Happy New Year - What I've Been Playing With...

Hey everyone, 

I can't believe how long its been since my last post. Time just seems to fly by me lately. My Mom used to say the older you get the faster time goes by, and she was right again. 

I've been working on another iStencils launch with some new designs in the hopper!!! Exciting. More about that as we draw near a launch date and sale, but possibly the end of January or sometime in early February. Fingers crossed. You all will be of the first to know. 

As you probably know I've been obsessed by making polymer clay tiles and doing mosaics on anything flat. Here are some pics from some of my recent projects: 

This document box was a commissioned piece requested by my dear friend Jim who lives in Napa Valley. He wanted a wine themed box and left the rest of up me. I love the way this one came out and Jim does too. He has it displayed in a prominent spot in his home. I was able to add Napa Valley corks for an added touch. 

I love the size and shape of this piece. I has lot of dimension and texture and the added eye embellishment at the bottom of the frame really finishes it off nicely. 

Remind me never to do another curved piece! Geez! I thought I'd never get done trimming the tiles to fit as closely as possible around all the inside and outside curves of this oval frame. I do really like how it came out. It was a picture frame, but I painted the center black and added a polymer clay mold of a mermaid with dolphins and feathers in her hair. 

This was a wooden jewelry box I did for my best friend Gail (I sound like Oprah! LOL!). This was her birthday present this year. 

This box is currently listed for sale on my Etsy shop. I really love how this one came out. The outside border of the tiny black and white tiles were time consuming, but make it really sturdy and less of a chance of chipping a polymer clay tile laid to the edge. I plan to make all my larger pieces like this. At least the one that are functional. This is a document box and is likely to be used as such so I wanted it to hold up over time. 

I love the way this one turned out. This is for an artist friend who lives in Chile. It took almost a month to reach her, but it now has made its way safe and sound to her home and she loves it.

This box sold the minute I listed it on my Etsy shop. My best friend Gail saw it and bought it for another friend of hers who was just coming out of rehab and thought the words added to each side would inspire her to stay on track. I especially love the way the legs came out. And I always love that stark black and white with metallics. I'll be doing more of these. 

I really love this one - turquoise and orange - another favorite combo of mine. This one is currently listed on my Etsy shop. 

And what do you know - another favorite combo of mine - turquoise and purple! Love! Actually, I think turquoise and most any color would be a favorite of mine. Love me some turquoise. This one is on my Etsy shop as well. I added more metal embellishments to the frame of this one. This one is a great size to be placed on an easel for display.

Told you I can't stop making polymer clay tiles! 

Hope you've enjoyed all the pics. Stay tuned for more news on the upcoming iStencil launch! 

Happy Arting! 

Patti 

iStencils Coupon Code CPS20 Valid Thru 5 Nov 2014

Stencil lovers -- don't miss out on this amazing sale offered by iStencils in celebration of my article being published in Cloth Paper Scissors this month. Here's the deal: 

•      Use Coupon Code CPS20
•      Get 20% off your entire cart -- not just my Patti Parrish designs, but any of the 3,000+ designs on the entire iStencils site
•      Get a FREE 8x10 Exclusive PTP Stencil with a $25 purchase (before discount) - see design below
•      Valid thru Wednesday, 5 November 2014

Get'em while their hot!!!

Happy Arting, 

Patti 

I'm Published!!! Cloth Paper Scissors Nov/Dec 2014 & ReMe Retreat

I'm so excited! I've been published in the Nov/Dec 2014 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors -- my personal favorite magazine! My Gelli JumpStart Journals is the project I submitted. Since I already do YouTube videos, I thought it would be nice for all you visual learners to actually 'see' the project instead of just reading about it in the magazine. To that end, I've done a series of YouTube videos demoing my process for the Gelli JumpStart Journals. There are four videos in total on this project, but you can start here with the introduction and supply list. Hope you enjoy seeing in addition to reading! 

October has been an extremely busy month for me. As you know I work full time, I took off to attend Art & Soul in Virginia Beach in early October, then I was away for one weekend, then I traveled to Ocracoke Island, NC to attend the ReMe Retreat with Jodi Ohl, Jean Skipper, and Penny Arrowood. Just got back from my 10 hour drive Saturday and we're ramping up to leave for our annual sales conference for my day job in Boca in early November. After the Florida trip, I think I'll be in one place long enough to get my thoughts in order and reorganize my studio. But wait, there's those little things coming up called the holidays -- so maybe not just yet, but I know it will happen at some point. If anyone has a proven formula of how I can clone myself, please let me know. 

More about the fabulous, and I mean FABULOUS ReMe Retreat. If you love art classes and if you are looking for a true RETREAT -- this is your answer. Most events called retreats that I've attended are simply art classes for 5 days or so at a venue. ReMe has put the retreat back into art retreats. These fabulous women have made it their mission to create such a wonderful experience for 8 lucky artists to join them in a very cool historic home on Ocracoke Island. They bring along a den mother who did all the cooking (fabulous hot breakfasts, warm baked snacks, filling lunches, cocktail hours with appetizers, and luscious dinners, followed by homemade desserts). From the minute you arrive, you are pampered and taken care of, from carrying in all your bags, to any need you have for special diets, errands, to repacking all your goodies, you feel welcome from the minute you arrive and it doesn't leave you even after you are back home. You still can feel the good energy and laughter you shared with the whole group. Please do check out the blogs of the women artists of ReMe and consider signing up for a true art retreat: 

• Jodi Ohl
• Jean Skipper
• Penny Arrowood
• Debbie Keen - Den Mother Extraordinaire! 

Some of my pics from my stay at ReMe starting with the decorated porch, the inside of the house, and our nightly sunset rituals (with cocktails of course!)... 

Happy Arting! 

Patti 

My Current Addiction -- Polymer Clay Tiled Anything!

This is all Laurie Mika's fault! I took one of her classes at The Queen's Ink then realized that I was given her book as a gift a few years prior. OMG - how did I miss all this goodness for 3 years? I found the book after it was mentioned in class and came right home and dug thru the book pile and haven't put it down since. Mixed Media Mosaics! Do yourself a favor and check out this book. 

Here are some of my recent creations using Laurie's techniques. This one is my first larger box. Its a blank canvas box about 7" square. I'm on the search for more of these boxes but no luck so far. 

This one is a I put together on the fly. No particular theme or palette in mind. Sometimes that's the best way to go. 

This box was a commissioned piece for a male friend, hence the more masculine colors. He wanted a box for papers to keep on his counter. I really, really love the way this one came out. (I wonder if he'll ever see it???)

My next box will be a wine theme for a friend/customer. (I wonder if he'll ever see that one? Sorry Jim!) lol 

More to come so stay tuned! 

Happy Arting, 

Patti