Postcards

Postcard-sized pieces of art have become very popular especially for collectors, trades or trying out new techniques whether it be in fiber, paper or mixed media. The little art group I belong to, Odd Tuesday, has been exchanging postcards for about a year now. It's been great fun to see what ideas each of us tries out or often we'll use fabrics or papers that we have created in our get togethers.

A few months back we decided to change things a bit. Instead of trading finished cards we'd exchange 'kits' that would include a postcard base and five items. Of course some of us used the excuse that artists are meant to break the rules, to include more than five items but the idea was/is that we are use some or all of what is presented to us. We all have found it very liberating, reminding us how we can become more creative when we are restricted. You can see our first creations from the '5 things' over on our Odd Tuesday blog.

Do you find you are more or less creative when given restrictions?

Weaving on Clay

well, weaving on fired clay.....

For those who followed my posts, know that I started teaching adult ceramics classes this year. Most of the class members had worked in clay for many years so I wanted to introduce something that they had not already done. Adding fiber to work was a natural choice for me, but most in the class were not sewers or quilters so adding how I usually add was not the best choice. I did start many years back though by weaving rims on my thrown bowls so thought this might be something a few members of the class may be interested in and they could take it to where ever they like and as far they can imagine.

     I refreshed my memory on how I had woven a traditional rim but decided there should be an easier way as managing all those reeds could be overwhelming..... 

So in brainstorming in what could be used instead of reed for the 'stakes' I decided to try out wire as it would stay where you put it and it is flexible. I did a few small pieces to try it out and it seemed like the way to go. Then I decided to try a larger piece and I remembered to take some photos before I finished....

 For those who like this idea I found a number 20 wire worked. The usual helpful tools from basket weaving 101 are helpful too, like clothes pins/pegs to hold your weaving in place when you need a third hand.

 To finish off the rim I found I could simply twist the wires back down over the reed, bury it and cut it off. Or for this one I took two of the wire spokes, pulled them together tightly and twisted them. I liked the scalloped edge it gave if I pulled them taut.

 I could have left it at that but I liked the idea of adding one more element so did a test of various clay buttons and beads I had.

  Finally I settled on these.....

 The bowl is wheel thrown and carved on the wheel, finished with red iron oxide and left unglazed.

 I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone does this summer as the studio remains open for members to work. They've made some beautiful pieces this year!!!

Sketchbook 2012

A couple years ago I started seeing online all sorts of gorgeous pages being put together for the Sketchbook Project. I was inspired and finally decided to take the plunge and sign up for the Limited Edition 2012. Deadlines and challenges work for me, in that they push me to do something I may not get done otherwise. So this project was to push me in the mixed media area. Technically I do mixed media as I work in clay and fiber but I wanted more push so I signed up. 

I took the 'sketchbook' part seriously and didn't aim for perfection but instead for the learning experience yet at the same time I didn't want to send in a piece of junk so of course there were a couple pages that got redone. You can check out the sketchbooks in person or have a look at them online. You can find mine here. There is an unlimited number of inspiring sketchbooks to look through!

This one wasn't a stretch but is somewhat of a signature piece for me, teabags with dried petals.

 Above is my husband's favorite. It is a more personal piece. It was done at a journal workshop.

 This is watercolor paints stamped onto fabric. Done at one of our Odd Tuesday play dates. 

 Handmade paper, also made at an Odd Tuesday get together. 

Fire and Fiber, Finally!

I finally did a glaze firing last week and unloaded the kiln over the weekend. I took a long break from both the clay studio and sewing but am back! I unloaded a mix of strictly functional and a few pieces that will have fiber and fabric additions. Those are always fun!

Above are two vessels already finished. I love the funky fuzzy one and plan to make more for my studio, holding pens, brushes, etc. Below are several awaiting their turn in the fabric room.

And as always a few mugs always find their way into the fire ....

And I had several embellishments in this load including this bowl of mini beads. 

I'm slowing adding a few of these to my Etsy shop. 

Oh ..... excitement in my sewing room .... when I came home from tennis yesterday my new cover stitch machine awaited me! I know I'm supposed to be in the clay all this week BUT  .... who can resist playing with a new machine?! My intent is use this mostly in my clothing sewing but I'll be experimenting with in some quilts too.

Hope you're having a fun week!

Stamps and Stamping

     Yesterday our little Odd Tuesday group got together here for a fun day of making stamps. We tried wrapping cord and elastics on cylinders, scratching/cutting into styrofoam trays, carving erasers, cutting and gluing foam onto cylinders or flat surfaces, glue gunning onto wood slabs, etc. For cylinders we had paper towel rolls, tp rolls and shampoo bottles. Eliza had a good idea to keep the cardboard tubes sturdy plus add handles, that being to stuff with rolled up newspaper, worked great.
     Above is a little sample piece I made after our get together from some test fabric of some of the stamps we'd created.

thank you to Jackie for the following photos .... she thought to bring her nice new camera!

 Aren't Jackie's carved stamps cool?!

 Testing above.... ok, they're keepers ....

One of Belinda's foam and styrofoam stamps .... beware of what glue you use, I understand some wash away when you wash your stamp!

A Different Kind of Yarn Bowl

As I loaded the kiln today I came across two bowls, fired and glazed but waiting for their fiber additions. Rather than continue with my catch-up day I headed into the sewing room with my fired bowls. I dug through my box of yarns, found my crochet hooks and chose the largest hook that would fit through the holes in my bowl.

I wanted to crochet an entire lining for my bowl but was tempted to stop after a couple rows around the top as I really like that look too. I'm glad I pushed forward as I've been wanting to try this full crocheted lining for some time now and I'm glad I went for it! 

 Here's a shot of my yarn bowl in use to create my other kind of yarn bowl!

 And finally the empty nest ......

Clay and Fiber Purse and Quilt Inspiration

April 15th is quickly approaching, yet I was off working in the studio today. Those tax forms just don't have the drawing power of a lump of clay or a piles of fibers! I couldn't resist taking my latest clay purse to the sewing room and creating a study for it. Awhile back I showed some of the clay embellishments that came out of the kiln. I used one of the swirls and four of the buttons in putting this purse together. My purses are gradually growing in size and I'm liking that as I enjoy being able to create slightly larger fiber studies for their pockets or decor. Also I'm learning to keep the openings a little larger so I can get inside to stitch the fiber studies in place! It's tough work getting inside there and finding those holes because once my hand is inside I can't see a thing. So it's by feel and it's cramped in there!

I've also been sketching and working on ideas for my 'passage' quilt. You can follow along as Three Creative Studios offers an inspirational prompt and two months to create a quilt. I hope I get mine made before the deadline! I've been sketching and planning but haven't made any final decisions yet. A sketch I made last year that was based on the trail nearby was one idea.

..here is one of many pages of sketches. I have very little in the way of rendering skills but I get enough on paper to prompt my memory as to what I was thinking.

 I'll end with a photo from a recent walk with the dogs .... a duck sitting on top of the covered bridge nearby.