Fond Farewell

so...i've been putting this off for a while now and it's probably about time i just suck it up and do it. a while back i started a second blog, rocknrollcrafts. This has become an extension of the craft shows we've been going to this year and a showcase for projects that I like to share. In that, demographics has become neglected..and i hate to do that to you..o' demo-g. So, for now..I'm ending this blog and will be concentrating on just the one...http://rocknrollcrafts.blogspot.com/.

thank you all for following and joining me on this fantastic blog voyage! Keep on craftin'!! elaine

Michael Jackson August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

a digital tribute to an icon, a legend and truly a part of my childhood and my life. a deep, heartfelt thank you.

Stencil 1 ATC Video

My newest video up on my youtube channel! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Thanks! :)

Brooklyn Renegade Craft!

The Brooklyn Renegade Craft fair is this weekend, at McCarren park! Stencil 1 won't be having a booth there, but Chronicle books did donate 5 copies of Stencil 101 for the raffle! Plus, Mr. Stencil himself went guerilla style and hung a bunch of stenciled pieces of cardboard all around the park..find one and add your mark! ps..the stencils featured are from the next Stencil 101; Decor! wait till you see what we do with these...:)

Scor it contest

I recieved a very nice email the other day from my friend Tim at Scor-it. They make that great Scor-it board..that I Love, love, love. It has this great spongy-esque pad that makes scoring cardstock for cards, boxes, envelopes..zines..so easy and it looks sooo good! :) So he's teamed up with 2 Sketches 4 You, for an American Idol-esque crafting contest. Check it out..

Spring Summer Show Schedule

The show season is in full swing and I'm arting and crafting my lil' ol' heart out. I may not be posting for a while..so here is my current show schedule, where you can find me in person..and see my stuff..too! At all of these events I will be spraying t shirts with Stencil 1 stencils..:) so fun!











This is the poster from last years Renegade Craft fair..so the dates are wrong..this year will be on the 18th and 19th of July at Fort Mason . I'll post updates when I get them! :)

200th Post- Dom Deluise Tribute

I had all of these grand plans for my 200th post...until I saw this news on yahoo. I am a Mel Brooks fan from way, way back. Love me some History of the World, Producers, Twelve Chairs..etc..and am also a fan of big cheese..like Cannonball Run. :) I've always loved Dom and everything he's in..that squeezable teddy bear with his wonderful laugh. My crush may have started with the Muppets..but wherever it began..it began. and I'm saddened by his passing, as it is more of a reminder of the people we love and lose. and if you haven't seen Cannonball Run..just watch it. It's hilarious.

here's a fun idea from the mini merchants over at Martin Meyers...video catalogs! This one is on the mushrooms and moss line..a favorite of mine! The glass jar project shown at the beginning is one of mine..nothing like a little fairyland in an old mayo jar! :) Check out their YouTube page for more!

How Cool!

a front cover feature using the Stencil 1 Sparrow!! How cool..:)

and then there was Maude

because I was raised on Maude and the Golden Girls..She's one of the many reasons I want to be an old lady when I grow up. :)

Spotlight on Stuff

Thrift store german salt and pepper shakers!



Day of the Dead scene..I painted the plywood mini alter, the figures were from my old store, the bells are found and I've come to save all of the beer caps from bottles, and then store them inside an old corona bottle..just love all of the colors!



This is a snippet of a painting that my husband and I inherited from his grandparents...



Love this one..postcard from my mom..celebrating the wedding day..:)



I found this watercolor for a quarter at a fabric thrift store..reminds me of San Francisco in the very early days..

I'm totally addicted to stuff. It comes from a long line of stuff hunters and collectors in my family. I love thrift stores, buying things for 10 cents..finding cool stuff in dumpsters or free boxes left on the side of the road. I have a favorite thrift store that supports our local hospice program..and I feel like a pirate with sparkly booty everytime I leave..I'm also a good rescue home for homely leftovers from the rest of my family and friends..what? You want to get rid of That? I'll take it! :)

Modern Chairs

The newest designs from Stencil 1...yumm-o!!

Veni video vici...

Somehow, through the power of YouTube, I have reached my 100th subscriber and this video is up to over 5000 views! Awesome! So, I want to do a new video..but I'm looking for ideas! Well..I have lots of ideas..but I would love to hear from you what kinds of videos you'd like to see. I've been working on cleaning and organizing my office for almost 3 months now..yeah, one day at a time. :) But I thought it might be fun to do a tour on video..like a Craft Cribs. :) No jacuzzis, or sportscars..but literally Tons of paper and inks! that could be fun..

Me etsy

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade sisterowl.etsy.com

I'm finally getting a few new things up on etsy..yippee!

Happy B day J!

A shout out to my mega-talented sister on her Birthday!! Love ya Jen!!!

Spring Treats

So it seems that I am better inspired by the holiday as it is ending and not on it's approach..ah..c'est la vie. Here are a few of the springtime goodies that Jen and I had fun putting together. WE love the Vintage Scrapbook images from Martin Meyers..so much fun! We combined them with rub-ons, background papers, glitters and more. My favorite? The owl in the top corner..I decoupaged him onto a piece of cardboard, cut him back out and then adhered to the top of a clothespin..so cute!!

To Dye For

Ok..take a look at these! A very crafty Sara McKenzie at Craft Critique.com, did a review on some Martin Meyer products..and this is one of the projects that she made using the Vintage Scrapbook images. Omg..I'm dying today, literally. Going to do some eggs just like this..might do the background colors darker..but I just love this!! Check out her post for instructions!

Ameri-funky

So if you've been wondering how I'm spending my time unemployed..here's part of it. The sister and I, and mom and aunt, went to this fabulous fabric store..charge by the pound of fabric..yahoo. and outside they have a free bin. first stop. Inside the bin, one fine afternoon, was a huge stack of patterns from the late 1940's. I've been going crazy drawing from them! The above is a pattern for a decorative plate, this on the top of a paper mache box..I'm painting things white with Winsor Newton acrylic paint, coloring with pigment markers and then drawing the black line last...what do you think?

Makers Faire San Mateo May 30, 31st

I just got the acceptance for showing at this years Maker's Faire at the San Mateo fairgrounds!! I'm so excited! I've never even been to a Maker's Fairs..I've heard only great and wonderful things..and now we get to be part of the experience! I'm sooo excited!! Hope to see you there!

More Cardboard Art

I thought I'd put up a few more cardboard paintings...hope you like..:) I call this first one, Zoofari..



Attack of the 50ft Woman's Army..



Sparrows in Space...must say that one with the "Pigs in Space" ennunciation..:)

Cardboard saved me

So, I had a challenge from Ed at Stencil 1..to posterize some stencil images. It took about a week for me to get dirty, as I have been a sewing fool for the past few months. But I was sure glad to get my hands on some sprays again! :) This little cutie is on a 5" square piece of cardboard..my surface of choice for this project. I was looking around for my large cardstock..couldn't find any, so a little rip here, a little box cutter there..and voila, canvases! I painted this one with a square of white acrylic paint, let it dry and then let loose with some Stencil 1 spray action. Once the colors dried, in the sun it took but just a few minutes, I then stenciled the Birch Tree and the deer, in white paint..removed the stencils, added some color and then stenciled back on top in black..pop! :)...and a big thank you to the gorgeous photo from sister Jen! :) love ya..

Marah Inspiration

I saw this and had a mini heart attack! It may be pattern abuse..but I LOVE it! A big huge thank you to Marah Johnson..I saw this link on her blog, Randomly speaking....If you haven't seen or are familiar with Marah..be sure to check her out. She is a paper craft and rubber stamp extrodinaire! and obviously very inspiring!

Fun Find-Walls Notebook

Just saw this posted over at thepostfamily.com. How much do I want one of these?!?



Here's what they say about it, "Walls Notebook is a notebook / sketchbook with 80 "clean" New York City walls as your blank slate. Write, draw, paste, or doodle on these interesting and inspirational backdrops. You'll be one step closer to being the graffiti artist you've always wanted to be . . . minus the jail time." :)



I hope they have plans for other cities too!

Marisa at ModernSurrealist has done it again! Look at this great st patty's day project using a soda bottle top, some ultra cute minis..and her craft magic! Check out her blog; http://tinyurl.com/c5fxse..

Happy day o' luck to everyone!! :)

Lucky me....I received this Kreative Blogger award from Diane at http://dianesmixedart.blogspot.com/. Many Thanks Diane!! I am to list seven things that I love or that inspire me.


1) Sunshine and fog
2) Beach waves and sea air
3) Fields of green grass and tall hills
4) Thrift Store Finds
5) Music, music, music
6) My mama
7) My hubby

I'm supposed to foward this on..but instead, I'm welcoming all comments..what inspires you?

Kitten Time

...finally found the cord for my camera..and low and behold all of the pictures I had on there..Thought I'd start with a little cat show off time..:)

Some brellas and stuff

As I have undertaken the herculean task of cleaning my office and really my whole house, I've been finding old treasures. Here are three sketch/watercolors from 2005..I was on a kick of archival black pigment ink in a .001 micron pen and watercoloring..