Playing Paper Dolls

I recently saw this post on Kelly's Art Journaling blog and was touched. She made a play day with her young friends to make paper dolls from my book, Collage Couture. You see a few months ago I was reading reviews on a paper doll book (can't remember the name) and was so disappointed. The book was described as an art book but people bought it for little girls. The book had some bad reviews because these adorable dolls and their little clothes had to be cut instead of punched out. It was too much time and trouble. I remember thinking when I was about 5, I used to wait patiently for my mom to cut out my paper dolls. My mom never complained, it was our time together. Watching her cut meticulously around every tab, no white would show beyond that black line, I was mesmerized. It's sad to see so many people who were upset by this book because the dolls had to be cut. We seem to want everything ready made these days. Part of the fun is just simply in the anticipation of being cut out. It's the process of getting to that final playtime that is part of the charm of playing with paper dolls. I totally can relate to Kelly when she talks about the girls being dreamy eyed as she cut the paper out to make their dolls. I remember that well which is probably why I am doing what I am doing today; still sitting there dreamy eyed, cutting out paper dolls. Thank you Kelly for sharing your journey and blessing me with this wonderful story!

Blogaversary Giveaway!

Well this is it! My blogaversary! Yep, I started it a year ago, kicking and screaming. Who would read this and why would anyone want to read what I have to say! You all know what I'm talking about! This was single handedly the most difficult part of my creative journey...putting myself out there. But I was told I had to. I was told by the Senior editor, Christine, from North Light Books that I simply had to. I supposed she knew what she was talking about, after all she was working for one of the top publishers of arts and crafts books. So I listened. Then I started. I tread lightly at first. How would I ever have enough to say? I'm shy, I don't even talk that much! But I forged ahead with it. It was kinda fun. I kinda liked it. I had stuff to say! I had stuff to share! I remember my 4th follower! I remember my 16th. Hey, people might just read this! I remember a post where I whined big time and a reader made a comment and really felt sorry for me! We exchanged phone numbers and met at her house. Some of you might remember my first meeting with a blogger stranger in Laguna Beach. Paulette and I became great friends.
Looking back, I can't believe the tangled web of people that stemed from this meeting. There was Beth, editor from Stampington that was led to Paulette's beautiful treasures at the beach. There was Jenelle who started at the little cottage in Laguna and has ended up in the vintage fou fou crowd. There was Juliette, who visited from Wisconson and ends up being one of Lisa's favorite artists now.
The web of people in blogland get tangled in all directions. There was Crystal, I worked with her sister and she was led to Beth, published in a Stampington magazine, then ended up with the vintage fou fou crowd. Christine was my 3rd follower who was in my class at Urban Barn, whom I saw last weekend at The Vintage Marketplace, who went to the Lavender farm with the vintage fou fou girls. I didn't even know she was part of the vintage fou fou crowd! Oh the places you go in blogland.
There was Elena, who invited me to Key Largo to teach at her retreat. Now I see Eileen, who was at the retreat and is from NYC, is on so many blogs that I follow. Or I'll meet someone at a show and they give me their card and when I look them up, guess whos on their bolg? Yep, Eileen! I suppose it's all those fancy Tim Holtz cruises she goes on!
It's been fun looking back at the followers and comments, then connecting the dots. If it weren't for blogland I would've missed out on so many things this past year. Great times, Great friends.
So Happy Blogaversary to me! And to celebrate, I am doing a giveaway. My first! Just leave a comment and I will put your name into a hat. If you have my blog connected to your blog, I will put it in twice! And what will the winner get?

1st prize- My book Collage Couture. What? You already have it? Don't worry, give it away as a gift and there will be another little something with it!

2nd prize- My best selling print Trash, featured in Somerset Studios July 2010

3rd prize- Japanese Garden, the origami clipboard featured in the book

Upcoming Book Signings and Such

From the book Collage Couture

Well, we will try this again since blogger has dropped my last 2 posts! I will make this one short and sweet. The last 2 months have been sort of a resting perriod for me as I pursue some other things. Last week , I had a super creative streak and started doing some projects with fabric. If all goes well, I will post pictures this week.

I received an email on Saturday that someone actually got my book Collage Couture, in the mail from Amazon. I have not yet received mine so I was pleasantly surprised. I am in book planning event mode right now so I thought I would post where I'll be in the coming weeks.
I will start off doing a lovely vintagy show in Rainbow, CA. Yes, Rainbow in North San Diego County, and the area is as pretty as the name! This was formerly Chateau de Fleurs that took place at Christie Repasy's home in Fallbrook. I will be there June 3 & 4 and will have a few books to sell and will have some of my original art from the book for sale.

On Sunday, June 5, I will be at Stamp Your Heart Out in Claremont from 2 - 4. This sweet little store is where it all began for me. The owner, Joan has been cheering me on since I first was asked to participate in an art walk there a little over 2 yrs ago. Yep, I walked in that store that night with nothing but my art. No easels, no prices, nothing...not a clue how to set up for this! But Joan helped me set up, I had a successful evening and have been asked back many times since.

I am setting up a signing and 2 classes at a Ben Franklin store in Grass Valley, CA on June 25. Am very excited about this. This a wonderful area in Northern CA sitting at the edge of the gold country. Sylvia, who I met in Davis while doing a show and class has graciously offered me her guest room that weekend. How fun to spend the weekend with new friends!

I will post as more events come my way. Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered the book. I hope you enjoy it!

Inspiration from Davis

The Wardrobe, Davis, CA



Display with some of my goodies




Loved all the color of the walls!



Heather and her friend Autumn with her darling twins

I'm not sure what it is about Northern Calif. that always seems to clear my mind and feed my creativity. Perhaps it's the clean air or maybe the roads that are not as congested as I'm used to. I know this time of the year it's the green rolly poly hills that surround me driving from the 5 to the 101 and driving from San Jose to Sacramento. It's truly a beautiful drive in the spring.

A few months ago I was invited by Heather Caswell, owner of The Wardrobe in the quaint college town of Davis, to participate in the town's art walk at her store. I jumped at the chance because I typically show in galleries or arty type stores as well as arts and craft shows. This is a high end boutique with very arty clothes because it seems Heather's philosophy is that clothes should be art in themselves. The store was beautiful and well, the clothing, lets just say I saw many masterpieces in that little shop.

The art walk turned out wonderful. The town was full of colorful characters and lots of students. I enjoyed many conversations that evening. She had dj's playing the most wonderful music. Old French garage band music. So much fun! The darling dj, Emily handed me a CD at the end because I loved it so much. Thank you Emily...I listened to it all the way home on Sunday! I had my book, Collage Couture, displayed for all to look at and I'm happy to say I had rave reviews on the design and look of it!

Being the capitol of natural foods, I ate well over the weekend. Gluten free and dairy free pizza and cheesecake. Delicious! Sorry to say girls, I did have to have my frou frou coffee the following morning!

Davis being such an artsy town, I thought I'd share a few pictures of my walk. It's the little surprises you find along the way that get your creative juices flowing.

The mural on the local art supply store

Bench outside the barber shop

Don't know what the building was, but loved the color. This was all ceramics I believe.

Thank you Heather and staff for a great weekend.   The Wardrobe

Could it Be?

It has been a most dreadful, stressful week. One of those weeks where nothing goes right from pressing the start button on a copy machine that won't make 900 copies to bill mix-ups that require being put on hold with at&t for an eternity! More car issues, our dog of 15 years getting ready to leave us, yep, it's been one of those weeks, where you really have to press into that inner being for the positveness and the learning and growing experiences that come from one of those weeks!   

And then.....

I come home from a morning of madness to find a lump under the doormat.
Is it? Could it be? It is!!!!

It's my book! two copies of my.....MY book. Collage Couture. I ate my lunch really, really fast and then sat down and savored the pages...one by one. Every page, prettier than the last.Then it dawns on me. It's not just MY book. It's a whole team of creatives...editors, photographers, and designers that translated my words, feelings and art into this beautiful little book. This book just really captured exactly what I wanted it to. It's whimsical, girly and I hope inspiring. The photos are nothing short of stunning. The design IS me and yet I had nothing to do with the design. Northlight Books is just a giant group of the most talented, creative people, who after spending a week with me captured my spirit into 128 pages of pure bliss.

Collage Couture

I have a Cover!

Well, I think it's time to introduce my book....it now has a cover! It's been available for presale on Amazon but never had an image to go with it. Imagine my excitement when the cover finally showed up on their website!
It was exactly a year ago when I was waiting to hear whether the proposal for North Light Books would be accepted or not. Once it was finalized at the end of Nov, I began working on the art. I haven't really thought about all of the pieces until today when I received an email of some of the pages after the design process. I can't believe how much the design enhances the art. Kelly is soooo talented! I absolutely love everything she has done so far. I can't wait until June...it seems so far away!