"Taste of Morgan Hill" Art & Wine Festival

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!!!

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!!!

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

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!

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!