I was so blessed to have had the chance to do a make and take at her Les Sirenes event in Manhattan Beach a week ago last Friday.  I enjoyed seeing fiskateer friends, friends new and old.  It was such an awe inspiring adventure under the sea with mermaids and sparkle.  Her events include classes from talented gifted artists, swaps that include things such as beautiful purses, wall hangings, boxes and more.  The event includes a vendor night where unique pieces of art are found, classes, a special trip to local flea markets and inspiring places, goodies galore, a crafting and pampering experience you will long not forget. 

Here are some photos from the event.  The first is of Kim (such a sweet and wonderful gal) and I.   Kim even gave Gail and I a lovely gift . . . I’m officially a California Mermaid.  The second photo is of  Melissa Phillips (one of the teachers at the event and a sweetheart) and I. A photo of a dear fiskateer Teri and I being goofy and some gals I haven’t seen in about a year.  Lastly some lovely photos of the decor and vendors to give you a taste of her event. 

I wanted to thank Kim for allowing me and for allowing the Fiskateers to be a part of her wonderful underwater experience.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of Kim’s events . . . you will be pampered, inspired and touched!

We’re talking Christmas, ‘Weathered Winter’ and ‘Kiss the Cook’ lines that are so much fun. The distressed look is elegant and so arty!  Kudos to Donna for such lovely releases! Love it! The designs could also be used for beach themed layouts, Fall or otherwise!  I included a couple photos of one line that came out last show but just love it.  I love how Fiskars tools are so totally versatile whether they go with a particular theme or not.

Tell me what punches or Fiskars tools you see in these layouts.  You’ll notice I made some of my own embellishments like the suede and other flowers.  I’d love to know if you’ve ever made your own and what you made!  Let’s share.  What about a way you’ve used a Fiskars tool in an ‘out of the box’ type of way? 

I’ll chose a random winner and will giveaway a couple of my all time favorite punches . . . you’ll have to wait and see.

Now I know we all can’t be at CHA and I surely don’t want you fine fiskateers on-line to miss out.  I’m happy to share the ‘how to’ for this project with you after the class.  What do you think?

One of the places I’m so thrilled to be is the Pink Paislee booth.  I’ve asked Pink Paislee if I could sneak peek one of their new releases by sharing the make and take I put together for visitors during my session on Wednesday using their new ‘Old School’ line and Fiskars tools.  Some of the tools we will be using are the new Notebook border punch (which is one of my favs because it was a suggestion I had shared - thank you Fiskars - they care and listen) and the new Fall Limited Edition ‘Apple A Day’ squeeze punch . . . both of which coordinate so well with the ‘Old School’ line.  So here’s a sneak peek . . .

If you’re attending CHA and can stop by and create . . . check out the beautiful lines Pink Paislee is releasing . . . you will surely be inspired.  Besides ‘Old School’ which is a favorite . . . I also am loving their ‘Sweetness‘ and ‘Parisian Anthology’ lines!  The lines are just delicious and awe inspiring!

My question to you . . . while we are at CHA . . . what trends do you think we will see?  What are some of your favorite consumable companies that you pair your Fiskars tools up with? 

We spent a couple days at the Fiskars Headquarters and had a warm welcome by Julia, Sarah, Jay, Stephenie (Fiskars) and Geno and Shannon (Brains on Fire).  All the staff were so welcoming.  I thoroughly enjoyed our time sharing ideas, brainstorming about product and ideas.  I also enjoyed Tool School with Josh and all the other Fiskars staff that came into share with us about the happenings in their departments.  (I noticed this was a favorite of Angela’s too).  It was exciting to see all aspects of the company and to feel like such a part of the Fiskars team.  The Final Four NCAA Scissors I’m always sharing about.  It was also fun to get a glimpse of Fiskars folks/employees and their personalities even at a deeper level. Here is the technical department . . .  the guys that help us when we have computer issues and help keep the blog alive.  Fun!

I really enjoyed seeing sneak peeks of new products to be released in the future and can’t wait to share some fun things with you.  A few months back I had the opportunity to share some ideas and sketches for some stamps.  The community voted on those as well as some others.  Well, it was absolutely so much fun to see my sketches come to life in stamp sets.  This is a lot about what the program is about . . . sharing with Fiskars what you’d like to see as a crafter.  It’s absolutely such an awesome priviledge that this company gives it’s community and to see that idea come full circle was fantastic.  I’ve seen it again and again and it never ceases to excite me how much this company cares and listens. 

On Saturday, Julia, the leads, Shannon and Geno headed to the conference center in downtown Madison where we continued meeting, sharing and brainstorming in a conference room that overlooked beautiful Lake Menona.  It was lovely.  After our time there we headed out to the Art Fair centered around the Capital building.  You see in 1959 there were a handful of artists that would come and paint on the lawn of the Capital building.  The artists grew in number and currently today the Art Fair hosts as many as 450 local and international artists.  Just happens this Art Fair fell on the same weekend as when we were there.  I just soaked it all up (you can tell because I’m taking photos and noticed I’m not in any of them).  I just loved it!  We then met and had dinner together at Fresca’s above a lovely art museum before departing on Sunday.

I wrote this probably simutaneously at the time Angela wrote her post but I just want to reiterate what Angela shared.  This is going to be a back to our roots experience and I’m excited about this next chapter.  So the trip to Madison ( to our Orange home) was a special time of bonding together as a team, sharing about the community, looking forward and interacting!  Absolutely priceless.

We definitely took you with us in spirit!  You are the fans, the fan-atics, fun folks and you help make the orange world go round!  Thank you for being you!

• 8 1/2 hour drive to Arizona.  Memories!
• Campsite . . . took full full advantage of our trip and gave Abigail a camping experience.  Set up camp . . . my sister in law and Abigail had the ‘princess palace’ - huge tent. Lots of hiking (and hydrating), not much time at the campsite.  Rodney even got to pitch horseshoes.  Fiskars was a part of our time at our campsite . . . tools, kitchen scissors, trashcan.  Pretty easy to cook as we planned out our menu and had some great equipment.  Made it simple.  Showers, laundry mat and other ammentities on site - nice. 

• Thoughts . . . what the pioneers must have felt as they are traveling through this beautiful pine forest and then came across this awesome canyon.  It’s unfathomable, unbelievable, undescribable.  It’s so big, beautiful . . . the different shapes of the rocks, different peaks and the colors!  I hope many of you get the opportunity to see it.  Something I wish each American could see. 
• Each day we headed off to walk a different trail to hike a different area.  First day was our toughest hike . . . Bright Angel Path but it was so worth it.  It was tough!!!  So glad I made it up.  Was no problem for Abigail.  On the way up she and my sister in law went ahead - Abigail cruised!  Estimated our hike would take 3-4 hours.  I think they made it in about 3 or less and Rodney (thanks for waiting up) and I made it in 4 1/2.  The rocks and the view at the bottom were beautiful!  Unforgettable!  Few times on the way up I sure thought I wish we would have taken a mule but there is a sense of accomplishment.  The path, rocky, steep, narrow at times, tough at times but the journey . . . invaluable.  
• Here’s a photo of just a portion of our path (from another look out point).  As well, we found a great book “Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?” and also enjoyed a break on the porch of the El Tovar Hotel.

• The animal and plant life was just teaming!  Saw elk, snakes, cool bugs, squirrels, deer, condors (which are on the endangered species list) and more.  The smell of pine was wonderful!  Came across this cool smooth tree. 
• Took advantage of the wonderful programs they had there and Abigail really wanted to go through the Junior Ranger program and also wanted to visit the Grand Canyon library which we did both.  The Junior Ranger program was wonderful . . . even us adults learned a great deal. Ranger Tarah made learning fun and encouraged the Junior Rangers to use all their senses and encouraged play. She was a sweetheart.
• Some folks from Japan grabbed my hand and asked for a photo.  Was hilarious.  
• The last stop at the top on the South Rim (we had been to the North Rim before) was Hermit’s Rest.  Enjoyed an ice cream when we got there.

•  Took us 3 extra hours to get home because of stops.  We went through Williams, AZ (cute) and browsed shops.  We also hunted for a DQ which we never did find.  Arrived home late but so filled with joy. (Photo Edited)

We thoroughly enjoyed traveling a part of this great country.  I learned a couple of days before our planned trip that that another fiskateer and friend and her family were doing the same and visiting the Grand Canyon.  We attempted to make a connection but had only one day of overlap so it didn’t work out.  Can you guess who that might be? 

So as I’ve shared about our beautiful country . . . I want to thank those that helped/help allow us to have freedom in this country.  Both in the past and now . . . I support and love our armed forces.  I come from a long line of men in my family that have served in the forces.  My husband (USMC), dad (Navy), uncle (Army), grandpa (National Guard) and friends from all branches.  I want to say thank you because I know our freedoms aren’t free!  God bless America and God bless you on this 4th of July!!!

I also wanted to share that many of you are going to try and recycle some shirts . . . love it.  I’d love to see them.  If you do go for it . . . I want to encourage you to post it in your gallery and send me the link at cheryl@fiskateers.com.  I’d love to share them in a followup post. 

The winner of the Limited Edition Donna Dewberry Razor Edge Scissors made for fabric is Marianne #6701.  So Marianne . . . give me a buzz at cheryl@fiskateers.com and let me know you’re claiming your prize. 

Be on the lookout too . . . I have some more ideas on ways we can use some old shirts and scraps so stay tuned.

First, I’d like to share with you my book and the many tools I used.  I like trying to use tools in an ‘out of the box’ type of way.  So I used many Fiskars border punches, squeeze punches and I loved using the Fiskars Fingertip retractable craft knife to cut deep into several pages making a ’shadowbox’.  I also used Melody Ross’ ChipArt tools (the pieces that look kind of leathery). 

The cover and inside cover (above).

How about layering a border punch strip atop lace?  Here (above) I used Fiskars ‘For the Birds’ stamps which I love!

(Above) How about pleating a border punch strip?

Using squeeze punch shapes like the Funky Heart, (above) which is one of my favorites,

you can also make a unique border.  The edge you see on the side of the book are several ‘funky hearts’ that have been punched out and glued on with just the tops showing.

Above I glued several pages together and then cut into the book to make a shadow box.  Several years ago I taught an altered Readers Digest book in which I did the same.  It’s a fun way to give it dimension.

Here are some of the other techniques that participants learned and enjoyed and some of the teachers like Candice Carpenter and Suzi Blu.

Here are some participants learning about great tools and super ways you can use them.

So I encourage you . . . pull out those tools and play!

Before and After

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Your comfy shirt that needs a bit of a makeover
• Scraps of material
• Embroidery floss and needle
• Fabric Glue
• Misc. add on items (for example I had a fabric flower I had made sitting around, bit of vintage lace, buttons)
• Fabric scissors (I used my Fiskars limited edition Donna Dewberry Fabric Scissors)
• Regular sewing needle and thread

1.  Begin by picking out some scraps of material.  I chose scraps that color coordinated and that were a variety of textures (corduroy, muslin, vintage patterned scraps).  But you can choose an array, whatever your liking. 

2. Cut your scraps if necessary.  I cut some of my scraps wider and some thinner.

3.  Place your scraps on your shirt they way you’d like them to sit once your shirt is completed.  I placed wider scraps on the bottom and thinner on top. 

4.  With just a bit of fabric glue, glue your scraps in place by lifting then up slightly and placing just enough glue to keep them temporarily together.

5.  With your embroidery floss go through and just stitch a couple of knots and random stitches to pin down/sew scraps in place.  Also stitch buttons and other add-on pieces down either with needle and thread or fabric glue.

6.  If desired, use a regular needle and thread to tack down the rest of the scraps.  I didn’t do this as I like the 3-D look.

7.  I not only added scraps to one side of the neck area but also some smaller pieces on the opposite side towards the bottom to give it a little extra umph (I also had some spots to hide).  You may want to try this around the collar, in a specific pattern or just randomly. 

8.  Enjoy your ‘new makeover’.

Don’t be afraid to try something new.  It’s actually really easy . . . just try it.  Enjoy putting those scraps to good use and making over a favorite shirt or sweater.

So with this little tutorial, I’d love to share a pair of your own Donna Dewberry Fabric Scissors.  Share a comment here and I’ll chose a random winner towards the end of the week.  Scrap on!

While we were sad to see them go, we were so happy as they began a new chapter in their lives.  Daniel looked forward to a greenhouse in their new backyard.  He also began talking about a rainbarrel while he was still living next door to us.  Well, Daniel loves his Fiskars.  So it was fun to watch Daniel as he has put his Fiskars rainbarrell to good use.  I thought it would be fun to see him in action.  

You know, in California we are always looking for ways to conserve water . . . a rainbarrel is perfect and an easy way to conserve.  As they moved to the first home they own . . . they are so happy with their tools which help keep their landscape tidy.  I think of their new backyard which will be inhabited by their new puppy and maybe children in the future . . . how special!

We are wishing both Daniel and Alicia the best years to come in their new home and will cherish the memories we have with our wonderful neighbors.  Fiskars is a big part of that new chapter and settling in their new home.  I love that Fiskars tools enrich life.