I took a few days off from Zinnia and my 'other job' this week. Spent a few days relaxing and hanging out with Ross, Louie and Miko. Today we took a long drive up PCH and took in the beautiful day. We got caught in a few pockets of heavy rain. I'm glad that Ross was driving and has nerves of steel. Here are a few pictures from today. Miss my friends at Zinnia.

Kawaii Book class with Kelly

February 27th Kawaii Book

11 to 3 p.m.

$70

Kawaii has a couple of different meanings in Japanese, but CUTE is the one that stands out. It is also used to define many of various kinds of decorative designer packing tape. In this class, you will get to dig deep into my collection of decorative tape. We will create a one of a kind book with a fun stitch! You will then dive right in learning new and unusual mixed media and collage techniques. We will be incorporating the TAPE onto the pages as we go. If you’ve never used decorative tape before, this is the class for you! If you have a passion and a love for deco tapes, then this is also the class for you! All are welcome! IF you have your own personal tape that you have been itching to use, please bring some to class. But please note, that the teacher does NOT travel lightly and has several huge bags filled with goodies for you to use and enjoy in class.

Supply list: Scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 3 1" brushes to glue and paint (I like chip or bristle brushes)

Encaustic class was a huge fun fest! I wanted to share some pictures from class... Thanks to you all for coming out to play- hope you found a new passion..


Check out those colors!!Tissue paper over tissue paper looks amazing!!

This little lady is ready to do battle with that moth!!

I love being able to see the text through the paper.. so pretty..

This piece- almost hit the round file, but she kept at it and it this picture does it no justice. It came out so amazing. There are a few more pictures at my blog- www.pookieville.typepad.com
Thanks again gang!!!

The layout is wierd but I can't fix it, hope its not too annoying to read.

PLAY DAY

(Obligatory Ali picture)

Hello Friends... I have been an Olympic geek for a week now. Love them. Frankly I enjoy watching raw talent. Kind of like American Idol, raw talent. Any hoodle, I know you would like to know what's new at Zinnia.

This weekend Tamara and I actually had a 'play day'. A 'play day' is a day we actually craft and play with product. Sad to think that we haven't been able to have a 'play day' for a while. We realized that the last time we were able to play was for a day or two in February last year as we prepared for the "Heart Break Show". Pathetic actually, but with the shows, the move and life it isn't as easy as we'd like.

This week we got in our order Lisa Pavelka product. Bezel charms, earrings and rings along with a cool product, 'Magic Glos'. Many of you are super artists and have already found and used this product. Well I haven't and I was able to enjoy it like a favorite toy at Christmas day. Okay check this out... we played with this product making pendants, rings and cabochons. Picture below. I have always been fascinated with resin and the final result. However, different from working with resin which is not forgiving and has a lot of rules; this stuff is easier than painting my nails. We used a UV light to dry the gloss and set each layer. There is no heat as the light is the same that is used at the nail salon to speed up the drying of the nail polish. It dries in direct sunlight too but we didn't get a chance to try it because it was rainy and gloomy all day Saturday. These are some of the pictures of our results after playing and experimenting.

Both of these samples are 'Magic Glos' poured onto a flat brass. You can

create a flat or domed cabochon by layering and letting each layer dry completely
before adding the next. Each layer dries in about 15 minutes using the UV light.

On the left one Tamara started by adhering a piece of decorative tissue onto the
brass plate with a few dots of Ultimate Glue. She poured gloss on the tissue and
allowed it to dry. The colors of the tissue seemed to pop one the gloss was dry.
After that she added a tiny image of a glamorous lady. The colors all work and
pop out. On the left; I photographed a brass plate like the one used on both
pieces. The layered look is far more visible in person.

More flat surfaces, Tamara used the layer effects on the round bezel
charms are and layered with some of the details exposed out from the gloss.

Unfortunately I didn't very good shots from the side.
I will try to rephotograph and share at a later date.

More bezel charms. The 'Magic Glos' dries clear with no need for
additional sealing and cures in minutes. (We used the UV light)

On the one on the left I wanted to try embellishing the angels' wings with
Gel pens... it didn't work. It smudged and made a mess. I added extra fine
gold glitter and a final layer attempting a dome. That worked. There are 4 layers
in that piece. The one on the right was the 1st one I made and I messed up on
cutting the image to an exact size. Errrr, there is a hole punch that matches
it which would have been easier and a no brainer. There are seed beads layered
on the green scarf, kind of hard to see them, I should have used a darker bead.
I have to remind myself that the purpose was to experiment and more importantly, PLAY.

Here I poured gloss onto tiny shrink plastic hummingbird and dove.
I attempted to layer the applications but I got greedy and goofed a little.

This stuff is incredibly forgiving and although some of the product
spilled in the tray of the UV light it didn't damage it.

AND FINALLY...

An attempt to make a ring. On the left Tamara made her ring by decorating
the sides of the cube of the ring after filling the cube with seed bead in an
assortment of colors. All four sides are embellished by allowing each side
to dry as she went along. On the left, I layered beads, then hearts in a
few sizes and attempted the dome effect.

I should have used a light back ground then layered the heart so they would be
more visible. Also trying to come up with a way of making the ring lay still and
flat was difficult. Eventually we used wood clothes pins.

We are very excited about the product and hope that you enjoy playing too. We only received a limited number of bottles so don't miss out.

Ciao for now!
Suki

Hello!

Those of you who know me, know me from the store, and some may have even taken a class with me. Besides my usual classes, Vintage Tin Dolls & Embellished Canvas', I'm adding a Decoupage Techniques class. We have just added a second class which is:

Friday April 2nd, 3-6 pm, cost $40.

At Zinnia

I wanted to invite you to visit My new Blog, "Paul Murray - Stuff In My Pocket".

It's a little art, a little cooking, a little life, a little this & a little that. Come by and check it out....but remember to come back here and keep up with the Zinnia Blog!

Thanks for reading!

Encaustic class!

Sunday.... 11-2:30pm .... be there!!! Have you wondered about working with wax. Have you wondered why yours comes out cloudy and sticky?? Well, come learn about working with a very ancient technique, and see how it is still beautiful and exciting in our modern world. All materials are provided, encaustic medium, wood panels, paper, images, and we will do image transfers, and final embellishing of pieces. Students will have time to create several panels during class , and we will discuss what tools are necessary to continue this process at home later. Personally I hate to take a class, and then not have the knowledge as to how to continue, so when I hold a class I think it is important to be a product and process event. I want you to leave with a finished piece, but I want you to understand the process so you can continue if you choose. This is also one of those classes that can appeal to those who believe they are not creative. Know what- I can't really draw. So what- I still have lots to say in my art! Leave your self doubt at the door, allow yourself to have some fun, and definately wear your play clothes!

Please contact the store for sign ups... Zinnia 626 441-2181.

CLASS CALENDAR IS READY FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT

After several weeks of tweaking and fixing and changing and tweaking some more Tamara has the calendar ready and posted on the website. She has spent an endless amount of hours on making it a better calendar that works. The new calendar allows you to see the details of the class scheduled, you can scroll to tthe right and check out what has been booked for the upcoming months as they get booked and is also printable. Please take a look and let us know what you think. If you run into any snags definitely let us know so we can address them and make it work for you.

I have to share a few Ali pictures that are too cute not to share. The first one is of Ali watching Tamara sew. What is she sewing... the new web page that is under construction.




If you follow the blog you saw the picture of Ali in the loaf pan a weeks ago. Ali has become a 'container entertainer' She has managed to find some pretty peculiar places to nap. This next picture has to be my favorite. Joey was able to capture the next few pictures...









Recently was had a few beautiful days so we have left the door open. Ali sneaks out and 'hides' under the chair watching people walk by. She's actually gone out and sat on the chair outside the front of the store. That cat is so goofy we just lover her.

Until later... be safe in the rain and stay warm.
Suki

The weather has been something. I certainly am not complaining after see the snow on the other side of the country. Unfortunately our rain has brought devastation to some of our fellow Angelinos. I hope that you can be safe and warm.
Yes, I have been missing for a minute. Some of our local friends know that I have another job... but Zinnia and this world is my favorite (my boss at my 'other' job knows it too). My other life/job provides me with health insurance and benefits. Zinnia provides me with a creative outlet surrounded by amazing artists and beautiful art with inspiration everywhere. That said... I've been ridiculously busy at my other job and had not had a chance to catch up with you.

A couple weeks ago I went with Tamara to the L.A. Gift Show. I had a great time poking through things and helping find new goodies. There is one that we are tickled about and I promise I will let you know as soon as it arrives. Think rain.

At the store we had been so occupied with the final unpacking and the moving on from Christmas that Valentine's Day kind of snuck up on us. This weekend Joey worked on making some of his amazing polymer beads shaping them into beautiful heart beads. Actually he has a class scheduled on February 26th. Oh I forgot to mention that the calender of classes is up and posted on the website: www.zinnia.biz

This Friday is my first teaching day for 2010. It was great taking a break, but I am thinking that next year I am not going to.. it is just so strange to be away from it for a month! I am really excited to get back into Zinnia's new classroom space and play. So the class?? A different version of the mini quilt that I have made in the past. I have always framed my mini quilts, I like that look a lot, but this time I wanted to work with more 3D elements, and more texture, so the finished piece will remain unframed but still hang- able. The theme is Valentine's Day, but I wouldn't hold anyone to that. The first sample I made with Valentine's Day in mind didn't end up that way at all, and I really love it!

I used vintage linens, and lace old buttons, rub on's and a tin reindeer! This one isn't finished yet...

The Class sample piece...

Layered fabrics, vintage lace, vintage buttons, paper, vintage wallpaper, resin paper and a bit of hand stitching!!

So here is the thing about my mini quilt classes, you don't have to be able to sew to make one. I'm sneaky like that. You could do one and not even sew one stitch, or you could sew the whole thing.

Anyway, I think this is going to be fun, I am sorting through my stash of fabrics and lace, and old papers etc. to bring lots of fun things to class. I will bring all the supplies, but if you happen to have a special image, or fabric or button by all means bring it along!

P.S. o.k. so I have been getting some feedback that some want to take this class but the day just isn't working out for you... if you leave a comment letting me know ... I will but it on the schedule again for another day of the week.