Make It Artsy is a brand new show dedicated to the crafter, maker and artist! This new series celebrates that maker spirit and enthusiasm that extends to every part of life. It’s more than crafting, more than art or scrapbooking; this is an all-encompassing show for any one that loves to make “things”. From mixed media to metalsmithing, using tools from saws to sewing machines, and materials from paper to wood; today’s most creative “makers” join host Julie Fei Fan Balzer and unleash a new look for crafting with a touch of industrial style.
Make It Artsy 800 "A Fresh Look"
This season on Make It Artsy season 800, we invite you to take a fresh look at all aspects of your art with fresh new ingredients, updated techniques and a renewed commitment to incorporating materials from other disciplines like jewelry into your ‘Making”. Get out your rose-colored glasses – or whatever it takes to inspire you, to take a fresh look. It’s a brand-new day to be a creative maker with Make It Artsy.
Get out your rose-colored glasses, or whatever props you need to take a fresh look at your art. Host Julie Fei Fan Balzer starts the show with a faux shibori dyeing demonstration. Then, our tool guy, Joe Rotella creates unique frames using small strips of wood for a rustic or metallic look. Finally, Tori Weyers returns this season for more artistic inspiration. Every other week she has a lesson on a new way of looking at an aspect of art through your sketchbook. Today it’s all about words. Explore interesting textures and shapes through writing and letters.
We never stop learning and adding a new technique is a great way to jump start your creativity. First, host Julie Fei Fan Balzer shows a new way to use gel medium and stencils together. Then, Emily Thompson shows how to use offset lines to create a wood sign. Finally, Melissa Muir takes premade discs and adds texture to create charms for mixed media use.
Get out of your artistic rut and look for new ideas to inspire you. Host Julie Fei Fan Balzer shows a new style of pop up card. Then, Lynn Lilly has three fresh ways to personalize a gift. Finally, Tori Weyers has lesson two and experimenting with mediums. Alcohol based inks and acrylic, water-based inks – together can have some uncontrollable but beautiful effects.
Each and every morning is our chance to re-invent our creativity. At the start of the show, Host Julie Fei Fan Balzer demonstrates a sewn book binding technique. Then, take a new look at the night sky with Cheryl Holz. Finally, Rita Pannulla adds stamping to premade shapes to create dangles for drink stirrers.
Just a little pun as today’s definition of fresh refers to paint. Host Julie Fei Fan Balzer opens the show with a shadow stenciled tree using acrylics. Then, Jacqueline Sullivan paints flowers with ink! Finally, it’s lesson 3 three with Tori Weyers and blending the colors you never typically use!
Take a look at other disciplines like jewelry as a way to give your art a fresh look. First, host Julie Fei Fan Balzer creates cork and leather earrings for lightweight, dimensional art. Then, Erin Gerlach makes a jewelry or trinket box from old jewelry. Finally, Tammy Honaman hands sews fabric over wire shapes for whimsical earrings.
Give your palette an update by mixing up some fresh new colors. Joe Rotella starts us out with a pop-up card inspired by Dr Who and metallic colors. Then, join Gay Isber for unique bangles alive with colored gemstones. Finally, Tori Weyers is back to “collect colors”. Use your favorite magazines to find color inspiration and make unconventional color palettes.
Take a risk and try a fresh twist on a time-honored style. First, host Julie Fei Fan Balzer turns a favorite fabric quilt into paper art. Then, Jacqueline Sullivan is back with more alcohol ink as paint to make a lantern. Finally, Leslie Rogalski has a quick and easy jewelry inspired pattern for a half moon pendant.
Basic shapes get a makeover as we look at them just a little bit differently. Host Julie Fei Fan Balzer has a paper piecing technique in fresh shapes. Then, Lynn Lilly shows how to prepare for a farmhouse dinner party and all of the things you need to make a perfect event. Finally, Tori Weyers explores different composition studies with simple lines and circles in the sketch book lesson.
A girl can’t never get to much bling. We’re all attracted to bright and shiny beginning with Joe Rotella and gemstone patterns that embellish useful items. Then, Gay Isber shows how to make decorative bead caps to highlight your favorite beads with metallics. Finally, Beth Simmons blings out with crystal embellishments.
Every day is a new beginning or start to looking at our art in a new way. Try a Styrofoam printing plate with host Julie Fei Fan Balzer. Then create a shell frame mirror with Erin Gerlach. Finally, it’s a fresh start with Tori Weyers as she begins with a square and doodles from there.
You don’t’ necessarily need new materials to have a fresh look, maybe it’s taking something you are familiar with and using it in a new way. Joe Rotella begins with art toys made with a little engineering. Then, it’s a shadow box abstract with Cat Kerr. Finally, encaustic wood tiles are a new way to look at using encaustic techniques with Mary Hettmansperger.
What we remove is just as important as what we keep. Host Julie Fei Fan Balzer makes fresh cuts on different materials beginning with fabric reverse applique. Then, Joe Rotella uses miniature power tools to make woven colorful pendants. Finally, it’s the last sketchbook lesson with Tori Weyers and “glue it all in” paper stash grab bag compositions.
Projects - Series 800
