An Exercise in AB-Making

This book was the inspiration for me to enter the world of altered books.

You should know that this was my first attempt after thinking about, reading about altering old books. And of course Larry is a collector of old and fine books so I have an almost endless supply. Which is just where I found this book, The Girl Warriors.

I suppose I was feeling a bit of a warrior this summer. And, indeed, the AB project seemed to offer just what I needed: something that could be fitted into whatever amount of time I was able to muster for my studio.

Let it also be known that I am someone who begins projects with a great deal of excitement. Which has a way of falling off. And the project becomes a UFO: unfinished object. But don't ask how many; I never tell! Anyway, this summer, I discovered a new patience for problem-solving and perseverance for completion with this altered book. Why? Don't know. But I think of it as a great gift. Among several that I received this summer season . . . . .

The summer of my altered book and gifts was also a summer of learning new lessons. "And this is the rest of the story". Now who used to say that on the radio? A bit conservative for my taste but I did like that almost-crying-voice that said those words. Oh, where was I. Oh the summer of lessons.

1. Chugging along on the AB but feeling constrained by the tight binding and in the interest of "art" I ripped the entire text block out of the spine. That's lesson #1: if you don't know how to get the text block back in, don't rip it out!
2. Working on the unconstrained pages I just tripped right along. And, discovered that two pages would make terrific inside front and back pages. Impatient novice that I am, I adhered them both. That is lesson #2. Don't! It seriously limits your cover options. Who Knew!!!
3. With the number of pages I wanted complete, I searched around for a way to get the pages back into the spine. And found a Japanese valley fold type of binding. A wonderful idea. For a Japanese book. Not mine. That type of binding is too tight; I couldn't open the spreads sufficiently to view my work. This really belongs to lessons # 1 and 2, suppose as does the following.
4. So, I invented my own type of valley fold binding -- but it didn't work. Two times!
5. Along the way somewhere, I covered and embellished the old book and think I did a great job.
6. But of course, its an empty book; it has no pages ~~~~~ just a spine and altered covers!!!!!! Huh????

So, here's where I am now. This is over-long, I think but here goes.....

• I abandoned the wonderful altered covers. I will get backt to them one day; promise.
• I prepared pages in a new-old book.
• The new-old book is one that I've saved for a long time: it has a sewn-in text block, leather trim, the words, "Newspaper Clippings" in gilted script.
• This book is smaller in overall dimensions, so the altered pages must be RE-altered. Hmmmmm????
• But that gave me another go at "Pentimento" ~~
• The new book is nearly done and I WILL post pix.

Of course, since my obsession with re-binding the first book, I came across Lisa Volrath's instructions for removing and re-binding the text block!!!! on the Yahoo Altered Book Group.

But what stopped me from thinking outside the BOX during all that angst? I mean who said those "pages" had to be in a book. With covers? And it's just come to me that I could have created a wallhanging with them using any number of ways to string them together. Eyelets and fibers. Wire. Leather. Beads.

"The full soul tramples upon the honeycomb,
but to the hungry soul, any bitter thing tasts sweet.
Proverbs 27:7

I just discovered Monica Wood, a Maine writer, and this fabulous book published by Ballantine Books in 2005. And, what a find! What a story-teller! What delicious prose: Wood's use of language is imaginative and captivating; she creates compelling word pictures.

Oh, and by the way, the citation from Proverbs is the book's opening.

Frankly, I wanted to give up everything and just keep on turning the pages of her book. It is the story of a friendship, a marriage, and a search for a past. Lizzy Mitchell, orphaned at the age of two, is raised by her only caring relative, a Catholic priest in rural Maine which in itself is an unusual plot twist. But the book opens nearly 30 years later with a horrific accident that becomes the counter-point to the story of Lizzy's childhood.

One reviewer called it a story of "desertion, trust, faith and forgiveness". Another reviewer said "it is exquisite, soul-satisfying" and, finally, another said it is an "intimate exploration of faith and love, betrayal and penance". And, I recommend it highly and without reserve.

I googled the authors name http://www.monicawood.com and found a delightful, appealing and informative website and, best of all, several more books by Wood. On the website, she has included tips for writers and other items of interest. Take a look.

The Monarch School of New England http://monarchschoolne.org is a year-round school for children with severe physical and developmental disabilities. Approximately 40% of the students are diagnosed with autism; others, are medically fragile. The student body of 30+ students come from 20 towns in central New Hampshire and southern Maine. There is a staff of about 60: administrators and support staff, teachers, therapists, and nurses.

I am the school's Development Director. I immediately fell in love with the kids and staff; and found to my delight that a sign over a door in the school was completely true:

"Love spoken here".

When I came to the school, about three years ago, it was with a "phased-retirement" plan. You know: getting ready to retire but not q-u-i-t-e there yet. Ready to stop working at impossible jobs with crazy expectations and hours but not ready to stop working. The school advertised half-time; that suited me just fine. Of course, over the three years I've continued to respond to need by adding more hours.

This Saturday, we have a very special fundraising event planned:

The Matt Savage Trio http://savagerecords.com

Rochester Opera House http://rochesteroperahouse.org

Rochester NH

7:30 PM.

What's so special about that? Well. For starters, Matt Savage is only 14 years old and he has played the BlueNote. Birdland. The Kennedy Center. He's played with Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Chaka Kahn. He's appeared on the TODAY show. He's won the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award 2 consecutive years. He just released a new CD on September 19, QUANTUM LEAP on a national record label.

Matt was diagnosed with autism at the age of three; he taught himself to play the piano at the ago of 4; studied at Berkley Center at the age of 7 and cut his first CD at the age of 9. CNN just ran a special news report entitled, "Genius" which featured Matt and several others who are termed, savants.

Matt is a busy young man: he is playing the Regatta Bar in Boston tonight and opening for Wynton Marsalis in early October (I've forgotten where?). We are proud to bring him to the seacoast community and I am so excited to see him play!

So, take a look-see on the Monarch School's website and while you're there, view our videotape, a visually and emotionally appealing look into the school and its students that was done by a wonderful volunteer, a professional videographer. By the way, our website took a first place award in the education category in a state competition just months after it was launched in 2005. The website was designed Rainer Schwake at http://artstreamstudios.com. A great art gallery, art school and design studio in Rochester NH.

And when you have a moment, do visit Matt Savage at his website. You can sample bits of his music and look at a photo album covering his musical career.

And you can probably tell that I LOVE my job!

This is a Black Throated Grey Warbler!

And I am not a birder. And I don't play one on the internet.

But while Larry and I were on Appledore Island several weekends ago, there was a great buzz about the sighting of this bird. It was seen in a tree just off the large deck outside the dining commons on Friday night and again on Saturday morning.

What's so special about that you might be asking?

Well, this bird lives in thegreat northwestern regions (USA and Canada); it winters in warmer climes like Mexico and is not usually seen in New England. In fact, this sighting was the first ever sighting on Appledore. This is significant because there is a bird banding station out there and birders find Appledore an appealing spot. I'm told that this sighting would make in to the Maine Rare Bird Sightings list.

Well, I was curious about this phenomenon and asked my questions of the friendly birders who are more than generous with information.

Did you you know that birds fly groups of mixed varieties?
Sometimes a single bird will join a group of other birds - not his relatives - and travel with them for a while - stop somewhere and then join another group for more flying.

Which is probably what our little warbler on Appledore did and .....got a little off home-base, I'd say.

But lordy, isn't it a beauty!

A Monarch on Star Island

This is the time of year when the monarch butterfly begins to make its annual 3000 mile migration from northern United States to the warmer southern regions of California and Mexico.

Their travel south is one of the wonders of nature. Did you know that the monarch butterfly who leaves New England for the south is the great-grandparent of the monarch butterfly that returns?

In all the world, no butterflies migrate like the Monarchs of North America. They are the only butterflies to make such a long, two way migration every year.

Amazingly, they fly in masses to the same winter roosts, often to the exact same trees. Their migration is more the type we expect from birds or whales.

When the late summer and early fall Monarchs emerge from their pupae, or chrysalides, they are biologically and behaviorally different from those emerging in the summer. The shorter days and cooler air of late summer trigger changes. Even though these butterflies look like summer adults, they won't mate or lay eggs until the following spring. Instead, their small bodies prepare for a strenuous flight.

One unsolved mystery is how Monarchs find their overwintering sites each year. Somehow they know their way, even though the butterflies returning to Mexico or California each fall are the great-great-grandchildren of the butterflies that left the previous spring.

No one knows exactly how their homing system works; it is another of the many unanswered questions in the butterfly world.

I took the photo on Star Island in September 2005.

Winding roads that seem to beckon you.........This past weekend, we spent a lovely long weekend on Cape Cod. Drove down on Friday and returned today. On Sunday, I took a solo drove down Route 6a, one of the most beautiful roads in America, I think. It winds through little towns ~~~ Sandwich, Barnstable, Brewster, Orleans, dotted with antique shops, b&bs, restaurants, glorious architecture and green farm land. Tomatoes, pumpkins, asters, mums: A lush world in September.

Miles of sand beneath the sky so blue......The weather was grand each day: clear blue skies; perfect late summer temps in the seventies. We stayed in Falmouth where I once lived for a short while in my twenties as a new bride. Too many years ago to say. The hotel we stayed in is at the head of the of Falmouth Harbor looking out towards the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

With every turn on yet another lovely road, I hummed that song.

And I even remember Patti Paige.
How's that for an admission!

APPLEDORE ISLAND

This weekend Larry and I went out to Appledore Island with a group from the Seacoast Science Center. This is an annual trip for us, one that we look forward to this pleasure.

Appledore is a tiny island, one of the nine islands that make up the Isles of Shoals.

In the 19th century and early 20th century it was the home of Celia Thaxter, the poet and artist whose family ran a summer hotel and catered to well known artists iof the time such as Childe Hassam.

Now it is owned by the Star Island Corporation and leased to Cornell University which maintains a marine laboraty. It operates from April to September and is buttoned up all winter long. As you can imagine, the accomodations are a bit on the primitive side: dormitory style rooms, single beds, and a walk down the corridor to the 'ladies'.

Appledore is only 9 miles off the coast but it offers a perfect escape: no automobiles or streets, no public lighting, no television, radio or newspapers, no computers or cell phones. Just quiet. Solitude. Relaxation. We walk and hike and hang around with naturalists and soak up new knowledge along with the ambience. Otherwise, we read and rest and re-coup. There is always a lobster dinner on Saturday evening and Sunday brunch before piling onto the Kingsbury, a research vessel for the trip home.

My Newest Postcard Trade

Isn't it just splendid! I love it!

This fabric postcard was made by Francoise of Belgium.
We planned the trade in the early summer but agreed to do it later in the season.

I hope she is as pleased with my postcard as I am with her work.

Oh, the Altered Book!

Well, all the spreads are done. I am working on the binding and cover. The lesson I learned from this project: never, never, never remove the text block from the binding. While working on the pages, I felt quite constrained by their size and lack of flexibility. So. I took the whole thing out in one fell swoop. And boy am I sorry. I have been teaching myself a binding method whereby one creates mountains and valleys, pastes the pages into the valleys and mounts the whole into spine. I will post the completed book soon.

(she said with great optimism)

NEW PAGES FOR THE ALTERED BOOK

I am still working in the altered book format and finding it both enjoyable and challenging. It is a project that I have thought about doing for quite a long time.

The page above is an homage to t s eliot's 'Lovesong to J. Alfred Prufrock.

It uses paper, acrylic paints, fiber and beads.
Here is a close up of the right side of the mermaid page.
Beads and fibers on the bottom and along the left side.
This is the left side of the page.
I had used this image in an earlier version but was not pleased with it.
Also, uses fibers and beads and a vintage button that has the appearance of something one might find in the ocean.
My altered book celebrates the three ages of a woman's life: maiden, mother and crone.
The text on this page above reads:
"The human woman gives birth just as the earth gives birth to the plants. She gives nourishment, as the plants do. So woman magic and earth magic are the same. They are related. And the personification of the energy that gives birth to the forms and nourishes is properly female.
From the Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell.
This page is the left side of a spread and is incomplete.

Here is the right side of the celebration of 'mother'.
The text reads:
"The middle aspect of the Goddess is the Mother-Queen. She Who Rules. She is always celebrated for Her fecundity. She Who GIves Birth to New Life but what about her "ruling" aspect, making decisions, taking responsibility, contributing leadership to what has been created? Middle age is a mental state. It begins when you accept your own power and are willing and proud to exercise it, by shaping your own life and contributing society at large. "
Paper, acrylics, antique lace, hand-painted dryer sheet.

This page brings together the maiden, mother and crone.
The text reads:
"Most ancient symbol systems recognized the triangle as a sign of the Goddess's Virgin-Mother-Crone trinity and at the same time as her genital "holy place", source of all life. The triangle represented the Virgin Moon Goddess called Men-Nefer, archaid deity of the first Mother-city of Memphis. The triangle itself was worshipped in much the same way that modern Christians worship the cross."

I don't think it is entirely complete.

I have re-worked this page several times and am liking it now although I think it needs some work still.
The text on this page reads,
"How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you.....a place of women where you were received and affirmed? A place where other women, perhaps somewhat older, had been affirmed before you, each in her own time, affirmed, as she struggled to become more truly herself."

NEW ALTERED BOOK PAGES

(post-pentimento)

The first page (above) is meant to be a celebration of the crone, the 3rd and final phase of a woman's life which she attains at the age of 56. It honors her wisdom and her power.

Paint, paper, fibers, fabric sheers and burlap, found objects.
I haven't decided if she is complete........

The next page is based on text about looking at the moon, 'solitary and mid-sky', and coming to know oneself completely, in every aspect.

Paint, paper, mesh ribbon.

The third page is based on text from a marvelous book entitled, Circle of Stones and poses the question, 'how would your life have been different' if you had a circle of women, older women who helped you to be comfortable in your own skin, your female-ness?
Paper, organza, antique lace and ephemera, vellum image.
This one is not finished.

This little piece is part of a page entitled, Faith, that was not sacrificed (to pentimento).
I had attempted to photograph it several days ago without success;
this try worked just fine.
These are shiney fibers over faux suede and entrapped under tulle and surrounded by satin stitching..

This final photo is from the page entitled, Hope.
It is created from bits of antique lace laid over muslin
and topped with a layer of fabric glue and then painted.
I am quite enthralled with this process.

Pentimento & An Altered Book

(I love that word)

Pentimento; the freedom to change, modify what has been done.

Yesterday, I practiced pentimento on my altered book.

With more time in my playroom, more focus and more energy

than at any other time during this entire summer,
I was able to look more critically at the initial pages of my altered book.
And didn't like some of what I had done.

An altered book is a great format for pentimento:
just cover over with paper or gesso. Start over.

I did: liberating myself from what hadn't worked.

This idea of pentimento is a nice nudge to the 'inner critic'.

You know the one, that says:
"not good enough."

It was so freeing to just move away and helpful, too,

as I really like what I've done and will post them later today.

Oh by the way, the image on this post is one of Celia Thaxter's Garden on Appledore Island, one of the Isles of Shoals. Larry and I will have our annual retreat there in September with a group from the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point.

A Mixed Media Altered Book

I've been working in an altered book format for the last week or so. The book is a pristine old journal found at an estate sale or auction some time ago. It is cloth covered with the word, "Record" on the cover. The only writing inside was a lightly penciled name: the father of the atomic bomb. Strange, interesting, curious. I covered over the name.

Today, I want to post some the book pages in progress.

Hope

Paper, acrylic paint and distressed lace.

The lace technique was in Quilting Arts magazine and the finished product has great texture

(I tried getting up close and personal with the camera but still couldn't do it justice).

Here's how I did it.
Bits of antigue lace are laid over muslin to cover the entire surface. Using both straight and patterned stitches as well as free machine work, I sewed the lace tightly and then applied a thin layer of fabric glue the lace. After drying, I painted it with opaque paints and dyes. It just has so many intriguing uses: mount on driftwood, use in collage, little art quilts and so much more.

Faith
Fabric, paper, paint, fibers.
The text reads: "Last night I did not know that today it would be raining."
I received a card with this little sentence about 30 years ago and WOW just never forgot it .

The little fabric rectangle on the left is faux suede with lots of shiny fibers captured under tulle and satin stitched all around. Same deal: difficult to photograph.

Untitled, 1st spread
Paper, paint, fabric, photo fragments
Way more work to be done!

Girl Warrior I -- 1st page
Torn paper, acrylic paint, mesh ribbon, colored pencil.
She needs more work: the flowers are wishy-washy and the bottom left is totally incomplete.

I like her very much ~~ she exudes strength and purpose.

This is the cover of an antique book that is the catalyst for my altered book.

I'll post more when finished.

A Postcard(quard) Trade with Deb

I found this wonderful beauty in my mail box recently. And what a treat it was to open!

Deb in Alaska suggested we trade and I was immediately pleased to do so. She is a wonderfully artistic quilter. Deb wanted one of my postcards with original ephemera and I sent one of the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair. My quard from her was a total surprise as she made it especially for the trade. Isn't is grand!

You will LOVE her blog and her website:
http://www.coldfeetquilter.com
http://akquilter1.com

Deb lives in Anchorage, transplanted there from the midwest. She's a full time nurse, wife, mom and grandmother. Her blog is a delight to read. Homey, cozy, warm and full of life. She has also posted images of their new cabin near Anchorage.

What I have enjoyed through her emails and blog are my memories of being in Alaska during three jaw-dropping trips. Several career moves ago, I worked for a research and training company that required a lot of travel to clients around the US. During that time, I made a number memorable trips to Anchorage and to Juneau.

Larry came with me on these trips. One year, we went to Anchorage in July: drove down the Kenai to Homer. Took the train to Denali. Drove to Seward. Spent a day in Talkeetna and watched for the famous bachelors (didn't see any). Also surprising was the 'newness' of everything -- towns that were incorporated in the 20th century; some that only electricity in the 1950's; one that had only recently paved an access road for autos. It is a show-stopping-kind-of-place.

Ate salmon and halibut and Japanese soups. I remember a picnic on the Kenai, eating fresh crab purchased in Homer; Larry took a photo of me wearing two sweaters and ear muffs. It was July.

We marveled at the late night sun. And used the over-worked word 'awesome' because no other word would do, was BIG enough, descriptive enough.

We returned in October that year to snow on the ground and nearly all-day dark. We watched little school children getting off the bus in what seemed like the middle of the night with snow falling.

So, thank you Deb for a gift of friendship. For releasing memories. And for a glorious tiny art quilt.

___________

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair.
Kahlil Gibran

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned
so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
E.M. Forster

These days.

I don't have as much time in my studio/playroom.

Oh, I'm not complaining.
Every moment I spend there is pure joy.

______________________

This little post card (or postquard as Deb H of Anchorage likes to say)
is antique lace over contemporary furnishing fabric
with various vintage and retro buttons.

The images are reproductions. 4X6

_____________________

These days.

When in my studio,
I am playing with an interesting technique.
Laying antique laces over a base fabric,
covering all with a fine layer of fabric glue and painting.
The effects are quite magical.
Photos to follow.

_____________________

These days.

We are enjoying a visit from Victoria, our very special 13 year-old granddaughter.

While here, she is working on a project with antique lace
that will become a strapless camisole when completed.
I'll have some fine photos to share.

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields
has power to move you,

if the simple things of nature
have a message that you understand,

rejoice,
for your soul is alive.

(Eleonora Duse)

EXPERIENCE JOY

"Has it occured to you that what feels like calamity may be a gift,
given to you because you are the rare being who can use a hard gift like this?

Dr. Hallowell to Hillary Stevens

Mrs. Stevens Hears The Mermaids Singing

May Sarton

At last!
Time and the high hot summer sun have given us lilies!

One small oval garden spot is dedicated to early spring blooms ~~~ tulips , narcissus, columbine & poppy. After that comes ethereal dancing daisey white & tall.
Then we watch and wait as lily's foliage becomes lushly green and the buds pregnant with color fairly burst from the pods.


Yesterday's unveiling: the first Pink Lily of the season.

And so in tribute to Lily, the Pink, I present here a children's lyric from the 1960's .
I love it!
Somewhat irreverant, amuzing and whimsical, and not at all descriptive of the "romance" of my garden's lily, it is actually an ode to Lydia Pinkham's potion or "compound.

LILY THE PINK

We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the Pink the Pink the Pink
The saviour of the human race
For she invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case.

Mr. Frears
Had sticky-out ears
And it made him awful shy
And so they gave him medicinal compound
And now he's learning how to fly.

Brother Tony
Was notably bony
He would never eat his meals
And so they gave him medicinal compound
Now they move him round on wheels.

[Chorus]

Old Ebeneezer
Thought he was Julius Caesar
And so they put him in a Home
Where they gave him medicinal compound
And now he's Emperor of Rome.

Johnny Hammer
Had a terrible ss..ss..ss..ss..ss..ss..stammer
He could hardly s..s..say a word
And so they gave him medicinal compound
Now he's seen (but never 'eard)!

[Chorus]

Auntie Millie
Ran willy-nilly
When her legs, they did recede
And so they rubbed on medicinal compound
And now they call her Millipede.

Jennifer Eccles
Had terrible freckles
And the boys all called her names
But she changed with medicinal compound
And now he joins in all their games.

[Chorus]

Lily the Pink, she
Turned to drink, she
Filled up with paraffin inside
and despite her medicinal compound
Sadly Picca-Lily died.

Up to Heaven
Her soul ascended
All the church bells they did ring
She took with her medicinal compound
Hark the herald angels sing.

Credit for growing these lovelies pink lilies goes to Larry-of-the-green-thumb.
The lyric can be found at http://www.mum.org/Mrspink1.htm

"I'm sure that someone may already have told you about this, but there was a "pop" group in the 1960's in Britain called "Scaffold" whose main claim to fame was that one of them was Paul McCartney's brother and one was the Liverpool poet Roger McGough. However, they had a long-running number one hit with what most people took to be a children's song called LILY THE PINK."

Things We Do at 4:08 AM
when SLEEP*LESS*NESS Reigns

n: temporary state in which you are unable to sleep;

The One Word List

Borrowed from Susan, who borrowed Something to Say who borrowed from Scenes from a slow-moving train.

Only use one word answers.

Yourself: wondering

Your partner: caring

Your hair: short

Your mother: giving

Your father: deceased

Your favorite item: Pfaff

Your dream last night: none

Your favorite drink: margarita

Your dream home: open

The room you are in: office

Your pleasure: grandkids

Your fear: illness

Where you want to be in 10 years: seacoast

Who you hung out with last night: Larry

What you're not: tall

Your best friend: Larry

One of your wish list items: space

Your gender: female

The last thing you did:

What you are wearing: pj's

Your favorite weather: 70's

Your favorite book: novels

Last thing you ate: chicken

Your life: mine!

Your mood: hopeful!

The last person you talked to on the phone: Mom

Who/what are you thinking about right now: sleeplessness

Favorite food: ethnic

Just Can't Help Myself!

. . . From making these little mailable art pieces.


This one is called:

"I'll dance with you in Vienna".

Cotton prints, paper, tulle, oil pastels. 4X6 (this one is on its way to Shelly in Massachusetts)

This is the second in the series.

I started this project by culling out black & white fabric prints and looking through boxes of images and ephemera. And then searched for some color to add a punch.

And, this is the result.


Cotton fabric, paper, antique lace, oil pastels. 4X6

More Mailable Art

The postcard above is free machine thread-work on cotton and silk fiber bits, 4X6

Mawata (attenuated silk cocoon) over commercial cotton, thread-work, 4X6
(This one is on its way to Deb in Anchorage AK)

I have a small collection of ephemera ~~ original paper such as ticket stubs, advertising booklets, vintage postcards, photos and more. In the collection are pieces from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. I thought it would be fun to build a fabric postcard using 1930's reproduction fabrics (that I've had for ages) and the related ephemera. This one has a Yellow Cab ticket stub that was good for five days while in Chicago at the Fair ~~ and cost was only $15.75! Just imagine!

Commercial prints, trim, vintage and contemporary buttons, ephemera, 4X6

A little expressionist art postcard. commercial prints, contemporary buttons, trim, 4X6

And, once I started in on the World's Fair theme, I just couldn't help myself. Here's one more.
Contemporary prints, vintage buttons, antique lace and a 25 cent ticket to the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. 4X6

Life's a Journey (not a destination)
Echo stitching on contemporary sheer fabric, paper, thread embellishment, 4X6

One fish, Two Fish
Commercial prints, tulle, mawata (attenuated silk cocoon), beads, thread embellishment. 4X6
(this one is on its way to Maddie in Florida)

Oh, well. She perseverates.

Collaged bits and pieces from the World's Fair postcards. Commercial prints, 1933 ephemera, vintage tape measure piece, buttons and snaps, found embellishments.

These mailable art pieces can be posted for 39cents in the US. They aren't machinable hence the little higher cost to mail.

All are available for trade or purchase. Email interest to me at:

pats_studio@yahoo.com