My Big Love of Resin Announcement!!

I have had a secret for a whole month now!

I have wanted to drop little hints here and there but there did not seem to be an opportunity.

But here it is Thursday and my weekly jewelry themed post has this resin pendant I crafted.  I made several but today I decided that "a little bird in the air whispered the secret" was calling to me.

I need to tell you my secret!

So lean in close and I will whisper it to you!

I am going to be launching a brand new blog dedicated to all things resin!

I'll be working with the best products available: everything from Environmental Technologies Inc, the makers of Envirotex Lite! YIPPEE!!!

The blog is going to cover all types of resin crafts.  There will be so much information that I hope it will become a real resin resource centre.  My resin table is covered in projects!

So here is my finished necklace.  Perfect for a big day out tomorrow and this happy announcement!

The new blog will go live on Monday!  I can't wait to give you the link and welcome you to a brand new resin craft loving blog!  I'll have the opportunity to show you how I made this pendant on the new blog.  But for now, let me tell you this.  I made the mold that I poured three layers of resin into to create this pendant.

Missing One of A Kind

I won't be an artisan at this year's spring One of The Kind show.  :(

Today, I would have had my van packed to the roof ready to join a long line of trucks and vehicles moving their final goods into the show buildings.  Opening Day is always so exciting!

I knew that this spring I would be exceptionally busy.
We are moving in a few months.
Looking for a new home and selling the one we are in is our major spring project.  There will be a studio to pack up and and a new one to set up.  The to-do lists are a mile long.

But, I'll be at the Christmas show!  As soon as my new studio is set up I'll be in full time Christmas card making mode!

CHA Canada 2011 Spring Trade Exhibition

Yesterday's workshop was an excellent day out.  I came away from the event with a few favorites that I thought I would share today.  First, a Canadian rubber stamp company that is new for me:  Your Next Stamp.  They had the CUTEST collection of images!  I adored all the girls from around the world.  Their website is jam packed with sample art and I am adding their blog to my fun link list!

 These Irish dancers would make anyone smile.

The workshop “Maximizing the Media” with HGTV’s Wendy Russell, sponsored by Picture Keeper was excellent!  Following her workshop she explained the picture keeper an amazingly simple devise that grabs and backs up every jpeg file on your computer.  Most of us immediately ordered some!  Here is a link to their site.

kool tak is also a new glue tape product line for me.  I can't wait to try all the samples they gave me.

The item that really caught my eye is this clear foam tape...BRILLIANT!  Their website features many great products.

I won this box of Flower Soft from kool tak....something I have been meaning to try for a year now.

I opened the box when I got home and it is so pretty!  I'll come back to this product very soon!

I'm at a Trade Show Today!

CANADIAN CRAFT AND HOBBY ASSOCIATION

 
CHA Canada 2011 Spring Trade Exhibition:

For Paper Arts

Monday, March 28, 2011

Join CHA Canada for this one day “Trade Only” event for Canadian craft
businesses. Enjoy 5 hours of workshops, a business seminar and exhibitors.

Take a class with Donna Downey, Frogs Whiskers Ink, Susiebee Studios Inc & attend a business seminar on

“Maximizing the Media” with HGTV’s Wendy Russell, (sponsored by Picture Keeper, www.picturekeeper.com)

Exhibiting Sponsors:

Acme United Ltd Canada/Westcott. http://www.acmeunited.ca/

Harmonie http://www.loisirsharmonie.ca/

MyStamp Box http://mystampbox.com/

Frogs Whiskers Ink. http://www.FrogsWhiskersInk.com/

Stix2-  Kool Tak Canada http://www.stix2kooltak.com/_home

            Distributors for Flower Soft, Copic, Charlies Ark,

INTRODUCING A BRAND NEW CANADIAN MANUFACTUER

SusieBee Studios Inc. http://www.susiebeestudios.com/

Spring Is In The Air!

I can just imagine all the amazing windows that are being designed in Paris right now.  This one is two years old.  I thought this lace purse was way over the top.  Given the opportunity, I would have happily bought some of the individual lace by the yard though.  The real reason I loved the window was the abundance of flowers on the floor.  Talk about walking through a bed of roses.

Sunday Links

 There are so many great french words that are are universally understood.
I loved this collection of stones and thought it was a wonderful backdrop for this glass beaded necklace.

Enjoy my Sunday bead Blogger Links!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy combines wire, chain, and crystal teardrops for some dramatic earrings.

Art Bead Scene
The ABS is serving up a free project courtesy of Ornamentea.

Beads & Books
Enter a jewelry, beading, or mixed media contest or challenge this spring. Michelle shares links to nearly a dozen opportunities.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a two part beaded sachet tutorial this week on her blog.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
This week's Tuesday Tangle is about taking up a challenge!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean writes about a book she was given years ago concerning Elizabeth Taylor's astounding jewelry collection

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

To celebrate National Craft Month, Andrew guest blogs for Beaducation.

The Advil Is In The Purse

Yesterday my sister in law wrote in her email "get out your Advil."

I have a child's birthday party to attend today.  My lovely nephew.  He's a popular boy and everyone rsvp'd that they were attending.  So today will be all about children, cake and playtime.

Enjoy your Saturday and my crafty blogger links!

About Family Crafts
Even if you don't have spring weather where you are, you can celebrate spring with these flower coloring pages.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you an Altered Composition Notebook tutorial this week, stop by and check it out. 

Carmi's Art/Life World
Following up on last weeks post Carmi prepared a two part sachet making tutorial. 

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free vintage octopus clip art, idea for using steel wool for doll hair, a unique redwork crazy quilt and a tutorial on how to make mini art collages. 

Crafty Princess Diaries
For those who don't like slip stitching when working in the round, this babay hat pattern discovered by the Crafty Princess is perfect and easy to make. 

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen shares directions for sewing a secret pockets hanger cover. This clever organizer can also be used to organize outfits. 

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to get your rubber duckies to take flight with some recycled plastic. 

The Card Album
See how to make a jackalope card with a bunny and deer punch.

The Crochet Dude

Drew announced his "Carnation Bouquet Afghan Project" - looks like a FUN way to crochet for charity! There is also a way to win something from his product line The Crochet Dude Collection!

Monet's Yellow Dining Room

 If you go to Paris and want a have a nice day trip outside of the city I always recommend going to see the small village where Monet's house and garden are open to the public.  I never tire of the flowers and always take a walk through his home.  This room is a favorite.  There are usually so many people about that it is hard to get the room to yourself to take a photo.  On this day I got lucky and managed to snap one picture.

When security wasn't looking, I also snapped a picture of my traveling doll Marie on the side board.

Shades of Gray

I have always liked the combination of gray and pink.  A few weeks ago I went searching through a box of postcards at my local antique store.  The grays just popped out for me.  I don't think I have any gray cards in my own collection.

This card is really special.  I always look for the heavily embossed cards.  This one has the look and feel of velvet.

This card had the addition of the gold embossing.  I placed it right into my going home pile.

And a gray Easter Egg!  Ordinarily, I would never have suggested that...but the pink bow makes it look very pretty.  I am hoping to scan these cards so I can incorporate them into a card making project or two.

Sachet Tutorial - Part Two

 

My little sachet deserves it's own special stand.

Following up on yesterday's post these are the next steps you need to complete a pretty beaded sachet.  The little fabric pillow looks pretty on its own but it sure looks fabulous with some beading.  I prefer to sew beaded edges with real beading needles because the cotton fabric is a little stiff.  Regular sewing needles are hard to work with.  They are too thick and make really large holes for each stitch.

I picked up the same group of five beads on my needle.  After stitching the group of five in place I often did a quick back stitch so the beads were held securely in place.

Once I had beaded the top and both sides I stopped to stuff the sachet with fiberfill and some lavender. 

I used extra ribbons on the bottom after I sewed shut the opening.

Here it is.  A sweet beaded sachet.

Sachet Tutorial - Part One

   

I had a few emails about my Easter Sachet idea and thought I would just create a short tutorial for anyone who wants to try making one.

 

I print my own images on cotton fabric using a plain old ink jet printer.  I get the 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of pretreated cotton at craft or fabric stores.  These happy images are from a My Craft Studio CD.

 If you want your sachet to have a ribbon dangle, you need to place it on the inside of your two pieces of fabric at this point. 

 Then I take my square to my sewing machine.  These sachets are so small that you could hand sew them too.  

Sometimes I mark the fabric so that I remember to leave an opening on the bottom.   This way when I turn my fabric inside out I'll still have a good sized opening in order to add the stuffing.

Here is the sachet turned inside out.  You can see the ribbon is now a nice addition neatly sewn in place.  It helps if you have something to poke the corners from the inside.

Tomorrow I'll show you how to glam up the sachet with jewelery components!

Blog Cards

I found this greeting cards at Chapters.  The words "I'm more interesting on my blog" are easier to read in red type if you see this card in person.  Isn't it amazing how far blogging has come?  This card replaces the "Sorry I have not written in a while" card.

Sale!

The Overstuffed Card Making Kit!

There is a big sale right now on some of the 3 Birds products I presented on The Shopping Channel in the last few months!  I have a link to the page here.  The big card making kit is now 24.88!!

Buttons

I have so many buttons.  New, vintage, antique.  Glass, wood, bone, metal, plastic and stone.

This little collection comes from a fabric store in Paris.  They have a whole wall of buttons.  I could stand there for hours.  They are really pricey though.  It makes me super aware of what I am picking out and usually I buy three of any button I like.  Two to use and one as a back up.  This week I am challenging myself to use some of these in a project or two.

In the mean time, here are my super Sunday bead blogger links.

A Bead A Day
Lisa shares the steps to making super simple gnome earrings just in time for spring!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy explains the strategy she uses when reviewing jewelry making books.

Art Bead Scene
Do you collect rocks? Make a bracelet with them using this free project from Art Bead Scene!

Beading Arts
Cyndi posted a tutorial to show how she made her Bead Soup necklace!

Beading & Books
Michelle shares her storage idea for spools of beading wire.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Would you believe that you could wear flocked velvet wallpaper?

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy's been out with the flu so this week's a rewind on spicing up your plain old packaging.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie celebrates a new hairstyle for spring by making a pendant to match her new purple hair extensions!

The Bead Dreamer
Charlene reviews The Penland Book of Jewelry and is touched by the artistic statements, humanity, talent and sharing of the ten artists in the book.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Working with wire and ammonite slices, Andrew creates three Calder-inspired pendants.

Paris Paintings

I spotted these two gorgeous paintings through a window of one of the store fronts in the big Paris antique market.  I am not certain if they are new or "antique."  I do think they are stunning though.

I would have to have both.  I would never be able to choose.  The dresses are such a fabulous example of different fabrics

Holi Day

One day I would really like to be in India for Holi.

I am adding it to my bucket list.

A festival of colour.  How could I resist?

Here are my happy crafting Saturday links!

 

About Family Crafts
Follow these tips shared by Sherri to successfully color on fabric.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a couple of Easter Egg projects to inspire you! 

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi makes a sweet sachet with fabric she printed herself. 

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make a custom car windshield sun shade, carve novelty erasers into cute rubber stamps, paint pale skin tones, some history about sheet music and a crazy quilt made with techniques from the book Designer Bead Embroidery. 

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess gives you the scoop on some yarn deals she found at her local Micheal's. 

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen reviews Chapter 4 of Cyndi Lavin’s eBook, “Every Bead Has a Story”.  

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi found a new product to help out with her fabric books... 

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make an Easter egg locket necklace.  

Spring Paper Clean

Like a few of you, I am definitely in the mood for a spring clean!
One of the major projects is to finally finish trimming all my big sheets of paper. They are always so hard to cut! But, my big trimmer is on the table and I am cutting them all down to manageable widths.

This is stack two!

Flocked Velvet Wallpaper Necklace

Yes, these cabochons are holding flocked velvet wallpaper buttons!

I am sorting all the paper in my studio and decided to pull out my collection of wallpaper. I don't have any on my walls but I sure do like it for special art cards. Velvet wall paper is very expensive...so when I use a piece it's like gluing a $1 or $2 bill to my card.

This piece is very thick. The black section feels like leather. It gave me an idea. I wondered if I could make some buttons from it.

When you make buttons you need to use a thin piece of mylar as the final layer in order to press the button. The mylar gives it a shiny appearance though and I didn't want to lose the ability to touch velvet.

Without the mylar the wallpaper tore in the button press. So I used extra tape to keep the paper from ripping and managed to make three buttons.

After attaching the buttons to the cabochons I used some basic tools to attach my necklace together.

I know this necklace would not hold up well if it rained.....but it sure is pretty indoors!