Play Everyday  …

 

Aren't these  wonderful words? I think as adults we sometimes forget to just let loose and play! What would you do with your play time? Would you color? Jump rope? What about a game of hopscotch? Please share! 

 

This BEAUTIFUL  "Play Everyday" necklace was created by our friend

and 

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT 

 teacher, Lisa Leonard. 

***

 

Check out these classes she's teaching!

{Jewelry Making Basics}

 

{Loopy Loop Earrings}

 

If you want to learn jewelry design from one of the best around, you can't miss these classes … She's WONDERFUL!

 

And guess what? Over on 

 

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG

 

Lisa is  giving away two $50.00 gift certificates

to 

Lisa Leonard.com! 

 

That's TWO chances to win! What are you waiting for?

 

HEAD OVER NOW AND LEAVE A COMMENT!

 

and speaking of jewelry giveaways, I am giving away this:

 

Over on my blog.

 

~GOOD LUCK~

 

FABULOUS FRIDAY

WINNER! 

 

 

Congratulations Shannon!

And a BIG thank you to Brenda for her generous gift! 

 

 

************

 Have a wonderful day everyone!

Come Play (Inside) with Me!

{Brenda Schweder}

{My Book}

{ A rare shot of me out-of-doors!}

This week, I took the opportunity to slow down a bit and summertime memories from my life as a five-year-old bubbled to the surface. Even though Mom tried to send us outside to play as often as she could (when did the poor dear have any time to herself with six kids underfoot?), she soon realized that she could count on me to remain quietly indoors if she set me up with some blank paper and a box of crayons—the big box of 64 with the sharpener in the back. 

From early on, I was interested in creating. And making things.

And my love of the time-worn has led to a passion for found objects—for taking things that may normally be discarded and breathing new life into them. (I turn scruffy into scrumptious.) Enter the up-cycling and green movements and you’ve got the start to what’s been a fabulous journey with my new travel partner, rebar tie wire, at the wheel.

A bit of a stretch? I’ll catch you up. Girl colors with crayons. Crayons (eventually) lead to a fashion degree. Fashion degree leads to co-authoring Fashion Forecast column in a leading beading magazine . . . which leads to jewelry designs in same said magazine . . . to a book about turning junk into jewelry . . . and a second about turning old junk jewelry into new and fabulous old-new jewelry. 

Here’s where you say, “(I’m dizzy) and, what about wire?” And, I say . . . “what’s the natural progression to a flame-o-phobe who has little training in metalsmithing but wants to artistically harness all types of found objects into art you can hang on or about your body?” 

The liberal use of cheap and easy-to-work steel wire, of course! Dark, annealed, carbon-coated, flexible, and forgiving steel wire is a hoot to turn and form and hammer and (cold) connect into jewelry (and a belt)—and, of course, another book with all the projects designed, written, and illustrated by me.

This is why the five-year-old red-haired girl wasn’t jumping up and down at the chance to run around outside, or jump in puddles, or catch fireflies. Her then too-little-for-steel fingers were strengthening and her too-naïve-to-know mind couldn’t predict, nor her voice sputter: “Mom, when I grow up I want to author a book about creating steel wire jewelry.” 

Instead, she managed—encoded, I’m sure— “I want to be a cheerleader.” 

***

Come play inside with me and wrangle some steel wire at

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION.

Through my workshops:

Cage Contender

and

Wrangled Bangles

 We’ll play with found treasure, form and hammer wire normally used to reinforce rebar rod inside concrete structures, and learn about what led our five-year-old selves to where we are today, and to where we’ll go tomorrow . . . and the day after that . . . and the day after that . . .

. . . ‘til we’re all grown up. 

 

Gosh, I can’t wait!

oxox!

-b.

www.BrendaSchweder.com

www.Facebook.com/brenda.schweder

www.Facebook.com/brendaschwederjewelry

www.Twitter.com/#1/brendaschweder

 

***

Now what would a great blog entry be without a great blog giveaway by Brenda Schweder herself?

Simply post a few words about your own five-year-old summertime creation recollection and consider yourself “entered to win” (in a super random way):

1) an autographed copy of Steel Wire Jewelry and 

2) a Cage Contender necklace containing a picked-just-for-you found treasure!!

 

***********

 

Additional entries:

*Follow WWC and TCC on Twitter

@WHEREWOMENCREAT @TCCEVENT (1 Entry)

*Tweet about this contest (1 entry)

*Blog about this contest and mention THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (1 Entry)

*Have a WWC button or link on your blog (1 Entry)

*Post a Comment on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG (1 Entry) 

Remember to post separately for each additional entry and please only post the amount of entries allowed. Also, make sure we have a way to contact you. This contest ends on Tuesday, June 28th at Midnight (MST), so make sure to get your comments in by then. 

 

One more thing … Facebook rules are ever changing, so we never involve them in any contest we have. However, we would appreciate a "Like" on our THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT Facebook page.

Creative Karma will be bestowed on you!

 

~THANK YOU~

 

Come on in! Make yourself at home.

 

We want to welcome you to our little "Studio" on the web.

I asked you to share some "Words of Wisdom" on Facebook, but they were all FABULOUS … How can I choose? So let's post them all!  

Click HERE  to read some WONDERFUL comments! If you didn't get a chance to post yours, please do!  Let's see how many "Words of Wisdom" we can post.

Now and then we all need some encouraging words … 

~THANK YOU SWEET FRIENDS~

 

Speaking of sweet friends, I had the chance to review the most adorable book called Cotton Floss by Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches ..

 

Click here to read my review and leave a comment on my blog.

You just might win your very own copy of this lovely book,

PLUS a copy of  the latest issues of

Where Women Create AND Where Women Cook! 

 

GOOD LUCK! 

 

Now as if that's not enough, we have another FABULOUS giveaway going on over on 

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG!

This time we're featuring the Talented MATTHEW MEAD.

 

Matthew is teaching two GREAT classes at The Creative Connection:

The Halloween Paper Wreath 

 AND

The Fall Decoupage Plate

 

I can't wait to take these classes!

Matthew is giving a great prize away, so click HERE to read all about it! 

 

And the winner of the 

Princess Lasertron giveaway is … 

 

CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER! 

You'll love this prize!

Thanks to 

Princess Lasertron 

and

Rick Rack 

for their GENEROUS donation! 

 

~Have a great day~

As a lifelong creative-type I've always believed that if we keep our eyes and ears open, life will constantly whisper hints to us about where to go next. What's coming up. Who we are meant to become. I always had a feeling that I would take an unconventional career path, and in my second year of college in 2005 I started down the road that would take me through obstacles, triumphs, into amazing opportunities and lifelong friendships as an entrepreneur. I founded Princess Lasertron in 2005 when I designed the first felt and button bridal bouquets that took the wedding industry by storm. In six years, I have grown my business into a three-person company serving over 250 brides each year and we have expanded into kit and project design, a line of party dresses, consulting, speaking, and teaching all over the country.

By keeping myself open to new interests and opportunities rather than following a cut-and-dried business plan, I've seen my business grow very organically, entering into new arenas when the time was right.

 
  

Two years ago I met a small group of friends who liked to work at night like me, and we met throughout the week at 24-hour coffee shops, pancake houses, and greasy spoons all over Omaha. We talked about our projects, our problems, and benefited from each other's diverse expertise and experience. It was also during this period that I became pregnant with my first baby, and the path of growth my business was taking made it necessary to hire my first employee. The way all of these factors coincided so magically and perfectly was a sign–my family was growing, my business was growing, my relationships in the community were growing and I needed to make a move. Over the next six months I searched throughout Omaha for the perfect space to start a shared creative studio. I visualized a huge open room in an industrial warehouse full of history and character. I visualized coming to work every day and being surrounded by a supportive team of passionate people who loved their jobs as much as I did. Where ideas could be born, and where people could gather to pursue their goals. When was invited to an open house party at a friend's new office in a remote part of downtown Omaha, I fell in love with the gigantic empty warehouse and suddenly realized I was in the space. Three months later after a buildout process, we opened the doors of CAMP, Omaha's first coworking space and our full-time studio for Princess Lasertron. We are coming up on our first anniversary at CAMP and I could not be more proud of taking that risk not only because of how it allowed my business to grow and flourish, but because of what we were able to provide for other local entrepreneurs and organizations.

 

 

As my work has evolved and my Princess Lasertron has grown, I've been getting more diverse opportunities like teaching at this year's TCC Event! Participating in events like THE CREATIVE CONNECTION are a dream come true for me and I can't wait for this chance to connect in-person with my readers and customers who have been with me for so many years, and meet new friends from far and wide! In my classes, Alice's Marvelous Monogrammed Prize Ribbon and our Signature Felt Flower Headband session, you will learn some of my favorite techniques that we use every day with our bridal clients.

If you're looking for some pregame before the TCC crafty weekend getaway, I would love for you to join me in my first online class through Rick Rack where I will be teaching how to create a birdcage veil with beautiful French netting and the embroidered felt flowers we are best known for. Registration is open through June 20 and the class starts on June 22 and runs for a month. This class is my first foray into online teaching so you won't want to miss it. How many times will I accidentally swear?

 

When you register for the class you will have access to a video tutorial of me teaching my Felt Flower Fascinator Headband project that you can fast foward, rewind, restart, and watch over and over again as much as you want. You will also receive a .pdf of instructions and a list of class materials which I am also selling as a kit in my shop once the class begins. You’ll learn how to make felt flowers and leaves, how to free motion sew, hand embroidery techniques, how to fringe, how to create a birdcage veil, how we embellish with buttons and some other general sewing tips. I think you’ll like working with the pretty French lace netting too. So sign up, and order a kit! You never know what other goodies I'll throw in there for you.

Megan Hunt, AKA Princess Lasertron, was featured in the winter 2010 issue of WHERE WOMEN CREATE and we are honored to have her teaching two great classes at

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT.

 Alice's Marvelous Monogrammed Prize Ribbon

AND

Signature Button and Felt Flower Headband

You don't want to miss your chance to learn from Princess Lasertron herself how she puts the magic in her famous felt flowers … I know I don't! Plus, isn't that Monogramed Ribbon adorable? 

And guess what else?

She has GENEROUSLY offered a FABULOUS (because it IS that day of the week) giveaway …  

One FREE birdcage veil class from Rick Rack, 

PLUS

an exclusive kit to go along with it (and you know how AMAZING her kits are)!

 

THANK YOU PRINCESS LASERTRON! 

Please visit her at www.princesslasertron.com

 

All you need to do is comment to this post and you're entered! 

 

***********

 

Additional entries:

*Follow WWC and TCC on Twitter

@WHEREWOMENCREAT @TCCEVENT (1 Entry)

*Tweet about this contest (1 entry)

*Blog about this contest and mention THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (1 Entry)

*Have a WWC button or link on your blog (1 Entry)

*Post a Comment on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG (1 Entry) 

Remember to post separately for each additional entry and please only post the amount of entries allowed. Also, make sure we have a way to contact you. This contest ends on Tuesday, June 21st at Midnight (MST), so make sure to get your comments in by then. 

 

One more thing … Facebook rules are ever changing, so we never involve them in any contest we have. However, we would appreciate a "Like" on our THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT Facebook page.

Creative Karma will be bestowed on you!

 

~THANK YOU~

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't that the truth!

We have loved Susan for years … I even have her first Scrapbook collection!  She is an AMAZING artist, a FABULOUS writer and an inspiration to us all.

Plus, she has big news!

 

 

 That's right! A brand new blog! 

http://www.susanbranch.com/

You'll want to go visit RIGHT NOW! She's got some GREAT and FREE printables for you including this darling placecard setting:

 

 

All you need to do is print it out! While you're there, tell her WWC sent you:)

 

And speaking of Susan, did you know she'll be at

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION?

 

She'll be on our

VIP BREAKFAST PANEL – WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

 

If you are interested in turning your passion into a business, you

CAN'T MISS THIS ONE!

 

Plus,

Susan will be also be in our autumn issue of Where Women Create and will be signing copies of the magazine as well as two of her popular books at the 

AUTOGRAPH COCKTAIL PARTY!

 

I can't wait!

 

Susan is also offering our VERY FIRST giveaway on

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG …

 

She's giving away her FABULOUS BOOK 

 

I LOVE this book! It's one of my all time favorites:) 

 

Click HERE to read all about it and to enter.

 

~Good luck~

 

Now for the winner of the 

Kaari Meng~FRENCH GENERAL giveway ….

 CONGRATULATION Loretta!

~You'll love it~

 

Stay tuned for another great artist this Friday:)

 

~Have a great day~

 

 

~ Kaari Meng~ 

 
Fourteen years ago, when I sat in an old house in St. Remy, France and thought up the idea of French General, I had no idea that it would take me on this wild creative path with twists and turns at every corner. The idea of a French general store appealed to me – an old space that stocked the shelves high with rural textiles; the apothecary jars full of old glass baubles and beads; and the wooden pegs full of old grosgrain ribbon – who wouldn’t be inspired? Originally, I just wanted to stay home and be with my new baby girl Sofia – I was looking for a way to work less, not more. After spending ten years in the jewelry business, designing with my collection of old glass beads and charms, I was ready to take a break. I wanted to start a small home business that combined all of my favorite things – texture, craft and color – and somehow get myself to France every summer to collect the stock.

 Opening the original French General in our barn, was a way for me to stay home and still be creative – something I desperately longed for. Within a few years, I learned that other women were looking for the same thing – to be inspired by something creative everyday – not just on the weekends or for a stolen hour here and there – but to surround themselves with beauty and creativity on a daily basis. Over the years, French General slowly evolved into a lifestyle that fit into our family life and resonated with friends – we dreamt of living a simple life – crafting our days into something special. After building a website that featured our products, we were able to move French General out to California and have the luxury of opening the shop one day a week. We get a lot of people asking why we are only open one day a week and I always think about an old French comment… are you living to work or working to live? Right now I am happy to say I am working to live. French General has decorated my life with kits, projects, books, and beautiful fabric – not to mention the wonderful and talented friends I have made. Every time we start a new project, I check in with friends and family – to hear their opinion or suggestions – or maybe even see what they are looking for to make their life easier. I have always believed that whatever objects we put in our lives should be beautiful as well as useful. So much of what we do is inspired by the past, I am always looking for a new way to do design something that was originally made a hundred years ago. How do we improve on something that is already beautiful? Keeping my life filled with creative people is one way I stay inspired daily.

 

After teaching at The Creative Connection last year, I went away filled with so many ideas – I felt as if the event had jump started my work again – I returned home to Los Angeles with new friends, inspiring ideas and a ton of creative energy!

*Photo courtesy of the AMAZING Martha of http://iseethemoonphotography.com

 

 This past year I have started two new projects – a scrap booking/ paper line and a home decorating fabric, wallpaper and trim line – neither idea would have come to fruition if I hadn’t attended The Creative Connection last year. I can’t wait to return again this September – to meet up with old and new friends and learn something new. I will be teaching two different classes with my good friend, Wendy Addison. Wendy and I decided to combine our workshops together and offer people twice as much creativity – so if you sign up for one of our classes, you will be in for a real treat!

 

{Bibelot Charme Workshop}

 

{Boite de Bijoux Workshop}

I hope to meet you in September or at our shop in Los Angeles (on a Monday!) someday soon.

 

~

Please visit Kaari at 

www.FrenchGeneral.com

Follow her on Facebook 

THEN

Join her latest endeavor:

 

www.the-art-of-craft.com

~

 

We are honored to have Kaari as a Teacher and Pitch Slam Roundtable Author at 

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION.

Plus, she'll also be signing her book:

 

at the Autograph Cocktail Party! 

 

You will want to sign up for her classes early … They will sell out!

 

 SO … 

What about a giveaway?

Kaari has GENEROUSLY offered a copy of her book:

PLUS …

An exclusive Jewelry kit from the book …

And you know how FABULOUS her kits are! 

All you need to do is comment to this thread and you're entered!

***********

 

Additional entries:

*Follow WWC and TCC on Twitter

@WHEREWOMENCREAT @TCCEVENT (1 Entry)

*Tweet about this contest (1 entry)

*Blog about this contest and mention THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (1 Entry)

*Have a WWC button or link on your blog (1 Entry)

*Post a Comment on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG (1 Entry) 

Remember to post separately for each additional entry and please only post the amount of entries allowed. Also, make sure we have a way to contact you. This contest ends on Tuesday, June 14th at Midnight (MST), so make sure to get your comments in by then. 

One more thing … Facebook rules are ever changing, so we never involve them in any contest we have. However, we would appreciate a "Like" on our THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT Facebook page.

Creative Karma will be bestowed on you!

 

~THANK YOU~

 

Have a wonderful weekend creative friends!

 

Congratulations Laura! 

~Thank you so much Tracy for this FABULOUS prize~

 

Stay tuned for another FABULOUS FRIDAY artist coming up soon … 

 

Have a great weekend!