Collections at Paperific

It was the end of August and time to head to the Melbourne Showgrounds for Paperific – celebrating their 10th birthday this year!  The main reason I head out to the showgrounds each year is to see Julie Van Oosten and her Collections; to see what new offerings she has created. Jenny Crossley was also on-hand to help out!

And this year we were not disappointed – Julie has some very cute kits, with angel wings and butterflies. There was also a new range of papers that included some sky blue and turquoise green.

Julie is always so happy to share her techniques with everyone that visits and generously allows people to take photos, to jog the memory once they return home with their goodies. There were people who had come from New Zealand, rural Victoria and even Perth (Her home town), as well as across Melbourne, just to see the Collections collection.

I also had the chance to help Julie and Jenny out on the stand;

Taken in a hurry, this self portrait shows a grin of pure delight. Thanks Julie and Jenny! Now it’s time to go and cut and stick something…

The book that Jenny (Crossley) made…

Beachhouse Boulevard hosted their annual retreat / stamp camp / scrapbooking weekend in early June 2010.  This year’s guest artist was Jenny Crossley, of A Mark in Time fame, known for her industrial jewellery and wonderful art book making.

Jenny Crossley (left) & Michelle

Our project for the weekend was a beautiful art book, filled with vintage images, found objects and antiqued papers, bound in four signatures with ribbon or string.  There was a frenzy of antiquing, gluing, sanding and edging; and that was just to prepare the pages. Then the decorating began.  After many hours work, we had all finished our books.

As usual, the pictures do not do this work of art justice. It is so much better when you can pick it up and touch it and see how the light reflects off the mica and embellishments.

Many thanks must go to Monika and Mick, who host a fantastic retreat, each year. And also to Jenny for sharing her brilliant artwork and for her enthusiasm.

Also a huge thank you to all of the class participants: this book was such a lot of work and everyone helped one another out at different stages, regardless of experience level. And the encouragement between everyone was heartwarming.