newest purchases

Oh my...Karen at Paper Pals has the coolest stuff!
Look at the amazing clear stamps I got yesterday. These are called "Elegant Flourishes" by Autumn Leaves - designer is Rhonna Farrer. I've been eyeing the hot flourish stamps for a few months now, but I really love this version. (Karen's sale helped nudge me to finally buy some.)

My creative muse is doing cartwheels!





I also picked up the Fiskars Stamp Press (12-2958) to use with these new clear stamps. You align the clear, flexible stamp on the grid, then press down. The sponges compress and you are left with a nice crisp stamped image. (photo courtesy of Fiskars company)

It appears that that I 'rock'.

When your teens say this, it is a good thing. When a stamper says this, it is not! This press should help eliminate the double images that plague my stamping efforts.

I just chased my daughter, Susannah, away. She wanted to peek into my bag of new toys, but her birthday present is there too. She turns 14 on Saturday.

Patience darling!

New Book I Really Want!

I just found out about this book from my dear friend and fellow paper filigree artist (among other talented endeavors) Tracy Belair Gaito.

This latest offering from Jenn Mason is not another idea book but discusses design elements and principles and how they interact. I have been wanting to study basic design for some time, and actually began a targeted workshop-type series of articles in collaboration with Tracy, but we didn't get very far into the concept. I was 'learning as I go" and the design info came mainly from Tracy - I was mostly the word-smith.

Because I am 'intuitive' with my designs, I don't really understand WHY something does or doesn't work...I just fiddle with my paper filigree compositions until they seem 'right'. How lovely to actually LEARN the hows and whys, and maybe speed up the designing process for my paper filigree work!

Needless to say, I have pre-ordered this from Amazon. I am not sure when it will be out, but tomorrow isn't soon enough! (photo courtesy of Amazon)

First post about a great find!

I just purchased some mid-1800's hand-made lace to trim the wallpaper fans I am creating for the historic McConnell Mansion in Moscow, Idaho. On each fan I am adding a small paper filigree rose motif, a reflection of the popular artistic pastime practiced by many Victorian women. The wallpaper remnants are left from the formal parlor when the Latah Historical Society restored it. I finished 6 large fans that are already on the large Christmas tree and am working on small ones for the gift shop.

Very excited to have period-authentic trim for these ornaments!

I soon hope to share photos of the current projects, along with news of my classes, various tips and tidbits, and general musings about the creative process in general.

I also have a website, http://www.gemstatequilling.com It shows my work from 2004 to present, but it is not kept current (too hard to edit and keep content fresh).

Aren't blogs the bomb?