Creating Outside the Box at Gee Gee's

Another fun night at Book Club.  Since last month, Gayle has transformed the craft room at Gee Gee's.  We have more room to spread out our fabulous artwork.  There's more of an open feel to the room...very Feng Shui.  Our Book Club members completely embraced the new change and immediately felt at home.

Here is Pam showing us her adorable, finished critter.  She painted the image on canvas and then stuffed and hand-sewed it together. 

 

This summer, Terri took several classes at CREATE in Costa Mesa.  She created this fabulous custom quilt in a class with Alisa Burke.  Terri said, "We first made our own cloth, then we cut it up and sewed it back together to make an art quilt.  We used free-motion stitching." 

I can think of several things one could do with this beautiful handmade quilt.  Can't wait to see what Terri has in mind.

 

Another class that Terri took at CREATE was taught by Chris Cozen and Julie Prichard.  The substrate is vinyl.  Terri said, "You work backwards on a piece of vinyl or Plexiglas.  You have to put your forward images down first, and the background down last since you are working from the reverse side."  Sounds so interesting and looks fantastic. 

Here are three papers that Terri made at a class with Jane LaFazio.  Terri's description of this technique is, "Working on deli paper, you layer light papers, ephemera, cloth, etc. on top of it and then glue down with gel medium." 

Wouldn't it be fun to use these gorgeous papers in a journal!

 

Here's Terri showing us her awesome paintings that she made in a class taught by Teesha Moore.  "They are both collage, with the black one being a collage on canvas and using fun foam for the bird", says Terri.  She did a lot of work on these paintings and the result is incredible.

 

 

 

Kat was lucky enough to take Suzi Blu's last class taught in San Diego, which was just days prior to Suzi moving back to New Jersey to be with her family.  Suzi is a good friend to many of us and will be greatly missed here on the West Coast. 

This is Kat's version of a Suzi Blu fairy.  The colors are vibrant and there is lots of texture.  Kat says, "I never knew how to draw a face until I met Suzi.  She gave me the courage to draw any kind of face I want and really enjoy it and believe that it is art."

 

Sheila has been working with Fran Valera's awesome Little Windows Brilliant Resin.  She embedded charms, crystals, sequin and beads prior to pouring the resin.  The result is these two beautiful examples that can be drilled and made into pendants, or added to an another piece of art.

Sheila has also been working on a beautiful album for a little friend in her life.  What a lucky little girl to get this lovely mermaid album to use for her special pictures.

 

Kristal has also been working on an album for a little person in her life...her granddaughter.

Kristal used a weaving technique with ribbons as her background for this adorable layout.

 

Elena brought a fun Make and Take that included, LaBlanche stamps, Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), and a Ranger Melting Pot. The LaBlanche stamps are made from silicone so the UTEE doesn't stick.  Add ink to the stamp and then pour the hot UTEE over the stamp.  Let dry just until it's not hot and remove.  Makes for a very interesting embellishment.

 

Here's a LaBlanche YouTube video.

Here's an interesting UTEE and Melting Pot YouTube video with Suze Weinberg.

If you would like to educate yourself further on these products, there are actually lots of videos on YouTube.

 

Gayle, Owner of Gee Gee's and Glenna are having fun making UTEE embellies.  Love this picture.

 

This month's kit included several pieces of Cut-It-Up paper, lots of embellishments, including Nostalgiques Attic Collection die-cuts, stickers, buttons and letters, by Rebecca Sower designs.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the ladies create from this bounty of goodies.

 

 

Gentle Reminder of items you may want to bring next month:

• DRESS FORM SWAP DUE
• Canvas for the Canvas Swap - (Starts in September - More details below) Ladies who have committed to the canvas swap so far are:
  • Ally Evers
  • Glenna Ruoff
  • Sheila Goldsberry
  • Kat Baker
  • Cynthia Ellis
  • Elena Etcheverry
  • Lola Finklestein
  • Nanci Ishii
  • Terri Kinjo
  • Kristal Lemke
  • Pam Rothberg
• Projects you've been working on
• Current book is Mixed and Stitched by Jen Osborn
• Tool kit, including scissors, glue,  a pen or pencil.
• A snack to share
• Camera

 

Things to remember:

• September is the 1st month of a 4-month cycle and the meeting is Thursday, September 1st. 
• We will be meeting at Gee Gee's.

 

Swaps

1. Canvas Swap.  Each person will start their canvas by painting it, embellishing it, whatever you want to do to it to prepare it for the next person to add something to it.  Bring it to the meeting and pass it to another person.  That person will add more paint, embellishments, doodles, ephemera, whatever they think will look great, to the canvas.  The next month someone else will add to the canvas.  The Canvas Swap:

• Starts in September
• Due Month to Month
• Canvas must be 5"x7" or larger
• For protection to your canvas, bring it in a shopping bag with your name on it.
• Put a note with your canvas describing some of your likes and dislikes. For example, if you hate the color purple, then add that to your note.  If you would love for it to have a theme, add it to your note.  Do you want it to be dimensional or flat? 

 

2.  Tag swap.  Elena will provide the tags. The tags are about you.

• Starts in September
• Due in December
• Make tags that include a picture of you.  
• Add some little know facts about yourself.
• Make 14

 

3.  White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Christmas is around the corner.  Start thinking about and working on your Gift.  It must be something wonderful, that you created, and would want to keep for yourself.  Put your best foot forward.  We will discuss whether we are going to have our party in November or December.

 

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