Success!

This past weekend, I hosted my first Open House at Altered Canvas Studios. It was so much fun! I had a great time planning and during the event. I was really pleased with the turn out too. I got to see friends...some of whom I haven't seen in quite some time...and met some new friends as well. I hope that everyone who attended had a great time!

Before I tell you all the details I have to give out some props! First, I'd like to thank Erica LoFaso and Joanne Marfoglio...their beautiful faces pictured above. Erica spent some time with me down at my studio labeling tag sale items. Everything she does is with a smile and she's great company to boot! Both she and Jo were present for the big event. I couldn't have made it through the day without them. Jo did a fantastic job helping out with Make and Takes and she was a big help afterwards.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank Ana Araujo, creator and Executive Producer of When Creativity Knocks. Ana was a source of great encouragement. In addition to her wise words, she generously sent giveaways for the event as well as provided the raffle prize that everyone was drooling over.

If you haven't had heard about WCK, it is a fabulous platform. Ana and her daughter, Megan, who hosts the show, go all over taping craft episodes fit for television. I have personally taped two episodes for them. They are a blast to work with! Every Friday, a new episode airs. Every aired episode goes into an archive that viewers can check out as well. Every type of craft you can imagine is there...from scrap booking to childrens' crafts to fabric crafts. So, you should really go check it out! When Creativity Knocks

So here are a few pictures of what things looked like on the big day! Here we have our tag sale.

Being the Italian princess that I am, I would not have felt right inviting people over without feeding them! I can't help it. It's just the right thing to do, don't cha think? Of course, it's not a party without the wine!

This was our Grand Prize! It is a GINORMOUS assortment of Plaid Products just screaming for a set of crafty hands. Congratulations to Samantha M., the young lady who found me and won the raffle!!

For Make & Takes we made these fun necklaces using Blumenthal Lansing Button Coordinates and some beads, wire and leather lace. Everyone seemed to enjoy making them.

Here is the next generation of crafters! They became the expert of our Make & Takes!

She is a happy and proud crafty girl.

We even had a puppy come and visit! This is Romeo. He didn't make a necklace, but he surely had a great time as he was getting majorly cuddled.

So, that was about it. Workshops begin in November. I am happy to announce that I even got a few sign ups. Needless to say, I'm a busy bee. Buzz buzz buzz...

Artfully yours,

Theresa

Ahem...may I have your attention please?

Now for those of you who don't know me personally, I am...if I may borrow from Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman...a "fly by the seat of your pants kinda gal". It really is with every fiber of my being that I resist a schedule of any kind. I must say, however, that there are times when I have found it beneficial to have some kind of structure. For example, the open house I just recently hosted....I had a very strict time table for that and as a result I wasn't up til all hours of the wee morning trying to get last minute things done. I would go so far as to say that it was even ... relaxing!

It may surprise you to know that I don't find blogging easy. It is always most difficult to get started. So, on the advice of Diane Gilleland of Crafty Pod, I have done some things to help me organize. I've made a list of topics, but now I am going to take that even a bit further. In the effort to be more consistent I have decided to do two special segments a week that I hope will be of value to you all. Of course this doesn't mean that I won't be blogging about other things. There is always something to show and share. AND let us not forget that beginning Thursday, November 4th is Sizzix's TriplePlay Blog Hop! That will be going on for seven glorious weeks.

Now to the nitty gritty...

Here is the first segment indicator above. Don't get too attached to that pic up there...I'm already not loving it which means.....there will be a new one coming. For now, though, you get the idea. On Tuesdays, I will share with you some sort of crafting tip, technique or a useful tool. I like tools! Anyway...my hope is to offer something that will make your crafting experiences easier or more exciting.

Then...

On Fridays....I'll be selfish and share my favorite things with you. Whether old or new, I always have favorite things that I use in my artwork.

I really do hope to get dialogue going with everyone. People...this is not all about me! At least not today. I'd love for you to share your tips and favorites as well. I'm really interested to know what's out there that I haven't found yet.

Just as an aside...please keep in mind that if you comment on my blog from Creating the Hive, those comments do not show up here on blogger. However, I will be checking both places so that I don't miss an opportunity to chat!

Artfully yours,

Theresa

A Meaningful Quote...

Hi and welcome back!

Years ago, I came across a quote on a rubber stamp. That quote read: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?" It really had a profound effect on me both personally and professionally. Back then, I was just starting to define who I am as an artist and designer. I thought, back then, I knew the direction in which I wanted to head. Along the way, I got lots of advice...both good and bad, as well as a lot of encouragement and discouragement! It left me, shall we say, very tentative at best.

As many of us creatives do...I talked myself into and out of things during my journey. As I "grew up" and did some serious self discovery, I began to trust my own instincts and decisions. I was able to get a better grasp on what it meant for me to be successful in all aspects of my life. I found it easier to take a negative and make it into a positive...which brings me back to that stamp!

Now, as I have mentioned, there was just something about the quote on that stamp that had a grip on me. Once in a while, I would pull it out of it's home in my studio and leave it out on my work table and wonder what...though I loved it...bothered me so. I mean, if you read it, it seems like such a positive message! Yet, in all the years I had it, I believe I only used it ONE time!

Jump forward a couple of years, here I am in my new studio! One of the best things about having to move all my supplies out of my studio was that I got to go through everything I owned...and I found things that I'd forgotten I'd had...or thought I'd lost! LOL One of those things was that darn stamp again! During the move, I saw that stamp and I copied that quote at the top of my massive "to do" list. Every time I opened my notebook to that list, I would read that quote and something about it just felt wrong.

It wasn't until I'd been in my studio a couple of months that it hit me. I remember thinking I was brave in my decision to move into an independent place. I remember being proud of having set goals that were realistic and attainable. I remember thinking that I was not afraid of the hard work it would take to achieve those goals...one of which was to start teaching classes at my studio. And there I was, looking at that quote again..."What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?"...thinking, wasn't I attempting something BIG!? I wasn't letting fear control my choices! So what was the problem with those few words?

It took a little more time before I could hear the answer clearly. It was in the middle of the night...as is typical with me. I woke myself up and grabbed the book I'd been making notes in and rewrote the quote to say..."What would you attempt to do if you knew you would succeed?"...and went back to sleep. The next morning when I reread what I'd written, it made sense. It was the word "fail". What a negative word. It sure didn't fit into my place of positivity! I knew that this newly worded quote would become my mantra as I build my empire...however large or small I decide it to be. Soon after, I began creating this textured collage which now hangs proudly in my studio...so I don't forget. EVER!

This weekend, I am holding my first Open House at my studio. I am introducing my roster of classes, doing make & takes, giving gifts and holding a raffle of really terrific Plaid products...basically just having a grand celebration to let the community know I'm here! In the spirit of Field of Dreams...."if you build it, they will come"...I am here to share my love of art with anyone who cares to join me in this journey. I'm just beginning....again!

Artfully yours always....

Theresa

Sizzix Blog Hop is Coming!!

Hey all...I am very pleased to announce that a new Sizzix Blog Hop will begin in early November! I'm thoroughly excited because I am actually taking part in this blog hop which features projects created with Sizzix dies.

This should be particularly exciting because there are over 60 professional designers taking part in this fantastic event! Each of us will design 7 different projects...which means that each week you will see over 60 different design concepts all using the same die. Do you realize how incredible that is? I don't know about you all...but I am very excited to see what my colleagues come up with...the talent that has gathered for this blog hop is outstanding!

Very shortly (like later today lol), there will be a link on my side bar which will enable you to view all the projects contained each week in the blog hop. Of course, you will see mine here along with directions and a materials list. I have to admit, I am a little nervous as this is my very first blog hop, but in general I am excited because there is nothing I am more passionate about than art!

Keep your eyes peeled...I'm looking forward to reading your comments on all the blogs.

Here we go.......

Theresa