four corners design

Reborn

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Left for scrap in a corner of the junk yard...I could see the potential...

Peeling black paint...a warped plywood top...but there was something there...

I took it home...stripped off the paint...
shined up the chrome...decided to let the natural patina of the steel show its true colors...

Gave it a new solid wood top...
whitewashed the wood...

finished the edge with vintage surveyor's tape...

Ready for its trip to The Farm Chicks show...ready to give a bright idea to someone else that this is the perfect desk for their home...

The beauty of form & function

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:57:00 +0000

Last weekend I had a spare moment...and stopped in at an estate sale here in town...I love it when the ad mentions "...have lived in house for 63 years, everything must go..."

I didn't make it over to the house until the end of the sale...so slimmer pickin's...that's fine by me...
really need to keep my accumulation under control...

My modus operandi is to always hit the garage and basement first...in this case, there was quite a cache of tools in the garage...with one BIG box of screwdrivers...I looked through the contents...and was really struck by the variety, texture and color of the wood handles...yes, all wood handles...no plastic to be seen. I have an idea of a large multi media collage that I want to create for my summer art show - Fresh Paint held in Everett -
here's what I picked up...all for $2.00...

the diversity of the shapes and textures of the wood handles captivated me...such workmanship in their construction...no wonder they've lasted so long...

the shape of the handle providing placement of the palm...and the design within the wood to ensure a good grip...worn patina that belies their usefulness...

I also picked up this vintage black metal lunch box...
did the owner carry his lunch to work as a carpenter or handyman?

Whatever their prior history might have been...I will be giving these tools a new story...as I work to incorporate them as part of my art assemblage...details later this summer...

I'm packing my suitcase...

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:37:00 +0000

Do you remember playing that game as a child..."I'm packing my suitcase and I'm taking..." and then each person listed an item in the suitcase, starting with the letter A and continuing on through the alphabet...

Well, I'm packing my suitcase...and I'm taking an aluminum A...and a bounty of buttons...and a collection of cut-outs...and you get the idea...

This morning I'm traveling to Whidbey Island (a ferry ride across Puget Sound from here) and taking a two day workshop from Seth Apter...called Mixed Media Memoire. Seth is a renown multi-media artist from NYC who has been a tremendous supporter of my work...so when I heard that he would be leading a workshop at the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, I just had to be there (many thanks to the Southern Man for underwriting a portion of this adventure!)

The workshop will combine bookbinding techniques with collage applications...I've been busy collecting the items on the supply list...as well as those special ephemera treasures that will make my book truly unique. Here's a small sampling of what I have packed...and yes, I am packing all my supplies in one of my vintage suitcases...it only seemed right!

The above quote is a page from an old Anthropologie catalog...I've always loved it...
its been hanging on the bulletin board in my studio for 10 years...time to use it...

pages from dictionaries and reference books always provide inspiration...

I'll be staying overnight with my artist friend Wendy Lee Lynds...so of course I needed to pack a hostess gift...wine and chocolates...wrapped in an old burlap sack...tied up with a length of cloth surveyor's tape and embellished with a metal "W"...

It will be good to be the student this time...though I'm sure that we will all learn from each other...
its bound to be an adventure...

Creative distraction

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I see an idea...and it just gets stuck in my head...it intrigues me and stimulates my curiosity...how can I take that inspiration and tweak it...giving it my own twist...and I really won't rest until I give it a shot...

Such was the case with the lovely glass bottles that Kate of Full Circle Studio created for the Artist Collective Sale held last weekend...

Kate used her own collage images on the bottles...the same flavor of images that grace her switchplate covers, her tea towels and her paperweights...a distinctive vintage vibe with a modern interpretation...

Lately I had been playing with vintage bottles (as seen here...) and had a couple of bottles left...I gave myself an afternoon to experiment...

First I printed out some of my graphic images onto drafting transfer paper...this is what I had available in the studio...since I used my inkjet printer for color copies, the ink smeared when I began to adhere the transfer to the bottle...even waiting for the ink to dry overnight did not totally set the image...
so onto plan B...and now the creative distraction is on its second day...but I am determined to figure this out!

I turned to my stash of printed paper napkins...separating the 3-ply napkins and using only the top printed ply, I thought this sheet would be thin enough to lay smoothly on the bottle...

A coating of Elmer's glue was painted on the front face of the bottle...

and then the single ply sheet of the napkin was gently laid on top...
being ever so careful to smooth out the air bubbles without tearing the paper...

After the bottle was completely dry, I wiped off the excess dried glue and then very lightly sanded the paper napkin area to make it as smooth as possible...

and then I sealed the paper layer with a coat of wax...

Let me interject here...an earlier post talked about my favorite tools...
my favorite supplies - by far and away - are Elmer's glue and Johnson's paste wax

I like using Elmer's because it has a long drying time...which gives me a little bit more latitude in working to position an image in just the right position...but the downside to Elmer's is that it is water-based...and any moisture will activate the glue to become sticky...this is where the Johnson's paste wax comes in...using a layer of wax seals the surface and makes it impenetrable to moisture...and the plus side is the slight sheen on the surface that results from buffing the wax...

and yes...I buy my Elmer's by the gallon...

Back to the bottles...if you're keeping track...my afternoon of distraction is now on day three...the surface of the bottles are glued and waxed...all I do is add a few snippets of ribbon, string or wire...and the bottles are complete...

I like how the paper napkin ended being so translucent...this is the front of the egg bottle...

and this is the view from the back of the bottle...
with the image on the front showing through...

Each bottle has its own extra touch...the egg bottle has a feather tied on the neck...the French bottle has a red glass heart...and a postage stamp that I added before I waxed the surface...

The fern bottle has a handmade tag...my recent love of metal paper fasteners led me to snip off the end of one fastener, sanding the edges smooth...trimming a fortune cookie slip to size...gluing it inside the recessed area of the fastener...and adding a metal ball chain to dangle the tag from the bottle's neck...

Distraction over...curiosity sated...back to work at hand...

Linking up to Funky Junk Interiors Party Junk...more distractions over there!

One fine day

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:08:00 +0000

One of the bloggers who I follow regularly is Kim of Art in Red Wagons...lately she has started an on-going theme of One Fine Day...reflecting the positive enlightenment that can occur if one just tweaks their thinking a tiny tad...and takes a moment to breath...

I like this idea...I'm adopting it as my mantra...

edited with kk texture "may" at soft light 72% with
second layer at color burn 42%

The white lilacs are in bloom...the tree is in my neighbor's yard but a good share of the branches are hanging over my garden fence...the fragrance is astounding...and I love how the green leaves pop in my white composition photo...linking up to Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday...it is indeed one fine day...

Springs!

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:12:00 +0000

Never underestimate the determination of a woman with a power tool...

I have been working on finishing up projects for Farm Chicks...and needed assistance with some uncooperative wire...those really hard-core steel wire springs...that you can't bend with your hands or a pair of pliers...

I called on my artist friend Shelley...not only could she help but she had even more springs for me...she was dismantling a stripped down '51 Chevy truck seat...making it into a flower bed...here's a picture of the completed project - isn't this incredible? It will be for sale in her booth at the garden art show, Sorticulture...

After I was done gawking at the flower bed, we bent into shape the wire springs I had...with the help of a very large vise...and then we were inspired...there was an old mattress box spring in Shelley's yard...with all of the fabric long gone...and the wood gray and weathered...and the springs corroded and rusty (and I could just kick myself for not getting a "before" picture!)

In no time at all, a power jigsaw cut the box spring into smaller pieces...and then it was just a matter of squaring off the ends with the table saw...Shelley wanted to remove the springs from the weathered wood...but I liked the patina of the wood...and decided that I would mount each spring on a painted piece of lumber to give it more heft and character...

When I got home...out came more power tools...cut up pieces of painted wood...sanded the edges...smoothed on a layer of paste wax and then attached each spring to the top of the painted piece with a squirt of glue between the two wood pieces and a couple of finishing nails pounded in from the bottom to securely hold the two pieces together...a rubber bumper on each corner ensures that the weathered wood won't scratch the table surface...

I added test tubes to each spring...making them into funky vases...

Some of the vases are singles, some are doubles...

And then I saw this pic from Curious Sofa...

and it inspired me to do this...

So I'm open to suggestions...what else could I put in them?

Simplicity in threes

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:05:00 +0000

Three old growth fir boards...the patina is so lovely...I couldn't bear to paint them...
rather I added a layer of wax to highlight the grain and their well-worn look...

Three vintage glass bottles...more oval than round...

Three old-school broom clips...

Three metal paper fasteners...from which I removed the flat metal sliders...to make them into label holders...

Add in three screws, some upholstery tacks and a couple of posies...
and you have three simple bottle vases...

Each vase is complemented with its own description adjective...culled from a vintage dictionary so the brown, aged paper highlights the wooden board...

Three vases...to use inside or outside...to hold a fistful of flowers...

or a single bud...

And while all of this commotion is going on in the garden...one patient dog waits for his walk...

Linking up to Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special...with a highlight on pets...

Like a kid in a candy shop...

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:05:00 +0000

Next to getting money in the mail, finding out that I won something ranks right up there for me...early this morning...checking my email before work (that day job that interferes with my creative process!) I found out that I had won a gift certificate from French Kiss Collections ...

For those of you who aren't familiar with this fab site...its a grand place to get all sorts of inspiration for editing your photographs...since I have become enamored with Photoshop Elements and discovering all the variations of what one can create, its been a glorious exploration of creative possibilities. French Kiss Collections offers for sale a wide variety of premium vintage inspired textures, brushes and overlays to use with your Photoshop editing...most of it French-inspired (the designer, Leslie, lives in France with her French husband).

The drawing I won involved posting pictures either of your creative work space and/or you being creative...and winners were selected randomly - oh lucky day!

So before I scrambled off to work, I made my selections from the shop...it was tough but I finally whittled down my choices...and downloaded the files so I would be ready to play later in the day...

Here is my first image...a combination of old postcard, vintage bird etching and French postmarks...

My second design used a photo I took last weekend of fresh tulips...editing in Elements with two grunge textures and an overlay of an old French sales receipt...

I can tell that this is going to be quite a diversion from work at hand...
I encourage you to check it out...creativity loves company!

Art party redeux

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:44:00 +0000

Start with a studio crammed with supplies...
and an obsession with tin cans...

Add in four creative artists...with plenty of glue, rivets, wire and gumption...

Fueled by tasty treats and a bit of red wine...

And you have an art party!

After hosting February's inaugural art party, I decided to make it a (semi) regular event...this time the loose theme was May Baskets made from tin cans...but given any one's inclination, it could be whatever one wanted to make...given the peculiarities of schedules, not everyone from the original group could participate...but that did not diminish the enthusiasm of our Saturday afternoon soiree...

After a couple of hours of creating/chatting/nibbling/pounding/drilling/gluing/kvetching/incubating/laughing, here are the end results...

Jane Ann used a smaller can to make a petite basket, holding a bouquet of paper petals...

Shelley made two creations...using the rusted metal items she had previously created in her studio...here's one up close...her other creation is the can with the metal arrow and heart pictured in the group photo...

Jody decided to take a different route...and set upon creating an organizer for her studio...here it is in process...

and then she sent me a photo the next day...project completed and already put to use!

Here's my creation...love the handle from an old iron kettle...with Shelley's help, it fit just fine...

For each of us, it was a relaxing break from a host of other creative projects...let me give you the rundown...

Shelley Holm - From the Alley to the Gallery - is in the throes of prepping for one of her biggest shows of the year - Sorticulture. Its a combination art and garden show...here in Everett, June 7, 8 & 9. Shelley also shows her art at a gallery here in Everett, We Do Art...

Jane Ann Engel is an accomplished viola player and is in rehearsal for a local production of the musical "South Pacific"...get all the details here...

Jody Carlson Cain - Latitude Studios - will be a artist vendor at the upcoming Farm Chicks Show...and she is an exhibiting artist and instructor at the Schack Art Center here in Everett...she presently has two creations in the current curated show, The Creative World of Book Arts...

Meanwhile...its Monday morning...and I need to clean up my mess from the weekend...I couldn't just stop with one can...see what I mean about an obsession...

Unlikely combinations

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:23:00 +0000

You wouldn't ordinarily think of pairing rusty pin nails with fine silk thread...but then I like to think that I'm not ordinary...thus the tag line of my blog (and my business) "creative combinations of everyday ephemera"

I often find that I stumble upon an idea...in this case, a creative process...and then I see how many different ways I can use that process...in particular, using thread and nails to define a boundary...

Since I never like to throw anything away...I have been looking for months at a box of MOO business cards that I ordered...which I had screwed up my contact information...but I had 100 skinny cards...with my collage images...suddenly I had a eureka moment...what if I make a collage out of the cards...

I sorted the cards according to theme and/or color, looking for striking combinations...then I set out to have 6" rectangles cut out of 1"x6" pine boards (I love the guys in our Lumber dept. at work...always willing to help me out with my creative ideas!)

I painted the sides and back of each rectangle a solid dark color...and then created a layered paper design for the front which would be the background for each mini-collage. Since the mini-collages would be digital copies, I made the layered background different for each collage, using original ephemera...so the recipient wouldn't be getting a total original piece of art...but they wouldn't be getting a total reproduction either...instead, a combo of both!

I wanted a way to frame out each mini-collage...to make it stand out a little more from the background...so I hammered a small wire nail into each corner...and wrapped a length of silk buttonhole twist around the outside perimeter of the collage, securing the ends of the thread with a knot at one of the corners...

I think it adds the finishing touch I was looking for...

The type of this dictionary page was a little too intense...a layer of gray tissue paper tones it down...

I looked for papers that would relate to the collage subject...a geographic listing of towns is well suited for this travel motif...

And an old French letter is a great match for this collage...

Thirty of these mini-collages will be part of my booth at the upcoming Farm Chicks show...June 1 & 2...there's a giveaway going on over at The Farm Chicks blog for free tickets to the event...deadline to enter is Sunday night, April 21...so get over there right now...I want to see you at the show!

Discoveries

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:38:00 +0000

Lately I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone...
so I haven't ventured out much...don't want too much distraction keeping me from projects at hand...

But when I saw the ad in the Friday paper for a church rummage sale, I figured that I could spare a few minutes...

This is what I love about living in a smaller community...this local church has a sale every year...I've been going for some time...I always seem to find something of interest...and its only a couple of blocks away from my house...I went this year in search of canning jars...of which there are usually boxes of jars...but not this year...I guess that idea of using a mason jar for every possible use but canning is catching on...

Although I did find a few other items...

I actually found three of the vintage muffin tins...some might be used for altered art...at least one I'm filling with potting soil and planting grass seed into each compartment...I always like a little greenery in the house and these six little green mounds will be perfect in a couple of weeks...

I love the texture of the peat pots...they might have something planted in them...
or maybe turned into another project...

The four linen napkins have exquisite texture...heavy weight linen with a finely executed pulled thread
embroidery motif...I'm in awe of such delicate handiwork...

the miniature strainer...old metal married with weathered wood...need I say more...

The French glass canning jars have already been put to practical use...one is holding sunflower seeds...
the other one, dried lentils...

And this was not the sum total of my purchases...I also picked up a heavy duty vintage colander, a roll of tulle, two vintage kitchen utensils and a sweet lily of the valley linen tea towel...all for under $5...as the elderly women were packing my items into my bag, I explained what I was doing with some of the items...they especially liked the idea of using the roll of tulle as "ribbon" for wrapping presents...and were impressed that I had brought my own recycled bag to carry home my purchases...their parting comment was, "We like the way you think!" It made my day!

Did you go out junking this past weekend? what did you find?

Going international

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:24:00 +0000

I wish that I was travelling someplace overseas...but alas, just my photos and project ideas...

My garden tote was recently highlighted in this New Zealand gardening magazine...

I was thrilled and honored when they contacted me...the wonders of the internet...where the sharing of ideas and projects is not confined by land boundaries or time zone changes...here's a snippet of the two pages on clever DIY garden ideas...

I was pleased to receive a complimentary copy of the issue - it was fantastic!..jam packed with lots of garden/outdoor design inspiration...I don't know if this magazine is available anywhere in the States, but they do have a wonderful website...http://www.nzgardener.co.nz/

And if you want to see the details on my recycled garden tote...you can find that tutorial here...

oh so blue...

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:28:00 +0000

My garden is awash with pops of blue...the grape hyacinths are in full bloom...so even though we are back to gray and cold...those blue blooms are a reminder that it will only get warmer...

Clipping a few buds to bring inside...I have quite a collection of silverplated salt and pepper shakers...
you often find just one at a yard sale...having lost its mate ages ago...the details can be so intricate...

These shakers are perfect for small stems...some of them fit through the holes of the shaker, helping to keep the stems upright...taking the top off of another shaker gives plenty of room for blooms...a miniature vase...

fits on my kitchen window sill...a beautiful reminder...of all yet to come...

My favorite tools

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:14:00 +0000

In the midst of starting a new project today...clearing off a space on the dining room table...because I have no other work space left...I always make sure that I have my favorite tools at hand...and thought I would share them with you...

First a word about my new project...I spent a wonderful afternoon earlier this week brainstorming with my art friend Jody Cain of Latitude Studios...we are both vendors at the upcoming Farm Chicks show...she has been a vendor before so I wanted to pick her brain...and she wanted to pick mine for display ideas. Its a godsend to have another like-minded artist to spark ideas...when I got home, I started to play with all sorts of stuff sitting on my office desk...piles of stuff that I know I want to do something with...but just not sure what...and I'm afraid that if I put it away someplace...well, its that "out of sight, out of mind" thing...

I have a box of MOO cards that I ordered last year...MOO is a printing company out of England that is changing the mindset that your business card needs to be a standard size and rather boring...with the cards I ordered, I screwed up my contact information (my fault - not theirs) but I still had 100 cards with my art images printed on them...what to do...

Somehow it came to me...a "eureka moment"...to group images together into a mini-collage...so after getting a pine board cut into pieces...and determining the sequence and layout...I'm on a roll...the boards will be painted and a coordinating piece of vintage paper will be the background for each collage...I'll share when they are completed...

Back to my tools...I like to keep it simple...
these 4 tools are my mainstay and I probably use them every time I'm creating...

1. Sanding block

I sand everything...my wood "canvases" to smooth the edges before I start...the edges of my collage to remove any excess paper...the surface of my collage to soften and "age" the final image. I keep two blocks in my studio - one loaded with a #120 grit paper for final sanding and one loaded with #60 grit paper for initial smoothing. I love the feel of the rubber block while sanding...I get an even application of pressure when using a block as opposed to an uneven, random effect when you just grab a piece of sandpaper and try to sand with little to hold onto...

2. Chip brushes

I love using a chip brush...especially when I'm applying my glue mixture...it just seems to carry the right amount of glue and spread it evenly. They're not expensive...and sometimes I do have to pull a loose hair out of the glue or paint...but they are natural bristle - not polyester or nylon - so they perform so much better. And because they are natural bristle, I can use them with either a water based or an oil based medium with no worry that the bristles will dissolve or melt...

3. & 4. Brayer & seam gauge

My hard rubber brayer was one of the first tools I bought 15 years ago when I started being serious about art and launched my company, four corners design...I bought it at a wonderful art supply store in Neal's Yard, London...I paid a pretty pound for it...but it has been indestructible. I use it to smooth out papers, press a clean fold, or even apply a thin layer of paint for texture on a collage.

My metal seam gauge is a lifesaver...it helps me place a collage element into position without being crooked, it gives me an accurate measure that I can calibrate with the slide indicator and the flush straight edge is invaluable in giving a torn edge to paper...I'd be lost without it...

Now that's it for hand tools...some day I'll talk about power tools...
Do you have any favorites? That one item that is essential to your work? I'd love to know!

In the groove

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:35:00 +0000

There are times when everything falls into place...an idea brews...the scraps align...a synergy builds...

When all of these things click, it is amazing how quickly I can take a collage from start to finish...on the flip side, I have a couple of pieces sitting in my studio...since last summer...after the initial layers were put into place, there was a loud thud.

So when the opposite occurs, I want to capitalize on this energy...in other words, I was in the groove...

For my smaller collages, I use 1 x 10 pine boards cut into sections...its economical, sturdy enough to take layers of glue and sanding, solid enough to attach found objects with either nail or screw and easy enough to finish the edges so additional framing is unnecessary.

After I pull together my scraps, I do a dry run...nothing is glued down...just a rough idea of what might work...I take a quick photo of this arrangement for reference... and then proceed to paint the board in my color of choice...

The scrap that started the process was the strip of a vintage dictionary page...add in a magazine page...a parking ticket stub...and an old library catalog card...and I had my direction...

The process of my creation is a short burst of activity spread out over a couple of days...each layer is glued into place...and then has to dry completely before the next layer can be glued...and then everything is sanded...and waxed...before I add any 3-D elements...

Throughout the process, scraps may move, be cut up or cropped...or reconfigured...the first layer of leaf transparencies did not show up very well...so a second layer was added to give more depth...but attached with small brad nails for additional interest...

Building on the theme indicated by the library reference card, I think of recombinations of letters and numbers...bingo markers not only add another shot of red, but spell out a suggestive message..."go in"

Notice that the board edge is painted dark gray-brown and has been sanded and waxed...simple framing for the piece.

And before long...it is finished...

The library catalog card that I used is from a large supply of cards I received a number of years ago...the University of Iowa was converting their physical library card catalog to a computer version...so the cards were available free to anyone who wanted them...all you had to do was send a pre-paid postage box for shipping the cards back to you and explain what you were going to do with the cards...you had no choice in what you would get...I got a selection of cards from "S" Surgery to "Y" Yorkshire...its been great fun to look through the cards (including many that are in Chinese...I have no idea what they say) as a prompt for art ideas.

I still have quite a stash...If you would like to be so inspired...email me at amy_duncan@yahoo.com with your snail mail address and I'll send you 6 random cards...and then I'd love to see what you create...

The epitome of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:02:00 +0000

Happy Easter to all...

my new love

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:35:00 +0000

aahhh...my new love...recently discovered...came to the rescue when others had fallen by the wayside...
others that were not up to the challenge...but my new love did not disappoint...

And what might you ask is my new love...why its first aid tape...the kind of tape you use to wrap around a piece of sterile gauze to dress a wound (which unfortunately I had to do recently for the Southern Man...but he'll be fine...)

Let me fill you in on the back story...

I have been working on my 10 piece collage series...where I designed the scientific inspired images to complement the botanical prints...I wanted a way to attach the transparency images to the canvas...but wanted to convey a "this work is in progress" vibe. So I thought it would work to use artist's tape...rip off a piece, stick it on...

I did a little research on the web...not really finding what I want...thought I would just drive down to the local Staples and pick up some Scotch brand artist tape (its so sad that the local art supply store closed here in our smaller town...now I have to go to Seattle if I want serious art supplies...) Run into Staples...not only do they not have artist's tape...but they have one roll of masking tape (a borderline substitute...) and its $8.00 a roll! As I'm leaving empty-handed...figure I might as well pop into the Dollar Store which is next door. I'm going through the aisles - get to the "hardware" section - they have white masking tape (even better than the tan stuff!) so I pick up a roll...on my way to the cash register, I meander down the "first aid" aisle...and there I see it...first aid paper tape...its a dollar...I grab a package...

When I get home, I open up the package...this is not the old first aid adhesive tape from my youth...the one that came in the metal snap container...and the tape that ripped the hair off your arm when you removed the bandage...

I see that its in English and French...made me love it more...

I get to work on my collages...its perfect...secures the transparencies, gives that nice torn edge that I wanted...
and its semi-transparent...so it blends in instead of standing out like a big white blob...

I like that I can see the type underneath...its all about the layering...

So like any new relationship...I wanted to test the limits...since it was paper-like...maybe I could print on it...I ran it through my ink jet printer...it worked...but I was afraid it might get stuck...and create a problem that I didn't want...so I got out my rubber stamps...worked great...you can design your own personal washi tape...for only $1 a roll...I think I'm in love...

I have to give a shout-out to Amy Thayer Photography...picked up a couple of easy photography tips from her FB page earlier in the week...she's great...
stop over at her page and give her a "like"...

in due time...

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:01:00 +0000

The daffodils that I neglected last year and recently discovered blooming in my garden...are now wilted and faded...I'll throw them back into the far corner of the yard and wait until next March to see if they resurrect...

edited with kk texture 2203, multiply 40% opacity; second layer of color burn at 40% opacity

Linking up to kim klassen's Texture Tuesday...as well as with my Beyond Beyond creative group...this was to be an photoshop exercise in manipulating type along a path...never could get my path to go in the right direction...
so I tweaked the exercise...now isn't that a metaphor for life...

Variations on a theme

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:39:00 +0000

It was a year ago that I played around with a broomstick and some metal curtain rings...to make a card/photo holder...

Recently I thought I would make a couple more...but I ran out of supplies of the original design...so variations ensued...

I had plenty of broomsticks collected throughout the year...most for free because the broom part was missing...thus, just the stick...I cut them into smaller lengths...and then gathered up the vintage curtain rings...but I ran short...what could I use instead...mmm...metal...clip...how about metal clips?!

As you can imagine, I have quite a collection of metal clips (its that metal love addition)...the more beat up and rusted, the better...nothing like rusted metal patina! I picked out two suitable specimens...

Instead of nailing the clip in place (which I did with the curtain rings), this time I drilled a pilot hole and used a screw to hold the clip in place...with this clip, the screw was a little smaller than the hole...so a diamond shaped washer slips right into place to secure the clip...

Everything else about the construction remained the same...cedar fence post cap for the base...large metal washer attached to the base for extra weight (and no toppling over!) You can find the step by step tutorial here...

Here's the completed metal clip versions...
each stand can prominently display one special print or photograph...

Since there was a cut edge on the top of the broomstick for some of the stands, I attached an old wooden knob to give each a finished look...

The other variation I made used a lone croquet stick...I know there are two end sticks to a set...but for some reason, I only have one...
It was a challenge to find larger sized curtain rings since this croquet stick was larger in diameter...but luckily I had a few biggies in my stash...I like the painted stripes of the stick...complemented by its simple red base...

I think the group of them look great together...
a wonderful way to display whatever assortment you may have...

It was easy as can be...using what I already had...
the best kind of project...

Linking up to Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special...lots of great projects there...

A step beyond...

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:24:00 +0000

I love inspiring creativity in others...to see beyond what might be possible...
to give something your own special twist...

Case in point...Recently, I received the most lovely email from Angie of Hopemore Studio...she had been desperately looking for wire baskets of just the right shape and size...when she happened upon my blog post tutorial of making your own wire baskets...she was thrilled...made the baskets...completed her project...all is right with the world!

But then she sees my blog post tutorial of making a wire cloche...and thinks to herself..."I have all these remnants from making my wire baskets...wonder if I could do something with them..."

And she does...and it is truly wonderful...

photo credit - Hopemore Studio

Not only do I love the mini cloches...but I love that she thought outside the box...and used something she already had...something that others might have thrown away...

Go over to Hopemore Studio...give Angie a shout-out...I'm off to find my leftover wire scraps in the basement...to make my own mini-cloches...thanks for the inspiration Angie...

Simple gifts, part three

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:32:00 +0000

When part of the gift can be the wrapping, that is the epitome of eco-living...
A printed flour sack towel from Full Circle Studio...tied up with burlap twine...
all I do is grab the stray edge of a piece of jute burlap and pull...I love the crinkled string that unravels...

A double strand of twine secures the package...
a tag of one of my recent designs, embellished with an old leather button, adds the finishing touch...

Ready for its special recipient...

A pop of yellow...

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:23:00 +0000

Earlier this week, I had the most pleasant surprise...while doing garden clean-up, I came across two small pots of daffodils that I bought last year...about this same time...needing a boost of spring color...

After they were done blooming, I just threw them into the back of the garden (ok...if you haven't guessed it by now, gardening is not my forte...) Amazingly, they not only survived...but were blooming...so I pulled the pots out of the debris, brought them inside and planted them into one of my square battery glass jars...with the sun actually shining on them this morning, it was a bit of a hallelujah moment!

Also this week, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes and what good advice it offers...

As part of my assignment in Beyondbeyond (my year-long photography/creativity class led by kim klassen) I decided to use this quote...and add another pop of yellow...

Thoreau is one of my favorite writers...I admire his willingness to strike out on his own to test his resolve and the strength of his convictions...

I remember many years ago, visiting an artisan studio and thinking how wonderful it would be to have a place, both physically and mentally, where one could be creative each and every day...it was the life I imagined...

Well, I had another hallelujah moment this week...though it has taken some time...and its not always perfect...and not exactly how I pictured it...I do have the life I had imagined so many years ago...a place to create every day...

Are you going in the direction of your dreams?

Are you living the life you've imagined?

I'd love to hear your story...

A scientific approach

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:32:00 +0000

Rarely do I work on a single collage at a time...usually I work in sets of two to five pieces at once...related images but each with a different approach...I find that there's a synergy that occurs...a snippet that doesn't fit in one place is perfect in another...until there is quite a symphony going on (though sometimes there is cacophony!)

Presently I am working on 10 collages at once...each of them a botanical print...
Scandinavian I believe...mostly of grasses...

I prepped each canvas the same...french manuscript pages wrapped around the frame...followed by two layers of paint...applied with an old sponge for additional texture...

Now I'm in the midst of composing each collage...for me, it is an exacting science...I think it resonates with the botanical theme...measured and methodical...to have order and relation...as things would be in a scientific study...

As I'm building the layers and the nuances, I want to add another image to the main plant focus...and in keeping with the scientific theme, I decided to design my own "insect studies" to complement the botanical plants.

I had read about making your own image transfers...using overhead transparency sheets...I liked the idea of being able to add another layer and yet still see what was underneath...I spent the weekend exploring the options...my own sort of artistic/scientific "lab experiment"...here's what I learned...

Its much easier to design transfer images (especially if you want to use a number of layers) in Photoshop...and at the end, when you need to flip the image horizontally so that you have a reverse image to print, is also easier with Photoshop...

Since you are printing on transparency with an inkjet printer...the ink can smear...even after it is dry...so be very careful when you are rubbing the image onto your surface...I tried to transfer an image onto one of my painted canvases...it smeared...but the good thing...its inkjet...which means its water soluble...I wiped the smeared image off with a damp paper towel and it was completely erased...

Printing onto fabric worked the best...and since I set the image with a hot iron, it won't rub off the fabric...here I used a french postage mark from French Kiss transferred onto a piece of raw linen...

Even after I had transferred the design onto either fabric or paper, there was enough of the image left on the transparency to be recognizable...so these transparency sheets will be directly attached to my collages...ink side down against the canvas so no residue ink can be worn off...

As a thank you to my faithful followers...I've included here a PDF sheet with four of my transfer designs from my weekend experiment...all you need to do is print them out on a sheet of overhead transparency film...with an inkjet printer...cut them apart (ever so carefully!), flip one of the images ink side down onto your surface...and then using a popsicle stick or a bone folder or a wooden spoon...gently rub over the entire surface until all the ink has lifted off the sheet and adhered to your surface...

I'd love to see what you create...I'll show you mine if you show me yours...!

Simple gifts, part two

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:01:00 +0000

A custom art journal...all wrapped up for its journey...
the simplest of materials can add an extra touch...without costing a dime...
dress pattern tissue tied up with a length of "ribbon" torn from a piece of gingham fabric...
a manila tag with a single word sentiment...highlighted by a small dried leaf and snippets of scrap...

On its way to its recipient...it will bring a moment of happy before the gift is even opened...

one of my favorite blogs, art in red wagons, also has some simple and recycled gift wrap ideas...
for that special touch...

Simple gifts

noreply@blogger.com (amy of four corners design) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:30:00 +0000

A small pot of tête-à-tête daffodils...a tin can...
punch holes around the edge of the can...thread silk ribbon through holes...
attach bird sticker to metal rimmed key tag...tie up with ribbon...
Insert daffodil pot into can...give to a friend...

warm smiles on a gray day...