MaryJo McGraw

I went over to Merc art too and Picture show and Artful illusions I got out more than I thought Mostly to just say high to everyone!

Fabulous summer weather this weekend. It couldn't be better. I took a drive around the lake this morning and did a bit of work on my stepping stones. It's hard to get anything done in the house when it is so nice outside. I did promise a Stampaway report so.... here goes... My plane was late getting into Cincinatti so Elaine and I got a later start than planned. We still managed to get in a full day of antique and thrift stores then a quick stop at the hotel and a BBQ dinner with Mike and Chris Meador. After a full day teaching the show opened Friday night(Elaine had the Carmen's Veranda booth completely set up) and we were busy,really busy. As always everyone was friendly and excited, chatting and catching up with all the regulars is always my favorite part of Friday night. As usual I did not get out of the booth much although I did manage to get over to CoffeeBreak Designs where Mike had many new things including some very cool new stencils, some little masonite laser cut...

Well, Stampaway USA another rip roaring success for 2009. It is the GREAT show. If you can only go to one stamp show this is it. Elaine (Carmens Veranda ) and I had a wonderfully busy and funfilled whirlwind trip again this year. I will try to get in a more detailed report this weekend.... THIS week is Spokane Stampers Wed at 5:30 and we are carving rubberstamps so come with a design you would like to carve, something small and be ready for some fun!

Stampaway USA is coming up fast! Next weekend to be exact so I am packing carefully and getting ready for the whirlwind.One of my classes is not quite full yet so I thought I would post a picture that shows what is to come in "Ink Techniques" www.stampawayusa.com or call the store directly for details 513-793-4558 Also coming this month is a class I have been asked for many times FAST and Funky Portraits for which the sample is the header of my blog. August 22-23 call the store SAS on Monroe for details 800-556-5568. Kathy Simmons of Apropos will now be teaching monthly classes at SAS call the shop for details 800-556-5568. The first class is a beautiful Basic Grey box. On the homefront I am cleaning my studio like crazy trying to organize and sort so I don't duplicate reordering supplies. Its always a challenge....what to toss out, what to keep, how to label it so you can find it again. You all know how it is. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

We have not heard yet about the new ship for a possible 2010 cruise yet! PINS and NEEDLES as soon as I know anything I will post it, I swear.

Wow I am sorry it has taken me so long to post something. After coming back from California I have just been caught up in day to day work and catching up on the yard! Its amazing how fast things grow and how 10 days of not going out to weed create a big pile of chaos! I have spent the last 2 weeks weeding like mad and planning classes for the next few months and deciding where I want to travel next year. All these things must get done in the next week or two.Oh and download some new photos. Stampaway ( August)is coming up fast so is our Spokane show the Great Art Adventure (Sept) and Gary Burlins show (Oct)will be here before you know it too! So having said all that I don't remember how I use to do the traveling every weekend now that I am home most of the time I seem to have just as much (or MORE)to do. It is nice to be home where everything is blooming.

Get there early we are expecting some new folks and that $50 shopping spree drawing!!!!!!! If you did not recieve the newletter give us a call at the store.

In the meantime some garden photos since that is what I am working on every dang day.Too wet to mow this weekend but got transplanting done and some vegetable in. all the iris are blooming now.

Lots going on as usual My classes down in Gardena at the JudiKin warehouse is filling so if you are in the area don't miss it! We are starting a Technique Tuesday at the Creative Element in CDA its like our Studio Play classes downtown. Only $10 bucks lots of fun learning about a specific medium (this month is molding paste)or mixed media technique once a month.and you can just show up don't bring a thing.4:30pm Studio Play is this week on Wed June 10th at the Downtown SAS starting at 5:30pm This month is GARNet Gel

Play with the layout of this blog!!! I get bored and want to try new things and then get lost in fonts and such. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have it figured out.

Don't forget your Journals and inchies! We will be doing Laminate Transfers so if you have a favorite magazine pic or fancy giftwrap you like, bring it.

Here is an old article I wrote for Altered Art Magazine. This is great fun for a hot summer day Playing with paint and paper Having lived in areas of the country where I had limited access to fabulous paper to purchase I began to experiment with paints and household papers like paper towels, brown paper bags, tissue paper and yes even toilet paper. By using a variety of paints and mediums you can create incredible looking papers for all your altered projects My first preference for creating a faux handmade paper is plain old paper towel. Lay paper towel on a craft sheet so that it is easy to pull off when dry. Start by painting on a thin layer of gesso. While the gesso is still wet add in any acrylic paint for a bit of base color. Allow this to dry well. Once dry, paint on a high gloss metallic glaze. ( Glazes dry more slowly than regular acrylics) Before the glaze dries take a dry rubberstamp apply it to the surface of the wet paint and pull off. Dry off the stamp between application...

Check it out. New classes through the summer and into the fall. Check out the ONGOING list for quick, cheap and (for those who find it hard to commit)Non Sign up sessions, JUST show up! I have an ALL NEW Mixed MEdia 2-day workshop in JULY with new techniques and mediums to focus on. Altered Books and Visual Journals at Creative Element July 18th for only $40 10-4pm I will be heading to Cincinnati for STAMPAWAY USA in August. AND for those of you just dying to come out to Spokane our ART/Stamp Show here in September The Great Art Adventure info will be coming out in the next week or so stay tuned!

DT Spokane Art Supply tonight come join us if you are in town . Our project is Glass bead Gel and Absorbent Ground White. Thanks to all my Inchie Folks last night I hope you all enjoyed it and I know you made loads of Inchies.

Lots happening this week..... as always. Tuesday Night $20 First there is still a bit of room in the Inchies class at Creative Element in CDA. If you would like to join in give us a call at the store today! 208-667-0813. If you have not done Inchies they are very QUICK and Easy fun! Wednsday Night Studio Play at the SAS on Monroe (downtown Spokane) 5:30pm $10 Join me for some fast mixed media fun with Glass Bead Gel and Acrylic Ground. You don't need to bring a thing just yourself to try out two mediums!

Lots of Rain last night, thunder and lightning too, its been a while since we had a big storm like that so I know if I can get out to dig a bit this afternoon everything will be soft and easy to work. It seems like spring is really here now everything is turning vivid green and the grass needs mowing already.Daffodils and tulips are up and most of my perennials are sprouting nicely even the delphiniums look great! It looks like I lost some of my Japanese maples but I am hopeful that the broken stems may rise again. On the work side of things this week end is Cardmakers Blast( DT) next Tuesday in CDA my Inchies Class and Next Wednesday at the DT store is Studio Play. I have gobs of prep work to do and not much time left.Yikes. Next Month I will be briefly in the LA area at the Judikins Warehouse for 2 classes more on that later! Hope you are all having a lovely Spring/summer wherever you are!

Here is another card we will be doing this weekend! This is the chalk resist technique using colorbox chalk and mucho layering. Happy Cinco de Mayo!