fashion friday- twig earrings

I love challenging myself to get creative with simple supplies and recently, after clearing branches and brush from our backyard, I was suddenly inspired (inspiration always comes upon me in unexpected moments) to create some unique post earrings from twigs and branches.

I selected a couple of twigs and using a hand saw I sliced off small rounds.

Then I used my beloved wood burning tool to burn simple designs into the surface. 

Not gonna lie this was REALLY time consuming because the pieces were so small!

Last I used a little bit of epoxy to attach metal posts to the back of the twigs.

The result- super unique stud earring for a gal who would rather wear twigs than diamonds (thats me!)

tin can vases

beautiful details

new online classes

I have been hard at work creating new online classes and I am excited to share my fall/winter schedule of classes!

The concept and understanding of layers is at the foundation of just about everything that I create. From painting, to drawing, to sewing and even crafting- I LOVE LAYERS!!!! There is nothing more beautiful than color on top of pattern, on top of texture, on top of images! There is something about layers (that are done well) that has the abilty to capture the essence of the creative process and invites the viewer to look deeper into the surface. 

In this class I will share all that I know about building layers. I will demonstrate how to use color theory, understand contrast, design and how to use all kinds of supplies (paint, pens, paper, stamps, stencils and more) to build beautiful and dymanic layers that can stand alone or be used as a background for a composition.


Class goes live September 27, 2013
Class cost- $30
To register or for more information visit my shop HERE 

I am obsesed with creating surface pattern and these days a lot of the art that I make revolves around finding unique ways to transform my drawings and doodles into pattern. From finding inspiration to working with color to building pattern with simple tools and supplies I am excited to share my favorite tips, tricks and techniques for creating a surface full of pattern.


Class goes live October 21, 2013
class cost- $30
To register or for more information visit my shop HERE 

I fell in love with printmaking back in college, so much so that I decided to declare it (and painting) as my major. I still can't seem to get enough of the printmaking process- there is something unique (and addictive) about the process of transferring an image from one surface to another. 

In this class I will share some of my favorite printmaking techniques, tools and how to work with every day supplies. From monotypes to relief printing to lithography to trendy Gelli Plate printing and more! I will demonstrate simple ways to incorporate all kinds of printmaking techniques into your creative process.


Class goes live November 15, 2013
class cost- $30
To register or for more information visit my shop HERE

Back in 2005 I started a blog to document my journey as an artist and today my little blog has grown into something I never could have imagined- I currently have millions of readers all over the world, my blog has enabled me to generate income for my creative business, many of my posts and projects have "gone viral" or been picked up by a variety of sites and magazines but the best part is that I have been able to inspire and connect with amazing people! 

In this class I will share all of the blogging tips, techniques and secrets that I have discovered over time. We will dive into a variety of topics such as- design, photography, how to come up with unique content, staying organized, blogging schedules, growing readership, using Pinterest and SO MUCH MORE! Blogging is something that I am incredibly passionate about and I am excited to share that passion with you!

Class goes live January 6, 2014
Class cost- $50
To register or for more information visit my shop HERE 

For the first time I am offering what I am calling a "season pass".  This pass will include all four fall/winter classes - Layers of Love, Draw and Repeat, Print.Make.Play and The Art of Blogging. The season pass costs $110 (compare at $140 for all four classes seperately) a savings of $30 or the cost of one small class! If you are interested in taking all four classes, this is the option for you!

To purchase a season pass visit my shop HERE 

fashion friday- new york fashion week

If you are a frequent reader you will know that I am obsessed with fashion week and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC kicked off yesterday and I have been following the live stream around the clock. The spring collection from Spanish brand Desigual totally caught my eye- I am loving the mix of pattern and bright color!

photos from Zimbio

life with lucy- 22 months

lucy talk from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.

a peek inside my sketchbook

homemade crayons

While I like to challenge myself to come up with unique projects and inspiration, there are times when I really enjoy falling back on old favorites! I can remember making my own crayons when I was a kid and now that Lucy is old enough to enjoy a little bit of crafting, I thought it would be fun to put my own twist on this process!

We love crayons in our house and we have a ridiculous number of them (especially broken ones) laying around. My goal was to gather and use all those bit and pieces to create something new!

My other goal was to use my love and understanding of color to create really beautiful and vibrant (not muddy) color combinations that looked like little jewels! 

TIPS- Limiting the number of colors that you combine will keep things vibrant and not muddy.

Using small chunks of black and white will give a fun pop of contrast.

Lucy and I peels and broke up the crayons and then filled mini muffin tins with the crayons and baked in the oven at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes or until liquid the melted.

I let the wax completely dry and then popped them out of the tins.

The results are BEAUTIFUL little circular crayons that can be used for coloring. An added bonus is that they don't break easily- perfect for toddler hands!

Use candy molds for fun shapes!

labor day sale!

Head on over to my online shop HERE for my complete offering of classes!