Our Front Door

It's about time to take down our holiday wreath. All through February, until this past Sunday afternoon, I was this close to putting up something spring-y and fresh. And then we had a snowstorm! Our very first real snow this year and pretty much the only winter we've experienced. It was lovely and cozy and gave me a good opportunity to snicker about how Southerners don't know how to drive in the snow (meanwhile, my own foray out into the blizzard was no more than 25mph the entire way, white knuckled on the steering wheel... ahem). Now, though, that excitement is over and it really is time to move on, door decoration-wise.


First though, allow me to share.

I made this wreath using a foam form and cutout paper flower-ish shapes. The vintage Christmas sheet music is from the Graphics Fairy website and printed on cardstock. Then they were put through the silhouette cutter to make the shapes.


Each flower was crumpled/folded a bit so the "petals" sort of bent up, and then they were all hot-glued to the foam. Only one finger was burned in the process. Great success.


I really like this wreath. It makes me happy whenever I walk in the door. Who knows if it will last until next year, but at least we got a good long season from it this time around!

Love

Another little print I did a few days ago, using handmade recycled paper and a small hand carved heart stamp. This evening I machine-stitched "Love" in black thread.

I like how these little pieces on the handmade paper look when they are framed in a sort of shadow-box - they are naturally warped so neat shadows appear, and the rough texture looks so nice set against a crisp background and a simple frame.

This one is also listed for sale.

AEDM #5

Yesterday I slept quite a lot. Its to be expected when one is expecting, but it does make a day disappear.

In the evening I made this card, a last minute project for a guest at the Inn who celebrated her birthday today. Apparently she likes dolphins. I like the card, it has me inspired to try more simple graphic silhouette-type cutting designs.


I used two colors of plain cardstock. I would like to get something a little fancier though, maybe a slightly shimmery paper.

Morning Mystery

What is the meaning of this? I haven't a clue.


I found this heart with it's mysterious equation in a folder of old work notes this morning. Most likely the explanation is something arbitrary that has lost any meaning over time - some things are just much more fun when they are unknown.

Yippee! Mail for Me!

I got my little box of paper doll postcards in the mail today! I personally enjoy these way too much, and I hope some other people will as well. Here is the new little lady:


And here she is again in her darling wool coat and cute little matching hat and scarf set (I also love the boots - that's the beauty of paper dolls: I can dress them in the clothing I covet!):



More pictures at the shop listing here!

Fun with Food

Potato prints! I had not made any potato prints for ages and ages, but was inspired by needing a project for two young boys to whom I teach art. So I broke out the potatoes and the exacto knife and set about making a prototype.

It was fun. Why do I not do this more often? So easy, so necessarily simple, so satisfying.

In a Holiday theme, I cut out a steaming mug (of cocoa I presume) and a snowflake, and printed in red block printing ink. After a few tests, I recalled the big package of white tissue I had recently acquired. Soon a sheet was covered in cheerful red snowflakes and I was determined to hand-make all my wrapping paper for the year!



As it turns out, I had many other things to take up my time, and after a little more fun with potatoes and ink during the boys class, no more printing took place. And so I had one sheet of precious handprinted tissue, which was promptly used and now sorely missed.

Perhaps I will have to make Spring tissue paper!

Always running late...

I finally finished my gown, am I too late? When a girl has to go to work, and coddle her sweetheart, and walk the dog, things like ball gowns get horribly neglected.


I am making up, though, with flounces and ruffles and silk.


Perhaps it is time to break open the champagne and dance with the puppy in the moonlight! (don't worry, I know she is too young to drink).



(permission to use this dress in the Ball Book excitedly granted!)

A New Batch of Cards

I made a new batch of cards, thank you notes for all the lovely graduation generosity that came my way!







These are new postcards, now awaiting proper postage (it seems like postage prices are changing very often these days, I can't keep up). These are created out of handmade paper I made with a friend a few years ago. It came out rather stiff, so I had not found a use until now, but it was perfect for postcards! The writing was made on a little Cub Printing Press I just purchased on Ebay. More on that later.



I love making postcards because they are confined spaces, but have so many possibilities. They don't have the intimidation factor of a large canvas, and expensive or special supplies are not necessary. They must be relatively two-dimensional to go through the postal system, but other than that anything is possible. I enjoy collaging on postcards, partly because collage is difficult for me. I never would have imagined collage to be complicated, but there are certain people who just seem to have a gift for putting pieces together in ways that are pleasing, and for me that is frustratingly hard. But on the small scale of a postcard I do ok, and I thoroughly enjoy it.

Catching up my correspondence

This week, in addition to work at setting up the new gallery space, and starting the new semester, and dealing with the onslaught of winter - or perhaps because of all these - I decided my priority would be to catch up on my correspondence. Some friends and I have been postcarding back and forth, and I have developed a fondness for making my cards myself.

There is something very satifying about postcard making. The size is pretty much set, so that decision is out of the way. But on that small rectangle, the possibilities are endless! First, I was into using old photographs (a great use for pictures that don't come out!). Then I tried sewing on the cardstock and had great luck using folded paper for a sort of bias tape edge effect.

And then wonderful things happened. I got a vintage book of salad recipes; some mundane, some bizzarre, all wonderful, except that I knew they were unlikely ever to be used. So the book was cut to pieces, and the recipes were sewn or glued to cardstock to make recipe postcards! Now I am all excited about sewing paper and using vintage books or magazines for images or text. Its all great fun. I began to make some greeting cards as well, because they can be more delicate than postcards that must withstand unprotected travels.

But this time, I made only postcards, and each was created with its individual recipient in mind. They are now addressed and waiting to head out.


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Originally uploaded by littleloopy.