The Creative Connection

Congratulations, you're #1! You've won the contest! You're the best around! As a bridal designer, I use my bouquets and accessories to express brides' unique styles and make them feel beautiful, but I don't think it has to be your “Big Day” for you to feel pretty and special. In this class we will teach you to make a customized prize ribbon. You'll learn some of our signature techniques including hand-ruffling fabric, covering buttons, and basic embroidery. Each kit will also include vintage trims and fabrics from my personal collection to customize your prize ribbon. Once you learn the process, you'll be able to re-create these ribbons with any of your favorite materials at home! These ribbons are great for birthday parties, bridal showers, party favors—or just pin it to your bag to show that you are the best at being you.  ..more »

Based on my popular blog series about art journaling, this creative PLAY workshop is filled with painting, doodling, collage and freestyle lettering jumpstarts. We’ll play with different found objects and materials to make marks and I’ll show you how to build layers on visual journal pages in my graffiti style. You’ll learn about creating prints from handmade stamps and layering techniques for your mixed media creations. The last hour I’ll talk about how to create a blog series from idea creation to content generation and share techniques for creating engaging blog posts. In this workshop you get a little mix of art and business ideas. Check out my artJOURNALING daily blog series!  ..more »

Join Wendy Addison and Kaari Meng, two designers who have been at the forefront of the craft world for years, as they open their archives of old notions, beads, ribbon, glitter, and tinsel and co-teach a fantastical jewelry box and jewelry workshop. Wendy will lead the first half of the workshop with an embellished mache egg box covered in old glass glitter, antique metallic ribbon, and waxed vintage millinery flowers. Kaari will present her vintage glass jewelry kits and teach how to make a wonderful charm bracelet and a pair of special earrings. Basic jewelry techniques include jump ring work, wire looping, and charm making. All materials and tools are provided to make jewelry. Both projects have been developed exclusively for The Creative Connection 2011.  ..more »

Join Wendy Addison and Kaari Meng, two designers who have been at the forefront of the craft world for years, as they open their archives of old notions, beads, ribbon, glitter, and tinsel and co-teach a treasured keepsake box and jewelry workshop. Wendy will lead the first half of the workshop with an embellished keepsake box with a glass shadowbox lid, displaying a vignette of vintage beauties. Kit will include box form, antique wallpaper, Dresden ornaments, antique boullion tinsel, vintage flowers and leaves, message banners, vintage images, and glass dome. Students are encouraged to bring with them any keepsake items, including tiny pictures and tokens, to embed in their shadowbox lid. Kaari will present her vintage glass jewelry kits and teach how to make a beautiful necklace and pair of special earrings. Basic jewelry techniques include jump ring work, wire looping, and charm making. All materials and tools are provided to make jewelry. Both projects have been developed exclusively for The Creative Connection 2011.  ..more »

"This is a book to look at on days that you forget who you truly are, what you want out of life, and what you are about. This will be a very fun and personal art journal that will be a sort of guidebook for your soul...to use when you are feeling lost...ya know? All of the words will be provided...and we will just be cutting and pasting (in the literal sense..with scissors and glue) what speaks to us each as individuals...you just need to bring some cut cardboard, some gaffer tape..and then a whole bunch of stuff to collage on....we will have some fun things for you too, but most of it, you will bring yourself so that it is uniquely yours...." Click HERE for more information  ..more »

Friday class registration closed. Saturday open. Memory crafting is something Big Picture teachers Stacy and Wendy are experts at conceptualizing, with their combined experience of 20+ years in the scrapbooking industry. Spend time in this workshop creating a memory display piece that represents your personal heritage. You will make a button-tufted family tree that will be housed in a hollow frame, made from up-cycled wood. Learn the basics of upholstery tufting, wood staining, and paper crafting. You'll also make the foundation of a mini-album that will be displayed with your piece to tell your favorite family stories. We can’t wait for you to join us in creating an heirloom piece that you will proudly display in your home for years to come!

Pair your favorite found objects with steel wire for a whimsically edgy pendant, ring, or both-in-one! Cage Contender teaches you how to capture any object—drilled or un-drilled, found or unfound—inside an intriguing and fun wire bezel. This transferable technique will work for any number of item sizes and shapes, and with all wire types. Neck ring design and creation is covered along with steel wire manipulation, forging, and finishing!

Materials provided for attendee use in class:

• Tool set designated for use with steel wire
• Hammer and hammering surface
• Files
• Wire brushes and steel wool
• Tissue
• Finishing wax and application rag
• Ring/other mandrels
• White pencil

Do you want to be a published author? Have you ever thought about writing a children's book? There are many ways to achieve that goal. Author and illustrator Marilyn Scott-Waters will explore the rapidly changing world of book publishing, including print-on-demand, self publishing, agents, ebooks, as well as traditional publishing for children. She offers tips on brand building, sheds some light on the entire process of getting published, offers sample query letters, and even gives examples of what not to do! Students are given printed material with resources, tips, and advice.  ..more »

Friday Class-Registration Closed. Saturday Class-Open. Whether you are a novice solderer, or a pro, you will love this collaged pendant. Under the sparkle of a 1 1/2" piece of beveled glass, we will collage with paper and lace, then add a brass crown and hand-stamped personal sentiment. With a simple soldered edge, and finished with a band of crystal chain, your centerpiece will be strung on large crystal rosary chain and embellished with handmade beaded flowers. This is truly an heirloom piece!

Registration Closed. Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, will show you how to create two types of her original bold jewelry pieces. First you'll create an artful affirmation pendant and pin. You'll learn to create the look of cut and fired glass using - melted plastic, photographs and resin. These pins are stunning because of their brilliant colors, uplifting imagery featuring Kathy's chicafied illustrations and heavy shine. Kathy will also show students how to make one large sculpted leather ring that is embellished with paint, gems pictures and buttons.