FRIENDLY FRENZY IN N.Y.C.

It's been awhile. I've been here, there and everywhere.

I just spent 4 days in New York with dear friends that share my love for the creative process. We all came with a variety of supplies and some ideas and went wild. No shows. No museums. No fancy restaurants......we did manage to get to a flea market and a closeout jewelry finding shop.

I've included detail shots and then the full piece. If you look closely, you will see broken jewelry pieces (LOVE EM), wire, stitching and my beloved copper that I have drawn and painted to compliment the metal pieces. I used wire and a variety of other means to attach everything to the copper and then stitched the piece to layered book pages and other papers.

I am attempting to come up with a name for this technique.......jeweled collage, jeweled assemblage, sculptural jewelry.......haven't quite "got it" yet.

I also used some vintage buttons.

We also tried our hands at handbags. I brought a copy of Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine after seeing an article in the latest issue. Alisa Burke created some AMAZING bags using recycled materials. Check out her work. We simply collaged on sandwich paper and sewed the edges together, adding found metal objects and buttons for a clasp.

I also printed out some of my work on canvas and lined it with fabric.


Another project had us making found object and recycled jewelry parts........jewelry.





Thank you , Joy.

In case any of you read the last post, I had a great time being WARM in Cozumel, Mexico for a few days and visiting friends in Florida

FALLING FOR YOU

"You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love;



the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later


when you are sure they won't laugh if you trip." -Jonathan Carroll

Happy almost Valentines Day everyone!!! This quote seemed particularly appropriate as I was out walking my dog last Saturday, I slipped on the ice and had to take a little side trip to get my shoulder examined............my GOOD shoulder. I can't lift it, so I will need an MRI in a week when I return from a trip to a nice warm location, where I plan to sit and contemplate whatever comes to mind. Enjoy!!! and hasta la vista, mi amigos.

"G" -ARTFULLY BLOGGED IN THE YEAR OF THE OX

I have been continuing the process of  "illuminated manuscripts"  and asemic writing with my copper work and acrylic mediums, found objects and paint and  have really been enjoying the process.  I have lots of ideas that will take me in many different directions. Hopefully, spare time will show up soon and visit for awhile.

In the meantime, this is the letter "G".

Loud ......Chinese drum roll please.......................................................................................................

I am thrilled to say that there are two articles in the beautiful new issue of Artful Blogging magazine that have my name in them. One, is about my work in particular and the other is about the "Blogstock" gathering that I hosted last summer with a fabulous group of talented artists and writers.  Somerset Studio does a wonderful job putting their publications together.  

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to head up to New York and celebrate the Chinese New Year with some great women. My friend Jerri was celebrating a birthday, blogger friends, Elizabeth(About New York) (birthday last week) , Isabel (A Room of One's Own) , Susanna (Susanna's Sketchbook) , Leslie (Snips and Snails and Puppy dog tails) and Marie (Lost Aussie On the Loose) (birthday today!!), who I just met for the first time yesterday. We had a grand time watching dragons dance, firecrackers go off, art supply shopping and a wonderful lunch.......and taking photos, of course!

Happy Year of the OX!!!!!

ILLUMINATE , INAUGURATE

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. " Iranian quote

Tomorrow is inauguration day. Let us all please send positive and peaceful karma to our new leaders in Washington.

I have drifted into an illuminated manuscript like realm with these pieces I have been working on. Watercolor paper, acrylics, gel medium  and copper.

........oooooppps. I snuck a photo in of my newly adopted puppy, Harley. I couldn't help myself.  

INSPIRATION OVERLOAD??

" There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. "                                               -Edith Wharton 

                                                     

Sometimes there is an absence of inspiration.  I think we've all been there. On the other hand, there are those times when you go on .........I.O. or what I'm calling "inspiration overload".  You've seen and heard and felt so many things that inspire you to CREATE SOMETHING....hallelujah!!!!....raise your hands up and shout, hallelujah!...and then WHAM.......which direction are you going to take?

The pieces I've been playing with the last few days are a combination of many things, some of which are the copper drawing and carving I've been doing ,  seeing the work that Seth Apter has been working on ( taking found objects and creating amazingly beautiful simple compositions), the holiday windows I mentioned in my last post and their beautiful monochromatic color scheme and texture,  the paper I bought at New York Central Art Supply,  the heavy acrylic gel medium I started using in a Michael Demeng workshop and I could go on  but I won't because I know people do not read long blog posts.

Here is a very  abbreviated version of  the process. Cut a piece of copper to size. I used a 6"x 6".

Chose objects to attach to the copper (more inspirational stuff I have been sitting on forever!!).

Start attaching. I used eyelets, brads, hole punchers copper wire and glue.

This one turned into a face. .......duh!

Draw and emboss into the copper using the shapes of the items you attached as inspiration for the design.  I then paint heavily with a dark color onto the copper, let it partially dry and then wipe it off carefully leaving paint in the creases.

I am still not sure if I am going to finish them separately or combine them into one piece. I'm also contemplating adding a bit of color. We'll see.......oh, and maybe some fabric......and stitching...and.......too many options. K.I.S.S.........keep it simple stupid. Not when you are I.O.

I WANT TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS IN THE WINDOWS AT BERGDORFS

" Better keep yourself clear and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world." - George Bernard Shaw

Yes, I know the holidays are over......Happy New Year, BTW. 

I finally felt that my knee was ready for a little stroll around New York  (I had arthroscopic surgery way back at the end of October). I love everything about New York during the holiday season.....yes, even the crowds, and I HATE crowds, so I met up with some friends and had a short visit. Lunch, Rockefeller Center, chestnut smelling and  looking at the magnificent windows at Bergdorfs.  You could spend days trying to see ever detail.

The theme was "the seasons". Winter was a favorite of mine. An artist painting. Her brush collection was nothing short of miraculous. The fact they the reason for this whole display was a coat, completely went over my head. I didn't even notice it until I got home and looked at the photo.

Another sweet display.....and a gift...... my wish for you to have a year that is "clear and bright".