2015 June
6/30/2015
Busy Busy Busy!!
It will get done but the craziness begins!
I will be teaching two classes at ART UNRAVELED this year. One is the journal class that I taught last year.
The new class is the Scrap-Patch Footstool (photo at left) that I designed.
I built the wooden bases and will be making one for every class participant. They will spend the day creating their own fabrics and sewing them together in patchwork style to create the top.
This is my Art Journal and it's quite possibly my favorite to date.
I think it will be a fun class and I look forward to sending you pictures of the finished pieces.
So many of the techniques for paper making have you leaving the newly made paper on the screen to dry. I did not want to create that many molds and deckles, so we simplified.
I made the frames in the size I want the paper to be and attached the screen. Then I cut two pieces of screen the size of the paper to fit down in the frame. We put one of the spare screens in the bottom of our mold, poured our paper mixture of water, shredded paper and Procion Dyes into the mold and then layered another screen on the top.
We pressed the water out and then lifted both loose screens out with the new paper sandwiched in between. At this point you can put it on parchment paper to dry and use your mold again. It has been so much fun. One more week of different colors and we should have enough paper made for the Phoenix packets.
The photo on the bottom right are the papers that I had spread out all over the floor in the studio along with all the paper that was drying. The studio definitely looked like it had exploded!!
In the meantime I worked on my 'business' cards. Now, these are a ton of work and my son, who is a graphic designer, has informed me that I am wasting too much time and it's not cost effective. My response to him is that I enjoy it and take pleasure when people are impressed that I took enough time to create them. Actually it is more selfish... When I play with the papers that my cards are attached to, its very calming for me. So... I do it anyway!!
We ended up last week with our final yard sale at the store. The last of the stuff will either be donated or put on the website in the clearance section. So you will still have access to trims and fabrics at greatly discounted prices if you missed the yard sale. Delphia and I are getting ready to start putting them on this week.
The best parts of the yard sale were the long time customers who came to visit. There were fun folks that have been customers for a long time and their visits and positive comments on the direction MEM is going meant more to me than they will ever know.... or now they do.... You know who you are! Thanks for your support!!
Have a great creative week... I am off to finish those business cards and enjoy this beautiful day!!
2 Comments
Jayn - I can so relate! I always think I have all the time in the world to get ready and know in my head what I need to prepare ... but suddenly it's time and I haven't ACTUALLY gotten stuff done yet. As for the cards ... you have to do what makes you happy!
Paula - Leslie you should wear a set of those fibers around ur neck at the show. Then people will realize what's in the bags ur selling. They are fabulous. I love mine.
Playing With Fire...
6/23/2015
There is never a dull moment in the STUDIOS.
At the right is one of the pieces that I created when we had the torches and enamels out. I started with a piece of copper that I fold-formed and then decided to enamel the finished piece. I attached the flower bead at the bottom with copper wire and an enameled head pin. A few silk ribbons and voila... a finished piece!
The other pictures are of beads and "flowers" that were some pieces that we played with. Now I need to get a class sample ready so you all know what you will make if you decide to take the Painting With Fire class!
This was a great week for the man that checks the fire extinguishers to come by. We are now up to snuff and feel that much safer!
Last Wednesday the girls and I started playing with paper. I spent the week before shredding all the old junk paper that I could find, and in the process, I almost have my "office" cupboard cleaned out.
We played with several variations of making the papers and think we have a solution that may make it a bit simpler for producing it and make some fun packets to sell in Phoenix.
We're going to try the new process out tomorrow if the weather cooperates. I believe it'll make it much faster and easier.
All of a sudden I realized how close Art Unraveled in Phoenix is and I REALLY need to get busy. Not only do we need to make the supplies for the vendors booth, but I am also teaching two classes. I need to get those kits together and soon!
If you get a chance to come by the store this Saturday we will be having a final yard sale. The rain slowed things up last weekend so we are going to try it again. We need to get rid of the last of this trim and fabric and other stuff from the warehouse and you can help. Buy this stuff cheap, with a bargain for you, and we will donate 50% of what we make to Cedar Lake Lodge. Everyone wins.... I get rid of the stuff, you get a bargain, and Cedar Lake benefits too!
1 Comment
Jayn - The fold formed, enameled piece is gorgeous!! I want to do that!
It Takes a Little Time...
6/16/2015
t takes a little time... maybe it shouldn't have taken several years... but it has been a fun project to create. I took a great class from Ruth Rae at ART UNRAVELED quite a few years ago and created a felt journal in class that used image transfers and old memorabilia. I decided to create a family journal for my sister, Tracy. This project, like lots of the projects that I start, went unfinished due to life getting in the way, and I just recently unearthed it in my search for UFO's.
What I love about a journal like this is that you can use family 'treasures' that can be pulled out of a box. Most of these things are stuff that you feel guilty about throwing away and they clutter the house, but in this application, create a wonderful story.
Wool felt is the basis for this journal. It has several pages sewn together so that any stitching that would be on the back side is captured in the middle of the page. These are a few of the pages that I have finished. The page for Tracy and one for myself are still unfinished. I have to dig in some old family 'junk' stuff to find the basis for these last two pages.
The first photo is of my sister, Tracy, as a baby. This image transfer was put on a piece of paper made with collaged song sheets and patterned tissue with color added. I used old laces, buttons, and scraps of trims and old jewelry.
The next photo was of my parents when they were dating in college. This photo was printed directly on fabric and then cut out. Next I stitched around the photo with beads and a leaf trim, stamped on rayon ribbons and included an old doily my grandmother had made with the red flowers.
The last page in the row above are all wedding pictures from my Mom and Dad's special day. One picture is of his parents and one of hers. These photos were also printed on fabric. The next two pages, not shown, are for Tracy and me.
The first page above is in honor of my sister who died in her flower garden in 1994. The envelope pocket, made of old lace, holds a special note to share only with Tracy, and the center of the flower represents time cut too short... Moving on to a house made of fabric and lace, centered is a picture of our entire family sitting on the porch of the house we grew up in. Such happy memories!
The back side of the book is just lots of fun old buttons and leaf ribbon... just a fun ending to this book. Now to finish the last 2 pages and fasten it all together. How many of you think it would be fun to bring your bag of 'treasures' and create your own fabric journal?? Just let me know!!
Jeff was in a golf tournament over the weekend and I thought I would have lots of time to get it all done...
Well, it didn't happen... instead, I created another UFO.
I knew that the bathroom had to be painted.. and Jeff does not normally let me do any painting in the house, which is totally fine with me. I normally end up with more paint on me than the walls. BUT... I wanted it done and decided to at least cut it in for him.
So... I started with my little 2 1/2" brush, edged all the doors, windows, mirrors and flowers and then just kept on going. He wasn't going to be home for awhile so I kept on painting. I painted the whole bathroom with a two and a half inch brush and we won't talk about how long that took! (that is how much I hate paint rollers!!)
I DO NOT know how people paint and don't get paint in the top of their brush or down their arms. There is so much paint dried in the top of this brush that it won't flatten out. I guess it likes that spiked look. It went in the trash.... much easier to buy a new one that is in the correct shape!!
This day was way too much like coloring in the lines for me but it is coming along. Now to pick up a new brush and paint woodwork.
Jeff is playing golf next weekend too!
Maybe next week we will complete the bedroom! Oh well, it has been this long!!
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UFO Sightings!!!
6/92015
It's done!
Finally, after about a year and a half of working on it a little, and looking at it a lot, I finally felt it was time to take my weaving off the loom and mount it.
Finally, after about a year and a half of working on it a little, and looking at it a lot, I finally felt it was time to take my weaving off the loom and mount it.
I had an idea how it was going to be mounted but it was all trial and error as I started on the process. I had saved a wonderful rustic pallet from a shipment of fabric and decided to use it as the background for my artwork. The catch was that I wanted some color on it and was not sure how to make that happen. I figured it out and am thrilled with the potential for other projects.
I took Dy-na-flow, which I have in the studio, and painted the raw wood. I started with bright Orange, Golden Yellow and Turquoise. the real use of this wonderful product is to use it on fabric. As a paint for fabric, it is as close to dye as I have found. On the wood, it just soaked right in with vibrant colors.
It was a little brighter than I wanted so I took a little Burnt Umber and Bronze and mixed them together as a wash to tone down the colors.
The weaving itself is so much fun because there are so many mediums involved in the process. I not only did some regular weaving, I did some felting, used dyed cheesecloth, used handmade papers that started the whole weaving design (thanks Kat Allison!), used my old macrame skills, and made fabric beads.
The final touches that I found so much fun were the fire torched enamel beads and rings that I had previously made.
I am ready to start another one... the loom looks so empty!
I also finished two other UFO's this past week and started on a third. One was a Hobo Jane bag that was sold at the Delray Affair show.
The customer wanted to have a cross body strap put on the bag so that when she filled the bag it would be easier to carry on her travels. It felt so good to get that finished and shipped out.
The other was a bag I made for my computer and art journal that sat in a UFO pile for over a year. FINISHED!! I told you I was challenging myself to three this week!
Productive and relaxing. Those are the words for the week. It feels so good to cross these UFO's off my list!! I challenge you to try it! Let know what projects you are trying to finish!!
6 Comments
Kathryn McCrary - Beautiful, Ms. Leslie. Just what I would expect from you!
Leslie - You are too kind Kathryn!! Hope all is good with you!!
Joann Hopkins - Beautiful Leslie, you make me want to get out my loom!
Leslie - You should Joann! It is so relaxing!! Would love to see what you have done!
Jayn Lando - That weaving and it's setting are just incredible! So impressed too with your getting UFOs done! Once I get through leading Art Camp this week I will actually be able to get into my retirement, at least part time, and start finishing off some my UFOs ... starting with last year's ARW weaving from your class!
Leslie - LOL!! Your weaving was so pretty!! Can't wait to see it finished!! Come play!
A Quick Turnaround!...
6/3/2015
We have changed the day when our Making Ends Meet Newsletter comes out since our hours have changed, so...this week is the change... making a quick turn around for my blog.
I drove 16 hours straight home on Monday from Delray, and those last two hours were the worst!! I was ok when it was daylight, but dark made it hard to keep my eyes open! I arrived home about 1-1:30 Tuesday morning and so, no... I have not had time to to finish another UFO... 3 next week! oops!!
In the meantime I want to share a little tip on how I have made MEM custom pillows for years. I decided to share this tip as I started Tracy's pillows the other day (delayed UFO project).
What I am about to share is based only on my experience and preferences. I use feather/down pillow forms as the base of my pillows because they hold their shape over time much better than a poly pillow. I also cut the fabric the same size of the pillow form (18" form, 18" fabric square). This insures hat my finished pillow has a full and smooth look.
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| Dog Ear Corners |
I have never been a fan of the dog ear look that you get on lots of handmade pillows. Dog ears are created by leaving too much fabric at the corners.
For 'no dog ears' pillows I taper the corners by measuring down 1/2' on each side from the corner and mark a point. Next I measure 3" from the corner on each side and make a mark. I then draw a smooth line connecting the marked points and cut off the excess.
Follow this finished pattern with a 1/2" seam allowance and it will automatically give your pillow a nice finished look without the dog ears. This also works with plaids. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Here are a few pictures of the "project" that Brent and I worked on while I was down there. This is the front part of his garage that has been converted to a workroom for him. We still need to do some painting, and since I have come home he has added an extension drop leaf to the work table so he can roll out fabric. Check out that neat sewing machine which he used for the leather shoes that he makes. I LOVE that machine!! That's one I don't have!
Off to work on a few UFO'S and host a beginner's sewing class!
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