Reliquary Of Faith

 I just finished a new altered book for the Vt Book Arts Guild Show: Big Ideas, Small Books, an exhibit of artist books at the Emile A. Gruppe Gallery. The show will run April 17 - May 22, 2011. The opening reception will be on Sunday April 17th, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Subject matter includes both 2-D and 3-D works, smaller than 5" x 5", in all media relating to book arts, including hand-made paper, artists’ books, calligraphy etc. 

I call this book Reliquary of Faith. It's made from an old prayer book, found objects, ephemera, and a lovely old tin type photo.

Today is the Day!



Good Luck and Happy Holidays!

                                                                            
You may have heard...I am doing a special giveaway today. After all the chores are done, cookies baked, gifts wrapped, cards made and packages packed... I will be drawing someone's name out of a hat.

So cheer me on as I take on my holiday to do list. Leave me a comment to tell me how you get through your holidays and you will be entered to win this one of a kind signed collage.  "A boy."

I've been playing with my blog layout and even added some new features. Sign up for my newsletter and mailing list. I've got some great things planned for 2011, don't be left out.

Don't forget if you spend $50 or more on my ETSY site you get FREE SHIPPING any where in the US. I'll even gift wrap your purchase!

Art's Alive

I am so honored to be selected to be in the Art's Alive of Fine Art Festival! This is the first time I have ever done anything like this and I am thrilled! I have only done one other juried show before, that one was earlier in this year. This show is a little different, as it showcases Vermont artists in a group show at Union Station, as well as matches each artist up with a business on Church Street, where their art is showcased. Tomorrow morning, I am going down to the Crow Bookshop to hang my pieces in the window- I have decide to use all my "book related" works, taking with me two smaller altered books, and several collages on old book covers. I finished up three more tonight. I will display them in these beautiful speciem box frames that I found-
There is a gala opening on Friday, June 5th. I wish I could be there, but I am leaving for Asia on Sunday, AM and won't be back in time- The Journey of Captain Eva is going into the group show at Union Station. I am really excited to show it in this venue. I still think it is one of my favorite pieces.

If you are in Burlington, on Friday, check it out- There's live music and all sorts of festivities- Should be a blast!

Making Journals

Last few nights, in between stuffing plushies and doing chores, I've started on a project to make collaged journals to give as gifts. I bought a bunch of blank books and gessoed the covers-Painted them with a base coat wash of color. Applied a second wash of antiquing hue. Then started to collage like I do on the little shrines or book cover that I sell. I had made a couple of gel medium transfers a few weeks ago. Last night I soak and removed paper. That's always a chore, but the results are worth it.
Now I'm off to wrap up Christine's box and get the house cleaned and decorated.

giving thanks

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. A Schweitzer

To this end- I wanted to find a way to thank all the people who have support and inspired Glimmering Prize over the course of the year. I've put together a little collage artist's dream pack and will be giving it away in a drawing on Monday. To enter, leave a note on this blog about your spark- where it comes from, who inspires it or what keeps it going. On Monday, I'll draw one name from all the entries and send out this sweet little collage pack to the lucky winner.

Thanks everyone for all you have done to see me through this most amazing year.

Yours

Lorraine

Foursome

a few weeks ago i picked up a four piece tray set at a yard sale for a quarter, knowing that i wanted to use the trays as frames for collage pieces the same way i did with the tiny cookie tins i did last year. so i started by painting the trays a lovely, distressing shade of the Uszhhh and went from there- They are almost all done- Jack and I are going to the flea market tomorrow morning to look for more frames to embellish with-

here's where i'm at now-

there are four multi-media wall pieces-4"x 8"

"the secret flame"

"woman becomes young"

"naughty alice"

"reward of merit"

naughty alice is almost completely finished- she needs just a little something in the lower right corner-

the rest need their embellishments

the secret flame will have a transparency overlay

very in love with the Uszhhh, thanks michael de meng for that fine paint recipe....

Women of Courage- round robin

I'm packing up my Altered Book for the Women of Courage Round Robin- my book is going to make it's way all the way across the country and back!

So as I type- My Joan of Arc pages are scanning-

I'm scheming of something to pack in there for Linda-It is going to be something special that a lot of people who visit my blog comment about.... I'll leave it at that.

Here's the scoop on my WOC book:

1- the cover is not completely finished- I NEVER do the cover until I'm done with the entire book- but felt as if it needed something to help see the vision. so it will get a title card or raised embellishment- but i don't want to make it too tall- because of mailing...

2-The niche in the back of the book for St Joan can be added to if anyone feels like leaving devotions to the Saint. I'm not a Catholic- but I feel such a connection to this Saint, this woman, it's pretty uncanny- She has definitely been my muse- sitting right by me as I made these pages...

3-This book is about facing your fears and listening to your inner voice- it's what Joan stands for its her badge of courage- Honor it- have no fears in creating pages in this book- explore everything you are- listen to your inner voice- let your spirit be your guide....

Only when you face your fear an move through it can you reach your goal....

so with that i leave you with the litany against fear.....

I must not fear

Fear is the mindkiller

Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration

I will face my fear

I will permit it to pass over me and through me

And when it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing

Only I will remain

cover

inside cover

welcome and instructions        sign in page

last spread- niche 

Hope has a new home!

I sold My AB "Hope never dies" today.  I'm so excited this made my week, probably my month! 

A co-worker of mine purchased it as a gift for her partner- It's a birthday present. The person who is receiving it is a collector of artists books!  I am so delighted, because I know this piece is now going to be in a good home.  

I had  put up some photos last year of this book when I finished it- right before the opening of the Book Arts Show at the Chaffee.... but some of my online artist friends wanted to see pix- hence this post.

I actually scanned the whole thing last night- I think I forgot to do the back cover.  Here it is SCANNED: Hope never dies- Altered Book

Bonnie & Clyde

This came from a lot of old pix that I got on ebay- bonnie is going to be in a new collage i'm working on... clyde, i'm not so sure... maybe i will do one about him too.  this new series that i'm doing incorporating some of the mythical archetypes: i remember you - is the protector-hero-(reluctant) warrior, bonnie will become one of the goddesses...you get the picture... stay tuned....

Books, Boxes, Blending makes for a Busy Morning

Finished the WIP- "I remember you"- this morning- Very happy with this:

Definitely going to enter this in the SPA show in April-

Worked on pages for my visual journal

Finished up two new boxes- need to take better pix for Etsy...

and in last stages of the AB for the RR - Women of Courage

It needs embellishment, blending and text- not sure about the sign in page- if it should be tags or not- need to come up with something that goes into that pocket.

I've decided to keep the Joan of Arc idea - that project is moving along nicely- I do have to put in the mail next week

UFOs and rusty treasure

These are two new cards I made for a UFO challenge with some other ETSY artists.

The idea is to take some of your un-finished originals (and Oopps!)  and send them to someone else to finish.

I received a envelope of Jennifer Price Davis ( aka gingerlime.etsy.com)  and sent an envelope of my stuff to : Linda Donnelly (aka LDphotography)

This is what I created from Jennifer's UFO stash:

Also- sorted through all the garage junk I got from a fellow freecycler:

I pulled this treasure from three boxes of stuff she had in her garage.

Now, I need to find a way to get rid the stuff I can't use.... any one need rubber tubing????