Liz-Anna's Lakeside Studio

Good-bye for now!

2011-11-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

It has been a year of change and now it's time for another one. I am leaving my beautiful lake behind, but sometimes it's simply a matter of having to choose one good thing over another.

My blog will remain open as I decide what to do next.

Suncatchers and New Self Portrait

2011-09-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

I reluctantly decided it was time to update my blog photo. So after probably more than 50 attempts at a self portrait, here is the one that I chose. My good friend said that the reason photographs after a certain age are never as flattering as we would like is because you can't see our personalities...the stuff that makes us sparkle in person. Of course I would rather look like I did at 40 but hey, I'm alive and healthy and excited about what comes next and as they say, it's better than the alternative!

What I really came on here to post about was this gorgeous suncatcher I received from my friend, Peggy, aka PalsCreations on Etsy. Our wonderful group, Piecemakers Mosaic Artists, recently did a suncatcher exchange where each of us made a suncatcher for the person above us on the list. Peggy created this beautiful mixed media suncatcher for me. The bird in the centre is done with glass and alcohol inks and the frame is mixed media under more glass. Grout is used to tie the whole piece together. I love it! Thanks, Peggy!

Backlit hanging in my window

Without backlighting

And here's the one I did for Sandy (BeadedGlass on Etsy).

Stained glass on a clear glass backing with black grout.

To see more, go the the Piecemaker's blog here. Lots to look at and very soon (as soon as everyone has received their suncatchers), you can see photos of everyone's contributions. Can't wait!

Handmade Paper Dyed with Wildflowers

2011-08-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

I get into a bit of a panic at this time of year. All of the wildflowers that I like to use for dyes seem to peak right around the same time. My work area is overflowing with pots and bowls while I frantically cook down plant fibre for the paper, prepare the pulp for dying and process the dye plants.

This post will introduce you to the craft of dying paper pulp but, for more in depth reading, there are some wonderful books available on dying with plants. Many of them focus on dying wool rather than cellulose fibres but I'll list my recommended resources for dying your handmade paper with plants. I must admit that I'm rather slapdash when it comes to dyeing but I get the results I want. If I don't get exactly the same results every time, that's okay by me. But if you want to duplicate your results, take good notes.

Arnica flowers

I won't be covering dyeing with mushrooms but I've included a resource on dyeing with them. Some beautiful colours are possible with certain kinds. I have a friend who used to collect mushrooms for me when he was doing forestry work and I got reds, oranges, and a gorgeous deep blue from some of the specimens he brought me. You would be amazed at all the maggoty creatures that reside in mushrooms, though! The dye pot was swimming with them.

When I play with plant dyes, I generally use corn husk and recycled paper pulp. The corn husk pulp is a pale green colour and doesn't compete with the dyes. Some of the other plants I use in my papermaking have a lot of natural colour so the dye colour doesn't show up as well. For information on papermaking, click on this link for a tutorial I posted last spring, Make Your Own Paper From Plants.

Cow parsnip

PREPARE YOUR PULP
You can use plant fibre pulp mixed with recycled paper pulp, plain paper pulp or pulp made from purchased fibre such as cotton linters or abaca. Keep the pulp wet while you prepare your dye materials.


Wet paper pulp after pre-mordanting with tannin.

MORDANT

Before dyeing your cellulose pulp (plant fibre, recycled paper, etc.), most dyes require that the plant based fibres be soaked in a solution called a mordant. The mordant binds to the fibre and then the dye binds to the mordant.

There are various methods for mordanting pulp but this is the one I use. I first use a tannin solution as a pre-mordant and then I use an alum solution as the mordant. The alum doesn't readily fix to the pulp on its own so the tannin is used first. You can purchase tannin and alum from companies that sell natural dyes and from some papermaking suppliers but I make my own tannin solution from willow bark. You can also use oak galls or staghorn sumac. The tannin can be used alone as a mordant but I haven't used that method.

I strip the willow bark for papermaking but before I process it in soda ash to make pulp for paper, I simmer it in plain water for an hour or so to extract the tannin. I strain it into jars and fill right to the top before covering with lids for future use. If mold grows on the surface, just skim it off before using.

Jars of prepared tannin solution.

Pre-Mordant

Prepare your tannin solution. Add more water if required. I like the tannin solution to be strong enough to colour the pulp a pale tan colour but not so strong that it interferes with the colour of the plant dye. I've found that if my plant dye is strong enough, even when my pulp is a dark tan colour, it still dyes well. The basic formula is to use bark equal to about 1/4 of the weight of the pulp to be mordanted but, as I said, I'm pretty cavalier about the whole process so if the resulting colour is a bit lighter or darker, that's okay. Since I just boil up a bunch of willow bark at one time, I'm not measuring for a particular dye session.

Add the paper pulp to the tannin solution and soak for 8 to 24 hours. The longer the soak, the more tannin is absorbed. The pulp should be a pale tan colour. Strain it and save the tannin solution. It can be used again until it no longer colours the pulp adequately.

Yarrow

Mordant with Alum

I mordant my fibres once with alum after the tannin solution but you can do it twice for stronger colours, if you wish. The alum is used with washing soda to make it less acidic and it also helps to make the fibres more absorbent.

The amount of alum and washing soda you use depends on the weight of your fibres. Once again I must confess to being less than scientific about my process and I usually estimate the dry weight of my fibres. Your alum should weigh 20% of the weight of your fibres and 6% of the weight for the washing soda (or 20 gm of alum per 100 gm of fibre and 6 gm of washing soda per 100 gm of fibre).

Dissolve the alum in boiling water in a large stainless steel pot. Fill the pot about 1/3 full of hot water. Dissolve the washing soda in boiling water and add to the alum solution in the pot and stir well. Carbon dioxide releasing will cause bubbles to form (they'll overflow if the pot is too full). When the bubbles have subsided add the pulp to the pot and add enough water to cover them. Heat to a simmer, turn off the heat and leave the pulp to soak for 8 to 24 hours. Strain and rinse the pulp but reserve the left over solution to use again. I usually save the remains from a couple of batches and then add them together for the third batch.

Goldenrod

WILDFLOWER DYE
Now the fun begins! I love the time spent outdoors collecting the flowers for my dyes. Many wildflowers will result in some hue of yellow, from greenish to orangey. Modifiers can be used to create a range of colours from one dye plant. There are books and information on the internet that tell you what colours to expect from many common wildflowers but often the information is about colours on wool, which can be quite different. I enjoy experimenting.

Be careful not to disturb rare or endangered plants or to spread noxious weeds. Some plants will render a rich, gorgeous colour in the dye pot but the cellulose fibres don't pick up the colour, even with the mordant. I tried strawberry blight and it made a deep pink solution but it didn't dye the fibre. If you're looking for a sure thing, then use plants that are recommended by other dyers and follow their instructions.

I use the same process with all of the wildflowers I collect for dyes. Collect as many flowerheads (or other plant parts that you wish to try) as the weight of the pulp you are dyeing. Pour boiling water over the plant parts in a glass or stainless steel bowl or pot and leave to steep for an hour or so. Sometimes this is enough to extract the colour but I usually add more water and then simmer in a stainless steel pot for an hour; then strain out the plant material.

Add the pulp to the pot of dye and simmer for an hour (less if enough colour has been absorbed). Strain and rinse, reserving the dye liquid if you wish to add it to another batch or for a lighter shade of the colour with the same solution.

From left to right (yellow is dyed with wildflowers, green is the same dye as the paper to the left but modified with iron): cow parsnip, orange hawkweed, goldenrod, yarrow

MODIFIERS
Modifiers are chemicals that are added to the dyed pulp to change the colour. There are several common ones that are used and each affects the colour differently. The only one that I use is iron. I make the solution by soaking rusty nails or other iron bits in a solution of 2 parts of water to one part of clear vinegar for 2 weeks or more. My current solution has been sitting in my studio for over a year so it's quite strong.

After dyeing the pulp with the plant dye, I put it in a stainless steel or glass bowl, add some water, and add a couple of tablespoons (all very scientifically measured, of course....not!) of the iron solution. I stir until it changes colour (with iron it is called "saddening" the colour). It results in a duller colour which is often quite beautiful. The yellows turn to varying shades and hues of green.

Then I make paper and wait for the final results.

IMPORTANT NOTE: After dyeing and modifying, strain and rinse the pulp. Check with your local environmental authorities for disposal of any chemicals, including alum, washing soda and iron solutions.

RESOURCES
My very favourite book is Wild Color by Jenny Dean (Watson-Guptill Publications). Highly recommended for beginners to advanced dyers as her information for dyeing cellulose fibres is so comprehensive, yet easy to follow.

A Dyer's Garden by Rita Buchanan (Interweave Press). Wonderful information on growing your own dye plants as well as some info on dyeing.

Home Dyeing with Natural Dyes by Margaret S. Furry and Bess M. Viemont (United States Department of Agriculture No. 230). There is a lot of information packed into this small booklet.

Mushrooms for Colour by Miriam C. Rice (Mad River Press). Some gorgeous colours are possible with certain kinds of mushrooms.

The Art and Craft of Natural Dyeing by J.N. Liles (The University of Tennessee Press). In depth information on dyeing.

SUPPLIERS
Dharma Trading Company Even their catalog is fun.
The Papertrail A Canadian company but ships internationally
Maiwa Handprints A Canadian company. They have an extensive supply of books and materials as well as lots of good information.

Stinging Nettle Paper

2011-08-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

Finally! Five whole days of beautiful summer weather so I got out my floaty chair yesterday and, despite the barely above freezing water temperatures, drifted around on my lake peeling plant fibre for paper.

Not everyone gets excited about a proliferation of stinging nettle growing on their property, but I was thrilled to find a lush patch behind my shed.

Wearing garden gloves, I first strip the leaves and seeds from the stalks. This removes all the stinging bits. Then with bare hands I strip the herbaceous bast fibre from the stalks. You can read about the rest of the process in my previous post about making handmade paper.

Stinging nettle fibre makes a beautiful pale greenish, cloth-like paper that is very strong.

Pure stinging nettle paper.

Age and Change

2011-07-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

Another birthday has come and gone. Each year on my birthday I like to reflect on the year that has passed and think about what I want for my life in the coming year.

As I get older, and each year feels shorter in relation to the years I have lived, I feel a greater need to make sure that I am living the life I want. This year I made a difficult choice that made me incredibly sad but, when I thought about how not making that choice was affecting me, I knew it was necessary. I also started the long, slow process of clearing out clutter and organizing my life. I crave peace and order in all areas of my life.

I had a huge yard sale and got rid of years of accumulated stuff. I have to admit that I have regretted selling a few things but the alternative would be to hang onto everything just in case I thought I might need it someday. I created a budget and put all of my financial paperwork in order so I know exactly how unlikely it is that I will be able to retire when I had hoped I could. I completely reorganized my studio and reminded myself that if I would just use all my accumulated stuff to produce and sell all the art I could make with all that wonderful stuff, instead of buying more wonderful stuff, I really could retire when I hoped.

I have also discovered something about myself recently. I need colour! I'm ready for my 70's earth tones to take a hiatus. So as a birthday gift to myself, I bought some bright new cushions on sale and pulled in a few other lively pieces from here and there in the house for a fresh look in my living room.


My refreshed living room

This year I plan to finish the work on my house, create art most days using what I already have, and to do my best to stay healthy.

Where Bloggers Create 2011

2011-07-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

I just did a complete reorganization of my own studio space this month, and posted it here on my blog. You can find it in the post right below this one or by clicking on my studio tour on the side bar. I look forward to picking up some more great ideas on this tour but I'm going to have to wait to implement them at least until I've lived with my present arrangement long enough to know what works.

For more inspiration for your creative space, starting on July 15th, you'll want to visit lots of the featured studios at Where Bloggers Create 2011. You don't have to rush. Karen Valentine from My Desert Cottage, the event host, keeps the list posted all year.

Studio Reorganization Number ?

2011-07-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

I love organizing my studio! I have no idea how many times I've tweaked it in the past 3 years but I'm sure this won't be the last. I get an idea in my head for one small change and before you know it the whole room is upside down and I'm as happy as a pig in mud! Maybe this time I'll let it be long enough to remember where I've stored everything.

View from the hallway.


Pottery, mosaics and stained glass. The stained glass is in a unit that stored old LPs and singles at the local radio station where my husband was a DJ.

This big drafting table is one of the few pieces that has stayed in the same place through every reorganization. The area in the corner is for my encaustic work. It's higher so I can stand while I work and the window allows ventilation.

Ice cube trays from the Dollar Store make great storage for all my little charms, brads and beading supplies. This shallow drawer unit is from Ikea.

Old pop caddies are perfect for keeping tools accessible. Plastic cups help contain smaller items.

Wet zone for soap and paper making and dyeing fabric.

These map files hold my pressed flowers, larger sheets of paper and stamps.

This old microfiche cabinet was an auction find and it currently holds all of my different paints as well as batik, bookbinding, printmaking and silkscreen supplies. Can you believe I once gave it to my husband to use for his tools!? He wasn't surprised when I asked for it back.

Books and other reference materials and packaging supplies live here. The armoire holds canvases and frames.

Now that my space is all organized and I have the whole summer ahead of me, I'm ready to create! I worked on this encaustic piece while I worked on my studio.

Birch 2 - Encaustic - 12x12 on cradled wood panel

The Joys and Frustration of Melted Wax

2011-06-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

I have been working with encaustics (beeswax, damar resin and pigment) for less than a year. I've completed pieces that literally had me jumping for joy and I also have mounds of wax 'mud' that I've scraped off boards after hours of frustration only to find myself there again, hours later, with another pile of mud...and anxious to try again!

I am so amazed by artists who have such perfect control over their work with encaustics. I am self taught, or more accurately, I am self-teaching, and it's a struggle. Books are great but nothing beats watching an accomplished artist manipulate their medium in person. I'll be keeping my eyes open for a workshop soon. Until that happens, I'm on my own.

Stormy Weather on Francois Lake

Armed with a fresh supply of encaustic paints, I finished this painting yesterday for a friend's birthday.

Serenity

2011-06-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

Do you ever just crave peace and order in your life? No hunting for lost papers or running late for work...lots of time to just play with your art...no frantically trying to produce for a deadline that you knew was coming months ago? And an effortlessly clean house with no clutter? I'm working on it.

Have you heard of Flylady? It's a free site with a whole system for keeping order in your life. I used it a few years ago but drifted away when we started building our new house. I loved how well it worked when I did follow so now I'm re-adopting the system to fit my life now.

I just had a gigantic yard sale and what didn't sell I took straight to the recycle at our local waste transfer station so I wouldn't be tempted to re-incorporate it into my life. Water levels are finally dropping so sandbagging is behind me.

I'm looking forward to a creative summer!

I made these encaustic collage cards on handmade paper last night. The images are from an old wedding keepsake book that a friend picked up for me at an antique shop. I use the original paper because I like the patina and the texture which copies don't have.

One a Day in May - Day 29 - When to say when!

2011-05-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

I just have to call an early end to my May challenge because I'm not super human after all. I am working on clearing out 20 years of stored junk for a yard sale next weekend and there are no minutes to spare so I'm going to forgive myself and move on. But I will be back!

One a Day in May - Day 28 - We all fall down!

2011-05-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, it had to happen. I just can't do a single thing tonight. I've been going since 5:30 this morning and it's now 10:30 pm and something has to give. I guess I could consider this blog post my creative bit for the day. A bit of a stretch, I know.

We've had endless rain and/or snow this past couple of weeks and the water is climbing higher and higher. This is right in front of my house where only some of the fill has been added since construction.

The crashing waves breached my 3 foot rock wall which a few weeks ago was about 15 feet away from the lake. That's a lot of water!

My fire pit is buried now. I hope the water level peaks soon.

One a Day in May - Day 27 - Four Leaf Clover

2011-05-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

This was a quick and simple card to make at the end of a very busy day but that's only because much of the work had already been done.

The paper, from my stash, is made from corn husks and recycled paper. I haven't started making new paper yet this spring. I spend a great deal of my time from late spring until early fall collecting plant fibres and then processing them to make my handmade paper. I especially enjoy sunny summer days when I can float around on my floaty chair on the lake while I strip plant fibre and then make the paper outdoors.

I made the four leaf clover print from one that I found on a large plant along with several others last summer. So this evening, all I had to do was put together the pieces for this card. And now I'm going to fall into bed.

One a Day in May - Day 26 - Calendula card set

2011-05-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

I made the paper for these cards last summer but first I dyed the corn husks and the recycled paper with dye that I made from Goldenrod blossoms. I love experimenting with wild flower dyes. Most of them dye some shade of yellow, but a wide range from orangey yellows to greenish yellows. And you can get even more variety by using different modifiers. I'll do a tutorial about dyeing with plants later this summer.

My lighting washed the yellow out a bit in this photo but the Goldenrod gives the paper a light mustard yellow colour. The flowers on these cards are Calendula (Pot Marigold).

One a Day in May - Day 25 - More ACEOs

2011-05-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

I've been staining boards for the siding on my house since I got home from work so I just managed to squeeze in two more ACEOs from the backgrounds I made yesterday.

Secrets, ACEO

Dragons, ACEO

It's silly, I know, but I seem to need sleep! It sure interferes with getting things done.

One a Day in May - Day 24 - Money Tree ACEO

2011-05-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

Wow, do I ever lose track of time when I'm playing in my studio! I just noticed that it's 2 hours past my bedtime. Tonight I decided to play with the basket full of goodies that I received in my swap with the Melange Team on Etsy.

I started with a 9x12 sheet of watercolour paper and just started ripping and gluing down a pleasing assortment of papers, a few sparkles and some other shiny stuff. Then I covered the whole thing with satin gel medium. Once it was dry enough I cut it up into ACEO size (2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches) with some bits left over for tags.

Then I chose one of the pieces to develop further.

Money Tree, ACEO

For this ACEO I made a tar gel transfer from a photocopy of a tree drawing which I adhered with more tar gel to the background. I added some 'fairy dust' sparkly stuff, little stickers of 'money', and text on a small piece of muslin. If only!

One a Day in May - Day 23 - Sunflower photo card

2011-05-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Every inch of my body hurts after a full day of heavy lifting and moving. I've given myself a deadline of June 4th to have everything in its place. Not the best time to have challenged myself to produce something every day!

I think the most important lesson I'm learning from this exercise so far is that even when time and energy are in short supply, just doing one small thing really adds up. Just to be able to pop a few new cards every week into my space at the Artisan Centre helps keep it fresh.

At first I wasn't sure if I liked the way this sunflower photo turned out. The hand made plant fibre paper that I printed it on was pretty coarse so the image isn't sharp. But once I mounted it on the hand made gladiola paper card, I changed my mind. I think the added texture is rather interesting.

One a Day in May - Day 22 - Deer and cat card set

2011-05-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

My studio is almost reorganized but it's taking way longer than I planned. Rethinking how much I can reasonably fit into a limited space is always a challenge. It's a generous space and I love it but I simply have too much stuff that I'm not willing to let go of.

I squeezed in this set of block printed note cards. The texture of the handmade paper adds rustic charm but it's almost impossible to get a perfect print.

I used two photos and my imagination to create this block print. One of the photos was of my daughter's cat sitting on a dresser looking out the window,

and the other was a photo of a deer in our yard. Not a great photo but I only needed the silhouette anyway.

For Christmas cards I added a dab of red sparkly paint where the deer's nose would be.

One a Day in May - Day 21 - Flower basket card

2011-05-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've made it this far into my personal challenge to produce at least one piece a day in May. There have been days, like today, that I feel too tired to do anything but have a bath and go to bed; but I made myself a promise (and then foolishly announced it to the world!) so here is today's challenge piece.

Pressed flower assortment in birch bark 'basket' on gladiola leaf paper card.

As soon as I finish a few more cards for my space at the Artisan Centre, I'm going to start working on replenishing my Etsy shop. One listing a day? Maybe.

One a Day in May - Day 20 - Poppy photo card

2011-05-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

I've spent the past 5 hours organizing in my studio and if I had completed the job I would have considered that my creative bit for the day. But there are still hours to go in there, so I did a pretty low stress photo card instead.

The poppy photo is printed on paper made from recycled paper and mixed plant fibres and then coated with digital medium. It's mounted on hand made iris leaf paper.

One a Day in May - Day 19 - Heart card

2011-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

The heart on this card is made from alder twigs. They have to be bent into shape and pinned to dry for about a week before they are dry enough to hold their shape when glued to the card. I use fine wire at the joins. The closed dried blossom is birch leaf spirea.

This card is made from pure swamp grass paper. I like the rough texture. I processed the plant fibres for a shorter time so they didn't break down as much. Sometimes I want a smoother surface for my cards, especially for printing photos onto, so I'll cook the plant material for a longer time.

One a Day in May - Day 18 - Introspection

2011-05-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

I missed most of this beautiful sunset this evening. I was working in my studio and looked up just as it was disappearing.

Maybe it's time to take a step back from production and just create because I love to, not because I'm obliged to. I already have a full time job. Should my art be another one? I want to make my home beautiful with all of the things I love to create but there aren't enough days in this lifetime if I keep filling them with never ending lists of "things I must make for money." And the reality is, the money never really adds up the way I hope it will. Not if I'm really honest about all the costs involved.

Obviously I'm having "one of those days." But it's something I'm going to spend some time thinking about.

Anyway, here's my Day 18...a set of small notecards to sell!

One a Day in May - Day 17 - Deja Vu Winter!

2011-05-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

This was my morning commute! I stopped the car to take the picture but I was only going 30 kilometres per hour. The roads were treacherous! Since almost everyone has traded in their winter tires for their summer wheels it was a pretty hairy trip in to work today. Good thing I'm a procrastinator and still have on my winter tires!

We had 4 inches of snow by the time the day was over and the power was out most of the day.

I completed 8 more moose poo cards this evening.

One a Day in May - Day 16 - Oooohhh....Aaaahhh

2011-05-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

I got an exciting packet in the mail today full of all kinds of bits and baubles for mixed media from some of my friends on the Melange Team on Etsy. I think using materials that I don't have a preconceived idea of how they were intended to be used will be fun.

The weather today just begged me to go curl up under the covers with a good book when I got home from work, so I did.

Big change from yesterday!

But I did manage to get one card done before heading to bed...again...with my book!

Moose poo paper card

One a Day in May - Day 15 - Dippity Doo Dah Day!

2011-05-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

I know it's really Zippity but I dipped another 2 dozen candles today so it's a bad play on words. It was an absolutely gorgeous day so I did a ton of things outside after I got the candles dipped.

I took a break from my work today to just sit on the beach and enjoy the view and to reflect. The winter was long and changes in my own life made it feel longer and darker. But I am so thankful for days like this when I can feel the sun again.

One a Day in May - Day 14 - Raku

2011-05-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

I had a great day today taking the first part of a two day raku pottery workshop. It involved 5 hours of driving to get there and back but it was worth it.

We were each given a bag of clay to make as many pieces as we wanted. I made two fairly big pieces. I can't show my vase yet cause I already had it wrapped up in towels and plastic before I remembered to get my camera from the car. But here is a small sunflower wall hanging (about 12 inches tall) that I did.

I still have lots of clay so if I have time I'll make some more small pieces and bisque fire them at home before the second day of the workshop later this month.

One a Day in May - Day 13 - More candles

2011-05-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

I hand dipped another 20 pairs of beeswax candles today. Spring has finally arrived and so much is calling me so loudly outside. It's going to be more and more challenging to do something in my studio every day as the weather gets nicer.

How odd!

2011-05-13T11:09:00.001-07:00

I posted Day 11 of my challenge, but it's disappeared. Blogger was down since yesterday evening and now it's back, but my Day 11 post is gone. Hmmmm.

One a Day in May - Day 12 - More Moose Poo Cards

2011-05-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

I worked my shift at the Lakes Artisan Centre yesterday after my day job and completed several moose poo paper cards while I was there. I tried to post yesterday but Blogger was down.

Moose photos printed on handmade paper prepared with digital medium; mounted on moose poo paper cards.

One a Day in May - Day 11 - Planning

2011-05-12T05:55:00.000-07:00

I was already in bed last night before I stopped long enough to do anything creative. The electrician hooked up the plug for my kiln yesterday so I did some planning in my sketchbook for some small projects.

Sketches for slab built soap dish and tea light candle holder.

To start with I'm going to create some pieces to compliment some of what I already do - soap dishes for my handmade soaps and candle holders for my pure beeswax candles. I don't have a wheel yet so I'll be hand building all my pottery.

One a Day in May - Day 10 - Bleeding Heart Card

2011-05-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

So much to do, so little time, but staying true to my challenge, here is today's small piece.

I printed a bleeding hearts photo onto vellum and then removed part of the ink with an alcohol wipe. I mounted the photo onto a copy of a handwritten poem and embellished it with tiny brads and a charm. The photo is then mounted onto a handmade iris leaf paper card.

One a Day in May - Day 9 - Moose Poo Paper Card

2011-05-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

It's coming into tourist season so I'm getting started on my moose poo card production. I made this card today using moose poo paper that I made last fall. My photograph of the moose is printed on hand made plant fibre paper coated with digital medium.

My daughter-in-law gave me a box of moose poo for Mother's Day so I have a good start. I found a few more deposits over the past few days that I'll gather when I have some time on the weekend and then I'll get busy making paper.

If you're interested in the process of making paper from moose poo, look in the tutorials under Making handmade paper from plants.

One a Day in May - Day 8 - Hand Dipped Candles Tutorial

2011-05-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

I had great plans for everything I was going to accomplish today,. Oh well, it was Mother's Day so I'll give myself a break. I did manage to hand dip a dozen pairs of beeswax candles at 26 dips a pair. Blogger isn't letting me download pictures tonight so I'll finish posting tomorrow.

The beeswax smells heavenly!

It's not difficult to make hand dipped candles but it is somewhat tedious. Here's my method.

I like to use pure beeswax for my hand dipped candles. It smells great, burns beautifully, and people who are sensitive to the smoke from paraffin don't seem to experience the same problems with beeswax candles.

Materials and supplies
A large pot to use as a water bath. Keep for candle dipping only.
Two cans to melt the wax in. Olive oil cans work well.
About 10 pounds of pure beeswax. You need extra to keep topping up the dipping can.
Flat braid wick. I use #12 normally but it depends on what I can get. The amount depends on how many pairs of candles you are dipping and the length which will be limited by the height of your dipping can. Calculate the length of two finished candles plus about 3 inches for the exposed wick. Cut to size. (I usually dip about a dozen pairs in a session).
A dowel (broom handle works) extended between two stations to hang the dipped candles between dips.
About 1/2 metre waxed butcher wrap or other non stick surface.

Method
1. Melt the wax in the two cans in the water bath. The dipping can should be filled almost to the top with melted wax. Just keep adding wax chunks as it melts to fill it. The second can will be used to keep melted wax to top up the dipping can.

2. Fold your length of wick over in the middle and grasp it lightly at the fold.

3. Dip into the melted wax, leaving the top exposed, as shown.

4. Carefully drape over the dowel. Continue with each pair of candles.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for about 10 dips.

6. At this point, you will find that your candles are a little 'wonky' so I individually roll each pair back and forth gently on a non-stick surface to straighten them and I also trim off the bottoms that extend past the wick. If you don't do this then eventually they'll be too long to submerse completely in the wax in your can. After straightening each pair, hang them and do the next pair before going back to the beginning to start dipping again. I do this again after the 20th dip.

6. Continue steps 3 and 4 until candles are the desired thickness. I usually find that between 25 and 30 dips is a nice size and each pair weighs about 1/4 pound. You will still have lots of wax left when you're done that you can add to for the next session.

7. You will notice that the beeswax darkens as it cools. It's best to let candles cure for a couple of weeks before using them as they will burn longer.

Note: candles drip less if they are not exposed to a draft. You can also colour your wax with chips made especially for dying wax.

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

My mom had a lot of interesting stories to tell and I almost missed hearing them. She passed away in 2007.

This photo was taken of my mom, Sirkka, at Pender Harbour.

Two years before my mom died, before she was diagnosed with cancer, I started a scrapbook of my mom's life. I sat with her often to ask questions and she was so pleased that I wanted to hear her stories. Like so many kids, I was always busy with my own life and thought I would do this 'someday'. I came so close to losing that opportunity.

My mom told me about a childhood of poverty and hunger, but also about a loving family, first loves, hard work, dances, singing and poetry. She recounted the heartache and the hopes in leaving Finland to come to Canada and her life in a new country where she couldn't speak the language. She shared the joys and disappointments of her life. I learned so much more about the person who was my mom by listening to her stories.

When the time came to eulogize my mom, I was so thankful that I could share some of those stories about this amazing woman; about her courage, strength, talent and generosity, and her love.

One a Day in May - Day 7

2011-05-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

I spent the whole day today making soap; 7 batches and I created some new blends, too.

Soaps in molds. They'll spend the next 24 hours under layers of blankets.

I also created one heck of a mess and that's it for today's creativity! I'm wiped!

One a Day in May - Day 6 - Paper Bag Tutorial

2011-05-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a little tutorial for a simple gift bag. I love making these in all sizes for gifts of jewelry, handmade soaps, candles, etc. You can embellish them with pressed flowers, photographs or art to make them extra special. I usually use my handmade papers but they are also a great way to use up your stash of decorative commercial papers.

The sample shown here uses my handmade gladiola paper. I left the top deckle edge but you could also fold the edge down at the start to if you would rather have a sharp edge and also to add strength if you are putting something heavy into the gift bag.

For your form, choose a scrap of board or other object the size of the bag you want to make.

Your piece of paper dimensions:
height - how tall you want the bag overall plus the depth of the base and the width of the fold if you are folding over the top edge

width - the total of the front, back and 2 sides plus about 1" overlap.

Adhesive - I like to use a glue stick but you can use any adhesive that will dry fairly quickly.

Fold over the top edge if you are not leaving a deckle edge.
Wrap the paper around the form and glue it closed. It should extend past the form (the width of the base).

Fold the bottom over 'gift wrap style', gluing each fold to the paper beneath. For an extra strong base, insert a piece of cardboard against the form before folding the paper in and glue the paper to the cardboard.

While the bag is still on the form, embellish if desired.

Remove the bag from the form.

Pinch the edges together on each side and crease. This will leave a triangle at the base on each side.

Fold the base over to the back at the top of the triangle and crease. The bag will lay flat (how flat depends on the bulk of the paper you use) for storing.

Now you can punch holes near the top of the bag if you wish, add brads for strength, and close with string or yarn. Or you can just leave as is, fill with tissue paper and add a gift.

Have fun!

Woohoo! I have my kiln!

2011-05-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

My new kiln has arrived along with a scrumptious array of clay and glazes! I'm so excited but I have to wait until I can get an electrician to wire a new breaker and plug for it on my back porch. The other option is to get rid of my kitchen stove and use that one since I don't like to cook much anyway. But just in case, does anyone have a clue what cone I would fire a roast to?

Skutt Kiln KM818-3 - Digital!

One a Day in May - Day 5

2011-05-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

I used to agonize over the design of every card I made, trying hard to make each one different from the last. But many years and many hundreds of cards later, I realized that at $7 or $8 a piece, each one did not have to be an original design. Okay, I realized it, but I still agonize. It's my nature!

Pressed pansies and viola on handmade gladiola paper.

One a Day in May - Day 4

2011-05-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

I had to push myself to produce something this evening. After working all day I succumbed to a nap and then I had a meeting to attend which is for a very cool project to market and sell the arts in our region (The Enterprising Artisans Project). Then I came home and submitted some photographs of my work for the power point presentation they are doing at trades fairs in the region to promote the project. And then there was 'Survivor!' So I really did have some excuses but I knew if I used them today, I would find new ones tomorrow and the next day and pretty soon this One a Day in May challenge of mine would go the way of my diets.

Mixed media (acrylic, watercolour, ink) mounted on kraft cardstock card.

One a Day in May - Day 3

2011-05-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

Remember what I said about knowing when to stop? Compared to yesterday's understated elegance, today's card is more overstated chaos. And I have more flowers stuck to my fingers than I do to the card! Which was part of the problem. I kept tearing the pressed flowers but then parts of them stayed glued down so I had to cover them up with more flowers and ended up with a bit of a jumble.

Pansies & viola on handmade corn husk paper

I also managed to cut and stamp the lavender soap I made the other night.

I'm going to try to get up earlier tomorrow morning and get into my studio before my day job uses up all my energy!

Melange Team May Challenge

2011-05-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Every month the Melange Team on Etsy hosts a mixed media challenge on their blog. Anyone can participate. The prompt for May's challenge is "Royal". You can interpret it any way you wish as long as it is mixed media. Post a comment on the blog with a hot link to your piece. We look forward to your entries!

If you would like to learn more about the team, check out the Melange Team page on Etsy.

My Talented Piecemaker Friends

2011-05-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love best about this wonderful on-line community, is all of the talented, creative people I have met. Last year I joined an Etsy group called the Piece Makers, a group of incredible mosaic artists. So far I'm just soaking up inspiration.

Drop by the Piecemakers blog to see the latest challenge pieces, "Kaleidoscope", and vote for your favourite! The next Piecemakers challenge is "Tree of Life." Can't wait to see what everyone does with that one.

One a Day in May - Day 2

2011-05-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

One of my greatest challenges is knowing when to say enough. For this card I decided to let the simple beauty of these Japanese maples stand out against the rustic texture of the gladiola leaf paper. I have to admit that I almost started looking for something else to add but I managed to stop myself...for now.

Japanese maples mounted with matte medium on hand made gladiola leaf paper. The delicate leaves are also covered with a thin layer of matte medium to help stabilize them.

One a Day in May

2011-05-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

This winter felt longer than usual, partly because it really was longer (we still have snow), and partly because of other life 'stuff.' The bottom line...my muse didn't like it so she took a holiday. But the ice on the lake has finally melted, my muse is back and we're ready to make some art.

I had Chinese take-out with a friend last week and my fortune said, "Your life will be prosperous if you use your creativity." Everyone knows that it makes good sense to base important financial decisions on a fortune cookie so I ordered a new kiln!

"Prosperity" - May 1

To celebrate spring and re-awakenings, I plan to create at least one piece of art in any medium every day in May. I always love to hear from you! Happy, happy spring!

Announcing the Winner!

2011-02-17T20:14:00.000-08:00

The winner of my One World One Heart draw prize, a set of block printed handmade paper cards, chosen by random number generator, is Deci from Gem Trails.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-02-18 04:00:31 UTC

Congratulations, Deci! Thank you to everyone who visited my blog. This One World One Heart may be over but I'll continue working my way through the list of blogs in the upcoming weeks. I look forward to spending some more time revisiting blogs that I only had time to skim through first time around.

Welcome to my new followers!

One World-One Heart Blog Tour Begins!

2011-01-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! This is the fifth and final One World - One Heart event sponsored by The Whimsical Bohemian. Over the days of this event, bloggers can visit hundreds of other blogs and enter free draws at each one. It's a great opportunity to get to know other bloggers, find inspiration and start new friendships. Prize draws will take place at the end of the event on February 17th.

I started blogging a year ago and the One World - One Heart event introduced me to many wonderful bloggers who I have continued to follow. One of the best parts of my day is spent visiting my favourite blogs with my early morning cup of tea in hand. And I love reading the comments that other bloggers leave for me.

I am a mixed media artist (as in mix of media because I enjoy trying so many different things). I enjoy sharing my work and my processes, as well as glimpses of my life.

My draw prize is this packet of handmade paper cards made from plant fibres and recycled paper. Block prints. Envelopes included. Winner will be selected by random number generator at 8:00 pm PST on February 17th. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with a link so I can notify you if you are my winner.

I hope you'll join us for this fun event.

Hope is not a Goal

2011-01-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

I love making plans and setting goals for myself. It makes me feel like I'm in control. The reality is, I change plans and goals as often as I make them but I'm in control of that, too. I like control. I'm not particularly good at just letting things happen, although things will happen whether I let them or not. I can't control everything.

I've been having a difficult time lately coming to grips with some things in my life that are not within my control. I can change things about myself but I can't change anyone else and I find myself putting too much faith in hope. Of course one of the problems with hope, is that you have no actual control over what it is you are hoping for.

Occasionally I buy lottery tickets because I hope I will win the jackpot and be instantly wealthy but I have absolutely no control over the outcome. I can, however, control how much money I will plan to set aside toward my goals.

Another problem with hope is that you can actually start to believe that what you are hoping for is a goal that you have the power to achieve. How many people buy lottery tickets but don't save any money because in their heart of hearts, they really do believe that someday they will win the big one? Hope can be deceptive and it can keep you from doing the things that you can control.

I'm not saying that hope doesn't have merit. Sometimes hope is the spark that lights the fire under your butt to get you out of bed in the morning. I'm learning the importance, though, of keeping hope in perspective. If I continue to make my goals and my plans and create the life I want regardless of anything else that may or may not happen, I may even find, someday, that what I have is better than anything I might have hoped for.

Just Passing By

2011-01-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

My lake (actually not mine alone as others do live on this lake, too) is often frozen over by this time of the year. The ice is great for ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing and sometimes skating. And we get less fog when the lake is frozen. But I love days like today when the lake is still open and the sun is shining and I walk out my door to scenes like this.

No matter what else is going on in my life, in moments like these, I feel tremendous joy and gratitude.

Artist Blog Hop

2011-01-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

Click on the Artist Blog Hop icon on the sidebar to find links to over 500 artist's blogs. I tried posting the link here but the blog icons create a very long post and there was a large gap between the intro and the icons. It is probably something I'm doing wrong but I don't have the patience to figure it out.

Home and Art

2011-01-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

Three days into the new year and the only actual art I have created is the start of a page for the Strathmore On-line Journaling Workshop. My recycled art starter for this piece is a copy of a self portrait I did for a drawing class several years ago. I used the back of the mirror which had a magnifying mirror in addition to the other two small mirrors. Bits of ephemera from around the house completed this stage of the exercise.

I'm looking forward to seeing what we do next with our piece.

Even though this is the only art I have started this year, I have been working hard each day toward making creativity a priority in my home. This house was designed and built by my husband to be a piece of art in its own right and to showcase my art. There is still more work to be done but it's time to restore order after several years of construction, get rid of unwanted junk, and get busy creating.

I am setting up a second studio in my loft to be my art studio and to connect me to the rest of the house. My downstairs studio will continue to be home to all the very messy processes - soapmaking, candlemaking, stained glass and mosaics, dyeing fabric, and papermaking.

Journaling area in loft studio. The windows look out on the lake.

2011...a mystery tour

2011-01-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw

One

2010-12-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

"Two can be as bad as one...it's the loneliest number since the number one." (Harry Nilsson)

There is no perfect season for difficult choices but winter is a good time to reflect and plan and look forward to a new year and new beginnings.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.

I don't want to lose you...

2010-11-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

Birch, 8x10, Encaustic on cradled board

...so I hope you'll be patient with my absence for a little while. Life is complicated but I'll be back as soon as I can.

Encaustic Garden Party

2010-10-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered a Canadian shop on Etsy that makes and sells beautiful encaustic paints. The Bees Knees is located in Ontario. My first order arrived this week so I squeezed in some time to play yesterday.

Just a few of the luscious colours the Bees Knees carries.

I use a warming tray that I picked up at Valu Village for $3.99 and melt the paints in a muffin tin. This electric tray doesn't have variable settings but I checked and it keeps the melted wax at close to 200 degrees F. The muffin tin fits perfectly on the surface and it's nice and stable.

Melting down the encaustic paints

For my support, I like the cradled wood panels that I can purchase from Opus Framing and Art, a supplier in Vancouver, BC. These panels are also made from a readily renewable resource, as the hardwood is from the fast growing Paulownia tree. The Paulownia tree can grow from 10 to 20 feet in a season — an entire tree can even regrow in one season after being severely cut back. The panels come in a variety of sizes and depths. They also carry great front loading wood frames in black that compliment the encaustic paintings very well.


I like to finish the sides with acrylic paint so I cover them in blue painters tape while I complete the encaustic painting so I don't have to clean up drips later.

And here is my finished piece! 'Garden Party' is an expression of the happy feeling of celebration I get whenever I look at my beautiful summer flowers.

Garden Party, 6x6", encaustic on cradled board

Form or Function?

2010-10-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have spent the past week, and most of this long weekend, trying to restore order to my studio. After several months of preparing for a group show as well as creating work for our artisan cooperative, my space was in drastic need of an overhaul. But what could I do to keep it from getting into this state again?

I want my creative space to look nice but I want it to work for me. So I had to address some issues.

Do I really need all this stuff or can I let some of it go? Yes, I need it. No, I'm keeping all of it!!
Can I finish one project before starting on another one? Not likely. One idea always leads to another and usually in a completely different medium.
Will I put everything away from one project before starting on another? Well, let's see...I'm over half a century old and I haven't trained myself to do this yet...so I have to say, probably not!

It's pretty clear that, in my case, function overrules form. For form to be the primary consideration, one should be able to actually see the aesthetically pleasing arrangement. So, in consideration of my rather chaotic style of working, I have reorganized my space for function.


Art Zone

Everything in my art zone is now within easy reach, including all of my different collage elements, paints, printing supplies, and mediums. The smaller desk is dedicated to encaustic painting since the plugs for the elements, stylus and heat gun are right there.


Encaustic painting area

I liked the flow of the room better before without the rather large cubby unit dissecting the room but, in order to have all of my supplies at hand, it had to be.

I wasn't really keen about adding a table for sewing between the armoire and the bookcase because it's a small area but, I knew if I relied on using my painting table to sew at, it wouldn't happen. My mom sewed at this table for many years and when it comes to sewing, I could use some of her good karma.

The rest of the studio should function better now that it won't be heaped with the piles that needed a temporary home when I had to clear space on the art table. So that's the theory. Now for the practice!

I saved my paint brush!

2010-10-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

The other day I discovered that I had left my favourite #8 bright on the table in my studio covered in a big glob of hardened burnt umber acrylic paint! I should have taken a 'before' picture.

This brush belonged to my daughter-in-law's grandfather and she gave it to me so I was really sad when I thought I had ruined it. I put it to soak in some rubbing alcohol over night to try to dissolve the acrylic paint and it worked! It broke it down enough that with the help of some mild handmade soap and a nailbrush, I was able to remove all but a slight stain left from the paint.

This is a really cool new "team" idea on Etsy!

2010-10-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Dottyral from Etsy came up with a fun idea for a team that exists just to create treasuries and promote shops. The challenge is to use a predetermined inspiration item to create your treasury. The winner gets to choose the inspiration for the next challenge from their shop so that item then appears in everyone's treasuries.

The first inspiration item will be chosen from the comments on October 13th. See Dotty's post for the guidelines for participation.

Follow the Sun

2010-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Encaustic painting offers the perfect opportunity for control freaks like myself to let go.


	Follow the Sun - Encaustic on cradled board - 11x14

As I learn more about ways to control the medium, I also find myself working out ways to to let the paint do what it wants to do to take advantage of its special qualities. If I want a painting with perfect control, I can use my acrylics or oils. I want something different from my encaustic paintings.

Beautiful Body Butter

2010-09-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

This is my own special recipe for a really delightful body butter.

The ingredients can be varied according to your personal tastes and skin care requirements. Just stick to the amount of beeswax called for and the same proportions of solids and liquids. Add your own special blend of pure essential oils for natural fragrance and special skin care properties.

Body Butter Ingredients (this recipe makes about 31/2 - 4 cups):

225 gm solid fats (cocoa butter, shea nut butter, mango butter, etc.)
50 gm pure natural beeswax
250 gm liquid oils (olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil - there are so many to choose from)
5 ml Vitamin E oil
Optional: 5-10 ml pure essential oils (depends on how strong you like your fragrance)

Melt your beeswax and fats (except the vit E oil and pure essential oils) together in a double boiler. When they are melted, add the Vit E oil and pure essential oils.

Pour your melted fats into a bowl and let cool until the mix starts to solidify. If your room is very warm, you can put the mix into the fridge. Don't let it get too solid or you'll end up with small lumps of solid fat in your body butter. You can always remelt and start over.

I recommend setting the bowl in a large box or plastic bin to whip so you don't get fat everywhere. When the mix holds it's shape but the peaks aren't too stiff, spoon into containers. Tap the container on the counter lightly to settle out air pockets. Cover with a lid, store in a cool place, and enjoy!

Paired together with a lip balm, this makes a luxurious gift for someone special!

Sun Worshiper (Encaustic)

2010-09-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

Once again, the road in my journey was twisting and winding so I got a bit lost but then found myself somewhere I liked better than my originally planned destination.

Sun Worshiper - Mixed Media Encaustic -12x12 on cradled board

This is a mixed media piece using both encaustic and oil stick. It was a challenge to both let go and keep control. I think in my next painting I'm going to drop the control part and see what happens.

Our New Artisan Centre

2010-09-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

We have moved to our new location!

Lakes Artisan Centre, 586 Highway 16, Burns Lake, BC

On June 1st, a group of Lakes District artists and artisans joined together in a spirit of cooperation to open an artisan centre on main street. After a 3 month trial period, and encouraged by local community support, we are taking the next step and forming a cooperative. This beautiful building is our new home.

I am very excited to be a part of this group and look forward to the year ahead. For more pictures, information and updates on what's happening at the centre, please become a fan of our Facebook page.

Melange Team on You Tube

2010-08-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

Melange Team member Indira, from Dharma Karma Arts, puts together a monthly You Tube video of members' work. Lots of diversity in this little group!


Altered Art Upcycled Glass Jar by Whyte

If you have a spare minute, we'd be thrilled if you would check it out and leave a comment.

Trying Out Photo Transfers with Encaustic

2010-08-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

This was another new technique for me with encaustic. Actually I tried out a couple of new techniques in these two pieces.


Yawn of Fire - 6x8" Encaustic on cradled board

I had copies made of my poppy photos on a colour copier at the local stationery store. The transfer is done by burnishing the photo, right side down, on to the warm wax. After carefully removing the paper by gently rubbing with my fingertips and water and letting it dry, I heat fused the transfer to the layer of wax below. This part is tricky because if you over do it, the toner dissolves away in the wax.

Papaver - 6x8" Encaustic on cradled board

Another technique I used in these two pieces was leaf printing. After painting on a couple of layers of encaustic paint and fusing them to the layer below, I used poppy leaves to make impressions into the warm wax. After painting over the leaves with another colour of encaustic paint and then fusing that layer, I removed the leaves from the still warm wax and then carefully fused the leaf prints. Both pieces are embellished with poppy centres that I had pressed and dried in the spring.

Melange Team Monthly Challenge (Rain)

2010-08-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

This month's challenge prompt on the Melange Team blog is "Rain." My ideas for this one were as dried up as our forests right now but while creating a different piece yesterday, this one evolved.


MacArthur Park - Encaustic Mixed Media - 8x8 cradled board

This is my favourite encaustic painting so far. I want to sing MacArthur Park every time I look at it but hopefully I get that out of my system before I show it anywhere!

Binta Fire (Encaustic)

2010-08-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

For most of August we have been plagued with the constant smoke from fires to the west and east of us. The sun in late afternoon and early evening was often a blazing ball of red.


Binta Fire - Encaustic on cradled board - 12x12

Encaustic was a natural choice for this painting, both for its association to heat and fire and for its unpredictable nature.

Maids and Music (More Encaustic)

2010-08-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

I found an old set of photo prints of famous paintings at an antique mall last spring. Most of the prints were missing from the set and the remaining ones are brittle and foxing. I used one in 'Playmates' a few days ago (John S. Sargent's Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose). I really liked the way the encaustic medium made the image translucent and brought out the sepia tones in it so I tried another one yesterday. In this piece, Maids and Music, I used the print of The Golden Stairs by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.


Encaustic collage. 8x10 on cradled board.

I included music, a decorative strip cut from kraft paper and lightly touched with gold pigment ink, mulberry paper with a gold pattern, a Japanese maple leaf and Love-in-a-mist blossom, and burnt umber encaustic paint. The layers of encaustic medium give the piece a dreamy quality and some depth so it's like looking into the past.

Another Day...the same painting...sort of

2010-08-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today I touched up the piece I started on Friday. I think I went a little far. I do prefer the end result though.

Before

After (Playmates)

I haven't figured out how to do encaustics and keep my space tidy. Who am I kidding? I haven't figured out how to do anything and keep my space tidy. It's just not in my nature. But this is pretty bad, even for me. I have wax everywhere.

Encaustic Day 3, still having fun...

2010-08-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

...but I have to admit, I'm a wee bit frustrated, too. The learning curve is climbing. I would sure love a workshop right about now!

The first thing I did was 'fix' my Dream piece from yesterday. I could see that the balance wasn't right as soon as I posted it so here are the before and after.

This next piece is a mixed media collage. It's not the piece I started out doing. The gummy heap of wax from that effort is set aside for another day. For this one I used music, end paper from an old book, pressed flowers, handmade papers and a tjap impressed into the wax. I coloured the incised lines with oil stick and wiped away the excess. Clear encaustic medium was used on each layer.

I can already see some changes I'd like to make but not today and maybe not at all. We'll see.

Playing with Fire

2010-08-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

I am learning very quickly that encaustic is not an easy medium to master. But it sure is exciting! These two very different pieces each started out as sunsets. They each changed direction dramatically after about 5 minutes.

Encaustic Collage ACEO - 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" - Dousing the Flame

Encaustic collage 8x10 on cradled board - Dream

Fun Day with Encaustic

2010-08-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is definitely not a tutorial! I just want to share my fun day in the studio playing with this really cool medium.

I took a class on craftedu.com from Glenda Bailey a few months ago and that got me started. She does beautiful collages using encaustic medium. I was inspired to create these five ACEOs for a Melange Team swap.

So today I warmed up with a few more ACEOs and then I brought out the colour! While I was on holidays I used some of my hard earned art and craft sale money to buy some new encaustic paints.

They aren't cheap but a little goes a long way I discovered. I also discovered that I need a better system!

"Storm" was today's creation. 6x8" on cradled board. Can't wait to get started on the next one!

How to Make Handmade Soap

2010-08-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

I've been making my own soap for over 30 years, starting with the birth of my youngest child. These were the back-to-the-land days and we had just bought our dream property, 80 acres with a very rustic old shack and a spectacular view.

We had no telephone and had to haul our water from a lake 3 miles away but we were so happy to have a place of our own. We raised pigs, chickens, a couple of cows and 3 children there. We hunted moose (one year it was me who bagged our moose), grouse and deer, caught fish, chopped wood, raised a garden and learned old-fashioned home arts with the help of my in-laws, our rural neighbours and some good books.

My first soaps were made with the lard and tallow I rendered from our pigs and cows. I would grate it up to wash diapers in the old wringer/washer and delight in the fresh, clean smell of the sparkling white diapers coming off the clothes line. Those really were my good old days.

Well, life has changed and so has my soap. I still use only natural ingredients but no animal products. My oils are all vegetable based and I use pure essential oils for their scent and beneficial properties. The colours come from herbs, spices, or cosmetic grade clays.

The single best thing about making your own natural soaps is that you are in control of the ingredients that go into something you use on your skin every day. Superfatting the soaps, leaving excess oil in the bars, adds further benefits to your skin. The shelf life of natural soaps is limited due to the absence of artificial preservatives but the trade off is worth it! You can use natural preservatives with limited effect but 6-12 months is the normal shelf life for superfatted, natural soap.

Soap is a salt produced by combining an acid (the fatty acids in your oils) with an alkali (the sodium hydroxide) in solution through a chemical reaction called saponification. In cold process soapmaking, glycerine is the byproduct but it remains in the soap adding its own beneficial properties to your natural soap.

Since each type of fat has its own unique molecular structure, different amounts of alkali are required to saponify different fats. This is why you can't just arbitrarily substitute one fat for another.

Making up your own soap recipes, taking into account the properties you want your soap to have, is the really fun part. You can combine as many different oils as you wish as long as you adjust your sodium hydroxide accordingly. Smaller test batches are a good idea when first trying out a new formula. I love creating a sensuous new blend of pure essential oils and then picking a great name for my new creation.

I will list some resources for free lye calculators at the end of this post. Using these calculators you can easily design your own unique soap formulae with the qualities that you desire, including the quantity of free fat you want the soap to contain. I like to work with 5-6% superfatting but you can use more. I don't recommend less.

SAFETY FIRST

Don't skip these important precautions. Raw soap, and the sodium hydroxide used to make the soap, are extremely caustic. They will burn holes in most surfaces including your skin, clothes and furnishings. Before starting, always:
- wear safety goggles
- wear protective clothing such as a big old shirt that covers your other clothing and your arms
- wear long pants, shoes and socks (no open toes)
- wear latex or nitrile gloves
- cover all surfaces that may be damaged by spills, including flooring. Be sure that there are no obstacles that you might trip over while handling caustic materials
- work in a well ventilated area
- do not allow children or pets in the room while soapmaking is taking place or when the raw soap is initially curing.
- familiarize yourself with treatment for ingestion or burns from lye before starting

Do not inhale fumes from the lye while mixing it with the water. I recommend using a chemical respirator to handle caustic fumes but here is the method I use, as suggested in my favourite soapmaking book. Hold your breath and stir while adding the lye to the water (never add water to the lye as it will spit). After the initial stir to keep the crystals from solidifying to the bottom of the bowl, leave the room to breathe, then return after a few minutes to finish stirring until the crystals have dissolved. You'll see some little floaty bits that are not lye and will not affect your soap.

Soapmaking is not recommended for children. (Not recommended for adults with a limited attention span, either!).

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS
Don't use the same tools that you use for soapmaking for food preparation.

Materials
- an accurate scale that weighs in grams. Spring loaded kitchen scales are generally not accurate enough. Measurements need to be precise.
- measuring spoons
- a candy thermometer
- plastic containers for weighing the fats, the lye, and the water
- a large mixing bowl - glass, ceramic or stainless steel
- a smaller stainless steel or glass bowl for mixing the lye
- a stainless steel or wooden spoon for stirring the lye
- a stainless steel pot for melting fats
- a plastic tub or cardbox box for setting your bowl in for mixing to contain some of the mess
- a hand held electric mixer (works so much better than a wooden spoon for mixing the soap)
- waxed butcher wrap for lining your mold (regular waxed paper is too flimsy)
- a wooden or pyrex mold - a 9x13 pyrex dish will work for a single batch (about 15 bars)
- blankets or towels to keep soap warm during the initial cure
- heavy cardboard or a board to cover the mold

The following two recipes each make about 15 regular sized bars of soap.

Supplies for a 6% superfatted Olive Oil Soap
The lather from this soap is very silky and fine and it's a lovely creamy colour. It's beautiful as is so I don't add any colour or scent to my olive oil soap (also known as Castile soap for its origins in Spain).
-1200 gm pomace olive oil (not virgin or extra virgin)
-152.79 gm NaOH (sodium hydroxide = lye)
- 356.51 gm water (distilled water is recommended because of impurities in well or tap water)

Supplies for a 5% superfatted Vegetable Oil Soap
- 500 gm pomace olive oil
- 350 gm coconut oil
- 350 gm palm oil
- 174.99 gm NaOH (lye)
- 409 gm water
- 6 tsp (30 ml) pure essential oils (optional)
- natural colour (optional)

Instructions (These are basic instructions for all cold process soap. I use the terms oil or fat interchangeably.)

1. Line your soap mold with the waxed butcher wrap and set aside on a blanket or towel on a sturdy flat surface.

2. Carefully weigh out your fats and melt them together in a stainless steel pot. Don't forget to add on the weight of your container!

Set fat aside to cool to 100 degrees F. Your ingredients have to be warm enough (I usually aim for 100 to 105 degrees F) to initiate the chemical reaction. As the reaction continues, it generates its own heat so that even after the raw soap has been in the mold for several hours, it will be very hot.

3. While your fats/oils are heating, weigh out your water and pour it into a stainless steel or heavy glass bowl.

4. Wearing gloves and goggles, weigh out your lye crystals.

5. Slowly add your lye crystals to the water following the method and recommendations in the above safety precautions (very important!!)

The lye solution now needs to cool to 100 degrees F, while your fats are also cooling (as the lye reacts with the water, a lot of heat is generated). Some reheating may be required if one or the other cools too much.

6. When the temperature of both the fat and the lye are at 100 degrees F, set your large mixing bowl in the containment area (box or tub) and pour in the fats. Wear gloves and goggles! While mixing on the low speed of your electric mixer, slowly pour the lye solution into the oil. Continue mixing thoroughly (bottom, sides) at medium to high speed.

After 5 to 10 minutes usually, the soap will have reached "the trace". This means that it has thickened enough that if you drizzle a small amount back into the bowl, it will form a pudding-like trail on the surface. Once you can see this trail, the soap is ready to be carefully poured into the mold. If you are using pure essential oils and/or natural colour, mix them in thoroughly at the trace, before pouring into the mold.

7. After pouring, cover the mold with heavy cardboard or a board, leaving a little opening for moisture to escape. Cover with more blankets or towels and leave at room temperature for 24 hours. The soap is kept warm with blankets in a warm room because if it cools too quickly and the reaction is cut short, your soap will be ruined. You cannot use a soap that has not fully reacted as it will remain caustic.

8. After 24 hours, the soap should be fairly hard and can now be removed from the mold. Remove the waxed paper and cut into bars.

9. Stack the bars brick-style or on racks so that air can flow around the bars to finish curing for a minimum of 2 weeks before using; preferably 4-6 weeks. As your soap continues to cure, it will get milder. More water evaporates making the bars harder and longer lasting. The trays that bedding plants come on in the spring work great and if you are doing several batches of soap at a time they can be staggered and stacked.

It is best to store soaps in a moderate, dry environment. Continuous exposure to heat and moisture will cause the fats in the soap to break down and become rancid more quickly.

I have given you enough information to get started but there is so much more to know. I recommend further reading, especially if you plan to make soaps to sell. Have fun!

Resources and Suppliers:

The Web is full of wonderful resources and generous people willing to share their knowledge. Just put in a search for natural soapmaking and you'll be amazed at what you can find - recipes, packaging ideas, ideas for colour and design, and mold-making are just some of the many ideas you'll find.

I have a lot of books on natural soapmaking but I am recommending just one, The Soapmaker's Companion by Susan Miller Cavitch. As far as I'm concerned, Ms. Cavitch is the guru of natural soapmaking and this book is very thorough, covering everything from the chemistry of soapmaking to trouble shooting.

Voyageur Soap and Candle (located in Surrey, BC, Canada)
Cranberry Lane (located in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada) - has a free lye calculator
Majestic Mountain Sage (located in Nibley, Utah, USA) - has a free lye calculator

A perfect birthday

2010-07-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

Today was all mine. No big celebration, no expectations.

I drifted around on my floaty chair and wrote in my journal.

I put together a kit of art supplies for journalling and art-to-go.

I pondered, reflected, made lists and puttered. A perfect day.

Make your own yummy lip balm!

2010-07-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

This luscious lip balm is my own 'secret' recipe, the one I sell, but I never was great at keeping my own secrets!

One of the best things about making your own lip balm from scratch is choosing your own pure, natural ingredients. There is a lot of room to play with personal preferences and desires so use my ingredient list as a starting point for making your own unique blend. These quantities will make about 20 average size lip balms.

Ingredients: 35 gm beeswax, 15 gm cocoa butter, 15 gm shea butter, 35 gm liquid oils (such as jojoba, avocado, sweet almond, olive, etc.), 10 drops vit E oil. If you are sensitive or allergic to any ingredient, try substituting with another ingredient that has similar properties, keeping the same proportions of liquids and solids. Titanium Dioxide can also be added as a natural sunscreen but please do your own research on this natural mineral if you choose to use it.

Weigh out all your ingredients (except Vitamin E which is heat sensitive) and melt them together in a double boiler (or equivalent as shown). Stir in the Vitamin E after the other ingredients are melted.

Carefully pour the melted ingredients into the individual tubes. I place my tubes on waxed butcher wrap so I can easily peel off the spilled ingredients to remelt later. As your lip balms cool, they will form a dent on top. You can add more lip balm to top them off or leave as is. When cool, clean any spillage off the outsides of the tubes, cap, label (if desired) and enjoy! Friends and family love getting these as gifts.

My lip balm pots use the same basic ingredients and method but are formulated to be slightly softer and are poured into small pots instead of tubes. For six small pots use: 10 gm beeswax, 15 gm cocoa butter, 15 gm shea butter, 20 gm liquid oils, 10 drops Vit E oil.

I don't flavour my lip balms because of the possible negative effects of even the pure essential oils normally associated with lip balms. If you choose to add an essential oil to your lip balm, please research it carefully. Essential oils are very powerful and should not be used indiscriminately. I also choose not to use any synthetic products in my handmade lip balms or other body care products.

Suppliers:
Voyageur Soap and Candle (located in Surrey, BC, Canada)
Cranberry Lane (located in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada)
Majestic Mountain Sage (located in Nibley, Utah, USA)

Most soapmaking suppliers carry everything you'll need to make your own lip balms, including a wonderful assortment of containers in glass, plastic, and stainless steel.

Have fun!

Treasure Hunting

2010-07-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a short holiday at my sister's in Edmonton. The drive was long but beautiful scenery and wildlife driving through Jasper National Park.

Knowing how much I love finding used treasures, my sister planned out a whole week's agenda of second hand shopping for my visit - garage sales, antique malls, re-use centre, thrift stores and a flea market. She had found some great stuff for me before I got there and we found all kinds of wonderful things in our search, too.

Lots of baubles and beads for mosaics.

Old books, music, newspapers, and atlases for mixed media

A vintage RC Cola box for my art supplies

And an antique baker's loaf pan for a commercial oven for more art supplies!

My sis had also picked up a couple of golf clubs over the past two years for rentals on our golf course (under development). We had a very full car coming home!

Digital printing on handmade paper

2010-06-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

My friend's daughter had a baby so I used my new digital grounds and mediums to create some artwork for her little grandson. I love the Golden Digital Grounds. I used the Digital Ground for Non-Porous Surfaces on the steam locomotive piece I did here. For this project I used the one for porous surfaces since I was using my handmade papers.

I first prepared the papers by brushing on digital ground and letting it dry. Then I printed my photos onto the prepared pure stinging nettle paper using a regular inkjet printer. I glued more handmade paper (a mixed fibre and recycled paper blend) onto the 6x6 cradled boards with matte medium and then glued the photos onto the papered boards after the ink on the photos had dried. I finished both pieces with Golden Gel Topcoat in a semi-gloss finish with a UV protector. The lighter paper was good for printing the photo but next time I think I would use a darker paper for the background.

I'm looking forward to mounting some of my flower photographs using these same techniques. I'm trying to take some of my flower photos with a light background so that more of the handmade paper shows through in the printing. Lots of fun to come!

Studio Tour Door Prize Winner!

2010-06-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

The winner of my door prize, a set of 4 handmade paper note cards, chosen by random number generator,
is Lady Mudwerkes! Congratulations, Margarete! If you send me a convo at LizAnnasOnTheLake with your mailing address, I will get those cards to you in the mail right away.

I've really enjoyed everyone's comments so far. I'm glad the list is going to be up for a while because I have so many more studios to visit.

Melange 'Antique' Challenge

2010-06-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

The prompt for this month's Melange Team mixed media challenge is 'Antique.' The monthly challenges are open to everyone so please feel free to join us any time!

My friend, Donna, surprised me with a few antique store finds this spring...some great old books to use in my mixed media. Inside one of the books we found a wonderful bonus;

this old negative of a steam locomotive

So I scanned it into my computer and used it to create this mixed media piece.

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE : Mixed media on cradled board, 6x6"

I cut a map of Canada out of a 1950's Canadian atlas, mounted it on card stock, and washed it with titanium buff fluid acrylic paint. Then using a two step crackle compound and a gel stain, I created the antiqued finish. When this was all dry, I applied digital grounds for a non-porous surface. After drying the grounds overnight, I printed the locomotive onto the antiqued map. I used my handmade stamps to embellish the surface and added black ink around the edges for a smokey, aged look. I painted the cradled board black before mounting the piece with heavy matte gel. A satin varnish was sprayed over the surface.

I debated about adding other elements but I didn't want to detract from the locomotive itself.

Join the party!

2010-06-18T19:36:00.000-07:00

It's time for the 2nd annual "Where Bloggers Create" party, hosted by Karen Valentine from My Desert Cottage. Hang out here for a bit and take a tour of my studio. I have to admit that I spruced it up a bit for the party. I hope you pick up a few ideas for your own creative space.

This is what I'm pretending my desk looks like when I'm working on my art.

Please come back and visit after the tour. At least once a month, I'll offer another free art or craft tutorial. I enjoy a wide range of interests and I love to teach so it felt right to use this blog to share what I've learned . I don't anticipate running out of material for quite some time. And in between, I'll share some other bits and pieces of my world.

This is what my desk really looks like when I'm in the middle of a project!

I think I enjoy organizing my studio almost as much as I enjoy making art. Every time I buy a new issue of "Where Women Create" or "Studios" I get the urge to reorganize. I wish those publications would come out more often, but then I may never do any actual creating. I have a feeling that before this party is over, I'll be tweaking my space once again!

My mixed media - art area. I love this big old drafting table.

Our home is still under construction but my studio is finished. We were still eating outside and cooking on the barbecue the first summer we moved in but my studio was ready! It's a good size, about 16' x 17' but I had to do some creative editing with my furniture. In my mind it all fit but not so in reality.

Stained glass, mosaic and jewelry-making zone. I got that wonderful filing cabinet at an auction and I think I would have bid to the moon, if I had to, to get it. The workbench is from Canadian Tire. Old plastic milk crates hold my glass pieces.

I enjoy variety so I have a lot of different tools and supplies to accommodate. I like things to be organized and have their place but it's important that they are accessible. I started out trying to make everything pretty but soon realized that it wouldn't stay pretty for long if I could never find what I needed, where it was needed, so function eventually beat form. I still strive for a balance though, as I enjoy an aesthetically pleasing space to create in.

All of my supplies are within easy reach but everything has a place (I don't always put things back just because they have a place!). This is also where I blog.

Card stock and special papers conveniently reside in a basket and in a metal upright letter file near my art supplies.

These little drawers are perfect for all kinds of drawing tools, applicators and paints. I got the corner units that all my mediums sit on for just $5 each when they were discontinued at Michaels.

This little 6 drawer flat file unit is from Ikea. It's perfect for punches and stamps.

The pots that hold my paint brushes were made years ago by a dear friend who passed away last year. The wooden caddies that hold templates, cutters and miscellaneous tools are from Ikea.

This wonderful old wooden pop caddy was a birthday gift from my best friend last year. We share a passion for old things (must be why we like each other so much!).

More art supplies are stored in this unit from Costco.

Another auction find. I spray painted this old gray flat file and it's perfect for storing my pressed flowers and all kinds of collage bits as well as larger sheets of paper. Old boxes hold my bulkier collage elements.

Shallow wooden boxes from the dollar store hold my pressed flowers, leaves and bits of ephemera.

My wet zone where I dye fabric, make handmade paper, and create my soaps, body butters and lip balms. I love those plastic shoe boxes for holding all sorts of materials.

My precious collection of art and craft books. I got these cubbies from a school that was renovating many years ago and they are so perfect for small canvases, handmade papers, and smaller frames, as well as reference materials.

I store larger canvases and frames on top of this armoire.

My sewing supplies and fabric fill the inside. The $5 hanging shoe caddy works well for small baskets to hold my notions.

My sewing machines and serger are handy to the armoire. The round wooden sewing box was my mom's as was the sewing machine cabinet. I like it that I can open it up for more space when I'm sewing but it doesn't take up much space in the meantime.

The cd/video storage shelf is from Ikea and I use it to store all my reference photos for my artwork in blank clear cases that I picked up for 25 cents each.

This little unit was an antique store find last weekend. It's in the hallway outside my studio and is great for storing my smaller items that are waiting to be sold on Etsy or elsewhere. I was using the armoire, which made a perfect "store" but in my last reorganization, it became the sewing centre because I moved the workbench to my previous sewing area.

Even though I have a lot of stuff to accommodate, I like having plenty of free floor space so I can move around and add a folding table if I need to. Keeping that floor space free is an ongoing challenge. The floor itself is laminate because what I would do to hardwood would make me cry.

Before you go, I would be so pleased if you would leave a comment.

As my mother-in-law always said, "Here's your hat...what's your hurry!" but you're going to want to check out as many of the other bloggers' studios as possible. Don't worry about missing out, though. The links will be up for a while yet so spread the word.

Make Your Own Paper from Plants

2010-06-08T23:11:00.000-07:00

I have been making paper for over 15 years and I love every step, from wandering around outdoors scoping out the plants to removing the finished sheets from the drying rack. It is so satisfying to use something free and renewable to create something beautiful. Collecting plants for papermaking opens your eyes to more of our world. The desire to learn more, naturally follows as you seek to identify species suitable to the craft.

Collecting iris leaves about 15 years ago.

I first made paper in a weekend workshop taught by an instructor through an Emily Carr College outreach program . We used cotton linters, abaca, and Japanese Kozo fibres. Before the weekend was through I was already thinking about local plants that I might try on my own.

Swamp grass: collected dry in late fall on left, dried fresh in summer on right

In this step by step tutorial, I'll take you through my process of making plant fibre paper, from start to finish. See the bottom of this post for a list of supplies and materials.

Step One: Removing the unwanted components that contaminate the pulp.

After you have collected your plant materials and done the initial preparation such as peeling the bast fibres or scraping fresh iris leaves to break down the pulpy material, you now cut the plant material up into 1/2 to 1" lengths using sharp scissors or garden shears. For information on collecting the plants for paper, read my earlier posts on collecting willow (woody bast fibre) and on collecting other types of plant fibres (herbacious bast, leaf, and grass).

Then you will cook the material in a non-corrosive pot with an alkaline (soda ash) solution. This purifies the fibres by dissolving the lignin, sugars, starches, waxes, and gums. The remaining cellulose allows absorption of water and promotes bonding.

Fill your pot about half full with cool water.

Weigh the plant fibres.

Weigh out soda ash (20% of the dry weight of the fibres). Stir the soda ash into the water (always add an alkali to the water, not water to the alkali).

Add the cut plant materials to the pot and enough water to cover the plants and allow them to be stirred freely.

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer (work in well ventilated area; it's stinky). Generally two hours is adequate and sometimes less is enough. When the fibres can be easily separated along the grain they are ready to be rinsed to remove all residue.

The liquid will be almost black from all the impurities that have been cooked out of the fibres. And the fibres usually darken as well.

Strain the fibres in your cheesecloth bag and rinse until the water runs clear - several minutes. Keep squeezing the bag and rinsing. A garden hose works well for this step.

Swamp grass and willow pulp

Step Two: Separating the fibres

To separate the fibre into individual filaments, I use a blender. Fill the blender 3/4 full with water and add a palm full of the cooked fibre. Blend with intermittent pulses until the fibres aren't clumped together. Care must be taken to avoid fibres tangling in the blender blades and burning out the motor. Don't over process. Pour into a bucket or bowl and continue with the rest of the fibres until finished.

If you will be adding recycled paper to your handmade paper, soak it first in warm water until it falls apart easily. Mix it in the blender in the same way as the plant fibre and set it aside in a separate bowl or bucket.

Step Three: Mix the formation aid (thickener)

Follow the directions for the product you are using to mix it in a blender. I use about 2 tbsp of the powdered thickener in a blender full of cold water, keeping the water moving as I add the powder to prevent clumping. Pour it through a fine sieve to catch any clumps. This will keep refrigerated in a jar for a couple of weeks and you may not even need it depending on your plant fibre (read further).

Swamp grass and field grass after processing. Ready for making paper.

Step Four: Hogging the vat, throwing the wave, and kissing off

I like to do the rest of the process outside, weather permitting. Fill your vat 1/3 to 1/2 full of water. Add the plant pulp to the water and stir with your hand to distribute the fibres evenly (hogging the vat).

Using a mold and deckle with the plain deckle frame positioned on top of the screened mold (the screen side up) and held tightly together, use a side to side and back and forth motion (throwing the wave) to dip the assembly into the water as you scoop up water and fibre and lift it out still holding the mold and deckle together. Let the water drain away.

Some plant fibres are too coarse so the water drains away too quickly and the fibres clump together. This is where the thickener comes in. If you find that the water is draining from the screen too quickly and not allowing enough time to form an even sheet of paper, add a small palm full of the formation aid to the vat and stir it into the fibres. Add more if needed. This will keep the water from draining too quickly.

Some plant fibres have enough small fibres in the mix to help keep the water from draining through the screen too fast so formation aid isn't needed. Trial and error.

Adding recycled paper pulp to the plant fibres also keeps the water from draining too quickly (which is also why you don't necessarily need formation aid) and makes your plant fibres stretch further. I usually make some paper from the pure plant fibres and then make some with recycled paper pulp added to give me some texture and colour variation in the batch.

How much fibre you pick up with each dip is also a matter of trial and error. Remember that as the sheets dry, they will be thinner. If you want to make cards, you will want a thicker paper than if you are using it for collage.

If you scoop up too much fibre or it's clumped or otherwise not acceptable, just turn it over and shake it back into the water (kissing it off).

Step Five: Pressing the paper

There are many different methods for pressing your paper as it dries. I have enough molds to dry some sheets of paper on the molds. Some fibres shrink more than others and by leaving them on the screen, it holds them taut as they dry so there is less chance that they will curl and crinkle.

Even if your papers crinkle, they can sometimes be flattened by misting them with water and then putting them under weights to dry again. Also, if you are gluing them onto something, that will relax them as well but keep them pressed until the glue dries. If you're not happy with the way a paper turns out, you can re-soak it and redo it or try mixing it with some recycled paper pulp.

For most of my paper, I use the following method. Lean your smooth drying board against something to hold it in an upright position (a chair, a tree, etc.) near your vat. If you are working indoors, set the assembly in a large plastic storage container or child's wading pool. After you remove your fresh sheet of paper from the vat and it has drained, lift the deckle off the mold and set it aside.

Ready for pressing. I never got around to putting duct tape on this mold.

This photo is from another session as DH wasn't handy to take the photo this time.

With the paper still on the screen, hold it face down on the drying board (try not to move it or it will distort). From the back, use your sponge to carefully press against it, sponging up the excess moisture and pressing it to the board. Now gently remove the mold. You should have a perfectly beautiful piece of wet paper stuck to the board where it will be left to dry. If you have torn or distorted it, just scoop it up and throw it back into the vat.

This session: field grass paper with recycled paper, willow and recycled paper, pure swamp grass paper

Fill up your board and leave your paper to dry. Don't dry in the direct sunlight as drying the sheets too fast often causing premature lifting and distortion. I do dry the paper that is left on the molds in the sunshine though. Also, green papers will fade with light. The colour in the chlorophyll is very fugitive.

When your paper is dry. it should just peel of the board. One side will be smooth and the other will have a slight texture. The paper that is dried on the screen will have one slightly rough side from the texture of the screen and one coarse side. I prefer this for some projects.

The handmade papers look so beautiful, I almost hate to use them.

This unsized paper is fine for ballpoint ink, pencil, crayons, and block printing and for notecards or other craft projects. For very liquid art media, the paper should have size added which can be done in the vat or brushed on after. I never use size. If I want to paint with acrylics on the handmade paper, I use clear gesso first, although the plain acrylics would probably work fine.

Here's what you will need to make your paper, using my methods:

Plant materials

Recycled paper - preferably decent quality paper such as bond but I also use recycled manilla or kraft envelopes for their earthier colour. Newsprint is not recommended.

Safety goggles/glasses - I recommend wearing them when cutting your plant material in case of flying bits and when handling the soda ash. Better to be safe.

Scissors or shears

Rubber or latex gloves. The soda ash and water will dry out your hands.

A stainless steel or enamel pot (at least one gallon)

Soda ash (sodium carbonate), also available as a pH increaser for hot tubs

Stainless steel, wood, or plastic stirring implement

Cheesecloth bag (used by hunters for game) or a jelly bag (in the canning goods department) or a paint straining bag

A couple of small buckets or bowls for soaking recycled paper and for holding plant fibre

A blender (I buy these at garage sales for a couple of dollars rather than use my good one)

A vat - a dishpan will do for small sheets of paper but bigger sheets will require a larger vat such as a plastic underbed storage container (not too deep)

A mold and deckle - you can use two picture frames the same size or make two very basic wooden frames the same size using pieces of wood about 1" thick and 1 1/2 to 2" wide. Inside dimensions vary. I like 5x7 to make small notecards 3 1/2 x 5" and 6x8" for larger cards. I also have some larger sizes for other projects. On one frame, staple a piece of screening material the outside dimension of the frame. You can use window screening to start but you may want to use the fibremesh screening material available from papermaking suppliers for larger molds or if you'll be doing a lot of papermaking. As these stretch they can be re-tightened with steam. Window screening would have to be re-stapled. Cover the staples and mesh along the frame with duct tape to keep fibres from catching. Note: It's a good idea to put a coat of varnish or other sealer on your wood to prevent water soaking in and warping the frames. However, I never have and mine are still okay 15 years later. I just let them dry after use.

Formation aid (from papermaking supplier) or methyl cellulose or carageenan (thickener if needed)

A sponge

A smooth surface to dry your sheets of paper on - I use old drafting table tops from garage sales as well as left over counter top material.

If anything seems unclear or if you have further questions, please feel free to let me know in the comments. And if all of this is just too much work, feel free to visit my Etsy shop where you'll find handmade paper greeting cards already made!

Pansies on handmade paper.

In future tutorials I'll show you some of the ways I use my handmade papers in art and crafts as well as dyeing your paper pulp with natural dyes.

Resources

Here are a few of the resources I have found the most useful:
Papermaking with Plants, Helen Hiebert
The Craft of Handmade Paper, John Plowman
Papermaking for Basketry and Other Crafts, edited by Lynn Stearns
Art and Craft of Papermaking, Sophie Dawson
Papermaker’s Companion, Helen Hiebert
Paper Pleasures, Faith Shannon

Suppliers

The Paperwright - I have dealt with this supplier for years and they have always been very good to deal with. They are located in Ontario, Canada and welcome international orders.
The Papertrail - Vivian from Lady in the Tower on Etsy just told me about this supplier, her favourite. I checked out their website and I'm impressed with all they have to offer as well. They are also based in Ontario, Canada and sell internationally.

I haven't ordered from the U.S. but a quick search brought up a number of suppliers under "papermaking supplies."

My Etsy Shop is Open!

2010-06-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

After a 6 week 'Vacation,' my Etsy Shop, LizAnnasOnTheLake, is open for business. I had some local card sales that depleted my stock and we just started a local Artisan Centre so I had some replenishing to do.

I'm going to try to be a little more creative with my backgrounds. My little Nikon Coolpix takes pretty good pictures but it's hard to gauge the colour balance because each computer monitor is different.

I've tried adjusting the colour on my home computer to get it closer to the real thing but when I look at the same picture on my work computer, it is way too garish! So for now, I'm not adjusting and I just hope that what you see is what I hope you see.

I've heard other people say that it's very hard to get a true purple. They tend to look very blue which is especially problematic when so many of my pressed flowers are purple.

There have been some great posts on the Etsy forums about photographing pieces so I just keep trying to absorb as much as I can. I really appreciate all the generous tips from fellow Etsians. Any feedback is welcome!

The Winner of my Giveaway is...

2010-05-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

...Sherry from Studio Pashnada. Sherry's comment was chosen by Random Number Generator after I came in from gardening tonight. Good thing I said "sometime after 5:00 pm PST." I will be mailing Sherry her packet of handmade paper right away, including a bonus sheet of moose poo paper.

Plant fibre cut up and ready for papermaking. Watch for my upcoming papermaking tutorial (this week).

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Giveaway!

I'm so lucky!

2010-05-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

I wonder how many hours I have spent searching for good luck in a four-leaf clover since I was a child? Or wished on a wishbone and birthday candles? And how many pennies have I picked up while reciting, "Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you'll have good luck?"

As I wandered around outside today, looking for leaves for printmaking, I started looking for one of those lucky four-leaf clovers. Within minutes, I found not just one, but a whole plant of four- and five-leaf clovers! What a treasure trove of good luck! Yahoo...lottery!

But as I stood there, clutching my handful of good luck, I looked around me at my home and my beautiful lake with water so clean that I drink from it every day, and thought, here is my lottery! I have all the good luck anyone could hope for. It's in my family, my friends, and my home. It's being born in a country that isn't torn by war and a life that isn't defined by poverty. It's having the freedom to say what I want to say and to go where I choose to go.

Lucky, lucky me!

Collecting More Plants for Paper

2010-05-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Fireweed blooming in late summer

I'll be doing the papermaking tutorial soon so here is a bit more information on collecting plants.

Never collect fibre that you cannot identify and do not collect plants that have been identified as noxious weeds in your area. Some plants can be irritants and some can be deadly, even to handle (water hemlock for example).

My goal is to provide basic instructions, making it as simple as possible for you to start making your own paper. For more detailed information, there are some excellent books available. Half the fun of making paper from scratch is making your own discoveries. If you find a plant that is safe to use and you think it might make a nice paper, go ahead and try it. Cost is negligible.

Gather fresh grass or last season's remains.

The best time to collect plants for fibre varies. It will depend partly on your region. Plants that haven't even started growing in my area may already be mature in yours. The amount of cellulose in the plant will vary depending on the age of the plant. A mature plant has more cellulose than a young plant so you will get more useful material from a plant that is full grown. However, texture and colour vary at different stages of maturity so you may want to try the same plant at different stages. Soil types and whether you use the plant material fresh or dry will affect your paper's qualities as well.

Papers made from a variety of plants including corn husks, cattail, stinging nettle, iris leaves, and swamp grass.

I like to collect my fibre when it's easiest to do so. The fibre can then be spread out or hung to dry and saved for later or used fresh. I just pile it into baskets and turn it frequently until it is dry. Cellulose is the primary ingredient in paper but plants contain a lot of other stuff, too - lignin, starches, fats, etc - which must be removed before making the paper.

There are four types of plant fibres that I use in papermaking.

Woody Bast - Use small trees and shrubs that are an inch or less in diameter. See my earlier post on gathering willow. The bark is peeled away from the woody core and then the outer bark is peeled or scraped from the inner bark and discarded. It can be done with the initial stripping or steamed and separated later. The inner bark on its own makes a more evenly coloured and textured paper but I often leave most of the outer bark on for a rougher textured, darker paper which I enjoy using in my art. I prefer to collect the woody bast fibre in the spring when the sap is running and the plants are easy to strip. If the shoots have leaves, remove them first.

Herbacious Bast - This fibre is similar to woody bast in how it is collected and prepared but it is not a tree or shrub. Plants like fireweed, stinging nettle, and milkweed yield herbacious bast fibre. I peel the bark from the stalk using the same technique as with the woody bast but I don't scrape these strips.

Start by removing the leaves (I do this by running a gloved hand down the stalk in the opposite direction of the leaves' growth). Be careful with stinging nettle. The leaves, seeds, and stems really, really sting. To remove the fibre start by stripping fibre from the base of the stalk. The fibre rarely comes off in a continuous piece. As I work my way along the stalk, I break the stalk every 6 inches or so as I go which releases the fibre and makes it easier to continue stripping. I wish I could show you the method but it's too early in the season here. I usually collect these plants throughout the summer in my region. In the spring there isn't as much cellulose in the plants and in late summer the sap has dried and they are almost impossible to peel without steaming.

Strips of fireweed

Leaf Fibre - This fibre comes from plants that have long flexible leaves like iris, cattail, yucca and lilies. They are best harvested later in the season when they have more cellulose. Some leaves, like iris, should be scraped to remove the pulpy material but if they are left until they are brown and wilted that step isn't necessary. And to be honest, I've used them green without scraping and liked the resulting paper. But scraping is the recommended procedure (maybe I should try it sometime). And if you aren't going to use them fresh, you don't have to scrape them anyway.

These irises grow in a swampy area near my house and it's easy to gather a large quantity at a time to use fresh or dry for later.

Grass Fibre - There are so many different grasses that you can use in paper. As with leaf fibres, I wait until they've had time to mature a bit so that I get more cellulose from the plants. But you can collect it fresh, as dry stalks, or as wilted brown blades lying on the ground. Some grasses have quite short fibres so they don't make a strong paper on their own. But some of the swamp grasses are very tough and fibrous. To collect grass fibre, just cut the blades and remove any seed heads. Corn husks are also a grass fibre. I always save the husks from the corn I buy and dry it to use for paper later. I have friends save it, too.

Seed Fibre - This is what you would find in cotton. You can purchase cotton linters which are a byproduct of the cotton industry compressed into sheets somewhat like blotting paper. They are especially for papermaking. I collected cottonwood cotton one year and made paper. Without any filler (recycled paper) it was much too delicate. It felt like toilet paper except for the sharp little seeds in it (now wouldn't that be pleasant?). When I mixed it with recycled paper it was stronger but still not a very good paper. It was fun to try.

Paper made from trees is a whole different ball game and virtually impossible to do at home. Lots of chemicals and machinery are required. In her book, "Plant Fibers for Papermaking", Lillian Bell mentions using cedar to make a paper with a processing time for the fibre of 6 hours.

Okay then....get busy! I'll see you back here with your plant materials in a week or two and we'll make some paper!

Here's a Little Giveaway!

2010-05-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

To help kick off the new Melange Team Giveaways here is my giveaway. On Monday, May 31st after 5:00 pm PST, I will choose (by random number generator) one individual to receive this gift. To enter, please leave a comment after this post.

Handmade paper assortment: This set of 5 sheets of 5x7" handmade paper is made from plant fibres and recycled paper. (Pure corn husk, cattail and recycled paper, stinging nettle and recycled paper, iris leaf and recycled paper, and swamp grass and recycled paper). Use these wonderful papers in collage, in encaustic, to make notecards, or to paint on with acrylics.

This is a 'no obligation' giveaway but I would love it if you became a follower on my blog. I have just started my free tutorials and I won't stop until I've taught every single art and craft I have learned to do well enough to share. Check here for samples of upcoming workshops.

Gathering Willow

2010-05-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

It was a glorious day yesterday so, even though I had plenty of projects on my list needing attention, I let myself be side-tracked. As Jo Packham said in the current issue of Where Women Create, "you will never "find" the time to do all of those things that inspire and nourish your creative soul...you simply must MAKE the time..."

Willow heart card on handmade willow paper

My handmade paper supply needs replenishing after a busy winter of card making and soap wrapping so it's time to start gathering materials. I love Mother Nature's Craft Store, where everything is free!

Spring is the best time to gather willow while the sap is running, making it easy to strip. The young shoots coming off old willow stumps or willow that has been pruned are the easiest to work with. Continuous lengths without branches make it easier to strip the fibre from the shoots. Later in the season, you can steam willow branches to strip them but it is much easier to peel the young shoots. For my area, the central interior of northern British Columbia, now is the time but, if you live in a warmer region, you will have to check the "stripability" of your willow.

Using a knife, small saw, or pair of garden shears, gather an armload of willow, find a comfy place to sit, and start stripping your willow. Make a small cut in the bark at the base of the willow shoot/branch, grab hold of a small section and peel it down the branch. Continue peeling until just the woody core remains. The bark and bast rarely come off in one piece so just keep pulling off sections. You can do it with a small knife or just use your hands and wreck your fingernails like I do. (The reason I am not showing one hand holding the willow while the other hand pulls off the bark is because my hands look like crap!)

The fibre from willow and other similar plants (poplar, elm) is called woody bast. This bast fibre, which is between the outer bark and the woody core, is one type of fibre used to make paper. The bast fibre can be separated from the bark as you work by inserting the blade of your small knife between the layers and running it along the length of the strip. Or, you can boil the strips later to remove the bark. Alternatively, you can just leave the bark on. This makes a darker, more rustic looking paper which I sometimes prefer.

Before you know it, you will have a pile of beautiful, clean, green smelling fibre, waiting for the next step in becoming handmade paper. (At least once a day turn your pile so it dries completely.)

This is the first in a series on gathering plants for handmade paper before I do the actual papermaking tutorial. I will cover three more types of fibre in future posts: herbacious bast, leaf, and grass fibres.

Pressing Flowers in the Microwave

2010-05-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

If your only experience with pressing flowers is using an old-fashioned press or phone books, you will be pleasantly surprised by the results you'll get by pressing in the microwave.

Mothers need music, too: Mixed media collage

But, before we start, here's my disclaimer: I'm human therefore I'm fallible. You are human therefore you are fallible. I do my best to ensure accuracy and completeness in my directions but I cannot guarantee results. Please read my blog Terms of Use before proceeding. If you're okay with all of this, then please continue!

When you use a microwave to press flowers and leaves you don't have to worry about itty bitty insects chewing on your pretty specimens while they dry in the press. You don't have to worry about mold growing on them because they had a bit of moisture on them when you put them in the press. And when you press them in the microwave, they retain more of their original colour than in a conventional press. Pinks tend to go kind of purple and whites yellow slightly though. And, here's the biggie...you don't have to wait weeks to start using them in your projects!

Materials and Supplies

A microwavable press:

Some gardening catalogs carry unglazed ceramic presses but I have found mine at garage sales.

Microfleur makes a light weight press that is made from a heat resistant material. I noticed numerous links for suppliers. It comes in two sizes.

You can use unglazed ceramic tiles or tiles with several holes drilled in them with a masonry bit (protect your eyes first!). Unglazed presses and tiles are already porous. There needs to be an escape for the moisture.

I like to have several presses so I can leave my plant materials to cool and continue drying overnight. I'll explain in the directions.

You will need layers of padding and pieces of tightly woven cloth inside the press. Don't use synthetics that could melt. I use cotton felt for padding and squares of cotton muslin.

Microwave - the wattage of your appliance will determine the length of time the pressed plant materials are heated.

Freshly picked flowers and leaves in their prime. Plants should be dry so don't pick right after a rain or a watering and wait until the morning dew has evaporated.

If you have only one press and wish to press several batches of flowers, you will need a phone book or equally absorbent weighted pages to lay each batch in as you take it out of the press.

Method

Pick fresh flowers and remove stem as close to the flower head as possible to eliminate bulk. Some flowers will need to be pressed in sections if they are too thick. There are entire books written on how to press different kinds of flowers but I just use trial and error. You'll soon figure out what works.

Some flowers, like marigolds and bachelor buttons don't press well whole but can be pulled apart and the petals are lovely. Calendula (pot marigold), although quite thick, presses flat beautifully. Fleshy flowers often won't dry properly but, as I said, go ahead and try anyway. You just never know.

Leaves take less time to dry than flowers so press them separately.

Put your press together in the following order with the flowers in the centre. One half of the press, some padding (cotton or wool felt, batting, or blanket material), a piece of tightly woven cotton, the flowers or leaves (face down), another sheet of cotton, more padding, and finally the other half of the press. The weight of the ceramic press is solid enough by itself but the lighter weight Microfleur press needs to be bound with elastic.

The length of time it takes to dry and press your materials will vary with each microwave. Start by using medium heat and intervals of 20 to 40 seconds. (My little low wattage microwave takes almost 2 minutes on high for most flowers while my larger kitchen unit takes 50-60 seconds.) The flowers and leaves will be flat and feel dry to the touch when they are done. It is better if there is a bit of give to them rather than leaving them until they are brittle. That bit of give also means there is still a small amount of moisture so they should be left in the press or between phone book pages overnight so they don't shrivel and lose their shape as they finish drying.

To remove the dried blossoms from the cotton material, grab opposite corners of the fabric and pull gently. The flowers will come off easily. If you try to pull them off with your fingers, they are easily damaged.

Yours flowers are ready to use in your own beautiful cards or other art work.

Pressed, dried flowers are very delicate. With practice you will figure out how long to dry them so that they are not overly brittle but dry enough to keep well. A very light touch is required in handling so be prepared for some waste. Old phone books are a good place to store your flowers. Mine are usually in a jumble in containers in my flat file but there is more breakage that way.

The dried blossoms will fade over time, especially if exposed to light. Art work should be well sealed to prevent tiny insects from making a meal out of your masterpiece and to keep moisture out. It is also recommended that a desiccant be included inside the framing.

If you have a question, please leave it in the comments and I will answer you there as others may have the same question.

A Tribute to my Creative Mother

2010-05-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

My mom was one of the most creative women I have ever known. She spent much of her life making do but she managed to do it with beautiful style.

Airi Sirkka Annele Huhtala Kuntzemann

June 5, 1926 - November 30, 2007

Mom loved flowers and wherever she lived she created incredible gardens. Her most spectacular creation was a rock garden that she built rock by rock by herself on a hillside. Always mindful of her limited budget she collected seeds each fall to plant in the spring and she collected perennials wherever she could. Old homesteads, ghost towns, roadsides and even from the gardens of the recently departed. Mom especially loved pansies, her own mother's favourite flower.

Sadly, last fall my sister and I returned to our old home, 46 years later, and only a few remnants of the rock gardens remain. The Highways Department had purchased the place years ago to house road crews and had brought in loads of fill to extend the yard, burying the rock gardens.

The current owners kindly allowed us to take a few of the remaining stones and this year we will honour our mom's memory with a special little rock garden and lots of pansies.

Starting this month - free tutorials!

2010-05-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Teaching has always been one of my favourite ways of sharing my art so, starting this month, I will be offering free art and craft tutorials on my blog.

In no certain order, here are some of the planned projects. Topics will be divided into separate tutorials for each technique, where applicable.

Natural Dyes from Your Yard and Garden

Creating dyes and applying them to cloth and paper.

Working with Concrete

Stepping stones, bird baths, benches and planters. Making your mixes from scratch and producing beautiful art for your yard and garden.

Making Handmade Paper from Plants and Recycled Paper

From choosing and processing your plant materials to methods for forming and drying your handmade papers.

Creating with Your Handmade Papers

Make beautiful and functional pieces from your selection of handmade papers.

Textile and Paper Art

Most of these techniques can be applied to textiles or paper. Low water immersion dyeing, batik and other resist methods, devore', marbling, silk screen, block printing, nature printing.

Basic Soapmaking

Make your own natural vegetable oil based cold process soap.

Beautiful Body Butter and Lip Balms

Use the basic formulas as the starting point for your own unique blends that address your own skin care concerns and preferences.

Pressing Flowers in a Microwave

'Follow' my blog for updates and schedules. And spread the word! Everyone is welcome.

Another new look for my blog!

2010-04-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

As a relatively new blogger, I'm still trying to find my blogging style and my voice. I have changed the look of my blog several times in the past three months but each time, it didn't feel right for me.

Today, on the Oh, Canada! Team forum on Etsy, Joannie, a very talented jewelry designer from Joanniel Creations, told us about some sites that offer free blog backgrounds, including The Cutest Blog on the Block.com. I loved this one so I tried it on and it fit! Then I had to change my banner and found this photo I had taken several years ago of a feather floating on the lake in front of the house. Perfect!

So, I think I found the style I like for my blog but I'm still searching for my 'voice'. I know it's here somewhere.

Arts Fest 2010 - BC Central Interior Regional Juried Art Show

2010-04-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

On April 23 and 24, emerging artists in the Central Interior of Northern BC had the opportunity to participate in a juried regional art show put on by CIRAC, the Central Interior Regional Arts Council. Arts Fest is an annual event, supporting and recognizing emerging central interior artists.

This year's show took place in Prince George and was beautifully organized by Wendy Young, Executive Director of Studio 2880. The Prince George Tourism Centre was the venue for this year's event and all pieces will remain on display there until May 2nd. Ten pieces were chosen by the judges to travel to communities throughout the North Central Interior for the next month.

Improv by Crystalynn Tarr. Acrylic. 12x36". This piece was selected as one of ten pieces that will travel. Crystalynn Tarr was also chosen by the judges as the recipient of the Toni Onley Artist's Project scholarship based on this piece and her potential as an emerging artist.

"Improv seeks to bring a tangible expression to the intangible flow and emotion of a blues/jazz composition. While the pianist's fingers rest on certain notes longer than others they soon move on, hungry to find the next note on which to pause. Back and forth across the keyboard, her movements are not rigid but flowing from one bar to the next, evoking a sort of meditation on the melodies. The emotion of the composer put onto paper intertwined with the interpretation of the performer recreates history in a relevant and personal way for the audience. Improv is my tangible interpretation of playing that piano."

Untitled by Tom Dean. Acrylic. 40x20". This painting by Burns Lake artist, Tom Dean, was also one of the ten pieces chosen for the travelling show and it is my personal favourite from this show. One didn't need to read the artist's statement to feel this piece.

"Urban settings can defy explanation. This painting is an attempted representation of all the misery and distress I sometimes feel when I visit urban centres."

Dream'n on the South Side by Sue Chretien. Collage. 18x14". Sue Chretien took a papermaking workshop from me several years ago and has been using handmade papers in her artwork since then. Although this collage was not selected to travel, I was very impressed by Sue's creative use of materials in this piece. It provides some wonderful inspiration for other artists who enjoy working in handmade paper.

"I have been making paper with local fibre for a few years now and I am exploring its use in my art. This piece started with the mask and so many ideas came to me while working on it that I went with the ideas of the ideas. So many ideas and only two hands. The braids, shells and beads are the explosion of ideas that seem impossible to contain."

Artists attending the workshop also had the opportunity to participate in two educational sessions. The first one, "Copyright for Visual Artists", presented by lawyer, Martha Rans, for CARFAC (Canadian Artists Representation/Le Front Des Artistes Canadiens), was an educational and entertaining presentation on Canadian Copyright Law, including some wonderful examples. Ms Rans created the Artists' Legal Outreach program, a volunteer organization ensuring access to legal information and advice for artists and arts organizations. This organization depends on donations and I encourage Canadian artists to consider supporting this valuable program.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the second presentation, "Photographing your artwork for exhibition or sale."

The location and dates for next year's Arts Fest is still to be announced. Check the CIRAC website for details.

I created my first treasury on Etsy today!

2010-04-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do a treasury ever since I joined Etsy but my computer wouldn't cooperate. I couldn't get it to count down so I would miss the window for the Main Treasury and Treasury West. This new Treasury East means even I can get a treasury so I created one today. I loved finding new artists to add to my favourites in the process.

Please check out my Hearts and Flowers Treasury , a tribute to spring and romance. This little shabby chic heart by Whyte was my inspiration for the treasury. Thanks, Pat!

Melange Interview

2010-04-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased to be featured on the Melange Team Blog in an interview by Bren from Peace of Mind Studio. Thanks, Bren, for making this so easy. Great questions!

The Melange Team Blog features mixed media artists, techniques, challenges and more. You don't have to be a member of the team to participate in the challenges.

This little candle lantern was the result of the altered jar challenge on the Melange Team Blog. I first covered a baby food jar in yellow vellum. Using a dragonfly punch, I created the shaped cutout in handmade iris leaf paper and, using gloss medium, glued this sheet over the vellum. The jar is embellished with wire, a dragonfly pendant and a large amber bead. These would make a lovely addition to an outdoor party. More wire could be added for hanging.

Sunshine Challenge

2010-04-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is my piece for the Mix it Up with Melange "Sunshine" challenge. You don't have to be a member of the Melange team to participate.

IT'S SPRING!

This mixed media collage ACEO (2.5 x 3.5") is made using a clear tar gel photo transfer over a piece of a music sheet and then painted with chromacolour paints. Black pigment ink is brushed around the edges and a final coat of clear tar gel covers the piece.

I'm so inspired!

2010-03-31T17:09:00.000-07:00

I just returned from an inspiring collage workshop given by Nick Bantock at his gallery, The Forgetting Room, in Ganges, BC on Salt Spring Island. An added bonus for the workshop participants was the opportunity to view a large selection of Nick's artwork as he was in the midst of selecting and arranging work for a show at The Denver Museum of Outdoor Arts starting in September 2010.

(My completed collage - Fish and a Bicycle)

This workshop was unlike any other art workshop I have taken part in. It was more about the process of making art than the mechanics of painting and collage, although we did work on a variety of collage pieces. Nick addressed specific questions about technique as they came up but the greatest value to me in this workshop was in the group discussions and the individual assessments of our pieces. Nick's training as a psychotherapist was evident in his critiques which were as much about each of us as artists as they were about the art itself. "Acknowledge all of who you are and your art will reflect that."

I tend to overthink when I'm faced with a blank page or canvas and that keeps me from getting started. Nick's answer to that was, "Engage the process before engaging your brain." Once I started just tearing and gluing down pieces of paper that I was attracted to, my collage took on a life of its own and ideas began to emerge. This is the piece that I finished and, while it's different from anything I might have conceived normally, I kind of like it.

Nick also advised, "Don't try to control it; explore it," which was a challenge for me, but by deliberately starting without a clear idea of where I was going, I was free to go anywhere. What I like about this piece has little to do with whether or not it has any artistic merit. What I like is that I sat on my internal critic's head to give the piece a chance to see the light of day. And I had fun with it.

So I'm refreshed and inspired and looking forward to making art. And I'm going to do my best to follow this piece of advice from Nick Bantock, "Make sure that what you do is feeding you and not draining you."

Side note: Salt Spring Island was lush and green and flowers were blooming. I came home to this. The wind had pushed the breaking ice on the lake into a huge mountain, about 15 ft high, on my beach.

Thinking Spring!

2010-03-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

Calendula on handmade paper card

The ground is still covered in snow but I'm thinking spring. The days are getting longer and the sun is glowing warmer. I especially love that I wake up naturally in the morning, to the light. But this weekend it's time to 'spring ahead' to Daylight Savings Time and I'll need the jangle of the alarm clock to wake me up again.

While winter is a great time for collecting moose poo, the warmer weather means the sap will be running and it's time to gather the woody bast fibres like willow, red osier dogwood and alder barks for my papers. Each season brings new treasures for my craft and they're free!

My Moose Poo Paper is USDA Approved!

2010-03-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

Moose Poo Card in my Etsy Shop.

Even though I knew my moose poo paper was free of impurities, I didn't want to run into any problems selling to buyers in the U.S. So, I contacted U.S. Customs who in turn contacted the USDA who confirmed that there are no restrictions on this paper.

And here's a funny aside. The agent who responded to my query said, "I once made a moose nugget tie for my brother..."

An Interview with Huckleberry Bumpkin

2010-03-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Huckleberry Bumpkin for featuring me on her blog!

It's always an honour to be recognized by another artist.

Moose Poo Paper - The Final Chapter

2010-02-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

The moose poo paper is finished so I have started making cards for my Etsy shop. I am using digitally altered photographs of moose that my husband and I have taken and some that have been contributed by my friends, August and Margaret Meutzner. The photos are printed on handmade paper. Each card varies slightly due to the type of handmade paper used for the print and the embellishments used.

The rest of the moose poo paper series can be found here:
Moose Poo Paper - Chapter One,
Moose Poo - Day Two,
Moose Poo Paper - Chapter Three,
My Moose Poo Paper is USDA approved!

My friends told me last night that they have collected 5 gallons of moose poo for me! I haven't found much on my property this winter as it keeps getting covered with snow. The moose have been regular visitors, though, so I'll find a lot in the spring.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer.