A Parcel Sparkle Good Time!
This past weekend was filled a huge artful adventure from beginning to end, all day, everyday from Thursday to Sunday, everywhere I went, I was being filled with inspiration, magic and joy.
To start up things, The Tea Party Girls hosted another adventure, this time, a trip to Montclair, NJ to visit some stores and shop around the fab: PARCEL, located on Bloomfield Ave., in Montclair, NJ.

I lived in Montclair till I was 4 or 5 years old, always visiting the shopping on both sides of town with my Mom, I still do today. So taking a trip to town, meeting with friends and shopping at Parcel, was an instant pleasure.

Everything inside the store is just too cute and so inspirational, as soon as you walk in, you want to start creating and you can never leave with just one thing. But I warn you, bring 4 quarters for the car meters, you could be there a while. I mean we blinked and 4pm became 6:30pm instantly, I felt like I Dream of Jeannie, blink/nodding my head for instant magic, lol!Speaking of magic, look at this enchanting Masquerade mask, the glitter did it for me, I loved it so much I had to try it on, but I think it was rather small, LOL, don't you? I want to make a large size for my face, LOL! I'll keep the smaller ones for making assemblages, and artwork.Notice the cupcake chic bunnies on my red hoodie, I had to wear it for Easter time, plus its one of my fave hoodies ever and makes me believe I am going to a Bunny Carnival every time I wear it, well actually it adds some sunshine to my day. LOL!These masks sit on the Magician Shelf along side the Velvety top hat boxs, small trinket boxes shaped like top hats, just adorable and amazing, just like my fave Queen Bee Marlene, she is just the best, I love this picture of her and I, she is just soooo magical!Now what can be better then art, well candy, and Parcel carries the sweetest confections which makes shopping even better, You work off a sweat and then replenish with some tasty treats look at this candyland section:Now look at this Cupcake Chic Easter Themed Shelf: "GOT RIBBON?"One of my fave shelves at Parcel, Its Circus/Carnival related and filled with all the goodies I love to search and buy! After a few hours of laughter and artful inspiration we all headed to dinner or home to look at all our goodies and start creating something with them.
The Parcel Adventure included: Ralene, Marlene, Zandra, Geralyn, My Mom Joan and Me! Each of these gals is wonderful and full of spirit, all magical, talented and a pleasure to know and be around! Thanks Girls for a wonderful time!

Magic and Joy! Lisa!

P.S. Visit my post from last year from another Parcel visit:
http://faerieenchantment.blogspot.com/2008/09/moment-of-vintage-splendor-other-day-i.html
Visit Geralyn's Blog http://greetingsfromgeralyn.blogspot.com/
Marlene's Blog http://queenbeeofcreativity.blogspot.com/
Joan's Blog http://auroratique.blogspot.com/
for their versions of the adventure!
Parcel: http://www.shopparcel.com/

Christmas in NYC: Martha Show, Macy's Windows and Tinsel!
On Wed. Dec. 10, 2008, I ventured into the city on the 5:30 am train to Penn Station NYC to meet my dear friend Theresa from Middle School, for the live Martha Stewart Show, we had to be there around 8:00am for our seating.

It was an unusually warm day with temps around 68/70 degrees so waiting on line wasn't bad, with a cup of Dounkin Donuts in hand, good conversation, Theresa and I were ready to watch Martha Live with special guest: Paula Abdul, and Katie Steuernagle, who makes these adorable animal pull toys, funny thing is I have circus cart pull toys and circus rubber animal toys/dolls in my new book: Altered Art Circus, Quarry Books, Feb.2009 (Now available), buy pre-sale now at: http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Art-Circus-Techniques-Assemblages/dp/1592534872 or visit http://www.quarrybooks.com/
Katie's adorable pull toys put a smile on my face and was by far the best part of the show, even though Paula Abdul looked fabulous and mentioned her new accessory line, which is gorgeous and full of sparkle and glam, a must have for any true diva or for the inner Queen in you.



Here is the link for Katie's Pull Toy Project:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/handmade-holiday-gift-papier-mache-pull-toys?lnc=38f9cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=showmain_tv_the-martha-stewart-show

The set was decorated in true Martha Stewart Holiday Glam, this 7 segment show was wonderful and so was her staff, I recommend if you get the chance try to go to the show, you will not regret it. Pictures are allowed before and after the show airs, you can take pictures from your seating area, but do not wander around, I think this is a very fair request! Plus you will leave the show with a surprise, we received Giradelli Chocolate, which I'm saving for my opera cake which I make before New Years!

After the Show Theresa and I walked a few blocks over to Macy's (Miracle of 34th Street) to look at all the holiday decorations and window displays. Here are some of my favorite window display pictures from Macy's:






After walking around and looking at all the enchanting Window Display's, Theresa and I walked on over to Phoenix Beads and Tinsel Trading. I had to visit with Marcia and Miss Linda Ashton


while I was there, she is one of the most amazing milliners and super talented, we met through my dear friend Terri, visit Terri's blog to read her post on Linda and take a glimpse in the New York Times for the article http://dimestoedaze.typepad.com/ and NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/26/fashion/20081127-runway_3.html Heather and Terri are wonderful! Love them both!

Now once you enter Tinsel Trading, trust me you won't leave empty handed, I love what Marcia and her staff did with the store displays for the holidays, they had tinsel, vintage holiday goodies and real mica throughout the store, it was pure Tinsel Wonderland and of course I stayed for over an hour chatting with the girls and treasure hunting throughout.

Isn't this adorable, this girl display sits right in the front of the store, for more info on their wonderful findings, books, events, please visit: http://www.tinseltrading.com/

After Tinsel I headed over to Phoenix beads, and then back for to Penn Station for my 4:30pm train home, it was a wonderful day filled with lots of Holiday Magic and Joy!

XO!
Lisa!

A Day of Artful Magic and Studio Play!
What can occur when two girls get together for some artful fun, why, Magic of course. On Tuesday Suze took the 90 minute drive to my house from South Jersey, passing quite alot of trees and enchanting pumpkin patches on her way to my house, which seemed hidden in the woods from the main road...

Upon arrival Suze and I immediately began sharing stories and posing for pictures, she took over 90 pictures, I slacked off with close to only 70 pictures, LOL! I'll make up for it, I promise. Here's a picture of Suze's wearing the tea cozy I made her, as a hat, doesn't she make it look like a real hat, perhaps from Asia or Vintage Coronation Hats, Now We know there is more to a tea cozy then meets the eye!LOL.

While Sue shows off a tea cozy hat, in the next picture I actually look like I am preparing for a masquerade, wearing my handmade mask and giving a smile, Wish I was on my way to a Masquerade, but wearing this mask gives you the feeling you are, it gives you some added inspiration and vintage flare.

After taking loads of fun pictures, Suze and I began playing with supplies and experimenting with several techniques, the first was showing Suze how to make homemade glass glitter, using a rock tumber, Ranger alcohol inks and some magic.
Here is a picture of the colored glass
Here I am with the tumbler (photo from Suze's Blog: http://suzeweinberg.typepad.com/suzeblogz/

After we did the glass glitter basics, it was off for some brunch: An Egg Fritata with grilled chicken, onions, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, red pepper and parmesean, Jersey Tomato salad w/Fresh Mozzerella, herbs and garlic, a Garden Salad, Chedder Crisps and Baked bread, followed by some apple pie I baked the night before and my famous double chocolate Cupcakes with creamy whipped buttercream, coffee for me, and tea for Suze and my special guest, Joan, my Mom! So this next picture would be fitting to post, my collection of confections: Sweet Licorice and Sour Cherry Hard Candies which I carry with me and leave in the studio in new glass jars, these treats get me through the day!

My love for glass can be seen through out the studio, which I am transforming into what I call: The Faerie Apothecary Shoppe! I love the look of vintage European confectionary Shoppes and want my studio to reflex that as well as my love for all thinsg magical and enchanting, keeping true to my artful muse, which will be in complete utopia when it is all done. Here's a glimpse into my jar collection filled with unique and vintage oddities

The following is a picture of Suze standing against one of my studio shelves.



Here we are playing with art once again, trying various things and using loads of Ranger products and fun supplies, We found another fab technique by using Ranger Colorwash sprays on finished beeswax. This is a fun fun shape I covered in piano papers with Claudine's Gel Medium (this stuff is amazing)http://claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com/, 2 coats, for a sturdy wood like weight. painted, sanded and covered in Suze's beeswax, I did this to two pieces, and hot glued an accordian atc sized cardstock to both covers to transform into a book. Once the beeswax cools, its ready for more fun. Suze and I sprayed Lettuce Color Wash on it, wiped it off and got a wonderful color which adhered perfectly to the beeswax. We also played with paints and mediums using Claudine's Sticky Back Canvas, I love this, my new fave art item.

When to artists get together its always going to be playtime, remember playing with your dolls and friends in the 1rst grade or making clay pots in the 3rd grade and you were so excited, or the thrill of an antique sale, its that same feeling when you can create things with friends, its a pure magic from within.
Here are some other snippets of my studio:


My fave photo of my Enchanted Glass or what I call Magic Glass!


Above the two of us having a Bewitching Time!wearing our Witches Hats (I have about 40 of them getting ready to be transformed for my next show).
Some carnival gift bags as painting or light storage, aren't they fun. Followed by my Carnival Queens rivaling for head Carnival Queen! After all they are dollies!

Here is the latest doll creation: Beeswax covered bisque doll with crepe paper and sweet trimmings!


I hope you enjoyed our artful adventure and some of the new technqiues we came up with! Have a Enchanting Night! Lisa!