TENseconds Studio

Mega Weekend was a Blast!

I wish I had a week off to decompress, sleep, sleep and sleep after our Mega Workshop this past weekend. Megan and I took yesterday off to shoot a video with Tim for next week, and then went home to run errands. Everyone had a great time and created some really awesome pieces. We started off the weekend with two certification classes. These are the classes we do throughout the year and this was our 1 day class. This fall we have a 2 1/2 day scheduled where you "metalize your world".

Everyone was very busy in the certification classes and made really cool books using Maya Road's 8x8 books.

Then, on Sunday we started off the day splitting everyone into two groups; Tim had one group and I had the other. We picked this really cool box to turn into a "Curio of Creativity". Tim taught the inside and I taught the outside. We will show what we did in next Tuesday's Taco Tuesday. But if you want to see the canvas idea that was used, be sure to watch today's Taco Tuesday where I show how it's wrapped with metal and our new products.

I was next door with my group metalizing the outside of the box.

And, of course the brains of any operation....Mario and Megan. We wouldn't be anywhere without these two. I think Tim would agree with me. These two rocked on Sunday.

I want to thank everyone who came, had fun, created fabulous pieces and bought tons of stuff. Megan and I are already talking about what we would do for the next workshop. And, a special thank you to everyone who flew or drove in to "hell" for this event. Now the weather is in the low 90's but Sunday it was over 100. As Paris would say, "that's hot."

Certification or certifiable which is it????

  This week we have been getting ready for our certification classes which start today and tomorrow. This shows a little of what everyone gets to play with along with all the different metals. We're making a book with Maya Road products and next week I'll show what everyone made.

Then we got ready for the Timster and doing all the goody bags that everyone is getting. This class is going to be awesome if I do say so myself.

So we have a sea of bags to fill and everyone is already bugging me on what we're making but it's a secret until Sunday. They're gonna love it.

Pardon, the pictures I have no idea what the hell is going on and why they're sideways. But everyone is arriving and I'm trying to do two things at once. When Lolly sees this she'll probably correct it for me because she corrects everything I do. I hope!

Julia Bridges...You Rock!

As you all know Julia Bridges won our contest.  So, today I get this email from her:

Dear Cheryl & Megan,

WOW what an absolute thrill to win your contest! I’d like to ask you for a very special favor and I hope you will consider it. After reading  each of the entries this one particular entry really pulled on my heart strings. Please see below.

Posted by: Kathy Ahlswede| June 17, 2009 at 10:10 PM

Wow! I just learned about all your fab items from the fab Mr. Tim Holtz in Elk Grove! Now I'm planning on using your products to redecorate my kitchen since I'm totally hooked. It would be so much fun and such a great opportunity to go to Texas with my scrappin' buddies. They were my support system (my bra?) when I went through breast cancer treatments at 26. I am now in remission and a trip together would be the most amazing event ever. Pick me, Pick me! You gals rock! (and so do your products!)

It would thrill me to no end if you would let her have this time with her friends. My mother was a 16 year survivor of breast cancer and was surrounded by a group of loving friends who I called the “Steel Magnolias”. They really were like those characters in the movie. Unfortunately, my mother lost her battle 13 years ago on Thanksgiving day. I’ve never forgotten about the friends that helped me and my family take care of mom during this time. This entry really grabbed me and I feel as though she is more deserving than me and I sure would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart if you’d let her have this wonderful gift.

Thank you again for choosing me and I love working with your products!  Here’s a fun photo of my mom in Fredericksburg , Texas where she and my dad retired. She really was a FUN MOM!

Here is a picture of Julia's mom, Kathleen Bridges. You gotta love the tights and the hat. So, we now have a new winner Kathy Ahlswede. Kathy please contact us and we'll set you up for your weekend at BRAfree.

And, because Megan and I are secretly a couple of really nice people, Julia gets to have her weekend also.

What's even cooler, Julia gave us permission to sing her song and if you've watched our videos, you know how we sing!

More to come.....

 

And the Winner is.....and Taco Tuesday

Today's TACOtuesday Video is about our Swap with 7 gypsies. Here is what the inside ended up looking like.

They were so gracious to send us a ton of papers and goodies, I had a blast creating the inside of the book. The cover is what we show on the video, but I ran out of time for the back so I've shown what we finished it with.

This shows the tag with the metal as a heart cutout

And now to the winner......

You girls really amaze me. Such a creative bunch and it makes it too hard to pick a winner to our giveaway from last week.  Megan and I both thought that Julia Bridges went totally BRAfree and thought up a cute song to the tune of Born Free. I had to sing the song to Megan as this was waaaay before her time. So, Julia you're the winner along with 4 of your very BFF's. Let us know your contact info and we'll arrange a weekend for you.

SUNG TO THE TUNE OF “BORN FREE”

BRA FREE AS FREE AS THE WIND BLOWS AS FREE AS YOUR BOOBS GROW BRA FREE PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR HEART BRA FREE YOUR BIG BOOBS SURROUND YOU THEIR SIZE STILL ASTOUNDS YOU EACH TIME YOU LOOK AT A BRA STAY FREE WHERE NO CUPS DIVIDE YOU YOU'RE FREE AS THE ROARING TIDE SO THERE’S NO CUP TO HIDE BRA FREE AND LIFE IS WORTH LIVING BUT ONLY WORTH LIVING CAUSE YOU’RE BRA FREE     Posted by: JULIA BRIDGES |

We had so many wonderful comments about our retreat and decided to give all you braless women a 10% discount on a booking for the house. The only catch is you have to reserve your weekend by July 10, 2009. So, if you'd like to relax and crop, eat or yak, you can check out the website for the retreat and see all the details. We're working on the calendar and hopefully will have that up this week. You can always email me for a booking.

ONLY 5 MORE DAYS TILL YOU KNOW WHO IS HERE!!!!

Cribs

Well, I probably got your attention with that title. Sorry girls, don't get excited about cribs entering my life. It's the other kind of "cribs".

Today's Taco Tuesday shows what we've been up to with the BRAfree Weekend retreats. The house is almost ready and we're already getting bookings.

So, if you can see yourself walking down this walk to a totally serene weekend of eating, gabbing, more eating and more gabbing and a little bit of sleep post a comment here after you've watched the video. We will pick a winner to come with her 4 BFF's (5 people) for a weekend stay from Thursday to Sunday. For those of you out of state or out of this country...you gotta get yourselves here on your own dime. The free weekend does not include food...so yes, you will be bringing your own food.

We think you'll love this space as much as we do. The studio space we show was where we started the company 5 years ago and if you had told me then what was in store for us 5 years later, I would have laughed and said, "no freakin' way."

We will pick a winner next Tuesday, June 23rd. You can't win if you don't comment. Good luck and remember Bra's are optional.

Hot Metal Mama's

We've gotten lots of requests for classes at the studio and I thought we would update you on what we have coming up. Tracy Pounds is starting a group and the info is listed below. If you would like to come and play with our metal and tools, let Tracy know, and you'll get to meet others who share your passion for creating "cool stuff." We'll be adding other classes as time permits, and will let everyone know about them.

 

Calling all Hot Metal Mama's

Want to be part of a creative group of women ready to take their crafting to another level? If you answered yes, then consider joining the "Hot Metal Mama's" Creative Group.

 

This group will meet at TENseconds Studio and be instructed by Tracy Pounds. You will have the opportunity to create with metal and learn some fun techniques that are sure to inspire you! TENseconds Studio will provide you with the use of our tools, molds, and other equipment during the workshops. Once you have reserved your seat, Tracy will send you a list of other items that you'll need to bring. Come prepared to have fun a create a cool project.

When: Thurs. 6/18  10a-Noon

Thurs. 7/16 10a-Noon

Thurs. 8/13 10a-Noon

Where: Ten Seconds Studio

Cost: $10

 

Please email Tracy Pounds to register at cre8joy@sbcglobal.net or you may also register online at www.cre8joyworkshops.com.

Couples who craft together......

A couple of months ago I was at an event in Ohio teaching classes and this really cool couple walked in, Anne and Tom Holliday from Portsmouth NH. I was a little surprised to see that hubby was going to take the class also. We were creating a saying on metal and mounting it on a canvas that we had altered.

Anne sent me this photo of what she created after she had put some finishing touches on it.

I think she did a wonderful job. This is called our Caulk and Gauze class. Students get to experience Caulk and all the wonderful effects you can create with it. I can honestly say that "caulk has changed my life"....Seriously. I use it all the time.

It's really great when you change it's color, the possibilities are endless.

Well Anne's hubby, Tom, wasn't real jazzed on my saying choice. So, Tom just writes his own and starts creating away.

He didn't have enough time to totally finish what he was going to put around the frame and I think he thought the gauze part was a little "frilly".

So this is what Tom finished his piece as.......

I have to say, "Tom that's freakin' awesome." In the class, Tom was busy drawing out the design by hand and then transferred the design to metal.

I love how he add all the other embellishments to the top of the canvas.

So to Anne and Tom...Wonderful Job and I hope this brings you two cuties closer together because the couple that crafts together...spends a lot of money together.

7 Gypsies and TSS

This little baby rocks! I could just press the little button all day and listen to it whirl. Today's Taco Tuesday is all about books and transferring objects from paper to metal. We also decorated our Binderie with metal to add a little metal mania.

To see what everyone else did with their little baby check out 7 Gypsies site and you'll see what all the other artists created. They're awesome.

This is the cover I created using 7 Gypsies paper as a pattern for the bird.

I also added a 7 Gypsies Rub On for the saying and embellished around the edges with TSS Rub Ons.

I used our new Mocha metal and I love that color.

You'll have to forgive the fuzziness, try as I do I can't seem to get good close-ups, and Megan will shoot me if I ask her to do it...so I'm staying away from her.

Hopefully you can make out the story. You'll have to watch the video to see the entire book.

Hope you enjoy the video and have a Taco Tuesday!

Great American Scrapbook Show Winner

Pat Coates was nice enough to send me this photo she took at GASC this past weekend. There was really a great turnout considering it being the end of the school year and the big concert at the Cowboy Stadium. We showed off our new BRAfree Weekend retreat and of course got a lot of strange looks, comments and more looks. Over 1,000 people dropped their names in our free weekend for 5 at the retreat. The lucky winner is Kim Holton of Fort Worth. The hardest part will probably be picking just 4 friends to come with her!

We want to thank all of those people who came by the booth, shopped with us, took our flyers and expressed how much they like our videos. We love to hear that feedback. There were some who were confused and stated they wouldn't want to take off their bra's at a retreat and one woman was disgusted that we used the word "BRA". Girls, I don't care what you wear to a retreat as long as you're not nude. And...to the woman who was disgusted by the word "bra", I guess I would have to say, "get a LIFE" and I say that with "love"!

Peace Out! :)

P is for Plaster

We love finding new surfaces to work with our products and this week is no different. For today's Taco Tuesday we have stepped outside the box to show our molds with plaster.

Megan didn't like this sample but I think it turned out great. It's even better when you add Tim's metal letters on top. I did add alcohol ink to them. I just used an awl to go through the plaster to make the tiny holes for the brads.

I think this grid adds the finishing touch to this piece that I did using cardboard and metal in the insert.

I used our alphabet mold for the words and if you don't have that alphabet mold...ya better get it.

In the video this sample is green and yellow. Well, I added red acrylic from Ranger's Studio line and then topped it with a little gold for an accent.

This plaster seems very flimsy but it's actually sturdy since the fibers go through the entire piece.

Add it to a saying or photo and mount it on a canvas board and you have instant art. This could be a card or the front of a book.

We're getting ready for Great American Scrapbook show in Arlington, so if any of you are in the area this week come by and say "hey"....no one says "hi" in Texas! Hope you have a great week and we'll have more next week about our retreats.