Handmade Holidays Day 1 - A Wooden Spool Menorah

Welcome to Day 1 of Handmade Holidays!  Every day this week, you'll find unique art and craft ideas.    Remember that every post has a giveaway, and all the comments for all the days count!  I'll be picking all the winners after 11AM EST on Saturday, so make sure to check out all the Handmade Holidays posts!

Today, I want to share a handmade menorah. While I created this for our Hanukkah celebration, you can use this tutorial to make your own unique candelabra.  

Supplies:

Wooden spools (You'll need eight of one size, and one that's larger for the Shamas)

Balsa Wood Block 

Black Gesso

White tissue paper 

gold acrylic paint

Matte Medium

E6000 Adhesive

Stencil or Stamp- I used my Borders Stencil from Stencil Girl

3/8" hex nuts for the candle cups

Assorted bits and pieces from your stash.

1.  Paint the spools and the wood with the black gesso.  

2.  Stencil patterns on the gold tissue paper.  Then, using a wet paint brush, paint lines to "cut" the tissue paper.  Here's a video tutorial where I did just that.

3,  Use Matte medium to adhere your tissue paper to the wood, making sure to coat under and over the tissue paper.  When it dries, the un-stenciled parts of the tissue paper will become nearly translucent!  In the photo above, it was about 50% dry.

4. Add a bit of gold to your hex nuts and glue them on the tops of your spools using the E6000 or other strong glue.

5.  Glue the spools to the Balsa wood base with the E6000.

6.  Dig out items from your stash.  I added beads, some old keys, and pieces of charms I received at Art is You Mixed Media Retreats.

Hanukkah began on Sunday night.  May the lights we kindle shine peace, love and freedom into the world.

I hope this post gave you some fun ideas.  I am giving away one of my Art is You Trades to a lucky commenter.  

Remember, for extra chances to win, make sure to comment on all the Handmade Holiday posts!  I will pick all of the winners on Saturday morning, 11AM EST. 

Please leave your email address in your comment (like this: jessicasporndesigns at gmail dot com) to be considered for the giveaway!

And the winners are:

Corrine Gilman’s Brooch:  Lou Lou in Texas!  

Art is you Trade:  Suzie Q 23!  

Clay Ornament:  Karen!  

Hamsa Stamp:  Lisa Meyers! 

Three Trees Stencil:  Lu 

Make sure to check back for more projects and giveaways every day this week!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Art is You Mixed Media 2015 Recap Part 2

Last week, I shared the amazing work by my students at Art is You Mixed Media Retreats.  I thought I'd share the evolution of my demo painting in today's post.

Here's how the piece looked at the end of the class.  I had demo'd abstract line and color work, silhouette making, gelli printing and more.  (You can see images from my Hebrew Calligraphy and Namaste stencils, as well as icons from Mary Beth Shaw's Flower Tile Stencils.)

I came home to a messy worktable.  Inspired by this video by Denise Alloca, I started ripping shapes from the newsprint on my table, which had images from my Medallions stencil on it,  into impressionist silhouettes of people.  I added them to my canvas.  Then, I decided to add faces and wings to them.

The piece continued to evolve...

and here it is, finished. The stencils most obviously apparent are the Namaste , and Hebrew Calligraphy stencils from Stencil Girl.

This piece is on a 12 x 12 canvas board,.  The original is available for purchase (without the watermark of course) for $195.  A 13 x 13 Canvas Print is available on Society 6 for $85.  

This is a process I am calling the "Yes, And..." approach to art making.  

"Yes, And" is an improv technique used in acting classes.  It’s an exercise that allows for anything to happen, and it goes like this: No matter what your fellow actors present to you, instead of negating it, belittling it, or disagreeing with it, you say, “Yes, and…”  You accept the scenario as it’s presented to you (regardless of where you wanted it to go), and then to add to it.  (You can hear Julie Balzer and me talk about it in this podcast.)   This approach is evident in this canvas, where the torn pieces of paper on my worktable took me somewhere completely different.  Though it's no surprise, as I've been seeing angels everywhere! 

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Art is You Mixed Media Retreats 2015 Recap

Another Art is You Mixed Media Art retreat has come and gone.  As always, it was heartfelt and wonderful.   I taught a class called "Masked and Unmasked: Stencils and Silhouettes."  (Thanks to Suze Weinberg for taking this picture!)




My adventurous students explored mediation, and exercises in letting go and working with abstraction. Here are a few of the "underpaintings", in which we explored line and color.

We did lots of gelli printing with the Gelli Arts Printing Plate, resulting in spectacular papers. Several of the women had never used a gelli plate before.  Of course, it was addictive!

We hand cut our own silhouettes and stencils. Of course, stencils from Stencil Girl Products were in the mix too.

Everyone's final canvases were breathtaking.  Some of these are still works in progress.  I look forward to getting pics of the final creations!

As always, the best thing about Art is You is the camaraderie and support among the staff and attendees.  Seeing old friends, making new ones, and taking care of each other is paramount.   

It was great hanging out with Marjie Kemper and so many other wonderful friends.

Terry Favo, who has attended some of my Meetup classes, is having severe problems with her hands.  Many of us altered gloves or recreated our hands for her.  The presentation of a beautiful garland with all of the helping hands was one of the most touching moments of the weekend and so symbolic of sisterhood and love at Art is You. 

The deep connections start at the top, with fabulous organizers Sallianne and Ellen, and their wonderful staff.

Do you have an art retreat or class that has touched you deeply?  I hope you'll share it in the comments.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Three Ts: Trades, Talk and Thought

Hey - I have three Ts on my mind.  First up is Trades:

Art is You Mixed Media Retreats is around the corner.  It's customary to bring little pieces of art to trade and the theme last year and this is charms.  Using some of my patterned paper from my Festive Soul Food lesson, made with my Stencil Girl stencils and RubberMoon stamps,

I punched circles, added words, punched little holes, and covered them all with Glossy Accents for a ceramic look.  They look so happy all together!   I'll share a picture when I have the charms all assembled.  In the meantime, I'm covering everything in sight with Glossy Accents - it's so much fun!

There are still a few seats left in my class, Masked and UnMasked: Stencils & Silhouettes.   Here's a little video to tell you what the class is all about.  

You can also watch Stencils Silhouettes Class Preview on YouTube here.  

Talk:

About a month ago, I received an email from the prolific, awesomely talented and generous Julie Balzer asking me to be a guest on her podcast, Adventures in Arting.  We spoke on Tuesday, and the podcast is available airs starting today.  We talked about musical theater, yoga, my former career as a lawyer and, oh yes, art. I hope you'll have a listen!

Thought:

I'm thinking a lot about where I'm going with my art, this blog, and where to put my energy.  I'll be sharing the results of this thinking soon.  I know that I loved creating my lessons for Festive Soul Food, and definitely plan to create an online workshop this year (which for me goes September to September!)

Plus, my younger daughter, Samy, just started High School, and I'm very aware that these are the last four years that I "have her" home.  Having watched my older daughter Mariel grow and spread her wings, I know that these four years are extremely precious.  So I definitely want to make time for all the moments.

Here's a bit of Samy, singing recently at our summer community.  I hope you enjoy her as much as I do!



Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Coming Home to my Heart at Art is You

In October, I'm going to my artistic home.  They say that home is where the heart is, and my artistic heart is at Art is You.  

I first attended AIY in 2012.  It changed my life by opening my eyes and heart to an entirely new community of artists and friends, who are my sister tribe to this day. 

When I went back to Art is You in 2013, I wondered whether Art is You could possibly be as good the second time around.  It was better.  I reconnected with old friends and made new ones.  I stretched my wings and tried new things.

In 2014, I returned to Art is You as both a student and an instructor.  Both experiences were fabulous.

And now, in 2015, I'm returning to my artistic home at Art is You once again! 

 I am teaching a class that includes nearly every technique in my toolbox.  It's called Stencils and Silhouettes,  and I can't wait to share it with you!

Here's a brief video intro to the class.  

You can also watch "Stencils and Silhouettes: A Class Preview" on YouTube here.  

I hope you'll check out my class, and all the other wonderful classes being offered by Art is You in Stamford this October.  It's an amazing experience, and I hope to share it with you one way or another!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Tell All Tuesday -Teaching News and More

Festive Soul Food starts 9/1.  

Are you signed up?   Check out this amazing video showing samples from all the participating artists.  Or watch Festive Soul Food promo on YouTube here.    

For $32 you get a month of lessons from so many amazing artists, recipes and more!

Here's another sneak peek of my project.  I'm so excited to share it with you!  I'll be sharing lots of tips about using your stamps and stencils in ways you might not have thought of, and we'll create a holiday themed project that will make a great gift or keepsake!


Go to Community Thrive and sign up today! 






October Art is You Retreat Spots are Filling Up Fast

Have you checked out all the amazing workshops at Art is You this October?  I'm teaching on Sunday and Monday, and there are many other amazing instructors teaching all throughout the weekend.  Register today - you'll have a wonderful time.

New Meetup Classes Added! 

I recently added new Meetup classes for the fall.  So if you're in the NY/NJ area - come on over to my home studio for semi-private lessons.  6 students max, and lots of individual attention!  I've even added some additional dates beyond the ones in this graphic.  Spots are filling up so check it out today! 

Digital Sketching

I recently purchased the Memopad app for my iPad and have been having fun sketching with it.  Do you use a digital sketch app?  Let me know in the comments what you like and why.  Here are some recent sketches.




Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Artsy and Stitchy Holiday Gifts

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah, and I wanted to share with you some more handmade gifts I made.  These are for my daughters and nieces.

They are small journals and little gift card and makeup holders, made mostly with fabric I stenciled myself using my stencils from Stencil Girl, and Uplifting Words Stencil by Carolyn Dube .  

I never would have made these had I not taken an amazing class at Art is You with Kecia Deveney and Linda Willis.  Linda has a terrific article in Cloth Paper Scissors this month with a tutorial for making these fun pieces.  Check it out!

Here's a pic from our last Hanukkah - as you can see - we celebrate everything!

I had a great group of women over on Sunday for my monthly Meetup class, stenciling and stitching fabric and making book covers and prayer flags.  It's so relaxing to sew in a community, and I am always so inspired to see how unique everyone's projects are.

Are you making handmade gifts for the holidays this year?  If so, please share about them, or share a link in your comments.  I'd love to see!

Auction Update:  We netted over $2200 for Pastoralist Child Foundation in our "Artists Give Back" auction.  Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped us get the word out!

As we head into the darkest nights, and celebrate with festivals of light, I send out a heartfelt wish that all who are suffering feel moments of happiness and freedom, and that, someday, may all beings be free. 

My Meditation Altar

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!