Paper Mosaics

I made this beautiful tray, covered with marbled and handmade papers and sealed with decoupage and polycrylic, using the technique from"Perefect Paper Mosaics" by Susan Seymour. It truly looks like ceramic tile, and was easy to make, though it took some time. An inexpensive project, the tray was bought from the thrift store ($3) and the paper I had in my collection. I only bought black poster board, black acrylic paint and polycrylic. I love easy, inexpensive projects! The book is fantastic.

Look at Susan's beautiful website. There is also an article on her research regarding empowerment of women in India and the use of "Life History Collage": http://www.papermosaic.net/

Examiner.com

I am so pleased to announce that I am writing articles for Examiner.com as the "Pasadena Arts and Crafts Examiner."

Examiner.com writers contribute articles in one of 25 areas of specialty. They are independent contractors who recieve "competitive pay based on page views, reader subscriptions, session length and advertisement interest".

It was initially an exercise in confidence. I felt good that I had successfully written and sent an article as part of the application process. Was I surpised to receive an acceptance email! My dream had come true: making money at what I love. It's a small step in the right direction.

See my articles at the link below. My goal is one article a week. You will find a subscribe button at the top or bottom of the article. Click on it, give your info, and anytime I publish, the article will go straight to your inbox.

http://www.examiner.com/hobbies-in-los-angeles

Craft and Folk Art Museum

Today I visited the CAFAM in Los Angeles to see two exhibits: Ann Weber: Love and Other Audacities, and Jennifer Angus: All Creatures Great and Small.

Ann creates sculptures using cardboard and a staple gun, rescuing her material from trash bins. Jennifer's exhibit featured insects and beeswax forms arranged both decoratively and symbolically. Both amazing!

See photographs of their work on the museum website: www.cafam.org. Photographs were not allowed in the gallery.

Plastic Bottle Flower

I stopped by a store called ZINNIA in South Pasadena on Mission on my way home from work. They have tons of amazing "thingies" to use for assemblage type art, and offer wonderful classes. Michael DeMeng is one artist who has offered a class there! His assemblage--wow!

Hanging from their ceiling were flowers made from plastic bottles that looked as if they had been spray painted. I found a blue bottle at home, and found, after I cut it, that it had 2 layers! So that made for a double layer of petals. If I had known, I could have cut them so that they alternated. Tom is still drinking that bottled water, so I have another try.

Paperback Book Sculpture

Remember making Christmas trees out of telephone books in girlscouts? Fold the pages, spraypaint it green and stick a star on top.

This is a variation, though I've seen more elaborate foldings than this. I had to get to taking care of the house and the rest of my life, but I found time to fold pages while waiting at orthodontic appointments and piano/voice lessons.

There is nothing like the feel of paper.

The Artist at 5 Years Old...

... on the back of a Christmas card.

( I don't know who "KeNney" is)

Curtains on a Budget #2

I couldn't help myself... I added another layer, because it seemed too thin; you could see through to the wall. And I liked the scraggly look. Maybe I should tie knots on the ends...