Market Finds! Small Business Profiles- Parcel in Mountclair, NJ

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the Earth... shoppin' gals'

just absent from blogging for a while - but rest assured - I am back.
I've been working on an OOAK (a one of a Kind Art Doll) that you are soon going to meet. In hunting for little rare knick-knacks with which to embellish her clothing and top hat, I went looking for specialty trims and findings. I was so happy, that I remembered a wonderful, exquisite little shop named Parcel in Mountclair, NJ. It can be a challenge to classify Parcel, but it is well worth the work. Parcel is paper goods store, a magical treasure trove of authentic ephemera and little charms, ribbons, crowns, drawers of findings and pips! Secrets linger in every nook, corner and shelf. Even their website PARCEL is a delight for the curious creative.

So check out my bounty of small delish treats from Parcel and check them out as soon as you can -you wont be sorry!!

Little dancers found in the magical Store Parcel in Mountclair, NJ Treasures from an Earlier Parcel Shopping Spree... so so so so cute! little surprises found at Parcel.... my full bounty collection from Parcel vintage postcards from Parcel cluster of small wonders and pips for my dolls top hat! The Top Hat I made embellished with Parcel finds for my OOAK doll !

So STAY tuned and come back this weekend to meet my OOAK doll, read about the artist that inspired her AND be a part of helping to NAME her!

Creatively Conscious Women's Art Retreat Continued For the Holidays!

My womens art gathering from back in August (Click HERE to see the post about it)has continued and is giving birth to some new opportunities! Sharon will be hosting another one (a Ceramics one) next and hopefully with some deliberate intentions on my part we will have our over night retreat soon! We need to name ourselves still, but so far Creatively Conscious has stuck!

Sharon reading her quote Busy Bees - Mandi, Linda and Esther (my momma) Kesha working on her design Sharon working on a silkscreen with glitter Sharon's card The Art & Design Girls (highschool mates)

Altered Book Pages

This weekend I get to start my holiday vacation with a blast- the continuum of my Creatively Conscious Ladies Art Class! During our last August Retreat day we started Altered Books, which can be very much like a sketchbook or more highly resolved pieces of art. I just realized there are many pages of which I never shared here- so I thought it seemed to be a fine time to do so.

My altered book cover by m.diaz Altered Pagealtered page by m.diaz matador altered pages by m.diaz Barren Queen altered page 1 by m.diazBarren Queen altered page2 by m.diaz altered page by m.diaz Ausencia altered page by m.diazRue de Reves altered page by m.diaz

Would have been nice if I would have shown you what the book looked like before I messed with it! Well hope you enjoy!

Ciao- Amarettogirl

My First Womens Art Day Retreat!!***Creatively Conscious***

With a jam-packed, super-loaded day of original rubberstamp carving and altered book-making, my first women's art retreat was a great success! Our only need - more time of course!

This is why I my original intent was a weekend retreat, because I've always known the work there is for us to do in claiming our right to a creative life despite our daily demands is just so great! But no worries there is always NEXT TIME!!!

Powerpoint for Retreat Beginning- Sharon, Linda and Manon in front Sharon at work Sharon's Station The beginning of Annamarias book cover Luz and her station Visual journalling prompts for book altering beyond the day of retreat! Linda at work Lindas station Annamaria working Sharon working All my rubberstamps and our option supplies table Naaja, her self portrait stamp and her print in her altered book Annamaria's cover almost but not completely Manons cover in progress detail shot of crackle effect on Manon's cover Naaja working in her book with alcohol inks All of us Creatively Consious girls- back row Manon, Sharon, Naaja & Annamaria- Front row -me, Linda & Luz

My First Ladies Mini Art Retreat is almost here!

So along with saying goodbye to one of the best summers in a while and adding an insane amount of color onto the chicken coop, saying farewell to the college bound in my life and working on my physical self, I have just developed a mini one day Women's Art Retreat to kiss away the year. I hope it is the first of many.

I am super happy with the write up, a two page brochure, which you can see by clicking here:

CREATIVELY CONSCIOUS a Mini Art Day Retreat for Women

I only feel remiss about the space limitations of 7 participants which is practically complete pending on one last confirmation. But like I said, hopefully this is just the beginning of many more in a variety of locations.

Caring deeply about empowering women to live with confidence and creativity in their daily lives is something that I am very passionate about. On too many occasions I find myself coaching women who I know are bursting at the seams with untapped potential to let it out and shine. So why not create a master place and time for it? Better yet, why not set a day to support, playfully push, creatively prod and unleash each other!

An altered book page by Artist Gregg Emery

This weekend's class will use press-less printmaking techniques and the altered book as a vehicle for expression, investigation and rejuvenation. Altered books allow for so much creative versatility and are the perfect fusion between sketchbook and journalling. The following pics are some examples of altered books done my hub and I.

^{A Frida altered book page by marisol diaz}

^{A Valentine altered book page by marisol diaz}

^{Altered book illustrations by artist Gregg Emery}

Being the artist/cook that he is, my hub is making tea-sandwiches despite the fact that he will not be attending the day!

I've developed a syllabi and lesson plan for the day that is enlightening despite skill and comfortability level. I just can't wait!

I'll be sure to document it all here so that you can join us despite distance.

-

Ciao Amarettogirl

If Birds Can Fly Why Oh Why Can't I?

if birds can fly why oh why can't I? by Amarettogirl on Polyvore.com

for sources please click on title

My Polyvore Gray Day

Unfortunately, I am now sick (and over my spring break vaca no less). Thankfully, I'm working with watercolors, and not oil paints, (which makes painting much more difficult when I'm sick) for my up and coming art exhibit. I'm able to get some work done in small bouts of energy. Still, I've had to be in bed and watch reruns of the wedding singer to comfort me, but I'm worried about how I'm going to get everything I need for the exhibit done. I have so much in my mind that I want to do and such little energy and time to do it. -_-

I thought for today's blog post I would fantasize about what I would wear if I could get up and be a fly girl today (which I have aptly named my Gray day) who knows it might actually motivate me!
And for those of you who have yet to be entranced by Polyvore you really need to try this digital collage mecca for your style dreams, fantasies, wish list and flat out designer fun like some of my fellow bloggers do! Often there are even creative challenge questions posted to help you start.

Polyvore is very addictive!

Amarettogirl's Gray Day by Amarettogirl featuring Stella McCartney bags

Those boots are So SO me, wish I owned them- in fact I do own Fornarina knee high boots that remind me of these!

Well next post I will be back with some new work that is coming along for the Azucarera gallery so stay tuned.

So tell me what motivates YOU on a GRAY day??

- Ciao Amaretttogirl

Unique and Extraordinary Gifts! Crafter Alert!

My Cafepress Products have arrived and r 4 sale now!!

My Collage Art (Let Them Eat Cupcakes and Rainbirds on a Cafepress Apron, Tote bag, Jewelry box and Greeting Card Wow, in all honesty I didn't expect the quality of the cafepress products that I created to be so great!! It was my first time creating products via cafepress, so I ordered a batch to see the results. I thought maybe things would look digitized, poor quality or small in size... I was so wrong! The tote bag is large enough for a weekend trip or a full-on grocery! In addition, I think the blank canvas areas are fantastic for crafters to embellish and personalize the bag (something I would totally do!)

I absolutely love the results! So if you're looking for a unique gift look no further, I currently have four cafepress basic shops. One containing Barack Obama illustrations that I did for the Chelsea gallery show that I was a featured artist in, entitled '52'. Another two shops with Halloween Illustrations called AmarettogirlBoo and AmarettoBoo2 and this main shop with my collage designs.

There are sweatshirts, tank tops and other products at the shop. I especially love how the 'Let Them Eat Cupcakes' collage looks on the apron too - excellent gift for a baker and again allows enough room for personal embellishments for all of you crafters!! The jewelry box with the 'Rainbirds' collage is decadent with its high-gloss, polished wood and white, cushy velvet interior!

My 'Rainbirds' Collage printed on a T-shirt via Cafepress on sale now! Detail shot of Greeting Card and Jewelry box

My Spoonflower Custom Fabric Arrived!

Wow! I am so, so, so impressed! My custom order of my collages and illustrations onto fabric via Spoonflower (my new favorite company) has arrived. Except for the first 'Let The Eat Cupcakes' print (which I ordered a larger piece of). I only ordered small 8"X8" swatches of the fabric before I make in the investment into yardage. It looks like I might have to adjust the scale to which the large one was submitted (the pattern is rather large), but overall fantastic results! Check them out!

This last one is great for making Ipod cases!

Hope you like them! Let me know what you think!

Amarettogirl Designs on Cafepress! Lets Go Shopping!

Come visit my store on CafePress! Like Etsy, Cafepress is yet another way artists can sell their goods online. The difference - Etsy is for handmade products (my greatest love -all things handmade), Cafepress is a site that allows you to create preexisting (manufactured) products such as mugs, pillows, aprons, tote bags with your own imagery on it. I think both sites are wonderful and offer very distinct opportunities for artists. So since shameless, self-promotion is a wise marketing tool, a new feature of my blog will be featuring something new that I'm selling either through my Etsy shop or my Cafepress shop. Today I'm featuring the 'Let Them Eat Cupcakes!' collage I made on a pretty nifty canvas tote for only $17.99! (I think thats a pretty good deal considering thats MY original art and I won't be selling them forwever! In addition, you shouldn't pay that nasty carbon-foot-print-tax on using plastic bags anymore!) Let Them Eat Cupcakes! Tote Bag $17.99