Fiber, Paper and Sewing Machines

A recent Art Propelled post provided a lot of creative fodder for me, as usual. One of the artists that resonated is Kathi De Jonge. I was very inspired by the papier maché pieces on her website.

I've been looking for some images of roughly sewn canvas and burlap, however I haven't found much by googling so I'll just show you what initially attracted me to Kathi's work. Can you tell I'm really liking the rust these days?

Kathi De Jonge 'Scraps 1'Oil, Mixed Media on Panel 30 x 30 x 6

Isn't this gorgeous?

Lately I've been thinking about sewing--a lot! In fact, that's probably the creative activity I've been doing the longest. Since I was around 7. Actually, I stopped for the past 10 years or so, but now I'm ready to start up again. I've been tuning up my trusty Kenmore. I learned here that any vintage Kenmore with a 158 in the model number is a very good machine. So I will keep mine 35 more years! It spent around 15 years in the tropics, on a sailboat for a while exposed to salt air. Then it got to live ashore (as did I) but still had to run off a transformer for all that time. What a good little machine, it's had its quirks but don't we all?

This is one of my new fiber collages. In keeping with some of my other work, I mixed refined (the netting and the sparkly flowers hehe) with distressed (the recycled vintage dishtowel at upper right). I'm trying to source some more rough, gnarly fabric, or maybe I'll distress some. That sounds like fun actually.

Tumblr /Etsy Update, Zen and the Art of Not Expecting

Jester Papier Mache Sculpted Jewelry Box

I am now enjoying Tumblr, which is pretty easy after all. No need to be intimidated, just make an account and have fun with it. I'm finding it great just as a place to keep images and quotes that I like, nothing too ambitious so far.

Squared Zen Nest Papier Mache Sculpted Box

In Etsy news, I'm now on the Vast Team--only for art that hangs on the wall, but I have a lot of that! I have kicked off a "Holiday Gifting" sale on all giclee prints, laser prints and original mixed media collages in my shop.

Round Zen Nest Papier Mache Sculpted Bowl

And I have more papier maché boxes and bowls, for keeping one's go-to jewelry safe and cosy on your dresser or shelf. For those pieces of jewelry that you wear all the time--or, for special pieces you just want to pamper! They are made from kozo paper from Thailand, 1900's glossy newpapers from France and modern maps. They also get drawn on, and glazed with various light washes of color. They're enjoyable to make and always turn out a little differently than I think they will. This is good, as it keeps me from getting attached to a result. Layering the paper is not unlike hand building a pot or ceramics piece. I remember my frustration in college when my pieces would come out of the kiln unrecognizable due to the glaze yielding unpredictible results. If only I'd adjusted my expectations! I should probably try ceramics now and see if my midlife wisdom protects me from disappointment. Ha ha!

New in My Little Shop

Things are happening in my Etsy shop! I'm listing more and more items, so please pop over at your convenience--I'd love your visit. This is a little papier mache box with an eggshell mosaic on the inside of the lid. Looks like I like nests, and eggs. Not so much chickens, though. Although I will admit to a weakness for bird imagery!