My Sister Came for a Visit!

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!!!