CHA DAY 2: CPS Meetup and Floor Fun!

Do you know a better way to spice up the day then Cayenne Pepper Brownies from Diane Radishant and a CPS Meet Up...CPS for those who don't know is:
Cloth Paper Scissors hosted by Jenn Mason at the Sizzix Booth. Several people were invited to meet up have fun, win a prize and give a hug. All who attended are incredible and amazing, I'm lucky to know each of them!

Let's start here, the first picture is of Julie, Pam and Myself, we all met a few years back and became instant friends, we have watched each other grow and build a wonderful friendship. Pam's book: Art at the Speed of Life is now available:
Pam Carriker, Published by Interweave.
Here we all are with Jenn Mason.Its an All Star Cast: Julie Bergmann, Suzi Blue, Pam Carriker, Jenn Mason and Myself. Julie, Suzi and I are guest artists in Pam's Book!Now its a party, look who was passing through: Christen Oliverez and Amanda Crabtree from Somerset Studios, here they are with Pam!Now here we all are! Wow, its a publishing frenzy, with Quarry authors in the house: Traci Bunkers, Stefanie Girard and Myself, Interweave: Pam Carriker and CPS Jenn Mason. Here's more party goers: Julie with Mackenzie and Laura Bray!Laura rocks! Stefanie and the bears, aren't these adorable? She made them, and I love them!Here is the cayenne pepper brownie maker herself:

Hope you enjoyed the party, more highlights of Day 2, coming tomorrow, then we will move to the ghostly encounter at the old school near Julie's House, followed by Day 3....
xoxo
Lisa!

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!

ClothPaper Scissors: My Article: Illustrative Clay Painting!

Does it get anybetter then this, being inside Cloth Paper Scissors, Nov./Dec. 2009 Issue? I am beyond excited, there is nothing more magical then seeing your works printed for all to see and be inspired by.
This publication has been one of my fave magazines for years, and is such an honor to be apart of this edition with so many other wonderful and talented artisans inside. I mean look at that cover, this artist is incredible, sooo cute and gets you in the Holiday spirit.
My article is entitled: Illustrative Clay Painting in which I have also included the recipes for 2 handmade clays that you can use in your paintings, for jewelry, sculpting, pressing into molds, etc.Finding ways to illustrate various storybook characters is a passion of mine, not too serious, not overdone, just something whimsical, fun and easy to do, with fast results. As an artist, I love projects which look amazing and are easy to do. This project is one of them, by incorporating a variety of supplies such as clay, felt, flocking, papers, glitters, jewels, you get a 3-d piece of art which not only tells a story, but can hang on your wall or sit on your shelf sharing that story.Original Piece
If you can't illustrate, these project can be created using copy right free clip art from companies like Dover Publications or from vintage silhouettes, or image transfers, which can easily be painted over or built upon w/the clay or felt.

Original PieceOther Versions!
Other Version Using my Clay Doll Heads
I hope you enjoy my article and the whole issue that Cloth Paper Scissors has put out, they do such a great job and art soooooo very nice to work with, over the top nice.
To visit their world: http://quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/cpshome.html

Thanks for visiting my world!

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!