So Prayer Flags.

Martha had some prayer flags in her magazine...I think they were for party decor...anyway, I made some out of fabric scraps. I decided to spruce up my Chicken's bedroom window..

Simple to make, just sew stuff together. I used some felt as the back-bone of each flag so they would hang straight...

Seam binding and a zig-zag stitch across the top...

Praying is controversial..I have no idea what prayers these will hold for my daughter, but if they were hanging in my room, this is what they might look like on any given day. Don't judge.

Mica My Heart...

Last week I happened upon my ol' 2Peas rubber stamp gallery... as I traveled down memory lane, I remembered some old supplies. Mica tiles? Yes please! Love how they enhance the yellow of the vintage paper...and also their sheen...beautiful.

I'm off Pinterest...I had such a love hate relationship with it..it was fun..but the idea is creeping me out these days. Why should someone gain popularity for image collection? I guess that's the thing that matters the most to me.. I don't think it's right to host images on blogs, boards..tumblr for that matter...reposting what someone else has posted. I don't get it. I don't understand why the same feature cannot be accomplished by simply bookmarking things..remember bookmarks?

I'm not hoping to start a fight on the ethical questions regarding Pinterest.. just stating why I don't use it anymore. When sharing is so easy...is it possible that we are sharing too much?

The Cupcake Took Manhattan...

Several years ago (2006) I saw a Martha Stewart episode featuring "Billy" from Billy's Bakery in NYC. On that show, he gave the viewers the recipe and demonstrated how to make his famous "Vanilla Vanilla" cupcake. I printed out the recipe and made it at home. Everyone loved the cupcakes I made, and since then, his recipe has been my "go to" cupcake recipe. 99% of the cupcakes I make at home and for birthday parties are his Vanilla Vanilla. Billy's Bakery ended up on our "must see" list while in NY. I had to taste one of his cupcakes to rate my own baking skills, and it had to be "vanilla vanilla" or bust.

Cupcakes are all the rage across the country. I never buy fancy cupcakes around town, because they are so easy to make from scratch at home. What I didn't realize is that if something is all the rage, it is REALLY all the rage in NY. You can't walk a block without running into a bakery. Specifically a cupcake bakery. They are here, there, inside Bloomingdale's, everywhere. I commented to my friend, "Manhattenites are all so fit, they're aren't eating this many cupcakes.." And she replied, "They are for the tourists." Good point. I wouldn't be surprised if we passed at least 50 cupcake storefronts over the weekend.

When we got to Billy's, the line was long, the place was packed. I asked the shop girl for a Vanilla Vanilla and she produced one from under the counter. I was not prepared for what happened next.

Dry! Dry as a bone. My cupcake was so dry! What a buzz kill. Billy! What happened? Did the employee minions over-mix that days batch? I was so disappointed. Only for a second though...because that meant that I can cook Billy's Vanilla Vanilla better than Billy himself. My cakes are moist and delicious... I turned my frown upside down. Don't feel sad for Billy, he's making a ton of money selling those cakes and everything else in his shop I'm sure...but come to my house and I will bake you what a cupcake should really taste like.

Cupcakes are serious business in NY (this is a random child, not my own.)

You may be wondering, "Julie- what the hell? You traveled all that way and took all those pictures on 3 cameras and came home to show us a cupcake?" I'm starving! I've got magnificent architecture shots coming soon...it's just hard for me to detox after a big food weekend....I figured I would look at these shots instead of eating. :)

The time has come to stop.

I am exhausted. 50 more pieces of stationary ready to go.. I wanted a more "art card" feel for these sets, so I collaged 2" squares and attached them to heavy paper or canvas paper. After they were stitched, I attached them to the kraft cards I love so much. I've had a great time going through all of my papers this season!

Off to buy some paints for a certain 5 year old's stocking...

Hand. Made. Gifts.

Inspired. (link)

Stationary sets. 10 Cards, 10 envelopes. Each one unique... each one made using vintage and recycled papers. Each one made in the USA. I packaged these in cello bags and I will tie twine and attach a Cavallini glittered note to each package. Who doesn't need stationary?

I'm feeling great making a lot of the gifts on my list this year.

Making. Journals.

I know that giving hand made gifts is in the minority.. Don't care. After sitting on top of so much paper and scrapbookery items, I went on a journal spree. I am also changing the way I feel about art journaling.. Since I am journaling now while in the car, I have been leaning away from painting in the journal, to just writing. That's ok..you're allowed to switch things up.

Hard covered journals. Personalized. Filled with labels, stickers and things the recipient likes..perhaps a map of the place they recently visited...ephemera, envelopes..tags.. and a typed letter with hints and tips on how to fill up their new journals.

I like to use Japanese paper for the covers..I love how it melts into the book board. I also like how the Japanese prints look with the scrapbook papers...unexpected.

A lot of the pages have glitter on them.. I like how you can find scrapbook papers with glitter and stitching on them in the store..although I always add my own stitching.

It's important that we keep the mom and pops busy this season...it's important that we support artists and crafters. Please pick a gift or two off Etsy this season...you will make someone's day..someone is working hard making things by hand that they hope to sell this season...

Thanks for stopping by today!

Are you in the mood to make something? My partner and I are offering all of our online workshops on sale! Please take a look... you can even purchase an online art workshop for someone on your list!

Happy weekend....

Waves. Sharks. Card.

Honoring the nice southwest swell the surfers are talking about this weekend...as well as the Great White that is frequently being seen off shore here... I stitched up a card for my friend's birthday this week...and that's about it.

My dog was sick for three days. I think he is on the up-swing now. I got hung up working on work stuff and making some tutorials. What? Yah...FREE tutorials. Be sure to check out the link..

There is a newsletter in the works, there is a giveaway soon... there has got to be new art here one of these days too.....

Happy Holiday Weekend to you and your shark sightings.

Touch. Photos. Smile.

My world is electronic. Computers, phones, interwebs, recipes..almost everything. Aside from a handwritten thank you note, I am "low paper".

Enter the photo lab. Remember the joy of getting that envelope containing your prints from the drug store? Remember flipping through the images with your friends? Passing them around? I am bringing that back to my digital household with what I like to call, "Family Trading Cards". (I also throw around the term, "Life Deck", but that is also a resurfacing company where I live.)

Each photo measures 3.5x5" (a cute "deck" size) and has a 1/4" white border. When I opened the first envelope, I was so happy to see my husband and daughter passing them between themselves, looking and laughing at the memories. There is something warm and fuzzy about an actual photograph in your hands that even a gajillion pixel display cannot give you. I think the photographs give emotion.

There is no album (I will still produce an annual album every year)..there is no box. There is simply a deck that anyone can peruse. iPhone photos, candids...silly moments. Print them out. Your family will thank you.

Who voted for $6.95?

Fabriano paper, collage, machine stitching and a little glitter.

I have a couple of gifts I need to give this week. It's hot...I'm lazy when it's hot.. so I cruised the cards at Target. Seriously, Papyrus... $7. Really? Why is $7 for a basic card acceptable? I look at that adding another $10 onto my gift and I can't do it. Enter the J. Prichard Card Collection. Coming to any party you invite me to.

Tip: Order re-positionable cello bags online....they will make your cards look just like they came from a shop and everyone can see your handiwork.

3 More Days...

Our Lady of Perpetual Crafts...

This is the final outcome of the paper beads that I first mentioned here. I am thrilled with the final result...and I must say I have loads of admiration for jewelry artists and wire wrapping pros!

So next time you have that delicate pair of wire wrapped earrings in your hand or shopping cart..take a hard look at it. That artisans fingers were bleeding when they made that....or maybe that was just me. But nonetheless, it is a lot of hard work and something I will look at with new eyes now for sure.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

Working on a very special project for Kate's pre-school...we're making paper beads that will be wire wrapped into a rosary for the annual school auction. When I blurted the idea out, the mom's loved it. Of course I had never rolled paper beads before...but I am happy to report the idea is working beautifully!

The children colored the fine strips of paper with oil pastels and we carefully wrote the child's wish/prayer for the future inside each bead. I am in love with this project!

Notes: We've adapted information found here to suit our needs for the rosary. We used masa paper for the beads and used Portfolio Oil Pastels for the coloring. Instead of the glaze product included with the kits, we've applied 3 coats of Diamond Glaze to each bead, allowing the glaze to dry in between each application. The customer service we have received from Janice Mae is perfect- a real pleasure! The center medallion and crucifix have been purchased locally. The beads are drying on toothpicks in Styrofoam to keep the holes clear and ready for wire. The hours spent measuring, cutting, coloring, rolling and glazing are painstaking..but the end result will be worth it!

I hired two new employees....

There was a blog post, an etsy link and a few clicks.

I couldn't only get one, because then when I was sleeping, she would be bored. So I bought two.

So here they are..all the way from Australia..and recently featured in Stuffed magazine.

How freaking CUTE are they? This is the kind of art that I wish filled store shelves..this is what I wish I could shower my daughter with..but alas, if it aint got no Disney Princess on it..don't get me started...

So about the free lunch... what I have been thinking about these days...

People do not appreciate free things. I've said it. Well maybe they appreciate it...but do they APPRECIATE it?

Is it true? Of course the people who win free cars and have been through various hardships appreciate their free car...I'm talking smaller picture. If you give away your services...or your ART...is it appreciated as much as say the same art that say costs $200? How is it that most people assign value to something. I want to know.

When I was starting to take in photography clients, I offered free sessions. They were a burden and time consuming for me..did they result  in more business? Nope. Thankfully, I am booking more sessions now that I am charging for them than when I wasn't. So why is that?

I used to give away free art classes to drive traffic to my blog and website. Did it work? Meh.. Not really. The free student who lands a workshop in their lap seldom participates in the workshop..... it is what it was.. a free workshop. More work for me, on top of work I already have to provide all of the paying students. Work? Heck yes..anytime I sit her at the computer it's work..free or not. So where does that leave us?

I guess the point I am trying to make here is not to devalue yourself. You're an artist, you're a seamstress, you're a whatever. You ARE, and you WILL. I don't really see the need to offer free things for self promotion. What do you think?

I'm off to gorilla the park.. Rosie and Mouse will be here to take your call.

No Such Thing As a Free Lunch

I'm running around over here with so many projects lined up...most importantly, the annual Holloween costume is breathing down my neck. Last night I even woke up in a panic thinking it was the day before Halloween and I hadn't started sewing. I'll get there. I'm busy, but I like what I am doing.

I had to ship a small package off the other day and instead of picking up a store bought thank you card (and god knows I am loaded with boxed stationary over here), I sat down, cut, glued, stamped and sewed this card. I like it so much better than the store bought cards. I like that it looks home made, yet still "rad" in my opinion...and I hope that the recipient stops to take a long look at it. Will they? I don't know...but these thoughts bring a bunch of questions to the forefront of my mind about art, crafts and the universe. I'll be back on Wednesday to deliberate with you all. Will you be back then to humor me?

The address to this blog has changed- the correct address is www.julieprichard.com/blog  please update your links.

Brand spankin' new online workshop...the awesome kind! Click here to learn more.

Lost Luggage Greetings

Once you get the fever for fancy paper...it's really hard to buy store bought greeting cards..

I like the heft..the thickness and the beauty of mixing my fancy papers with vintage ledger paper, machine stitching and stickers....beautiful stickers make really nice embellishments, I think..

Fabriano Medioevalis forms the base for these...a pleasure to write in.

Made with a must have for every card maker, art journaler...

Have a great weekend, my friends!

Lost Luggage & Co Event Planning...

The tea party went off on Saturday without a hitch... The joy was watching the excitement on the faces of six little girls as they saw what we had created for them..

We scoured thrift stores for matching china, tea service and..well..everything. Our plan is to hold the tea as an annual event..and to watch the friends grow up together.

As many details as we could think of..I don't think my friend and I missed a beat..

We had a delicious lunch for the mom's too....three words- Trader Joes hors d'oeuvres...delicious!

Of course, tea party attire was required..we provided gloves, hats and boas to anyone in need of a little "fancy".

Everyone had a great time...

Thank you to my good friend, Deanna for an amazing time!

Tea Party Preparations...

My friend and I are planning a grand tea party for our little girls and four of their friends... there are fancy hats, dresses, floral arrangements and even fine china..

I've been to high tea...not my style. However, seeing the excitement on my daughter's face as she sees all this "Stuff" coming together really makes me happy. We can sit them up at their delicate lady table and then sneak into the kitchen for margaritas... perfect.

The tea party is next Saturday... wish us luck!

Spring Break San Diego Style

The weather is in the upper 70's and we're on break this week...

Hanging out with friends...a little of this and a little of that..

and finding new ways to have some fun.. homemade style. Spring fever is here!

handmade greetings...

I am working feverishly this week to wrap up a new class that will start on Saturday..

You'll like this one...

Once you sign up you get all the instruction at once..

Including a fantastic download to accompany the videos..

Instant gratification + Julie + Chris Cozen...

That should perk your Monday up.

See you soon!

I'm in the mood for love, Valentine.

Things I love this week:

A free listen to Rosie via Sirius

Working with fabric and acrylic paint.

The fantastic response we're getting from our Color- Beyond the Basics Class..there is still time to join!

Smoothies and getting back to exercise.

Happy February!

If you like my art, please become a fan.

Wet felting and Studio Painting...

Look at this COLORFUL little number I whipped up at Jane's wet felting class last weekend..

Jane had pre-packaged bunches of roving for us to choose from. We made the felt in class and when I came home, I stitched and needle felted the embellishments into place. I love this process. I've been working so hard on  my online workshop, this was the perfect day of relaxation..just what I needed. Thank you, Jane!

And then....with all this talk about color...here is what my studio looked like two weeks ago. Nice.. but a little flat.

I ordered glass countertops and painted my work table... What a difference for little work and little money. I'll be much happier painting in this space for sure.

Response for the new COLOR class has been amazing.. if you have not seen the new video, please check it out here. We're over 60 members strong already! Videos are starting on 1/24..but don't let that date fool you. You can TAKE THE CLASS AT ANY TIME AND THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT. I am ALWAYS here for my students....check out this class feedback.

Happy painting! (and felting too!)