Fun Friday again, and we are still getting things together but feeling a bit relaxed...took a photo of the bracelet pile that will be going to Houston with us. As I ate bonbons every night, Al was making product! I'm going to stick with her.

We wanted to share this picture of Al's 4 year old grand daughter Aiden. During her last visit she announced in her special way that she wanted to make a paper doll. I'm sure that she had no idea that there was such a wealth of materials for her dream project. The results can be seen below. Apparently the source of the Power Ranger Salute is unknown. It was impossible to get a photo without it!

Well, at this time next week we will be in Houston. We are still pulling things together, making piles, lists, outfits, hairdo's, models, pins, etc...Above is a pile of houses and samples for our all day class. We have been working on a couple of pairs of embellished jeans...going over directions and details of class directions...It will be a relief to get there and dive into the non-stop list of activities! Just doing the the next thing and the next thing after that...








We have been working on models made from our products and came up with this little tree topper made out of one of our wool felt cones. We turned it into a festive holiday creature. Her body is embellished with felt shapes, arms built with small felt beads, head wrapped with yarn, star charms hanging from wire, paper wings are decorated with paint, hand made paper and glitter...

Better get back to my product development job...
Still a few dayz left to whip up goodies!!

Happy Birthday to my second born...Having a family extravaganza this evening for birthdays, weddings and visiting cousins! It was a busy week putting Houston stuff together and packing it up...making backing cards, checking out advertising prices, sending out our second newsletter, shipping, making samples , etc. etc....

Wanted to share the pics of the Artgirl Halloween cupcakes that we made for supreme employee Matt's birthday! Fun with gum drops! Inspired by M. Stewart...

I have been working on models for Houston using our new felt cone shapes...they have been very fun to work on...came up with a witch, tree topper and a couple of regular Artgirl beauties! The cones are called egg warmers in Nepal, but I thought that they would be great bases for little sculptures. She is embellished with felt shapes, embroidery, our little felt beads make the arms with mix and match hand charms...topped off with a variety of fibers!

Will share the others as time goes by...also have some great little felt bags that will fit femmy young girlz, your cell phone, wallet, secret codes, favorite beads etc... More backing cards to make up...bye bye now...

These are the very first tests of our new rubber stamps on the closest file folder!

It is already Mandatory Make Things Day...trying to get our second newsletter and complimentary blog page together by Monday and then order product for Houston and then make stuff. We are trying to get samples made for Quilt Festival...

The piece shown above, was made with our new little wool felt squares, small felt beads and some charms. It was all stitched together by hand with metallic thread.

We wanted to share some ideas for using our wool felt beads and charms for making decorations for a Christmas tree, decorating packages and cards. It's not too early to get supplies and start stitching as the nights grow longer and colder...well where we live anyway.

BUTTONED UP BEAD

Sewing through the wool beads is very simple. I prefer using millinery needles with Coats and Clark metalic thread. You will need 15 - 20 little buttons. The smallest used in this project is about 1/4 inch across. To add these little buttons, knot the end of a double thread, hide the knot behind a button, and sew right through from one button to another.


Attach a dot heart charm with the same thread. That will be the bottom of the ornament.


Create a loop with a 6 inch piece of silk ribbon. Fold in half and make a knot in the middle... Stitch the loop onto the top of the bead at the knot.


To finish off the thread, just stitch through a loop of thread to make a knot an pull thread through the lenght of the bead and cut thread.






EMBROIDERED BEADS


The bead on the left was embellished with embroidery thread, silk ribbon and a variety of beads.

Thread the silk ribbon through a needle and pull the ribbon down through the middle of the bead leaving the end on the inside the bead. Go back through the top and continue to add the ribbon around the bead.

Thread two strands of embroidery floss through a needle and stitch around the bead to hold the silk ribbon in place. Add French knots in a contrasting color.

To create the "dangle" at the bottom of your decorated bead, string a variety of beads onto
your embroidery thread. To secure the string of beads, loop back up through the string skipping the bottom bead. Take a couple of stitches at the top the string to secure the thread.

Additional goodies can be added such as more beads, sequins, little bits of colorful felt, metalic threads, more ribbon, family faces hanging off the end, meaningful words or images...

Have Fun and Keep checking Back for Fresh Ideas!

With classes and the Quilt Festival speeding our way, "Fun Friday",
a concept that we have had in our hearts for two years but never get to,
has suddenly become
"MANDATORY Fun Friday"

Mid week already and we are moving along here at Artgirlz Nation...Got our box from Nepal yesterday with our felt and had a couple of surprises. Our new pocketbooks for embellishment came fully embellished...that kind of thing. I have to remind myself that if that is my biggest problem of the day, I am a lucky girl.

I managed to get the images of our new charms together and we are very excited about them. Have to get going on the next group.

We had a visit last night from Pete and Karen and our friend MT Silvia. MT (Smartgirl Productions), a big shot at Pixar, is making a film about her mothers' experience with atom bomb testing. We were lucky to see the sample piece that has been put together to help nail down some production cash. Her first film was a wonderful look at Christmas in a neighborhood near her home in California. It is a big project and I hope that it all comes together!

Have to get on the bulb situation in the garden. I haven't spent my usual amount of time dreaming and studying the daffy bulbs!

September is flying by...Sue and I worked in the garden last weekend...pulling weeds, moving plants, planting shrubs, edging. Sue spied a praying mantis in a tree we had just dug up...there is an amazing face!

Speaking of faces, we finally having our new face charm produced...it has taken a while to get this one the way we liked it. Will be ready to ship next week as will the jester hat! We are waiting to receive our wing models. Should be any moment!

We talked with a smart energetic woman this week who is going to work with us to help boost sales! Yea...thanks Jes for sending Janet...my sis is a bit worried about having another "J" name...Jes, JoAnn, Janet. JoAnn and Mat are returning today after a break for family hospital issues...so another Artgirlz Birthday Lunch for Jo...

I think that our first plate of rubber stamps are ready for production. I was hoping to have them for Houston, but it will be very tight! It is coming at us very quickly.
Off to get some work done...

We had an unexpected and spirited call from Tim Holtz the other night. After chewing over who's doing what where, Tim shared that he too had a collection of "scary babies" in his studio. Living out in the garden, our scary baby tribe occasionally has work to do. Clearly these boys had been relaxing on a nice summer day and must have sprung into action to save us from some unsavory individuals...


It seems like we have done so many things since the last post. Al and I traveled to Macon, GA for a family wedding. It was fun to see cousins Kevin and Scott, sister Beth and family, my former husband Ed and son Don, as we wove in and out of festivities. Don and Ed were in the neighborhood trying to catch the space lauch that was postponed. Here we are sporting our Artgirlz jewels...

I saw a very interesting Pulic Television program about a gathering of forward thinking individuals. Check out PopTech.org. Learned about Architecture for Humanity with a book "Design Like You Give a Damn". It was very inspiring to see so many people doing such amazing work!!



Last week we had to say good-by to one of our workers Danielle. She turned 18 and is now off to Pace College. We had an Artgirlz Birthday-Going Off To College Lunch. Here is Danielle with boyfriend, Artgirlz worker, and drummer rock star Mat. It is very quiet without her!


I can hardly believe that it is September...I didn't finish half of the projects that were on the docket, but that probably has more to do with me dishing out more than I can chew...so we will continue to take care of the piles on our desks, the lists on our (painted on the) wall sized chalk boards. We have an interesting business call this afternoon and an interview with a potential new helper. We are looking forward to both events!

Sending lots of love to JoAnn and Mat!

I am having trouble posting a message today...keep getting a html error message...I hate that!!
So I am going to keep it simple because I have things to do...pack for trip to Macon GA, do my hair, and on and on for Artgirlz!

We had some lovely messages from customers this week and we appreciate it very much...I was trying to share them here, but I don't know if that was part of my problem. The picture below was sent to us by Teri Velazquez and this character is hanging from the rear view mirror of Teri's car!

I also want to add one of Robin Beams necklaces featuring Artgirlz charmz and wool felt beads!

You rock Robin!!

Will report when we return to the studio from the wedding festivities in Macon!

...the essence of craft, as a very delicate, tentative, and maybe even private activity, involving preparedness to fail, and try again, and experiment, and tolerate not knowing what the outcome of this process may be "useful" for.
Radical Craft...The Second Art Center Design Conference...By Janet Abrams

I found this quote in an article yesterday as I looked for guidelines for a design team. I didn't have much luck finding guidelines, but did have a couple of people wish me good luck! I loved the "preparedness to fail", and the ability to "tolerate not knowing the outcome"...I don't like the day to day feeling of it, but I would like more serenity around it...

Was in software hell yesterday and am happy to say that a quick run of a disc utility seems to have fixed the problem...we will see as the day goes on...I really want to have a "fun Friday"...the idea being that we would actually play with materials...what a concept. I talked with a couple of business owners this week and we were all talking about how busy we are with no time for creating...maybe something today...

How about passion flowers...we finally pulled some weeds this week. There are many more to go, and I am hoping that we will have a nice downpour in the next couple of days...not looking good in that area...might actually have to water. There is a distinct feeling of fall today. Just last week everyone was melting from the heat. My sisters in Alaska both had run ins with moose in their gardens. One had her vegetable garden consumed, and the other had all of her flowers gobbled up. I had a very funny conversation with a store owner and day lily collector who told me that rabbits are her biggest headache..."nothing a thirty cent bullet won't take care of..." Miss Never Held a Gun had a good laugh. I have a very clear picture of another peaceful, creative person sitting on her deck with a bb gun aimed at the critters sneaking into her veggie garden...

We will be heading back to the "house on the rocks" off of Jamestown, RI this week end for Ed's 60th birthday party. He is working on a recycled cooking oil venture... The photo on the left is the birthday boy...father of my lovely children and his very generous sister Janet...Jan is the hostess of the year!

And here is a grand photo of the group lovingly known as "the girlz" and generally the "we" in this adventure...
Sue, Midge, Allison, and me...

It was a beautiful weekend here in New England and well deserved after the awful heat wave! Another Artgirlz meeting that started off at the beach early Saturday morning, but we decided to head for the screened in porch due to the pesky flies...definining who we are and where we want to go. Here is a quick view of the girlz garden just before the meeting started.
We went thru 9 pages of words and phrases that have been floating around for two years...as usual, we managed to weed out a few items that didn't quite fit and clarify the vision. Is the concept of "Artgirlz Nation" too lofty? No we said...creating a safe, open, diversified, inclusive, mindful group of individuals is what it's all about...so after I write about our Sunday adventure, I will be back at the task of spreading Artgirlz Propaganda...Be Bold, Be Brave, Trust Your Your Own Vison!






Sunday we left the compound and headed for Jamestown (RI) to visit the "house on the rocks"...Al and I lived in Jamestown in our youth, before the bridge. The house, formally known as Clingstone, is behind us on the left. The strip of land behind the house, across the bay is Newport, and right behind the house, in Newport, the Newport Folk Festival was in full swing. We hooked up with Ed (T's former spouse) and Maggie and took a launch out to the 100 year old house to visit Ed's sister Janet. Jan has the house for a month and generously offered it as a landing spot for friends and family.


It had always been a mysterious place for those of us that only saw it sitting there day after day on a very very big rock just off shore, wondering who lived there and what kind of magical life they must have had. It was an amazing huge summer house with lots of bedrooms and bathrooms, an incredible kitchen, huge dining room with massive windows on two sides, a ping pong table room, a deck all the way around, and a roof top deck. Needless to say, the view from the roof top was beautiful! We all wandered around, switching views, talking, studying old photos of the house and bay, had snacks, took pictures (Al hanging onto one of the balconies), waved to the boats going in and out of the harbor...there were sooo many boats ...It was quite a remarkable, dynamic place! And we get to go back next weekend for Ed's 60th Birthday Party!!

Actually worked in the garden this weekend pulling weeds. It would probably take a week to get it under control, but it is a start! The pond seems to have a happy eco system of it's own going. The baby fish and tadpoles are getting big, the lilies are blooming, the water hyacynths are multiplying! Gotta go...the boss is waiting for me...

Another Monday...busy weekend dealing with Sue's dad and hospitals, old friends and family visiting, Al's grandchildren Aiden and Gabe checking out the wildlife in the pond, Tracy 2 and Jeff arriving, hot weather and crowded beaches...
I put one of our necklaces here to share. We made it with our charms and beads from our current stash. Speaking of beads, Angie Pederson (pr, web, blog consultant) let us know that Katie Hacker mentioned Artgirlz in her CHA report blog post (thank you)...needless to say, we were happy to see that. While checking out Katie's blog, I discovered the work of Stephanie Sersich. She is a glass bead maker and her work is just amazing...makes you want to get a paying job to buy lots of handmade beads...not only that, it sounds like we would enjoy just hanging around their "office"!


Last week we heard from Paula Hardesty, Sis Designs, (paigertata@insightbb.com) in Louisville KY and she was looking for some charms for a class that she is doing for Stamp Away USA in Cinncinatti August 10th. She will be teaching the bag that is pictured above. What a great combo of texture and color! Check out the event if you are around Ohio! The black and white stamp on the bag is from Teesha Moore...Zettiology.... It is hard to see in this picture, but there are little Artgirl hand charms stitched onto the girl...

Spent time today figuring out where to spend advertising money, discussing new products, Houston quilt festival make and takes, felt ordering, newsletter production, and when to go to the beach.
Hoping to get our Constant Contact newletter together and out into the world this week. Trying to stay cool and move forward!

Well, we made it to the Craft and Hobby Show after a long wait on runways, in airplanes and on more runways due to very bad weather around Chicago. The good news was that we did make it, and we didn't have to catch planes to go anywhere else. We saw lots of friends, sold product, talked to press people, taught a class of 50 people, did a couple of demo's, had a lot of laughs, hung out with Mark Franich (Mr. PaperArtsy on the right, below), did our first video clip, ate bad food and made it home in one piece. Al (grinning above) made her way around the show floor, meeting new people, getting her picture taken, and spreading the spirit of Artgirlz Nation. We were very excited to meet Helga from ARTchix Studio and Traci Bautista! ARTchix is a rich resource of ideas, products and links to a world of visuals! Robin Beam brought us another amazing necklace and new bracelets! We are back home regrouping...resting, getting groceries and making lists for the next events.



We are teaching in Connecticut next weekend and will be putting product together for the quilt festival in Houston, working on our rubber stamps, and discovering Skype. Mark turned us on to this amazing technology that allows us to talk thru the computer for free! As soon as we get a camera, we will be able to have a cup of tea, build empires, and share ideas together while sitting at our computers. So off to take care of the endless lists that seem to spring up everywhere. We weren't home from Chicago and there is a list for CHA Winter...

Went out early this morning to water pots and collect a few Japanese Beetles and the mosquitoes were driving me crazy! There are alot of happy bugs, worms, catepillars, butterflies thriving on the estate! Our pond is also alive with baby fish of various ages, polywogs, frogs, waterbugs, dragonflies of many colors and sizes, and beautiful tropical water lilies. The deer have managed to devour most of our hostas and land lilies...they must be having lovely buffets!
Off to build the nation!

Leaving for Chicago tomorrow morning for Summer Craft and Hobby Association Show. Finishing models, getting details for our class together, packing clothes which is sometimes the most distressing. Will be taking and wearing some of our new jewelry and that is the main thing. Will do another pink hair treatment...Will be good to get there and get on with it! Looking forward to meeting new members of Artgirlz Nation in Chicago and meeting up with old friends!

Had a great chat with Judy Luther at the National Gallery and we will be designing a collage kit for their NGA Kids line. That will be a great project and look forward to working with her again. The website is very cool with lots of interactive arty "games".

My son Don has been doing stone sculpture and I was excited to see his latest piece...

As usual, we are crazy busy...went to the Boston area on Sunday and did a fund raiser for the Germaine Lawrence School at Artbeat in Arlington, MA. Jan put on a beautiful party in her small but mighty fine store/studio space. We, with the help of , guided folks thru the process of making little pins and loved watching the girlz take off and make their own adaptations! And, isn't that the point. I think everyone had a great time. The food was wonderful and the range of spilled glitter was an indication of the creative energy that was flowing thru the gathering!


The Craft and Hobby trade show is coming up next week in Chicago. We are trying to take care of details...finish planning and preparing for our sold out class (we were very excited to get that detail!), demos that we are doing the the "Sewing Pavilion", rubberstamp images to develop, hair do's to finalize, jewelry to complete, embellished clothing to stitch...and working all day today for our friends at the Umbrella Factory Gardens...maybe it will be good to spend the day with the plants! Off to the printer...The sun is out today...time for a deep breath!

Last week we received a very festive gift from Robin Beam, one of our wonderful supporters at Ranger...she put a necklace together using our felt beads, felt flowers and charms, adding beads, sequins, and a few other special trinkets! Tim Holtz is teaching the construction style in his classes...We are as usual very grateful for her time and vision!

I have been trying to get to this task for some time now...It seems like so many things have been crunched into the last couple of weeks. The garden tour seems like it was ages ago. It was a beautiful day, with lots of folks coming through and enjoying all of our work. I was gratifying to share our labor with others who are interested in plants, dirt, trees, rocks, water...speaking of water, our baby fish are very fun to watch!! We put the scary babies together for the tour...power in numbers! They continue to bask in the sun together...


We went to NYC for the Licensing Show. We took some classes...licensing 101, using technology: website, blogging etc, licensing artwork...There was quite a difference between sitting in the classes and walking the floor with the Michelin Man, Nickie Hilton...huge sections for Warner Brothers, Disney etc and a good sized area of individuals trying to sell their work. We had fun cruising bead, trim, and fabric stores..looking for "trends" in color, style, texture... New York is a bit chaotic for country girls, but we had a great time and will attempt to apply some of our newly found information to Artgirlz Nation this summer!