Collage Cafe Art Studio

Christmas Time is Here!

2011-11-27T13:07:00.000-08:00

Becky and I made these collage wooden tag ornaments! They are currently for sale at Savvy Seconds Boutique on 13 West 2nd street in downtown Morgan Hill CA

Candle Holders for Holiday Gift Giving!

2011-10-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

We're currently taking special orders for candle holders to give as unique holiday gifts! You can email us a picture and we will print it and make a custom candle holder for you! We just finished an order (above) for Vera! She will be giving these to family members for Christmas! They look so great when you place a lit candle inside and the pictures glow!!! We're starting to get very busy here in the studio so get your orders in to us as soon as possible! Email us today at: stacey.collagecafe@gmail.com

P.S. We're also taking orders for custom Christmas ornaments!

Halloween Fun!

2011-10-23T09:48:00.001-07:00

Halloween is right around the corner! Becky and I spent time in the studio making these vintage Halloween candles! You should see how the pictures glow when they're lit! Spooky FUN!!!

Mermaid Candles for Tres Jolie Vintage

2011-04-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Our Mermaid Candles are featured at a new cool store "Tres Jolie Vintage" located in Hollister California. Owned by our friend Steph Ochoa who also owns Savvy Seconds here in Morgan Hill California. Thanks for featuring our stuff in your stores Steph!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-01-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

Collage Cafe is featuring our Valentine's Day Candle collection at Savvy Seconds Boutique. We wanted to create Valentine's candles that can be displayed year round. We also wanted them to have an earthy, natural look. They are available at Savvy Seconds Boutique on West 2nd Street and Monterrey Road in downtown Morgan Hill.

Cool Funky Cigar Box

2010-10-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

This is the cigar box that Becky painted and decoupaged for Halie's 16th birthday! If you click on the pictures you'll really see the details!

She painted it red and then "crackled" it.. then painted it black... then decoupaged red roses and cut out designed from a cool scrapbook paper she got from Michael's.

Here is the inside! She glued a piece of that cool scrapbook paper, a mirror, a peacock feather and the word DREAM! Then she placed the birthday book inside! What a creative mom! Halie loved it!

Sweet 16 Birthday Memory Book

2010-10-02T09:20:00.001-07:00

Becky made the cutest little collage birthday memory book for her daughter Halie's 16th birthday!

She used a few pieces of scrap cardboard and punched a couple of holes in them so she could tie (bind) them together using some hemp string. She also added beads to the string which made it look really cool and funky!

She collaged the pages with meaningful things in Halie's life such as her first day of kindergarten and a travel page because that is what Halie wants to do in the future!

Halie also loves the beach so Becky included a beach picture of her and her sister Sarah. Also a cute pic of Halie and her niece Ina in auntie Moe's pool!

Halie loves to cook and bake! This girl could seriously open her own restaurant, so there is a page representing that with a pic of her and daddy Mark baking cookies! Also a page about her animals... her little ducks who have now grown to be big ducks and her dog Harley with some wings to watch over her! :)

The back cover is very beautiful and includes her birth date and sweet 16! Love the hands holding planet earth! The world is yours Miss Halie! Happy sweet 16!

Such a sweet book for Halie to treasure for life made especially by her mother for her 16th birthday!

Note: Sorry some pics are sideways... they were rotated correctly in the picture file but didn't transfer correctly... oops

Glamour Girl Candles!

2010-09-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

We had the best time making these "Glamour Girl Candles" for Savvy Seconds boutique. Each one started to take on it's own personality, so we started calling them "the girls"! It was as if we were back in time playing with our Barbies again, dressing up each girl! So fun! Thought you all would enjoy some close up pics!

The mini candles of strong, beautiful, glamorous woman!

Very mod retro Twiggy and Audrey!

Of course the beautiful, chic Audrey Hepburn!

And... Marilyn.... sexy, sexy Marilyn!

And the best thing is that when you light them the pictures glow! They last for hours and hours and they're so inspiring! Great for the bedroom... very sexy and of course in the bathroom while taking a bath or any room in your house! :)

If anyone is interested in buying one you can go to Savvy Seconds boutique on 2nd street and Monterrey here in Morgan Hill, CA... or you can order them on our website... Collagecafe.com

Our Window Display in Downtown Morgan Hill!

2010-08-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is Becky and my window display (set up in my living room) just before we moved it to downtown Morgan Hill. It's located between 1st and 2nd street on
the east side of the street just north of Music Tree music store.
Click on each picture to make it bigger and see the detail!

A close up of our sign hanging on "Myrtle the Mannequin",
mascot of Collage Cafe Art Studio.

The very cool retro bottle that Becky collaged for our downtown display! Doesn't it look like a flower child or hippie at Woodstock made it? These are available to make in our workshops! They can be used as a vase for flowers or twigs or as a candle holder!

I made this collage on canvas as a gift for my bff and biz partner Becky.
It's now part of our downtown display window! Yay!

Funky Mermaid shell, little collaged matchbooks and mini candles all part of our window display! If you're out and about walking around downtown be sure to check it out! All of these things and more are available to make in our WORKSHOPS! Check out the website!
www.collagecafe.com

OMG! Our Stuff is in a New Cool Boutique "Savvy Seconds" in Downtown Morgan Hill!

2010-07-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

Our stuff is now for sell at Savvy Seconds! It is the newest coolest shop in downtown Morgan Hill! The owner Steph is such a sweetie! Love, love, love her sense of style, fashion and decor!!! Yay! So happy Collage Cafe can be a part of Savvy Seconds!!!

That's my "Vintage Beauty" collage on canvas (above) on an easel for sale at Savvy Second!

One of our cute little candles for sale at Savvy Seconds Boutique in Morgan Hill!

Little collaged matchbooks for sale at Savvy Seconds!

Vintage cake plate featuring the "mini candles and matchbooks" all available at Savvy Seconds on 2nd street in downtown Morgan Hill. Items are also available on our website store at Collagecafe.com

Close up of our Candle display at Savvy Seconds!

More Mermaid Shells

2010-07-15T09:31:00.001-07:00

Becky and I made more mermaid shells the other day! We took them to our friend Jeanne's jewelry party to sell and to advertise Collage Cafe's workshops. The ladies loved them! Yay! Jeanne is the owner of Mermaid Jade Jewelry. She makes the most beautiful jewelry with her inspiration coming from the sea and of course mermaids! I'm busy updating the Collage Cafe website to reflect all the new workshops and happenings! And yes, there will be a mermaid shell workshop so you all can come and make your own special treasures!

It's Beachy Time Again!

2010-05-22T15:17:00.001-07:00

Beachy Candle!

So cool and fun to make!

Mermaid Shells!

2010-04-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

The girls came over last night for a little Birthday celebration! I turned the big five ohhhhh! on April 1st. Hard for me to believe that I"M 50! Yikes! Anyway... I made a big pot of veggie lentil soup and a spinach salad. We drank wine and Yerba Mate' tea. And then... we collaged "Mermaid Shells"!

Natasha's shell at the top, Molly's shell to the right and mine at the bottom!

M0lly's Mermaid Shell!
Look at those cute little hands of hers! I love them!

Artist Tribute Candles

2010-01-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

I've been trying real hard lately to get my creative juices flowing again and what better way to do this than to be inspired by some of my favorite artists! Picasso, Dali, Frida, O'Keefe and Cornell! I decided to collage some candles as a tribute to them and place them on my fireplace mantle. I'm hoping that when I light these candles I will feel their inspiration and their creative vibes coming through to me while I'm making my own art!

More Tiny Candles and Matchboxes

2010-01-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

Another girls night with my bff Becky and my son's girlfriend Ashley. It been so fun and therapeutic collaging these tiny candles and matchboxes. Seems to be getting the creative juices flowing again after a long dry spell. Here's Becky working on her "Zen line" lol!
Here is Ashley making her Vintage Hollywood Glamor candle and matchbox set!

As for me I decided to make a mermaid matchbox to add to my collection of sea treasures gathered last summer on every outing to the beach. I never want to forget the feeling I get when I'm near the ocean so I gathered elements from the beach and placed them in a wooden bowl in my bathroom. Now every time I look at them it takes me back to the sea. I can light a candle with my mermaid matches and look at my shells, sea glass, driftwood, moss, rocks and feathers and go to the beach in my mind. Ahhhhhhh!

Me after a night of art and vino. I'm a very happy and satisfied girl!

New Year's Wish Candles!

2010-01-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

My best buddy Becky came over the other night just to hang out and talk. I made a big pot of lentil soup and a bowl of garlic cucumber yogurt dip with sourdough bread. We poured ourselves a glass of vino and started looking though some art stuff.

Before Christmas she had brought over some tiny candles and match boxes to collage for possible Christmas goodies/stocking stuffers but never got around to them. To be honest I thought "how in the world is she going to collage something that tiny and why in the world would she want to collage something that tiny"?

Well as you can see they turned out beautiful as Becky's things always do. She gets a vision and then just runs with it. She is so creative! It inspires me to be around her! She has decided to make these her New year's wish candles. Little candles with little matchboxes. Light them and make a wish or say a prayer! So special and cute and easy and fast to make! Love it!

Art Night, Fun Night!

2009-12-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

I love having Art Night! Now that I don't have the studio anymore I am doing art night at my house. I would like to do a lot more of these on a regular basis with many different people! I don't know how they would feel about coming to my home as opposed to my studio, but I actually think it adds a more personal touch! Above is my bff Becky and my daughter Natasha and granddaughter Molly! *** There is that orb again (on the ceiling). It used to show up on many of the pictures of the studio. I think when I closed the studio it followed me home! I'm naming it my Angel Art Orb! lol!

Becky is working on this little antique chair for her granddaughter for Christmas. It looks like a storybook fantasy! Something that would be sold in a cool funky boutique in San Francisco!

I decided to make lemon pesto pasta for the girls. Doing art can work up an appetite!!!

Natasha made the cutest ornament for her tree based on her favorite Christmas movie "It's a Wonderful Life" Good job honey!

Molly is collaging a little canvas with an old fashioned Christmas tree. She thinks she's a big girl drinking pomegranate limeade out of a wine glass!

Molly's cute little Christmas collage on a 5x7 canvas! Very artistic sweetie!

The Chicken Festival in San Juan Bautista

2009-10-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Another one of my favorite places on earth is San Juan Bautista, California! There is something about this place that feels magical. It's back in the hills on the way to the coast of Monterey and is the home of the old mission San Juan Bautista on the El Camino Real. A few weeks ago they had their annual "Chicken Festival" to celebrate the chickens and roosters that freely roam the streets of the town.
It was a beautiful day! I definitely got my arts and crafts fix with all of the super cool booths! One of the most gorgeous booths was that of my online pal Heather Bluhm Simpson. It was great to finally see her in person after so many years of communicating online. Her booth was truly the most beatiful and creative of the entire festival!

And... I can't go to San Juan Bautista without visiting the old Mission! So much history there!

Entrance to the mission with the beautiful old bell that hangs overhead. You can really feel the history and the spirits of those who lived here long ago but mostly I feel God's Holy Spirit here.

The gift shop in the mission is really cool. I love the old religious art and artifacts.

Don't you just love the patina turquoise color of this old door panel from the mission? Someday I want to paint the outside of my house this color! Love it! Wouldn't my neighbors love it! lol! Maybe I'll move to San Juan Bautista... I wish!

Life's Twists and Turns.

2009-10-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

My life has drastically changed in the last few months! Even though it's very scary, I know it's for the better. Here's just a glimpse of what's been happening.... husband (so called husband) left after 22 years of marriage... been coming for a long time. Started a new "day job" in a new industry (medical) after many years of being a stay at home mom. Moved twice in one year, ugh! Had to close my little art studio due to finances with all this crazy stuff happening. Anyway... que cera, cera whatever will be, will be. I've been taking many trips to the ocean lately. Thank God it's only about a half hour drive from my house. This picture was taken at Moss Landing on the way to Monterey, in back of Phil's seafood restaurant. It's one of my favorite places on earth! This was a particularly chilly day as the season is now becoming fall. It was so accelerating with the cool sea air and the ocean spray. I can't help but think about how many people through the ages of time have stood in this spot and enjoyed God's creation just as I have on this day! Ahhhh. After taking this picture I proceeded to go into the restaurant and enjoy a bucket of steamed clams and chowder in a bread bowl and a wonderful glass of vino! Life is beautiful and getting better all the time!

Have to Brag a Little!

2009-05-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud of my very talented son, Carson (he's the tall one on the left). He fronts he own reggae/ska/surf rock band called "Find Your Roots". He just turned 21 in January so he is able to book gigs in the clubs now. His first club performance was last Thursday at Legends Bar and Gril l here in Morgan Hill. They sounded fantastic and did a very professional job.

There was quite a turn out for a Thursday night and the audience stayed engaged the entire evening, which you don't see that often in a club environment. It actually seemed more like a concert event! Anyway congrats to Carson (lead vocals & guitar), Josh (vocals & bass) and Ian, their new awesome drummer! You guys rocked the house!!!

The Wine Stroll

2009-05-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday my town, Morgan Hill, CA. had what they call a "Wine Stroll". It was an event meant to get people downtown and into the shops. Each shop had a different local winery that would pour a taste of wine. There were 15 local wineries represented. People met at the old Granada theater in the heart of downtown and received a wine glass and a punch card with a map on it. Then they could stroll around from shop to shop wine tasting and shopping!

I decided to take advantage of the event by making a display table for my studio and handing out fliers for my classes, etc... It was a great success. I spoke to many, many people who had no idea that my studio even existed. Hopefully I will get some business out of it! We'll see!

Hangin' with my Bro!

2009-04-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my sweet brother took my out for a marvelous lunch at Ragoots! It was such a beautiful day so we sat out on the patio watching the people stroll by. The food at Ragoots is delicious. I had an Asian chicken salad and he had Tuscan Linguini! It was very special because I don't get to go out to eat very often. I've been suffering from that ancient Italian disease... "ma-funds-are-low"! Anyway I really appreciate my brother taking me out! He is my bestest friend! Love his cool new hat too! xoxo Danny!

P.S. I'm growing my hair (needed a change) and it's driving me crazy right now. It's in that ugly middle phase between short and long. I just need to hang in there a few more months but can I do it? I don't know. And will I even be glad I did? Okay I'm committed. Only going to grow it to my shoulders with lots of layers. We'll see...

Missing my Sweet Pepper Today

2009-04-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

I'm missing my dear sweet Pepper dog today. Poor old girl. We had to put her to "sleep" a few week ago, ugh, so sad. She was 14 years old so that's 98 years old in people years. She was half German Shepard and half Siberian Husky. She could barely walk anymore because of arthritis and she had many other ailments so it was time for her to go to that great doggy park in the sky. It was a lot harder for me to let her go than I thought. I haven't even been able to blog about it until now and it's been about three weeks. It helps that we moved to another house so at least I'm not picturing her laying by the door looking out as she used to do so often. I'm picturing her up in heaven running around pain free with my grandma and grandpa taking good care of her. I love you old Pep! Thanks for being my son's best friend as he was growing up and being our family's faithful watch dog! "Free Dog" at last!

My Sister Came for a Visit!

2009-03-14T21:36:00.001-07:00

My sister Toni (right) came to visit me from Arizona. We had so much fun! Actually, probably a little too much fun a couple of times! I hadn't seen her in about two years! It's always so fun hanging out with her and staying up till the wee hours of the morning (4:00am) having "girl talk"!. This was the first day she was here. She took me out to lunch at Ragoots here in Morgan Hill. It was so yummy! Thanks Toni! I miss you lots! I wish we lived by each other. Hey, we forgot to play the humming game!

P.S. Why do I look so happy in this picture? Because I just ate a fantastic Reuben and had some awesome Pinot Grigio! Ahhhh!

My Sidewalk Sign!

2009-03-14T21:18:00.001-07:00

This is my new sidewalk sign! It looks a lot cooler in person because it has sparkles on it that don't really show up in the picture. The other side of the sign is basically the same. I wanted to make the sign very visible with the lettering and also have it represent the type of art I do. I can now put this outside on the sidewalk when I'm open to try and draw people upstairs to my studio to make a project or just get some information. Yay! I'm very happy with it!

Finally... My First Art Journal Pages!

2009-03-14T21:01:00.001-07:00

Wow, I didn't know it would be so hard getting started on my art journal. I finally did the first two pages! Now I think I'll be on a role because I'm thinking of lots of ideas to journal about! Yay! My sister Elizabeth's art journal is such an inspiration to me! Getting started was the hardest part but now I'm excited! Every "artist" should do one of these! Now I need to write some of my thoughts on these pages. hmmmm.

My New Art Journal

2009-01-11T23:34:00.000-08:00

For the longest time I have wanted to create an art journal but some how I had never gotten around to it. My sister Elizabeth started her art journal and she is addicted! She has been the inspiration for me finally doing one for myself. I will also use this journal as an example for "Art Journal Thursday Nights" at the studio! See my website for details!

P.S. I think I need to add some sparkles!

Open Studio Christmas Arty Party!

2008-12-20T11:29:00.001-08:00

The studio was abuzz with activity last night! Carols were playing while Christmas ornaments and gifts were being created!

The atmosphere was electric with laughter and fun!

Halie decided to collage some Christmas themed cans to use for gift containers. Becky decided to create an ornament for her granddaughter's first Christmas!

Joy decided to make her husband a collage on canvas as a Christmas gift. It will have an ocean theme since he loves deep sea fishing.

Rebbecca is making her parents and grandparents a collage Christmas ornament with the theme from the movie "It's a Wonderful Life"!

Becky is choosing pictures and creating her layout while enjoying a little glass of Cabernet!

Joy has finished base coating her canvas and is now choosing all of her collage elements.

Lots of creative energy going in here!

Aubrey decided to collage a glass tea light for her room!

She also made a beautiful Christmas ornament for her Mom!

Here is baby Ina's Christmas ornament made by Granny B. (Becky) in celebration of her first Christmas!

Here is the back of the ornament. The words were created on our old typewriter at the studio and then cut out and decoupaged onto the ornament. Then sparkles were added of course!

Sarah decided to collage an old bottle with a mermaid/beach theme!

Very cool Sarah!

OMG! Joy's collage on canvas turned out so beautiful! Your hubby is going to love his gift! This is the first collage that Joy has ever done! I think she's found her new talent!

Becky also created a Christmas ornament for her brother based on his favorite Christmas movie!

Love it!

Aubrey's tea light is still drying. When it's finished she will be able to place a lighted candle inside and then all of the pictures will glow! It should look beautiful in her bedroom!

Here is the Christmas ornament that Rebbecca created for her grandparents! Just lovely!

And here is the collage ornament she created for her parents! So sweet!

Halie painted and decoupaged this paint can and will now fill it with cookies to give to a friend for a Christmas gift!

Another beautiful can created by Halie to fill with goodies!

A fun filled artistic night was had by all!

Christmas Open Studio Projects

2008-12-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

Collage Christmas Ornaments

Christmas time at the studio is so fun! I loved making these projects during "Open Studio" Friday nights. Every Friday night between 6pm and 9pm the studio is open so come in and make a project! Projects take about 2 hours to complete and cost $25.00 at the door. This includes all materials. Make a cool Christmas goodie for yourself or to give as a gift! Bring your friends! Bring a snack! Bring a bottle of your favorite wine! Sit back, relax and CREATE!

Collage Cafe Art Studio
17415 Monterey Rd. #202

(Upstairs - 2nd Floor)

Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Collage Candy Dishes

A Little of My World

2008-11-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

Thought I would share a little of my world with you. A few posts back I showed a picture of the house that I just moved into. I said that I wanted to start decorating in reds, turquoise, gold and browns, etc... Well here is the beginnings of that trend. Here is my living room/ dining area. I was standing on the landing of the stairs that lead to the bedrooms on the second floor. To the left of the railing is my front door. I just realized when you click on this picture (below) you can see all of my recyclables sitting on the dining table "Go Green"! lol!

Here is the grouping of pictures I did above my couch. I'm kind of going with a Spanish/Old Mission decorating theme with some Italy/Tuscany thrown in.

Here is what we refer to as the "Santa Chair". I got this chair from the Goodwill a few years ago.

There are so many crosses in my house that my son said a vampire wouldn't dare set foot inside! You can see my big old sweet dog Pepper laying on her bed by the door. She is 98 years old in people years. Poor old girl just lays around and sleeps a lot now a days.

Here is my cute little antique bar (below) that I got a few years ago. It opens up and has an entire set of gold leaf 50's bar ware like the ones you see sitting on top here.

While I'm at it I mind as well throw in a few pictures of the kitchen. I love the big window above the sink that looks out to the backyard.

The picture below was taken while standing by the dining table looking straight into the kitchen.

So there you have it a look into my cozy little home and world!

Autumn Collage Candles

2008-10-28T10:37:00.001-07:00

Just in time for Thanksgiving! I sold these autumn collage candles to a day spa in Los Gatos! I love how these candles turned out. They are so sparkly and festive! The best thing is that as the candle burns down the pictures start to glow! I think they would be a beautiful addition to any Thanksgiving table! Thanks for your order Joy!

My New Home!

2008-10-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

I finally got all moved in! This is my new residence and it is much nicer than my other home and in a much prettier neighborhood! We lived in our other house for 10 years! Ugh! I can't believe that since I never really liked that house and was only suppose to be there for a few months until we found a home to buy. But then life happens and layoffs happen and things don't turn out like you thought they would so we stayed there for 10 long years! Moving is the most UN-fun thing I can think of. Especially after accumulating 10 years worth of crap. I was able to have 2 garage sales and even after that I hauled off a enormous amount of stuff to the Goodwill. My new motto is "simplify"! Now we're finally all moved in and I'm getting a fresh outlook on life! I still need to hang pictures and decorate, etc... I'm getting some new ideas and I've decided I want LOTS of color! Red, turquoise, gold, brown (as I have a rustic brown leather couch) and splashes of yellow and of course some mossy greens and maybe even purple! Color, lots of color!

Art Journal Night

2008-10-14T11:42:00.001-07:00

Every Thursday Night

@ Collage Cafe Art Studio

6pm to 9pm

*Take your Journaling to a whole new level!

*Create a beautiful Art Journal that

incorporates collage, painting, writing,

stamping, embellishing and more!

*A $25.00 fee covers materials to create

your initial Art Journal.

*Then feel free to bring your Journal to

the studio any/every Thursday night

and create beautiful pages in your book!

*A $20.00 fee (per Thursday night session)

covers all materials and studio time!

*Bring your friends and start your own

"Art Journal Club"

*Journal Prompts will be provided at every

session to help you with the creative process!

*No Registration Necessary for Art Journal Night

*Space is Limited so Come Early

*Teens to Adults

Collage Cafe Art Studio

17415 Monterey Rd. #202 (2nd floor)

Morgan Hill, CA 95037

408-916-1114

Oh Happy Day!

2008-08-26T01:11:00.001-07:00

I love the days when I go to the mailbox and I see that my Somerset Studio Magazine has arrived! I get a big smile on my face! No matter what is happening in my life at the time I know this will now be a happy day because I can loose myself in my Somerset! I quickly thumb through the magazine as a preview for later when I'll actually sit down and study every picture and read every article. Well I'm off to bed now with my (no not my husband), you guessed it... my Somerset Studio Magazine! Ohhhhh and it's the Halloween issue! Yay!!!

Molly's Collage Journal

2008-08-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

My little granddaughter Molly came to my studio after school yesterday to collage a journal. This year her class is doing daily journal writing so they were required to bring a journal from home. She wanted to make her journal really unique so she collaged a composition book. I'm anxious to find out what everyone thought of it when she took it to school today! I think it turned out just beautiful!

"Open Studio" Friday Night!

2008-08-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

It was "Open Studio" Friday once again at Collage Cafe Art Studio! We're open every Friday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm for "Make and Take Projects" $25.00 dollars at the door (includes all materials).

This past Friday night two very cool girls (Aubrey and Halie) stopped by the studio to create wonderful pieces of art! They immediately chose their projects and started creating. The studio door was open so we were able to hear the live band on the street below which was part of the "Friday Night Music Series" here in Morgan Hill.
Aubrey chose to decoupage a wooden hand mirror and Halie chose to collage a personnel journal.
This was Aubrey's first time collaging and her project turned out so awesome! She made a beautiful Audrey Hepburn themed hand mirror that she will always cherish!

Halie's journal turned out beautiful! She chose to collage pieces of gold, purple and animal print tissue paper adding a picture of the Eiffel Tower, vintage postcards and a Paris window. She used an embossing pen and powders to make a raised design around the edges of her journal. Exotic!
Thanks for coming by girls! It was another fun Friday night at Collage Cafe Art Studio! Remember every Friday night 7pm to 9pm is Open Studio. Bring some friends or come and make new ones. Space is limited so come early! Can't wait to meet you all!

Molly Loves Being in the Studio!

2008-08-02T20:45:00.001-07:00

A few months ago (May to be exact) I took my granddaughter Molly to the studio with me one night. I had some cleaning and organizing to do so she said "Grammy can I come with you and make something for my mom for Mother's day"? I said "sure what do you want to make"? She said that she had found a recipe online for some homemade perfume so she was going to make some for her mom and she needed a bottle to put it in. I knew just the bottle she could collage! It was a bottle I bought at Micheal's for 99 cents! So here is her finished bottle! Wow! She did this all by herself and I didn't even help her. My daughter Natasha was thrilled! Talk about a keepsake! I'll get the recipe for the perfume and post it here soon because it was so easy to make and it smelled great!

After she finished the perfume bottle she made a collage on a canvas board for her bedroom!

It's a very intense process you know!

Molly loves being in the studio just like her Grammy!

Her little puppies Weanie (don't ask me why she named it that), Cuddles and their son (I forgot his name) love to watch their "mommy" doing collage. She has had these puppies since she was born. She takes them everywhere she goes even to school in her backpack. I asked her why she does this and she told me "just in case there's ever a fire she doesn't want to loose them"! Yikes, I hope there's never a fire! I think it's so cute how special they are to her though! My daughter and I had actually bought "back-up puppies" (the exact same kind) in case these were ever lost. A couple of times through the years she did lose them so we had to give her the "back-ups" which were all new and clean so she was sceptical about them being the "real" thing. We told her that they had just gotten back from the Spa! LOL! She really believed it back then! She hasn't lost them now for many years, thank God because I don't think they make these puppies anymore! It is soooo fun being a Grammy!

Happy 11th Birthday Molly!

2008-08-02T19:01:00.001-07:00

Here is my granddaughter Molly having her 11th Birthday party at Collage Cafe Art Studio!

She had invited eight girls and they painted and collaged wooden plaques for there bedrooms!

They had so much fun. One of Molly's friends brought her IPod so they listened to all of their favorite tunes on my IPod player and munched on goodies while they collaged. That's my daughter Natasha (Molly's Mom) looking up from the table. She almost looks like she's the same age as the girls! lol!

Here is Molly's finished plaque. She loves puppies as you can see! Below is her friend Izabella's plaque. It was so interesting to see how each of the girl's plaques were so unique to their personalities. They all had a great time and got to take home a beautiful piece of art!
I think there is really something to this birthday party idea. I would love to do more of these. It's exciting to see the girls really come out of their shells! I think I'll start promoting these kinds of parties! I also have such a place in my heart for teens and young people. I want them to come to the studio and do their art and bring their music (Ipods) and hang out and express themselves through collage!!!!!! YES!!!! I'm thinking this might be my mission or part of it anyway!

Summer Open Studio and Workshops

2008-07-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Open Studio Fridays!

"Make & Take Projects"

7pm – 9 pm

$25.00 @ the Door

This Month's Project:
Collage Candles
Special Discount Price $20.00
(includes all materials)

*Monthly Projects
*All Materials Included
* Beginners Welcome *Teens to Adult

17415 Monterey Rd. #202
(Upstairs - 2nd Floor)
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Stacey Dean (Artist/Instructor)

Stacey.collagecafe@gmail.com

www.collagecafe.com

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

Summer Workshops

"Vintage Beach Shadow Box"

11:00am to 4:00pm

$65.00 (includes materials)

(Choose one of the following Dates)

*Saturday July 12th, 11am - 4pm

*Saturday July 26th, 11am - 4pm

*Saturday August 9th, 11am - 4pm

*Saturday August 23rd, 11am - 4pm

See Websites for Details and to
Register & Pre-Pay:

www.collagecafe.com

I'm Back!!!

2008-07-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hurray! I'm back online, finally! A couple of months ago my hard drive completely DIED! Being the starving artist that I am I wasn't able to get one until now. Wow I really missed internet and my blog and MySpace and all the wonderful inspirational blogs and sites. I guess you don't realize how much something is a part of your life until it's gone. Anyway, hallelujah I'm back!

Dinner at the Studio, Yum!

2008-04-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I cleaned and organized my studio. I even scrubbed the nice hardwood floor (thank God for Swiffer). Now that I have my small refrigerator in the studio (thanks to freecycle.com) I am able to store food and drinks. I made myself a big healthy salad for dinner and sat at my craft table with a nice glass of wine (in my cute Copola wine glass) and looked at a new book I recently bought. The book is called "The Art of Personal Imagery" by Corey Moorgat. This is a really cool book! I think every collage/mixed media artist should have it! The pictures are beautiful and the instructions are very straight forward and easy to follow. I'm going to try making a collage like the ones shown in this book. I'm so excited to get started!

Boo Hoo! I didn't Win, but...

2008-04-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't win the Gilroy Garlic Festival poster contest but... I did get into the finals. This means that my piece will be on display at the festival and it will be entered into the "people's choice" contest. This is where the public will vote and the winner gets a $200.00 cash prize. Well, as my dear sweet granny would say... "it's better than a kick in the ass" or "a poke in the eye with a sharp stick"! So for my first entry attempt I guess this will have to do. And... I'm already thinking of ideas for my next year's entry!!! I'm thinking the judges want to see more GARLIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you happen to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival this year, please stop by the poster entries booth and vote for ME!

Vintage Typewriter in the Studio

2008-04-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

My friend Becky gave me a vintage typewriter! It is the cutest little fire engine red. I have to find out where to get a new ribbon for it. Does anyone know? The current ribbon is almost out of ink but it still works well enough to make the words look old. I'm so excited! Thanks Beck!

*Look to the left of the typewriter and you'll see an itty bitty canvas, on an itty bitty easel. I found it at an art store in Sacramento. I thought I'd try to make the world's smallest collage! LOL! Or as my granddaughter would say "a Barbie collage"! I haven't attempted it yet! I'd better get out my tweezers!

Happy Birthday Sister!

2008-04-12T19:10:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to my beautiful sweet sister Allicia! It was so good to see her when I visited Salt Lake City. This is a picture of us at our Grandma's house. I hope you had a wonderful birthday sweetie! I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you. Us Aries girls must stick together!

*Note: if you look closely on the side of my nose (click on picture to enlarge) you can see my new nose piercing. I got it for my 48th birthday (April 1st). I wanted to do something fun and out of character so I decided to go for it! It's a little light blue crystal to match my eyes. Kinda cute huh?

Well I bet you guys didn't know that I am a woman of many talents! Not only am I an "Artist" but I am what I like to call a "faux hairdresser" aka... a wanna be/pretend hairdresser. I missed my original calling and never went beauty school. Then I met my best friend Becky who just so happens to be the best hairdresser on the planet! She gave me some lessons in hair cutting so now I can cut my husbands hair, son's hair and my son-in-law's hair. Here I am cutting (for the first time) my brother Cris' hair while I was visiting my sister in Salt Lake.

I didn't bring my cape or my hair cutting scissors so we wrapped him in a flowered sheet and I used my craft scissor. They're kind of dull from cutting paper but they worked! He had gone out that day and bought a Vidal Sassoon trimer so that helped.

Yikes, his hair is very straight and sticks out like a porcupine. It was kinda scary there for a minute. Good thing I had that glass of wine before hand to calm my nerves, lol!

It ended up turning out really cute! It also helps that he's so damn handsome (and single I might add)! Anyone? Anyone? He'd probably kill me if he saw this (JK)!

Hello there tall (6"3'), dark and handsome with a terrific new haircut! Ah yes, I am an artist in so many ways! Mwah ha ha ha!

Wine, Cheese and Collage!

2008-04-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

My sister Elizabeth and I had a great time during my visit to Salt Lake City. One night at her house we drank some really good (cheap) wine and nibbled from this yummy cheese plate that she made. Then we started making collages around 10:00pm (we're both night owls).

Note: That's a collage candle on the window seal (background) that I made for her birthday last year. It has Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra on it (she's a big fan)!

We were just going to base coat our canvas' because it was getting kind of late but then we got on a roll and collaged until 5:00am! Yikes! Time flies when you're collaging and having fun with your sister! Here is her very first ever collage on canvas! Good job E~ (aka, Elizabeth)!

The feather on her collage came from her very talkative bird Pascal (below). It's spring so he's molting. He's an Amazon Parrot and he's quite the flirt! Sorry the picture's kind of dark.

My Visit to Salt Lake City

2008-04-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

I had an awesome trip to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit my wonderful beautiful "baby (she hates it when we call her that) sister" Elizabeth (aka E~ just like Elvis... we used to think she was his love child, lol)! We had a great time eating out almost every day and night and shopping at cool boutiques and thrift stores in her little artsy town of Sugar House! We had just finished eating (above) at Mazza Restaurant where they have the best middle eastern food and Lebanese wine! My face is starting to turn red (red wine does that to me) and my teeth are looking slightly purple! lol!
On our way home we spotted this funky little thrift store (above) called Abode Paris Flea Market so we quickly pulled over! Skreech! We were in heaven! There's nothing like good food, good wine and good junk! That certainly makes for a GOOD DAY!
This is the street where my sister lives in Sugar House, Utah. The weather is very different from California that's for sure! It snowed twice while I was there and this is suppose to be spring!
This is my sister's cute house. She has a claw foot bathtub. I just love claw foot bathtubs! I think she should collage it! Darn, I should have gotten a picture of it! The red building next door is a cool, funky hair salon.

Garlic Festival Poster Contest

2008-04-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here is my (first time) entry for the Gilroy Garlic Festival Poster Contest! I feel like I've already won something just by doing it and turning it in! Yay for me because I'm usually such a procrastinator! I didn't get time to do as much shading as I would have liked, but what the heck. There was a deadline so I had to turn it in as it was. I did some highlighting with gold and silver paint and Pearl Ex powders but they didn't really show up in this picture. Usually the entries that are chosen have been pretty conservative in the past so it will be interesting to see if mine gets in. I think this would look cool on a t-shirt, don't you?

Time in the Studio

2008-02-02T00:34:00.000-08:00

I've been spending a lot of time in the studio and I'm loving it. I'm committed to going there every day and work on something. It's been great! Every time I walk in the door I think to myself, "I love you little studio"! It's my secret hideaway! My oasis from the outside world and all of it's problems. I can just cast all of my cares away at the door and find peace and joy in these four walls. I'm currently working on a 16 x 20 canvas to submit to the Gilroy Garlic Festival poster contest. The first prize is $750.00. In addition to the cash prize your picture is also printed on all of the souvenirs (posters, cups, t-shirts, shot glasses, etc..) for the festival. I have a friend who enters almost every year. She won the contest a couple of years ago and was so excited. As far as I know there has never been a collage submitted to the contest. I think my picture will be different from the usual type of entries. It will be interesting to see how open minded the judges are. Keep you fingers crossed for me!

Somerset Studio Collage Ornaments

2007-11-03T00:08:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by these ornaments in Somerset Studio Magazine this month. I've decided to make them one of the projects for Collage Cafe "Open Studios" during the months of November and December! Here are the class examples I've made!

Collage Cafe Studio Sign

2007-10-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Here is the sign I made for "Collage Cafe Art Studio". I'm going to hang it out on the street in front of my studio.
Here it is sitting on an easel. I think it turned kind of cool!
Here I am in the process of doing the first layers on the sign.

Spooky Halloween Collage Candles

2007-10-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

A few friends and I got together for some Halloween Art fun! We made color copies of vintage Halloween pictures and old photographs of Edgar Allen Poe, haunted asylums and black cats, etc... and collaged them on glass encased candles. We sprayed them with glitter spray and finished them with a few pieces of raffia tied around the top.

Wine and Collage at the Studio!

2007-10-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

A fabulous wine & collage "art party" was held at Collage Cafe Art Studio last Friday night! Four ladies came and created collage art pieces on cigar box lids to display on wooden easels.
Here is Melissa working on her "shabby chic" Paris collage!
Roxanne and Melissa are base coating their cigar box lids to prepare for the first layer of their collages. Roxanne has decided to do a vintage nature themed collage.
Michelle and Denie are excited about beginning their evening of art, wine and creativity!
Roxanne and Melissa are ready for a night of collage, hors d'oeurves and fine wines!
Michelle has base coated her cigar box lid in preparation for her wine themed collage.Denie is discussing ideas for her vintage themed collage with Roxanne.

Here are the ladies with their finished collages. Each piece turned out uniquely beautiful and all agreed they were amazing reflections of their own personalities! It was a great night of art, wine, food and fun at Collage Cafe Art Studio!

"Taste of Morgan Hill" Art & Wine Festival

2007-09-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

I had a display at the "Taste of Morgan Hill" Art & Wine Festival this weekend. It was so fun! I met lots of cool peeps and saw lots of familiar faces too. It was so fun showing "Myrtle the mannequin" and my collage art and class samples.

That's me standing by my table. The open door behind me is where my studio is located up the stairs on the second floor. I took a lot of people up there to check it out and the reactions where all the same, everyone seemed to love it! They all said they want to come and create art!!! Yay!
Here I am standing by Myrtle. She got lots of looks, especially from the guys! Isn't that funny! She also got a lot of attention from little kids. One little girl about 4 years old came up to her and started giggling and pointing at her and said "she has sparkles"! It was so cute!
Here is my darling daughter Natasha who came out and helped me this weekend. Thank heavens for her or I wouldn't have been able to get some food or go to the bathroom! lol! Overall it was a great weekend and I was able to really get the word out about Collage Cafe Art Studio!

OMG, Look What I Found in my House Today!!!

2007-09-26T23:20:00.001-07:00

OMG! I was in a room downstairs in my house last night that used to be my studio and I was on my computer updating my website, when suddenly I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I turned and this is what I saw crawling across the carpet!!!! (Yes I need to vaccum - that's a lot of dog hair, lol!) Click on the picture and get a close-up of my new little friend!
He was huge! To the right of the picture is my poor old dog Pepper (1/2 Husky & 1/2 Shepherd). She was sleeping on her sleeping bag. To the left is a box of stored dishes. And then, there is my new BIG furry friend! ughhhhh!!!!!
My husband scooped him up in a jar and let him go outside (where he definitly belongs)! I heard it is mating season and I hope to God his mate isn't in here! All I can think about is what if I had wakened up in the middle of the night with this thing crawling on me!!! Or, what if it had crawled on me while I was surfing the net at 2:00am? SCREAM!!!!!!!

More Views of the Studio

2007-09-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

There is an eve (or a shelf) all the way around the top of my studio. I've been collecting various items to decorate this area so that when you look up it will be kind of interesting. I put an old Chinese umbrella and some bird houses up there.
And... I went dumpster diving (hate to admit it) and found some palms that someone had trimmed off their tree, so I placed a bunch of them all the way around. It kind of gives the feel of being outdoors. I also put some old frames and old suitcases stacked up there too.
Here is my old wooden angel placed up here to watch over the studio. Behind her is a really cool wrought iron cross that my MIL gave me.
This is my friend Becky and her daughter Halie doing collages at the studio!

Donation for the Charter School Auction

2007-09-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Here is the layout (above) for a small collage I donated to the Morgan Hill Charter School Auction to be held next Friday at a local winery. The event is called "Autumn in Paris" so I went with a Paris theme.
Here is the finished piece with the easel included. I think it would look nice on a bookshelf or a little table or desk, don't you?
Here is a close up. Sorry it's kind of blurry. My hand is not too steady sometimes when taking these digital pictures. Hope people bid on this and the school makes a good little chunk of $$$.

Collage Cafe Art Studio!

2007-09-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

This is what my studio looks like when standing on the outside looking through the window. Doesn't it look inviting? Don't you just want to come inside and make some art? BTW, that's my friend Becky sitting inside making a collage for her husband for there 18th wedding anniversary.
Here is the doorway to my studio with wooden beads hanging down. My studio is located on the 2nd floor of a historic building in downtown Morgan Hill, California. The building is one of the oldest in the town. It was built in 1902. Sometimes when I'm there alone late at night I can feel all kinds of energy. It's as if I'm not alone and there are lots of people around, even though no one else is there. Then I researched this building and found out that the 2nd floor was used as a social center in the early 1900's and the 1st floor was a general store. Wow! It definitly has a really cool vibe!
This is what it looks like when you walk through the beads. There is Myrtle the mannequin and a cool chinese lantern I got in San Francisco's Chinatown.
This is to the left of Myrtle. All of the stuff on the shelves are project materials for "Open Studio" night.
There is a nice long counter top that I can use as a work space and I can store all of my drawers full of materials underneath. This has worked out great. I have a table and chairs in the center of the room where my students and I can make art. We were actually making collages on this night and that's why everything is kind of a mess!

*I just noticed there is an "orb" in the top center of this picture! I told you guys this building is full of energy! Okay, I don't know if I really believe in these "orb" things, but it does seem kinda weird and cool at the same time! Maybe it's an "Art Angel" watching over the studio!

Been a Busy Bee!

2007-06-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have been a busy bee lately getting the studio ready for making art and holding workshops. It has taken much more time than I thought it would to get everything organized to move. I don't know about you but whenever I have moved to a new residence I always under estimate the task. It never looks to me like I have that much stuff until I actually start packing it and moving it. Then it's like "YIKES where did all this sh__ (I mean stuff) come from"? Well it's been like that with my studio. Just going through all my materials and trying to figure out what I really want to take over there and what I need for classes, etc... is taking lots of work and energy, whew!

MySpace Adventures!
In the midst of doing all the studio stuff I keep getting (tempted) side tracked by MySpace, lol! I can see why people get so hooked on this. It's so fun to log on and see my new messages/comments and friend requests! I feel so popular! lol! I had put out a few friend requests to artist and different people I found while surfing around. Then I started getting other friend requests to me. I was so excited! I also have learned how to find and copy a layout and music and a slide show of pictures of my art. It's so fun! Check it out when you can. Click on the MySpace link at the top right side section of this blog!

It's Coffee Talk!

2007-06-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't this Cute! I love it! My daughter sent it to me on my MySpace! Thanks honey!

I'm Breaking Out of My Shell

2007-06-08T23:09:00.001-07:00

egg
Originally uploaded by a_journey_man

I feel like I'm breaking out of my shell! Collage Cafe Art Studio is a brand new beginning. Even though it's been in the works (in my head, anyway) for many years, it is finally going to happen in the physical this July!!! The baby is being born! I'm finally giving birth!

Collage Cafe' is on MySpace!

2007-06-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

I am now in the world of MySpace! I never thought I would be in this world, but I am and I like it! It's fun and I'm hooked! I was able to post my workshop calendar and blog some discriptions of my workshops, etc... with the help of Tash (daughter and MySpace expert)! So ya'll must go sign up for your "space" and get with the program! It's fun and easy! To check out "my space" click the link on the upper left of this page or type in the address.... www.myspace.com/collagecafe

Myrtle was Mobile at the Mardi Gras!

2007-05-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

This was my "plan B". The Myrtle (mini) float. I had to make Myrtle mobile so I could pull her around at the (newly located) Mushroom Mardi Gras this weekend. You should have seen the looks she got! People loved her! I draped a little red wagon with some embossed silk fabric and tulle. Then I set Myrtle on her stand inside the wagon and gave her a little skirt to hide the ugly metal stand. I displayed some of my collages around the bottom at the base of the stand. As I was walking with her, a group of teenage guys passed by and said "wow, that's way cool"! lol! I wheeled her all over the festival on Saturday and Sunday and handed out my flyers (below). Hopefully I'll get some calls for my classes. I listed my workshop dates and times on the back of these little flyers which are the size of a quarter of a sheet of paper.

A couple of my 11x14 collages (below) that I revamped for display on the Myrtle float.

"Old Hollywood" Collage on Canvas

"Touch of Tuscany" Collage on Canvas

Prep for Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival

2007-05-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

I made the flyer (at the bottom) to hand out at the Mushroom Mardi Gras festival next weekend here in Morgan Hill, CA. The flyer actually looks a little different than this but for some reason it didn't copy over to my blog in the same font and text size that I used. This is basically what it looks like though. I am placing four of these on a page so each one is a quarter of a page in size. I'll copy them on brightly colored paper and cut them using the paper cutter at the copy place. They will be small "handbills" to hand out to people at the festival. Then when someone seems interested and wants more info. I'll give them a more detailed brochure/schedule. Beautiful "Myrtle the Mannequin" will be with me.

Hopefully she will attract attention and interest some people into wanting to know more about Collage Cafe Art Studio! I'll be setting up a MySpace this week and I still have to paint two racks/cabinets, move all my stuff in, hang my art /decorate, get the copies done, get my hair cut and cover that damn gray, etc... etc.... etc...! Yikes, I'm coming down the home stretch! I better get my "butooty" in gear! (did I spell that right?) Well there won't be much time for sleep this week! I'll need the old cover stick under the eyes at the festival. Oh, nevermind, I'll just wear my sunglasses instead, lol!

Collage Café
Art Studio
* Collage * Altered Art * Assemblage

Open Studio
Every Friday Night
7 – 9 pm
$ 25.00 @ the Door
*Choose a Project *All Materials Included

*Beginners Welcome *Teens to Adults

17415 Monterey Rd. #202

(2nd floor above "Just Breakfast")
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

*Monthly Workshops
*Custom Art Parties available

Contact: Stacey Dean (Artist/Instructor)
stacey.collagecafe@gmail.com
www.collagecafe.com
www.collagecafe.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/collagecafe

Best Mother's Day Gift!

2007-05-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

I forgot to tell all of you what a wonderful Mother's day I had. It all began when I found out on email that I had received a two year subscription to Somerset Studio Magazine from my husband for Mother's Day! He also informed me that "it comes with a free clip art CD"! This sounded so funny coming from him because he genuinely sounded excited about it. Usually if I show him something in my Somerset he tries to seem interested but I know otherwise. I told him this was the best Mother's Day gift he could have gotten me!!! I'm so excited! I just got the current issue of Somerset and Cloth Paper Scissors so I know what I'll be doing tonight. I hope tonight when I go to sleep I have "visions of collages dancing in my head". Or... maybe I could have "champagne wishes and collage dreams"! Okay that's enough already, ha! The remainder of my Mother's Day was spent at my bff's house for a BBQ where I had entirely too many mimosa's causing quite a headache, but it was fun!

Birds of a Feather

2007-05-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute little birdhouse that I made. I love the new trend of birds, nests and eggs. I've been seeing a lot of them the past year or so. I've even seen them at Anthropology. There is something so comforting about them. I'm seeing lots of aprons as well. I think everyone is especially needing comfort and security right now with the state of the world, etc... These things really represent a feeling of home and security to me.
I found this little birdhouse at the Dollar Tree. It was painted an ugly orange color and had some weird flower painted in it. Believe me it wasn't cool. So I painted the entire thing burnt umber. When that was dry, I painted crackle medium all over. I let that dry for about 30 minutes and then painted on a coat of Italian sage. As it dried it began to crackle. I took a wet sponge and rubbed off some of the sage paint in other areas to make it look aged and weathered.
I decoupaged pictures of seed packets, birds, nests and flowers on to the house. I had a painted and rusted small Altoids tin that I had made so I broke off the lid and decoupaged a picture of a bird inside of it. I glued it over the hole of the birdhouse. I glued moss, tiny eggs from the craft store, seeds and feathers around the front and sides. I glued a small scrabble letter "B" in the corner of the tin. If I were a bird I would love to live in this little house, except how will I get in? My door is glued shut, lol!

Collage Cafe Art Studio

2007-05-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

I spent all night (till 1:30am) painting the new studio. That's me on the ladder and yes, that's wine on the shelf below to the left. One must have inspiration! Good thing I didn't fall off that ladder! That's my daughter Natasha (below). It was so good of her to come and help me paint and keep me company. Thanks sweetie!
As you can see the studio is becoming a lovely shade of "bambooish/sagey" green. A "new color" that I mixed myself with some left over paint from Becky (bff) and some other paints I already had. I also mixed in a few little bottles of folkart acrylic colors. I actually wanted the color to be lighter so I kept mixing in white but it didn't seem to make much difference. Finally we just went for it and, well, it's pretty darn green, but I'm really liking it. The room has a good earthy, happy, feeling. I'm starting to feel right at home. It's like my new little creative nest is being born. I can't wait to start moving in. I'm going back today to do paint touch ups. Then I'll clean the floor which is a beautiful hardwood and then start moving in. I want to be all in by the weekend and hang up my art and display my class examples. Next week I'll update my brochure and summer class schedule and make flyers to hand out at the "Mushroom Mardi Gras" festival here in Morgan Hill (May 26 & 27). If you're in the area please stop by and say hi!

Mommy and Me Collage Time

2007-05-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

Mom and I worked on collages together when I was in AZ visiting. This was my Mom's first attempt at collage on canvas. She usually paints and sews so she wanted to try something different. She was a natural at it! I worked on an 8x10 canvas for my sister and brother-in-law. It has a sailing theme using a picture of their sailboat and other sailing elements. Here is the initial layout (below). I arrange and lay everything out and then I take a digital picture of it. Then when I take everything off to start decoupaging, I have the picture to refer back to so I don't forget. Thank God for digital cameras! Here is the finished piece (below). It was displayed at an auction to advertise a sailing trip on their boat being auctioned off to raise money for their children's school. It is now on an easel in the den of their home. Here it is being displayed at the auction (below).
Here is Mom's collage layout (below). The style is "shabby chic/cottage, what else! I don't have a picture of the finished piece because she was still working on it when I left AZ. This is good start though don't you think? Hurry up mom I want to see how it turns out!

I'm Back from Arizona!

2007-05-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Actually I've been back for 3 weeks now but I've been so busy getting my new studio ready that I haven't had time for blogging. My 2 weeks in AZ were wonderful, fun and relaxing. Mom and I went shopping at this awesome antique mall. There were rows and rows of booths with everything you could imagine. It was like going to a history museum. We spent at least 4 hours in here looking at everything.There was a darling "shabby chic" booth that my Mom fell in love with. She is very into the whole cottage look and has decorated her entire house this way. So cute!

I bought some cool old photos (adopted ancestors), some antique silver teaspoons and some old fashioned clothes pins to incorporate into some of my future collages. It was a fun day!

Heading out to Arizona!

2007-04-04T12:52:00.001-07:00

I'm flying to Arizona this Saturday! Hope my arms don't get tired, hee hee! I will be visiting my parents and my sister and her family. I will also be teaching a couple of collage workshops while I'm there. I'm so excited because there are lots of cool, I mean "hot" places to visit for arts and crafts, etc... The temps are suppose to be in the 90's while I'm there! Yikes, I better pack some shorts and summer clothes. Where is that "faux" tanning lotion when I need it? I guess I really will have to shave my legs now. I'll take lots of pictures and keep you all posted on the happenings of my trip. I'll be back April 23rd. Then I'll start getting my NEW STUDIO ready to move into!!!

I'm So Excited!!!

2007-04-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

I am excited beyond comprehension! I will soon (May 1st) have my own little art studio in downtown Morgan Hill, CA. This is unbelievable considering my situation (can you say "starving artist"), yet it is going to happen! God truly knows the desires of our hearts. It has been a desire of mine for many years to have a place, a little art studio to create in and hold workshops for others who want to create. This is a dream come true for me. Thank you dear Lord! I'll keep you all posted with pictures and updates! Yipee!!!!

Make a Mosaic Cross for Easter

2007-04-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

In honor of Easter, I've made a mosaic cross with a vintage image of Jesus on it. I bought a cheap wooden cross at Michael's for $1.99. and a small bag of grout in a nutmeg color at Home Depot for about $2.99. I already had a broken tea cup with a fruit pattern on it. I had a clear flat marble from Michael's and I found a vintage image of Jesus online at Yahoo images. I painted the cross with Burnt Umber and then crackled it with Italian Sage from folkArt. I placed the pieces of the tea cup in a ziplock bag and carefully broke them into smaller pieces using a hammer. I cut the picture of Jesus to the size of the marble and smeared glue "Crafter's Pick" from Michael's, right on the front of the picture and adhered it to the flat back of the marble. This glue will dry clear making the picture visable through the marble. I used the same glue to adhere the marble and the pieces of china to the cross. I let it dry overnight before grouting. The next day I mixed a small amount of grout (1 cup) with some water until it was a "frosting" consistency. Wearing rubber gloves, I "glopped" on the grout pressing it in between all of the little pieces of china and the marble. Then I wiped the excess grout off with a damp sponge (not too wet). I let this dry for about 30 minutes and then wiped it off again. The next day I wipe the cross with a soft cloth to buff it and remove any grout residue. It was now ready to hang on the wall! I love it! I made a few others to give as gifts. If you're going to make a mess you mind as well make more than one right? They're so inexpensive and beautiful. I think they look like they came from a church in Florence, Italy or maybe they were found in an old Mission.

Funky Little Easter Tree!

2007-03-31T17:54:00.000-07:00

Last night my "bff" Becky and I made a funky little Easter tree for Easter and this is how we did it! We snipped a branch from a tree in her yard. Then we found a small tin bucket that she already had. Any container will do. We mixed up some plaster of paris (JoAnne's fabrics) according to directions and poured it into the bucket. We placed the branch down into the plaster of paris, centering it into the position we wanted. We found some big cable/wire cutters to lay across the bucket to help hold the branch in place till the plaster dried (about 30 minutes). Anything will work here as long as it holds the branch in place. Once the plaster dried and the branch was stable, we removed the wire cutters and began to decorate the tree. We smeared some glue stick on the branches and sprinkled them with white glitter to resemble melted frost. We then hung tiny Easter ornaments (JoAnne's Fabrics) all over the tree. You could actually make your own little ornaments using paper, glitter, stickers, etc... this would be a fun project in and of itself. We finished the tree by placing some moss around the base to hide the plaster of paris. You could use Easter grass for this as well. Tie a cute ribbon around the bucket/container and volia! You have a funky little Easter tree to decorate your kitchen table or anywhere else in your home! Happy Easter!

Magnificent Myrtle!

2007-03-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is Myrtle! I found her "naked" at an Espirit store sell out. I knew I had to have her to collage on. A few friends and I got together and worked on her for 3 full days. We decided that her theme was going to be (what else?) all about woman! She represents our grandmothers, great grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. And, those woman who have had an influence on our lives. She (attended) was on display at the "Relay for Life" cancer walk last year and she caused quite a stir! People kept coming up and admiring her beautiful body and images. She was also on display for a time at Casa Blue Salon here in my town of Morgan Hill, CA. I thought I would share her with all of you. She may just have to become the mascot for "Collage Cafe" What do you think?

More Views of Myrtle!

2007-03-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Collage in the San Jose Museum of Art!!!

2006-10-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

Becky, Ruth and Me at the San Jose Museum of Art.

"Her Story" Collage (below) in the San Jose Museum of Art.

Hi everyone! My friend Becky and I have been super busy creating this (24x36) collage on canvas called "Her Story". It is the story in pictures and mementos of a mysterious woman's life around the turn of the century.We're so excited to announce that it is currently on display in the San Jose Museum of Art! The name of the exhibit is "We Are Family" and it will run through January 7, 2007. We went to the opening reception Saturday night and had so much fun with our friends and family. Thanks to all who came! Becky and I both agree that seeing our art on display in such an awesome museum gives us the feeling of just giving birth and Christmas morning all wrapped into one. We were thrilled to see so many people admiring our "baby" and making such nice comments! If you're in the area you must go see it and the over 400 other amazing pieces of art in this show. Believe me this is not a show you want to miss! Take your family and friends. Kids will also enjoy it because the artists span all age groups. There is also some interactive art activities for the whole family to enjoy! Hope to see you there!

P.S. Thanks to our wonderful friend and fellow "art lady" Ruth (pictured above) for telling us about the awesome opportunity to get our art displayed in the San Jose Museum of Art. Her art is hanging next to ours. It's a beautiful, brightly colored painting with a vintage wooden tennis racket attached to it. Thanks Ruth, we love you!

Art in the Santa Cruz Mountains

2006-06-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from an amazing retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains where I held two "Collage Candle" workshops with a total of 90 women attending. Everyone had so much fun cutting and pasting (decoupaging) papers, pictures and vintage ephemera to glass encased "religious" candles. I love these candles because you can buy them for about a dollar at the grocery store and then you can decorate them with any theme you want. I brought along papers/pics which included vintage beach, travel, garden, birds and nests. It was so amazing to see how different each candle turned out, even though they all had similar pictures. We finished them with a ribbon and a tea stained tag with the name and date of the retreat ("Breathe, June 2006"). Cutting and pasting is like going back to kindergarden. You can forget about your troubles and just talk and decorate your candle. Then when your candle is dry you can light it and the pictures take on a beautiful soft glow, ooh la la!

Welcome to Collage Cafe Art Studio Blog

2006-02-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

Collage Cafe Art Studio Blog is now open so come on in! This is the place for art and inspiration! You'll find out about the latest projects and happenings at Collage Cafe. You'll also get current workshop information and schedules.

Collage Cafe's philosophy is... "There's an Artist inside of everyone just waiting to express themselves"! Stay tuned for inspiration and information!

"Collage Cafe Take Me Away"!!!