Cut 'n Paste

Playing with dolls

I don't know about you, but it seems like every year things start to get a little bit crazy around this time. Working in the paper crafts industry, our major trade show of the year is always in January, so it makes the fall very busy and stressful. I have always thought that the person who decided that the major trade show should be in the New Year just wasn't thinking as it makes Christmas - which is already a busy time of year - absolutely crazy!

Anyways, like many of my colleagues, things have been really busy here, which means that I have not had a lot of time to generate blog posts. However, I thought you might like to see the doll head I purchased while in Oregon earlier this month for the art retreat. It has been many months since I added a baby to my collection, but this one was too sweet to resist.

Fall Art Camp Double wrap bracelet

(Photo by: Tiffany Kirchner Dixon)

Two posts ago, I mentioned that I had attended Terri Brush's Fall Art Camp on Nov 8-12. It was such a fantastic weekend of friendship and inspiring crafting projects. I was able to complete 2 of the 3 event projects during the weekend, and I would have had time to complete the third one but I wanted to use something that I had at home in it. So I put it aside and worked on some 'just for fun' projects instead.

One of the event projects was a double wrap bracelet as seen in the image above. It combined leather or velvet ribbon as the bracelet base, a metal piece that we stamped a saying into, and finally a chain that we were taught to make. While I liked Terri's samples, I wanted to do something a little softer - more shabby-chic. One of the things I love about Terri's event is that you are given the class supplies, but if you want to do something completely different, you are welcome to do so. So I decided to use a wider piece of leather as my base and include some beads and sparkle in my chain.

About a year ago, I saw the bracelet (seen below) on Pinterest (shamless plug here - if you are on Pinterest, come and check out my pins!). I loved the saying and knew that someday I wanted to use it on my own jewelry project. Once presented with the bracelet workshop at Art Camp, I knew right away that this was the perfect time to use the quote. Unfortunately, the item is no longer on etsy, so I do not know who to give credit for the inspiration to. If you know the original artist, please let me know so that I can give the appropriate credit.

Source: etsy.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

So, using Terri's project and the saying from the etsy bracelet, my finished bracelet looked like this:

I am in love with this thing. It is soft and pretty and a reflection of my faith. I am totally digging the double wrap too. I had never made one before, so it was great to learn how.

To my US friends and readers, I hope that you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Callum - Delta, BC newborn photographer

I had the pleasure to take this little guy's newborn photos a few weeks back and couldn't wait to share them with you here on the blog. Each time I take newborn photos I am reminded how challenging, yet rewarding it is. It has become a passion of mine and I am working really hard to improve and grow, and I hope that with each shoot I highlight here on my blog, you can see that I am doing so ☺

Back from Art Camp

I came home last night from an amazing weekend of camaraderie & creativity at Terri Brush's Fall Art Camp. Terri is a sweet and generous host, and the weekend was so much fun. I was able to make some awesome class projects, do some antique shopping/hunting (where I found some good finds), connect and renew friendships with friends like Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon and Wendy, Candy and Diane from one of my favorite stores in the whole world, Melrose Vintage,  and of course meet and make many new friends.

Our Art Camp house was right on the Oregon beach and it was gorgeous. After snapping this picture from the back deck of the home, I decided to put away my camera and concentrate on just having fun for the rest of the weekend. Once I photography the projects I made at camp, I'll share them here on my blog, but right now, they are still packed in my suitcase.

If you are looking for your own creative escape, I invite you to check out Terri's Spring Art Camp, April 11-15, 2013. I will be teaching, along with Terri and the amazingly talented Amy Hanna, and the special guests will be Melissa Frances and Jenny Doh.