The Official Playing with Image Transfers Book Trailer is Here!

Playing With Image Transfers Book Trailer from Courtney Cerruti on Vimeo.

Now that Playing with Image Transfers has been out and about for a week, I've had a moment to think about what an incredible journey its been! I am continuously inspired by the students and friends who show me how great beauty can be achieved with the simple techniques and methods of transfers. Thank you all!

Just a reminder, if you instagram, follow me @ccerruti and #PlayingWithImageTransfers if you'd like to share a project or ask a question. I am addicted to instagram and love sharing and finding inspiration there.

Also, I'll be selecting 5 winners who leave a review on Amazon of the book to receive an Image Transfer Kit just in time for some hand crafting this Holiday! Be sure to leave a review in order to win!!!

xo
Courtney

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!

Change...

These past few weeks have been all about change. Summer weather has just started to hit, schools out and for some its vacation time. For me, change comes in the form of a new and exciting job!  Only a week in, I am still wrestling with a new schedule and environment, but am so excited to settle into this new phase of life. Its too hot to say more, but with this new job comes more afternoon time so I hope to hope post more regularly. For now, I am off to eat a light summer salad (as seen above). Hope this summer has exciting new adventures in store for you all! 

"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

New Wallet

I made the duct tape wallet on the left 3 years ago just before I left on a trip for Ireland. It once looked shiny and new like the one I just made (on the right) yesterday. I think it was definitely time for a new one!

I used paper as the base for the construction and pieced it together bit by bit.

I have about a dozen library cards and an address book and a million bits of paper and such that for some reason I feel I must have in my wallet, so I need something pretty large. This wallet has a three tiered section for all my cards (below) and a large pouch opposite for my address book, receipts and cash.

I love the way it turned out! The great thing about duct tape is it lasts forever and is easy to repair!  Eat your heart out Kate Spade!!!

Holiday Craftacular

PCM's Holiday Craftacular was this Saturday and I made all kinds of winter inspired miniatures to sell. I make paper shoes of all kinds, and love the few I made for the show. I also crafted my miniature scenes atop vintage teacups instead of inside domes.  This one of the woodland squirrel was loved by many and found a home.

I love these queen bee shoes. They stand quite a ways off their pedestal and seem to be teetering on these delicate dried blossoms.

My business cards presented on a bed of moss.

Woodland fairy slippers on a real dried mushroom.  I love these!

Voila!

*** Just got an email from Apartment Therapy and they are going to post a before and after pic of my chair on their blog in the next week or so!  So exciting!!! I will post a link directly when its up...*****

I finished! Except for the patches on the arm rest, I completed the project last night. I chose a gray green velvet for the back of the chair and made a cover for the cushion. I have to say I'm pretty proud of the job all in all! It's definitely an improvement on the original look. It a very comfortable chair and I'm happy to have it in my bedroom. I hope Aaron will actually use it as his reading chair, although I have a sneaking suspicion he'll wind up on the bed (asleep).

We made party crackers today for our house warming tomorrow night. The girls were occupied for an hour and did a great job making them! We used toilet paper rolls, filled them with candy then rolled them in crepe paper. The girls used a sticker to seal the paper, then they tied the ends with baker's twine. It was a fun and easy project and they turned out so well! The rest of the afternoon was spent doing other arts and crafts projects and cooking, but I think this was the success of the day!

Gocco Class at the^workshop

Just taught Gocco printing on the PG5 at the^workshop in Berkeley. It was a great class especially because two of my flickr friends attended and we met for the first time!

Marilyn aka Spiced Coffee gocco'd this Japanese wave image. It looked great on this coaster and on the tea towel she made!

Sheila used an abstract image of telephone wires, and she printed it on tee shirts and her orange nylon bag. It looked great on the bag because the transparency of the sack gave the image some depth and made it more ethereal!


Hillary aka lily lemon drew this owl image and printed it on her tee shirt (the one she wore to class)! It was pretty cute on the tea towel and fabric scraps, but I loved it on the striped background of her tee!!!!!!


Sonia printed her tank top. She used an image of a doorway with Chinese characters above. I love the distressed quality of the image! The printed turned out really beautiful.

Paste Paper Class

Taught a Paste Paper class at Paper Source in Berkeley on Wednesday night. I actually did some paper myself, whereas I usually just instruct and watch. I made a handful of 8.5 x 11 sheets and liked these pink ones. I was kind of in a woodgrain as plaid mood. They'd be great for collage or paper dolls! Also good for book binding and crafts!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

So I'm about a week behind in my posts, but wanted to share some pics with you all from my visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Having grown up in the Bay Area, I've been to this aquarium a dozen or so times, but never realized how amazing it is until I became and adult (if you can call me that). My reason for going there is always the Jellies. They are truly breathtaking!
It doesn't matter how many people are crowded around the tanks, seeing those glowing ghostlike figures as they float in the dark is always a remarkable sight!

Gocco Workshop

Taught Gocco Printed Tea Towels today at the^workshop. Everyone did such a great job, and made so many beautiful things. People mostly printed on vintage and thrift store finds, so results for each fabric was different. I've posted a pretty comprehensive instruction sheet below for how to instructions on Gocco printing. You can also check out pics on flickr and more info on the save gocco website.

Gocco Printing Process

• Make sure you have batteries in your machine and fresh bulbs in the lightbox.
• To install bulbs simply place bulbs (2) into opening and lock into place by twisting clockwise. Set aside lightbox until you are ready to expose your image.
• Take your original carbon drawing or laser photocopy and place face up on the sticky gray pad. You can close the lid of the machine and look through the window to see if your image is centered.
• Once image is in place, place a fresh (unexposed) screen into the slots, arrow facing down. If you are using a photocopy, place the blue filter over the screen (between the screen and the lightbox, not the screen and the photocopy).
• Click your lightbox into place, without pressing down on the lid.
• Once lightbox is in place, press firmly down on the lid to expose the screen
• I close my eyes as there is a bright flash when this happens.
• Remove lightbox and throw away bulbs. You might want to wash your hands too.
• Remove photocopy, screen and filter.
• Apply ink to freshly exposed screen.
• Ink should go on thick and last for several dozen impressions.You can reapply ink as needed. Do not press or poke ink tube into the screen while applying ink. This will tear your screen.
• Place inked screen back into its holder, arrows facing down.
• Place paper, fabric etc onto the gray screento print (align as needed)
• Press down on the lid (like you did when exposing the bulbs). Now you’ve printed!
• Repeat impressions, and reapply ink as needed.

Clean up

• Use a paper towel to remove excess ink from screen (or squeegee off to save).
• Apply gocco cleaner to the screen like you did with the ink. Rub Gocco cleaner over surface of screen in circular motion with paper towel to remove excess ink and clean screen.
• Your screen will still look inked, but you should be able to see the image if held up to the light,
• Do not use solvents to clean your screen.
• You can also place screens in the fridge/freezer to use later without having to clean them. Just thaw before use.
• 
  

Troubleshooting

• If your screen dries and wont print baby wipes seem to do the trick. Simply wipe down the prining side of the screen (not the inked side). You will have to print several throw away tests to remove ink swirls caused from wiping, but this seems to work best.
• Baby Wipes are great for removing any excess or misplace ink on your machine or screen. You want to keep your workspace nest and clean or you'll wind up with unwanted ink everywhere.
• If you notice any light spots in a print, re-ink your screen immediately. When you lift up the protective sheet to re-ink, you should be able to see exactly where ink needs to be reapplied. If you can see your image or pattern, you need ink in this spot.