Midsummer Night's Dream

Cover for Midsummer Night's Dream

Pop Up Midsummer Night's Dream

Yesterday I finished my RR page for someone in the Belltown Bookies exchange.  Her theme is Midsummer Night's Dream.  It gave me a bit of a fright but this pop up is what I came up with.

Irene Likes Bugs

Irene Likes Bugs

WOW!  I am involved in five round robins and the end of the month is upon us and I have deadlines. So today I finished one of them and tomorrow I have to finish another as I deliver it Tuesday evening. It seems like April was pretty packed with activity.  Who knows how I came up with Irene Likes Bugs other than I have a dear friend, Irene, and I like using bugs in spreads.

No MSG Added

No MSG Added

I rather like how this one turned out.  My favorite part is the hand with the writing on it. Off to teach a class today at Edmonds CC.  Happy weekend!

Chicken Broth and Vegetarian Beans

Chicken Broth

Vegetarian Beans

Friday and Saturday I am teaching two workshops at Edmonds CC.  We are going to make snail mail in each class.  Today I wanted to practice and these are the two that I created in preparation.

Abstract Crystal

Abstract Crystal

I called this Abstract Crystal because I created it in the Crystal Neubauer workshop that I took last month.  Our task was to create two sides (1/3 and 2/3) for the total composition.  One side was to be corrugated cardboard and the other side a collage of different textures.  The line between the two parts was to be a bit wider, however I had an ink issue.  I do like textures and this was a fun exercise.
My favorite part of the collage is the blue areas because those are the layers of graffiti that I found lying on the floor of the bunker I explored during the hunt for mark-making tools.

Moth

Moth

Those billboards that have been neglected that have layers and layers of advertisements that are weathered and torn and flapping in the breeze are just the best and are the motivation for this postcard.  Whenever I see them I want to climb up to tear off ephemera.  Those climbing days are gone now but I do have telephone poles instead!

Parrot

Parrot

My friend, Sally, has become my personal shopper.  She has a list of things that I am looking for and off she goes frequently on a weekly basis to scour the Goodwill, next to new shops, and sometimes antique stores.  Sally recently found the best Japanese umbrella made out of lacquered rice paper for me.  She is on the lookout for shear scarves and bottle caps now.  Thanks Sally! :-)

This week during my Monday garage art class two birds printed on tissue paper floated down into a container of water.  My eyes spied them sitting at the bottom.  All the ink had washed away except for the black.  Can you find them in this postcard?  Hint, not the parrot! :-)

Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee

There isn't a real bumble bee in this spread but since I found the Bumble Bee tuna can labels that is the name of the piece.  Bumble Bee is a spread in a RR that I am doing with eleven participants.  It came together in about 90 minutes.....maybe a record for me.  I did have all the ephemera at the ready when I started.  I cut out insects for hours this past week while watching something on the computer.

8 PM

8 PM

I think I have enough ephemera to last me the rest of my life and yet, I go for more.  At the moment I am totally hooked on telephone pole finds.  I also got a wonderful  vintage Mother Goose book at a garage sale Saturday.  So happy that it is garage sale season again.

Par Avion

Par Avion

One can just like can't they.  One does not have to have a reason do they?  Or is there always an explanation for liking something.  I just like creating using ephemera from telephone poles.  Maybe it is the foraging aspect of it.  Maybe it is the randomness of it. Perhaps it is use of something that was not intended for what it becomes is it.  Not sure and really do not care.

Sat Jun B

Sat Jun B

Finding ephemera on telephone poles is an art.  When one scavenges layer upon layer you find that there are an amazing number of staples to dispose of and since weathering happens one has to sift through a great deal of paper to get acceptable ones.  Weathering seems to cause mold.  It also makes the best ephemera if you are willing to work for it.  Carry a hammer or a crowbar and be prepared to clean off moldy papers with rubbing alcohol.  I am wondering if it is best to forage for telephone pole ephemera in the summer only!  Stay tuned.

Angled Accordion Journal -Without Cover

April Envelope Exchange

Angled Accordion Journal (front)

Angle Accordion Jouranl (back)

This is an angled accordion journal that I made for Terry Garrett in the RR envelope exchange that we are both in.  Totally different to make.  It does not have a front and back cover.  I am working on either a circular cover or a octagonal cover for my next one.

Hidden Man

Hidden Man

More found telephone pole ephemera for yet another postcard.  I love how the image of the man tore. The eye wants to complete his image.

Round Robin Accordion Journal

RR Cover (front)

RR Cover (back)

Last month when I attended a Crystal Neubauer workshop I met wonderful amazing artists also attending the workshop.  One artist asked to see some of my art journals after a discussion about art journaling.  That spurred an interest in eight artists wanting to do an art journaling RR.  Since there are eight of us each artist is responsible for the own covers.  That leaves seven spreads inside the accordion journal for each of the seven remaining artists.  Can't wait to see what wonderful art comes back to me!

Reach

Reach

Last week I had lunch in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.  One street, Ballard Avenue, has wooden telephone poles with the greatest ephemera attached.  I really needed some tools to "dig" at the amazing finds, but I was able to take several weathered layers.  I am thinking I need to make a trip back this week with the appropriate paraphernalia to score more treasure. 

John! Come Here

John! Come here

Yet another postcard sent out last week to one of the volunteers who helped with the take-down of the NW Collage Society 2016 Winter Show.  This one is a bit dark.  It was darker but the use of an orange Stablio Woody lightened the purple a bit.  The image is from a primer found at a flea market.

R Is for Rabbit

R Is for Rabbit

I started this postcard quite a bit ago, set it aside, and picked it up again yesterday only adding the R. Funny how one last thing completes a piece.

I See Ducks On

I see ducks on

I got a bunch of new graphite and charcoal mark-making tools in a Blick's shipment this week. Loving trying them out.  This collage went out as a thank you to one of the volunteers this week when we took down the NW Collage Society Show.  I do love making postcards. :-)  Happy weekend!