Sunday musings

the noise of public discourse has become loud and destructive...
the sound of silence can speak volumes...

Phinney Show this weekend!

If its the first weekend in December, then it must be time for the annual Phinney Winter Festival...its a fabulous artisan show in Seattle...115 artists, live music, food and plenty of holiday cheer - what's not to love!

This is the 14th year that I'm participating in this show...I've got to say that its one of my favorites...not only for the new friends I meet as well as connecting with old acquaintances, but I get to finish up my holiday gift shopping...I'm a big supporter of buy local, buy handmade.

In addition to my original mixed media art collages, I'll have plenty of affordable gift items too...

Hot off the press, these folded notecards with fabulous vintage images...

Art tags that can adorn a gift, enliven a bulletin board or even be a bookmark...

Collage journals, all one of a kind...a place to record thoughts, remember ideas, start 
that first novel or just keep a list of anything you like...

Hope that you'll stop by and say hello...I'm in the Blue Building on the second floor...introduce yourself and tell me you read about the show on either my blog, my Facebook page or Instagram and there will be a free gift for you!

Rustic Luxe - a nature inspired table

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, preparations are underway for many of us...

The internet is awash with images of gloriously set tables...costing more time and effort than most of us have at this late date...I have a few suggestions here that will lend that feel of Rustic Luxe without too much sweat or strain...

The play of contrasts is the idea behind Rustic Luxe...the rough with the smooth, the shiny with the subdued,
the practical with the whimsical...

To start, I gathered up a well loved linen tablecloth and a vintage wool blanket...there's a sheen to worn linen that contrasts nicely with the woolen texture of the blanket...using the linen alone seems commonplace at the traditional T-day dinner...using the blanket alone would seem a little too picnic-like...layering one over the other is unexpected and gives a great rustic luxe vibe.

Given the time of year and the sense of the season, nature is a wonder of inspiration. I gathered up a slew of fallen leaves as well as dried stems from my garden...the large leaves were pressed and comprise the bottom layer of the centerpiece (if you don't have time to press leaves ahead of time, did you know that lightly ironing will also work to flatten and dry them) An eclectic trio of pitchers with similar tones displays a collection of bird feathers, an assortment of dried stems  and a large handful of poppy heads.

I also collected some smaller dried leaves from my photinia bush - I love how they look like leather. With a border of gold dots, the leaves are stuck into a small bottle for a little flourish at each place setting.

Candlelight always adds to the festive mood...the two candles on the table are made from a pair of worn out wool socks, two recycled glass jars, some linen string and two pearl buttons...the complete tutorial can be found in an earlier blog post - here...


The final touch to the centerpiece...one of the chestnut garlands which kicked off the Rustic Luxe series...the little gold beads mimic the gold dots on the leaves...repetition always helps in pulling a vignette together...










Though we use ironstone and silverplate everyday in our household, I do concur that this is one of the times that I bring out my grandmother's silver...that glint of shine plays off nicely with the simple ironstone...plain striped napkins (which you'll notice have not been ironed...just more texture!) echo the tones of the leaves and those willow branch napkin rings show up again...

In place of name cards, I've pulled together 4 words of inspiration, quickly stamped onto a piece of used manila folder...its a little wonky, I like that...calligraphy would be nice but time-consuming...
one word set at each place...a thought to contemplate for the day...perhaps to spark dinnertime conversation...
I used some sort of galvanized hose connectors that I recently picked up at a farm sale...I don't know what they were, but for now, they are card holders. 

I know what you are thinking...I don't have anything like old hose connectors around here...well, there are options...a tarnished fork, a flower frog, even an old hair clip...be creative...its not about what something is, its all about what it can become...

Well, now that the table's set, time to see if that turkey is thawing...and to take a minute to thank each and every one of you...I appreciate that you follow my adventures - whether here on the blog, my facebook page or on Instagram...I appreciate your support, your comments, your enthusiasm...at this time of thanksgiving, I'm grateful for this community...

Honored to be featured...

I am honored to be featured on the latest posting on adi & bert blog...

Claudia, a lovely artistic soul from New Zealand who writes this blog, has a regular posting where she highlights various makers and their craft...I am privileged to be the current profiled maker.

Please hop over and give it a read...and find out how I ever got started in this crazy collage business!

Portland...here we come!

In less than one month, I'll be in Portland...hosting ArtPartyPortland and having an inspiring wild time with 14 other creatives...

And though this event is sold out, there's still an opportunity to get in on a part of the fun...












As part of ArtPartyPortland, we are spending Friday at Junk Bonanza...one of the country's premier vintage/antique/artisan shows is coming to Portland for its inaugural launch in the Pacific Northwest.

I can't wait...as you likely know, I love Junk...in all its forms...and it doesn't even have to be something I buy (though I'm sure there will be some money exchanged!) but the eye-candy...the inspiring vignettes...the overflow of creative ideas...the plethora of photo opps...I'm sure I will be on junk overload!

But wait...you could join us at the show...Junk Bonanza is sponsoring two free General Admission tickets that I'm giving away here on the blog...good for any day of the show (October 9-11)   And if you decide to visit the show on Friday morning, October 9 (when I will be there with my Art Party group), I'll be happy to meet up with you...and give you a big junker's hug...and an autographed copy of the Oct/Nov issue of Cottages & Bungalows magazine that features my junk-inspired home.

OK - ready...here's the deal...

1. Visit Junk Bonanza's Facebook page and like it.

2. Leave me a comment letting me know that you want in on the drawing - remember to either have your email active on your blogger profile or leave your email in your comment so I have a way to contact you if you are the winner. 

3. Want to enter more than once?  Follow both Junk Bonanza and me, four corners design on Instagram...let me know on an IG post that you're a new follower...

4. The winner will be announced here on the blog on September 16...so you have until midnight on September 15 to get in on this junking fun.

Its going to be a grand adventure...I hope to see you at the show!

September 16 follow-up...
Congrats Mindy!  You are the winner of the two Junk Bonanza tickets - Enjoy!

a life less ordinary

Yesterday I actually got out my real camera...as opposed to my phone...and shot some still photos.  I'm on deadline for a magazine article about holiday gift wrapping (yes, its August, its hot and dry but I'm trying to get in the Christmas spirit as I write this piece due on Monday) and I needed a couple of pictures to complete my tutorial.

I decided to play around a bit after I got the shots I needed...I was reminded this week of a book I own when I saw a shot on Instagram by Barb of Keeping With the Times, where she used the book "A Life Less Ordinary" as a prop...I was inspired...

Its a beautiful book...filled with simple and uncluttered images...and attests to the beauty of friendship between two women...

And it made me think...about my own life...it is a life less ordinary...for the last 15 years, I've been pursuing my ambition to be an artist...and though I am not rolling in the dough, I am rich in other ways...deciding how I spend my time, determining how my energy will be used, discovering a wealth of talents...

And I too have some wonderful friendships that have formed along the way...both within my local community as well as online...others who support what I am doing, offering encouragement along the way, building a network that strengthens all who participate...

One of which is Barb of Keeping With the Times...today I'm linking up to her Instagram post Sunday Sundries...which encourages each of us to celebrate whatever we wish...today I celebrate my life less ordinary...and the friends who are a part of it...

better late than never...

While looking for something in my office the other day...which I can't even remember what it was at this point...
I came across a folder of collage materials...

I will often collect materials for a piece and put them all together in a folder so that the ideas and theme stay intact...

I started this folder eight years ago...for the first time I was exhibiting at Fresh Paint Art Festival...I had cut out the letters from an old Crate & Barrel shopping bag...and the flowers were cut from a wallpaper sample book...there's also a magazine ad of a Holstein cow...I guess it was the black & white idea tying it all together...

I prepped a canvas today to finish up this collage...minus the cow...
you can see the completed piece at Fresh Paint, August 15-16 at the Everett Marina...I hope you'll stop by...

Bit by bit

In May, I had the privilege to be one of the demonstrating artists for the groups of schoolchildren who came to see the Sustainable Art exhibit at the Schack Art Center. The focus of the show was using recycled/upcycled materials to create art...everything from mosaics to glass to jewelry to fashion...no artistic medium was left out.  The school groups enjoyed a docent led talk through the exhibit, a chance to try their own hand at recycled art and the opportunity to see a live artist in action...that's where I came in.  I demonstrated the steps of making a multi-media collage, using all recycled materials.

The process began with a stack of leftover painted wood scraps...I used these as my foundation...

I wasn't quite sure what would spur me to create...so I brought a suitcase full of materials and papers...
which would also allow the kids to see that just about anything can be used for art...

Since I had recently been rifling through a stack of old photographs, I decided to let them be my guide...I picked out a few interesting faces and began to craft a story, gathering materials...

With each photo, I asked for input from the school group kids...what did they think was happening in the photo...what was the story here...things began to take shape...

Bit by bit, each collage unfolded...
the map in the background expressed the notion that this couple was going on a trip...
but still something else was needed...

Elements shown here were chosen to add to other collages...but where...
the value of trial and error was discussed...

In the end, six collages were completed...started by me...and eventually finished by me...
but with plenty of input for the middle stages from the kids...

Each tells its own small story...with attention to detail and a few well-chosen words and images...

An art creation...composed bit by bit...

Happy Earth Day!

I remember the first Earth Day in 1970...I'm glad that we are still giving a nod to the Earth and all its wonders...and I am still hopeful that more and more of us come to realize that we must treat this planet with all the love and respect we give our personal homes...because, in the big picture, the Earth is our ultimate home...

This idea of treating the Earth wisely is part of what fuels my art...foraging from those things that others throw away and find no value in...finding new life in remnants of the past...creating combinations of everyday ephemera.

I'm pleased to have three of my collage assemblages included in a gallery show at the Schack Art Center which is all about recycled art.  "Saving the Environment: Sustainable Art" runs at the Center from April 23 - May 30; the opening reception is tomorrow evening from 5-8 pm at the Center which is located in downtown Everett.

If you're in the neighborhood, stop on by...I'll be there...along with plenty of great art to amaze you...you'll be surprised at what others may think is junk can be turned into fantastic art with just a bit of insight and inspiration...

Art Party Portland - Registration now open!

A weekend to hang out with other creatives...in a cool, hip town...with plenty of opportunities to make wild art, scrumptious meals and new friends...what more could you ask for?

The idea of this weekend germinated back in January...and since then has blossomed into a full-fledged event...Beth Huffaker, aka shutterhuf, has agreed to co-host with me and we have been cooking up plans...
Early bird registration is now open...so read on to get all the details...

Art Party Portland - Thursday, October 8 to Sunday, October 11, 2015

First the location - Portland, Oregon - a fun, funky city with plenty of creative vibe. We'll be staying in a grand Craftsman bungalow in North Portland.  It will be a communal atmosphere - as in, we'll be sharing bedrooms and bathrooms but there's plenty of space inside and out for togetherness as well as moments of quiet.  There's plenty of coffeeshops, restaurants and boutiques within walking distance and with Portland's great mass transit system, its easy to get downtown or other areas of town if you want to go exploring. 

Here's a breakdown of the weekend...though it remains flexible to incorporate what ever creative adventures you want to include...

Thursday, October 8

           Arrive anytime to the grand old house we are renting for the weekend in North Portland...the airport is also on the north side of town so it should be easy to shuttle over to the house.  Our first gathering will be dinner Thursday night at the house where everyone will meet.

Friday, October 9

            There are no shortage of activities for a creative spirit in Portland – you are free and welcome to explore whatever you desire.

            But – we will also be hosting a number of workshops (morning and afternoon sessions) that you can choose from...

            Beth will be teaching an art image transfer workshop and an iphone photography session...

            I’ll be teaching a session on altered metal tins and a session on constructing corrugated cardboard journals.

            Other ideas floating about...creative writing, junk mail collage, cooking/baking (how about some handmade chocolate truffles?), a visit to a local artisan who actually is making a living being an artist...

Is there a talent you want to share with the group? Or is there a skill/idea/process you’d like to know more about? We'd love to hear your thoughts to make it your weekend - let us know!

There will be light eating options for breakfast and lunch on this day; we’ll have a large group dinner again this night...maybe some specialty cooking?  wine tasting?

And after dinner...Idea Exchange: social media is all the rage...how can you utilize it to your best advantage...

Saturday, October 10

            Junk Bonanza is in town this weekend...one of the largest vintage markets in the country is being held in Portland for the first time...Beth and I are pumped to go and happy to take along whoever else is game...The admission to this event is on your own...tickets are $10; additional details on the show at junkbonanza.com

            If junk is not your thing...there’s Powell’s Bookstore (an entire city block of literary coolness) the Saturday Farmer’s Market (produce, food, art and tons of fun), Washington Park (great hiking trails and nature photo opps)

             Janet Brown of Janet Brown Studios will be teaching a session on Indigo Dyeing.

             Wendy Lee Lynds will teach a session on creative art journaling. 

Group dinner again this night...maybe another Idea Exchange on how to keep the art mojo going when life interferes...

Sunday, October 11

            Winding down...we’ll have breakfast together and then pack up and head for home...with a suitcase filled with memories and creative spark...

As I mentioned earlier, it’s a big rambling house that's the hub for the weekend...its not fancy or elaborate...very down home...clean and tidy...but funky décor.  Its going to be a group experience...there are no private bedrooms and 4 shared bathrooms.  There’s a combination of twin, double and queen beds – even a couple of bunk beds...one bedroom has 6 beds in it, some have only two...think of it as urban camping...and probably best to maybe bring earplugs along...you know we all snore now...but keep in mind that this communal setting is what is keeping this adventure affordable...

If you think that you would like more privacy or a different setting, there are plenty of hotel options in town...and there is a registration fee for those who are staying somewhere else and are participating during the day.

Are you ready to join us...and be a part of this collective of creative spirits?

Early Bird Registraion is now open until May 1 or sooner if event fills. After May 1, the registration fee will be $400.

         $375 includes

* shared lodging at the house for three nights

* group dinners on Thurs, Fri and Sat nights, light breakfast and lunch for Fri and Sat, 

group breakfast on Sun

* all workshop supplies for whatever sessions you take

* plenty of other surprises and sparks

Here is the PayPal link for Early Bird Registration

Activity only Registration – opens now until September 30

$275 includes

 * staying each night elsewhere but participating in all activities and meals 

 at the house Thurs - Sunday as described above

 * all workshop supplies for whatever sessions you take

 * plenty of other surprises and sparks

  Here is the PayPal link for Event Activity Registration

      

Cancellation Policy - 50% refund up until September 1, 2015, after that time, no refunds given.

Additional details about the exact location of the North Portland house as well as more information on schedule, activities, and creative sparks will be provided to registrants upon payment.  You will be asked for a mail address when you complete your PayPal transaction so we can send a confirmation packet to you.

Have any questions, comments or concerns - feel free to email or call/text me 

amy_duncan@yahoo.com

425-239-6132

or my partner in creativity, Beth Huffaker at bhuffak@gmail.com

It's going to be quite a creative party...Beth and I hope you will be joining us!