Out On a Limb: 10

I often sets rules for myself when making pieces, well, let's call them parameters - sounds less dictatorial! In any case, when I began this new series within the Out A Limb series, the idea was to combine color and black-and-white images of birds. Then, I found this image in my stash.

The two birds are actually connected to one another, and try as I might to add another, full-color, bird, it didn't work. I could've separated the birds for more flexibility in positioning them, but liked them as they were. So, I tossed out my parameters.

The background looks hand painted, doesn't it? It's not. The "finger-painted" section on the bottom is from a recycled children's book proof, as is the feathered cloud sky at the top. 5 "x 5" on claybord/hardwood panel. [SOLD]

Holiday hours at Paper With a Past Studio

I adore this DIY craft project Santa from the December 1868 issue of Godey's Lady's Book, so I thought he'd be the perfect image for the announcement of extended holiday hours at my studio. I put all this info on the studio page but thought it would be good to repeat it here. Instead of being open only during the second Friday night open studios, Paper With a Past will be open noon-8 p.m. Thursdays ('cept Thanksgiving) and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 22.

Please stop by to see what's new. I'll be whipping up all kinds of holiday goodies from ornaments to greeting cards to tags to, well, whatever else comes to mind. I'll also be squeezing in some new non-holiday collages. For directions to the studio: go here.

Oh, I'm usually at work every afternoon, so if you want to stop by at another time, please call or text 254-9776. I'll try to keep my cell on - really! 

Every time I say I want to go bigger, I go smaller.Now, I'm customizing, too!

Well, I couldn't resist trying my hand at collage ornaments. In this case, tiny collage ornaments. As in 1.5"x1.5" and 1"x3" and 2"x2." The result: my new merry&brite® collection. They are $20 each - and  are available in the studio and Brazee's gallery One One downstairs as part of the Multiplicity/Hang it Up group exhibit.

I didn't realize how difficult working this small would be. The main issue is finding images that will "read" at this size. So, these took much longer to create than I thought they would. There also was the issue of not making them too thick so they could fit into the frames with the glass. That ruled out a lot of recycled greeting card images I planned to use - they were too thick.

The original plan was to make soldered ornaments. I took a class, bought the materials and equipment needed, but once I spotted these frames, well, I bailed. I do think I will solder some day, if only to make pieces the size that I want. I have some beautiful, old, beveled-glass squares I've been itching to turn into ornaments.  

Still, I'm happy with these. So happy that I'm offering to make custom ornaments using your materials or that include a map of the city, state, country you select. Interested? Contact me. The deadline to order is Nov. 25 and delivery is guaranteed by Dec. 16. The price for the custom-made ornaments is also $20.

Out on A Limb: 6

Another of those Victorian scraps paired with a black & white image, which is from one of the Dover image books from the early 1970s. The piece at the bottom is hand-made paper that was used as wrapping paper and was a last-minute add - thanks to a suggestion from my daughter. It did need something to ground it. And, yes, it will be in the Redtree exhibit that opens Friday. 5" x 5" on claybord & hardwood base, ready to hang. [SOLD]

Sharing a treasured Victorian scrapbookin the Taft Museum of Art's holiday exhibit

Guess what? A selection of antique holiday cards and postcards from my collection are on exhibit in the Taft Museum of Art's annual Antique Christmas exhibition. As much as I love, love, love the cards, what I'm really excited about is the inclusion of my great, great Aunt Phebe's scrapbook from 1881.

A few years ago, my father made the mistake of sharing it with me. It was full of so many beautiful, vibrant Victorian cards - by noted publishers such as Louis Prang and Raphael Tuck - that I had to ask if I could borrow it to scan into my digital library. He hemmed and hawed and, finally, let it out of his grasp. My father's family wasn't terrific at saving paper, which is why the scrapbook is so special both to him - and me.

He's in South Jersey. I'm in Cincinnati. I figured that once the book was out of sight, it would be out of mind. Wrong.  Each time I'm back home, he asks when I'm going to return it; each time I answer "never." It's become kind of a joke between us. My latest excuse for keeping it? Why, it's inclusion in the Taft exhibition, of course.

The album contains Christmas greetings for the most part, with a few Easter cards and a smattering of other ephemera. The latter includes two small envelopes with locks of hair tucked inside them, a menu from the Third Triennial Dinner in 1884 of alumni of the Hampton N&A Institute, calling cards and other odds and ends. Phebe wrote the names of who the cards were from beneath many of them after gluing them onto the pages. I don't  know much about Phebe; neither does my father. But I suspect the family had money back then - sigh - and that if she had this scrapbook, she must've had others.

I'm thrilled to share, especially in this exhibit, because the show is one of my favorites. I tend to hit it 3 or so times, often with family and friends in tow. I'm endlessly fascinated by the extravagant and frequently odd ornaments, toys, decorations and other collectibles. The selections change each year; a smart tactic for luring people back. It's also a savvy way to show off the house and its first-rate collection since visitors must roam from room to room to view the entire exhibit. My case is in the dining room.

Since just one page of Phebe's scrapbook is open, I thought I'd share more of it here. Yes, I finally scanned it into my library. So, once the exhibit ends, I'll have to cook up a new excuse for keeping it!