SHARING ART PROJECT STORIES, IMAGES, AND TIPS

SHARING ART PROJECT STORIES, IMAGES, AND TIPS

by Lynne Suprock

I have had a blog hiatus here in Simply Pretty Stuff land.  I had been on a how-to blogging role, while on the Amazing Crafting Products team, awhile back.  However, life spilled over a bit this past year... like too much fizz from a root beer float.  The fizz tastes good and is easy to enjoy, but there is a sticky mess that sometimes occurs  when it spills over.

Life can be sweet, but there are belly aches and clean up after the the fizz sometimes.  Sometimes its like that, right?   Choices need to be made, and responsibilites are always at hand. between the fizz and the table mess. there is the want of balance with it all.

So these past months were filled with sweet inspiration and blessings indeed......creating Art, publishing, teaching and connecting.  But on the flip side, there were dark, sticky days, emotional family storms, and loss of a very precious one, who had not had the chance at life's very first breath.  There are no words for this.  There is no forgetting this.... but as I said, life is about balance and memories, whether they be happy or sad, are part of what we strive to balance in our lives.

OK...........so, upon my return to blogging, I have decided to begin a sharing journey, featuring a few pet projects.   I already get to do some of this sharing when I write and am fortunate enough to get those articles featured in several of the Stampington Magazines.  I so appreciate their dedication to the business of couture, craft and wonderlust.  Their hard working editorial and photography staff are the best, as they give me a platform to share my work in such an inspirational way.  Special thanks to them always for giving me a voice and an opportunity to share!! (here is a link to their FREE projects. Check them out!) 

https://stampington.com/free-projects

I also share when I teach live.  Thanks to the Art-Is-You Mixed Media Retreats, I have been excited to teach on both East and West Coasts, and have been able to meet and surround myself with extraordinary people, teachers and students alike.  Thanks always to Sal and El for those opportunities. (Here is my link to the Fall Retreat.) 

http://www.eatcakecreate.com/stamford/lynne-suprock-putting-on-the-glitz/

Awhile back, as mentioned, my blogging became a vehicle for sharing projects through the ACP team.  This was great fun and insightful to me. I became more comfortable with videotaping how-to's and the applications which allowed yet another form of artistic freedom. Thank you Susan Brown to make this learning and sharing possible. (Here is a link to the ACP blog with lots of inspiring ideas.)

http://amazingmoldputty.blogspot.com/

I think it also very important to mention that I was also lucky enough to discover a different type of sharing in the past two years. It was an eye-popper for me, truely.  My first event was on a whim, but gosh, it is now a must for me to seek out  art nourishment for my soul.  What is better than being in a group of like minds, all gathered with the intent to create?  It never occurred to me to take this time for my own self, to discover even more about my art journey, and how to BREATH as I do it.  We all need to breathe.

Well then, my first art camp, as it were, was with Coleen Colquhoun and Heather Brauner over in NJ.  We made dolls.  It was my FIRST art away from home sleep over (hehe) and doll making experience, and I loved every minute.  I look at my Minerva Penelope Shea doll every day.... I do. Colleen will also be teaching in Stamford, CT this fall, at the AIY retreat.  

http://www.eatcakecreate.com/stamford/colleen-athens-sleeping-fairies/

My second experience found me at ReMe, with Jean Skipper, Jodi Ohl, and Teresa Zurku, taking charge of a fun filled week for a dozen art sisters in flip flops!  It was where I went, not as a teacher, but a total student and groupie, just relaxing, creating and sharing tricks, tips and snippets of my own life with others who enjoyed doing the same, enjoying GREAT food and a few fun cocktails.  

www.remeretreats.com

My most recent experience was with a couple of famous, famous, did I say famous? doll gurus, Marlaine Verhelst and Ankie Daanen, at art sister, Annie Hesse's beautiful art home, in Florida.  I came home with one beautiful doll completed and another as soon as my feet hit the ground off the plane!

http://marlaineverhelst.com/work-eng.htm

http://ankie-doll-art.com/upcoming-workshops/

So here we are.  You guys are out there creating somewhere, and we connect either by design or serendipity.  The thing is that we all matter, we all make a difference, unless we choose not to..... So, from here on in, take some of what I intend to artfully share .....a few images, project inspirations, and some tips, to maybe start a dialog.....with me or with others, and what would be great is to pay it forward, somehow making your difference as you go, as well. xoxo

OK Let's Share:  Prepping For These Enamel Candy Coats

Wow, I have been making little books since 2007.  They were rudimentary at first, and have evolved using whatever media I could experiment with at the time.  These have been one of my favorite things to create since having a shelve of teeny weeny miniatures for my doll house, oh... about 102 years or so ago... only I like much more to wear them now.  I will most likely talk a lot about a lot of the books that I make in my studio.  You will also see a few glittery things, tiaras maybe, and definitely recycled ammo.

For this particular project, I would like to say, that I brought the idea to a friend in a brainstorming session.  We made quite a few samples and ended up co-teaching several classes together, while I wrote the steps creating the book,  she helped me create the beautiful enameling- trial and error and lots of fun. I love the look of these little gems.  They look like candy.  

SOME TIPS:  Before enameling, this or any other piece of copper, cut out the copper using a jeweler's saw. Use your dominant hand and keep your wrist limp as you move the blade up and down.  Be sure to match your blade with the gauge of copper. Sand the copper, and then wipe clean with alcohol, or use a product called Penny Brite, before applying the enamel with a sifter.  ALWAYS WEAR A MASK WHEN ENAMELING because you do not want to breath in the fine glass dust. 

Follow me on FB where you can instant message me with any questions.  

Stay tuned for Segment Two with more stories, images, and tips throughout the weeks and months ahead.