School Year's End

The countdown continues. 2.5 days left in the school year. Last week was a sprint. Along with the usual duties of teaching, wrapping up the quarter and submitting grades we had some extras to take care of.

Two of our staff members are retiring. We have a tradition of giving them a book or a quilt as a parting gift from the staff. Mrs. R chose a book and it was custom made for her highlighting her love of lighthouses. Above is the back and front cover of the book. Click on each image for a better look at the details and textures. If you know my work, you know I love to pile on the patterns and the textures...

The covers are mirror images of each other. I wanted it to look as if you were looking at the front and backside of the building. Paper piecing mirror images confuses me but I did it without losing the fabric samples. I only had a piece of each, some small and others quite large. Each cut had to be just right or I had to use something else. Luckily, I had enough of everything I wanted. You work with what you have, you know? That was part of the challenge. That kind of challenge I do enjoy.
It took me awhile to put the materials and the idea I had floating in my head together. Sometimes it's the brainstorming that takes me the most time. I'd been gathering these pieces of upholstery and wall paper samples to put together for the covers for some time.

The image is pieced and sewn. The rays of light, the doorway and windows get their texture from layers and layers of stitching. I used a black gel pen to draw the pathway and to emphasize some of the details. Gold acrylic paint was used for the stars in the sky.Inside front cover. The shells are a wall paper sample and the lighthouse image came from a calendar. Each staff member was asked to contribute a letter, poem and/or scrapbook page to go in the book. I left a space for my contribution. I haven't been able to bring myself to put words of good bye together. In the interim, I dug through my collection of rubber stamps and found quotes that were stamped and then sewed onto the light house images. I dispersed 6 throughout the book.

Our retirement event was held on Thursday and the gifts were presented. Cindy loved her book. It was made with lots of love. We've worked together for 15 years, getting to know one another slowly over time. I'm going to miss her.
Marissa

Getting Spiritual

There's been a lot of creating lately. Lots of workshops, inspiration, ideas floating around... Has it already been 3 weeks since Kelly Kilmer was in town? Wow....

I've shared my taped journal. The crazy thing is, I didn't have any wild expectations about that workshop and it sure was a kick in the pants. Amazing!
My second workshop that weekend was the "Spirit Journal." The cover is painted canvas. I planned ahead of time to make mine with beads on the binding. I absolutely, positively am nuts over beaded bindings. Someday I may grow out of it but not yet. I have many more in me.

We painted and applied layers of color. Stencils were everywhere. Stencils are a current obsession of mine.I limited my color palette to whatever colors I had at hand without using any more paint. The colors aren't my absolute favorites. A lot is going to have to change before I'm pleased but that won't be hard to accomplish.Adding tape has already begun to bring the pages to a different level.Amazing what a little bit of tape can do. The tranluscency of masking tape does wonders. Again, I limited the number I tapes I used, repeating the patterns/designs within the book.Dragonfly stencil from Tattered Angels. The circular pattern came from a bubble blowing toy that's been laying around the house for awhile. I carefully clipped off the handle and it's now living in my stencil bag.The circular floral stencil is a laser cut, felt, coaster found at a local, big box, craft store. Four for a dollar. I bought four different designs and was able to share these little goodies with friends.

I have been on a new path of late. Trying to open myself to new ideas and ways of seeing things. Letting go of the things I have no control over... Life hasn't been a picnic but I still believe I am extremely fortunate.

I'm recording my journey in another journal. I'm setting this one aside to focus on the many things I am grateful for. I got somewhat sidetracked with all the stuff with RV Guy but I'll be back on track soon enough.
Marissa

Mmm, Mmm, Good Books!

Some very happy bookmakers! I wonder if any of these books ended up under someone's Christmas tree?I've taught my Yummy, Juicy Books class at Frenzy Stamper this Fall.Teaching adults sure is different from teaching children. I have to change my whole repoitoire. Booger jokes just don't have the same affect...
I love the colors and stylized cow of this Horizon Organic Milk carton. I went out and bought a carton of milk even though I usually get mine at Costco.Speaking of Costco, that's where this box came from. Sometimes the folks handing out samples have empties and they've been very nice and shared some.This was one of two books made from this carton. It's on the itty bitty side and adorable! The best part of workshops is having an idea taken in a direction that you've never thought of before.From small to full size. Worked on this one as the class sample. Ms. Debbie is koo koo for Johnny Depp-see him on the bottom right hand corner?These two books were produced two weeks ago. I wasn't sure about making a kit using the pizza stone box but it turned out to be such a cool and fun book.The checkered paper was a last minute discovery as I was digging in the studio. This book is to be the new home for family recipes. The box was big enough to get 4 sets of covers so there's still more to be made.

I love turning the pages after the books are finished. You never know what you'll find on the next page.

Marissa

Getting Ready to Teach

at Frenzy Stamper this Saturday. Want something "yummy" or "juicy" or for the "Dude" in your life? Here's some examples of the types of books we're making from found and recycled materials.Check out the Frenzy Stamper class schedule for the class description. Above are finished books and below are a few of the kits I've assembled for the class. Everyone will get kit of their choice for the first book and the second book can be made from a chipboard container brought from home or from another of my kits. The papers are going to be flying!

Hope to see you there on Sat.
Marissa

What to do.....

We're sleeping in a little late today but I woke up around 6am. I have the evap on and I can open the doors and windows and get some sense of the outdoors while we're inside. Let's see how long I can keep it on before I need to turn on the air conditioner.

The Chicklet has to make a little detour to the orthodontist. She broke a band we need to get fixed. She's settling in with the braces and is back to eating like her normal self.

My school building is closed on Fridays. I finally got in there this week and cleared out my classroom to get the floors waxed. It's off limits for awhile. So I'm homebound with plenty to do but I get sluggish at home. Or is it overwhelmed and paralyzed? Yes, there's that much to do!
There's plenty more books to finish! The Chicklet's completed book. It's chillin'! She's already started to draw and write in it.
The bank releases the funds today and the landscaping crew returns Monday morning. Ray, the designer, and I were on the phone yesterday brainstorming. The front and the backyard designs have been completed but he and I are still throwing ideas around. He's as into this design as I am and I love that.

He came up with 2 ideas for the wall that will surround the courtyard patio. One was exactly what I had originally drawn in my designs but I thought it was so crazy, I never showed him that. Then he picked up on something from my design board and we both loved it! Collaboration-FABULOUS!

He's also my voice of reason. I suggested a screwbean idea. (As in a screwbean Mesquite tree). He gently told me why it wasn't a good idea. Wha! OK, but I'm insisting on some kind of agave/aloe/he says "yucca" that I fell in love with over two years ago at the Boyce Thompsom Arboretum that has blooms that look like bananas and spikes on the leaves that look like black polka dots that I also saw at the botanical garden and this girl must have her bananas and her polka dots! (Whew, getting into a bit of a frenzy there).
Speaking of "Frenzy," He's gonna start thinking I'm a stalker......Mr. Mike was at Frenzy Stamper last night working his collage beeswax magic. So I followed him there and took another class. Did I mention he's teaching at Mystic Paper tomorrow? I took that class a few weeks ago and I haven't shared those collages yet. Oops! I'm going to have to bug him to offer a beeswax workshop for those of us who have taken the class but don't have the set up. I'm hooked on this technique.

Above is project #1. It's not finished. I'm not thrilled with it...yet.
We did a quick project and worked on a flash card. The moth is a part of a photocopy, the green at the bottom is a piece of wax paper that I'd used when painting pages in Kelly Kilmer workshops. Everything is encased in a layer of pattern tissue and wax. I love this little piece.I picked up these boards at a local scrapbook store. They're 1/4" thick and 11 1/2" x 11 1/2", half as thin and a bit bigger than the boards Mike uses. I worked on two pieces at a time. As long as I pay for the extra supplies, Mr. Mike is cool with that. This one is going to hang in the Chicklet's Pink Palace. It still needs something. It'll come to me...
Last time I took his Beeswax and UTEE workshop. Here's the two pieces I worked on then. This time I brought my own images but I need to copy on card stock.The lines thru the Chicklet's face are from the stamping I did before adding the papers. Regular copy paper becomes transparent. Good to know!
I was curious to know how metallic papers work with the wax so I used some Christine Adolph paper for the background on this piece. Next was trying an experiment with plastic mesh from the produce section of the grocery store. No trash goes unnoticed by the Artologist!

If the Chicklet looks a little youger in these collages, she was. She was about 5 years old in these pics but they have very fond memories attached to them. My mom took the top pic and the bottom one was from a romp at the beach the Feb. we went home for my aunt's funeral. The beach has always been a place that feeds my soul.Marissa

So Refreshing!

Here's my attempt to have some fun with juice containers that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin. I love the graphics, the colors. Last May I made my first "juicy book," as I refer to these.
I keep wanting to use up my materials and make something fun, sell-able but quick and well made. I've been enjoying these. It takes awhile to cut and trim the containers and then the papers but so far I take one task at a time and work on a couple of books at a time. These are the reason my storage room in the classroom still looks like a tornado hit. This group of books were completed yesterday.
With my thirst for juice quenched, I wanted to complete some other ones. These got a bit fatter. I got a little carried away digging out all sorts of paper in the storage room yesterday.
I looooooooooooove the Bisquick Book.There's recipes on the back cover since the back of the box is the back cover. I can't get too attached to the Coca Cola book. It has a special destination. Plus, I don't drink regular Coke. I have some Diet Vanilla Coke Zero boxes waiting for me.
The books are being made to sell but not on Etsy. As much as I'd love to, I know it's enough for now that I can focus on getting these done. If I had to deal with uploading, the upkeep, packing and shipping, these wouldn't go anywhere. Just producing the books is my top goal right now. I have a place in mind that I'm going to take them to. I wanted to come up with a variety of books first.

Tomorrow I finish one for the Chicklet. She has big plans for hers. Every time I make something new she asks if she can have one. It's about time I come through.
Marissa

Back in business...

OK.......I've figured out my technical difficulties enough. Now there's some catching up to do.
A month ago, the Chicklet and I visited the Chihuly exhibition at the botanical garden one last time. I purposely took this pic with the outline of the ocotillo fully visible. This sun sculpture has been exhibited elsewhere before. Chances are, this will be the only time it's juxaposed with an ocotillo.
Today is the first day of this fiscal year with the school district. Today our new VP was greeted by skyscrapers of books outside his office. Our Vice Principal of the last 2 years was transferred to another school. As a parting gift, our staff contributed to a handmade book for her. I dug into my bag of tricks to put this one together. I think it's the best book I've made to date.The concept was a handmade book of pocket pages. The staff was asked to suggest words describing Hilda, our VP. My partner in crime, Kelli, (music teacher extraordinare), helped me find some doozies for the letters "Q", "X", and "Z." An ABC set of custom flash cards were made, cut and then passed out to staff members. Written on the cards were personal notes, quotes, etc. and then they were tucked in the pockets.I am in love with beaded bindings. It took awhile to do this but I enjoyed every minute of it. Trying to remember the 5 hole pamphlet stitch after midnight was the least fun part but the handy dandy book with good instructions was nearby. Whew! The binding is painted canvas from the bit I did accomplish from an online class. The book title was printed on tagboard and sewn on the cover paper prior to gluing. The pockets were also sewn.Got some exercise painting these. As suggested by Kelly, artist extraordinare, I picked up Wausau 140 lb. weight cardstock at Kelly Paper. (Is that enough "Kellys" for you)? The 24" x 36" sheets took a day to arrive. Both sides of the sheets were painted and best of all, there's plenty left over for a couple more books.

Style....have I brought it up before? I have a style but I'm trying to pin point it. This book was a combination of techniques learned from at least 3 different instructors. When does it become a reflection of my style and not theirs? Thoughts like that go thru my head during my commute...
No worries. I'm not wracked by self doubt but I think it's good to question. Crap! Shades of my thesis committee from grad school.

Marissa

Today's Forecast

Crabby! That would be me. Spent the day home and in bed with a cold yesterday. Today was back to work but big classes and talkative 4th graders....Ugh! Note to self: Do not take Sudafed on an empty stomach.
The highlight of the day. Can you tell which one is the Wayne Thiebaud picture? My 4th graders finished their paintings today. It took a lot of steps. More than a few students probably want to wring my neck. That's ok. We have 3 more classes before we're done for the year. I'm going to see if I can squeeze in one more lesson.
Enough talk about torturing my students. Get a load of these itty bitty books. (That's the camera lens in the forground for size reference). I made 3 of these Sat. evening in Kelly Kilmer's "Swatches" class. The other 3 were put together in the few minutes before we started Sunday's class.They're quick and easy to make. It's a great way to use up little odds and ends of paper scraps. Like I don't save enough crap! The red cover for this book is some type of paper I pulled out of a refridgerator at Costco. It's used between the cartons of milk and has a dotted texture to it. Of course I had to take a piece and see if it would absorb paint. It sure did.This was a quick lay-out we made in class using Kelly's prompts.
The negative left from cutting out the quail was used here. I actually like this one better. Rows of decorative tape was layered over both pages. I came home with more decorative tape, the stuff is addicting!
Sunday's class-A refurbished book. We added hand cut, hand painted pages sewn into a hand painted, canvas spine.
Here's a glimpse of painted pages and more decorative tape. It's a visual journal ready to go. What is it about books? I can't make enough of them. Can't keep my hands off them...
Marissa

The littlest things...

can tickle me pink and last week these did the trick. I ordered these rubbing plates for the art room but of course I have to give them a test drive, right?
Last summer we used some of these plates to print paint on tissue paper during a Traci Bautista workshop. I pulled out some muslin and crayons and made a small sampler.There are six different sets of six plates each. The catalogue offered a good deal for all six sets. We have them all. Oh, what a piggy! Oh what fun! I think my 4th graders will get to try them out first.First I had these remnants of the cardboard I stenciled and spray painted on.Then we bought some boxes of this fruit drink for an event. I liked the bright colors and the water sports. What to do? What to do?
Here's more. I love the graphics, and hate to throw anything out even if it all goes into the recycling bin anyway.Hmmmmm...I was thinking much more complicated methods of binding and then I remembered I had what I needed all along.Ta da! Here's what I finally came up with. It's not done and I don't care for the black colored coil with these yummy, fruity colors but I wanted to put it together to work out all the kinks.
Mmmmm, I haven't shown it to the Chicklet yet 'cuz I know her first question will be, "can I have it." I'm gathering papers here and ther for the other books. I used scrapbook papers for the juice book. The cola and the spray painted covers will get a variety of art papers, pages from books, some colored envelopes, etc.

Ideas are swimming in my head.
Marissa