CHA...Day 2

 Day 2 of set-up...first stop...Press Room.  Looks great doesn't it?

Next up is the booth...coming right along. 

Kurtis and I are just putting the finishing touches on a few things.

The banner with Lindsay's signature tree and heart.

Miss B is styling in my hubby's hat!

This should do the trick!  Her art looks fantastic on these walls.  Doesn't it just say "Come on in Hallmark and sign her up"?

Oh, those puppies can hurt after a long day!

It's been a great couples of days.  I personally have met some great folks.  Designers, vendors, convention personel...all have been friendly, helpful, and just plain  nice.  That makes for a wonderful start!  Stay tuned for more.

Day 1...Set up

We arrived at the LA Convention Center this morning at the crack of noon.  Car parked and unpacked we started the hardest job of the day...hauling everything into the center.  We got to Lindsay's booth to find we we're missing two of three walls.  But not to worry...Joe, the CES guys, to our rescue and we had our missing walls in a shake.

We created 3 accent panels, then Lindsay sorted,  punched and tied ribbons and directed our activities, Alli and Kurtis began hanging art and I manned the iron.  It took us a while but the booth started coming together by late afternoon,  After a quick trip to Wolfgang Pucks for nourishment we finished up the walls (almost) and decided to call it a day.  Another couple of hours tomorrow and we'll have a complete booth with Lindsays fabulous designs!  Then we're off to a few workshops and maybe a bit of refreshment.

No pics from me today.  I took them but the camera's in the car and I'm too pooped to make the trip to the garage to get it.  But look tomorrow for a peek at the booth and maybe a bit more!  My guess is that Linday will have some pics on her blog tonite so check it out.

So it's off to bed for me after my cheesecake dinner for some sweet dreams...no wait, that's the cheescake...anyway, check back tomorrow for the next chapter in our adventure.




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I've arrived!

We made it down to LA last  night without incident.  Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and down for a good nights sleep.  Today is visiting with my sister and her husband, then tomorrow is a busy day, setting up Lindsay's booth.  No pics today but look for lots once we get set up!

Sunday in the City

We spent yesterday in the city with our youngest son and his family.  We did all the tourist stuff...Alioto's for lunch, Pier 39 to watch the seals and the aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf for the Wax Museum and Ripley's (yes, I know...they talked me into it!),  Lombard Street....a beautiful sunny day.  We're pooped but it was such fun.

Girls in a sea bubble.

Sleeping seals at Pier 39.

                          

Blonde...made of empty food boxes.

A zebra made of athletic shoes.                                                                                 

                                                                                    

My new friend.

Always a good idea!

                                                                                    

Rockin' Wall

Don't know why but I love the rock, the pattern, the sun on this wall at the park.  Could be a new Zentangle!

Need I say more?....

January 23 is National Pie Day.  Those who know me, know I LOVE PIE!.  Almost any kind and almost anytime.  My favorite (at the moment) is Double Lemon Creme.  I remember my Grandmother making pie crusts, her hands crippled with arthritis, working the dough in a way that made you think it would turn out hard and not so tasty.  But it was flaky every time. And the filling was heavenly. She tried many times to teach me but I never had the knack.  I'm always on the hunt for a pie as good as Grandma's...it's a hard job but I'm willing to try as many pies as needed!

A Pile of T's...

I've been applying some of my friend Lindsay's art onto T-Shirts that we'll be wearing next week at CHA.  It's been a long time since I've done so much hand sewing.  I almost forgot how much I love it and how much it hurts my poor old arthritic hands.  But it was worth every minute.  I still have 4 shirts to go and they'll be ready to pack.  We're gonna look great!

This is a tote bag from last years CHA.  I added a "Lindsay Tree" and it will go with me next week.

Another tree with a star.  Perfect for my husbands T-shirt.  Yes... he's going to help us and for that, he gets a T-shirt, too.

Nature...

This fabulous watercolor and ink work was created by my UGRA buddy, Janet Chance, for a friend of hers.  A breathtaking work of art.  Janet, you are so talented.  Thanks for sharing.

Getting ready....

Only 5 more days until we leave for CHA and we're scurrying around finishing up all the last minute details.  Today I'm finishing the T-Shirts that we'll be wearing during the show.  We'll be wearing "Lindsay" art.  Just too, too cute, but what do we expect from the "Creator of Cuteness"?

Best Job in the Wrold

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...I have the best job in the world.  I demonstrate products/techniques at the best craft store in our area...Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames in Grass Valley.  I also teach a few classes.  Can you believe it...I get paid to do what I love!

Today I demo'd a handy little tool from We R Memory Keepers called Sew Easy.   This tool was developed to make stitching on your paper projects simpler   Each Sew Easy Piercer makes a different pattern of holes and allows you many options for stitch design depending on how you thread the embroidery floss through the holes.

The Sew Easy stitch piercer (roller-type tool) creates indentations, or perforations, on your surface. Use the piercing mat to protect your dining table! Then with a handy needle that comes with your tool, and some Sew Easy floss, you can make some hand-stitched, groovy borders, focal areas and embellishments along the tracks that you've made. There are scallop, zigzag, and blanket stitches to name a few.

Try it out...it's pretty cool!

Today was all about helping my friend, Lindsay, get ready for CHA...that's the Craft and Hobby Association Conference and Trade Show that takes place in LA later this month..  She has her own booth this year in the Designer area.  We collated, cut, glued, labeled and  packaged press kits, notebooks, banners, water bottles...lots of great stuff.  By the end of the day we were pooped but it felt good to get so much done.

                                                           Lindsay working on her tree.

Paula collating color books for the press kits.

A guest book.

Claudia is REALLY POOPED!

But it was a great day!

My friend Lindsay and I met at the local mail box shop to send out our Sketchbook Projects.   Check out Lindsay's cute art in the on-line library.   http://arthousecoop.com/users/scribbles1

I had a love/hate relationship with this project.  I loved the idea and hated the pressure to get it done.   But when I decided to let it go and just have a good time with it...all went well.  Will I do it again?...Probably.  In fact, I've already signed up for Pockets, another Art House Co-op project.  This one's a lot easier and just up my alley.  Check it out.  http://arthousecoop.com/projects/pockets 

It's done!

A few more pages from the Sketchbook Project.  To see more visit  http://arthousecoop.com/   The sketchbooks go on tour then will reside in the Brooklyn Art Library.  Tour details can be found at http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/exhibitions .

Great fun and so glad it's done!

Sketchbook Project

Here's a page for the Brooklyn  Library Sketchbook Project. My theme is  "....in 5 minutes."  It's got to be in the mail by the end of this week.  Draw, Karen, Draw!       www.thesketchbookproject.com

A Confession and a Promise

I must confess...I'm terrible about taking pictures of my projects.  Then to make it even worse...I give them away and can't remember what I've done or how I did it!  I have made a promise to myself that I will keep my camera beside my worktable and use it frequently. 

Here's a fun project that I DID photograph.  I took an old 45 record, tied string around it then tucked pieces of an old tissue pattern under the string.  With a plaid ribbon, it looks quite festive.  Thinking ahead to spring, I think pastel tissue paper, maybe with some pretty patterns will add a nice touch to my craft room.  Back to the basement to rummage through my old records!

Old Books, New Life

I love old books and have about a million (well, maybe not quite a million).  Some I read and re-read, others I just love to touch, feel the pages and look at the covers.  So when I first saw an old book made into an art journal, I knew what I was going to do with some of my collection.  These are the first two I "converted".  A small zoo book and an old Hardy Boys adventure.  Removing the front and back covers and keeping a few of the inside pages, I added sketch papers, bound them with my Zutter and now they're ready for new art!  Fun and easy.

Never too late...

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions.  I know myself too well.  BUT, this is a new year and I'm ready to start fresh.  Here's my short list:
1.  Clean out every cabinet/closet in my house...a daunting task but I have all year to finish!
2.  Organize my craft room...keeping it that way will be another issue.
3.  Finish my UFO's.   That's the one that may do me in!
4.  Organize my picture folders.

Right now I'm working on a Zentangle design that somehow got set aside and forgotten.  Stay tuned for the finished piece...soon.

Here a tangle, there a tangle....

I admit it...I'm addicted to Zentangles!  My friend Loretta introduced me to this art form during a get together with some fellow artists a few years ago.  Little did I know I'd soon have stacks of paper and about a million Micron pens, all over my house.   Of course, any normal person only needs a few sheets of paper and one pen but I don't do normal.


For those who don't know, Zentangle is a very detailed looking drawing that is built one stoke at a time.  Simple designs are combined to create amazing pieces of art. It was developed  by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas as a tool to be used by both artists and non-artists.  But the best part is it helps focus your mind, lowers your stress and builds confidence.  

Here's a butterfly I did recently.  


I'll be adding more more tangles but in the meantime, visit zentangle.com to get more information about the process and see some truly wonderful examples.

Welcome!

Hi, my name is Karen and I'm a paper artist.  Welcome to my blog.  I'll be posting art projects from my craft room along with many from my artsy friends.  I'm fortunate enough to belong to a couple of art groups made up of the most talented women around.  I hope you will enjoy seeing their work as much as I do.  As soon as I get better at blogging (yes, I'm a bit behind the times on this) I'll be adding links to my favorite places and maybe a surprise or two.  So stay tuned.  There's more to come soon.

A special shout out to my pal Linsday for getting me started.  Not only is she a talented artist, she's a great friend.  Love ya, Lindsay!