more studio 490 found ART...

Here's more inspiration...from my friends...
Click on the photos to see the details...

I found this on Nancy Wethington's blog...

WOW! How awesome!!!
She used the studio 490 arrows as a stem...

COOL...that NEVER entered my little mind.

I LOVE the idea...I like thinking outside the box...
It's fun to look past the obvious...
Nancy did!

I LOVE the colors & the entire piece.
Check out her blog...she's going to TEACH...

Mary Engelbreit!!


SERIOUSLY...How cool is that?




And from MY MASTER...Lisa Pace...

I am amazed @ how she stamped on (cheapo) felt...
& made it look so rich & elegant...



another look...




Her stitching is PERFECT...
totally amazing...

from a simple studio 490 leaf stamp...



TOO CUTE!




THANKS Lisa & Nancy...GREAT work.
You made my stamps look good!

In other breaking news...
I'm PATIENTLY (NOT) waiting for the release of Lisa's book.
It's due out in the spring of 2010...

YIKES...that's still a year away....

but I'm certain it will be worth waiting for...

Lisa completed 100...
YES...100 PROJECTS for the book...
That makes my head spin...I can't even imagine...


As soon as I have more info...like the book NAME etc...
I'll post it here.
I'd be sooooooooo happy to @ least see a sneak peek of the cover...
just something to hold me over...

I'm betting you might see some glitter used...just my guess!


YIPPEE!!!
I already have some of my MAYA ROAD CHA-S projects DONE...

2 really big ones...I'm slow...so that's HUGE for me...
a mini album takes me a WEEK...
that's 10 hours a day...
SERIOUSLY...SLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 smaller ones...one is TOTALLY different for me...
I looked @ it this morning & thought...
who made that???
You'd never guess that I did...

I like them...but mum is the word, until we get closer to CHA.
Caroline (MS Maya Road) tells us when it's OK to start the peeks...so bug her!


And a HUGE YIPPEE!!! I'm sooooooooo excited & HAPPY!
All 7 sets of studio 490 stamps are sent to Zach...

I CAN'T WAIT to get them...and start making art...

I stayed with 7 sets again...I ALMOST did 8...
BUT....
I must be superstitious...

It's going GREAT...why change a thing??
7, 14 and soon 21 sets...
21
That sounded like a lucky number...

Each again has ART in the set name...

There's a mini set...
It's PERFECT now that we have easy to cut...grungePAPER!
Small is sooooo fun...

And some LARGE too...

More GIANT backgrounds and...
a few surprises...

MORE Flowers?? CERTAINLY!

Like the other 2 releases...
they are all sized to coordinate with the other 14 sets...
No overwealming patterns...
Mix & match... for LOTS of options...

VERSATILE...
That was my goal...

That's all for today...
Gotta pack up art supplies for Hannah's in Antioch, Illinois.
We have 2 classes on Saturday...

Ok gals...
Prepare to get inky and

make art!
wendy

as promised...the shopping report

First stop on the treasure hunt...an antique mall...

These guys will be perfect for our planned REDO of the main bathroom.
It's vintage americana now...
but,
it's time for a change...


The plan is to make it more studio 490 style...
yep...
black, brown & tan...
I already have the curtains...black & tan checked...cute!

Once I find the perfect BLACK faucets and the right wall color...we'll get started...

I'll try to do before & after shots...

So these will hang on the wall ...
These are both larger than they look...
18 inches wide...
I thought they were unique...



And I LOVED this...a vintage shaving mirror...
for Rick's bathroom...



And who doesn't LOVE drawers??
For me...organizing is almost as much fun as creating!

This guy is large...I have no clue what the word is...



but studio 490 large background stamps are a perfect fit...
It now resides in the studio.

Since I use these stamps everyday...I keep them right on the block...

It's quick & easy...





I saved the best for last...
...have you every heard of the "old house society"?
This is the link for the Bloomington Illinois store...

A gal in one of my classes told me about it & thought I just might like it.
THANKS LINDA!

LIKE IT???

OMG....I about fainted when we walked in...
Rick had to hold me back...
but I saw that he was just as excited!

UNBELIEVABLE stuff & TONS of it...

There must have been 200 OLD doors...all sizes & styles...
My photo was too dark to show...but next visit, I'll try again...
It makes me want to build another house!!
Just kidding...dear!

Lots of awesome OLD mantles...
OLD unique screen doors...

OLD built in cabinets...they were huge...like 10 feet tall...

Need a doorplate?????????
WOW!





plinth blocks by the HUNDREDS...



Hinges & handles...every size possible...





Door knobs too...

They also had vintage bathtubs...

TONS of vintage lighting...

TONS of vintage wood flooring & SOOOOOOOO much more.

It was absolutely...AMAZING!

My understanding is that the society is nation wide...if you like cool old STUFF...check it out!

Here's my finds...

Some altered birds will have new resting places on these guys...

The flower plinth block will hang in the bath...

I think...

Ah...I LOVE cool old stuff...

That was fun...

Now it's time to...

make art!

wendy

ps...next post will be more studio 490 sightings & photos from friends...

Don't touch that channel...stay tuned!

a HUGE thank you to Craft Stamper

YIPPEE...I knew this was coming & it arrived in the mail on Friday...

all the way from the UK!

I am the featured artist for Craft Stamper, for the June 2009 issue...

Here's the cover...



It's a 2 page spread!

Here's me...



Next page...




And here's the interview...

INTRODUCTION: The month we chatted to American stamper Wendy Vecchi, the talented designer behind the gorgeous Studio 490 collection for Stampers Anonymous and also a member of the Maya Road and Tim Holtz Idea-ology Design Teams.

INTERVIEW
What is your name and where are you from?
I'm Wendy Vecchi and I live in Oglesby, Illinois. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 37 years. We live in the country with our horses & cats, on a farm that we call Green Acres.

How did you become interested in stamping?
I attended a craft show with a friend and saw a demo using embossing powder. As soon as I saw the image raise, I knew I was hooked. I remember telling my hubby that this new hobby would save us lots of money, since we wouldn't need to buy greeting cards. That didn't turn out to be exactly true! But...I honestly believed it at the time!

What is it you most love about your hobby?
My studio is my most favourite place in all the world. I love stamping because the possibilities are endless and I'm always excited to see where each piece leads me. I find that each stamped piece seems to take on its own personality and I'm never quite sure how it will look in the end. I love the process of creating just as much as I love the end result and I enjoy moving art parts around until they look just right. If my fingers are inky, then I've had a great day!

What other arts or crafts do you enjoy?
I love the art of shopping - for art parts. It's such a thrill to find something in an antique mall or flea market that fits my style. These shopping excursions are also very inspiring. I like thinking about where an item came from & about what it could be.

Tell us about your stamping accomplishments
In addition to designing my stamps, I'm very proud of these accomplishments:
Maya Road design team;
Exclusive Ranger Demo artist; Ranger certified educator;
Tim Holtz Idea-ology design team. I was invited by Tim to be the guest instructor for Artful Voyage in Mexico, this October, making art and cruising with Tim! Guaranteed to be fun and an artful adventure.

Here' are the captions for each photo...
ART SHOWCASE
(((ITEM 1)))PHOTO 4917
This is one of my most favorite creations and I actually used no paper for this project. The base is a Grungeboard book and all the embellishments were custom made by stamping on Grungeboard and Grungepaper.

(((ITEM ONE INSET PIC)))PHOTO 4920
Here’s a close up of the Studio 490 grunge flower. I love the dimension. My favourite technique these days is to stamp (Studio 490 stamps of course!) flowers onto Grungeboard and Grungepaper and to design flowers. I guess my style is vintage, but with a feminine look. I strive to make things look old, worn and well loved, which explains the muted colour palette I prefer.

(((ITEM 2)))PHOTO 4923

This is a book that I created for the Maya Road booth at CHA. It’s entitled ‘A Few of my Favorite Things’.

(((ITEM 2 INSET PIC)))PHOTO 4926
At the top of my favorite things list is my studio - Studio 490. I'm actually living a fairy tale and many days I pinch myself to make sure this is all really happening!

Here's the story of Studio 490...In September of 2007, I drove two hours to a stamp store, because they were having a Stamper's Anonymous truck sale. Ted & Michelle Cutts, who own Stampers Anonymous, actually drove the semi across the country and it was full of stamps! Michelle noticed my art, she showed Ted and we visited for three hours. Next, I was accepted into Ranger U, and met Tim Holtz. We became friends; I made samples for the Stampers Anonymous booth for CHA2008 using his stamps. On the last day of CHA, Ted & Michelle asked if I would like to design stamps. I actually almost fainted and initially said no. I really didn't think that I had the ability. We talked a bit & I said that I'd give it a try. Studio 490 stamps made their debut just a few months later. I was thrilled that they were so well received. Set three is in the works for release in Orlando this July. So right now, there are 14 sets, with more coming soon. Now, the moral of this story is dreams really do come true. I'm living proof. And the best part is to be working with such wonderful friends.
See? I told you it was a fairy tale!

(((ITEM 3)))PHOTO 4932 Another photo caption...
This is a favorite spread. Again, this spread uses only inks and stamps on chipboard and Grungepaper - I really love to combine these two products to make my art multilayered and dimensional. I like the designs and the sturdiness of chipboard for stamping and I like the grunge because it can be molded into shapes. It's the perfect combo. I love the colours in this piece and the saying is a favourite.

(((ITEM 4)))
Bird PHOTOS...the birds!
I was lucky enough to be invited to Tim's Holiday Hideaway last December. I loved the project, where we altered a bird, and embellished it with vintage metal findings. This bird was inspired by that project, but I changed it, to include stamped Grungepaper wings, tail and a funky bonnet. The mini glasses were the finishing touch.

This is another altered bird, also inspired by Tim's Holiday Hideaway.

Find out more:Wendy has been published in the following publications: Studios Fall/Winter 2008 published by Cloth Paper Scissors; Altered Books 102; Coming soon...Paper Creations; Altered Art's Magazine

To see Wendy’s Studio 490 stamp designs and examples of artwork created with her stamps, visit www.stampersanonymous.com. Studio 490 stamps are available in the UK from The Stamp Attic.

To see her artwork for the Maya Road design team, visit mayaroad.typepad.com/dt/

Check out Wendy’s personal blog at www.studio490art.blogspot.com for more of her inspirational artwork.

THANK YOU KATY FOX...It looks great & it was a pleasure working with you.

I'm off to get a subscription...this publication is LOADED with wonderful art & inspiration...

EDITED...Here's the Craft Stamper scoop...
It's $9.99 per issue @ Barnes & Noble...
but...
a 12 month subscription is $86.
I called 1-217-355-2970...if you're interested.

Lots of ideas to help...

make art!
wendy
ps...come back tomorrow for a SHOPPING report...
We visited the ...
"old house society"...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that's all I'm saying...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

studio 490 sightings and a few random things...

What a thrill it is for me to see studio 490 stamps used by others...

On my lunch break yesterday, I popped over to the Hero Arts blog & found these cards...done by Lin...

This one immediately caught my attention...
I loved the pastels & the layout too...
It's simple & so VERY effective...

and of course...
I LOVED her choice of studio 490 stamps!
This card could be used for any occassion, just by changing the sentiment...



Then I spotted my leaves...on another...
How COOL...





and another color scheme below...
Thanks Lin! GREAT cards!!




Next...more art from Lynne Forsythe...
We attended Ranger U together, the first time I went...
You've seen her art here before...


She used my stamps with Copic markers to make this awesome journal page...




Here's a better look...what WONDERFUL colors...





Thanks for sharing LYNNE!! I LOVE IT!


Like the infomercial says...


But wait... there's more...

This is from my friend Daisy Sparks...she's the mom of cute Samantha...

and owner of eclectic Paperie...

These cards are just amazing...



She has a you-tube video showing how to make great...simple backgrounds with alcohol inks...

check it out....then go shopping @ eP!
I bet you'll need some alcohol inks and maybe a new stamp or 2...
Hey...it's NOT my fault! Blame Daisy!!
I'm just the messenger!

The tree stamp is one of the most popular, from release #2...
I may be a bit prejudice...but I love it...go figure...

Here's a tree tip...
Turn it upside down & use just a portion of it to make a cool border...

I've said it before...
my goal when designing my stamps is to make them VERSATILE...

Hmmmm...What else???

About all the BIRD requests...
YIKES!! I guess you guys like birds too!
My mailbox was LOADED!!

After I'm done teaching the "build a better bird class"...I'll offer any leftovers to my blog friends here...

but first I want anyone who takes this class to have the opportunity to get a spare...
Believe me...they are really a FUN project!
You can't make just one!

And speaking of alcohol inks...
did you know that just a few drops of the blending solution on a paper towel will quickly & easily clean your acrylic stamp blocks?
It's a quick cleaner for your craft sheet too...

And this is NOT sanctioned by Ranger...
but...
I wanted a small container for traveling, for my eyeglass cleaner.

I found that the mini mister is just PERFECT!!

I mentioned this is a class & one gal had been looking for something for her perfume...yep...try the mini mister...

just watch where you spray it...

I put a tiny red dot on it, so that I could see it without my glasses. PERFECT!

And I heard this in a class...
again...not from Ranger, but a student...

She found that Ranger's bubblegun stamp cleaner reactivates the Cricut cutting mats...

I was amazed...but everyone in the class already knew it.
She said she mists the mat...then takes the craft scraper & gently scraps the mat & somehow MAGICALLY the mat seems to last longer. Interesting...

DISCLAIMER...I have not tried this...but others have...

That's it for today...

We're off on a road trip...to visit some antique stores...I can't wait! I LOVE treasure hunts and so does Rick...
I hope he buys lunch!

We need a day out & I NEEEEED more stuff so I can...

make art!
wendy
ps...I hope your weekend is sunny, fun & full of ART!

birds and butterflies...

Thanks to everyone for the comments about the birds...from yesterday's post.

Before the "build a better bird" workshop started, I showed the gals these BIRDS... from Anthropology...

This guy is cool...but the price tag is $648.00!
Yes...you read it right...
$648!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy is cute too...and his price is $248.00...


In my opinion...the birds from the workshop are worth much more!

Once again...
GREAT JOB GALS!!!

I'm doing this workshop two more times...

First @ The Stamping Place in Columbia SC...

and next @ Scrapbook Friend'z in Bloomington, Illinois...
the dates are on the right sidebar...

Now on to the butterflies...
It must be spring fever...

I've had 3 requests in the last few days to design a butterfly stamp...

GOOD IDEA!!

OH wait...!

I already did...

Here's several samples...
done by me...



This is a 100% grunge book...
NO paper was used...just distress inks & grunge...



and one more...





This was done by 12 year old Samantha...

And another from Samantha...

Now for the requests for a mini butterfly...sized for cards...

guess what's coming in JULY???

I'm just saying...

mini is fun!!

The set name???

Make mine mini art!!

today & every day...

Make art!

wendy

I left my heart in San Fr ...BUFFALO!

We had a WONDERFUL...BUSY...
FUN weekend @ Buffalo Stamps & Stuff...

THANK YOU to all who attended the make & take & to ALL who took the workshops.
I enjoyed meeting each & every one of you!!
The workshops were all full with GREAT people.

And speaking of GREAT people...

THANK YOU to Sharon, Mark and Jess for being THE BEST hosts...
I felt like family...I shall return!
Hey Mark...I GOTTA see those FALLS!

THANK YOU to all who liked, bought &
special ordered studio 490 stamps.

again...from the bottom of my heart....
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!

A little about the store...
2000+++ sq. feet LOADED and I mean LOADED with stamps, papers, samples & way cool STUFF.

Lucky for me that I don't live closer...
I'd be BROKE for sure.

Ever hear of a store with valet parking??
WHAT?
SERIOUSLY...

VALET PARKING!!!!!!!

They treat their customers like family too...

Sharon uses lots of wonderful vintage items for her displays...
Lucky for her my suitcases didn't have a spare inch...
we have the same taste in vintage finds...
I REALLY liked her stuff!

The highlight of the weekend for me was the "build a better bird class".

I brought a bunch of "finds" that I had been saving for just the right class...and this was it!

Add some studio 490 stamped grungepaper...Maya Road and tim's idea-ology trinkets...and Ranger's distress inks...
FUN!

I HOPED that everyone would SEE what I SAW...
and imagine the possibilities...
Let me tell you...
THEY DID...

Here's the proof...

I didn't get perfect photos of every bird...some were blurry & not usable.
So...please send me more bird photos...I'd Love to share more here...

Now...grab a cup of coffee & take your time looking @ these creations.

Click on the photo to see the details...
you don't want to miss a thing...

Here we go...

prepare to be AMAZED!

Was I right?? Can you see why I am impressed??

If you liked them...take a moment & leave a comment. I'm sure these gals would appreciate that!

THANKS AGAIN to everyone for an awesome weekend!!

I hope this inspires you to...

make art!

wendy

Buffalo or bust...

Looks like I have a little furry traveling companion...

Have a wonderful weekend...

I plan to...

Help others...

make art!

wendy