are you coming or what?

Just in case I haven't screamed it loud enough, I'M TEACHING AT SPARK!!!!

Finally, I get to teach stamp carving. I've wanted to teach it the last couple of years and it just hasn't worked out for one reason or another.

So this year, as a creative partner, I said, "By damn, I'm teaching stamp carving." And Margie said, "So let it be done."

I'm a wee bit passionate about stamp carving. It's so relaxing and rewarding.  It's easy enough to do with your kids. You can take it along on trips because the supplies are small. It isn't expensive.

So, if you are still sitting on the fence about coming to Spark, this is me, yelling for everyone to hear, Come! Please come! We are going to rock the cazbah. We are going to laugh and create and commune. 

You need this. Really. You do.

And I want to teach you to create your own custom stamps. 

That is all.

two things

Two things:

A) Spark registration opened Friday.
B) I had the best birthday to date. Ugly thirty-seven. Who would have thunk it?

Birthday collage by Alisa Holland.

sparky spark spark 2010

It's almost here. Can you feel it?

Autumn means back to school, schedules, crisper mornings, great fashion and SPARK.  Are you coming? Are you excited?

I am. I can't wait to meet everyone.  I can't wait to spark my own creativity.

The tag above is from last year. This year the girls have outdone themselves.  The decor is going to be amazing. The food is going to be delish. And the company, well the company is going to rock. After all, I'm going.  And I'm going to personally make sure everyone has a blast.  There's no wall flowers at Spark, only wild flowers.

Okay girls. Here it is. The big reveal.  Ta da! My class for Spark!

If you haven't done collage before you are going to love it.  We are using stretched canvases and doilies as a base for funky silhouettes.  Come ready to get your fingers in paint and make a mess.

Most of the supplies for my class will be provided with the exception of:

*     a foam brush (if you have manicured nails you might want to bring a couple extra)

*     your own silhouette if you don't want to use those provided (needs to be roughly 4X4")

*     any ephemera you would like to use other than what we provide

*     markers are optional but super fun

*     a fine paint brush 

*     a loose, ready to groove attitude (mandatory)

*     Oh and scissors.

I'm calling my class Journey.  Collage is a practice in letting go of perfectionism and following the twists and turns that happen on your canvas.

I hope you are coming. The best way to make a new friend is to take a journey together.

good news monday

My friend Shana Rae sent me this photo of her daughter, Sophie wearing a Secondsister necklace I made her a few months back.

When I saw it my heart skipped a beat.

I still have a few fiber necklaces in my shop from the Summer collection. Check it.



In other exciting news...

Registration is now open for Spark. I'll be there, with my buddies and my creative juice bubbling. The main classes this year are going to be amazing. According to my sources, the tickets are selling fast so if you are thinking about it you better decide soon. They also added an option to split the payment.

In case you missed the fun last year, here's a short of the magic that took place.

|SPARK| from Jmills ENT. Jeremy Miller on Vimeo.

Oh and also...

this makes me happy.

I love to whistle but I don't do it much anymore because I worry about making the little wrinkles around my lips worse. Nothing says aging quiet like bleeding lipstick.

Today is a day for positive, happy thoughts. If you have good news, I wanna hear it.

Bad news? Save it sister.

triboluminescence

still life by secondsister

triboluminescence: (¦trī·bō·ə′lü·mə′nes·əns) n. 1. luminescence due to friction

Sometimes you need a little friction in your life to bring to light just how wonderful it all is.

Honestly, I thought I'd be more exhausted. I really believed that my creative juices would dwindle with all the extra work and sleeplessness.

Curiously, I feel lit up. I have a million ideas floating around in my brain. I'm having more problems sleeping because of brain buzzing than baby fussing.

I have a new little project I'm working on with some good friends. I'm excited to tell you all about it in a few weeks.

Plans are underway for this year's Spark Event. It's going to be Sept. 10th through the 11th. Mark your calendars now. Margie, Rhonna and Liz are cooking up some amazing surprises for this year.

I've ventured back into my studio and started coming up with new jewelry design ideas.

I'm back baby!

Sure I'm busy, but I'm buzzin'.

And the future looks brighter than ever.

still sparkin' baby!

photo by liz

Liz Katchner created this short that was played the first night of Spark. I think it perfectly sums up what the whole event was all about.

I've been home for an entire week and I've still got my spark on.

I want to publicly thank Margie Romney-Aslett for bringing me on and letting me be a part of this wonderful event. You're my soul sista in more ways than I can count. Love you.

I also want to thank the other Spark girls. Liz, you and Pixel Pop rocked the house. You are the friend I always wanted. Rhonna, pint-sized fire cracker, you sparkle from the inside out. Thanks for sharing some of your sparkle dust with me. Jefra, your photography blows me away! Can't wait to see what you are going to do next.

Can't wait for next year!

FYI

wynona robison

If you didn't heed my advice and come to Spark....

brooke, gladys, margie, me

big mistake. BIG mistake.

Just sayin'.

sidebar flare- you need it

Okay girls.

There are still some registrations slots left for Spark. Why? I haven't a clue. I mean, who wouldn't want to come?

Seriously.

So.

Put this little gem on your blog sidebar, link it to http://www.sparktheevent.com/, and you will be entered to win the earrings above.

They are some of my favorites you know, these earrings.

Also, if you come to your senses and sign up to come to Spark, you will get a second entry.

Earrings plus Spark?

Fabulous.

Leave me a comment on this post letting me know that you linked up and if you are registered to come to Spark. I will announce the winner on Halloween!

a little spark of creativity

Okay guys, here's the deets.

I know some of you are wondering what this Spark thing is that I have been talking about. Go here and all will come to light.

The inspiration behind Spark is this talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf which I think every women should watch.

Photo credit: Jefra Linn

I'll be demonstrating stamp carving and teaching a jewelry making class. The other classes are going to be equally as great. The four ladies behind the event are amazing. I'm totally stoked to be working with such great women!

I created a stamp just for the Spark event.

I want you to come! There is a limited number of spots available so get your trip planned and get your Spark on!

Spark

Thinking you might like to have a Girlfriends weekend away?

Who wouldn't love that?

Check out SPARK.

I'm going and you should too.

Registration starts next week!