RED EARRINGS

I have a commission to make a pair of red 'teabag' earrings for a regular customer at our local 'Art on Cairncross' Gallery. The lady has bought many of my jewellery pieces, so I am keen to do something special for her.
I have made jewellery from dyed teabag tissue in the past - they are always a hit with the more adventurous art lover. I have been 'out of the loop' with jewellery making for a few months, so it has taken a while to get back into it. The first pair I made were way 'over the top', 


..the next pair are a little better,

...and the third pair are 'just right' - remind you of anyone?? [answer at the bottom],

I layered and glued 4 or 5 new flat sheets of teabag tissue together, and painted over with red inks. Strips were cut and holes pricked every 1 cm, then wire and beads threaded through, 'concertinaing' the tissue as I went. 

I will give the client the choice between all 3 pairs - I'll let you know which ones she likes.

The answer to the riddle is Goldilocks, of course!! xoxoxo 

 

 

Post cards

I have recently joined a group who are sending post cards to one another -BY SNAIL MAIL!!!! I thought this might be a bit of fun - playing with small images and doing a bit of cutting and pasting. I have heaps of half started experimental bits of paper lying around and I like the fact that they will 'go to a good cause'.

Here are some of my experiments of the past week or so - using ink, water colour, gouache, teabags, joss paper, and the shiny bits are nail polish. They are all twice post card size - I will fold them in half and sew the edges together, maybe enclosing a little 'surprise' inside.

...inside 1

front & back

...inside 2

front & back

...inside 3

front & back

...inside 4

front & back

...inside 5

front & back

...inside 6

inside 7

front & back

I will write a few words on the insides.

I really like the idea of the PO staff smiling when they handle the cards. Let's hope some of the processes are still done by hand and not all fully automated. Maybe that's a good reason for me to put addresses, stamps etc in unconventional places - confuse the robots!!

LATEST ART PROJECT

I am still playing with the book idea - for me it is a good way to experiment and to extend ideas but mostly a way to consoliadte 'stuff' that I have lying around.

I have hundreds of rather nice life drawings. What to do with them? Leave them in the cupboards for the silverfish and cockroaches? I can't bear to cut up the good ones, but I am happily using the mediochre ones for collaged book pages.

Yes, I am using tea bags, tea, mould and rust dyed fabrics, and various inks, paints, pencils and waxes.

Lots more work to be done on the images before they become a book.

I am also playing with scanned and printed images - this one has been printed onto T shirt transfer paper then ironed onto calico.

...still playing with teabags

I am totally transfixed by these ephemeral and esoteric little 'spirits'.

I am still playing and have no clue to the 'practicality' of this play but I think that is the idea!! I am usually so 'result' driven and must have an end product in mind. It will be wonderful to follow the path on this journey, trusting in the process, as our dear Jill Jordan used to say.

TEABAGS to DIE FOR

I first came across  lovely silky pyramid teabags in Japan last year but have since found them in Australia. In fact, my sister found them in her local supermarket and bought me a packet for Christmas - for the bags of course, not the tea! I love them. With pearls stitched to the corners, they fall like a cat falls on its feet.