paper is my Passion!

I have been away from my keyboard the past couple of months. I was in a play at History Boy Theater and then I was directing the Youth Theatre production of Harry Potter and the Obnoxious Voice and then I started my summer classes and I teach all day and it was pretty insane.

I don't think I was home on a weekend from the first weekend in May until just this past weekend.

So if that wasn't enough going on as of June 30th I became the owner of the Scrapper's Nook. It's a scrap booking supply store.I have always had a love affair with paper. I have some sheets of fine art paper I bought in Chicago over 10 years ago.  I plan on selling scrap book supplies just like Cathie did but I also plan on taking it in a new direction. I spent the past 10 days combining her inventory in with mine. Which required pretty much taking everything off the walls and starting from scratch. We hung pegboard on the north wall and slat board on the south wall. Dusted and cleaned every surface and weeded out inventory that had been around for quite awhile.

Did i mention that this was supposed to be my week off and I was supposed to spend it at the cabin at Black Hawk Lake. yeah- that didn't happen. OK I am really not that upset about it since the temps were in the upper 90's all week with high humidity and did I mention there is central AC at home and NOT at the cabin?  We couldn't even take the boat out because the lake on our side is too low...so I guess if i was going to be indoors I might  as well spend it remodeling the studio right?

Messy. Messy. Messy......

I have been spending hours on the net searching for just the right papers to stock. I don't scrap. I never have. I do, however, use lots of scrap elements in my artwork. Brads, and eyelets, stamps and other embellishments. I will be stocking unique art papers- LIKE THIS- I love Washi paper.

I am also working on becoming a retailer of my favorite magazine- Cloth, Paper, Scissors if you have never picked up a copy you should. It is full of wonderful inspirations for mixed media artists.



This canvas was created during our 2nd Art Retreat and it
has 8 layers on it before I declared it finished.



 I have been working in mixed media for the past several years and have wanted to share my passion for it with other people. The past two years I have hosted a private Art Retreat for my sister and my friend Shari. We have so much fun making messes and creating papers using Citra Solv and gelatin plates and transferring images from old magazines onto canvas....and so many of my facebook friends want to know how they can get invited too-

 So I am going to finally offer some workshops for adults. This fall there will be some scrap nights and some workshops on how to create your own one of a kind background papers or accent papers for scrapping. I also plan to introduce some basic easy hand bound book making classes as well as taking the - I can't draw a straight line with a ruler- out of the equation art journal sessions. I hope you can stop in and see what's new and maybe take a class or two.

Spending time being creative is time well spent!

Summer Classes June 4 -June 8

There is still time to register your students for the following classes!

Kinder Artists (ages 3-5)  will be painting dandelions. What a great way to start off the summer. There is still room in all sessions of this class which meets:

Ages 3-4

 Monday June 4th  9:30 AM 

OR

Tuesday June 5th  9:30AM

Ages 4-5

Monday June 4th  10:30AM

OR

Tuesday June 5th 10:30 AM
FEE: $7

There is still room in ALL of these classes for your creative child!

Passport to Art (Grades 3-4) Get your passports ready and travel the world through art. Each week we will visit a different country and learn about the culture through arts and crafts. Each student will receive a complimentary passport at the end of class stamped with each country visited.   First stop- CHINA! and there is still room to travel with us.

Mondays 12:30PM – 1:30PM

June 4^th – June 25^th 

FEE: $54

Angry Birds ROCK! (Grades 3-4)
Everyone needs an angry bird to call their own. We will painting a feilf rock to look like your favorite angry bird.

Monday June 4th 1:30-3:00

FEE: $22

Ultimate Tree House (Architecture) Have you ever thought about the tree house you would build if you could dream big? In this class you can build your ultimate tree house on a small scale. Think in terms of dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. These are the requirements: your house has at least three different levels and each level needs to be accessible – no magically jumping from level to level. One level needs a roof and three sides. Furniture and accessories that you build your self are optional and encouraged.

Grades 5-8 Tuesdays June 5– 26 1:00 PM – 3:00PM

FEE: $85

Mosaic Art Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a 12” x 12” wall mosaic using Italian glass tiles and fine grout.

Session1: Grades 5-8 Wednesdays June 6-20 1:00 PM – 3:00PM

FEE: $75

Rocket Ships You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to create this fantastic rocket ship but you do have to be creative with paper tubes, tape, paint and glue.

Grades 4-6 Thursday June 7 2:00-3:30PM

FEE: $22

There is still room in ALL of these classes for your creative child!

Flower Wreath This wreath is made entirely out of egg cartons- you’d never know unless I told you. It’s beautiful!
June 8

Session 1: Grades 3-4 1:00-2:30PM

Session2: grades 5-6 3:00-4:30PM

FEE: $22

Judgement call?

Recently I received a phone call from a young woman who has just moved here from another location. She was very friendly on the phone. She has a degree in art education and had been talking and asking about art opportunities here. My name came up quite often as THE person to talk to about art in Carroll. Anyway she said she had been all over my website and noticed that I do "crafty things" with kids and was wondering if I would be interested in her coming in and team teaching with me but on an art level.

 Am I being too sensitive?  Because I was kind of offended.

All she had to go by was my summer classes which I will admit are more crafts based because parents don't want to commit to 6 or more weeks of classes in the summer. Plus I really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of summer craft classes as do the kids.

During the school year it's all art. Every lesson reviews the basics- line, shape, form, color- we discuss horizon lines , foreground, middle ground and background- we make sure to draw what we see. We use watercolors, pastels, ink, acrylic paint, pencils and charcoal. We discuss famous artists and what it was like to produce work in their day and what their style of art is called and then try to imitate it.

Please don't label me as craftsy.

Or artsy-fartsy.

Or arsty-craftsy.

I paint. I draw. I create.
I am a creative person and I like to share my creativity with kids.

I pinky swear I will!

I've been a little bored lately. (in case my kids are reading this please read to the end before you text me chastising me for using the word bored)

The studio is going great. Classes are AWESOME! And I love working with kids. My class room rocks!

-but-

 The rest of the place is like - eh. I like the artwork and the jewelry but it could be so much more. I am pretty bored with it. The energy isn't there and you can tell because I hardly spend any time up front.

I was skimming through my blog list and popped into Jennifer's blog.

OH WOW! 

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!!
Now how do I get people to get it?

I am an artist. I make things out of stuff other people throw away. My favorite source of materials are curbside, thrift store and re-cycling center.  I know there are other people out there like me. People who like to look at something and see POSSIBILITIES!

I promise you if I can get this going I will offer classes for adults too.

Pinky swear.

ANNOUNCING!

((((((((((((((((((((drum roll please)))))))))))))))))))))))

The official Schedule of the Summer Art/ Craft Classes at Artworks Studio

(registration forms available here)

GRADES Kindergarten through 8th

Passport to Art (mixed media and cultures) Get your passports ready and travel the world through art. Each week we will visit a different country and learn about the culture through arts and crafts. Each student will receive a complimentary passport at the end of class stamped with each country visited. Come join us as we visit China (Blue Willow Pottery), Central America (Aztec masks), Japan (hand fans), Kenya, Africa (Masai collage)

Session 1: Grades K- 2 Wednesdays 10:00 AM- 11:00AM June 6th – June 26th
Session 2: Grades 3-4 Mondays 1:00PM – 2:00PM June 4th – June 25th
Session 3: Grades K-2 Thursdays 1:00-2:00PM July 12th -August 2nd 
Session 4: Grades 3-4 Thursdays 2:00PM-3:00PM July 12th-August 2nd
CLASS SIZE: 10
FEE: $54

Rocket ships You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to create this fantastic rocket ship but you do have to be creative!
Session 1: Grades 4-6Thursday June 7 2:00-3:30PM

Session 2: Grades 2-3 Thursday July 19th 10:00AM-11:30AM

CLASS SIZE: 10
FEE: $22

Angry Birds ROCK! Everyone needs an angry bird to call their own.
Session 1: Grades 3-4 Monday June 4th 1:30-3:00

Session 2: Grades K-2 Thursday June 7th 10:00 -11:30

Session 3; Grades 4-5 Thursday July 11th 1:00 PM- 2:30PM

CLASS SIZE: 10

FEE: $22

Ocean Diorama Let’s turn an ordinary tin into a picturesque ocean scene using sea shells, drift wood, and other bits of flotsam.
Session 1: Grades 4-6 Monday June 11 2:00-3:30 PM
CLASS SIZE: 8
FEE: $28

Painted Sneakers Turn a pair of plain white canvas sneakers into walking works of art. (You must provide a pair of white canvas sneakers for your child)

Session 1: Grades 5-6 Monday June 18 2:00-3:30PM

Session 2: Grades 3-4 Friday July 27th 10:00AM-11:30AM

CLASS SIZE: 10

FEE: $12


Ultimate Tree House (Architecture) Have you ever thought about the tree house you would build if you could dream big? In this class you can build your ultimate tree house on a small scale. Think in terms of dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. These are the requirements: your house has at least three different levels and each level needs to be accessible – no magically jumping from level to level. One level needs a roof and three sides. Furniture and accessories that you build your self are optional and encouraged.
Session 1: Grades 5-8 Tuesdays June 5– 26 1:00 PM – 3:00PM
Session 2: Grades 5-8 Tuesdays July 10 – 31 1:00PM – 3:00 PM
Class Size: 6/ Fee: $85 per person

Jewelry Making Make some fashionable jewelry this summer using unusual materials like metal washers, ball chain, embroidery thread and leather scraps

Session 1: Grades 5-8 Thursday June 14 & 21 10:00AM-NOON
Session 2: Grades 5-8 Friday July 13 & 20 10:00AM-NOON
CLASS SIZE: 10
FEE:$28

Batik This traditional craft comes from Indonesia and we have given it a new twist. Beautiful patterns and designs are created using melted crayons and ink.
Session 1: Grades 5-8 Thursday June 21 & 28 1:00-3:00PM
Session 2: Grades 5-8 Thursday July 19 & 26 10:00Am-NOON
CLASS SIZE: 10
FEE: $32

Fairy House Every fairy needs a home to call her own. In this class we will create a tiny pose able fairy doll and then make a house for her to live in. Participants are welcome to think elaborate from curtains and chimneys to tables and porches.
Session1: Grades 5-8 Mondays July 9-30th 12:30PM-2:00PM

CLASS SIZE: 6

FEE: $85

Friday Afternoon Crafts Friday afternoons in the studio this summer are all about crafting. Sign up for as many Friday afternoons that will fit into your schedule. We’ll be crafting with materials found around the house and found in nature.
Session 1: Grades 3-4 1:00-2:30PM
Session2: grades 5-6 3:00-4:30PM

CLASS SIZE: 10

FEE: $22 per date

June 8th Flower Wreath This wreath is made entirely out of egg cartons- you’d never know unless I told you. It’s beautiful!

June 15th Nature Weaving We will use red twig dogwood sticks, yarn and other found objects to create a unique nature inspired wall hanging.

June 22nd Painted Totem Turn an ordinary 2x4 into a work of art you will be proud to display in your garden.

June 29th Summer Wind Chimes Make a summer wind chime using sticks of drift wood and sea shells.

July 13th Peg Dolls Using wooden pegs we will paint a whole cast of characters from your favorite movies like Harry Potter, Star Wars or where ever your imagination takes you.

July 20th Print-ology In this class we will explore three different ways we can create more than one picture using corks, the sun and special inks for printing right from leaves in your garden.

July 27th Wooden Suns it is summer time and what better time to go looking for craft supplies outdoors. These wooden suns will use slices of wood and sticks to create a unique wall piece to celebrate summer

August 1st Miniature Mosaic This class is for those who like the idea of mosaic but only want to work on a small scale. We will use a handful of beans, some PVA glue and a CD case. And you have a self contained mosaic.

It’s Easy to be GREEN! (Re-purpose and up-cycling)

Each of these classes emphasizes recycling and repurposing materials to create something new, useful or beautiful.

Wood Works Sculptures Create a unique sculpture inside a cigar box using wood turnings and other scraps.

Session1: Grades 4-8 June 14 1:00-2:30 PM

Fee: $28

Hemp Wrapped Bottle Recycle and old bottle into a vase by wrapping the outside with colored hemp and if we have time we will make some fabric flowers to put in it.

Session 2: Grades 4-8 June 29 10:00 AM-11:30AM

Fee: $22

Hula Hoop T-Shirt Rug (recycling and weaving) Re-purpose colored t-shirts into a rug using a hula hoop for a loom. We will make a 36” decorative rug for your bedroom floor. Basic weaving with no fail results every time!

Session 1: Grades 3-5Wednesday June 6 & 13 11:00 AM – 12:30PM

Session 2: Grades 6-8 Wednesdays June 20 & 27 11:00 AM – 12:30PM

Class size: 6 / Fee: $54 per person

Photo Words! (Photography and computers)Back by popular demand! Students will learn top look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Using digital photos and Photoshop –images will be edited and put together into a unique wall piece. Students must provide their own digital camera of at least 6 megapixels and higher and bring it to the FIRST class!
Grades 5-8 Fridays June 8-22 10 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Class size: 6/ Fee: $90 per person

Bling Rings and other things to wear You’ve seen everyone with these big bold rings- now let’s make some! We’ll also make personalized bracelets with a hanging charm you will make yourself!

Session 1: Grades 5-8 Thursday July 1:00PM – 3:00PM
Session 2: Grades 5-8 Thursday July 25th 10:00AM – 11:30AM
CLASS SIZE: 10
FEE: $32

Vacation Travel Keepsake Shadowbox Gather all those little keepsakes from a trip you want to remember and we’ll assemble them into a small shadow box. (This a great class for kids who go on the DC trip or camp this summer)

Session1: Grades 6-8 Monday June 25th 2:00-3:30PM
Session 2: Grades 6-8 Friday August 3rd 10:00AM-NOON
CLASS SIZE: 8
FEE: $32

“Stained Glass” Picture This kid friendly project does not involve cutting pieces of glass; however, we will get beautiful results using tissue paper, colored cellophane and plastic sheeting.
Session 1: Grades 4-6 Thursday June 28th 10:00AM-NOON
Session 2: Thursday July 18th 1:00PM-3:00PM
CLASS SIZE: 8
FEE: $35

Sea Shell Frames Nothing says summer quite like sea shells. We will decorate a wooden frame with a variety of sea shells.
Grades 5-8 Thursday July 25th 1:00PM-3:00PM
CLASS SIZE: 8
FEE: $3

Mosaic Art Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a 12” x 12” wall mosaic using Italian glass tiles and fine grout.
Session1: Grades 5-8 Wednesdays June 6-20 1:00 PM – 3:00PM
Session 2: Grades 5-8 Wednesdays July 11th – July 25th 10:00AM-NOON
Class size: 8/ Fee: $75 per person