Countdown to Art and Soul, Portland!

Is it really a countdown if you're leaving tomorrow?

Today feels like an all and out scramble. We'll be heading to Portland's Art and Soul Retreat around 1pm tomorrow and in that Oregon is pouring right now we'll have to wait until last minute to pack everything under tarps and rope.

I have contracted a head cold so one of the things I'm doing tonight (besides packing and organizing) is buying a whole row of head cold medicine and boxes of Kleenex. Let's hope for the sake of our sound editors I'm not sniffling and coughing through every video!

Check back here the next few days to see the fun! And if you're attending either the workshops themselves or the vendor night (open to the public) say hi!

CCP Stamps are Here!

I never get packages at work but today I did! Inside 52 sheets of red rubber stamps. Guess who is spending some quality time with an exacto knife the next few nights? We're bringing these to give out to people at Portland's Art and Soul! I'm so excited!

Planning Cards

I'm currently midway through my Halloween cards (and probably realistically the only seasonal card I'm doing this year) and at some point I realized that something just wasn't working. The artists we film always suggest doing thumbnail sketches. Here are some of this weekend's thumbnails. Unfortunately for the Halloween card it meant adding cats! Those tails are hard to cut! (This is why I started so early, so that when I need to cut out a ton of cats, I have time. Yay!)

Now that I have all the pieces I'm realizing the color of my moon isn't working. I think it's too cool while everything else in the card is warm tones. I painted all the moons silver and I'm going to have to experiment with adding a little cream to the paint and see if it warms.

Claudine Hallmuth on Martha Stewart Website

You can see Claudine Hellmuth on the Martha Stewart Show!

Four Days with Craig Nelson

Our first day with Craig Nelson started at 6:45 am in a field. We set up this giant sheet-like contraption to soften the sunlight on both Craig and his painting. (It worked beautifully.) We only had one panic when we laid everything out and realized we had nothing to actually put it together with. The rental company was over an hour away and there wouldn't be time to go get the pieces. Luckily Jim just had them in his car. (*phew*)

Craig was here 4 days and was loads of fun. He's traveled all over the world and tells great stories of his adventures. Also, he's an amazing artist and teacher. He is so comfortable teaching that he just speaks his thoughts as he paints, which is ideal for people learning to paint. He's also really easy going and flexible, which is ideal for those of us behind the cameras. We could just pipe up (and he wanted us to) and say, "I don't get this." He'd barely miss a beat and come back with some really clear and concise explanation. Excellent. I can't wait to get started editing.

Craft Season Week 1

So this weekend, beyond being at work both days, I have two goals:
1. cut and assemble all the elements for my Halloween cards.
2. make a vinyl wallet that is good enough to give as a gift.

On the first front, I think I finally have a design that will work. It always amazes me how designs look a certain way in thumbnail form but then seem either empty or overworked in card form.

For number two, I've spent this past week trying different combinations of material and paper to make a vinyl wallet for a birthday. A friend of my boyfriend's and mine loves mass transit and he also had a wallet with the London Tube on it, which he loved but lost. My replacement won't have all the things in it he lost but I thought would be a fun surprise. Here are some of the tests.

Claudine Hellmuth

See your favorite collage artist, Claudine Hellmuth, Wednesday September 12 on the Martha Stewart Show! Claudine will film a live segment and we all can't wait to see!

Congratulations Carl Dalio

Carl Dalio has the cover of the Watercolor Magazine Fall 2007 issue. I picked it up and thought, "Wait, that is really clean color. This looks like a Dalio." And it was.

In other news, the Creative Catalyst team started around 6:45 am and spent our morning in a field with Craig Nelson and his paints. (Because what better way to spend time with Craig Nelson!)

It's the first time I've actually met the real life Craig. He was one of the first artists I edited when I came to Creative Catalyst Productions so it's really nice to meet the man on tape. I can't wait to get back behind a camera this afternoon.

Craft Season Has Begun

Craft Season has begun! It actually began a few days ago but the office has been crazy lately and I'm just now getting to the blog.

We have an artist coming tomorrow and we will out in the middle of a field...literally. Who gets to be at work at 6:45am tomorrow morning? Oh yeah, ME.

But back to Craft Season. I'm starting the preparations now so that come December 22nd I'm not crying over burnt polymer at 2am wondering how I'll ever finish the Christmas gifts. I'm hoping to actually enjoy the process this year! (And after a week of crafts after work I'm liking it already.) So bring on the fun! Craft Season has begun!

Sherri Haab's Fall Schedule

Sherri Haab just posted her fall schedule! Take a look and sign up! Also check out a preview of her DVD, "Precious Metal Clay Jewelry."

September 15, 2007 9am-4pm
PMC Resin Bracelet
Kit Kraft, Studio City, CA
Register at www.kitkraft.biz or call the store to sign up: 818-509-9739
September 21, 2007 9am-4pm
Orem, Utah
Textures and Molds for PMC
Register by contacting Sherri

September 22, 2007 9am-4pm
Orem, Utah
PMC Rings
Register by contacting Sherri
October 3-8th, 2007
Art and Soul Retreat
Portland, Oregon
PMC classes, Resin Casting
www.artandsoulretreat.com

November 3-8, 2007
La Mesa, California
PMC Rings Nov 3rd
PMC Holiday Charm Bracelet, Nov 4th
Macrame Bracelet-Pearls and Silk, Nov 6th
Macrame Rings, Nov 7th
Macrame-Mermaid Necklace, Nov 8th
Register at www.thebouncingbead.com

November 10-11, 2007
San Diego, California
PMC Resin Mixed Media Bracelet, Nov 10
Image Transfer Jewelry, Nov 11
Register at www.shepherdessbeads.com
November 15-18, 2007
Park City, Utah
The Art Nest Retreat
PMC Charms with Spakling Gems
Register www.theartnest.net
February 10-13, 2008
Craft and Hobby Association
Find Sherri at the Watson Guptill Booth or take a macrame class from Sherri through YLI corp.

Jacqueline Sullivan Pre-Sale Ending Soon!

Have I mentioned I'm excited for Jacqueline Sullivan's DVD to come out? I am completely. We filmed Jacqueline at last year's Art and Soul Retreat in Portland, OR. The event itself is amazing. Amazing instructors. Amazing students. I can't say enough good things about it.

We at Creative Catalyst Productions were lucky enough to spend a day with Jacqueline watching her paint and listening to how she thinks about her art. The way she explains the different Golden products made so much sense. She's clear, concise and absolutely inspiring.

Jacqueline Sullivan's "Acrylics: Textures, Layers, and Metallics"

Jacqueline Sullivan's video is on its way!

Too Soon to be Excited?

Alphabet Magnets

I found small 1" square plastic letters in the children's section of Staples and thought, "Hey, these could be cute magnets!"

Simply adhere flat magnet sheet (the kind you can print images on) to the back of the plastic with double stick tape. Cover the whole back side or the magnet won't be strong enough to hold.

Textures, Layers and Metallics Oh My!

Mark your calendars! Jacqueline Sullivan's DVD, "ACRYLICS: Textures, Layers and Metallics" (just as cool as it sounds) will hit the CCP store in 4-6 weeks. Almost seems like too long. In her first Creative Catalyst Productions video, Jacqueline teaches everything you wanted to know about gels and mediums. She explains the different effect possibilities various Golden gels, mediums and GACs will bring to your work. She uses Golden products with tissue, aluminum foil and cheese cloth to create amazing textures, layers and metallics. The only thing I loved more than editing Jacqueline's DVD workshop was filming it.

Check back for pre-order sales!

Elephant Magnets Tutorial

Check out how to create these cute Elephant Magnets! Great for gifts or home decorations!

Elephant Magnets Tutorial

Claudine Helmuth in Cloth, Paper, Scissors!

Check out a familiar face on page 42 of this month's Cloth, Paper, Scissors! This is a take on one of the projects Claudine teaches in her third Creative Catalyst DVD, Beeswax Collage!

Check out Claudine's fun gallery and blog-

Elephant Magnets

I just finished being in a local play and made these magnets as gifts for the wonderful cast and crew. Everything was sort of prairie or elephant themed in that the play was called, "Going to See the Elephant."

A set of these would make a great gift and they are the perfect size for stocking stuffers!

Check back Monday for easy instructions!

Robert Dancik

CCP is heading to the Art and Soul Retreat in Portland again this October. We went last year and had a blast. This year's line up is just as fabulous. We're currently in the mix of planning our booth for booth night and talking with the 3 amazing artists we'll have the privilege of filming during our five days there.

Today we spoke with Robert Dancik. He called us from a workshop he's teaching out in Tennessee at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. It's always so great to begin the conversation with artists about what they'll teach in their DVD workshop. The people aspect is the best part of the job whether it's interacting with our customers at a vendor night or hanging out with the artists between takes. Just through listening to Robert discuss his work I already know this will be a great DVD.

Robert works with many mediums including epoxy, polymer, precious metal clay and a product he didn't invent but did develop called Faux Bone. His combination of any of these materials is simply wonderful.




Check back for more updates here about Robert and in the meantime enjoy the beautiful gallery at his site.