Woodfield or BUST!

We're headed out the door now for a full day of SHOPPING @ Woodfield Mall, which is about 2 hours from here.

Rick (the bag slave) & I have a yearly tradition of going for the day. We've been doing this since we started dating a LONGGGGGG time ago...think circa 1969...

He hates to shop...but this is one place he'll go & ENJOY!

The mall is MAGICAL @ Christmas & HUGE.

One year they built an entire FULL size...
2 story house in the center of the mall.
The decor was unbelievable.
So...I'm telling you...it's HUGE!

I hope you enjoy your weekend. We'll be buying gifts for family & friends & looking for cool tidbits to...

Make ART!
wendy
ps...and a little teaser...or 2....
Mr PO guy brought me a box yesterday with some NEW MAYA ROAD products. Let me tell you.............WOW!!!!!!!!!! I am TOTALLY impressed with this release. We saw some photos...but in person...OMG...COOL!

and Debbie asked about a sneak peek of my studio 490 stamp release #2...

They're all submitted (YIPPEE)...7 sets again...as soon as I get the real deal I'll show them here...

WHAT??
Sorry...just kidding!
No way can I show them..........but, I'll tell you this...

they're RUBBER. Hope that helps!

It's a small world after all...........

Check this out & see some absolutely AMAZING art.

Normally I don't pass along videos or jokes...but after I watched it twice, I knew I had to share. Here's the scoop.

Now if this guy can use a rubber stamp, I'll REALLY be impressed and inspired to.........

Make ART!
wendy
http://www.scrapmap.com/mexican_1009.html
ps...let me know what you think!

Another guest artist & some random stuff...

First the random stuff...I'll save the art for last...




The Studios magazine generated LOTS of emails...including several to "OPEN ALL the drawers & show us what's inside". YIKES!! That would take me forever...but...someday...maybe I'll do a few...


And...

I told you about having a stand in actor for Ranger the cover cat. Anyway, apparently there are lots of cat lovers out there & I got several requests to show the reject cat.

So...meet Ringo.






He was my first choice, because he's so cute & fat. But after he bit me...he was replaced with Ranger.

I also had some requests to ask my brother about making covers for sewing machines...NOPE...he's too busy. SORRY. It's really just a generic wood box. Paint it & then alter it to match your decor.

The other frequent question was suggestions for storage of supplies. My best suggestion is to toss all the excess packaging that comes with products.

You'll be amazed @ all the extra space you'll have. Try it...
I bet you'll double your storage...

Now on to the art...

This is a class that I did for the gals @ Frenzy Stamper in Arizona.

Debbie Bick is the store owner...here's her TAKE on that class.

She used the same basic layout, but made it her own. That's what it's all about.

She replaced the phrenology head with the studio 490 tulip.(page 16)..she changed the word...and she used a different Maya Road frame as brackets. I used a frame from the foundations set...

The walls in the store are painted PURPLE...Debbie's favorite color. Thus...the cool purple tulip. I LOVE it!! Thanks Debbie, for sharing. I'll see you NEXT THURSDAY...

*

Now with CHA coming very soon...

*

I'm off to the studio to get some samples checked off the list & to...

MAKE ART!

wendy

I didn't get invited to the inaugural galas...

but...

I don't care!

This invitation looks like it will be much more fun...

and I can wear jeans!


Now that December is FINALLY here...I'm extra excited to be attending tim's event in Arizona. Believe me...I'm counting the days...

I'll leave December 10th to meet my friends from St. Louis @ the airport in Phoenix. 6 friends...
all from the cool store.. FOR KEEPSAKES. I LOVE that place!!

They attended last year & this year I'm thrilled to join them. They had me drooling with the details of the last HH.

So...on Wednesday the 10th...we'll shop in Phoenix... OH DARN... Then we head north (I think) to the hotel in Prescott.

On Thursday we'll shop (again...YIPPEE!) in Prescott until 5pm...then HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY starts. A HUGE YIPPEE!!!

We are each making 42 charms. Thursday evening we have a meet & greet & then we'll swap charms. That sounds like a fun way to begin the event. After that...it's all surprises. We know nothing about the rest of the weekend. HH continues thru Saturday evening. Let me just say that the suspense is KILLING me...I was thinking about it before bed & I was still awake @ 1am... classes with tim for 2 full days???
I get to be the student?? COOL!!

Like I said...

Much better than the inaugural balls.

I know about half of the folks who are attending...so it will be great fun to visit with them again & also to make some new arty friends. Mr & Mrs Stampers Anonymous will be there! It's their first time too. I'm sure Ted will be very entertaining... No doubt about that...If you've seen him @ shows...you know I'm right.

Mario is in charge of the good eats. I've heard nothing but RAVE reviews about his expertise. Just what I need...my jeans are already tight!

I was planning to show my charms here...but I think I'll keep them a surprise for the group. I'll show them when I get back...and even include a tutorial...

They're PLAN B...

Plan A didn't meet quality control standards & HAD to be trashed.

Really...NOT GOOD.

Then on Sunday...MORE shopping in Jerome. I understand this is an awesome place. Hello...Santa...I'm thinking of a new watch...maybe...

On Monday the 15th .......back home...

So to recap...

Day 1...Shop
Day 2...Shop & ART
Day 3...ART
Day 4...ART
Day 5...Shop...

See why I'm excited...it's PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WILL take my camera...and I hope that someone there reminds me to actually USE it.

I'm afraid I'll forget...

I loose my mind when I...

MAKE ART!
wendy
ps...the snow has finally stopped. We got 7 inches...they predicted only 2. What happened??

And with the bad weather we had no internet..the satellite couldn't pick up the signal.
NO internet...ALL DAY...
NO EMAIL...ALL DAY...How did we ever survive?
Life in the country........grrrr....

BAD...4 letter words....

If you've visited here before, you KNOW that IRON is a really bad word in our house...

(Unless it's paper, then it's OK.)But... that's a different story...

Here's another...

SNOW!!!!!!!!!



Guess we won't be dining on the deck today.

But that's ok...

I'll just go to the studio...

Hmmmmmmmmm...the view is no better there.

Everything is white.....as far as we can see.

This is a reminder to all my Arizona friends...

Turn up the heat & turn off the snow! PLEASE!!

I'll be there very soon.

Until then...

MAKE ART!

wendy

FINALLY..........I can share some exciting news...

I am honored & so TOTALLY excited to share this news........

I'll be joining tim on an exciting ARTFUL VOYAGE in Mexico, October 11-18, 2009.

Can you imagine...SUN, Sailing, SAND & ART all in one place?

We'll leave Los Angeles on October 11 and we'll be visiting these ports...

Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

You'll find all the juicy details and important info on the Scrapmap site.

I have been TOTALLY excited since I first talked with tim several weeks ago......but then...

Last weekend in Wisconsin I visited with some people who cruised with tim to Alaska, earlier this year. The stories they told...the attention to detail...the surprises...the arty workshops...EXACTLY what I LOVE!

Now I'm jumping out of my skin with excitement. SERIOUSLY!
I can't even sleep...check the time of this post!

Want to know all about the workshops & special stuff??

HA!! NEVER!! We want you to be SURPRISED...

So...my lips are sealed...but I know for sure this will be quite the art adventure and you don't want to miss it!

I hope you can join us on the ARTFUL VOYAGE in MEXICO...
so we can...

MAKE ART!

Happy Thanksgiving!
wendy
ps..YIPPEE...Rick is going too...He's my assistant! FUN!!

OH...one more thing...(see above)...there is no mention of cooking, cleaning...or work.
This will be a totally creative fun adventure!

I hope to see you in LA... waiting on the dock @ 5PM...on October 11, 2009.


.

We had a WONDERFUL weekend in Wisconsin

So...here's the report...


We did 2 really fun classes. The Make It Merry hanging class was special...We were interviewed & taped for tv. Unfortunately...I didn't get to see it. I hope I didn't say anything dorky.........YIKES!


But...we did get to see Chris, the show promoter, and her interview on the Sunday morning news. My roomie called me out of the shower to see it...so wrapped in a towel ( NOT a pretty sight!)...we saw her talk about the convention & she showed the Make it Merry hanging. That was very COOL!!


AND...we also had a reporter in that class. We made the newspaper and some sweet customer brought it to the booth for me.




We didn't exactly MAKE stamps, that's Mr & Mrs Stampers Anonymous' job...but... still a fun photo.



We made over 100 grungeboard tulips @ the Make & Take Friday evening...that was hit.


We made LOTS of people very happy...I saw huge smiles as they left the booth LOADED down with stamps, grungeboard, craft sheets, inks and more.


I demoed how to stamp on grungeboard...that was fun. Most folks had not seen that before.


They snow cap white pigment ink was also a huge hit. I think it's fun to combine it with the distress inks and use the products in another unique way.


Lots of customers commented that they couldn't wait to get home & play with their new purchases... so like I said...we had happy customers.


I was worried that with the economy, sales might not be good. NOT SO..... Sales were absolutely great.


HOT HOT HOT products in the Stampers Anonymous booth...


studio490 stamps...of course...I demoed with them.
Imagine that...


AND...


Tim's new Christmas stamps. My very fav is the skinny tree stamp. I made a quick tag & those sets were ALL gone in 10 minutes. Luckily...if we were sold out, customers got their order shipped for free.

I grabbed mine before the show started! SMART move!


The new Distress Stickles were a HUGE hit. We had lots of every color in stock...and sold them all out. We had a few disappointed customers who only bought a few colors on Saturday...then...came back on Sunday for more & guess what...gone.


So...the moral of the story...when you see them...
GET THEM QUICK!


Trust me...They are a TOTALLY awesome product for vintage art.


I got to visit with some friends from past classes. That was fun. Dirk took my wreathe class in Illinois & he brought some to show me. I'm hoping he sends some photos so I can share them here. You'll be impressed.


I also saw a few of my BFF's...hey a girl CAN have more than one BFF....RIGHT??


Oh and.............


Don't forget to check back on THURSDAY...
THANKSGIVING DAY...
I can FINALLY share some totally exciting NEWS!
It's KILLING me to keep my mouth shut...SERIOUSLY!


NOW...
...on to some art...


When I got home, I had some emails with photos of projects made with my stamps. That is SO exciting for me...


Here's a whole different take on stamping.


This was made by my friend Lisa Pace.
She's a Making Memories Master...
...and here's why...





She stamped on felt & used the poinsettia stamp as her pattern for embroidery...AWESOME...Lisa!!


Here's a closeup...........






I'm hoping that for her next project she uses my Christmas tree. Since it's an outline too...it's perfect for the same technique.


If I sewed...I'd stamp 2 trees, cut them out & stuff them...for fun ornaments...


Get the hint Lisa?? I'm waiting.........


What else?


Need some inspiration for holiday ART???


Check out our Maya Road design team challenge. This one about killed me. REALLY!


Our challenge was to use ONLY 5 Maya Road products on a holiday tag. Initially I thought...easy as pie...Oh so...WRONG!

Once I got started...only 5????????

YIKES! If an 1/8th of an inch is naked I need to add more stuff.

I can't figure out how to link the entire newsletter here...so I'll be back with an edit when I can find it... EDITED!! Here's the entire newsletter.

It has lots more GREAT tags & instructions...you'll love it...

Anyway...here's mine...with the ingredients and instructions...







"Be Merry (vintage)" by Wendy Vecchi

1. Paint the letters with Ranger's metallic crackle paint. Set aside to dry. When the paint is completely dry & cracked, rub black PIGMENT ink into cracks, then wipe off the excess. Paint the roofs on the houses with black crackle paint & set aside to dry & crack.
2. Ink the tag base with vintage photo distress ink. Distress the edges with black soot distress ink. Using Coffee archival ink, stamp the tiny dot stamp over the entire tag.
3. Using black archival ink, stamp the ruler stamp close to the bottom. Stamp the screen stamp toward the top.
4. Stamp the Christmas tree on grungeboard with jet black archival ink, cut out then ink on the front & back with peeled paint. Overstamp with the grid stamp. Color the trunk with black soot distress ink. Curl the left side of the tree to create dimension.
5. Ink the houses with faded jeans, then stamp as shown with jet black archival ink.
6. Color the microchip scallop frame with black soot distress ink & glue in place to create the window. Add a scrap of lace behind the window, before assembling the house.
7. Stamp just a portion of the ruler stamp onto a scrap of chipboard, to create the door. Color with vintage photo distress ink.
8. Assemble the tag as shown.
9. Add the finishing touches… lots of dots from the black glaze pen, the gold accents, the bow, the star & some pen stitching with the precision pen.
10. Add 2 swivel clasps & join them together with a jumpring, to create the hanger.


Here's the 5 Maya Road Supplies I used...

C903 2-Ring Scallop Layer book

C792 Heart and Home Chipboard Set

C704 Microchip Neutrals Scallops

C793 Jonathan Chipboard Alphabet

SMP944 Metric Ruler Singleton Stamp

Done!!

Guess what?

I'm off...to...


MAKE ART!!
wendy