nathalie-kalbach

New Über*Media Project Class: Discover Canvas

UberMediaDiscover500

Wooohooo -new class in the house. In difference to the usual Über*Media Classes that are all about techniques and certain media- this is a project class.

DiscoverCanvas_Ad4panel

In this online video workshop I show you how to create a fun and whimsical mixed media canvas. You will learn some fun techniques using acrylic paints, book papers, gel medium, embossing powders and more, to turn a blank canvas into a wonderful unique and personal home decor item. On top you receive some fun tracing stencils and other items in the mail for you to use during the workshop. In 2 1/2 hours of video material, I show you all the steps, talk about my creative process, let you get into my head on why I use certain things and some basic design rules regarding mixed media. You will learn a lot about the media I use in this class which enables you to take this knowledge further and use it in future projects. And on top…you can learn in your own pace , at home ..even in your jammies.

This workshop is aimed for beginners to intermediate scrapbookers and mixed media Artists.

Watch the video for some more peaks of the workshop

[vimeo 60751181 w=400 h=300]

Check out the details about the class, what you need, what you get and the sign-up info here.

As I this time I will send out custom-made tracing stencils  with the that Crafter’s Workshop made for me especially for this workshop- the space where you can get these included is limited.

Hope to see you in class

Huge hugs

Nat

Nat

Comments (7)

  • cal8007

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    I hope this workshop will be available in the future, so I can sign up for it. I’m in the middle of an art class, but would love to take it when my class is over in April.

    The preview looks like fun!!

    Hugs,

    Carmen L

    Reply

    • Nathalie Kalbach

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      Hi Carmen- it will be available as long as I have the stencils :) Right now it is looking still good for April to take it. I hope I will see you then :) huge hugs nat

      Reply

  • Laura E.

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    Natalie, super excited to join you! love your work! Just signed up! Yay me!

    Reply

  • andrenesmith

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    I am all about the jammies!!! LOL. Cant wait – love your classes.

    Reply

  • Francesca

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    Ich liebe deine canvas und deine workshops sind immer weit weg für mich. Ich habe mich angemeldet. Ich freue mich riesig !!!

    Reply

  • mrburg

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    Hi Nathalie

    I went to sign up for the class but paypal all came up in german – so not sure if this is secure or not. Marg

    Reply

    • Nathalie Kalbach

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      hi marg, it is because i am in germany. endless emails with paypal how to change that, but it is not easy on a blog. but it is secure. it is just that you country appears in german. many others signed on secure over the last two years. if you rather want to email me directly do so at nathalie(dot)kalbach(at)gmail(dot)com
      i would love to have you in class, nat

      Reply

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Does she know that she forgot what she once knew?

Many of my readers know that I once in a while write about my great-aunt Margot, who is 93. I am her caretaker and she had to move into an elderly home after a severe stroke and heart attack last summer. She is an awesome woman and I write about her because she is a huge part of my private life. So once in a while I share.

margotguitar1

This week I went to visit aunt Margot, it is always a quite long trip as she lives about 4 1/2 hours away from here. When I arrived she was still taking her nap after lunch and so I had my usual meeting with the nurses first to talk about how she is doing, what her needs are and so on. So one of the nurses, who is organizing a lot of the social activities told me that aunt Margot is doing well, is very much-loved and that she is participating in a lot of those events. And then she told me that at a music gathering they took out my aunt’s guitar as she was talking so much that she wants to play guitar. And that aunt Margot was sitting there all of a sudden and didn’t know anymore how to play, and how she helplessly let her hands sink, the guitar still on her lap and said “I don’t know…I don’t know how to do this anymore”….and how this made her really upset. The nurse told me I should rather pack the guitar and take it with me as to not have this happening again.

margotguitar2

I cannot even tell you how sad this made me. It felt as if someone had punched me hard into my stomach – I instantly started to tear up and I think that of all the things she has forgotten the last couple months, this made me the saddest. Ever since she was a teenager, she had played guitar. Her guitar and her- inseparable. There are gazillions of photos of her and her friend – later with her husband – doing bicycle tours – the guitar on the back -photos of her playing – memories of mine of many many family parties of her playing her guitar.

margotguitar

The photo above was taken at a friend of mine in 1996 where she just picked up his electric guitar and started playing. Just the thought of how she must have felt in that very moment made me sad.

So I went into her room and after lots of hugging and talking and laughing – I realized her guitar case in the corner. She followed my look and then she said: “ohh we had a thing last week and I played guitar – we had so much fun!”

I looked at her and she was all happy and told me of the songs she played and how she still knows them all and the lyrics to the songs too.

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How can I have possible taken the guitar case with me at this moment?

What can I say…I just hope that she really doesn’t know that she forgot what she once knew!

have a wonderful day

hugs

Nat

Nat

Comments (37)

  • julie

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    Bless you for being such a good caretaker. So glad you left the guitar with her. I take care of my 90 yr old disabled mother. What upsets them one day may be a favorite the next day. There may even be days when you aunt remembers how to play. I keep lots of things stashed in the closets near where she sits during the day so they are handy on days that she wants them and out of sight on days when she is having a hard time.

    Reply

  • cal8007

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    Oh Nath, I can really relate. My aunt is 88, has never married and lives alone, and my uncle, her bother is 86, a widower, and no children, and lives in an assited living facility. My uncle started forgetting things last year and my aunt and I were worried for him because he was forgetting to turn off the water in the sink or to turn off the stove. He wasn’t eating right and was very loenly. I got him to go to a adult day care, but when he started forgetting to take his medication, my aunt and I decided it was time to get him more help. We were fortunate to find him an excellent assisted living place and now has a companion who loves to dance as much as him and spends every week doing that during happy hour. It’s so nice to see him enjoying life once again. Now, my aunt is beginning to forget things too and I find it very sad because she’s been the family historian and knows all the dates when everyone was born, etc., and reached different milestones. I keep telling her to write things down so I can pass it along to the family before she forgets everything. Such is life, Nath. We just have to take one day at a time and do the best we can to help each other out. Love your story, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  • Jan

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    What a beautiful story, and so honored that you shared a piece of your heart with us. Your aunt’s story has stayed on my desktop ever since you sent it out, I read it every few days and see so many different things each day. One day it’s the devotion and love, then it’s a lesson on how we all will lose precious memories too, the next time it is a story of an amazing life lived & beautiful memories, then I see the art that her life has created in you…..a new lesson each time! It’s staying there for a bit more time so I can continue to savor it! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Love your site & art & pieces of your life.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    I always love reading about your Aunt. Yes, how sad but how much hope that she thinks that she had a good time playing it. Maybe just seeing it gives her pleasure! Hugs.

    Reply

  • marjiekemper

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    What a blessing that she forgot, that she forgot. I went through this with my Mom and I so feel for you, Sweetie. Hugs! xx

    Reply

  • artquiltgirl

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    Such a lovely story about your love for your aunt…made me feel so good. Sorry about the guitar, but it was a lovely story and so heart felt. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  • Laura S

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    Thank you for sharing such a tender moment. Bless you for taking care of your sweet Aunt and going to visit her. It is not easy making decisions for others; be it a child, friend, or a loved one. Follow your heart and with time and prayer, your answers will come. Keeping you and your Aunt in my prayers.

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    I am sure that was difficult for you. Your aunt sounds like such an amazing person. She is lucky to have you in her life!

    Reply

  • Robinn G

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    Thanks for sharing about your aunt. What a beautiful and sad story about a wonderful lady! I hope she can remember how to play!

    Reply

  • Sherri Sinclair

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    I love the stories of your aunt, she is so pretty. I would leave her guitar. Sounds like she doesn’t remember being upset and for that I am grateful.

    Reply

  • Sue

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    You know Nat, sometimes taking something away, like her guitar, may end up not doing what the people think it might. Your aunt may see that empty space one day and remember that her guitar used to be there. She told you that she was playing the other day right? even tho’ she had forgotten how to, her memory was of playing it and having a great time singing and so on. I would leave it sitting in the case in the corner of her room and let her be happy with thinking that she had had such a wonderful day. Who is it going to hurt. This is just my opinion and I am no doctor by any means but …
    hugs and thanks for sharing your stories.

    Reply

    • Sue

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      Oh and I love the pictures of her and her friends! Really nice black and whites!!

      Reply

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Workshops in Sweden – Stockholm August 31-September 1, 2013

liten logga

Wohooo – so happy to come back to Sweden this year to teach at the Creative Moments Event organized by Scrap-Perra.

I will teach 3 workshops – here they are
Season Canvas: 
In this Workshop with Nathalie Kalbach, you will create a stunning and unique canvas that will be a wonderful home décor item.Learn how to create dimension and texture with tissue paper, items of daily life, acrylic paint, lace, burlap, and gesso.

Learn how to reveal the interesting and eye catching texture with acrylic paints and acrylic inks and add some fun stamping techniques on top.

We will be adding lots of layers and dimension to make this a spring, summer, fall or winter canvas… just as you like. All the techniques can easily be applied to future projects.

Classtime is 4 hours.
Über-Media Acrylic Paint: 
In this workshop you learn how to use Acrylic Paints in your Art Journal. This class shows all kinds of possibilities using Acrylic Paints with different media.We will start with the basics then make our way up to more advanced techniques. Everything will be taught in an art journal.

I will share with you my favorites, whether it be how to build up interesting backgrounds, resist techniques or incorporating other paint media for stunning layers. I will share with you why I’m doing things, how I got the idea, and what works and what doesn’t seem to work.

Join the uber-fun in this class!

Class is at least 4 hours.
Yawp: 
Are you ready to dive into art journaling? Let’s sound a barbaric YAWP over the rooftops of the world and get ready for a lot of creative freedom. I will teach you how to create your own easy to create art journal using wonderful PanPastels.Learn mixing, blending, painting and drawing with those soft pastels. Learn how to get stunning results with different resist techniques and fun stamping tricks using embossing powders and other paint media.

You can easily apply all of the learned techniques to later projects whether it be art journals, mixed media and even scrapbooking projects.

Looking forward to yawp along with you in this 3 1/2 hour-long class.

I am so thrilled to teach with also my sweet friends Birgit Koopsen and Janna Werner and to meet Asa Danielsson.

Officiell logga webshop

it is going to be lot’s of fun!

If you want to know where else I am teaching this year- you can check my in-person Workshop schedule! Hope to meet you!!!

Have a gorgeous day

Nat

Nat

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Space Age Bachelor Pad or…Art Journal Page

This is what happens when you sit in your mid century style (or in normal words: 50s influenced living room) listening to Esquivel while sketching in your Art Journal

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I played with my Derwent Inktense Blocks  to try some things with them and I used all colors in my 24 set…can you tell? LOL

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No other substances were involved…promised ;)

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kokcVklxsFU]

Have an amazing day :)

Nat

Nat

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It Made Sense to Her…Art Journal

makessense01

 

Carelessness responsibility

continued considered

in worker indication

such managerial of much

to be an errors too

for a may be.

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Supplies: PanPastel, Ranger Dylusions, Ranger Distress Paints, Derwent Artbars, Derwent Sketching Pencils, Posca Markers, Prima Engraver Collection Paper, Louise Nelson Stamp, Heidi Swapp Chipboard Alphas, old book and magazine snippets.

Wishing you a wonderful creative day!

Nat

 

Nat

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Farewell SAZ …or…La Dolce Vita Minialbum

DolceVita_Cover_Blog

A bit sad I write this post- in Dezember 2006 my friends Andrea and Jana started with their German magazine ScrapArtZine. What started as an electronic magazine became a print magazine pretty quick and I loved contributing to the magazine from the beginning on.

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It was fun being part of something that was created by a sole group of devoted people – no big publishing house in the background, from the articles, to the pictures, to the graphic design, to the layouting, taking care of advertisers, subscribers etc,  to the getting it to the printer, to putting it in envelopes to sending more than 2000 issues out…all in the hands of a couple of people – mostly Jana and Andrea. I think that is pretty amazing.

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The sad thing is…the magazine had its last issue out this January…it is just to time consuming and too crazy to continue for my friends who have a full-time job too which actually puts food on the table. The magazine didn’t for neither of us. I can totally understand their decision – although it sad to see this magazine go.  It closes another chapter of my more scrapbooking related path from years ago – I have moved in a very different direction for years now and it was wonderful that Andrea and Jana let me still be part of it in writing my columns and articles.  Thank you Andrea and Jana for a good time and fun at the SAZ. I enjoyed it a lot.

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The last article I wrote was about Prima’s Mixed Media Albums…and the pictures you see are some samples from the article. I will miss writing articles for magazines…but who knows what the time will bring.

What magazines Mixed Media/Craft/Scrapbooking do you enjoy to read?

Nat

 

Nat

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I never set out to be weird

It was always other people who called me weird.

said Frank Zappa…

…here is another one I love:

zappa

Wishing you a fun day

Nat

Nat

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Sew Cool …or… Black Books Favorite Place Music Video

One of the coolest and most inspring music videos I have seen in a while using

10 000 photos
1 km of thread
350 reels of thread
73 000 embroidery stitches
6 kg of scraps of fabric
100 needles and sewing pins

[vimeo 58893010 w=400 h=300]

Makes me want to get my sewing stuff out and add some of it on a mixed media project.

Do you know any inspiring music videos? Link me up :)

Have a gorgeous day

Nat

Nat

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Enough Feathers Lost – Art Journal Page

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I got these amazing self carved feather stamps and stencils by the super talented Louise Nelson at CHA. Love her so much for this present and I am playing with them ever since like a happy little kid :)

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Enough Feathers Lost – Time to Take a Birds Bath . You always get your feathers ruffled in different stages of your life, right, but there is a point where you have to say ….and move on. chirp chirp ;)

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Playing with Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paints, Derwent Artbars . I also put a bird on it …now it is trendy- LOL

I am still in Love with feathers. I just asked on Twitter a couple of days ago though which of the trends in craft/home decor and fashion you are tired of seeing?

For me it would be Washi Tape, Chevron and Sandal-Roman-Ancle Boots (if you love any of the three- please please don’t take it personally- when you use it, decorate it or wear it – I am sure it is awesome – take the statement as a tongue in cheek comment ;) !)

Have a gorgeous day

Nat

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