My Time

SPARK 2011 - part 4

Our last class was mixed media canvas with Donna Downey.  I have taken several classes from Donna before, but they were all art journal type classes. 

This canvas class was so different.  I absolutely love Donna's teaching style.  She is all about doing things your own way. 

I love all the messy supplies.  This was so much fun.

We used pan pastels to create this canvas.  We covered our canvas with tissue paper, which is what gave the texture. 

Then we had a free period before the evening concert.  We did a little shopping at Dear Lizzie Boutique.  OK - maybe more than a bit of shopping........

 The closing event was a concert by Sarah Sample.  All very inspirational.

This was one of the best events I've been to.  All different projects, almost all finished, and all so fun I can't stand it.   I am definitely in line to attend Spark No. 4.  Can't wait!

SPARK 2011 - part 3

We had the best class with Amy Tan.  She is such fun, the sweetest personality, and super crafty too!

 

We learned reverse applique, and I love it.  We were all very intent on sewing our shirts and she kept telling us the cutest stories.  Such a fun class.

This is the shirt I made - all finished in class.  Love how simple this is!!

 Next up - stamp carving with April Meeker.  I was prepared to just skip this class.  I was just sure this would be a disaster, at best.  And just look - I actually carved a stamp!  And let me tell you - this was super easy.  After all, if I can do it.............

One of the things that is so great about Spark this year is that in most of the classes we actually finished our projects.  I have shelves of unfinished projects at home (admit it - you know you do too).  I love that I didn't have to add to that (for the most part).

OK believe it or not, there is still more Spark to come.  Spark post #4 coming soon.......

SPARK 2011 - part 2

One of our mixed media classes was She Art with Christy Tomlinson.  I had so much fun in this class.  All sorts of messy!!  I am anxious to try this again and modify the pattern a bit.  And add some of my own things..........hmmm.....

 

We had a jewelry making class with Cathe Holden and made this nest necklace.  Mine left something to be desired, but still I managed to do it. 

Our fourth class that first day was a Junk Journal with Jen Jensen.  As is normal for me - I was exhausted by this  point in the day and did not really do anything in this class.  It was a very ambitious project, and not so much my style.  Jen's finished book was very cute though.

The idea is to take an old hardbound book (I made a trip to Goodwill), and alter it into a crafty journal.  We removed many pages, strategically, so that there would be room in the book for embellishments. 

We cut the pages into shapes (decorative edges) like the butterfly shape here.

And in some parts we cut out frames for photos. 

 

OK - more to come!

 

SPARK 2011 - part 1

Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.         ~Golda Meir

I was so fortunate to attend Spark No.3 this year.  Inspiration was everywhere and it was so contagious.  The attention to detail was amazing.  The event was held at Noah's in Lindon, Utah.  This is a perfect 4-story conference center that was transformed into a mecca of creative energy.

Look how cute the tables were decorated. We each got these journals and storage boxes with the Spark no.3 logo.

We started the event with an inspirational message from Mindy Gledhill.  She has much insight into the creative process and the message definitely hit home.

Then we were off to our first class - Fleting with Emily Falconbridge.  I had no clue about how felt is made!  We took fresh wool (already died) called Roving and made these felted soaps (these are Emily's soaps).  this is like a washcloth and soap all in one.  as the soap is used, the felt shrinks with it.  So the fresh wool, combined with moisture and friction, eventually, turns to felt.  This was a pretty fun project.  We were so soapy when we were done that our hands were self-foaming for several hours after.  This process can be used to make scarves, beads, anything "felt".

This was the view from our class.  It is just georgous country there.
More to come later........

Headed to Spark

This morning I am headed to Utah for Spark.  This is one of the most amazing crafting events and I am so excited to be going again.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. -Albert Schweitzer

On the agenda this year --

• felting
• stamp carving
• reverse applique
• jewelry making
• mixed media classes
• collage

And the most amazing thing, the passion shared by these crafters and artisans is so contagious.

Now --I'm off to go rekindle my Spark!

Still Feeling the Spark

Many of you know that I attended Spark in Salt Lake City last month.  And you probably know that I thought it was such an incredible experience. 

Now this video was posted on the Spark site recently, and I just love it.  Created by Jeremy Miller. 

I have watched this so many times.  My Valentine even watched it and said "wow".  It captures so much of the experience, better than words could say.  Thank you Spark sisters for sharing this FABulous video with us and for the unforgettable experiences behind it.

Sit back and watch.  Feel it.   Now --- I need to go make something :-)
 

|SPARK| from Jmills ENT. Jeremy Miller on Vimeo.

 

Spark - fabric fun

Kelly McCaleb led a fabric class at Spark. Gotta say I love Kelly because she gave us the freedom to play with fabric without breaking out the sewing machine - now that speaks to me! 

She had us all embellish t-shirts with little rosettes we put together using Beacon's Fabri-tac, which is seriously the best thing since sliced bread.  I embellished a blue shirt in class - but did this brown one at home the other night while watching t.v.  Seriously easy!!

In class, there were piles and piles of fabrics to choose from that Kelly had brought from her own stash.  (A girl after my own heart.)

This class was held in another of the vintage buildings, the hospital, which is now a quilt museum. 

This is one of the shirts that Kelly had made and brought as examples - isn't it cute ?

NOW - what else can I put rosettes on ???

Spark - Jewelry fun

 Margie Romney-Aslett and April Meeker led a super-fun and inspiration-filled class at Spark.  Margie had designed this cute necklace.  We were to bring a tiny photo of ourselves (many brought a childhood photo - I may go back and change mine). 

Then we used some Tim Holtz memory glassand Tim Holtz fragments along with an incredible "bar" of goodies to choose from.

Buttons and tulle and glitter and stamps and paint and ink and even a vintage typewriter if we wanted to type something to put on the necklace. 

 
 
There was even a teeny tiny little birdcage to put on the necklace (my necklace is far from finished - so it's not on it yet).  The idea of the birdcage is that we could write a tiny message to ourselves and roll it up and put it inside the birdcage.  Inspiration for sure !

 

Now  - the other thing about this class - I got to learn more about April Meeker.  I already knew she had a super talent at carving stamps - look at this stamp she carved with the Spark logo.  Incredible isn't it ? 

Well, I had been eyeing some earrings that were for sale in the booths the local artists had set up.  Went back to them several times, and then learned that April had created them.  I love how artists usually have a story behind the items they create.  April said she called these earrings "Vincent's Siesta".  She said the color of the stones (citrine briolettes) reminded her of Vincent Van Gogh's painting Siesta, which the background is a hayfield.  I can see that - very similar color.

And now - they are mine !  Check out other pieces she has created at her Etsy shop.

Photo Booth Fun

  When was the last time you played in a photo booth ? 

 

We all broke loose and cut it up a bit in the photo booth at Spark.  So fun - and a good reminder to let your personality shine through!

My friend Erin and I were having a blast in this set - with only 4 seconds between photos - was quite hilarious changing glasses/hat with only 4 seconds to spare !

Next time you see a photo booth - stop in and have a little FUN.

 

A little inspiration -

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."  —Maya Angelou

"When you come right down to it, all you have is yourself.  Yourself is a sun with a thousand fires in your belly.  The rest is nothing." --- Pablo Picasso

These were just a couple of many great quotes in Cassandra Barney's keynote speach at Spark.

I have certainly become a fan of her work and her spirit.

Another piece of wisdom she shared with us - "Be where your feet are".  Don't be thinking about work or worrying about something else when you are playing with your children.  Just be there.  Just "be where your feet are".   Click here to see the painting she created by this name.

Click here for more of her quotes from that speach.  Love it.