Dresden Delights, Victorian Scrap Works and Project How-To!

Step back into the age of romance, language of flowers, and fantasy delights, an era filled w/debutant balls, society tea parties, garden soirees, flower rooms, conservatories, painted ladies, gingerbread trim, brim hats, feathers, lace and pearls, prim and proper attitude and the birth of photo collage and manipulation. A time of fantasy, fairy, magic and Coney Island Enchantment, Old Apothecary, gilded golds, silver, tinsel, boullion and DRESDEN......

Wondering when this time could be??? Well its the era known as Victorian, while I haven't touched on the full essence of this spectacular time, I did touch on what reminds me of this age. When I think of Victorian style aka Victoriana, I also envision enormous magical homes with unique architecture filled w/sleepy porches, iron or wood wares, stone figurines, stained glass, dozens of lamps, fantasy wares, flowers, flowers and more flowers, slim bodices, Godey's Illustrations, Angels, Cherubs and Enchanting Christmas. There is nothing more spectacular then a Victorian Christmas and ornaments, each one is a work of art, and can command high prices for antique ones today, especially those famous gold foiled ones, dresden balloons, and boat ships, stars and scrapworks.

After aquiring a vintage Dresden Boat Ornament at an estate sale, I studied it, and studied it again, thinking, I can make this, all I need is some vintage images, boullion, teardrop shape and of course Dresden scraps.

After Christmas last year I came upon a few small teardrop shapes, tinsel and bought a vintage bundle of Boullion from Tinsel Trading that I had been wanting to use, I did just that, making a few tradional style ornaments, some valentine/storybook w/50's pastel. This project I am about to re-share can be altered to fit your color styles and themes, go traditional or modern, that part is up to you.

I am happy and honored to inform you that my Dresden Project Pics, Project and Short Video are featured on one of my favorite sites: Victorian Scrapworks http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/Index.html they have a plethora of materials that you can use for your own Victorian and Vintage Delights such as:
Authentic Crinkle Wire
Doilies & Cards
Wings & Halos
Ephemera
and much more.

For the parts needed to create this project:
Click here for the Tear Drop Ornaments (They have yummy pinks)
http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/Dresden_Trims_Epemera.html
For Victorian Flower Scraps:
http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/AtFlowers_Victorian_Scraps.html
For Victorian Angel and Cherub Scraps:
http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/AtAngels_Cherubs_Victorian_Scraps.html
For Victorian Christmas Scraps:
http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/AtChristmas_Victorian_Scraps.html
For Amazing Tinsel, Crinkle Wire, etc.:
http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/AtDresden_Trims_Crinklewire_Misc.html

For the Project Highlights at Victorian Scrap Works:
http://www.victorianscrapworks.com/AtProjectsPage.html

For the Directions and Video of the project:
http://spellbinderscuriosities.blogspot.com/2009/02/dresden-trim-ornament-project.html

Tinsel Wonderland Workshop

Welcome to the Xmas Workshop and Artful Treasure Hunt entitled: Tinsel Wonderland, located in Historic Lafayette, NJ on Saturday December 5, 2009 inside the 1850’s Lafayette Mill Antiques Center and the Old Vaudeville Theatre!

Workshop is limited to 30-35 students only.

Theme:

Art Nouveau Victorian, Do you have an elaborate, crazy or vintage hat you have always wanted to wear? What about a frilly shirt, ruffled collar or soiree skirt, velvet pants or velvet coat, fur stoll or vintage gloves, rows of pearls, glistening crystals in red, black, clear, green or dazzling aurora, rhinestone pins or a ladies sash? Have you ever wanted to wear these timeless pieces? Then please do, I know I will, come in your vintage best, or just wear that fabulous hat or dazzling necklace, let’s set the tone for the holiday season.

Itinerary:

-Event Time is 9 am to 6pm
-Breakfast starts at 9am till 10:00am inside a quaint Anne of Green Gables Style Cafe which is known for their Gourmet and Simple Foods and is situated in the middle of numerous antique stores and across from my favorite of all: Lafayette Mill Antique Center, this place is also a favorite among other artists. Its so fabulous, that I warn you, you might night leave, the entire up stairs looks like a place straight out of a Vintage Time, filled w/secrets and magic, right out of Santa’s Toyland or Old World Storybook.

During breakfast you will be given your special goodie bags filled with project kits and surprises.

-The Workshop starts at 10:00am-2:00pm students will make a project straight out of a Tinsel Wonderland, this part of the workshop is called Santa's Toy Apothecary!

Students will make a clay/paper mache christmas tree doll with china doll head face, faux mercury glass bulbs, tinsel bulbs, tinsel sheets and tinsel treasures. You will also make an illustrated and distressed tag to go with your piece.

What you will learn:

-Doll making, clay sculpting, mold making, primitive/vintage painting techniques, how to make your own glitter and faux mercury glass. You will learn light illustration and distressing techniques as well from: Lisa Kettell, ooh that's me....

More Information:

-Enjoy hot chocolate and surprise treats as you welcome in the Christmas and Holiday Season, set inside a village straight out of Dickens Book.

-Enjoy a symphony of Christmas and Holiday music to get you in the spirit of the season.

-After Class we will begin shopping inside the Lafayette Mill Antiques Center and start Treasure Hunting, afterwards we will hit a few more antique shops all within fast walking distance.

-Dinner after the event is optional, but you are invited to tag along to the Lafayette House for dinner as well.

-There will also be some giveaways and I'll be hosting a swap or two before hand as well, again seating is limited since this is a smaller event and only for one day.

-Price for this full day of workshop, treasure hunting and surprises will be $150 registration will remain open until fill, once sold out, the next big event will be the ART OPERA April 7-10, 2010

-This workshop price also includes your project kits/material fees, so NO EXTRA material fees its all included.


Location/Directions:

Lafayette Mill Antiques Center
12 Morris Farm Road (Just off Route 15)
Lafayette, NJ 07848 (973) 383-0065
http://www.millantiques.com/

1hour from NYC
40 minutes from Warwick, NY
1hr 15min from NJ Shore
35 Min from Morristown, NJ
35 Min from PA border (Poconos Area)
1 hr from Pa border (Allentown Area)
1 hr 15min from New Hope, Pa/Lambertville, NJ
1 hr 45 min from CT border

To Register Visit: http://artoperanj.blogspot.com Once on this site, Please use the paypal button on the right to purchase your workshop.

Contact me about paying on layaway in 3 installments of $50 at: lisakettell@yahoo.com

To pay by check or money order please contact me at: lisakettell@yahoo.com


Visit:
http://artopera.ning.com/
To join the art opera group!

Faux Cabinet Cards, A Digital Journey into Fairyland!I am addicted to cabinet cards, they are beyond timeless and have such a magical quality to them, whether its a victorian gentleman in a top hat and suit, a victorian lady getting ready for a soiree, a civil war family posing for a portrait, a child in communion or confirmation gown, a costumed actress or fave opera heroine, a halloween or holiday portrait event, no matter the image, these old photos are beautiful.

During the 1870's photographs were usually mounted on cards measuring 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches or 5 1/4 by 7 1/2 inches. They had ornate letering on the front bottom of the image card and on the reverse side. The cards were mounted on a stiffer board backing due to the thinness of the photograph, which also acted as a photographer's calling and advertising card. The more ornate and elaborate the cabinet card backing, the more more expensive and high end the photographer.

Now finding the elaborate cabinet cards, the opera, costume and soiree styles are hard to come by and can fetch a handsome amount of money. That's when I thought why not make my own using a variety of images I already have.
How To Make a Faux Cabinet Card Image:
1.Simply scan into your computer a photo cabinet card
2. Next Scan in a main image and a few images you like with fun elements in them such as butterflies, flowers, etc.(copyright free of course)
3. If you are photo program savvy color in your images using paint tools in the program, for my faux cabinet cards I used Corel Paint Shop Pro, but you can use Photoshop as well.
4. On the main image layer some cool butterflies, flowers or add digital sparkle to it by cropping, copy and paste.
5. Next copy the finished main image and layer over the cabinet card image, save as a new image, boom instant faux cabinet card.
This is an image from one of my collage cd's which I hand colored in on the computer Now here it is with added elements such as butterflies and digital glitter.Now here it is layered on a cabinet card photo I had, leaving just the frame of the card showing. I call this collaged piece: Esmeralda The Butterfly Queen!
Here is a wonderful vintage image of Miss Marie Doro, from the 1900's. I love this image, there are a few versions of this too! This is from around 1907 per the copyright and is in the public domain.

I have 2 other versions in postcard form, in black and white, hand colored, the other versions are available on the Victorian/Teatime CD, and the Fairytale CD!. I used one of the other versions as the main image for one of my faux cabinet cards! Below is the other version I have colored in, collaged and layered onto a cabinet card, I call this new collaged piece:Lilly, The Fairy Queen! Here is a vintage image I have of Ethel Barrymore which I again digitally hand colored, collaged, and layered onto a cabinet card, I call this collaged piece: The Rose Queen!Below is another version I made called: The Butterfly Keepers!

Now if you aren't computer or photo program savvy, here is another way for you to do this project:
1. Gather up a few cabinet cards you like, paying attention to the beautiful and elaborate lettering and design details on it.
2. Now look for some images you love that can fit the photo frame of the cabinet card.
3. Take your perfectly matched cabinet cards and images to your local photo copy or office supply shop. Next using double sided acid free tape (so you don't ruin the original photo's, tape the main image of your choice onto the cabinet card. This will replace the original image that's on it.
4. Then photocopy, boom a faux cabinet card w/ new image.

Directions on how to make your new faux cabinet card print as sturdy as the original:
1. Find Black matte or chip board, using a glue stick, glue your print onto the matte board. Cut out with sharp scissors, I use industrial scissors for this.( Be careful these scissors are sharp, not recommended for small children).
2. Next using scrapbook paper rounders or rounder punch, round the edges of the layered matte board.
4. Now cover the back of your matte board with a photocopy of the back of the original cabinet card or with a victorian style rubber stamp, using gold embossing ink and gold embossing powder for a more ornate look.

For those of you who work with originals, color right onto the cabinet card using dabbers, q-tips or make up eye applicators rubbed into Ink pads, I use Ranger Inks such as Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads for coloring in photos.

For images to use in your artworks visit my flickr set of vintage images at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16/sets/72157603511546861/

You must be an approved friend of mine on flickr to use the images, I will approve your friend request, just email me who you are.

Or you can get various images in different collections on my collage cds as well available in my web store, etsy and ebay stores.