Last Friday I was busily preparing for a workshop and realized how nice it is to have everything at hand. About two months ago, Emma decided to escape from her crib. So far that has been the only incident. Well all of my stamps and scrapbooking items were residing in Emma's room, which used to be my craft room/office. So it was time to start moving everything out. DH and I did lots of research and configurations and finally I decided on what I wanted. So we built a little studio for me next to the kitchen in the unused "nook" near the kitchen. We put up shelving for my stamping and scrapbooking idea books and magazines. We even put up a cool pegboard for all of my "tools". I brought my Iris carts downstairs (those contain my rubber stamps and accessories) and the large stacking paper racks. It is still a work in progress as I don't quite have everything the way I "imagine" it in my mind. But it's working pretty well for now. I intend to do a little decorating of my space, but haven't quite found enough time to do it yet. The height of the workspace is nice, it works well if I want to stand up and stamp or scrapbook, yet I have my drafting chair if I want to sit and be comfortable. If you don't have a space all your own, it is so hard to be creative! The second thing that's important is organization! And let me tell you, it is giving me much more time to scrapbook and stamp now that I'm almost organized! LOL! It really didn't cost too much, about $400. It was a very wise and worthwhile investment! I'll take photos today and post them.
While teaching my workshop last Friday, I kept repeating that when you are creating art everything you do doesn't have to be perfect. That's the fun part about art! And it takes awhile if you just started scrapbooking and stamping -- it is hard to just let go! Just take a deep breath and experiment. I have learned after 20+ years of creating art that 1) no one is going to "see" your mistakes 2) that's what makes it art! 3) there is no wrong or right way to stamp and scrapbook. I had several students that have never stamped or called themselves "beginners". Those students are the ones that really excite me as they have so much potential! They just need to sit back and relax and not rush themselves! :) When I look at Emma with her crayons and paper, I envy her. She has no method to her madness. She just picks up a color and scribbles. I think as we become adults, we lose this piece of creativity.
I taught them several techniques - watercoloring with watercoloring pencils, basic stamping, and chalking. I also gave my usual introduction to ink -- dye, pigment, etc. I always tell my students in the beginning that they can just tell me what they want to do and I'll find the right ink for them. I do this so they don't have to be so confused and frustrated trying to pick out the right ink. I also had each of them cut out a sample rubber stamp and mount it to the wood so that they learn how to do it themselves. Every single student present had never done this! The purpose is so when your stamps come, you'll know exactly how to cut them out and mount them without being so nervous thinking you'll cut the image off! It is amazing how at ease they were once they tried it. I have to say they were intimidated at first.
Anyway, I better get moving to the other tasks of the day. I need to create a few more cards and do some personal scrapbook pages myself!
Aloha no!
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