Join us for the Artsy Meetup Marathon - See in 2024 with Us

Introducing the Artsy Meetup Marathon

December 31, 2023 - January 1, 2024

Artsy Meetup Marathon

When I think about what I want to spend time doing next year, creativity is at the top of the list. And that’s why I said YES to Kiala Givehand when she invited me to teach in the 3rd Annual New Year’s Eve Artsy Marathon.
​
We are going to bring in the New Year being creative with amazing people surrounded by our art supplies. 

We would love you to join us?

This year's Artsy Meetup Marathon is:

• 24 Hours of Creative Lessons from a variety of guest teachers (names below).  You don't need to be there all 24 hours, the recordings will be available a few days after the event.
• The Scedule will be live on the website
• an opportunity to learn, play, and explore with other creative souls.
• a list of techniques, tips, and tutorials for your visual journaling and documented days. 
• There will be several GIVEAWAYS throughout the night
• a powerfully creative way to bring in 2024 with intention.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Teachers

Kiala Givehand - mixed media bookbinder, storyteller, printmaker, & wisdom keeper -- @kialagives

Tiffany Goff-Smith - mixed media artist -- @SouthernGals_Designs

Kristen Radden - creative divination junkie -- @otm_academy

Rachel Torda - artist, writer, seeker, & watercolor mermaid -- @thedreaminglotus

Meghann Early - intuitive art journaler & junk journler -- @meghandthemoon

Amanda Trought - mixed media artist & blogger -- @realityarts

Shemi Dixon - mixed media artist & youtuber -- @shemidixon

Leaca Young - artist & reiki practicioner -- @leacayoungart

Tina Riley - art & heART journaler -- @tinarileyimaginariums

Kristi Nazzaro - mixed media artist -- @soul_positive

Suzanne Earley - mixed media artist, quilter, and founder of strawberry moon magazine -- @suzanne_earley

Liz Constable - book artist, teacher, & author -- @bookartstudios

Dee Dee Catron - mixed media artist & mark maker -- @deedeecatron

Aly Million - mixed media artist and journaler -- @alycadabra

Brooke Henry - maker, teacher, art journaler -- @bbhenry_art

​Susanne Randers - paper lover, eco dyer, and bookbinder -- @mitkrearum

Vanessa Oliver-Lloyd - art witch & collage fanatic -- @dansmoncrane

Misty Granade - abstract mixed media artist -- @misty.granade

Cindy Gilstrap - mixed media & journaling artist -- @junqueart

Kristin Peterson - mixed media & collage artist -- @alteredstatesstudio

Joyce Van Der Lely - artist & empowerment guide -- @joycevanderlely

​

We are going to have so much fun at the Artsy Meetup Marathon, and you will have so many hints and creative tips to see you into the New Year.  JOIN THE PARTY!

****************************************

Before You Go

Check out Filling the Creative Well Mixed Media Course - LEARN MORE

Creating Fabric Beads: Material Mondays

 

Creating Fabric Beads: A Sustainable and Creative Project

Ever wished you could transform your leftover fabric scraps into something beautiful and useful? Look no further than fabric beads! They are surprisingly easy to make and offer a fantastic way to recycle unwanted materials, contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle.

Scraps into Treasure:

This project starts with a simple base, like a recycled plastic tube, or check if you have any plastic drinking straws in one of those draws in the kitchen. They offer a sturdy core for your fabric bead. Wrapping thin strips of fabric around the tube with glue or stitching creates the foundation of your bead.


Working with Embellishments

Here's where you can go to town in your art supplies! Grab those forgotten seed beads, ribbons, and any other embellishments you have lying around. Each bead becomes a canvas, waiting to be shaped with contrasting threads, seed beads, or even bits of wool, the possibilities are endless!

Benefits of Creating your Beads:

• Creating fabric beads offers more than just artistic satisfaction. It's a fantastic way to:Reduce waste: By repurposing scraps, you give new life to materials that might otherwise end up in landfills.
• Develop crafting skills: Learn basic sewing and beading techniques, perfect for future projects.
• Enjoy a mindful activity: The repetitive nature of beading can be quite therapeutic, offering a moment of calm.
• Create unique pieces: With endless combinations of fabrics and embellishments, every bead is a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Getting Started: Check out the video to see how I created them.  Here are some of the supplies that you will need.

• Fabric scraps: Any fabric will do, from cotton to silk.
• Embellishments: Beads, buttons, yarn, ribbons, the possibilities are endless!
• Needle and thread: For stitching the fabric and securing embellishments.
• Glue gun (optional): Offers a quicker alternative to stitching for some steps.
• Recycled base: Plastic tubes, paper or plastic straws

Your finished fabric beads can be used in countless ways stringing them together to create necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.  You can also use them as embellishments and sew them onto clothing, bags, or pillows for a unique and personalized touch.

Creating fabric beads is a fun, sustainable, and rewarding activity, it is a great time to express your creativity, so, gather your materials, unleash your imagination, and let the joy of fabric bead making take over!

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Before You Go

The Art of Slow Stitching and Weaving: A Creative Journey

Welcome to another inspiring week of Material Mondays!

Today, we're diving into a world of creativity that has been an important part of my life for many years. I've always enjoyed simple crocheting, but I've also been a collector of various yarns. I'm thrilled to share this journey with you, one that combines the art of slow stitching and weaving to create unique, visually captivating pieces. Weaving and stitching offer a different kind of creative fulfillment when combined with my ever-growing yarn collection.

My crochet journey has allowed me to collect an assortment of crochet needles, some of which are passed down from my mother, who created delicate doilies that covered our coffee table and the backs and arms of chairs.  While I don't have the passion to create delicate doilies, I'll be showing you how I've integrated my yarn collection into my weaving and slow stitching projects, leading to increased artistic expression.

Weaving: A Creative Revelation

I started growing my own cotton and delved into the art of weaving and spinning. This marked the beginning of a journey, incorporating not only different types of yarn but also other materials like fabric, wood, and beads. I'll take you through some of the projects that I have created on this adventure.

The Woven Masterpieces

1. Combining Yarn and Fabric:

One of my favorite creations is a fusion of yarn and fabric, where I intertwined yarn from my collection with painted fabric, which gives you a lot of fantastic colors and textures.

2. Incorporating Natural Elements:

In some projects, I've integrated Moringa and other wood from my garden.  To decorate the wood I use a wood burning tool, and other mark making tools 

You can get some lovely designs working with the Moringa Wood

3. Unique Stitched Pieces:

I've also dabbled in the art of Boro shashiko, a traditional Japanese stitching technique. It's led to the creation of beautifully stitched pieces that add a unique character to my collection. It's a way to infuse new life into old fabric scraps and turn them into something quite beautiful.

The Joy of Slow Stitching

Incorporating slow stitching and weaving into my creative process has brought a whole new dimension to my mixed media work. It's not just about the final product but also the journey, the process, and the therapeutic aspects of creating something with your own hands. Here are three benefits of embracing slow stitching and weaving projects:

1. Mindful Relaxation:

These activities encourage mindfulness and relaxation. The rhythmic, repetitive nature of slow stitching and weaving allows you to unwind and find solace in the simple act of creation.

2. Versatile Expressiveness:

Slow stitching and weaving provide a versatile canvas for self-expression. You can experiment with different materials, textures, and techniques, allowing your creativity to run free.

3. Sustainable Crafting:

These projects often make use of existing materials, like old fabric scraps and yarn, transforming them into something beautiful. It's a sustainable and eco-friendly way to embrace your creative side.

So, whether you're an experienced crafter or someone looking to embark on a creative journey, I encourage you to explore your own creative journey, seeing where there is overlap or where materials have dual uses.  Experiment with your supplies, blend different materials, and let your imagination run wild. Craft your own unique, artful path and savor the joy of slow stitching and weaving and what ever else you want to couple with them.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Before You Go.....

Crafting Narratives: Exploring Fabric Projects and Book Inspiration

The Art of Slow Stitching: Elevating Painted Fabric

Welcome to Material Mondays, a world where creativity meets meditative stitching - today, we dive into a series of slow stitching projects on painted fabric. This combination brings together the joy of stitching with the vibrancy of painted fabric - both while painting on the fabric and also using it.

Slow stitching allows you to interact with the painted fabrics, experimenting with color, stitch and thread, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. The stitches weave through the painted surface, adding depth and dimension. It's a tactile experience that goes beyond the visual, inviting you to explore the different mediums.  

Stitching has a meditative quality. As you navigate the needle through the painted fabric, there's a sense of mindfulness and focus.

Benefits of Slow Stitching 

Expression - Slow stitching allows you to infuse your personality and creative spark into the painted fabric. Your choice of stitches, thread colors, and patterns becomes a personalized expression of creativity.

Relaxation - Engaging in slow stitching on painted fabric is a therapeutic practice. The repetitive nature of stitching combined with the visual feast of painted colors creates a relaxed state of being.

New Ways of Working - The fusion of slow stitching and painted fabric offers a unique way to work with the materials and add texture.

Slow stitching on painted fabric is a journey. It's about savoring each moment, exploring the colors and stitches, and allowing your creativity to flow organically. So join me each and every Monday.

Before you Go, Check out

Check out the Art Resource Hub on my Realityarts Course platform with FREE Weekly resources