Trading Inspiration in "Design Program Jr"

Artgirlsy has just completed the teaching of the "Design Program Jr." at the Children's Arts Institute in Van Nuys, CA...the enriching summer program at the Children's Community School. I taught the kids, ages 6-12, the basics of hand sewing, sewing on a machine, making fabric tubes, accessories, and simple garments. We did tee shirt reconstructions and redefined denim, making denim wrist cuffs, turning jeans into bell bottoms and decking them out with added flair using buttons, fabric scraps, gems and beads. I was so inspired that as an example of a possible fabric necklace, I cut up a pair of huge "phat farm" jeans, and using the letters from those, put the word "art" on this denim "bib", that I love and wear all the time! It has even inspired me to create a fabric accessory line which you should all look for soon. I'm going to be incorporating denim, hand sewn and knitted elements as well as other fun stuff.

Here you can see how I taught the kids how to cut a slit up the side of their jeans, open it up and insert a piece of fabric to create the triangle shape that is needed for a pair of bell bottomed style pants. Sadie did a little mix and matching with her fabric choices that I loved!





This Design Program and really the entire Children's Arts Institute was so amazing to be a part of. It truly is a small artist community that with teachers inspiring students and vice versa. Each summer I work there, I really develop new and interesting additions to my art teaching tool belt. Ever since I first taught "Upcycling" and started the teaching of jewelry and fashion in this very program, the utilization of recyclable materials shows up in almost everything I do and so many lessons that I teach through the school year. This summer I even fused together the Upcycling with the fashion, in fusing together plastic bags to make wallets and belts, using plastic bottles and duct tape to create jewelry and bags with the students. It has all been so cool! I love opening up people's eyes to different possibilities, using things they never thought to make art with and having fun while learning. We even had a "Project Runway"-esque challenge where the kids had to build outfits on dress forms (mannequins) out of things like newspaper, cardboard and wallpaper sample books. At the culminating fashion show, it was so amazing to hear the parents exclaim to their children "you're getting a sewing machine"! and ask me how/where they can continue their growth in sewing especially.

More pictures to come! I'll try to keep up with the blog better, really I will!!! ; )

Art-Lil*-girlsy

Ahh, Fashionistas in training. You know, hanging out with a bunch of little girls can be hella fun. Especially when it's supposed "work"... I love working with children, just being around them uplifts my spirits and allows me to be free. I of course also love art and I love fashion. And when I have the chance to combine all of these loves o' mine, I relish in the opportunity and squeeze all the fun I can out of it! I was working a little 8 year old girl's birthday party, a very special student of mine, who is very fashion forward! Her mother is just the best and reminds me of my own in a way, in the way that they are both their daughter's biggest fan! Even her father got in on the action and later came out in drag as "Madame Fabulosa" to help the girls get ready for their fashion show!




This is where it gets really cool. We threw out on the lawn, a bunch of random things, odds and ends like different sized plastic bags, fabric scraps, tape, and out of those and anything else they could find, the girls pieced themselves together an outfit...recycling and upcycling a fashion show runway dress, skirt, complete ensemble.


These little booties the girls made all by themselves out of plastic bags and duct tape. My fave!

Ready to walk down the driveway girls, ahem, er, I mean, RUNWAY?!!!! Now, be fierce!


Here are the girls modeling the duct tape belts we made, (before the fashion show, getting ready for it!) inspired by an old duct tape dress form I made by wrapping my body in saran wrap and then literally, taping myself up! I did a similar thing with them, for fun...wrapped just their waists in saran wrap, a few layers of duct tape over that, then we cut it off carefully. They taped loops on both ends of the belt and added fabric to tie, and duct tape bows for more flair! How cute are they?

New Feather Earrings at Polka Dots & Moonbeams and 1616 Cahuenga

Sewing Rebellion

Hands-On 3rd on 3rd Street in LA is a wonderful craft studio that offers back-to-basics workshops and creative space for gatherings, art shows, parties and more. One thing we do at Hands-On 3rd monthly, is hold a special event called "Sewing Rebellion", inviting you to come in, "Stop Shopping and Start Sewing". I'll be hosting this month's Sewing Rebellion this Sunday, February 20th, from 4-6pm.

Please join me on Sunday. It's free. Check out Hands-On 3rd. 3rd Street is pretty cool too. Make stuff. Be merry.


Peace, Love, & Art,
Artgirlsy
(Jamia)

Fabric, Feathers and Gold Chain

ArtEtsy Getsy Girlsy

Peacock-a-boo

peacock feather. teal and gold lace fabric strips. abalone fender guitar pick. $30

artgirlsy@hotmail.com

Blondielu's

These feathearrings look great fluttering about anyone's mane, but especially girls with blonde hair. There's something about all the white in the feathers and the color of the beads that really goes well with that color hair. Then again, worn on the ears of a brunette or darker haired person, it certainly would stand out in such a way that would be like shining stars in a night sky! Really, it works in anyone's 'do. Do IT.


Here we are in Tracilyn-sel town, model Tracilyn Jones rocks these blondielu's in Hollywood before they hit the market. Artgirlsy is coming soon to a brand new Beverly Hills boutique called Rejouer...look for more on that exciting addition soon!

Artgirlsy feather earrings are still available at 1616 Cahuenga boutique and by ordering directly by emailing: artgirlsy@hotmail.com





P.S. Hearts will flutter and fly on Love Day...don't let these pass you by! Get a pair today...I have pink feathers! I can make similar to this with pinks.

Happy Valentines...or as some of the kindergarten kids at my school say, "Valentimes", and I don't always correct them, because they're so dang cute! Is that so wrong? They'll get it eventually.

Love Out,
Artgirlsy
xoxo

Lil' Artgirlsies Fancy....

I recently drew my little niece Emilie a picture of her favorite storybook character, "Fancy Nancy" for her birthday. Except, I replaced the name Nancy with hers! She loved it...here it is, with colorful glitter and lace fabric cut out and applied on the legs for tights. And here is Miss Fancy Emilie herself with a friend at her brother's hockey game at Yale rink, wearing her lovely Tula skirt that she also adores!!!

I also made Emilie's sis Olivia a picture of Hello Kitty that now hangs on the wall of her bedroom, welcoming her by saying....

!!!!!! Liv and I are here wearing our matching Tula skirts...this was a fun lil photoshoot. I love my lil' artgirlsy nieces!!!!!!


If anyone would like a drawing similar to these, I do custom orders/drawings...these would make really great, unique gifts for children, on paper, or even on walls. Please ask if interested.

Thanks!
xoxo
Artgirlsy
artgirlsy@hotmail.com

Frogs in Whiskey

Dug up some old drawings I had scanned and saved...this one was for the musician "Frogs in Whiskey."

Pickin for gold

This necklace is available at 1616 Cahuenga boutique, in Hollywood, CA. It is no longer in a tree. ; )

1616 is a clothing boutique carrying new & hip styles including accessories for Men & Women.. Sharon Segal, Rolland Berry, Planet Gold, Romeo & Juliet, Leatheracci, Minx and Artgirlsy.


Some of this gold chain is actually stretch gold chord, crocheted and then knotted toward the big beads at the bottom of the necklace. It has pale orange beads, and smaller sized, thin Fender guitar picks.




A great necklace for someone who has a lot of earthy tones in their wardrobe. Can make a similar necklace upon request. Each artgirlsy piece of jewelry is unique and different, but I can make things that are very much like pieces you've seen here. Thanks to The Unincorporated Life of Colorado/California for the beautiful photography!

Ostrich and Muppets

Experimenting with layering many different types of feathers here...a bit of a new style...would look good in very full, wavy or curly hair...as my friend Aijia Lise says, "the bigger the hair, the closer to God"...she now owns the top green and brown pair. Hopefully, I'll have pix of those to post soon. In the meantime, check out her music...this girl is amazing. I'm on the east coast now, but I know..."It rained in LA" -her song is the biz...check the vid at the bottom. I LOVE this girl....I'm a believer...she has such a good vibe and energy and her music is smooth and soulful. Everytime it rains in LA I sing this!!!!

Custom Order

Just trying on a pair of custom made earrings for a rock n' rolla gal who requested all black and silver, very BIG and Gibson guitar picks, specifically. She shops at "1616 Cahuenga" all the time and wanted some ArtgirlsY Jewelsy when she got a glimpse of those feather danglies!

A custom order is most definitly an option, by going into the shop on Cahuenga, or by emailing Jamia (Artgirlsy) directly: artgirlsy@hotmail.com

Usually, they are $35 a pair, at 1616 Cahuenga boutique, and may cost a bit less if you go directly through artgirlsy, via email or the Artgirlsy etsy shop which may be a little out of date right now...I've been focusing more on updating the blog lately...I'm sorry for that. Check here often for more, and hopefully, within the next few weeks I will spend some time on updating my etsy shop. Thank you!

Songbird

Kyla Graves is an LA based singer songwriter friend of mine who plays regular gigs at Citizen Smith, on Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood. The other night I went down to check her out and give her custom made Artgirlsy feather guitar pick earrings. She rocked them so beautifully.


Here she is playing with Georg Egloff, wearing the earrings! Can you make them out? If she drops a pick, she's all set! She can just take her earring off and play without missing a beat! ; )


Even the cutie bartender Phoebe got in on the act! She chose a pair of blue and black loooong feather earrings to go with her all black work attire. These look so good against her beautiful and natural auburn hair. Artgirlsies have never looked so good!

Thanks for rockin' my gear with style and grace ladies!

Stay tuned for Kyla Graves' new album release "Wholehearted"...coming soon! This beautiful songstress hails from Vermont, where I went to college, we both attended UVM in Burlington and I feel a kinship with her through our alma mater. Kyla is a smooth singer and talented guitarist, with gentle flows and soothing prose. You should definitely check her out!

Renegade Craft Fair this weekend

Renegade Craft Fair

this weekend! Come see new Artgirlsy gear...

I found MotherPluckers in Los Angeles ----whooo hoooo!!!! I have more beautiful feathers, more feather guitar pick earrings, feather headbands, handmade silkscreened tote bags and more. I'll be at the Hands On 3rd table doing "Sewing Rebellion"....

Here's the scoop:

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR
Holiday Sale in
Los Angeles
December 11+12, Sat. + Sun. 10 am-5pm
Los Angeles State Historic Park, aka the Cornfield
FREE to attend...
renegadecraft.com

Saturday (Tomorrow): ArtgirLsy in person

Tomorrow, come see ArtgirLsy jewelry, clothing and art in person,
at Larchmont Charter School's Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale,
at the LCW auditorium, 1265 N Fairfax Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90046
2pm-8pm

and then, afterward, at
The LA Opus
10020 CANOGA CHATSWORTH CA 91311
8pm-2am

Feather earrings, TuLA skirts, prints, original artwork, pick up for Holiday gifts!
It's going to be one long day...come and support ArtgirLsy
and the children at the school she works at.

Thank you!

Purple, black and blues