Lots has been going on around here. Nort, my husband and I have been working on my Etsy site which is now up http://www.albiesmith.etsy.com so I hope you will take a look and any feedback would be greatly appreciated. And I have been working on this blog which I said I would never do but, well, Leighanna Light insisted I could and should so I am. She and I have a very special relationship which goes back many years to when she lived in Southern Oregon also. She was working at a stamp store and I taught book making classes there. We have mentored and encouraged each other in learning, teaching and just plain navigating through life for a long time now.

The other big thing that has been wonderful and consuming a lot of my time are our two kittens, Stella and Bella. They are a little over 4 months now and we got them when they were 2 months old. They are sisters and they are loads of fun. Stella is the calico and Bella the gray tabby.

I have been out in the studio a lot lately. The colors just call to me. I've been playing with my hand carved stamps and the stencils you will see info on below. So there are many new books in the works.

And I just got the email confirming the acceptance of my proposals to teach at Art & Soul in Portland OR in 2009. I will be teaching 3 classes. One is a two day and two are one day classes.

It started to get cold here but it is sunny up here on my mountain. Down in town, on the valley floor, it gets foggy a lot in December and January. I forgot that and thought it might be time to move back down to be closer to people and things I want to do out there in the world. But then I went into town yesterday and felt the cold and the fog and I am thinking maybe we'll stay in our paradise a bit longer.

Easy Intricate Stencils

I have been finding wonderful laser cut 12" x 12" scrapbook papers in the craft stores. I don't scrapbook but I do lots of surface design on paper and am always on the lookout for new ways to play with pattern and color. I make these treasures, which cost about $2 into stencils. Here's how: first, the tables in my studio are covered with plastic for easy clean up. I buy the plastic on rolls at either party supply stores or the Cash & Carry restaurant supplier. They are made to cover banquet tables and are handy and economical. Brush acrylic medium (matte or gloss) on the surface of the laser cut paper. Move it to a clean spot on the plastic or it might stick to the surface. When dry flip it over and brush the medium on the other side. I usually do two coats. Now you have a stencil. These are not as sturdy as plastic stencils but if you are careful you'll get a lot of use from them. I don't wash them after using them because the build up of paint makes them stronger. Until it doesn't, and they start to fall apart. Oh well, nothing lasts forever. When they start to rip I sometimes mend them with small pieces of tape and when they are beyond hope they could be used as embellishments in art projects.

Laser cut scrapbook paper stencils

Stenciled sandwich paper

Stenciled paste paper