Blog

Make it Artsy...again!

Excited to again be a guest on Make it Artsy, the PBS television show hosted by Julie Fe-Fan Balzar that focuses on sharing proejcts and techniques in all areas of art and craft. The show only airs in select markets but each episode is uploaded to the Make it Artsy's website for one week. The current episiode, Season 6 Epsiode 11, will be available through September 13.

My segment on this episode focuses on 3 easy techniques for using embossing powder in non-traditional ways. 

First up is demonstrating how to use texture spray as an adhesive to create grungy, textural effects. For this video, I used Imagine Crafts GooseBumps Texture Spray - although their line of irRESISTible Texture Sprays also work. For the second quick tip, I showed how to use a rubber stamp with Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture embossing powder from Emerald Creek to create a deeply recessed textural design. Finally I showed how embossing a dimensional frame for your art is the perfect final touch for your work.

You can watch my segment on my YouTube channel. The entire episode is available on the Make it Artsy website through September 13. Click here to download a PDF outlining the full instructions and a supply list.

Workshop Update: Fall 2019

SEPTEMBER

Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps - Sante Fe, New Mexico

September 27 - 28 - Bento Box - workshop filled

 

OCTOBER

Art From the Heart - Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK

October 19 - Joker's Wild - registration open

October 20 - Art Alchemy - registration open

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Emerald Crafts - Lyndhurst, Hampshire, UK

October 26 - 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - workshop filled

October 27 - Get Baked! - registration open - 3 seats left

 

NOVEMBER

Runaway Art & Craft Studio - Salem, Oregon

November 9 - 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - Registration Open

November 10 - Get Baked! - Registration Open

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Clipper Street Scrabook Company - Langely, BC Canada

November 15 - 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - Registration Open 

November 16 - Embossing Alchemy - Registration Open 

November 17 - Joker's Wild - Registration Open 

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Everything Scrapbook & Stamp - Lake Worth, Florida

November 23-24 - Bento Box - Registration Opening 9/16

 

DECEMBER

Pratt Institute - New York, New York

December 7 - Mixed Media Surface Design - Registration Open

(enter course title into search box)

New News

I have some new news. Newsletter news. For readers of my blog who haved signed up on my site to receive feeder-based, blog updates in your inbox, I will no longer sending these posts. I have decided to consolidate my mailing lists and will now be including links to my blog posts in my general eNewsletter. And I am in the process of updating the format and style of the eNewsletter to bring you an even better experience. If you have already been receiving my eNewsletter, no action is required. If you would like to begin to receiuve it - or are simply not sure if you are on the list - click here.

July: Last Sunday Online Open Studio

Welcome to my online studio. I want to invite you to join me (virtually) on the First Friday Last Sunday of every some months in 2019 when I highlight new artwork and recent favorites that are available for purchase. Have a look around, let me know if you have any questions, and click the link on the title of any artwork that you want to buy or simply learn more about.

With (sold thank you)

Town Square

Carnival (sold thank you)

Step by Step

Sands of Time  (sold thank you)

Waaga Waaga

Possible (sold thank you)

Complexities (sold thank you)

Create (sold thank you)

Curiosity (sold thank you)

Now (sold thank you)

Twice (sold thank you)

Workshop Update

WORKSHOP UPDATE

Hoping you will be able to join me for a day, a weekend or a week of creative fun. Have a look-see below at my updated workshiop schedule just in case I am coming to your neighborhood. Or perhaps you are due for a well-earned road trip....

 

AUGUST

Artistic Artifacts: Alexandria, Virginia

August 16 - Embossing Alchemy - registration open

August 17 - Joker's Wild - registration open

August 18 - Too Cool for School - registration open

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Scrapbook Centrale - Montreal, Quebec Canada

August 23 - 52 Card Pickup - registration open

August 24 - Get Baked! - registration open

August 25 - 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - registration open

 

SEPTEMBER

Ephemera Paducah - Paducah, Kentucky

Retreat co-taught with Mary Beth Shaw

September 4-7 - filled

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Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps - Sante Fe, New Mexico

September 27 - 28 - Bento Box - registration open 

 

OCTOBER

Art From the Heart - Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK

October 19 - Joker's Wild - registration open

October 20 - Art Alchemy - registration open

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Emerald Crafts - Lyndhurst, Hampshire, UK

October 26 - 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - registration open - 3 seats left

October 27 - Get Baked! - registration open - 5 seats left

 

NOVEMBER

Save the Date..

November 10 - 11 - Runaway Art & Craft Studio - Salem, Oregon

November 15 - 17 - Clipper Street Scrapbook Company - Langely, BC, Canada

November 23 - 24 - Everything Scrapbook & Stamps - Lake Worth, Florida

 

DECEMBER

Pratt Institute - NYC

December 7 - Mixed Media Surface Design - registration open

NEW: PaperArtsy Mini Stamps

Excited to be sharing my newest stamps - hot off the press - from PaperArtsy. 

These new, credit card size minis, are deeply etched, red rubber cling stamps and they are available now from my online shop.

41

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And just in case you haven't seen my original set of minis released in January 2019...

The new releases - and my entire collection of stamps - can be found in my online shop.

NEW: Impression Obsession Stamps

My newest collection of stamps from Impression Obsession have just been released and are available to order now. These are a bit of a new direction for me and I hope you like where they are headed. While most of my stamps designs are perfect for backgrounds and layering, these were created with focal points in mind. They are all sold as individual stamps and are substantial in size - with measurements ranging from about 2.5 to 4 inches.

You can order these cling stamps now at my online shop or go directly to Impression Obsession to have a choice between cling and wood mounted. They will be appearing in many stores and online shops soon as well.

 

GLOBE

 

HEADLINES

 

FIRST ON EARTH

 

HEADSPACE

 

RAYS

 

COLOR CHART

Make it Artsy

Thrilled to be a guest on the premiere episode of the sixth season of Make it Artsy. This television show airs on PBS in select markets in the United States but is also available for viewing episode-by-episode online.

Make it Artsy is hosted by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and highlights a variety of guest artists and crafters who demonstrate a wide range of creative techniques and projects - from mixed media to metalsmithing, using tools from saws to sewing machines and materials from paper to wood.

I had previously been a guest in the first season and was happy to have been invited back to showcase more creative fun. Season six is built around the concept of time. My segment focuses on saving time by using my Vintage Besswax Baked Texture embossing powder from Emerald Creek to create a fast and easy faux encuastic effect. I shared other tips and tricks for heat embossing as well.

You can watch my segment on my YouTube channel or head to the Make it Artsy website where the entire episoide is available until July 5. And stay tuned. I just might be back again in episodes eight and eleven.

Sew This Happened...

Several years ago I took the step of buying my first sewing machine. I often hand stitch on my mixed media work but have always wanted to free stitch using a machine as well. While teaching at Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, Virginia, I decided to go for it. Artistic Artifacts is filled floor to ceiling with the most amazing fabric selection (much of which is available in their online shop) and of course mixed media supplies. But they are also an Authorized Bernina USA dealer. The owner and my friend Judy Gula hooked me up with the perfect starter machine - a Bernette Sew & Go. 

I took the machine home and set it up. Life got in the way and a few months later, I thought back to my lesson and got to sewing. Well, I got to threading. Well actually, I got to trying to thread the machine. Happily the scene was not recorded and I did what most sewing virgins would do - stepped away from the machine.

Months later, the machine got boxed and stored. Surface area in my studio is too valuable to hold anything that isn't actively being used. 

Years later (okay, just 2 years), it was time. I had shared with Kecia Deveney my plight and she did what most sewing experts would do - insist I bring my machine to her studio for a lesson.

So just a few days ago I visited Kecia and she walked me through the steps, made it fun, and totally re-ignighted my passion for machine stitching.

But first things first, she had me name my machine. So people...meet Boris Bernette.

In between the fun, I actually threaded and sewed too.

Hoping that this time, it sticks. My plan...adding stitching - and even more fiber than usual - to my mixed media work. Stay tuned...

June: Third Monday Online Open Studio

Welcome to my online studio. I want to invite you to join me (virtually) on the First Friday Third Monday of every some months in 2019 when I highlight new artwork and recent favorites that are available for purchase. Have a look around, let me know if you have any questions, and click the link on the title of any artwork that you want to buy or simply learn more about.

 

FROM ABOVE (sold. thank you)

 

COMPONENT PARTS (sold. thank you)

 

HEART AND SOUL (sold. thank you)

 

THE PURITY OF GRACE  (sold. thank you)

VOYAGE (sold. thank you)