PAPERARTS

STRINGED INSTRUMENT

2010-12-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

STRINGED INSTRUMENT $58.

SALTWATER

2010-12-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

SALTWATER $100.
(Dimensions note: Inside of rectangular portion only (9"x5"x7"). Total outside measurement of box, including feet and shell (10"x8"x11").

Honey

2010-12-04T07:25:00.000-08:00

Honey $45. SOLD
(9" x 5" x 3")

RED SWEATER

2010-12-04T07:04:00.000-08:00

RED SWEATER $38. SOLD
(6 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 1 3/4")

Norman Rockwell Moment

2010-08-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

August.
Late morning.

Two curly-haired blonde boys -
seven and eight.
Bare feet,
mindless of gravelly sidewalk.
Summer clothes,
now too small
t-shirts baring bellies
shorts twisted.
Taller boy, gesturing -
younger one nodding
in rapt attention.

What,
I wonder,
could warrant
such intense exchange
between them -
Too young for girls...
A big fish?
A home run?
A summer vacation?
News of this year's teacher?
What if mom finds out!

Oh, Mr. Rockwell, only you
could do justice
to their story.

Poignant Phrases

2010-07-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Most of my life was spent in very large cities. Bumper-to-bumper traffic, pollution, crime, Big Box stores - you know the scene. I now live in a rather rural part of the country. After 6 years, I still get a thrill on the way to the market. Looking across the valley's farmlands to the ever-changing colors of the Holyoke Range makes me think, Lord, it's really gorgeous here! I guess I'm not so hurried now. If I'm going somewhere that's about 25 miles away, I can pretty much count on it taking the same amount of time every single trip. There's simply no such thing as "traffic"!

Well, the following happens to me, not infrequently, when driving around here. My mind will wander just a bit, and something I see will (for lack of better description) simply put a few words, or a complete phrase, into my head, and I must pull off the road and write it down in my ever-present Art Journal!

I'm thinking this image I'm getting is maybe going to be a poem someday and I must get it onto paper or it'll be lost forever. The thing is - I'm not really a poet, and the poems I do try to force out of these phrases are always rather lame. Just the same, I can't help myself.

Maybe someday, I'll share a few here. maybe...

Poetry of Art

2010-07-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

We installed a new "Group" show at the Shelburne Arts Co-op Monday, titled "Poetry of Art". These group shows are deliberately given somewhat vague titles so our artists can at once be inspired, yet not be restricted, when creating new pieces to hang in our gallery. For years, when our Publicity Chairperson placed announcements in regional newspapers, our post read something like, "Shelburne Arts Co-op, Group Show - July 13-August...". We decided that certainly wouldn't attract any repeat attendance to the gallery, and thus began brainstorming titles for upcoming shows a year out.

I fell in love with poetry when I was a small child. There weren't many kids my age to play with, so books became an early friend. I returned many times to a brittle volume of poetry passed down from one of my ancestors. When the "Poetry of Art" show was coming up and I began to mull over what I wanted to create, I first thought I'd be inspired by Emily Dickinson (note my blog header and earlier blog posts). However, after reading over hundreds of Emily's poems, nothing spoke to my artist's soul right away. Then I spotted my dear, old Treasury of Favorite Poems c.1891.

Quickly scanning the Contents page, I realized I can still recite first stanzas of many of my favorite poems. It took only a few minutes to find what I needed. And then, two, nearly completely formed works, came right into my head! Here is one, and the other will come later.

"gently, Time" $275.
(framed 21 1/2" x 25 1/2")

DIVINE INSPIRATION

2010-06-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

When we had to move, yet one more time, I had my heart set on a home filled with natural light. This house has many windows all the way around, and even skylights in my studio space. I have deliberately abstained from installing window treatments on nearly half of them.
A guest burst from my uncurtained powder room one morning, literally beaming. "Jane! There's an angel in your bathroom!" This is what she saw...

This reflection showed up above the workspace in my studio one day. Can you say "Divine Inspiration?"

The Cat, The Guitar, and the Toad

2010-06-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

THREE NEW BOXES!
TAKE A LOOK...

Cat N Mouse $55 SOLD
(7 1/8" x 9 3/4" x 2")

Guitar $35 SOLD
(for size, ref. post dated 10/23/09)

Toad $35 SOLD
(6" x 6 3/16" x 2")

At the Show

2010-02-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

MOO $45. SOLD (this box is about 6" tall and is shaped like a bell)
FRANCOPHILE $57. SOLD
GARDEN $47. SOLD

A PASSION FOR PAPER

2010-02-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

An art show featuring 4 Paper Artists:
Jane Chang-Kyla Allon-Edith Bingham-Jen Luck

February 2 - March 14

Shelburne Arts Co-op
26 Bridge St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
(413)625-9324

Please join us for a
VALENTINE'S DAY RECEPTION
2:00-5:00 P.M.

Here's some of my work you'll see:

Purses $48. SOLD
Cherub $38.
A House With No Cats $275.
Paper Trail I & II $125. each

works in progress...

2010-01-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

I. My first order of business in the new year is to, literally, complete a special box order which I received at the very end of 2009. I plan to complete that in the next 2 days.

II. "A PASSION FOR PAPER" Next, I'll be gearing up for a show that will run from February 2nd through March 14th at the Shelburne Arts Co-op. FOUR Paper Artists (Kyla Allon, Edith Bingham, Jane Chang and Jen Luck) are working their unique magic with more kinds of paper than you ever knew existed in order to bring you a spectacular exhibit - just in time for Valentine's Day. In fact, the Opening Reception for A Passion for Paper will be held Sunday, February 14th, 2:00-5:00 P.M.

Now - Back to work!

yo-yo necklace

2009-11-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

I think this is going to be a necklace... Hoping to finish it during an upcoming lengthy car trip.

Ask Andrew - HE Will Know

2009-11-17T11:46:00.000-08:00

INFORMATION box (10 1/2" X 6 3/4" X 3 3/4" including feet) $62 SOLD
My son Andrew happens to be one of those people everyone goes to when they have a question about something. Doesn't matter what it is (trivia, computers, electronics, history,...), Andrew is the first one I call when I have a question about stuff. The husband of a friend of mine is like this also. He could easily win B.I.G. on Jeopardy. Well - this is "their" box.

Hot Water!

2009-11-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made TWO MORE Chanukah boxes. The thing is - every time I put one out at the Arts Co-op, it sells within a couple days. Chanukah begins at sundown on December 11th and lasts 8 days. I only have between now and the last day of Chanukah to market these boxes, so I'm trying to keep up with demand.

HOT WATER box 10" X 6" X 2 7/8" + faucet $52 SOLD
Yep - that's a tiny pipe wrench inside.
DREIDEL box (cylindrical) 2 1/2" diam. X 4 1/2" $38
DREIDEL box (rectangular) 4 1/2" X 2 3/8" X 2 1/2"H $38 SOLD

2ND ANNUAL HOLIDAY ART SALE-Comparing Notes

2009-11-15T05:27:00.001-08:00

This year the Holiday Art Sale at my house has grown from 5 to 8 artists and will include:
2 Jewelers (Sally Chaffee-Maron & Christine Conniff)
Redware Pottery (Stephen Earp)
Fused Glass and Decorated Gourds (Cheryl Denton)
Handwoven Scarves and Wall Hangings, Holiday Cards, framed and matted Cut Paper Scenes (Edith Bingham)
Handpainted Silk Scarves and Ruanas (Nancy Baker)
Framed Original Paintings, matted Prints and Cards (Sandy Denis)
Framed Paper Quilts and Mixed Media Collage, Decorative Boxes and Ornaments (Jane Chang)

Since we have 3 more artists this year, Sandy Denis stopped by to map out the rooms we'll be using in my home. Sandy is in charge of all the display at the Shelburne Arts Co-op and does a fabulous job. The signs we posted last year are in fairly decent condition, but Sandy has taken them to her studio to tweak them a bit.

I looked back in my blog to see what I wrote about last year's show and noticed the following list -
What we'd change:
Make more art!
Send more postcards - These proved to be our best advertising, and probably 80% of the shoppers were people we knew.
Attach the signs to WOOD stakes! The ground was frozen hard which made it nearly impossible to push the wires in!
Personally, since the sale was at MY home, I'd start my housecleaning earlier - maaayyyybe

I've been making lots of art but am having trouble keeping up with sales at the Co-op. I guess that's a good thing, but I need to have more for the sale at my house. We're doing lots more postcards this year, and simply having more artists involved in the show offers a natural increase in the mailing list. Sally has been very helpful in keeping on top of little prep tasks with her detailed lists of things to do and who is going to do them. All I need to do now is make more art and vacuum and dust the rooms the night before the show. I'm SO happy the rooms are done being painted!

Cooking, Sailing, Chanukah

2009-11-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

Been slowing down on art production lately because we've been having our downstairs rooms painted. Painting finally completed today, and now I get to put the rooms back together. BIG QUESTION: How much of the art do I re-hang? The walls look bare with no art, but it's painful to put new holes in the walls. I guess I know the answer to this dilemma, but I wanted to whine just a bit first.

Sunday I spent the entire day in my studio (which also happens to be our "bonus room"/aka TV room). Watched a Netflix rental - "What the Bleep do we Know". Very thought provoking and a good movie to have on while working on art projects since it's more an informative type flick than a storytelling one.

I was able to finish up 3 new boxes Sunday. Here are my new "babies" -

WHAT'S COOKING box $58 SOLD
11 1/2" X 7 1/2" X 4 1/4" Includes a set of vintage measuring spoons and the tiniest mixer you've ever seen!
SAIL BOAT box $35 SOLD
3 1/2" X 2 1/4" X 2 3/8" That tiny sail boat is sterling silver!
CHANUKAH box $38
5 1/2" X 3 1/2" X 2 1/4" SOLD

Ornament Boxes

2009-10-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Just finished this year's stock of Ornament Boxes. With a few left from last year, my total right now is 40. These are made from matchstick boxes, and by gluing 2 together, each ornament has 2 drawers. A little sign next to the display says, "ORNAMENT BOXES (2 Drawers $6; 4 Drawers $7) Just right for a few dollar bills ~ a Gift Certificate ~ a pair of earrings ~ a little poem."

The Sun, the Moon and the Stars

2009-10-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS Box ($35)SOLD
This is a very small box. Instead of dimensions, I'm posting a photo of the box next to an Altoids tin for scale. There's only a tiny bit of room inside where it measures 1" deep and less than 2" X 3". What COULD one put in a box like this? DREAMS, of course!
(Sorry about the color difference in the photographs. The photo of the closed box most closely represents the true colors.)

Baseball

2009-10-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

Rummaging through my stash of treasures a couple days ago, I uncovered this old, well-used baseball. PERFECT timing, don't you think?

BASEBALL BOX (9" X 8" X 5 1/2") $58 SOLD

Cat Princess

2009-10-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Is your cat a "Princess"? So often I hear the comment, "My cat thinks she's the queen around here!" Cats do have a superior way about them as they claim thrones around the house, and don't be surprised to find one in your lap if you choose a cat's special chair.

CAT PRINCESS (5 1/2" X 3 3/4" X 2") $38 SOLD

Sweetheart Box

2009-10-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

SWEETHEART box (10 1/2" X 6 3/4" X 3 3/4" including box feet) $56 SOLD

So Many Boxes - So Little Time!

2009-10-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm pedaling on one of those bike trainers - working really hard and not moving forward at all. I'm trying so hard to "gear up" (haha) for the holidays, yet for every box I complete, another one sells. I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm getting a REALLY REALLY REALLY stiff neck sitting at my work table all day, planning, sanding, cutting, gluing... Went to Physical Therapy yesterday and heard the obvious: "You MUST get up and stretch at least every 45 minutes." Today, I'm setting a little timer at my table to remind me to do this. Results to follow.

Ireland, Dog

2009-10-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

IRELAND box (footprint is 8" X 5 1/2", tallest part of box is 5 1/2") $54 SOLD
DOG box (6 3/4" X 3 1/2" X 2" tall) $42 SOLD

African Folklore

2009-10-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Anansi is a trickster character (half man/half spider) in African folklore.

ANANSI box (10" X 5 1/4" X 3 1/4" including feet and handles) $52 SOLD

1950's

2009-09-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

1950's box (5 1/2" X 3 3/4" X 2") $36 SOLD
I'm a child of the 50's and recall these elements well. I even admit to actually using one of those garters - though not the curler. Progress has been kind to women.

Chanukah II, Dragonfly

2009-09-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Since the Chanukah box I made the other day sold before I could put it out on display, I've made another. I also designed a box for nature/garden lovers.

Details:
CHANUKAH II box (footprint is 3 3/4" X 2 1/4" & height is 2 1/4") $38 SOLD
The dreidel is blown glass and can be removed for use. Star of David is silver.
DRAGONFLY/TOAD box (8 1/4" X 6" & height is 2 3/4") $42 SOLD

Tea Time, Go Fish, Chinese Numbers

2009-09-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

After finally completing that Ball Box, it looks like I'm on a roll...(groan). Each one of these boxes presented its own degree of difficulty. The challenges are always present to find the perfect 2 papers for each box, considering the characteristics of the naked box AND the theme I've chosen for each one.

DETAILS:
Tea Time box (10"W x 7"D x 4"H)$58 SOLD
Note: The vintage miniature tea set sits on a "tray" that reads "Bigelow Teas". Inside this box is a functional tea strainer that I've attached with a jewelry chain closure to enable the strainer to be removed from the box for use.
Go Fish box (7"W x 4"D x 2 1/2"H)$36 SOLD
Note: That fish is a wind-up toy. Go ahead - try it! As it unwinds, the fish spins around slowly with its tail wagging, and it makes a soft, silly tick, tick, tick sound. The bobber inside is securely glued in and cannot be used.
Chinese Numbers box (8 1/4" square, 3"H including feet) $40 SOLD
Note: The abacus balls are suspended above the box lid so the abacus is operational (IF you know how to use one, of course).
Additional Note: The lid is not hinged and the abacus makes it surprisingly heavy. Unprepared for the weight of the lid, I saw it slip from the grasp of 2 customers. Since this photo was taken, I have attached to the center of the lid a knob that is the same size and color of the ball feet.

The BALL BOX

2009-09-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

"CASH IN" $58 SOLD
Details: Overall height, including cash register, is 7". The ball box is approximately 5"H X 6"W. This one's for spenders AND savers! The little cash register is actually a working pencil sharpener. The drawer pulls out for emptying the pencil shavings. Inside is a standard desk bell, also operative, that I would encourage the curious to ring. I suggest this could be a great place to drop that extra change always sitting around.

New Art

2009-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

DETAILS:
World Travel box (21" X 10 1/2" X 2")$60 SOLD
Note: Watch faces represent time zones for Seattle, Tokyo, Sidney, New Delhi, London & Sao Paolo. The watches do NOT work. The names of these cities are on the inside edge of the box. Maps show featured cities - in no special sequence.
Beach box (7" X 3 1/2" X 2") $35 SOLD
Chanukah box (4 1/2" X 2 3/4" X 2 3/4") $38 SOLD

Getting Ready

2009-09-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

It took me 2 days to prep these 16 boxes. Now I get to choose the papers and treasures to "dress" them in. It'll be a few days before I post the finished boxes. Stay tuned!

Flea Market Finds

2009-08-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Ooooooooooooooh! I went to the Hadley Flea Market (a.k.a. Olde Hadleigh Flea Market) in Hadley, MA Sunday. Only had time to go down about 2 rows of vendors but made a great haul. 6 new boxes for $15! Now, I just have to find time to turn them into art. More to come.

Paris, Squirrel, Chinese Laundry, Needlework

2009-08-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

MORE new art. It's tourist season and I'm working extra hard right now in an effort to add new work to the gallery at Shelburne Arts Co-op. I'm so very lucky to be part of this great arts cooperative. A magical mix of fine arts and crafts and wonderful member artists. If you're visiting Western Massachusetts, Shelburne Falls will be a treat! For more info on the co-op, go to: www.ShelburneArtsCoop.com

PARIS BOX $45. SOLD
SQUIRREL BOX $55. SOLD
CHINESE LAUNDRY $60. (Framed piece - can be hung or placed on a table.)SOLD
NEEDLEWORK $60.

MORE New Boxes

2009-08-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

LOVE LETTERS $35. SOLD

FELINE FANTASY $45. SOLD

Yep - there's a tiny bird in that birdcage! Click on photos to enlarge.

Ideas, Art Journals

2009-08-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

I've been creating my boxes since 1998 and have made more than 400. I'm always looking for new ideas for box themes, and occasionally make lists of ideas in my art journals. I just spent some time browsing through old journals, gleaning ideas from those old lists, and now I'm ready to go to work. If you have any ideas for box themes, I'd love to hear them.

I also came across some other lists - miscellaneous lists I make while traveling - lists of humorous road signs... A few years ago when I accompanied my daughter to Houston, where she would live for a couple years, my list included the following:
*BEANPOT CAMPGROUND - "fart with friends" (somewhere in TN)
*Microsurgical Vasectomy Reversal
*UWITHME (this on a license plate)
*EN-G-NRD (on a license plate on I-81, "Virginia Technical Corridor")
*BUCKSNORT (town in TN)
*"BAY WASH" and "WASHING WELL" (2 different car washes in TN)
*"STANDING STONE" and "ROCK ISLAND" (adjacent state parks in...wait for it...TENNESSEE)
*"KEEP EAST TEXAS PURDY" (billboard in Marshall, TX)
*"GRAVES GUNS" (Texas...)
*"Mr. 98cents" (I guess less is more in Texas)
"ALL NATURAL COSMETIC SURGERY" ...TX

I wonder how the people from those states view the signs they see in the Northeast? What have you seen on the road lately that makes you chuckle?

Good Fortune - collage

2009-07-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

"GOOD FORTUNE"
$275. (framed: 21 1/2" X 25 1/2") SOLD

This is the third in a series of collages with a Chinese theme. This will be framed with an antiqued gold bamboo frame - perfect for the subject matter. I know I need to work on the quality of the photographs for my art.

"SUNSET TAPESTRY"

2009-07-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

$475. (20" X 30")
Here's the final product, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out. Framing is quite expensive, however, because much of the work I do requires deep-walled frames, spacers to keep the glass away from the art, and museum-quality glass to prevent fading.

Sunset III

2009-07-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

Photo #1: Tools
These are the tools I needed in order to evenly roll the papers. Starting with the bottom (dark blue), I rolled each sheet around the pencil to get a tight roll. The small silver ring has a diameter of about 1/2". I used this to adjust the diameter of each roll to the proper size, one by one. I needed to use the Glue Dots to secure the rolls until I would be able to wrap them with the gold thread. I slid the small paint brush handle inside each roll to press the roll against the Glue Dot. This was the only way I could firmly press the rolled up paper against the glue without crushing the roll.

Photo #2: Wrapping
I threaded a needle with the gold thread, tied a large knot, and brought the thread up from the underside of the paper. As added insurance, I stuck a Glue Dot over the knot. Beginning with the top (deep purple) roll, I wrapped each paper, working my way down the row. At the bottom, I brought the thread to the back of the paper and pulled it across to the other side of the rolls before working my way back up. Once again, I pulled the thread to the back side, tied a knot, and secured it with a Glue Dot.

Photo #3: Embellishments
As I was completing the wrapping process, I considered what else my collage might need. The papers would make a great statement on their own, but the piece still needed "dressing." This is one of my favorite steps - finding the perfect embellishments in my vast stash of flea market treasures. I made a quick glance around my workspace and spotted the split bamboo piece. Of course! The paper rolls could not just float on the green sheet, so the bamboo would provide a sort of hanger. Once the hanger was in place, I added a bit more gold to the mix with handmade tassles. A polymer tile I'd previously made of my chop* completed the composition.

*This chop is my name written in Chinese.

I'll post the framed project later.

Sunset Collage - Stage II

2009-07-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

I've finally managed to figure out how to attach the different rolls of paper to the substrate. This was much more difficult than I'd imagined. It's not a matter of simply gluing or stitching rolled up papers to a background. There was a lot of measuring and marking involved. Any pencil markings must be done on the back side of the substrate because it is not possible to successfully erase marks from this paper.

###
I chose a grass green paper as my base. You will notice that the back side of the substrate is a different color than the front. That is because this paper is actually 2 sheets of differently colored paper bonded together. It results in a substrate sufficiently strong enough to resist tearing during stitching. I have also utilized this "reversible" feature as a design element in my paper quilts, which can be viewed in previous posts.
###

Then, I needed to hand-baste guide lines onto the substrate so I would be able to see, on the front side, where I'd need to attach each roll to allow the rolls to butt up to each other evenly. I executed the basting using thin, black thread and a very fine needle.*

I have now completed sewing the rolls a distance of 1/2" apart from each other, using about a 2" line of stitching. My intent is to allow room near the sides of each roll where I will add a line of gold thread to make it appear as though the rolls are roped together. I haven't yet decided how I will attach the gold "roping". I'll have to play around with a prototype that I've been using all along to work out the kinks ahead of time. *When sewing on paper, one must be mindful that each stitch, even if removed, will leave a small hole in the paper which could be visible on the finished piece.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. If you have ever done something like this and have any hints for me, I'd love to hear from you.

Sunset Collage in Progress

2009-07-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

I've got SO many pieces of leftover decorative papers. I consider "leftover" anything from 1" to maybe 6" in varying widths. Larger pieces I can still use for small boxes. One of my favorite things to make with leftovers is Paper Quilts. And then - sometimes I just like to fiddle with all the different textures and colors to come up with some type of collage.

I just spent about 2 hours selecting papers, cutting them to the same size, rolling them up, and placing them in a way that I believe will look like a sunset. Here's what I've got so far. I'll keep you posted on further developments as I figure out my substrate and any other elements I might include.

SOLD ART

2009-06-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Some photos of recently sold art. Pictures of art here. Picture in your head of me doing the happy dance! The first photo is of a collage titled "India", and the second photo is a paper quilt titled "Fresh Cut."

Clarifying "Inspiration" post of June 24th

2009-06-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

Just want to clarify something. In my June 24th post I talked a lot about making notes on other people's work. I do NOT copy other people's art. I get inspiration from textures, colors, design elements - then go home and use the ideas in a totally different medium. I don't think this is a bad thing. I believe it's the intention of the publishers. I scorn people who cruise craft fairs and art galleries and then go home to make the same thing "better." Boo-hiss on plagiarism.

Am I wrong here? Tell me what you think.

Fairytale & Cat

2009-06-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

TWO more boxes completed. I'd almost forgotten how much fun these are to make. (Note: See Blog post of Oct. 18, 2008 for some familiar treasures.)

Reading Matters

2009-06-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

I collect "stuff" to use in the boxes I design. I'm also a lover of books, Emily Dickinson, and history of Amherst, Massachusetts. Here are photos of some of my book collection.

The James Jones book (open and closed)is one my husband found at a book sale in the FREE section. The contents you see in the photo were actually in the book when he found it. Not seen in this photo is a necklace I sold for around $100 and some JFK coins I gave back to the fundraising organization.

Browsing for Inspiration

2009-06-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I plunked myself down at a Barnes and Noble cafe, indulged in a tricked out coffee, and browsed* through my favorite periodicals. (Fiber Arts; Quilting Arts; Cloth Paper Scissors; The Artful Blog; Altered Clothing")

Armed with one of my trusty art journals, I...
TOOK NOTES
SKETCHED IDEAS
RECORDED COLOR PALETTES AND TEXTURES THAT CAUGHT MY EYE
JOTTED DOWN BLOG AND WEBSITE ADDRESSES
MADE LISTS OF THEMES FOR ART SHOWS
SUMMARIZED INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW TECHNIQUES
PLANNED NEW PROJECTS!

Then I went home and looked up all the websites and made more notes. Today, I'm ready to create!

On that note - I'm closing down my computer and getting started.

*I bought the coffee to ease some of my guilt for hardly ever purchasing one of these magazines. I'm a pretty honest human being, and this may be one of the most sinful things I do. It's just short of stealing :(

New Boxes Born Today

2009-06-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! Can't stay away from my passion any longer.

Boston State House exhibit

2009-03-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

Our art was placed in 4 rooms at the State House. It's hard to get a good angle to view the exhibit because the rooms aren't very large. These photos are from 2 rooms. The 1st is the Executive Officer's room and the 2nd is Senator Rosenberg's office. One of my pieces in the exhibit is shown on the right of the 1st photo. It's a paper quilt titled "Koi".

Boston Exhibit

2009-03-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

My work, along with the art of 14 other Shelburne Arts Co-op members, is now on display at the Boston State House in the offices of Senator Stan Rosenberg. The show runs March 16th - May 30th and is open to the public during working hours. If you live in the area, or are visiting Boston - please stop by and take a look.

Reminiscing

2009-02-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

I have been extremely involved in my arts Co-op business issues lately and haven't had the big chunks of time I need to settle into creating art. I am going to try to set aside at least two hours every day to do nothing but CREATE. Probably I'll have to choose a regular time slot, but for right now it's just getting that 2 hours in somewhere.

What I HAVE had is smaller bits of time that have led me to reminisce. I've gone through some old photographs and had a great time thinking about the good old days. I've also thought a lot lately about my parents, who are gone now. I still miss them, even after 12 years. My mother and I had a very intense relationship, but time has mellowed out the worst of it. I think about the friends she left behind and then, one by one, their spouses passing. They all seem like such strong women in my mind, and I wonder if I have that fiber in my soul.

Anyway, I wrote this poem for them:

WIDOWS

Strong women
deeply lined
with names like
Marjorie
Doris
Myrtle
Ruth

Strong women
selfless
caring for
the grandchildren
teenagers
aging parents
dying husbands

Strong women
keepers of the
christening gowns
smudged report cards
Great Grandmother’s china
sepia poses
bloodlines
family secrets

Strong women
caring for each other now
with their own pains and cancers

Fine, strong women
who are
just fine
really –
thank you, dear

#1 fan?

2008-12-29T16:56:00.000-08:00

I received a very special Christmas card this year. We lived for just over a year in Naperville, IL (from May 2003-June 2004). During our short stay there I was an active member of the Naperville Art League. I enjoyed the company of many dedicated, talented artists and was allowed to display and sell my own work in NAL's beautiful gallery. One of the League's members (Willard Smith) is a retired art professor and like-minded flea market/garage sale-er. He told me how he encouraged his students to collect old jewelry at tag sales so they could take it apart, melt down the metals, and re-use the stones in their own creations. He confessed to having a house full of things he intends to re-purpose and now has time to begin doing the assemblages he's been "saving things up for" for many, many years.

Willard was very fond of the boxes I make and he purchased quite a few of them. He sent me a Christmas card this year in which he described how he uses my theme-based boxes. In one he stores his collection of Beatles albums; one jingles with his stash of miscellaneous keys; another keeps precious photographs; in another he places his Coca-Cola memorabilia; one holds information about every car he has ever owned; one keeps safe all the love letters from his wife...the list goes on (he bought a LOT of my boxes).

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. I wish Willard and his wife, Joyce, many, many years of good health in which they may continue to collect and create (they are both artists).

Holiday Sale Success

2008-12-07T19:20:00.001-08:00

Our First Annual Holiday Art Sale was a great success! In fact, it was magical - Hurrah! We really had no expectations for how it would go this first time, and now we're already talking about doing it again next year.

What we did right:
Homemade (but professional-looking) signs with balloons, strategically placed at key intersections. Also balloons on my mailbox and front porch.
Postcard mailings to friends and previous clients (can't beat the deals from VistaPrint)
Free announcement in the local paper
Refreshments - Mulled Cider, brownies, cookies, misc. sweets
Variety of art media and prices
Each artist took responsibility for some part of the planning and preparation
Holiday decorations were kept simple
It was not a problem that we didn't take credit cards. No one even asked.
Free Raffle for Gift Certificate to the Shelburne Arts Co-op (each artist contributed $5)

What we'd change:
Make more art!
Send more postcards - These proved to be our best advertising, and probably 80% of the shoppers were people we knew.
Attach the signs to WOOD stakes! The ground was frozen hard which made it nearly impossible to push the wires in!
Personally, since the sale was at MY home, I'd start my housecleaning earlier - maaayyyybe

I promised photos of the new boxes I made for the show but 3 of the newest sold, along with some older ones. You'll have to wait.

I would love to hear from anyone who's done one of these types of sales. Any advice you have to share would be welcome. There's always room for improvement.

Holiday Gifts

2008-12-05T05:44:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'm hosting my First Annual Holiday Art Sale. (Calling it the First implies there will be more to come, so I'm putting the positive energy out there.) Six local artists are offering Fine Arts and Crafts for Holiday gifts. Along with my boxes, collages and paper quilts, we'll have 2 jewelers, an artist who paints silk scarves and ruanas, a potter, an artist who sews exquisite pieced garments and wall hangings, and a smattering of other handmade items. It's all very exciting, I've never done anything like this before, and, of course, I'm not nearly ready enough.

I made 6 new boxes this week and I'll post them soon. Wish us luck!

Asking the Experts

2008-11-30T16:34:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a trip to visit our daughter and some other relatives in the Northwest. Great week, lots of catching up to do, and even enough time to just hang together. This sort of thing is rare when we live so far away from loved ones.

More than once during our visit I was reminded of how detached I am from what's happening with technology today. Case in point: I humbled myself to ask my daughter to show me how to text message. I know - I know - I'm probably one of the last holdouts, but I really haven't felt I needed to know. I have no problem leaving a voice mail if someone cannot take my call. I still don't think I need to know, but at least I can do it if I have to. While waiting at the airport long before dawn was even thinking of cracking this morning, I thought of a message to text my daughter. Of course I wouldn't dream of waking her with this completely silly message, but in this case, texting would be the perfect medium. Sadly, after taking about 5 minutes to type the six word message, I entered something I wanted to correct. I couldn't figure out how to backspace, pressed one wrong button and my whole sentence disappeared. I never did get the message out until our layover in Chicago when I simply called her.

Reminded me of a quote from The Little Prince: "Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Finished Work

2008-11-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

My November 11th (Tools of the Trade) post showed a photo of my workspace with partially prepped boxes. Look at that post and note the box in the upper left and the one in the lower right. Then, compare that to the photos here. Back to work now...

Blog Header

2008-11-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

You may be wondering about that header. I spent a year documenting the tokens that visitors leave at Emily Dickinson's gravesite. I used the photographs in a collage I made from those efforts which I titled "Alabaster Chambers." The header is from one of my favorite discoveries at Emily's resting place.

Tools of the Trade

2008-11-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

So much to do and so little time! I'm trying to make a lot of inventory but inspiration cannot be rushed. I must get more boxes into the Arts Co-op, because I know that the more boxes people see, the more likely they are to buy. It's not just that they have more to choose from. There's something psychological that happens when customers see a good stock of inventory. If there are just a few pieces left from an artist, those pieces might sit on display for a year. As soon as more work joins those lonely pieces, a sale happens. And, more often than not, one of those year-old boxes moves right out! Go figure...

Some pics from my prep space:

Elected!

2008-11-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

History has been made and I am rejoicing!

Great Pumpkin Poses

2008-11-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

I know Halloween 2008 is over, but I just have to share these photos from my collection with you.

2 new boxes

2008-10-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 new boxes - bigger and a little more $$ than the others I posted. Be sure to click on the photos and enlarge them to see details. Inside every box I make I put a small note with the following:

ALL MY LIFE I HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO DECORATIVE BOXES.
When I see one, I must touch it, study it, and imagine its purpose. Then I am compelled to open it. Until now, these boxes have always been empty.

EACH OF JANE’S BOXES IS UNIQUELY CRAFTED BY HAND. THEY ARE COVERED WITH HAND MADE AND SPECIALTY PAPERS. JANE SAYS THAT THE PAPERS ARE HER INSPIRATION FOR THE DESIGN OF ANY BOX. AFTER THE PAPER SELECTION, THE HANDLE OF EACH BOX AND THE OBJECT INSIDE ARE CAREFULLY CHOSEN FROM A LIFETIME COLLECTION OF FOUND TREASURES.

$58

$70 SOLD

Bumper Stickers and Road Signs

2008-10-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

I mentioned Saturday I'd seen a new bumper sticker (Save the Ta-Tas). Great one for Breast Cancer Awareness. Thought I'd list a few others I've recorded over the past few years.

WARNING! DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDREN
HANG UP AND DRIVE
WAG MORE - BARK LESS
I BRAKE FOR OLD GRAVEYARDS (I love snooping around in old cemeteries)
GOD IS EVERYWHERE - EVEN IN NEW JERSEY (maybe this is funnier to those of us who have actually lived/done time in NJ)
SAVE THE EARTH SO WE'LL STILL HAVE SOMEPLACE TO BOOGIE!
GUN CONTROL MEANS USING BOTH HANDS (seen on a camouflage painted truck in MN)
FRODO FAILED - BUSH GOT THE RING
YES, THIS IS MY TRUCK. NO, I WON'T HELP YOU MOVE (a woman was the driver of this truck)
IT'S TIME TO MOTHER EARTH
MEAN PEOPLE SUCK
WHAT IF THE HOKEY POKEY IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT?
THE LAST TIME WE MIXED POLITICS AND RELIGION SOMEONE GOT BURNED AT THE STAKE
FEMINISM IS THE RADICAL NOTION THAT WOMEN ARE PEOPLE
UNIONS - THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU THE WEEKEND
SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS A VILLAGE IS MISSING THEIR IDIOT (old news, but worth repeating)
GROW YOUR OWN DOPE...PLANT A MAN
IF WAR IS THE ANSWER, WE ARE NOT ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS
BARE FEET - NOT ARMS
FIGHT TRUTH DECAY
SILLY BOYS! JEEPS ARE FOR GIRLS!
SPEAK YOUR MIND EVEN IF YOUR VOICE SHAKES
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK
A DAY WITHOUT FAIRIES IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE
CIVIL MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT
I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT I THINK WE SHOULD START SEEING OTHER PEOPLE
RUST IN PEACE (on a really old Chevy clunker)
CLEVERLY DISGUISED AS A RESPONSIBLE ADULT
MY CAT IS SMARTER THAN YOUR HONOR STUDENT
A SMALL MIND IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO LOSE
BUCKLE UP - IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THE ALIENS TO SUCK YOU OUT
DO NOT MEDDLE IN THE AFFAIRS OF DRAGONS FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY AND TASTE GOOD WITH KETCHUP
PETA - PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS (I actually saw this on a truck in the parking lot of a company that produces soy-based foods!)

I have lived in 5 states in my lifetime. Each one has its own personality. While Massachusetts proudly wears its loyalties on its bumper stickers, I'm not sure who they're trying to impress with these road signs:

PICKING UP OR DISCHARGING PASSENGERS PROHIBITED (ok - why can't they just say No Hitch-hiking?)
RUBBISH DISPOSAL PROHIBITED (or - No Littering?)
TRUCK EXITING PROHIBITED (or - No Truck Exit?)
THICKLY SETTLED (fyi - this sign is posted as you are approaching the boundary of a town of ANY size after you have been driving in the countryside)
LIVE PARKING ONLY - ALL OTHERS WILL BE TOWED (You're on your own with this one that we saw at a small roadside pull-out)

2008-10-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

Great weekend for tag sale-ing. I'm always inspired by new stuff. And...it's only Saturday! Weather permitting, tomorrow I'll take in one of the last of this season's flea market sales in my neighboring town.

I just set up this little vignette on my desk to take the photo, and I used 2 of my art journals to basically block the view of my messy computer desk. The journal contents are pretty random. I try to keep these little art journals with me most of the time so when I get ideas for new projects I can jot them down or sketch them out. I also enter travel diaries into these when I'm on trips. When we first moved to W. Massachusetts I began noticing more bumper stickers than I'd ever seen before. I started recording them at the back of my journals. I noticed one this morning that I'd not seen before. On the bumper sticker, next to a pink ribbon, were the words "Save the Ta-tas"

Autumn Inspiration

2008-10-08T06:59:00.001-07:00

Autumn Inspiration
(mural in West Cemetery, Amherst, MA - site of Emily Dickinson's grave)
http://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentView.asp?DID=296

Nature's Palette

THE Emily Dickinson Illustrated Chair

2008-10-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share this art story with you. In 2006 I was invited to join other artists in a fund-raising effort (The Illustrated Chair) for a local library. I was provided with an old chair to transform in any way I chose to reflect a book. Having recently moved to Western Massachusetts, I was becoming increasingly familiar with the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson. http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/hours.html I focused my design theme on Dickinson. To make a long story short, the Emily Dickinson International Society made the winning bid for the chair. They planned to present it as a gift to the next outgoing president of the EDIS.

In the 2 years ensuing the auction, the chair took on a life of its own. A handful of articles made the local papers, and I was often introduced as "the artist who made the Emily Dickinson chair." My 15 minutes of fame was magnified to a degree my meager math skills cannot compute. At last, the chair was presented this August to the EDIS outgoing president, Gudrun Grabher, Professor of American Studies at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. I had no idea she would be so overwhelmed with the gift. The story of shipping the chair to its final destination is a novel in itself, so I'll spare you that part.

Gudrun recently emailed me a copy of her thank-you to EDIS:
" My dear friends, last week I returned from Boston - together with the Illustrated ED Chair. We both arrived safely in Innsbruck. Thanks to ... great efforts, the chair had been wrapped and packed so carefully, that no harm was done to it on the trip from Boston to Innsbruck. It took me almost one and a half hours to unwrap it. It was like Christmas. For the weekend my mother and my sister came to visit me and to see and admire the Chair. On Monday I took it to my office so that my colleagues, who had been eagerly awaiting it, could also admire it. I want to thank all of you again for this wonderful gift. It is one of the most touching things I have ever received in my whole life. My former professor and mentor dropped by and I showed him my Chair. He said it was the most original gift he had ever seen in the academic environment. Jane Chang, the artist, sent me a whole portfolio that goes with the Chair. I have decided to put all of that material into the beautiful Japanese album that I was given last summer in Kyoto when I stepped down as President."

(Re the chair portfolio: I kept a binder filled with photos, my research notes, and newsclippings on my project. I sent a complete photocopy of this portfolio to Gudrun after the presentation.)

How very satisfying to know something I created has brought so much pleasure. Generally, when an artist creates something, the only way he or she knows it's appreciated is if it is purchased. I then think, "Well, at least SOMEONE enjoyed it". It is rare, however, to have this much knowledge of the end result, and I'm so grateful to be able to know how it all turned out.

The journey of this art project has added so much to my life. I've made dozens of new friends in circles I'd never thought to enter before, and I've become more and more attached to Dickinson's work. All this from a little voice in my head saying, "Just go ahead and try it. You need to stretch yourself in new ways."

Paper Quilt and Collage

2008-10-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

I'm off for a shift at the Shelburne Arts Co-op today. Sun is shining, temperature is crisp, and the fall colors are performing admirably. Welcome Leaf Peepers!

A few photos of my 2 other art forms are included here.

To make my paper quilts I use leftover scraps of the precious papers from my boxes. I adhere the scraps onto a substrate then cover the resulting patchwork with a large, reversible (2 different colored papers fused together) sheet. I sew (by hand or machine) on the top sheet then carefully cut between stitched lines. I peel back the top sheet to reveal the papers underneath AND the reverse side of the top sheet. I have these pieces professionally framed using museum quality glass.

Paper quilt, "Koi"

My collages are done on various substrates (watercolor papers [as in sample here], canvas, wood, 3-D objects, etc.). I also have these professionally framed.

Collage "Cape"

Framing is a huge expense and this figures greatly into my pricing. I simply do not have the expertise or equipment to do my own framing unless I go with standard frames I can order on-line. I tried that route, but somehow my finished art never quite fit into the pre-made frames. DESIGNING them to fit standard frames is another option I've tried, but I run into problems with the 3-D part of my work which requires special mounting techniques and spacers so the work has room to "breathe". Always something new to learn I guess.

New Boxes Born

2008-10-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful for the useful advice I'm receiving from everyone. I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful friends.

Lots of requests to see more of my work. Since I just "birthed" a group of 5 boxes, I'm including their portraits here. I'm not a professional photographer, so you'll have to put up with these unprofessional photos. To give you an idea of size, I measured the largest box in the group. The box with the tiny school bus on the top has a footprint of 6 1/2" X 5" and is 6" tall. The top of this box is actually slanted a bit, so the 6" is the maximum height. It's hard to see just what is in that 1/2 circle box with the Chinese symbol on the lid. Inside is a tiny Buddha. Prices range from $35-$55 for the boxes in this group. $35 represents the lowest price on any of my boxes and they go up to $100. When I first started selling these, I heard many people say my prices were way too low. Over the years I've inched up the amounts but even last month a customer said, "These are so inexpensive!"

Pricing is a difficult issue for all artists. Of course, we never get paid for our TIME, because it's so hard to convince buyers our pricing should include at least a reasonable hourly wage. I generally consider pricing by three criteria: cost of materials, difficulty of execution (this would include my time), and what the market will bear. Another point comes into play with pricing. How do you handle adjusting prices for work sold directly to a buyer compared to work for which you receive only a percentage (i.e. art sold on consignment)? I'd like to hear from other artists how you price your work.

So many boxes to make and so little time! I also have to finish 2 collages and a paper quilt. I'll include photos of those another day.

Jumping in with Both Feet

2008-10-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

I'm taking the plunge today. Just a baby blogger - first time for everything, I guess.

I am a visual artist (medium: paper and mixed-media). I create paper quilts, decorative boxes and mixed-media collage. I have also done time as a professional storyteller, and it's something that remains near and dear to my heart.

I'm currently working on boxes - trying to gear up for the holidays. I've been making these specialty boxes since 1998 and have sold over 400. I re-purpose old wooden boxes that I collect at flea markets and tag sales. After prepping them with a good sanding, I cover them inside and out with decorative and handmade papers. Then I add 2 little treasures (also flea market finds) - one goes on the lid of the box and a related item goes inside. I try to achieve that "aha" moment, or, at the very least a whimsical surprise. I believe art should make you smile.

I am currently co-president of the Shelburne Arts Co-op in Shelburne Falls, MA. Our gallery, which is in its 10th year, features over 50 regional artists. www.ShelburneArtsCoop.com.

Take a look at our website for more information on our co-op, our members and our art.

The economy is fragile, to say the least, and it's going to be a tough road ahead for small businesses. Our arts co-op is always looking for creative, frugal ways to attract customers. October is Co-op Month here, and local co-ops of all sorts are making efforts to support each other with group advertising, posters and special displays. Do you have any ideas to share? I'd love to hear from you.