New Confections

Entry #7 What I Did On My Summer Vacation - Lions and Leopards and Lynxes, Oh My!

Entry #7

Lions and Leopards and Lynxes, oh my!

When I saw this book at the Re-use Zone it purred. The illustrations were so wonderful and I was curious about some of those unfamiliar cats. That same day I found the Harpers Magazines and the series took shape in my mind before I was even back to my car.  It then took me some time to select the fashion cats to match up with the wild cats. I like to cut things out and ponder them for some time before gluing. Then I usually reach a point when I just decide, enough pondering for heaven’s sake, just glue it. Again, it is that issue of preciousness, the question of “but what if I glue it and then find a better match for that one? “ etc. etc. Having a somewhat obsessive compulsive personality coupled with a short attention span is a challenge at times…

After all the fashion cats were glued up I realized some of them needed collars and some needed hats. I used the jewelry ads from the same Harpers magazines to create their millinery finery. For this series I did scan the original book pages and printed them onto matte photo paper.  I did this because there were many pages that had illustrations on both sides and I wanted to use all of them. This also provides the option for me to make a second batch down the road if I so desire.

Entry #6 What I Did On My Summer Vacation - Fuzzy Bowl

 I have been using the white coffee filters for papier mache, in addition to the yo-yo pieces. Here is the first bowl. I got the bowl for free. I liked the shape and the slight foot. I was not sure if it would work because of the foot, but thought it was worth a try.  I covered the bottom with Vaseline and then used the torn coffee filters and papier mache paste to construct the bowl. I lost track of how many layers I put on, but after about three layers I felt it was strong enough and I cut it off the bowl with a utility knife, and then patched the seam with several more layers of papier mache so the seam does not show. It is quite strong, yet also slightly translucent, especially around the inside of the bottom where the foot is. I find it interesting that the one area that I thought might create the problem ended up being my favorite part. I was sitting on the back deck while working on the last layer when drifting cottonwood fluff caught my eye. I gathered some up and applied it with paste for the final inside layer.

Entry #5 What I Did On My Summer Vacation - Anti-Oxident Art

Anti-Oxident Art

I have gathered some more intriguing parts, but for the time being I am continuing to work with the coffee filters. I dyed some more with tea and also dyed a batch with pomegranate juice. I looooove the color they came out. I am making another yo-yo piece with the pink ones and will post it when it is finished. Meanwhile I am enjoying the way they look while drying. I like to use old things as tools and implements whenever possible when making art, and these antique bottles were just the ticket for drying the little coffee filter discs. In the pomegranate coffee filter photo my boxed-up studio can be seen slightly out of focus in the background. It is a little out of focus for now, but that is ok.

Entry #4 What I did On My Summer Vacation - Coffee? Tea? Art?

Coffee? Tea? Art?

A week or so ago I found a package of coffee filters. I knew they had great potential so I took them home. I have been working on several different pieces with them, but the first one is finished so I wanted to share it. I will post the others when they are complete. I tea-dyed the filters to give them a mottled sepia look. I then hand stitched them into the yo-yo form that I have used before in textile artwork. They are quite strong and flexible and are a pleasure to work with. I love sewing on paper by hand or machine. The only things I used from my studio were tea, needle and thread.

Entry #3 What I Did On My Summer Vacation

A big part of the “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” series is the picking experience itself. There is the drive, short or longer. There is the accompanying loud music played on the car stereo, and the stops at local bakeries for sustenance. But equally important are the conversations, both the ones I participate in, and the ones I overhear.

This week while visiting a particularly fertile hunting ground(i.e. – a local dump), I was joined by several others who were happily picking away. Two of the women seemed to know each other, and were chatting about this and that. A man came in that one of the women knew and they exchanged greetings.  Then the first woman, I will call her Alice, said to all of us present, “did you know that George here was the one that saved that baby’s life a couple of years ago. He was written up in the paper and was on the news and everything.” “Yes”, said George proudly, “that was me alright. It was June, 2008.” Then Alice proceeded to tell us about George’s valiant deed. Apparently, there was an infant with her mother out at a public place somewhere. The baby stopped breathing suddenly and was starting to turn blue, and no-one knew what to do. George stepped up and said, “ I know CPR, let me try.” And sure enough, he did mouth to mouth resuscitation on that baby and saved its life. While this conversation was taking place I was listening and also continuing to look at the objects that were displayed. Just as I was picking up a figure of Mary and baby Jesus from a discarded Crèche scene, George spoke again. “Yes”, he said. “The Lord wanted me to be in that exact place at that exact moment.”

Mary and Baby Jesus came home with me that day.
When I got home I did a little research. See link below.

http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Act-of-kindness-saves-babys-life-/1212846421.html

Entry #2 What I Did On My Summer Vacation/Gathering Number One - After