christytomlinson

Back from Mexico.. some fun updates :)

well hello friends.. hope all of you had a wonderful new Year. Last week in Mexico at Hacienda Mosaico, was just way way way beyond my expectations. We had a fabulous teacher.. Jesse Reno and I will be honest and say. WOW. If you haven't even taken a class from him.. it should be on your "must" do list.

 TRULY must do.. Even if his style of art is not for you.. the way he TEACHES art and the things he helps you SEE and think about when creating art.. from color, contrast, size, depth, layers.. it's tRULY TRULY a breath of fresh air. He really thinks about the things he creates, He puts a lot of meaning in to them and not just emotionally.. but also creatively. Seriously if you can.. TAKE  A CLASS from this man! lol. ( i told him he REALLY has to start doing online classes.. for those that can't travel and I think he is almost convinced to start!).. but if not.. I know he has several classes coming up through the spring!  GO!! lol.

It was ben's frist time doing any kind of art like this and I can't even begin to tell you what a cool experience that was to watch ben find himself through the creative process.

 This past year has been a tough year for both of us.. and I have to say I watched a lot of emotions come to the surface and be healed through creating. I had planned to go and you know.. be in class from 10-2.. then swim, read, take naps on the hammocks, walk around town, go to the beach. shop even go golfing (for ben's sake). But You know whats crazy is ALL ben wanted to do was create ART!!  We only left the grounds of  Hacienda Mosaico three times our entire stay. three times! and twice was just to walk to get toiletries and some simple art supplies which took not more than an hour!   And the last day of class, Jesse took Ben and I  to this cool mask shop and a local Gallery where his art hung. Other than that.. ben was out in the studio painting! (it's a covered studio outside on the grounds. HOLY COW AMAZING!!).. I would wake up in the morning and he would be painting, between lunch and dinner he would paint.. and then he would stay up until 2-3 am each night painting. He was on fire!

here are some of the pieces Ben created.. some he still want to add to and details..and two unfished ones I didn't show here..

keep in mind these are all HUGE paitings like 3 feet by 4 feet at least..

 

 

 

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then.. here are the pieces I created..

 

 

 

and then here is one we did together.. and it's still a work in progress

 

 

 It was awesome.. truly awesome to watch and experience. We didn't even see the beach, or the hammocks, or the golf greens.. we were perfectly content to stay RIGHT inside the grounds of the Art studio. (which was about an acre total.. including the little "houses" where guests stay, the lush LUSH greenery everywhere, the pool, the awesome sitting areas both INSIDE and out.. and two huge art studios (one indoor and one outdoor). This place was truly amazing.

There is no need to leave but if you want to, every store you can think of is within walking distance (like literally blocks) and it's in such a great safe place. We walked everywhere we went. Even for late night tacos at 11:00 pm (they had two great taco stands across the street and a coffee shop.. not like a "city" street.. i mean this small little neighborhood.. cobble stone roads.. VERY very laid back and old town. I can't say enough good things about this place! When I first got there, Sam (the owner..she is SOO wonderful!!) she said she had been looking online at my websites and had seen i was also an artist and asked if I would like to come teach at her Studio. I thanked her kindly for her offer but told her I wasn't traveling much this year.. but by the end of the week.. I was in love. I was smitten! I really can't say enough about this wonderful little place. The food was amazing,

the service was amazing, the beautiful colorful ARTSY grounds

(every where you turned there was art in all forms. I mean EVERYWHERE.. even the lights were all handmade by artist.. both outdoor and indoor!

 So the day we were to leave I pulled Sam aside and said.. GIRL.. count me in. I would love to come back and teach! So I am planning a retreat there late fall/early winter. probably the 1st of 2nd week of December.. (my son's senior year will be this coming fall and he has football games until mid November.. and I will NOT miss a game.. not this year! lol). Anyhow.. I am excited! I will give details soon.. BUT also.. consider just going on your own! ANYTIME! She rents the rooms out.. I think it's like $100-$130 a night per room (you can put two people in a room and share it).. and as long as she doesn't have other classes going on that week you are free to use the art studio to your hearts content! the price includes breakfast BUT for a small fee you can also have her include lunch. HOwever there are SOO many taco places and even a fun bistro coffee shop.. that serves everything from crepes, sandwiches, danishes too salads, pies, and more. And literally you walk outside the door of the Hacienda and you are looking at it.  so I say.. grab a bunch of your girlfriends.. or maybe even just you and your hubby.. OR maybe just your daughters or whoever and GO!! People always get scared about Mexico.. but I can tell you (because I am one of those SUPER scared people who won't walk anywhere at night and CLING to my husband's arm during the day).. I felt SO safe there. and it truly was.. her place is nestled back in this fun little town with cobble stone streets and all sorts of little places to eat and get anything you need. Its only 5 mins from the airport and EASY peasy taxi ride! So go!!  Contact her on her website.. AND GO! tell her Christy Tomlinson sent you and she will take care of you :) xoxo ..take a trip to Puerta Vallarta this year and stay with Sam and take your paint supplies and your friends and go and PAINT and create or whatever suits you! (she also holds all kinds of art classes.. from Jewelry, to ceramics, painting, etc) OR come join me later this year for some TRULY relaxing fun!  

Okay okay.. lol.. speaking of art retreats I am OFFICIALLY announcing my FIRST very own Art Retreat..

She Matters   .... being held in Shelley Idaho in May 2013 (this year! :))  I  sent out an email to all of those who were on the waitlist  right before Christmas and we have only 4 spots left in the first week (no more spots left in second week). SO i am officially posting it on my blog for those of you that didn't get that email..  It's a 5 day retreat, ALL inclusive (food, lodging, transportation EVEN your paint supplies for the class.. plus lots of fun surprises and extras).. and it will be held in my personal art studio and you will be guest in my home :) I am SUPER excited about it! I have a wonderful talented cook that will be preparing meals for us and it will truly be the time of your life being taken care of and just creating and really REALLY connecting on a personal level. If you want to find out more about this retreat.. you can click on the link HERE! AND  YES i do take payment options!! So you can make payments on it.

anyhow.. check that out! :) HERE IS all the info! (or copy and paste the link below)

http://www.scarletlime.com/artweekend.html

so what else is new? Well I have been working hard on some new product for CHA with Pink Paislee and I am SO excited to share with you sneak peeks of the products! I will be posting about them on monday!! So watch for that blog post! I will also be posting a tutorial on something I made using the products! It will be fun!

ALSO next week I will be announcing three new classes for Spring..  1st. a  new She Art 3 workshop!! ( i can not WAIT FOR THIS ONE!!), it's been over a year since I did my last She Art class and i have to say that I have learned SOO many more things when creating girls, not just in style but also in using mediums and ways to shade and create depth and REALLy create a soul to my girls. I am excited to share a new way of doing She Art with you and also introduce you to some of my latest loves when creating and that is creating shes from all over the world from all decades. Finding my soul in what I do and taking from other places and creating She Art with meaning. I am really excited for this class. GIDDY for this class. My soul is burning to teach it!!

I am also doing a  fun new layers, techniques and backgrounds class.. that will be THE go to course you will come back to over and over again for reference in creating ALL types of art whether girls, or animals or things or objects.  (you will have three years access to this class).. but basically it will be ALL and everything you need to know to really just JUMP into any of my other classes knowing EVERYTHING there is to know about creating.  I will go over backgrounds, layers, paint and paste mediums, how to shade with lots of different mediums, creating texture, creating depth, composition, colors, etc.. ALL brand new videos and lots of new techniques that I haven't taught in other classes, but basically a course you can take and watch whenever you are stuck in another class of mine and want to just go back to just the basics. To find ways to make your art more creative or more interesting. To add more depth to them. In a lot of my classes i just jump right into creating stuff, but I don't explain why i do what I do and i certainly don't show the many different ways I can get the same looks. This class will be all about that.. LOADS of info! Great workshop to just have to use in all of your other workshops you are taking.

 AND then my fourth workshop will be a SPRING workshop! Featuring fun spring icons like bunnies, bears, bees, beehives, birds, butterflies, umbrellas, flowers.. ALL THINGS spring! My Fall and Winter Classes were such a huge hit last year I had many requests to do a Spring class.. so I am going to be offering that in March! Of course I still have on my list to do a business course and a few other FUN classes.. but these are just my first three for the year!   Each of them start at different times (different months).. but excited to get them announced and out there so you can start planning for the ones you want to take! I will announce those next week!

But for now.. check out the info on my Personal Art retreat in May.. I would love to have you come! only four spots left!!!

hope you all had a wonderful week! See you monday for sneak peeks of my new product and a fun tutorial!

happy thursday! xoxox

TLC.. some exciting news.. and some VERY inspiring music!

So I haven't really talked about this yet.. but alot of you have already emailed me or facebooked me saying "i just saw you on TLC!! you are in their commercial for their new show called Craft Wars! "..

so I guess the secret is out and okay to share!! (we were under strict secrecy NOT to say anything until the show aired! lol).. so I guess it's safe..

YES! So many months ago I posted about them contacting me to apply to be on it! So  I did.. and after month's of waiting.. I  was finally notified I made the cut and  asked to come be on! I was allowed to bring an "assistant" with me.. and of course.. no brainer.. chose my husband ben. He can build, craft, do ANYTHING.. including sewing (gotta love a man that knows how to sew!).

So we traveled to California back in March and taped our episode! Crafts Wars is much like the show Cupcake wars.. where each week 3 new contestants come on the show and they are giving a challenge that must be completed in a certain time. After the challenge is over.. 3 judges critique your work and then basically kick one contentstnat to the curb... lol.Then the other two compete is the ultimate challenge for a $10,000 prize!  talk about cool! Tori Spelling is the host and I can tell you it was ONE of THE MoST amazing.. fun experiences ever! Ben and I had such a good time.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!!   We also found out last week that our episode will be the FIRST to air!! TOMORROW!!!  on TLC! Here is a little sneap peek on it! lol oh so lovley.. I tell you I am really normally nice when I am not under pressure! lol

 

I think it's set to air at 8:00 PM MST (so 10:00 Eastern, 9 pm Centrel, and 7 PC).. but check your local listing to make sure. I really can't wait to watch it either! SOO nervous too! lol.. can't wait to share more of my experience with you after it airs.. but since I can't tell you what happens.. I will have to wait!! :) 

Anyhow..

ANOTHER cool exciting thing for today is that FINALLY after seriously a year of begging my baby brother, Van Campbell, for his music.. he has compiled a CD with all the music I use in my workshop videos and youtube videos!

Just around the Bend

 

You can listen to some of it  below..

 

Just Around The Bend Blog mp3

His CD is available in our store HERE

 

TODAY We are offering in our store.. FREE SHIPPING ON all orders over $30 .. use the coupn code:

FreeShip30 

 for US customers and for our international customers.. we are offering 15% off! use code :

 IHeartINT 

 at check out. 

ALso my brothers cd, Just around the Bend.. is on sale for two days as well! $3.00 off! So today and tommorow is a GREAT time to get it and to stock up on all those heavy things we carry in the store like stamps, paper pads, canvases, art journals.. paints.. sprays.. and more! just listed and added SO many new things!

So that is my exciting and fun news for today!! I hope you all have a wonderful day!
happy Monday!

 

 

just life.. traveling.. art.. and a new addition

I am home! back from a fun trip to Puerto Rico teaching to 450 amazing men, women and even a few children too!

 

That was a huge event.. probably the biggest one I have taught at so far.. I was a bit nervous of how it would go.. but ended up just flowing perfectly! I taught two classes.. a mixed media canvas class.. and a art journaling class (it was a very condensed version of "a women has three hearts".. one of my online workshops..)

  

 

Yamille does such an amazing job putting those together!  The day before classes started Ben and I got to explore old town San Juan.. and of course.. just like in January I was just in awe at the beautiful old history it provides.. just amazing colors and stories and architecture! 

But now I am home and I actually don't have any more teaching events planned for the rest of the year! (well except maybe one in october).. but I really wanted to take the rest of the year and just STAY PUT.. be home.. spend time with my family.. spend time working on my house.. working on my blog, my online classes.. just be HOME.. We go to CHA in July.. but other than that.. we are home! wahoo!

 

 

 

First thing we did was take him to the new old/house to see the boys.. who were out there working at the warehouse and on the actual house..

 

He is soo little and so dang cute!!!

and he has such an adorable personality!

 

allie named him "beau".. which was max's middle name.. she says it means "handsome" in french (i think lol)

just a cutie pie..

also worked yesterday playing catchup!! listing new products into our store.. (been collecting some vintage wallpaper from trips and onilne stores to start making kits!)

so just listed two vintage wallpaper kits yesterday.. PLUS a ton of new rubons, papers, paints.. you name it!

I love vintage wallpaper! Love using it on projects.. (used it on this one for the Living Canvas Workshop (week 4)

Love love love old wallpaper!! yum!

so that's my life as of today..

 just a fun update about life and family..

gonna be posting the June Mixed Media kit video on monday so watch for that!

hope you are all having a WONDERFUL week!!!

Happy Wednesday!!

 

Soulful Artist Retreat...

So last May.. when I was attending Donna Downey's Inspired event.. Donna and I were creating and having fun one night just really enjoying "creating" together.

(this photo was taken at Spark a week or so ago.. with Margie. Beautiful girls!)

She started talking about her and I maybe sometime in the future doing our own little event together.. an Inspired Workshop at her studio.. just a small intimate group.. and four days of pure messy creative play. Of course.. you say the word creative, messy and play.. and I am TOTALLy in. Plus I love and adore Donna.. she is just her own soul and creative and fun to be around. We sure laugh A LOT.  So for the last couple of months, we have been calling back and forth, texting, emailing.. planning all the details of her first "soulful" artist event.. where I would come and be her guest artist and together.. the two of us would team teach a creative weekend! Well I am excited to finally announce that registration is NOW open for this Inspired event.. The Soulful Artist!

 It will be hosted in North Carolina at Donna's Studio.. (I can't wait to be in this creative space!!)

 and will include 4 days of creative play, including creating a She Art Girl, A quilt canvas, art journals, creative tags, Utee Fun, stencils, masking, and more. PLUS it includes all your food too! You will spend the entire day with Donna and I, plus each night.. creating away. It's going to be an amazing and "cozy" retreat.. because there are only 20 spots for this inspired event. which means.. not only creating some amazing projects.. but creating life long friendships as well.

 

 I am really excited about this. While I love teaching at large events, I truly REALLy getting to spend time with other creative souls and getting to know them. This Soulful Artist Retreat will allow me to really get to know my students and make life long friends. I have wanted to do a retreat like this for a while now.. so this is something I truly CAN NOT WAIT FOR! Only having 20 students also allows Donna and I to do extra special things for each student.. like make handmade personal gifts and goodies. We have already starting planning all the fun little surprises for you teach day. THIS retreat is TRULY going to give you some much needed soulful artsy play and pampered goodness. I hope you join her and I!

You can read more about the Soulful Artist Retreat here.. and see the actual schedule and all the fun things planned. And you can sign up here! Remember there are ONLY 20 spots.. which is not much.. so sign up quick!

I seriously CAN NOT WAIT.

today I am traveling to Minnesota to see my agent and work on some fun stuff that I can't really talk about until next year.. and I can't wait to reveal it all to you! it's been a super exciting and blessed last 4 months with all the liscening opportunities.. and starting the first of the year.. I finally get to start sharing and showing you all of them! Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday.. hoping to post on thursday about my experience with Hillary Weeks.. and her video that truly spoke to my soul. You MUST see it. It will change yours too.
Happy Tuesday!

Happy Halloween... and Cku recap

Just popping on to say Happy Halloween to everyone!!

 

One of my favorite HOlidays today!.. just returned home last night from teaching at CKU in San Diego! Got to take Ben with me this time.. and let me tell you.. I was SO grateful he came! I taught four 90 minutes classes for two days straight.. with about 20 minute breaks in between.. I thought I was gonna die being on my feet all day.. but having him there really helped. He was great with the students (of course the women love him) and helping me set up and take down my classes too. I had AWESOME students.. the biggest joy of this event was that almost ALl of these women had NEVER done mixed media before in their lives. CKU is traditionally a Scrapbooking event and this year they decided in honor of their 10 year reunion, they would do something different. So most of them came into the class.. very shy and hesitant of what we would be doing. A lot of them told me afterwards they were NOT looking forward to my class and had every intention of skipping it.. but then said that they were SO glad they stayed and now was in love with mixed media and go home and do it again and again. I asked each one of my classes who would continue to create art on canvas with all these new found techniques.. and I would say 99 percent of them raised their hands.. it was such a huge joy to see everyone just get it and really enjoy it.  not only were my classes and students GREAT.. but I got to meet someone I have had a huge "crush" on for a while. Hillary Weeks was a keynote speaker at the event.. she is a Christian Music Artist.. and has one of the most stunning voices! Her message was incredible and her new video just touched me so close to home. I am going to share it with you sometime in the next week or so. Seriously.. my heart was overflowing with emotions as I watched it and I thought about all the heartache and blessing I have had over the last year. can't wait to share that. It was a great weekend all and all. Tiring but great! Here is just a few pictures from this weekend..

 

These were a couple of some fun ladies.. you can kinda of see ben sitting there next to them on the left.. he had fun chatting with them through that class!

This was was one of my students canvas in the process.. loved the addition of the butterflies!

Some of my students got creative and just did their own thing! love it when that happens!

Since almost ALL of my students had never done mixed media before.. I taught them shading with the Faber Castell Big Brush pens. Love those pens because they stay wet long enough to smudge them for shading.. but once dry.. they are permanent. I think after that class these students were HOOKED on them! They actually got a pack of them in their goody bags from CKU! Before the class they had NO idea what they were to be used for.. but after the class.. they couldn't wait to go home and get more! so funny!

Friday night a few of us teachers went and visisted the Store PaperTales.. its a papercrafting/mixed media store in Point Loma.. at first I didn't really want to go> I was SO tired from teaching for 7 hours! but Michelle talked me into it and after we got there, I was SO glad we did! Speaking of teachers.. I SO enjoyed getting so know some of them better. TRULY awesome gals. So glad I went.

I didn't get to see the beach or even really walk outside except for going to that store but I did enjoy the nicer weather still the same. Today it's in the 50's and there is a brisk cold wind here in Shelley.. but so sad.. tonight it's supposed to take a turn for the worst and be windy and rain and even snow! seriously?  Normally I make my kids wait until dark to go trick or treating.. so they don't bother the neighborhood during dinner.. but this morning I told them I think they should go early.. like at 5:30.. because if not. .they are going to FREEZE when it starts to get dark at 7:00! poor kids! It's like hit or miss each year.. it's either nice and warm or it snows and rains. Gotta love IDAHO! lol We are also going to do our family tradition and carve pumpkins after school today... they get out early on mondays.. so that makes it every better. More time to play!

Well..l tomorrow I have a fun announcement to make! a special weekend I am doing with Mrs. Donna DowneyiN february.. it's going to be FUN. oh! and don't forget.. TODAY IS THE LAST day to order Muvazi.. (the skin care system I use) for 60% off the normal price.. if you didn't see my video on it or get the coupon code.. you can check that post out here and get all the info!

Well.. tomorrow I leave bright and early.. 6 am for a quick trip to Minnesota to meet with my Licensing agent.. so many wonderful things happening there.. feel so blessed.. so many fun products coming out next year with my artwork on it.. can NOT WAIT until I can share the news with pictures of those!..
hope you all have a happy halloween!! oh and thanks for the wonderful birthday wishes yesterday on facebook! seriously! I was blown away and so overjoyed by the support! You all ROCK!
hugs to you all!
happy Monday!

we're back and playing catch up :)

wahoo! we are home.. as much as I love going on vacation, I also love the feeling, when I have been gone for a long time, and we get off the "shelley" exit.. which consists of miles and miles of farmland.. and drive the 7 minute drive into "town".. seeing the old "welcome to shelley" sign and then pulling down our street and seeing our house. It's such a comforting sight and it feels so good to be HOME. Then reality hits and you realize.. holy crap.. Ive been gone for 10 days and I am SO behind and have a 1000 emails to return and deadlines that are waiting for me.. and life is back to usual. lol. I actually had to take a nap yesterday because I was so tired.. lol and I was looking at a long night ahead.

The cruise was amazing! This is us.. just getting ready to get onto the ship in Orlando. Kids were so excited and getting along.

This was right after we got on the cruise.. the first thing Noah wanted to do was get an ice cream cone.. that was actually our kids favorite thing  to do. Get ice cream. Before swimming, during swimming, after swimming, before dinner, after dinner, at midnight.. etc. gotta love being able to get your own soft-serve anytime you want!

of course I had to join it :) it was part of a family activity..

This is the kids waiving goodbye to the people on shore.. so funny

 Me and ben.. excited to just be together and have FAMILY TIME!!!

and then I turned my phone off, because I was out of range.. and didn't turn it back on until our last port, when I realized I could put it in "airplane" mode and it wouldn't receive texts and I could still use it as a phone! lol (I made the mistake of turning it on in Jamaica to use it for "keeping time"  and I had about 5 texts from friends come in and then a message from AT&T telling me that each message was costing me $20.00 per text!) I scrambled to turn it off.. and then in cozumel when I was complaining I wasn't getting any good pictures on my phone, my son, Braden, reminded me.. I could put it in airline mode and just use it as a camera :) duh. So we do have a lot of pictures during the cruise.. but they are all on ben's video camera. Next time I know! This picture was taking iN Cozumel after I realized I could use it as a camera :) Braden found himself a little lizard or gecko? or some sort while we were shopping and it climbed on him and stayed with him all day long. Even in Hard Rock Cafe, when we ate lunch. The waiters and cooks thought that was pretty funny.

just for documentation purposes, I should start taking a picture of us, on our last day, waiting in the airport to come home.. haha.. I guarantee the look on the faces would NOT be excitements.. OR them getting along. On the plane ride home, there was a lot of "he's teaching me", "he won't let me see out the window", "it's my turn to play on the laptop/ipod.. etc".. seriously. I was ready to kick some tomlinson butt on that planeride home. We live in a pretty small town, so to fly out of here is REALLY expensive for 8 people. So if more than 2 of us are flying, we usually make the 3 hour drive to Salt Lake City, Utah.. to catch a plane there. So after we arrived in Salt Lake at 9:00 at night.. and we gathered our luggage, got a ride to the carport for our car, and stopped to get food.. we were on the road around 9:30 PM to home and luckily the kids slept the entire ride home. Or It would not have been pretty for them. lol.

anyhow.. so we are home! Im busy finishing up some fabrics designs I have been doing, finishing up my classes and supplies for the two events I am teaching at this month.. Next week.. SPARK THE EVENT in Utah..

 

 SO excited to be there, and spend time with my TRUE, Margie Romney-Aslett. This event is like no other. Seriously. I am not just saying that. It's not an event where you just go from room to room and your one of the crowd. The attention to detail at this event is spectacular! They make it a magical creative place.. from the decorations, to the food, to the special mini events they have, to the  homemade cupcakes and the artisan fair with all sorts of handmade vendors and gifts. IT TRULY is a one of a kind event! It's a very relaxing and nastalogic event. LOVE going to it.  I am teaching a SHE ART canvas at this event. Allie is going to miss school and come with me. Help me with my class and stuff. It will be a great bonding experience with my girl :).  It's gonna be fun! 

The the following weekend (actually on my birthday!) Ben and I are flying to San Diego, where i will be teaching at CKU.. Reunion!

CKU is jammed packed with energy and craziness..  so complete opposite of Spark. The pace is fast and fun and lots of dancing and all sorts of crazy fun. I am bringing ben because with my fibromyalgia.. I seriously can't NOT life boxes or bags and I need help with setting up all my classes.. and really .. just need moral support. I teach all day long.. 4 classes each day and so at the end of the day I tend to get tired and emotional and need the familiar support to bring me back down to "it's okay" and start all over again the next day. I am teaching a "house" canvas at this event.. gonna be SO fun. Then we fly home sunday, October 30th.. on my birthday! I think I am going to be 37 this year? I hope it's 37.. not 38! lol

Come join me at either OR BOTH events! You can still register and come! Seriously.. gonna love it :)

so that is what I am up to this week.. preparing for those two events. PLUS I am designing a new line of STAMPS too! Can't wait! working on it with a fabulous company.. hoping to have them in production by the end of this month and ready for the new SHE art 2 class!  OH and on my list this week.. start loading all my prints into my new esty store that I am HOPING to have open by the end of this month too. :)

 holy cow.. it's wednesday.. I don't know if I can get this all done. I still have to order all the products for our brand new mixed media subscription kit, we are hoping to debut in November. I think I need a double :) lol

well, that's an update of life at the Tomlinson home! I DO have in the plans to do a Creatively Inspired video this week too.. think "fall" and pumpkins.. and paint and stamps. So inspired when I saw this and can't wait to do it! already bought my pumpkins yesterday for it! Plus gonna do a video on something TRULY amazing that my sister and her husband have done.. that I want to share with you too.. so i better get off this darn keyboard and start doing it. I have my to do list in front of me.. better start checking it off :)

Happy Wednesday!
Christy

CKU Reunion... mixed media fun!

So many of you that are in the papercrafting industry.. or have been.. remember way back when.. when I taught at the events.. CKU. Creating Keepsakes University.I use to travel and teach for Chatterbox.. the company I worked for at the time.. teaching mini albums and other papercafting classes. Well earlier this year, they approached me about coming to a CKU Reunion event to teach and help celebrate 10 years of CKU's!!! I was EXTREMELY excited.. however my first thought.. was.. well I don't scrapbook though? and so I was even MORE thrilled to find out they wanted me to teach my mixed media art! I decided to teach this fun 8x8, deep edge canvas class.. the house class. Because for those who are just starting into mixed media class.. this is a GREAT class to get your feet wet with.

 
 

 You will get to use products from some awesome sponsors.. like Faber Castell, Ranger, Unity Stamps, DecoArt... it's gonna be a SUPER fun class!

The event is this October.. 27-29th.. in warm and sunny San Diego (and my hubby gets to come with me).. 

Oh! The other cool thing about this event is that they are incorporating all kinds of artsy stuff! Like Jewelry and fabric classes too. I have seen some of the stuff and wow.. so cool!  So maybe I will get to see you there!  In Warm Sunny California (okay.. so it' might not be too warm or too sunny.. but I can guarantee you it will be warmer than Idaho! lol). The thing I am most excited for is seeing all of my old papercrafting friends! the students AND the other teachers coming. We sure has some really great times back in the day.. some of the best people I know!   So check it out.. hopefully I will see you there..

CKU 10 Year ANniversary Reunion Event..

Well it's friday and my husband is out of town for the rest of the weekend (he left yesterday for a hiking trip). So it's just me and the kiddos and my baby brother who is going to keep my company (He doesn't know it yet.. but I thought it would be a fun way to spend the weekend.. lol). Tonight is the Boise State Football game.. and I don't miss those.. so I know what I will be doing. Maybe tomorrow I will find some "will power" to clean this dang office. Seriously folks. If you saw it. Yikes. seriously Yikes.

Happy Friday!

 

Artsy Fun.. filming MCC segments

I am back!! last week I took the week off from my blog, the internet, emails.. because honestly my body was having a breakdown. I don't know if it was from months of just going and going and finally all the stress was over.. but man it just shut down. It was also my kid's first week of school and I hadn't prepared at all, so needed to just focus on family, school shopping, registration, first week of school, etc.. it felt REALLY good to rest. I think the first day back of school, (all 6 of my kids are in school full time!!)I slept the entire day. It was SO needed. :) anyhow.. soo.. as you know.. The week before last, I headed down to utah to film my segments of the new show My Craft Channel.com airing this fall on the web. First off, let me say.. preparing for those segments were a KILLER.. holy cow. I thought it would be just me throwing some things together, bringing a few supplies.. haha. No. It ended up being a car load of stuff, and hours and hours of prepartion.. creating samples, step outs, etc.. for each segment. I was SO grateful that I had asked 3 guest to be on with me so show ME how to do a project, because I don't think with the time I left myself, I could have done one more segment before i had to head out the door! yikes!

So I arrived to the set early.. before my guest arrived, to film the segments only I would be on.. and I was IN LOVE with the set they had created for me! I brought of few of my own canvases, my own paintbrushes, etc  and old vintage things, to give it a personal touch.. but wow, In love!

 

This is a full view of the set.. I had just got done filming my segment on UTEE.. and creative ways to use it in Mixed Media Art.

 
Another side view..

 
This is an up-close picture of the back-wall.. what you will see in the actual "segment" love the old crates for shelving.. so me. and of course.. LOVE the red wall! it's hard to see, but it's actually textured wallpaper painted red. TOTALLY my style. Just loved it!

 
These are the two crew members who filmed and put up with me ALL day.. lol seriously these guys rocked. They were such good sports!  even when i burped really loud on set right before filming a segment. Kristine had got me a pop.. but it was bottled and it had a ton of carbonation in it and I only drank two sips.. but not more than 5 minutes later, I suprised myself and them as I let out a huge burp right on set. YOu should have seen the look on their faces. I think the look on mine was worse. I was more shocked than they were that I did it! lol.. good times..

 
Here is another one of them with Kristine, chatting about what a pain I am.. (only kidding. . they were awesome.. but I was a pain! )

 
these were the samples i stayed up all night making for the UTEE segments.. these were on wire dipping, faux soldering and more. I am addicted to faux soldering to use on canvas as art. Seriously addicted.

 
This is another view. On the hand is a necklace I made. I created a heart out of wire and dipped it into colored UTEE and then added a jump ring.. and some other fun charms. So fun.

 
here are some upclose pics of the art I created with the faux soldering techniques..

 
 
after i made the glass pieces, I put them onto canvases.. loved the dimension it creates!

 
 
here is another one I made, isntead of putting paper between class, I put a piece of lace.. I actually made this one for Jeanne, reminded me so much of her.

 
some of the samples i had created before I came.. THANK YOU TO my dear friend Meredith who helped me get these samples  done. She came over and dipped flowers and embellishments and created wire designs for me. I wouldn't have been able to get it done without her. love that girl.

 So after I finished the filming the segments with just ME in them, my "guest" hosts arrived around 1:00! and seriously.. if the crew thought I was a little crazy and nutty and loud.. they had no idea what they were in store for when Margie, Jeanne, Chrissy, Danielle and her sister showed up! lol oh my heck. I swear we had to do more takes just because we were laughing so hard at the off set comments. It was seriously so fun.

 
 
(Me and Jeanne on set.. she showed me how to create a vintage canvas on a vintage door plate. )

 
(Danielle and I.. right after filming her segment. she showed how to use coffee filters for background in art. SO cool!!!)

 
(margie and me.. Margie came on the segment I taught on using yarn, thread and Jute for creating mixed media art.. she was a fun guest to have on! Pretty funny!)

 
(for some reason I didn't get a picture of just me and chrissy! I hope someone else did on their phone.. but this was part of her project.. a cool art journal!)

This is a picture of all of us after the day was over. You may notice I am wearing a different outfit in each picture.. had to change outfits for each segments. The bad part was, I didn't realize or remember I guess, that my background was red, so 3 of my 8 outfits were red or dark orange shirts/dressed and I couldn't wear them! So in one segment I wore the tank top and sweater that I wear for PJ's!.. you couldn't tell on film, but it was funny.. because it's seriously what I wore to be the night before.. I am such a dork!  

I had such an amazing experience. I was SO worried that my body wouldn't get me through the full day of filming on thursday and I don't know if it was excitement, or what, but we got through all the segments and before i knew it was 6:00 pm and we were done! I was so grateful my fibro didn't act up during filming.. now i can't say as much for the rest of the night and then next three days.. lol.. I seriously felt like I had been through the ringer and my body hurt so bad.. I pretty much slept for 4 days straight when I got home. but it was TOTALLy worth the experience.. the show debuts on September 12th.. can't wait!  thanks for letting me share!
Happy Monday!

 

heading to utah for some film and some creative collaborations...

So as you know, I was asked to be one of the hosts on the new show coming up this fall, called My Craft Channel. It's a online based (web) TV show where everyday they will have shows hosted by expert crafter's, showcasing all different crafts and styles. I was asked to be the host for the Mixed media show.. and was SO honored and so excited! 

the show is produced in utah, so I am heading down today tonight as I will be filming in the studio, tommorow and thursday for my upcoming segments this fall! I am excited for a lot of reason.. one is because of course one of my very best friends, Margie Romney-Aslett,

 
(this is a picture of me and Margie last fall.. she seriously makes me laugh.. like stomach hurt laugh. She is just one of a kind that girl!)..

 lives there, so I get to stay with her and hang out with her funny lovely self. I also get to stay in her "infamous" guest room.. which is always a delicious treat!

 

(this is a picture of margie's guest room in her last house.. her new one is even more gorgeous and this time I will take pictures!)

 ANOTHER reason I am excited is because the producers of MCC,  built each of us hosts, our very own "sets".. and I can't wait to see mine! I have been told is totally screams ME. Red walls, rustic/eclectic furniture.. I can't wait! Of course I am going to bring my own art to put on the walls, and my own "art supplies to film with.. gotta have my own trusty paints and paintbrushes..

 

 

But can't wait to see my set AND the set of everyone else! I have heard they are each so cool!

AND probably the biggest reason I am excited is because I get to have "guest" on my show and I will be having four of the coolest artsy chics coming thursday to each film a segment with me!  Of course you know I had to ask my dear friend Margie to be my first guest.. she will be the first one to tell you she is NOT an artist.. BUT I BEG TO DIFFER.

 
(this is a canvas margie started at our girls retreat in April..)

 An artist comes in so many different forms and while she might not totally feel comfortable with mixed media art.. she is an amazing papercrafting artist, jewelry artist, and product designer (which includes desiginging paper.. which has lead into designing fabric and such!). Plus she puts on one of THE MOST creative events ever.. from decorations, to teachers, to food, to music.. hello.. THAT is art at it's finest.. She is also an amazing blogger.. always finding the most beautiful photos and capturing you and bringing you into this wonderful world of art she has created.. She is also an AMAZING decorator.. I love her house.. love her sense of style!

 

(this is a photo taken from her blog.. seriously THIS is what her house looks like.. not even kidding you. )

So Margie will be my first guest on my Show.. she isn't going to create a project or teach me a project I guess I should say.. but I am going to teach her and she is going to be funny and witty and awesome like she always is and make me feel at ease and happy and right at home.. couldn't be more perfect for the first day of filming.. I will film three more segments that day. (wednesday) before we call it  a day. So excited and So nervous!

On the second day of filming I will have 3 more guests coming to shoot segments (I will be shooting 12 segments in all.. 8 of them this week.. and so four of my 8 will have guest on them.. it will be so much more interesting than just me talking the whole time! :))

So on thursday, I am excited to share the camera with 3 EXTREMELY talented mixed media artist.. who will be coming on my show to teach ME a technique! and I can't wait!

My first guest is the amazing Danielle Donaldson.. from wishbliss studios.. she is one of the most brilliant painters I have truly ever seen. Her depth and details in her art is CRAZY!!! so crazy! I am jealous of her talent!

 

(this is one of her paintings...)

 
 (the details.. seriously..)

She is also a awesome jewelry artist and takes her art and mixes it with wearable pieces!

 


So I am SUPER excited to have this chicka in the studio with me! I have never met her in person.. so this will also be an awesome FIRST! can't wait!

My second Guest "host"/Artist OR first guest  for filming on  thursday will be a VERY good friend of mine.. who also makes me laugh like no tomorrow.. Jeanne Oliver from Jeanne Oliver Designs.
Jeanne is a MUTLI-talented artist.. from jewelry, to fabric goods (handmade bags, dresses, pillows).. to mixed media art..

 
(one of my favorite original pieces from her.. I have the one on the left in the back.. the two friends with their heads together.. LOVE)

 

(I also have this necklace she made from vintage finds while in Paris. It never fails, it's my favorite necklace to wear and I always get compliments when I wear it!)

Jeanne has a very vintage quality about her work.. which is very different than my bright funky ways.. so I am excited to have her come on and even teach me a thing or to about her style of mixed media art! Plus the good news is I get to hang with her for two days while she stays with us at Margie's house! YOU KNOW We are going to party! lol (and that means for us old farts.. staying up way past our bedtime lauging at the dumbest things possible).. :) Man I have great friends. I am one lucky girl.

My last guest for thursday is the ever so brilliant.. and seriously.. blow your mind.. talented, Chrissy Gardner.  Chrissy is also a dear dear friend. TRULY one of the best. Chrissy is ALSO  a well kept secret.. if you will. She is very quiet, very humble and doesn't share her art a ton with other people. But that girl.. OH MY GOSH.. she is so freaking creative it blows my MIND!!

 
(this is a picture taken from her blog.. her blog is always so inspiring.. she is on a little hiatus with it right now as she just moved to utah.. but be prepared because when she is blogging.. it's full of creative goodness and inspiration!)

She is just seriously.. and I mean this with my entire heart.. a creative genius just waiting to be unleashed.

 
(this is a mixed media project she was working on while at our girls art retreat).. she first doolded it, then painted it and then was embriodering it.. and then it was going to be turned into a bracelet! HELLO??!!!)

this girl thinks SO outside the box.. is crazy. I just wish she knew how talented she really was and shared more of her artsy goodness with the world. AT our girls retreat early this year.. with all of my closest girlfriends, she made each of us a pair of simple tourquise earring. Before that, I was not a wearer of earrings.. they always seemed to bother my ears like nothing else.. so I thought I would never wear them. NOW?? I wear them almost every day! They are SO me and because they are silver, they don't bother my ears at all! I truly wear them all the time and they are simple, yet funky and handmade andi LOVE THEM.

 

(This is a picture I took of them the other day using my phone) .. i was driving and sent her a text to tell her again THANK You for the wonderful earrings.. I truly DO wear them all the time.)

Anyhow.. I guess I am just super excited and super anxious for this week to come. I am nervous to film.. silly right? I mean I have done over 75 videos in my own workshops alone.. but it just feels "bigger" more pressure to be creative than ever before.. and of course I want to be myself. I want to be able to laugh and mess up and just be me on film.. so  I am hoping they allow me to do that and not cut too many "mistakes" out.. cause you know there will be! Lol

I will film 8 videos this week.. and then head back in September sometime to film the other 4.. AND when I do, I get the pleasure of having one more fabulous artist on the show with me.. the ever Talented Kelly Barton She tried so hard to make it this time around.. cause the 6 of us ladies hanging out.. holy cow.. that would have been SOMETHING ELSE!  but alas.. work and family came first. Which is as it SHOULD be.  Can't wait for September though! .( I will tell you more about THIS amazing chicka later! )

I am also just truly grateful for this opportunity. Seriously.. talk about a "LEAP".  I sometimes forget what a HUGE opportunity this is for me.. and then I will be talking to my mom about it or someone else and I can see the excitement in their eyes and I realize how blessed I TRULY am that I was asked to do this. Out of ALL the mixed media artist in our industry.. TRULY there are so many talented women AND Men, so I am grateful I was asked! I hope I do them proud! :)

 Well... I am off! I am going to take lots of pictures while I am there so I can document and blog about this experience. not sure how much time I will have, but if I do, I will post a blog about it while I am gone. (I say that knowing full well I am sure I won't have any time! lol  But I did spend some time this weekend in my studio.. I had this creative itch to create something just for ME.. so I did.. I will share that with you when I get back :) 

Anyhow.. thanks for letting me share this journey of MCC with you!  Happy Tuesday!

 

Spark your creativity!.. a artsy experience..

So I know a long while I ago, I posted that I was going to be one of the new creative partners this year for Spark The Event.But I am ALSO going to be teaching one of my mixed media classes at Spark as well! I have to tell you.. last year when I attended this event, I wasn't really in the "creating mood". I hadn't been for years, didn't consider myself a creative person or even an artist. After I attended that event, soaked in all the beautiful women, teachers and philosophies about art.. that were shared at that event.. I came home INSPIRED to do more.. to start creating again.. it was the perfect nudge I needed to just be ME again..

 
 

If you don't know what Sparkis.. well you are in for a treat! Spark is a creative event where all things creative and beautiful come together in one place. It's creative genius is the fabulousMargie Romney-Alsett.

 

 And it's her Third YEAR! From the classes to the food, the decorations, the rooms, everything is just one magical place! 

 

 

 

 It's a 2 day event hosted in this beautiful building in Utah. And when I say beautiful I mean it has a rooftop patio with christmas lights hung.. and they use it for the make and take nights and live music. Seriously beautiful!  As part of the event you get to take all the classes offered (which I believe are a total of 7  or 8).. 

 

 classes like stamp carving with the talented April Meeker,

 

 reverse applique (From Amy Tangerine), an Altered Shabby Vintage book, full of wonderful little details,

 
 

 a mixed media art piece (She Art Girl by me!),

 

 a jewelry piece, an art journal class by the talented DONNA Downey!

 

 and the EVER talented artists:  Emily Falconbridge, Mindy Gledhill, and more! PLUS guess what? they are going to have a blogger panel by some of the most well known bloggers in the industry! AMazing!

 
 

 It combines all things creative and you get to participate in ALL of them! Plus they will have a Market Fair with handpicked handmade artists featuring their work for sale.

 

They also include a make and take night where you get to spend the evening on the roof, creating all sorts of things from sponsors like jewelry, cuffs, cards, headbands, the list goes on and on.

 

 

 And if that weren't enough, you get served Delicious food as well! It truly is an amazing experience. This past week Spark held a fun little "soiree at a local gift store.. to give a taste of what's in store.. here is a fun little video on it.. But seriously.. if you are looking for something to really push you creatively.. to be surrounded by wonderful beautiful artsy people like yourself. To connect and make new friends, new opportunities.. new life changing experiences.. YOU NEED TO COME TO THIS EVENT.  It's this fall, in October (my birthday month!) near Salt Lake City Utah! So  come see me.. come take a class with me and all the other wonderful teachers that will be there. It will be one unforgettable experience! Check out the Spark Website for more info!

Spark The Event

 

Spark the Event No. 3 Soiree from Spark The Event on Vimeo.