An Artful Journey 2011

Two multi-media soul-mates and I ventured to "An Artful Journey" (www.anartfuljourney.com) in Los Gatos, CA for a near perfect three days of creative bliss, studying with book and paper artist Albie Smith (Albie-Smith.blogspot.com). Flesh-colored leather sofas in our cottage at www.presentationcenter.org, rain, snow, sunshine, ortega chile scrambled eggs: from the ridiculous to the sublime!



Paste Paper






French stitch binding






Painted bookboard with gesso

Kelly Kilmer's Triptych Book

Inspired by a wild and wonderful day at Studio Soliday. Kelly Kilmer orchestrated a crazy, messy day,generously turning us loose with her bags and bags of art supplies and tricks! Made a book in class, then came home and created this. I'm pushing myself here to work with a palette that I don't usually play in. Not sure whether I like it or not, but the process was great!

Trying to create a connection between the cover and pages. Two more covers to play with this weekend while the manly men are watching the Superbowl!

Stein/Smith/Kahn Inspiration

Sherrill Kahn/Mixed Media + Jeannine Stein/Kevin Smith's woven 'X' stitch = this:

Fun With Deli Paper

I bought a big box of deli paper (sandwich wrap) to protect my work surface, but I love the texture so much, I am incorporating it into my crafting. The following set of pix show what happens when you mix deli paper, spray paint and stencils. I loved the paper so much, I modpog'd it, mounted it on grunge board and made a couple of journals!

Buttons

Spring 2010 and the buttons are blooming! Friend Alan Sasaki shared his "Clay Squishers" and I was off and running! Decided to blend polymer clay to match my waxed linen bookbinding thread. Experimented with metal rub and neocolor. Goofed up a batch by spraying sealant too close to the button...but ended up liking a lot of the "goofs."




These are some of the unfinished buttons next to the celadon waxed linen thread. It was great practice mixing color.