Take a look...

at the incredible shadowboxes SDL students and awesome artists, Mary Ellen and Becky, created after taking the SDL Shadowbox Workshop in May. 

Mary Ellen and Becky develop depth and wonderment in their projects by creatively using paper, words, found treasures and hand crafted embellishments. Each individual section stands on its own, but together it weaves an elaborate story. 

Tiny Treasures...

Saturday's Altered Shadow Box Workshop proved to be an interesting peek into people's lives as objects and the stories behind them were shared and observed. 

Students brought in their tiny treasures, along with donations for the “share bowl,” to be thoughtfully placed within the many little niches of their box. Layering, distressing, design and depth of field were just a few of the techniques demonstrated. 

It was fascinating to see and hear the stories develop as each Shadow Box came to life. As always, in true ShaDeeLa style, we laughed, had fun and realized that it's the "small" things that count and everyone has their story to tell. 

After all, "One man's trash is another man's treasure"......

Turn Your Treasures into Art...

Join us for our 

Altered Shadow Box Workshop

 on Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Bring along your keepsakes and other special items to create a meaningful three-dimensional shadow box for display. You can choose a theme for your box or gather preserved treasures and small items that capture your eye or heart. 

Ideas to include in your display: 

Photos, miniature objects
like charms, feathers, seashells, 
coins, tokens, tickets, mini bottles, sea glass, drift wood, pressed flowers, acorns, jewelry, 

decorative papers, small paintings or drawings,

trim accents and so much more.

Melt those Winter Blues away...

with an inspirational ShaDeeLa Workshop!

We are offering four great workshops in February and March at the Kent Island Federation of Arts (KIFA) studio. Located just one mile past the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the lovely neighborhood of Stevensville, Maryland, the creative atmosphere at KIFA will warm your artistic spirit.

All skill levels are welcome. Early enrollment is encouraged due to limited class size. Call KIFA at 410.643.7424 and register today.

Tell them ShaDeeLa sent you!

Polymer Clay Techniques

Saturday's Polymer Clay Techniques led by Dee was an intensive and informative class that introduced participants to the endless possibilities of working with this medium. The use of push molds, texture, layering, mica powder and antiquing with paint was fully explored. Final embellishments included gems and touches of Lumiere metallic paint that gave each piece that "bling factor". Students left with six beautiful tags that could be used as ornaments or gifts. This class was the perfect introduction to polymer clay in preparation for a future class called Mosaic Mirrors, where students will make their own clay titles and adhere them to a mirror frame.

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For keeps

Saturday's workshop focused on making personal boxes for all those special treasures.

Beads made by a young child... a mother's costume jewelry... special verses...

These special tokens, combined with painting, decoupage and embossing turned a simple kraft box into a beautiful box with heartfelt memories...inside and out.

Hello Creative Souls!

February is an art-filled month for ShaDeeLa. Visit our WORKSHOP SCHEDULE for the details, including dates, workshop descriptions and supply lists.

BISHOP’S STOCK SPECIAL!!!

Register* by February 5th for one (or both!) of ShaDeeLa’s FEBRUARY Creative Workshops at Bishop’s Stock Gallery and you’ll automatically be entered in a drawing for our “Embrace your ART” gift basket. Filled with creative supplies and surprises, the basket is valued at over $50!

The drawing will take place on Saturday, February 12th at 3 pm.
Call Ann Coates at Bishop’s Stock Gallery to register today 410-631-3555.
Email ShaDeeLa Creative Workshops at ShaDeeLaWorkshop@aol.com with any questions.

We hope to see you soon!
Sharon, Dee and Deb

*Registrant must be paid in full by the day of the workshop in order to qualify for the drawing.
This drawing applies for workshops on Friday, February 11th and Saturday, February 12th
at Bishop’s Stock. Participants that have already registered have been included. Limit to one entry per person per workshop.

Queen's Ink Debut

We had our grande debut at Queen’s Ink on Saturday, September 18 to rave reviews!

Creativity was in the air during our morning class, Nurture Threads lead by Dee. Students worked with fabrics, paints, stamps and our own collage sheets to create beautiful pieces of art, encased in decorated frames. Everyone left the class excited to go home and find a spot for their new artwork.

After lunch, we started our second class of the day, Soul Affirmations. A new crop of students (okay, there were two carry overs from the morning) eagerly began working on their books, directed by Deb on all the new techniques. The students left with the “affirmation book” as a reminder of their creative sides. And hopefully a desire to come to another

ShaDeeLa workshop soon!

Speaking of, be sure to check out our upcoming workshops at Snow HIll!

View more photos on facebook.

A Soul-Filled Afternoon in Snow Hill

This past weekend we returned to the art district of Snow Hill to teach our “Soul Affirmations” workshop. The class was held at Bishop’s Stock, a local art and wine gallery, which was the perfect backdrop for a soul searching and creative day.

Class began with Sharon explaining the definition of affirmations (a personal truth, for those who were unable to make it) and invited everyone to leave the cares of the world behind as they explored their own truths and creativity for the day.

Dee then gave a quick overview of the day and discussed the (soon to be famous) ShaDeeLa Class bag. Included in the bag for this class was the blank board book, grunge board, creative collage sheets, ‘soul’ tile, affirmation sheet (for a little soul nudge) and wooden crown and heart. Dee also went over the lay of the room, noting the “Share” table, loaded with stamps, ink pads, paints, brushes and scrap paper.

To get everyone started, Deb demonstrated the faux copper finish for the cover of the book, adding patina to give the Old World weathered look. Students then went to work on their own books, completing the cover and several pages throughout the afternoon. The final touch was a beautiful ribbon, run through grommets and tied into a bow, to keep those affirmations close.

The end projects were amazing, not only to us but to everyone in the class. The individual creativity was in abundance and a great reminder to us all that we are all creative, and should be so each and everyday. Everyone left with a special little book that reminds us of this fact and other little positive anecdotes, whenever we may need them!

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She's Got Attitude....

ShaDeeLa's June class focused on recapturing youthful confidence and laissez-faire attitude. Starting with a blank canvas, instructors Sharon, Dee and Deb worked with students to turn childhood photos into modern, personal works of art. Students were encouraged to experiment with texture and color, with a focus on layering the two, by using stamp and transfer techniques. Everyone walked away with a picture perfect canvas... and a reminder that we all still have a little attitude!

Mermania

To open up the workshop, Dee shared several prototype examples, while reviewing the basic techniques of working with polymer clay. ShaDeeLa's students then began their mermaid contour "foundation" forming the essential parts that would be put together at the end. The parts were then given texture, pattern and interest using rubber stamp impressions. The "push mold" faces were adorned with clay accents such as hair, crowns and halos.

While the clay parts were in the oven baking, ShaDeeLa artists enjoyed a tea and cookie break as they pulled together the final accents to be added to their crafted Mermaid. After the clay cooled, artists embellished with color washes, seashells, jewels, beads and of course, glitter! The parts were assembled with wire, jump rings and beads completing a beautifully articulated Mixed Media Mermaid!

Jointed Flower Doll

ShadeeLa’s workshop artists created cheerful jointed dolls sculpted with Sculpey Ultra Light clay in June's workshop. Copper wires were inserted into the sculpted legs, arms, torso and head and baked for 20 minutes. Each doll part was painted, adorned with rhinestones, beads, glitter, sealed with a satin varnish and then assembled. Each doll had a finished size of approximately 6 inches tall. They all had unique shapes, adornments and colors. It was fun to hear the names that each Flower Doll was assigned.

This was a full day class that included an incredible potluck lunch prepared by all attending.

You Look Mahvelous Mirror

ShaDeeLa held it's "YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS MIRROR" workshop in early May. Participants received a wooden framed mirror, which soon became individual masterpieces! After transferring original designs to the frame, students painted, glittered and glued down items that gave dimension and interest. The final touch was using a wood burning tool to outline designs to create a "pop" effect. With the final pieces in hand, students walked out of class with a smile on their faces and a reminder that... "YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS!"

Road Trip!

Sharon, Dee and Deb usually take the month of August off. Vacations, preparations for the holiday trunk show (details coming soon!) and project development normally has the month filled. This year, however, an unexpected phone call had the ladies of ShaDeeLa heading north to Philadelphia. The project -- working with a group of girlfriends; The agenda -- finishing up partially completed projects. Sharon, Dee and Deb gave the friends new ideas and modernized a few old techniques. So much fun! This could be come an annual event.

"This was such a great Saturday with the girls - and productive too! Sharon, Dee and Deb were great instructors and really gave us all some wonderful ideas. I hope they have workshops in our area soon!"- Kris L.

Creative Sparks Incubation Box

This workshop was developed specifically to spark that creative ember that glows within all of us and to keep that flame alive and burning bright!

Whether you are a writer, musician or an artist, your most creative ideas always seem to arise while in the shower, in a traffic jam or when tossing sleeplessly at night. Noting your ideas when they arise is crucial to the creative cycle. These boxes were designed to establish a holding place for written or sketched thoughts for future attention when one’s artist cycle is in its full moon.

While openly sharing their best known discovery (or aha) moments, students learned the technique of carving their own handmade rubber stamp using a linoleum cutter and a rubber blank. The circular boxes were adorned with paint, rubber stamping, burnt matchsticks and finalized with wood-burned accent.

Miniature Garden Delights

To honor the coming of Spring, ShaDeeLa’s guest instructor, Auralea Krieger from Nature’s Soul Miniatures led the “Miniature Garden Delights” workshop. Kits were distributed with everything we needed to create our own potted Hydrangea plants. They contained pre-cut tissue petals, hydrangea stalks, pre-cooked polymer clay heads, leaves and even a clay pot for the flower! Auralea shared her special techniques, inspiration and guidance and some of us cultivated our own. All participants left with their own miniature piece of art to cherish or give as a gift and most of all we left with a newly learned craft and a blossoming of our creative soul.

Mosaic Reflections

Also in January, the ShaDeeLa workshop explored the art of creating mosaic mirror frames. Instructors Sharon, Dee and Deb reviewed the basic mosaic techniques including layout, design and focal point. ShaDeeLa’s students then began to create their colorful masterpieces. The mirror frames were created from a unique combination of vintage plates, old glass bottles, ceramic souvenirs, letter tiles and other treasured items. Classmates encouraged one another to create without inhibitions and were thrilled to take home a piece to reflect on!

Due to popular demand for this project, we plan to schedule another class in early Fall 2010. Email us if you’d like to receive our upcoming the workshop schedules.

“It was a relaxing and fun class. The playfulness of piecing together the “puzzle” took me back to being a free-spirited kid!”

- Kathy Kady, first time ShaDeeLa student

Soul-filled Shelters

One-of-a-Kind Mixed Media Treasures

ShaDeeLa’s first workshop of 2010 as an absolute success. Held in the quaint town of Snow Hill, Maryland, this workshop focused on taking meaningful objects and turning them into a Soul-filled Shelter. Everyone seems to have a box of little curiosities collected during nature walks, gathered from yard sales and salvaged from the jewelry box. ShaDeeLa’s Soul-filled Shelter workshop focuses on turning these trinkets into an artistic reflection of a moment in the student’s life.

Starting with a small wooden house, ShaDeeLa instructors Sharon, Dee and Deb, guided students through the various steps of painting, stamping and embellishing to ensure each house met their artistic vision. By the end of the workshop, students had created Soul-filled Shelters with themes such as Burning Love, Dream, Create and Journey to name a few.