Annie Oakley Album

I wanted to give my sister, Peg, something a little special for her birthday this year. Since I had taken the KC Willis Collage Camp more than a year ago, I thought this would make the perfect gift. Inside are pages for a guest register to use in my sister and mom's little store named The Crystal Pinecone Gift Shoppe in Grand Marais, Michigan. She lives in the upper peninsula less than a mile from Lake Superior.

Their shop has an array of softies, painted bottles, jars, knitted and crocheted garments, and painted rocks depicting scenes of the great "up north." Stop on over and view some of Peg's unique crocheted softies of bears, cats, and even a couple of Halloween souls. You can contact her blog for additional information. It is so much fun to stop in their shop and see what they create during the long winter months.

Gone With The Wind Art

GONE WITH THE WIND has always been one of my favorite movies. With my fascination with historical films and romantic aspects of the era depicting the saga of the War Between the States and the Old American South, I decided to make a fabric collage for my latest art group challenge.

Olivia de Havilland plays the character Melanie Hamilton. She is the epitome of an ideal southern feminine sweetheart. The film portrayed her personality with so gentle a voice, with never an inclination of rudeness or jealousy. It pained my heart to see a sister-in-law, quite selfish in nature, prey on Melanie's naiveness starring the famous character, Scarlett O'Hara. It is a film of both women in love with one man, but married to only one of them. And Scarlett, married to another, still longing for someone already taken. Then throw them into the sorrow of the Civil War.

I fall into this film every time I watch it again. So with that thought, here is my submission for a page in my latest art endeavor with the theme "Movie Stars of the Silver Screen."

I would also like to thank KC Willis, for presenting the opportunity to participate in her Collage Camp. The techniques I used for this collage were taught in her online class, and can also be viewed in her section of the book "Creating with Fabric," a Tweety Jill Publication by Jill Haglund. Both class and book can be purchased from the Lipstick Ranch, KC Willis, Proprietor.

Post An Angel At Your Door

KC Willis is once again sharing a little of herself by giving away this very cool Guardian Angel Collage to EVERYONE who mentions and links to Collage Camp on their blog or Yahoo group etc. On the back she has handwritten the words. . ."Post an angel at your door. Fear the darkness nevermore." I am officially showing my friends and blog followers this opportunity to own a gorgeous piece of artwork by KC Willis. And, for signing up during the next week Collage Camp is only $75 instead of the regular $98. Once you have blogged and linked, just drop her an e-mail at lipstickranch@yahoo.com and send her the link to your blog, as well as your mailing address. Early this spring, I attended camp with KC, bought her DVD, and my collage art took a new turn in such exciting ways. Collecting buttons, altering fabrics, and "treasure" hunting is even more fun! Oh, KC, thanks again for the lovely collage. I will just treasure it!

Visit KC Willis Collage Camp at: http://collagecamp.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Having A Good Time, Pardner!

I am probably one of the first members to attend the KC Willis Collage Camp at The Lipstick Ranch! KC is a natural born teacher. You will learn how to assemble fabric collages with new meaning! You will learn how to start collecting doo dads, searching for vintage images, and staining fabrics, in new and exciting ways. She teaches you how to add heartfelt words to your projects. I am having a great time and always learning new stuff!

I probably have watched the class videos a half dozen times, and each time I learn something I didn't hear the first time. Since my sewing machine was in for repair and finally back, I can focus on finishing one of my first projects. What I especially like is talking and reading in the discussion groups, and seeing every one's artwork once you join. I had so much fun attending this camp and didn't want it to end! Her generosity is so apparent, that she has decided to have a $300 giveaway. Please check out this cool video to whet your creativity to sign up for camp.

KC Willis Collage Camp

Drop a comment at the giveaway blog The Lipstick Ranch, stating that you have bandied about the Camp logo shamelessly and your name will get in the drawing for a $300 Lipstick Ranch get-whatever-the heck-you-want shopping spree. Fabulous fabric, art, DVD's, books, collage kits...whatever the heck you want. The drawing will be held in 3 weeks on Monday, June 15th. You can even grab the little icon off the Camp front page and check out class details. If you don't have a blog, post it on your Facebook page, or on any other art group you belong to. Send postcards--you know..."Having a wonderful time...wish you were here."

Can't wait to show you my first piece of art!