mexico with Roxanne Evans Stout, I realized the transformative effect of such an experience. In catching up with blogs following my return home, I came across many posts that highlighted the experience of several people at retreats they either hosted or attended. This time when reading through, I focused on the power of the retreat rather than just on the pretty pictures.

Mae Chevrette shared her experience teaching in Belize.

Lynn Whipple and Carla Sonheim lead a crew in Oaxaca.

And through a synchronistic twist, Judy Wise was having her own retreat in Mexico and crossed paths with Lynn and Carla.

Roxanne Evans Stout shares her take on our retreat in Taos.

And Tina Walker shares her experience as a participant in our retreat in this beautiful post.

Have you hosted or attended an artist retreat? Share you experience and/or link in the comments.

The Week Links: 98

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 98...

1. Metal book sculptures from David Kracov.

2. Conversations with my Mother: a concertina book in progress from Caterina Giglio.

3. Geoffrey Gorman's newest mixed media piece is beyond creative.

4. Looking forward to seeing Robert Motherwell: The Art of Collage at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in NYC.

5. Cherry blossoms in Japan photography.

6. Another stunning book from Luthien Thye of Altered Alchemy. 

7. Sending a big congratulations to the new members of the StencilGirl Creative Team. Meet them all here.

Book. Kit.

One of my recent releases from Spellbinders is a multi-piece book kit that is perfect for creating your own artist book, journal, daily planner, organizer, photo album, and more.

Watch the video to see the book kit in action and continue in this post to learn more about each component.

Start with a sturdy, kraft-color, 3-ring binder measuring 7.25 x 9.25 inches. It's waiting to be painted, collaged or decorated in your own personal style. 

Add to that a package of inserts, complete with pages measuring 6 x 8.5 inches with and without tabs.

Make yours truly customizable with a contour, steel-rule die set that allows you to cut your own pages from paper, craft metal, corrugated cardboard, chip board, felt, fabric, cork, and more. This magnetic set includes dies that allow you to cut both a window in any part of the page and a single page tab.

Tab lovers can get an extra steel-rule die set that enables you to cut three additional tabs.

You can find these products in the Spellbinders and other online shops, in stores, and on the shelves of my online shop. Would love to see what you create with these components.

Crayon Resist

Happy to be a guest blogger on the PaperArtsy blog today highlighting a watercolor paint and wax crayon resist. Visit here for a quick tutorial on a simple and fun technique.

The Week Links: 97

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 97...

1. Hanging tress sculptures made from papier-mâché, paint, wire and metal by Jorge Mayet.

2. Assemblage art boxes from Cathe Holden.

3. Melinda Tidwell on collage composition and Robert Rauschenberg.

4. Absolutely in love with this upcycled binder that Peg Robinson made. And she even shared a step-by-step video so you can see how it is done. Full disclosure -- she used some of my stencils from StencilGirl Products to create this trash-to-treasure piece.

5. Black gesso embossing from Marta Turska-Grochocka -- and a video that takes you through her process.

6. Paint, oil, milk and liquid soap mixed together by Thomas Blanchard makes for one hypnotizing video.

7. Excited to see Thought is Infinite, June Leaf's upcoming exhibition at The Whitney in NYC.

Street. Art.

I had the pleasure to spend this past weekend in Florida, teaching at Everything Scrapbook and Stamps in Lake Worth, Florida. Happily I had all of Monday to play before my plane brought me back home to NYC. Michelle, the owner of the shop, and I explored the Wynwood Art District in Miami - known for its warehouses covered in street art. Talk about visual inspiration!

The Week Links: 96

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 96...

1. Caterina Giglio shares links to four art blogs to swoon over on her own swoon-worthy blog.

2. Only one person, Anish Kapoor, has the rights to use the darkest pigment in the world.

3. Tonia Jenny talks about the properties of mandalas, circles, and symbols. 

4. Know what a Xylothek is? Julie Reed can tell you.

5. Have you seen the new line of NYC stencils from Michelle Ward that are exclusively sold at The Ink Pad in New York? And did you know that The Ink Pad now sells select products online?

6. Sam P. Gibson captures the fine details of eyes in her embroidery, first seen here.

7. The world's leading art hotels.

POW!

One of the most exciting things about designing products is seeing how other artists use them -- often in ways that I hadn't considered or in styles other than my own. Been seeing some great things online lately and wanted to share.

POW! Absolutely love how these bright colors pop off the textured black background in these cards made by Paul Browning.

(Spellbinders Drip Drop, Ring Around, Coffee Ring dies)

WOW! How cool that Debi Adams took these products and brought them into the world of home decor. See a video of the process here.

(Spellbinders Drip Drop, Ring Around, Coffee Ring dies; StencilGirl Products Explore, Inside Out stencils)

FLY! Love the bright, vivid colors and the composition on these cards from Linda Lucas.

(Spellbinders Robo Square die)

(Spellbinders Take Flight die)

BAG! Really clever way that Christine Emberson used the stars to embellish a plain paper bag.

(Spellbinders Robo Star die)

NOW! Eileen Godwin adds texture, dimension and rust to this wonderful artwork.

(Spellbinders Drip Drop, Coffee Ring dies)

Thanks to the artists in the post. And look out...cause I will be on the look out for more work as I surf the web.