I’m not sure how long Amy and I have known each other but, it does go back a few years!  Amy and her husband, Don have opened their house several times for me when I have traveled to PA to teach for their local chapter of the IDAL group.  Talk about incredible hosts – Amy and Don make you feel so welcome, cook amazing food for you and even let the guest bet them at WII…..I Knocked Amy out!!  (Only in the game…LOL)

Amy Scheg is the owner of Stensational Walls  in Lebanon, PA and has been painting for 12 years.  Her decorative painting business encompasses many facets of the arts and one of her loves has always been stenciling.  You can find her on Facebook @ Stensational Walls  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000503166358 – ph: 717-228-0905 or email: stensationalwalls@email.com

One of Amy’s favorite projects are Babies and Children’s rooms – Amy indicated that usually she is given a budget and is told “do whatever you want, we trust your judgement”!  Now, that is a dream client!!!  Recently she had a project in where she had taken the bedding for the room, traced several of the elements and cut her own stencils by hand (now that’s a lot of work!) – but, she had a dilemma in the fact, she needed a Polka Dot stencil and she knew should could not cut perfect little circles the size she had desired.  So this is where I entered the picture on this project……..Amy called my studio after seeing several “post” by me, indicating that I was offering Laser Stencil Cutting service.  Amy provided me with the details of the design she needed and I had my associate Ron create the stencil.

This room is absolutely adorable – Amy worked with the palette of colors from the bedding, a couple of pinks, white, green and chocolate-brown.  One wall was created like the bedding and the other walls she scattered flowers, leaves and bugs randomly around the room.  Then she painted two 1 inch chocolate-brown stripes around the room at chair rail height, about 6 inches apart and put the Polka Dots in the middle of the stripes…..she also created a French Wash below the Polka Dot border. 

Amy said my Polka Dot stencil was amazing – it only took her about an hour to paint the entire border.  She indicated that polka dots are very popular in children’s bedding right now, so this stencil will come in handy!  I want to “thank” Amy for sharing this fun project with us and allowing me the chance to create a fun stencil!

Have fun Stenciling,

Jenn

The best way to share something and make sure the word spreads like “wildfire” – is to make sure everyone that hears about it also wants to share the news.  Well, I’m going to make it worth your while to help spread the word about my Love – Stenciling!!!

To reward your efforts for sharing my passion and love with others (and I’m sure it’s your passion and love too) – I will be giving away three (3) stencils valued up to $40 each………That’s three winners for just helping me tell people about this wonderful art form. 

Here’s how it works:

First,  go do a little shopping at my web sites www.stencilledgarden.com and www.artisticpaintingstudio.com – then leave a comment here about what stencil you would like to win and what your project will be. 

Second, you will also need to “Like” my facebook pages (Artistic Painting Studio and The Stencilled Garden) and leave a comment on one of the pages about how much you want to win one of my stencils.

Third, just help spread the word, by reposting this to your facebook page, your blog site and tell your friends about the Love Affair that Jennifer is having with the Art of Stenciling!!!

Three winners – YES that is THREE WINNERS will be picked on February 18th……..Good Luck to everyone and Thanks for helping spread the Love of Stenciling!

All materials, glasses, openers, paint, canvas, aprons and instruction are supplied.  All you need to bring is your own beverages, snacks, voucher and creative energy.

Cost $40 per person

February 18th @ 6pm

February 25th @ 6pm

March 10th @ 6pm

Uncork your artistic side – relax and paint a great canvas in this 90 minute class.  Bring a date, friend or just a wonderful idea along, pop open some Sauvignon Blanc and let the creative juices flow.

Call the studio @ 559-449-7711 to reserve your spot today – space is limited.

So, off to Florida I went this past week – this trip had been in the plans for several months, so I had something to look forward to (I always have to have something planned – it keeps me going!). Not only did I have a week planned to play in the studio at Faux Effects, but my best friend (Morey Dunbar) joined me……..talk about a great week!!! Morey and I were blessed with having Cat Faust in the classroom with us the entire week (we kept her laughing all day long…..for some reason she thought we were really funny to be around). We were also extremely lucky to have Raymond Sandors join us for several days – introducing us to several of the new products and seeing his techniques of application. Talk about the talent and creativity in one room – WOW – it was an amazing week of creating, inspiring each other and developing new finishes.

Day after day, Morey and I created sample after sample – we developed at least 40 new finishes between the two of us (maybe more…….we haven’t received our boards yet or cross checked all the notes)!!! With all this creativity – Morey and I will be teaching several new classes together here at my studio in Fresno, CA – we will also be offering to teach the class at several other locations to make it more convenient to take the class.

So stay posted – we haven’t named the class or scheduled yet – but, her is a couple of pictures to entice you to sign up!

Hoping to finish my new class schedule and have it posted to the web site @ www.artisticpaintingstudio.com by the end of this week…….so make sure to sign up for the newsletter and the new schedule will be sent to you!

To the end of an incredible week – I feel refreshed, inspired, rejuvenated, motivated and ready to start painting!!!

Blessings,
Jenn

For those of you living on the West Coast – ground shipping in 1 or 2 days. This makes receiving product fast and efficient – so that you don’t have to think too far ahead and stay focused on your current project.

Looking forward to providing wonderful service to the West Coast Region – taking care of your Faux Effects Product needs – technical help with products and finishes – classes in all levels including cabinetry, Designer Walls I and II – and fabulous service with a smile!!!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to ME!!!

I have been involved in SALI for at least 20 years – when I discovered SALI it personally opened many doors for me.  I had discovered the Art of Stenciling – but, here in California I sure wasn’t finding much of anything on the art form.  Through SALI I found many different stencil companies, a great organization that has a inspiring magazine, insurance for professionals and support/networking through local and online chapters. 

SALI truly did change my life – I had been stenciling for several years (as a professional service) and finally had the opportunity to attend one of the annual conventions.  When I returned home after convention,  I told my husband that I knew what I wanted to do – with his support, I opened my own studio “The Stencilled Garden”.  Here at TSG we carried almost every stencil company and product related to stenciling, taught 100′s of classes in the art form and still offered custom stenciling.  We opened the studio in 1994 and we out grew our first location within three years and had to move to a larger building (only a couple blocks down the street) – as we continued to explore in the arts, we also offered classes in all decorative finishing – faux finishing, plasters, murals, stenciling, and much more.   We still have our studio – just changed the name about 3 years ago to reflect more of what we do “Artistic Painting Studio” is now what we are called. 

Not sure if I would be were I am today if it hadn’t been for SALI – if you love to paint as a professional or just love to paint, SALIhas something to offer everyone at every level.  There is nothing like being involved with a group of people that share your passion and the passion for paint is different than any other passion. 

If you are close enough to make the trip to Charleston, SC this summer – make sure not to miss this great event.  The teachers and classes are unbelievable – and the exhibition will be filled with evey great company you can imagine.  By the way – class registration is open online and is very easy to do - www.sali.org. 

I will also be teaching at convention this year – don’t forget to check out my classes……I will be co-teaching with an incredible gifted person (Krista Vind) she teaches for the Decorative Finishing Studio in KY.  These are new classes that we created together – finishes that are new and inspiring – plus Krista and I are a lot of fun!!! 

I hope that I will see some new faces at this years convention – it’s a wonderful opportunity to see and experience so much all in one place.

I realize that this event did take place this past October 2007 – but, this was such an incredible experience that I still wanted to share it with everyone…..and I have some great pictures too!

Meeting of the Masters (MOTM) was a celebration of the Arts that was created by Faux Effects™ – the FE team created an environment for us all to gather a celebrate what we do.  There was an incredible presence of Masters from all over the world (some didn’t even speak English) – it was a great experience even trying to communicate.  I was in awe of all the unbelievable talent that was gathered together and all they were willing to share. 

The event started off with a Private Party for the Masters and their guests – (Ray and Jane wanted to make sure that when the event open to the public – that we would actually stay in are own booths, instead of going and seeing what everyone else was doing)……….

The event opened to a line of people that went on and on – I don’t think I had ever seen a line so long!  It was nice to meet so many people that you talk to through-out the year – share some of your favorite samples and demo your techniques – which all the Masters did over a two day period. 

There was also a wonderful evening (in Faux Effects™ style) that had live music – Just eat, drink and be merry……I think was the theme (oh, no it was Diamonds & Denim)! 

I know that Faux Effects™ is planning another MOTM for 2009 and believe me – I wouldn’t miss it.  If you didn’t have the chance to experience MOTM 2007 – make sure to mark your calendars and make it to this wonderful celebration in 09.

 For more information and a lot more photos – go to www.meetingofthemasters.org.