shipped to the foundry art centre

Today I shipped two pieces to the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO.  PIQUANT and BLUESTAR 0110 were juried into "PaperWork In, On, and Of Paper VI."  I'm thrilled and honored to be part of this exhibition.

PaperWork In, On, and Of Paper VI is a juried art exhibition featuring two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks that use paper as the main component of expression. The exhibition runs Friday, February 8 – Friday, March 22, 2013 and is free to the public and open for viewing during regular FAC hours. St. Louis paper artist Betty Shew has selected an excellent collection of paper pieces for PaperWork VI and the exhibition’s award winners will be announced at the opening reception. The opening reception is Friday, February 8, 2013 from 6-8pm. The public can enjoy free food & drink along with artful conversation and observation. The artist studios on the second level of the Foundry will also be open to the public for visiting. Admission, as always, is free. For more information, please call 636-255-0270 or visit foundryartcentre.org.

PIQUANT

BLUESTAR 0110

view from west texas

A view from West Texas -- West Texas Avenue, that is.  On occasion, the breathtaking skies found on vacation posters appear out my front door in the heart of Missouri looking between mid century modern homes toward the interstate highway. 

I enjoy these moments, make a "mental snap shot"and store them away.  I just  crop out what isn't necessary.

inventory delivered

The St. Louis Artists Guild is redesigning and refreshing their Gift Shop.  I delivered these items earilier this week for your shopping pleasure.  When you are in the area, stop by 2 Oak Knoll Park (off of Big Bend) and check out the revisioned Gift Shop.   

www.stloiusartistsguild.org  314-727-6266

144 page blank journal with hand dyed wool cover

144 page blank journal with colorful fabric collage covers

earrings featuring fabric beads

earrings featuring paper beads

earrings featuring handmade paper beads

earrings & bracelet sets featuring paper beads

handmade paper heart blank cards with envelopes

fabulous denim & long stitch journals

Fused fabric sandwiches (up-cycled blue jeans, found fabric "batting" and "lining") created soft covers.  Note -- not all fabrics fuse equally.  Testing fabrics for "fusibility" reduces frustration.  Covers were trimmed to size and an reenforcing strip (interior spine) secured and stitching stations marked.  Note -- on dark fabrics, apply masking tape, mark, punch and remove before stitching.

A screw punch or awl created holes through fabric layers at the stitching stations.  Note -- students found the traditional Japanese screw punch made smaller holes, but the design of Martha's "popped/pooped out" fabric divots.

Q:  How much thread is needed to bind the journal?

A: Wrap around the spine -- once for each signature + one for good measure.

Each signature is stitched into place.

Right over left and under, left over right and under makes a knot neat, tidy and tight.  (Thanks Cheri:-))

COMPLETED JOURNALS:

Whether  left "blue jeans" plain or embellished, these journals are fabulous.  

denim & long stitch preview

Prototype (workshop sample) for DENIM & LONG STITCH.

Blue jeans, no longer wearable, are deconstructed and the rescued denim pieces are stitched into a rectangle larger than the finished journal cover.  If desired, the front cover (right half) can be embellished.  This workshop sample is embellished with hand embroidery.

Marks (purple fabric marker) radiate from the hand to make the shape "pop".  The plaid flannel (low loft batting could be used) will be sandwiched between the denim cover and cotton (commercial fabric from my stash which has been dyed and stenciled) lining (end pages).  Also shown: folded signatures, waxed linen, tapestry needle and Japanese screw punch. 

Stacked, stitched and trimmed to size, the cover should be made after the book block (signatures are folded and stacked) is made.  A denim strip (marked with stitching stations) gives the spine strength.

A single length of waxed linen binds the signatures to the cover using a "long stitch".  The binding thread is exposed and wraps the head and foot of the cover.

The long stitch binding allows the pages to lie flat for ease in writing or drawing.

DENIM & LONG STITCH    January 12, 2013 Saturday 10-4; 

contact leandra@bearcreekpaperworks to reserve your space.