McCall Miller Designs

Muggy

2010-06-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a muggy week here...no fun.

I finally found a frame for the ensemble I finished last week. I think it looks pretty good.

My mom surprised me with a copy of Sandy Bartholomew's new book "Totally Tangled." It is super fun! I highly recommend it. If you like that, you will like her first book "AlphaTangle." I carry mine around with my Zentangle travel kit and look at it whenever I want to smile.

If you are wondering what my Zentangle travel kit includes...it's a Case Logic hard-drive case (http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/516995/Case-Logic-Portable-Compact-Hard-Drive) with a pocket on one side that holds Micron pens (005 through 08), two pencils, a blending stump (to keep my fingers clean) and on the other side is an elastic loop to hold a stack of Zentangle tiles (around 20). It works out great!!!

I am still working on scheduling some workshops in Marin and Sonoma counties...I will post as soon as I have some information. If you are interested, please contact me.

I'm back!

2010-05-27T20:27:00.001-07:00

Hello one and all,

I haven't had time to write in a few months...unfortunately.

I have been taking a break from everything crafty...lack of motivation...which afflicts us all from time to time.

But...I have begun feeling crafty in the last week or so...at last.

This last week, I had a chance to go to the Sakura office in Hayward, CA to teach them Zentangles with my mother-in-law, also a fellow Certified Zentangle Teacher. It was tons of fun and great practice! They had a great time and created some great Zentangles!!! See what they created below.

Last night my husband decided he wanted to learn about Zentangle. So, today I taught him...he is a natural! His is on the left, mine is on the right.

While working with him, I got the idea to create 9 Zentangles with the same four tangles to make a really neat ensemble. I think it turned out great! See for yourselves!

I have also updated my home party information (see right). I am working on some introductory workshops in Marin county...I will keep you all updated! In the meantime...have a great week!

Custom letters

2010-02-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone.

We are finally "done" with our studio/office/art room. It looks pretty darn good and is working well for us. The shelves are from Ikea (such a wonderful place) and my dh built me a new desk that can come down and be put out of the way. The new layout is so much more open...we love it!

Now to the title of this post...Custom letters. I would like to show off some Zentangle-inspired custom letters I have done. I have done a "p" and a "f" so far. They are a lot of fun to do!

I am also announcing the sale of custom letters: $25 for a custom letter on a 3.5x3.5 inch tile, $40 for a tile mounted in a 5x5 inch simple black wood frame (picture is above right). If interested, please contact me at maraboumccall@gmail.com.

I have been knitting a lot this past week and actually have something to show for it! This is a 1x1 rib scarf using two colorways of Noro Kureyon. It is turning out just fabulous!

Today I went to an encaustic wax painting demonstration at the SRJC. Right now there is an exhibition of wax paintings. They are absolutely amazing. If only I had the space. Isn't that how it is for everyone?!

Until next time.

A busy two weeks

2010-01-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy two weeks.

Our new office/art room/studio is almost done. All that is left is to build me a new desk/craft table. I will post pictures as soon as that is completed.

I have been tangling like crazy. I tangled a fun new heart design in time for Valentine's Day. I made it into some fun cards with red to red and purple alcohol ink backgrounds. They have been posted to my Etsy shop (www.maraboumccall.etsy.com).

Last night was my first Zentangle Home Party! It went great! These are going to be lots of fun! Get your friends together to talk, laugh, and TANGLE!!! If you are interested in a Zentangle Home Party, please contact me via email (maraboumccall@gmail.com). Basic information is in the sidebar on the right.

In knitting news, I have started yet another project. A scarf made from two different colorways of Noro Kureyon. It is a 1x1 rib with 2 row stripes. I will post pictures of this as well.

On a sad note, my grandfather passed away yesterday. He had been struggling with heart problems for many years and is now in a better place. I will miss you Papa John.

Until next time.

New Etsy items!

2010-01-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I finished those "Thank you" cards I was talking about in my last post. They turned out great! If I say so myself.

Three sets of five (5) cards each have been posted to my Etsy shop. Please check them out http://www.maraboumccall.etsy.com

Till next time.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T18:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. First Christmas then New Year's. There has been no time to tangle, bead, stitch, or knit!

But, as promised, here are a couple of pictures of the necklaces and bookmarks I made for the family. On the left is one of the tangles I drew specifically for these wonderful charms. They were made with Inkssentials Memory Frames by Ranger in all three sizes: 1x1, 1.5x1.5, 1x3 inch frames. Everyone seemed to like them. I even made one for myself!!!

Right now I am working on Thank You cards. For some strange reason, this seems to be the appropriate time. I hope to be able to post them on Etsy in the next couple of days, so please check my shop: http://www.maraboumccall.etsy.com (or click on the link to the right).

Since it is the beginning of a new year (and a new decade), my husband and I decided it was time to reorganize and redo our office/studio. It has been fun and has included a trip to IKEA! We are not quite done, but we are getting there. This way all of our supplies are out and available for use.

I hope everyone had a happy, wonderful, and crafty holiday season! Until next week!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T12:50:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a great week. I have spent the week finishing up Christmas presents for friends and family...pecan pralines (from "Tout de Suite a la Microwave" by Jean K. Durkee) which are absolutely yummy and tons of Zentangle-inspired bookmarks and necklaces (pictures next week). It's okay that I write this since the presents will be opened soon...I am not spoiling the surprise too much.

Today while driving around town grocery shopping an idea for a Christmas card popped into my head. A tangled tree on a background of red and green alcohol inked (Red Pepper and Meadow Adirondack Alcohol Inks) paper on a white linen paper card. You can see the tree to the right. Here is a picture of a finished card. It was a lot of fun creating these cards. I think I will create seasonal greeting cards, so keep an eye out for Easter cards, Valentine's Day cards, Thanksgiving cards, etc.

Everyone have a safe and Happy Holiday!

Information

2009-12-17T16:41:00.001-08:00

Hello all...

I have begun this new blog to update everyone about my artistic endeavors into the fields of Zentangle, beading, needlework, and knitting.

I have spent much of the day customizing this page. On the right you will see links to my family's pages as well as some of my favorite sites to visit, play on, and shop. There is also information about my Zentangle workshops and Zentangle ordering information. Another link is to my shop on Etsy, on which I am currently selling beaded stitch markers for knitting and crochet, but will be adding some Zentangle-inspired pieces in the not-too-distant future.

Please come back and visit often!!!

New blog!

2009-12-17T14:11:00.000-08:00

Here's my new blog! Keep checking back!