Through The Keyhole

Mosaic Making

I've been fortunate to stay loosely connected with some of my friends from college. Last month, a former housemate, Majken, invited friends for dinner and mosaic making at a recently opened shop, Seattle Mosaic Arts.  It was wonderful fun.  I had the chance to catch up with her and another former college housemate, Kris, I haven't seen in years.  I realized I don't have the same sort of women friends in my life now that I had when I was younger and I miss it.  Need to see about changing that.

I opted to make house numbers in shades of red and black. I wasn't able to complete it in one evening so we met the following weekend to finish our projects.

My friend Kris made house numbers as a Christmas gift. The colors she chose were gorgeous. She's also a fabulous knitter. I'm thrilled to reconnect with her! I think Tanner would love her. I didn't ask her if I could put her on my blog so I'll just show you the project she was working on.

Majken was also making a gift. A gorgeous decorative platter she designed around a mirrored center. She also cut up a necklace to use the beads in her design. She's always been talented at using color so it's no surprise she loves this craft.

Here's my final product. I love the way this looks up close. It turns out there isn't enough contrast between the numbers and background for it to be easily seen from the street. May need to fashion a way to hang it near the sidewalk.

If you're in the Seattle area, I highly recommend Seattle Mosaic Arts. I did all of the fun part, designing the piece, then the shop did the grouting and cementing. You can learn to do that if you like but as an introduction it was perfect to skip those steps.

More New Art

Gather 1 & Unravel 1

Mixed Media Encaustic

I'm on an exploration of mark making and line. I enjoy creating movement and texture.

I'm planning to begin a Winter Journal on 12/1. I started a journal last December that didn't evolve the way I intended and it became the visual journal I used to follow along with Misty Mawn's January journaling. Naturally I'll post images as it progresses. I'm looking forward to this winter a great deal.

If You Wish You Can

I've recently completed some new paintings I'll start posting here as I get them photographed.  I've done one set of photos but it was overcast and I just couldn't get any decent images.  Here's the first.

If You Wish You Can

8"x8" Encaustic Mixed Media

These detail photos show what I love about encaustic. The texture is just so rich.

Fall in Seattle

It's been crazy stormy here the last few days. I love the wild weather but I'm not skilled enough to photograph it well. Below are my favorites from this Fall.

 
 

I'm having a few days of doctor ordered rest. Trying to appreciate it as a gift of time rather than something to feel buckets of guilt over.

Journalfest #3

Hmm...days seem to stretch out around here.  "Tomorrow" seems to mean "some day in the near future that's not today".  Ah well, I'm back and ready to post my third and final Journalfest installment.  My goal in attending Journalfest was to learn some bookbinding skills.  Anything I learned on top of that was frosting on the cake.  My second class was with LK Ludwig and it was filled with frosting.  I haven't had that much fun in longer than should be permitted in an persons life. 

We prepared pages and bound a journal using covers from a recycled book.  This class suited my style!  I always love LK's work. She is an amazingly inventive, original voice.  On top of that, she's a generous and fun teacher.  When I grow up I want to be just like her. I'm thrilled with the way this book turned out and I can't wait to begin playing in it. 

 
   
 
My third class was with Daniel Essig again.  I wasn't as interested in the girdle structutre he was teaching as I was in learning more from Dan.  I wasn't sure I'd have an opportunity to learn from him again.  It turns out I really enjoyed this class a lot.  Unlike my first class with him, this class was very small with only 8 students.  It was a good thing as there was a lot going on in it.

This little journal is very sweet. It's an accordion book, with an ingenious little cover slipped on. I don't know the name of it but I'll be making more of the books. The little book can slip out of the girdle and the accordion pages can slip out of the cover. The girdle is meant to slip over a belt. I'm not much of a belt wearer but I love the ruggedness of the leather and will use this as a take along journal when camping I think.

I really love the tintype I used. I'm Tlingit from Alaska and this gentleman looks like he could have been from my tribe.

I almost forgot! One of the most exciting things that I did on this trip was work in one of the 1000 Journals. I had an opportunity to work in one at Artfest a couple of years ago. It was exciting to see another one in person.

I didn't want to keep it for too long so I just did a very quick page in it. It felt like what I imagine doing a bit of graffiti to say "I was here" would be like.

Well, that wraps up my Journalfest adventure. It was just what I needed. Now it's time to finish up some art for friends and start getting ready for Christmas. I can't even believe Thanksgiving is next week! That means we'll be getting our Christmas tree in the next 10 days or so. Yeesh! What happend to Fall?

Journalfest Part 2

I'm finally back to finish posting about Journalfest.  The energy at Journalfest was quieter and more intimate than Artfest.  I think due to the limited number of attendees and the efforts of Tracey and Teesha to create an atmosphere conducive to journaling.  It was all so fluid. The journal parties were especially wonderful. Visit with friends, journal, meet new folks, listen to groovy music (Surrealize and Teesha's journaling mix), try new techniques, look at the work others made in classes, peruse journals. It was all just perfect.

The Journal Parties

Tracey and Teesha

Jonna Barnett and Lisa Cheney-Jorgensen

 

Karen Michel

That's Dan Essig back in the corner.

Tara Finley and Jonna

Tracey and Traci Bunkers Dawn showed up for the party.
Karen O'Brien
Lisa working in Tracey's journal.
Tracey had set up a space to airbrush with copic markers.
Jonna and me

Teesha's journals. Be sure to visit her blog for her latest videos on making these snazzy little journals.
I made it into Port Townsend on the last night. The Halloween window displays were over the top. Apologies in advance for window glare.






Alrighty, this post has grown to ridiculous proportions. I'll post about my last two classes (LK Ludwig and Daniel Essig again) tomorrow.

Vintage Swap Update

I'm way behind on updating about my vintage swap package.  I've been so exhausted since the car accident I've been mostly offline, resting whenever I can. 

I received my package in the mail as I was leaving for Journalfest.  It was a delicious treat.  My swap partner Heather had wrapped the goodies in what looks to me like cross stitch fabric.  I'll be washing it up and dyeing it I think.

 
What a fabulous little pile of treasures I have now.  Every time I look at it I choose a new favorite thing.  I'm particularly fond of the vintage pillowcases.  I just love vintage bed linens.

Heather was way more on top of it than me naturally.  See her post here to discover what I sent her.  Because of the accident, I wasn't able to shop and gathered from among my collection.  In the end I think it was more fun having such a restriction.  I looked as so many of the beautiful things I'd tucked away for just the right project.  Great fun.

You can go to the Vintage Swap 2009 blog here to see the rest of the swaps.  A feast of treats it is.  I look forward to playing with my treats and to future swaps. 

Journalfest Pt. 1

I'm finally feeling energetic enough to post about Journalfest.  The accident has left me pretty easily wiped out these days.  Work seems to be all I can manage.  Journalfest was amazing.  Relaxing yet full of all that I need to create.  Met some great people and saw old friends.  I'm hoping that I can figure out how to attend next year. </p>

<p>Debbie and Tanner always take me over to Port Townsend.  It's a fun little day out for us then.  After a tearful good-bye with my sweet boy I headed out to see this most amazing double rainbow.  The sky was gorgeous.</p>

After dinner, we headed to the theatre for the opening night announcements and introduction of the instructors.

Teesha and Tracey truly look as though they have the most fun doing these events.  I think Journalfest was the manifestation of a dream for them.  It was a joyful celebration of art books and journaling. 

My first class was with Daniel Essig.  An amazing artist and truly fabulous teacher.  He told a story that illustrated how his teaching style has evolved over the years.  He and another instructor would joke that a class wasn't truly successful unless someone had cried.  I think he was a bit of a perfectionist and insisted on the same in his students.  Not so now.  He's generous and kind.  He had prepared the materials with such attention to detail that we spent our time really learning the binding techniques and yet ended up with a beautiful product.

His work is amazing.  In addition to the books that he binds, he makes small boxes for necklaces and gorgeous tools.  I found the perfect awl for myself.

The Project: Mica








 

 

Farm Tour

I sometimes fantasize of living on a farm, away from the noise and busyness of the city. In my fantasy I'm never exhausted or feeling overworked. In fact time is expansive and the weather is always exactly perfect in my dream world. A day spent at some local organic farms gave texture to the fantasy.

Visiting the farm is really more my style. I prefer my fantasy to the gritty reality. The smell as much as the work.

I'm gathering items for my vintage swap partner. I'd intended to trade from my abundant stash but I may need to visit a thrift store before I send the gathered treasures on their way.

Enamel Necklace

I've been meaning to post about a necklace I made awhile ago. It's black enamel on etched copper. I found this type of enameling to be wonderfully meditative. I enjoy the focused attention required.

I did this in a kiln. I'm going to experiment to see if I can do this sort of work with a torch. I'll let you know how it goes.

Recently we went to the Fremont Sunday Market. A feast for the eyes.

This unusual desk was already sold. I've never seen anything like it. I swear it twinkled at me, glowing warmly in the afternoon light.

There's something for everyone here.

It seems I liked the tricycles that day. I didn't realize it until I was looking at the photos I snapped.

I couldn't resist this adorable cup. I'd love a set of these.

With that I'm off to start my weekend. I'm up much too early enjoying my first cup of tea. It's promising to be a full and joyous two days.