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the last workshop for 2011

My last Collage Button Making Workshop of the year was December 19. It was a private booking with a really nice group of people who mostly knew each other from work.

I’m not really sure yet what the status of the workshops will be for 2012. I have moved my studio to my home so if I continue to offer the workshops I need to find a really low rent space to teach in — a bit of a challenge in Vancouver. Because of this, the fee will go up. It is possible that I might offer the workshops for private bookings only and community events. To be determined.

Here are some pics from the great group from December 19.

Happy Holidays!

student gallery of collage button pins

Here is a small colourful selection of the collage button pins made at my Collage Button Making Workshop last Saturday. Participants made pins, magnets, and pendants.  Upcoming classes are in November and December. I expect that classes will start filling up after the Eastside Culture Crawl, so register early to reserve your spot. Owls were popular, lots of colour was used and many words were cut up — nothing dull here!

Collage Button Pincollage button pincollage button pin

collage button pincollage button pincollage button pincollage button pincollage button pincollage button pincollage button pin

testers needed for new Pocket Mirror Workshop

Balmoral Hotel Pocket MirrorNeeded: 3 adult participants to test run my first pocket mirror workshop at a discount. This trial will be a 4 hour class, a bit longer if needed as this is a trial. You get to make three 3-inch pocket mirrors. One side is a mirror and the other side contains your collage.

In this workshop you will learn an image transfer technique that will give you more creative options to add to your collage arsenal. With an image transfer you can create more complex compositions. The see-through qualities of the transfer allows you to play with layering — showing details, colours, and shapes that are under your image layer.

Before class, you will need to email me two digital images or illustrations (could be your own or something from a book) that you’d like to use for your mirrors. Images can be at 72 dpi at Fine quality in your digital camera setting, images at 300 dpi are also fine. You might decide to work with one image and create three different compositions or you might find that only one image works well for this technique.

You will also have access to my typewriter to easily add your own text as well as a large variety of materials for collage; and rubber stamps. You will come out with 3 pocket mirrors. See more examples of my pocket mirrors here. You can bring your own collage materials and rubber stamps.

Requirements: email me your digital images before class or bring a book that has images you’d like to work with

When: Saturday, October 29, 11 – 3

Trial price: $45, max 3 students (adults only)

Register Here.

collage button making continues to December

Collage button pinIf you’ve been wanting to take my Collage Button Pin workshop, I warn you, don’t wait too long. One class is already full! Plus I’ll be at my current studio till the end of December, so I’m not really sure right now where I’ll offer my workshops next year. I’m in search of a very affordable solution which  I have to say is pretty challenging in this city!

What I can also easily offer right now while I have a studio, is for you to book a private workshop with your group [no longer available]. So if the dates below don’t work for you, get in touch and if you can get 3 people together we can book a private workshop. Get 6 and save some money.

Full workshop details here – make pins, magnets, and now also pendants!

Upcoming schedule for Collage Button Pin Workshops:

  • October 18, Tuesday, 6 to 9 pm, register, 7 spaces left
  • October 22, Saturday, 1 to 4 pm – FULL
  • November 24, Thursday, 6 to 9 pm, register
  • November 26, Saturday, 1 to 4 pm, register
  • December 14, Wednesday, 6 to 9 pm (register in November)
  • December 17, Saturday, 1 to 4 pm at Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam, register there
  • December 18, Sunday, 12 to 3 pm LAST ONE!! (register in November)

What word will you use on your button pin?

I am so proud to be part of The Word on The Street this year. I will be at the Literacy Lane & Family Literacy Tent delivering my collage button making workshop. This event is totally FREE.

The event is in downtown Vancouver at Library Square, this Sunday, September 25 from 11 to 5pm.

The festival being what it is, I’ll be encouraging you to use a word on your button pin. It will be fun! So what word will you use on your button pin?

This event welcomes kids 6 years and up and adults too. Adults are encouraged to crate next to their children, nieces, nephews, ect.

Hope to see you there!!

Event at historic Joy Kogawa House

Button Making Event at Joy Kogawa HouseFriday, September 23
7 to 9pm
Historic Joy Kogawa House
1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Please join me at Historic Joy Kogawa House to create collage button pins using text and a variety of other materials. Crafters of all levels are welcome to attend this FREE button-making workshop at the historic house of Joy Kogawa.

This event is part of a community celebration to welcome non-fiction writer Susan Crean as the 2011 writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House. Susan Crean arrived from Toronto on September 15 to spend three months living and working in the former childhood home of Joy Kogawa. Members of the community will have the opportunity to meet Susan Crean during the workshop, and she will entertain crafters with daring tales of her plans as writer-in-residence, books will be available for sale and signing, and refreshments will be served. Buttons and collage materials will be provided free of charge but donations are appreciated!

Hope to see you there!

(click the image to see a larger version)

 

gifts & drop-in craft making at September Shop this Saturday

September Shop Party

We had a great opening party this past Friday at September Shop. Thank you to all who came and thanks also to our evening sponsors for the wonderful crackers by Gone Crackers, humous by Golda, pastries by Fratelli Bakery, and wine by Diamond Wines. DJ Adam Rogers was great and truly helped to get a good vibe going.

If you haven’t been able to come by yet, we hope to see you this Saturday, the 17th.

  • The first 10 people to come through the door for September Shop will receive a gift! First come, first choice!!
  • Plus we will have drop-in collage button making with Laura Bucci. It will be only $2 to make a professional collage pinback button

Come on by for some refreshments, button making, and also check out Autumn Shift Festival on Main Street.

We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 to 5pm and Sunday 11:30 to 5pm.

196 Kingsway at 10th Avenue, Vancouver.

September Shop Opening

button pins from my july 1 workshop

Here is a very small selection of sweet button pins made at my Collage Button Pin Workshop. This was a private booking for an adult’s birthday party. The participants brought a beautiful fruit platter and wine and their own music. The sun was streaming in, the atmosphere was very relaxed, and time went by faster than expected — as usual. Book your own private class here. Or if it’s a party for children or adults, check out these options. [crossed out text, options not currently available.]

july1 collage button workshop

july1 collage button workshop

july1 collage button workshop

july1 collage button workshop

july1 collage button workshop

 

using sheet music for button pins

I ran a Collage Button Pin Workshop this past Saturday. In the morning I went to a few thrift stores and picked up some new materials — a book of sheet music and a German language book. I always thought that sheet music would make for great material for button pins. I was glad to find the German book as I am trying to collect materials in various languages. Right now I have materials in Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese and now also German.

The button pins below are from participants in this past Saturday’s workshop. You can see the sheet music and German language already in use.

Collage Button Pin Workshop

Collage Button Pin Workshop

Collage Button Pin Workshop using math

Collage Button Pin Workshop

Collage Button Pin Workshop

Collage Button Pin Workshop

Collage Button Pin Workshop

Would you like to take the workshop? I haven’t scheduled any classes but you can now easily book a class if you can get 3 people together. Maximum of 10 people. I offer discounts for groups starting at 6 — see my craft workshops page. These workshops are fun, stress-free, and suitable for beginners and experienced artists/crafters.

You can also book a workshop for a birthday party for children or adults. More info here.

upcoming shows, sale, and new work

Busy weekend coming up. I’ll be at Stone Soup Festival on Saturday May 7th and at Got Craft on Sunday May 8th. These events are both in Vancouver.

At Stone Soup, I’ll be teaching a drop-in collage button pin workshop. So drop by to make a button pin at no charge. I’ll be at the Family Room.

I’ll also have some cup cozies on sale for only $10 each. Good time to get a couple before they’re all gone. These are my older style ones with the scooter and airplane.

I’ll have some new work. I’ve made greeting cards based on my vintage inspired cup cozies.

Vintage Inspired Greeting Cards