Altered Couture of the Month- Customize Your Shoes Tutorial

Recently, I was in the market for a new pair of black wedge sandals. Though I liked the simple form of these wedges from Urban Outfitters, I wasn't crazy about the non-black heel. At first I thought, "thats ok, I'll just buy them and rub black shoe polish over the pseudo-suede heel." Ok. So probably not the best idea I ever had, but thats the great thing about thinking... sometimes one thought leads you to ANOTHER! And lucky for you my blog on Artful Living is here to share it with you!!

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.

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Ciao Amarettogirl

Kokeshi FREE Laptop Sleeve Tutorial

the laptop sleeve by marisol diaz tutorial finished laptop sleeve

- Ciao Amarettogirl

Choose a Hairstyle! Custom Kokeshi Laptop bag

Ok, well among all else I'm doing these days, I've taken on a commission for a custom kokeshi laptop bag. I'm designing the kokeshi applique now, before I start assembling the laptop bag.

kokeshi applique in process by m. diaz

I was wondering if (even just for fun) if I could get some help with her hairstyle options.

• a. Lady- which is an updo,

• b. chic - which is a short bob or

• c. Harajuku style

Leave me a comment and let me know WHICH do you think I should put on the laptop bag???

Ciao- Amarettogirl

New Work...is on its way...

Since I have to get back to work (art making that is) for my up and coming exhibit at the Azucarera gallery (April 10th - 30th), I spent the majority of yesterday preparing the ground on my paper. I revived good 'ol tea-staining and experimented with marbling. I actually love the results and then I stood up until 3:30am starting the first piece. Thought you all might like to see what I'm up to.

If you're interested in tea-staining be sure to have a whole night - the results are much better with good quality rag paper and an overnight soak.

black tea staininga detail shot of the overnight results of tea-staining prepared grounds with experiments in marbling and my first piece on its way pic by m.diaz my newest piece in progress by marisol diaz a detail shot art and photo by marisol diaz

I really don't know what direction this will all go in - but its seems I'm still caught up in the last Unearthly woman concept...We'll see where it wall takes me.

-Ciao Amarettogirl

Butterfly Magic - Paper Art Inspiration

Photo of Butterfly Project by blogger Lollychops

So for today's post I thought I would share one of my students (honestly more like my young protégé who quickly surpassed her teacher), Isabella Whitney's work. Isabella was inspired by this wonderful Butterfly Project tutorial posted by fellow crafty blogger Lollychops.

My hub and I have been using and introducing altered books as sketchbooks in our classes for the past couple of years. The local library had a stack of antiquated books they were going to discard and he hauled them over to our visual art classes to convert them into beautiful sketchbooks (wait until you see his-coming to this blog soon!)

Having made some great use of that experience, Isabella combined both Lollychop's Butterfly Project tutorial and the altered book art as inspiration. She designed and created this wonderful bookshelf surprise.

Just imagine pulling a once abandoned book off of a shelf and opening it up to discover the following!

Designer and Artist Isabella Whitney's Butterfly Project book pic1Isabella's Butterfly Book pic2 The completed piece by Isabella Whitney photo by marisol diaz

Here are some detail shots:

Click to see Isabella's Book DetailClick to see Isabella's book detail two!

To try your hand at The Butterfly project please visit fellow crafty blogger Lollychops and see her wonderful tutorial on how to compose these butterflies! -Ciao Amarettogirl

Sew, Mama, Sew! and JCasa's Something Special Vday Card tutorial!

So as I was traveling through the 'crafty' blogosphere (as I am known to do), and I encountered two delightful entities, the website Sew, Mama, Sew! and JCasa's Jennifer's handmade blog tutorial for a special kind of correspondance.

Imagine what kind of a wonderful world (or VD day...oh, uhm I meant Valentine's day) it would be to get your 'love notes' like this!!

JCasa's Something Special Handmade Card

If you go to Sew, Mama, Sew! you'll see an exceptional high quality tutorial that clearly illustrates step by step procedures to simply make both this fabric envelope and the 'love note'.

JCasa's Envelope with a sample note from tutorial Another sample of JCasa's Envelope and Card from Sew, Mama, Sew!tutorial

Better yet, as part of their February True Love Series, if you try your hand at one of JCasa's fabric envelopes and cards before February 12th and post it on the Sew, Mama, Sew! forum you can win one of these awesome prizes!!

Regardless, its just so much fun (and inspiring) to check out all the versions that have already been posted on the Forum!

I think I may have to try one!!!

After you make the basic card + envelope as a foundation piece you can then embellish, embroider, quilt, print… Do something to make it unique! Mix things up, and personalize your card to make it the perfect something for your special someone.

-CIAO! AMARETTOGIRL

Idle Fingers Need(le) to Felt Dogs or other animals for that matter...

Fleece Dog Book by Sinco

I have always struggled with allowing my hands to be idle. Whether in meetings, on a plane, in a car ride, waiting room or subway...idle hands (mine of course) drive me insane. So through out the years I've taken up all sorts of portable string and hook activities like embroidery, crocheting and knitting. When I was eight yrs. old on my weekend trips to go see my grandmother, I used to crochet on the number seven el train while I sat alongside of my mother.

However, when it came to needle-felting arts, what I had seen the most of were felted fruit and I was never really intrigued with hairy strawberries and grapes. Infact, I was kind of 'ick' about it. So I never got into it, until thirty years later when I ran across Sinco's book Felted Dog. Dogs (unlike fruit) SHOULD be hairy!

In addition, Sinco has an entire site to support, supplement and encourage you called www.fleecedog.com! She has tutorials too and even guides you in how to incorporate REAL dog hair into your little miniature faux dog!

In order to needle felt you need carded wool Felting Needles vaible from Sinco And in craft stores or Felting Sites

The one downside to needle felting is that you need barbed needles that are VERY dangerous (think of the tip of a fishing hook multiplied a thousand times AND reduced to microscopic size!) Since the action of needle felting is to repeatedly move the felting needles in and out/ up and down (like a sewing machine) through the fibers in order to entangle and bind them - it is often easy to poke your finger.

Glass Eyes from Sinco Two Unfinished Dogs I've started (Chica and Chulo) My Maya Maya by me!

My friend Laura has a pug named Nugget and I made her this felt dog (though I haven't given it to her YET- but I will!) So here is Nugget:

Nugget by marisol diaz

If you're interested in this or in other felted animals (like cats) there are many new books available including one called Little Felted Animals.

Marie Antoinette Display Doll Dress

The front pattern sewn the first skirt layer The button detail Unfinished torso...almost finished by marisol diaz

Stay tuned for the up and coming sleeves, the second and third layer of the dress and the coat!