How to Steal Like an Artist

You've got to pop over to Austin Kelon's blog and read this!

Austin Kleon is a writer and artist living in Austin, Texas. He's the author of Newspaper Blackout.

The post is full of wit and wisdom and I agree with every word.

Tutorial: Sketchbook Slipcover

 Welcome to Artspark's third day of the Spring Tutorial Fling!

I love working with fabric and I love sketching. My sketchbooks want to be pretty on the outside - even if they are a mess on the inside.

If you'd like to make a sketchbook slipcover you'll need just enough fabric to wrap your book like a gift (mine is quilted to batting although that is not required.) You'll also need inside fabric that's just a little longer than the fabric you'll use for the outside of the slipcover.

And because I had just enough fabric left over I made a little pencil case. Melanie Testa has a tutorial here so you can make one of those too if you wish.

Make sure you don't miss the following tutorials from other Artspark members!

Spring wreath: Alisa Burke

Making a Faced Binding: Judy Coates Perez

Journal mapping: Jill Berry

Artspark Tutorial Spring Fling

Welcome to day 2 of Artspark's Spring Tutorial Fling

Freezer paper stencils from your sketchbook images and Paintstiks: Jane LaFazio

Bunny Power: Quick Tombo Rabbits: Carla Sonheim

Painting Eggs: Tracie Huskamp

To answer your questions from yesterday. This piece is about 6" and is a mother of pearl disc on shibori dyed fabric. And lots of beads. It will be framed in this lovely little shadow box. (I took the glass out to photograph it.) Scroll to yesterday's post to see a close-up.

I'm going to try something new and give you all first dibs before I list it on Etsy. 

PEARLS 6"x6"

framed and wired for hanging

$85.00 usd (plus shipping)

Work in Progress and Artspark's Spring Tutorial Fling

Just for fun - here is a bit of the small piece I worked on during my trip to Montana this month.
An title ideas? 

and day 1 of
Artspark's Spring Tutorial Fling

Incised Fun Foam Stamping: Melanie Testa

Recycled Slip cover for a small book : Gwen Diehn

MP3 case: Kelli Nina Perkins

Tomorrow look for:

Freezer paper stencils from your sketchbook images and Paintstiks:Jane LaFazio
Bunny Power: Quick Tombo Rabbits: Carla Sonheim
Painting Bird Eggs: Tracie Huskamp

Artspark Tutorial Spring Event

GET READY! 

HERE IT COMES!

ArtSpark is having a spring tutorial event.

For three days this week we'll be bringing you fabulously fun free tutorials.

Tuesday, March 29

Incised Fun Foam Stamping: Melanie Testa

Recycled Slip cover for a small book : Gwen Diehn

MP3 case: Kelli Nina Perkins

Wednesday, March 30

Freezer paper stencils from your sketchbook images and Paintstiks: Jane LaFazio

Bunny Power: Quick Tombo Rabbits: Carla Sonheim

Tracie Huskamp: surprise

Thursday, March 31

Sketchbook Slipcover: Lyric Kinard

Spring wreath: Alisa Burke

Making a Faced Binding: Judy Coates Perez

 Journal mapping: Jill Berry

On-Line Class: The Artist's Toolbox

Introducing: The Artist's Toolbox

An on-line course at www. QuiltUniversity.com

based on the book

Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises

Come learn the basic alphabet of the visual language, the elements and principles of good design.

I'll walk you through each element, explaining them in easy to understand language and metaphors.

We'll observe each element in the world around us both in art and in the natural world.

Finally we'll put what we've learned into practice through practical exercises.

The supply list couldn't be simpler.

Sketchbook and whatever drawing stuff you have

Glue Stick

Fabric Scraps

Registration is open now and the class is almost full.

Class begins April 22nd.

Faces on Friday

At another guild meeting and each drawn in less than 30 seconds.

My sisters are coming for a visit in June.

We're going to have a Mad Hatter Tea Party.

All of us love to play dress up.

(sorry about the washed out pics from the flash. It was either that or shadows.)

And I have another thing to share. Something wonderful has happened. I've been chosen 2011 Teacher of the Year

by the International Association of Professional Quilters.

Thank you SO MUCH to my absolutely, most wonderful in the world, students!!!