Paper Flowers Classes at Impress

I'm excited to announce I'll be teaching several classes on paper flower making  at Impress this August.

All of you paper crafters in the area probably know about Impress and what a wonderful store it is.  They have an incredible selection of stamps, punches, papers, envelopes,  and all sorts of crafting tools. I shop there all the time for my crafting supplies, so I am thrilled to be teaching at their fine stores.




Here's a little description of the class:

Creating flowers from crepe paper is a fun and gratifying craft. From simple materials – just paper, tape and wire - you can create the most beautiful blooms! 


In a couple of hours, you’ll learn how to create several styles of paper flowers using a thick, rich European crepe paper and leave with lovely bouquet in hand! 


Please bring a sharp pair of scissors. Class Fee -$35




And here's the schedule:
Saturday Aug 4th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Bellevue Square 425-453-2748
Saturday Aug 18th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM University Village 206-526-5818
Saturday Aug 25th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Tukwila 206-901-9101

To register, please call the appropriate Impress location.   To see all the fabulous classes they're hosting this summer, you can download the schedule here.

I hope to see you all there!

Craig's Birds

My husband, Craig, is one of the most prolific artists I know.  He's constantly making the most amazing drawings and watercolor paintings and has filled dozens and dozens of sketchbooks and watercolor pads over the years.

On most holidays and gift-giving occasions I am a recipient of one, if not several, of his wonderful works.

I love small things and I love birds so naturally, my most favorite of all these pieces are his tiny watercolor paintings of birds.


Some of the birds he paints are based on real birds.  Some, he just makes up.  They're all fabulous and I adore this little collection.

Fun With The Fuse!!

One of the greatest things about being a part of the Fiskars Design Team is that we often get a sneak peek at  the new products they are bringing to market.    It's pretty exciting, but it can be REALLY difficult keeping these secrets until the reveal.  Especially when they're as exciting as what Fiskars revealed this week...  The Fuse Creativity System.

The Fuse is an all-in-one die-cutter/embosser/letter-pressing machine.  AND you can do all these things with just one pass through!   Here's a quick little video showing what it can do.



What excites me the most about the Fuse is that it's very heavy-duty.  The dies are steel and will cut through felt, suede, chipboard, even balsa wood.

I also found that you can cut through several layers of papers at a time too!    I used the Fuse to cut out these little books.



With great ease  I was able to punch through 14 pages of text-weight paper, 2 pages of cardstock, and a layer of washi tape with one pass through the machine.  

It was so simple, I was able to create 32 of these little books in only an hour!!





I have yet to really dive into the embossing and letterpress capabilities, but once I do, I'll share those with you as well.

There is SO much potential with the Fuse and I can hardly wait to explore more.

If you pay a visit to the Fiskateer blog, you'll be able to see a lot of projects with this tremendous machine.

Stop on By Today!

If you're free this afternoon, please come on by for the Urban Shopping and Cocktails Event!

Here's a little blurb about the event from the show's creator:

Super creative vendors, RavenRoot Botanicals, Amazing paper craftiness from Laurie Cinotto, Cool and beautiful jewelry from Parisienne Girl Designs, Dewy & Byrd Co., art, accessories and jewelry from "Debo's Chain maille and industrial art", Nomes and Debo's Amazing Stuff, RustyLUXE, Tasty deliciousness from The One Spot and Libertine Tacoma, and last but certainly not least we will have the lead singer from Halcion Halo offering their first album for a great price and some live acoustic as well :-) 


There will be tasty snacks for you to enjoy while you shop. We will have a delicious vegan choice and bacon cheese deliciousness! Yummy signature cocktail as well. It involves vodka :) All we ask is that you show up, spend at least $5.00 with our vendors (that shouldn't be too difficult) and enjoy yourself! 

Today (Saturday May 19th)  from 2 - 6!  

842 S Sprague, Tacoma WA

(Please park on S 10th St)


I'll be bringing lots of pins, hats, paper birdcages, garlands, ornaments and lots of other goodies. OH, and my kitty magnets, card sets and toys too!

It's going to be FUN!  

Hope to see you there!!

For Brides, Maids and Partygoers!

After I finished up the big hat and head piece project (see post below) I decided to keep running with the concept.  I had so much fun making those tiny hats, I wanted to do some more experimenting and create some pieces to sell at my craft sales and on Etsy too.

Here's a peek at the new pieces.    They will be available in my Etsy shop soon.  

Many of them are tailored for brides, but they work well for bride's maids or partygoers too.   The base of the hat is made of a special glittered paper that does not shed or shatter. The hats are adorned with handmade paper flowers, vintage millinery bits, paper bows, feathers, tulle flowers, and rhinestones.   They are light-weight, comfortable, and easy to wear (and dance in)!

They'll be up on Etsy in the next couple of days, but if you can't wait until then, feel free to send me an email, and we can work something out.  I'm taking custom orders too!

Another Mention in Martha!

Last fall, Shira, the real weddings editor at Martha Stewart Weddings, connected me with a lovely bride named Marnie, who's wedding was going to be featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Marnie was planning her  New Year's Eve wedding and was looking for someone to create party hats and head pieces for the lady guests to wear at their reception/New Year's Eve celebration.  The hats would be passed out moments before the clock struck twelve.

Within the first few minutes of my conversation with Marnie, I knew this was going be a really fun project.  She told me all about the celebration and the many details and surprises they had planned for the guests.  She described her color palette - a bold and exciting combination of  aqua blues, oranges,  and reds with glittery gold accents.  

After our phone call, I was feeling quite inspired and I whipped up a few samples.

I sent Marnie several images of these pieces  and she decided on the the styles, quantities, colors, etc, and officially placed her order of 140 pieces.

There were three styles total, but each style had several color variations.

There were fringed headbands with scalloped  "2012" medallions.






There were giant crepe paper bloom hair clips made in Marnie's bold palette.








And there were tiny paper hats.  Many tiny paper hats.



All of the hat bases were made of a wonderful blue-green glittery paper and they were topped off with feathers, medallions, tulle flowers and rhinestones.    They were festive and fun!




I made a little stop-motion movie of the whole making process.  You can see weeks of work compressed into a two minute movie.



The issue of Martha Stewart Weddings is currently on the stands.


Cover photograph by Kirsten Shultz/Martha Stewart Weddings, Real Weddings Special Issue. Copyright © 2012.

Story photographs by Belathee Photography/Martha Stewart Weddings, Real Weddings Special Issue. Copyright © 2012.

You'll see many details of Marnie and Jamie's wedding featured inside this issue including a couple of pictures of the guests sporting the hats I created.

Usually, 140 of anything handmade is a lot.   It was such a great project - from planning stages to delivery on the final product- it never felt like work for one single moment.

Thank you Shira for sending Marnie my way!  And thank you Marnie for being such an awesome bride to work with!   It was a complete pleasure  and honor to be a part of the wedding and the magazine too!

To view more wedding details, please visit this post on The Bride's Guide!    You can also read more on these follow-up posts here and here.

I Made These Just for You!

At the very last craft sale of 2011, a lovely customer purchased EVERY single paper flower I  had.  The timing was great, and it was the perfect way to end the year.

With my supply depleted, I had to start from scratch and build up my inventory.

I spent all day yesterday and this morning making paper flowers.   I made 100 stems, all in valentine colors, and I'll be bringing them to the sales I'll be participating in this weekend.






 Here's my little studio mate, who supervised the whole process.

 

Please stop by if you can and pick up a bloom or two for your Valentine!  I'l be at Second Saturdayz Market in Seattle on Saturday,  and Sunday I'll be at Kings Books in Tacoma for the TIFL Artist Craft Fair.   For more information, please click HERE.

Two Sales, Tiny Hats and Valentines

We had four consecutive days of sunshine here in Tacoma.  If you live in the Northwest, you understand what a treat it is to have so many glorious days in a row during the month of  February.

The timing of this weather couldn't of been any better.  I've had to spend a lot of time preparing for two sales this coming weekend, and there's nothing I enjoy more than making things in my craft room on sunny days.  

I've got lots of new things in the works which I would like to share with you, and I'll start with what's exciting me most right now.  

In December, I did a rather large order for a lovely bride who was getting married on New Year's Eve.  The order was for 150 head pieces for her female guests - some tiny hats, some headbands, some flowers.   After the order was complete,  I was itching to make more hats.    Thankfully, another order for tiny hats came in from her event planner.     And after that order was complete, once again, I was itching to make more hats. 

So, that's what I've been doing.   Making tiny hats. 

They'e made mostly of paper, so they're very lightweight,  and easy to wear.  They were designed with brides and maids in mind, but they're also perfect for a fancy evening out.    

I'm enjoying the process so much soI think I'm just going to keep rolling with it for awhile and see what develops.    Here's a peek at the new pieces. 

 I've also been making TONS of these cute gingham flowers in springy colors. They have clips on the back, so you can wear them in your hair.

 

Besides the hats and hair flowers, there have been lots of valentines in the works.

 Like these tiny little guys... They measure just 1.5 inches by 2.75 inches.

 



 Also,  some valentine badges with squirrels in love, hearts and birds...

 





 These were a big hit last year, so I made another batch of chains around your heart...





I'll be bringing all of this new inventory to the Second Saturdayz Market, Saturday February 11th.

It's a wonderful show - vintage goods sprinkled with vintage-inspired crafts - and it's organized by my crafty friend Linda (of LULUZ) and her craftin/junkin' pal, Debra.

The show's in Hanger 30 at Magnuson Park on Sandpoint Way in Seattle, WA.

Hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Come for early bird shopping (8:00 - 10:00 AM) and pay $10 to enter. Arrive after 10:00 AM and pay $5.00 for general admission.

Click HERE for complete directions and  more information on the show.

On Sunday, Feb 12th,  I'll be at Kings Books for the Tacoma is For Lovers Artist Craft Sale.    If you've attended before, you know what an awesome show it is.   There's always an incredible and eclectic selection of quality vendors from Tacoma and beyond.

Hours are 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission is free!

Kings Books
218 St Helens, Tacoma 98402

For more info, click HERE.

With Valentine's Day so approaching so soon, there won't be time to post any of these items on Etsy, but if you see anything that strikes your fancy,  please send me an EMAIL, and we can work something out.

If you're free and in the neighborhood, please swing by the sales this weekend!

A Holiday Wonderland on a Tabletop

When I retired from flowers a few years back,  I kept one client. We usually do just one event a year - a client appreciation luncheon.   This year, she asked me to work with her on the company Christmas party.    I was thrilled that she asked.  I love doing flowers for her, and I love Christmas, and I knew it would be a whole lot of fun.

It was.  In fact, it was probably the most fun I've ever had while working with flowers.  

The event was held in the Presidential Suite at the Westin Hotel in Seattle.  It's a beautiful space, and the view from the suite is outstanding.  The twinkling lights of downtown make the perfect backdrop for a holiday party.

My client has a lot of props to work with, so we met prior to the event to pull a few pieces for the 20 foot table we would be decorating.  We chose a few trees, candles, and baubles and had a great brain-storming session.     

I left our meeting feeling really inspired, and began charting out the plan.  I ordered all the flowers, selected containers, and began making the non-perishble  details for the party.   

Setting up the party was an all-day affair.  A lot of the pieces were made in advance, but the assembling of all the elements still took a great deal of time.

The table scape was lush, and packed with many little details.  I really wanted to create something special for the guests - something rich and layered and filled with surprises to be discovered while they dined.  

In the center of the table, we placed a large acrylic tree.  The branches were decorated with mercury glass icicles and moss nests occupied by sparkly little birds.   When illuminated by the candles beneath, the tree looked like it was made of ice.





We also placed several wire trees with little pearls on their branches down the center of the table.  The branches disappeared,  leaving the pearls to hang in the air.



Our friends at Choice Linens provided the linens for the event. They did an amazing job draping our gigantic table.



The flowers on the table were thick.   Black Magic roses, hydrangeas, cymbidium orchids, amaryllis,  greens and berries filled the mercury glass vases.













Low and tall candles in birch and mercury glass ran the length of the table and illuminated the display.



Tucked between the candles, trees and flowers were little vignettes built inside birch tubes.  The scenes inside were little woodland creatures exchanging miniature christmas gifts.   Little "fires" were made using twigs and faux votives.

   


















In addition to the floral displays on the 20 foot table, there were many other flowers placed around the suite.






And of course there were poinsettias.  You can't have a holiday without poinsettias.




I was there when the guests arrived, and everyone seemed to really enjoy this display.  It was fun to watch them circle the table,  discover the details, point them out to each other, and smile.


I took SO many pictures of the event  - too many to put in this post - so if you would like to see more, you can visit this Flickr set.