2.26.2012

TTTPL Handbound Journals

Hello - Happy Sunday!
This week at Tending to the Pilot Light, we started a new project: hand bound journals.... We started with the covers.  Using ideas and inspiration from these great books from the Lawrence Public Library, we began the multi-week project.






We are working in a relatively small scale: 5 x 7 inches, using mat board cut to that shape.  This week, each student has the task of creating a front and back cover.  Supplies ranged from fabric, stickers, tissue, lace, playing cards, mixed art papers, mini images and lots of glue and glitter.
Here are some of the results... a few projects made it out the door without being photographed but I will post those pics when they come in.






Participants had the option of composing vertically or horizontally and several even managed to complete both covers in one night!

This week, we will finish the covers and begin planning the interior pages.  I have cut paper for signatures and will have the equipment available to create custom envelopes in several sizes as well as library card style pockets to be eventually bound into the book.  If you missed the first week and still want to be involved in this particular project, all the cover making supplies will be out this week as well.  We will NOT commence the binding portion of this project this week.

If you are looking for inspiration for the theme or "look" for your interior pages, please google "art journals" on the web and you will find amazing results.

and here is a link to our very own local artist Traci Bunker's YouTube channel where she has posted some very interesting art journal videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/TraciBunkers/featured

If you get a chance in the next day or two and are at the Lawrence Public Library, take a look at the display case right in front of the children's room.... a certain young penguin lover on tennessee street has graciously allowed Lawrence to view her collection.





I hope you have a lovely week!
Liza

2.18.2012

TTTPL - Burnt Organza Accessories

Good afternoon readers! 
I'm so impressed with the creations that leave here each Tues and Thurs evening! and what fun we have making them....

This week we played with fire, yes... very small flames, but, yes, fire and poly fibre fabrics.
Man-made textiles have a dramatic and beautiful reaction to heat - check out these layered roses:







There were a few that managed to leave the house without photos but I'll post them if I can catch up to their creator!

Here is one I made for my sis... a custom piece she dubbed "Le Pavot" (The Poppy)


It has a nice shape, hugging back around her head. (I'll post a pic if I can get "zee O.K.")

Like many of our projects, I'm loath to pack up the materials because it becomes the "one and only" that I want to be spending my time on!  The problem with having lots of interests is that you get pulled in a million directions at once, so this weekend is a stay at home, get the domestic situ in better shape, spend time with the girl and not... start... any... more... projects!

Last weekend I had a great time in the print room with my friend L. and here are a couple of links to my "Dress-a-Day" page showing some of the fun stuff I made with puffy paint prints!

This next week for Tending to the Pilot Light, we will be making 4 x 6 two dimensional art pieces to participate in ..... No way... rats CITY! I just went to get info on this project to relate it to you and even though the deadline for signing up is not until March.. it is full!
Seriously, this was going to be a great Art-Coop project.

so... (significant pause here, while i comb through supplies and ideas.....)

This next week for Tending to the Pilot Light, we will be starting a larger project that will be revisited over time.  I will provide 5 x 7 mats that will be the basis for covers for handmade art journals.  We will decorate them with mixed media and start talking about projects for the inside pages.  In the future, we will bind art paper pages into these covers, using a coptic stitch binding  (for easy and flat display). 

For this week, in addition to the mats, I have matching double layer framed mats with an opening of 2 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches.  As you prepare for class this week, think about combining these items, nesting treasures within the frame, or creating layers of imagery between transparent sheets.  I will have a full range of materials available to create portrait or landscape oriented art journal covers.  If you think about a theme ahead of time, your design choices will flow quickly and you will be able to accomplish a great deal in our short time together.  Google art journals, and check out all the different directions you can go within these parameters!

Notice to other creative types (including my talented students!) - Jump into teaching in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere....

I am interested in hosting guest artists and have some nibbles already: Art Dolls, Mail Art, and possibly Jewelry making from a friend in KC.  Please contact me if you are interested in teaching for a week.  I will host the classes, provide the space and do all the clean-up.  You bring materials, teach and the class fees are yours!

Is there any interest in once a month weekend projects? We could meet for 3-4 hours on a Saturday and have a larger project, or work on completing existing projects... I'm open for ideas and looking for feedback - please let me know what you would like.

Check out this link for additional photos... scroll to the end for more valentine pictures!

I hope you have a great week - take care!

Liza







2.12.2012

More fun with felt

I had so much fun playing with felt in my Lawrence Arts Center class and making brooches in our Tending to the Pilot Light Classes a couple of weeks ago that I keep making more schtuff.  C. gave me this cute magazine(thanks!)  which was the inspiration for the brooches:



Here are the brooches I made last night...

a close up of the hair...with teensy weensy felt rosettes and beads





and some of the poppy hair bling ...

These are fun and simple to make and use up all those leetle bits of felt left over from more medium sized projects!

Have a great weekend
Liza

2.11.2012

TTTPL - Open Card Crafting

Good evening readers!
I'm excited to spend some time in the print room tomorrow, so posting my weekly report on Saturday evening - one day early.

I am typing on a new computer... all fast and slick - the tower sitting here on the desk ...looking everything like a cylon except for the left and right motion of the thin red light emanating from the top third of the front facade.  Since I spend 2-4 hours a week processing photos for this blog each week, I was delighted to be able to open 20 at a time (blink blink blink) without freezing the whole system, without any warning messages telling me I would compromise functionality etc.  Thanks to an excellent computer guy (Thanks D.!!) I have now jumped forward light years in computer speed and efficiency. And...here's a special thank you to my old workhorse HP who did its best for the last 6 years.

Enough with the boring 'puter stuff.. let's get on to ART

This week (February 14th and 16th) we will be revisiting burnt edge organza accessories.  And yes, I will have class on the 14th, I'll have all the materials set up just in case anyone doesn't have valentine plans!

This week's challenge was to host a two day blow out over the weekend and then be ready by tuesday evening for a new Tending to the Pilot Light class.  Here is the before and after photos from Tuesday!


This was quite a feat and I made it with a mere 5 minutes to spare!

Here are some of the lovely cards created this week:



Apologies for this being so blurry...










Here are the pages of a sympathy card I made for my dear E. 





























One more addition to the cards...




































Inside of card with image transfer, handmade paper, and vintage wristwatch clock face


Close-up of outside





































Even though this is the month of love, 29 days of hope and connection, the peak of my personal creative outreach to the public ... I'm finding it a challenge to keep up the momentum. 

Life runs in cycles of energy, circles of anniversaries, memories and habits folding round and round like a mobius strip.  Similar, not identical, unpredictable to the forgetful among us, and always chock full of information. 

I found gratitude to be my motivator for January and worked with, against, and along-side various forms of gratitude.  February seems to be demanding yet still greater patience, suspension of judgement and flexibility in self assessment related thoughts. 

We all move along at the pace set by our little generators housed safely in our chest.  I am happiest when I remember exactly what is at the center of my path and really open my eyes, listen, witness and let it all pass into the next moment.  Because, for now, there IS a next moment and another step to be taken and creative ideas to be expressed.

I wish you a lovely moment filled evening.
Liza

2.05.2012

Valentine-Making 2012

Glitza-rama
Glitteratti
Pretty in Pink
call it what you will, this year was fantastic!

Great company - new faces and returning veterans... this is an event NOT to miss! Thank you everyone for gracing my tables and sharing in this creative endeavor~


Here are a few shots of the environment....

Heart-shaped scones

Before, during, and after the storm.....






































... and the kidlets table:

The pups were fairly well behaved throughout... no escapes and they managed to bring their yucky beef bones out into the living room only a FEW times .... (although saturday night, they got up on a chair and licked up most of the butter off the plate and yet somehow missed the leftover scones....) We had no major spills or miss-haps and I'd say there were about about 100 valentines made.  Over both days, about 50 people came  through the doors and made an average of two valentines each.  This has got to be a record!

I've put up all the pictures except those of either recipients in-this-house (!) or with names on the front of people who might be reading this blog.  I'll post the rest of them after the 14th!

Arn't they fantastic?  Leave me a comment about your favorite ones!!

Here are all the fantastic creations!
































































































February 19
Here are the valentines I could not post prior to the 14th!


The next three are part of M's Natural Disaster Valentine series

The Volcano of Love


Two sides of the Hurrican of Love:





and finally, The Tsunami of Love:



I wish we had pictures of the elaborate skeletal structure underneath... straws and skewers forming an undulating wave....


Here are the two valentines I made her... complete with actual German phrasing! Thanks to some lovely German speaking guests at the Valentine Making party!



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