ARTrails Gala Tonight

Check the link to Artrails for time and place. There will be plenty of music, food and art all for your pleasure. Meet the artists and pick up your tour guide then vote on your favorite piece. Looks like it will be a good weekend to jump in the car and take in the tour. Pick your favorite studios and watch artists at work. Many of the items on my blog will be for sale. Hope to see you along the trail.

side view

paper shoe

Marie Antoinette would have loved this shoe but this one is made of paper. The blue "lace" is paper and the front tongue is quilled with pearl papers and yes even the peacock feather is quilled. The edge treatment for the feather is a combination of verdigris and platinum ink to give a natural iridescent shimmer. I found the buttons, lace and strung glass beads. In the upper picture you can just see the glass heal made fron a mini box knob. you can watch a video and download a template to make your own shoe...Thanks Terri!

high price of framing

This struggle has been going on for some time. Do I use a cheap frame so the customer is paying for the quilling not the frame? This does not present a professional product and your quilling, no matter how beautiful, is bound to suffer. That takes us back to a proper frame and a large expense for the customer. Unless you have personally priced the cost of framing, you can not see why art can be so expensive..."it's only paper" I heard one lady say while looking at my work.
What to do? I buy A7+ card blanks. This is slightly larger than 5X7 (standard size frame) I don't put any text on the front of my cards and on the back I have a label that reads: "suitable for framing" You pay for only the quilling and you can frame it any way you like. You end up with a price on your cards that your work deserves and knowing that your art is not viewed as "disposable" makes me happy. So make those beautiful cards and charge a proper price but be sure to use a high end card sleeve and include a business card too.

Thoughts of Autumn

Have you ever got carried away and have your design blossom into an overblown creation? Well that's what happened here. It was to be a simple tag but now it will require a shadow box frame. Oh well maybe simple just wasn't on my mind. Anyway enjoy.

Location set for Artrails

I will be at the Still Water Estates in Centralia for Artrails this year. Several other artist will be there too. The third and fourth weekend in September. I will have framed pieces, Christmas ornaments, 3-D work such as boxes and journals, and cards. I will also be doing quilling demonstrations all day on all four days. Check the side panel for more info.

Christmas in July?

It has begun. I am working on Christmas items both for Artrails and the tea shop. Have you started your Christmas cards?
This is an ornament about 5 inches in diameter. It has no backing so the back of it had to be as neat and clean as the front. There are ASL, Wheatear, marquise, teardrop, tight coil, V scroll, and heart scroll. There are five shades of red and just as many shades of green. I used both 1/8 and 1/16 inch wide strips. The candle is fill work.

Visit to Victoria

Just got back from visiting with the Victoria Canada quilling group. What a great group. Claire Choi demonstrated her mums and carnations then showed us how to make one of her beautiful butterflies. I also got to Visit the Sooke Regional Museum and see Jenny Matthews show.

Quilling Supplies at Scrap Happy

I am so excited to announce Scrap Happy in Longview WA is now stocking great quilling supplies: Paplin paper packs, several really good quilling books, tools including 45 and 90 degree metal fringers and crimpers, several different rolling tools, and some kits too. Click at the side panel for her blog. My first beginner's class is coming in May.

Spring is here!

Available now at the Porcelain Rose Tea Shop: New Spring, Easter and Mother's Day cards in pretty spring colors all suitable for framing. I have been inspired by my yard and all the spring bulbs popping up. For more information, go to the post on the tea shop in December 2009.

grape rolls

I have been working on grape roll shapes and struggling with smooth even shapes. Here comes another cross over tool. Blending stumps. I bought a variety pack and my shapes are consistently shaped into smooth even design elements. This design used graduated papers from Paplin.

New tool

I love how most of the hobbies I enjoy have cross-over tools. My cutting tools for quilting have been a big help. Now I have discovered a new tool. My hair dresser friend uses her cuticle tool from her mani/pedi kit. I was having trouble getting the look I wanted with my bunny ear shapes and after using the tool, I can control the shapes beautifully time and again. I can also use the angular flat end to push my tight peg layers into a smooth flat peg. I am finding that I am grabbing the tool for arranging coils into tight placed too. I would say my $.29 tool was worth every penny not to mention my cuticles are getting more attention now too.

ArTrails

I just received notification of a successful jury into ArTrails for another year. This will be my third year at ArTrails. Check out the website at the side of the page. I don't know yet where I will be on the tour as it changes from year to year. This is one of the pieces I sent in. The sweet peas are coffee filter paper which gave them a crepe texture. It is now for sale at the Porcelain Rose Tea Shop. Come see me the third or fourth weekend in September.

Featured Artist

I will be one of the featured artist for the Broadway Gallery in Longview WA (check side panel) for the month of May. I will be in the Heritage Room. A reception is planned and will be part of the First Thursday event for May. Come join the fun with music, wine and appetizers. I will have Mother's Day cards and more.

Porcelain Rose Tea Shop

Hot of the press! I am now selling at the tea shop. Located at 2022 10th Ave in Longview WA. Come in and have a spot of tea. Enjoy a shopping experience with all things Victorian. You can call at 360-425-1437 for hours and directions. We are working out details for a tea and a quilling session soon.

Creating Movement

Have you ever looked closely at your coils? If you control the direction of your coils, you can create movement in your piece. These coils are exaggerated so you can see that the inner coils are rolled one way and then the next layer is coiled in the other direction. Even in simple five petal flowers you can create this. Next time you are putting your coils together, take note and use the lines. Add extra drama by inking the edges with a contracting color to really accentuate your coil direction. With a little care and attention to detail, you can make a pretty piece extraordinary.

Paper Retreat

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Scrap Happy is having a paper arts retreat in Longview WA February 19 and 20 2010. I will be teaching a couple classes but there is so much more to see and do with tons of prizes too. Check out the project above for my master class on quilling. Great food, fun and space to spread out. It is limited to 60 so sign up early. (See side panel)

Merry Christmas

Here is my latest Christmas ornament. I used jewel tone sheet papers to match my jewel tone strips and mixed punched elements with my quilling. (check side panel for ordering) I added seed beads and Swarovski crystals (check the side panel for ordering) for a bit more drama. This color palette is a first for me. I go to an ornament exchange every year and last year a lady handed me the one she got and said, "Here I'd like to see it next year done up the way you do them." I usually buy a dozen from my local glass blower for custom orders and this exchange. I use Crafter's Pick Ultimate glue to adhere the elements. http://www.crafterspick.com/ This product has never failed me. It goes on like Elemer's washable (white and liquidy) and dries like rubber cement (clear and a bit rubbery) When working with glass that is transparent, you don't want to see glue on the back of the design.

Holiday Market

The crisp in the air tells us fall is here. So start making your list and checking it twice. Give something hand made from your local artists and merry their Christmas a bit at the same time. I will be there with some "new for the season" items as well as many other artists and their media too. Check out the link for Morgan Art Centre on the side panel for more info. I will give another heads up closer to the sale.

ArTrails Studio Tour 2009

Once again it is time for the studio tour. My zebra will be for sale at the Centralia WA Historical Train Station from Friday September 18 in the evening at the Gala throught Sunday September 27 til 5pm. Come enjoy great food, great art and great conversation with the artists. I will be demonstrating at the Wild Trout Gallery in Chehalis WA http://wildtroutgallery.com/?page_id=15 which is Studio 16 on the tour. Saturday and Sunday the 19-20 and then again on Saturday and Sunday the 26-27. Come in a watch and visit me from 10-5 each day. I will have other items for sale there too. check the link at the side of the page for more ArTrails info.