vintage paper/collage art – Page 17

Hooked on books

By Karla Nathan / June 7, 2012

This book is the project we made in Jeanne Oliver's class at Tiffanys. It began with a vintage paper collage, and was painted and textured, then we used inks, paints and who knows what all over the top of that! It was a never ending layering process. I really enjoyed doing the textures. Years ago, when I was a muralist and faux finish artist, I used joint compound all the time. Its been a while since I worked with that kind of textural material and I realized that I missed it while working on this.

My book is different than the others, I went with a (surprise!) Fairy theme and hand painted a fairy, flowers, and butterfly on the cover. I was going for more lacy and romantic than funky and cute.

The technique was so addicitve, that when I got home, i was looking around for stuff to blob modelling paste or joint compound onto.

This collage is the one I am having a giveaway for. (leave a comment if you are interested, all comments on all posts are entered in the drawing)

Beth was teaching a 3-d style collage at Birdsong, and we did a practice class the week before, to make up a few of these. (no two alike, she had a GREAT stash of supplise to work with)

It was pretty before, but I like it even more now that I added the textures, then inked over the edges of those a little too.

Here is the other one I did with her. This one does not have the added paint or modelling paste over it.

Good class, huh? She has agreed to teach another one with me too. We hope to do something in my studio for fall, along the lines of our Romantic Gothic Ghosts online workshop. But in person, not online. Maybe a Sat. in late September. Or early Oct?

Back to the Journal from Jeanne's class.

I took the book with me to Beth's for a craft day and really had no plans. But decided to start covering the pages with old papers as a start. Beth had carved out a little niche for me to sit in among the piles of fantastic ephemera she has collected adn told me to help myself.

So, I challenged myself to randomly pick up pages and odds and ends from what I could reach without leaving my chair and covered quite a few pages before realizing the book was going to be really thick. So then, I began removing every other page to make it less bulky, and covered the remaining pages.

When I got home, I started adding family photos, and other tidbits I'd saved, like this card my Sissy made.

And this bit of lace that was given to me last year by someone in my swap (by the way, I do have another swap plan in the works, details soon)

Sometimes the background pages I'd randomly used really fit the pictures.

Like this calandar page where I circled Sugarwing's birthday.

Other times, the papers were just background. I tried to take the theme from the color or tone of the pages to coordinate my photos to.

But mostly, it was gorilla scrap booking. I was slapping them in as fast as I could.

Sometimes it worked out well. I didn't realize this old magazine page was from a December issue till I'd glued a holiday photo down, to what I thought was just a neutral background. Lucky mistake!

If you are wonderfing why there is such an over abundance of Sugarwings in this book, its because I was way, way behind on doing a scrapbook, and these are mostly older photos I'd been stockpiling.

The Dewdrop photos are mostly tiny baby pictures. I have another stash of more recent photos that need to go in the next book I do.

Some of these photos are three years old, before Dewdrop was even around!

On this one, I added a flower plucked from the hat that my fairy baby is wearing in the picture.

I'll leave you with a few more pages. I think I've rambled on enough for now.

(this paper was not in Beth's stash, it is a painting Sugarwings did for me for Grandparent's Day!)

What once was lost and a giveaway

antiques/junking, Books, give away, I do tend to run on, don't I?, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2012

While cleaning up the studio for a mini redo, I came across some art journals I'd made a LONG time ago and forgotten about.

It started by cleaning the garage and coming across this buffet I'd forgotten about. After our kitchen remodel, I'd stashed it out there and it was buried under a pile of stuff my son was storing. I don't know why I didn't move it into the studio in the first place instead of leaving it to the spiders and dust in the garage for 9 months, its perfect in my work space.

The hutch had been sitting on a table previously. I switched the two out, then returned the hutch and all the stuff in it. The table is now in the garage with the spiders and I have an empty cabinet waiting to be filled up with more crap from garage sales treasures.(so I can lose them in the chaos too, like the art journals and the buffet. Who loses a buffet anyway? Does that mean I have waaaayyy too much junk?)

Back to the journals… I found a couple of them, and they are now listed in the Boutique.

One is filled with ephemera pages, and the other is a heavy canvas art paper, that I bought at an estate sale, kinda vintagey, not real old. But just perfect for a journal.

Um, I hate to admit it, but I found some other stuff packed away and forgotten too. Stacks of extra covers from the Birdsong tag book swap last year.

Plus a few extra tags I'd made while I was on a roll with the theme.

So I made up a couple of tag books and listed those too. And listed those in the Boutique under the Altered Books category, which had been empty for quite a while.

This art journal is in there now too, its a recent creation and was made from Beth's stash of goods, not mine.

I was at her house for craft day and was at a loss for a project.

She handed me a chipboard book and a box of paper and I did the basic pages for this, then embellished it when I got home.

(I have another project to show you from her stash too. I'll post it later this week. It was done with just what I could reach from my chair and not have to get up. I have to say, I could have gone on for years with this and not made a dent in the supply!)

She has great old papers piling up in her studio. This was in her box of odds and ends. I love the cracks from age.

When I listed this last book, I included a bagful of OLD goodies from my stash to finish it with, and am selling it as a kit.

Slowly but surely, I'll be filling the Boutique back up, and maybe, just maybe, I'll tend to the poor little neglected Etsy shop too.

But maybe not, I'm going out of town again this week.

Hopefully, I'll get more in the shop before I go. All purchases after Tuesday will be mailed when I get back.

I'll have fresh blog posts up for all week while I'm gone. And a chance to win this college I made when Beth and I practiced her class for Birdsong.

Leave a comment on any (or all posts) and I'll draw a name after I get back, probably on Sat. the 16th.

My own thoughts on blogging and Making a project my own

Dew Drop, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / May 29, 2012

Thanks again for all your comprehensive and thoughtful comments on blogs and the changing blogworld. My theory is that our nitch of blog friends is going to keep on enjoying the blogs and pals they have come to know, as well as exploring new ones they meet through links and mentions on their present faves.

Maybe blogging is not as big as it was, but it did grow with a BOOM when it took off!

And maybe Its not growing like it was, people tire of writing, lose purpose or move onto bigger and better things.

Also, younger groups of tech savy net surfers might not have the patience to visit and read blogs. Maybe for their group, tweeitng and pinning gives them the quick fix they need.

But it looks to me like my peeps, the ladies who "get" each other and have found each other online are not looking to lose contact. I think that there is still plenty of blog love to be shared between us.

Maybe we don't always stop to comment, like we did when we first became involved with blogging, but when there is a sad incident, or a reason to congratulate, or a subject that will make you think, our blog buddies are there to share it and do step in to leave their thoughts. I might have 2,000 plus hits on my blog in one day (not including the people who read it through facebook, google reader, etc.) and still only get 3 or 4 comments. But, when my dog died, and I was heartbroken (still am) so many of you came by to ease my pain.

I have NO plans on leaving. Like I mentioned in my post about this subject, I made time to sit and write my posts, even when I was not back in the swing of real work after so much time away. Blogging isn't work to me, its become a big part of my life. A daily journal almost.

I'll be posting away long after all the readers are gone. My pal Laurie and I were saying that when we are in nursing homes, we'll be writing about making necklaces out of leftover macaroni from lunch, and how to dye things with our chocolate pudding.

Our classes at the event in CA were useful and pretty. I've already got mine in use. Kecia gave us a lamp shade frame and some goodies to foof it up, then turned us loose. I brought some extras from home to add to mine, since I had a spot in mind for it in my living room and wanted a certain look.

And my pal, Lori was ready to share too. She gave me this teensy crocheted basket to tie onto the lace. I glued a button with an "N" on it for Nathan, and filled it with crystal beads.

The fun of the design is adding all the little tidbits here and there to the trailing lace. I brought chandy crystals and backed them with floral wallpaper, and a few other things, like this tiny wooden egg.

And of course, I needed a fairy.

Kecia had a series of shades she had done herself as examples, I wish I'd taken some photos of hers. She is one of the most talented artists I've met in a while and I really enjoyed her booth on Vendor night.

She is also an adventurer and is taking a few weeks to travel from her NJ home to CA and back for Tiffany's. Looks like she'll be able to stop and visit Kansas on her return trip, and I look forward to having her here.

Another class from the event got a slight alteration from me too. I tend to rework the classes with all of my own supplies, and this one was a big change. I had the watercolor sketch for the banner backdrop with me and wanted it to be featured instead of a picture of Audrey on the scrapbook we made, so I turned the book horizontal to make it fit, and changed the color scheme up a bit.

Knowing that we were making a scrapbook, I packed photos of my loved ones, and lots of vintage papers.

The scrap book papers were all black and cream, I covered some of them in my own colors, but still using the shapes and sizes provided, and tying in some of the blacks when I could.

The flowers behind Dewdrop were part of the kit.

And I really liked the shape of this paper. I used the provided piece, and covered the left side of it, added the photo and flowers, then let the rest of the original paper peek out on the right.

There were two other projects over the weekend, I'll show those later. For now, I'll leave you with more scrappy pages from this class.

I was diligent about getting my book done, I knew that I wouldn't get back to it once I got home and it had been way too long since I'd made a grandchild photo album. And yes, it was finished before the weekend ended! While swap night was going on, I sat at my table spot to cut and glue away the evening.

Easter Eggs

flowers, holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 22, 2012

Ahhhh, Spring!

The Bridal Wreath Spirea is blooming like crazy in front of my house. Sugarwings and I took advantage of it and picked armfuls to bring in the house.

For most of the year, they are not the prettiest of shrubs, but for a few weeks, these bushes are heart stopping.

We are also getting all Eastery around here.

I've been covering paper mache eggs in vintage papers and old flowers. This paper is over 100 years old and is gold leaf.

This little egg is wrapped in a pearl finish gift wrap, then sugared.

This one really is prettier in person, its wonderfully gaudy with lots of gold trim and tons of flowers over one of my favorite rose pattern wall papers.

I wanted to list it for sale in the Boutique, but I think I need to get better photos first.

Beth found a big bag full of paper mache eggs at an estate sale and gave them to me, knowing that I'd love covering them. Some are egg shaped boxes like this one others are just plain eggs. I've been making some for Birdsong, where I 'll use them for decor and drawing prizes, but a few just shout Easter, so those I'll go ahead and sell now, or as soon as I get better pictures that is.

Some are listed now, if you are interested.

Binding the book

swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 16, 2012

The round robin books are all packed up and sent to Somerset. It will be interesting to see what they will chose to print from these four books full of art.

My own has a front and back hard cover, taken from a large vintage book and embellished. I wanted a sturdy cover for my own, and also wanted to bind it with rings, so it would be easy to flip through. I tied a bundle of soft ribbons to the top ring to soften the look.

When I bind a book, I first punch the holes in the top cover. Next, I line each page up, one by one, with the top cover, and draw a dot of ink onto the page through the punched holes of the cover.

Usually that works pretty well for making all the holes even.

The other artists' books are not bound. For now, they are simply stacked, bundled in lace and tied with a ribbon. I just wanted mine finished as an example.

They would be pretty as wall art too, so leaving them unbound is a good idea. But I think I'll love flipping through my book when the round robin flies back home to me again!

Packing my saddlebags and I’m off to be a Paper Cowgirl.

paper cowgirl, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 14, 2012

I've packed my boxes and my cow gal hat and am on my way to Texas! I'll have new posts scheduled to pop up while I am away, but all purchases from the Boutique will be mailed on Monday after I get home and settled.

There are some digital images added to the Wire Workshops tutorial. They can be used to print and use if you want to make tags or image backed crystals to dangle from the ribbons on the wreath. I think I like the wreath better with some cute dangly things on it, so I was making collage sheets for the class in Texas, and thought the online students would like them too.

Kind of like these.

When I return, I plan on having a fresh, green salad made with a mix of baby lettuce. My son has built a cold frame to grow early greens and they are starting to sprout!

Hatching some ideas

Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 12, 2012

As I promised when I put the Twining andTwirling Wire Workshop up for sale, I've added a bit more to it for Easter.

What's new is a how to on covering and decorating these eggs.

And some simple painting tips for some other ones.

Right now, I'm kind of stuck on the nests, they are so much fun to make! But I whipped up a dozen eggs or so too.

While playing with nest ideas, I made up a flock of fairies too, and will add directions and downloadable pictures to use to the site later on, after Paper Cowgirl. All included in the $20 price for the entire class along with the wire wreath class I am teaching in Texas this week, and the fairy crowns too.

Collage business cards

vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 10, 2012

Recently, we dropped our home phone and switched to only cell service. So far, its worked out great. And since its been cold, and I live in hoodies, I've had a pocket to carry a phone around in.

But with spring coming, and jackets going back to the closet, I hope I don't lose track of the phone.

Since my phone number changed, I needed to make new business cards. I reused the collage sheet I'd made before, some are simply updated, some are tweaked, and others are all redone.

If you are interested in one of my wire wreath kits, in an ephemera covered box, please contact me.

I might have some left after Paper Cowgirls The ones I listed in the Boutique are sold out.

All come with the online tutoral to make the wreaths, the nests, decorate the eggs, and create the crowns.

And a fresh new business card too, of course.

Wire Wreath Kits

paper cowgirl, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 8, 2012

All of my kits are done and packed up, ready to hit the road next week and take them to Paper Cowgirls.

Before I put all of the supplies away, I made up a couple custom kits, this one is for my Sissy. I used the very old, pure silk, French ribbon that Carol Spinski gave to me.

And topped some of my favorite wallpapers with an old advertising card and lots of millinery.

The inside lid is covered with text from a 1940s book about roses and a Victorian calling card. Then, the box is filled with all the pretties she needs to make a wreath.

While Sissy's kit is special, I think all of the other kits are too, and I hope the students enjoy them. Each includes:

written directions plus an online how to, that includes this wreath as well as a fairy crown, and bird nests, also made of wire
patterns
millinery flowers
3 gauges of wire
vintage beads and crystals
feathers
bird
ephemera to cover the bird and make the leaves
lace for leaves
ribbons and vintage lace
shredded paper, moss, and a turquoise egg to make the nest

The wreath in the class I'm teaching is in aqua tones, but I made up some pink kits too, just because I love pink.

No two are just alike, if they had to be, I'd never have made soooo many of them, I get bored. So, I had some fun with the decor. When I get to my (small) class, there will be plenty for the students to chose from.

I have a couple listed in the Boutique right now. Please email me if you would rather have pink, instead of the aqua kit, when you order.

Edit- well, those 5 went fast! If I have any more left after Paper Cowgirls, I'll let you know. Please email me if you are interested

Next, it will be time to work on the kits for Birdsong. I hope to get them done WAY ahead of time. Trouble is, I am still waiting for some elements I ordered for the necklace we'll be doing! I hate to make up the example necklace till I have all the materials in front of me. Don't you hate taking a class and finding out that the best items in the project have been subsituted for something different?

The event is fast approaching, and if my order doesn't come in, I'll have to try elsewhere for the pieces. But I do promise to come up with something pretty!

There are a couple of openings left, if you would like to come.

And I promise, there really are FOUR classes, my necklace will be done and ready by the time all of my peeps arrive!

Birdie Bed Banner

cottage, how to's, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 4, 2012

Everyday, I am loving our new, plush, lush, cozy bed more and more. Its hard to pull myself out of it every morning and I find that its pretty nice to lay there, sip my coffee and check emails on my IPad instead of heading over to the cold studio, turning on the heat and reading my emails while waiting for the room to warm up. Especially this week, I've had a kidney infection and that extra laying around time in the morning has been welcome.

As a matter of fact, I stayed tucked in all day on the 29th, and got good and rested up. At least it was an extra bonus day on the calander so, I don't consider it a real day off.

(years and years ago, from Country Almanac- by the way, the stylist pulled pillows from all over the house to pile into this picture and I never thought they matched)

We've never had a head board that we could actually lean against while sitting up in bed and reading or watching TV before. I've always gone for found objects, cool junk, or vintage iron headboards in the past.

(before this new bed, I used a mantel as a head board)

Even with a stack of pillows, all of my previous beds were not good for leaning against.

Our padded head board with soft pillows against it has completely won me over. But I thought the vast expanse of linen was a little too plain for my taste, no matter how nice it was to lean on.

It kind of reminded me of an inspiration board, so I thought I'd turn it into one. But I didn't want anything to ruin its comfiness factor.

I decided to print some vintage pictures onto some soft, old, lawn hankies, and simply pin them up with pearl topped pins. The linen covered padding is nice and tight, and deep, so the pins went straight down in, and I don't have to worry about them poking into my skull. That would certainly have taken away most of the comfiness.

I pinned a few soft flowers and some lace up between the pictures to make it look like a banner.

In my stash, I have zillions of old pictures and books, but I wasn't in the mood to sift through it all till I found just the right ones. So, I made a quick visit to the Graphics Fairy and grabbed a couple of pretty drawings of birds and roses. I had to do a little bit of editing to get them just as I liked, but not much. This is two pieces that I edited together. As the kids from Glee would say, its a "mash up" of images.

Beth prints on fabric all the time, I'd never tried it this way. I've used purchased sheets of canvas, but its expensive and I didn't want it stiff like the stuff I've bought before. She sent me home with the materials I needed and it was every bit as easy as she said it would be. I practiced on a couple of other pieces before I pulled out the vintage, embroidered hankies.

First, I ironed the hankies, then pressed one onto a full page Avery label, and smoothed it out. A hankie isn't quite the same shape, so I trimmed the edges really good. My worry was that something would tangle up inside the printer and it would be all screwed up like the bobbin part of my sewing machine is right now. But that is another project story and one that didn't turn out as nice as this one did. You don't want to hear about it, and I don't want to think about it. I'm avoiding that sewing machine, with its giant web of thread.

Anyway, I smoothed the hankie onto the sticky backing of the label, trimmed it up, and slid it through the printer, no problems.

You can't really tell from the photos, but the cloth has some pretty little hand done touches to it.

So far, they seem to stay in place, even with pillows bunched up against them while I'm reading and enjoying my coffee. I purposely hung them a little tousled and messy, so if they ended up that way it would look natural.

And the whole room feels serene, not busy like previous incarnations of the space.

PS- thanks to all of you who have purchased my Three Wire Workshops! (nest, crown, and wreath) Its selling well, and I appreciate that.

and another PS- notice the Google Friend Connector is missing from my side bar? Yep, they are no longer working on Typepad blogs as of March 1st. If you want more information on how to follow a blog, Marianne has done some homework and explains it all very well here.

She also has a good tutorial on using Google Reader here

and here.

I have asked Hope, who designed my blog, to add a connect button for all of these various ways to follow a blog for me. She'll be doing that soon.