Jewelry with Handmade Paper Beads

Bracelets and earrings are also available at Hazel, 1902 W. Montrose, Chicago, IL. Check them out at www.hazelchicago.com.

LaGrange Art League Gallery

I recently developed packaging for my jewelry. I make bracelets and earrings including sealed beads made from my handmade papers. One place you can find them is LaGrange Art League in LaGrange, IL. Check out their website at www.lagrangeartleague.org.

Celebrating Grounghog Day

"Twenty-one Ground Hog Salute" MV

In one of those post-midnight conversations famous to college dorm rooms, I announced that I was going to adopt Groundhog Day as my personal holiday to celebrate. I didn't even know when it was, so I had to look it up on a calendar. Since then, I have made editions of prints for Ground Hog Day cards, sent Ground Hog Day presents when Christmas got too busy, and even did a pencil drawing of "Twenty-one Ground Hog Salute." This was not my original vision of the picture, but my 1970s upstairs neighbor NellaJean inspired me with the military accoutrement. It's fun to know that old friends around the country are thinking of me today, and I am thinking good thoughts of them too. 

I've not yet found the orginial short story that inspired Harold Ramis to make Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, but it's time to start searching again. Of course I've watched the movie on my CD, updated from my former VCR tape. We've had hopes of visiting Woodstock, IL, for the occasion, but weather has not been favorable in February. But we have made several pilgrimages to Woodstock at other times of the year.

So have a happy Groundhog Day. I'm having a snowed-in celebration day today.

The Art of Restocking

When I make beads out of my handmade paper, each one is unique. So it just makes sense that my bracelets and earrings are also one of a kind. Some may be similar, but that's as close as they get.
Most of the jewelry I had in stock has sold, so it's time to make more. Not a time to make the donuts kind of chore, but a fun, creative challenge. This is what I accomplished this weekend.

Glimpse of Clouds

This is another in the Glimpse series of 2 pieces of my handmade paper attached with the top layer cut away: "Clouds Scrolled Back." An old hymn, "When Peace like a River" ends with a verse about faith becoming sight and clouds being "rolled back as a scroll." I did this piece with my sight in mind before several of my eye surgeries.

More Pots

More of Rich's pottery. These wheel-thrown pots were fired in a traditional kiln, but the glazes are reminiscent of raku firing On the left, the cut-away design allows light from a candle to dance in the shapes. Texture on the pot on the right was made with a Steve tool, and the pot just seemed to be asking for a handle.

 

If you look at the weather, the calendar and the clock, you will know exactly what time it is. It's time for a mental health day. The weather is getting colder and the holiday rush is getting closer. Time for a wonderful morning at The Center (12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Hills, IL) to relax and create. On Friday, November 21, from 10am - 12 noon we are going to make recycled paper pulp, stir in bits from the garden or craft drawer, and enjoy the look and feel of our hand made paper. There will be gift boxes to cover so the container you make will be a work of art to hold the gift you put inside. Or keep it for your own treasures. 

 

 



At First Glimpse

 

"Glimpse 1" from the Glimpse series.

In this series I cut through one piece of paper I made and attached it to another piece so you could get a glimpse of the paper below. So often much of what is beautiful, and much of what is going on in our lives and world is hidden from plain sight.

I love looking at pieces of the sky and sun through the holes in the clouds. I cut Xs in the top sheet so the openings would almost appear star-like.  Sometimes it's good to let our imaginations mix things up a bit.

You can view this photo here, but the piece has sold.

 

National Healing Arts Show

Frame size 22"x19"x1"

"Open Heart 2" is hand-made recycled paper, a pulp painting with embedded botanicals and applied pigment from the "Open Heart" series. It will be hanging in the National Healing Arts Show in Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital, 5101 S. Willow Springs Rd, LaGrange, IL 60525 from November 6, 2014 - January 6, 2015. Last year I was a patient at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital for the replacement of a defective aortic valve, but my stay was prolonged because of complications. I now enjoy health and vitality thanks to the healthcare team at the Adventist Hospital.

Papermaking Workshops, Fall 2014

Papermaking Workshops at The Center, 12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Park, IL.
Wednesday, September 17, 6:30-9:30pm: Making paper from the garden, incorporating leaves and petals in the pulp, and moulded paper with garden theme.
Friday, October 10, 1-3pm. Fall leaf paper, embedding leaves in paper and making leaf shapes in paper sheets.
Projects can include papers to use in collages and scrap-booking, photo mats, note cards and framed art pieces.
Instructor: Marilyn VandenBout
Call 708.361.3650 for information and to reserve a spot in class.

Art Play Date

I enjoyed getting together with friends who are also artists this summer for an artists' play date. Among other things, we experimented with photo transfers onto wood block. I took this photo at the Art Institute of Chicago in the cafeteria, looking out the window at the courtyard. If you pay close attention to details, you may notice I did not reverse the image for this transfer.

 

Raku Firing

Earlier this summer Rich joined a Raku workshop at The Center. Artists first made their clay pieces, bisque fired and glazed with crackle or metallic glazes, then put them in the outdoor kiln to 1800 degrees, glowing hot. They took the pieces out with tongs, put them in cans with sawdust and straw to burn, then covered to cut off the oxygen. Next into water to cool and clean. Unglazed clay turns black. The results are not food safe and don't hold water, but they are beautiful to look at.