Big news!

Some of you that follow me on Twitter, where I often share more personal information than on my blog, already know I had something very exciting coming up. Mostly I prefer keeping my work and my blog separated, but I really do want to share this big news with you... Starting tomorrow morning, I'll be working at ELLE as an intern, writing articles for the magazine. I'm incredibly excited to contribute to one of the world's leading fashion magazines. When I was around 10 I devoured my mother's ELLE's - and did the same with my ELLEgirl later on. You can say it's a title that's close to my heart. To fulfill this dream, I rolled out of university - since I have already finished an internship at Grazia magazine - and I'll be back to write my Master thesis in September. Amazing how time flies, and it's unbelievable yet thrilling that I'll be graduated next Februari with another great experience to take with me.

Fashion Week in a nutshell

Amsterdam Fashion Week in a nutshell; blogger friends Sabrina, Elisah and Karine (image via TPS) - the colorful and sensational Bas Kosters show and himself closing it - Fashiolista blogger boat trip - My favorite black heels - Alix the Cherry blossom girl with lipstick ice cream - Beautiful eccentric designs by Jan Taminiau.

What I wore

Leather + cotton jacket, black pants, lace ups; the fundamentals of my outfit today at Amsterdam Fashion Week. After having one of my last exams today - whoever planned that on the best day of Fashion Week had to be kidding - I raced home and got dressed in something I wouldn't nearly freeze in.

H&M faux leather + cotton jacket (in stores soon) / Shampalove boots / Forrest & Bob tank top via My Wardrobe / H&M trend pants and clutch

New Creative Layers Stamp release!

I am so excited to share with you my newest product release. Brought to you by Ranger & Stampers Anonymous The Studio Creative Layers Collection -- now in JUMBO size!

Learn more about the inspiration for The Creative layers Collection here! 

These extra-large coordinating foam and clear stamp sets can be used separately, but when layered with the other images from The Creative Layers Collection, they create some really whimsical, illustrative effects! Use them with stamping inks or with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints and Mediums.

To learn how to get the most from your Creative Layers Stamps, check out the free e-class that I created!

CHA Winter Show Schedule!

I'm all in a frenzy getting ready to head to LA on Thursday for the Craft & Hobby Association's Winter show. If you'll be there stop by and say hi! Here's my schedule:

Friday 1/28
8am - 10am: W0104 - RANGER STYLE - Workshop/Class

Saturday 1/29
11am - 1pm Demo at Stampers Anonymous booth #2923
2pm - 6pm Demo at the Ranger booth #2600

Sunday 1/30
10am -11am Artascope Studios Appearance at booth # 2121
11am - 1pm Demo at Stampers Anonymous booth #2923
2pm - 6pm Demo at the Ranger booth #2600

Monday 1/31
12-1:30pm Demo at the Notions booth #2614
2pm - 6pm Demo at the Ranger booth #2600

Tuesday 2/1
10am-12:30pm Demo at the Notions booth #2614

Because the show is so busy, it's sometimes hard to find a spare minute to blog. But I'll be Twittering, posting photos and if I can get my new iphone to work, posting video too! Follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates!

Cut it out

This is the last look I styled at LuisaViaRoma's event Firenze4Ever. The Rick Owens dress I'm wearing was so incredible... twisted in the front with tiny cut outs on my upper ribs, playful in a subtle way. It went so well with this almost organic bracelet, which is not like anything I had already seen before, and I still have a huge crush on it.

Rick Owens dress / Emilio Pucci bag / Emanuele Bicocchi veined silver bracelet / Casadei pumps

new pens and new illustrations!

Last week i finished up a few illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post. I thought it might be a fun chance to try out some new pens that I got from Jet Pens. I am a pen addict and I am always in search of the perfect pen for  line drawing.

I got a few brush type pens but my favorite was the UniBall Signo bit 0.18. It makes a nice juicy line and I love how the ink flows!

Here I am working out the line art. Once that is done the drawing gets scanned in and color and pattern added in Photoshop. I can't show you the finished illustrations yet ... but as soon as the magazine is out I'll post a photo.

I usually prefer to work all by hand but when doing illustration it is so much easier to work in Photoshop so I can quickly make changes. I still haven't been able to switch to drawing the lines on a tablet. So instead I draw on tracing paper which scans in nicely.

I still love my Faber Castell Pitt pens for doing ink work on top of paint and canvas, but it was fun to try something new for drawing on paper!

All good things

They say all good things come in threes? To me that's all good things come from Scandinavia ;) Meet Rodebjer, a Swedish brand I had never heard of until I found this collage on Caroline's Mode. It has exactly that easy going, strong and luxurious feel that marks Scandinavian designs so often. Now all that rests is finding a place that sells it... but I guess flying to Sweden wouldn't be too bad either.

Walk this way

 
A little lunch outfit... wearing these badass lace up booties that I can actually last on all day. Affordable price + comfort, a winner combo if you ask me. I'm envisioning these will be my best friends at Fashion Week and I'm glad I already got the footwear figured out, since the rest of my outfits is still one big blur.

Lace up boots & Grey satchel by Shampalove / Pieces stonewashed jeans / Forrest & Bob pocket T

illustration friday: dusty

I've posted this before but these dollhouse artworks fit so well for this weeks  illustration friday theme of  "dusty" I had to post again!

For this piece Betty is vacuuming and of course the kitty runs beneath the "dusty" bed as soon as the vacuum comes out! Our Mabel cat was the model for this kitty.

I can't wait to get back and play with more dollhouse project artworks. The past few weeks have been so busy I haven't had much play time!

have a great weekend everyone!

Home, sweet home

This morning I tweeted about a super cool tree house - every 8 year olds dream come true. Now that I'm a little older I still wouldn't mind packing my bags and moving in to that large tree house, but my vision of a dream home has changed. As so many girls out there, I like white spaces. Because I want to be able to have a fresh feel, be able to breathe, and have the possibility to change things up. These are some random pictures from my huge stack of inspiration images that I keep in hopes of magically transforming my house. Guidelines: deconstructed or industrial walls, heavy lamps, black, white, hints of color, no clutter, high quality wood and a combination of modern and worn out.

(pic 2 via The Selby, other credits weren't found)

new workshops in NYC in March!

I'm so excited to be going to the Ink Pad in NYC in March to teach 2 days of classes!

I'll be teaching Collage Discovery Workshop and Waxing Poetic. My two most popular workshops. I am really looking forward to it and I hope to see you there! Click here for all the workshop details!

MORE WORKSHOPS IN 2011:
February 17 - 19th: I'll be heading to Bonita Springs Florida to teach a 3 day workshop. There are just about 3 spaces left! Click here to learn all the details about this great workshop in sunny Florida!

May 27th- 29th: Mixed Minded Event in Ontario Canada

September 23rd - 25th -  Classes at the The Stamper's Ink store in Shawnee Mission KS Classes announced soon!

October 7-9th - 3 day Collage Discovery Intensive in Coupeville WA

I will also be teaching an online class or two with Big Picture Classes. More info coming soon on that!

More workshops and complete information are on my web site here!

Toni Gonzaga

Toni Gonzaga
AKA Celestine Cruz Gonzaga

• 1st Filipino "Favorite Female TV host" in the first Yahoo! OMG! Philippines Awards (2011)
  

QUOTE
"When you're in the business and people start to appreciate your work, it's flattering and overwhelming, but it can also be a source of tremendous pressure. It can be tough trying to live up to people's expectations. Ang importante, ma-enjoy mo ang ginagawa mo."


ALIAS
"Ultimate Multi-Media Star"
"Princess of Philippine Movies"
"Versatile Princess"

DATE OF BIRTH
January 20, 1984

FATHER: Carlito Gonzaga
MOTHER: Crisanta Cruz

USEFUL LINKS

tonigonzaga.com.ph
ABS-CBN artists dominate OMG! Awards
Toni Gonzaga: Consistency is the Key to Success
Toni Gonzaga has fallen in love
Toni Gonzaga declines "The Ultimate Multimedia Star" title
Wikipedia Article on Toni Gonzaga

Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall

Proenza Schouler is high up there with my favorite labels, and their Pre-Fall 2011 collection is definitely interesting. Feminine in a tomboy-ish way with Julia Stegner as poster girl; I'm feeling it. Next to tribal prints that we've seen them do before (hello ikat!) they presented sleek items like layered neon dresses. The consistency in silhouettes (plus those incredible shoes) make everything cohesive. And I'm just curious... How do you feel about the fact that not a single look in this collection is above the knee?

Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2011 images via style.com

CHA sneak peek: rock-a-block stamping system

I am thrilled to introduce to a new product that is debuting at this CHA Winter Show!

Over the summer I discovered the Rock-a-Block stamping system by Crafter's Companion and I fell in love!! Never before had I been able to get a clear stamp impression every time I stamped. Large stamps with lots of empty space? no problem!! Usually I would have ink and blotches all over the place! well not anymore! Stamping an image on camera on TV?! No problem! Now I know I won't mess up!


Here's a little video with a how-to:





Here's a description from the Crafter's Companion Web site:

Have you ever found it difficult to achieve the perfect stamped image? Do you find the stamped impressions patchy, uneven or with smudge marks around them?
The "Rock-A-Blocks" stamp mounting system is the answer to all of your problems.

With its innovative, patented technology, the new system allows you to easily achieve perfect results with every impression. The blocks are designed to work using a combination of the rocking action and depth gauge (the 'runners') to give even pressure to the application of ink so there is no bleed.

COUPON CODE!
For my blog readers Crafter's Companion has setup a coupon code that is valid for 20% off your entire order now through February 15th. Just enter coupon code "claudine" when checking out online to receive your discount! easy!! Click here!

Wholesale Customers:  Rock-a-Blocks are available from: Ranger, Darice and Notions at this time.

Retail customers: check at a store near you or visit crafterscompanion.com

Hot pink

 
I wanted the first look I styled at LuisaViaRoma's Firenze4Ever to be in the spirit of spring. In came some smoking hot pink strappy shoes and a breezy two toned dress. Playing dress up with those amazing brands and high quality clothes was so much fun, and I wish it was something I'd get to do every day.

Clu two tone knit dress / Casadei strappy shoes

Elle Style Awards 2011

The Elle Style Awards 2011 took place yesterday and with Rock & Royalty as the leading theme, it was bound to be good. In a historic, romantic theatre we got to witness the looks three talented stylists put together, combining 10 H&M items with treasures from all over the place. Congrats to Bonne Reijn (pic 3) for winning! The Elle Style Awards were one of my first big events to visit as a blogger, so I was even more curious to see what this edition would be like.

As I got dressed, with Rock & Royal in my mind, I was doubting between either sequins or leather fringe. (Ideally I'd go for something velvet) Since those felt a bit too 'costumey', I threw on leather pants, a cream blazer, lace up boots and my new super duper soft tank top from Forrest & Bob. And judging by all the leather fringe I saw, I did the right thing ;) 

Zara blazer and leather pants / Forrest & Bob tank (now £10 here) / H&M bangle and clutch

Leopard lovers

After a year filled with new black shoes, my first footwear of 2011 is lovely leopard from Kurt Geiger. Ok, ok, to tell you the truth... At first I was gravitating towards the same slingbacks in thick black leather (they're 70% off here) but those are sold out in my size :( Still a bummer because this is probably the most comfortable pair of heels I have. I guess it's the big platform and padded insoles that do the magic.

Kurt Geiger leopard hair slingbacks (now £87 from £290)

Those would be the best memories

Just as we entered the VIP club for our final party in Florence, this song - amped up volume required ;) - was booming out of the speakers. I still love it and the energy in there was crazy, everyone was jumping! We threw our hands in the air and created some of the best memories.

(pics by me, luckyfashion, stylescrapbook, carolinedaily)