Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers out there! Our studio is chock full of mothers and their mothers, and even some of THEIR mothers....so this holiday features highly among us Art Mavens. Here is a rose I made for my mother with my watercolors - gardening the 5th Street way! Have a great Mother's Day everyone....Jennifer

Art Classes

We had a blast at the last art class offered at the studio - and made some wild and crazy new friends while we were at it! Everyone's projects turned out spectacular.....and we will probably see these guys again on Finish-It Saturday. (which is the 2nd Saturday of each month - noon until 4) Some projects are just too much to get done in one session, the the calendar class they attended is one of them. That being said - I am looking forward to seeing you guys again and the beautiful things you have made to go on your calendars!

lol Jennifer

Fairie Garden

Hey there all you green thumbs! We have been very busy over at the studio getting ready for the ART Flea, and part of that has been a back-breaking labor of love OUTSIDE the studio creating a marvel to be unveiled May 17th. Man, oh, man.....do those muscles forget how to garden over the winter! Fairie wings and amazing things....that's what gardens are made of.

lol - Jennifer

Health Up-date

Hey, chick-ah-roos! it's a real toxic soup out there and I figure the best way to be healthy and stay healthy is to do do do the things you love and be with the ones you love. ART MAKING and creating and collecting are breaths of fresh air...So today (everyday) give yourself a little stress release break... pick up a pencil and scribble - doodle - sketch - draw - write - create - scratch-out - erase - draw again... 2B pencil 4B pencil 6B pencil 8B pencil water-soluble pencil graphite stick-soft graphite stick-hard hb=half way between.
PENCIL a very cheap tool out of the "junk" drawer or your kids back pack. A beautiful hand carved pencil that was a gift from a mother-in-law. Forget "correct and incorrect" just start making some lines. Use scrap paper or your beautiful journal. NOT another list of the things you need to do!! YOU ARE MORE THAN A LIST OF THINGS TO DO! You are also more than a list of things other people want you to do. So, today, yes everyday take a large dose of health - breath in; breath out and pick up that pencil, sharpen it to a beautiful point and draw, draw, draw. tnt Melody

Spring is Here!!

Well, it's official. Spring is here, and it is time to think about the gardens and special things we want to have at the studio. We all went to Craftware Pottery this week and obtained the quintessential items no garden can be without! Liz, Melody (a.k.a. Lucy and Ethel) and I went and got an eyefull of the beautiful pottery available. We even brought back an amazing selection, which you can see for yourself at the studio and Feathers in Louisville. We are now working on getting them all planted and ready for the ART Flea and the Air your Art in Louisville festival in May. Hope to see you at the event - it should be a great weekend.

Jen

ONLY A MONTH AWAY

ARTflea market MAY 17th & 18th......... We've got some great "fleas" signed up to sell their wares - but there is lots of space left for your great "gems".... PLUS there will be other goings-0n in Louisville that weekend... the art fair in the Louisville park, the thrown & blown art & demos at the Louisville Art Gallery - foods, trolley, parade and more. We're working on an outdoor art demo (more info to come) and of course the first peek of the new Fairie W-- oops! can't say just yet.

Special Drawing

All Day ONLY on April 19th at 5th Street Studio, Coop de Ville, and Feathers in Louisville:

Win this gift package worth $250.00!!

A GREAT garden snail stake, a fabulous purse, a train case and painting pattern to make your own painted luggage, a Fleurish Box scrapbook kit & class, and a wonderful bath accessories package --come register for a chance to win this prize at the GARDEN KICKOFF at Feathers on April 19th from 9 - 5 p.m.

We hope to see you there - it will be a fun day, and don't forget April 12th is Finish 'it' Saturday at the studio for all of you who have taken classes with us, and would like to come in and work on your projects.

lol, Jennifer

Altered Art Cook-book

Want to learn something totally new and very fun? Sign up for Melody's Altered Art Cook-book. You can have the adventure of altering a book into a work of art, as well as creating a family keepsake everyone will love. Bring an old, small book (approximately 5x7 or so), one of your old teaspoons or wooden spoon, copies of photos or old favorite family recipes (also copied, you don't want to use an original) and any mementos you would like to include in your cookbook. We will work with glitters, ribbons, inks, paints, and papers. You will need to bring scissors, fast-dry tacky glue (available to purchase at the studio if you don't have any), and a paintbrush. If you want any other ideas on what to bring for use during your class - check out our 'well-stocked art-tool box' blog entry for ideas! ;oD
This class is being offered: 1-3:30 p.m. or 6:30-9 p.m. on April 7th, or 21st, May 5th or 19th, and June 2nd.

Don't worry about not finishing your project on the day of the class. Get a great start, learn the techniques, have fun with Melody - and then come in for Finish IT Saturday every 2nd Saturday of each month from Noon-4 p.m. Bring your project and supplies and come work at the studio with us - we can offer advice, help or just the creative energy of working with other artists! Finish IT Saturday is NO CHARGE, NO REGISTRATION and is available for any of our students.

Kits to make your own Altered Art Cookbook without taking the class are available for purchase at 5th Street Studio.

Birds

I've been thinking about SPRING and staring out of my kitchen window - watching dozens of birds come to my husbands feeders. Even though the grass and trees are still brown the birds are turning color and beginning to don their summer feathers. So in the spirit of new colors I thought to create a bird from fabric - muslin actually - and then I thought let's color the little bird with my colored pencils - then I thought the wings looked flat, so I slightly stuffed them, stitched, then colored - OK! Then I thought, a little distress ink. 0K! ?? Well, once the ink pads were out on my work table, I thought about the great new glitter embossing I just bought and how would my little bird like some BLING?? Then with my micron #.05 a little shading and cross hatching. I pulled strings of the muslin all along the edge for a "feathered" look and I got the idea to make more of the little birds for an entire hanging mobile - maybe from the bottom of a birdhouse I just painted (but don't want to hang outside) and maybe with an old windchime I've saved and need to re-string. My little bird has taken most of my day. But so worth it AND of course it proves the enormous value of staring out the window. lol Melody

Exciting Spring

Thank goodness it's spring!! Even though it doesn't feel like it. In my heart I do know that nice warm weather is just around the corner - right? I can hardly wait. I've posted a pict. of my work-desk, also waiting for the new class projects coming up... I can hardly wait for those too ! and all you fab gals, I've missed seeing your beautiful faces. Classes like - newspaper painting, a very messy process but the results and the possibilities are so worth it; and altered art books with scrapping and painting and photos, oh my! and the painted shoes in walk a new path project, and joyce' s upcoming "noodleology" workshops. ALSO, don't forget about the ARTflea

Market and Mother's Day Project and SOMETHING NEW here at the studio... can't quite say, as yet but will be revealed for your enjoyment on May 17th during the Artflea Market and Aire your Art in Louisville Art Fair. Ok a little Fairie hint. (there you have it). Hey, if that's not enough hint for you don't blame me, Fairies are very secretive and never give themselves away.........

All the new class schedules are printed and ready - mailed out at your request. e-mail us or call 402340-3099 thanks. l0l . Melody

Self-Portrait

April 30th from 10:00 - 3:00

A great way to express yourself and create a work-of-art! You! We'll be working with acrylic paint, colored pencils, markers and ink. You'll need to bring an 8x10 photo copy or print of yourself and an "art-board" to mount your photo to while painting - a #4 round paint brush, 3m fast-dry tacky white glue, a ruler, and colored pencils/markers. Bring more than one photo copy and if we have time we'll make more than one painting. Lunch will be on your own, there are a number of places in Louisville to eat - or bring your lunch and a beverage. It's always a lot of fun. Call the studio 402-234-3099 to register for this class. See you there. Melody

Wanted: Wanted:

Old, used, unable to ride bicycles.... for a great art project we're working on, here at the studio. It's SPRING and we're hoping some of you are planning to clean-out-the-garage and are wondering what to do with that old bike of yours - you know - the one with the flat tires?and the chain that is broken? and a torn seat? Well, we want it just the rusty old way it is. The next time you're coming to Louisville bring that bike and deposit it at 5th Street Studio. (Even if we're not here) Thanks.. and our new art project thanks you too. What are we doing with old bikes, you ask?? Well, we're not quite ready to tell just yet, but will post pictures here on the blog just as soon as we can. See you soon. Melody

Banner Making

Welp! Roxanne from Cosmic Cow in Lincoln (fab fabric store) is going to have "shop-hop" in April and wanted

a festive banner for in front of her store -- Sooo - eleanor peace baily (friend and well-known doll maker)

Muff (eleanor's sister) and Melody decided to help Roxanne make a banner. Roxanne wanted her banner

to say "celebrate" so each of us choose a letter and created a flag for Roxanne to assembel later. What fun!! to

get to play with my friends. Especially those I don't get to see very often (as Eleanor and Muff live in
Washington) Annyyhoo! We painted, pasted, glittered, glued and talked and shared journal pages and new

"stuff" we've found to use and wished for more time.. Isn't that always the case? Having friends stop in and

play with artsy stuff is just the best. !

The Walk a New Path Project

Here are some examples of the Walk a New Path class Melody is offering for the spring. Sign up for a class - bring a pair of shoes (can be ones you have walked your miles in) and she will show you how to "alter" them 5th Street style. You then have the option of tossing them into our tree outside the studio - and becoming part of our ongoing Walk a New Path art display. This tree isn't just any tree - you can also tie your prayers into it (there are some there already), toss your altered shoes in it - and begin a new path for yourself.

Acrylic Painting

Here a chick, there a chick - and along comes a rooster! The latest acrylic painting I have done - using acrylic paints and a touch of the Polished Pigments. Polished Pigments are paints made of pure pigment mixed with ground mica (to give it a glorious luster) these powdered paints can then be mixed with your choice of binder to create on almost any surface you can think of. Wood, canvas, glass, metal, paper - and anything else you can come up with. I love mixing my own paints because I can make them as bright or muted as I need. These paints utilize the same basic foundation as the Twinkling H2O watercolors we carry in the store - just not mixed with any binder quite yet. Radiant Rain is the Twinkling H2O watercolor paint - just in a "mister" spraybottle so you can use it on anything you like. They are all very beautiful products. Come in and see for yourself!

Jennifer

Did-ja-know?

Louisville is only 13 miles from Papillion Courthouse on 84th St. & 370.
AND only 10 miles south of I-80 on hwy 50 (also known as 144th St.)
We are only 19 miles from Countryside Village on 87th and Pacific or 19 miles from
the Westroads...
For less than a gallon of gas you can "treat-yourself" to a creative day, learn
new art techniques, meet new friends, be inspired, and have some fun.

Plus, you can arrange your girl-friend reunion or day-out with a pot-luck or
box-lunch at the studio. A day-get-a-way at the studio and shopping and
antiquing and the art gallery and camaraderie - Whooppee!!

Some new No-Sew Fleece vests by Joyce. This is a great class to take at the studio - and a lot of fun as well. If you are interested in taking this class - please call the studio and set a time with Joyce to learn to make these awesome vests!

Finish "it" Saturday

This SATURDAY - the second Saturday of the month - is Finish-it-Saturday. NOON - 4:o0pm in the studio.
Any class project you didn't get completed or if you are starting a new class project. Bring all your supplies
and tool kit. There's no charge. A great way to get-it-done and get additional help from the staff and meet other creative people and have a great afternoon. You can drop-in but we'd really like a call 234-3099 to let us know you're coming .... See you at the studio. Melody

Thinking and Planning Ahead.....Upcoming events at 5th Street Studio......

The First ANNUAL Art-Flea Market will be at 5th Street Studio on MAY 17th from 9-5, rain or shine! For all you artists with lots of "extra-stuff" - reserve a space to sell all kinds of your wares: your art, your creations, over-stocks, supplies, ephemera, embellishments, kits, etc....REGISTER BY CALLING 402-234-3099. YOU MUST HAVE A SALES TAX ID# OR CERTIFICATE TO HAVE A BOOTH.

Our Art-Flea Market will be in conjunction with the City of Louisville's "Air your Art in Louisville" and the annual THROWN AND BLOWN show at the Louisville Art Gallery. All the info is on the Louisville website: http://www.louisvillenebraska.com/

If you aren't interested in being one of our Art-Flea vendors - be sure to set the date to come and visit, shop, and take in the festivities. We are sure there will be some great bargains and LOTS of wonderful art!!! Hope to see you there.

Fleurish Boxes!

Fleurish boxes are back in stock! Come take a fleurish box class from Jennifer at the studio and learn how to assemble the box, distress/weather it, and get some great tips and ideas for adding your own embellishments and photos. The class is $25.00, and the kit is included. All you need to bring is: scissors, ink pads for distressing, photo splits (the double-sided photo tape squares), and your photos and ephemera.

Melody held a collage class last week - and were the results pretty! Melody designed the red heart collage, and Lois Monk created the purple daisy collage. Lois was kind enough to let us photograph her work and publish it on our site: Thanks Lois! It looks beautiful!

Call for upcoming collage class schedule.

The Artist's Tool Box

Here are just a few of the things no Art Maven should be without (especially if you come and sign up for a class):

Paint brushes - all kinds and qualities. We love love love old ones too! Ink pads, water container, glitters of all shapes and colors, basic watercolors, scissors, pencil/pens, glitter mist, glitter glues, ruler, hole punch - and anything else that catches your imagination. Your sketchbook is a MUST, glue and possibly an exacto-knife. Heat guns are indispensable!

You can always keep adding to your kit as you learn new techniques and have new ideas - but these are the basic elements one really needs in most classes. (Also, I personally think if you only added a stick of gum and a paper-clip you could also sabotage a fuse box in case of terrorist attack.)

Melody uses an old tool-box to hold her kit, and Jennifer uses an old suitcase-----but not just any tool box and suitcase, either. They both have been painted by Melody and are they beautiful! If you would like to customize an old suitcase or tool box to hold your kit, call the studio and see what classes Melody is offering: and never get caught without your kit again!

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! Now we are really feeling ready for a new season - and to celebrate it, we have in some new products: Twinkling H2O watercolor paints, Glimmer Mist sprays, Glitter Glues (everyone needs a little bling) and new classes for everyone to clear out the winter doldrums and look forward to spring.

We have watercolor classes, collage/acrylic classes, easter egg painting classes, Walk-a-New-Path shoe painting class to name a few.......come in and see what's new!

February 9
2008
at the 5th St.
Studio



We all had a great time at the annual Valentine Party! We had invited 12 women to the studio, gave them a basic valentine kit to get started with (including a valentine box) and everyone got down to business! The Valentine boxes everyone created were beautiful! Now they just need valentines to be delivered.

We all had mimosas and sweet rolls to start with, and then after a morning of busy creating we all were treated to a wonderful lunch of chicken salad, fruit and a muffin - followed with chocolate cupcakes for dessert. It was such a fun day - and a great way to see everyone's creative abilities.
Hope you all are inspired to create your own Valentine Boxes - they aren't just for school kids - you know. Valentines are such treasures, little thoughts of love we give to each other like no other time during the rest of the year. Surprise your special valentines in your life. And remember the most important part - it came from you.

Come and See for Yourself!

We have been having an absolute blast holding classes at the studio. So far the classes which have been offered: Beginning watercolor, Painted/altered luggage and luggage tags, Altered books and newspaper transfer techniques, Fleurish box scrapbooks, Snowflake paintings, Bead-making and watch design, Pin-weaving, Acrylic painting, Denim handbags, No-sew Fleece vests, Balloon sculpture, Tag banners and more (if you can believe there is more!). We have been having so much fun with the budding artists coming into the studio - and hope to have even more.

Some exciting news:
We have added a "pot-luck room" where you can bring your pot-luck, birthday/shower cakes and beverages - even have us cater a lunch for you and your group. Then you and your group can sign up for one, two or even a whole day of classes, as well as having your lunch or dinner (or both depending on the classes you would like to book). Talk about having your cake and designing it too!

We hope to be adding all kinds of events and classes to let your inner-artist have a place to run wild for awhile. Let us know if you have an event coming up which you would like to hold at our studio - and we will design your ideal retreat.