Dede Warren

I'm a Cover Girl!

2009-12-28T18:03:00.000-08:00

It looks like Ellen's not the only cover girl in town! I hope you'll allow me a minute to share my excitement...

When I got the call letting me know (well, ok... so it was an e-mail) I literally screamed out loud! When I read Jenny's words that I was/am the cover artist for the January/February issue of Somerset Studios, I couldn't believe it. I don't think I've ever even thought about that before... but I can tell you for sure, I like it! A lot!!

Myself and four other artists had put together an altered book for Stampington's aubergine call. These were all women who had asked me to think of them if I ever planned another collaborative piece. A few years ago when I was new to the idea of collaboratives, I had no idea where to start or how to get involved. It seemed like something others did, something out of reach for myself. So now when I hear from those who feel the same way, I can't help but come up with a project for us to do.

We were all thrilled when we learned our piece was picked up by Stampington, but we never imagined our book would end up on the cover of the magazine! Thanks so much to Jenny for this wonderful honor!! (I'll share more about that ambitious Jenny in the coming days, she's up to something awesome! ) Since there isn't room to show the work of everyone in print, please let me share their pages with you here...

I built each book, and started the covers so that everyone could finish theirs off in whatever way they chose.

The artists....

Milli Wagoner's work...

Debbi Greenlee's work...

Judy Bidwell's work...

Sue McPherson's work...

and lastly Ada Pringle's little book on the back of Judy's page... I'm sorry these last two ladies don't have an online presence.

I can't think of a better way to end this year, and kick off the next one. I hope this shows you that sometimes when we think something is beyond our reach, it's really not that far off. And sometimes things we weren't even looking for appear before our eyes!

Happy New Year, may 2010 be wonderful to us all!

2009-12-23T16:53:00.001-08:00

Our stockings are hung

by the chimney with care,

in hopes

that St Nicholas

soon will be here!

MeRRy ChRiStmaS from our home to yours...

and from Scout who recently wandered into our lives.

May your Holidays be everything you're dreaming of!

Christmas joy...

2009-12-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

I was just over on eBay looking for an old silver tinsel Christmas Tree for next year, after seeing this one. The last line in this ad for silver tinsel, made me laugh out loud. I thought it might make you smile too...

10-oz clump of vintage used silver lead metal Christmas Tree Tinsel Icicles ~ clump is approximately 10" diameter and 2 to 3" deep

Vintage People (and you know who you are) will remember how nicely this tinsel icicles drapes on the Christmas Tree and how disappointing it was when they quit making lead icicles! Now it's plastic.

If you use this you should know that lead is toxic and should not be used around small kids & pets & intoxicated adults who might put it in their mouth.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately... but my heart has been elsewhere. I love this time of year and have been busy busy, as I'm sure the rest of you are. The thing is... I love this kind of busy! I love the merry making, the gift creating, the art group parties, cookie parties and everything else December brings! I don't mind any of it. And I especially love it with the rain we've had lately, which we desperately need.

So here's my last month in photos... though I don't have pics of everything. That's one of the reasons I don't blog as much as I use to; I found that instead of fully enjoying what I was doing, in the past I spent a lot of time trying to capture pics to share on my blog. While I have committed to keeping my blog, (and improving it in the New Year) those days are gone. I am more focused on enjoying life, and sharing what I can with all of you. So here goes...

A few weeks ago, Nancy and I hosted a workshop with the very talented Cindy Gonzales at Gilding the Lily. Everyone loves Cindy's classes, and we all made the cutest Christmas ornaments!
Ethyn and I also made ornaments for the family, that he took on his travels over Thanksgiving. I found them online here; they are darling, and easy to make!

I belong to an art group that meets once a month, and last week was our Christmas lunch. I've heard others rave about it, and I have to agree; everything was just spectacular! We had a fabulous lunch at the Cedar Creek Inn, and everyone created and shared the most amazing exchanges for each other. Just look at our table, loaded with about 240 gifts! We opened our gifts, had to really, just so we could clear the table to have lunch. I was one of the first to leave and that was after 3 hours! I have to say this was The BeSt Christmas Party, such a festive fun group! Thanks to everyone for a wonderful time.

So there you have it, just a little of what I've been up to. I'll be sure and share more soon, and more regularly. Now I'm off to create a couple of sock monkeys... happy Sunday!

what I've been up to...

2009-11-10T18:31:00.001-08:00

I've been working on a book that I'll share with a very special group of women who so kindly continue asking me to teach...

They make doing this such fun... to be able to laugh and play in the medium I like best. I will learn as much from my time with them, as I hope to inspire them with these little books I continue to make.

I hope you're all enjoying this wonderful Holiday Season as much as I am... I just can't believe it's snuck up on us so quickly this year!

CraZy gOOdNeSS!!

2009-11-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

If you've ever read my blog you know I am wild for journaling and for Teesha Moore's journaling style in particular! In my opinion she IS the journaling queen! As the organizer and creator of ArtFest, ArtFiberFest, and most recently JournalFest, she is wildly talented and a huge supporter of the Arts. She rarely teaches, but to much to my delight she has spent the weekend creating and uploading videos of her making her signature journals and her process for filling them with art. If you love journaling as much as I do, or just want to learn more about art journals, go grab something to drink, find a comfy spot, and check out all of her videos on YouTube. There are at least 6 of them and I think she is still uploading as I type. Yippee, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning I'm so happy! Enjoy!!

The Big Apple

2009-10-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went to the east coast to meet with a couple of girlfriends Leslie and Keli. We had planned our trip last spring in hopes of spending time together creating, with a little side trip into New York for shopping. We've heard great things about wonderful little places, where friends have found hidden treasures, and we had high hopes of finding such goodness for ourselves!

We took the train from Philadelphia to NYC, and Leslie found the perfect hotel just across the street from Penn Station. We hit the ground running for the next two days, in search of unique art supplies. We didn't do one tourist attraction, but indeed found the most amazing stores!!

Here's the view from our room, right on Madison Ave. We got lucky and were able to check into our room at 11 when we got off the train which was so nice!
Leslie mapped out Manhattan and the 6 or 7 places we wanted to see. Along the way we walked through Broadway, Time Square, Madison Avenue and the Fashion District.
I didn't take any photos of the places we visited, as we were completely absorbed by all the great stuff we found, and in some cases had to dig for. After a full day of shopping we needed a little fuel {{wink}}! Here are a few photos of what I brought home....

There's nothing like a vaca with your girlfriends, and though I love Mr Warren dearly, it's just a different trip altogether! Thanks to Keli and Leslie for a great girls getaway! I can't wait until we do it again in the spring, next time in the Great Northwest when we head to ArtFest.

I love Tim Walker's work...

2009-10-21T13:37:00.001-07:00

I just happened onto Tim Walker's work, and love his use of color and imagination! Check out these Flickr photos....

1. Tim Walker en ciclic, 2. Tim Walker, 3. Tim Walker en ciclic, 4. Dress Lamp Tree by Tim Walker, 5. Cinderella with Balloons, 6. tim walker, 7. amazing image by Tim Walker - summer feel, 8. Shona's Tree by TIm Walker, 9. Tim Walker, 10. Tim Walker en ciclic, 11. Tim Walker en ciclic, 12. Tim Walker en ciclic, 13. Tim Walker en ciclic, 14. Tim Walker en ciclic, 15. Dress Lamp Tree by Tim Walker, 16. Tim Walker en ciclic

Leavin' on a jet plane...

2009-10-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

To see these two happy girls, yahoo!

You know how life seems to get crazy right before vacation? Well, the madness has begun! I leave Saturday to catch up with two of my favorite girlfriends in Philadelphia, and I am crazy busy trying to take care of silliness that no one but me cares about. I do this to myself... trying to have the house just so, with a "to do list" a mile long. My son and husband don't care about any of it, and it won't bother them a bit if I simply pack my suitcase and kiss them goodbye come Saturday. I know that really it's my anxiety; I don't like to fly! I'm trying to distract myself so I don't think about calming walking onto the plane and casually sitting there for hours and hours, while we go blasting thru the sky at 900 miles an hour, and at 40,000 feet up! Oy, I make myself nuts over this stuff.... moving on!!

Here's where you come in... the three of us are going into New York for a couple of days and if there is anything SpeCtaCuLaR we should see or do, please let me know. We are going to Tinsel Trading, Metaliforous, M&J Trims, and a couple of other places. We aren't big into frou~frou or glitterama... but prefer instead shabby, old, vintage pieces for altered art embellishments, and perhaps a great, yet casual place for dinner and drinks. I personally would love to find tarnished silver servicing pieces, and white ironstone for my house. Hopefully at the flea market in Pennsylvania. Anyways...

Thanks in advance for your help guys, enjoy your week!

My weekend in photos...

2009-09-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

I am wiped out today, but it was all for a great cause! This past weekend Nancy and I hosted Iva Wilcox and Colleen Moody for 4 classes over two days, and a Trunk Show on Friday evening. It was a creating marathon and it was a blast! These two women put together wonderful classes and everyone had a great time, while making fabulous projects. I didn't take as many photos as I thought I had, but here's a peek at our fun filled weekend at Gilding the Lily...

Iva taught the first class Saturday morning, The Witching Hour. Iva had created a witch's shoe from a vintage chocolate mold for each of the students. Then they embellished and decorated the sweetest little Halloween Witch's Shoes. As I watched the class, I kicked myself for not having signed up for this! I think Iva felt my regret and she very kindly (and generously) gifted me the class sample. I AdoRe it!!! Thanks so much sweet Iva!

On Sunday Colleen taught her darling sculpted half dolls that we then attached to vintage photo frames and embellished with millinery flowers. Colleen had an extra kit, and asked me to join them in this project. I have always LOVED dolls and was thrilled to create these little treasures!

This is the little witch I made on Saturday with Colleen... how cute is she?! I am wild for these little dolls and have a feeling I will be creating many more for the holidays.
One of our regular students Carole Emmans was unable to attend her classes at the last minute. She had been looking forward to this for quite some time, and is a huge fan of Colleen's. Colleen was so sweet to take a special photo just for Carole. We all missed you greatly Carole, and hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Thanks to Nancy, Colleen and Iva for a wonderful weekend! Thanks also to all the great students who make my job so much fun, you guys are the best!

SpOOky HaLLoWeeN Fun...

2009-09-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

I know it's a little early for Halloween, but when creating for the holidays it's never to early to gather great women and stir up a little creative fun! This weekend I taught my Spooky Halloween altered book class and had the best group of women join me.

Here's Glenda holding her book. She began dressing the cover with old victorian pieces pulled from old clothing. She shared a beautifully tattered jacket that she purchased just for the trims and fabric, what a great way to use these pieces that can't be repaired. Her book is really beautiful, and I can't wait to see it finished!
Jeanette and Jackie created wonderful paper witch's for their books using old photos that were copied. Jeanette embellished a picture of her daughter as a young girl, while Jackie altered a beautiful photo of herself, adding quite the appropriate tiara on top!
Barbara and Mary kept the class laughing and are great friends, and wonderful artists!
Joanne used a printed image for her little witch and then glammed her up! I think this was one of the most fun parts of the class. Seeing everyone with alter old family members into such great characters.
Somehow I missed taking any photos of Lisa and Yvette. They created such great books and I'm sorry I didn't take more to share! If you two are reading this, please e-mail me a few pictures if you will. Lisa brought a fabulous print of her Dad as a little boy, and we talked her into making him a witch with a skirt. It is the cutest thing!

Thanks ladies for a great day, I can't wait to gather with you all again!

fall is just around the corner...

2009-09-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

This past winter during the cooler, shorter days of the season, I gathered four artful friends to work with me on a Spooky Halloween project for Stampington. Mendy, eb, Keli, and Leslie all indulged me in an altered book round robin, and happily the results were picked up by Jenny Doh, and are featured in the latest Somerset Studio. It's fun to see our work next to the work of women I have long admired, including Karen Cole, Iva Wilcox, and my very own, Nancy Jamar.

And speaking of Nancy, I'm also celebrating her article in the October issue of Romantic Homes. Her treasured Gilding the Lily has a beautiful spread with wonderful photos of the shop and its wares. Yeah, Nancy!

Well, my calendar and these magazines say fall is quickly on the way, now I wish someone would tell the weather man! It's suppose to be 94 here today... I hope you all enjoy the long weekend with a cool drink and these yummy magazines!

getting some work done...

2009-08-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

Most of who know me, know that I don't work... well, not really. I do have a very part time job as a personal assistant, but I never think of that as work as it's only 3 or 4 days a month (perfect if you ask me!). But earlier this summer, Nancy of Gilding the Lily asked me if I'd like to take over booking classes for her shop. Of course I said yes, as it gives me the opportunity to bring some of my favorite artists to Nancy's wonderful customers, and to get to be involved in the art I love so much. It's a win, win situation and great work if you can get! I just finished putting together our Fall Schedule, and I think we've added some wonderful new teachers to our family, including Iva Wilcox and Colleen Moody both of whom will be in the shop in late September. Here's a sneak peek at some of the class projects coming in the next month or two...

Yep, I guess if I'm going to have a job I'm lucky to have two that I enjoy so much. Hope your summer's been great, and I hope to see you in one of our classes soon!

back in five minutes...

2009-08-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the unexpected blogging break, but there are only a few more weeks of summer left and I'm completely enjoying them. So until I'm back, here are a few beautiful photos of Lisa and Tim's great space at Country Roads in Orange...

a whirlwind summer...

2009-08-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written. I've been coming down off of a very full past few weeks. Having had Judy Wilkenfeld come in to teach our group last weekend was such a treat for us all, and a real honor for me personally. To spend two full days in her workshop was great, but it flew by as good times often do. I'll share with you what I made in her class in my next post.

My girlfriend Nancy hosted a Trunk Show to coincide with Judy's visit and it was an evening of fun and great shopping as always. I love sharing Gilding the Lily with others, and I think everyone found amazing things there. Thanks for opening the shop to us, Nancy.
Friday night kicked off five days together with some amazing women, who are just the most fun. Joanna was able to join us, and make a long weekend of it. It was great to get to know her, and we fell in as though we had all been friends for years! What a kind, gentle, creative soul she is... and what a great addition to our group.
Judy is so talented and her books are full of such amazing detail. That's what drew me to her art and prompted me to ask her to come teach, when I met her last year. I love that she so generously shares her knowledge, tips and techniques for reproducing the effects she is known for, in such an easy~going manner. I couldn't have asked for more from her, or for a more relaxed creative workshop. I encourage any of you to study with Judy if you have the chance. Hopefully we can do this again the next time she comes to the states.

Thanks to all of the women who joined us, I hope you'll share your books as you continue to create in them. Please feel free to add your photos to the Yahoo Group so we can all see the wonderful work you do. And lastly a special thanks to Leslie for all your help and support, I could not have done this without you!

renewed faith...

2009-07-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have had the most unexpected, amazing turn of events happen this weekend. It has left me in awe of, and inspired by the generosity of others. I have renewed faith in the goodness of us all, when we genuinely support each other without expectations. While it would defeat the purpose to share the details, may the blessings I've enjoyed find their way to you...

Photo found here...

I {heart} Thursdays...

2009-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday I gather with an art group for Open Studio at Gilding the Lily in Fullerton. We each bring our current project and now with summer, we sit under the stars in the courtyard as we laugh, share, and catch up with one another. It's our own mini girls~night~out each week and something I so look forward to. Though I don't usually bring a project, last night I was able to finish a few journals. It was a perfect summer evening with friendly, happy women... no wonder I love Thursdays!

company is coming!

2009-07-13T10:52:00.001-07:00

Summer is flying by and while I hear that's a sign of good times being had, I've also been busy getting ready for Judy's August workshop. While it won't be held in our home, I am having a girlfriend stay with us that week, as she comes to be with us from Phili. If you're anything like me, you know what that means... long put off jobs are finally at the top of the to do list!

We've painted the room Leslie will stay in and I've even given the fireplace a new faux finish.
Yesterday we scrapped the old paint from the garage and my son is pressure washing it as I type, so we can have it ready to repaint this weekend.
I didn't think that was nearly enough sprucing in these 90 degree days, so this morning I picked up some paint stripper at the hardware store. It's sitting for the directed 30 minutes right now...
in hopes of having this front door greet Leslie when she arrives.

So even though I know our days will be spent with laughter, flea market trips, creating fabulous books with Judy, and late nights, good food and even better company; it makes me happy to ready our home as I look forward to friends coming to visit! None of these things will matter as I head to the airport to gather good friends, and look forward to our time together... but it makes me happy to do it today. I hope you're all looking forward to sharing good times with your girlfriends this summer as well!

playing with fabric & fiber...

2009-06-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

I recently happened onto a new artist through connections made online. Both Judy and Joanna introduced me to fiber/mixed media artist KC Willis. Her art, online workshops, and more...
have me feverishly contemplating which of her offerings are best for me. She recently announced Studio Retreats in Colorado. hmm... could there be a road trip this summer???

My love of all things vintage have me wild for her use of aged fabrics, and fabric photo transfers. I love her use of small bits and pieces, and am thrilled to be able to incorporate even more of these things I love into my own art. I'm completely inspired to play and create KC Willis style, and just wanted to share this talented artist with you all. Stand warned... you can easily spend the next hour pouring over her art, workshops, Etsy site and more!

PS: the picture above is of my dear Grandma taken in the 1920's

because you asked...

2009-06-22T15:19:00.001-07:00

I've finally put together a few kits for those of you who've asked. This is from the class I taught a few months ago at Gilding the Lily. You can find them here, if you're interested...

Happy Father's Day...

2009-06-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

letting go...

2009-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

You know how I said I'm not a jewelry designer a few weeks ago? Well, I'm not... and so last week I began letting go of some of the things I've picked up over the past couple of years. I figure if I'm not going to use this, maybe some of you can.
I love the feeling of letting this stuff go. Sometimes I get so attached to it all, and forget that it is indeed only stuff.
And so, on that note I've also decided to let go of some of the jewelry I've made. I didn't realize how many things I really had put together!
While I love the pieces, I simply don't wear this stuff. So it to is headed into my Etsy shoppe. I have few pieces I'm keeping,
but if you're interested you can find the rest of it here.

playing and creating...

2009-06-15T18:29:00.001-07:00

It was love at first sight when I saw this great canvas earlier this spring, and ever since I've thought about making one myself. The project was one Heather had done in a class with Amy Hanna, the original creator of the project.

This went together easily once I felt free to use the things I love the most... things I'd long thought I'd use in jewelry... old rhinestone strands...
a vintage prayer icon, as the topper of our house... old mercury glass buttons...
vintage shell cameos. When I found the old tin type frames, at Gilding the Lily's last trunk show, I immediately saw them as windows and I was finally ready to create a canvas of my own.
It's amazing how easily things come together when you allow yourself the freedom to play... (and some great inspiration doesn't hurt either). In turn I've come up with another project I hope to finish tonight and share with you all soon! Here's wishing you the time and freedom to play, and use the things that you find beautiful!

I lied...

2009-06-09T10:08:00.001-07:00

Last week when I said I was going to go make jewelry (or at least attempt it), I lied. Please forgive me. I've found that I really have to rally myself, when I even think about making jewelry. I love the way it looks, but apparently it's just not my thing.

I love the findings... and all of the elements... I love the look all the designers use in their jewelry designs. But I've really struggled with this art.
and so I'm giving it up. I have to say I feel a huge relief! I was talking with a friend of mine about my gathering, and collecting of this stuff only to find I'm not doing anything with it. We were at the flea market and I literally banned myself from even looking at any more of it. I don't do anything with what I've already bought!
Then we ran into another friend, she is a wonderful jewelry designer, and her's is the look I really love! After telling her how I was feeling, she told me I should use the things I collected in the art I'm most comfortable... my books.
I'd never looked at these things as pieces to add into my books, but when she said it, it made perfect sense. Tami was right! I don't need to make jewelry, I don't even wear jewelry!

But, I do love my books. I don't know why I hadn't thought about this before, I guess that's what friends are for. Sometimes they see things we don't see. So now, I really am off to make something... I promise... I'm just not promising what it will be!

grey skies...

2009-06-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

We've had such odd weather all day with grey skies, wind, and rain. I love it, but it feels more like January than June.

So I'm inside playing with these new pieces I picked up at Gilding the Lily's Trunk Show last Friday night. As usual Nancy had a full house, and lots of loot to go around.
I've either got to stop gathering these things, or start making something with it all! I LoVe the metal connector on the rosary, and those tiny mercury glass beads, the mother of pearl... oh, it all makes me so happy. Ok, so I'm not a jewelry designer by any stretch of the imagination, so wish me luck and I'll share the results soon.