Decoupage Glass Plate Class

I taught a lovely group of ladies how to decoupage on a glass plate. We had a lot of fun designing these collages behind glass. I'll be teaching more classes at The Castle the coming months.

New Fall Art Classes

Fall is here and so are my new art classes at Castle in the Air, on 4th Street in Berkeley.
If you want to sign up for a class call the shop at 510/ 2049801 or go online here to sign up
I look forward to seeing you and creating together!
all the best,
elisabeth

Silhouette Luminary
Have fun playing with silhouettes, either affixing them to a luminary
to cast flickering shadows or framing them. For the silhouette, bring
to class some profile photos of you or a friend. Make sure they have a
light background. (These portrait silhouettes are more traditional,
but you could actually do a silhouette of almost anything – a bird, a
cityscape, a flower, or the Eiffel Tower, for example.) You’ll learn
how to use a scanner and a simple transfer technique to outline the
resulting silhouette on special, self-adhesive black paper, which
Castle imports from Germany. You’ll then use paper punches, black
Dresden, and decorative papers to create your silhouette luminary or
picture.
Fee: $75; includes materials. Bring a pair of sharp scissors for fine
cutting. Nail scissors work well.
Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 10 students.
Tuesday, October 5th, 6pm-9pm


Whimsical Witches
Here’s a chance for you to be a freakishly fiendish witch for
Halloween! It will be your face staring out from this Whimsical Witch
Halloween collage. Or perhaps you want it to be a friend’s face.
Before class, email the photo you’d like to use to Elisabeth (email to
be supplied). She will transform your photo into a black and white
image properly sized to fit seamlessly on a paper bodice. You’ll have
the fun of creating the witch’s costume from a selection of fabulous
papers, rubber stamps, Dresden, and ribbon. Give your card as a
Halloween gift or keep it for yourself. If you prefer not to use a
photo, Elisabeth will have extra images available for you to use.
Fee: $75; includes materials, but feel free to bring holiday themed
papers and ephemera to use.
Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 12 students.
Wednesday, October 27th, 6pm-9pm

Gilded Holiday Emblem
Inspired to create a more meaningful Christmas celebration, Elisabeth
designed these small holiday ornaments. Each contains a word or brief
phrase to identify something from the past year for which she’s
grateful, or to signify a quality or blessing she would like to invite
into her home and life for the coming year. The simple but charming
ornaments are created with vintage images, paper punches, rubber
stamps, and German glass glitter.
Fee: $75; includes materials, but feel free to bring small images
meaningful to you.
Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 12 students.
Tuesday, December 7th, 6pm-9pm

Fabric Flower Class with Ulla

In June I took Ulla Milbrath's "Summer Blooms" class at the Castle. I went with my friend Lisa. We had a wonderful time learning to make fabric flowers, which we turned into pins and necklaces. The weeks that followed I couldn't stop wearing my fabric flower necklace - I loved it so much! Check out Ulla's blog with pictures of the other student's creations.

Amazing Decoupage Glass Plates

On Tuesday I taught Decoupage Glass Plate at Castle In The Air to a delightful group of talented arts and crafts aficionados. First we created a collage from the plethora of images available. Then we affixed this collage behind a glass plate. During the "glue-drying" break we created little mini collages behind magnifying glass pebbles that will stick with their magnetic backing to a refrigerator. I am really happy with the interesting designs my students came up with. It is always inspiring to work in a group, because you get a multitude of creative expressions.

My New Summer Classes At The Castle

Decoupage Glass Plate

Learn the fascinating technique of glass decoupage using a six-inch round plate as the object for embellishment. As part of the class, you’ll learn how to use an Epson printer/scanner as a fabulous tool for collaging. The printer/scanner enables you to preserve your originals, convert them into waterproof images, and easily manipulate the size. Elisabeth will bring hers in for you to experiment with. You’ll learn about the right glue, the preferred paper, and the inks to successfully collage on glass. Fee: $75; includes materials, but feel free to bring in some images of your own (no larger than 8½” x 11” inches). Tuesday, June 22, 6pm–9:30pm Sign up here Printing On Fabric Learn the essential skills for successfully printing on fabric in this one-day intensive class. In the morning, Elisabeth will cover design and the use of transfer techniques that don’t require drawing skills. You’ll use these skills to design and carve your own simple stamp from buttery soft rubber. In the afternoon, Elisabeth will discuss the differences in designing stamps and stencils, then teach you techniques for cutting your own stencils. She’ll also describe how to use both your stamps and stencils on other surfaces, including paper and even walls. There will be plenty of extra fabric for you to practice on and a set of two tea towels for you to take home. Feel free to bring any pre-washed, light colored cotton or linen fabric, such as a set of napkins or a tee-shirt, to stamp. Fee: $95; includes materials.Limit: 10 students. Sunday, August 22, 11am–5pm Sign up here

I found a new home at Castle In The Air

It's been a long time that I have posted on this blog and I am excited to tell you some good news. Kozo Arts, where I started teaching classes last October closed it's doors at the end of the year. It was sad, because I enjoyed the collaboration with Kozo, using their beautiful Chiyogami papers for my classes and products. But when one chapter closes another one opens and so true to this saying, a new opportunity presented itself for me in February. I found a new creative home at the fabulous Castle In The Air, on 4th Street in Berkeley! I have adored this store for many years and have taken many classes in it's studio. They have an amazing selection of German Dresden Trim, lovely wrapping papers and elegant writing supplies, to name just a few items. I have learned so much from the amazing teachers who give lessons in the Castle's studio. I studied with the inspirational Alice Armstrong stamp carving and book making, I created magical 3-dimensional objects with the highly creative Ulla Milbrath, learned how to use elegant Dresden trim from the talented and kind John McRae and attended Spencerian Scrip Calligraphy lessons by master calligrapher Bill Kemp there.
I am so very happy to work now in this magical store about once a week, as well as teaching a brand-new class there:
Pysanky - Artful Ukrainian Eggs
The simple egg, in both Pagan and Christian springtime rituals, symbolizes the magical rebirth of life. Pysanky are stunning, intricately decorated eggs whose patterns are achieved through the ancient technique of wax resist dyeing. Using a special stylus, you’ll learn how to draw on an egg with melted beeswax and how to layer gem-colored, water-soluble dyes for a brilliant effect. Elisabeth will bring a variety of traditional and modern patterns for inspiration, and will talk about different ways to display your artful eggs. They look particularly lovely nestled in a bed of moss. You’ll make at least 2 eggs in the class.

Fee: $75; includes materials.

Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 10 students.

Thursday, March 25th, 6pm-9pm

Sign up here.

Also check out the Castle's blog here!

Artful Greeting Cards at Kozo

I am absolutely delighted about my newest collaboration! I am teaching a variety of art classes for Kozo Arts, a gorgeous Japanese paper store and bookbindery in San Francisco. The first class
took place last Wednesday, October 21st. It was called "Artful Greeting Cards". I had the pleasure of crafting with 3 lovely ladies, who produced gorgeous greeting cards , incorporating the artful Japanese Chiyogami papers that Kozo Arts sells. This class is a lot of fun, because the cards comprise of different elements: beautiful patterned papers, decoupaged images and stamping techniques. I brought lots of different stamps, cutter and punches and we had papers galore. The class is suited for beginners as well as seasoned crafters. It is always fascinating for me to see the different interpretations my students come up. Check out their beautiful results :



My students busy at work, creating artful greeting cards:

New Halloween Classes

Want to do something creative? Are you bored with store-bought decorations? Come and join me at The Workshop, where I'll be teaching some Halloween themed classes this month.
Just visit The Workshop website to sign up.

Wickedly Whimsical Witches

with Elisabeth Alexander

This Halloween themed class is perfect for trying your

hand at collage with different papers, images and

stamps. Using your own face (or that of a family

member or friend*) you'll create some whimsical

witches. The paper doll is actually a card that can

be given to somebody or just placed on your mantel

as a Halloween decoration.

*We'll also have a selection of vintage faces to choose from

Sunday, October 19 1:00 - 4:00

$50/class fee + $10/materials fee

Stamp Art Series

with Elisabeth Alexander

Carve your own rubber stamps and print personalized edition note cards and other
stationery items. Learn tips and tricks to easily use and convert found images or draw your own.
We’ll also cover embellishments with different inks, glitter and embossing powders.

Sunday October 26 1:00 - 4:00 Halloween & Day of the Dead
Monday, November 3 6:00 - 9:00 Fall Table Settings
Tuesday, December 9 6:00 - 9:00 New Years Cards

$50/class (or $150/for all four classes) + $10/materials fee

Charms, Buttons and Embellishments

I have so much fun with kid's crafts and Shrinky Dinks are a little obsession mine. Last year I taught kids at Martin Luther King Middle School to make cool key tags from Shrinky Dinks and had a blast. So I had to revisit this craft, but this time I wanted to give it an adult twist, make something I would wear and use myself. I experimented with Ink jet printer shrink plastic and created a series of Victorian Wine Charms and Pins, as well as interestingly patterned buttons that I embellish greeting cards with. If you are tempted to join in the fun, come and take my class at The Workshop, September 24th.

1001 Butterflies

I spent 6 wonderful years at Oxford Elementary school volunteering and teaching art to the kids. My favorite art project was a farewell present to the leaving principal Kathleen Lewis. Inspired by the story of the 1001 origami cranes, I set out with the kids to create 1001 butterflies. A group of parents and I pre-cut 1100 butterflies in 4 different shapes and 3 different sizes. The kids decorated the black construction paper butterflies with glittery or flurescent gel pens (which I got for free from the Sakura Gelly Pen Company). For several weeks I went from class to class until all 300 kids at Oxford Elemantary had created 1001 butterflies. My friends Pam and Ellie helped me turn the unveiling of the butterflies into a powerful event. All kids, teachers and the beloved pricipal were present and blown away, by the power of 1001 butterflies!