Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Books at Kai Lin Art!


The latest bookmaking workshop at the Kai Lin Art Gallery was really fun today. Here are the finished products the group made together. Only thing I don't like about these workshops is that the time flies and the fun is over before you're ready to stop. We all finished our pieces and fling - here they are sitting proudly.

The next workshop is Saturday, September 18th. Come join us!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Fairy Dust





Tomorrow morning I spend at the Atlanta Progressive Preschool's finishing a Rachel Carson quote I'm painting on the office wall. I left it the way you see here on Friday morning. As I painted, we decided that the type was flat with just black lettering, as pretty as it was. It still needed a punch. Talk of faries came up and before I knew it, the white accents turned into pixie dust and Rachel Carson's wisdom began to shimmer to life.


This has been so much fun.

Part of the school's philosophy is to have parents donate 15 hours of their time to the school in the medium they feel most able to share. You can do laundry, gardening, art projects, stories, playtime with the kids, volunteer at festivals, etc. I decided to volunteer in the Studio (art room) and to create an APP cookbook. Last year was to paint this quote on the wall. The school invites you to bring your gifts to the open table. Their "diversity" is a strength.


When you choose a school for your child, choose the one that's also a good fit for you and for your family. You can never go wrong.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Table and Escort Cards

Some recent examples from a California wedding. These people were so much fun to work with! Maemae Paperie did the design on the cards and I did the calligraphy.


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Fabulous Fractur

Hello Friends,

This past weekend I spent at the Fractur Calligraphy Workshop with Barbara Calzolari. It had been 5 years since I had the luxury of being the student again. It rocked my world, inspired me and terrified me in many meaningful ways.
It was big.






Below are all the dinky photos I took this weekend. Some are my exercises, some are examples from a book brought in all about calligraphic numbers and the big ones are Barbara's demonstrations.

Take a close look at how many strokes it takes to make a letterform.
Also take notice how similar the strokes are in each alphabetic family.
Just like building a typeface, all characters share the same DNA. AND take a good long look at the rhythmic unity in each approach. Just so beautiful. She's badass. And she was delightful and fun. I think Binders and PC should team up and invite her out here for a visit.



You just wait and see and we'll make it happen. Yay!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Saturday, August 21, 2010

First Day of School



Anton started school this week and I'd forgotten we took these darling shots of him in the school parking lot. He was sooooooo excited to get back to The Atlanta Progressive Preschool. My darling boy. He turns four next month. FOUR. It's not going fast. It's just that my memory of yesterday and the day he was born, our first morning alone together, his first bite of chicken and his first smile at me feels like a moment ago.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Opening Happiness


Right before making the covers for this tiny tape-bound book, I made a last minute stop at Starbucks for a yummy, sugary, caloric carbohydrate treat. I liked the words on the bag it came in as much as what was in my mouth. Open Happiness. Choose Real Thought. Enjoy the Difference.

And it struck me today that the key to my life is simply this: Do What Feels Good. No judgement. No mistakes. No what ifs. None of that. I want to know that every direction I am inclined to take is there for a reason and it is through that movement into pleasure that I will discover more and more, which leads to more and more.






Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Gift Making Workshops at Binders


Button Closure Workshop with Anne Elser
Sat. & Sun. Oct. 9-10, Sat. 10:30am-5:30pm, Sun. 11:30am-6pm
Sale price until Sept. 24: $140, After Sept. 24: $155 | Min 4/Max 15


This little box is perfect for a man or woman looking to hold their favorite trinkets, stationary items, craft supplies, card decks and scoring pads, buttons, jewelry or cufflinks. The button closure is optional, as are the inner dividers. Build little feet for the bottom of your box as high as you like and tie it closed with any kind of elastic, leather, clasp or button. This box is very versatile. All the supplies you need to make this structure can be purchased at Binders right before the workshop. Our workshops are fun and fast! We'll have 2 full days to create your project and time permitting; we'll create a circular paper ornament and a miniature origami holiday tree.

For more information about this instructor and supply lists, please see Instructor Bios & Supply Lists in the menu to right, under Art School at BINDERS.

Collapsible Container Workshop with Anne Elser
Sat. & Sun. Oct. 16-17, Sat. 10:30am-5:30pm, Sun. 11:30am-6pm
Open to all levels | Sale price until Oct. 1: $140, After Oct. 1: $155 | Min 4/Max 15


This container, designed by Lisa Ellerin, has six sides and a hinged base that enables it to fold flat. It's sturdy and lightweight and is made of 2-ply chipboard and covered in decorative Washi Paper. All the supplies you need can be purchased at Binders right before the workshop. Our workshops are fun and fast! Make a big one to hold pens/pencils, brushes or paper scraps. Make a tiny one for q-tips or hairpins! Make a set of 3 or more and nest them together on your work surface to make a "hive" of sorting containers. We'll have 2 full days to create your project and time permitting; we'll create a circular paper ornament and a miniature origami holiday tree.


For more information about this instructor and supply lists, please see Instructor Bios & Supply Lists in the menu to right, under Art School at BINDERS.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Long Stitch Book Saturday Workshop at Kai Lin Art




Long Stitch Book Saturday Workshop at Kai Lin Art
Sept 18th, 2010 from 10-5PM


Spend a Sunday making your very own Soft Cover Long Stitch Book made of folded blank or lined pages and sewn with needle and thread directly onto a soft folded cover. This book features one solid cover made from two layers of imported handmade papers (Washi Paper) that are glued together. A functional, yet decorative work of art, it makes a great gift for you or someone who would enjoy filling it! Its visible stitching is threaded through slits and holes made on the spine. First hour of class we will gather materials at Utrecht art supply, then return to begin our project. We’ll take a break to eat lunch and by the end of class, you’ll be very proud of your first tape bound book. Our workshops are fast and fun. You won’t want it to end!

Min. 4, max. 15 students. Pre-Payment of $80.00 reserves your spot.

Reservations: Shelley@KaiLinArt.com or call (404) 408-4248.
Refunds given no later than 24 hours before workshop.


SUPPLY LIST
Shop with Anne the first hour of the workshop at Utrecht Art Supply in Midtown or in advance at Binders Art Supply in Buckhead.
E-mail her for supply questions: Anne@AnneElser.com.
Approximate supply cost: $65.00
Lunch & supply costs are not included in tuition.
-----------------
Scissors • Roll of Wax Paper • Lineco® bone folder • Washi Paper
Mechanical Pencil • Exacto Knife & blades • 2 paperclips
12 x 18 Self-healing cutting mat • Stiff & springy glue brush
18 inch Non-slip metal ruler • 8oz container of Acrylic Gel Medium
blank or lined paper for book pages

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Tape Bound Book Sunday Workshop at Kai Lin Art




KAI LIN ART PRESENTS
TAPE BOUND BOOK
SUNDAY WORKSHOP
AUGUST 29TH, 2010: 10-5

WITH ANNE ELSER

Spend a Sunday making your very own Tape Bound Book made of folded blank or lined pages and sewn together with needle, thread and paper tapes. This book features front and back covers cut from raw chipboard that you cover with imported handmade papers (Washi Paper.) A functional, yet decorative work of art, it makes a great gift for you or someone who would enjoy filling it! Its flexible and visible spine allows it to open flat and makes a fabulous sketchbook or journal. First hour of class we will gather materials at Utrecht art supply, then return to begin our project. We’ll take a break to eat lunch and by the end of class, you’ll be very proud of your first tape bound book. Our workshops are fast and fun. You won’t want it to end! Min. 4, max. 15 students. Pre-Payment of $80.00 reserves your spot. Reservations: Shelley@KaiLinArt.com or call (404) 408-4248. Refunds given no later than 24 hours before workshop.

SUPPLY LIST
Shop with Anne the first hour of the workshop at Utrecht Art Supply in Midtown or in advance at Binders Art Supply in Buckhead. E-mail her for supply questions: Anne@AnneElser.com. Approximate supply cost: $70.00 Lunch & supply costs are not included in tuition. ----------------- Scissors
Roll of Wax Paper

Lineco® bone folder
2-ply chipboard
Washi Paper
Mechanical Pencil
Exacto Knife & blades

12 x 18 Self-healing cutting mat

Stiff & springy glue brush

18 inch Non-slip metal ruler
8oz container of Acrylic Gel Medium
blank or lined paper for book pages


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Something Blue

Calligraphy from pencil to pixel. A blog masthead for wedding planner out in Pensacola, Florida.
Pencil sketches below show the variations I entertained. I spend just as much time on the pencil sketches as I do "inking" the final. Really.

Lovely people. A really fun job. More and more and more flourish. YUM.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Lipped Telescoping Box

We made these the other night in Production at PC. A telescoping box with a sexy lip used to guide the top lid into place. That might have sounded dirty and I'm not sorry if it did.

To make this box, follow the directions for a regular telescoping box but made TWO lids. One to glue to the bottom of the base and one to act as the actual lid. They'll meet perfectly without overlapping. And your box is that much stronger and sexier.

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Pretty Dirty

Cheeky design has always been around. But I believe Cheeky Calligraphy is something new. And I think we're going to see a lot of it in the first publication of the Communication Arts Typography Annual.

I've made it in CA years ago through my design work. Now it's time I come full circle and throw down some serious ink. Even if nothing I enter gets published, I can't wait to get my hands on the first issue. Worth its weight in gold, it'll be so inspiring to see what everyone's been up to with their pens, pencils and ink. Hand lettering has never been celebrated and taken as seriously as it is now. And what I love about this new trend is that no tool is considered sacred. If James Victore can make magic with a china marker and Marian Bantjes with a ball point pen, well then so can I. :)

I'll bet after a few years, they'll even make a category for envelopes. Take a look at these beauties done by Bill Lilly from Jane Farr's site.



Deadline for entries is September 1oth. Wooooo hoooooo!

Friday, August 06, 2010

Chocolate-Cherry Doodles



Done by dipping into two alternating inks with my Petal Pod, Liquitex Inks: Transparent Raw Umber and Magenta using a Nikko G pointed nib. I just began doodling and made a chocolate cherry layer cake of loops. Yummy goodness.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Mirroring



None of the bedrooms Doug and I have shared (this makes the third one) have ever been really finished. The more publicly visible rooms in our homes got all the attention and the private nest just never got as cozy as I would have liked. Until now. This house is so tiny, so perfectly proportioned and evenly spaced, everything gets my attention. No space is left unloved. I love living small. LOVE the tiny fridge. The tiny porch, tiny yard, short driveway, ultra mini pantry. I see all of it and it sees me.

I decided to put most of the mirrors we own into this beautiful little green bedroom. It now reflects everything - color, space and light. Makes the room feel twice as big, without losing its snuggly appeal. And it's interesting - when you put up beautifully framed mirrors, you and your movement become the art. It constantly changes. The time of day, the feel of the air, the fabric you're wearing, your face, your movements - it all gets reinterpreted in these mirrors.


I am now on the lookout for more mirrors. And that's not just on the physical side. I mean metaphorical mirrors, too. I am opening to change.

And by the way - this is Doug in bed. And that E was from an old sign. The oval white-framed mirror was in my childhood bedroom. And the headboard was my grandparent's. The pillows were from my needlepointing days.

I am loving this house.