The weather let me know I should not make over-whelming comments on the weather. We had snow, again. Then we went sub-zero. Finally we went above zero – then we kept peeking above freezing. This morning we are starting a “winter precipitation day” – high winds, sleet, freezing rain, snow, and later even a thunder storm with heavy rain is being called for tonight. Hopefully this mass of messy weather has gotten rid of a lot of the bugs for this coming summer.
Okay, let’s start with the bad news. One of our major colorants was discontinued.
The colorants are the pigments that we mix together to make the paint colors that you paint with. John and Misty have been using the same colorant since we bought the Company and they were really aware of just what that colorant would do and how much it took to make it come out the way they (or I) wanted it to. This particular colorant is used in a majority of the paints that have any red-tones to it. Now we have to switch to another colorant. The Color Tech at the colorant company helped us to find the one that is closest to what we had before – but even though it’s as close as we can get – it’s still different and John and Misty are going to have to re-figure a lot of formulas as we run out of those paints and have to re-make them. There will be some changes in the finished products, but it can’t be helped. They will do the best they can to keep them as close as possible to what is already out there.
I just thought you would like to know what’s going on and why.
Now let’s talk about the next little glitch. I need a copy of your sales tax license if you are going to keep getting a discount as instructor/dealers. This is important for the Company so we don’t get into trouble with the ‘tax people’. If I don’t have a copy of your License on file here – and I give you discounts – we have to pay a fine and go through a lot of hassle. For those of you that need your discounts to earn a little extra money (or a lot of extra money) from those customers out there that you have – please get that copy to me. I know that Orlando originally paid the taxes for you, but I’m not set up to for that.
You all need to remember that if I have the copy of the License on file – then you get your discount on any order that the total retail amount is over $100.00. There is no discount on anything that is under $100.00. Be sure to figure your orders with that in mind. It doesn’t hurt to have a few extra things on hand for your customers to buy. So if your order is not $100.00 or over (retail=before your discount), add enough to bring it up to the total that you need.
The monthly special for March 2007 is: P1595 – a set of two pillow cases; Three (3) paints – 116 – Black, 136 – Green Sparkle, 141 – Orange Sparkle; Transfer – T4721 – Rose Collar. Let’s get you started on all those gifts that you give during the year.
Not only would this make a nice gift all painted up – but it would make a nice gift for someone just by putting the whole thing in a gift bag and giving them a new hobby by letting them do it themselves. I’ll even put in a Sandpaper Blotter so they have everything that they need.
Retail cost = $23.32
On the transfers for the monthly quilt blocks there is a big picture and a little picture. Obviously the big picture is for the actual quilt block. The smaller pictures can be used for matching little t-shirts or sweat shirts. They can be used for making matching pillows, curtains, dust ruffles, sheets, body pillow covers or maybe even matching towels and wash cloths for a connecting bath room.
Remind your customers that they don't have to make quilts with these transfers. They can use them on shirts and other things. They would make a cute outfit (according to which ones you used) for a little onesy for a baby or a matching sweat suit for a child or adult. How about making a western shirt for someone in your life using the Southwest quilt block transfers? How about putting a south west transfer on your horse blanket?
If any of you travel - these transfers are a good size to go on your luggage. For some luggage, you might have to put the transfer on the quilt block - then put Fabric Glue on the back - let it dry - then cut it out to put on your suitcase. (You might need to cut in multiple pieces to get the look that you want.) After you get it cut out - use the Fabric Glue to put it on the luggage. If you want it to last a long time - after that Fabric Glue is totally dry - put another coat of the Fabric Glue over the top of the whole design. This will, hopefully, keep it safer and make it last longer. When you do something like this it will make it much easier to spot your luggage on the luggage carousel at the airport. It might, also, get you some new customers. There's nothing like advertising to get people to notice what you sell.
BQ1-03 Baby Quilt Block Pak |
DQB03 Dinosaur Quilt Block Pak |
PQ03 Pony Quilt Block Pak |
RQ03 Rose Quilt Block Pak |
FFQ2-03 Flower Face 2 Quilt Block Pak |
SWQ03 Southwest Quilt Block Pak |
Let’s talk about the transfers coming out this month. In trying to stay on time for the up-coming holidays – this month we have Easter and spring (it really will get here eventually) designs. That way you have them in time to teach them in classes and get things done for the holiday.
T4720 Peace on the Rise |
This one (T4720) – Peace on the Rise is a great transfer for Easter and for what we all hope for the world. World Peace sounds like it will never happen, but peace is on the rise in many places. This design says it all – it’s on the rise. It will look good on a shirt or mini flag. It will let everyone know how you feel. |
T4400 Rag-A-Rabbits |
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T4400 -Rag-A-Rabbits is an old transfer that has been re-charted. Of course, I used Sparkle Paint to give it a little glitz. They’re wearing their shiny Easter outfits and lookin’ good. I used the two rabbits (one on each) on pillow cases for my grand kids. I have a granddaughter and a grandson so it worked out well and their Easter gift is done personally by Grandma. |
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T4348 Easter Collection |
T4348 – Easter Collection is just what it sounds like. It’s a collection of three (3) small designs for Easter. You can use these on pillow cases, tablecloths, alter cloths, dresser scarves and shirts. Just pick one and get it painted in time for Easter. The charting is pretty much the same. I added a C386 – Green Dual Point Pen and a C388 – Brown Dual Point Pen. |
T4725 – Easter Mom |
T4725 – Easter Mom is just a happy little rabbit mom dressed in her bright new Easter outfit with her matching Easter hat. It will make a great Easter shirt to give those happy moms that we all know and love. |
T4726 – Pastel Rabbit |
T4726 – Pastel Rabbit is an old transfer that I re-charted. Using pastel Sparkle Paints, I fur stroked in the rabbit’s fur. Be sure that you stroke in the direction that the fur grows. Fur stroking is just doing feather strokes in the direction that the fur lays. Put on one color (do not fill-in all the way,) then add the next color the same way, then the next color and so on until the rabbit is filled in. Don’t blend the paint or you will lose the fur look. After you are all done with the fur, outline the rabbit and detail with 134. That way you cover up any fur strokes that got out of the line when you were doing that part. |
T4721 Rose Collar |
T4721 – Rose Collar is a simple curved design of roses that can be used on a shirt, skirt, or pants to dress them up. It, also, looks good on pillow cases. You can change the 141 – Orange Sparkle, to a color that goes with the bedroom décor. You can carry this even further by putting the design on some sheets to make a matching set. This would make a good wedding gift or open house gift. It’s an easy design to do. It just uses three (3) colors. Just put 116 – Black on where the black lines are. Be sure you feather stroke these lines in the direction the lines are on the design. This gives dimension to your petals and leaves. Then feather the 141 – Orange Sparkle back a little bit into the black. The leaves are done the same way. It’s easy and fun. This is a good design to practice your feather stroking on. This design will, also, fit well as edge designs to use around a tablecloth. It’s easy. It’s simple. Use your imagination to see how many different places you can use this design. |
T4722 – Hope Springs Eternal |
T4722 – Hope Springs Eternal is a design that we all need at the end of winter. We are all hopeful that spring is coming soon. This would be a good design to put on a shirt for that fisherman in the family. Once it gets warmer fishing is a lot more fun and relaxing. |
Remember this hint: if you need to put on multiple coats of paint, you can always iron your design dry in between coats so you can finish up a design in one class. Also, when you use your Dual Point Pens, the paint that you use them on must be dry or you will clog up your nib and it won’t work anymore. If you are doing faces, for instance, paint the entire face and put any shading on that you need to do – then iron the piece dry – then go back and detail with your C388 – Brown Dual Point Pen. |
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At the 11:00 AM meeting in Manchester be sure to bring a bag lunch or eat on the way to the meeting.
I will be teaching using the MSMAR07 – so the cost of the class is $20.00. This will include everything that you need for the class. You can bring other colors if you want to.
I will be teaching feather stroking. This is a really important technique that is very easy, but needs lots of practice. Once you have this technique down pat it gives you another way to blend colors together, helps you make hair and fur look more real and just generally makes you a more rounded painter.
I sure hope I see a lot of you at the workshops in March.
On the web site – Gingerscameo.com – please notice that when you look over the different workshops, it lets you register by clicking on the links above another click of the button you can even pay your registration fee. If you take advantage of this it will make it easier for me to figure how many supplies I need for each workshop. Even if you just register and pay when you get there, it will be great!
Blue Earth, Wisconsin – Sharon Pausewang will be glad to teach you how to use your paints. If you would be interested in taking classes with her contact her at (507-525-1037).
Millersport, Ohio – Phyl Phillips is there for you. If you would like to take classes with her contact her at (740-928-3117).
Linden, Michigan – Halleen Fisk has lots to teach you. I try not to keep her so busy that she doesn’t have time to have classes. If you would like to take classes with her contact her at (810-735-0100).
Florida - Rene McDonough gives classes twice a week in the Venice Area. Call her if you are interested in taking classes with her. (941-497-4242)
Florida - Sandy Wadelton is giving classes is the Leesburg Area. Call her if you are interested in taking classes with her. (352-787-4950)
Colorado - Rachel Fry has a good group going in Grand Junction. Give her a call if you are interested in joining them. (970-242-6091)
Alberta, Canada - Beverly Craig - This is a very nice lady, which has been helping people to learn about Cameo for a while. If you are in that area, you can give her a call at 403-224-3565. She will be glad to share her expertise with you and fill any orders that you have. She works with a wide variety of folks and would love to work with more.
Where: At the Ginger's Cameo facility in Manchester, MI
Stay Tuned for more Information
When you're ironing off transfers, make sure that you don't iron off too many ahead. The transfer ink fades with time and you may have trouble seeing the transfer lines. If you do iron off a few ahead you should keep them covered up so the light doesn't get to them. This does not mean that if you iron a transfer on wrong that you can wait for it to fade away then put it back on. It does not fade all the way away, it just fades to the point that you can't see to paint it.
When you are painting a transfer that has two parts that are the same color right next to each other, try putting a line of a darker color between them to bring out the design. On the new T4689-Cave Nativity, Joseph's robes could use a streak of 111 Wine to delineate where one part stops and the other part ends. If you look on the picture around his shoulders you will see what I mean.
Sometimes, like on T4696 or T4486, you have two sections right next to each other that are charted 116-Black. If you leave a little line of unpainted material show between the sections, it will make them show up as different parts of the transfer. The other thing that you can do is to make a line of a lighter color between the two sections.
Most of the time any mistake that you make in this craft can be fixed: You can add shadows to cover up the fact that you got double lines when you ironed a transfer on - or you can add a little flower or leaf to cover up where you went out of the lines or got some paint in the wrong place. I know there are a lot of perfectionists out there - but believe me when I say that you should not throw away something just because you think you made a mistake. You can fix it and it will look fine. It may not look just like what you see in the transfer picture - but you just remember that 'artistic license' means that it is your painting and it will look different than anyone else's. This is a good thing. You don't want your painting to look just like everyone else's, you want to make it your own with your own ideas and personality.
Now get out there and have FUN painting!!!
Lori Bartlett has been keeping very busy with her paints. One of her latest works below are an Irish Table Cloth done using the new sparkle paints.
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We would love to show our readers what you've done with Cameo Paints. Send us ginger@gingerscameo.com or webmaster@gingerscameo.com some of your pictures and be sure to tell us about them and yourself.
See some of our past reader submissions in the Gallery
Well, I guess that's all for this month. Keep that those suggestions coming. I need every one of them. See you at a meeting.
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Copyright Gingers Cameo 2003 © |
Page Updated 3-03-2007 |
