Meeting Susan Lenz

I had the pleasure of meeting Susan Lenz at the Visions Gallery in downtown Chandler, AZ, when her Decisions Portraits exhibit was here. She included me in the grouping of her portraits.

Gelli Shoes Slideshow

Please enjoy this slideshow of the Gelli Shoes project. To begin the slideshow, click on the white arrow. To fill the screen, click on the frame in the lower right corner once the show starts.

Gelli Shoes for Zoe

Finished Shoes without Lettering

Plastic Coaster from Bed, Bath and Beyond

Diamond Stencil

 Red Gelli Plate with Square Fondant Cutters from Wilton

Whoo Hoo!

Finished Shoes - Frontview

Gelli Shoes for Mia

Finished Shoes for Mia, age 7

"Before" Shoes from Target

ATCs for May

These are my ATC's for May. I used Timtex as the stabilizer and used Steam-A-Seam II to fuse fabrics which I had rusted (see earlier posts on how-to's). Some ATC's have mica in sheets and some in flakes, some have rusted stars, some feature rusted laces, there are inchies on several, washers colored with alcohol inks, copper and black screening, digitally-printed copper screening. You know I like rusty things if you've been reading this blog. I decided to do my ATC's in rust. Just call me Rusty Rita. 

Gelli Shoes Workshop Added

Gelli Shoes Workshop added on May 11th at Craft Fusion

4:00pm - 6:00pm
"Gelli Arts Shoes"
Cost:  $20.00
Call to Register: 480-821-3758
Spend the afternoon creating Gelli art-to-wear with fashionable printed shoes you make yourself in this fun and exciting Workshop.  Be the envy of all your friends or make the shoes of your children's dreams as you allow your imagination to roam free.  Choose a special theme or use random stencils as you choose your favorite colors and have fun creating your own wearable "masterpieces".  Seating will be limited to 10,  so be sure to sign up quickly!  Let your creativity go free in this affordable Workshop and join us for some summertime fun!
Supplies to Bring:  Canvas tennis shoes (white is best, but they MUST be canvas); craft sheet; Gelli Arts printing plate (6"x6"); hard rubber brayer; and small bottle of hand sanitizer for cleaning your Gelli Arts plate.  Instructor will provide craft acrylic paints; stencils and stamps; textures (both found and purchased).  Optional Supplies:  Gloves; any favorite acrylic paints, stencils, or stamps. 
Remember, you can make shoes for adults or children in this workshop. Check out my blog for other posts on gelli shoes. They were too fun to make and you can see a sample in the shop. Join the crazy fun.

Puzzle Piece Challenge: Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Themed Puzzle Piece

This is my Mardi Gras themed puzzle piece for the May Challenge. I used a piece of dotted Mardi Gras colored fabric for the base and painted Lumiere Light Body Metallic Acrylic by Jacquard (Grape #546) around the edges. Next, I applied Designer Adhesive (which dries clear and is meant for Art Glitter) and then Purple Passion Art Glitter, which I shook from the little spoon. Next, I punched holes around the 6 extensions with my Cropodile and added Mardi Gras themed wine charms. The little metallic masks work well. The little wooden crown in the center was painted with the same purple paint and glued with Aleene's Tacky Glue in the center. Voile!

Canvas Gelli Journal Class Coming Soon

Gelli Arts Canvas Journal

Saturday, May 11, 2013  11:00am-3:00pm

Cost: $45.00
Call to Register: 480-821-3758

In this workshop, we are going to focus on creating gelli prints on both muslin and canvas and create a canvas journal for embellishment. Techniques will include monoprinting, stenciling and stamping, tag-making and much more. Muslin and canvas absorb acrylic paint much differently than paper yet add so much opportunity for creative embellishment, join us for a day of experimentation with gelli plates. Seating will be limited to 10, so sign up quickly. Those gelli plates are flying off the shelf as crafters and artists are discovering their potential for creative exploration. You don’t want to miss out on this fun-filled workshop! 

Supplies to bring: Gelli Arts printing plate (any size), hard rubber brayer, gesso and suitable paint brush for preparing canvas pages, small foam brush, craft sheet, blank canvas journal, small bottle of hand sanitizer for cleaning your plate. (Gloves are optional if you are a neatnik.)

Instructor will provide: Craft acrylic paints, paper towels, stencils and stamps, textures (both found and purchased), muslin. Please note that as an option, you may bring your own from home.

Note: It is highly recommended that you go ahead and gesso (2 coats) the pages of your canvas journal prior to coming to the workshop so that you have sufficient drying time (I let mine dry overnight) and can begin immediately to print onto your substrate. You’ll be able to get further in the workshop if you do this “homework”.

Canvas Journal Cover Embellished

Canvas Journal Back Cover Finished

Pages 2-3

Pages 4-5

Gelli Whisk Rose

Gelli Whisk Rose

And so...no more scrambled eggs at my house. I used my kitchen whisk to make a rose in the upper right corner of this gelli print done on artist's canvas. I had made a background using purples and greens that I wasn't really thrilled with, and it kept telling me it needed red. Red. Red. And I wanted circles, but not whole circles, just that effect. So out came the kitchen spiral whisk that I use to make scramble eggs. Or should I say that I formerly used for eggs? Now it is my newest tool for creating flowers. Mary and I had too much fun playing with this, springing and springing and springing the gadget dipped in the red paint. And then...as true collaborators so often do, Mary got even further inspired and ran to get her "old red frame that had been in the closet for years with seemingly no purpose." Magnifique!

What's hiding in your closet that is just perfect for your project?  

Clown Fish

Here is the beginning of my newest fish. It's a small yet very recognizable clown fish. It will join the other fabric fish that I'm collecting.