Making the Reversible Margaret

THIS...is what I am talking about:

The Buddha Called.

A custom order flew in from the ethers when I sported my Sacred Heart Margaret last month. Here are some pics during the process this weekend. Thank God for 3 days off! There are four pieces to this purse; 8 total with inside lining. The matte board is for the bottom reinforcement.

Patterns made of cardboard. This is vintage paisley fabric from the 1970's.

Pieces cut. The white oilcloth is underneath.

My chicle pattern square. I came up with this a long time ago, just playing around with scrap oilcloth.

Buddha. He does have a happy smile on his face. I decided to add a lotus shape behind his head.

Buddha, pre-batting.

Looking good!

Signed and finished.

Next?!

She Came Out of the Closet

Early Century Dos Chicas circa 2007--Little sweet purse made an appearance out in the world today for the first time in god-knows-when. She was warmly receipted.

A custom order came out of the venture! Huzzah! or however you spell it... :)

Shoulder purse with Sacred Heart

'cause that Catholic stuff is still in me. 

Close-up

The Hamms will love her Buddha. What am I talking about??

Olympia Loves XVI

Yet another reason I love this goofy town; Theater. Collaboration. Diva-free zones.

Come see Bunnicula running through October 16. It is super-fun!

Olympia Family Theater

Front Row: Amaya Eckel, Andy Gordon, Sam Cori

Second Row: Shelle Riehl, Ted Ryle, Bunnicula, Angela Yoder, Steven Wells

Directed by Pete Kappler

Kindergarten Art

Inspired by thoughts of Spring I thought I'd share this idea. Sorry the pics aren't the best. My digital camera is dead so my phone camera is all I have right now. After weeks of heavy winter sub-freezing temps and snow like Olympia hasn't seen...ever, I think, I remembered this fun activity and made a friend a birthday present. It was one of my all-time favorite art projects in school. Did you do this in kindergarten, too? ;)

Materials needed for making this project:

scissors

sheet of regular or craft paper, any color

wrapping paper with an image you like or

draw one of your own ;)

Mod Podge or Elmer's Glue

Unsharpened Pencil, Chopstick, or Pen

2 inch x 2 inch tissue paper squares (or other lightweight paper) 



Ability rating: Super Easy. Hey, I made my first masterpiece at age 6! *grin* Here's how I did it:

My mom sent me a Valentine's Day gift all wrapped up in pretty paper with hearts and daisys. I cut the squares apart and used a purple daisy as my "base". I glued it to a piece of journal paper and let it dry.

Then I took a tissue square and put my pen in the center of it. I wrapped the tissue around the pen so it looked like this...



Then I dipped a little glue on the flat bottom of the tissue and placed it on my pattern. I held it in place for a few seconds to help it set, like this...



It's best to start in the middle and work your way out and around. Place the tissue as close together as you like. You can even change the dimensions of your squares if you want. Some of my squares were cut bigger than others so the surface is uneven, but I kind of liked the look of that. Here's a photo of the pattern before I started gluing and the finished product....

Pretty, huh? As you can see I took artistic license and used green, orange, and red 'cause I felt like it. I tore out the journal paper that I had glued my pattern on and then cut around the square. I gave it to my friend that way, but you could try using something to hang it up. She really liked it and she's a kindergarten teacher so this was the perfect gift for her! 

One thing to mention is that your pen, chopstick, or pencil will start to get glue on it since the tissue is so fine. I just rub the glue off with my fingers or a rag. If you happen to do a project inspired from this, share it! Or if you come up with a great display idea, share that too. I would love to hear from you.

 Spring's a comin'. Hang in there and make something beautiful for someone...everyone you know needs it more now than ever.

"Pay it Forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade or homemade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. The item will be of my choosing and I have until Dec 31, 2011 to get it to you. You must in turn post this and send something you make to the first 5 people who comment on your status. The rules are that it must be handmade/homemade by you and sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011"

See Artist Studios

Talented Olympia artist Pam Corwin, featured a few studio pics on her blog. I was fortunate enough to be included in this first edition of a "Virtual Studio Tour". I am inspired...

Check it out, it's pretty cool! Business of Crafts Blog

2010

I won't go into the past year and a half. Let's just say it was a really rough time and I am getting back to work. :) Yay me

I am concentrating on Dos Chicas again and have some fun, new ideas to incubate.

Copyright infringement?

AP photo 2006 Mannie Garcia\Shepard Fairey

Here's an article about one artist using a photograph that was taken by another. This is a very good example of how sticky this issue can be: Calif. artist sues AP over image of Obama.

Personally, I feel "do unto others as you would have done to you" was unfortunately overlooked. It would have been wise, and respectful for Fairey to talk to Garcia first about what he wanted to do and seek permission. Credit should have been given to Mannie either way because that is the right thing to do. I honestly feel, more than ever, that we artists need to respect each other's work. See my earlier post on copyright.

What do you think?

Olympia Loves II

feb-the smell of rain in the soil
thick mist over crowds of tall pines
when it feels like snow, but not quite
damp dirt, but not quite mud
sun sets a little later everyday
bigfoot is hiding around here
somewhere

Olympia Centennial Rotary Club Calendar

My work continues to get noticed in wonderful opportunities like this:

2009 Rotary Club Calendar, APRIL!

Design Book Arrival

Remember when I told you the good news about a AvA Publishing wanting to include lovely Lorraine in it? Well, I received my copy of PRODUCT DESIGN: IDEA SEARCHING in November, but I just now posted this draft. It is a beautiful, slick-looking book. I am quoted with words of wisdom (ha). This was a really big deal for me.

Artswalk wrap up III

What a wet evening! It rained cats and dogs and not as many people braved the weather, but for those of you who came to 'a girl's backyard' and saw Come and Go, thank you! It was so much fun to have live theatre available for people to see and enjoy. If you ever get a chance to see a Samuel Beckett play, go. And remember not to take it too seriously. The guy had a wonderful, dark Irish sense of humor. No wonder I like his writing. tee hee

Ru, Vi, and Flo from Come and Go

On the visual art side, I sold half my show! It was great fun to see people react to my art and have it dislodge childhood memories. I heard wonderful stories of reading books on rooftops and that I wan't alone wondering what it looked like down the chimney. Several people declared, 'Me too" to my "I Wished I'd had a Sister" piece which tickled me very much. I tried some new ideas with photo reproduction and had art available for $5 and was a hit. I'll make sure and do that again.

I have photo reproductions still available in my store for $5. First class shipping will make the total $5.42.

Chimney Dreams

Paperdoll

Come to Artswalk!

Getting Ready for Artswalk I

Beads and beads
Bugle beads, Gold
And a few purple seed beads
All on oilcloth, which you know I love.
Nylon thread that mucks up my machine is now used to bead bead bead. It takes a while to do this process, but it is amazing.
super thin needle, beads, sample, and scissors. i luv scissors. july

Birthday Cakes and Wishes

One thing I love to make more than anything is fake food. Past creations include a layered cake out of spray foam, cured hams from Sculpey and paint, bread, and mini tea cakes. This rather large cupcake is more fantasy-Pee-Wee's-Playhouse-like, made out of styrofoam, fabric, oilcloth, beads, thread and a lot of straight pins. I first told you about it in April. Many eyes saw it at the Tacoma Art Museum's 5th Birthday Party along with other amazing art cakes. Follow this link to see good pics on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tacomaartmuseum/tags/birthday/

It is a little terrifying to make something and then let it out in public. Thoughts creep in, insecurities...will people like it? Will they say sh*t about it? Will it make them smile? Honestly, I was surprised my small stack of cards disappeared and one nice person actually took the time to email me and told me to "keep going" with my art, which was very cool. ty

Make a wish and blow out the candle...I did...and do you know what I wished for? Is it bad luck to share your wish? I'll tell you later.

Ode to buyolympia...

bobbins and spools, circular blades and kenmore, time and lots of time where all my bags are loved...

Because of my affiliation with your wonderful website, i (dos chicas, rather) have received lots of attention and had money come my way which is always fun. millions saw my work. many fans and purchases kept rolling in. yet i stayed anonymous.

late nights and seinfeld, too much coffee, and 5 minute naps helped the production line keep going for deadlines. hundreds made by hand, one at a time. the quiet revolution no one saw coming...

I thank you pat and aaron for the initial risk you took with me. Our first meeting was positive and you were good with giving my bags a shot, even though none of us knew if they would even sell. How surprised we all were!

miles and miles of thread and football fields filled with oilcloth i've unrolled in my tiny studio...

Because of you i was flattered with attention from numerous magazines like SELF, ORGANIC STYLE, TU CIUDAD, SEATTLE MAGAZINE, and SOUTH SOUND WOMAN, and numerous blogs and websites like THIS NEXT, YUMSUGAR, WIST, POLYVORE, and APARTMENT THERAPY. all those people are very nice, too.

How can I thank you? The words just aren't enough. I am sooo sad you aren't in olympia anymore...I won't ride my bike downtown and drop off my inventory anymore...I won't see your smiles anymore... i hope portland treats you well and helps make your dreams come true.

an army of lorraines and tillys now grace the planet thanks to your little website. i hope people's smiles carry with them afterall, that is why i make the things i do.

all my best to you...xo

Once every three years...

One very important responsibility bestowed on me three years ago was organizing my mom's family reunion. It was a lot of work, but is there a better thing to spend your time on than family?

Usually we have 3-5 day gatherings, which is hardly enough time to do and see everything. Today is the last day and we had so much fun eating, visiting, and being outside in our glorious summer. I love getting reaquainted with everyone and catching up. I love the hugs, the laughs, the stories and being entertained by my crazy uncles.

I always get sad the last day because everyone heads off on their separate ways, but I feel so honored that these people traveled as far as they have to come up and see this part of the country. Thanks everyone for being the awesome people that you are. See you in Little Rock (oh-ten)! ha

picture credit to Uncle Florida

Well, hello July.

Once again I am here to briefly let you know what I have been up to in the way of art, besides working full-time. I started Metal Class again so I can get reaquainted with Oxy-acetylene welding and TIG. I have a show I need to get ready for in October and I am looking to put metal and oilcloth together. What? Yes, sounds crazy I know. Don't ask me what the heck these things are going to look like, because I have no idea yet.

Dos Chicas' Barbara was in L.A.'s Tu Ciudad Magazine, which was super cool. Unfortunately, that publication has ceased to exist...

My studio is a pig-sty. Neglect will do that to things. I am going to put my mom to the task with her gold medal organizing skills! I need more shelves or something. You've seen the pictures.

The job is going fine. This project is almost half done and crunch time has begun. Stress levels have increased, and I am refusing to subject myself to that garbage.

Have a wonderful summer. We are enjoying the hot weather and need to go dip our bodies into the Sound. Kisses...

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

Hello! I suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, you say? You are right. I had been searching for work in March and April and got assigned a long-term temp job with the state of Washington. I am currently doing data entry and QC for their Corporations Backfile Scanning Project through the Secretary of State's Office, affectionately acronymed, OSOS. Office of the Secretary of State-Washington

It's fun. So that is where I have been; adjusting to full-time work again and not making much art. (sad face). My sewing machine is currently awaiting repair because something is just not right with it and a dear friend has let me borrow hers, but I want to get it returned. My studio is an utter disaster and I am seriously burned out on Dos Chicas. Leave me love notes. I miss you and am checking in when I grab a few free moments.

I'm showing at the Tacoma Art Museum!

(TAM) Tacoma Art Museum moved into their new building 5 years ago. They are having a public birthday party on May 3 and there will be an original Ay Artbag on display. If you are in western Washington, come on by!

Tacoma Art Museum's Birthday Bash