SOAR

"Soar," says Becky.

To my family, artists, advertisers, community leaders, and members of my entire team who have worked so very hard to keep distractions to the side and stay focused on our vision: 

Thank you. 

I am honored to be on this journey with you and learn from your incredible dedication, skills, imagination, discipline, and passion as we aim to soar ... and as we aim to spread the message about the power of art. Forever indebted am I.

And know this: Failure is not fatal. Success is not final.

In just a few short hours, our site will be live at www.crescendoh.com. Congratulations to all of you for making it happen. 

No looking back. Onward and upward we go.

SHONA'S SINCERITY

Shona Cole. Artist. Mother. Friend. 

Years ago, when I first met Shona, I was captivated with her art. But it's not just her art. It's who she is. It's her sincerity. Sincerity that she puts into everything she does. And what she's done recently is quite marvelous ...

 

She has authored her first book titled The Artistic Mother (2010, North Light Books) — a title that offers a course that empowers mothers to fit creativity into their lives as they juggle the demands of motherhood. Because Shona knows what I know ... that ART SAVES. 

 

Tune into CRESCENDOh.com where I will provide a complete review of this book in our Totally hOT Book & Product Review department. The Artistic Mother is available wherever books are sold, including of course, AMAZON. 

{PS: Shona Cole will be coming soon to CRESCENDOh as a Guest Curator to share her favorite links from the online world and to share her unique ART SAVES story.}
 

MOD PODGE WE MUST

Just one more thing about Brave Girls' Camp. 

 

One of the greatest things about the experience was that in between the chicken salad and the Mod Podge, there was lots of singing! One of the greatest sing-alongs was when we all made up verses to the tune of Michael Row the Boat Ashore, and Margie Romney-Aslett led the group to sum it all up for us.

KIT :: DANITA & ME

Check out this cute mixed-media canvas I made ... with a little help from the Danita & Me kit.

And here's one that Tracy Schultz made. 

 

We made this using the same kit but I love how our individual styles resulted in very different-looking works. But the common denominator for both of us was that with all the parts and pieces offered in this adorable Danita & Me kit, we both experienced SUCCESS. Here's a video that tells you more about the Danita & Me kit, available at CRESCENDOh.com on Monday. {NOTE: Yes, we are aware that the margins on this blog need readjustment in order for videos to not be cut off. We are working on ironing that out. In the meantime, if you double-click on this video, you'll be taken right into our CRESCENDOh Creates YouTube channel so you can see the video without it being cut off. Thanks for your patience.}

 

We hope you will share with CRESCENDOh readers what you come up with using this kit by sending us images and instructions to gallery@crescendoh.com.

Happy creating. :)

WONDERLAND

Wonderland is where this girl lives. And her name is Alice. A simple card created by Cynthia using Alice in Wonderland rubber stamps by Danita.

Stamped with brown ink on a book page then cut out and adhered to a panel card, and bow made of embroidery thread attached to her head. Dot stamps and stitch stamps (designed by Cynthia for CRESCENDOh) and touches of art papers complete the piece.

 

That's just one card. But the great thing is that Alice has lots of friends! Check them out ...

 

More samples by our design team coming soon ... as we show you the wonders of Alice in Wonderland rubber stamps by Danita.

Happy stamping :)
 
 

DRESSES SHOWERED IN COLOR

So I've given you some sneak peeks of rubber stamps that we are releasing with Danita and Pam Garrison. Now it's time to give you a sneak peek of pretty dresses that have been designed by YOURS TRULY, into rubber stamps. The cards shown here uses these dress stamps with some truly versatile background stamps that have been designed by Cynthia Shaffer. 

Dresses stamped onto white cardstock and embossed in black ...

Showered with watercolors ...

And composed with sheet music and other papers that have been washed with white gesso ...

 

Along with other elements like crocheted flowers, sticks, and stitched beads.

Pretty, don't you think? You'll be able to find these rubber stamps on CRESCENDOh.com on March 1st! Many thanks to Cynthia Shaffer for creating these beautiful cards. We are proud to announce that Cynthia will be part of CRESCENDOh's Design Team, along with none other than Rachel Emilie Jackson, Lisa Guerin, Olivia Thomas, and brand new friend and artist, Tracy Schultz. You'll be seeing regular works by this tremendously talented team on CRESCENDOh, as they inspire you to discover diverse styles and endless potential in our kits, rubber stamps, and more.

Happy creating. :)

 

RESOLVE TO BE GOOD

OK. So let's get back to Brave Girls' Camp. Here's another project I made based on prompts by Melody Ross. About listening ...

 

About being still ...

About being patient.

 

In between the projects and prompts, the best things were created. Like roars of laughter ...
 

New friendships ...
 

Fun and joyful times ...

 

Insights from books ...
 

And the resolve — regardless of what life throws at us — to be good, supportive, and brave.
 

Leading this experience were Kathy and Melody. Extraordinary sisters who have actualized a vision for an art & life retreat like none other. 
 

Many, many thanks to them and their team for making it happen and making all attendees feel very special and very much loved.

{Note about the project: Apply acrylic paint to book pages. Once dry, add spots of white gesso. Gather vintage button cards and other elements and utilize artistic restraint to create a composition that is well balanced. Add black polka dots using acrylic paint and the eraser of a pencil. Attach pages with black ribbon.}

KIT :: APRON OF MY EYE

Speaking of kits ... we will also be offering an adorable one called Apron of My Eye. Because as you know, and as Beth knows, I've had a long-standing passion for aprons. 

Here's a bit more info about the kit:

KIT :: CROCHETED NECKLACE

As most of you know, I've been crocheting this necklace made of hemp yarn and vintage buttons for a L O N G time. And for SO LONG, SO MANY of you have been asking for instructions on how to make it. 

Starting next week, CRESCENDOh will offer a kit and digital video that will teach you how to make it from start to finish. YAY! Here's a little video that tells you more about it.

And for those of you who'd rather buy it all finished rather than getting a kit to make it, we'll be offering finished necklaces as well. 

 

Happy crocheting. :)
 

ENJOY ANYWAY

OK. So where was I? Oh yes. Brave Girls' Camp. In addition to the first piece that I created prompted by Melody's presentation of the "anyway" concept, I made another project with photos that were taken and printed for us by Elena.

 

 

She knew it would be hard ... but she did it anyway.

 

She loved life anyway.

 

She spread hope anyway.

 

I was also inspired when Melody shared with me that after enduring some tough years, she wanted her word to change from "endure" to "enjoy." What a great concept. So I decided that that's what I would do too.

 

No matter what, I'm gonna enjoy life and I'm gonna continue making big plans anyway.   

{How I made my projects: First project was made by layering two rectangles of canvas and stitching down the middle. On other canvas pieces, I applied a layer of white gesso, let dry, and then machine stitched the photos onto the painted canvas into fun shapes to create ornaments. I cut those shapes out and then added hand embroidery. Then I adhered the pieces onto the pages of the book. A fun alternative would be to use the "photo/canvas ornaments" and make it into a mobile. For the second project, I used similar principles to create an "enjoy" panel and then adhered both the panel and the photo ornament onto the lid of a box.}

PS: A big shout-out to the team at wishstudio for a really great interview. Thank you!