MaryJo McGraw

I hope everyone out there had a wonderful Christmas. I still have a few cards to send now for New Years, Ha. We had a bit more snow Christmas day and more to come I am sure but not that record snow we had last week. Yikes More on Copic Markers I have had a few requests for actual code numbers for the 12 pen colors I recommend so here goes BTW these are in the Sketch series but some may also be in the Ciao line black 100 cobalt blue B26 (BLUE) golden yellow Y17 cardinal R59 (blue red) nile blue BG45 ( aqua/ blue green) olive G99 chinese orange YR09 (bright orange) red violet RV19(Magenta/deep hot pink) Walnut E59 (rich umber brown) Iris B79 (deepblue purple) powder pink YR00 (pale peach) apple green G14 (bright yellow green) My choices vary according to what is avaliable at stores and shows,do not ridgedly adhere to these codes they are only suggestions. These are the same choices I would make in paints or any pigments if I was starting fresh. Also remember Copics blend better on coat...

....With snow over the last two days and I am stuck at home for 4 days straight which is a good thing since I have TONS to do. to put this into perspective the bird bath is standing on a stump that is about a foot high and the bird bath itself is 3 feet high!

Is not seeing all the friends I have made through the years all over the country! So CONNIE since you gave me a prompt....that helps me figure out which Connie you are....Thanks. I have that Dark side pin with me in the car pinned to my visor and you can laugh, right next to my St Francis holy card! I am hoping to do a few events this year but with the economy I have a feeling it may only be a couple. So stick with me here instead or come and visit me here for a weekend! My next weekend workshop is a two day bookbinding FEST February 22&23 in Spokane. More info this weekend. Say Hi Connie to everyone in the BAY area!

I have not written a thing for this long DANG! OK so I have been working alot and trying to get things together for Christmas. I got my tree up last weekend and I am still adding bits and pieces to it. I am working on samples and such for different events including my BOOKBINDING weekend in February and Stampaway 2009. Oh and my limited schedule for next year. It just snowed a little tonight should be gone by morning but I need some more wood in...so much to do.... Anyway, Our Spokane Stamp Club meets tomorrow night (WED)Dec 10th come on by if you are in the area it starts at 5:30pm I will be showing Twinkling H2O's amongst other things.

There are still some spots left! This will be the last class of the year in the Spokane area. Call the downtown store for more info ! Transfers. mediums, beeswax and much much more!

I am getting ready for my Mixed Media next weekend at Spokane Art Supply downtown. There is still a bit of room so if you are interested in learning about transfers of all kinds, acrylic mediums and paints and using a variety of media with you paintings ,journals and more give the Store a call 509-327-6622 and sign up. After this upcoming class I should have a bit of a schedule up for next year. I will be doing limited traveling mainly to see family and friends but I am looking to attach a few classes to the trips. Meanwhile the holidays are sneaking up fast so my daughter and I have been glittering some old ornaments up this weekend and checking through the decorations. I will have to start cleaning soon all the wood I have been burning is making it very dusty!!!!

I don't know about you all but I am relieved the election is over and now we can all start looking forward to the future. This past weekend I spent at home preparing for the winter and started planning for the holidays! As always there is a TON of stuff to do and make. We have a fun demo event at the downtown store SAS this weekend. I hope you locals can join us for Girls Day Out. All up and down Monroe St in Spokane the shops are doing specials, sales and demos to get folks out and shopping before the weather gets crazy. We have lots of great little antique shops downtown, At Spokane Art Supply we are running demos on Watercolor, Silk Painting and Altered Art/stamping from 11am-3pm.

here's another from the series. I prefer to work on MDF board or Ampersand gesso board but these were done on Clayboard from the same company. They are the same folks who make Stampboard. It is a very easy surface to work on and they have unusual shapes and sizes.

I just finished a few painting and some jewelry pieces for the Spectrum gallery 33w 34th in Spokane WA. This is my favorite of the paintings. They are having an open house this weekend for anyone who would like to check it out! A big thanks to Ken Morris from SAS downtown for helping me out by taking some pictures!

I don't bother about it too much, LOL! Just use a good solvent based cleaner like JudiKins permanent fabric ink cleaner. I have found it to be the best at getting off hard to remove junk like acrylic paint or totally dried on inks. It is also great for first time use of a stamp especially solid images. This cleaner removes the leftover silcone (from the vulcanizing) which is what causes ink to bead up so badly the first time you ink up. BEWARE, though you folks who use clear polymer stamps this is not the cleaner for you it will melt your clear stamps to jelly!

It was nice to have some new folks at out club the other night .I will check out that rolling burnisher and try to get them before next month's club! Bring a friend next time. For those of you who don't have too much fall color here is a shot of it from Idaho.

Sherri I hope you read this .....Buff the surface of the paper after you apply the MG with a paper towel or tissue. Keep turning the towel and I think you will find the surface much less oily. Let me know how it goes!

It was great to see everyone! Hope you all had fun. Next Month I promise Twinkling H2O's!

Ken M at the main store in Spokane promised me a disc of photos from the show I hope I will get Tomorrow! STAMP Club is Wed night We are trying to start a little earlier 5:30 pm hope all the regulars will be there and a new member or two!

It did wash off after a few day but Robert did a beautiful job on each of the copic tattoos. I am hoping for more photos soon of the event! Meanwhile for the locals remember STAMP CLUB Next week on Wed and my new Drop in acrylic class starts next week as well! More info this weekend.

Check out just one of the things that happened today at the Great Art Adventure....Morgan (who works at the DT store) had Robert McNeill (from Blue Rose Tattoo)draw an incredible dragon on her back with Copic Markers!

BTW we still have room in many of the classes(the class space is big)!

If you are anywhere close to Spokane this weekend head over to Spokane Community College for the Great Art Adventure. There will be lots of demos on all types of painting, airbrush, MaNGA, BODY ART , Rubberstamping and much more.Lots of well known local artists will be there showing there skills and artwork.Great sale items and new products to look at! If you are interested in art you need to come! Check out our website at www.myartsupply.com