Sunday, April 23, 2017

...LOOK WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR MAY!

NEW FOR MAY!
My “FABULOUS FEBRUARY FIVE” CELEBRATION continues in the MONTH OF MAY
 with the premier of this brand new, 
most requested mini class.... 
“CREATIVE FAITH JOURNALING”


“CREATIVE FAITH JOURNALING”  
EXPRESSING FAITH WITH WHIMSICAL ART….
  • CREATE FAITH THEMED ART in a journaling bible or art journal or sketch book.
  • LETTERING!  PAINTING! DRAWING! COLORING AND COLLAGE!  Dynamic artful techniques and so much more.  
  • 12 THEMED PROJECTS for prayer, meditation, reflection, sharing and giving.
  • FIVE BIG LESSONS and TEN JAM PACKED  VIDEOS
  • SELF PACED…FOREVER ACCESS…SIMPLE SUPPLY LIST
  • CLASS STARTS MAY 20, 2017
INSTANT ACCESS INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR INTRODUCTION AND SUPPLY LIST. 

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

...a WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY.....#THE100DaysProject

Hello friends! 
Sorry I missed last week's Whimsical Wednesday.  I was in Cincinnati at a photo shoot for a new book coming out Spring 2018.  Can't wait until I can spill the beans and let you know what it's all about.  There's still so much content to create, so it will be a little while.  It was so much fun, making art "step outs" for three whole days.  There's the hint,  it's about ART!
HERE'S THE STUDIO AT F+W (in an intentionally blurred photo):
Have you heard about the #The100DayProject?  It's an Instagram thing, where people all over the world are joining in and posting not just about art, but 100 "things", "ideas" and photos for 100 days.  So I have joined in myself with "#100 Words and Whimsies".  Believe it or not, the little quick post is easier for me than the Whimsical Wednesday right now, because I have so much going on with 5 NEW online classes that have openned since January, writing the book,  creating teaching proposals, etc.  It's all good.  I am so grateful for my job and love every minute.  There just aren't enough minutes in a day!!!
This is my little mantra for day#5 of 100.  You can follow me on Instagram and see them all each day at this link:  @joannesharpe
I did this for 31 days at Christmas and I felt so accomplished achieving the daily goal and enjoy going back and reviewing all the art that I completed and shared in that time frame.  So have a look!

Until next time, happy Spring and make every moment matter living an artfully inspired life!
joanne


Monday, April 3, 2017

....Come join Jane and Me!

My awesome friend Jane Davenport and I 
are running our popular workshop
 "Miss Quoted" LIVE 
starting April 4th.  

Here's Jane's message:
Miss Quoted is going LIVE on April 4th!

Maybe you have just discovered a new-found love of watercolor and ink with my Mermaid Markers, INKredible pen and watercolour palettes?
Maybe you already looooooove watercolour and ink!
In Miss Quoted you learn how to mix colours and use your supplies to keep colours fresh!
This workshop is a unique collaboration with best selling author and the 'Queen of Lettering herself, Joanne Sharpe. When we combined our expertise for Miss Quoted, we created a delightful mix of artful lettering and lettered art!

Before creating this workshop, I was always a bit 'shy' of the hand written elements in my artwork. While doing Jo's lessons as we were creating this class, two things happened;
1:  I improved!
2: I came to accept my own hand script and enjoy my own artful writing.

So much so, that when I created my Mixed Media Collection with American Crafts, I used my own quirky lettering for papers, stickers and tapes. So I know that 'Miss Quoted' delivers a major confidence and skill booster!
What I bring to the workshop is specific lessons on drawing whimsical, artful girls. I introduce my famous 'Birthday Suit' technique, and show you how to draw braids ( I call it Doodling and Strudeling!).

We have innovative techniques to help you select colours for your art, how to audition ideas and then add artful lettering if you want to.
You may be wondering what supplies you need. Both Joanne and I recommend to use whatever you have, but we also share our favourites!  We are also updating the workshop with new lessons to include some of my new JDMM art supplies! Mermaid Markers, my Petite Palette Watercolours,  Aqua Brushes and INKredible pen would be perfect!

HEAD ON OVER TO JANE'S WEBSITE FOR ALL THE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION
I hope you Join me and the watercolours ( and the inks, and pens and Jo! lol!) in Miss Quoted. It's a wonderful basis for further watercolour exploration and can only grow your lettering confidence!







Thursday, March 23, 2017

...BERNINA and ME...




It's my turn today, as I join my fellow BERNINA Ambassador friends in a little blog tour, all about us.  Just "what" is a BERNINA Ambassador?  We are a diverse group of makers, quilters, sewers, and creatives sharing our love for the brand with our unique ideas in the sewing communities.  Each and every Ambassador is gifted with extraordinary talent and  exceptional skills and sharing their craft. It's an incredible honor to have been chosen to be in the company of these masters.

Although I've been an artist all my life and sewing since I was 11 years old, BERNINA was an epiphany for me.  I consider myself, "not a scattered doing everything kind of gal", but rather a Renaissance woman, with interests in so many artful things.  I paint, draw, hand letter, sew, hand stitch and teach.  The only thing I can't do, I wish i could dance, maybe someday!  I never make an excuse for my multiple interests, but rather embrace ALL THINGS CREATIVE with an energy and passion for as many of life's gifts that I can gather in a day, a week, a month or years.  My mantra in my artfully inspired life is "every moment matters".


"MY FAVORITE FABULOUS BERNINA BITS"

MY FIRST BERNINA:  My first BERNINA machine is a B350 that I purchased while teaching at an art retreat in California in 2011.   I live in upstate NY.  I wasn't leaving without my new treasure, my machine, so I took all my clothes from my suitcase and packed them in the BERNINA box and shipped them home.  My new BERNINA "baby" went with me on the plane instead, fitting perfectly inside my extended carry-on.  But the bad was just a tad too wide for the over head, so the flight attendant graciously placed it in the captain's closet for the trip home.  My machine was already a spoiled child, nice ride! 
  
 LETTERING ON FABRIC: My lettering art has gone into a new dimension in fabrics and fiber.  Did you know I have an AQS iquilt online workshop called "WHIMSICAL LETTERS IN FABRIC.  You can learn how to make a whimsical word quilt here.  Thank you BERNINA!


I WAS STITCHING TO WRITE MY STORY: The inspiration for my textile book "The Art of Whimsical Stitching" (2016) came directly from the new creative energy that came from making art on my new BERNINA.  I'm so proud of this playful sewing book.




 NEVER SAY NEVER TO EMBROIDERY:  I once said, "I'll never, ever do machine embroidery, I just don't have time for that.".  But the Renaissance woman in me said, "oh, go ahead and try it, you might love it!".  And yes, I did!  So much so, that I've designed a new  machine embroidery lettering collection for OESD called "Doodle Stitches.  It features my favorite hand lettering art and simple imagery.  Oh BERNINA, look what you've done to me...  

TEACHING WITH BERNINA MAKES ME "SEW HAPPY":  We had SEW MUCH fun in New Orleans with this group of BERNINA dealers who made these incredible fabulous, colorful free motion mini art quilts. It's so rewarding to share my art with threads and letters and fabric teaching with adventurous makers all over the country.  


MY SUZIE Q20:  I am so blessed to have a BERNINA Q20 long arm machine in my sewing room.  This machine is a beast and allows me to quilt large art quilt pieces with ease. Here's a table runner made with GelPress prints and fabric paint, embellished with free motion stitching.



YOU CAN STITCH YOUR ART OUT WITH ME:  Check out my online art sewing class "PAINT, STITCH, PLAY!"  You don't need a BERNINA but you can watch what I create on mine to make some pretty fun textile art.  We have an active sharing community in the classroom with oodles of gorgeous, playful colorful fabric and stitching artworks.
Here's the PAINT, STITCH, PLAY! Preview video.  
Register on the homepage of my website: joannesharpe.com




IN THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS, I "STITCH MY ART OUT"!  I'm so proud to be a BERNINA Ambassador along with this talented group.  Continue on this blog tour and check out all my talented friends: 

Lynn Carson Harris harrislc@gmail.com
Kelly Ashton kelly@kellyquilter.com
Diane Doran info@dianedoran.com
Melody Crust melody@melodycrust.com
Tuesday March 21
Kathy Delaney kathy@kathydelaney.com
Christa Watson christa@christaquilts.com
Mandy Leins mandalei@gmail.com
Wednesday March 22
Sandy Fitzpatrick hissyfitz@earthlink.net
Beth Ferrier beth@applewd.com
Cheryl Sleboda cherylsleboda@gmail.com
Thursday March 23
Annie Smith annie@anniesmith.net
Lori Kennedy lckennedy@hotmail.com

Kari Carr kari@newleafstitches.com
Catherine Redford catherine@catherineredford.com

Friday March 24
Joanne Sharpe jzsharpe@yahoo.com
Cherry Guidry cherry@cherryblossomsquilting.com
Jenelle Montilone jenelle@trashn2tees.com





Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Whimsical Wednesday: ... the "LETTERING UNICORN" has landed....

My "FABULOUS FEBRUARY FIVE" celebration 
continues in APRIL
 with the premier of this brand new mini class 
"Find YOUR Font" 





...a brand NEW adventure in lettering art...
it’s all about YOU!
...FIVE BIG LESSONS and TEN JAM PACKED  VIDEOS...
... it's all about YOU 
finding your own fabulous artful lettering font with your own handwriting...
...the "lettering unicorn" has landed!....

...SELF PACED...FOREVER ACCESS...SIMPLE SUPPLY LIST
...it's all about YOU
 discovering the "unicorn" of lettering techniques!

...WORD PLAY...ALPHABETS...DESIGN and LAYOUT...

...it's all about YOU
 confidently creating hand lettering art like you mean it!
JOIN US TO MAKE AN AWESOME LETTERING BOOK AND ORIGINAL ART

"FIND YOUR FONT!" online class 
Instant classroom access with PAYPAL payment
Class starts on April 5, 2017


I'm most excited, this one is a must! 
See you in the classroom


Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Whimsical Wednesday...SOMETHING

Create something.  
Paint or draw, or sew something. 
 Write something.
Cook or bake something new. 
 Make something outside your comfort zone this week.  
What do you long to create?



Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Whimsical Wednesday: "LITTLE JACK TUFFET"

Have you heard about the "make your own tuffet" craze yet?  Sewing shops all over the country are hosting these workshops.  I'd like to share my "Whimsical Wednesday" logo today.  It's art from my coloring book placed in the middle of the tuffet I made in January.  In January, the teachers at my BERNINA store in Rochester, NY had a "tuffet class" in just  two Saturdays.  Since I wasn't traveling I treated myself to the time and the learning experience.  I made a tuffet!  It' looks ridiculously difficult but it was a very simple process, you just have to make sure you have the right materials.  There is an online tuffet class on iquilt.com  taught by the creator of this particular process, Sharon Cole from "The Tuffet Source".  You can find everything you need to make a tuffet on Sharon's website.

The "in person" class was perfect for me.  Show up for just two classes and project done!   


THE IDEA BEHIND THIS WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY???  If your creative self is calling you, take the time to try something new, treat yourself to a project or class.  In my own life I personally make this a practice in growing and reinventing myself on my artful journey.  It's so good for your soul and spirit.  

I'm so proud of my tuffet and KNEW that it would be a "cat tuffet" as my bengal cat Jack demonstrates here.  At least I made some functional art!


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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Whimsical Wednesday: Announcing "FANCIFUL FIBERS"

It's my "FAB FEBRUARY FIVE" 
5th online teaching anniversary 
Create and celebrate in MARCH!  
 "FANCIFUL FIBERS" 
is the next BRAND NEW $29 mini class
 and is now open for registration.
TAKE A PEEK AT THE CLASS PREVIEW VIDEO!

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Stitch your art out!  Whimsical, happy textile art "Joanne Sharpe Style".....

  • FIVE BIG LESSONS WITH 10  VIDEO DEMOS!  Try your hand at needle felting, free form hand stitching and embellishing with wool roving and decorative threads.  No sewing machine required.  
  • A FINISHED PROJECT!  Create a functional journal, "midori-style" notebook cover or needle keeper with delicious texture and color.
  • SUPER SIMPLE SUPPLIES!  Pictured in the video, use what you have in your "hobby stash" and fill in with a few more treasures and you're good to go.
  • PLAY IN MY BOOK!  "The Art of Whimsical Stitching" OPTIONAL: I will walk you through my creative thought processes and the projects in the book.Not mandatory, but you'll love reading along and  my passion for textile art.
  • MINDFUL, SOULFUL and PORTABLE!  Stitching and simple felting makes you feel really good.  
  • SELF PACED, FOREVER ACCESS!  Join us in real time in March, or make it happen anytime, on YOUR time.
  • IT'S A VIRTUAL VIDEO BOOK!  Think of my online classes as little books that you can take on and off a virtual bookshelf whenever your creative fancy strikes.
  • LESSONS WILL POST on MARCH 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th.  

"FANCIFUL FIBERS" 
online mini class
CLICK THE LINK: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 
Supply list and instant classroom access*
 with Paypal payment 
*Classes are hosted on the Ruzuku.com platform.  When you register, you will immediately receive an email from ruzuku.com in my name and FANCIFUL FIBERS online class.  You will be directed to set up your own email and password for classroom access.  Keep a hard copy of your personal settings for reference and re-entry if needed.