Gail Schmidt ~ Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:10:00 +0000

I Have Moved!!

You can now find me blogging away at

Thank you to all my followers and for all these years at Blogger!
I hope you come follow me over at the new place!

It's a Done Deal!

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Yes I did it! I am ready to direct you all to my new home. And I am admittedly very nervous! It's a new venture, a step outside ye old comfort zone, after all I've been with Blogger for five years, and so, self-doubt crows loudly in my ear for the moment. But I tell myself that I'm old enough to realize I must ignore these taunts and just keep moving on. And so I shall.

I even have my own domain now for the new blog. You can find me at shabbycottagestudio.net

And I'm having a giveaway to welcome you to my new home!

So I hope you will stop by and link to me and I can be back in business again.

As some of you suggested in an earlier post, I checked out Google reader, and my goodness I was surprised at how easy it is to use to follow blogs! No wonder you use it! And by using Google Reader Subscription I found I can follow any blog I want, not just a blogger blog! I have some friends on Typepad and Wordpress and have already added them! I added the subscriber to my favorites so it's easy now, when I visit a blog I want to follow I click on the subscriber link I bookmarked, simply hit the subscribe button and BOOM it is added to my list. Why did I not know of this earlier! LOL I may be mad at Google for screwing up my blog, but this seems like a good thing they offer.

So, fare thee well Blogger old friend. The time has come to move on.

See you my lovely friends at my new home!
http://www.shabbycottagestudio.net/

xoxox

Change

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Yep that is me, right here, right now.

You know I don't usually revert to my blog to complain but I need a moment.

I think I am feeling my age. It seems there is something in the air, and while it has been there for quite some time, here lately it seems even worse. Like a bad smell gone overly bad. Since I did recently have a birthday I keep telling myself it's not worse, it's just me. Getting old.

What ARE you talking about Gail you might ask. I'm talking about technology and change. Everywhere I go these days I am confronted by change I don't want and don't even like.

Now I don't mind change when it truly helps me and makes my life easier, or better or more enriched. But not all change is necessarily good is it?

I used to like Google. I still depend on Google to be my search engine...you can't beat it. But I really don't want Google taking over the internet as they seem wont to do lately. I can no longer get into any of my blogs easily and have to go about it in a convoluted manner because Google wants to connect all of me and my accounts to Google. Whether I want to be connected or not.

So I mentioned in an earlier post that I was thinking about this and I have made up my mind. I am moving my blog. I will keep you updated. I am still working on the new one. And I will gladly tell Google to keep their nose out of it.

I used to like Etsy. But every time they make a change over there it simply makes more work for me. Now I don't mind work. I am an extremely hard worker and put in many, many hours working my businesses. But I believe in working smarter not harder. Because eventually I run out of hours in the day to get everything done.

If you present me with a change that allows me to do less clicking, less scrolling, less writing, less figuring things out, less key tapping, less anything...hey, I'm all for it! But when I have to do more of all this I cry foul!

So I'm thinking about closing my Etsy store. Because when is to much, to much? It's hard enough without these online companies constantly changing things. And every time a company says...Hey Guess What! we've made a change to make things better, they are not usually changes for the better for me...simply changes that make what I do take longer.

I don't hate technology, technology does help me run my businesses. But hey, technology we don't need changes every few nanoseconds. Give me less steps not more!

Okay lovlies thank you for the moment and your ear. I feel better.

Now I have to get back to work

because I hear someone else making a change I probably won't like either. ;-)

Bits and Pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:19:00 +0000

A cuh-raaazy week.

Lots of pictures to share. :-)

First I want to thank my friend Suzy Quaife from http://www.suziqusthreadworks.blogspot.com/. I entered a giveaway she was having and actually won! That rarely happens to me so I was thrilled! And I am so honored to have one of Suzi's gorgeous bags.

It came wrapped so prettily all the way from NSW Australia!

My photography skills do not do you justice Suzi dear!

Can you see all the detail?

And even sweet little goodies tucked inside.

Suzi's gift will be treasured forever. If you have not met Suzi and her FABulous threadworks you are missing some real beauty. When you visit Suzi's blog look for the pictures of her garden. I told Suzi I would like to live in her garden. It looks to be created of magic and fairy tales.

Last week we were rainy and cold enough to turn the heat back on and kept us from getting the garden finished planted. But now I do believe we are finally settling into late spring/summer weather. The tomatoes are in and tonight Mr Shabby and my dad put in the corn. Yum!

The Queen came to visit this week!

I inherited my bed of Queen Anne's Lace when we bought the house.

Lucky me!

The Roses and Peonies are running riot!

This year they have a new guardian

Mr Shabby dubbed her Birdmommy.

She sits in front of a tall bird feeder and there is a birdhouse above her to the right that is filled with baby Starlings right now. We have enjoyed watching mom and dad both diligently taking turns feeding their brood.

Of course I had to bring some flowers into the house!

To lovely not to enjoy them inside and out.

A close up of the Queen Anne's Lace.

I loved this image so much I had to play with it in Photoshop. Above and below are two samples of what the ladies are learning to do over in my new class Down and Dirty the Digital Way.

Aren't they fun?! Texture can be soft and subtle just as much as it can be grungy and distressed.

I can teach you how to do this to your own images.

There is a new class starting over at Creative Workshops June 13.

It's called Whimsical Landscape Painting with Mechelle Harrison.

This painting actually starts with texture. Come check it out!

Artful Gathering is picking up speed like a bullet train and we are being consumed with keeping track of a thousand little details, learning so much along the way. Video segments are rolling in from our teachers and let me tell you they ROCK!!!!!!! There is so much you can learn at this event. So save your pennies and make some time this summer for some fun!

Elizabeth Johnson is one of our Artful Gathering teachers and in her workshop she will teach you how to draw the most adorable little Bluebird and then add color. Here is a little video of Elizabeth drawing a Hummingbird.

Mom, Dad and Molly taking a little break, enjoying the gorgeous weather and sweet breeze. Mousey is creeping behind the swing. Mousey follows my Dad everywhere and she and Molly are good friends.

Happy Sunday lovlies! If I'm not posting as often you know I'm simply buried in work but that it will soon be better. :-)

Journal Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Just in case you thought I forgot about the Journal Giveaway from our Birthday sale...I didn't. :-) Just had a little craziness going on.

Our winner is Linda of Charmed Victorian! Congratulations to Linda and thank you everyone who left a comment and came by the store to take advantage of the great savings!

Pretty Pretties

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Sat, 07 May 2011 03:12:00 +0000

I wish I was better with before pictures because you would not have believed this box. It was at one time a very old wood mailbox that was attached vertically to a wall with a cut out in the top for the mail. It was dirty with smeared dark red paint and and an ugly lock. I loved the primitive shabbiness of it, just not the dirt, the sloppy paint job or the ugly lock. Mr Shabby cleaned it up for me. I painted it with a dry brush method so some of the dark wood would still be visible, and then I added the appliques. I glazed the bottom half of the box and loved the two tone look so much I did not glaze the top. The worm holes and old crackle may not show well in the photo, but along with the mail slot we left on the side, they add to the utter charm of this box.

I really wanted to keep it but *sigh* I was good and left it at the Corner Nest with a price tag on it.

I wanted to keep this box too.

I used one the Bee Paris Crown single large single image I list in the store.

And the color is my new "favoritest" color.

I just love how it turned out with all the texture.

Do you think these pretties seem to have a tough life?!

Miss Minny

Miss Gracie

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned surrounded by love and happiness!

Another Birthday Bash Sale & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Sun, 01 May 2011 14:51:00 +0000

Oh yes. It's that time of year again.

Gail gets another year older.
But we won't dwell on that! :-)

Instead we're going to PARTY!

Because it's time for our Annnual Birthday Bash Sale at Shabby Cottage Studio!

Here's the deal...

25% OFF STOREWIDE
except classes and gift certificates!

Sale runs May 1 through May 6. No codes, no coupons, just pile up the goodies in your shopping basket and we'll figure it for you. Easy Peasy!

Now is the time to take advantage and stock up on your favorite goodies, and even find some new favorite goodies!

Along with the Sale I always have a Giveaway and this year is no different. I will draw one name from everyone who leaves a comment on this post, and this post only, to win one of my fabric collage journals.

So if you like the looks of the journal leave a comment, then come on over to Shabby Cottage Studio

and grab some goodies at great prices!

Happy, Happy Lovlies!

Thank You!

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 02:05:00 +0000

You guys are the best. Thank you for the shared information about Google Reader and your support. I will never tire of saying this...it means the world to me.

♥♥♥♥♥

I'm Thinking of Moving

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:27:00 +0000

photo courtesy salihan

Yes, I really am thinking about moving.

My blog. ;)

I've been with Blogger now since 2006 and I think it was fun while it lasted but there comes a time when you have to move on and I may have reached my time. I am still thinking, but it's feeling like the thing to do more and more.

While I have always appreciated the fact that Blogger is a free site and affords us tremendous design capabilities, it still has some limitations that don't allow me to do some of the things I would like to do and have it look the way I want it to look. Then there is this: for thepast year Blogger has just been giving me fits with formatting and spacing issues. And I don't like the fact that if I have a problem I have no one to turn to for technical support.

But I think it all came to a head while working on the Artful Gathering site.

When it takes 2-3 hours to add and format text that should take 20 minutes I have to stop and ask, what's wrong with this picture? Then we found a new site and a new home for Artful Gathering and what a delight to work with! And I actually got technical suupport. And they answered me often within minutes! I couldn't help but think, how cool is that!

My only concern is that the new site does not have a "follow" button! They have RSS reader service and apparently I can add something called Google reader. I am on the horns of a dilemma. I have now over 500 followers and I don't want to lose my friends!

I'm thinking I would leave this blog up and put a big old moved sign with a link.

*sigh*

nothing is easy anymore.

xoxo

Gail

Little Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:29:00 +0000

Down and Dirty the Digital Way starts May 16 at Creative Workshops

If you can't see the video you can go here
http://youtu.be/D-pkzCKg__k

Lots Going On

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Are you feeling like I have this month, like it's been crazy busy, and the days are slipping away as fast as water through a cracked glass? I suppose part of that feeling is that so often we take on to much and then hurry hurry to meet those obligations, deadlines and timeframes.

I know I am guilty of thinking I can do it all. It's not that I have a problem saying no. Oh yes, I can most definitely say no. :-) And have. And do. For me I think it is more that I tend to think some jobs won't take as long as they end up taking, or I put to much of my time, and of me, into some jobs that truly don't need all that effort. I suppose that is the perfectionist side of me.

One item on my forever, ever long, to do list was a new digital class. And I finished it yesterday. Yay!

Down and Dirty the Digital Way

Opens May 16

If you saw this image on my blog this winter and liked it, let me show what it looked like

before

I'm sure we all have photos like this

but isn't THIS more interesting?

Or what about this one?

It's ok right?

But now we've elevated it to art.

Would you like to put photos like these on YOUR blog?

Do you create cards, scrapbook, create altered art in it's many forms? I imagine you have oodles of inspiration right in your own photo stash you thought you couldn't use. Now you can learn to create your own grungy, distressed and textured masterpieces!

You might think twice before discarding future photos.

Learn to work with layers and blending modes. You'll learn to texture using just one or two layers and you'll learn to texture with lots of layers. I'll show you how to use a simple grunge mask to for a quick and easy way to grunge the edges of a photo, like Mama Cardinal above.

Learn an easy way to lighten your photos without losing details and an easy way to watermark your photos for publishing to the 'net.

So if you've ever wished you knew how to give a plain, even boring photo some PIZAZZ this is a good class for you! You can wing on over to Shabby Cottage Studio for all the details of Down and Dirty the Digital Way.

Beginners welcome!

I'm teaching this class with Photoshop Elements 9 but if you have PSE 5, 6, 7 or 8, this class will work for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also want to share some new information about Artful Gathering.

We have been using Blogger for our information and Registration site but have never been happy with it. We felt it was a tad cumbersome and we couldn't lay out the information in the way we really wanted . So I've been working on a new site and I was able to cross THAT off my to do list this weekend!

We have added a link to the new site on the Artful Gathering blog. You will find us at artfulgathering.com. Eventually we will close the old blog. Please come check out the new site.

We now have all the Workshop descriptions up and most of them have photos and prices.

Check out the Artwork page to see videos of each teachers artwork. It is awesome!

And since this is an invitaiton only event don't forget to Register Now!

The event site opens June 25 and at that time Registered guests will be able to start purchasing classes.

You've got plenty of time left to save your pennies for this new and exciting online video event!

Check out Monica Zuniga and Pam Carriker Preview workshop videos!

Visit everyone at artfulgathering.com

So now my lovlies, you know what I've been up to this month. What's happening with you?!

A Freebie Image for You

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Spring is in the air!

This 1911 ad is a free image for you. Right click and then save to your computer.

The Artful Gathering blog has added class descriptions (as much as we have right now)

for the July 2011 event!

Pop on over to the blog and click on the Workshops tab at the top of the page.

A Couple Bottles, A Couple Classes

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:43:00 +0000

This is a reminder that Pam Carriker's class, Journal 365, at Creative Workshops, closes registration Thursday Mar. 31, and will no longer be available to new students.

If you register before registration closes you will then have one year to complete the class. Until March 2012. All the videos and pdf's are now up in the workshop and will remain for you to view and work at your own pace until next March.

A new class went live at Creative Workshops yesterday!

Interactive Altered Book with Dawn Meisch.

Using an altered book as the base, Dawn will teach you how to create pop ups, pull tabs, pockets, spinning wheels, hidden flaps and other movable parts. No experience required. So come join Dawn and learn some fun techniques to give your book projects some pizazz.

I've been buried in so many non-art projects that I am beginning to feel I have a keyboard permanently attached to my fingers. But I did manage to get into the workroom this weekend and at least finish a couple small altered bottles I started over a month ago!

♥ Happy Tuesday Lovlies!

Give it your creative best! ♥

Do you Ever have Days...

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:32:00 +0000

Do you ever "those days" when you wonder

Why Bother?

I Certainly Do.

Today I was following some links and came across this image and it immediately grabbed me.

I said to myself ...Self, this is a most excellent thing to remember!

If I start comparing my self, my art, my blog, my business, my philosophy to someone else's then I hit that wall that says...why bother.

Most of the time I manage to corral self comparisons, yet, being human, sometimes it is difficult. As I have aged I think I have learned, somewhat, to control the urge. Because those thoughts are self defeating. Luckily those are days in the minority...but when caught unaware by those insidious thoughts I find I am left with a terrible taste in my mouth and as the awful question pops up to ask ...why bother?

So strongly did the statement call to me I followed the image link and discovered the artist has an Etsy store. Her name is Valentina and her shop is called Valentina Design. I have always been drawn to pen and ink work and Valentina's intricate designs are a joy to behold. But aside from her drawings, this piece she created with it's message, spoke loudest to me. It should speak loud to all of us who have "those days".

I need to pin that saying to my inspiration board.

Happy Friday lovely bloggers.

No matter where you are, no matter how near or how far,

you are dear to my heart.

xoxo

Gail

We Have Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:03:00 +0000

I want to thank everyone who stopped by and left a comment for both Giveaways....Pam Carrikers class this summer at Artful Gathering and my tags. The winners have been notified.

Over at Artful Gathering we now have a tab at the top that has Workshop Descriptions. This is information we have so far received from the teachers and will give you a good idea of the scope of classes beign offered at the event. We posted the class cost if we have it.

Just a reminder that registration is required before classes can be purchased.

Registration is $5.00 and can easily be paid for with Paypal, or a Credit Card for those of you who don't like or want to use Paypal.
You can go here to Register and save your spot!

Our Artist Spotlight artist this week is JoAnna Pierotti.

Glorious Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Spring has finally poked its head out here in the mountains.

Have I told you that this is my favorite time of the year?

When I can walk outside without bundling up like a snow man

when I can finally open my windows and doors,

I am a happy, happy woman.

I walked around the yard the other morning and discovered beauty.

Happy Spring day lovlies!

If you haven't entered the giveaways yet, scroll down...there are two!

They end tomorrow.

Pam Carriker Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:44:00 +0000

Two blog posts in one day?!

Two GIVEAWAYS in one day?!

Today is the last day of Pam Carriker's Blog tour in celebration of her new book Art at the Speed of Life. During the tour Pam has graciously introduced each contributor in her new book. I didn't realize today was my day...ergo the reason for two posts. :-)

I met Pam a number of years ago when we both served on a design team together. I was drawn to Pam's

warm personality and her wonderful artwork. As I got to know more about Pam I was also drawn to her capacity for setting goals and following through and her dedication to working hard to
reach her goal of being a working artist. I think this book proves how dedicated Pam truly is. When I asked Pam to come on board as a teacher at Creative Workshops, she jumped right in with her first ever video class. I knew this was someone I could work with. I never worry about Pam not following through or not meeting deadlines.

Pam's book is a good demonstration of how Pam has managed to reach and maintain her goal of truly being a working artist. It is filled with demonstrations, techniques and time saving tips. Like Pam, it is warm and encouraging and gives you the belief that you too can work art into your life. You get to read about what goes on in an artists thinking brain, not only with Pam, but all the contributing artists. All of us, working artists or not, have our days of doubts and insecurities about out creativity and wonder how we can fit it into our life.. If you have not purchased this book, then do so, and on those questioning days, take it off the shelf and follow along with one chapter and discover you are not alone and you can do it.

I was proud that Pam asked me to be a contributor...I am in amazing company.

And now for another giveaway!

I am the co-sponsor of a very exciting, first time ever event this summer, called Artful Gathering 2011. If you haven't heard yet, get thee self to http://www.artfulgathering.com/ and read all about it! In conjunction with the event and Pam's tour we are giving away a free space in Pam's class - Visual Journaling 101 - at Artful Gathering in July. This is a retired class of Pam's that has gotten so many requests since it closed that she is bringing it back one more time for Artful Gathering! And with that free space Pam is also giving away a kit that will include

a strathmore visual journal, favorite pen, pencil, and sequin waste tool.

Now how cool is that?!

If you want to win a chance at this great giveaway you need to leave a comment on this post and this post only. You also need to make sure you have a way for me to get in touch with you if you should win. I will draw one lucky winner with a random number generator a week from today, March 23!

So lovlies what a great hump day in Giveaway land! If you haven't seen my first post today scroll down to the post below this one for yet another giveaway.

No, now really, two in one day is all I can manage today. :-)

Celebration Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:44:00 +0000

So tell me. What did we do before blogs?

Where did we go online to meet like minded friends,

share lifes's stories and enjoy mind blowing

eye candy?

Who knew you could laugh and cry, commiserate and come to care for
someone you have never met in person.

I didn't. Did you?

I still tease a couple friends, who, when I excitedly told them about the blog I was starting, gave me funny looks and asked,

why would you do THAT?

I tease them about it because they both now have multiple blogs. :-)

With clicks of the keyboard and scrolling of a mouse,

blogging opened a whole new world for so many of us.

I want to thank each and every one of you who have entered my humble little world by

stopping by, leaving comments and becoming a follower.

Today marks my 500th follower and I am having a giveaway!

With thanks and appreciation for all you lovely bloggers

who help make my world go round.

Here's the deal...I have sets of the tags pictured here

plus several other designs not pictured.

I am going to break up the sets, mix them all up randomly

and then give away FIVE sets. Yep! Five!

All you need do is leave a comment on this post,

and only this post, in order to qualify for a chance to win. You

must have a way for me to get in touch with you when you leave your comment.

One week from today, Wednesday, March 23, I will pick five

names with the random number generator.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy. :-)

You may have noticed a little change on the blog with the addition of tabs at the top of the page.

I felt the sidebar was getting to crowded looking and people don't particularly like to scroll a lot. When someone told me they couldn't find a way to contact me on my blog, and I had a big button on the sidebar, I knew it was time to change things up a bit. Hopefully this will help.

Yesterday I added some new items to the store that are just

waiting for your Spring projects.

I was alos able to restock the 8" paper mache mannequins, but in a limited number.

So stop by Shabby Cottage Studio and check things out.

Happy Hump Day!

Searching for a New Home

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:08:00 +0000

So what do you think Honey, do you think you could live here?

The neighbors look friendly enough

and it looks plenty roomy inside

Go ahead, look inside, I think you'll like it!

Yeah? I'ts great isn't it!

We'll take it!

Now you didn't think Mr. Shabby and I would

leave our own shabby nest did you? ;-)

Happy Monday lovely friends.

A Freebie for You & Other News

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:46:00 +0000

Happy Sunday Beautiful Bloggers.

This morning winter made an abrupt return. I knew this would happen, because a.) we do live in the mountains b.) it is still officially winter and c.) there is always Murphy's law to contend with.

I am concerned for all the growing things that started to bud during our unusually warm month of February. I had just remarked a couple hours ago to Mr. Shabby that our Willow tree was really starting to turn green. Now we have big, wet flakes and the ground is turning white. Hopefully it won't last or stay long. I mean, this girl is ready for SPRING!

I was playing in my Photoshop Elements this morning with a tool I have not used a lot, called Transform. It allows you to skew, distort and play with perspective. I wanted to see if I could create a "floor". I got so excited I ended up creating a whole scenario for my floor. And I'm sharing it with you.

Right click on the image and then save to your computer.

I will also add it to the Free Iamges page. You do know about that page right? Over in the sidebar scroll down until you come to the button of a birds nest that says Freebies. Click on it and help yourself.

I actually got to the work table last week for a few moments. I had a can of this spray frost effect I wanted to try and I had a small clear bottle. From the SCS store I had a package of inchie Memory Frames. I dug around in my vintage lace stash and this is what I came up with.

We are bringing a NEW class to Creative Workshops!

Interactive Altered Book starts March 28 and taught by Dawn Meisch.

You will learn to create pop ups, pockets, spinning wheels, hidden flap and other moveable parts.

The class is $40.00.

Our classes at Creative Workshops are some of the best priced video classes around!

And just this past Tuesday Julee Herrman's class Soldering With Heart started, and they are soldering their little hearts out, so come on by and join in the fun.

You know you want to.

I have gotten a lot of emails asking me about Pam Carrikers Visual Journalism 101 workshop. For those of you asking, Pam is bringing this retired class back one last time. At Artful Gathering 2011! So this truly is your last chance to get in on this workshop before it is truly gone forever. But you HAVE to register for Artful Gathering in order to purchase a class when they become available for the event. If you haven't heard about Artful Gathering then jump on over to http://www.artfulgathering.com/ and read all about this amazing event. You will not want to miss it.

Last, but not least, if you have been thinking about Pam Carrikers Journal 365 workshop, registration closes the end of March. The class then stays open for one more year for anyone who has purchased the class by the end of March 2011. Once the registration closes, the class will no longer be available. Pam shares some fun teachniques for journaling in this workshop.

So that's it for me and my news this snowy Sunday afternoon. I hope wherever you are, you are warmer than me!

Please Meet Henry Li

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:16:00 +0000

Henry Li will be one of the instructors at the Artful Gathering event this summer. He will be bringing us the beautiful and time honored tradition of Chinese painting in a Sumi Ink and Watercolor on Rice Paper class. This class is structured so that beginners to advanced students may join.

Being an online art teacher and art supplier, Henry has found himself a full-time job with thousands of fans and students all over the world. His artistic family members includes his wife Victoria, who teaches Chinese at Pomona College, also paints as her hobby; his mother-in-law, a retired Chinese professor, who practices her calligraphy every morning, and his daughter Amy who is a senior college student majored in art.

Henry has an amazingly impressive and varied background and it is my hope that you will visit our Instructors bio page over at Artful Gathering and read about this fascinating and unassuming gentle man. Henry works tirelessly to make his painting videos look effortless, spontaneous and joyful. Meanwhile, he has started to explore new materials and techniques that will give this centuries old art form a new life. You can also visit Henri Li at Blue Heron Arts.

The Writing On the Floor

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:42:00 +0000

You've heard the saying "the writing on the wall."

This is a message I actually did write on the floor. :-)

Let me explain.

We are putting in new flooring in the dining room. When we moved in the floor was a really ugly linoleum that I knew would be difficult to live with until we could afford flooring sometime in the way distant future. And now, eight years later that future is here.

In the meantime I faux painted a hardwood floor and rug on the linoleum and it has served us well in the interim.

As we were nearing the end of the new floor Mr Shabby and I were talking about what might happen 100 years from now if someone tore up this flooring only to discover the painted one beneath.

We decided it would be fun to write the future owners a note...just in case they ever do decide to tear up this one. Fun huh? We thought so.

So I got out my trusty black marker and wrote the note. :-)

I guess I have home on my mind because yesterday I finished this banner for the

Shabby Cottage at the Corner Nest.

If you like the banner pennants I have now added this design to the online store. You will receive two sheets or two digital downloads. Each sheet has two designs for a total of the four different pennants you see here, ready for you to create your own banner.

You can find the French Ephemera Banner either as a digital download or printed sheets that will be shipped to you.

Here's wishing you a Happy Tuesday lovely bloggers!

Meet Liz Miller

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:42:00 +0000

Liz is one of the teachers at the Artful Gathering event this summer.

Although Liz Miller CDA began teaching decorative painting in the Raleigh, NC area in 1985, her interest in art began many years before. As a child her love for horses lead her to drawing, first horses then people and more. Her favorite toys were crayons, paper, and any coloring book with horses included. Although she was always interested in art, Liz became a RN, then a belly dancer, and then a dance therapist, always drawn to the creative aspect of the job. When she discovered decorative painting and began sharing her discoveries by teaching others, she believed that this was a natural progression, still providing for the mental and physical health of her painters, through creative art therapy.

Currently Liz owns an art studio, Artful Endeavors, in Raleigh NC. She usually paints realistic style in acrylics, but enjoys creating and experimenting with watercolor and mixed media including watercolor batik. She teaches all levels of acrylics in weekly classes and workshops in her studio as well as travel teaching and hosting seminars with some of decorative painting’s finest national teachers. Liz is a DecoArt Helping Artist.

Liz has her Masters Degree in Dance Therapy, a creative arts therapy, from Hunter College in NYC. She is a member of the Society of Decorative Painters, The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, and The Heart of Carolina Tolers where she has served as chapter president and various other offices.

Liz’s artwork has been chosen for display at the permanent collection at the Society of Decorative Painting in Wichita, KS.

Liz has taught at the Society of Decorative Painting convention and is known for her graceful leaves and leaf study workshop. You can find her online classes at Creative Workshops.

Visit her web site Artful Endeavors

OWOH Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:49:00 +0000

What a whirlwind ride it was!

People flew all over the world, making new friends and finding fun new blogs to follow!

I drew two names this morning and have contacted the winners of my two drawings. Congratulations to Dolly of http://frommycherryheart.blogspot.com/ who won my There is Life wall hanging and Jenn of http://justjenndesignz.blogspot.com/ who won The Power of a Girl.

I would like to thank everyone who stopped by to visit and leave a comment,

come back any time ya'heah!

Meet Keith LoBue!

noreply@blogger.com (Shabby Cottage Studio) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Each week I hope to add a feature of the participating artists appearing at Artful Gathering and I am very excited to add the talented Keith Lo Bue to the list of teachers that are coming to this amazing event this summer for online art classes. I hope you will all come register, as this will be one of the first ever online art fest's of this kind!

Here is Keith Lo Bue

Coming to Artful Gathering 2011
July 16th - August 20th
Premiering his own online workshopKeith Lo Bue is a jeweler, sculptor and teacher who has work in many major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. For over two decades his work has been exhibited all around the US and in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland and England. Dozens of books feature Lo Bue's work, including One of a Kind: American Art Jewelry Today (US), 1000 Rings (Lark), The Art & Craft of Collage (UK), the Virtual Gallery of Contemporary Jewellery CD-ROM (UK) and The Compendium Finale Of Contemporary Jewellery Makers (Germany) as well as Metalsmith, American Craft and Ornament magazines (US). His workshops have been presented to enthusiastic reviews at Haystack, Penland and scores of other art and craft institutions across the United States, Canada and Australia. Lo Bue lives and works in Sydney.

Keith will be creating his own online art class at Artful Gathering 2011. Stampington & Co. is one of our sponsors along with Articus Studio, Artist Cellar, and Lisa's Altered Art.

New Artful Gathering Artist Feature Every Week!