Workshop Announcement! Handwired Birdcage

I am very excited to have a class at a new shop that just opened down the street from me in Long Beach called Bella Cosa, please check out her website, her shop is great with something for everyone. Christy Pardini the owner has also created an amazing class space in the shop and I can't wait to have you all there! We will be making a handwired birdcage made from wire fencing I found in my husband the hoarders storage shed (shhhhh don't tell him!). I have so many ideas to share with you from patinas, to glitter, to ribbons and wiring techniques. And add to that a glass or two of wine and great conversation too! This will be a fun class where you will get to use your creativity to make your birdcage your own. Don't feel the creative bug? Don't worry I will walk you though it! So join me... class size is limited so reserve your spot soon at the shop, my website or on the sidebar!- See you soon! Denise

Vacation Pic's

Well this is how our vacation started out. We were here: 

38°50'58"N   110°55'36"W also known as the middle of f@#king Utah. We just stopped to change drivers and Tyler decides to do a donut to peel out of the rest area, loses control and crashes into the curb. All fun and games until we realize the car is now un-driveable. One night hotels stay in Moab-$69, Car rental-$176, Subie repair-$915.... giving my husband shit about this for a lifetime....PRICELESS!

So instead of having my beloved subie to drive through all this weather we hit, we are in a stinky 2 wheel drive Toyota Camry.

Then when it seemed nothing else could possibly go wrong, I go to put the key in door to Tom and Sandies house and Sandie gave us the wrong key! Apparently our love of shopping at thrift stores and creativity aren't the only thing Sandie and I have in common! That is TOTALLY something I would do..(hey in Sandies defense I believe there was a City Market club card tag on the key)

But liuckily Tom had a hide a key- and of course Tyler had to break trail to get down to it..... In waist deep snow !

But finally here...and look at that amazing weather! Isn't Tom and Sandies home amazing? We are so lucky to have such great friends that let us stay here, but we did miss skiing with Tom and Sandie this time, but they were in New Zealand.. it must be nice to take vacation from vacation!

isn't it beautiful? This is the great room.

Love this kitchen too

And the couch and Toms chair...here is where we spend most of our time, resting up after long days on the slopes.

I love all of the vintage ski's and pictures that Tom has hung around the house

Dinner at the Dillon Dam Brewery

Matt and Tyler day one Keystone.

Me at my favorite place, Blue Sky Basin...Vail. Can you believe this spot is 9 miles away from the village we started at?

And of course we took our traditional hot dogs up to the back bowls and barbequed on the grills they have set up back there.

picnic at blue sky

my most brilliant invention- thumbless liner gloves-for cell phone touch pad use! Worked like a charm!

what a beautiful day at Vail.

The boys!

I miss this guy. So I drew a little memorial in the snow for him at the top of Game Creek Bowl-Vail. 

Starbucks Vail Village

Since Tom  was in New Zealand I decided to keep his chair warm for him, and read the paper. (Someone has to do it!)

Breckenridge!

Seriously no way in hell I would ever go up this T-bar, the runs this services some pretty steep walls.

The boys head straight for it!

This pic does not do it justice, these walls are near vertical!

Lunchtime at Breck

There is really just no way to look cool in my ski get up. Its all about being warm and being able to see.

After skiing I hit Magical Scraps.. this shop is so cute, it would be my dream to have a shop like this on Main street in Breck....AND it's right across the street from the Crepe Cart!

I got this cute belt for my friend Audrey who baby sits my doggies... the bag was so cute! That's all for now, one day left to get my craft room organized and get ready for Moulin Rouge, my next big Art event. I can't WAIT! Vacation had some ups and downs... but I wasn't going to let anything get in the way of having a good time regardless.... lifes too short not to enjoy vacation!

-Denise

Workshop Photos- Love Banner at Whimzy!

I had a wonderful time teaching my first class at Whimzy in Santa Ana. I had never been to the shop before even though the owner is also the producer of THE mixed media art show and sale GLITTERFEST. If you have not been to either Whimzy or Glitterfest they are both not to be missed! Sheryl from Whimzy had this great big farmhouse table set up with some delicious cupcakes to munch on. Here are some of my pics, but I took them with my video camera and they did not come out so hot. I can't find my charger for my Canon Rebel so I am dying without it. Today I am taking a much needed day off, I am sick, I am stressed about my real life job, and I have a ton of laundry to do. Oh an did I mention I have 3 swaps to get into the mail today? They are done, just need to mail. The next four days will be sheer hell for me, but then I am off to Colorado again for some much needed vacation time.

{Jane and Leslie}

{Andrea}

{loved this great big table}

{glitter glitter and more glitter!}

{banner stringing}

{Pam insisted she would not finish! But she did!-although she did wait to glue on her vintage buttons, so I guess she is technically right!)

{this was a bonus project a tiny little banner that says SWEET, inpired by the very talented Cynthia Flores}

{this was another bonus project, a sweet little salt shaker with rhinestones and ballerina}

I have recently been inspired by ballerinas after watching this wonderful documentary. I have always been in awe of ballerinas, I loved the little ones that sprung into action when you opened your jewelry box. I will have to start looking at some Degas for even more inspiration. 

-Denise

Belt Buckle Love

Happy upcoming Valentines Day to everyone. Of course I have my valentines Tyler, Juno and Pippi, but I am also in love with these belt buckles I created. I took a day and drove out to my friend Taras house. Tara is the most amazing jeweler. Please pop over to her site to check out her work. I always get inspired by working with talented artists, and being around all of Taras goodies and creations were definitely inspiring! Now I know a lot of people are creating belt buckles like this, but I had one of those "I can make that" moments. But really when do we ever "make that?" But I was not to be deterred! I bought three blanks, headed to Taras and this is what I came up with!  Tara made an adoreable one too, from an old buckle she just magically pulled out of her closet! The great news is that I will be sharing this project with you! i will be doing two workshops, one in April in Rancho Cucamonga, and one in June at Whimzy in Santa Ana. Info will be coming soon!

-Denise

Whimzy Workshop-this Saturday

Hi everyone my LOVE banner workshop is this Saturday from 1-4pm. There are two spots left...but since I only could fit 6, that means I have four lovely ladies joining me. I think we might be done early so I am bringing a few small mini projects to do too. Should be a lot of fun and can't wait for to see Whimzy! Just call the store if you want to come 714-573-1025.
-Denise