Painting on the Go.... Vino Van Gogh that is...

So best friend from university, Lisa and I took a great class last Saturday with Vino Van Gogh at Splinters Sports Pub in Palatine.  EXCELLENT class and such fun. 

We have an annual tradition of doing something at Christmas time. It's been a 48 hr cookie baking marathon since her kids were little and such fun.  But our collective knees can't take it like that anymore.  Going gluten free has cut back on that need for baking on my side so we came up with something different.  The price was right on a snowy Chicago afternoon.  We loved it!. So much laughter.   And you were able to order adult beverages and food.  Yum, hot toddies were a perfect accompaniment. 

I highly recommend them for an outing.  We'll do it again for sure.

I present "Dancing Poinsettias..."

The Website has arrived!

It's here!  I am just so excited and tickled as a friend would say.  

Welcome to www.twistedfiberstudio.com.  I know you have always found the blog at that address but now you can see the blog as one part of the overall website.

You will be able to inquire about and book craft parties for special occasions or just for fun.  Handmade items are also now available online for your gift giving needs (or something special for yourself).  Of course I will be adding new merchandise and class ideas regularly.  Custom orders are always an option. 

Please visit www.twistedfiberstudio.com and let me know what you think!

Classes this week!

The past two days provided me an opportunity to teach two more fantastic groups of women.  On Tuesday, I was at Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien.  Librarian Cindy Kline had asked me to come teach Felt Flower Pins and I must say it was a fun night and a great facility.  Ladies - you made me laugh and I sincerely thank those that came out not feeling their best!    I look forward to seeing you all again in the future.  Check out a couple photos from that class on the library Facebook page.  Indian Prairie Library Facebook Page

Recycled book page Christmas Trees was the star attraction last night at the Lisle Library.  We had a full house, a lot of fun, and oh yeah some gorgeous trees.  Adult Librarian Mike Monahan took the photos. Aren't thye great?

Thanks Mike!  and thanks to all of you. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Next Steps

Twisted Fiber Studio is going through a growth period.  I have been working on the nuts and bolts of making TFS a full fledged wonderful business rather than the fun hobby it has been.  Among the many things we have in the works, the full website will launch in early December and have a host of arts and crafts classes to choose as well as holiday gift items available for purchase. 

These "classes" are also available as party themes for ages 10 and up - think birthday, book club, holiday, bridal shower, baby shower.  Don't see what you have in mind on the class list, let's work together to meet your needs.    The classes come to you at your home or in a venue of your choice.  Need a venue, I can help with that too. 

NO need to wait for the website to book a class.  The current brochure is available on the blog here  Class Brochure.   I look forward to hearing from you! 

I've gotten so much support from friends and family -- THANK YOU and I love you all. 

Fall Decor - Pumpkin!

A bit delayed in posting this photo but well, it's still fall, right? 

I made this in October and I have to tell you all that it was so quick and easy to make -- you too can have one for a centerpiece for the upcoming US Thanksgiving holidays. 

What you need:  one foam pumpkin I found at the $1 store, old sewing patterns, small foam brush, gloss matte medium (or watered down white glue if you have it on hand), flowers or fall decorations of any kind and straight pins or hot glue to attach them.

Use a foam brush to put the glue on the pumpkin and then layer the sewing patterns over the glue, pressing it in to the curves of the pumpkin think decoupage.  Even cover the stem.  Brush more glue over the paper.  Let dry! 

For the decorations, you can use leaves from the yard (yes you can) or small pine cones, silk flowers, felt flowers and the like.  I had a silk leaf and some fall colored felt to make the flowers. To attach these, I used straight pins through the center of the flowers into the pumpkin itself.  Done!  So easy and fast! 

FYI you can use the plastic pumpkins (candy buckets) for the base too and put flowers into it as an autumn bouquet.  

Enjoy!

Saucy...New Collage Art!

Felting Class Thank you!

Tuesday night was a great time at the Geneva Public Library.  One person was overheard saying on her way out:  “This is the best Library program I have attended.”

You are a fantastic group of people. Did you imagine we'd make that many suds?  Enjoy your soaps and pins!

Happy Halloween!

Michigan Shores Club Holiday Boutique

This Thursday, 24 October, the Michigan Shores Club will have its annual Holiday Boutique.  It is open to the public and will feature over 35 vendors featuring everything from jewelry to clothing to toys to scarves to handbags!  We will be open from 4pm - 9pm and a cash bar will be available.

Hope to see some of you there.

Buttons and Spoon River Drive

My sister, niece and parents go to the Spoon River Scenic Drive each year to visit the vendors and find collectables, gifts and whatnot.  http://www.spoonriverdrive.org/ It is a gorgeous place to visit (so I'm told... I never seem to be able to join them). 

This year my sister bought me two bags of buttons.  Excellent! Awesome!  Wait, there is more than buttons in these bags.  So far I have found 1/2 dozen nails and screws, one bolt, 5 needles (broken and not), 1 zipper tab, 8 old café curtain rings, snaps, bits of thread still on the buttons, old safety pins, buttons on cards, and of course hundreds of buttons. And no, I have no idea what to do with them yet.  Or should I say I have lots of ideas but nothing concrete yet.  But I will! 

    

And don't forget that on Thursday 24 October I'll have a couple tables full of gifts and goodies for sale at the Michigan Shores Club Holiday Boutique at 911 Michigan Ave., Wilmette, IL.  4-9pm 

Hope to see you there!