Different strokes.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

The one thing I absorbed from the Oscars last Sunday, was a line from Bono's song:

 The rest, I forget.


  
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Yesterday went by without me noticing, and I missed my Monday blog post. I felt strangely rudderless. Everything was frozen, and I don't just mean the weather. By evening, I pushed myself; there are things that have to be done and giving in to lethargy has to be temporary (yes, I do give in a little). I made a list of very important things that have to be done this month, put it aside, and decorated some textile fish that I had made a while back.
Baby steps.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

The tube of paint went to Sock Heaven.

Sometimes, things just disappear. Like socks in the dryer. In this case, it was a tube of orange paint. I'm methodical about my paint; it goes from table to basket and back again, and I've been doing that for years. So when the tube disappeared, I was mystified. I mixed colours to get orange, but I hankered after the lost tube anyway. After weeks of intermittent searching I gave up, and bought another. I wouldn't be surprised if the missing tube decides to show up now....

Then there are those disappointing products. I saw this tape and thought it would be perfect for a project. I hesitated: 3 feet (it says 36 inches on the package) for $6.00. (These costs have to be factored into the price of the finished product.) In the end, I gave in. When I took it out of its package, it seemed shorter than 3 feet so I measured it.It was 34 inches, and unfortunately those two missing inches were crucial to my project.

 And then, I struggled with this duo. So thin that it splits and tears in places you don't want it to, like in the centre, and you have to search and scratch (because it's transparent and you can't see where the tear is, ending up in a waste of tape... let's just say that the frustration was *&^%$#@*-making.

And now for the good news, because there's always a silver lining. I found fabric tape at mantofev.com, vintage and far, far better value, and ordered it.




Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Waiting for Spring.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

I love string, especially old string, as much as brown paper. When my good friend Martha added to my little collection with a roll of vintage string (she knows me so well!), I saw this composition in my mind's eye and put it together this morning before I'd even finished my cup of coffee.

It's a companion to my tag composition here.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them. Right now, they're candidates for future postcards.

String Theory

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Focusing on bags, making a small line of them for Spring Glitter Market.
Mostly small ones for your cellphone and keys.

Back to work!

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

What a lovely start to the week:
My entry in the Sketchbook Project has been digitalized and is now online.  Click on the link to see the whole sketchbook.

The Tour begins on March 14 out of Brooklyn and travels across the U.S., into Canada (Vancouver), back across the U.S., then back into Canada, in Toronto (by now it will be September) for a few days, finishing in Philadelphia. Details are on the website, and the call number for my sketchbook is 225.9-2

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 The climate went crazy yesterday. It snowed hard, then stopped and gave way to high winds and a lightning storm, which in turn gave way to rain, until today, when the snow was washed away, the sun came out, but the wind is still with us. All in the space of 24 hours.

The miracle in all of this is that I didn't get the usual barometric headache.

 For that I'm grateful.

I made this big boat out of the New York Times to lead a fleet of smaller one. It may be a sign that I'm suffering from cabin fever....

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Combining drawing, painting and collage.
 On brown paper.
In a tropical mood.

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

How to keep your work fresh: take time to play (with no ulterior motive).
Move things around, turn them upside down, pull out your crayons and be mindless with them, cut and tear things up, open a book you like and see what jumps out at you (like this one, by Katherine Dunne).  In other words, just mess around. That's what I do when I don't feel like working, but I want to do something, or when I feel a little jaded and need to shake myself up.

I think that's what people do with their art journals, but that's not what I'm talking about. (I don't have the temperament for a journal -- I've tried and it just doesn't work for me).

I want to be able to grab a piece of paper of any size or staple a bunch of telephone book pages together to make a background, bring out my crayons (I have a mixture of Sennelier and Sakura that I've had for at least 10 years, and they are still going strong) and make something silly.

 Where did the word mustard come from? What does it have to do with anything? The yellow crayon made me think of mustard, so I wrote it down. Later on I added "cut the", to finish off the expression. I did say I was making something silly!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

I love bows and bow ties -- it should come as no surprise since they're all over my blog. I enjoy making them and the result always makes me happy. I pin them on clothing, hats (in my case, my trusty felt beret), on bags, and curtains (in strategic places). When I made this one, I wasn't sure if I wanted to add a pin back to it. I decided to wait and see. Then I found some chains in a forgotten box, and turned it into a necklace. 

AVAILABLE IN MY ETSY SHOP

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Postcards

From a cabinet card assemblage....

....and a large dose of colour

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Acrylic on canvas

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

The tools, plus paper and water.

The result.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Hearts aren't just for Valentine's Day, they are forever.

These are foam hearts from a crafts store. I glued transparent 7gypsies paper all over them, and painted them with acrylics. Very easy, lovely result.

This is the one I made from scratch, using wire, paper and plaster. More labour intensive and more drying time, but so worth it.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Hearts are everywhere, it being February and Valentine's day on Friday. So when I came across a package of foam hearts while sorting my stuff out, it was use them or pass them on. I don't really like the smooth look, even when they're decoupaged. Perhaps it's the shape, too. But I challenged myself anyway.

Decoupage and paint on one, plaster and paint on the other.

 More satisfying was fashioning my own heart shape, with wire and plaster cloth and plaster of paris. Once it's completely dry, it will get painted.

 May your hearts be happy.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Over the years of running an Etsy shop, I've noticed something strange. If I love something, it's appreciated but it doesn't sell, at least not easily. Conversely, if I'm "neutral" about something, it sells easily. [The rest fall somewhere inbetween.] A psychologist might say that it's because I'm "holding on to it emotionally", but this isn't true because I don't get attached to my work that way; I'm too busy looking at my next project.

I love making little collages like this one, just listed today. I've had a similar one in the shop that has been "favorited" 56 times. I renewed the listing, and it continues to be popular. But no sale. [No, it's not the price.] When I first made it, I really, really loved it... you see where I'm going with this.

I just thought it was an interesting observation. All in a day's work!

 



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Corners of my home.
On my wall.

A floating shelf holds antique framed photos. A summer camp photo taken in Northern Ontario [Canada], and a photo of a handsome young man, found in a barn in Upstate New York.


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Yesterday I stayed put and finished both the magazine articles I was writing. I can discipline myself when I want to, and deadlines help; it 25+ years of magazine assignments, I have never missed a deadline. Even my developing barometric headache didn't stop me. The result was that I didn't get out of the house.

Today, the snow is back (predicted by my headache), but I'm going out regardless. 15-20 cm don't scare me. Although this snow business is getting old...

 The bird's jaded expression says it all.

L'ennui.....

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

What I do with cabinet cards. Sometimes.

Add some words on the computer

Make a garland

Save a badly damaged one and use it on a journal cover.

And now I have to finish an article on cabinet card album inserts. Deadlines are looming.
 


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Still life with tags.

Because you know my passion for them!



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 After soaking up the masterpieces at the AGO's Guggenheim exhibit, I came home and thought about the early works of Mondrian and Kandinsky that you never see -- I leafed through the books and prints in the gift shop, but none of them were to be found, which is such a pity because those were the works I loved and responded to.

I love this painting on the cover of the membership brochure, by Paul-Vanier Beaulieu (Canadian, 1910-1996), Saltimbanque, 1954

This sweet little book arrived in the mail. Old school collage! Lovely to dip into. It's been on my amazon.ca favourite list forever, so it was time for me to add it to my collection.

Having unearthed my cabinet cards, I played around with them, ending up in this vignette.

 Have a terrific weekend.
 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

And here's how I did it.

Originally, I wanted a bottle with a thin spout so that I could draw circles and squiggles on my canvas. But then I went further and drew an image with it. Since you have to squeeze and draw at the same time, it was a little tricky, but I liked the effect. I didn't want a hard line, anyway. Also, if you apply it thickly, it adds dimension and takes a couple of hours to dry -- that, I did not want.

It says "paint for craft foam" but I used it on Stonehenge paper and it worked very well.



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

It's finally happened.
The weather has found its way onto my work table.
Shattering all tidy expectations of a normal winter, it's become the most talked about topic of the year. Wind, snow, sun, turbulence, all happen in the space of a couple of hours.

Take care!


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Old school collage. In my opinion, it's the best kind. It's a careful composition of paper elements to create a whole. 

Then there's mixed media collage which I also like to practise. While watching  a segment on youTube, the artist created something that delighted me, then proceeded to paint over it, add more bits of paper, and paint over that..... I was so disappointed. Gone was that delightful image. Some people I've discussed this with tell me it's to create depth. But you can create depth with one or two layers...it's all in the composition. There's really no need to glue things down and paint over them, then do it all over again umpteen times.

In my opinion.








Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

In need of a little distraction? Sick of this weather?
First, bundle up and go out for a bit, so that you won't feel guilty.
Then, back indoors, get out your buttons, some cardboard, black marker and glue. If you have a couple of children around you, all the more fun.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I was feeling oddly "off" this evening (possibly it's the strong winds out there), so I started going through my old books and found a couple buried in the back of one of my bookcases, settled down on the couch with a cup of coffee and leafed through them. There was a lot of inspiration there, so before I knew it I was at my work table trying a few ideas out. The perfect antidote to the funk.

I wanted to make poster art. So I started with the word ART. You have to start somewhere!

This.

And this

 
 If you're in a funk, go and make something. You'll feel so much better and you'll surprise yourself.


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

On cold, grey days with dishwater skies and sub-zero celcius, it's good to throw some colour around.
This sheet of painted brown paper was the perfect background for my bows.

Warning: You may need to wear dark glasses to view this!!

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

The view from here.

The sewing table, better known as the coffee table.

The work table, better known as stand-in for my easel.

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

This colourful hand-knitted bird flew in from Australia the other day. It appeared to be unphazed by the cold Canadian winter, but just to be sure it didn't suffer too much culture shock, I placed it among some birds' eggs and feathers, one of them from its native land. 
  

From my dearest Trish.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Do you like bows? I do. They add a finishing touch to packages, fun to a textile collage; they make lovely brooches, and of course they can be worn as ties. I make them often, but I got serious about this one. Some fine Italian linen, red thread, vintage velvet ribbon, and a dose of patience.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown