December Classes...a month late!

(warning: really long post ahead...)

I have been meaning to post photos of our December session of Collage Collage, as well as the two Holiday Ornament classes, but, as was probably the case for most of you, December got a bit hectic. Better late than never, let me introduce you to the third group of lovely ladies we hosted for this latest "College":

(I made these name-tags in the style of a collage artist whose work I admire, Marsha Jorgensen.  You can check her out here).  Everyone got right to work, finding the monogram initials they liked and then creating their little house-and-map charms. Busy, busy,busy....

And here are the final products (be sure to click on this one to see larger):

Aren't the 'wonky' houses cute?  Wish my photo was clearer (didn't get the fancy camera for Christmas....)

At the second class, everyone worked diligently on their coasters, combining a variety of images to make some wonderful collages.

   

Nancy looking awfully cute as she gathers her materials. 

Nancy pulled together these pretty rosy pink stamps and images, but ended up not using them (love how beautiful they look in this photo, though):

Crissy showing off her handiwork.
 

Finished coasters:

 

 Robyn worked so hard, she started seeing double!

 

Now,on to our first ornament class.  This is the extra one we added early in December because the original ornament class scheduled later in December filled so quickly.  We used beveled glass to make some very charming 2 x 3" keepsakes for the tree.  A twisted wire (lotsa fun to twist wire with a power drill) decorative loop was added as a hanger, and baubles (chandelier crystals, jingle bells, etc.) dangled from jump-rings on the bottom. Each one was so unique.  True labors of love. Many were made as gifts---I'm sure the recipients loved them!

 

 crafty in-laws!

  

Lots of laughs with hilarious Joan:

Familiar faces...

 

And finally, our last class of 2009, the second ornament class.  We must have been really busy that night, because we failed to take any pictures of our students hard at work!  But rest assured.... Judy, Colleen, Kari, Beth, and Debbie all put their hearts and souls into these little masterpieces:

 

Thank you  to all of you who took our first wave of classes!!  We ended the year so pleased that we jumped into this new venture,  and so grateful to wonderful friends who supported us.  And now we can't wait to start the new classes in the new year!!  The flyers should have arrived in mailboxes starting today, and we already have a bunch of sign ups!   Sneak peek of new projects coming in future posts.  If you need to download another new class schedule, go to the sidebar on the right of this post, to print one out.

New Classes on the Calendar!

Still don't have time to do a "real" post, but wanted to let everyone know we've put our new class flyer together and it's going in the mail tonight.

We've added a couple of new classes that promise to be lots of fun!  If you want to take a look, click on the link in the sidebar on the right to download the flyer.  You can print out a copy if you'd like an extra registration form to send in.  Hope to hear from you. And HAPPY NEW YEAR, belatedly!

More Later...

Just a quickie post to put this photo up.  This is from the last Holiday Ornament class (click on photo to enlarge).  I still need to post pictures from the last Collage College class....really running behind these days!

More to come.

Home-baked Goodness

I am rushing around like a mad hobbit, trying to get ready for Marie's holiday sale, but wanted to do a quick post to show you the domestic goddess Chris in all her Betty-Crocker-glory:

Now, see what you're missing if you don't come over for Collage College??

I hope to post pictures soon of the latest batch of cute charms and coasters our newest class made, as well as the wonderful holiday ornaments that were created last week.  Check back in a few days.  Off now to paint some more............

A Little Glimpse

I am getting ready for a new class tonight, but wanted to do a quick little post to say that I will be participating in Marie Livingston Bullier's annual Holiday Boutique next weekend, Dec. 11-12.  She always puts on a wonderful sale, so I'm tickled to be a part of it.  In addition to a few soldered items (charms, necklaces, ornaments and coasters), I'll have some small mixed-media collaged paintings.

It will be a collection of angel images, collaged with snippets of vintage Scripture and sheet music, etc.  In my illustration work, I do very realistic renderings for Simplicity Pattern Co.  (you can see some of that work here), so this is a nice change for me:  working in a different style, a little more "folk-y" but still painting girls, girls, girls (like I've been doing for 30 years now......Aaaack!).  I'll be selling originals as well as prints made into cards and possibly ornaments.  We'll see how much I get done in the next week!

Meanwhile, I've been pulling everything out of the cupboards for the Holiday Ornament class tonight.  We were only going to be having one class, on the 15th, but had enough interest to have a second.  I CANNOT wait!! I want to make about 50 myself....but that won't happen.  You'll see class results here soon.  I wish my three sisters lived closer---these would be so much fun to do together.  (I miss them so much around the holidays :- (

November CoLLaGE College

Our second session of Collage College was terrific!  What a great bunch of creative participants!!!  I was delighted by everyone's work and just plain enjoyed hanging out with 8 fantastic ladies, including the best partner ever, Chris. (Chris, below, is holding up an actual Mag Rag!) (And notice how cute our students are...)

I've noticed a pattern with our 2-night classes:  in the first class, the students are fairly reserved and it's really hard for me to read if they are enjoying it or if they even 'get it' or if they are overwhelmed or ???  In the week between classes, then I'm convinced they have 'gotten it', because I watch as their little copper-wrapped efforts turn into darling pieces of art.  By Class #2,  they arrive and talk about how much they've been thinking about the possibilities with collage and soldered charms since the previous week, and some even dream about it! And it's waaaay more obvious that they are enjoying themselves.  Plus, they get to see their finished, soldered, shiny charms that were slaved and fussed over in Class 1, and that gets everybody revved up for fun.  And then, by the end of Class 2 in which everyone is so much more confident and experimental, we're all a little disappointed that there isn't a Class #3 the next Tuesday! Anyway, it's fun to observe the dynamics and the comfort level people feel as they get more involved in the process.  I LOVE having these classes and am really looking forward to more in 2010!!!

Here are pictures from Class 1--we had both experienced crafters and several novices, old friends and new.

Working away...

Now on to Class 2!

Showing off their handiwork:

Doesn't she look sweet?:

Now see how sneaky she is?....stealing her sister's charm as she looks the other way:

Meanwhile, the other students are slaving away at their awesome coasters:

And here are the final products:

 

I didn't realize until posting this how Louise captured the word "nightingale" in the sheet music----I think this one is so pretty:

Actually, they are all beautiful!  I'm just so sorry that I didn't get any close-up photos of all the completed little charms this time--just slipped my mind, and now they are spread all over Portland.  I found some new decorative initials and love how they turned out.

Thanks again to everyone who attended November's classes!  Hope to see you at some upcoming classes for more fun!  If you would like to comment and are having difficulty, and/or do not have a Google account, just click on 'comments' below, and then click 'anonymous' on the menu and leave your name at the end of your comment.  I'd love to hear from any readers---it's great to get feedback on these blogs!

And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I know I have much to be thankful for!

Halloween Class was a Hoot!

I'm a little late posting about our Halloween Class--too much candy distracted me!  The bowlful of treats is almost empty now, thank goodness.  Very few trick-or-treaters braved our steep hill, so much was left over.  It's so hard to resist those "fun size" candy bars---since they are so tiny, they must have hardly any calories, right????

Our class had 5 goblins who showed up ready to make some spooky charms.

There was a lot of cutting and pasting going on, and witches and owls were flying all over the place.

I made a new friend who is crafty and clever:

 

And saw old friends who keep showing up at every class :-)

It was a great, ghoulish group!  Chris and I are always thrilled by the wonderful stuff everybody comes up with.

I hope everyone had a chance to wear their spooky jewelry as October came to a close. Thanks to all of the attendees for a terrific class! 

Now it's November already (!) and our regular Collage College sessions start up again one week from tonight.  Chris and I are having a blast putting on these classes, and tweaking them a little as we go along.  We've added a second Holiday Ornament class that filled almost immediately,  and we're busy brainstorming projects we want to do in the new year.  Keep checking back here for updates!

I think I need to have a tiny little Snickers now.....