nathalie-kalbach

The Pain of Parting…OR …Charles Dickens was a smart guy

I recently read an article about Charles Dickens and I was intrigued by his interesting life and his amazing urge to bring the poverty of people to other’s people attention through his words. BTW- he also worked in a law office and then wanted to write and became a freelance writer. Must be something in these law offices that make you crave for creative stuff ;) He was a wise man and an awesome storyteller for sure.

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“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again”, Charles Dickens.

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played with USArtquest Pigment Colors, Acrylic Paints, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Adhesive Sheets and Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel

 

Only a couple more days till ….counting down ….any clue? ;)

Nat

  • Antje

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    I love the bright pink and all the texture…

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  • LaurieJay

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    Hey, Nathalie, I love the juxtaposition of the rather dark (personality-wise) Dickens and the bright background.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Until you announce a new paper line? A girl can hope, can’t she.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      I wish Sue, I wish…one of my many rejections this year :(

      Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    Very cool! Love the quote!

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  • Clare

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    wonderful, such a gorgeous background. x

    Reply

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The Whatevers #7…or If Father Knew…

Are you ready for the 6th Whatevers? If you missed the what the Whatevers is all about…check it out here.

Click here to see what Cat made out of this photo and which story she tells

Click here to see what Vicki made out of this photo and which story she tells

Here is my take on it

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Heinrich felt really uneasy! When he was asked to play a little role in a gangster movie, he had no idea how close this role would reflect his nightly life. All the scenes bringing alcohol over the State Boarder from Canada…and it didn’t help that in the movie he would get shot….If father knew….

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His Name: Heinrich – son to Wilhelm

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I used some scraps of hoarded Danyeela Paper, some film stripes by Tim Holtz and painted over it with a glaze made out of Gel Medium and Liquitex Acrylic Inks. I cut out the stars from my old line eMOTions and painted them from behind with yellow acrylic paint.

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I also painted the photo with Liquitex Acrylic Inks.

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And here is the photo for you:

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Here is how it works if you want to play along:

  • Vicki, Cat and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
  • Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
  • If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you – just right click on it to safe it to download and show us your version of The Whatevers.
  • There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the length or the form of the story– it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
  • Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us andshow us your story.
  • These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
  • If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
  • You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

You can grab the blinkie here if you want to add it to your sidebar

You can share your work with us by submitting here:

Huge hugs

Nat

  • Milagros

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    I really enjoyed your narrative and how it has developed techniques for this product, love the colors you’ve used. I left in my link link but not out.
    hugs

    Reply

  • marjiekemper

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    Looks great! Love your story, and how you used the filmstrips on this cool page. Wishing you the happiest of holidays with your honey. Saw your tree post and just did a big catchup. Your ornaments have great stories!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    eMOTions…still have some stored away!

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  • Catherine

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    I love this — the colors are so vibrant and lovely so Nat! This is a great page and I love the gangsta car ;-) GREAT story!

    Reply

  • vickichrisman

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    Yeee Hawww… love love love as always! The story and the page! Funny… gangster movie. lol.

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  • Pam in New Jersey

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    Nat, Love the flashy red car.

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  • Martha Richardson

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    LOL…gangster movie! I now have to complete 5, 6 & 7 for The Whatevers but I will do it!

    Reply

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New Online Class Series: Über*Media Project Class

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I am pretty excited :) Besides the technique based Über*Media Classes I will start offering a range of beginner and intermediate Über*Media Project Classes in the next months. From Minialbums to Canvases to Altered Art, there will be a lot different fun mini video classes . They will be all about an hour-long and you will learn a variety of techniques shown directly on a project.

And here is the first one…

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In this one-hour long video workshop, I show you how to create a fun, little canvas album that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. You will learn some easy-peasy techniques with acrylic paint and spray inks. Using cardstock and canvas fabric as a surface, you’ll create a modern, funky album. And all this for about $6.90 USD in supplies (assuming you already have the paint products and basic tools).

This is a perfect project for anyone who wants to start learning mixed media without purchasing expensive materials. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get the mixed media technique bug after this workshop!

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How this workshop works:

  • Once you signed up and payed via paypal, I will send out the log in information for you. Please note that this can take up to 3 business days since I have to send this out manually and I’m traveling sometimes.
  • You can work at your own pace and the workshop will be available here for you for years to come as long as they are online.

Supplies and Tools you will need for this workshop:

  • 2-3 sheets of 12 x 12 inch white cardstock or several pages watercolor paper (about 1.20 USD for 3 Sheets)
  • 2 sheets of 12 x 12 inch Claudine Hellmuth Sticky Back Canvas  (about 2.40 USD for 2 sheets) or loose canvas fabric from the art store, treated at least on one side with gesso
  • 3-4 colors of Acrylic Paint – I like a bit heavier bodied paint- but thin paint is fine too – so whatever you have in your room (less than 1 USD you will need in total of those paints)
  • 2 colors of spray inks – I used Ranger’s Dylusion Sprayinks, but you can also use other water based sprayinks (less than 1 USD you will need in total of those paints)
  • black journaling pen for example Letraset Fine Liner
  • paper trimmer
  • scissor
  • crop-a-dile or japanese screwdriver or a big needle to make holes
  • ribbon (0.30USD) or muslin or bookbinding rings
  • double-sided adhesives – I use Crafty Power Tape by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (less than 1 USD)
  • heating gun – optional
  • crafting mat or freezer paper
  • watermister – optional

You can sign up here for the cost of

8.99 US-Dollars (about 6,90 EUR).

I hope I will see you in one of my classrooms :)

have a wonderful day

nat

 

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Thank Yourself ….OR….Remove the Splinters

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a new artjournal page. I am one of these people who like to run around with splinters in their feet..kind of like …maybe if I ignore them or pretend they are not there, they will not hurt as much. But …guess what…they need to be removed…and then you thank yourself. I did this this month with a splinter that hurt for many years…I feel better already… I am healing…. :)

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I played with a lot of stuff here- with: USArtquest Mica Color and Perfect Pigments, Liqutex Acrylic Paint and Spraypaint, Crafter’s Workshop Templates, Posca and Zig markers, Cocoa Daisy Banner Stamp, 7Gypsies Tag, FastFoodChain-Paperbag with awesome writing on it etc. Essentially everything that was close to me when I was traveling to New Jersey :)

 

Artjournaling seems to fulfill two main needs for me: 1. Getting emotions out and 2. playing with artmedia for new ideas and techniques

If you artjournal what are your main reasons to do it?

huge hugs

nat

  • SusanJane

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    My journal is a visual way of talking. I think in images and colors not alphabets and words. When I work I try to get out what I feel inside. But sometimes I just try to do something… anything… otherwise I feel stopped up and lost.

    Reply

  • Anne

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    My art journal is filled with “pouring out thoughts” – thoughts I can crasp or perhaps the subconscious… I love it. Often it shows me a new way or a fun picture of something thats in my mind.

    Reply

  • Charissa

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    I absolutely love love love love this. The idea of splinters being stuck in accidentally, sticking around with us (sometimes unknown that they’re there at first) and then they hurt to get out– cause they’re really stuck… that hits home! Love love love. Plus, you did pretty awesome things here with your colors… adoring the visual elements of your page. –

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    I have a journal that I play in. It is for trying and experimenting or just letting go. You have to understand my background— I have a twin sister. She got all the art and music genes while I got math and science. She would paint, draw, etc and I just could not. I had no talent and would get frustrated trying. But you know what? I started trying mixed media last year and now I am having fun trying to play with paint. Sometimes it is still not very good but I try and am enjoying it.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    I art journal to use it as a diary and I like the freedom of not having to “get it right” in terms of playing with supplies. I want my LO’s to look nice but with my art journal I can just do what I want. Crazy but true.

    Reply

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Christmas Card Inspiration

I was part of Riikka’s Creative Christmas Calendar on December 9th and here is the card and inspiration I showed.

I love creating my own Christmas Cards. I used to send out only self-created Christmas Cards, but over the years I was just lacking on time, so I usually have a stack printed and send out a couple of self created one to close family members. When the time comes to create the cards, I often stumble over the design. I am not a card maker person and sometimes I need a little extra push that let’s me create something that is not the usual Christmas or Holiday Card. That is the time where I look around in my home to see if I can draw inspiration from there for a christmas card.

 

 

I have this pillow on the sofa and I thought that this would be a great inspiration for a christmas card. The colors are unusual, but yet the embroidered circles reminded me of christmas ornaments and there it was, the idea for a card. And on top…I used the embroidery floss that I got from my great-aunt and therefore this card will be her christmas card ;)

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Take a look around in your home and see what could inspire you for a christmas card design. Wether it be the fabric of a pillow, place mat or tablecloth or some painting or decoration item on your wall…inspiration can be drawn on so many levels for your cards: colors, patterns and texture. Just open your eyes for the wonders in your home!

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Do you have something in your home that inspires you to create a Christmas Card?

Nat

  • Carrie

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    Very cool card! I like the background you used, too. I’m not sure anything specific around my home has inspired my Christmas designs, but maybe you could say the pine trees behind our building have helped.

    Reply

  • Riikka

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    Thank you for being part of CCC! <3 Hugs!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Kinda cheating, but yes I do: my son and my dog for a photo card. LOL
    I must say that I like the inspiration that you got from that pillow pattern and the card came out quite festive.

    Reply

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Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes

I love acorns…something about the little hat on the nut makes me go “ohhhh cuuuuteee” …yeah, I know weird…but hey…there is worse out there ;) Anyway I found a box of decoration acorns and cones at a store in the States which I knew I would have to transform.

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I used Liquitex Professional Spraypaint on some and Liquitex Acrylic Paint on some others to paint them a bit

 

 

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And then I placed them on top of a pile of unpainted ones- to make them pop.

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and then after Christmas I will probably use them in a mixed media project but for now these little color acorns make me happy.

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What colors are you decorating in this holiday seasons- all kinds like me or more color coordinated?

huge hugs

nat

Comments (12)

  • Nurse Ratchet

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    I ,reminisce when decorating and use family treasures and decorations collected so every colour has representation!! Love my neighbors gold and silver theme but feel so warm and fuzzy when I see the Smurfs from my son’s childhood and some of my childhood decorations side by side on our tree!!

    Reply

  • Jessica Sporn

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    What a fun use of these cute acorns! Love all the colors — I’m a rainbow girl too!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    I so love acorns and so does my son. I used to call him ACORN for one of his nicknames since he collected them and put them in every little corner of the house (and his pants pockets). We use mostly reds, greens and clear for decorating with the occasional purple of course.

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    We don’t really have a color scheme. We just use what we have. Love the acorns!

    Reply

  • Ilona

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    I do understand very well your love for acorns hats. I once found an acorn on a walk and thought it should be possible to make a real hat in the pattern of an acorn hat. I carried the acorn with me for a long time, before I got an idea for a hat. It turned out quite nicely, in dark red felt.

    We don’t do too much of decorating until the last few days before Christmas. There are some extra candles around though and decorations with fir tree and Danish “nisser” :-)

    Reply

  • Carrie

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    LOOOOVEEEE!!! I’m big into acorns, being a squirrel lover, so I love what you’ve done with these.
    I decorate with fairly traditional colors for Christmas, but my Christmas art this year will be mostly green and white with metallic accents.

    Reply

  • Eniko DeLisle

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    I’m an acorn lover as well! How whimsical of you to paint them!

    Reply

  • Lisa Flaherty

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    I love the way those turned out, and they look great popped against their au natural brothers! I guess my holiday decor is somewhat traditional yet eclectic, so I think your fun, painted elements would be right at home here! ;)

    Reply

  • sylvia

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    what an awesome idea Nat, love this!!!

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  • Jenny Palmer

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    Nat that is so cool wish we had this stuff in OZ

    Reply

  • Marsha.

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    Ah, these are cute! I’m not sure I will be able to buy these here, but if I ever find some, I’ll know what to do with tem :-).

    Reply

    • Marsha.

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      BTW decorating in all colours of the rainbow!

      Reply

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At 93 you give a flying something…or CHEERS!

Attention: This Blog Post contains cursing by a 93-year-old lady, if you have a problem with this, you might be better off looking at something else :) . Don’t email me to complain, don’t visit my blog anymore because I might post things like this again and for sure do not let your kids read this!

 

Last weekend my sweet great-aunt Margot had her birthday. It was the first one in her new home. As some of you know it was a hard summer for her having a heart attack and stroke and I had to move her into an elderly home as there is no way she can live alone anymore. She really adjusted well, she made a lot of new friends, she goes to Bingo and Quiz Hour (where she likes to prompt and spoil the game- LOL), she has rosy cheeks and gained quite some weight- which is good!. She has very light moments, and some not so light moments- but the best thing is she didn’t loose her optimistic happy and friendly mood and the nurses told me they love her and the other inhabitants too and that she is lifting the spirit in the home.

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(here she is  (who has been an avid photographer all her life)  right before stating that whatever I have in my hand (iPhone) to take a “photo” looks a bit pathetic (insert huge laughter of all younger people at table and silent approving nodding by older people at table)

For a couple of months my sweet aunt gets visits by a nice mid-aged lady who is a volunteer for an organization to visit older people. I think it is wonderful that there are people doing this. She is good minded and nice but unfortunately a person who likes to control. The last months I had several complaints by the nurses, she is always telling them they do things wrong and she is constantly telling me the way I do things are not right either. She also thinks she knows my aunt very well…which makes me sometimes crazy too.  It is very hair flipping and it honestly starts to push me over the edge sometimes. Just to give you an example: my aunt is changing her clothes about 7 times a day…she just does, when she is alone in her room she wanders to her wardrobe and starts going through all stuff. But of course she is not able to put everything back orderly in her wardrobe the way it should be. So the visiting lady calls me and goes into this long tirade about how bad the nursing home is in keeping the wardrobe orderly and that I have to take care of this. Then the nurse calls and complaints that this lady was scolding them for not being tidy enough. I feel like a little punchball.

But my aunt likes her, and it is about my aunt and not all of the others and I am happy that there is someone who visits her regularly given the fact she lives far away from me and so I try everything to please them all.

I organized aunt Margot’s birthday party before I left for North America.When I talked to my aunt about it, she requested champagne to give a toast. And so I got two bottles for 16 people – because it’s her birthday party. So we sit at the table and my aunt raises her glass and everyone cheers, and after an hour she asks me to pour a second glass. I am thinking shortly about it and then think to myself- two small glasses are ok. But the visiting lady gives me the evil eye and says to my aunt that she should be careful with her diabetes (which is true) and that she thinks she shouldn’t drink this glass anymore. By this time everyone else is getting calm in the room and looks at my aunt who has already raised the glass and she looks at the visiting lady and says with a very firm voice

“I am 93 and I have my birthday today…I don’t give a flying shit about my diabetes today!”

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Cheers, Aunt Margot!!! I hope you give a flying something on many more birthdays ! I love you! You can imagine we all rolled under the table…even visiting lady laughed, she left shortly after though.

And isn’t it true?…if you are in that age…you should be still able to decide on certain things and also when to give a flying something…!

Wishing you a wonderful day

huge hugs

nat

  • Karla A

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    By the time !my grandmother reached her 90th birthday, we told the nursing home if she wants dessert or treats let her have them! She’s 90 freaking years old, who cares about the diabetes, she LOVES sweets and has had a good life, let her live out the rest however she wants….

    Reply

  • Micki

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    Oh Nat, it’s kind of eerie how much I can relate to you. My grandmother will be celebrating her 97th birthday on Wednesday. And I just knew….. knew your great aunt was going to say something along that line, lol, because that is what my family would have said. Especially my grandmother! My aunt has said that at her age, she is not going to do without just because of her diabetes (Oma has to have injections) and thankfully the Drs. agree. Thank you for sharing “real” life, although I get even more homesick, I definitely feel closer to my home in Germany. Einen Herzlichen Gluckwunsch an die Tante Margot!!!!

    Reply

    • Nathalie Kalbach

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      Wow- 97 ! Happy Birthday to your grandmother! Huge hugs! Nat

      Reply

  • peg

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    <3
    What a wonderful experience!

    Reply

  • Carrie

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    LoL good for her! I hope to be that lively. My husband’s grandmother is more reserved but just as tough as your aunt. Must be something about old German ladies!

    Reply

  • Lynne N

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    Oh this is never an easy decision, but I found that my mother thrived once she got with people her own age. She also was eating better, and looking better. My mom even asked if she had to go home, and preferred to stay at the home with her “friends.”

    Reply

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Photos of my Workshops in Florida

I had a wonderful time teaching at Everything Scrapbook & Stamps in Lake Worth in Florida last weekend.  Michelle was a wonderful host and the store is awesome.

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First up I taught YAWP my PanPastel ArtJournal class.

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The students were such a fun and talented group of ladies.

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Next up was the Season Canvas Class- which is my absolute fave class :)

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It is the coolest to see how everyone gets over the hump to try something new and then get’s excited and makes something totally of their own.

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I loved that I had so much space and a half round table in the class room – it made demoing so easy.

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As you can see I “stole” The photo from Cheryl Boglioli who was there two which was such an awesome surprise!

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I also taught Be Awesome be a BookNut- but I don’t have any pictures of this- bummer. It was a great class! But oh well- instead some Portrait of a Lady Class.

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I had such a great time with all of the students and the staff and Michelle. We laughed so much. Thank you so much for having me- and I hope you have me back some time :)

Huge hugs

Nat

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Sunny Side up..with a little Christmas Decoration

Last weekend my sister and I went to Florida. I actually taught at Everything Scrapbook & Stamps -and I will show you the pictures from those workshops later. But here are first a couple of photos from the Sunny State :) It was funny to be at the beach and have palm trees decorated in christmas lights. And the highlight was of course spending some alone girly time with my sis in law. From manicure (no pictures- because tomboy Nat chipped all nails already before she even left the parking lot ;) ), to dinners out, hanging out on the porch, walking on the beach over extensive christmas gift shopping and long wonderful talks- it was the best to have time with my sis in law.

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Wishing you a gorgeous day- see you tomorrow with some workshop pictures :)

huge hugs

nat

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