My camera isn't working

Helloooo! is any body out there? (pink floyd reference) I had to do tax catch up...didn't do much and couldn't post on mi bloggo...instead played around with samples for my stamp clubs and cut out all the supplies...one last night and today. Lots of fun. My daughter came with me to the one today then we went shopping at South Coast Plaza (a s.cal mall) and I gave the Paper Source some samples to maybe teach there. The Paper Source is a fabulous store with high quality stationary, stamp, scrapbook, ephemera, paper stuff and more! The picture above is one of my daughters friends modeling a tiara I made for stamp club a while ago. Since my camera is not working I'm just picking random photos from my archives...tootles!

UNUSUAL ELECTRICAL STORM HERMOSA BEACH,CA

Need I say more. Aug.15,2008...my hubby and Bo were working really late one night at the studio in Hermosa Beach when this storm hit. Bo had his amazing equipment and keen eye and there you go! Click on the images for a good look. One shot looks like there is a fire but it's probably Manhattan Beach or maybe Malibu and the lights from businesses. There is nothing more exciting than Mother Nature.

Family photo and Gilding the Lily

These pics were taken by the most amazing photographer who happens to sub-let space in our design studio in Hermosa Beach. His name is Bo Bridges and I gotta tell ya, I usually hate looking at pictures that I happen to be in, but Bo is good. He was able to capture the whole feeling and I am especially fond of the black and white. Our family never takes photos together, so this is pretty special. Thats my handsome (muy guapo!) husband and adorable Violet. It was taken at an amazing wedding we went to in Santa Barbara and was the first time my daughter camped and stayed in a tent. Yes, we camped instead of staying in a hotel and went to a wedding. Pretty cool.

Went to the ever elusive Gilding the Lily today. I say "elusive" because I have heard of this place for quite a while, but have never been able to find it. There's no sign....But I found it (Eureka!) and I liked it. Wish I had pics, but go to gildingthelilyvintage.com to get a glimpse. She also has a blog with current updates and class scheduals. Being in the store is much better, of course. It is a very cool and hip miniature boutique with the most current vintage findings for us altered art babes like lace, millinary, all colors of german glitter, vintage jewelry findings, tons of buttons (pressed glass,celluloid, plastic, bakelite), lace and ribbon, vintage crepe paper and wall paper, books and more....all the stuff that makes us art chicks heart pitter patter. I'm not talking about your every day ephemera either. This stuff is hard to find, and she has lots of it. I spoke to Nancy, the owner, and am hoping to teach some classes on re-purposed jewelry construction, fabric books and soldered treasure charms. Stay tuned...

hugs and shimmies!

Updates,classes and so on...

I can't believe I am posting...AGAIN...this is record breaking. My friend Karen will be so proud of me. Since returning from ArtUnraveled, I feel I've been in a state of lala land. I don't want to spoil the feeling and experience I had so I am extremely reluctant to do anything that isn't fun, like doing my taxes. I have cleaned my house...kind of... You see I teach private belly dance lessons and art classes at my home studio and that is my only impetus to clean...and the fact that I can't stand dirty hard wood floors and a messy kitchen and bathroom. Other than that I have been having a fun time with my daughter and painting a chair for someone. I also take care of my other businesses (not fun) and the bookkeeping...ugh,bore, blah. My husband and I own a retail "style" lab in Hermosa Beach,CA as well as a design studio.

Tomarrow I will be at Piecemakers for a trunk show and demonstrating a class I will be teaching Aug. 24. The above picture is a glimpse into the style to be taught. I don't know if I have any sign ups because I didn't have an actual sample at the store. There was just too much stuff going on . I am also teaching a Beginning solder class at Piecemakers Sept. 7 and a Wire Jewelry class at my studio in Torrance on Sept.14. There are pictures of both the classes on this blog. The class at my studio includes a 12 page handout with color photos, lunch and hands on instruction . Piecemakers also has a great venue with lunch on the premises for a donation and lots of great things to buy .

On another "note" i have added music to the site....how do you like it? Is it distracting? I know when I look at other blogs and the music starts blarring at 2am I am a little jarred, but I turn it down and then it's okay. I am starting to realize that blogs can be a glimpse into ones personality and by adding music and other types of "mood" or other sensory enhancing ephemera I am essentially making a "welcome" sign to you visitors into my world. It's a brave action and puts me in a more vulnerable position. I have been belly dancing professionally for over 18 years....how much more vulnerable can I get? Now if I could only send out puffs of incense.....

hugs and shimmies!

I was a bad girl last night...or 3 days after AU...or what I did today

After taking a long walk to the farmers market w/ my Violet, we did paper mache' and painted. I needed to finish a sample for a class I am teaching at Piecemakers, Aug. 24 so it was perfect. There are pics of the progression. I still have to coat it with glossy varnish. I received my free copy of the new Stampin Up? catalog! Yipee! Took pics of the cover and a couple pages....looks fun. For those of you who don't know, I am a Stampin Up! demonstrator and love it. I have 2 to 3 monthly stamps clubs and I can't get enough of it.

I was a bad girl last night. I stayed up till 3am on ebay! I'm obsessed with rosaries and I had to look at every single one until it felt like my eye balls were going to fall out and dry up! It paid off. I won two of the 12 lots I bid on! And I won the one (play on words) that I REALLY wanted. Thank goodness I didn't win them all! What is up with that mentality of being the highest bidder. It's a sickness I tell ya. I don't do it often, just so you know.

One other thing, since I came back from AU I have been really going over all the great advice the crafty chica (kathy cano-murillo) gave in her Kamakaze promotion class and along with all she suggested, she highly reccomended signing up for twitter...so I did... now I don't know how to activate it. If anyone can "follow" me on their twitter, maybe I can get it going? It's on my blog.

And another thing: what is up with the English language and the way companies are making up new words....twitter?, blog?, moo cards? what is that??? where did they get those wierd names?

signing off
p.s will probably have a give away soon....I need to know that there are people out there checking my blog so send me a comment!

UPDATE: art unravelled 2008

Okay, so here are some pretty crappy photos, but you get the drift (click for a larger view). Theyr'e pics of my table with some of my stuff for the shopping extravaganza at Art Unraveled.. The whole event is fun,fun,fun and like a kid coming home from summer camp (never went myself, but I can imagine) you don't want to go home because that means you have to say good bye to the adventures and people you have had the brief pleasure of breathing and living the artful life with...... and say hello to washing dishes, cleaning toilets,taxes and paying bills..ugh! Hey, at least I have a home, right? No complaints.

My classes went VERY well. I had the nicest students. Here's a little shout out to the students since I FORGOT to take pictures (hope I remember all their names, here goes) Maija,
Kelly, Judi,Cecelia,Reva
Carolyn, Shari, Erin,Bea, Gerri, Mary, Dorothy (my crazy MIL),Donne,Mabel and Paula!
If ANY of you have pics from my classes, can you forward them? I'd love to post them. Maija has a couple on her great blog. Also, if I omited someone by wrong or mispelled name, PLEASE let me know.

I also took a class from the crafty chica, Kathy Cano-Murillo. It was called Kamakaze promotion and it was FANTASTIC! She is so sweet and very giving of all her hard, hard work. She's been a crafty chica for over 18 years and has a ton of experience and info. for those of us wanting to bring our art business up several notches. I also took class (second year in a row)from the awesome Susan Lenart-Kazmer.
We learned how to weave hammered wire into a form.. didn't finish mine (it was a 3 hr class), but I will. Only thing is, I have to get over my fear of fire and get a propane torch so I can start annealing wire!

Every time I go to one of these art retreats, I am so exhausted ( in a good way) and spun out when I get home but just like a good work out from the gym, it hurts so good. Any one who has been on the fence, start saving now and go! Speaking of, Teesha Moore just posted the most awesome line up of artists for next years Art Fest, teeshamoore.com
GO!!

I am going to Rubios with my daughter. It's our fav fast food place.

I promise to post more often...how am I doing Karen?

xoorobin

BACK FROM AU 2008

Hi
I am back from AU after 6 days of frivolity, creativity, eating and drinking and meeting way cool people! I am such a dope! I took my camera to take pics and forgot until the last day at the shopping extravaganza. I will post those tonight. Right now I am taking my sweet Violet(my daughter) to Target. After not seeing her for several days I want to spend some time with her, and she just happens to want Hannah Montana bedding! Talk to you soon.

Sneak preview for Art Unraveled

Art Unraveled is Aug.3-10 and is approaching fast! I will be teaching a Wire Shaping 101 class and the Ethnic Eclectic Tassel. There are still a few seats available in the wire class and more in the tassel class and it's not too late to sign up. Go to artunraveled.com if your'e interested.

This is a sneak preview of the new work I will be selling at the vending extravaganza! It's a representation of the possibilities and techniques you may gain from taking my classes. The new series of jewelry is called "Ritual Adornment" and is a culmination of several types of wire made into innovative symbols, soldering, semi-precious stones and re-purposed jewelry blossoming into wearable art. The tassels range from the simple to the very intricate and time consuming Treasure Hunt tassel, Ethnic Eclectic tassel and art doll with a tassel for a headdress.

Well that's all for now. SOOOOOO busy it's not even funny! I am blessed!
Peace

PRETTY PUNCHED PORTFOLIO Class

Inside of portfolio
Close up of the punch needle embroidered center piece
Open portfolio

This book is what I have on my blog banner. I really love it and will be teaching how to make it on June 22, 2008 at Piecemakers in Costa Mesa. Here is the class description and materials list: FYI- Click on the photos to get a REALLY good look!


We will be making a beautiful book like portfolio to hold sewing tools and needles or any precious treasures you may have. You will learn how to make a simple fabric covered book with binding and signatures (pages), simple embroidery, some ribbon roses and easy tassels! The center piece was made using miniature punch needle embroidery and we will go over that for those who are interested however if you already have a punch needle embroidered piece that you would like to use, please bring it or any other appliqué that might work. We will also go over how to felt your own wool squares at home. This is a process oriented class, however you might be able to finish this book in class depending on your experience. To make your time in class more efficient come with a theme or color scheme in mind.

Materials List:

Sewing needles, tapestry needles and beading needles
Scissors
1/2 yard pre-felted wool or something like it
1/4 yard regular wool
1/2 yard for inside cover and pages…I used a cotton floral print
a few yards of ribbon like velvet, specialty and rayon for trim, tassels and ribbon flowers~1/8 to 1/4 inch wide
11x17 sheet (approx) of plastic needle point canvas for the book covers
1/4 yard stiff needle point canvas
beads, buttons, antique trim, small doilies, old jewelry bits



Optional :
Punch needle, size small or medium
14 or 18 count aida or weavers cloth, 10x10 at least
several colors embroidery or craft floss (I highly recommend black as a staple)
5 “ embroidery hoop
Image for your needle punch design (I used my own drawing). There are kits you can buy with images on the aida cloth.

For those of you who have never been to Piecemakers it's a real treat. They have wonderful energy and it truly is a haven of creativity. It's HUGE with lots of fun things to buy and classes to take. Lunch is served on the premises with a donation.
Class time: 10a-3:30p, $55 includes instruction and hand out. All levels are welcome, as long as you can use a needle and thread. No sewing machine required. There are a couple spots left. Call now for your spot! 714-641-3112

NEW SOLDERED PIECES

These charms have been fun to make. I will be teaching how to make them at Piecemakers in Costa Mesa,Ca Sept.7, 2008. As the date comes closer there will be reminders.

I wanted to also tell you about the enormous inspirations I have come across in the altered art jewelry world . I have listed them in my links list : Deryn Mentock (I LOVE her jewelry), Stephanie Lee (awesome book just came out), Susan Lenart -Kazmer (great new book), Richard Salley, Nina Bagley, Keith Lobue, Amy Hanna and of course LYNNE MERCHANT. I love the fact that these artists use completely non-traditional metals, found objects and ephemera for their pieces and I have incorporated a little bit of all of them into my jewelry. It's hard to get away from what you were taught was the only right way to make jewelry but it is so fun to break the rules.

For those of you in the know about the jewelry explosion, Sally Jean Alexander was one of the initial creators of the soldered charm craze. I have never taken a class with her but I have her book and that is where I was inspired to try these charms. Her book is absolute EYE CANDY! So beautiful.