TENseconds Studio

What A Week!

There are days when I just want to jump on this boat and motor on down the coast to Mexico or, just sit outside and have a fabulous fish dinner with good friends and better wine. Or, live in Texas and swelter through this heat. Today it cooled down to mid 80's and I hope it stays there and goes no higher.

We've been busy in the studio with the last of our Groupon classes. Thanks to all who purchased these classes. It was a blast and we met a lot new people who are now addicted to metal.

We have our classes up for October. We're doing a canvas bag, wood burning frame and PMC class. I was surprised at how many people wanted online classes and we are working on putting that in place. We'll have more info when it's ready...we promise it will be soon so you can make gifts for the holidays.

METALLLLLLLL, we've got new colors coming. We are so excited about the new colors and know you're gonna love what we've designed in our color pallet. We can't tell you yet what they are but we've got some cool names to go with them.

On October 13th we will be doing a special free demo in the studio. Yes, I said free, but you have to sign up for it so, email me if you would like to see cool new stuff added with our product for a kick ass technique. We've ordered Gelli Art Printing Plates. This product is so cool and you'll be amazed at what you can create with it and our metal. Everyone who comes will get a ticket for a drawing that night, and someone will get lucky! The demo starts at 6:30, so be sure to sign up. Trust me girls, you'll want to purchase this so bring your credit cards....we'll even have treats.

Our Blog Post winner this week is Bonnie Belk. Bonnie email me your address and we will be sending you out something to kick start your gift making frenzy. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and look forward to more cool weather.

 

 

To Wilson or not to Wilson

We love collecting all sorts of weird bottles and jars. On today's video we show you how to re-purpose jars or purchase these cool flat sided jars.

You have to watch the video to understand the title of this post, but just imagine how many gifts you could make for the holidays filled with homemade mixes, jelly, candy, buttons...odd crapola you want to give to others and make it seem like it's a really cool gift...well, hopefully you get the idea.

 

I just love the little ketchup bottle with metal added to it.

We have already given these bottles away, but if you post a comment, on Friday, I'll pick a winner and send out a pack of metal to give some lucky person a head start on the holidays.

We have a some bottles left, but they're going fast. Hope all of you have a great week and fall is in the air where you are.

Winner

We got quite a few comments on our question "what inspires us?"

I think all of us have our own way of finding a little time in the day to be creative in whatever we do.

My passion can sometimes lead me to working in mediums that I never thought I could do. In this piece I drew the letters onto a piece of wood and then wood burned the shapes and colored them in. I used our alphabet stamps as inspiration and you could stamp onto a piece of wood using them and do the same thing. I wanted it larger so I drew the word. The color is color pencils, Glitter Glam and Glitzy Glitter from Tattered Angels. It gave it a lot of sparkliness.

Sometimes inspiration comes from just watching a sunrise and seeing the colors change from dark to light. I think this is the most peaceful time of day. Alone on a deck with a cup of coffee and your thoughts.

The winner for last week's blog posting is Susan. Susan you were #14 in the posting and I hope my little something brightens your day. Email me your address and I'll get it out to you asap.

We appreciate all our followers and love seeing what you create with our products. Keep the pics coming and we will be posting, this week, classes that we are offering at the studio. Guess what wood burning is one of them!

If I am not I...

Who will be? Is that deep or what? I think it's sometimes very hard for a lot of people to be true to who they are.

We tend to want to make everyone happy except ourselves.

Today's TTV is how to take a plain jane metal box...someone eventually told me it was probably a brush holder. After looking at it closer I would have to agree it was for large paint brushes. So the idea of an artist owning this before me is very cool.

 

 

These were all transpariencies that I had made several years ago when I was doing a lot of collage work. Dropping these into the the frames on the metal was just the answer for this project.

It kind of gives new meaning to never throw anything away. When I originally did these pieces I used them in my book making classes.

It's so easy to turn your art into a transparency, all you need is a color printer and the film for the right printer.

This piece has already been given away so for today's blog comment, please let me know what  you do to make yourself happy. On Friday I'll pick a winner and send out something that makes me happy.

*Sorry for the late posting of the blog, my folks sold their home and I've been running around getting papers signed...what fun!

Dream a little Dream

Today's video is all about using existing images as a mold. I went to one of our local craft stores and covered this piece with our pure copper metal.

You could also torch it or paint the metal for another finish. I like the pure copper look of the piece. This would also make a great gift for any reason. Since we are almost done with our summer months we've decided to showcase some of our favorite videos over the years that give you all sorts of great ideas for the holidays. What better way to say, "I care about you and decided to make your gift so I could save money but you still think I'm wonderful!"

People are always asking us about our videos and this one ends fast because we ran out of tape. We pride ourselves in our production values and when we run out...well it's over. And, yes we know it includes the word "taco," we only have to change that for future videos.

Thanks to all the girls who joined us this past weekend in Pennsylvania. I had a blast with everyone.

We played with all sorts stencils, paints, sprays, inks, metal, molds, wood, wood burning tools, color pencils, glittery this and glittery that.

 

 

 

It was amazing what everyone came up with, especially when they were all given the same ingredients.

 

 

 

 

 

All of them were different. Some students were still working on their metal pieces to finish for their covers, but some had their covers all done.

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday night I showed everyone how to use wood burning tools and create a design on wood frames, letters and small wooden hearts.

All the pieces were colored in with pencils or ink pads.

Some even added metal as embellishments on the wood which really took the frames to the next level.

We are doing a metal frame in the studio for the month of September and you can check the dates here.

I then showed everyone how to use our new Spray Pumps for paint. These work great on stencils, fabric and with the right paint even on metal. *My shirt was done with this pump.

I want to thank Lisa Patterson for inviting me to her event this year, Lolly for carting me all over the place and putting up with my ideas and Jen Starr for team teaching such a cool class. If you ever have the chance to take a class with Jen, you will be inspired and love it.

Heat wave is over so get ready for...

Fall and then Christmas. Hey, it's only 3 1/2 months until Christmas, so why not get a jump up on everyone else and get those holiday cards done.

On today's video we channel card making using our metals and molds, add glitter and ribbon and you've got the holiday cards done!

We still have some of these molds left but once they're gone...they're gone.

We will be showing an entire season of holiday gift ideas in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

I'm off to Maryland and Pennsylvania for the Art On A Limb. We are going to have a really great time, playing and creating and I can't wait to get out of Texas to cooler weather.