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Birthday Paint Party

The painting parties continue! I had the pleasure of guiding an amazing group of girls for a birthday party! We had a blast building up layers with lots of texture techniques and then painted a dreamcatcher focal design.

Want to attend one of my painting parties in Arizona and would like to be notified of future dates? Click here sign up for email. If you would like to host a private painting party with me as your guide, send me an email at kristenjfagan@gmail.com to discuss your event. I look forward to painting with you!

Painting Workshops 04 Oct 2015 / 0 comments

I was published in Belle Armoire Jewelry!

Thank you Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine and editors Cynthia Levens and Natalie Way for selecting my macrame bracelet design to feature in the Autumn 2015 issue. It is really exciting to be published and for it to be in of my favorite magazines, I’m ecstatic! Check out my published design tutorial in Belle Amoire Jewelry magazine on sale through November!

Luxe Macrame Bracelets
by Kristen Fagan

Belle Armoire Jewelry

Autumn 2015 Issue

I adore the texture and shimmer in this design. Soft Flex beading wire colors complement the etched shell donut pendant by Lillypilly Designs perfectly. The gold cubes and button clasp add an elegant touch and the hand wrapped bronze wire crimp covers give the design the hand forged feel I love so much.

The autumn issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry features a must-see Designer Collection by the ICE Resin Queen Susan Lenart Kazmer. Learn how to create textured polymer clay jewelry, embossed pendants, and gorgeous metal manipulations, plus, you won’t want to miss a tribute to turquoise stones. From winding wire in innovative ways to creating colorful clay collaboration bracelets to a pendant necklace that pays homage to leaves and nature, there is something for every jewelry artist to try their hand at. What an honor! I have been a lover of ICE Resin for years and it’s so cool to be in a publication with the ICE Resin Queen! Pick up your copy at a bookstore or the Stampington & Company website and get full instructions on how to create my macrame bracelets on pages 16-19.

Jewelry / Press 16 Sep 2015 / 0 comments

“Create Magic” Painting Parties

I’m really excited about this new path! I began hosting small in-home paint parties this summer and decided to call these events “Create Magic” painting parties. My passion is process painting which I define as letting go, playing with color, mark making and enjoying the process without a clear end in mind. I believe like this is where the “magic” of my creative source shows up. After each painting party I have had someone reach out to say they created something on their own or with their kids using the simple techniques I shared. Wow! That just makes my heart smile. It brings me such joy to hear that they had the confidence to jump in on their own and create. Just read what those who have attended are saying!

I purposefully keep my paint parties loosely guided and have gone back and forth in my mind about choosing not to do a “step by step” specific painting and instead have a guideline of techniques and ideas that leaves the creator open to interpret it in their own way. I faced some unique challenges with my decision to open up the process and keep it loose but, it’s totally worth it if one person feels comfortable enough to paint on their own. Expressing yourself is incredibly healing and good for your soul. Sharing this way of creating with others has been rewarding in so many ways. I am confident that I’m on the right path with this and need to trust the magic!

Progress, not perfection – that has been my mantra during this journey. Most of all, I don’t want to compromise my vision and let my passion get lost in the process because it’s that passion that makes the event so much fun. I want everyone to walk away feeling like something special transpired when we created together.

Want to attend one of my painting parties in Arizona and would like to be notified of future dates? Click here sign up for email. If you would like to host a private painting party with me as your guide, send me an email at kristenjfagan@gmail.com to discuss your event. I look forward to painting with you!

Painting Workshops 10 Sep 2015 / 0 comments

Third Friday Artwalk on Grand Ave

This was over a month ago (kinda tells you how fast my August has flown by) but, I didn’t want to let sharing about my experience of July’s third Friday artwalk go. It was such a great date with myself. I had plans to go with a friend and our kids, that fell through so I was going to go with just my kids but, Bert ended up being home from work early and the kids didn’t want to go with me. I was a little sad at first and thought for a second I would skip it however, I really wanted to the see the She Deck exhibit before it closed. Not seeing it would have been a big bummer so, I decided to go on my own. It was an awesome time. I forget that I like being in my own company. I like to move at my own pace and wander. I like lingering when it feels good. Couple that with my love for viewing and experiencing art and that makes for a perfect date. I spoke to a few artists and a gallery owner while there which I wouldn’t have done if I had company with me. It was a great reminder to go out, even if no one wants to go out with me and maybe especially if no one wants to go out with me.

Pieces by women artists will abound along Grand Avenue on Third Friday, as {9} The Gallery also presents a “Summer Solstice” exhibition, plus a “She Deck” exhibition of skateboard decks, at the Frontal Lobe Gallery at Bragg’s Pie Factory.

Top: Exhibit at {9) Gallery, Artist Brenda Edwards

Middle: Mural on the side of {9} Gallery, Artist Amanda Adkins

Bottom: Summer Solstice Exhibit at Frontal Lobe Gallery, Artists Lisa Von Hoffer and Lauren Lee

She Deck Exhibit at Frontal Lobe Gallery featuring over 50 female artists showing their skateboard deck creations.

I happen to have my art on exhibit at the Fair Trade Cafe during third Friday also. I was blessed to sell two artworks during my time being featured! Heartfelt thank you to Fair Trade Cafe and those who enjoyed and purchased my art.

Soul Musings 30 Aug 2015 / 0 comments

Luscious Purple Wedding Invitations

I wanted to wait until after a couple has said their “I Do’s” before I share their wedding paper, so without further ado, a beautiful summer wedding with luscious purple invitations. Bernadette and Kyle tied the knot last month – congratulations you two! To see my other wedding invitation designs, click here.

Design 15 Jul 2015 / 0 comments

Brightening Up Our Living Room

I have been struggling to find a rug for a couple years now. Since I regularly change the artwork hanging in our living room, I felt like keeping it neutral would be best. However, as a family with two boys and a dog I have come to accept that a light beige rug is not the right fit for us. After two failed attempts at trying a light colored rug only to have it destroyed shortly after bringing it home, I decided I needed to change it up and add a pop of color. We checked out a clearance section of the furniture warehouse and ended up with this bold beauty! (Rug modeled by Hudson, he loves how soft it is).

We took it home and right away I knew a DIY project in store for me. Our weathered coffee table was no longer a match and had seen netter days so, it was time for a facelift. (Below Ethan and Hudson are modeling the new rug with our current coffee table, notice Hudson is once again laying on it because it’s so soft and Ethan was told to please remove his shoes right after I snapped the picture, haha)

The sanding begins, and continues, and goes on some more. I had envisioned a natural wood top with white sides and natural drawers. Well this table top was stubborn and the previous two layers of paint just would not fully come off. After about 4-5 hours of sanding in the hot summer heat I threw in the towel and decided to paint the entire table white leaving just the drawers natural.

I was pretty unsure about a white coffee table. But the results turned beautifully! The new white table and bold rug transformed the whole feel of the room. It is now so much brighter, more lively and I love it so much. We keep the lights low and the window blinds barely open so, this room could be quite dark before. On a side note, this table has been in our home for about 14 years! It started out all natural, then blue/green, then white top and green sides and now white! One of the many reasons I love wood furniture is that it can be transformed again and again. I think the simple updates made a huge difference. Total cost for the rug and paint for this transformation was just $120. Now, I’m thinking I need a few more new pillows! So, what do you think?

Artist creations: Silhouette Pillow of my kids made custom by Desert Baby, Dreamcatcher by Rachael Rice Art, Beach art pillow and Fireflies art pillow available in my Etsy shop, Phoenix painting by me.

Soul Musings 12 Jul 2015 / 0 comments

Tutorial Tuesday: Swarovski Cosmic Triangle Necklace

Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Since I had another one of these beautiful Swarovski cosmic triangle crystals I had to make a matching necklace to this knit bangle tutorial I shared earlier this month. I just love the richness of the champagne color paired with smokey quartz, gold and red wire.

Materials

Soft Flex .019 Beading Wire Red Coral – 8″
Swarovski 6mm Round Smoked Topaz – 4
Swarovski 20mm Cosmic Triangle Ring Golden Shadow – 1
Gold Spacer Beads – 2
Gold or Brass Colored Chain – 18″
5mm Brass Jump Rings – 4
12mm Antique Brass Lobster Claw Clasp – 1
2x2mm Gold Filled Crimp Tubes -4
Magical Crimping Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters

Instructions

1. Cut 54″ length of Soft Flex beading wire in red. Wrap the end of your beading wire around one side of the triangle crystal and back through a crimp tube. Leaving one wire tail long enough to string your beads on, crimp using the magical crimping pliers. Trim excess wire on the shorter tail. Click here for magical crimping instructions.

2. String 1 crystal round, 1 gold spacer, 1 crystal round and 1 crimp tube. Create a loop with your beading wire feeding the end back through the crimp tube. Crimp using the magical crimping pliers. Trim excess wire and push strand to the one corner of the triangle.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the other corner of the triangle.

4. Using your chain nose pliers, open the jump rings and attach a jump ring to each strand loop and to your chain. At the back of your chain attach 2 more jump rings and your lobster claw clasp.

Tutorial Tuesday 30 Jun 2015 / 0 comments

Tutorial Tuesday: Swarovski Crystal Knit Bangle

Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Check out this beautiful Swarovski cosmic triangle crystal! The richness of the champagne color paired with smokey quartz, gold and red wire gives the design a feeling of bold elegance.

Materials

Soft Flex .019 Beading Wire Red Coral – 10ft spool
Soft Flex Craft Wire 20G in Bronze – 32″
Swarovski 6mm Round Smoked Topaz – 16
Swarovski 20mm Cosmic Triangle Ring Golden Shadow – 1
Gold Spacer Beads – 6
2x2mm Gold Filled Crimp Tubes – 2
5-Pin Knitting Spool
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters

Instructions

1. Knit a 5″ length wire cage with Soft Flex beading wire in red and a 5-pin knitting spool. using using Style 1 in the instructions found on Soft Flex company’s website. Click for instructions on how to knit with beading wire. Leave at least a 2″ tail of wire at the beginning and end of your knitted wire cage.

2. Once your knitted wire is approximately 5″ in length, remove the knitted wire from the spool. One by one, drop (12) crystal round beads inside the knitted wire cage unstrung.

3. Weave your wire tail through the knit loops to close it up. I go through the loops a few times to make sure the end is secure. You will now have a closed knit wire cage with a one strand wire tail coming out each end.

4. On one tail end of your knitted cage, string 1 crystal round, 1 gold spacer, 1 crystal round and 1 2x2mm gold filled crimp tube.

5. Wrap the end of your beading wire around one side of the triangle crystal and back through your crimp tube. Crimp using the magical crimping pliers. Click here for magical crimping instructions.

6. Repeat steps 4&5 on the other side of your knitted cage. Since the finished design will stretch, you do not need to attach a clasp.

7. Cut 16″ of craft wire in bronze, thread about 2″ of wire through the knitted cage and wrap around a couple of times to secure. Now, take the longer end and continue to wrap around the cage until you have created a cone that covers up the ends of the knitted cage. Repeat on the opposite side.

Tutorial Tuesday 16 Jun 2015 / 1 comments

Isalina Sweet Treats Logo Design

My friend Virginia has a passion for baking. She decided to start a baking blog, Isalina Sweet Treats and asked me to design her logo. Virginia is a talented baker and she shares her favorite desert recipes at Isalina Sweet Treats. She has a ton of wonderful free recipes already posted. Don’t they look delicious? I’ve had her cinnamon rolls and they are soooo good! Virginia was looking for a elegant, sweet, but serious design in a light color scheme. She also liked the idea of a swirl of ganache on a plate. She pick a couple of color palettes at ColourLovers website and I created the 3 computer sketches above. Virginia ultimately decided on the middle design. After a few options on the lettering style shown below, the middle design is the winner and her logo is born!

Find Virginia’s recipes for delicious deserts at Isalina’s Sweet Treats on Facebook or go straight to her website IsalinaSweetTreats.com.

Design 06 Jun 2015 / 0 comments

Brazilian Agate Necklaces

I added a few new wire wrapped agate necklaces for sale in my shop.

Brazilian agate takes about 80 million years to form and each slice is an original. Brazilian agate balances the four energies: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Worn for protection, centering, healing and strength as well as better concentration, more confidence and an overall feeling of composure. Protects you from stress and energy drains.

Shop Agate Necklaces.

Jewelry 04 Jun 2015 / 0 comments