NEW SASSAFRAS...AND A RETREAT UPDATE!

Greetings, dear reader!

I am just DYING to know...have you seen the new Sassafras? Their new Vintage Yummy line is so...well...YUMMY!





At CHA this year they came out with new embellies too...FELTIES and BLOSSOMS:

You can expect to see some of these beauties on the projects we will be creating at the AltAred Art Retreat!
(Okay, I'll give you a hint...)




Deadline date is looming...get your deposit paid now so you don't miss out!

Retreat Weekend Fees

Deposit $75.00 Balance $175.00

DEPOSIT DEADLINE EXTENDED!

Greetings, dear reader!

Just a quick note to let you know that the deadline for the deposit to be paid has been extended. Retreat going wannabes now have until Friday, March 7th to pay the deposit, and Friday, March 13th to pay the balance! I recognize some folks are awaiting their income tax returns to make their payments...please keep in mind there are only 8 spaces open and about half are spoken for.

We will be staying in a Bed and Breakfast in historic, St. Charles, MO. the weekend of March 20-22. The cost of the retreat will be $250.00 which includes:

• 3 days and 2 nights lodging in an historic bed and breakfast
• Meals, Snacks, and Chocolate!
• A Field Trip to a local Altered Art store
• 7 Workshop Projects and Supplies
• Transportation for 8 to/from Retreat

Don't miss out! You will come home, arms loaded with beautiful gifts you've made for yourself or for a friend!




VERY LIMITED SPACE! RETREAT WILL FILL UP FAST...SECURE YOUR SPOT BY PAYING YOUR DEPOSIT RIGHT AWAY!

Retreat Weekend Fees

Deposit $75.00 Balance $175.00

Hope to hear from you soon!

More soon,

SMOOCHIES!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

SNEAK PEEK: ALTARED ART RETREAT PROJECTS!

Greetings dear reader! (aka "Retreat Goer?")

I just wanted to give you a sneak peek at some of the altered projects included in the price of the retreat. I absolutely LOVE them ALL! (The projects represented here have been created by myself, the amazing Martha Bonneau, the incredible Tina Wright, and the effervescent Contessa Kris Tuey!)



AND an additional one or two on the way! Isn't it all so exciting? So what are you waiting for? Go register by sending your deposit today...spaces will fill up fast!

Hugs!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

Happy Valentine's Day!

ALTARED ART RETREAT INFO & A BUTTON FOR YOUR BLOG!!

Greetings, dear reader!

I am THRILLED to give you the final details of the Second Annual Paula's Palace of AltAred Art Retreat Weekend! After hearing from many of you regarding your preferences of location, I have procured the Bed and Breakfast in historic, St. Charles, MO. for the weekend of March 20-22. The cost of the retreat will be $250.00 which includes:

• 3 days and 2 nights lodging in an historic bed and breakfast
• Meals, Snacks, and Chocolate!
• A Field Trip to a local Altered Art store
• 7 Workshop Projects and Supplies
• Transportation for 8 to/from Retreat

$75 non-refundable deposit (via paypal) due by Friday, February 20th. Balance to be paid via paypal by Friday, March 6th.

VERY LIMITED SPACE! RETREAT WILL FILL UP FAST...SECURE YOUR SPOT BY PAYING YOUR DEPOSIT RIGHT AWAY!

Retreat Weekend Fees

Deposit $75.00 Balance $175.00

Here is a button created for you to use on your blog! The incredible Rebecca Pritchett from Etsy's Monbonbon created it for me! Isn't it completely perfect?

Help spread the word! Right click and choose "Save".

Come prepared with your essential, basic supplies to help you complete in-class projects:

· Favorite pair of straight-edge, micro-tip scissors
· Personal 12" x 12" paper trimmer
· Favorite adhesives, both wet and dry
· Black archival journaling pen
· Paper piercer and mat
· Stapler
· Regular hole punch or Crop-o-Dile
· Black and brown distressing ink
· Corner rounder

More info on specific class projects and location information will be available via the Palace AltAred Art Retreat Weekend Blog. Registered attendees will be given the access code at time of $75 deposit!

SMOOCHIES!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

EASY PEASY FABRIC ART JOURNAL...CREATE IT IN 2 HOURS!

Greetings, dear reader!

I wanted to share with you a super easy fabric art journal project that involves NO SEWING, just glue, streamers, batting and fabric!

Here's the completed journal:

I snagged the beautiful aqua and red background fabric (chiffon with silver glitter!) 2 yards at Goodwill for $1.00! WOOT! I got 1/4 yard pieces of raw silk on clearance at Hancock fabrics and then ripped them into 1: streamers. The base of the journal is a $1 paper book from the Dollar store. I used a Uhu gluestick and covered the front and back of the cover of the book with glue, then stuck the batting on the glue. I then laid the journal on the fabric and covered the batting, gluing (with Beacon's glue) the edges of the fabric inside the book. I then used raw silk streamers to tie both vertically and horizontally to help secure the fabric and batting into place. I tied several streamers together into a knot and then cut off the ends to form a fabric "bow". I tied these where the vertical and horizontal streamers intersect. I braided several more streamers and stuck it in the middle of the book, tying it to the inside of the vertical streamers.

I added assorted "heirloom beads" (The sterling silver and wooden beads were purchased for me by my sister and brother in law while in the countries of Sudan and Yemen). The murano glass heart and some of the glass beads are from my niece Emileigh's stash. The twine little native was given to me by my niece Aria. The bingo shrine charm was made for me by the incredible Tina Wright (of Paper Cowgirl fame). Other assorted handmade paper, fimo and glass beads, plus silver charms complete the book. I absolutely LOVE it! I cut the edges of the pages with 3 or 4 different pairs of decorative edge scissors, so all the edges of the pages are different sizes and shapes.

I will be adding pages to it right away...I have a few already rady to go inside. Here's my first:



The felt tree was a hideous christmas ornament found on the clearance table at Kohl's. They were about 80% off so I thought "I could make that cute." So I took off the horribly ugly felt flowers that were glued on...and instead glued on button flowers and buttons. I took some silk thread from the streamers and twisted and entwined it around the buttons on the tree. I added a chipboard and contact paper little deer, and stamped a word on a cloud and voila! Instant art page! I spritzed it with antique silver glimmer mist. I just love it!


SMOOCHIES!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare


PS (we will be making a journal similar to this at the AltAred Art Retreat in March! I will be back later with a little button you can add to your blog, plus more pricing and information!)

ALTARED BOOKS!

Greetings, dear reader!

I have joined the Altered Arts group on Facebook and have been sharing some of my altered books. I thought I'd share a few of my pages here with you!

This is my very first attempt at altering a book...it started out with a travel theme, but was quickly overtaken by sacred inspiration (I LOVE IT when that happens!)



Cover of book



Inside cover with a picture I photoshopped. Taken out west with my mom.



Page collage



Photo of a 100 year old Methodist church in Lebanon, IL (and a little love letter from God)



Postcard from London



San Damiano Cross from Assisi Italy. Scrap of prayer cloth. Prayer box charm.



Photo of Cathedral ruins from London, England. Taken while on Charles Dickens walking tour.



Brown crumpled paper bag with chalk coloring. Gothic window with sacred heart of Jesus and image of stained glass window from Trinity church in Springfield, IL.



Charcoal and pastel sketch of dancing francis.



One of my favorite St. Francis quotes.



Lyrics from Michael Card's song, "God's Own Fool." Photos of "fool" (aka ME) in assorted costumes and foolishness.



Photo of rooftops in Little Scandanavia, Wisconsin.



St. Francis prayer card with Wolf of Gubbio. Prayer of St. Francis on copper.



Franciscan mission in San Antonio, Texas

More pics of my travels soon!


XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY...TO ME!

Greetings, dear reader!

Thanks to Hubby Dear, I now have the vintage camper I've been whining about. Well, not THE vintage camper...this one needs lots of TLC...but envision if you will...a sparkling new paint (white) with a funky aqua stripe...

I give you: Canned Ham Circa 1976:










For those of you out there mocking me...let me just add: YES, I DO know it's horrid...however, I see great potential in the little round abode...here's the inside. Also needing some loving attention:

The owner did the cushions in burgundy and green. The curtains are burgundy, green and blue. No thanks. Imagine instead (if you will) denim cushions, red bandana window coverings, and a vintage cowgirl motif. NOW we're talking! Aqua appliances and dishes...woohoo! A little vintage tincan fit for a ... well...a cowgirl!

The ceilings have been renovated and repainted...

I'm not too keen on the faux brick backsplash, nor the harvest gold stovetop, but again, I see better things in store!




We have all the cabinet doors and assorted gadgets that seem to be missing in the photo. No worries...





I will keep those of you who are interested posted with our progress via Twitter, Facebook , and, of course, HERE at the Palace!

More soon! Hugs!


XOXOXOX



Paula Clare