Scrapbooking Dolls, Artist Spotlight: Deb Famularo!

For a over 2 years I have been creating handmade doll parts for artisans of every medium from scrapbooking, paper arts and assemblage, to doll making, quilting knitting, sewing and for party ware and cupcake toppers. You name it artists have created splendid pieces using my parts which well, makes me smile.About a week ago one artist: Deb Famularo aka Scrapbook Goddess shared with me the most amazing scrapbook/paper layout using one of my painted Kewpie Doll Parts and created this piece. I am speechless beyond words, one of my favorite to date! It shows the whole movement of the doll part, how it can be integrated into a page layout I label as Scrapbook Doll Style. She added some many vintage and cupcake chic materials, it made my heart sing.

In this next piece, Deb switched it up and made a magical fairy wand, and magical it is!
I can't tell which part is my favorite! Can you?

As a tribute to the whole Alice in Wonderland Movie Craze, Deb created this amazing piece revolving around Alice with an amazing assemblage! Its so Wonderland, love it!


Deb Famularo is also Designing for Paris Hilton's The Creativity Collection!



To visit more of Deb's Work visit her blog at:
http://armenian-princess.blogspot.com/


To purchase my doll parts to create your own magical art pieces visit my Etsy Store at: www.moonfaires.etsy.com

My Website: www.moonfairesworld.com

Art Opera, Another Surprise and Parcel, Montclair, NJ!
Hello All,

Art Opera has alot of surprises in store for you, every day/night of the event. I'm going to announce another Art Opera Teaser.

Orientation night will have a few incredible surprises, one of them is a group kit from Nancy, owner and creator of Parcel.
Notice the vintage circus animal toys, Parcel has loads of them perfect for the circus toy project from my book: Altered Art Circus!
Many of you have signed up for full registration which includes your orientation dinner and extravaganza. We have a few guest speakers and sponsored mini workshops lined up for orientation and at the vendor soiree as well.

One of the guest sponsors and designers slated for the Wed. Nite Orientation is: Nancy, the owner/creator of Parcel located in Montclair, NJ.

Nancy will be including a special project kit in your goodie bags which she will instruct at Art Opera, along with the preview of her new design line which will be available from her and in craft/paper stores across the country this spring, which I will unveil snippets here and there so you can really get excited, along with other fun surprises.
This is the website!
www.shopparcel.com

If you are not familiar with Parcel, well then you should, it is like a Tinsel Trading in Montclair, NJ, with sweet magic and mystery lurking on every shelf and corner. Nancy has been featured in Country Living and a variety of publications.

Are you excited yet?????? I know I am!
What better way to be at Parcel then to see Nancy and meet up with fellow art opera gals: Diana (Vintage Blue Studio), Marlene (Miss Bee), Joan (Art Opera Instructor) and myself!
Me and Nancy!
Miss Marlene
Joan and Diana
Nancy and Vanessa

Joan and Marlene holding Parcel previews....We'll see you at ART OPERA!

Note: There is still time to register for classes, take advantage of the Art Opera Workshop Promo Specials, register for alacart, full package, sign up for free and paid for make-takes, mini workshops, enter your chance for giveaways (win making memories goodies, artisan goodies and more)Scrapbook demos, meet handmade artists, etsy artisans and book signings at the vendor soiree, be queen of your own pageant with the Art Opera Siren Pageant, and nominate your favorite stars of the year with the Art Opera Awards, dive into fabulous goodie bags and more!

http://www.artoperanj.com
to register

OWOH Winners!
Hi Everyone,
I have edited this post and without further anticipation, here are the winners of the OWOH giveaways:

1.One Grand prize winner will receive a huge doll part pack from me filled w/many of my best selling doll parts! Tanya Watts http://tanyawatts.blogspot.com/

2. One Grand prize winner will receive a custom Lisa Original Cupcake Chic Charm Bracelet from my collection! Diana-Vintage Blue Studio

3. One Grand prize winner will receive a small doll part pack from me filled w/many of my best selling doll parts! Debra Famularo http://armenian-princess.blogspot.com/

4. One Grand prize winner will receive a custom charlotte doll, w/the choice of 3 themes either: Alice in Wonderland Themes, Fairy Themes or Queen Themes!
Marina http://cherrypieblog.blogspot.com/

5. One Grand prize winner will receive one of my popular collage cds from me, in their choice! Karen Ellis http://goscrapping.blogspot.com/

6. One Grand Prize winner will receive a Marie Antoinette Fashion Plate Collage CD filled w/Galerie Des Modes and more fab images! http://lilimsadventures.blogspot.com/

Congrats to all the winners and thank you all for coming by to visit my blog! I picked winners from the random generator and these were the results, it bestowed the magic and picked the winners, much faster then me printing names out and picking from a hat, don't you think?

All Winners will be notified today. Please allow delivery within 3 weeks for your goodies!
Have a magica day!
Lisa!

P.S. I'll post the new free collage sheet later today!

St.Valentine's Day Surprises!

Today I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! As tribute I will touch on the brief history of the day, followed by the earliest Valentines, Valentine Dollies, Sailor's seashell valentines: examples and free Valentine images!

These dolls are now available!

History:
Saint Valentine's Day aka Valentine's Day is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards known as "valentines". The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.


Visit the Craft-Critique Blog for the Valentine Blog Carnival:
http://www.craftcritique.com/2010/02/valentine-blog-carnival-call.html

Note: Many of my paper valentines that you see here are made from my recycled papers, newspapers and trims, somewhat of scrapwork valentines. This is a great recycle project for left over papers from a scrapbooking or assemblage project, its a great way to use newspaper and left over holiday trims.

Earliest Valentine Cards/Giving Tradition:
The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th century America, where many Valentine cards are now general greeting cards rather than declarations of love, was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States. It's considered one of the Hallmark holidays.


The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.

Sailor's Valentines:
A sailors' valentine is a type of antique souvenir, or sentimental gift, originally brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea for his loved one between 1830 and 1890. Sailor valentines are typically octagonal, glass fronted, hinged wooden boxes ranging from 8" to 15" in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing. Patterns often feature a centerpiece such as a compass rose or a heart design, hence the name, and in some cases the small shells are used to spell out a sentimental message.

Although the name seems to suggest that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated in the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Historians believe that the women there made the valentines using local shells, or in some cases with shells imported from Indonesia, and then the finished products were sold to the sailors.

In his book Sailors' Valentines, John Fondas concludes that the primary source for sailors' valentines was the New Curiosity Shop, located in McGregor Street, Bridgetown, Barbados, and a popular shop where sailors would purchase souvenirs. The shop was owned by the English brothers B.H. and George Belgrave. Fondas' research tells of a sailors' valentine reconstruction, during which the reconstructing artist found pieces of a Barbados newspaper inside the backing.

Today, antique sailors' valentines are collectables, valued for their beauty and unusual qualities. Collector interest has sparked a resurgence in sailors' valentines as an art form, and shell kits and patterns are now sold at craft shops. Many sailors' valentines, both new and old, can be found on Nantucket, Massachusetts.

For more info on seashells and history visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seashell

My Sailor's Valentine in Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2010:
This valentine was made from an old pie pan, vintage image from my collection which I digitally altered, my clay doll parts (which can be found in my etsy store and website), various shells, found objects, Prima felt borders, vintage piano paper and more!
Here are my original photos:


Enjoy these 2 free images, many more can be found on my flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16/sets/72157603511546861/




Happy Valentine's Day,
Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

"Polly's Starring in the Moonlight Ballet and her date: Cupie of Love!"
As many of you know I am a lover of dolls and all things fantasy, that also includes vintage carnival dolls and cupies/kewpies! For years I have been creating around these themes through my stories, illustrations, collage art and dolls.My passion for creating dolls has lead me on a journey into the world of papier mache. I have experimented w/papier mache, striving to find that perfect blend which could resemble the look of chalkware. On a trip to the San Francisco Area last year I bought a vintage chalkware bunny, when I came home I placed my bunny onto a cute cake stand in my studio, this bunny has inspired me ever since.As I made my charlotte dolls and doll parts I would experiment with different clay mixtures, some are perfect for one thing and not the other. I've developed a clay paint mixture perfect for 3Dimentional details and texture (This article can be found in the November/December Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine). As I played with papier mache I found myself un-satisfied, I wasn't comfortable with the mixes I was making until a few weeks ago, by accident aka the serendipity method, I stumbled upon the perfect clay. This clay is a combo of papier mache and a chalkware feel when dried, hence my new feel good discovery within my art.From this I have re-molded some pieces and bought vintage tin molds, trying to re-capure that storybook vintage look, these following dolls are the result of that.

Each doll has a 4 day and multi step process:
1.The clay is made for each batch, cured/dried on each side.
2.Next they are baked for several hours, cooled, and sanded.
3.Now they get coated, painted and aged
4.Finally they are embellished with vintage millinery, handmade hats/clothes, crushed sugar glitter and more.

All my dolls come signed by me, and will be numbered in a collection, until I retire their style.

Polly's Moonlight Ballet is the story about a cupie girl named Polly is has been chosen to be a Moonfairy in the Moonlight Ballet which will be held at the Starlight Garden Theater located at Petalwood Square. Polly will dance, sing and fly to a symphony of enchanted melodies, half way through the performance Polly is startled by a glittering sugar arrow which was sprung from the arrow of Poe, The Cupie of Love. By the end Polly and Poe fall in love, but I recommend the ballet to all....

To purchase these dolls visit my Etsy Store, to order custom dolls contact me!
Hope you have enjoyed the magic,
XOXO
Lisa!

Art Opera Blog Party Event: Week Long Celebration of Art Opera Fun, Info and Giveaways!



Art Opera Giveaway and Free Collage Sheet for all who participate!
Welcome to the first annual Art Opera Giveaway!For this giveaway, I have decided to give away 7 grandprizes, this gives Art Opera Attendees and Newbies a chance to win a class or extra class, plus winning a piece of artwork from me, plus I am including a free collage sheet in this post for every visitor to save to their computers and use in their works, that way no one leaves empty. Giveaway begins on Jan.31 at 1pm-Ends Feb. 21 at 1pm Eastern Standard time!Art Opera, which will be held April 7-11, 2010in Red Bank, NJ at The Oyster Point Hotel for the main event/workshops, dinner, etc. and St. Anthony' s Hall for the Vendor Soiree!

If you are not aware of the event here is a brief intro:-Art Opera, Red Bank, NJ-located 45 minutes from Newark Airport w/ direct travel to Red Bank, Less then an Hour from NYC, 1.5 to 2 hours from CT, PA, 3-4 hours from MD, DC and 5 hrs from VA, etc.

-Full registrations includes: Huge Goodie Bags from Industry sponsors, orientation dinner w/4 course meal, dessert bar, refreshments, guest speakers, group projects, a fantasy ambiance, overlooking the navesink river, 4 workshops, vendor soiree tickets, breakfast, lunch, prizes, and lobby make/takes in between classes, party toast at antique center, book signings, demos and more.
All workshops over look the Navesink River, perfect for inspiration and serenity.-Ala Cart includes 1 workshop of choice, breakfast or lunch, vendor soiree ticket, giveaway ticket, make/takes, demos and more.


-Instructors:


-Ruth Rae, Traci Bautista, Suze Weinberg, Jenny Heid/Aaron-Every Days a Holiday, AnnDenise Anderson, Pamela Huntington, Terri Ventura-Dimestore Daze, Jenny Hernandez-Polka Dot Pixie, Heidi Wallingford-Birds of a Feather, Joan Kettell, Kecia Deveney-Lemoncholys, Linda Hahola, and Me-Lisa Kettell
Visit the Art Opera Website for details and to join the mailing list/newsletter, sign guest book, updates and more.

http://www.artoperanj.com/
Visit the Art Opera Yahoo Group to connect with attendees, instructors, sponsors, vendors, join swaps and to have fun.


Click to join artopera

Without Further Ado, Here are the Giveaways:

1. One Grand prize winner will receive a free alacart class pack Valued at $125, winner can choose which workshop they want!
2. One Grand prize winner will receive a free alacart class pack Valued at $125, with Me-Lisa Kettell, Any one of the two classes I'm teaching
3. One Grand prize winner will receive a free alacart class packValued at $125, with Joan Kettell, Any one of the classes she is teaching
4. One Grand prize winner will receive a free alacart class packValued at $125, with Ann-Denise Anderson, Any one of the classes she is teaching.
5. One Grand prize winner will receive a huge doll part pack from my Store filled w/many of my best selling doll parts valued at: $75.00
6. One Grand Prize winner will receive a a Kewpie Doll Part and 3 Mini Kewpies valued at $15.00

7.One Grand Prize winner will receive a Marie Antoinette Fashion Plate Collage CD filled w/Galerie Des Modes and more, images, valued: $15.00

8. One Grand Prize winner will receive to tickets to the Vendor Faire at Art Opera retail value: $16.00 for the 2

I hope that the Art Opera Giveaways will put a smile on your face, just as much as they put a smile on my to giveaway. All you need to do is leave a comment under this post, and tell me which ones you want to win or if you want to win any of them.


Good Luck to All who enter and enjoy the free collage sheet!
Magic, Blessings and Joy!Lisa!