ponderings

Art journaling samples from class I taught in Spain...

Here are a few of the samples I made while teaching my art journaling class in Spain. The class was centered around layering and building up work with many different layers. All of these samples went home with sweet-hearted students. :)

 

 

 

 

Inky Fingers class layouts...

For the sweet Norwegian gals...here are the 3 layouts from the Inky Fingers class.

 

 

 

 

 

In praise of Ed Roth...and a giveaway!

So, a few months ago I was browsing the Phoenix Art Museum bookstore and I picked up a book called "Stencil 101." As I flipped through it, I got so excited that I let out a little scream. The book is full of tutorial and project ideas for stencils...and BEST of all, there were 25 stencils included. Now, these stencils are not your typical hearts and ponies...no, they are urban and cool and I was so utterly inspired. I immediately began using the stencils in my work.

The sweet man who wrote this book, Ed Roth, recently contacted me after seeing his stencil on the cover of Somerset Memories. My scrapbook page, which is on the cover, is an imprint of Ed's swallow stencil (I was using the stencil and it became coated with ink. I flipped it over & pressed it onto a piece of cardstock to blot it, and the result was the imprint you see on the page. I simply let it dry and cut it out.)

 

I often get emails about the stencils I use in my work...and 9 times out of 10, the stencil came from Ed's book. Seriously. If you don't have it run, don't walk, run and get it.

Here are a few of my pages using his fab stencils:

 

 

 

 

I guess what I really love about Stencil 101 is that those stencils made MY work better. And that is the highest compliment I can give.

And...super exciting...Ed has another book coming out! It's called Stencil 101: Decor, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I start to drool just looking at it...exciting!

Ed and Chronicle Books have a surprise for you! They are generously giving me one copy of each of his books (Stencil 101 and Stencil 101: Decor) to give away! I will choose one winner for each book from the comments left on this post...I'll draw the winner(s) in a week. Sound good?

And seriously, you need Ed's books. Check out his site, too, for all kinds of info, how-to tips, inspiration, and other stencils you can buy.

Thanks, Ed, for the inspiration you have given me!

A 6x6 quickie collage...

While hanging out in France & watching all the talented scrappers do their thing, I started making little 6x6 quickie collages on some chipboard I had left over. Here's one...quick & fun. It felt great to just sit & create for a bit. This one was a gift for a gal who couldn't come to the event--her friend asked me to make her something. What a thoughtful friend!

 

 

And...I just remembered today I promised the awesome Norwegian girls that I'd post the layouts from my class I taught there. I'll get them photographed today & posted tonight or tomorrow...sound good?

Bit of scrapping...

I can't tell you how awesome the other teachers were in Norway & France...Oddborg, Tracie, Celine, and Karine all inspired me greatly! During Karine's class, I was inspired by her layout and I made this. I didn't have any photos with me, but Corinne did, so I used her photo and she took the layout home. Thanks for the inspiration, Karine!

 

Art from my Europe trip...

I did some small art pieces during my trip (most of which I gave away to sweet students)...and over the next few days I'll share some of them. I did make it home with this canvas...

 

Catching up...

I have oodles of pictures to edit, and no time to do it (yet). Here are a few shots from Montpellier...Celine's event was so fun! Great people, great projects...loved every second of it. It was great to hang out with Celine and Karine, and well as Corinne and Denise. The scrappers at the event were fearless! They are super talented and adventurous, and I love that.

Loved this statue...notice someone climbed up & put a red pirate hat on one of the figures...lol!

 

Montpellier is a lovely city...skinny alleys and iron grates, lots of gorgeousness! Loved the cool doors, too.

 

Headed to Spain and the lovely and talented Lisa Mitchell housed me all week. We had so much fun eating, walking, shopping, and art-ing. This picture makes me smile b/c we are out of focus, but the Boqueria market behind us is crystal clear. We ate at the famous El Quim lunch counter. Everything was fantastically delicious! Lisa was brave enough the order the house specialty of baby squid over fried eggs. I did taste it & it was lovely. We also had butiferra, fried artichokes, and asparagus wrapped in bacon. Fab.

 

Had a great time teaching the workshops there...so many talented scrappers & artists!

 

I so love Barcelona...I'm sure I'll return over and over again.

 

It feels great to be home, it was so awesome to get off the plane and see my fellas. Lots of hugs & love all around!

And the winner of my class pass is....

WOW! So many comments, you guys really know how to make a girl smile. Thanks so much!! I am in the south of France, and the wonderful Corinne Delis drew a winner for the drawing. The winner is:

How much fun! Consider my hand raised.

Posted by: Nicole | October 24, 2009 at 02:56 PM

Congrats, Nicole!! Just email me for how to get access to the class.

I am off to pack and go to bed...headed to Barcelona tomorrow! The workshops here were awesome, I will blog about that in a day or two.

Last day in Paris, or, why Reed wishes the kids were with us...

Usually when I travel with the kidlets, I always say, "Stand over there and I'll take your picture!" Well, the kidlets are at home doing homework, so guess who got to be in all my photos? Poor Reed. lol!

First, here's the view out of our hotel window...c'est magnifique!

 

Here is Reed and La Joconde...aka Mona Lisa. They don't let you get anywhere near that painting. To even get this close we had to elbow a few unsuspecting tourists. Sometimes it helps to be freakishly taller than everyone else. I suspect La Jaconde really wishes she didn't have to peer out through bullet-proof glass. The sheen quite ruins the effect of her beguiling smile.

 

Here's Reed in front of Winged Victory (dating from 200 BC).

 

Reed in one of the galleries...isn't he patient?

 

Reed trying to blend in with a tour group in front of the Venus de Milo...she's one popular chick, getting closer to her was worse than getting close to the Mona Lisa.

 

The obligatory "I walked down the most touristy street in Paris and stopped in front of the Arc de Triomphe" shot.

 

The elevator in our hotel...it fits 2 Parisiens or 1 chubby American. We're thinking when we check out, we'll just throw our luggage down the 5 flights of stairs. :) When we checked in, I told the man at the hotel desk that the elevator was "cute." He said, "you won't think so after four days." lol! For the record, I still think it's cute.

 

Our stay in Paris was far too short...we'll be back for sure to explore more of this lovely city. I'm off to Montpellier tomorrow!

Wanna win a pass to my AJ301 class?

Just leave me a comment...I'll draw the winner on Sunday night! :)

Class starts 10/27!

 

 

Beautiful Chartres Cathedral...

Took the train to Chartres today (about an hour outside of Paris) to visit the incredible Chartres cathedral. Stunning!! We loved it...especially climbing the North tower (300 steps, whew!).

Here's Reed walking towards the cathedral...

The cathedral is known for its amazing stained glass windows, some of them dating to the 12th century...

Gorgeous...

 

We really loved this choir screen, carved with biblical scenes...

The incredible view from the North tower...

 

Beautiful!

A few pics from Norway...

The internet connection in the Paris hotel is S-L-O-W...but here are a few pics from beautiful Norway. The Papirfest event was wonderful, a true pleasure! I loved teaching there! A big thanks to May Lis and Mari for taking great care of me.

Stavanger is lovely...here's the "most colorful street in Norway."

Beautiful "old" Stavanger...all historic houses.

 

May Lis and Mari talked me out of going on the boat cruise to the fjord...and if you take a look at this wind, I think their advice was wise...

 

Saw some old viking dwellings...way cool....

 

The BEST thing about teaching is meeting fabulous people...fellow teacher Oddborg is super sweet, and oh-so-talented. I've admired her work for ages! It was so fun to meet her IRL. (And holy freak, do I need to start coloring my gray, or what. Me = bad hair. Wow.)

 

Also got to meet two more of my favorite scrappers--Ania (who is on the Hambly DT with me) and Tracie (scrapper extraordinaire, who also taught at Papirfest). Awesome, awesome gals, I so enjoyed laughing with them and being inspired by their talent.

 

And, I have to say, Norwegian scrappers have MAD talent. Seriously. They should have been teaching classes to me! I adore them.

 

 

And, um, yeah, I bought just a little bit of chocolate.

 

We're enjoying Paris immensely...will try to load some pics tomorrow. Off to eat another chocolate croissant. Or two.

Hanging out in a hotel in Norway...

and I thought I'd post my Kenner Road layouts...go check out the gallery! There are so many great ideas, you'll be inspired to scrap for sure!

 

 

 

 

Norway is gorgeous...and the leaves are turning so I get to see some autumn colors. Guess what I forgot to bring? My flash card reader...ugh. So no pics until next week when Reed meets me in Paris & can bring it. I really, really wish I could sleep on an airplane...I'm getting old and staying awake for 28 hours at a time pretty much does me in. Next time I'll go to the doctor first & get Ambien or Xanax...lol!

Boo!

I actually scrapped a simple Halloween layout...shocker. I have to say I am terrible at scrapping holidays. Terrible. For some cute ideas, check out the Hambly blog...the DT has started posting little tutorials, and the projects are awesome!

 

Kenner Road peeks for Oct...

Had a blast working with the October Kenner Road kit...you will love it! It goes up for sale on 10/14 at 9:00 p.m.

 

 

October Kitschy Digitals...

Remember that you can get the fabulous Kitschy Digitals goodies 2 ways: 1. as digital elements (I print them out on cardstock), and 2. pre-printed embellishment sheets. Either way, I love 'em.

 

 

  

Learn how to make these shimmery Fall trees...

at the Maya Road Design Team blog. :)

Covers are done....

If you haven't guessed...I made one of these journals last month, and am making another one as I write the class. This is the pages & covers of the second journal, ready to be bound together.

See this layout? Find out how I made it...

at the {entreARTistes} blog.

Getting ready to sew the binding...

We're using the copic method to bind the journal...it's simple and the exposed spine looks cool.