Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Minicourse at MA

Taught this week at Marin Academy for their annual Minicourse. The kids made paste paper, learned various image transfer techniques for paper and fabric and then compiled all their skills into a final book. They learned four different structures based on the accordion format. The miniature matchbox book proved very popular, as did alphabet accordions. 

Nico and his book of bizarre animal facts.

A friend was pulled into our Minicourse so that Isabelle could use him as a drying rack for her transfers.
Group shot. (Isabelle, Mia, Nico, Cara and Maya)

Sanjai and her giant folding cootie catcher style book.

Monday, February 16, 2009

A Day at the Beach

Took Max to Half Moon Bay on Thursday. I was hoping the weather would hold out for our trip and miraculously we had sunny skies! I've had Max since I was 12 and he lives at home with my parents. I don't get to see him so often, but he will always be my baby.  MJ took some film of him running around. Hopefully she'll send it to me so I can post it soon. Isn't he the cutest?!?

Monday, February 9, 2009

Coraline


picture source
Saw Coraline last night and was so pleasantly surprised...it was better than I had expected. I loved the story and the animation was hauntingly beautiful. Every detail in the movie was perfectly executed; I was so impressed.  I don't know how it compares to the book, but I already want to see it again!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Arts Benicia Show Opening

Went to the opening of The Art of a Community exhibit at Arts Benicia tonight. I was so happy to have found this arts organization in my somewhat nearby neighborhood. Although I live in Vallejo, I find myself on First St. in Benicia far more often that any downtown Vallejo street. 
I spent an hour or so looking at the work of 180 different artists. I was pleasantly surprised by the vast range of mediums. Being especially into book arts right now, and as always, anything precious and delicate, I was drawn to this altered book by Karen Hatzigeorgiou.  While butterflies are not my favorite motif, the all white frames of these paper insects cast shadows on the book. They leap off the page only to be suspended, unmoving, yet flickering in the light. I like how the forms create other shapes, constantly changing and shifting in its environment. To be honest, there were so many people, I didn't get a very close or intimate look at any one piece, but I was happy to have spent my night there.  The show will be up through most of March, and I will like to see it again, without the buzzing crowd.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Am so happy to see the cherry blossoms, here and there along my travels, starting to spring to life, white and pink dotting the landscape and punctuating my rather boring drive to and from work. Not such a great photo, but they make me happy, pink pompoms adorning my little kitchen table.

Monday, February 2, 2009

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!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

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!!!!