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Disintegration Project Reveal

May 1st is the date of the big reveal of The Disintegration Project hosted by Seth of The Altered Page.  Since I am having some very serious computer problems and might not be able to post tomorrow, I am revealing a day early.

This bundle has aged nicely since the first picture of it posted here on February 19.  The bundle, made of junk mail papers, has taken on a wonderful, crinkly texture.  The fact that our next door neighbor's water sprinkler hits it every day has helped that along.  I like the back side of the bundle just as much as the front.

 
Love that rusty wire.

The extra little bundle of leftover paper strips I hung from the tree branch has attracted the attention of a scouting wasp.  If it is left hanging any longer there will probably be a wasp nest in it for the next reveal.

Seth has scheduled a second part to the project.  Those who want to participate will each make a piece of art using their disintegrated bundle.  Visit Seth's blog to find out more and to view the other bundles in the big reveal.

Auvoire

Every Monday morning for the past six months, I have been getting up at 4:20 a.m. to travel 60 miles to set up as a vendor at my favorite flea market.  Today, the question on everyone's lips was, "Are you coming back next week?"  My answer was always the same, "No, the season is over for me; perhaps I will be back in November."

It was sad to say good bye to the flea market season and all the vendors who have come to Florida to escape cold Northern winter.  Most of the Snow Birds, as we call them, are traveling back home on May 1st.  Today, was filled with good-bye hugs and wishes for a good Summer.

As I packed up my remaining inventory I thought about the season.  It has been a good year; full of smiles and the adventures of dealing with the weather and hunting for treasures. 

And it has been twenty four wonderful days spent in the country; a respite from the city, the concrete jungle.

Driving to the market every week has been like food for the soul.  The countryside is especially beautiful right now with new Spring growth and vibrant wild Phlox lining the road.

I saw a sweet little cottage on the other side of the fence behind these wildflowers.  I thought, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to live there, in a special little place tucked away and surrounded by Nature like this?"

Perhaps someday...  

The Quest for Boxes

This week's flea market quest was small boxes to use for an altered art project.  I found a few and some other goodies, too.

The most unusual item was this little beauty.  Do any of you know what it is?  The dealer said she thought it is some sort of steamer, but I'm more inclined to think it might be a personal foot warmer.  It is brass, made in France, and has a little adjustable vent on top and a row of vents along the front bottom.

Here is the inside of it:

The little wire cage comes out and is open on both ends.

Here is the inside of that little cigar box with the Christmas greeting on the lid:

And here are a few more treasures...

This vintage photo is certain to be a favorite.

And here are a few ACEOs that I am trying to get listed on eBay.  Hope the problems I'm encountering with the site will be resolved by tomorrow.

Found Some Things

I found some wonderful things this week.  A beautiful bird nest at the flea market...rescued for only $3.00...

A gel transfer technique which I have enjoyed using on ATCs...

and a sweet poem in a children's book published in 1934:

     There by the road on the old fence post
     You hear the father Bluebird boast,
     "I'm going to build you the finest nest,
     In all the world, the very best!"
     And then, if you sit, oh, very still,
     You'll hear her say, "I know you will!"

Authenticity

I intended to post this yesterday, but got involved in the studio, then suddenly realized it was midnight and I couldn't keep my eyes open.  But I want to share with you a bit about what I learned yesterday about authenticity.

When John left for work yesterday, I noticed that it was very cool and cloudy; a perfect opportunity to work in the flower bed in the front yard.  It has suffered neglect lately.  I have been wanting to trim the shrubs, but the honey bees have been busy at work on the Indian Hawthorne.  But now, it is past the prime blooming season, so there is no more excuse. 

The geraniums are beginning to fade also now that the weather is getting hot, but they still look pretty when viewed en masse. 

Since this flower bed has an Eastern exposure, I was really enjoying the cool, overcast skies.  Our topiary shrub by the front door was especially shaggy, so it took quite a bit of trimming to get in to shape again.  The birds were singing all around me as the tender green leaves gave way to my hand.

I thought about what a fine time this was for mediation and contemplation.  I have always felt close to God when surrounded by nature.  Yes, I really should develop this as a daily habit. 

That thought led to another thought; the mental picture of a lady tending her roses as I walked by on my stroll around the subdivision.  Her yard is one of those you just have to admire because it is excellent in every way; beautifully designed, beautiful plantings, and meticulously maintained.  It is perfection.

As I remembered her yard, I thought, "I want my yard to look like her yard."  Suddenly, I saw the similarity between that and what is so tempting when we produce art, especially as beginners; the temptation to copy the work of someone we admire.  Then, I began asking myself, "Well, what is it about her yard that I admire so much?  Is it the plants themselves, the way she has used them in the landscape, or is it the maintenance that I admire?"  I had to admit it was definitely the maintenance.  Everything just looks so crisp and orderly in her yard.  "Well, I could do that part in my own yard.  I wouldn't have to plant everything exactly as she has.  If I just attend to the maintenance of my own shrubs, like she does, my yard would also look crisp and fresh."

And then I thought, "Perhaps it is the same with art.  We don't have to copy another artist's style to incorporate what we admire in their work.  If we could isolate what it is that we really admire, perhaps we could incorporate that into our own work, yet still have OUR work, not that of someone else."

The skies changed, and it started to rain, so I had to go in with only half the shrubs trimmed.

 but I didn't mind; I had a very productive morning, indeed.

 

More ArtFest Pictures

Okay, just one more post about ArtFest.  On friday I had a painting class with Lynn Perrella.  I have always been fascinated with Lynn's work.  I love the layering in her artwork that is her trademark.  One thing I learned is that you just cannot get that layered look without investing the time and effort to do the layers.  There seems to be no shortcut.

Another thing Lynn taught us is what she does every morning as a meditation exercise before she starts creating art.  She uses a sheet of plain black construction paper and begins cutting out shapes from it.  She says this gets her mind and the creative juices going. 

This is one painting that was finished during class.  Wish I could say that it was mine.

Here are some more pictures from the trip:

This is a bit of the trading frenzie that went on the first night.  Remember the ATCs I showed you before the trip?  I only had three left out of 65.

Here is the best part of ArtFest this year; my beautiful room mates:

 
Ellison James who looked fabulous after losing 60 pounds this year.

 
Becky Stratton, handmade book artist, who also knits beautifully and made each of us a pair of socks that are incredible.

Sweet Kathryn Byrum who inspires us all with her zest for life in spite of living with a life threatening illness.

And Deena Parsons who brought her wonderful mom, Tressa.  Is this not the most beautiful pair of smiles you have seen in a long time?

And here are a few pictures snapped from the airplane window of the trip to Seattle.  I think this is somewhere in eastern Colorado.

I can only marvel at the creations of The Great Artiste.  

Pam Garrison's Journaling Class

Pam Garrison's class at ArtFest was just as much fun as I anticipated it would be.  She taught us how to make a journal from watercolor paper and canvas boards.  First she showed us how to collage some vintage papers that she had given us.  These became the covers of the book when we applied them to the canvas boards.  The next step was to paint the watercolor papers, then sew them to the spine of the book.  Watching Pam work was so inspiring.

We got so busy, I almost forgot to take pictures of the class.

 
This was the one project I finished at ArtFest.  It was so much fun.  And THAT was what I learned from this class; that art needs to be fun.  I must admit that I have been over-thinking my art and had become bound-up and always worried about the final outcome.  Pam taught us to just go with the flow; put down something, anywhere, then put down something else, then something else, and not worry about it, but just play as if we were children.  That was a marvelous secret; so simple, yet so profound.

 

LOVED using the vintage papers that Pam gave us as end papers.  This old ledger sheet has the date of my birthday: February 21.  How cool is that.

To find out more about Pam's class, visit her blog.  She has posted some pictures of her own beautiful journals.  You will love them.  

Back Home from ArtFest

Leaving ArtFest is always a bit sad, but it's always good to be home again.  I will try to give you a glimpse at what we experienced there this year.

My first class was a book making class with Nina Bagley.  Nina is such a special person.  To take a class from Nina is to learn about loving; loving the little things that cross our path, loving nature, loving old things, loving people, loving life.  I wish I could have taken all three of Nina's classes.  I wish I could be Nina's apprentice for a year...or two.

I didn't finish my book.  That will have to happen here at home.  I will show and tell when it is done.  Here are some pictures from the classroom.

 

There was a lovely young woman from Paris, named Alex, who finished her book.  Alex is Portugese and speaks English beautifully.  At Show and Tell on Saturday night, everyone was asking, "Have you seen THE BOOK?"  I tried to squeeze in among the admirers enough to get a few pictures.  Alas, my camera batteries were going, so the pictures didn't come out as clear as they should have.

 

I love the way she cut flowers out of old letters and attached them to the pages with brads.

Alex took a second class from Nina where she made a treasure box.

She said the box will be a birthday gift to her mother, and the book will be a gift to her husband.  She attached a working music box mechanism to the top of the box.  Wasn't that clever?  I hope Alex will post pictures of these items to her blog so you can see them better.  Please visit her blog and have a look.

Next time I will tell you what I learned in Pam Garrison's Journaling Class.