Whimsy and Stars Studio

My Artsy Friend Awna

(Project and photos from my friend Awna Stark)

I have a really wonderful artsy friend called Awna Stark. She is talented and creative, with a great eye for color & design. Her projects are always sharp and inspiring (plus she is really fun speaker!)

Just recently I was cleaning up my e-mail folders and checking any unread e-mails and to my horror (and joy), there it was...Awna's e-mail with these great photos! What a terrible feeling to find such special e-mail buried under hundreds of "bulk" e-mails...especially from a good friend like Awna.

A while ago she sent me these photos of one of her latest projects and classes. She is a instructor and demonstrator for The Angel Company. For this project Awna used my Mia's Cottage paper collection that I designed for The Angel Company. Her blessings tin box is simply precious!

Here is the link to her project: http://allinkdup.blogspot.com/2007/09/count-your-blessings.html

Thank you Awna!! I'm so glad I found your e-mail!! You can visit Awna at her blog.
http://allinkdup.blogspot.com

How wonderful the arrival of Autumn and Thanksgiving-time!

November is one of my favorite months. Here in Central Florida (USA) the weather is always so pleasant during the Fall and early Winter. There are wonderful Fall Festivals and Craft Shows to visit (and shop). Last week I visited the picturesque town of Mount Dora, Florida. This town is so charming and filled with adorable shops, bakeries, restaurants and bed & breakfasts.

Here are so links for more information on Mount Dora:
http://www.mountdora.com
http://www.mtdora.org

(The photo above was taken at Mount Dora, at the cute store called "Piece of Mine Home Boutique")

I have began working on my Christmas Wish List...lots of inspiring items! To be honest my list usually consist of things that bring me great joy, things that spark inspiration and joy. Sketchbooks, paints, pens, papers, books, fabrics, handmade items..)

Here are a few of them:

Oh how I Want This Book! I saw the preview photos and I'm so buying this book PRONTO! I love Amy's palette of colors and patterns and the gorgeous photos taken by her husband. This book is really beautiful to have.

And of course, my yearly Susan Branch Calendar!! (which I totally missed last year, but I won't miss it this coming year). This calendar is filled with her precious watercolors, recipes and great tips. It brings a smile to my face each time I grab one of her books!

 

Also, I found this great website: Buy Handmade

Why buy Handmade? Visit this link: http://www.buyhandmade.org/why-buy-handmade

.....................................................................................................................

I wish you all an inspiring and delicious Fall, filled with glorious gatherings, laughter and lots of yummy treats!!

(Paper projects by Joy S., Becky F and Misty F.)

Autumn Craftiness! Such cuteness :)

This past Saturday I had the joy of spending the day with my friends Joy, Becky and Misty which were visiting the Orlando, Florida area for a crafty retreat. I was so thrilled to have received such special invitation and I had such a fantastic time with these super talented group of ladies. Each one of us brought a project to share with each other and it was so great to each other talents in action. As you can see from the photos above these are just one of the adorable projects we worked on....total cuteness!

We "play" with gorgeous papers, rubberstamps and embellishments, total eye candy for crafty girls like us.

Thank you Joy, Becky and Misty for a truly fun day!!

Becky has photos of the projects at her blog: http://beckyfisher.typepad.com/photos/cards_creations_such/index.html

The project I shared with the girls was this tag set called "Beyond Grateful" which I used my Vintage Holiday Paper Collection for The Angel Company and the "More Abundance" stamp set from TAC.

Please visit the creative blogs of my friends Joy and Becky. They are so talented!! Now we just need Misty to get into blogland!

Have a blissful and inspiring week!

 

 

For a LIMiTeD TiMe! A little Sneak Peak...

These pretties and other items are going for sale tomorrow night at my Etsy store! I invite you to come and visit my little store. Happy Fall everyone!!

To celebrate the arrival of Autumn I created this new handcrafted pretties using the Winchester paper collection from The Angel Co. and other great paper goodies.

(me & my love/hubby)

Hello there! Summer its almost over...just flew by! As you may have noticed I took an "unofficial" online Sabbatical since June. Summer has been a time for having fun as a family (I have two very cool kids), in spite of how very busy has been it has been filled with laughter, love and lots of great memories!

In another hand, I have missed working on my art, creating new paintings and doing my artsy projects. I also have missed posting online, answering e-mails (I'm so, sorry for that) and just communicating more often with you all.

Now that Fall is around the corner I'm excited with all the ideas floating in my head and ready to come alive. I have been filling my sketchbooks with lots of concepts for new projects and illustrations. Can't wait to begin!

...I'm sending cheery thoughts your way!

Wonderful things of my  S U M M E R :

• Family trips to our favorite beaches (1 hour from home)
• Avocados
• Pretty ribbons!
• Mountains of patterned papers
• Favorite watercolors
• Tres leches cake
• My little Etsy store, which I just L-O-V-E
• Baby! (the arrival of my brand new niece Fabiana)
• Pretty cupcakes
• My Messy crafty table...which I just stare with great joy...a world of patterns and colors!

...more to come, my list is a long one....

have a blissful week, whimsy ones!

I n t r o d u c i n g . . .

Mia's Cottage

This is my latest paper collection designed exclusively for the brand new Idea Book & Catalog of The Angel Company. It includes 12" x 12" cardstock papers and adorable die cut tags. This collection is part of the Soar With It paper lines.

Here is a sample of how I used Mia's Cottage to make this box (for a swap).

...talking about the BRAND NEW Idea Book & Catalog of The Angel Co. here is some more info....

This Idea Book & Catalog celebrates the 10 year Anniversary of The Angel Company and is an amazing book filled with color coordinated paper collections, ink pads, stamps, embellishments and ribbon selections. Simply gorgeous projects and fantastic ideas!!

You can order your own copy at my store or send me an e-mail.

http://mabelle.ismyangel.net/Products/Default.aspx

More Memories from The Angel Company 2007 Seminar...

Mischelle, Jenn & me at the Opening night Reception...(Thanks Jenn for the photo!)

If you are wandering why I'm wearing a tiara, it was a gift from my dear friend Mischelle (first on the left) which she gave a tiara to each one of the members of the Founders Club during the Opening Night of the convention. I just love my tiara, I always wanted to wear one  :) (Thanks Mischelle!)

I truly had a magical and super artsy time!!

ps: I would love to see your photos from TAC Seminar! please send me an e-mail.

xo

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whimsyandstarsstudio/sets/72157600692143798/

I just returned from a magical and brilliant trip to Kansas City, Missouri to attend the 10 year Anniversary celebration of The Angel Company Annual Seminar/Convention. Each year I so look forward to this special and unforgetable time! To get inspired!

This is a time to see all my "angel" family and dear friends, to learn from all of them and to have an overload of creative time. Together we scrapbook, stamp out hearts out and we create so many clever and gorgeous projects. These photos are just a couple of photos I have uploaded so far...

This year not only The Angel Company celebrates their 10 years in business but I also celebrate my 10 years with them. Mischelle Smith and her family are part of my family, I'm blessed to be part of such special group of people. They have impacted and changed my life forever! They are given me an opportunity of a lifetime!

I'm so proud to be called "Angel #24", I signed up in 1997 when the company was barely 3 months old and I haven't looked back. I'm so proud to be a T.A.C. demonstrator and to be part of the coolest group of angels (that's how the TAC demonstrators are called..perfect, ha?!) :-)

It was wonderful to see all of friends (which I totally miss all year long), and to papercraft together. There was glitter galore, new paper collections, embellishments heaven and trendy stamps!

I have more to share with you, so I will be updating the blog over the weekend......

* * Visit my Flickr album to see some more pixs of my trip (I'm still adding more this weekend) * *

hugs

mosaic1288178
Originally uploaded by WhimsyAndStarsStudio.