dESiGNalogue

No Embroidering Here

SARAH

I have seen these fun embroidery hoop bullentin boards around & decided I needed a break from printing for a quick project.  I used an embroidery hoop I acquired at some point & found an old cork board.  I traced the inside hoop on to the board & used the closest, sharpest tool, which happened to be an exacto knife.  I cut the cork, placed it in the smaller hoop then covered it in fun fabric my sister gave me.  I put the larger hoop around it all, tightened, & secured the fabric with super tacky craft glue.  Bulletin board!  However, I am having trouble covering the cute animals.  Apparently I need to make some more.

Materias: embroidery hoop, cork board, fabric, glue/staples

Paper-Pulp Painting

DEBRA

Egg cartons + Tempera Paint = recycled sculptural landscape.  I did this piece as a sample for my after-school Mixed Media Art & Sculpture class last semester.  I dont remember where I got the idea from, but its so basic and so much fun:

Soak torn-up paper egg cartons in hot water for about 20-30 min.

Drain water, add some papier-mache mix or glue

divide into several trays with one color each: mix well

create a topographical landscape- the sky should be low, and layers that get closer and closer to the foreground get higher and higher.  Or just have fun with the sculpting!

Everyone should try it when they eat all their eggs! :)

Swoop Soar

SARAH

Remember my linocuts from last week?  Here is a little glimpse at my final print!  The print needed to include a linocut, wood type, & lead type.  My first layer consisted of a collage of wood type printed in transparent green.  The swallows swooped in on the second layer along with the lead type in deep blue.  The print is an edition of 13, 9 of which went to my fellow classmates in a print swap.  My letterpress class is done, though the learning continues in my little studio.  I am picking up a big addition to my studio this weekend!  I will share those resulting projects in the weeks to come.

Process:  Letterpress on a Vandercook
Materials: ink, wood type, lead type, linocut, 100% cotton lettra paper   

The Seasons

SARAH

I love spring. I also love fall, winter, & summer. Living in Maine & now Rhode Island, I have always been where seasons are well-defined.  After the snow of winter melts, I am excited for new buds & blooms of spring. After spring, I cannot wait for summer. After summer all I want is crisp, fresh air & crunchy leaves.  Then I want it all covered in snow.  Currently these lovely ranunuclus blooms are thriving in the spring sun on the front porch.  I check on my ranunculus mutiple times a day, I am so in love with looking at them.

From seed to sprout, bulb to blossom, I love helping nature with her creations.   

57 Pieces of homemade heaven!

DEBRA

I made this sushi a few weeks ago, and have been meaning to post it! Besides lusting after unaffordable ways to decorate my apartment, this is my second passion to art...ok and fashion is in there somewhere, but who can rate anything when the possibility of THIS is in the back of your head!

This should be my summer business... sigh....

Bean Day!

DEBRA

This is a little papier-mache harp I made this a.m. as a prop for the puppet workshop I'm "co-directing" at Farragut.  A group of 20 students, grades k-5 along with myself, actor Aaron Samson, and 3 parent helpers are creating a puppet play from the ground up! We began on Monday, working 2 hours per day after school, and today is the performance of Jack & the Beanstalk. This little harp will be painted silver and will magically turn into Princess Melody! Directed by the fabulous physical therapist/mother/writer: Bridget Grey VanSlyke.  Photos of performance to come!

Sarah

A gift for my parents.  They are in the midst of remodeling the entire interior of their hourse {the house I grew up in}.  They recently finished the bedroom & wanted something for the walls that matched the new comforter.  Taking inspiration from the pillows my mom let me borrow I drew two flowers & printed them with my gocco.  They were each done on one screen & I hand mixed the colors to match.  I love the effect of inks mixing together.  The screen did not burn perfectly but it added an unexpected vintage touch which I am really liking.  It is shimmery too!

Process: gocco
Supplies: gocco, ink, paper

Sarah

Two of my more successful attempts at linocut for my letterpress class.  I drew the image myself, transfered it onto the surface, & carved away for 3 hours.  I am thinking I am not the fastest carver out there...This class has expanded my thoughts on the different ways a press can be used.   I never thought of carving my own images, locking them into a chase {padding the bottom of the linocut so it is type high}, inking with a brayer, & printing.  It has opened my mind!  Next week I will share the final print I made using these two swallows.  One hint: it is blue.

Process: linocut
Supplies: lino block, carving tool   

Sarah

Mixing & mixing & mixing!  A bit of yellow, a touch of red, a bit of transparent white, tiny bit more of yellow, more transparent white...okay a little more red.  oh.  too much red.  more white.  Ah, there is the pink I want!  I have been spending quite a bit of time tweaking my color "formulas" to be ready to offer custom stationery with hand-set wood type.  I am hoping to launch by the end of the week...but we shall see. 

Process: Letterpress on my Golding Jobber no. 6
Supplies: Ink, 100% cotton lettra paper

Self-Portrait 3D

Stonewear Deb 5"x 5"