Needlework with Beads

I had the opporunity to take a workshop with Eileen Neill from Qualicum Beach, BC at Corolla's Quilt Shop last Thursday. What a talented fibre, mixed media and embellishment aratist. Eileen generously allowed us to take photo's of her work and I am posting them here for you to enjoy. They will be here for a couple of weeks and then I will remove them. Eileen is a fabulous instructor and throughout the day, she was able to show us (with time to practice on our own) all of the stitiches you see in her small sampler hangings. These are 4" X 4" in size and include the seed stitich, lazy stitich, back stitch, couching stitch, picot edging, doubt picot edging and lace stitch. We also learned how to do a spider web in order to attach objects that do not have holes. We did a stop stitich, branch stitch, fringe and branched fringe as well as a zigzag fringe and spriral fringe. And we did the netting that you see at the bottom of her samplers. Now to be able to go back and do them again, which hopefully won't be difficult because Eileen supplied us with great instructions. Eileen can be contacted at 250.752.8684 or by email at eileenneill@shaw.ca

Iris Fold Christmas Card

Iris folding is a fun way to make beautiful greeting cards. In this class you will fold and layer strips of decorative papers to make these simple and effective Christmas cards.

Waterfall Card

Saturday, November 13th from 1:30 to 3:00

I've had a request to teach the waterfall card. I've checked my schedule and the above date works for me. Does it work for you? I won't be doing alot of these card classes so if you are interested, here is your chance. In this class you will go away with 2 cards and lots of ideas for more. Join me. If a Saturday isn't good and an evening would be better, call me and we'll work out another date. If you have a Fiskar's cutter, please bring it along to the class. $15

Your Own Personal Journal from Recycled Covers

Owen has the Hardy Boy collection. He had a duplicate copy of #17, The Secret Warning that had been damaged so I removed the block text, reused the covers and rebound fresh journaling pages inside. I've added a pocket and a envelope to store any little piece of emphemera I find along the way. This is my favorite aesthetic journal. I use them for taking notes, art ideas, sayings, studio stuff and my my deepest secrets! $30

You will need to bring a book with a hard cover that you don't mind removing the text from. Your local second hand store has tons if you don't. The cover can have an image, text or be plain. The choice it yours. It should be no larger than 5.5 inches X 8.5 inches.

Star Album

Monday, November 15 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

I think I have taught this class a few dozen times. It's definately a popular workshop. Probably because this album allows the participants to create something that they can then go home and 'scrapbook' by adding photo's and titles to have as a memory. The Star Album makes a great thank you gift, or reunion souvenier or perhaps a special Christmas or wedding mini photo album, or baby brag book; ~the ideas are endless. Once you know the trick, they are fast and easy. You will go away with two of these little gems and I know you will want to make more. $30

Beaded Spine Journal

Wednesday, November 24, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

This has been one of the most popular workshops in the studio. It's a sweet journal to dress up with beautiful decorated or handmade papers and then embellished with delicate pretty little beads. Once you have filled the pages, they are easy to replace for a fresh start to journaling. $30

Little Leather Book

In this workshop you will create a mini leather booklace. The V-stitch is a binding technique that sews in 3 signatures, allowing a whole lot of pages to journal in, take notes in, or just doodle. Once you've made one, you will have the skills to make any size leather journal. What a great gift. $30

Wrap It Up

Build a personal journal with a corrugated wrap around jacket. Add a pocket and an envelope or two. Decorate the spine with colourful threads and beads and then use your lovely new journal for traveling, lists, notes, memories or just about anything else you can think of. It also makes a lovely gift. A light lunch/snack will be provided. $45

Collage Art Journal

Monday, November 22nd & Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 10 am - 1 pm.

Create Your Own Collage Art Journal. Go through the steps of building your own journal from a 22" x 30" piece of watercolour paper, sewing the pages, then painting your pages and learning how to decorate them. $60

You will need:
. Watercolour paper, 22" X 30", 140# hot press. I will have some availabe for purchase at cost.
. Your favorite markers and pens to decorate your pages and journal with. My favorite journaling pens are Poster Paint markers by Sharpie. I buy the extra fine, fine and medium. My favorite colours are white and black. It's fun to collect a whole range of colours. You use to be able to find them at Opus or DeSerres.
. Chalks, oil pastels, crayons - I will have a supply to work with.
. An apron on Saturday incase you are messy and don't want paint on your clothes.
. A need to be creative, an open mind to explore and be prepared to have fun.

Art Journals are on-going projects that you are always adding to. This journal continues to morph!

Never A Naked Envelope

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 7 pm to 9:30 pm

Some of you have heard me say, 'never a naked envelope'. Imagine your friends or family receiving a card or letter from you with an envelope that you have decorated to match it's stamp, or your life style or the card inside. They will be delighted. You will receive a little supply package with a couple of postage stamps in it as well as envelopes but you may want to visit the post office and pick up a selection of postage stamps of your choice and bring them along. You will also learn how easy it is to make your own envelopes. Bring your address book. $30
I will be posting photo's soon so please come back and have a look.

My Block Plaque AKA Karen Michel

I had to try it and viola, here is my 'Cherish' Block Plaque AKA Karen Michel. It was a ton of fun and anything goes. Now that I have my 'prototype', I intend to do more. Perhaps one featuring my trip to Alaska - A gift for sister Karen to thank her for being such a wonderful sister and gracious host. Oh and maybe one for sister Deb too, for being a wonderful sister. I'm so lucky. Ahhh, and maybe I'll do one for an upcoming birthday. They are so cool.

Remember, breathe deep and let your light shine. Nadine

Visiting Alaska

MOOSES. Moose are an everyday experience in Alaska. This guy was at the side of the road and didn't care if we were there or not. Just munching away.

Mo's Birthday Card to Me

Mary Mouat's Birthday Gift to Me

Mary did this piece in a workshop with Karen Michel. Isn't it wonderful?

Art Work by Ty & Marcia Schultz

I love Ty and Marcia's art. Not only are they amongst the neatest, artiest people I know; they are lots of fun. I was fortunate enough to get my choice of the work they had for sale at Artfest. This was my favorite and it now hangs in the studio.

Poppets Gone Bad

We had alot of fun with this little project. It was our journal page for Our Deb to take home to California. Top photo: Created by Deb M Bottom photo: Created by yours truly

Artfest was so many wonderful things. For starts, there was the opportunity to spend good quality time with my dear friend, Mary. We share years of ART growing pains and it only gets better as the time passes. And then there are my 6W roomies and equally dear friends, Mary (ofcourse), Janice, Mo, Deb M, and Our Deb. Our Deb comes with a story but suffice to say she is the token, non Canadian, but she is learning. And there was Ty and Marcia who spent their quality waking hours with us when they weren't teaching - our part time roomies!

Top Row: Nadine, Janice, Mo
Bottom Row: Our Deb, Deb M, Mary
6W Reunion 2009

Every year we each hone a little corner of the dining room table that becomes ours for the 4 nights at Fort Worden. The table, laden with art supplies, chocolate, licorice, and wine, never sees the light of day. Projects and chatter glide across the the smooth surface while laughter bounces off the walls.

Teesha, Michelle, Bee, Dawn, Tracie Lyn and Marylin, Penelope, JoAnne, Jacque, Lynne, Laurie, Donna, Lizard, Dorta, KD, and so many, many more… 554 to be exact. It was wonderful, insightful, and fun. Is that the first time I mentioned fun? My classes this year were the best. Thank you Laurie, Judy and Ty and Marcia for making Artfest my creative sanctuary and jump starting a whole mess of new projects. I brought home an armload of trades from the folks I know and see every year and from the ‘festal virgins’. Great little trades that I will look at time and time again. For those of you who didn’t sign your trade or include a business or moo card, be sure to next time. How will I ever know to thank you when we meet again.

My Portable Shadowbox Shrine from Laurie Mika's class

Port Townsend is a wonderful little village full of delightful shopping experiences. The town folk and proprietors welcome the Artfest attendees with open arms and ‘tills’. I’m sure we give the local economy a big boost after a long winter. If you haven’t experienced Port Townsend, DO. It offers many different events throughout the year, has many delicious eateries and tons of eye candy and art. The heritage buildings have all been restored and are open as fabulous B & B's.

Thank you Teesha and Tracy for another fabulous ARTFEST experience. Visit Teesha’s site and learn more about Teesha, Artfest, ArtfibreFest and JournalFest at www.teeshamoore.com.

Off to Artfest

The week of Artfest has finally arrived. For those of you who have heard me expound about it for the past 4 months, you’ll be happy to know that I will return on the 5th full of inspiration and energy. Check out Artfest at http://www.teeshamoore.com/ and go to Retreats. Woah, I’m getting excited. I’m packing my trades, supplies and bags. I’m so looking forward to reuniting with my AF friends and meeting new ones. I have some great classes. Laurie Mika’s Portable Shadow Box Shines, Judy Wise’s Photographic Memory and Ty and Marcia’s Heavy Metal. Sounds pretty cool, huh?

2009 marks a reunion year for the six of us that stay in Officers Housing 6W (Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA). Three of us didn’t make it last year for various reasons, and after a disappointing cancellation of our workshop at Hacienda Mosaico in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we are anxious to sit around the dining room table late into the night, laughing hysterically, imbibing a little (well some more than others but I’m not telling) and probably making an outrageous amount of noise. But the art that transpires around the table is truly something to behold. And that’s the evenings, I could tell you about the days but that will wait for another post. I get so ‘cranked’ at Artfest – you are all invited to come by the studio when I return and see what I have created while hanging out with a bunch of crazed mixed media artists, the trades I have gathered, and ofcourse my purchases. There are always my purchases!! Vendors Night: Where many of the instructors, attendees and others sell their work and mixed media products. And I always make time to spend in Port Townsend. A seaside community chocked full of eye candy and tickling treats. Hmmm, like that mini phrase ‘tickling treats’! Included are a couple of photos of the trades I’m taking to share with others.

The holidays brought lots of snow, power outages and difficult roads. But we settled in next to the fire, played games, watched movies, ate, chatted, slept, read and did all of those wonderful relaxing things that seem to elude us at this time of year. Walks in the brisk fresh air and deep snow gave us good reason to chow down on all of the sweets that were in the house. We have promised ourselves in the new year to stay healthy, keep fit and eat right. And most of all to remember our friends and loved ones and to share in the joy of living in such a beautiful place and to be blessed with a WONDERFUL LIFE.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

And what a wonderful Thanksgiving it was. To be home, to be on the road to good health and to have family and friends to share turkey dinner(s) with. We in Canada, have so much to be thankful for.

We cannot forget that today we get to vote. To select a voice to represent us as our Member of Parliment. Not an easy choice and not one taken lightly.

I am having loads of fun in the studio. Last weekend, the 6 Dub gals got together at Art Escape Studio and spent 3 days and 3 nights full of laughs, food, drinks, fun, art, art, and more art, laughs and copious amounts of alcohol and did I mention laughs. It was so nice to spend an unedited weekend with good friends. We sorely missed Our Deb from San Diego who was unable to make it to Canada for the weekend but we sent her a 'care' package that included a journal full of cards that we each made over the course of the weekend.

All is well.....

Half Moom Bay Retreat

Um Bailey, Um Bailey, Um Bailey, Huh!