A Special Little Visitor to My Studio ~

I had a special new little visitor in my studio this month ~ my new little buddy boy...Max McAlister!  He is my new grandson who was born just last month.  This was his first visit to Grama Lolli's house and art studio.

My daughter Sara came over to work on a small garland for an embellishment to an Easter basket that the Easter Bunny will leave for Max on Easter Sunday!

G-G (Great Grama) was there too working on her own project ~ she wouldn't miss a chance to see Sara and, of course, her new great-grandson Max McAlister!

Sara didn't have time to finish the project ~ the little eggs still need to be sealed with a coat of Modge-Podge and then they need to be attached to a bright, fun ribbon to hang it from the basket...I guess she and Max will have to make another visit to Grama's soon!

Needless to say...I personally didn't get much done this particular day in my studio...too precious of a time to enjoy with my new little love!  Though, I had just recently finished making my new little "Baby Bird" for a friend of mine who is having her own baby boy soon.

A Day at Karla's Cottage

I was invited to Karla's Cottage for a Craft Day earlier this month.  I love to visit Karla's studio...it is such a beautiful, inspiring place to create!  Beth, Mary, Marilyn, Shawn and Bethany and I all brought our own creative projects to work on.  

After we worked in the studio for a while, Karla invited us into her dining room, where she had the table beautifully set ~ the chandelier over the table was adorned with a few of Karla's personal touches ~ a vintage child photograph embellished with painted fairy wings ~ that she illustrated directly onto the old photograph ~ and a chandelier crystal which dangled from the bottom of the photo was one of my favorites!

Each of our place settings had a special small package with an old Frozen Charlotte doll and our name written on a handmade flag that was tucked into a piece of beautiful folded blue flocked wallpaper and tied with a satin ribbon to match.

Also at each place setting was a special fairy doll who was nestled in the center of a small decorated peat pot filled with all-encompassing little flowers and moss.  The fairy was adorned with glittered ephemera wings and a little pink flower petal dress with a lovely piece of lace added for the bodice.  So sweet ~ I brought this one home with me to display in my own studio to share Karla's art with all who visit my studio! 

As we sat at the dining room table, your eye's captured the loveliness of Karla's surroundings...such beautiful decor...so warm and welcoming...

After we had a lovely lunch (everyone brought something to share) ~ Karla had her dessert cart ready and waiting with scrumptious desserts ~ the made-from-scratch Carrot Cake was the best!

It was such a lovely time that we all had ~ I look forward to another visit ~ soon, I hope!

"Photo Art Frame" Workshop ~ Thursday, March 25th ~ 6:00 ~ 9:00

I love to make "Photo Art Frames" to display my most cherished photographs.  I just became a grandmother recently (what an indescribable joy ~ I must say!!) and made the Photo Art Frame shown above of the new little guy in my life ~ Max McAlister ~ and gave it to my daughter and her husband for the new nursery. I matched the colors of the baby's room, and used a darling little image of a giraffe ~ which has always been one of my daughter's favorite animals ~ and some scrabble letters to embellish the front.

The vintage Photo Art Frame holds a dear photo of my Mom and Dad "sharing" cake at their wedding.  I started with a vintage photo album page to make this one.

There really is no better way to display a special photograph than in a frame that you create yourself ~ rather than an ordinary picture frame.  I offer a unique workshop in my Vintage Arts Studio so that you can make a special piece of art to frame your treasured photo.

NOTE:  These frames are made so that you can replace the photo/s at any time if you desire.

All you need to bring to the workshop is a 4 x 6 photo.  I have a nice selection of children's images that you can choose from to use or you are welcome to bring your own.  If you have any other special embellishments that you want to use in your design, bring them as well.  Otherwise, I will provide the remainder of the materials to complete your Photo Art Frame.

K.C.'s Newest Monthly Antique and Vintage Market Opening ~

The snow was falling and the fog was settling in, though the temperature didn't feel that cold.  My mom and a friend of ours, Lisa, and I went to the opening of Kansas City's newest monthly antique and vintage market in the historic Kansas City West Bottoms ~ called "Bottoms Up."  

As we found our way to the location next to the railroad tracks and just north of the 12th Street viaduct ~ it was in an old Holsum Food Products warehouse ~ that had been long closed down, but still had remnants of days gone by ~ how appropriate for searching for antique treasures!

Some of Kansas City's best dealer's were presenting some pretty amazing finds in this 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse setting ~ some very high end, primitive European pieces that were hard to "touch"...but also some very reasonable finds that anyone could bring home.

The old historic buildings that were towering over us and the viaduct that we stood near looked rather ghostly, but somehow comforting, with the snow that was falling over the city this early February day.

Precious Metal Clay Workshop ~

The Precious Metal Clay Workshop was held last Thursday in my studio. Robin Macintosh was the instructor who showed us how to work with the amazing clay that has a 99.9% silver content that, once fired, becomes a silver charm!

It was as easy as working with play doh ~ but the finished piece was much more interesting! Each participant was able to make approximately 5 charms to be fired in Robin's kiln.

The "Saloon No. 10" Assemblage

My husband Brian loves history and has always dreamed of having a "No. 10" Saloon in our home for a guy's place ~ (in case you don't know...Saloon No. 10 is the saloon that Wild Bill Hickock ~ was gunned down in Deadwood, South Dakota back in the late 1800's) ~ anyway, since my husband knows how important my art studio is to me, he has given up the idea to have his "saloon" in my studio area. I decided to make an assemblage for him that would reference the No. 10 that he could hang in his existing office ~ and this is what unfolded as I started pulling pieces and parts from my archives of found objects that I have been collecting for years. I think it turned out pretty well ~ and Brian certainly got a kick out of it!

I love old game pieces that have letters and numbers on it...the old antique map from an old abstract, along with the old document with the Spencerian handwriting, was perfect to use as the background.

The little cap gun ~ which says "Big Chief" on the side of it ~ was found at an antique store as I was still putting the project together. I had my eye out for something...and it was the perfect thing to pull it all together!

A Little Birdie Told Me Paper Mache' Workshop ~ Thursday's March 4 AND March 18th ~ 6:00 - 9:00

You will be shown how to make these fun Paper Mache' Birds ~ each little bird develops his own personality as he is being created by the maker! All materials are supplied.

Instructor: Lauri Meyers

Workshop fee: $50.00

To register for this workshop call (913) 963-2985 or Email: vintageartsstudio@hotmail.com

Miniature Keepsake Scrapbook ~ Wednesday, February 3rd ~ 6:00 to 9:00

Make a one of a kind miniature keepsake scrapbook to display your photos, ephemera, pieces of lace, buttons, old postcards, or any special memories of your life.

Supplies to bring: Bring 14 different coordinating fabrics no smaller than 15" x 6" ~ all other materials will be supplied.

Instructors: Marilyn Gash and Lauri Meyers

Workshop fee: $50.00

To register for this workshop call (913) 963-2985 or Email: vintageartsstudio@hotmail.com

PMC ~ Precious Metal Clay Workshop ~ Thursday, February 4th & Thursday, February 11th ~ 6:30 to 8:30

Precious Metal Clay is made from finely ground silver. In this two part introduction to PMC you will learn the basics of working with this amazing material. It is a clay that once fired, becomes a fine silver (99.8% silver content). You will receive a package of clay. The first session you will learn to work with PMC to sculpt, stamp, mold your pieces. The instructor will fire your pieces. The second session you will finish your fired pieces. This is not a certification class.

Tools to bring: Email instructor with ideas and she will suggest tools to bring ~ sparklein@comcast.net

Instructor: Robyn Macintosh

Workshop Fee: $125.00

Includes PMC, firing and polishing.

To register for this workshop call (913) 963-2985 or Email: vintageartsstudio@hotmail.com

Beeswax Heritage Home Workshop ~ Wednesday, February 17th ~ 6:30 to 9:30

Come be inspired and create your own Heritage Home to display your loved ones. We will be learning collage techniques using paint, charcoal pencil and beeswax. We will be making new embellishments look like beloved vintage pieces by using Black Patina and Glimmer Mist. Due to the vintage items (key, journal paper, sheet music, button) used in the sample, these pieces may vary. Instructor will be providing all materials including copy of bingo card.

Supplies to bring: Bring your own vintage embellishments to make it truly your own, copies of vintage photos in various sizes measuring 1-1/2" to 2" wide and 1-1/2" x 2" in height printed on cardstock (please do not bring originals as the beeswax will ruin the finish), old paint brush for beeswax, eat gun (if you have one), distressing brown ink. The instructor will have limited supplies will be on hand and will be glad to share.

Instructor: Sheila Rumney

Workshop Fee: $50.00

To register for this workshop call (913) 963-2985 or Email: vintageartsstudio@hotmail.com

Grandmother's Jewelry Box ~ Thursday, February 18th ~ 6:30 to 9:00

Don't let those memories go to waste. Use those bits and pieces from your loved ones to make a beautiful one of a kind piece of new jewelry with history. Clip on earrings from your mother or grandmother, perhaps an old broach? Turn them into something you will love to wear. You will learn basic jewelry making skills ~ wire wrapping, cold connections, how to cut apart found metals.

Supplies to bring: Old jewelry, old tins, anything you want to incorporate into your pieces. 20 gauge jewelry wire and 24 gauge tie wire.

Tools to bring: Jewelers pliers, wire cutters, tin snips.

Email instructor with questions about supplies or tools ~ sparklein@comcast.net

Instructor: Robin Macintosh

Workshop fee: $50.00

To register for this workshop call (913) 963-2985 or Email: vintageartsstudio@hotmail.com