Alma Stoller

zines, zines and more zines

I've started working on samples and art work for the class I am teaching at The Art Nest next month in Utah. I am sOoOoOo looking forward to it.

This is the cover of Odd Ball Charm issue #5. A really YUMMY mixed media zine...if I do say so myself. It was such a JOY to create it... I hope you consider it another installment of visual and creative juice.

Somewhere inside is the Golden Ticket.
I really don't know where it is. An order comes in and I pull one out and stick it in an envelope.
So you...and I will be completely surprised.

As for mailing....Media Mail sucks.
I have mailed back a few that were returned.
I always...always have some kind of problem with this feature.
Either packages gets lost, arrive INSANELY late, are returned back to me, or arrive looking completely unlike the way I sent it. Some packages look like they were sitting in a battlefield.
It really is not worth the stress and hassle. But I always think...this time it will be different.
I will print the address just right....I will even center it exactly in the middle of the envelope.

Forget it...any effort always results with a few undelivered packages.

No, not again. I WILL NEVER USE MEDIA MAIL AGAIN.
It sucks.  It sucks a million times...a million times + 1.

It sucks a million times to the second power. And it exponentially continues to suck.
So if you ever decide to mail a bulk of handmade, one-of-a-kind creations....don't do it.

Be a dear and slap yourself out of the lure. It is soOoOoOo not worth the discount.

Here is a bit inside this issue.

Here are a few of the inclusions.

If you'd like to order one *click here*.

Will you get The Golden Ticket?

I have been working on Issue #5 of my little zine.

Painting, creating patterns to include, and assembling.

In each issue I am painting an abstract image on a magazine page. (recycle, recycle, recycle)

In a pocket on the inside of this page, will be a few collage papers.....in the mix, you might find this.......

a Golden Ticket.
If it is in your issue....you will receive one of my portraits.
Just a little something extra.

Will the Golden Ticket be in your issue?

 

New Soul

My son is much better. When he gets sick, he has to be densely monitored.
He has Van Willebrands Disease. Without getting into too much about the Van Willebrands factor, and platelets and all of that....it is a blood clotting disorder.

So when he gets cut, bruised or has a spontaneous nose bleed, I am outwardly calm but inwardly a total mess. His fever was quite high and I was afraid it would break out in to seizure.

(candle making in Historic Richmond Town.)

Van Willebrands Disease is actually quite interesting. Most people have it and don’t even know it. Ok, so I’ll get into it anyway. I know it will help someone.

It is characterized by prolonged bleeding, easy bruising, prolonged or heavy menstrual periods, prolonged or unusual bleeding following a minor injury or dental work.

The problem is an abnormality or a deficiency of a protein called the Van Willebrands factor.
The VW factor helps blood cells (platelets) to adhere to the injured area and stop bleeding.
Luckily, Julian has Type 1...which means that he produces the VW factor but a
slightly decreased amount of what is typically normal.
He is fine now....actually, we haven’t had to visit his hematologist in a while.
So he is doing well right now. I am hoping that as he gets older, it will become less
of an issue for him.

Rose was great at her school's talent show. She performed New Soul by Yael Naim.
I was so proud of her...she was really outside of herself on stage. It was the most comfortable I've ever seen her. Her stage presence, her voice.....PERFECTO!

Now I am back to working on the classes I am teaching and various other projects.

 

 

Five for Fighting

Two weeks ago, the kids were home from school for an entire week on their mid-winter break.
We had a great time sledding....yes, we FINALLY got some snow.

It has been quiet around here.
Last week, Julian came down with something like the flu....fever and achy. He has missed school since Thursday.
His temperature was up to 105. He and I spent a good chunk of the day in the emergency room. He's been fighing this for five days now. He is slowly coming out of it...building up energy and an appetite. I am hoping that he gets better soon.

I have started teaching my Mixed Media Portrait class on Joggles.
I am really loving the class. My students are an eclectic bunch, fun and eager to learn. I am teaching another class called She’s So Unusual which starts on Thursday. Check it out here.

The zine is coming along great. I am not working on it as intensively as I was a few weeks ago. Haven't had much time to post or advertise it much. Spread the word for me if you can. I still have some ad space available in it. If you are interested...it is on my Etsy shop. You can pre-order the zine here. I will be closing the order form this week.

That is all for now. Gotta get back to my boy.

Extreme Embroidery

The kids are home from school this entire week. I took them to the Museum of Arts and Design to view the most amazing exhibit called Pricked (extreme embroidery).
And if you remember Julian's embroidery work, you will know that he has an eye for it.
The exhibit isn't for kids....because it is quite.....extreme in concept. But they looked at it and took what they could and made sense of it in their own way. They walked away commenting on a favorite piece....either because of the crystals or the flowers.

All I have to say is.....I must go back. Really, really amazing work....and interestingly enough, many of the embroidered pieces were created by men. I need to go back,....alone...... to REALLY look at it and REALLY take it all in.

The only crafty thing accomplished today.....the Floret Stitch

and the winner is.....

This is what I made today....a crocheted hat for Baby Boy.

And the winner is....Nyx. The very talented Jennifer from Australia.

Congrats and enjoy the zine and goodie bag.

knitting into the night

This is a ball of yarn I made a few years ago. It is made out of fabric, lace, yarn, trims etc...all tied and knotted together.

Here is a knitted sampling of what this kind of yarn looks like. Now, isn't this simply delish.
And I really like knitting with the wooden needles....these are by Crystal Palace in a size 8, but I knit it loosely.

I don't think I am going to turn this into a scarf. I might just knit a few more rows and use it in one of my fabric pieces.
I am open to the possibilities it offers.

Crochet Bon Bons

Fiber confections....simple as that.

Bedtime Stories

I finished reading James and the Giant Peach. What a great book!
Then we watched the movie and what a horrible disappointment.
But that was expected. The movie is never as good as the book.

Now I am reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane....so far, a really good story and the kids are really enjoying it.
And to finally do some grown-up reading, I am starting Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth this weekend.

Here is a little something for you to play with....one of the articles from issue #4 of The Fabric Arts Zine.
Creating Fabric Scrumbles....super easy and fun.

Make a handful of these, cluster and stitch it onto your fabric piece. It's a deceptively easy way of adding texture to fabric.

Today I finished up work on the Mixed Media Portraits class I'll be teaching over on Joggles.
Class starts February 27th. Hope to meet with you there. I can’t wait.

This is another crochet necklace I made today out of hand dyed and hand spun yarn.

Man, I love crochet.

The ValentineClaus

I made this crochet necklace today.
It will be in the goodie bag of oddities I mentioned yesterday.

Judy Merrill-Smith (otherwise known as heck hey Judy, around these parts) whom I met at AFF last year sent me a box of fabric yumminess I simply had to share.

And look at the art doll she made for me. Hand beaded, and a hairstyle to die for. ahh, isn't she a cutie?

Thank you so much. It brought a really big smile to my face.

This is what the ValentineClaus brought for the kids today. It was waiting for them on the table when they got home from school.

YUM!