A-gCaBlog magazine.

Hi! A-gCa will be back. September 1st.

I have decided to bring A-gCa's My life. My Craft. series back  by weekly. Beginning Sept. 1st.  hmm who will the first? see you then....

Issue 4. æsthetics.

my liFe. mY cRafT series. Amanda Johnson.

sTudiO rEal. Volume 4. Shauna and Stephen.

Self- (craft) Portrait. Stephanie Baxter.

**** BOOK CALL **** all a-gCa readers wanted.

EndNote: æsthetics.

my liFe. mY cRafT series. Amanda Johnson.

Mandi is charming.

truly charming. 

I found her first by chance months ago and instantly knew that she had 'it'. (*editors note: then the unthinkable happened, I thought I bookmarked her blog, but sadly hadn't. Then while researching for the Hambly column post for the last issue), I found That iconic unique one of kind style again. There is no mistaking a Mandi lay-out, project or vintage find for her store. And her photographic view. I am so pleased to have her Visit A-gCa's My Life. My Craft series:

(click to view in detail).

interior design: full-time interior design student. Mandi takes her homework serious. 

(vanity fair)  

Her style is as if it comes out of a magazine. The way she decorates, the clothes she wears and the pictures she takes. Her life is art. Then there is her craft....

mini books.

pages.

wedding photos.

vanity.

shoot.

Decor.

her craft is as unique as her fingerprint. 

 

 thank you Mandi.

Editors Note: where Mandi is found.

where her vintage finds are delicious.

http://candimandi.typepad.com/design_work/

design team.

she is one of the very talented girls at the art is found blog.

Blog: Here's looking at me kid.

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31293816@N00/

Thank you Mandi.  (I had to add this photo, just adore it.)

sTudiO rEal. Volume 4. Shauna and Stephen.

She's the collector. He's the builder. Together they create: There is something hiding in here.  The wife and husband crafting duo caught my eye recently after discovering the joy (my newest magazine obsession) of  Ready-Made Magazine. I was creatively charged instantly by the fact that there 2,300 ft loft in Philadelphia is RENTED and filled with the most aesthetically charming- budget friendly, reinvented and vintage decor. And the time and amazing creative effort put into to making temporary abode a home.Editor's note: for more information and wonderful images, visit Ready-made: Issue 36 archive. 

I am pleased to present his and her's studio real:

HERS (Shauna):

perfectly organized. 

At her desk: Peg-board and Paint by numbers. Love the use of a naked wood crafting desk with color refurbished end table for storage.  

sewing view.

detail in organization.

fresh paint and flowers.

inspiration board wall. 

Editors note: Shauna's studio is filled with such goodness. Goodness in no clutter or the wonderful illusion of it with her masterful organizational skills. This truly is dream real studio, where inspiration is a plenty. Thank you Shauna!!!

His (Stephen):

make stuff here.

periodic table of craft. 

*editors note: Both studio and shop is located in there loft. Thank you for allowing A-gCa a glimpse into your creative spaces.  

For more information on Shauna and Stephen:

Blogs: http://www.somethingshidinginhere.typepad.com/

your message here:  http://www.yourmessagehere.typepad.com/

Etsy:somethings hiding in here.

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34345668@N00

Go check out there newest project:

@ fred flare and post your own message.

Self- (craft) Portrait. Stephanie Baxter.

I adore Steph. I remember the first time I had seen her pages for my Technicolor Postcard Design Team Call. I was so enchanted by her simple layouts and magazine images (what you don't have to use your own images to conjure up emotion, what awesome concept).  Steph's pages really capture the spirit of A-gca. Experimental, honest and genuine. 

"Hello! I’m Steph and I just turned 23 a few days ago. I live in a town called Epsom, near London in England, and I’m very excited and proud to be able to say that Epsom is mentioned in my most favourite book ever, Pride and Prejudice! (Yes, I am a Jane Austen nut.) I went to Cambridge University to read English and Education, and am about to embark on a wonderful new adventure…in April I am beginning training with British Airways to be an air hostess for them. I am also a journalist, and am hoping to branch into travel journalism when I start flying all over the world with BA!

I’ve been scrapbooking properly for a couple of years now, although it’s only been within the last few months that I’ve actually felt like I’ve found my own sort of style that I am comfortable with. The way I create is very free…I take a sort of ‘anything goes’ approach. This means that I very rarely measure anything; I just hack into patterned paper with my scissors until I’m happy with the way things look!

One problem I often have is that I can’t afford to buy new supplies every month since I have just come out of uni and therefore have a huge debt! So I try and make what I do have go further. I’ll sometimes buy kits and make them last for literally ages. This is why you don’t see a load of product on my pages…I have to go for the ‘less is more’ thing. I think it works ok though, and it has now become part of my style. (I still can’t wait until I’m flying into the USA on a regular basis though, which means that I will be able to buy supplies without having to pay the huge shipping charges back to the UK!)

Another thing that I do a lot is to use images from catalogues and magazines on my pages. I don’t take as many photos as I should, even though I got a wonderful Nikon D60 back in December. To be honest, I’m a bit scared of it…there’s so many buttons and features! I will get round to reading up on photography so that I can start taking more photos. I do love using catalogue and magazine images though…the photography is stunning. (The images in the first 2 layouts are from the Toast catalogue…I LOVE it!!)

I got a sewing machine for my birthday this year from my dad, and I’ve only just played with it once but I’m already hooked. I think that sewing will become a regular feature on my pages from now on…it’s so addicting!

I’m on the design team for The Creative Type challenge blog, so do stop by and say hello and come and play along with us. I’m so grateful to Cynthia for featuring me in A-gCa…she is a wonderful lady, so keep reading. I know I will!."

Editors note: oh it is fun to be called a lady by such a grand British girl:) Thank you Steph. Here is where she can be found:

blog:  And so, create

Flickr 

SisTV  portfolio

endnote:æsthetics.

My Mother since the day I was born surrounded me with the art of aesthetics.  There were the yellow daisies, perfectly picked out mod beach towel with the matching wicker bag. perfectly coordinated outfits. Her Jackie-o sunglasses. Just to name a few. She made our lives beautiful with her attention for detail and her everyday art. Paintings, fashion sketches and of course her decorating. As a little girl I found her style magical. Soaking it all in. Through her style, I found mine. And the differences.

 But she always encouraged my style choices, know matter how polar opposite we became. 

Putting together this issue, I saw how unique each one of these featured artists aesthetic views are- The attention to there individual detail. It never ceases to amaze me what each one of us brings to our craft. Even if you don't even know it yet.  It is all about the process and what ever the aesthetic outcome is.... 

Cynthia of Technicolor postcards.

Between issues.

Volume 4 will be debuting on friday march 13th. In the meantime check out these A-gCa favorites.

Patty's The little red suitcase and The Creative Type (where A-gCa's own Sandy is too:)

There  are some amazingly crafty articles. And in days before spring is in full force, challenge yourself with catching up on some creative prompts.

See you all on March 13th.

Issue 3. Uncommon craft.

My life. My Craft series. Dina Wakely.

My life. My Craft series. Studio real. Shimelle Laine (double feature). 

Shops@ A-gCa st.  Hambly Screen Prints.

Self- (craft) portrait. Amy Cutler.

Staff meeting: Sandy and Sooz.

Endnote.

Enjoy.

My liFe. mY cRafT series. Shimelle Laine.

Where have I been?  Missing out up until recently on the craft of  American Girl who went to London and stayed  Shimelle. She came across A-gCa through a friend who prompted her to send a link to her fabulous studio (featured here for Studio real post). I was charmed by her her little e-mail and when I visited her flickr photo stream, I fell instantly in adoration when I saw this ...

london snow day.

and our common bond for good music (sigur ros, yes shimelle while I am writing this I thought it would be appropriate to listen to them:)   

So, after checking out her website and finding her charming words / images/ craft. And the classes. (OK I want to take every single one).  I had to share with A-gCa readers Shimelle's  craft-magic.... (even if I am the last to know how cool this girl is:) 

(click on image).

"My craft tells my Story."-Shimelle

This is what creating is all about. Whatever your craft is...

"I have always loved to make things. Sometimes I just didn’t know it.
I have always loved photographs. Sometimes I just didn’t take them.
I have always loved to write. Sometimes I just erase a little too much."

"So really, I am all about progression." (quotes from shimelle.com about "She's a girl obsessed with storytelling through scrapbooking. In addition to pretty papers and other scrapbook supplies, she also has a general fondness for cupcakes") Well said.

Editors note: Thank shimelle for taking a seat in A-gCa's volume 3 and sharing a part of  your creative progression.

To find more of Shimelle Visit her at  Shimelle.com for her trademark on-line classes and some free projects and of course endless inspiration.

Her flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/shimelle/

two peas in a bucket. http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/

 

 Current class: Here, there and everywhere

Where she works: http://www.scrapbookinspirationsmagazine.co.uk/

my liFe. mY cRafT series. Dina Wakley.

I think that in some ways it is a bit difficult to define what a scrapbook is versus an art journal. Perhaps, unnecessary too, but of all the people I have come across no one graces both worlds more graciously and with more ease than Dina Wakley. As a scrapbooker I envy her artsy, rebellious, carefree style, but above all  it’s her art journals that leave me with my jaw on the ground. To top it off she’s truly lovely, and humble, and incredibly unpretentious . Yeah, I pretty much adore her.  -Sandy Here’s why....

Art journal.

(click on image).

"My craft: self-expression". - Dina Wakley

WORDS move ME.

Thank you Dina.

editors note: Dina can be found @ her blog: http://dinastamps.typepad.com/

Hambly design team.http://hamblyscreenprints.typepad.com/

Kenner Road. http://blog.kennerroad.com/

get it scrapped. http://debbiehodge.squarespace.com/