Ruffles & Rust recap

It was a whirlwind of activity...and when all was done, it was a vintage oasis...I had a small corner booth...perfect to highlight my collages and vintage art cards...

In between all of the hubbub, I managed to get in a few pics...what caught my eye...

Thanks to all who stopped by my booth - great to see familiar faces and meet a few new ones...thanks to Timi and her crew for a great show...thanks to my assistants Liz and Sue...and thanks to the Southern Man...
now onto the next event...

Another sneak peek...

Thought I'd give you another preview of what you can find in my booth at this weekend's Ruffles & Rust Vintage Show...

There were a couple of teasers of these lamps in progress on my four corners design facebook page (click here to jump over and "like"...that way you'll be in the know on all that's happening in my studio...)
Here are the completed lamps...burnished gold metal bases topped with custom shades created with vintage french book pages...

the inside of each shade was finished with a length of Cavalinni numbers tape...and the outside of the shade was buffed to a waxen sheen...

I transferred a few of my photo images onto canvas and stretched them over a frame...

love the numbers on this old scale...

I'll also have plenty of old books and vintage ironstone...and other fun finds...

For the rest of the week, I'll be busy setting up and then I'll be at the show...so I'll be back next week with pictures...but if you want to see it all in person...stop on over...Friday night or all day Saturday...I'd love to see you!

Perfectly imperfect

Monday's assignment for my Beyond Layers class focused on the Celebration of Growth...to look at where one started in January and to gauge progress now that it is October...to review the creative journey each of us has undertaken...







For some reason, this thought resonated with me...I have learned a lot from this class...
...I am no longer intimidated by Photoshop...and though I am far from proficient, I feel comfortable with basic editing...the repetition of excercises from week to week reinforced my confidence
...I am developing my own photographic style which I feel is a true representation of my artistic spirit
...I have met some incredible artists, all living with different life struggles, in different parts of the world, but using their camera to help tell their story
...A large whiteboard is the perfect backdrop when shooting a still life to block out the background and bounce light into the picture
...Taking the camera off of Autofocus can be a good thing

Probably the most interesting thing I have learned is how texture can help tell a story...for years I had admired Kim Klassen's work with texture editing of photographs but never felt that it was my style.  With this class, I understood how the variations of light/color/opacity/layers can enhance a photo and tell a story more complete and complex than just an untouched shot...its not that I use texture on every photo I take, but sometimes it can convey a special meaning...

kk texture autumnBurst, one layer darken at 12%, one layer overlay at 40%, bondoni font




I created this vignette to express my celebration of growth...not just in this class...but in my own creative journey...I have a birthday next week and I'm rounding out the backside of 50...and though I have my share of worn edges and aged exterior, it is texture in the form of experience, layered through the years that enhance my life story...it makes me more complete and complex...perfectly imperfect...and eager to learn what lies ahead...


linking up to Kim's Texture Tuesday...

Change for the better

Sometimes things are not as they seem...

On my recent trip to Yakima, I spied these whitewashed wooden buckets...I thought they looked great - wonderful patina, well-worn look, metal strapping...but when I looked closer...the strapping was plastic!  But I had a eureka moment...change for the better...

The bucket on the left shows the original condition...with a set of pliers, it was easy to rip off the plastic strapping...

My plan was to remove the plastic strapping and in its place to wrap around a length of jute twine...the indentation encircling the bucket would keep the twine in place.  I gathered a few vintage metal numbers since numbers on buckets seem to be in vogue...the small nails that held the original strapping in place were saved...I'll re-use them to attach the numbers to the buckets...with supplies at hand, I began...

After wrapping the twine around the bucket, I finished it off with a square knot...to this day, I always silently repeat my Girl Scout mantra "right over left and left over right makes a knot neat, tidy and tight" whenever I tie a square knot...












After hammering in two nails to hold each number in place, I was done...

I think they look much better...more natural with that hideous plastic removed...
and a perfect addition to my french-inspired booth that will be at Ruffles & Rust next weekend...

and linking up to Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special...because its always great to see the inspiration out there...

The epitome of autumn

Time flies...

some finds from my recent junking excursion

As I turn my calendar to October, I must now relinquish myself to the thought that the seasons are changing...
summer was too short in the Pacific NW this year...on my drive home from visiting my sister over the weekend, the leaves in the mountain passes were taking on a golden hue...

And at work, Christmas has arrived in all its glory...its not that I'm not singing the Lowe's company song...but this does seem a little early...what happened to enjoying the present moment and giving each holiday its due?

For better or for worse, the festive holiday season approaches...and I am in the throes of prepping for three shows...so mark your calendar...

October 12-13    Ruffles & Rust - a vintage market to inspire
                          Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe
                          My booth theme is "Remembering the Old Country"
                          I'll have original art, vintage notecards and plenty of interesting found objects
                          More information visit www.rufflesandrustsquare.com



November 1-3     Artist Studio Sale
                          Ad Lib Studios/Leslie West
                          Intimate Studio Sale with original art, jewelry, fabulous holiday gifts and more
                          8798 N. Mercer Way, Mercer Island



December 1-2     Phinney Winter Festival
                          115 Artists with everything from glass to watercolor to textiles to jewelry
                          Phinney Neighborhood Center, Seattle
                          More information visit Phinney Neighborhood Center site


As each show approaches, I'll give you more details and teasers of what I'll be offering...but get those dates on your calendar now...I'm hoping to see a few of you this holiday season...whatever holiday you might be celebrating!