The Holiday Festival...is over!

I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time this past weekend...special thanks to our guests, Tim Holtz, a man of many talents, and Mario Rossi, a jack-of-all-trades. We were treated to six fantastic classes, and three make-and-take projects at the Friday party. I will post pictures and directions of the three m&ts...as soon as I get my energy back. Hats off to my great staff for doing it all...more to come...

Looking for Hotel Rooms for the Tim Holtz Holiday Festival??

If you are coming from out of town and need hotel rooms, here are four options for you.. The first one is the closest. I believe, the others all about the same. The first two I know about...quality-wise, they are fine. The other two I do not have any knowledge of...they may be better or worse...talk to them.
Courtyard by Marriott-978-777-8630
Sheraton Ferncroft-978-777-2500
Residence Inn-978-777-7171
Comfort Inn-978-777-1700

Tim Holtz Holiday Festival

Just in...Tim has photos of all the projets on his blog. Go here:

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/holtz-holiday-f.html

Tim Holtz Holiday Festival Information---You might as well just print this out...and get comfortable...

Here is all the info about the classes, the meal plan, and the "Friday Night Before Christmas" Holiday Party!!Please check it out carefully, and sign up for the classes that you want.

We are unable to give refunds for these classes. Think of it like a theater ticket or a football game...if you can't go, have a friend go in your place.

Saturday, September 27th

9am-12noon-
FESTIVE WINDOWS – $65 Currently this class is full. Waiting List available.
Layer your holiday memories, and images behind frosty and translucent layers in this one of a kind mini book. Discover the many uses for fragments and transparencies to create a journal filled with your most treasured memoirs. Learn painting with alcohol inks, distressing with dabbers, and layered elements as you adorn and embellish this see through book. Explore the possibilities and take a peek into the festive windows of Christmastime…

1:30pm-5pm
HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS –$75
Are you ever reminded of a certain moment simply by seeing an element of the past? In this workshop you will create a very timeless and holiday-inspired mosaic mirror filled with vintage treasures and Christmastime carols to make your holidays merry and bright. Learn uses for grungeboard, fragments, and some distress techniques with crackle paints and inks. We will assemble this home décor piece to display throughout the season. Be reminded by the nostalgic treasures of your holiday reflections…

6:30pm-10pm
CHRISTMAS PAST – $105
Get ready to deck the halls with this holiday keepsake box. Learn techniques with pearlescent paints, stamped imagery, and dimensional collage as you create a one of a kind treasure. Capture the nostalgic memories of this favorite time of year with vintage ornaments and décor as you create this illuminated assemblage. Remember the twinkle in your eyes as you experienced the magic of Christmas morning? It’s time to reminisce your Christmas Past…


Sunday, September 28th

9am-12noon
CHARMED TRINKETS – $65
Sometimes finding the perfect holiday gift for someone is one of the most difficult things. Well, not to worry – in this workshop you will learn how to create a very unique gift that anyone will treasure. Learn techniques on collage, and jewelry assemblage as we create a wearable trinket adorned with charms and findings that doubles as an art piece as we also design a mixed media frame to display this little treasure. Explore the creative wonders of these charmed trinkets – you might even have to keep this first one for yourself….

1:30pm-5pm
SEASONAL MEMOIRS – $75
The holidays bring such memories that seem to come and go in the wink of an eye. Capture those memories in this festive journal where you can tuck away those cherished keepsakes for years to come. Learn techniques on distressing, working with grungeboard, crackle paints, and more as we assemble this mini book full of pockets and pull outs. We will also collage a tiny windowed tin with timeless ephemera to house our creation. Cherish the moments of the holidays in your own seasonal memoirs…

6:30pm-10pm
WINTER WONDERLAND – $105
It’s time to bundle up and frolic in the snow – creatively speaking of course. Create a sparkling yet nostalgic canvas collage in this mixed media workshop. Learn techniques on painting with dabbers, masking, beeswax collage, and creating dimensional snow on this canvas creation. You will incorporate hand leafed accents, vintage holiday elements, and numerous letters to spell out the words of the season as you create a collage like never before. Be whisked away in a winter wonderland of your own creative muse…

Don't stop reading here...

There's an additional "Event" called The "Friday Night Before Christmas." We will have it here at the store on Friday evening, September 26, from 6-8:30pm. Basically, it is a social get-together with Tim. (Let's call it a Christmas Party--bring your own lampshade...and don't even think of making copies of any of your body parts...my office will be locked!!)

There will be three make-and-take projects which you can do at your leisure throughout the evening (we'll have all the materials & tools out, with directions, in the classroom--you need to bring nothing!!) Tim also has a little "holiday surprise" for all who attend. The cost of this event is $25, and to be able to register, you must be taking at least one of Tim's classes, as described above. However, spaces are somewhat limited for this event, and we will have to close the registration when it fills. If you are signed up for all six of Tim's classes, you will receive the Friday night party for free (if there is still room.)

As a bonus, there will be store specials available only to the party-goers on that Friday evening.

This will just be a congenial "hang-out-with-Tim" evening...but do dress accordingly. There will be a prize (a good prize!!) for the gaudiest holiday outfit...I know you've got that ugly christmas sweater in your closet...it looked so cute in the store, didn't it? But in the light of your real life...well, let's just say it hasn't gotten much wear, has it? ...Now is its time!!!

We will have holiday refreshments, holiday music, laughter in the air, and whatever else we can pay someone to do. Special Note: the store will close at 2 pm on Friday, September 26, to prepare for the festivities. There will not be any free demos scheduled as we are all going to be too busy having parties. Come take a class!

Meal Plan

We will be taking reservations for a meal plan for those of you who would like to eat here between classes, or just before or after a class. Lunches will be sandwiches, fruit drink, and dessert, possibly chips. Dinner will be a hot meal with bread and salad, drink and dessert. Last year the food was terrific. I will say no more.

I am anticipating that we will be eating outside in the "cafe by the lake" (By lake, I mean parking lot--use your imagination.) Here are the prices for different arrangements.

Saturday lunch-$8.00
Saturday dinner-$11.00 Saturday-both meals-- $18
Sunday lunch--$8.00
Sunday-dinner $11.00 Sunday both meals-$18

All four meals, Saturday & Sunday--$34

Pease sign up for the meals when you register for the classes. We will be able to add late meal decisions up to about two days before the events.

You may register here at the store, in person, or over the phone. NO E-Mail registering. Also, please be patient with us as we are expecting a lot of phone calls on Saturday morning. Use either of these numbers:
978-887-6397, or
978-887-5047

Wow!!

Thanks to everyone who came to our Annual Yard Sale Sunday morning. We had a truly successful sale, as did the sellers outside the store. Also, huge thanks to my staff, who set the whole thing up...I wasn't even allowed to browse or shop...they slapped my hands...and the weather was great..not too hot. So, Happy Memorial Day...I hope everyone had some down time to catch up on rest, art, reading, yard work...whatever makes you feel good. 

So, looking ahead, we have Mr. Michael deMeng arriving here Friday night this week, for three classes. All the info is in the recent newsletters, which can be read through the website,  www.absolutelyeverything.com  on the "news" page.

I am devoting this week to developing projects in the Creative Cafe, and I will post pictures as soon as they are ready. Also, I am lucky enough to get to go to CKU-Houston this year, which is coming up in early June. I will see my ex-fiancee (we are "just friends" now...really, does that ever work??) Tim Holtz at the event and will say "hi" from everyone. You all know he is coming to teach 6 terrific classes at our first ever "Holtz Holiday Festival!!"  This will happen over the weekend of September 27-28, 2008,  and the classes will be Christmas related, with a possibility of one or two being winter-themed.  I will give everyone plenty of notice for class sign-ups. All the info will be posted in the weekly Wednesday E-Mail. Class descriptions and costs will be posted 2 or 3 weeks before registration. You can sign up for the e-mail newsletter also at the above-mentioned  AE website.

The following teachers and events are  lined up, so far, for the rest of 2008:

May 30-31-June 1-Michael deMeng (a few spots left)

June-all month-come in to enter a give-away for a Disney vacation for 4 people. More details to come.

July 8-12-- A Museapalooza--release of the new holiday images from A Muse along with classes

contests, make-and-takes.

July 12-13-Chrissie Hines returns for bookmaking

July 26-27-Irina Kitaeva-bookmaking-Gypsy Journal & Metal Work Book

August 3, Sunday- Dave Brethauer, from Memory Box- coloring classses, pencil & watercolor

August 9-10- Caroline Lao, owner of Maya Road, multiple classes using cool Maya Road stuff

August 23-Diane DiTullio, designer from Prima-clear and bling-filled books

September 27-28-His Highness, Tim Holtz, "Holtz Holiday Festival"

October 18th-Marissa O'Brien-a full day of Precious Metal Clay-15-20 pieces of silver jewelry (think holiday gifts!!!)

November 15-16- Lisa Engelbrecht (visit her site, www.lisaengelbrecht.com) Incredibly talented  lettering artist, and to say that really understates her art. From her website, connect to other places she is teaching to view samples of her work. (This will be a fantastic weekend because I am turning 60 on the 15th!  (Actually, as a retailer, I think I am only allowed to turn 59.95)

I am in negotiations with a few others. Details will be forthcoming.

The best way to get the latest news about what is happening is to sign up for the newsletter, which I send out weekly. See notes above on how to do this.

German Scrap

Here is the German Scrap that I have found. (i/s means in stock, o/o means we sold out already so it is "on order" and it will be back here in a few days.) I am trying to describe it as well as I can, so I will list how many rows and how long it is as well as the price. Sorry this is such a long post but I am a novice in setting up these blog pages.

6 rows small florets-20 inches $6.50 i/s

12 rows tiny florets-20 inches $6.50 i/s



10 rows scalloped 22 inches $6.50 o/o


multiple styles 7 rows 12 inches $8.00 i/s


holly 10 leaves per row, 5 rows, 15 inches $6.50 i/s



wings, set of 4 6x6 inches whole set, $3.75 i/s



really a bright metallic pink, 23 in., tiny scallop, 16 rows, $6.50 i/s


same size as above, white, $6.50 i/s


jagged scallop, 23 in., 12 rows $6.50 i/s


jagged scallop, 12 rows, 23 in., $6.50 i/s



lattice border, 4 rows, 23 in. $8.00 i/s


red mini scallop, 23 in., 16 rows, $6.50 i/s


set of 24 wings $3.75 i/s


set of 24 medallions, all different , 6x8 in. whole sheet, $10.75 i/s

very narrow, blue metallic, 24 rows, 26 inches, $6.50 i/s

black scallop border, 23 inches, 10 rows, $6.50

Things to Do With a Recovered Book

Click the title of this article above to see what I wrote in a recent newsletter about recovering an old book. Now, here are some ideas of what to do with this gorgeous paper masterpiece.
1. Sew some new pages (made from folded cardstock) back into it, with waxed linen. Decorate the outside with beads as you attach the pages.
2.Take one of those metal page attachers (long skinny, with two prongs that reach up and you slip a long metal piece over both of them and then push each one down flat...clear??...we sell them here.) and attach cardstock in waterfall fashion (each successive page is a bit longer than the one on top of it, and make a photo album.
3. Use the "bind-it-all" machine to create a "booklet" with the right size pages for your cover, and glue in the last page to the back cover. (Now these pages can be anything..all envelopes, sheet music, old postcards...) Be sure the coils you use will fit inside the closed book.
4. If it is a thin book cover to begin with, use it as a double frame for photos, to stand open on the mantle.
5. Be crazy and put in paper that is too big for the cover so it sticks out on the sides or top.
6. Add pages that are folded so that when you open the book, the page folds out, or up, etc .
7. Glue the bottom of a properly-sized-for-the-book box-just the bottom piece (after you have painted or covered it to match the book) onto the back cover so that it becomes a book box.
8. Make an accordion fold that just fits the top and bottom edge of the book, about 4 folds, each about 3/4 inch, and as long as the book is wide. Glue this into the book to create a big accordion holder, for important papers, or love letters (well, if you are going to do love letters, I would throw in a perfumed hanky or two, just for effect.)

So, now I am inviting all of you to make additions to this list. Just go to the comments area below and throw in your two cents. I would love to see some new ideas!

Please give me your feedback!

I am writing now about the bus trip and the newsletter that I send out every Wednesday evening. If you do not get the newsletter, you can sign up for it on the website, www.absolutelyeverything.com...just go to the "news" page and take it from there.

My newsletter for tonight, for which I am seconds away from pushing the "send" button, is long-ish. But that tends to be my style. Please let me know what you think...too long?...too stupid?...not enough pictures?...pictures are too big...I will listen to everything you say.

Also, we had what I would consider a very successful bus trip last Saturday, among our own store and four other Mass stores. I have been hearing great reports about it all...even the other store owners were pleased...apparently none of my customers threw any of the tantrums they are so famous for displaying here...but that's another story.

Thank you to our wonderful "bus mothers," Gloria and Barbara, and to the other four stores for opening up to all of us. I am pretty sure we will do it again. Please let me know if you liked it, what you would change, what you would keep the same. I am happy to hear from riders from the other four stores, too. I have to say that I truly enjoyed meeting everyone and loved all the enthusiasm. There's nothing quite as nice as when someone else really loves exactly what you love.