SUZI BLU graduates speak ...



at Suzi's 2010 Birthday Workshop / Stamping Details / that's me, back row, 4th from right)

 Local artist extraordinaire, with a worldwide following, SUZI BLU - rocks.   I have had the pleasure of taking two workshops from Suzi "live", and I have taken several of her on-line workshops.   You just about can't tell the difference, I promise.   

I can describe Suzi and her style of teaching in ten words (okay, so I could come up with twenty or so words, but I'll keep it sweet ... ie, short):

Accessible  (she makes herself available to her students, in person
         AND online - it's amazing)
Courageous  (she's not afraid to tell it like it is, about art, about life,
         about love)
Extraordinary  (in every way)
Generous  (with her talent & techniques, and her heart, and her
      very self)
Heartful  (I am not sure how to define "heartful", other than to say
      it's just SUZI)
Humble   (she is down to earth, she is never pretentious, and she
      never treats her students like they are anything but ARTISTS)
Loving  (you can just feel the love that emanates from Suzi - for
      animals, for people, for her art)
Soulful  (Suzi gets right into the nitty-gritty of life, along with
      sharing her soulful love of all animals)
Talented  (this goes without saying!)
Whimsical  (way fun, way creative, way way way ... Suzi !!!)

And THAT, my friends, is how I would describe Suzi Blu - if you haven't yet, do look her up and SIGN UP FOR ONE OF HER ONLINE WORKSHOPS.  And if you are fortunate to live anywhere near Suzi, sign up for a class with her "live and in person".  I promise you a great time :-) ...

Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

UPCOMING CLASSES I'LL BE TAKING

"Josephine" ...
a mixed media piece done (by me!) in a Chris Cozen workshop earlier this year.

Dear Princess Magpie friends:

So as the year draws to it's close, I am gearing up and looking forward (SOOOO forward !!!) to a 4-day ART RETREAT with my friend, Ann Deakers. We'll be at AN ARTFUL JOURNEY { http://www.anartfuljourney.com/retreats/feb2010/index.html } in Los Gatos, California, where we are signed up to spend the entire Retreat getaway under the "tutelage" of artists KELLY RAE ROBERTS and MATI ROSE McDONOUGH. We're very excited - it will be the first mixed media Retreat for both of us, and the first "swap" experience for us each as well. So much newness, so much to learn, so much to do !!!

Kelly Rae Roberts & Mati Rose McDonough - above - photo by Denise Andrade

In the interest of feeling as prepared as I can {you know Princess Magpie: always 'reading, researching, learning all I can about a technique} for said Retreat in February 2010, I am focusing my art goals on learning what I can that will see me ready as I can be (for a new mixed media kinda girl such as myself) for the FUNKY CHUNKY COFFEE TABLE BOOK project we will undertake with Kelly and Mati. Ooooh, it sounds sooooooooo F.U.N. !!!!!

I have just signed up for "COLOR MIXING" with Chris Cozen, a fabulous mixed media artist who teaches for Golden (the product line of acrylics that I just love) ... and I'll also be taking her "FAUX ENCAUSTIC" (ie, faux beeswax effect) class. Both, at STAMPING DETAILS right across town in Poway. Check out their website at: http://www.stampingdetails.com/ for Class details.

here, Chris Cozen teaching a workshop thru San Diego Book Arts / 2009

and below, an assortment of finished / unfinished pieces that I created in

a Chris Cozen workshop / 2009

(that's all in one day, folks!)

I also signed up for BEGINNER'S ALTERED BOOKS, with instructor Pat. Also at Stamping Details, this workshop is meant to introduce us beginners to techniques like cutting a niche, making windows, creating special cover effects, giving color to the pages in various ways, using glass and wire, making pop-ups (oh my!), adding embellishments, doing image transfers, and more! (more!? how could there be more than all that !!!). That class will be held 11 am - 4 pm on Sunday, November 29. { Yup; it's right after Thanksgiving, which I anticipate will be more joyful and filled with THANKS-givings than in years past.}

So ... I do hope you'll join me at one, two, or all three of these workshops.

a group of happy Chris Cozen students / 2009 / San Diego Book Arts weekend

and below, a whole bunch of fantastic Chris Cozen pieces ... ooh la la !!!

I'm a big fan of EVERYTHING at Stamping Details -- and you already know how I admire the work of CHRIS COZEN ... don't miss out! You'll be SOOOOOO glad you signed up. :-)

-- Princess Magpie

LES PETITE DOLLS JOURNAL class - today - with the amazing SUZI BLU !!!

Yes, that's right ... Suzi Blu is teaching a full day of LES PETITE DOLLS to the fortunate 16 (or so) of us that registered for her workshop. TODAY. I am SO freeeeeeking excited !!!!!

If you don't live in So Cal, or you can't make it to a class, or her next class(es) fill up before you can blink your googley eyes, well, then, YOU CAN PURCHASE A KIT from Suzi ... yup, that's right. VISIT HER Les Petite Dolls Acadamey right here: http://suziblu.ning.com/ and give it a look-see.

Or visit her BLOG right here for more info on that PARTY GIRL kit (shown above): http://www.suziblu.blogspot.com/

If you want to "paint pretty girls", as Suzi calls her fantastic Petite Dolls, then this is an artist you want to look in to .... I'm hoping she will teach again (and again) at STAMPING DETAILS in Poway - which is where today's class is being held. Some of the best workshops I've attended are held right there at Stamping Details - I love what they offer!

Lots of photos will be taken today, so check back later for PICS and the whole STORY.

Your very excited and happy ...

Princess Magpie (aka, Davielle)

ART SUPPLY QUEST from Mixed Media Class 2/23/09

So much inspiration comes from taking an art class ... not just from the finished pieces, but from the conversations as well. Products Used & Inspiration Found & Techniques Discovered were three key themes in this Monday's MIXED MEDIA with JANE LA FAZIO class.

Michaelanne & I have been shopping, both physically and on-line, for some of the products that we've learned of in this class - some products are quite pricey {printable canvas} and so, worth searching for a better pricepoint.

Me, being the neophyte in this class of talented artists, found the GOLDEN website very helpful the other night:

http://www.goldenpaints.com/products/medsadds/mediums/index.php

And when I take the workshops with Chris Cozen, who teaches for GOLDEN, at Stamping Details {Poway, CA} in March, I know I'll learn so much more ... they do carry a nice selection of Golden product there, too. FYI.

IF YOU MISSED MY POST EARLIER about those workshops, here is the link to Stamping Details March calendar:

http://www.stampingdetails.com/events/cal/cal_0903.html

ON TO PRODUCTS:

Judikins DIAMOND GLAZE, which is what Linda told us she used to adhere some tiny BEADS to one of her projects, early on in our journey with Jane ... I found it online at the following:

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/EP8848146.htm?utm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google

http://www.createforless.com/Judikins+Diamond+Glaze+10+oz/pid88110.aspx?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cse

Here's the link to the DIAMOND GLAZE FAQ {frequently asked questions}:

http://www.diamondglaze.com/dg_faq.html


RE: Printable Canvas

SINCE I HAVE NOT TRIED PRINTING ON CANVAS / FABRIC, I CANNOT VOUCH FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, NOR CAN I RECOMMEND A PARTICULAR BRAND {those of us in Jane's class should ask Linda what brand she used for her project last week ...}:

Fredrix Desktop Inkjet Canvas (8 1/2 x 11 ") - 6 sheets @ $12 :
http://www.rexart.com/tar_desktop_canvas.html

Assorted grounds (cotton, linen) for printing on "fabric" found here:
http://softexpressions.com/software/notions/VWInkjetPrint.php#lin


Remember the beautiful book that Linda used for her CHAIR inspiration, "Revealed" by Carolyn Quartermaine? Here's a link to that lovely find:

http://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Quatermaine-Revealed-Rizzoli/dp/0847820335

And Nancy showed us a book, GOING BACK HOME, that spoke to her recently:

http://www.childrensbookpress.org/ob/going.html

And JANE has a very nifty THREAD/EMBROIDERY FLOSS organizer called "Floss Away" by Nordic Needle - here's that link:

http://www.nordicneedle.com/PROD/E25-00-00/6554.html

There - that should get everyone going on their hunt for things they can't live or create without!

-- Princess Magpie

GREAT LOCAL SCRAP / ART SUPPLY STORES - Poway CA

Hey, crafty friends --

I discovered two scrapbook shops in POWAY, CA over last weekend -- and I was super impressed with both.

STAMPING DETAILS on Midland Road, www.stampingdetails.com ... which had a lovely assortment of rubber stamps, inks, alcohols, transfers, rub-ons, papers, Golden products (matte medium, gesso, soft gel, etc ...), etc. In addition, they not only OFFER really cool classes & workshops, but they have FANTASTIC SAMPLES of the projects one will undertake IN those classes and workshops on display. There were several wonderfully kind & helpful employees on hand last Saturday to steer me in the right direction, and one even gave me, a first-time visitor, a little guided TOUR of the place. I am most excited about the CLASSROOM SPACE they have - excellent lighting, a great table, decent chairs {this is important, you know, when you're going to be sitting there for hours ...} and best of all - they keep class sizes to a small number so everyone gets individual attention and enough space to work. Sigh.

and COOL SCRAPBOOK STUFF on Poway Road, www.coolscrapbookstuff.com ... this place was a bit overwhelming when I first walked in, but everyone who works there was SOOO nice, and the store is layed {laid?} out in a nice, this-makes-sense sort of way. They carry wonderful product lines, they have plenty of product, and it's a BIG STORE, with something for everyone. They, too, have classes -- although I did not check out their classroom space.

I love living on the coast, but it's nice to know that within 30 minutes, I can be in Poway, shopping at my two new favorite spots. :-) BIG SMILE.

your happy ...

Princess Magpie