WholeLife Mastery

Black History Month Envelope Book and Tag

Today I found Lisa Vollrath's instructions for a Recycled Envelope Book on Go Make Something and today's Make It Monday Challenge was to use postage.  Watching the Oscars and the PBS documentary, American Stamps, last night was really inspiring.  I pulled these together and made a Black History Month envelope book and a postage stamp tag featuring journalist Ida B. Wells.  I also did the first spread in the envelope book using Black Heritage Stamps I've been collecting, including Oscar Winner Hattie McDaniel. 

Kelly Kilmer's Snippets Class

    Left to right: Collaged Cover, back and three-hole pamphlet stitch spine, which we made with acrylic-painted and Versafine stamped canvas.  Kelly's on the road a lot this summer so check out her workshop schedule and take a class if she's near you. You won't be disappointed.  With her clear instruction, excellent techniques and generosity with both her knowledge and her stash, she's a consummate teacher.  That's why I'm a Kelly groupie!  If you can't make a class, check out her journals on sale at Etsy.  Also, support your local stamp store: we're losing too many places where the owner knows not only your name, but they also know the difference between a pigment ink and a dye ink, and they're willing to teach you how to use them creatively.  If you're ever near Ojai, stop by Artful Living and say hello to Barbara, the hostest with the mostest and a grand vision of a wonderful, artful community. 

A Best of Both Worlds Craft Class

        Most craft classes focus either on completing a project or on learning a technique.  During the Artistic Avenues' Accordian Book Technique class, Mary gave us the best of both worlds.  Each spread of the book is a technique with instructions included.  From left the techniques are Perfect Pearls' background, peeling paper, faux batik, faux tappa cloth and collaborative inspirations.   For upcoming classes in the Las Vegas area, check the Artistic Avenues' newsletter.

Art Unraveled Magpie's Dream Journal and Library Pocket Book

The last, but by no means the least, of my Art Unraveled 2007 class projects. In addition to being an excellent teacher -- e.g. being patient and giving clear instructions for making the complicated stitching pretty easy, Doris Arndt is one of the most creative people I know.  Every year she describes the process of coming up with the idea for the class projects.  No two years' projects have been the same.  This year's project was born when Doris found shiny, NOT MATTE, duct tape.  No, not the aluminum flashing tape I already have a huge roll of. See the texture in the photos? It's really duct tape. I haven't seen it in my closest Lowe's yet, but I know it's out there somewhere when I need it. We colored it with alcohol inks. I always learn something new in addition to the technique or binding stitch for the particular project.  For example, I had no idea what a magpie was until Doris told us.  Now every time I pick up some shiny tidbit to drop in my "Walking Booty" basket, I laugh and know that I've got a bit of magpie in me.

   In the Library Pocketbook class taught by Jo McQueen, proprietor of The Queen's Dresser Drawers Rubberstamps, "a good time was had by all".  Unlike most library card books, we actually cut and folded these ourselves.  We also papered the book covers.  The binding was the easiest I've ever done, just sewing each of three threads through the beads individually.  I left the ends long as I'm planning to add danglies once I get around to finishing the book.  After all that pasting, folding and cutting, I only had time to start one spread.  With all these projects to finish, I'll never be bored.

This is why I keep a stash

Inspired by a project I saw in Design Original's Artistry Stamps and Paper Arts, I went into the studio (aka guest room) and started pulling together the tools and supplies listed for making this accordion booklet.  I had everything I needed, or at least a reasonable substitute, to make this little 3" by 1.75" booklet Sunday afternoon.  PearlEx powders and variegated foil leafing on the laminate tag covers (freebies from the home supply store), oil pastels and permanent die ink inside.  The stamps are from several different companies: Paper Artsy, Angi-b, RubberNecker, etc. Now if my scanner and I could just get along!

Spirit Book Shrine

I think this may be my favorite project from an Art Unraveled class.  Both because it's a really creative project and because it's the closest to finished project among the 5 classes I took. I'm still waiting for a title to insert into the label on the front of the house.  In class teacher-artist Doris Arndt described how she came up with the project idea after buying a pile of the little papier-mâché boxes that form the base of the house.  I love it when an artist shares her creative process and ends up giving permission for this dilettante to create in whatever way works, boo-boos and all.  If you ever get a chance to take a class with Doris, who has been teaching since before the mainstream knew about altered books, book arts and even rubber stamping, don't miss the opportunity to play at the feet of a master and learn a lot in addition to technique. 

If you love to read

Patti Digh's meditation on the joy of conversing with an author by writing in the margins will make you laugh with recognition. And as always, her insightful questions about life will challenge you to consider what you're writing in the margins of your life.

Shadow Play/Light Work

Left to right: Front cover of the book is a Hearty Clay mask over collage, inside front cover -- more collage, some tags and envelopes.  Inside the book, a niche with a mini-book nestled inside. 

A very artful weekend.  I visited (okay, I spent lots of money at) The Rubberstamp and Scrap Expo Saturday.  Don't let the name fool you.  I bought some of the most beautiful papers for covering books along with two book kits from Inkogneato. I also bought tons of punches, unmounted rubberstamps, and mounting supplies, the latter from my favorite mounting supplies company. As if all that weren't enough, on Sunday, Judy Ross did a five-hour class at Las Vegas Art Stamps, in which I made this book.  Just when I said I wasn't taking up another medium, here comes air dry clay and the fabulous new molds from Art a la Cart, another of my local favorites!  And yes, I know the pictures aren't great.  Scanners weren't made for three-dimensional art and my camera-phone and I are not yet on speaking terms!

Journal for a Friend

Renee Nowell's Oriental Beauty Book

I made this little book in Renee's class at Las Vegas Art Stamps last Friday.  If the book looks familiar, it's included in Design Original's Book Arts (pp. 20-22) as the Asian Serenity Folder Book.  I'm noticing a pattern here: I keep buying all these book-making books, but I don't actually make one until I take a class.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who has this ... affliction!