What a Weekend!

Detail of a scarf made by Kate G.

Whew...what a weekend! Busy but fun. I took part in three events and had the chance to teach, demo and have great conversations. I even sold a number of copies of Fabric Printing at Home!

On Thursday, I taught three back-to-back "print your own scarf" mini-workshops at Stifel & Capra. What a great time! I had thirty students in total...and thirty very different and original scarves. Students printed with vegetables, hot glue on cardboard blocks and a number of my hand-carved Speedy Carve blocks. Here's a small sampling...

Thanks so much to Theresa Stifel for hosting the workshops and to my great friend, Laura Freeman for assisting me throughout the night (Laura...you're a rock star!).

On Friday night, it was Artfete, The Art League School's Open House event. There was live music, food, art exhibits, teacher demonstrations, a ceramics and a jewelry sale featuring work by teachers and students and even a fashion show! I had fun demoing and having people come by and make print blocks and print fabric (they could also print with my print blocks too). I had a number of my fabrics on hand to show and of course, books to sell! My wonderful friend, Kathy Scripka was helping me and schmoozing...getting people to sign up on my email list and even sold a couple of books!

Carving her first print block!

A fabric designed by a patron using some of my print blocks.

Saturday, I headed to the Artistic Artifacts Open House and Pop Up Holiday Market for more demos. The shop was "abuzz" with shoppers! Owner, Judy Gula, went all out with delicious goodies and the shop was chock full of its usual wonderful merchandise! The second floor had about ten or so vendors...each with uniquely crafted items. I couldn't help but purchase just a few things (especially some amazing Japanese silk and metallic thread hanks!).

My little demo board.

A sweet fabric designed by one of the vendors at the Pop Up Market

So...I'm tired but happy! I had a number of interesting conversations and made some new contacts that may lead to future teaching engagements...all very exciting! Hope you're enjoying your own "holiday happenings"!

Spreading Some Creative Cheer

Detail of a scarf printed with carrots and turnips.

I'm gearing up for a big end of the week! I have three events planned and if you happen to live in the Washington DC area, I hope you'll stop by and join me for one (or more) of them!

On Thursday, I'll be at teaching some mini-workshops at Stifel & Capra in Falls Church, Virginia. Sign up for a session of Kitchen Couture: Print Your Own Scarf. This is a great opportunity to take a printing workshop with me and walk away with a beautiful hand-printed scarf for only $10!!! I'll also be signing copies of Fabric Printing at Home. Pair the book with an additional scarf blank and you have a great gift for a crafty friend or family member!

I spent yesterday printing scarves in my studio. I'm going to have some veggies "blocks" available for participants, as well as hot glue, foam and carved blocks. I'll be demoing some printing "how-to's" and then you'll get a chance to play!

Here are some of the scarves I made.

Sign up for a time slot to save your spot.

On Friday night from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, I'll be demoing fabric printing at Artfete--The Art League School's annual Open House (Alexandria, Virginia). This is always a happenin' event...art exhibitions, demos, live music, food, jewelry and ceramic sales and even a runway show! Stop by my table and try your hand at printing. I'll have a number of copies of Fabric Printing at Home on hand and am happy to personally sign one for you!

Saturday, I head to the Artistic Artifacts Open House and Pop Up Holiday Market (Alexandria, Virginia). The event goes from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, I'll be there from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. I'll  be demoing veggie printing and other techniques from my book. Judy Gula will have copies of Fabric Printing at Home on hand...which I will, of course, sign! This should be great fun and I'm looking forward to seeing all the wonderful art and craft work for sale at the Holiday Market.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

Open House Fun!

I spent Friday evening and Saturday afternoon demoing at two open house events. It was a great opportunity to show prospective students some of what I teach and to show off my new book, Fabric Printing at Home! I was also running some giveaways...and who doesn't love a great giveaway!

 I was so lucky to have my wonderful friend, Kathy S. helping out on Friday night at The Art League School Open House and Holiday Party (aka Artfete). What a super saleswoman she is! Her "job" was to talk to people about the special giveaways...one being offered by my publisher, Quarry Books and one by me. Quarry's giveaway was a really nice blank journal featuring collaged images from their line of books with a sticker about my book on it. They also had an opportunity to win some of Quarry's published books. My giveaway featured two different packets of hand printed fabrics. Folks had great fun picking out journals and ooing and ahing about the fabrics. Kathy gathered names and email addresses for my publisher's craft newsletter (Craftside) and also for Julie B Booth Surface Design News. By the end of the night, Kathy reached her goal of two completed sheets of information! (Yippee!)

I had great fun chatting with people, talking about and demonstrating printing techniques. I put out lots of fabric samples to entice people. Some of my students stopped by and many new prospective students who I hope to see in a future class. The highlight of my night was printing the "gatto" block with a pair of sweet  3-year-old identical twin boys who only spoke Italian. I gave each one of them their printed piece and they were beaming with lots of "grazie"s!

Saturday's open house at Artistic Artifacts was equally gratifying...if on a smaller scale. I continued the signups and giveaways. I met a number of interesting and generous teachers who shared their skills with customers (and with me) with take away projects. I focused on veggie printing and chatting up my upcoming class, Fabric Printing at Home: A Kitchen Sampler. I think that customers (and teachers and staff) got the biggest "kick" out of printing with corn-on-the-cob. I got so involved in the activities that I forgot to take photos!

All-in-all a very rewarding weekend!