pamgarrison

garland classes!

I finally have some news about the garlands...I will be teaching the coffee filter garland  two times this upcoming spring. The first class will be at Kim Caldwell's La Petite Maison Blanc and the 2nd will be a night-time demo at Teesha's ArtFiberfest. I'm excited about both weekends, and have been in my art room day after day after day gathering de-stashing supplies for my vendor table at each event. I plan to make some art to sell as well. Spring has always been my favorite season, looking forward to it especially this year.

For those that can't make the classes and have been patiently waiting, bear with me. I'm going to do a little step by step photo tutorial this weekend.

And maybe, just maybe, I might be demoing these on a TV craft segment...I'll let you know...

and when I haven't been in my art room, I've been breaking in my new chauffeur...

 

ha ha ha. We were just being silly after leaving a friend's house on the day she got her permit. She's actually quite a good little driver. I think it's due to her cautious, rule following personality, but when she went on her first driving ride with an instructor and he asked her why it seemed like she'd been driving for a long time, she told him that she learned on the "Autopia" ride at Disneyland. I think she meant it too! Oh to be sixteen...

art journaling

 

As always, thanks for all the support in my endeavors. And speaking of which, many of you have sent me emails and comments telling me you enjoyed the article in the new Art Journaling magazine. It was so fun to be chosen for the cover of the very first issue!

 

 

The top photo is a journal page I was just coloring in. It has one of my favorite quotes on it: 

 

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.  - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 

I thought it quite appropriate for January and all the fresh starts. (Yes, that page on the right is the one from an earlier post)

 

Off to begin something. xop

where i've been

above left to right: me, jo packham and michael garland-as taken by my daughter, last night 6:30pm.

I know, I've been remiss at blogging again, but I've had good reason. I've spent every spare second (why are there never enough of those?!?) trying to get my art room ready for it's close up: a photo shoot for the Where Women Create quarterly publication. (Can't wait to get the new issue in stores February 1). In my defense, I had short notice, but then again, my art room really isn't kept in photo ready state. Ever. I wish I couldn't leave the house without everything in order, but i don't have that issue. Just the opposite; I have no problem working on something up till the last second, dropping it and running out the door. And I don't feel the need to get back to cleaning it up once back. My creative whim might pull me towards something else and off I go in that direction, assuring myself I'll be back to the other in short time, but that "creative time" is what I find to be so illusive being a mom and wife and everything else we try to be in life. Before long a real mess can pile up. I'm really good at that unfortunately. I came really close to getting everything put in it's place,  but truth be told, I did end up pulling some of my "I have enough of this to sell some at my next teaching gig" stuff out into the hallway. Surely someone else must have had to do that for their photos?!?  I can't be the only one, can I? A messy, whirling dervish at times?

Well, you know my art room's secret now. But really, this time I'm really going to try to stay organized! (Oh please, I hope I've got it in me!) I'm not sure what magazine issue my studio will be in, but of course, I'll be sure to let you know. Thank you Jo and Michael for the hours of fun!

more stitching fun

Last April or May (I think), the editors at Somerset Home sent a few different artists a new, plain, pillowcase from Ikea and gave us free reign to create whatever we chose with it.  As I was bedridden at the time (the back), I decided to stitch on my pillowcase. I set out to make a cover for my sewing machine. Once I was able to get up and about again, I trimmed the case to the correct size for my sewing machine and added a pretty trim to the bottom. Sew simple (ha ha). Here is the finished project:

 

Since embroidery seems to be enjoying a resurgence in blog-land, I thought I'd offer a free embroidery pattern inspired by this design.

Download the free Sew Sweet PDF here and then  print it out, trace onto fabric, and stitch away. If you do end up making something, I'd love to see a photo so post a link in the comments so we can all admire your work!

If you want to see what all the other artists did with their pillowcases, check out the latest issue of Somerset Life.

 

The article is called "Pillow Talk". Clever.

 

And if you're looking for stitching sampler inspiration, be sure to check out Sandra Everertson's beautiful antique textiles book in the making in this issue as well.

 

Happy stitching!

bewitched by stitching (aka it's all Rebecca's fault)

 

When I saw this post on Rebecca's blog, my creative juices really perked up. I was obsessed with copying in my own way. I got to see hers up close for a second and it was even yummier in person. Of course, she rolled her eyes at me when I gushed, the humble artist that she is, but you would have gushed too, there is something so soulful about her piece.  It wasn't long before  I started my own stitching sampler-of-sorts.

 

I have been having fun adding to it for a couple months now. You know, one of those projects you keep thinking about playing with?

 

 

 

That's what it is currently for me; my favorite artistic pass-time.

...And as if Rebecca's sewing sampler wasn't enough inspiration,  her new sampler here has more ideas formulating in my brain...slow down Rebecca! I can't keep up with your ideas. 

If her stitching sampler had you inspired as well, maybe you want to enter this fun contest. Can't wait to see the photos when all posted. (Click on the sewing contest poster)

And if looking at these samplers leaves you wondering, "hmmm, cool, but for what purpose?"(as one of the moms at the bus stop asked), then take a look at Heather's ingenious sampler version here. She added some structure and a great idea for turning into a pillow.

A closer peek at my sewing basket:

 

isn't it sweet? It's all tattered and wonky, but adding that beautiful sequined berry I bought at Silver Bella made the flaws all the more charming.

 

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and let you know I'm as hooked as all of you stitchers out there. I've got a long way to go as I plan to cover it chock full, but I do recommend it, it makes waiting in carpool lines much more tolerable. Just be sure you grab scissors, needle and thread along with your piece as you run out the door!

oh my!

Ok, I'm so behind on all the news out in the craft/blog land, I know. But in case you are too, I wanted to share. Just recently I was told that Rachel Ashwell has a blog, which I've been enjoying. But apparently Kaari Meng has had one for quite some time now. I have been a fan of French General's ever since I saw an article on Kaari and her cute sister Molly Meng (who has her own stationary business) years and years ago. I think it was in Victoria? or maybe Martha Stewart Living? I can't put my hands on the article but I tore it out and dreamed of visiting their New York shop and Tinsel Trading while I was at it. Speaking of which, check this out...oh, heaven on earth! Even the rustle of the old paper packaging makes my heart skip. To be on the treasure hunts that Kaari describes on her blogs would be thrilling for me. I love to dig for treasure, but I don't have to tell you that, do I? Well, how about this treasure hunt? I can only hope my place in line is up high enough to go, and I don't even know any details. I think Kaari might have to stay in France for the summer entertaining groups and groups of interested folks- she just might have unknowingly opened Pandora's's box! Oh that Chateau...I could go on and on but know I don't need to, her post will make you swoon.

Anyway, those are two new blogs to me, you all might have been reading them for awhile now. If you know of any new blogs or have started one up yourself, feel free to leave us all a comment so we can follow the link.

Hope you have a creative day! I'm getting off the computer now to go make something. The kids are back to school and my fingers are itching to get lost in something.

{The photo has nothing to do with anything posted, but what's a post without a photo? This is the kitchen chandelier with the sun hitting the remains of the birthday bash still on it. I thought it worked for new years, so I left it up. Off to take them down now...}

a new year, a new journal

I often grab a journal and take it in the car when our family heads out somewhere. Inevitably, it seems some waiting is involved or I'll even doodle while my husband is driving.

Because I like to take a journal on the go, I decided I needed a smaller one than the others I currently have going. I chose to make one that was softer as well as smaller for ease of use. Here is a page that was drawn on the go. Now it just needs watercoloring or filling in with pens.

 

Here is the front cover:

 

 

and the back:

 

I was obviously in quite a colorful mood when I made the cover. The shine you see is some decoupage medium used for a soft and smooth feeling finish. Here are some favorite spots of mine from the cover:

 

Don't these girls seem like they have a good story to tell? They seem so happy. 

 

...and this group seemed fitting for the back. They seem to be off onto another journey somewhere.

 

A  page in progress done while on  the road...

 

Hmmm...so far this year it seems I'm in a colorful mood. I'll do another post  on journaling soon.

Hope you're having a colorful year so far too- xo

 

 

 

goodbye Christmas

finally finished my little guy's new stocking

 

Just finished my (not so little) guy's new stocking. I told the story of his original stocking  in this post here.
The Santa above is his favorite part.







and this is my favorite part ...



Ok, now that I finished it up, it's back to putting Christmas away!

happy new year

Happy New Year to everyone! I've decided I'm going to approach it like the ornament above, all pink and glittery and fresh and full of energy. I'm saying goodbye to 2008 which left me feeling a bit like the ornament below; a crazy bird, all scattered and stressed, flying here and there squawking and getting a bit tattered and run down. It's lovely to find a new perspective. Here's to a great 2009 for us all!!!