Trash to Treasure

I have been busy lately creating, but not for myself. I completed 3 and half (more later) projects for the Junior League of Winston Salem's Rummage Sale Silent Auction. All it took was "just" 20+ hours and multiple skin rashes later to finish. I made two tables and a decorative memo board. The "half" project that I referred to is still a work in progress. A frustrating one at that. I am trying to make a table out of golf clubs and have tried 3 different times to find a way to attach the legs to the table top portion. Not so much. I decided to stop for a bit after my last attempt and a rash that covered my face, arms and torso all the way down to my belly button. The legs are currently attached, but lets just say if you set your drink on the table it would probably slide off. I will revisit it soon and finish it for next year.

On the plus side, I am happy with the other three projects. I have never made tables before so it was a challenging endeavor for me. A lot of imagination, resourcefulness and trial and error. I am pleased with the outcome and glad that I took on a new challenge. I learned a lot.

The cork board was painted in a surf motif. It coordinates with bedding from Pottery Barn kids. The ski table is kinda funky. I had 2 pairs of skis, cut off the tips and created a brace. I had glass cut for the top. One set of skis was really ugly (neon pink) so I found cool ski images and decoupaged it on the front. Cool. It sold for $75. The final table was an old tray and some sort of base. (Not sure what its original use was) I painted both parts and decoupaged vintage Winston Salem, NC postcards onto the tabletop portion. I got a small piece of glass cut to cover the top. I really like it.

Here are my photos! They don't really do anything justice, but you get the gist.

Happy Crafting,

Madame Craftsalot

www.madamecraftsalot.com

Items for sale

I am currently in the process of posting some of my handmade items for sale on ebay and etsy. Please check them out! I will be adding slowly but surely each day so check back often and please help spread the love of Madame Craftsalot. You can still get it in time for Christmas. I will be posting more coasters, purses, serving trays, wall art, kids decor, stationery and more.
Stay tuned for art you can handle!
Check out ebay at http://search-desc.ebay.com/madamecraftsalot_W0QQfromZR41QQftsZ2
and my ETSY shop at http://www.madamecraftsalot.etsy.com
Happy crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
www.madamecraftsalot.com

Buy Handmade Pledge

I found this while surfing and immediately took the Pledge. Last I checked, you could see my pledge on page #2. I hope you do it too! Just visit www.buyhandmade.org and repeat after me:
"I Pledge to buy handmade this holiday season, and request that others do the same for me!"
This is a great idea and a great site regardless of this pledge. Lots of great links. Check it out!
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot

Decoupage

I had been a little frustrated with decoupage lately. In particular with bubbles forming as I tried to clear coat and protect. I believe that it may help to let the base coat dry overnight or longer, need to investigate further by experimenting more. And by base coat I mean the very first coat that you use to apply/adhere your paper to your surface. I just bought a book to help me figure this problem out too. Get this, it is all about glue. I just got it so I am still reading it. But the book teaches you about different types of glue and gives sample projects. It looks good and helpful. I figured it couldn't hurt. Oh, the book is The Crafter's Guide to Glue: Techniques & Projects by Pattie Donham. I bought it at amazon. I am going to experiment more with different base coat glues. I feel that the main problem is that the paper isn't staying stuck to the base surface. As I go thru trial and error, I will post more. What I have found already is that less glue is more as far as sealing it. Meaning it leaves less streaks. You have to do a lot of coats, sometimes up to 7 or 8 to really protect it, but it works pretty good. Here are links so some of my successful decoupage projects:

Coasters: http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftsalot/sets/72157603381417205/

Purses: http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftsalot/sets/72157603381423517/

Misc decor: http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftsalot/sets/72157603376895478/

If anyone has more tips, please feel free to comment.

Happy Crafting,

Madame Craftsalot

www.madamecraftsalot.com

Whimsical Women

Woohoo! The Whimisical Women show was a huge success...for me and for all. It was our largest show yet between artists and sales. Congrats to all. We have over 50 different artists represented. Some great talent! It was my personal best too so hooray for me. My blood, sweat and sticky fingers paid off. I posted a bunch of photos of my goods on my flickr account and included a few here. I sold a lot of my coasters, ornaments and sold out my trays! I grew a little attached to my ornaments so parting with some was hard - these are 3 of my faves. They are all hand-painted and embellished. My friends even named some of them. They felt they were so cute and deserving of names. We have Royalty, Cardigan and Santa Baby. I can't wait to do more. You can see more on my flickr account. Feel free to share your thoughts!
Happy Crafting,

Madame Craftsalot

www.madamecraftsalot.com

Cool site

I was surfing HGTV the other night for holiday decor inspiration and came across this link: Share My Craft. Crafters and artists post projects and others can rate and comment. I added one of my ornaments to try it out. I like to see what other people are making. Kinda fun.
Happy Crafting!
Madame Craftsalot

Upcoming shows

Where have I been? Locked up in my workshop every spare second Iget. I have three upcoming shows that I will be selling at, and 2are on the same weekend. Yikes.
Festival of Trees
http://www.brennerchildrens.org/FOB/fot.htm
Come see us at the "Embellished" Booth. I am sharing the booth with 3 other talented women. It is our first time doing this. Yikes!
LOCATION: Education Building on the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds
ADMISSION: TICKETS SOLD ONLY AT THE DOOR Adults-$6, Children ages 2-12 years old-$4
DATES AND TIMES: Saturday, November 17, 2007, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.Sunday, November 18, 2007, 12-5 p.m.
PARKING FREE: enter through Coliseum VIP Parking entrance off of 27th Street(entrance behind Goodwill)

----------------------------------------------------------

My second show which is the same weekend as FOT
11TH ANNUAL WHIMSICAL WOMEN FALL SALE
In beautiful downtown Pfafftown
Saturday November 17, 2007 Raindate: Sunday November 18
2233 Vienna-Dozier Road Pfafftown, NC
10 AM – 2 PM
Join us for a peaceful day of Whimsical Art, Fine Fellowship andFabulous Food & Drink. There are over 45 different female artistswho will be selling their art and whimsical creations. It is a veryFUN event. Admission into this event is free.(If you want directions or to be added to my evite list for this event, please email me directly)

-------------------------------------------------------------

My final event (unless I decide to do more) is
The Holiday Market at New Philadelphia Preschool
Saturday, Dec. 8th from 9am - 2pm
4440 Country Club Rd Winston Salem, NC
336 768-4844
www.npmc.org
Approximately 13 vendors with great gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

I have been busy making a number of new items and hope to post some pictures soon. I have made handpainted ornaments, decoupaged mirrors, purses, coasters, memo boards, serving trays, jewelry and more.

That's all she wrote for now. I am off to go attempt to paint some baby shoes either to wear, for decoration or even to turn them into bookends or something. If you come to any of the events, please stop by and say hi. Introduce yourself if I don't already know you!

Happy Crafting,
MB
aka Madame Craftsalot