Art Unraveled Announcement!

I am overjoyed to tell you that I have been selected from among the artist applicants to teach again this year at Art Unraveled, and the website is live NOW! The classes I will be teaching are:

1. Funky Book of Memories and Evidence - Tuesday, July 31st  9 am til 4:40 pm

2. The 10 of Hearts - Wednesday, August 1st evening 6:30 til 9:30 pm

3. Painted Tote Book for Doodlers, Dreamers, Designers or "Drawers" - Sunday, August 5th 6:30-9:30 pm

4. heART Quilt 101 - Monday, August 6th 6:30-9:30 pm

You can see multiple pictures by following the links to the website.

This year, for the 10th anniversary, a 10% discount on workshop fees will be given to those who register prior to March 15th with workshop fees of $250 or more.  Information can be found on the Register page of the website.

I also plan to have a teacher's table for vending on Saturday, August 4th and attend the Meet the Artists event on the evening of Tuesday, July 30th.

Now, how many days til August? I'm thinkin' there ought to be an app for that!

Etsy Update

I was finally able to finish all the listings for the little books I still have for sale. If you are interested in purchasing any, you can click on any etsy photo in the margin, or find my whole shop by clicking here. Any not sold here will be available for sale at Art Unraveled in August. Thanks again for all the interest!

P.S. Scrapaholic Confession

I have gotten a number of inquiries about the little books I wrote about in my last posting. Thanks for asking. I am working on getting them all photographed individually for etsy with my uncooperative camera. There are actually more than are shown, and it has turned out to be more than a crazy busy week, but I am trying to get everything done by this weekend for sale. If anyone wants one you see in the picture with the larger number of books, let me know by email, and I can set it aside. They are $15. plus whatever the post office charges for shipping, probably around $3.    Thanks for asking.           janeeileen@hotmail.com

My name is Jane, and I am a scrapaholic.

I noticed a while back that there is a recurring theme in most of my work; most of it is made with scraps. For a while, I tried to steer away from the scraps and actually use more of what I have here in the studio/warehouse, but I have changed my mind. I have decided to embrace it, even though it is a blessing and a bit of a problem. The bit of a problem is that I find it difficult to throw anything away since I might need it when I get all my scraps together to create. The blessing is that the things I make from scraps are the ones I love the most.
In the middle of trying to be retired, I have been volunteering, working a few days and trying to squeeze in some creative time as well as spend a little time working on the business part of my creating, so I haven't had a lot to show, yet, but these are finally done after working on them in stages since midsummer. Each is about 4x6" and has over 75 pages of random paper inside, just right for carrying in a purse. Each one also has two secret pockets in the construction, made for carrying other papers, pens, whatever one might need with their little book/journal. They are made from leftover canvas, nearly empty bottles of paint that were washed out for the project and leftover pieces of everything else in the scrap collection tub on my sewing table; quilt scraps, fabric remnants, doily bits, ribbons, buttons, doodads and whatnots. The top two are my favorites and also have some painted fabric and papers that I collaged together for another project. Yep, I have a feeling that scrappy chic isn't going away anytime soon.

The Finished Costumes

These are the K's in Disneyland wearing the final products I put together for them along with the accessories their parents added to create the full look. They are home now from a trip in which they were able to participate in some of the ongoing events with Mickey for Halloween. I made Alice's costume roomy enough around for them to be able to add it to their collection of dress up play clothes and princess wear and  and wear it over and over. Keegan and her daddy were the last ones allowed to ride the Alice in Wonderland ride on this night. (See Nona smile.) The Cheshire Cat reportedly wanted her costume off before the night was over told her mom that she was ready to be Kennedy again. How cute is that?

Topsy Turvy

A few years ago, I started a project at Art Fiber Fest called Topsy Turvy, under the direction of the fabulous Roxanne Padgett, which was done minus a little detail stitching. Today she finally got the finishing touches which took all of ten minutes, making me wonder why I waited so long. But, here she is, all done, the newest playmate for my little K's. The last time Keegan saw her, she would not let her go, falling asleep with her in her arms. She is two dolls in one and can't wait to meet Kennedy and play with her two sister friends!

If you were one of these...

what store would I find you in? I currently am on the outlook for more of these and don't know where to get them. I have them from three different stores, one of which is no longer in business, one of which has no more and doesn't know where to buy them and one for which I do not have contact info. So if any of you know who makes them or where to get them, please fill me in, in the comments or by emailing me at janeeileen@hotmail.com.   Thanks kindly in advance.

The Stack

So, the other day when I was getting my exercise by surfing the net, I came across an opportunity. Seth, over at the Altered Page, took a photo of a stack of journals he had sitting around begging to be photographed. Yep, it started something. You can find out more about it here:
http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/2011/09/paper-stacks.html
Anyone who wants to, can submit a photo of a stack of their own and have it be part of his online project which is scheduled to go public on Wednesday 9-21-11 with links to other stacks. Above is my stack. I can't wait to see the rest.

Playing with Debbie/Fabric Friends

Earlier in the week, I trekked over to Frenzy Stamper. I needed to take care of some business for my class coming up on September 17th. With that taken care of, Debbie of all things Frenzy, and I played away the rest of the day making flowers, having lunch, and giggling, and stuff.   : )

Here are some of the flowers I made. They are not all done yet. Several of them are actually more than one flower, but they are stacked so the smaller flower looks like the middle layer or the center. I may sew them all together later when I am done playing.  Every time I see a fiber flower somewhere, I disect it with X-ray eyes and try to figure it out. I have about 30 different ideas of how to make a variety of looks and at least 10 places you could use them in art creations that I am experimenting with.

As I am playing around, I am discovering different ways to get the job done. I need to see if there is enough interest to hold a class. I have accumulated lots of sheers and nets and fancy fabrics and ribbons from a variety of sources, so this could be very fun. At least there would be a lot to choose from supply-wise. If  you have a comment about these, I would love to hear it as feedback for future planning.

While I was there, another customer came in who deals with fabric samples. Before she left, she gifted me some samples that were discontinued. Jackpot! I think I have a magic magnet on my forehead that attracts amazing people who just give me things that end up in projects such as this. Several of the materials in these flowers came along a similar path. What's not to love about fabric friends?

Special Orders for Fabulous People

These are photos of the custom order I mentioned in the last post. I finished it up and had it all packed and taped when I realized that I forgot to take the photos. The buyer found out what happened and offered to send me photos. How sweet is that?

Now I am busy working on another special order for a little K who wants to be Alice in Wonderland for Halloween. She is going to a very special party and must have the right dress. This is how far I am with more to follow after a fitting. The dress forms are doing their job, but with a big party like this one, we have to measure twice and cut once, so to speak. With the bottom of the pinafore, the facing on the neck, elastic in the sleeves, side seams, and hemming all around done, we should be good to go. When this is done, then there will be a Cheshire Cat costume for another littler K who is going to the same party. But that is another weekend.

Studio Update

When you are the child of a librarian and a musician, sometimes the organized side and the creative side start to argue. Should I create? Should I organize?  With the fabric side of my life taking up more and more time than the paper side, I woke up on Saturday and decided that all the paper stuff HAD to go to one side of the studio and all the fabric stuff HAD to go to the other and all the common supplies had to be in the middle. This resulted in a two day rearrangement of my "stuff." But it is done now, thank goodness, and I am happy with it. I wanted to do it for a long time, but just never got around to it. I had never unpacked all my totes and suitcases of supplies from Art Unraveled or Create, so I took on this task and then unpacked so I would only have to move the packings one time. Above is one shot of the fabric side. As you can see, I am not the world's greatest photographer. Sorry!

I finished yesterday, then got to work on my samples for upcoming classes at Frenzy Stamper that I am teaching. The Double Double Class requires examples in various stages of completion so I can demo. each step. Here is one sample that only needs the pages sewn in and the ribbon tie sewn down. I have been experimenting with different ways to make flowers and I needed an embellishment for this journal, so I chose a flower idea I had never tried before (although they look a lot like some flowers I made before from circles of fabric), so I could see if it would actually turn out the way I envisioned it. I think it worked well. If you want to join us at the next Double Double class, there are still a few spaces left. Details are in the margin, and you can sign up by contacting me (janeeileen@hotmail.com) or calling the store, although Frenzy is closed for the holiday until the 8th of Sept. There are a few spaces in my other classes as well.

I got the studio done just in time, because today I need to work on a custom order for someone. I found some cool goodies for it while rearranging yesterday, so it is partly done already. I might put a picture of it here later, after the buyer has a chance to hold it and look at it herself. I gave her a choice of seeing a picture before I mail it tomorrow, but she is up for a surprise, so I don't want to give it away 'til after that. Stay tuned.

And The Winner Is...

Barbara!

Barbara said...
i love this book I gotta have it! You are so talented!
August 14, 2011 10:41 AM

Please contact me to let me know how to get your journal to you.
janeeileen@hotmail.com
Thanks to everyone who put their name in.

It's a Giveaway!

It's time for another giveaway. If you would like to receive the book below mailed to your address free of charge, just leave any comment. I will post the winner next Saturday. If your name is picked, I will ask you to email me privately with your mailing address within a week of the announcement. That simple. International viewers are welcome to comment, too.
This funky journal has random papers and writable surfaces such as ledger paper, primary paper, watercolor paper, cardstock,etc. plus two envelopes waiting to be filled with your photos, art, writing, whatever makes your heart happy. The front and back covers have fabric pockets to hold things like pens, stuff you want to put in, or what have you. It measures appoximately 6.5 inches by 9 inches, or 23x16 cm. The outside is made of fabric selvages.
By the way, when I was double checking my spelling of selvage, I came across this blog you might be interested in if you like selvages, too!
http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/

This Can Only Mean One Thing!

This is a partial picture of one of the tables in my studio. It's not my fault. Really. One of my favorite students suggested I come up with another Halloween class, so I did. This is most of the 31 piles that each make one page for a black wire mesh "page a day" calendar. All the pages are numbered, so you can turn one page a day from 1 to 31 or countdown style from 31 to 1 counting down the days 'til Halloween. Here is aneak preview of some of the pages:

It's gonna be fun, and you can come if you wanna. Here are the details!

Saturday, September 17 10am-5pm with a break for lunch

Halloween Countdown $50. Class size limit: a spooky 13

Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, AZ 480.946.0007 Call or visit the website to sign up.
Price includes the metal mesh tray, scary skeleton, papers, embellishments, doodads, and all supplies not on the list!
Supplies to bring: Glue, standard size one hole punch, scissors
Optional: Sewing machine with needles and bobbins, If you choose not to sew, you may glue this project. Three machines will be available to share, for no additional charge. 


Thanks ever so much!

I just wanted to say thank you again to all the wonderful people who stopped by the See Jane run table to talk to Jeane and me and to buy things today at Art Unraveled. It was so rewarding to see people who came back a second year as well as the new faces. The day was an amazing success in a number of ways. I have my teaching schedule on the sidebar of this blog for those of you who are interested and available to come. Even though all the classes are not yet posted on the Frenzy site yet, you can still call the store and sign up. All of the classes except the Halloween countdown have pictures on other posts, and the info. on how to access them is also in the sidebar. When I get that all squared away, I also plan to have a giveaway. Stay tuned for that.

A Sneak Peek: Art Unraveled

Art Unraveled is just around the corner! I will be participating in The Teacher Showdown Competion, Meet the Teacher, taking a few classes, vending, and teaching my Double Double class (There's still room and still sewing machines available, if you want to come. Details are the sidebar of this blog.) You will receive enough materials and "patterns" to make two different sized books, so this really is double. Below are pictures of the kits my students will receive for participating in the fun. This is only the part that goes in the class folder. Fabrics, ribbons, more papers, etc. are in a separate sharing place. Among the things inside the individualized folder are personalized labels for their books, a little gift certificate to my table at the shopping extravaganza, and a sewing badge, just for fun. Below these pictures are samples of finished Double Doubles, so easy to make, even a beginner can do them!

And since people have been wondering what I will be selling at the extravaganza, here are a few sneak peeks since I can't post them all. I will also have some fabrics, rubber stamps, and miscellaneous supplies.

Cigar boxes that can be used as purses or for storing precious memories and goodies

Notebooks in different sizes, greeting cards, postcards, etc. from my Scrappy Paper Collection featured in a recent edition of Sew Somerset Magazine

And lots of journals in various designs, staring with some Double Doubles

that when open look like this

One of my Barely Bare White Journals, (great for babies, weddings, vintage photos, christenings, or everyday occasions), Sew Scrappy Journals, Selvage Journals and one Black and White Journal

You can click on any photo and make it larger. This actually helps with the glare and my bad photography skills, so you can see the details better.

I'm so looking forward to seeing old friends, working with my students, and making new friends as well.

Stronger Every Day

It's a funny thing, the kid and me. When people meet my four-year-old granddaughter and me, the most common response is, "You two look just alike." The funny thing is that I am discovering we think a LOT alike as well. Before she was even a year old, I had her in a fabric store, and she reached out to touch bolts of fabric as we went by. When I stopped and allowed her to do so, she smiled and giggled. She didn't do this in the other aisles of the same store. Hmmm. She loves being in the studio and talks about making clothes and what goes with what. Yes, really. She knows just what I like and what I can tolerate. She knows the difference between when my checking into something is what she calls "an emergency" and when what lies before us is just not worth noting.
Yesterday, when she was sleeping, I was looking for a good online tutorial for something. Now, there are A)some darn good tutorials out there, and B)some exceptions to that, disappointing for a variety of reasons. Once in a while, you just get what you pay for when somethin's free. Anyway, when she awoke from her little nap, she came in and took a seat near me, to the right and sort of behind me, where she couldn't see my face. She watched in silence. It was one of those category B tutorials, no doubt. I was wondering what she was thinking being so quiet, but said nothing. At the close of the video, she broke the silence with, "Nona, does that just make you want to cry?" If that hadn't been so funny, I may have, but you gotta love a kid when you know that your bond gets stronger every day.

We're In Cahoots, It's Official

I feel like I could have a heart attack. While just messing around today with "the devices," I discovered that I could take one of Keegan's iPad designs, download it to a company that will transfer it to custom made fabric. That has been done, and I am just waiting for the mailman. Here is her original design:

When I downloaded this to the fabric site, I got to choose the way it would be printed and chose a mirror pattern. The result can be seen here.


I think it is pretty amazing, and I love the way a set of K's came out in the mirrored image. This will become part of a dress for her. Those little dress forms won't be naked for long! We are officially in cahoots!

Heart Racing / Just Ain't My Style

I didn't realize how far I had drown myself in my day job until I started looking in to new possibilities of how to spend my life. Don't get me wrong, I had a plan. I started easing in to being an artist, submitting to publications, teaching adult art classes, making sure I would have supplies so I wouldn't be need to be running to the store every five minutes, so to speak, several years ago. I didn't want to be one of those people who are so lost when retirement comes that they just go back to work for anything to do. I thought I knew what I was getting into, and I did, but only to some degree. I forgot what it felt like to feel my heart race, but it has all come back to me several times since June 2nd. When your heart skips a beat, you know you, you remember it, and you realize how you have missed it.
The most recent skipping can be attributed to what is in the photos below. They came yesterday. I raced downstairs when I heard the doorbell, opened the box and put them together immediately. They are dress forms in child sizes 3-4 and 5-6. Are they stinking adorable or what? I considered putting jewelry or fabric on them first, but decided that will come later. In the last few days, I have been thinking not only about what these two will be wearing but what fabric and designs will be incorporated into the clothes. Don't be surprised if you see some hand painted fabric or something you may have seen on one of my journal designs in the clothes that are coming. I won't be limiting myself to ordinary stuff. Just ain't my style.

Life's Workbook

In between all the life happening around me, I have been busy in my "workbook," recently once for 8 hours straight. Joy. If you read the words, I will warn you that some of these are written in the language of "Jane," so don't waste your time trying to decode what they really mean or the subject matter. K, loves? Really. Pages that seem to go with one another really do not, perhaps there is an unintentional transition there.
Most people call them journals, and I do too, when I revert to old habits. Somehow, I just like the idea of workbook better, and since it is my book, it is what is is, no?
I have always loved workbooks, way back as far as I can remember even as a little kid. I would pause at the section of the grocery store that sold workbooks and coloring books. I never remember wishing I could get the coloring books, but what I would have done to get one of those workbooks and taken it home, filled it out so neat and as perfect as possible. In the book I am working in now, I am experimenting with loose leaf pages again, since I want to be able to take the pages out and sew on them when I feel so moved and then put them back in. This also allows me to work ahead on as many pages as I wish, then find the perfect page for the perfect day and move it up in my workbook, so it stays as close in chronological order as possible. Anyway, here are a few of my pages. Some of these I started back when I was doing Journal Club with the girls at middle school this past school year. I have added bits since then, like the little bows on the pointy shoes. My goal is to add more texture to my pages using 3D objects other than paper and paint.

When we started Journal Club, we used old datebooks. I wanted the students to see how they could repurpose books for journalling without having to buy or make a book. Later we actually made our own fabric covered hard bound books. The first two spreads were to show the girls some examples on how to use the space.

I think this might be one of my all time favorite spreads.

It is kind of hard to see from the photo, but the spinner is actually clear and attached with glue dots. It is from an old game, and "jumps" off the page in real life.

This one has secret messages under each layer of stacked paper.

This is the page with real ribbon bows I tied and glued on the shoes, a picture from a magazine. The lesson 2 flap can be raised up. There is a secret message underneath as well. Kitty is one of the code words from "Jane."