Tuesday, July 26, 2011

I found my new addiction!

My name is Nancy and I'm becoming a stamp addict.  I made this bird after lunch today and the flower and heart yesterday.  My mind is busy thinking of images, drawing and carving out these beautiful stamps.  Playing with the ink is equally as fun.  The best part though is lifting up the stamp and seeing what printed underneath.  It's like opening a present.  

Monday, July 25, 2011

A day with Geninne

This weekend I took a step out of my somewhat routine life and went to the most fabulous workshop.  In fact my sister and one of her daughters drove in from Montreal to attend as well and make it a weekend visit.   The workshop was led by Geninne a talented artist from Mexico.  When I 'discovered' Geninne's shop on Etsy I fell for her work immediately.  Gorgeous, vivid colours, birds and nature mixed with postcard images and lettering. A girl after my own heart.

It was held at Bookhou a bright and gorgeous shop on Dundas Street in Toronto filled with textile work by Arounna. It was lovely to be in the company of such creative women and artists.  For me it was a definite change of pace from jewellery making.  I haven't drawn (except for my constant doodling while on the phone) and I haven't picked up a brush for years except to paint my walls.  It definitely pushed me artistically. 


My handdrawn image is transfered onto a soft block and I'm beginning to carve out the flower.



Experimenting with different coloured inks.



Finished off with a mini lesson of watercolour painting.


A sample of the amazing stamps from the class.

I came away with a wonderful creative energy and my eyes open to new ideas.

Yesterday we picked up supplies so we can make more stamps today. (I think we've become slightly obsessed). With my sister here it feels like I'm on holiday so no worries about the household things - laundry and vacuuming can wait for another day.  Today we're going to pop some tunes on the ipod and sit down with our daughters to make more stamps.