Another Day

Another day has come and gone!!  Thankfully I was able to get tons of stuff done- finishing prep for CHA, making some new purses to eventually post on Etsy, finishing some custom orders and actually catching up on some DVRed shows! I am heading off to Anaheim for two days to attend CHA and will be spending the day tomorrow roaming, browsing and connecting with friends ( and enjoying a little down time on my own).  I will be staying connected from the road and hopefully will have fun stories to share.  If you happen to be attending CHA come visit me at the F&W Booth on Monday at 1pm- I will be doing a book signing and demo and will have some fun little giveaways!  

Tips for Painting on Fused Plastic

I have received more questions regarding my CPS article on recycled handbags- about painting on fused plastic. Depending on the paint that you use and the way you treat the surface, your paint can flake but there are ways to create a colorful and layered surface on the fused plastic and ways to keep it from flaking.

Here are a few tips that I can offer-

1. Use silkscreen ink in place of paint. I have had the most success with no FLAKING and will typically paint my first layer and then painting on top of it with either acrylic paint or even paint with the silkscreen ink. Speedball makes a great affordable ink in a lovely variety of colors.

2. Don't limit yourself to just painting on the surface of your fused plastic- try painting on canvas or fabric and the cut out shapes or strips of your painted material and sew it directly onto the surface of the fused plastic.

3. Try the opposite- cut up your fused plastic and use strips and shapes to sew onto canvas or fabric.

4. Try using permanent markers in place of paint to journal or draw all over your fused plastic.

5. Paint the surface of the fused plastic and fuse another clear piece of plastic over the top.

Art Unraveled 2009

I am happy to announce that classes are up on the Art Unraveled  so if you are interested in taking a class from either myself or gaggle of SUPER talented artists please go check it out!! I am happy to be teaching two brand new classes and would love if you joined me!

Larger Than Life

There is nothing more energizing and liberating than working big and this class will introduce you to working larger than life with canvas and paint. Forget about being confined by the size of your surface and start embracing what it feels like to get inside of your paintings. We will experiment with working on the floor to the wall to reaching, crawling and stretching around our large canvas to get up close and personal with the creative process. You will learn a variety of messy and beautiful painting and collage techniques to use on a large surface. Alisa will share a number of useful exercises for creating a large composition - from free writing to using graffiti to finding your artistic voice, be prepared to go big!!!

Trashy Clutch

A unique clutch made entirely from recycled materials and covered in messy paint is the perfect accessory for any artist. From fusing plastic bags to transforming junk mail to altering cereal boxes- this class will challenge you to rethink your materials and supplies and will introduce you to different ways to create “mixed media fabric” that can be painted, sewn and transformed into a unique and one of a kind clutch handbag. Come prepared to learn lots of quick and easy ways to make over household trash with paint, freewriting, sketching,and all kinds of simple but colorful techniques.  This is a two part class that will include both mixed media/painting techniques and sewing!

Cereal Box Clutch- Demo

Since my article on recycled purses (made from fused plastic bags and spare trash) came out this month in Cloth Paper Scissors, I've received lots of inquiries about making a cereal box clutch.  Well here is a quick tutorial!!

Supplies
cereal box
variety of acrylic paint
brushes
stamps
sharpie pens
sewing machine
decorative button

Start by flattening you cereal box and then covering it with paint- mix your your paint on the surface and don't be concerned with perfection- let yourself be really MESSY! 

Once your first layer has dried start building up more layers letting each one dry in between-

Stamp, scratch, swipe your way to color and texture!

Once all of your layers are dry and to your liking, trim it to the desired size- I like to trim off the folds and edges.  

Decide what kind of shape you would like- I folded it as simple as possible- like an envelope.

Paint the inside (or backside) with a solid and thick layer of paint. Let dry. 

Sew both sides with the sewing machine- I love the look of messy stitches so have fun with zig zag or fun straight stitches down the sides.

Sew a decorative button to the bottom front and then a looped ribbon for the closure 

Disguise your ribbon closure with a scrap that was cut off when trimming you bag- sew it over the top of where your ribbon is attached and go wild with stitches! 

There you have it! A purse made from a simple cereal box- 

Hopefully you will think twice about what you throw away!!!!!!!!

Vicious Circle

I am exhausted! I have been cleaning and organizing my studio in preparation for Jo Packham's visit on Wednesday for a photo shoot for Where Women Create.  After lots of time spent going through boxes, supplies, artwork- I cannot believe HOW MUCH CRAP I HAVE!!!! But I am happy to say that I succeeded in getting everything all ready.  There is nothing like a clean workspace to inspire me and in typical Alisa fashion I got to work this afternoon and created yet another mess to clean up- its a vicious circle!!

And the Winner Is......

Yippeee Judy Wise!!  I will send you an email and then get going on creating  a custom clutch for you!!!

Creative Block = A GIVEAWAY!

Update: I am in the middle of trying to finish a project so I am extending the giveaway until Sunday morning- I will drawn name then- in meantime continue to leave your amazing comments...I am so inspired!
Argggghhh...I seem to have hit a creative block tonight and its bad timing because I have a deadline creeping up on me.  SO instead I am chillin' on the couch with my two handsome boys! I am hoping my inspiration will return this weekend (it kinda has to!). 

So instead of working I am going to offer a custom clutch giveaway- YIPEEEE.

Leave me a comment letting me know what inspires you by tomorrow evening- I will draw a name and the winner gets a custom clutch (colors, words and images are your choice!!!)

Bye Bye 2008

I have jumped into the new year head first- YIKES! I have been working on a few different projects with a fast turn around that I have to keep under my hat but will hopefully get to share sometime soon! They have been keeping me busy, busy busy! But it was so wonderful to have time in Oregon (where I do my best thinking) to relax and reflect on this last year and the many wonderful opportunities, goals met and lessons learned. I cannot believe the amount of stuff that I actually pulled off in 2008 and made it through- finishing my book and making my way through the ups and downs of it all, teaching and traveling (while working my full time job), transitioning from four years of living and working with college students (and living rent free) to purchasing our first home (in Southern California at that!!) remodeling our new home, getting a new day job, and the list goes on and on. I’m not gonna lie I am kinda glad to have 2008 behind me- I have named it "the year of transition" and conquering it has given me lots of hope for 2009. 

So with a new year I have a number of new things going on (and this is just a preview!!)

Check out my latest article in the Jan/Feb issues of Cloth Paper Scissors on making handbags out of recycled materials- yep my love of trash is coming in handy! If you are looking for a project that will cost you close to NOTHING to make- you will love it!

I will be at CHA at the end of January promoting my book and doing a demo (with some REALLY fun make and takes) at the F&W booth!  Would love all of you to stop by on  Monday, January 26th at 1pm to show support!!!! (and if there are any fellow artists or authors out there who will also be attending- I would love to connect- 

community= inspiration!!)

I will traveling to Cleveland in Feb to film a segment for Quilting Arts T.V. and also filming for an instructional DVD- SUPER EXCITED!!

Registration is still open for my Canvas Remix in Italy Workshop! 

Enroll between January 1 and January 30, 2009 save $125.00!

The rumor is that airfare to Europe is coming down in 2009 and this might be the time plan a trip!! I would love to share a week full of inspiration, creativity and making a mess in Italy!! Inspired by my book Canvas Remix I will be teaching kinds of SUPER fun techniques and one of a kind projects!  

I will be teaching at Art Unraveled in August 2009 classes will be posted in January and registration starts in February!

I am excited to announce that I will be teaching at ArtFiberFest in June 2009 and this time it will be held in my good ol' hometown of Portland, Oregon on the campus of Reed college- SO EXCITING!!!  Not only will it be AMAZING to participate in this amazing retreat but also have the opportunity to travel home to Oregon. Classes will be posted in Feb so check the website for more info!

Looks like I will be having a trunk show here in Southern California with my purses and as soon as I have more info...I will share!

Lots more to come so stay tuned!!

One More

One more round of holiday vacation pics because they are just too pretty and I already miss Oregon!

Counting my Blessings (in the airport)

I am sitting in the Portland airport with my hubby waiting for our flight back to San Diego....what a lovely trip home it has been. So many beautiful sites to see and times to share with family. I come back to my home on the Oregon coast A LOT - There is something about the rain, the green, the wild beaches and of course family- all have this strange pull for me that fulfills, refreshes and inspires me. Typically when I leave I cry A LOT, all the way to airport, at the airport and when I get home... but no tears today. For the first time in a very long time I am satisfied with the now, with what we have in front of us and I am so thankful for the ability to travel to the place that I love. We thought we would have been living in Oregon by now but fate has decided otherwise and our life it Southern California has surprisingly treated us well! I cannot help but be so grateful for the the many things we have. On the eve of a new year I am counting my blessings and getting excited for a fresh start for 2009! I am not one to make resolutions because I PLAN too much (like OCD too much) as it is but this year I have lots of little goals that I am excited to embrace....finally appreciating a marvelous/creative day job that I enjoy, painting collaboration with my husband, growing my purse business, pursuing illustration opportunities and lots more that I definitely will share when I am not in the airport and have more time.  In the meantime I hope everyone out there is having a safe and happy holiday!!!

More Holiday Pics...

When you grow up on the Northern Oregon Coast you become very accustomed to rain,cold, wind and operating normal when all of these elements occur. I come home a lot but this whole area never ceases to amaze and inspire me. We have been visiting our normal haunts, finding new places to explore and having adventures despite the rain and melting snow...more to come, more to share.

Freezing My Toes Off!

I am currently in Oregon at home on the north coast, freezing my toes off but must say that it is wonderful to home! It was a crazy journey here- almost missed the plane, icy roads, snow and missed exits but well worth the effort to be finally hanging with family. I have lots of projects to be working on and thinking about while I am here- preparing a demo for CHA, a SUPER exciting freelance illustration project planning a collaborative series of paintings with my husband for some future opportunities (did I ever mention my hubby is an amazing artist?) and lots of other creative endeavors that I have to at least be thinking about while enjoying my vacation. In the meantime I am excited to announce that I will be teaching at ArtUnraveled in August 2008- Classes will be up on the site in January and registration will begin in February.

I hope everyone is enjoying time with family and friends!!!

Black and White

Two posts in one day- WOW! Just a little preview of some new purses that I made for gifts!

Its About Time!

I am happy to report that I have FINALLY started to simmer down and take some much needed to time to hang out and enjoy San Diego and with my partner in crime-my husband! December in San Diego is actually one of the most beautiful months of the year- it is chilly but the sun is shining, the sky is clear and blue and the light is indescribable.  One of our favorite little holiday traditions is to walk around the Coronado and visit the Hotel Del and watch the sunset.  The location never fails to provide AMAZING light, fun photo ops and beautiful sunsets!

Wonderful Opportunity

What a few weeks it has been over here in my world! I have been in the midst of chaos- so much going on I can barely keep my head and my emotions in check! One minute I am having fun - the next minute there are difficult issues and loved ones in pain and turmoil to love and support - the next minute I am getting more creative rejection (yipee), then I am off to my day job- smile and be professional Alisa - back to having fun - Christmas creating and shopping- and up and down and up and down things go. Lately I have been feeling a little lost, a little restless, looking to start some new things in the new year with my life and my art and though I am not sure what these things will completely include- the writing is on the wall and it is time for some big CHANGES!

Thankfully over the weekend I had one of those special moments that stopped me in my self obsessed tracks and sparked a different kind of inspiration- A friend of my brother who works for the International Rescue Committee in San Diego told him the story of Fartun, a 7 year Somalian refugee attending ESL classes in San Diego who comes to school in the same clothes everyday- binder clips holding up her skirt, one pair of pants and shirt, no jacket for the chilly weather, no socks - one thing to wear and to wash. As my brother told my husband and I her story, naturally my heart broke- I think all of our hearts broke and collectively the three of us decided on the fly that our gift to each other would be new clothes for Fartun. I got up and went directly to the store (this was not a situation to procrastinate with!) and spent a LONG time trying to find some appropriate things for a 7 year old to wear. I wandered the store for a few hours, looking through the kids section completely overwhelmed by what it means to have to nothing, to only have one of something. Not gonna lie- I was pretty rocked and held back tears as I looked through the racks of clothes- picking out clothes for a little girl who has none felt very daunting but I snapped out of it and succeeded with the task at hand and collected a pile of brand new clothes!! It was the VERY least that we could do but such an important thing for Fartun. I received this picture today from my brother and it made my heart break all over again- but this time with joy! It is so easy to get caught up in ourselves, so easy to take for granted the money that we spend, so easy to put off giving or making giving a priority. This wonderful opportunity to give to Fartun reminded me how small my own struggles are, how good it feels to do ANYTHING for someone in need and how important it is to stay connected to those struggling in our community. 

The IRC has tons of amazing programs and opportunities to volunteer and to give for more information visit- thierirc.org