Flea Market finds/Sept. Class schedule

Greetings everyone,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I spent the entire weekend in found object bliss. On Saturday I went to a great place in San Francisco called Scraps. Its a scroungers creative reuse center and sheer heaven! The center takes in all kind of donations of "stuff" and they resell it at very affordable prices. Its a great place for teachers to buy for the classroom. On my way there I garage sailed all the way up the coast. On Sunday it was time for a visit to the Alemany Flea Market also in San Francisco. Here are some of my finds:

And that's just some of the stuff I found! Ok I'll admit that I did get a little carried away. And I'd do it again in a minute!

I also wanted to post my September class schedule. Here are all the particulars:

Saturday Sept. 5th Black Gesso Where: Scrapbook U in Fremont Description: In this third Gesso class we will experiment with black Gesso and pair it with collage. Not only can you make designs in Black Gesso, it is also the perfect ground on which to apply iridescent and interference colors. Please bring scissors and a variety of paint brushes. All other materials will be supplied. Come and Play! Time: 11:00am to 2:00pm Fee: $40.00 To sign up for this class please call Scrapbook U at: 510 490-5065 Please see class samples attached above Saturday Sept. 12th Rubber Stamped Dominos Where: Scrap-it in Santa Cruz Description: Did you know that you can rubberstamp on a Domino? Well you can and in this class you will learn two different methods of rubber stamping and coloring dominos. These dominos can then be made into fantastic Jewelry, art pieces or gift items. All materials are provided for this class so come and play! Time: 11:00am to 2:00pm Fee:$30.00 To sign up for this class please email me at Connie@isbjorn.com or call Scrap-it at 831 475-2380 Sunday Sept. 13th Finish your Dominos Where: Scrapbook Depot in San Carlos Description: Do you have a ton of Dominos that are just laying around? Would you like to learn some ways to make great gifts out of your wonderful creations? In this class we will learn to Drill holes with a dremel and add free form wire work and beads. We will also learn to make ribbon necklaces using your dominos. Please bring your unfinished Dominos. These Dominos should be varnished and ready to go. I will bring some stamps so that you can stamp more dominos and finish them at home as well. Come and Play! Time: 12:30 to 3:30pm Fee:$35.00 To sign up for this class please call Scrapbook Depot at 650 592-2767 Saturday Sept. 19th Designs in Gesso Where: ArtMax in Seaside Description: Further exploring the use of Gesso as texture we will create a small canvas with Gesso and collage. We will stamp into, stencil with and draw freehand in gesso. Will you choose to color your Gesso or leave it white? Please bring scissors and a variety of Paintbrushes. Come and Explore! Time: 11:00am to 2:00pm Fee:$40.00 To sign up for this class please email me at connie@isbjorn.com Sunday September 20th Black Gesso Where: Scrapbook Territory in Berkeley Description: please see above Time: 11:00 to 2:00pm Fee: $40.00 To sign up for this class please call Scrapbook Territory at 510 559-9929 Please see samples attached above. Saturday September 26th Pumice Gel Where: La Di Da café in Half Moon Bay Description: coming soon Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00pm Fee: $35.00 Class samples coming soon If you wish to sign up for this class please email me at connie@isbjorn.com

I hope to see you all soon!

Classes this weekend

Greetings everyone!

I taught two classes this weekend. First was the Texture for Collage Artists class at ArtMax in Seaside California. I saw many wonderful textures created and experimented with on Saturday. My hopes for this class is that it will open a whole new world in collage

for my students that way it has done for me. I want to thank Manager Germain and the wonderful staff at ArtMax for again allowing me in their great shop to present this class. I also want to thank the students that attended this class. I don't know about them but I had a blast!

On Sunday I taught Designs in Gesso at Scrapbook Territory in Berkeley. This was a small group but very creative. You can see two great collage pieces above created in this class. Aren't they wonderful?! Small classes are always fun because I get to play a little too. We collaged, ate chocolate,slopped Gesso and paint all over ourselves and just had fun! I want to thank the students for attending this class as well as the staff at Scrapbook Territory for allowing me to teach in this great shop fllled with many amazing items. I have to admit that I did do a little rubber stamp shopping there as well yesterday-I just couldn't resist!

Classes this weekend

Greetings everyone, I want to remind you all about my classes this weekend. Here are the particulars:

Saturday August 22nd Where: ArtMax in Seaside Ca. Class Title: Texture for Collage Artists Description: In this techniques driven class we will explore ways to add texture to your art work using paint, Gesso, Gel Medium, special texture mediums and Diamond Glaze. Each student will walk out with a tag book of Texture samples to use for future reference. We will be splattering paint so please bring paint brushes and an apron or smock to cover your clothes with. Time: 11:00 to 4:00pm Fee: 50.00 To sign up for this class please email me at connie@isbjorn.com or call ArtMax at 831 394-0565 Please see class examples above.

Sunday August 23rd Where: Scrapbook Territory in Berkeley Class Title: Designs in Gesso Description: Further exploring the use of Gesso as texture we will create a small canvas with Gesso and collage. We will stamp into, stencil with and draw freehand in gesso. Will you choose to color your Gesso or leave it white? Please bring scissors and a variety of Paintbrushes. Come and Explore! Time: 11:00 to 2:00pm Fee: 40.00 Please see class samples above If you wish to sign up for this class please call Scrapbook Territory at 510 559-9929

Great classes this weekend

Greetings Everyone

I hope that you all had a great weekend. I taught two classes this weekend. The first was a Finish you dominos class at Scrap-it in Santa Cruz on Saturday. Take a look at some of the wonderful domino necklaces created! I am almost jealous of the people that are getting these items as gifts! I want to thank all the students that attended this class on Saturday. You made it a total success.I also want to give a great big Thank you to the owners of Scrap-it, Sharon and Penny for hosting this class. On Sunday I taught Fabulous fiber Paste at LaDiDa in downtown Half Moon Bay. I think these collages will speak for themselves.

Aren't these pieces beautiful? I want to thank all the students that stayed so late last night to attend this class. I also want to thank the owner Luz and all her staff for sharing the space for my classes. They make great food there too!

As you can see from all the samples above I just had a great weekend filled with art and wonderful friends.

I hope to see you all soon!

Classes this weekend

Greetings Everyone!

I wanted to take a minute to remind you about my two new classes this weekend. Here are the details:

Saturday August 15th **** Sorry-This class is booked up*** Where: Scrap it in Santa Cruz Class Title: Finish Your Dominos Description: Do you have a ton of Dominos that are just laying around? Would you like to learn some ways to make great gifts out of your wonderful creations? In this class we will learn to Drill holes with a dremel and add free form wire work and beads. We will also learn to make ribbon necklaces using your dominos. Please bring your unfinished Dominos. These Dominos should be varnished and ready to go. I will bring some stamps so that you can stamp more dominos and finish them at home as well. Come and Play! Time: 11:00am to 2:00pm Fee: $35.00 *** For those Dominos that you want to varnish with Diamond Glaze. Please have them already varnished and dried for at least 24 hours so that we may work on them. *** Sunday August 16th Where: La Di Da Café in Half Moon Bay Class Title: Fabulous Fiber Paste Description: In this texture and collage class we will be exploring Fiber Paste. This very versatile medium can be stamped into and stenciled with. It has a paper like texture and is the perfect medium to use with all of those beautiful decorative papers you’ve been hoarding. It can also be used to make “skins” that look like deckled paper. It can be applied with Gesso to mimic paper mache. So come and experiment with this fabulous medium. Please bring paintbrushes and scissors. All other materials will be provided. Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm Fee: $35.00 Note: This will be the last class I teach on a Sunday at La Di Da. The next classes will be scheduled on Saturday nights until the end of the year. If you wish to sign up for this class please email me at connie@isbjorn.com Please see a sample above and more in the post below. I hope to see you this weekend!

Weird Stuff

Greetings everyone!

Ok I had to blog about this new texture paste from Golden that I have been experimenting with.

It's called Fiber paste and it just weird stuff. You would think that fibers would be smooth. But no if you smooth it down it takes on a gritty surface with a little sparkle to it! It's a ton of fun to make skins with. When you pick up the skins check out the back-they look like plastic but the front looks more like paper. You can stencil with it and stamp into it. If you brush Gesso over it, it mimics paper mache. It takes paint like watercolors. And when you add iridescents and interference colors it really plays up the fiberous texture. It also pairs well with all the beautiful hand made papers you're hoarding! Check out the samples above.

Very weird stuff!

Class yesterday

Greetings everyone!

I had a wonderful class yesterday. I taught the last beginning collage class for this year at Scrapbook U in Fremont. As usual I almost forgot to take pictures and missed a couple of student's work. But I did manage to snap three images just before the rest of the students walked out the door. Aren't these collages wonderful? Once again I was blown away by the level of talent in this class. For several of the students this was their first exploration of collage.

I want to thank all the students that attended this class yesterday. I just had a wonderful time and I hope you did as well.

I also want to thank Monica Martinek and her always friendly and helpful staff for allowing me to teach at Scrapbook U.

Beginning collage class

Greetings everyone! I wanted to take a minute to remind you about my class this weekend. Here are the details: Saturday August 8th Where: Scrapbook U in Fremont Class Title: Beginning Collage Description: Using the principles of composition we will explore ways to break through artistic barriers to discover the infinite possibilities of you! We will start by learning how to use acrylic paints and mediums and progress to gradually more textured backgrounds. Finally we will create simple collages using the techniques and principles discussed in class. Please bring your favorite scissors and paintbrushes. All other materials are supplied including instructions and a large collage pack of items to use in class or take home. **Note-this will be a condensed and more advanced version of my Beginning Collage 1 & 2 classes for the students that already have some collage experience. Time: 11:00am to 4:00pm There will be a ½ hour to 1 hour lunch break for this class. You can bring your own lunch or there are restaurants in the nearby mission district. Fee:$50.00 If you are interested in signing up for this class please call Scrapbook U at 510 490-5065. *****note: this will be the last beginning collage class that I teach this year so if you are interested in beginning collage this will be your last opportunity to take this class for awhile**** I hope to see you in class!

Random image

Greetings Everyone, I found another rather random but cool item this weekend in Santa Cruz. Yes its a surfboard mail box! Only on the coast.

Dominoes, Dominoes and more Dominoes!

Well as you can see above I taught two wonderful dominoes classes this weekend! Check out the dominos created by the classes above!-I think the work speaks for itself. I have to say I'm a little put out though. I think their dominoes are better than mine!

I want to thank all the very creative students who attended my classes this weekend. I had an absolute blast and I hope they did as well.

I also want to thank the owners and staff at both locations: Scrap-it in Santa Cruz and Scrapbook Depot in San Carlos for allowing me once again to teach in these great locations.