4 ON 3

Red on white.

 

Orange on yellow.

White on white.

Pink on hope, imagination, courage.

Heart on Clif.

 

Brown & blue on cream.
 

Cookies on plate.

 

Art on wings.
 

Love on you.

Story on matter.

 

Red on kraft.

Pinch on dash.

Box on cards.

 

Yarn on horizon.
   

4 on 3.

43.

No age I'd rather be. 

For the expressions of love, support, and well wishes from friends, artists, staff, and family, I am deeply moved. Thank you.

Blessed am I.

EQUIPPED TO CREATE

For those of you who have been following this blog, you know about this crocheted necklace that I've been making with hemp and vintage buttons for quite some time now.

 

Many of you have asked for the pattern ... and many of you have also inquired about a kit. Well, I'm happy to announce that through CRESCENDOh's shop, we will be offering kits and instructional video that will equip you to create this necklace. Each bag will contain the finest quality of hemp yarn, authentic vintage buttons, and a quality crochet hook. (Our team will also be developing some other imaginative art kits as well.)

 

Tonight, for those of you who are interested in owning an actual finished crocheted hemp necklace with vintage buttons, I invite you to consider visiting my friend Rebecca Sower's Haiti by Hand Artist Auction site ...
 

One of my necklaces, along with several other wonderful art pieces by other artists will be available through this auction until February 12th. Art for good. Thank you for your consideration.
   

HOW COOL IS THAT?

Q: Who created the totally hot ART SAVES logo? 

A: None other than the amazing Michelle Ward.

Q: Will CRESCENDOh offer something with the ART SAVES logo on it for sale?

A: Yup. First of all, we'll be screening the logo onto canvas squares just like you see above, and selling the screened panels plain and simple ... panels that you can transform into an art quilt, appliqué onto a denim jacket, incorporate into an art journal, or paint, distress, and alter ... we encourage you to engage your muse to use the panels to transform into anything you can think of ... and we encourage you to share your creations with us that we will feature on this blog in future posts.

 

Q: Will you sell anything else that has the ART SAVES logo on it?

A: Yup. Our CRESCENDOh design team, led by Cynthia Shaffer, has created this totally hot tote that is like no other tote you own. Super roomy with a too cute polka dot ruffle and quilted ART SAVES logo on the front ... 

... the back has two roomy pockets to keep knitting needles, paintbrushes, and all other essentials safely tucked ... with just a splash of red ribbon. 

The logo will also be made available on tees that will be for sale. And whether you buy the canvas panel, the tote or the tee, 100 percent of proceeds of all ART SAVES merchandise will be donated to CRESCENDOh's Charities of Choice.

Q: Who are CRESCENDOh's Charities of Choice?

A: The first Charity of Choice is Life Through Art Foundation, as you can read about here. The other two will officially be announced in the days ahead on this blog. 

Q: So if you give everything to charity, is everything in your shop for charity? Are you a non-profit organization?

A: CRESCENDOh is a FOR-PROFIT LLC with a tremendous commitment to giving back. Focused compassion is one of the cornerstone values that guides our overall mission for our company. The ART SAVES merchandise gives back 100 percent but our other non-ART SAVES merchandise like the beautiful reversible velvet bag you saw here, and some other really exciting art kits and licensed merchandise from very talented artists will be sold with 2 percent of proceeds going back to charity.

CRESCENDOh, LLC ... creative passion • authentic community • focused compassion

All together now ... How Cool is That?!

SNUGGIE SUPER POWERS

We interrupt all this CHA talk to bring you the wonders of the Snuggie!

FROM FRAGMENTS TO SENTENCES

Too. Tired. To. Write. In. Full. Sentences. Fragments are what I'll use. My final CHA report. Met Jenny Barnett Rohrs of Craft Test Dummies. Hilarious.

A gal with many personality facets. Future. Curator.

Silly Jenny was my favorite.

 

Witnessing the silliness were Maggie ... and Erik Workman. Both from ProvoCraft.

 

Next I played with pens. With the good folks at Copic. Totally hot pens. Marianne likes markers.

 

The Crafty Chica was wrapping things up. With her precious daughter, Maya. So sweet.

Rebecca Krahula ... a blast from the past. So good to connect with her. Lots we caught up on. Lots we reminisced about. What a story she has to share. Soon on CRESCENDOh.

 

Donna Downey. Can she be any cuter? Her story also to come to CRESCENDOh.

OK. Got my wind back. Full sentences are returning ...

As CHA 2010 comes to a close, I find myself ever grateful for the tremendously supportive response from artists and business leaders, who are all cheering on the launch of CRESCENDOh.com. 

The lesson I've learned through it all is this: work hard. ALWAYS WORK HARD. And always be committed to quality and attention to details. Because when you do, you create a foundation of credibility that can weather anything ... a foundation upon which you can construct with unbridled imagination, your destiny. 

Blessed am I.

CHA 2010 • DAY 5

Bright and early this morning, the first two smiling faces I met were from my dear friends, Kristen Robinson and Ruth Rae. Future Guest Curators.

Here's Ruth at one of her book signings, as she shared some of her projects with her fans.

 

When I stopped by the Walnut Hollow booth, I ran into the super talented Rebekah Meier, future Guest Curator, who taught me how to use some really great encaustic wax painting tools by Walnut Hollow.

 

And then as I continued on the floor, I ran into the always graceful and classy Sherri Haab. Future Guest Curator.

And then there was the energetic Susan Lenart Kazmer with her WAY-COOL Objects and Elements booth. Future Guest Curator.

Then it was so fun to hook up with two of the hardest working folks in the world of crafting: Cathie Filian, future Guest Curator, and Steve Piacenza.

 

Also hanging with Cathie and Steve was the adorable Candie Cooper, future Guest Curator.

 

Next, I ran into the totally hot Megan Nicolay, future Guest Curator, who was signing copies of her two books: Generation T and Beyond Fashion. 
 

And then I finally got to meet the very talented Erin Bassett, future Guest Curator.

 

I also met sweet Maggie Lamarre, another future Guest Curator.

 

I also got to say hello to Michael Wigton from ProvoCraft ... such a nice guy who really listens and who really understands about the importance of building community. 

Toward the end of the day, I was so happy to meet up with friends Angela Cartwright and Connie Freedman. It was SOO good to see them again!

 

It was also great to connect again with my friend, Miss Vicky Breslin who is always so fun.

 

And then sweetest of all was to meet up with Linda Carpenter and Deb Hodge ... two people who are masters at creating authentic beauty.

 

By the end of the day, I hooked back up with the two I started the day with — Ruth and Kristen ...

... and we were able to unwind after a long day of work, to enjoy one another's company over dinner, drinks, and good conversation. 

CHA 2010 • DAY 4

CHA. Day 4. Claudine Hellmuth. So adorable. Future Guest Curator for CRESCENDOh ... to share her art and her ART SAVES story. 

Tim Holtz. Need I say more? A Rock Star dude who has it going on ... and who knows firsthand that ART SAVES.

 

And sweet, smart Bonnie Egenton who helps support the work of Claudine and Tim through the AWESOME products from Ranger. And who also understands profoundly, the power of art and how ART SAVES.

So as I was chatting with Claudine, one of her BFFs comes to scoop her up. Love this photo because Claudine and her BFF are posing with MY BFF (and my secret weapon), Cynthia Shaffer (Cynthia doesn't have a blog or anything like that. She is just a creative genius who can create ANYthing with ANY material at ANY time. ANYthing great I've ever done is because Cynthia has been there helping me make it happen.)

Another BIG, BIG thrill today was hooking up with the amazing Margie Romney-Aslett who has released a new line of products that took my breath away. Future Guest Curator for CRESCENDOh.com.

So as I was strolling along, I bumped into none other than Beth Livesay (one of the best dressed editors in the industry) ... the editor of the HOTTEST altered artwear magazine ... ALTERED COUTURE, of course.

 

Here I am on my soapbox preaching the message about ALTERED COUTURE to the CHA audience. (One of my fortés is getting on my various soapboxes.) :)

Another highlight was meeting up with the good people of AMACO ... the creators of the most innovative clay products ... wait until you see one of their most lightweight clay products that you'll see on CRESCENDOh.com. 

Strolling along, I bump into sweet Julie Bergmann ... an artist of IMMENSE talent. Cover artist for the latest Art Doll Quarterly. 

 

And before I knew it, joining the fun was Lisa Kettell.

 
And joining the fun was Shea Fragoso ... an artist with an AMAZING ART SAVES story coming soon to CRESCENDOh.com.

 

And sweetest of all ... connecting with the supportive mothers of our beloved artists ... the mother of Shea and Lisa. TOTALLY adorable.

 

And joining the mix is the always chic Helle Greer ... with her own ART SAVES story coming soon to CRESCENDOh.

 
And finally, the way I ended my day was to connect with the good people at BEACON adhesives ... a company run by an amazing couple with authentic family values and a deep understanding of quality products, and the power of community.

Four days down. Two days to go. Stay with me ... 
 

CHA 2010 • DAY 3

Hands down, the hottest duo walking the CHA floor today were Erika and Monika Simmons ... twins and authors of Doublestitch ... a book filled with totally hot crocheted designs. You'll want to check it out.

 

Also on the floor was none other than lead fiskateer, Angela Daniels ... changing the world, one cut at a time.

 

Speaking of lead fiskateers, I ran into lead fiskateer Cheryl Waters connecting with the queen of Canvas Remix, Alisa Burke.

 

Later on, I visited Susan Lenart Kazmer's Objects and Elements booth to find the smiling face of Jen Cushman.

 

And then after that, I made it over to Sterling/Lark to grab a glass (or two) of champagne ...

... to celebrate all of their fabulous new titles, including the very first book that I have co-authored titled Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration ... a book that goes into the studios and behind the scenes of 23 incredible women to learn about their art, and their sources of inspiration ... a book like none other ... a book that will knock your socks off ... a book that I'm so very, very proud of. (A book that will be available April 1st ... trust me ... it'll be worth the wait.)

One of the women who I had the pleasure of interviewing and writing the profile for was Joanna Figueroa, proprietor of Fig Tree Quilts. Here she is admiring the book ... little tidbit about Joanna is that through the writing of the book, I learned that she is a dear friend of one of my very best friends who I've written about on this blog: Maurine. What a small world.

Another artist who I had the pleasure of interviewing to write for the book was Vickie Howell. 
 

Here she is with our mutual good buddy, Traci Bautista ... as we were celebrating a brand new book that Vickie has authored titled Craft Corps ... coming very soon.

Toward the end of the day, I had the pleasure of connecting with longtime friend, Christine Adolph, who is doing great things with her art, and keeping busy as ever.

 

OK. Three days down. Three days to go. 

CHA 2010 • DAY 2

So yesterday was Day 2. And after gathering all my things, including this awesome reversible velvet bag, I was off. (Many of you have asked about where to get the bag. It will be available at the shop on CRESCENDOh.com in March!)

 

As soon as I walked onto the floor, I was met by the beautiful Julia Andrus. She has launched an amazing new line of products called ecogreencrafts. Totally awesome.

Then of course my friend Traci Bautista was the life of the party at ilovetocreate, showing all the people how to unleash their creativity.

 

I also had a chance to say hello to Nicole, the owner of The Art Bar, who was helping people create affirmation books. 

 

And as I sat down to take a break, I was joined by the lovely Sonya Nimri.

 

And then also joining us was the queen of Generation T herself, Megan Nicolay.

 

And at the VERY end of the evening, at about 10 PM, I hooked up with my friend, sweet Colette George. 

   
  
 

CHA 2010 • DAY 1

Day 1 • 2010 CHA ... met for the very first time sweet Hope Wallace. 

Then hopped over to the Ilovetocreate booth to hook up with The Crafty Chica ... the forever optimist and multi-tasker who has just finished writing her first novel!

 

Then connected with the adorable Sarah Hodsdon and queen of origami, Karen Scott.

 

And then met up with Tiffany Windsor of the Inspired at Home radio show.
 

And then met Tiffany's mother, Aleene. That would be Aleene of Aleene's glue! OMG. It was such a treat to meet her ... one of the founding leaders within the world of crafting. 
 

And then I bumped into a very familiar face: Laurie Mika.

 

And then with Dori Barrett ... a good friend of mine from northern California.

 

After CHA, I hooked up with friends Sally Jean Alexander, Lisa Kaus, Pam Garrison, and Amy Hanna to have supper together. Such a great time we had as we were able to catch up on all that each of us are up to and share some wonderful laughs. And after supper, we made our way into Anthropologie to shop and to goof around.

Check out the beautiful scene from within Anthropologie, of a ferris wheel all lit up.    

You can see me and Lisa here at the bottom of the photo. 

OK. What a great first day. But I'm frickin' tired. Off to bed I go. More later.