Image Transfers on Everything

A fun little collection of image transfer projects from the book, and from classes. Its amazing how versatile image transfers are. I find that I use them on paper in quick correspondence, in gift wrap, on fabric, on wood, on metal on anything almost!  They can be immediate are spontaneous or the base of a mixed media piece as just one of many layers. They more I play, the more I love them. 

Beeswax Collage at Teahouse Studios

Still a few spots left in the Beeswax Collage class at Teahouse! Come make something with me!!!

Workshops at SFCB

TEACHER HIGHLIGHT This week we introduce you to Courtney Cerruti, SFCB's newest instructor!
	Courtney Cerruti New instructor at SFCB! Join us in welcoming a new instructor to SFCB, Courtney Cerruti. Educated in California and France, Courtney now designs and teaches various art workshops around the Bay Area. Working in many mediums, but primarily paper, Courtney creates whimsical and magical objects, always with an eye to the narrative aspects of each unique piece. Image courtesy of Courtney Cerruti
	Feathers, Fur and Scales with Courtney Cerruti Saturday and Sunday September 24 and 25 10am - 5pm $225 Create your own totem animal using found and recycled papers and a wire armature. Immortalize your pet schnauzer or your beloved parakeet with pages from old, worn out books in this ingenious workshop! Image courtesy of Courtney Cerruti
	Image Transfer with Courtney Cerruti Tuesday October 19 6:30 - 9:30pm $55 Learn various image transfer techniques to use with paper arts, collage, fiber arts and more. Explore transfer options using inexpensive materials and go home with a wealth of knowledge and a packet of samples made in class. Image courtesy of Courtney Cerruti
	Faux Bois (Wood Grain) Accordion Book with Courtney Cerruti Tuesdays November 30 and December 7 6:30 - 9:30pm $95 Learn the techniques of faux bois (false wood) painting that's beautiful enough to rival Martha. Create an accordion book using your own one of a kind faux bois papers. Image courtesy of Courtney Cerruti

Apricot Jam & Buttermilk Biscuits

I spent my 4th of July making my first batch of Apricot Jam of the season. Last year I was lucky enough to pick my own apricots, but this year I purchased them from a produce stand in Sonoma. I tried leaving the skins on as removing them takes over an hour, and I have to say I like the jam better with the skins. The jam turned out beautifully!  It's rich orange glow looks amazing on the pantry shelf and it has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. I finally had a chance today to make buttermilk biscuits. I have to say its one of my favorite pairings of food... homemade biscuits and jam. All I need now is a jar of ice tea and my Sunday is set!

In the News...

My class was featured in Inside Benicia Magazine!

"Cover to Cover" Starts This Weekend!

Last chance to sign up for my next book making series at Arts Benicia!

Cover to Cover: Book Making from Start to Finish and in Between! Learn More: http://www.teachstreet.com/benicia-ca/book-arts/cover-to-cover-book-making-from-start-to-finish-and-in-between/cl-3zpftf7vc0

Book Making from Start to Finish and in Between

Saturday, June 6th through June 27th, 2pm - 5pm at Arts Benicia Studio

This four week course will cover a myriad of art and writing techniques that culminate in a final accordion book structure. Each class will focus on a specific set of techniques with the theme of the final book running through out the course.

June 6th - Paste Paper

June 13th - Image Transfer Techniques

June 20th - Text, Theme and Storytelling

June 27th - The Accordion Book

A Hot Night Treat

Yesterday was hot and heavy after a week in Seattle, so for a night time treat I made rose water sorbet with salted pistachios. Delicious!

Open Studios at Arts Benicia

Open Studios at Arts Benicia was great!  I had a table set up so people could make Artist Trading Cards or ATCs... of course, the kids always have the most fun!

Emma made several ATCs with her friend Chloe.

Check out my new class on book making this summer at Arts Benicia.

I will be demonstrating at Open Studios in Benicia from 10am -1pm. Demos will be held at Arts Benicia located in the historic arsenal area on the water in Benicia. I will have a table set up for making Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) but there will be lots of other art events going on for adults and kids. Hope you can make it!

Quilts in Progress

I am currently working on two twin quilts for the girls using Heather Ross's Mendocino mermaid line. I am also making a quilt for myself inspired by a ribbon quilt which used all silk hair ribbons for its fabric.  I made a trip to the Ribbonerie on Sacramento in the City (you must visit this shop if you haven't already discovered what a wonderful place it is!) to pick up some ribbons, but decided in the end to use these fantastic taffeta scraps I had instead. 

This is the quilt so far. It took so many hours just to get to this point. Who knows when I'll finish!

Books in Progress

I started a few accordion format books... here they are so far....

I used a transparent transfer method for the face of the female figure, then drew beneath the image to create these two visages.

The text is from Italian American poet, WS di Piero from his book of poems, Chinese Apples.

This second accordion is small, black and has a tunnel of irregular windows that allow the viewer a glimpse of a slightly open mouth.

After many pages, the mouth becomes more visible

The last page reveals a portion of Odd Nerdrum's painting Isola.

Cake Box Book

Made this Cake Box Book as seen in Esther K. Smith's How to Make Books.  I love the look of using this vintage looking yellow cake mix...so 1950's! I of course considered making a book of the funfetti style cake for MJ since that's her favorite cake mix, but I didn't like the box. 

I used kraft paper, a cake mix yellow paper, and old school ruled newsprint paper (the kind I hated using when I was a kid). I bound the book with red and white baker's twine.

I love how the stitches look on the spine.

Voila! A Cake box book!

New Workshops

I am happy to announce I will be teaching workshops out of my studio at the Napa House. Check out the Napa House Blog for a class schedule!!! Coming up on Sunday February 22nd, I am offering a class in image transfer techniques for collage and paper arts. I will also be creating a Spring Schedule of new classes at the^workshop in Berkeley shortly. I have a renewed sense of purpose after the past few weeks of not wanting to even be at my house, let alone making anything. I hope to kick of the new year in February since January wasn't a proper send off into 2009. Hope this surge will last!!!!

A Collection

I am a collector. It's in my nature.  I appreciate old and worn things, throw away things, miniature things, things that tell a story, things that I can tell a story with or through, and all these things end up a part of my space. I love to scour the thrift stores, antique shows and flea markets for unusual objects. But I am lucky enough to also have friends who sometimes collect on behalf. This little numbered bottle set was given to me by Ellen, a friend and co-owner of the^workshop in Berkeley. She said now she has a "Courtney" spot in her home of things she might find in her travels that no one would appreciate but me. I am so lucky to have such friends!

I'm not sure what I will do with these once I've put them in order. Undoubtedly fill the tiny vials with something... 

We'll just have to wait and see!

Kiwi with a Hint of Mint

Made kiwifruit jam with a hint of mint. It turned out beautifully! I had reservations about making a tropical fruit preserve, but the tangy sweetness of this chunky preserve is delicious!  I also made a batch of buttermilk biscuits to complement although its wonderful on buttered toast...

Another Halloween Craft

A paper witch soars amidst the smoky clouds atop her black and orange striped bird. Moonlit stars sparkle in the black and white night. A burnt orange pumpkin houses this scene in its empty belly...a Halloween present for my Mom who's birthday we are celebrating tomorrow night.

Gocco Printing This Weekend at the^workshop

This Sat from 1-4 take Gocco Printing with me at the^workshop. Learn how to use this Japanese silk screening machine to make your own custom tea towels, patches and more!
Sign up today while there is still space, and go home Saturday with oodles of custom printed goodies!

New Fall Schedule at the^workshop

Fall Schedule now at the^workshop!

Mangoes!

I dropped in on Kate Weese's watercolor workshop yesterday and had so much fun. I could only stay an hour, and just didn't get enough! I picked out a couple of mangoes sitting on the table yesterday and stuck a post note on them "Do Not Eat, Want to H2O Color These."

I had the chance just now to sit down and paint the mangoes. I didn't have any watercolors here, so used gouache instead. I haven't watercolored before, but have used gouache a bit, and prefer it. I was also very interested in using salt which is one of the techniques Kate teaches in class.
I definitely could use some more practice, but I was pretty happy with the process. I need to learn patience and watercolor requires it, so it seems like a good thing to do right now.