JuanitaTortilla

A Month of Analog Collage, Februllage 2019

2019-03-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

Februllage was an iniative by the Edinburgh Collage Collective and The Scandinavian Collage Museum in which collages are submitted to the open Instagram exhibition using the hashtags #februllage and #februllage2019.

I have found it to be a good exercise in getting out of my comfort zone, exploring as many ways possible in how I'd normally manipulate paper and colours.

In addition to the word prompts as creative guides, I added a couple of personal challenges:

1. to work within the page(s) of the paper bag accordion book,

2. incorporate the yoga cats from a yoga cat calendar, and

3. limiting the use of extra new material, i.e. working with what I have on hand.

It was cathartic to see all the "special" scraps of magazine images I've set aside being put to use!

All 28 pieces of my Februllage can be viewed on Instagram with this hashtag, #februllage2019_juanitachoo, https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/februllage2019_juanitachoo/

I also loved how this exercise has enabled me to create a tangible, compiled collection of collages. Could this lead to a new interest: bookmaking (and bookbinding)?

01. Giants
02. Enclosed
03. Connect
04. Leap
05. Flowers
06. Hole
07. Wings
08. Hands
09. Fragile
10. Layers
11. Alone
12. Moon
13. Letters
14. White
15. Maps
16. Small
17. Home
18. Empty
19. Sunshine
20. Blue
21. Buildings
22. Erode
23. Banana
24. Reflection
25. Water
26. Landscapes
27. Body
28. Machines

View this post on Instagram
A speedy flip-through of the @februllage book I created for the month’s challenge. I love the crispy sound of a paper bag. ⚪️ (Insta only allows 1 minute, it seems!) ⚪️ #februllage2019
A post shared by Juanita Choo (@juanitatortilla) on Mar 1, 2019 at 6:37am PST

Seattle Frocktails 2018 - My Tale Of Sewing Three Dresses In A Week

2018-12-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

In my first-world-problem feeling of having nothing nice to wear to Seattle Frocktails (Oct 20th 2018), I decided to punish myself with the challenge of sewing an outfit for the Saturday's event. One week is plenty of time, I thought. Perfect opportunity to dig into my stash of pretty Japanese fabrics from past travels. This sewing misadventure did end up like the Goldilocks tale of 'Too big! Too small!' and then 'This is just nice.' Maybe.

This first dress ensued from two intense days. Having not learnt my lesson from past experience with this dress pattern, it turned out too big on me (at the armscye and back) .

Sewing Pattern

Butterick 5490

But there were winning milestones with this dress: my first properly installed invisible zipper (albeit after a few attempts) and getting the seams matched up as tidily as possible.

Butterick 5490

So I dropped this Too Big dress on the floor to let Mia roll on it. At least one of us will enjoy it.

It was midweek. Do I deconstruct this dress because I so love the fabric and resize the dress pattern, or make a whole new one by revisiting cut patterns of dresses I once enjoyed constructing? The a-ha moment came when my inner voice reminded me of this particular pattern --that I first dipped my toes into bodice dress with-- and the handful of versions I made: first (2011), second (2012), third (2012), fourth (2012), and fifth (2014)!

Sewing Pattern

Burda Magazine Spring/Summer 2009, E988 dress 5A

I was bold enough to widen the bodice waist to accommodate my larger girth since my spring chicken days are long gone. No fitting issues this time! But alas, the contrasting fabric choices with this second dress might have been made it 'Meh' and 'Yeah nah'...

Deciding that Thursday evening was no better time to start on ANOTHER dress, plus I really loved the pleated effect, I hunkered down to resize the armscye and back of Butterick 5490. And as a bonus treat, I added inseam pockets! Third time's the charm, right?

Butterick 5490. Mia says Yeah!

The bodice waist might have been zealously wide, but we can remedy that with a belt?

Butterick 5490

I am happy to report that I survived the Seattle Frocktails evening, assisted by a couple of glasses of rosé. And met a few friendly faces.

Butterick 5490

Whatever happened to the first green dress? I made it my mission to rescue it.

After this dress was resized to my satisfaction, I never once saw the seam ripper again. Until the next dressmaking adventure beckons!

Mixed Media Postcards Mailed Out

2018-11-20T10:11:00.003-08:00

Documenting the 10 DIY postcards heading out to the assigned recipients in the #DIYPostcardSwap; I dropped these cards at a post office in downtown Seattle yesterday, 19.Nov.2018.

I have 9 US domestic addresses and 1 International! They are:

Annelie of Umea, Sweden;
Ellen of Cedar Rapids, IA;
Merry of Phoenix, AZ;
Nancy of Jacksonville, FL;
Priya of Halethorpe, MD;
Charlotte of Fort Wayne, IN;
Sandra of Herndon, VA;
Debbie of Dimondale, MI;
Nancy of San Jose, CA; and
Jill of Kerrville, TX.

Looking forward to you saying 'hi'!

DIY Postcard Swap 2018

2018-11-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Riding the current paper collage enthusiasm and trawling the relevant hashtags on Instagram, I landed myself on a postcard swap, http://www.ihanna.nu/postcard-swap/ (tagging and nudging fellow postcard-making enthusiasts, haha). We each deserve a prize for guessing when the last time was that I took part in a blog-initiated swap, but here I am, late in 2018, signing up for a postcard swap.

Could be fun! Any excuse to craft! Happy mail! All win-win-win.

Collage and painting is a progressive process--I spent a few days working, upcycling material into these quirky ONE OF A KIND mixed media postcards. Safe to say, Fall and Halloween being around the corner might have influenced the choice of colours and overall theme of these 12 cards.

One of these cards could have your name on it!
(video)

Paper Collage - A New Craft Addiction, Est. 2017

2018-11-09T14:44:00.001-08:00

Paper and glue always felt like a messy idea to me; I preferred collaging textiles. When I saw the first Collage Garden's open call in Oct 2017 on Instagram, I could not help but give it a go. In the then magazine-less household, I used supermarket brochures and tourism reading material to come up with these three teeny tiny dogs. They evidently did not show any flex in my creativity. Off they went to The Netherlands!

Since then, my eyes saw reading material differently and I'd keep an eye out on garden-themed images and general pretty things. Feeling bold the second time round in the next Collage Garden's open call for New York City in March 2018, I scaled up!

And then we packed our belongings and moved out of Australia. In the 10 weeks of twiddling my thumbs --hashtag 'makers gotta make'-- in Seattle, I decided that junk mail was as good a material to work with as pretty magazine photography. Yes, junk mail glued on to junk mail. All I needed was paper glue and a pair of scissors. So simple and satisfying.

Paper collage is fun! This beetroot-themed is my latest humble submission to The Collage Garden's Nepal edition in KATHMANDU, 23 NOVEMBER – 7 DECEMBER 2018.

This new crafty endeavour has undoubtedly made me view paper as an enjoyable and creative medium, but oh boy, this means I am starting to hoard magazines!

Maximalist - 14 Long Boho Necklaces

2018-10-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

These are just a bunch of beads, but to me, this is an armful of memories. Each little bead comes with its own unique memory from all over the world.
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I started playing with beads in 2004, collecting and hand-picking beads from my travels to India, Malaysia, and Nepal. Friends trickled into my life and contributed to this bead stash. There are beads in here that remind me of Michela, Sandra, Janet, Ann, Jess, Allison and Rachel, in chronological order, spanning the globe from Europe, the US and Australia. Thank you for your friendship and our shared memories.
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It’s amazing how the brain tissue allows us to attach a sentiment or a small fleeting moment in life to an inanimate object as tiny as a bead.
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On a lighter note, these beads have also been through cycles of beady projects, because I tend to get restless and love to repurpose. My entire bead stash is represented here on these 14 necklaces; no bead left behind!
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#maximalist #maximalistnecklace #JuanitaTortilla

My Submissions to 6X6NW, Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council

2018-09-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

A little adventure in repurposing a cardboard box for the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park fundraising art show, 6X6NW, proved more addictive than I'd expect. Who knew that holding a paintbrush would be my happy place?

This will be my first time participating in an art show.

These are the 10 pieces that I have selected to show. All pieces for 6X6NW are priced at $36 each.

About 6X6NW, https://www.facebook.com/events/661263664249995/

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018 – SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

6X6NW is a unique community-based art exhibition. The show will feature over 700 works of art, all sized 6 x 6 inches.

Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Ave North Bldg.
9000 Student Union Building Shoreline, WA 98133

Tickets can be purchased here for $10 a ticket: https://6x6nw2018.brownpapertickets.com/

Gathering Trinkets in Concrete / Mosaic Session with Friends at The Adelaide Remakery

2018-06-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

While decluttering and packing up for this impending move out of Australia, it occurred to me that I could (or should) compile all the little trinkets -- cracked ceramic bowls from past travels and gifted jewellery -- into a memento. A simple and useable object.

The lovely friends and crew of The Adelaide Remakery rallied together and organised a it's-not-a-farewell-party at their shop one evening.

It was as wild as a craft party could get: kitty cupcakes and lamingtons and chocolate-covered licorice were involved. I loaded most of my glass beads onto the tray of cement. They aren't visible in these pictures as they all sank!

In a careless hurry, and in order to make it for the mover's visit in a couple of days, I thought it would've been fine to take my wet tray home. Lesson learnt: Never transport a wet tray of cement.

Trying to salvage the situation, a late night of digging my claws into wet cement ensued. Half of the cement was lost (washed down the drain) as I picked out the hundreds of itty-bitty sunken beads.

The thin concrete block of pretty mosaic pieces looked promising the next morning.

But alas, the ridges at the bottom of the plastic tray made the concrete piece less solid than it looked. This effort crumbled into 500 pieces the moment I picked the tray up to set it into my packing box for the movers.

We shall re-visit this concrete mosaic the next time we are in Seattle!

Pickle and Her Old Crate

2018-05-31T15:44:00.001-07:00

(See full)

So Long Adelaide, Hello Seattle

2018-05-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. Time to dust off this figurative old journal to document something of significance. But is anybody reading this?

Maximum and Minimum Temperatures - Woven Bags - January to March 2017

2017-04-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Uff, finally caught up with the making of these fabric temperature weavings and totes.

Including the minimum (night) temperatures made the story complete, in my opinion.

Weather Pattern a.k.a. Temperature Project. January 2017 -- Wabisabi Geeky Woven Bag

2017-02-05T19:51:00.000-08:00

Late last year, Friend Sue planted this crafty seed in my head: create something according to the daily temperature, inspired by the 'Temperature Blanket' crochet or knitted projects that have made their presence on the interweb.

The inner geek and stash-busting crafter in me accepted the challenge. Boom! Done. We have our daily maximum recorded temperature data* for all 31 days of January 2017 presented on this wabisabi weaving.

I have decided to make this project more bite-sized and relevant to my style and work since large projects such as blankets, quilts and scarves aren't my cup of tea...

Behold Miss January 2017. 1st Jan begins at the top.

Onward to 11 more bags!

*Based on my home location 500m above sea level.

Vegetable Gardening version 2, 2017

2017-02-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Giving this gardening thing another go, we relocated our vegetable beds and fruit trees to the other face of the house. This is a sunnier position and looks promising. One major lesson from the past year was irrigation. Having a timer to do the watering eliminated the task of remembering to keep the little roots happy.

The positives thus far:

A storm on Boxing Day last year broke our lemon tree at the base. We are happy to see it recovering and regenerating profusely, a few weeks later.
We have our first fig.
The tomatoes are clearly enjoying the new location.

The yet-to-learn:

Pests and diseases! Always a challenge when living with bugs.

Small Screen Printed Zipper Change or Card Holders

2016-12-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

Small, but not so small zipper pouches. Little happy things that I enjoyed working on.

What may have instigated this was the request for:
something small to put a gift voucher in; or
something flat and light and/or Australian-inspired* to mail overseas; or
something handmade and unique as a Kris Kringle / Secret Santa present for this gift-giving season!

*Chicken and cats do not count :D

https://www.etsy.com/shop/juanitatortilla?section_id=18891153

Mixed Media Art - Screen printed Bird - Upcycled Collage - Textile Postcard or Wall Art

2016-12-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

To pick a favourite from the multi-step process is not possible. They were all enjoyable -- from sketching the birds, cutting the stencil, pressing the ink through the silk screen and finally piecing the little bird fabrics on to cardboard.

OK, so my least favourite would be cutting the stencil part :D

The end result of superimposing prints surprises me!

Little postcard-sized pieces of art, I'd proclaim.

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/juanitatortilla?ref=l2-shopheader-name&section_id=16788543

Bird Illustrations - the few familiar Australian natives

2016-10-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

Created a handful of bird illustrations in keeping with the 'Put a bird on it' theme... The first stencil I made was of the Crimson Rosella. It is a very colourful bird which I thought would best fit the rainbow patchwork tote.

For now, the other feather friends -- the Laughing Kookaburra, Galah, Magpie and Chook -- are safely stored in my sketchbook for amusement's sake. They have been fun to draw!

Kyoto, Tea Ceremony 24.Apr.16

2016-07-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

Our day in Kyoto! The JR train conveniently connects Osaka to Kyoto and we started our day in Kyoto with a visit to Sanjusangen-do in the morning. The next touristy spot we aimed for was the 'shrine with shopping street', the names I have forgotten. With the streets packed we decided to skip the shrine or temple and got swayed by all the food and snacks available in this street of Kyoto instead. It was just as well a pleasant day for an overfilled cold matcha custard puff.

Well stuffed with all the sweet snacks by the afternoon, we made our way to a tea ceremony lesson. Tourists will be tourists -- the dressing up added authenticity to this cultural experience. Most memorable for me was the lady assisting me in the kimono asking, "Did you have a big breakfast?" as she tried to corset me in :/

With the tea ceremony over it was an unhurried wander to Nishiki market and downtown Kyoto. Our search for an appealing dinner spot proved to be unfruitful due to the odd hour, so we ambled back to the rail and back to the familiar foodie streets of Namba, Osaka.

Staying above Takashimaya meant a widespread offering of decadent desserts just an elevator ride away!

Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture 23.Apr.16

2016-07-05T23:05:00.001-07:00

Another fun outing ensued in the morning as we rode the bus to the Alps, Tateyama. We were reminded of the Swiss alps and enjoyed some proper matcha roll and tea after a communal hot pot lunch. (Not so fun for me in the 50 minute stretch of the windy mountain bus ride as the motion sickness pill wore off.)

The tour group we were with was so properly run and organised, giving us a sufficient sample of each unique site. On our way back to Osaka, we once again had proper stops at Service Areas, giving us opportunities to procure immaculately boxed souvenir sweets and nibbles (OMG, grilled cuttlefish) along the way.

By sunset, we were conveniently alighted at our hotel where we returned to our creature comforts. That was an activity-packed 2 days outside of Osaka, don't you think?

Shirakawago, Gifu Prefecture 22.Apr.16

2016-07-05T22:33:00.001-07:00

The next stop after Takayama is this really charming little historical town. We've had an hour or so to wander. Shirakawago is just lovely with the traditional thatched houses and the snow-capped mountains in the background. Definitely memorable.

We were later brought to a hotel in another town where we spent the night for an early start the next morning.

Takayama, "Little Kyoto", Gifu prefecture 22.Apr.16

2016-06-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

With an early start on Wednesday, we lugged an overnight pack to join a local coach tour out of Osaka. (Trying to figure out the undisclosed bus meeting point was not without drama.)

Unclear of how much time had elapsed in the moving vehicle aided by the multiple stops at pleasant Service Areas (rest stops along the highway) and the many snacking and souvenir opportunities each provided, the journey to the unknown was totally enjoyable. No busting bladder! Seats were all assigned, too. How civilised! Cup of complimentary green tea while you stretch your legs? Yes please.

The tour included a lunch box which we pre-ordered. Just delightful. In a few hours we were clearly out of the city and in a hilly region. First destination of our coach tour was Takayama, a town dubbed Little Kyoto. We were left to wander the little town for an hour or so. Lovely to have a brief visit to see and smell something out of the city.

Dotonbori and Shinsekei 21.Apr.16

2016-06-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

We began to realise that there is an entire underground network buried in Namba -- a city of railway and shops -- right under our hotel. The bakery with kitty buns became a landmark in our navigation.

This is Pickle transported back in time to kittenhood in Osaka. If only.

We decided to make Dotonbori our breakfast stop for Day 2. It was a rainy day which threw any plans for a trip to Kyoto out the window.

The most significant memory to this little eatery was partly the kaisendon in which the chef kindly but unexpectedly doused soy sauce on the sashimi for us, but mostly because as we sat down, we realised that we were out of Yen and they couldn't accept credit cards...

It was a charade of gestures and eventually guessing from within the ambiguous string of phonetics a semblance of 'Family Mart' (a convenience store) where there is an ATM. You bet Family Mart become the running joke of the week.

A simple wet day of snacking through Dotonbori and under-covered shopping streets ensued with some purchase as collateral.

Lots of fabric fondling. Somebody stop me.

This really damp day also allowed us wander underground for cake and tea (Matcha, what else?) before heading out in the drizzle to Shinsekei and Tsutenkaku Tower.

Only because a picture of Takoyaki Hello Kitty in the observation deck is mandatory.

[ Full album of our Osaka experience: https://flic.kr/s/aHskyBZNxd ]

Sushi Cooking Lesson with Yayo 20.Apr.16

2016-06-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Our week in Osaka was not jam-packed with activities, but we did begin our first afternoon with a sushi cooking class. Sushi cooking with Yayo was a private session in her home -- the third participant did not show up, so we had the place to ourselves with Akane, the silky terrier mascot. (Seen here wearing a doggy kimono.)

It was a casual homely affair, Yayo had prepared all the ingredients beforehand. After each careful demonstration, we get to have a go on our own. Mind you, trying to make an omelette (dashimaki) with chopsticks is not as easy as it looks...

Our class / dinner comprised of miso soup, dashimaki, 10 pieces of sushi and samples of sake. All spectacular, if I say so myself.

I conclude that Japanese women deserve the tip of the hat and had it been left to me, with all that prepping and cleaning up and immaculate presentation, we won't be having sushi and dashimaki and miso soup on a regular basis!

[ Full album of our Osaka experience: https://flic.kr/s/aHskyBZNxd ]

Namba, Dotonbori, Osaka 20.Apr.16

2016-06-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

We went lux by staying in the pleasant Swissotel in Namba and indulging in the hotel restaurant's traditional breakfast of rice porridge for our first day in Osaka. Those little pickled and savory dishes do add up and we almost had no space left in our bellies.

To walk breakfast off and get our bearings, we ambled our way a few blocks away and got drawn to a fresh seafood market. We wouldn't miss any opportunity when it comes to the freshest seafood, so we literally ate our way through the market. Sea urchin, fat belly tuna, Takoyaki and mochi and sweets our eyes landed on... I guess we've found Dotonbori.

With a couple of hours to kill before our 3pm appointment, we tried to make sense of the rail and hoped to find a spot with cherry blossoms. Off to Kema Sakuranomiya Park (Tenmabashi) we went, only to confirm the disappointing truth.

[ Full album of our Osaka experience: https://flic.kr/s/aHskyBZNxd ]

Jigging A 3 x 2-metre Layout

2016-04-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

The next market event for J.T. will be a big one -- Gathered. on 30.Apr and 1.May -- and I have chosen a 3 by 2 metre stall site that I hope to dress well for it to work. Naturally, we have display ever more so at the top of our heads. (By our, I mean my physical self and voices in my head.)

In comes Pinterest, and thank you for my daily morning dose of crafty inspiration. From uber-slick to fleamarket-style visual merchandising, my head is exploding with ideas and suggestions. But alas, I have to work with what is true to me and my branding. And props at hand. We're *almost* there, but with fresh eyes each new morning, it is a never-ending story... It really never ends!

Knits for Cold Dark Days

2016-04-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

The cold dark days are truly upon us. The knitting projects cast on earlier in the warm seasons have finally been cast off, ready to wear. The yak wool dress has been through a couple of dress / sweater versions, hopefully this is the last! The grey poncho was heavily inspired by a tan version friend Jess gave me. You can say I am crazy about ponchos -- it's warm and cozy and hides everything that needs to be hidden!

There's still more yummy wool to get through in my stash. What will we make?