PlayDay at Jackie's

First Suitcase I ever collaged

For  a couple of years I have been trying to have a playday at my home every week for my friends where we work on whatever art projects we are trying to finish.  It could be jewelry, soldering altered art, painting, collaging - you get the picture.

Towards the end of last year, a couple of people had expressed an interest in the playdays being more structured.  My dear friend, Georgia Lichon who lives in Oceanside, has a playday once a week at her home that is very structured.  The group gets together and decides what projects they are going to work on.  The ideas for their projects can come from the arsenal of Somerset's Magazines.

That has worked for them for a couple of years but was a little too structured for the group of gals "playing" at my home.  But, I came up with a work around.  Our eclectic wonderful friend, Jackie Baxted, had for a while had a playday once a month at her home where she kind of directed a project and supplied a lot of the items to be used by her friends.  Plus, she had opened her home to teachers and the area was perfect for this sort of thing.

The idea was born that starting in January 2013, that one of us in this group would devise a project and lead the activity at Jackie's.  No money involved and lots of times it might be something we had learned in a class we had taken and just wanted to share the experience with our friends but in a group setting.  We always share  the name of the teacher from whom we either learned the technique or lesson.  Credit is always given!

The first month, Georgia led the group.  It involved sewing by hand, cloth, and Milagros type dolls that Georgia had available. The day was a success and I have seen some of the final Milagros that my friends created under the guidance of Georgia.  I was unable to attend and it was my loss.

February was the month I had volunteer to lead the group.  I had two items that I had finished over 10 years ago when I was just starting out to explore the right side of my brain and the world of art for the first time.  I took a class at The Stamp Addict in La Mesa from a person who later became a friend - an amazing teacher who can do just about anything - Tammie Moore. The class she taught was turning your old suitcase  of any size into a work of art to carry or house your art supplies or what ever you so desire.  Essentially,  we were just collaging, but for me this was very challenging.  She provided suitcases for us to purchase and I got two.  She also provided scrapbook papers and magazines to tear up for us to use.  I had never collaged before.  It's amazing that these two suitcases have become my pride and joy!  Plus, they are so different. How could I impart what I learned from Tammie?

Other side of first suitcase

Well, the supplies were easy.  I told everyone to bring a suitcase and either Modge Podge or Golden's Gel Medium or something to glue down paper to the suitcases and seal the top.  I suggested that in advance they decide on a color pallet or a subject for the collage or they could just "wing it." 

Top of my first suitcase

 I brought my two completed suitcases to show and demonstrate how they were totally different.  Everyone jumped right in.  There were eight of us.  The best part of projects like this is what we learn from each other and how we see others interpreting the project and it's outcome.  

Second suitcase I did

Top of second suitcase

Mary, loves to travel.  She has been collecting for a long time travel labels  She decided to cover her suitcase both front in back with theses labels in more of a linear fashion rather than just hap-hazard. It will be fun to see if she goes further with her project.  It looked great as it was.  

Mary's Travel Case

Kat had decided on a Marilyn Monroe theme.  She chose to cover her little suitcase with beautiful paper Kathie G. had brought to share with gold foil and rich green and blue colors.  She would have been a lot further along before we disperse if she hadn't realized that after "fussy" cutting (a term we have acquire from Magda Cortez) an infamous photo of Marilyn with her skirt flying up, that she had glued it on upside down.  It wasn't funny.  In the end, she covered it and felt she could find another photo of this particular pose again and still use it.  In the meantime, she continued.

Kat's Marilyn Monroe Case

Magda purchased a 50's makeup case from Jackie and began to work on her background collage.  Her theme is SteamPunk and had amazing ideas using die cuts and Tim Holtz's alcohol inks to create a one of a kind carrier that reflects Magda's imagination using scrapbook supplies in new and exciting ways.  She teaches both in stores and online and has taught internationally in Mexico and Spain.  Check out her blog.  She has an amazing number of followers internationally.  Magda speaks perfect English and by profession is an Engineer.  She is precise in her designs and we have been privileged to watch her create before our very eyes some of the most intricate little books.  I believe in the near future she will be offering her classes and tutorials in both Spanish and English.  Be sure to visit Magda's blog "Axes Designs" to see more of her finished SteamPunk suitcase.

Magda's  make-up case in progress

Magda's completed make-up case

Jackie also worked on a 50's makeup case.  Her theme appears to be a color.  She started with a bright hot pink/red case.  Since she was the hostess, she made sure we were all comfortable and when we ordered lunch, she went and got it for us.  She still managed to get her case finished!

Our hostess, Jackie

Jackie's almost finished

Kathie G. brought a suitcase and elegant papers from Dick Blick to share with us all.  Her suitcase is a vibrant pink and vintage creams.  The overall appearance is beautiful.  Both Jackie's, Kathie's and Debbie's made me wish I had worked with brighter colors for my collage background.  I do not know if Kathie is going to put other images over her background or go with the suitcase just as it is - beautiful.

Kathie G's Suitcase

Kathie introduced me to her friend Debbie.  Debbie had also come to Georgia's Milagro class that I missed.  Debbie worked on what looked like a hat box.  Very cute.  She also worked in very vibrant pinks, my favorite colors.

Debbie's Hat Case in progress

Our Master Solderer, Margo Beatty, came to play with us.  Instead of a suitcase she decided to work on a blank clipboard.  She also worked in pink but a softer pink.  She also muted some of her edges and the paper with paint.  Below you can see her finished clipboard.

I neglected to learn from some of the artists whether they were just doing a background or if they were going to go farther with their projects when they got home.  My bad. . .

Margo's Clip Board in progress

Margo's Finished Clipboard

I decided to do a background collage using scrapbook papers in vintage muted colors and for contrast, black.  Then I had a theme - Men I have loved  (obviously in my dreams). . .  The range is from Leonard Cohen to Freddie Mercury (even though we play for different teams) and capping off my bizarre interest - Henry Kessinger. . .  Not sure what they all have in person.  Power?

One side of my background collage finished

Layout for one of my sides

Sally's Suitcase one side almost finished

Can't wait for next month to try something new!

Christmas Card 2012 - Danita inspired

Sally's finished Christmas Card 2012

Back a couple of months ago I took a class from Danita in person at Jenny Doh's Crescendoh Studio in Santa Anna along with my friend Elena. Here is the link to that blog.

The one done in class is a 12x12.  It was so much fun.  When I got home, I decided to give the boy in my painting a laser mustache and make it my son (who at 36 does have a mustache and a pug rescue dog). The bow tie references my son's first suit for cotillion which he picked out himself at JC Penny's in 4th grade.  It was black and white plaid with a black satin bow tie. All the rest of the boys wore blue blazers and camel colored slacks.  Love my son!  Never a follower - always a leader.

Sally's finished painting made in Danita's class

I had decided to make another Danita inspired painting/collage at home and make my character again, a little boy since I just became a grandma for the first time in March.  So this painting/collage represents my grandson.

Scanned actual painting

The actual painting/collage is dimensional. The white around the child's face and Rudy's tail is fur from JoAnn's.  There are actual beads in the center of the  poinsettia's and there is a laser cut little bird up in the flowers.

Jump forward to November and I am thinking about Christmas Cards for Ernie and I to send out.  I try to always make the 125 cards from scratch.  Last year was so much fun.  I Photoshop-ed Ernie's photo of when he was about 4 years old and a ring bearer in his aunts wedding into my dad's 1948 or 1949 Christmas Card. I am either  four or five years old.  Then I changed the greetings on the display that my dad had included.  The change said, "Greetings Ernie and Sally" instead of "Greetings Harry and Sally."  

Sally and Ernie's Christmas Card 2011

I am standing in front of a huge Christmas tree that was in the front yard of the house where I grew up. My dad obviously hung balloons on the tree to represent Christmas ornaments.  (I don't think you could get giant ornaments back then).  My adopted father was a single father and very creative and enjoyed doing this for his Christmas cards each year to send back to his family in Chicago. the cards were always a photo of me and in different places.  So much fun!
  
So this year I decided to PhotoShop the 8x10 canvas I did at home and fix a few things that can easily be fix/sharpened/re-size, etc. for the card in PhotoShop.

Now, those that know me well and my poor family that has to deal with my quirky mind, might figure out what I meant in my greetings and the drawing.  In Danita's class, I drew a young boy.  Well, my grandson is only 9 months old this December and so to make that point, "that blue thing" that is where a red mouth should be is his pacifier denoting in my strange mind, that he is really just a baby.

Plus, if you know what "Easter Eggs" are in the computer world (per Wikipedia, "A vitual Easter egg is an intentional hidden message, inside joke, or feature in a work such as a computer program, movie, book, or crossword"), you will see I put a very small, hard to find and read "Easter Egg" on the front of the card too.  

Here is the clue: "What is my families favorite college football team?  Don't know me that well?"  Read on.

The greeting on the front of the card reads "Rudy, Nine month old Grandson Karl, Ernie and Sally. . ."  Rudy* refers to the sad wonderful movie, Rudy which takes place at Notre Dame.  Instead of calling the reindeer Rudolph, for my purposes (and in my weird mind), he was the inspirational Rudy.  

Then if you look really, really close to Rudy's collar, you will see two initials - ND - for Notre Dame.  Aha.  I know, who cares?  I care!  I'm not even sure my kids will get it. . .

This all becomes very significant since this year, ND is in first place in the BCS and will play second place Alabama in the National Football Championship Game on January 7.  Go Notre Dame!

So now you have my version of "the rest of the story." **

**phrase made famous by Paul Harvey

* Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obsticales.  It was the first movie that the Notre Dame administration allowed to be shot on campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1940.

Merry Christmas 

and

Happy Holidays

Two GREAT days with Sally Jean

Silly Sal and her angel

Last week, I once again went to Cheryl Simpson's home where Sally Jean teaches.  The facilities are amazing and Cheryl is an incredible hostess.

Thursday's Class

It was good to see other artists I usually only see at a Sally Jean's class like Alicia.  And of course Margo and I sat together.  I had been gone the week before so missed my weekly playday with Margo.  I lucked out having Rita Reade from Vintage Market Place on my left and Margo on my right.  

Choose your angel's body

Choose your angel's head

With Sally Jean's classes you never know exactly what you will be making.  Today was no exception.  There is always that wonderful element of discovery and surprise.  Thursday we created glass angels with vignette's inside the glass.  Sally provided the glass and the angel heads.  There are always new techniques to learn and revisiting old Sally Jean techniques that are in need of refreshing. They say your dogs look like you.  Well, my angel body looks like me - squatty  body and all. . . Once I get the pin cushion for her to stand on she will grow those legs I always wanted.

We were rewarded at the end of the day with a surprise little project.  Sally's inspiration was  the medals that are worn on uniforms.  I made my "Grandma" badge.  Easy and fun.  And again, a little new technique was learned in the creations of this little badge.

Margo showing us her angel

Close up of Margo's angel

I feel I am never completely prepared as the other's as to what to use for my vignettes.  You never know what the subject will be or could be.  I will spend the next few months at garage sales and flea markets looking with completely different eyes.  I took a small cut glass wine bowl/glass for my angel because I felt I was really limited as to what I brought to use.  Plus, everyone else had very beautiful and sophisticated vignettes and since I have this first and new grandson, mine would be more child like friend.   That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Alicia Gilaro's Angel
Titled "Partridge in a Pear Tree"

Cheryl's angel

Here are some of the Thursday group's angels.  There were 16 in total.  We lined them up in Cheryl's workshop.

The Artists 

Alicia Walker or Pink Alicia

Alicia is a joy to be around.  She is the original Pink Alicia.  Everything she collects is pink it seems.  Her angel had a pink skier, a pink Christmas tree and I think, a pink deer in her vignette.  Crazy!  And it all sat upon a snow bank in her glass bowl!  Why don't I have a photo. . .?

Close up of Rita's Angel

Rita hold her angel

 Rita Reade played outside the box.  She is the only one who chose the small doll head and then a large wine glass bowl for the body.  At the time, I though "what?"  Well, the finish project with her lace skirt on the outside of the bowl was beautiful (not cute - Rita hates the word "cute").  A joy to sit next to.  Always supportive of what other's are doing and willing to share anything she has with others.

Rita is the proprietor of the Vintage Market Place at the Oaks. Check out the schedule and be sure to drop by this upscale flea market.

Friday's Class

Sally's Jean's class on Friday was the most difficult I have ever had to do.  Only because we were working on such a small scale.  Again, limited as to what I brought for the vignettes.  I loved seeing what all the other students brought to use and used so very effectively.  Susan Bezek, a teacher in her own right, had the tiniest and so precious little rocking horse.  I wanted to steal her treasures.  Got to be on the look out for sure for "stuff" for vignettes!

Michelle Hurtt

Sally's creativity has no bounds and some of the students went in their own creative direction with much success.  My difficulty mainly was working so small and that my collage work did not dry sufficiently to bend and stay even with the clear caulking.  But, I can fix that.  The antlers were great and easy and so was the wheels.  Loved the pussy willow tails and how she worked out the deer head.

Earlier in the week, I guess there was a teddy bear.  Sally didn't have a completed project, only the tummy.  I sure wish I had taken that class!  But, I had just returned from NJ and knew I would be tired and I was.

Alicia Gilaro

Friday, Margo and Rita were not there.  But, everyone is so friendly and nice and others come from afar without their buddies.  I made friends with those around our big table - Another Alicia (there were two), Tiffany Smith, Susan Bezek and Juli Lloyd.  Alicia and I met for the first time at Elena's Seaside Soiree a couple of years ago.  

Plus, Pam and Ann were at the table behind me.  Always great to reunite with art friends.

Tiffany's beginning vignettes

Susan's vignette's

More vignettes in progress

Three more vignettes
This one with a ballerina motif.

Woodsy motif

Susan Bezek
holding Sally Jean's Reindeer

Tiffany Smith's angel

We all expressed our enthusiasm for Sally Jean to return in the Spring with new ideas and projects.  Yes, I learned a lot of new techniques, but even if I didn't the camaraderie and girl's day out are really worth it, plus, again Cheryl Simpson's hospitality.

Pam Munns

Carol

Debbie Udall Wilcock

Bonnie

Tree's from Wednesday's
non-soldering class

Be sure to check out Sally Jean's sale site at Gray Mouse. Then search Sally Jean.  Her new tote bags are gorgeous.  Got to see a lot of her wares in person at Cheryl's.

Margo Beatty and me

Sally Jean, Margo, Cheryl and Silly Sal

On purpose I don't show a close up of Sally Jean's sample projects.  She has worked hard to create theses projects for us.  I want you all to get the feel of her classes and want to take classes from her when she returns.  She has so much to share and takes everything to a new high.  She is the one that suggested I put my angel on a old fashion tomato pin cushion (which my friend Mary is going to bring to me since she collects theses little gems).  Then I decided to scan a Queen of Hearts playing card, reduce it and print it on shrinky dink and make a chard for around her neck hanging under her jeweled collar.  One idea leads to another.

Thank You Sally Jean

Graphic 45 "Little Darlings" Baby Book Album designed by Magda Cortez

A couple of months ago, my dear friend and close neighbor, Kathie,  introduced my "PlayDay" group to a new instructor/designer - Magda Cortez.  Her website is in both English and Spanish.

Kathie and our friend Dawn had taken a class from her in Oceanside.  I loved the book that Magda had literally engineered since that is what she is - an engineer.  The book was amazing and Magda had used Graphic 45 paper (one of her favorite companies to work with).  While in class Kathie told Magda about our "PlayDay" group. Magda had expressed interest and Kathie asked me if we could include her.  The rest is history.

Magda is amazing.  What is so much fun is watching her create before our very eyes.  I have spoke about her already, in my Halloween post.  Wow, you should see the book she created (two in fact) with the Halloween theme.

But, this post is about her baby book!  Since I am a new and first time grandma, I feel madly in love.  She had already taught the class.  I begged her to teach it again at my home and she easily said, "yes."  We all got our paper and began.

Here is Magda's video using Graphic45 "Little Darlings" paper.  Enjoy.


I needed one immediately for my best friend Carole's daughter's baby shower.  I decided to give Carole (the grandma to be) the book at the end of the shower.  Everyone loved it.

Original made for Carole

Then I proceeded to make four more.  Very, very, time intensive.  I made one for myself, another one for my dear friend Patty who just had her first granddaughter, one to be auctioned off at my friend, Elena's Seaside Soiree in December and one to keep for the next grandma that might need it!

The first one for Carole, I made the cover exactly like Magda's in her video.  The next four I played with the covers with just little tweets.

Used some flowers I had in my stash and decided not to put anything down the left side.  Used the larger banner and cut down the "For Baby" announcement.  Softer look.

Simple with a tad of lace

This one is more coral in color.  Plus, I used the satin flowers you find at Michael's.  I cut the bottoms off and opened them up so that they weren't so pointy on the bottom and would lay (lie?) better.

More Coral in color

Below, different lace down the side and keeping it pink.

Pink

Here is the cover of my book for my grandson.  In the below photos, I like the first one better without the flowers on the side.  But, in person, I am very happy with the bottom book that actually has the white flowers down the side.  I think maybe I need to ink the white or should try to tea dye the white.  Too much of a contrast, right?

My Grandson's Book

Find Magdalena Cortez on FB and friend her.  See all her new designs.  Wait until you see her Christmas books.  The Graphic 45 Nutcracker Paper book is fantastic and so is her other Christmas book and her GingerBread Book.  She designs everything herself!