Mandala class at Zinnia's in South Pasadena

Kari Atol's Mandala

The camera does NOT do it justice

Mandala by Kari Atol

Zinnia's in South Pasadena is my favorite Art Store in all the San Gabriel area. The owner, Tamara, and her worker bee - Joe - are great. Joe's friend Paul Murray also teaches many classes at Zinnia's.

Tamara gets all the "big name" artist/teachers including Michael deMeng and the generous Kelly Kilmer who started me on my way with making journals, Golden Paint and collage.

Chandelier hanging in Zinnia's over the cash register.

Today I took a wonderful class from a self effacing teacher named Kari Atol. She was teaching a class how to paint a Mandala . She had learned this technique at Teesha Moore's Art Fest from the infamous Anahata.

Large work space for classes.

Kari Atol (same spelling as my daughter Kari) supplied everything and this was great for me since I was up in the Glendale/Pasadena on a business trip. There was no additional supply fee. Everything was included! Kari's husband made the 16x16 wood surface that we first applied papers in a collage fashion using modge podge to both adhere the paper and seal the surface. We then set it out to dry.

Next I was introduced to this wonderful art transfer paper called Saral. Kari had provided us with a Mandala pattern that I believe she created, but not sure. We needed to transfer her "map" as she called the pattern, to the dry surface of our collage via the Saral and a pen.

Kari working on her own piece she started with us.

Close up of Kari's Mandala "in progress"

Surprisingly the next step was to apply the gold foil to those areas where we wanted a gold leaf effect. We all thought that the foiling would have been the last thing we did to our art.

Student Christine working on her Mandala

Student Tamara (not the owner)
working on her Mandala

Sally (me) and Kari Atol

Closeup of my work in progress

Then the scariest part for me began - the painting with acrylic paints over the collage areas, adding new color to the design that had been traced onto our collage. We also needed to decide how opaque or transparent the paint should be.

Lastly, we could embellish to our hearts content with glitter or buttons/rhinestones or what ever we wanted. She suggested that perhaps one of the final steps should be the addition of Stickles.

I have simplified this entire process. If interested, Kari says she would love to come to the San Diego area and stay with me and teach a class at my home. I'm hoping she would contact Diane, the owner of Stamping Details in Poway and perhaps teach a class there. I'll be talking to all my local art friends and see if we can make this happen in the San Diego area! Stay posted.

This was such a fun class and really easy once you understood the process.


Kari Atol Girls




In the mean time, her are some of her drawings that she has for sale. She does not teach how to draw theses girls. She told me she has been doing art forever, but just started drawing this girls a short time ago. They are displayed at Zinnia's.

I also want to give you a feel for the store Zinnia's. Her are pictures of the interior and also of wonderful worker bee and teacher Joe. The place has everything a mixed media artist could desire!

Joe, holding example of paper doll class he was teaching

Lastly I would like to encourage people to take a road trip to South Pasadena. Your fist stop should be Zinnia's.

Inside of Zinnia's

Even the floor is painted

Next, visit the stores in the immediately two block area on Mission Blvd. I couldn't resist stepping out in the street to capture some of the store fronts. Plus, the train stops one block away from the area. Do you see it? Grab some friends and spend the day in South Pasadena and then all the antique stores up and down Fair Oaks in Pasadena. Plus, there is always Old Town Pasadena up and down Colorado Blvd. Some many great stores and wonderful special places to eat!

KC Willis Rides Again at the Urban Barn

My finished canvas
Commemorating my husband's paternal grandparents
50th wedding anniversary
The quote says "Love Italian Style"

KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch was at the Urban Barn in Escondido on July 21st thanks to my friend, Jackie Baxted, who made it happen!

Urban Barn - Escondido

KC arrived at my home Tuesday from teaching a two day class at her friend's home in Sherman Oaks, CA. A pork tenderloin was ready plus roasted veggies. I had asked her what she liked to drink and she said 'diet coke." But, do you like wine? "yes, a Shiraz would be fine." Well Trader Joe's had the best Shiraz (I know nothing about wine) called Layer Cake from South Australia. Well, just the name clicked with me. I would give up everything for desserts!

After dinner we made a trip to the grocery store to get lunch for the next day. Upon returning KC printed out photos that students had sent her for the next day class. (KC prefers to use Office Max t-shirt transfer paper and after messing around a little we found the settings on my Canon that worked the best). KC answered some emails and dealt with some business and off we went to bed.

Next morning while the coffee was brewing I made my favorite cranberry scones. The next thing we knew, we were off to Escondido. Jackie had met KC the previous day to set up her samples and all the fabric and sewing machines/irons/paint stripping gun we would need.

Table with all the choices of fabrics

Diane with her beginning fabric choices


Diane's almost finished canvas

We only were advised to bring Tacky glue, scissors and embellishments to class. What a wonderful thing to have everything else provided for you.

KC explaining her process

Close up of canvas KC was explaining

KC began her class with a interesting history of how she got to where she is today. She is funny and full of happy positive antidotes. And then we were off.

Jackie getting personal attention like we all did.

Jackie's finished project
Adorable photo of Jackie's mom

KC giving us instructions about "Clumpies"
She should patent this word!

At each step, KC stopped us all and explained what we would be doing next and why we were doing it this way. She certainly knows what she is talking about since she produces 1,400 pieces of work of all sizes each year. Wow! There is a work ethic involved girls!

Ann and her service dog in training
18 month old "America"

America was at Ann's feet the entire day. She is the most well behaved dog I have ever seen. I don't know how Ann is going to part with her next month as America moves on in her training to be an valuable assistant to the handicapped. What a generous person Ann is to devote all this time and effort to an animal she falls in love with and trains in order for someone less fortunate to benefit. Amazing. . .

Ann's finished project

At some point we stopped and munched on lunch and visited. A lot of us knew each other already but we got this opportunity to connect with new people. There were only two people I had not met before, Susan and Leanne and now I know two more sweet and talented ladies! Another thing workshops offer to all of us!

New friend Leanne and her canvas

Leanne's finished project up close
This was a photo of a family member

Another new friend, Susan

The Urban Barn was great for this event because it allowed us so much room to spread out. We didn't feel crowed at all. KC was in constant motion and at our beck and call for advice on all our precious pieces. Some of us had chosen to work with family photos, but KC provided for everyone "her girls" to choose from in various mode of attire.

Christine and her finished canvas
Christine loves blue

Christine was kind enough to bring her computerized sewing machine for everyone to use.

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake owns Leaping Lotus in the Cedros Design District in Solana Beach. Be sure to stop by her great store for a unique shopping experience. What a sweet heart!

After class and everything was packed up, Davielle generously opened her absolutely amazing home in Encinitas to everyone who could come by for pizza. Thank you Davi!

My dear friends Davielle and Diane

Davi at her work station

Davi's almost completed canvas

The next morning I took KC to my favorite restaurant for breakfast right on the board walk in Pacific Beach - World Famous. Unfortunately the entire time she was in San Diego, we had clouds and very heavy mist and the sun did not peak it's head out. So sad. But, after breakfast and getting gassed up, she was off to her next adventure in Laguna. She should be home pretty soon.

Me and KC and my finished canvas

Please visit her web site(s). Ladies, she will be returning in the Urban Barn the second weekend in February 2011. Below are some shots of the book we will be making! I am signed up. How about you?

The following are some photos of KC's work that was there for us to feel and get up close with. The first examples are of the book she is going to be teaching.




The next two are photos of two of her much larger canvases. They are absolutely stunning.