The piece was for the Sleepy Bee Cafe, a Cincinnati breakfast/lunch restaurant. The only request from owner Sandra Gross was that it be at least 25" x 25," and include bees. I knew almost immediately that the collage would have bees buzzing around a lush garden at night, which would make them sleepy in the morning. From there, it was anyone's guess.
 |
| Darkness reigns via endpapers from a vintage children's book and a black star chart. |
 |
| The original background papers are jettisoned in favor of a brighter night sky (endpapers from a vintage astrology book), and a blue chart of November's sky. At left, a strip of vellum with the word dream printed on it (from a recycled paper sample kit). |
 |
| The search for bright botanicals begins with antique, and vintage prints - some hand colored/painted. |
 |
| The background is not quite large enough. Hmm, how about a forest border? |
 |
| A clump of irises, well into being cut. |
 |
| More vintage prints (which are reproductions of antique prints) in various stages of cutting. |
 |
| Early placement of flowers, some of which need more trimming of their tangled roots. And, the addition of handmade paper with leaf inclusions as the bottom border. |
 |
| The collage is moved to the drawing table, so it can be viewed at an angle. More possibilities pile up on top of it, including a sheet of floral stamps (upper right), and vintage dried flower arrangements (upper left). |
 |
| The final collage, with the addition of more flowers, a silvery planet, the moon (from a vintage button calendar), bees (from antique ads at the back of women's magazines), a blue gazing ball, text on vellum, and a few insects. The only constant from start to finish? The giant bee. |
