Local Grove City, Ohio Workshop

Howdy all!  I'm really excited to teach a local workshop.  I travel so much, and it's WONDERFUL, but I do like to give back to my hometown as well!  Oh to sleep in my own bed after a full day!

(I didn't even get a chance to post here before I got inquiry's from my Etsy peeps, but YES- if you are from out of town, you can still come in and take this workshop.  Email me for hotel suggestions if you wish!)

Click here if you are interested in more info about painting with me, (and sampling some of my FAMOUS pumpkin roll) on July 26th, 2014 in Grove City, Ohio!

I love fall, and getting ready for the harvest season can never start too early for me!  Think apples, pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows and cornstalks!

Lunch is included, plus MOST supplies.  You can sign up and register in my Etsy shop.

These are just a few examples- plenty more will be on hand for your inspiration that day!

A little something for everyone- no matter where your skill level, no matter your style!

Just while writing this link, I got 3 sign ups on Etsy- Hurry, seating is limited!

So Happy to be coming back to Dallas!

Join Kari this summer and CREATE something NEW! Kari McKnight-Holbrook, the instructor you know and love from the Great American Scrapbook Convention, will be back in Dallas teaching at the NEW mixed-media retreat, CREATE Texas September 17 - 21! Join Kari for classes like: Faux Faces  Frumpy To Fantasy Bound Birds & Blooms Gelli Print Joy

At CREATE Mixed-Media Retreats artists of all stripes come together to get messy and share "a-ha" moments as they learn about mixed-media techniques in friendly, hands-on workshops. The teachers are renowned artists who provide an inspiring, unforgettable art experience. You'll experiment with combining materials like paper, cloth, photographs, metal, and found objects to make fantastic, one-of-a-kind designs. CREATE is also a fantastic opportunity to shop! Attend the Artists' Faire on Friday night at CREATE to buy original art from your instructors and fellow attendees, as well as to stock up on unique supplies for your own artwork. Explore the hobbies you love-or try something brand new! At CREATE Texas, you'll choose from classes on: •    Bookmaking & Art Journaling •    Printmaking & Surface Design •    Mixed-Media Stitch •    Collage & Assemblage •    Mixed-Media Jewelry Space in each class is limited, so click here to browse the full schedule and reserve your seat today!

CREATE Mixed-Media Retreats Sponsors:

Adventures in Jo-Ann's

     

So yesterday, I was helping my friend Shelly prepare for her first CREATE Mixed Media Art Retreat.  I suggested we run to JoAnn's Fabric to pick up a few supplies.  

I wanted to make sure that I grabbed the new copy of MINGLE Magazine.   Have yall seen the new MINGLE magazine yet? You can run get your copy here- fully fantastic with all sorts of party and event ideas!  I'm so thrilled, it has an article by my friend Ricë Freeman Zachary on Art Is You.  If you have ever been curious, Art Is You is more than just an art retreat. It is an embracing, trans formative life experience.  Ricë says it so much better - I'll leave the fancy 'splaining to her.  I'm just THRILLED to be called part of the Art Is You family, and will be teaching there again next year.  Jump over here for a peek on the blog, and here for more info on how you too can be a part of this fantastic event!

So- wanting to support my friend, my events, my trade mags and my crafting industry has all paid off!  I am scurrying back and forth gathering a creative stash when what to my wondering eyes appear? 

Nothing other than MY OWN VIDEO!  There is was in all it's glory, Backgrounds to Bindings on the shelf proud as can be!  Okay, I have to admit that I got goose pimples!!! Having a product of mine on the shelves of a major retailer has always been a huge goal of mine- a career bucket lister you might say!  I could have been knocked over with a feather- I ran to tell Shelly, and tons of giggles ensued as we tried to get a photo of me with it on the shelves. (I was just the wrong height for the shelves, and certainly the wrong width for the camera-lol!)   I am so grateful to Interweave and Cloth Paper Scissors for taking a chance on me.  Pop in here for a video sneak peek, and see the reviews from other customers.  Here if you want to purchase a video and have it sent to you.  Or visit this site if you would like to download it instantly.

If you are interested my stamp line, used in the video, please visit my etsy store here.

If you are interested in a more in-depth step by step webinar download on the lettering technique used in my video, with over 75 photos and written instructions, called "Delectable Doodles and Beyond" please visit here.

THE GIVEAWAY

So-if you have read this far, I thank you! And as a little bonus- if you comment on THIS POST, I will be doing a drawing for a "celebratory happy dance" giveaway!  On July 20th, I will do a random drawing of the people who have left comments.  If I have more than 100 comments, I will give away 2 prizes:)

IF you already have one of my videos, THANK YOU! Mention that in the comments and what your favorite tip was, and I will send you one of my stamps!  IF you have one of my stamps, mention that in the comments, and  how you've used it and I will send you a video!

If you don't already have a stamp or video, please mention something YOU would like to learn in a video:)  Thank you all again!  My Heart is so full!

***edited July 21, 2014  Congratulations Kit Cochran from WA state- you are the winner winner catfish dinner!!   Please email me with your snail mail details! 
 karimcknightholbrook@yahoo.com

CREATE NEW JERSEY, here I come!

Hip Hip Hooray!  About 2/3 of the way ready for CREATE New Jersey.

Pardon the weird long absence!  I've dealt with a best friend's trip over from Australia, A husbands spinal surgery, four weeks out of town teaching, and mostly the collapse of the computer world as I knew it!!!

I have had Windows XP since it came out, with NO major problems!  All of the sudden, Windows decides not to support the platform anymore, and WHAM.  No more driver or sync updates.  ALL 3 of my home computers, plus the two laptops are all Windows XP because of the stability of the platform.  Sigh!  They are ALL UN-ABLE to be updated to Windows 8.  NOW NOTHING WORKS PROPERLY!  With 30 spinal surgery in 12 years for Mike, the money just isn't available to buy a new computer right now.

But I think I have a bit of a work around.  I now "think" I have my phone rigged up to be able to post from it.  We shall see...

But YEAH!  I get to travel with one of my favorite travelling buddies to the Create NJ Mixed media Retreat! Can't wait!  There are still some spots available in my classes- won't you treat yourself to an art-cation and come join me for the fun?

I will also be vending, with new stamps, and my newest line of 3-d molds, created from vintage frozen charlottes  and other antique goodies.

You can pick smorgasboard style- one class or all!

I Wish I was in Dixie...Hooray, Hooray!

Hello all my fantastically chilled-to-the-bone friends! I've got some warm and wonderful news- and an opportunity to plan for some warm fun! I'm so excited to be teaching in Dixie - Art Is You style!!!



If you ever wondered what the Ar...t IS YOU movement is all about- Now is your chance! We really want to spread the word about the magic that is Art is You - Mixed Media Art Retreats! Art-Is You Art Retreats is generously offering a very nice coupon for a short time:



Here's the deets:

Run over to www.art-is-you.com and register for one of MY classes and use the EVENT Code: KARI - to receive $60 discount off of your registration!!! The Event Code is entered on page two of the registration forms and this is good for Dixie only. This code is limited to the first 12 people so don't miss out! First come, First Served!

Crazy Schedules

Okay, so I know I said I was going to reduce.  And I meant it.  I DID manage to reduce what I spent on art supplies for the month of January- so that is something!  And I DID reduce the amount of food in my deep freezer- using up what I had took some creative menu planning!  I also tore through a stash of older bits and chunks of polymer clay I had in various baggies around the studio, and created tons of clay babies.

My friend Nate had come on the 22nd of December and I took him for surgery on the 23.  Christmas, A serious eye problem, Shingles, Bronchitis and a promotion and new position for Mike ate up almost all of January!  (I also reduced my stress level by embracing letting things that are not critical go. ie: I still have my Christmas tree up!)  So all told, to get as much done as I did, I'm giving myself a B.

But I think I get a D in reducing my crazy schedule!  But I love what I do so much!!!

First off, I'm beside myself with glee, my best Aussie bud Jen Crossley is coming to stay tomorrow!  Woot Woot!  So begins another epic Bugle adventure!


We can't wait, because almost as soon as she gets here we are headed up north to our beloved  Smitten Dust to see our friend Dusty in Dimondale, Michigan!  3 days and nights of teaching there will only whet our appetites!  This place is so charming we always get a bit weepy to leave:)  We always feel a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole there- magic, charming friends and good munchies abound! We can't wait to hang with our pals on the moustache brigade!

Here is a sneak peek at the Pocket Fribbles we will be creating in my class at Smitten Dust!


Lucky gals that we are, we will also mosey down the road a piece to see our friend Susan Pickering Rothamel's brand new digs at USArtQuest and Art Papers Online!  We are so honored to teach there, in the brand new space- we can't wait to see it!  A snowstorm in November prevented me from visiting earlier, or I would have seriously cut into my Christmas budget once I get in the same room with those beautiful papers!  How good does this place have to be that I am willing to go NORTH in the middle of the coldest winter this area has had in 30 years???

At USArtQuest I'll be teaching my Delectable Doodles class, and also my Moodling class- two of my all-time favorites!  Plus will all the delicious USArtQuest products to choose from, we may just even go a little further into crazy product play!












Barely home from the Arctic tundra up north, we turn right around and teach at Artiscape in Dublin Ohio! I'm a 10 year veteran, and Jen teaches there for the first time.  She went with me last year, and so she KNOWS how good it is!  So many of our friends teach there- it's such a lovely event!

You'll find me teaching 3 classes- Gelli Print Joy,

Floral Fling paintings,









and Power Word Decks:)







Some time before Jen heads back down under, we also have to fit in a private workshop- good thing she'll be back again in the fall:)  I think 30 days is not enough!

Then WHOOSH- February will be reduced to days gone by!  I mean REALLY!  How can it possibly be the second week of February already?

Goodbye and Good Riddance 2013

Happy New Year my friends!  

This year has been wonderful and trying, as all life is.  I had wonderful adventures with my art friends all over, and a smashing good time with Jen Crossley as she visited early this year and again later this fall.  My Video "Backgrounds to Bindings" with Cloth Paper Scissors was released, as well as several pieces of my art in various magazines.  Getting to spend time with friends Dusty DeHaven, Kristen Robinson, Ruth Rae, Jen Cushman and Elena Etcheverry, Pam Carriker, MaryBeth Shaw, JoAnne Sharpe, Stephanie Rubiano and others truly was a blessing! Spending time with cousins Wendy Richards and Laura Miller has also been a treat!  

Teaching in France and vending at the Columbus Ohio and Atlanta Georgia Country Living Fairs have blew me away- made all the more special by spending extra time with friends Shelly Grim, Christy Grant, Shari Replogle and Paula Marquis.

The serious health issues plaguing me the end of this year has made me anxious for the new year to begin all fresh and new!  Some great things to look forward to- another visit from my bestie from down under-Jen Crossley--guaranteed good times!  New venues to teach for! Working on my own book!  Several Art Faires to vend and enjoy.  And organization!  I am looking forward to organization.  

2013 had me traversing the nation, and indeed the continents teaching.  I was home less than 3 months, and therefore my house and studio has taken an incredible hit organizationally!  I have made a plan to conquer this in 2014.  I am planning to use this blog as an accountability record both artistically and organizationally.

I have chosen a guide word to help me through 2014.  That word is:

Reduce ~ Reduce ~ Reduce
I'm thinking about so many areas of life!  Reducing my art stash.  As an instructor, I tend to collect in multiples for students.  This year I will be purging my stash (hint hint- might be a good year to take classes with me!)  Reducing my art stash will reduce clutter in my home and studio.

Reducing what I spend on art supplies.  This one will be tough.  It is not unusual for me to spend over 300$ a month on art supplies.  This year I am challenging myself to spend no more than 30$ a month (except for workshop supplies.)  I feel it will help challenge me to use what I have in different ways.  It will force me to become more creative.  (Plus it will help reduce the stash!)  As a bonus, I am going to try and spend 0$ on art supplies for the first 3 months of the year.

Reducing my to-do list.  Whether that means re-evaluating or actually finishing some of these things, it will happen.

Reducing the more than 400 emails a day that get backed up in my email folder.  Unsubscribe will be my friend.  Mass newsletters that answer the same questions, and other means of consolidating to help me not dread turning on the computer.

Reducing the time spent away from home- which will probably also help reducing my to-do list!

If all this can come together, I am hoping my health issues will reduce!

Anyway, I will be holding myself accountable and posting successes and failures alike here if you want to journey along with me in 2014.

(This is the ugly effect of being away from home more than 9 months of the year!  Studio stash out of control!- but I have a plan!)