Invite Me! Creative Announcements

Lest We Forget

2011-11-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

11-11-11

Remembrance Day

Lest We Forget

Refresh, Renew, Rebrand, RELAUNCH

2011-11-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have taken a step away from blogging as I am rebranding my business to reflect the type of work that I have been fortunate to attract and to keep my in mind's eye for potential customers!
It has been a long time coming, but on the other hand...NOW is the time! Stay tuned and join as a follower so I can let you know when I am ready to tell the world.

I am still taking on work and projects - working with lovely brides and creating elements for the most lovely events and parties - convo me at invitemecreative@rogers.com if you need a quotation or to book an appointment. Thank you for your continued support!

Until then, bloom where you are planted!
Tracey

Baby Scrapboxing

2011-08-19T10:38:00.001-07:00

This idea came to me as a gift idea for a baby! I am always looking for new ways to include clay flowers into my paper art projects. When my former client Amy had a beautiful baby girl recently, I thought that a birth announcement/shadowbox would be a lovely gift...filled with clay flowers. Now, I changed the name for this sample, but you get the idea of how the everlasting flowers add to this adorable keepsake piece that can be hung in the nursery.

By changing the font and flowers I can create: elegant and classic, funky and modern, shabby chic and vintage...all in a keepsake shadowbox.

If you are interested in a custom scrapbox filled with flowers for your special occasion or for a gift, please contact me directly.

Prom Flowers - Corsages, Boutonnieres & Hair Flowers

2011-05-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Prom Season is well underway! I am thrilled to be offering very special, keepsake prom corsages and boutonnieres to the Graduating Class of 2011! Dramatic and big hair flowers also make a statement! No one will ever guess that they are made out of clay.

So many dress styles - very elegant through to steampunk and vintage...there are some very imaginative and fashionable prom-goers this year! Love the colour combinations, dress lengths and all the accessories that go with them.

If you are interested in a corsage, boutonniere or hair flower(s), please contact me soon! Don't want you to be disappointed.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-07T18:11:00.003-07:00

Spring must finally be here - it's Mother's Day! Enjoy the day - treat yourself!

Happy Mother

2011-05-07T18:11:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Kate!

2011-04-29T05:24:00.001-07:00

Today we saw a beautiful young woman marry a Prince! We got up early and enjoyed a simple table set for an english breakfast. Enjoying our finest tea cups and saucers, a simple start of fresh strawberries and english muffins with raspberry jam - delish! Front row seats (in front of our TV) for the big event, it was a day that history was made.

Of course, all eyes were on the dress, but I was also closely watching the flowers. A trendsetter in the making, Kate Middleton has re-ignited the popularity of some old style flowers - her bouquet of Sweet William (of course!), Lily of the Valley, Hyacinth, Myrtle in a shield-shaped wired bouquet...so elegant and fragrant! A true classic beauty.

You can bet that I will be asked by brides this season and for years to come for these iconic blossoms. The bouquets, the flowergirls' hair wreaths, the buttonholes (aka boutonnieres) all made a very modern statement in their simplicity and elegance. I have been making hair wreaths for a few years - here is a great photo of a recent wedding with clay flower hair wreaths on these young ladies.

Of course these blossoms can also be created for an eco-chic everlasting bouquet made with clay! I enjoy creating each and every one - and as lovely as lily of the valley is, those blossoms are tiny and delicate looking. I can hardly wait to start perfecting this combination of flowers...pip, pip, I'm off to the studio! Cheerio.

Congratulations William and Kate!

PS - if you are in Toronto this weekend, be sure to visit the Drake Hotel for the Spring Wedding Show - see you there!

HOPPY EASTER!

2011-04-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

Spring has Sprung! What a lovely weekend for Easter. We have seen so many bunnies frolicking through the backyard in the past few days. A lovely Easter/Birthday luncheon with family...lots of chocolate treats...a great time!

I put together this little clay flower collage of ranunculus, daffofils, daisies and hydrangeas to remind myself that the buds are about to bloom, spring IS coming and I hope you like this preview display.

Happy Spring - hope to see you at The Drake Hotel in Toronto next weekend for Indie Meets Couture!

Spring Wedding Show at The Drake Hotel, Toronto

2011-04-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to be showing the latest clay flower designs for weddings at The Spring Wedding Show at The Drake Hotel in Toronto. The tagline is so tasteful - "Where Indie Meets Couture"...Love It!

I have been feverishly working away at my Spring/Summer Wedding Collection of clay flowers and bridal accessories! Wait til you see what I have come up with this year. There will be items for sale as well as the opportunity to chat about custom work - there is such a wealth of talent at this show and I was so happy to be asked back. Catherine and her Wedding Co. team are real professionals.

If you are in Toronto on April 30th, you MUST go The Drake. (The day after the Royal Wedding...we'll have so much to talk about)....be sure to stop by and see me.

Cake Topper

2011-03-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

This simple white icing cake is cleverly dressed with a spray of clay flowers!

Hope you enjoy it...the cake, without the calories! Wedding, birthday, anniversary...a perfect occasion for flowers on your cake!

Simply place the flowers onto the cake (the stems are floral wire). When ready, remove the stems and simply wipe gently with a damp cloth. Pat dry with a paper towel and you will have your keepsake flowers forever!

A great way to enjoy peonies, ranunculus and hydrangea when the blossoms are 'out of season', or any time of year!

Celebrate with flowers on your cake!

A Morning with Marilyn

2011-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those fun, girlfriend days that I never seem to do very often. I had a date with my friend Tina and we ventured down to Toronto early this morning to attend the taping of The Marilyn Show! Fun, good giggles, great seats in the audience, tasty thai lunch and some retail therapy - what could be better?!

So good to see Marilyn Denis back where she belongs in a daytime TV timeslot (although we always enjoy her radio show too). The super-cool studio "loft" set for this new lifestyle show is fab - very urban and cool, except you still feel like you are sitting right across from Marilyn herself...like an hour with a longtime girlfriend! The ONLY thing missing are clay flower arrangements on an accent table between Marilyn and her guest! {wink!} Gotta keep working on that one... :)

Here is a quick photo from my cellphone (sorry for the blurry-ness). If you want tickets, go to http://www.marilyn.com/ for details on how to attend the live tapings of this show!

Welcome Back, Marilyn!

North of the City Magazine

2011-01-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to share with you that I have a business spotlight article in the North of the City Magazine! I was approached in December to participate and was busily getting arrangements and bouquets ready for photography.

You can link to the article here.

I am so pleased with how the article was written and thankful for all of the feedback from family, friends and former clients...as well as the inquiries for new business.

Seems there are LOTS of people becoming interested in clay flowers! I have even had inquiries from brides who would like their treasured bouquet replicated in clay - well after the wedding! I have done this very successfully and with the photos supplied by the bride whereby I am able to re-create their goregous bouquets in clay to keep forever!

I am grateful for this media opportunity and welcome new business inquiries.

2011 - it is going to be a great year!

New Year's Wedding Flowers

2011-01-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some photos of the bridal flowers that I created for Katie and Bill. Katie came to me after being a bridesmaid of one of my previous clients. She loved the bouquet that she carried for that wedding and I was thrilled to work with her for her own wedding! With the very elegant and stylish palette of white, tiffany turquoise and accents of silver, this would be a New Year's wedding to be remembered by all!

The out of season blossoms that Katie selected were easily replicated in clay - open white peonies, bloomed and blossoms of white gardenias coupled with white hydrangeas and stephanotis. Accented with silver embellishments, tiffany turquoise organza ribboning and white fluffy feathers, the bridal bouquet turned out stylish and stunning. The other photo is the maid of honour's bouquet - mainly white gardenias, different silver embellishments and more of the turquoise ribboning.

I am very thankful that Katie and Bill were so impressed with their wedding flowers and wish them a lifetime of happiness!

Before and After

2010-10-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

I deliberately try to minimize the amount of personal information on my blog - I am a fairly private person, however I would like to share a before and after photo of myself. I had a milestone birthday earlier this year and it felt like a turning point in many aspects of my life.

I found a 'lifestyle management' program and started a high protein eating program that helps build lean muscle mass at the beginning of July and am happy to share that I have lost just over 50 pounds (by early September), taking me back to my early high school weight. Special Thanks to my Family, Friends and my Coach, Amanda for all of the support! I feel very strong, empowered and healthy and know that I have done good for my body and my future.

Let's Go Shopping!

2010-08-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

Invite Me! will be participating in this vendor faire on Tuesday Aug 24! I am thrilled to be a part of this creative group to show my latest clay flowers, accessories and stationery. Get a head start on holiday shopping, great girlfriend and hostess gifts...or treat yourself!

If you can, come out and enjoy a fun evening to support a good cause - Hope to see you there!

Now, back to work for me...I am finishing up some clay hair flowers today (no sneek peek photos...yet - sorry).

Hair Flowers

2010-07-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

I love the look of flowers in my hair - whether heading out shopping, out for dinner or going out on the town. What I don't like is...bees! Guess what - not a bee in sight when you wear clay flowers in your hair!

I have honestly worn my gardenia more days than not in the last year - I think it is becoming my signature flower! So delicate and fragrant in nature, but so durable and everlasting in clay! Lilies are also so delicate from Mother Nature - they never last the day let alone a big night out of dancing! Roses are another good choice for hair flowers - so many different colours and combinations. Eco-Chic and Scent-free!

If you are getting married, would like to give a special gift to the bride...or want to treat yourself to a hair flower, please contact me!

What is your favourite summer hair flower?

Happy Canada Day!

2010-07-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

Such a beautiful and sunny day here - feeling very patriotic!

Seeing neighbours and friends proudly waving Canadian flags, houses dressed with patriotic flags, wearing red and white - even the Queen of England is in Toronto this week - Happy Birthday Canada! Proud to be Canadian - proud to work with international clients for clay flowers and invitations - what a great time to be Canadian...

Thankful for all of the opportunities this country has available! Enjoy the Day - festive fireworks tonight! Cheers!

(photo courtesy of glennsglobalgames.com)

Lovin' Pink Peonies!

2010-06-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

For me, JUNE = PEONIES!!

Love all of the colours, the fragrant scent and the delicate nature of this short-lived beauty every June! I created this bundle of clay peonies for a former wedding client who is giving this as an end of the school year gift...to one of her classroom volunteers! What a thoughtful gesture as most of the gift-giving seems to be for the teachers! (Except we really like our crossing-guards, so we treat them to coffee).

This floral arrangement contains three shades of pink peonies, all in different stages of bloom. Accented with chartreuse and white hydrangeas and a splash of greenery, I like the proportion as it peeks out of the lime green mercury-glass looking cylinder container.

Haven't blogged much lately, but hey, summer is here (and some summer wedding flowers that I will be showcasing). Enjoy!

Feathers with Bling...on your Wedding Bouquet and in your Hair!

2010-05-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

This past week has been busy fielding inquiries about the soft pink bouquet and floral hair pieces that I featured at The Indie Meets Couture show last weekend! Seems the super-hot wedding trend of feathers and accents of shiny bling have transended into bouquets and hair accessories! It was a bit of an experiment - but certainly worth the effort!

I connected with some other great wedding professionals - seems a couple of us have the same plume supplier..."hi" Mimi (if you are reading this!) So many great options using feathers and some shiny pieces...never to upstand the bride, but more to showcase her!

Would you consider feathers or shiny baubles in your bouquet? I definintely would!

Destination Brides!

2010-05-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

Going somewhere tropical and romantic to get married? Why not carry your lightweight wedding bouquet in your carry-on or safely packed in your luggage?

Hibiscus is such a popular tropical flower - yet so delicate to place into a fresh bouquet. Vibrant shades of pink and orange, accented with green and grasses fit in perfectly to the island wedding when hand-created in clay! Every last detail, including some hand-painted highlights and shadows give this bouquet a very realistic look - don't you agree?

Your clay flowers can arrive to your home or business address days...or weeks...before you leave for one of the most memorable days of your life! Take some of the stress from the day of the ceremony...you'll never worry at your destination about the wrong floral order (or flowers that may have been hanging around awhile)...and you get to keep the clay flowers as a memory of the day you married the best guy for you!

Clay Flowers are an Eco-Chic solution for Destination Brides!

Indie Meets Couture Show - May 1st

2010-05-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Just back from the big city of Toronto - the ultra chic Drake Hotel where I exhibited in The Wedding Co. - Indie Meets Couture Spring Show. What a great experience - I truly enjoyed meeting the brides and showing them the clay flowers! I love to hear the reaction from those who have never seen clay blossoms before.

Interesting to see all of the 'wedding bloggers' come out to gather information, snap photos and inquire about clay flowers! If you are a blogger, or happen to see my work posted, PLEASE comment or send me a note at invitemecreative@rogers.com -- I really appreciate it! I look forward to hearing from you!

Catherine, Stephanie and the other Wedding Co. staff are the best! They are so professional and a pleasure to work and be associated with - great job ladies!

More people to thank and introduce you to in the next few posts - off to get some dinner and recount a wonderful spring day at the show!

Open House - Thank You!

2010-04-26T17:48:00.001-07:00

A gracious Thank You to all who attended the Mother's Day Open House and Gift Sale yesterday! It wouldn't have been a success without you!

Many have asked me about my inspiration and how I go about creating arrangements, so I wanted to give you a peek as to what the clusters of clay blossoms look like before they are arranged (see photo). I find my inspiration in many places: fashion (apparel), home fashion, all types of magazines, fresh floral and my own garden (as it blooms)!

I gathered a bunch of the arrangements before they were displayed for the sale and thought the burst of colour would make an interesting photo! If you missed the sale, several items will be listed on my etsy site tomorrow. Which one is your favourite?

Such a fun day SCRAPBOXING!

2010-04-20T11:17:00.001-07:00

It's taken a couple of days to recover and get down to business thanking Lisa and all of the organizing team behind ScrapFest in Kitchener! Each year gets better and better - great to see so many ScrapFest participants with shopping bags brimming with the latest and the greatest goodies to make their projects and pages look great! Not to mention the talented group of teachers that I was fortunate enough to be alongside!

Special thanks to Bobbi-Lynn and Christine for their assistance in my workshop. With each student bringing their own 5x7 photo, we giggled, encouraged each other and were pleasantly surprised (at the drying rack) how fabulous and unique each cluster of clay hydrangeas turned out! The whole rainbow of colours were tinted to co-ordinate, some even multi-toned to match with the photos. There were good giveaways when the room got too quiet (everyone was concentrating and working at their scrapbox components) and then...the big reveal! The projects looked GREAT - hope you were all pleased with your accomplishment!

Thank you ladies for the opportunity to teach you a new skill, a fun project and to spend the afternoon with you! I hope to see you all again next year at ScrapFest.

Great to also connect with some of my industry colleagues (and as busy as the Marketplace was) missed seeing a few others too. :( The very talented Vicki Boutin was prepping for her class right beside mine - she is one creative gal - always great to see her! A pleasant surprise bumping into Kelli Panacci - always loved her style and colour palette! Good to finally meet Alessandra from Stix2 and see Judy and Sheri from In A Pinch Designs busy selling from their booth too. The Scrapping Turtle was super-busy with make n takes - loved that photo idea!

Well, I am off to finish some flower projects that I have been working on last week - also some corsage photos to come...wedding and prom season are right around the corner!

Love Spring!

Indie Meets Couture- The Spring Wedding Show

2010-04-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to be a part of this Spring Wedding Show - showcasing clay floral creations (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, hair flowers) and wedding stationery (invitations, thank you notes, specialty stationery). If you are getting married and live in southern Ontario, this is a wedding show that you won't want to miss!

Join me on Saturday May 1st at The Drake Hotel from 10am - 4pm. Invite Me! Creative Announcements will have a booth in The Underground Lounge. Hosted by The Wedding Co., this "Indie Meets Couture" wedding show is for you if you are looking to infuse your wedding with some thing unconventional, chic or edgy...like clay flowers!

Local artisans and finest wedding businesses will be showcasing their talents in downtown Toronto. The Drake Hotel is a very chic venue for this event and will be giving away a bridal shower (valued at $500) to one lucky bride - why not let that be you?!

Hope to see you there!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

We're Waving Goodbye to Winter and Hello to Spring here in southern Ontario! WOW - unbelievably warm, sunny temperatures in the past few days - no one is complaining! Looks like the Easter Bunny will have lots of 'snow-free' spaces to hide the eggs and the kids will enjoy the festivities!

I made some gift tags using Claycraft by DECO for some special Easter gifts - this clay is so versatile for so many gift-giving projects! I also included a photo of the scrumptious Easter Bunny cake that my mom made and served at our Easter dinner - yummy! As you can see, Mom is very creative too!

Get outside - turn off the computer - and enjoy this fine Easter day!

PS - just a reminder that ScrapFest is two weeks away - still a few spots in my class! We will create a keepsake shadowbox and learn how to make clay flower hydrangeas - great gift idea! (But you'll probably want to keep it for yourself!) Please join me in Kitchener - http://www.scrapfest.ca

March Break

2010-03-25T14:58:00.001-07:00

Proud Canadian Moments...standing at The Parliament Buildings in Ottawa last week. I found this copper maple leaf embedded into some concrete - thought it made a nice shot. The weather was surprisingly spring-like and very enjoyable.

I have also been working on lots of small clay flower projects, but have either not photo'd them yet, or not uploaded the camera full of shots (bit of both, sorry!).

More clay flower photos next time...promise!

Happy Birthday Weekend!

2010-02-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of belvedereflowers.com)

Just a quick post to say Happy Birthday to my Sister, my Brother-in-law...and to ME! It is a busy weekend ahead and the month of March is FULL of birthdays around here! A quiet celebration, a few yummy treats and unexpected telephone calls/emails are sure to come our way!

If your birthday is in March - Happy Birthday to You too - enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

RED ROSES made of DecoClay - the colour of the day! The language of LOVE...

Spend a moment with someone you care about today and let them know how much you love them!

Starting the day sprinkled with little Lindt chocolates, egg in the whole (shaped in a heart) with the cut-out heart toast on the side is a fun way to start the day. Hand-crafted or store bought, a greeting card to express you love (humour, serious, hand-written sentiments) also goes along way!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Register for ScrapFest today!

2010-02-11T06:06:00.001-08:00

Registration for ScrapFest is now open - WOW! Such a great response to all of the workshops, crops and VIP passes. The ScrapFest team has been working very hard to make this event bigger and better than ever before (and the bar was already set high from past years!).

Here is another sneak peek on the Blossoming Hydrangea Shadow Box - the 'blue' colourway. See with the Claycraft by Deco, you can hand-tint the white clay to any hue or shade that co-ordinates with your photos. Scent-free, lightweight and everlasting -- very eco-chic! The shadowbox protects your photos and your clay flowers - a lovely keepsake that you have made yourself! Also a great gift for a Wedding, Shower or New Baby...and all the other reasons we scrapbook!

Start searching for (or taking) your best photograph (5x7 will work best) and sign up today!

Getting Ready for ScrapFest

2010-02-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

OK, loyal blog readers...the countdown is on to the opening of the ScrapFest registration! Sunday Feb 7th (that's tomorrow) at 2pm EST the online registration starts.

This exciting event takes place in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada on the weekend of April 16/17th. Not only have they lined up great workshop classes (if I do say so!) there is a fabulous marketplace of the latest products and crops for all of the scrapbookers! Lots of prizes - tons of fun and learning! If you're not a traditional scrapbooker, that's OK too - there are still lots of interesting things to see and do (taking a class is a sure way to learn something new!).

I am thrilled to be teaching a 'technique-style' workshop - Above is a sneak peek of the "Blossoming Hydrangea Shadowbox" that you can make. I will teach you how to make these pretty little flowers (Mother Nature makes them fussy and delicate) but using Claycraft by Deco, they are tinted to the colour of your choice and everlasting! Start thinking of the fabulous 5X7 photo that you'll want to bring - it will be encased in a white shadowbox, surrounded by blossoms of clay flower hydrangeas and ribbon - a terrific 3-D embellishment to showcase your work!

Hope to see you there - you can preview the ScrapFest catalogue at http://www.scrapfest.ca/ to see all of the teachers, classes, times and events - you won't want to miss out!

Daisy Arrangement

2010-01-24T18:16:00.000-08:00

SO thrilled with how this 'early spring' arrangement turned out! Daisies, tuberose buds, peonies, roses and hydrangeas - they're all there in this square vase arrangement!

I tried several graduated colours of clay on a few flowers and I am very pleased with the colour combination (such fresh and clean huses) and texures of the flowers used. I have been arranging blossoms that I have made over the past couple of weeks and there are LOTS to choose from on this worktable. I listed this one into my Etsy shop - take a peek!

I have also found a new source for containers - I can hardly wait to fill them with lots of clay flowers - what is your fave colour combination these days?

The Wedding Co. Show in Toronto

2010-01-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

I am so delighted to be a part of The Wedding Co. Show taking place in downtown Toronto this weekend! This is a fantastic show for any bride-to-be who wants to meet with upscale, unique vendors. I am very impressed with all of the booth presentations and the friendly vendors. So many unique and stunningly beautiful ideas for your all aspects of your wedding.

Great to also reconnect with a classmate from my days at Ryerson University. Catherine Langlois designs the most beautiful contemporary and romantic wedding gowns from her studio in Toronto http://www.catherinelanglois.com/

New this year was an area of the show called Handmade Stand. It spotlights Etsy Artisans, many from the Toronto area - some of the most talented! It is a great idea and attracted lots of attention from the brides. I featured a white hair gardenia that fit in well right along side other Etsy Artisans. I had lots of lovely compliments on the clay flowers and following the show, these items will be given away through draws - follow http://www.theweddingco.com/events/ for details. If you would like to see more hair gardenias and other examples of my clay flowers, please visit http://www.invitemecreative.etsy.com/

Back to designing - I have so many little sketches, swatches and colour combinations floating around in my head and in my sketch book - I hope you will like them!

Lovin' a Sunny Thursday!

2010-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

I working on some Valentine clay flower projects and some cute Valentine greeting cards. I thought that thought this photo would be uplifting today! It is sunny (and cold!) and I have had a challenging couple of days with my vehicle! Ugghh!

After 2 boosts this week and a flatbed tow to the dealership today, the conclusion is...the back wiper motor had seized up and was draining the battery - thankfully, under warranty and I can get it back today. Just little wrinkles like this that can put your day behind. Hope your day is going well!

Resolution - 2010 - It's Going to be a Great Year!

2010-01-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

So, what has taken me 10 days to wish all of my loyal friends and readers a Happy New Year?!! Seems I have been pondering and trying to carefully consider what to write. Many of the blogs I read have such inspirational and motivating words these days - I have been busy!

Starting with "My Word for this Year"...a great idea for everyone, whether you own your own business or not. From Ali there is a superb list of words - my friend Vicki chose CHANGE and my pal Julie is going with EDUCATE. I chose mine before reading through Ali's list. My word for this year is FOCUS - there are so many positive applications of this word for me to achieve!

I have been busy in the studio working on some wedding items, valentine's day treats and uplifting home decor pieces - all out of clay!

I hope you will follow along this journey - leave me a message with YOUR word for this year. I forecast that 2010 is going to be a Great Year - let's make it happen!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T12:14:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and Best of the Season to all of my blog readers, family and friends! 2009 has been quite an exciting year in my business, with my family and around the house!

More exciting business news in early 2010 and lots more blog info to share! All the Best to You and Yours - take time to share a special moment with someone! Off to take some more photos and find some homemade fudge - mmm, one of my faves! :D

The Olympic Flame

2009-12-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

So exciting to see the Olympic Flame as it passed through our town today! There were LOTS of people along the route and around the Magna Ctr - It was a VERY Proud Canadian Moment!

Went early enough to get a close-up view and no one was disappointed - lots to see, plenty of cheering and singing - everyone caught the Olympic Spirit today! Front row and the action was right there in front of us! They put on a great show and the residents who were there will have a lifetime memory - so proud to see a local torchbearer, Clare, carry it up on stage and light the Olympic Cauldron!

If The Flame is coming close to your town, it is well worth the time and effort to get to see it!

Go, CANADA, Go!

Happy Birthday Arrangement for Barbara!

2009-12-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

My friend Sheryl and her sister Carolyn wanted to give their Mom an extra-special, everlasting gift of clay flowers to celebrate a milestone birthday! With the colour direction of white/creme and orange, I was given artistic freedom to create a low-and-long arrangement for the dining room table.

Using roses in various shades of orange and creamy white roses with slightly tinted centers, this arrangement is very elegant punctuated with the creamy gardenias. I have recently modified my gardenia making technique and am THRILLED with how this arrangement turned out.

Shhhhh, the birthday party isn't until Sunday. Happy Birthday Barbara!

Sneak Peek for Sunday!

2009-12-08T09:59:00.001-08:00

You asked for it...and we listened!

Similar to the Open House last May, another Mompreneur (Karen) and I are hosting a Holiday Open House this weekend! Let's finish off our Christmas Shopping with the gifts we really want! Send your sweetie with a wish list - we'll steer him in the right direction!

Featuring Christmas themed, Wintry, Winter Wedding inspired clay flower arrangements, hair flowers and decorations - perfect for home decor, gift giving or hostess gifts. Karen will be showing all of the latest silver collections from Silpada! Everyone loves the silver bling-bling!

If you are going to be in the Newmarket area, please call 905-751-7657 for an evite with exact times and directions to the event! Would love to see you too!

Holiday and Wintry Arrangements

2009-12-02T05:47:00.000-08:00

Some photos of Christmas and Wintry Arrangements that I have been working on! Can you believe that they are made from air-dry clay? I am amazed how great they look when transformed from my work table into a hand-designed arrangement that will brighten someone's day and look great on a holiday table...or how terrific for a reception table at a winter wedding!

If you are in the Newmarket area tomorrow, there is an Open House Shopping Event that I am participating in. There will be several product lines available as well as a showcase of my clay flower designs! There will be many shoppers who will be seeing clay flowers for the first time - can't wait to hear their comments!

The event is at the Bowen Therapy Clinic in The Newmarket Plaza (130 Davis Drive, Unit 4) from 2-8pm. There will be lots to look at and shop from as well as refreshments, door prizes and shopping fun! Please drop by if you are in the area.

CYBER MONDAY - Sale! Take $5. off White Gardenia Hair Flowers

2009-11-30T09:52:00.001-08:00

WOW! So much web-chatter about Cyber Monday sales that I want to join in the excitement!

If you would like to save $5. on a beautiful, everlasting Hair Gardenia for the holidays, an upcoming wedding, a vacation...or to wear everyday, please go to http://www.invitemecreative.etsy.com/ to order yours today! (Usually $25 each plus shipping, I am offering these clay flower gardenias for $20 each) This sale runs from Nov 30 - December 4th, so don't miss out!

Eco Chic, Lightweight and Scent free! This elegant gardenia hair flower will be stunning at a wedding, a cocktail party, the honeymoon and any other special occasion… I wear mine for everyday with a ponytail! Whether you have an up do, low do or off to the side, this hairflower is finished with a U-shaped hairpin that can be securely attached into your hairstyle with bobby pins.

Available in white, each gardenia is hand designed, petal by petal, using CLAYCRAFT by DECO to create a very realistic looking, everlasting blossom! Every gardenia is slightly different in size, approx. 3.5” in diameter...so pretty! Proudly, I am a certified DECO instructor who creates very realistic looking, everlasting arrangements. Very eco-chic!

With thanks, Tracey

PS - The hair gardenia makes a great gift - why not one for yourself too?!!

Outdoor Decorative Urns for the Holidays!

2009-11-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Surprised to see no snow in these photos?!!

Me too - usually there is something on the ground by now! Not complaining what so ever!

I am pleased to show you some outdoor decorative urns for the holidays! With just a bit of imagination, greenery and some stuff you probably have, you can make a decorative statement at the front of your home too!

The greenery I used this year included juniper (from the big overgrown shrub that was recently taken down), cedar boughs, pine, salal and fir boughs. I added some mismatched sparkly ornaments. The dogwood stems are fresh and the big pinecones are from the florist. It would have been nice to light the grapevine balls (the client currently has no hydro running out the front). I re-used the wreath I designed for them last year, just adding some new ball ornaments to fill it in a bit.

What do you do to decorate the front of your home for the holidays?

A Week of Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T05:54:00.000-08:00

I am posting this photos for my American family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving to You - we all have so much to be thankful for!

The clay arrangements were designed by me featuring flowers, fruit, pumpkins and leaves - very festive using fall colours. The cupcake turkey was made for me by someone very special!

Simple to do - chocolate cupcake with frosting, a Timbit, red, white and yellow coloured frosting, chocolate chips, pretzels and a fruit roll-up. See photo for details - a SWEET treat for Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

A very talented Designer!

2009-11-17T07:36:00.001-08:00

Today I want to introduce you to a very talented woman - Vicki Boutin - a very enthusiastic and creative designer in the scrapbooking industry! I met Vicki a couple of years ago when I took one of her scrapbooking workshops at ScrapFest in Kitchener.

Although I am not a 'scrapper' per se, I had seen Vicki's amazing layouts featured in several (many!) scrapbook/papercrafting magazines (both Canadian and US)...and I thought "I NEED to meet this woman!" I was impressed with her work, her presentation and humour as well as her ability to teach those with varying skill levels.

I was fortunate enough to take another one of Vicki's classes at ScrapFestU at Hockley Valley last weekend - it was scheduled before my make-n-take and I was intrigued by the project and new techniques she was going to teach - and I was not disappointed!! I knew that when she offered me a photography tip that it would be a good one - and it is! (I took the photo of the three women in Vicki's blog post from Nov 9th - not bad, heh?)

If you ever have the opportunity to take her class, you will be equally impressed (even if you aren't a scrapper - you can use many of the techniques in papercrafting and home decor projects). Vicki has some upcoming workshops and if she is in your area, book your seat quick - I know her classes sell out!

Visit Vicki's blog (which she is quite good at keeping current) at http://www.vickiboutin.typepad.com/. You will also be impressed with the photos from her 'scrap space' yow-sa! We all strive to be organized in our creative space!

My ETSY Storefront - OPEN for business!

2009-11-16T05:46:00.000-08:00

I am ready to announce that I have opened an Etsy shop on-line purchasing my clay flower and stationery creations! I was a bit reluctant to undertake opening a shop (only because it was out of my comfort zone and I would have to teach myself) and I have been building it behind the scenes for weeks. (Thank you Diane for your encouragement...for the last year!... to get going on this!)

For those who are unfamiliar with Etsy, PLEASE visit http://www.etsy.com/ or you can go directly to my shop at http://www.invitemecreative.etsy.com/. It is truly a collection of unbelievably talented artisans! So proud to be a part of this!

I have listed a few items and am thrilled with the response (I can see how many people click on to view the pieces - other than me! LOL). I will continue to add items as available and have some very interesting and beautiful clay and paper designs planned.

Hey! Just wanted to mention that I got my first sale! Thank you to Jerrilee for being my first customer - I have carefully packaged the arrangement, shipped it...and it is on its way to Oregon, USA! How cool is that?!

Whoo - hoo....as I wrote this post...another sale! I am very grateful for all of my customers who have the faith to purchase online. I hope that you will find my work to be 'even better' in person, even though I try my best with the photos...promise!

ScrapFest U - November 7,8th

2009-10-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

For all of my scrapbooking clients and friends, I just wanted to remind you of the ScrapFest U that is coming up in a couple of weeks. The ScrapFest team has such an exciting weekend getaway planned at the lovely Hockley Valley Resort!

So what is ScrapFest U..........Your Ultimate Creative Escape!!
November 7th and 8th, 2009

It is all about creative fun!! Scrapbooking/card making/stamping and photography workshops that are being instructed by leading industry experts, Vicki Boutin and Kathy Thompson Laffoley.

The fun continues into Saturday evening after a gourmet dinner and a special event. I am delighted to be included in this event as one of the hostesses of a special "Holiday Make-N-Take' project!

So picture the perfect location and time to shop, crop, learn and create!! Go to www.scrapfest.ca for more details!

A day at the local Bridal Show

2009-10-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of the Brides-to-Be that I met this past weekend at the Cardinal Bridal Show!

A great turn-out on a drizzly, rainy Sunday - lots of modern and traditional plans for upcoming weddings were shared with me. It is such an exciting time for you and your families!

I was very pleased with the enthusiasm of those who had never seen clay flowers before! Thank you for your kind comments and encouragement on the work that I do - I enjoy every aspect of creating unique invitations and fashionable clay flowers for my clients. Eco-chic, scent-free and everlasting...the perfect alternative to fresh flowers! So many of these brides who attended this show are getting married in August 2010 - I am planning for this busy wedding season!

If you are interested in a consultation and more details on invitations and/or clay flowers, please contact me at invitemecreative@rogers.com. I look forward to hearing from you - book time with me early so you won't be disappointed!

PS - my display table was next to a terrific wedding photographer, "FotoGirl" aka Dani Romano, provides stunning wedding photography - she is enthusiastic, young and very talented. Check her out at http://www.fotogirl.ca/

Late Summer Florals

2009-09-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well...do you hear it? The sound of silence...as the children have gone for the first day of school in our neighbourhood! Some parents silently weep while others sing "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" as the hustle and bustle of the school routine resumes.

I thought it was timely to show a 'late summer' vase arrangement, designed two different ways. One is more traditional with a loose triangular shape and the other more contemporary with a more vertical structure. I used some delicate blooms - like white hydrangea clusters, coral coloured poppies and open white peonies complemented with some full roses in shades of yellow, peach and coral. I like how these flowers are balanced and how the burlap rope wrapped vase gives so much more texture.

Leave me a comment about your kids' first day of school...Enjoy the moment!

Summer Hydrangeas - Bloom Forever!

2009-08-27T06:22:00.001-07:00

Ah, the beauty of summer hydrangea! Love the billowing blossoms and the abundance of colour, even the annabelle/pee gee white snowballs! Hydrangeas are a very popular flower in wedding bouquets and arrangements, but sadly they have a very short life before they wilt.

There are many hydrangea bushes in our neigbourhood and I have been experimenting with a couple of bushes that I have had for a few years. One disappointment in my garden this year is a 3 year old hydrangea that has bloomed in the past, but after moving it, there were no flowers last year and only one, lonely cluster of a vibrant, almost irridescent blue/purple this summer! I photographed it right away and admired it for a couple of days...then couldn't resist snipping it and bringing it inside to enjoy. I know the proper care for stems and water temp, however this beauty started to fade a day later.

I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to do a floral comparison with real flowers and clay flowers made with ClayCraft by DECO. I snipped a couple of blossoms for comparison (see photo) and I was able to match and emulate the shading of this cluster through careful mixing of clay pigments. When I went to shoot it in the light of day, well...you can see what it looks like today. No one can match the beauty of Mother Nature, but with so many brides who desire hydrangeas on their wedding day, the qualities of clay flowers provide an eco-chic alternative!

Pretty Wreath

2009-08-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

This summertime wreath makes me smile! It is just over 14" in diameter and FULL of wonderful clay flowers and ribbon. Peonies, roses, hydrangeas, tuberose buds, lilacs, gerbera daisies, gardenias and more....they're all in there! This wreath would look terrific hung on the wall, but just as fabulous on a dining table with a hurricane or pillar candle placed in the center. Could also be an everlasting head table centerpiece at a wedding! These colours are very happy and remind me how wonderful summer is!

If you are interested in purchasing this piece or having me custom make one in your decor colours, please contact me at invitemecreative@rogers.com . Imagine how rich this clay wreath would look using in the wonderful autumn colours (not that I am rushing summer along by any means) or spring pastels, summer brights...oooh, what about monochromatic?!! Possibilities...endless! Enjoy.

Summer Arrangement

2009-08-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Can't you just smell the peonies! (Many people like the scent - some have an allergic reaction!)

Even though peonies have already bloomed here, I was able to re-create them in a everlasting clay arrangement. Sometimes red and white tend to look 'Christmas-like' or like a Valentines arrangement, so I chose to balance the red and white peonies (and buds) with chartreuse green/white hydrangeas. To add a bit of different texture, I included a few hibiscus blooms - also very delicate blossoms in nature. I think this would look terrific on a dining room table.

Wrist Corsages for Weddings

2009-07-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

With so many "special guests" at a wedding, it is a very thoughtful gesture to honour them with their own flowers. Clay flower corsages are a perfect gift for the special people in your lives not only on the day of your wedding, but as a keepsake of this special day.

Here are an assortment of wedding corsages, complete with a pearl wristlet (just to make it a bit fancier!). Even the most delicate blossoms like gardenias, peonies, roses and poppies can be transformed into beautiful, everlasting wedding corsages!

Yellow Roses = Friendship

2009-07-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

I just love summer roses...and here is a bouquet of a dozen clay flower roses. Yellow roses are the colour of friendship, so they make a thoughtful gift or gesture to give to a friend or loved one.

Sadly, this particular bouquet was given to close family friends with deepest sympathy and remembrance, which we hope will give comfort to the family - much more practical than real flowers, especially in this situation. They may choose to keep the bouquet together or to give each member of the family a blossom to keep.

More Wedding Photos - Amy & Rob

2009-07-12T04:15:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways for the bride to personalize her wedding day! By having a colour story that repeats throughtout all of the thoughtful wedding items, all of the pieces co-ordinate for a more sophisticated look. The wedding colours that Amy chose included: cherry red, baby blue and white - perhaps not the typical summer wedding colours, but that is what made her day even more special!

These colours not only worked well together, they were very complementary to all skin tones of the bridal party, as well as the existing decor pieces at the wedding venue http://www.waterstonefarms.com/. The country landscape was lovely and although the day started and ended with rain, Amy and Rob's wedding was bright and sunny...and bountiful with natural greenery (and a nice summer breeze for the comfort of the guests).

Here are some photos of the table centerpieces - votive lanterns surrounded by a ribbon-wrapped grapevine wreath and a cluster of clay flowers. Amy added some blue ribbon and a whimsical tag to the lantern which marked the tables for guests to find their seats. At the end of the evening, one lucky guest from each table was able to take the centerpiece home - what a thoughtful keepsake of the wedding!

For the cake, which looked elegant and delicious smothered in buttercream icing, Amy requested a large scale red poppy to fit the 6" round top layer. I added a few stephanotis, ribbon and greenery. The cake flower gets set into the cake just before the wedding reception and should be wiped dry from any icing that touches the flower - no mess, no fuss - and an everlasting flower to keep!

Real Wedding Photos - Amy & Rob

2009-07-12T03:58:00.000-07:00

The bridesmaid bouquets were a thoughtful gift from Amy - she was so excited to give the everlasting clay flowers to her special attendants. She shared with me that each of them had a favourite flower and I incorporated these special flowers into each of their flower bouquets. The attendants wore dark cherry red coloured dresses, so the white bouquets would be an elegant contrast - the colours looked great together! For the bouquets, I mixed with several shades of white roses were feature flowers that included: white lilies, white gerbera daisies, white tulips, white poppies, white victorian roses. The attendants love their special flowers and will have them for years to come. One commented to me at the wedding yesterday that the clay flowers looked so real that she had to flick a bug off of her bouquet several times!

Real Wedding Photos

2009-07-12T03:10:00.000-07:00

I have had the pleasure of working with Amy since meeting her last fall at a bridal show. She has become a real fan of clay flowers and it was a pleasure to design the wedding invitations and clay flowers for her wedding to Rob. The wedding was yesterday and I was delighted to drop by to see the ceremony. It was a lovely afternoon wedding in the country - the wedding party looked gorgeous and there was a lot of love and happiness for this special day! Thank you for allowing me to share in your wedding day.

Congratulations Amy and Rob - may your long life together be full of good health and everlasting happiness!

Clay flowers look so realistic, in person and in photos! I was happy to deliver Amy's entire order of wedding flowers nine days before the wedding...one less (very important) component of a wedding not to worry about for the bride and groom! I was going on vacation and would not be back until moments before the ceremony, so delivering the flowers in advance worked well for everyone - there is no fresh florist that can do that!

Amy's wedding flowers included: Red Poppies, Red Peonies, Red Roses and Stephanotis. She specifically did not want any greenery in her bouquet, so there were challenges for me to keep the design as life-like as possible. One solution is that I mixed the clay to have several shades of red to give it a more realistic look. Amy was thrilled with how it turned out! Robert's boutonniere was designed using a sentimental flower for him - cherry blossoms! So delicate in real life, there is no way fresh blossoms could have been used (let alone found here, this time of year).

I will post some more of the clay flower details so you can see how everlasting flowers made of clay can work into your special event or home decor.

A Clay Flower Bouquet

2009-06-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

I am posting this shot because I wanted to show you how realistic the clay flowers can look! I think they look very real, cello wrapped and ready to go! These single rose stems are going to a wedding, to be handed out to some special guests as part of the ceremony, one by one. There won't be a dry eye in the church. The victorian garden roses have more of a ruffled center - perfect and elegant. Best wishes to Jessica and Martin on their wedding day and always!

Bridal Hair Flowers

2009-05-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

How lovely to have a hair flower on your special day! Through the beauty of clay flowers, you can have the most delicate flowers hand-designed for you! Gardenia...peony...poppy...you name it!

Today I bumped into a young woman that I haven't seen for a couple of years and she is getting married in 16 days (and counting)! She has beautiful, wavy red hair and we agreed that a clay flower would be a stunning, finishing touch to her updo and veil! Thanks for the chat, Andrea. You will love this flower on your wedding day - don't forget to pack it in your honeymoon luggage too!

There are several backings for hair flowers - U-shaped pin, alligator clip or barrette bar. Hair stylists prefer the U-shaped pin, so they can skillfully attach it into the hair securely. Prices range from $15-$25 per blossom. The hair flowers are between 3-4" in diameter. Please contact me directly for more details or to order.

One Square Arrangement - Three Ways

2009-05-14T08:18:00.001-07:00

Well...two blogs in one day...still raining!

I wanted to share some more of the beautiful characteristics of working with ClayCraft by DECO. You can clearly see how different each arrangement looks simply by using different hues and shades of roses. The chocolate brown container is very charming with the spicy shade roses, yet similar coloured roses in a white vase are also very sharp! I think the monochromatic palette of the third photo is also very elegant and will look lovely in any room.

As classic as a beautiful rose is, it can look modern using a square container - just love how all three of these turned out. Enjoy, Ladies! These three arrangements are spoken for, but you are welcome to contact me for custom orders. www.invitemecreative.ca

Rainy Day - Sunny Flowers

2009-05-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

It is raining here today with a thunder storm brewing! Ah, Spring!! As many of my friends who are anxious to get into their gardens are busy at the nursery and garden centers, I thought I would post some cheerful flowers before I head out - off to get LOTS of compost to feed my outdoor gardens! It is a long weekend coming here in Canada - sort of 'opening weekend' for cottagers and gardeners!

I am really pleased the way my clay flower arrangements are composing themselves lately. I have been making lots of pink coloured flowers (see the rustic mossy pot) and coral coloured roses...so for a change, I tried the selection of purple/lavender roses in a cute ceramic pot. Hope you like them too!

Mother's Day Weekend

2009-05-08T10:14:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share some more photos of some pieces I have been working on! I think the hydrangeas are my current fave - love all of the shades and tones that can be created with clay! Don't forget to have a card for Mom for Sunday! Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms - we owe a lot to you!

I am lucky enough to be spending Mother's Day with my own family, including my Mom and Grandmother! :) Enjoy!

Feeling Like Spring!

2009-05-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

It is really Spring here now! I see the buds on the maple trees, the glorious magnolia trees are about to burst (one of my spring faves!) and bulbs blooming everywhere! Hooray - now I am getting the bug to go out and see what I can do in the garden. I feel the romance of the floral garden as I see the nursery garden centers opening up and the flats of annuals tantalizing me...

In the meantime, here are some recent arrangements that I made for Mother's Day. You can almost smell the fragrant peonies (so delicate as a fresh flower) and roses. The hydrangeas (also so delicate and fussy) can be enjoyed as clay flowers for a lot longer! I really like this colour combo this time of year too - so refreshing after a long, cold winter!

Some Eye Candy!

2009-04-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

Feeling like Spring could arrive any minute here! There have been some April Showers this week (and hundreds of slimy little worms on the driveway)...Good for the Garden! Ah, my garden...if I could only plant some clay flowers for instant colour! LOL

ScrapFest was this past weekend - what a great experience! Great to see so many happy scrappers at this event with lots of bags (full of the newest patterned papers, cardstock and embellishments) coming from the Marketplace. I had a great group of very creative ladies attend my card making class! Thanks for the giggles - at one point it was 'snowing' little bits of boa feathers!

I am busy working on Mother's Day clay flowers (hair flowers, arrangements and other goodies) as well as hand-designed greeting cards. Will post some more photos soon - seems the uploading is taking a long time from my camera to computer. :)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter and Happy Spring to All!

I hope the bunny found its way to your house today! We all had plenty of egg hunting, paper crafting with the kids, good food with the family this weekend...and maybe a few chocolates...now back to chicken, fish and veggies this week! LOL - How many weeks to swimsuit season??!!!

Looking forward to ScrapFest and finish kitting my class this week - lots of goodies in store! Can't wait to meet the enthusiastic students and create some cool papercrafting embellishments with clay!If you haven't registered...

Only a few spots left...

2009-04-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

(This was written by Lisa Furtney of ScrapFest)

ONLY 11 MORE SLEEPS...... to ScrapFest in Kitchener 2009
Your Ultimate Scrapbooking and Paper Crafting Destination!

Wait until you see all of the newly released products that ScrapFest's exhibitors are bringing to the event. New products that have not yet been seen in the stores!! They have been saving them just for ScrapFest and for YOU!!! Please join us on Saturday to shop the day away and enjoy make 'n takes, demonstrations and more. Tickets are available on line or at the door on Saturday, April 18th for $10. Friday passes are sold out!!
Don't skip these classes!! There are only a FEW spots left!!

You do not want to miss out on these incredible classes and the opportunity to LEARN and CREATE from the industry's best from all over Canada. Take a look at what Vicki Boutin, Trisha Ladouceur, and Kathy Thompson Laffoley have planned for YOU! For more information on the classes being offered at ScrapFest in Kitchener please visit this link.

Beautiful NEW embellishments! Are you looking for something fun and exciting to add to your layouts, cards and other crafting projects?
Then you will not want to miss out on the opportunity to take Tracey Paul's class, "Cool Embellishments with Clay." Yes, CLAY. But this isn't the kind of clay you are thinking of. This Deco Clay is so nice to play with and it feels like marshmallows but it isn't sticky! I had the opportunity to play with it a couple of weekends ago and I didn't even want to wash my hands afterwards - not messy at all! Come see what I mean.

Let's get this party started right NOW with another contest!!
If you post your answer on the ScrapFest Forum under the topic "Do Tell!!" your name will go into a draw and the winner will receive a prize package which will be available for pick up at the ScrapFest registration table at the AUD on Friday, April 17th or Saturday, April 18th.

Here is the question: How did you heard about ScrapFest? Do tell!!

The draw will take place on Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 9:00pm ET.

We are looking forward to another fun filled couple of days with many of you at ScrapFest in Kitchener 2009. We can't wait!! See you real soon! OK, time to get back to work!
http://www.scrapfest.ca/

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Where have I been??

2009-03-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hello - I know I have been very quiet on the blogging-front...only because I have been busy behind the scenes! I was fortunate to spend a week working with my DecoClay Craft Academy Instructor in San Jose, California in early March. Along with 2 other students, we worked day and night on projects to refine our flower making, accent painting and floral arrangement skills. I am very thankful for that opportunity and thrilled with my progress to date!

With a very quick turn-around (home for a day and a half) our family flew off for a warm-weather, beach vacation in beautiful Cuba! Laughs and good times, combined with a lot of pool-side lounging and walking the beach! I wore sunscreen :) and I snapped lots of photos of beautiful tropical flowers that I will try to re-create in clay. Stay tuned.

Also, the countdown to ScrapFest is on! April 17, 18th in Kitchener, Ontario. Visit http://www.scrapfest.ca/ for more details - hope you can make it!

A Gerbera Daisy

2009-02-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

I made this gerbera daisy a couple of days ago out of DecoClay and looking over the photos, it is one that makes me happy! No special reason for posting, just thought you might enjoy it. Looking for Spring (even though it is mid-Feb).

I also thought with the tiffany blue background that this is a lovely colour combination for a spring/summer wedding....maybe a hairclip? or part of a cake topper?

There are so many uses for DecoClay flowers...in arrangements, home decor, scrapbooking and hair flowers! Enjoy.

Meeting Steven & Chris at CBC

2009-02-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I received an invitation to see the taping of an episode of the "Steven & Chris" show at the CBC downtown Toronto. Not ever wanting to pass up the chance to go to the 416 area code, I jumped at the chance! Lisa (ScrapFest) and I ventured downtown and had great seats, lots of laughs and a new insight into television production!

We met up with some very fun and talented scrapbookers, Karen (Go Scrapping), Sheri & Judy (In A Pinch Designs), their friend Janet as well as Jackie (co-founder of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine). What a great day - thanks ladies!

Steven and Chris are true pros who enjoy what they do, have an appreciation for their audience and put on a great show (in front of and off-camera). They allowed and encouraged photos at the breaks and they were gracious and accomodating!

If you are interested to see the episode (we are in the 2nd row, center for the audience shots) set your PVR for this episode of the Steven and Chris Show. It will air on Tuesday February 17, 2009 at 2PM on the CBC. Be sure to check it out...

ScrapFest - Registration is OPEN

2009-01-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to announce that the registration is now OPEN for ScrapFest! Visit http://www.scrapfest.ca/ for details. Look under registration, classes, teachers (then my photo) to see my workshop details - I hope you can join me on Sat April 18th in Kitchener, Ontario!

We'll learn the basics about custom-tinting DecoClay and creating fabulous embellishments for greeting cards and scrapbook pages. While the pieces air-dry we will make greeting cards and tags with some of the prettiest patterned paper and embellishments by Melissa Frances. Imagine these everlasting embellishments on greeting cards & layouts to showcase the ultimate in tactile embellishments! DecoClay is a product that can enhance the hand-designed elements of your card making techniques and scrapbook pages.

2009-01-23T10:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my friend, Kim! I wanted to make some greeting cards to give, but was a little short on time. I have a few wedding invitation orders underway, so I did not want to jeopardize their timeline...yet needed to find time to do both.

Here is my idea...I found some pre-made greeting cards with a graphic black and white stylized floral design. I usually MAKE my greeting cards from cardstock, however these would be perfect for my fashionable friend, so I gave each of them a bit of bling!

Using stickles, prima flowers, ribbon, rub-ons, crystals and chipboard in various colours, I was able to make some 'one of a kind' card designs, eight in total, but I only photographed six. Each is printed inside with a sentiment - I hope Kim sends them all out to her family and friends! Maybe you'll get one! ;)

2009-01-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!
I am making the committment to 'blog more often'...so today is the start! The wintry COLD weather (currently MINUS 22 degrees) we are having here in Ontario, Canada, has inspired me to get working on some Spring flowers to warm things up a bit! After the Christmas clay arrangements and decor got packed away, the house looked like it needed a bit of colour!

Here is a vignette of clay flowers that I hope will make you feel that Spring is coming. I will soon be making them into an arrangement for sale, but thought they made a nice photo. Later today, I will be working on some Valentine's inspired flowers.

Finished Christmas Arrangements

2008-12-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been missing in action - there has been a lot of work going on in the studio! Here are a couple of finished arrangements made with hand-designed flowers (DecoClay), some very realistic looking greenery (from Michaels) and some ceramic latte and compote bowls - very elegant pieces for Christmas! Another fashionable look for the holidays is to wear a clay hair flower with an updo - I have recently delivered an assortment of hair flowers to a local hair salon...gardenias and orchids!

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with one of Toronto's Best Wedding Planners - more to come on that later.

In the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of meeting a young couple who will be getting married in the summer of 2009 and another couple who are planning a destination wedding for late spring 2010. As their invitation designs come along, I may post them (with permission). If you are recently engaged - Congratulations! I am booking appointments for 2009 or 2010 wedding invitations and flower arrangements.

Work in Progress

2008-11-21T09:09:00.001-08:00

This week I have been busy making some festive holiday clay flowers!

Christmas-white amaryllis (still needs centers), deep red roses, holiday red poinsettias as well as some elegant off-white gardenias. As I laid them out on the worktable today with some of the ornamental fillers, cranberry red bowl and life-like greenery garland, they took on a very pleasing Christmas look - so I had to take a photo. It is very cold here today, but the sunshine is gleaming in - perfect for taking some good, detailed photos!

This is certainly not a finished piece, but often my customers ask where I get my inspiration for design. Here is a perfect example of 'work in progress' whereby I look at the pieces (of paper, ribbon or clay) and they somehow magically seem to configure themselves. I will finish up some arrangements and post them...as soon as they are ready 'for their close-up'!

My First Blog - Hello World!

2008-11-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! Finally! I have decided to join the "blogging world" to share new designs and product previews with you. I hope you will check back often to view some of the new things that are be produced in the studio.