playing with Jill K Berry's new "TEXTures2" stencils

My artist friend, Jill K. Berry sent me some of her new  TEXTures 2 stencils to play with and I've been having a lot of fun with them. There are (4) different 6x6 stencils in the pack designed by Jill in a collaboration with Artistcellar. 

Their official name (should you decide to look for them) is "Artistcellar Signature Series Stencils by Jill K Berry and each stencil has its own name which I thought was cool. They are: Picasso, Bird, Gera and Miro. 

I was playing with the stencils in my painting and then in some of my clay sculptures (after the clay had dried and I began painting). The name TEXTures are perfect for them, because I wanted to add texture and dimension into my art and they were perfect for just that! You can do so  much with stencils and if it was warm enough, I'd be outside with them using them with my spray paints.  I also decided to use little sections of one of the stencils to create eyes for my characters which gave them so much more persoality and I'm so happy I decided to do that! I also plan on using some wood icing along with the stencils (just as soon as my order arrives!)

This is one of my clay sculptures that I used one of the stencils on. The size, 6x6 was perfect for this since my sculpture isn't big, so it was easy to put the stencil on and create more texture into my work. 

Jill is generously giving away a set of her new stencils to one of my readers. So just leave a comment on this post and then I will pick a winner after the blog hop is over.

Last chance to take our soldered glass house class in person!

I am so excited to announce that in February, when we are mid winter and going stir crazy out of our minds, that Jane and I will be teaching our soldered glass house workshop, "Home is where the HeArt is" in picturesque, New Hope, PA. Our hostess is the lovely, Cara Vaughn, who is so generously offering us this opportunity to create in her unique and truly lovely environment. This will be the last time we teach the class "in person" before it gets sent over to its new host site.

The workshop is 2.5 days. We will begin Friday evening on February 7th, from 5:00-8:00. Then we will meet again on Sat the 8th and Sun the 9th from 10:00-5:00. You do not need prior experience in soldering, as we will help you through every stage of the house. 

The workshop is $250.00 for 2.5 days. You will have 2 experienced soldering instructors for the price of 1! There will also be a supply list for the class that will be emailed after registration. Kecia will have (5) soldering stations (iron and rheostat) to rent out, first come first serve, for $20 each. We will be creating a faux mercury glass house that we solder and infuse with a story based on photos or themes that reflects what "Home is where the heART is" means to each and every one of us. 

please note, students will need soldering equipment and glass to build their house. You can email me for specifics (keeshagirl4@aol.com) on what supplies you will need. 

-------------------------------------

Please purchase class at the bottom of this post

----------------------------------------

*Please note, NO REFUNDS will be given for any reason and no monies can be applied towards any other item. 

In addition, we have strived to create a weekend of creativity and camaraderie, so with Cara's help (since she knows the local layout, we have also orchestrated the weekend for optionally participating in after hour dining activities and where to stay locally for full flavor of Bucks County). 

A la carte menu:

Friday night we would have a catered meal at Cara's house - price pending

http://www.maxhansencaterer.com/mh_grocery.html

Sat Night I thought we would have dinner at 

http://www.carversvilleinn.com/Carversville_Inn.html

will do a prefix menu with a few choices.

Sunday morning muffins and coffee at Cara's  place.

---------------------------------------------

Cara is suggesting a local inn (her friend owns it!) for lodging: 

http://wedgwoodinn.com/

**for questions about lodging please email Cara at: carajv@mac.com

for questions about the class, please email me at: keeshagirl4@aol.com

------------------------------------

Also, I asked Cara for some insight into her studio and where will be creating. I'm so looking forward to seeing this for myself and I hope that you will coming along as well!

"My studio/classroom is on the first floor of a refurbished barn that was built in 1860 as a dairy barn. The barn was used as storage in the 1950's for what was then known as Flower show farm, it was owned by the president of the Philadelphia Horticultural Society. In the 1970's the land was subdivided and the barn's transformation into a home began. A new owner completed the rehab in the 1990's and we bought it 8 years ago and have made some more renovations, it is an ongoing piece of art.

The studio is space is large and open with table space for 3 at table, great lighting, a small kitchen and it's own bathroom. 

The studio handicap accessible and parking is right outside the door for easy transport of materials.

The barn is on 4 acres in beautiful, scenic Bucks county, Pa.

There are two stocked ponds on the property and we raise chicken and sheep."

-

You can purchase the class here:

dog shaming at its best!

You've heard of dog shaming? It's where you take cute pics of your fur baby feeling contrite about some "alleged" offensive act, lol. I've submitted them. Kashie peeing on my suitcase. Sophie pooping in my studio and me tracking it all around (arg!). but here is the ultimate! For the last few days, Gracie has had UNBEARABLE gas. I mean , it's horrible. It was so bad that at one point I thought I would throw up and seriously my eyeballs welled up and teared.

So tonight in my studio, she gases me again and i start BITCHING! I  say to my husband, what the hell is going on? We start narrowing down things that she could be eating outside and then he suddenly looks contrite and says, "oh, i know what it is". He's been adding some "extra" treats (human goodies) to her meal. So of course I go ballistic! I tell him, YOU ARE SO DOG SHAMED!  and it's not Gracie's fault. He agreed, (good sport!)

the sign says " I fed my dog "human" food making her EXTREMELY flatuence and diaper worthy. It was so bad that our eyes teared up and hurling was involved.

dramatic blog post!

I tend to shy away from drama, don't like it, find it a wasteful time of energy. However, with that said, since I haven't blogged since late Aug, what a better way for a comeback but with DRAMA!

I've just returned from teaching in Stamford, CT at Art-is-You and was unpacking the car, putting things away, cleaning house, doing laundry, tending to tucker, pups and kitties (and birdie!) and prepping for my husband to leave over the weekend for a friends get-a-away.

It was early morning, 7:30ish, and I'm cranky cuz there's no half and half for the coffee, so jeff runs out to the store for more (hey, he drained the last drop, not me). I was getting tucker ready for school. Jeff came back in and i noticed my kitty wanted to go outside on the porch. But the porch was covered with wet leaves and kind of icky, so i told Lilly (kitty) that I would sweep it clean so she could lay out there as she loved to do. So I was sweeping when BAM, a yellow jacket stung me on my ankle.

So you have to now that about a month ago, a yellow jacket stung me on my chest while I WAS SWEEPING THE SAME PORCH (hint, i know now there must be a hive there somewhere in the ivy) and I had a very bad reaction to the sting. My neighbor who is a doctor, we were texting back and forth and after things settled down, insisted I see an allergist. So I did, last week. Got an epi pen and then yesterday on said DRAMATIC day, was to go in for my testing levels to the toxins.

So after this sting, i shouted, "gawd damit" and ran into the kitchen. Screamed for jeff that I had been stung. Took 2 benedryls, stripped out of my clothes (last time I got REALLY hot), got a cold cloth, took new epi pen and went into Tucker's room (because every reaction can be different, this time could have been nada, zilch, fine, so there is a "wait and see factor". Last time I had about 10 minutes before I became symptomatic. I was sort of counting on those 10 minutes. This time it was less than 2 minutes.

When I saw my allergist last week and we talked, I asked him, "what do your patients say about how they felt before deciding to use the epi pen?" he said, "Mainly they all mention a sense of impending doom". Hmmmmmmm. guess you'll know that feeling when you are there.

Fast forward, within a few minutes, my hands went numb and all I can say is that I felt that a black shroud was being brought over my head, kind of coming over the back of me. I saw the blackness and I screamed to Jeff, it's happening now. I'm going to do the epi and you call 911. But I sort of blacked out so we did the epi together (and have sinced learned that we should have left it in a bit longer). He caught me as I blacked out (turns out my blood pressure had plummeted) and then shook me to consciousness, where i said, "oh i fell asleep". Then i started vomiting. my head started POUNDING and the only thing i remember is insisting that jeff put my pants on!

he called 911 who arrived in minutes. gave me oxygen and an iv. asked a million annoying questions and then loaded into the ambulance. As i know now, Epi will make you extremely cold. I was shivering (and so glad to have on pants). Jeff had to get poor mr. tucker together, who along with the dogs are freaking out and then he would come to the hospital.

I was feeling weird like, "was i being overdramatic by taking the epi?" (you know that bastard called, "guilt" that lurks in every decision we make"). I kept picturing some old lady having a heart attack needing the EMS and here i am taking up their time..........but at the hospital it turns out that my body was covered in hives, another symptom that i was nearing  the dreaded "Ana" shock". I'm not making light here, just recapping with some humor and feelings from my perspective. My mantra here is "never second guess yourself" because you are worth second guessing". From Jeff's perspective, he said, "while you had nerves of steal, I was scared shitless".

They kept me for the afternoon in the ER, checking on me,listening to my lungs, watching the hives "resolve", chilling get better, nausea dissapate, clarity from me and so on. Was sent home to "follow up with allergist and continue benedryl PRN".

So there you have it, my first DRAMATIC post. I drew this pic tonight, (quoting jeff that i am a "marked woman" since they seem to go after me.....)

I am doing well tonight. have spent 2 days in bed, ankle still swollen, but has to go down eventually, right? thanks for reading. xoxo

Wanna to come to Mexico with me in March?

March 2-8, 2014  I will be at the picturesque Hacienda Mosaico, located in Puerto Vallarta,  teaching 5 days of jewelry techniques and projects. The focus will be on using our beloved vintage pieces and treasures and turning them into unique wearable pieces of art. This is the perfect way to get ready for spring and shake off those winter blues!

pictures of projects we will be working on: 

You can find more details about the workshop here. Also, take a minute and look at some photos from the Hacienda. The place is asolutely gorgeous. All meals are cooked on the premises. Fee is includes, room, meals and teaching fee.