Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead and my American friends a great celebration day tomorrow!
Nat
General Announcements
NEW Mini ArtFoamies !!!
I am super excited about my new Mini versions of my ArtFoamies Foam Stamp Designs- let me show them to you
New Mini ArtFoamies by n*Studio from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.
Want to see more videos regarding those foam stamps? Here is a video showing you how I created the last art journal page in the video above, 3Ways to use positive and negative foam stamps, and an Art Tapas Video where I explain how you can clean them.
Hope you like the new Minis :)
Nat
Comments (1)
-
jean marmo
These are just too cool!
Leave a comment
Artful Adventures in Mixed Media is Out and Giveaway
My book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media is now officially out and being sent out all over the world. PINCH Me! It is so much fun to see it arrive at different locations and it makes me just giddy to see all those photos. If you ordered a copy- tag me on instagram so I can see it :)))
To celebrate the official release day today I am giving away two copies of my book: one here on the Blog and one during a Facebook Live Event today- check it out:
THIS GIVEAWAY IS Now CLOSED – Edited June 12th, 2017
Blog Giveaway: I will give away one signed copy of my book to a randomly drawn person, just leave a comment on this blog post below and let me know why you think this would be just the right book for YOU :) You can do so until June 8th, midnight EST.
The Winner of a signed copy of my book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media is :
Congratulations Julie, I sent you an email- Nat
I will also give away a signed copy of my book during my Facebook Live Kaffeeklatsch this afternoon, June 8th, 2017 at 4pm. – check it out on my FB page
Thank you for all your support and for celebrating with me! You are amazing!!! My heart is full today – lots of Love
Nat
Comments (62)
-
Sue LD
I am new to mixed media and would love to have this book.
-
Brenda Ryan
Who wouldn’t want to win your book. The colors on the front cover are enough to draw you in. Congratulations on your book!
-
Barb macaskill
This would be perfect for me because I love your products and use them all the time on my crafty journey! Due to health issues I am not able to get out of the house very much so I can’t attend any of your classes! Having your book would be the next best thing! Thanks for the chance to win a SIGNED copy! What an honor that would be! Fingers crossed ?!
-
Susan
this book is perfect for me because i can’t get to an in-person class with you, nathalie! will you be selling it in your shop or do i have to buy it from amazon?
congratulations!!!
-
clen3
Nathalie, your book is fabulous! I have been enjoying looking through my copy, along with participating in your Artful Adventures Stroll Through the Hood Challenge! If I am lucky enough to win a book, I will be sending it to my friend in New Zealand who also is a rubber stamper/art journaler – I know she will love it as much as I do! Thanks again for such a great book and a really fun challenge!!
-
Glo
Couldn’t get away to join you on FB but will be joining you for your on-line courses. Hope the book captures not only your talent but your positive energy! Looking forward to getting the book.
-
Susan Griffen
Your book sounds fabulous!! Would love to have it to add to my collection.
I am an avid stamper and love trying new techniques and mixed media for my projects.
Hope to win this exciting new book!! -
Leonie
I love your style and have followed you for years. I enjoy the unexpected and this will be a great book to have as a springboard.
-
Melaine
I would be excited to get your book. I’m always looking for new techniques!
-
Victoria Sturdevant
Your book looks fantastic! It’s on my Amazon wish list. Thanks for a chance to win. Congrats!
-
Susan M. Brown {sbartist}
Congratulations Nat!! I am so excited to be able to add “Artful Adventures” to my personal library. This would be just the right book to add to my collection because your style of mixed media is fresh, fun and colorful! Plus when I’m reading I will be able to hear your voice like you are right here in person. I look forward to catching a IRL workshop with you again sometime, meanwhile your book will help keep me occupied during monsoon season here in SoFL. :)
-
Gloria
I am always looking for new inspiration and new techniques in my mixed media play. I would love to win your book.
Leave a comment
Artful Adventures in Mixed Media or Thoughts on being a Writer at last
Pinch me, guys! My childhood dream has come true. When I was a little girl and people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up I didn’t answer “be an artist” – I said I wanted to become a writer.
I took a lot of detours, and even if it wasn’t in my original plan I became an artist AND a writer. My book, Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – Art and Techniques Inspired by Observation & Experience, is going to be released on June 8th, 2017, and is now on PRE-SALE.
I’d like to share the back-story…
My father passed away when I was a baby and my mother had to work a lot to take care of us. Neighbors who lived in the apartment below ours took a liking to me and I spent hours with them almost every day – they became my honorary Aunt Isabell and Uncle Günther. They had a living room with floor-to- ceiling bookshelves on all sides, they took me to the library and helped me get my first library card. I read to them and with them, everything I could get my hands on. And I wrote stories! In fourth grade my teacher sent one of my stories to a national school magazine, it was printed. I was sooooo proud. In my teens I got an old typewriter, heavy as lead, but I banged on it with gusto, starting – but never finishing – epic novels.
I was going to study journalism, I had big plans, but for some reason (perhaps a practical streak) I decided to study law. Well…at least I did a lot of writing as a paralegal, but legal arguments weren’t very interesting. I knew that writing a book would be awesome, but I wasn’t sure what story I would tell.
Things changed when I left the legal world, became a full-time artist, designer, blogger and teacher and then moved to the States. I wrote for my blog, so things were beginning to brew. And this time when I thought about a book I knew it would be about mixed media. A student in my Creative JumpStart 2016 class wrote that she’d like to ‘jumpstart me right back’ and suggested I should write a book about the things that I was already writing about on my blog. This email was so well-timed. It gave me the nudge I needed to write and send a book proposal. (Thank you, Denise G.)
A year later, here I am, an author. Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – Art and Techniques Inspired by Observation & Experience! It took me and the publisher a long time to decide on the title. (They considered calling it Uber Artful Adventures, but maybe they figured that could look like a manual for self-employed drivers so that one didn’t pass muster.)
So, what’s this book of mine about?
It’s an invitation to YOU to go on an Artful Adventure with me. I wrote it to reach everyone I can’t meet in person with my classes, to share the methods that make mixed media accessible to all, no matter their skill level. It’s about the process from inception to realization, how observations and experiences can be turned into works of art. I give practical guidelines and oodles of examples of how I find inspiration, how I gather and keep my ideas in sketchbooks, journals and photos, and what materials go on the journey with me in an Art-on- the-Go kit.
In each chapter there are techniques and step-by- step instructions for projects – stencils, layering, collage, textured painting, mono-printing, photo manipulation, and more, to ensure that the reader can go on their own Artful Adventures and create their own meaningful mixed media artwork!
I cannot wait to finally hold the book in my hands and I cannot wait for you to read it. I am scared and excited at the same time and sometimes just thinking about it makes me jump up and down …To everyone who has followed my blog, taken my classes, shared this journey – YOU made this book possible and for that I thank you!
Nat
Comments (18)
Leave a comment
Stay In Touch with n*Studio!
Are you craving mixed media inspiration every day? Do you love art journaling, learning new techniques, watching tutorial videos, and shopping for fun new products? Does my fun and easy-going take on the creative process make your day? Well my artsy friends, there are several super easy ways for you to get the most from n*Studio.
Sign up here to receive n*Studio blog posts in your email inbox! This is a great way to get a daily dose of inspiration, including fun videos to help you learn new techniques, tips on using and maintaining mixed media supplies, features from my own art journal, inspiring work from my Creative Squad, and tons of fun and sometimes goofy photos of my workshops and travels around the world. You won’t miss a thing and you’ll get a daily boost of creative energy right in your email to help you when you begin a project.
It’ll look like this…
You can also sign up for my Monthly Newsletter – a quick and informative taste of what’s going on at n*Studio!
What do I love about the newsletter? It’s a fast way to get some artmaking motivation, it’s condensed and easy to digest in just a few minutes, and it includes some special things that you won’t find on the blog or anywhere else! First I always include a note to let you know what’s happening in my world…
Then I usually include a couple bits of n*spiration for the month, including a featured project by one of the many artists out there who are doing totally amazing things with my products (let me know if you are and I’d love to feature you next). And of course I remind you of the next few upcoming workshops…
And finally I always include a special coupon code for my online store that is only available to newsletter subscribers. You never know what will be on sale and it will change every time…
So Stay in Touch with me! Learn more, play more, and get the most from n*Studio. And of course there are no strings attached here – you may unsubscribe from any of these lists any time you want :)
Nat
Leave a comment
What is an Angel Policy… or Can I Sell This?
Every so often I get an email from one of my readers asking about selling something they’ve created using my stamps or stencils. I appreciate that respectful question very much..
I love to see projects created by you – cards, artwork, wearables – I’m always surprised by the creative ways that you use them and it inspires me to try new things, too. The questions about “Selling” also bring up a super important topic in the world of stenciling, stamping, and art-making. I’m talking about copyright and the Angel Policy.
What is an Angel Policy?
It is the policy determined by each designer and manufacturer and it specifies how the products (stamps, stencils, etc.) may be used by the purchaser. If there is no Angel Policy it usually means a company does not permit any commercial use (if you need to know- email the company). The policy spells out rules that are an extension of the copyright owned by the designer and/or manufacturer. In other words, when you buy a product you have essentially agreed to respect the ‘intellectual property’ of the person who created it.
Please be aware that Angel Policies vary widely within the industry. Once you are familiar with a company’s policy it should be easy to keep track and stay within the parameters.
Here is my Angel Policy:
My products are licensed under agreements with several manufacturers and each product falls under the explicit Angel Policy of that company, rather than not permitting ANY commercial use. Each of these companies has a generous and fair policy and as a licensed designer I am in total agreement with the guidelines and restrictions they spell out. Check out the web sites at Stampendous StencilGirl Products, ArtFoamies, and RubberMoon for the specifics (the fine print).
In general a common theme of all of those companies (with exceptions and there you have to read their policies!) is this: Hand-stamped and hand-stenciled projects are always permitted for personal use. You can hand-stamp or stencil cards or make wall art and garments and accessories and home decor items and other stuff for your friends and family. You are also allowed to sell one of a kind and small editions of hand-stamped and hand-stenciled items/artwork. But under the Angel Policies the companies and I agreed to put out, mechanical, electronic or digital reproduction is not permitted. No scanning, altering, resizing or changing the designs. No scanning for electronic cutting systems.
Again, let me say that not all companies’ and artists’ policies are the same. My main goal here is to clarify under which ones my designs fall in general.
Angel Policies and New Technologies:
Angel Policies have had to adapt to the changes in how artwork can be reproduced. With websites like Zazzle, CafePress, and Society6, it is even more important to know what you can do with the projects that you’ve created with someone else’s stamps or stencil designs.
I get emails where someone wants to use an electronic scanning and cutting system with my design and then change something or upload something made with my design to CafePress or a similar company and create rugs, fabric, or other items with my designs, etc.
Now that you know about the Angel Policies regarding my designs, I think you know that the answer is ‘No”
Thank You:
It’s complicated, and it may seem limiting, but these guidelines help to protect all the work that goes into designing and producing stamps and stencils. It is not easy to make a living as an artist, but guidelines like this allows artists to keep on creating, to keep bringing their designs to the marketplace, and it lets you to keep on creating, too.
I have thought long and hard about addressing this and I appreciate that you’ll respect that I have chosen to do so. I love saying ‘YES’ and I think Angel Policies give me a way to come up with a good way to say ‘YES’ a whole lot, way more than ‘NO’!
Please contact me if you still have more questions about the Angel Policies my designs fall under.
Nat
Comments (3)
Leave a comment
n*Studio + StencilGirl present: Wanderlust Stencils
I am super excited about my new stencils coming out today with StencilGirl Products – and as they are all inspired by my travels – I called this collection Wanderlust – a german word meaning “a strong desire to travel” which pretty much sums my urge to discover new and foreign place up :) All Stencils are now available in my shop!
I will show loads of projects with them in the next couple weeks- but hey- check in today for my Facebook Live Event – Kaffeeklatsch with Nat at 3pm EST on my n*Studio Page . I will talk about what inspired them and show some art journal pages with them already and you can ask me questions and be live on board :)
Hope you like the stencil and I hope to see you later today!
Nat
Comments (2)
Leave a comment
Happy New Year Announcement – New n*Studio and RubberMoon Stamps
Happy New Year to all of you!!!
I am so excited to start this New Year with lots of fun things. Here is one of my biggest secret the last couple months
RubberMoon is a wonderful company in the USA owned by the amazing Kae Pea. RubberMoon creates hand crafted, red rubber stamps. I am so over the moon that we teamed up and here are the four sets of stamps I designed and RubberMoon made, which are available as cling stamp sets, single wood mounted stamps and single cling stamps:
The Stroll Through the Hood stamps are inspired by places and objects in my neighborhood of Jersey City, as well as by my blog series of the same name. I gather inspiration as I sketch and photograph on my strolls, and I am attracted to the historic architecture, forgotten landmarks, and the street art that I pass along the way. These original hand sketched stamp designs are reminiscent of things you might find in towns and cities across the US.
The stamps come in two sets – and as separate cling stamps as well.
here are some samples created with the Stroll Through the Hood stamps:
The Embroidery series of stamps are inspired by the art and design of the needle crafts. I was always attracted to the combination of mixed media and fiber arts, and have recently begun some projects that focus heavily on embroidery and stitching as the end goal. In addition to adding faux elements of embroidery to projects, these stamps can also be used as pattern making tools and guides on which to stitch upon.
Here are some samples with the Embroidery Set
The Cardboard series of stamps are inspired by the interesting patterns and surfaces I observed while playing with cardboard packaging materials in my studio. These stamps capture my love for found objects, repurposing materials, and that grungy edge I love to add in my work.
And a sample with the Cardboard set
All of the sets and all of the single stamps are available as red rubber cling stamps from my store as well as from RubberMoon direct. RubberMoon also sells all of the stamps as wood mounted stamps.
I hope you like these new stamps- I am so so excited about them and cannot stop playing with them.
If you wanna hear and see more about them watch the recording of my Facebook Live Kaffeeklatsch with Nat from my Facebook Page
Have a wonderful start into the new year today
Loves
Nat
Comments (18)
Leave a comment
Hello 2017
Dear 2017,
I have hopes for you – we will make you a good year! And so …I have been thinking of what I would like the word for you to be. You know…just in case that you, 2017, are also taking my word too literally. So my word for you is
I know some might think that is a cheesy word, maybe a bit too crazy but as John Lennon said
So I want to make peace, do peace, be peace and give away peace …and maybe…2017 .. you are in with me, I would really like you to!!!
Loves, Nat
To all of my readers out there- thank you for all your support and love the last year – you made me happy and I am so grateful for your support. Have the happiest, healthiest, most successful, and creative year ever.
Nat
Comments (1)
julie b
| #
What a fabulous card!
Reply