A Feat of Engineering

That is how I describe the project we did with Kathy Files on our last full day in Key Largo.  Kathy has a very popular blog and website called Paper Phenomenon.  She creates all sorts of dimensional projects....albums, shadow boxes, suitcases, purses, etc.....all with an ulterior motive.  Inside might be drawers to hold treasures, pages for scrapbooking, files, envelopes.....you get the idea.   Elena has been a fan for the longest time, and asked Kathy to create something for us to use to hold all our Mail Love.  I mentioned Mail Love ages ago.  Another one of Elena's brainstorms.  In this age of texting, tweeting, emails, etc., how many of us actually get anything nice in our snail mail?  Elena proposed we send one another something at least once a month, and as there were 19 who signed up for this, we all have a pretty big stack of cards, tags, magazine articles, bookmarks, calendar pages, charms, etc.  So, here is the sample that Kathy presented:

It looks like an antique hutch that you might find atop a desk.  All paper and chipboard.  Amazing, huh? And those "drawers?"  Check them out:

They are actually stand alone albums, containing file folders, envelopes, pockets....all designed to hold our Mail Love treasures.

OK, now that you've seen Kathy's fab work, let me tell you my sad tale of woe.  I admire this sort of thing, but it honestly isn't MY thing.  So, all that assembling doesn't exactly come naturally to me.  Also, we started working at about 9AM and it was well into the night when most of us just had to stop and clean up and pack.  I did finish most of the work on my three albums, but still have to make the box they all go in, and do the finishing touches on the insides of the albums.   Here is what I have to show for myself:

The largest of the three albums, above, opens up to reveal files, perfect for holding cards and tags.   I still have to decorate the tops of the files.  Well, I guess I don't HAVE to, but looking at Kathy's finished piece, I kind of feel I should. 

One of the smaller albums, which opens up to reveal a smaller set of files:

The other small album has two inserts inside, one of envelopes, the other of pockets:

The rest of my unassembled pieces, as well as the rest of the scrapbook paper we used are in the box I left for Elena to ship to me, so it may be a while before I can even consider finishing this.  As neither Pat nor Teri finished theirs either, we plan to get together, and hopefully between the three of us we'll understand how to put the box together.

So, another fantastic Keys4Art comes to an end.  Here's the whole gang (well, minus Kathy, who was probably off somewhere cutting chipboard):

Front row:  Marita, Linda, Jen W-L, Patty, Karen, Gina

Back row:  Val,Teri, Me, Lillian, Sue, Lynne Perrella herself!, Jacquie, Jen R-D, Elena, Daisy, Pat

OK, one more picture.  One of Elena's pups, by the name of Lucky, was wildly attracted to Teri, and could often be found curled up on her air mattress.  Usually on top of her sweater.

The Invasion of Key West and a Little Chemistry

On Thursday, after two wonderful but very intense (and long) days with the fantastic Lynne Perrella, we took the day off and headed out to Key West, caravan style.  Three cars, 14 women, and only a vague plan that included Margaritaville and a sunset.

We stopped for a photo op (and a bathroom break....I did mention there were 14 women, right?) on Islamorada at Anne's Beach:

The speed limit is pretty low, and passing is pretty dangerous, so if you have a slowpoke in front of you, as we often did, it can be a long drive from Key Largo to Key West.  By the time we got there we were starving, so we headed straight for Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.  No wasting away; the burgers were enormous and the margaritas even bigger. 

We did some wandering around by foot, found a cool jewelry store, but what caught everyone's eye even more than the jewelry was this shirt:

Several of the ladies purchased it.  Not me.  I looked at the XL and it didn't look large enough for even the likes of Demi Moore, so I passed.  But still, gotta love it.

Then we spied a powder blue vintage car, and got Teri to pose in front of it. I really wanted her to do an Angelina, but she wouldn't hike up the skirt far enough.   Just as I was getting ready to snap, the owner came out and he was absolutely delighted.  We saw him and his car about three more times that day.  He loves it and loves to see people's reactions to it.  Hey, everyone needs a hobby.

In the late afternoon we decided to buy tickets for a trolley ride around town.  Good idea.  We had a great driver who had an amusing running commentary and passed by every hot spot.  It was a hop on hop off deal, but we didn't do any hopping.  We just sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed the ride.

 If I remember correctly, this is the bar that is in the oldest building (of all the bars) in Key West:

 The driver made a stop for those who wanted to sample some coconut water.

After the trolley ride we decided we'd walk around a bit and meet up on the rooftop of the tallest building in Key West....The Conch Hotel.....all seven stories of it.  It's the best place to take in the famous Key West sunset.  Unfortunately, the clouds came in, followed by torrential rain, so while we enjoyed the view for a bit, the sunset was not in the cards.

On the way back we stopped for a late dinner at a place called (I think) Lazy Days.  Elena had been raving about their lobster roll sandwiches, but they didn't serve them for dinner.  I think I once described Elena as tenacious.  Well, she spoke to the owner and the waiter, who spoke to the chef, and you guessed it, we got the lobster rolls and they were beyond delicious. 

This was a 12+ hour day, and we got home exhausted.  We'd be needing a good night's sleep.  Tomorrow's project with the talented and extremely patient Kathy Files (or is it Kathy Orta?  I've seen both names.  Someone, help!) would be a very complex feat of paper engineering.

OK, the "Little Chemistry" I referred to in the title is Tim Holtz's online class called Creative Chemistry.  It is an extensive overview of all the products he uses, the science behind them, and three techniques each day.  Oh, and two videos.  Very cool.  I highly recommend it, as it is self paced and once you register you'll always have access.  The first three techniques are blended spritz and flick, wrinkle free distress, and brushless watercolor.  Here are my samples.

The next day we did alcohol ink agate (my favorite so far), archival resist, and reflections stamping.

Always super organized and detail oriented, Tim includes downloadable labels for the backs of the tags with all the directions and supplies used, so at the end of the two week class I'll have a great reference guide to all the techniques.





















Keys4Art2012 -- Two Days With Lynne Perrella!

Thanks to Elena's drive and tenacity, Keys has grown from a group of art friends getting together to make art and share ideas, to an event which, while still true to the original concept, also includes classes from well known mixed media artists.  Last year we were fortunate to learn from Ingrid Djikers, Julie Nutting and Beatriz Furquhar-Guzman.  This year, we had two wonderful artists, and this post will focus on the one and only Lynne Perrella.

Living in New York City, only a couple of hours from Lynne's home, I have been lucky enough to take many classes with her, and I was thrilled that my far flung art sisters would have that opportunity too.  Lynne designed a class just for us, based on the feedback she got from Elena, and called the two day workshop "Go For Baroque."  We were to select some images we wanted to work with, make toner copies of each, and bring them to the Keys.  Some chose gypsies, some kings or queens, or other members of royalty.  Johnny Depp and Clark Gable even made an appearance.  Such fun!

After prepping our surfaces (canvas, red rosin paper) with gesso and texture and leaving them to dry, we gathered around the table, introduced ourselves, and hung on every word as Lynne explained her philosophy of art, and shared some samples of her glorious collages.  Check out her website and prepare to be dazzled.

Then we just got busy, adding color with paints, inks, Portfolio brand pastels, and layering more texture with a variety of papers, fibers, and even fabric.  Here are some of our projects, some finished, some still works in progress.  And thanks to Val for being so diligent in her picture taking.  I wouldn't have much to share if I couldn't swipe photos from my friends' blogs.  Speaking of which, for lots more, check out Val's blog as well as Elena's

. 

 Daisy

 Eileen (me!)

 On the left, me working; on the right one of my 12x12 canvases

 Elena

Another view of Johnny, this one by Jacquie 

Jen's large banner, in progress

 Karen

Marita

Teri

Sue

The next two are Val's, making baroque work

with steampunk

If I misidentified anything, artist, please let me know.  This has been known to happen.

Lynne spent every minute of each all day (and into the night) class, walking around the room, assisting when asked, and often stopping for a demonstration of a particular technique or use of material.

Tomorrow we invade Key West.  Those spring breakers don't know what's heading their way. 







Back Home!

Why is it that the events you most look forward to end so quickly?  Keys4Art2012 is over, and that is a little bit sad, but I have to say, I am still feeling the warmth of friendship, and believe it or not, I am still relaxed.

I flew to Miami with Pat and Teri, and we think our pilot was in a rush for a hook up, because we landed almost an hour early.  We met up with Daisy at the baggage carousel, then headed for Chili's where we'd spend the next MANY hours, waiting for the others to arrive.  Several quesadillas and margaritas later, we piled into a van and headed for Elena's home in Key Largo.  Elena stayed behind to wait for the two latest arrivals, Val and Jen.

No photos to post of our first night together.  I wound up with so much stuff, I had to pack a lot into a box for Elena to ship, and some of the projects and gifts are in that box, but this is what things looked like the next day:

Daisy, Jen and Jacquie

Working on our postcard project:

When I first met Karen at the airport, I thought she

was a little bit nuts for bringing so many suitcases,

but now I know better.  One was entirely filled with

treats from Louisiana.  Today we got cajun chips.

We didn't have anything special planned for day one, so

I had time to make the covers for my postcard book.

I slept on the couch.  Right next to me were Teri and Pat

on air mattresses, and all the way on the other side of the

room was Daisy on a matching couch.  We were right next

to the room we worked in.

A view of the room from the other end.

Here's Pat with her smash book, one of many gifts

awaiting us.  When my box arrives I'll be able to

post pictures of all of them.  We were very very spoiled.

My Oregon art sisters, Marita and Gina:

Pardon the fuzzy photo; this is a little travel journal,one of many
gifts waiting for us from Elena.  She purchased them from Tim, and
the kits include a miniature suitcase that the journals fit into perfectly.
Mario sent along a special gift from him:  Tim Holtz aprons for
everyone!

Because we had so many people coming this year (17), we had some overflow staying at a fabulous beach house, thanks to one of Jacquie's clients.  While Elena and Teri went to Miami to pick up Lynne Perrella at the airport (more on that later), the rest of us headed to the beach house in the late afternoon to get dinner ready.

Jacquie was going to make paella, and I couldn't believe the size of the pan.  We helped with the prep work, and I have to say, it was the first time I dealt with a recipe that called for 16 cups of rice and 2 gallons of chicken broth, not to mention similar huge quantities of vegetables, chicken, sausage, shrimp, lobster, clams, mussels, and crab legs.

The view from the deck:

Do you believe the size of the paella pan?

The house as seen from the water's edge:

Most definitely the best paella I've ever had.

Bernie (Elena's husband), cracking the crab legs:

The next day we began our 2 day workshop with Lynne Perrella.  Fantastic!  And to be continued....