CAFTA, Community Auction for the Theatre Arts, is now done for this year! It was a lovely event and I think everyone enjoyed it! My two donations went to good homes! I didn’t get to meet the lady that purchased my sunflower necklace but I DO know the lady that went home with my Art Doll. So I am happy!

So what’s next? Well, besides the holidays, I am starting on my tree for The Festival of Trees for Providence Hospital in Centralia, WA. My friend, Sue, is so awesome as well as her daughter! Her daughter sent over from Austria two beautiful hand painted egg ornaments for my tree. My theme is centered around the egg! Yay for friends!!!!

Off I go ….

After a successful ARTrails tour, I am inspired and ready to work on some new projects! I have a Fall art doll in my mind ready to come out! So I will be sketching out the details! I am also working on another beaded amulet/doll necklace – the general idea is around the myth of the Phoenix. – Melinda

The gala is this Friday, 4-8pm, at the Centralia Train Depot’s exhibition hall. My doll, Spring Bride, will be on display there! She is part of an ongoing series I’m working on for the Broadway Gallery … I will be showing there in October ‘10.  Starting Saturday morning, I will be at the Stillwater Estates “Gathering Place” with some of my dolls as well as my jewelry – from 10am to 5pm. There are catalogs all around town with maps inside – so pick one up and tour the 60 local artists these next two weekends!

-Melinda

Wow – where did summer go? Seems like yesterday it was end of June! Ok, so my jewelry classes have been a great hit at Cindy’s Simple Stuff! I have some fun ideas in the works for some future classes – utilizing both scrapbooking trends and jewelry items – Cindy has a big order of fun components coming to complement her papercrafting inventory!! 

There will be another Faux Enamel Pendant class in September and possibly another Alcohol Ink Pendant class … I will post the dates as soon as we set them! In the meantime, I am gearing up for ARTrails of SWW!!! This annual event is so fun and I really enjoy meeting people on the tour! This year I’m bringing back my dolls …. along with my jewelry. 

Tons of stuff going on … time to get going! -melinda

My next jewelry class is August 9th at Cindy’s Simple Stuff. The class size is limited to ten people so don’t miss your chance! In this class we will explore Tim Holtz’s alcohol inks on his awesome Fragments – once the “picture” is done, I will show everyone how to finish off their pendants for a unique piece of jewelry! 

There will be another faux enamel pendant class in September  - date has not been set yet! I’ll get some pictures up tomorrow for the August class! -melinda

*edited to add pictures of work* 

Due to the popularity of my class, Cindy and I added another class for August 9th at 3pm. She has a sign-up sheet at her store Cindy’s Simple Stuff …. so if you are interested, stop by and talk with Cindy!

I will be teaching a jewelry class in July for the “scrapbook” pendants shown below. Please visit my friend Cindy’s blog: Cindy’s Simple Stuff to get the location and sign up for a class! The class charge is $20/person for appx. 2 hours. You will learn how to create your own original paper art pendant with offloom beadweaving around the frame! The finished pendant will vary per person! 

This pendant is a cross experiment between alcohol inks and plexiglass. I randomly dropped different colors of ink onto the pg and tilted in various directions for interest. Once dried, I mounted the pg to a white piece of cardstock to pop the colors of ink.  The ink takes on some depth through the glass …. it’s pretty cool in person! I am now creating an edge around the piece with my seed beads! I have no idea what I will do with it once done … probably wear it!  

   As with many artists, I tend to hold on to lovely pieces of paper, fabrics, notions, embellishments … and just hold on … not wanting to cut into that wonderful print or cut up the beautiful piece of handmade paper! So I am pushing beyond my habits and creating new beautiful items to cherish! 

   These two pendants come from my scrapbooking stash! The idea of paper jewelry has been floating around in my mind for some time now and finally I gave in and cut up my paper! The paper is a beautiful piece of Japanese inspired rice paper! I wasn’t sure how the colors would hold under my glaze once it was “wet”.

  A wonderful surprise came from the undertones of green and blue pulled out from the midlayer! I framed the paper with an embellishment that I then mounted to felt. Once dried, I beaded around the frame to complement the picture. The pelline ball chain completes the “scrapbooking stash” look! 

I’m very happy with how they turned out! Now I’m off to search for more buried treasures I can convert into jewelry! -Melinda

Hello Friends!! 

Stampin’ Up! is offering an early order for the new catalog!!! How can you get in on this? Sign up right now with the fabulous $75 scrapbooking offer and become a demonstrator – become a part of my team!!! Just visit my site and check it all out!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Creatively Yours – Melinda