Altered Book - Flower Techniques

In the second round of our 2013 altered book round robin, i worked in Z's book - which is not so much a theme as a concept!  Her idea is to use flowers to illustrate collage and mixed media techniques.  These are the same mini spiral bound calendars we worked on last year.  You can see my book HERE.

Here is the "sign in page" - actually it is a sampler of paper colours and textures from a paper company, re-purposed here as a table of contents for the technique book. 

For her first "chapter" in the book, Z. showed us samples of embossed and debossed papier mache flowers - using rubber stamps, glue, napkins and tissue paper.  Her examples are intriguing and i cannot wait to try it myself!

For the second "chapter" i created three spreads using resin flowers.  This was based on a technique my pals learned from Kristen Robinson at the Create retreat last year.  Z and K attended the art filled event and brought me back a kit from Kristen's workshop - including an ICE Resin applicator. For this page i applied the ICE resin to some lacey pink paper, and then cut out two flower shapes.  Stacked with a button to create a pretty flower.  They are very pale, so i added some ink to the edges to try to make the layers show a little bit more.

For this spread I used the resin to coat thin tissue paper and napkins to create mica-like paper flowers.  I wanted to stretch it as far as i could - so i probably applied it too thinly.  It would be nice to try some with a thick coat.  Or several coats to build up the layers of resin.  There is a lovely vintage document for the background, and some resin coated floral tissue paper on top. I cut them both with scallop edge scissors. Then the resin flowers on top of that, with a few of my favorite aqua shell buttons.

For this spread i started with dictionary paper background and then applied several large roses from a napkin that had been coated with ICE Resin.  I let parts of the flowers extend over the pages so that you can see the stiff qualities of the delicate looking papers.  I added a few Paris addresses from the resin kit from Kristen.  and a pretty French perfume label sticker.

 For the instructions page - i glued a gold paper envelope into the book (trimming to fit).  I added a sheet of resin coated rose pattered tissue paper as an overleaf.  Then some additional resin coated poppies cut from a napkin.  A pink organza ribbon adds some prettiness.

 Inside the envelope are the instructions how to create your own resin flowers using ICE Resin.  In the workshop my friends took Kristen suggested using a large non-recycled black garbage bag as your protective surface to apply the resin to the tissue.  I used freezer paper and it worked great. I already ordered two giant vats of ICE Resin so i can try many more. (well, actually just 2-4 oz bottles - but that is enough to make many pretty flowers and other resin coated papers!!)

Altered Paint Brushes

At our latest play date we created altered paint brushes.  Our inspiration was a workshop from Michael DeMeng called Good Brushes Gone Bad.  

Artwork by Michael DeMeng from Lemoncholy's blog

(Sorry i don't like to steal/borrow photos - but i thought you should see what i am talking about in case you  cannot imagine an altered paint brush!)

 Anyway, while i did not create a scary monster face from my old paint brush.  I still tried to use some of the concepts. I started with a used large house painting style.  It is about 4" wide.  I soaked it in warm soapy water to loosen the bristles and bent and crushed with my hands to make it look frayed.

 

I gesso'd the whole thing to have a ligher base to work with.  My friend asked "why gesso something?"  Well it is like a primer.  It gives a uniform colour to your surface that dries fast and has a bit of "tooth".  You could certainly use white acrylic paint in this application.  But the drying time is really a nice bonus with gesso! Did it feel weird to be painting a paint brush?  Yes it did!

Next i painted the bristles green to look like grass.  I clipped a few here and there to make it as scruffy as possible.  I covered the handle with floral printed tissue paper.

I got my idea for the grass/bird concept from an image on this blog about the Altered Brush Project.

The one i liked is by Angie Reece.  You can google "altered paint brushes" to see MANY illustrations for ideas!

So here is my finished Altered Paint Brush!  I added some twigs to suggest a nose and a perch for the birds.  The eyes are speckled bird's eggs,  I painted the birds a bit to make them more blue. It also makes them look less, i don't know, less like purchased craft store feather birds.  I took apart a craft bird's nest and just used a few vine-y strings to make a loose nest.  It is wired to the paintbrush.  A bit of eyelash yarn filled it out.  Then to add to the whimsy i glued on some beaded earrings and added a flower to her "hair".  I might add more!

Here is the brush that D. started with.

 

As you can see she is a devotee of DeMeng.  Of course this is far from finished - it needs paint and texture to transform it from a collection of dis-separate components into a completed art piece. Along with the paint brush, there is a protractor, toy lizard arms, a watch strap, a key and angel wings.  Stay tuned for a look at the finished product at our play date next month!

Here is S.'s work in progress.  S. used a watch face for a face and will attach an assortment of keys and metal objects to make her brush come to life.  It will also get painted and texturized to add more artistic flair.

And now - for a change of pace - a used bath brush!

 

Z. started by painting the bristles in a pretty aqua colour.  then she covered the handle with a map of Hawaii.

You'll have to wait to see how it turns out - but she plans to add this adorable mermaid/shell lady to the brush!  It will hang horizontally in her bathroom.  But not before more details are added like glitter netting and more shells.
Check back to see how they all turned out!

Spring cleaning

Well the time had come to deal with my craft room.

here are all the things that USED to be on the floor. I just carried everything ( hubby helped) to the guest room/ office next door!

Look how nice and organized I used to be hiding under all the clutter.

Hey... I have a carpet in here, go figure
Anyway - this is just the first step in my annual craft room reorg. Stay tuned ...

Little Felt Hearts

I found these felt hearts in a bag of felt balls I came across while emptying tote bags of previous projects. In my brave attempt to finally PUT THINGS AWAY!
Since we will be joining three couples on valentines for dinner and a show I thought why not make each of the ladies a little gift?

The felt hearts were red, pink and fuchsia - perfect valentine colours.  I looked at my bead assortment to find some coordinating colours.
For all three necklaces i used micro cord in dark grey.  For the red heart i chose some red beads and some silver toned findings.  I have a special "self healing" needle for working with felt projects.  Starting in the middle of the cord, with a little bead and then worked my way "UP" the necklace - through the heart, more beads and then the closure.

The closure allows you to adjust the length of the necklace - using two adjacent knots which slide back and forth. A little bead adds a nice detail.

For the light pink heart i used some yellow glass beads with pink swirls, some solid lavender beads and copper findings. Same sliding knot system!

For the fuchsia heart i used glass beads and a large crystal drop.  It was a real challenge getting the cord through the beads - so i used a dental floss threader.

Here is another felt necklace i made over the Christmas holidays  -  using pre-made felt balls and flowers.

 I got the idea from this kit i purchased.  It included the "self healing" needle.

Visiting Port Costa

Theater of Dreams

I meant to post this last year, after visiting the magical world of Wendy Addison in Port Costa, California.  For only a few weekends a year, Wendy opens her little shop for holiday shoppers.
Inside you mind vintage fixtures holding imaginable treasures that take you back to some mysterious time.

 Here are three little german glitter birds i purchased.  They were a lovely addition to my bird themed christmas tree this year.

 I picked up two bears- all dressed up in vintage bullion fringe for their circus debut.

 And finally a card making kit with lovely circus themes stickers.

If you want to visit Wendy's shop - check out her website next October for her open house dates.

Altered Book Themes

I thought i would show you all the books we created last year in our monthly altered book swap.  Here are the books from 2012 - all fat and chunky after their 12 month tour through 6 participating artists.

Clockwise from top left:

SeaGlass - Miss L

1963 - Miss K

Beach House - that's mine

Dance - Miss Z

Under the Sea - Miss S

The Map and Moustache Book - Miss D

And here are the books for 2013:

The Odditorium - Miss S

Flower Sampler of Mixed Media Art Techniques - Miss Z

Once Upon a Time - Miss K

Paper Dolls - Miss L

Through the Sepia Lens - Miss D

Just One Word - Mine 

Check back often to see each book in closeup as they journey through each artist...!

Calendar Swap 2013 - Just One Word

 Our monthly gathering for play dates and altered books swaps kicked off 2013 last weekend.  We each received a new blank calendar to use for the swap.  Same as last year - the little spiral bound calendars are a nice size to work in quickly.  No stress - just fun!
For my new book i went with a theme called Just One Word.  the concept is that you will create a spread - any style you like, then add ONE WORD to describe it, or express a mood of feeling, or whatever!

To emphasize the theme - the first few pages of the book express this boldly.   For this spread i used 4 different background papers and added gesso to soften the patterns.  then some yellow and green ink.  The word JUST is raised up on thick glue dots.

  Here is ONE.  My friend Z created the bird stamped muslin ribbon on top of the page.

 And WORD - the background is a combination of printed paper and tissue paper.

 Here is the introduction page for the artists who will work in the book.  The tag came from Wendy Addison and said "open me" but of course - since i can only put ONE WORD on the spread, i had to cover up the "me".   The notes to the artist are inside the envelope.  I explain the concept and let everyone know that foreign text, or allover text used as a background are ok.

Here is my first spread in the book.  I took the image of Venus by Botticelli, and cut her out from her background.  I placed her instead on a blue sky with some white clouds.  On the left i created a collage landscape using strips of blue and green papers to evoke the sea and the sky.

I added my one word: idyllic.

Here you can see in the original what i was hoping to achieve.

 For my second spread i used some images of fast moving water over mossy rocks.  I created some interest on the page by adding strips and a couple of puzzle pieces.  The word i chose - Rush, 'cus you know, that water appears to be in a hurry....!

And finally here is my sign in page.  only, yeah it just says SIGN, per the one word per spread rule.  I used Mexican bingo cards for the sign in cards.  Each artist will decorate, add fibers, whatever they want, and place it in the other envelope.