Let's make some envelopes and Happy Birthday to the kitties!

I feel very indebted to the scrapbookers of the world whose passion has brought us so many wonderful products!

I bought a wonderful pad of paper after the Philly show to use for making my "thank-yous" and when I was done, I remembered making envelopes a few years ago. Back then, I used magazine pages, wrapping paper, empty gift bags and drew some of my own designs. Now we have this lovely paper that has a different design on each side! The envelope you make will already be lined!!

It's so simple, I thought you might like to see how you too can "wow" your correspondents by putting a one of a kind piece of art in their mailboxes.

First, using your favorite envelope, take it apart, flatten it out and make a template. A regular paper one will do, but if you have some quilters' template plastic (thank you to quilters for your products, too) - all the better!

Just make sure whatever paper you choose is big enough for the template. Trace the shape

and cut it out!

Use a straight edge to fold up the stick-y-out bits (you can use the template you've made for this) so that when folded all together, you have an envelope shape!!

Use a glue stick to secure the bottom to the side flaps. Only glue as high as the bottom flap comes up!

You can buy stick-on labels if the paper you've chosen is too dark or two shinny to write on. If the paper has a mat finish and is light in color - just put your address on that! When you've put your message inside....

Just use the glue stick to seal it up!! I'll bet you'll hear good things for whoever is lucky enough to get this artwork in the mail!!

Here are some envelopes I've made using - starting from the left - a magazine page, the scrapbook paper, one of my designs on plain paper, wrapping paper (the shinny one with stars) and a decorative bag that was too pretty to toss! I hope you will try this out!!

and NOW!!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday to our little rescue kitties. It's hard to believe they were born a year ago under our deck!

All kitties had real tuna for dinner and the wee ones each got a special catnip toy.

and here's Cheeto! who has come to inspect the cake! The kitties didn't care much for the people cake, but loved the tuna! I wondered what the odds of getting a portrait of all of them on their birthday would be. Jason suggested photoshop would be a better option. He was right. I took many photos and all of them were blurred. Oh to have the energy of a yearling kitten!!

Final Photos from Philly!

So that about does it for the Philly show!! Man oh man was I exhausted after all that fun! Now, it's on to the Teddies Worldwide online show and TBAI preparation!! I can't show you the online stuff but will let you peek into the workroom for other new bears and friends coming along. Next:  Have you ever made your own envelopes????? Come back soon!!!

More photos and I made a "doll!"

Another event at the Philly show was a "challenge" for bear artists to make a doll and doll artists to make a bear! A year ago when I agreed to do this, it seemed like a good idea! Actually, I had great fun creating "Stargazer" pictured above. He's a wee elf who has climbed atop Mushroom House Observatory with his telescope and teddy bear to observe the night sky. This isn't a really good photo, but you get the idea! Stargazer is made from polymer clay and his teddy has a mini bear fur head and a needle felted body. I wasn't expecting to have the piece adopted, but Valerie insisted Stargazer should move to her house in California. Thanks Valerie!

Now, before the other photos from the show, I'd like to list some links to sources I used for gathering goodies for my workshop on making mini hats:

www.sassybearsandfabrics.com

tiny flowers and 2mm silk ribbon here - you might enjoy other trims on offer and be sure to check Stef's ebay site which is linked at the bottom of her home page - many mini treasures

www.quiltersfancy.com

this is the place for the unusual ribbon flowers I had plus the pretty multi-colored ribbon. I bought what I had at a quilt show the owner attended in February which was held in my area. Most everything is available on her website.

www.tedsfromthreads.com

This is the place for the pattern for the petal hat. Debbie has lots of things of interest to mini makers!

Here are more photos from the gallery!

Big Winner! Joanne Livingestston's creation  picked by
artists and collectors! Magnificent!!

Michelle Lamb's beauty won with artists as one of the best!!

I have one more batch of photos and will list them soon!

I hope you enjoy seeing all these great creations! If you have questions about who's work is shown, leave a comment and I'll try to answer!! 

All Gone !!!

Once again, I am so very lucky to have an empty table at the end of the show! I have new collectors, bears and a bunny picked by old friends, and two bears selected by wonderful award winning artists - a supreme compliment to be sure!!

The show was just fabulous! The fun began with a couple of days of classes. After the first day, some of the participants showed off their handiwork!

A class taught by fabulous award winner - Michelle Lamb!

This one by Sharon Barron - you might recognize her wonderful style!

Sue Van Naten lead a group of eager jewelry makers!

And another class by the oh so talented Judi Paul!

The gallery mixed dolls and bears on Thursday evening! There was so much "wonderfulness" it was almost
more than the eye could take in!! Here are some of my special favorites!

A winner!!! Wanda Carson's adorable Time Traveler
Voted by the artists as one of the best!!!

I have more!!! I'll be back in the next post with more to see! I hope you can plan to go and be part of the fun next year! Terry and Susan Quinlan do a fantastic job of making a show that is fun for all! Good Food, Good Friends, and wonderful Art!!! Thanks so much Susan and Terry!!!

Panda Tea House

My gallery piece for the Philly show is done! I'm thrilled with my Panda Tea House and hope you like it!
I've been working on it for months both in the clay studio and here as the pandas were created. Inside the Tea House are a couple of tables which are illuminated with flickering light. The tiny teapot in front is made from polymer clay and is a small model of the Tea House. The pandas are under 3 inches tall.

If you are not going to the bear show in Philadelphia and are interested in purchasing it if it doesn't sell at the show, please email me at the address listed to the left! Show goers have the first chance at buying the gallery pieces.

I also have my piece for the Bear artists making doll gallery! Unfortunately, it started raining this morning as I was photographing these delightful pandas so I don't have a good photo of my elf "doll" which is called Stargazer!

I hope you will be able to come to the show and see all the wonderful bear and doll artistry! I'll try to take lots of photos at the show and post them here!