June, 2021
My first post-pandemic flight was back to Miraval Resort in Tucson, Arizona, I have and will write about the experience in other places, but for this time I wanted to share this magical photo. My friend Janet Miller had just taken a course there is optimizing iPhone photography, and that evening we had this amazing scene on our way back from dinner, so thanks to her for the image – I may have done a little art direction. I love my almost-vintage iPhone, but I have to say this set me up with a little new phone craving.
June, 2021
Yes, I’ve joined another group. The Winslow Art Center in Bainbridge Island Washington, like many other schools, offered online classes for the first time this year, and I joined a three month prototype with Lucie Duclos called Paper Pals Collage Club. I’d known of Lucie after seeing her featured in Uppercase Magazine (highly recommended) and then on Instagram. I’ve mentioned the Handmade Book Club before (Ali Manning’s creation), and now Lucie is trying out something similar for collage crazy people – weekly exercises/prompts, monthly live on-line sessions to learn new techniques and share, and a private community. This one isn’t on Facebook, which is my preference.
Lucie has been giving prompts every week, and so far they have focused on composition issues – kind of familiar to be from composition classes I took when I lived in Atlanta with Chery Baird at Spruill Arts Center – I’ll no doubt talk about Chery more, because her classes had a tremendous impact on me.
Anyway, The group was originally set to run for three weeks, but I think the plan is to continue, we’ll see. I do know that Winslow has announced that they will continue online offerings, and I hope that many other teachers and schools decide to do the same.
June, 2021
I don’t really know why this structure is called Sewn Boards, but I can tell you that a lot of work goes in to it that winds up being covered up. This is another project with the #HandmadeBookClub, and it was my first experience with using Kraftex. It was also another opportunity to practice precision – I’d give myself a solid B/B- in matching up the edges. The stripey paper is a long-ago gift from my dear friend who sees me and my obsessions and aids and abets me regularly.
June, 2021
I’ve shown this paper before, apparently it’s one of my favorites. I’d already used it for some drop spine and clamshell boxes, along with a small coptic notebook, but I really like the Secret Belgian Binding too (thanks again, @barizakistudio and @rosspressandbindery). In case it’s not already obvious, paper is only one of my many stashes – seems like if it is something that comes in a bunch of colors, I need it, in a bunch of colors.
June, 2021
I made this mala a couple of years ago, and it has seen some hard use lately (can you seen the wear and tear on the stringing?). So, it’s time to repair it. While I’m at it, it’s probably time to make use of these tassels and beads I have in “inventory”. I’d love to say that I can make a few more strictly out of my stash, but like all projects we start with good stash-busting intentions, some new shopping is likely to be in my future.
