A Quick One

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Challah Collaboration

 

I am working in collaboration with our local Hillel and PassionWorks artists, on some Challah covers for show and sale May 5th.  Students worked with PassionWorks artists to create colorful, unique challah covers, and then they were turned over to me to enhance with stitching and to finish up.  Each piece is one of a kind.  They all measure approximately 22” x 22”, so they can cover a lot of challah.

Here is the first one that I’ve finished.

You can see how pretty the colors are.  Each piece is different, but all are colorful and fun.  I stitched the outlines using Kreinik gold machine embroidery thread.

You can see the detail here.  Once this was done, I had to figure out how to finish the edges of the burlap.

Here is a picture of  basting stitches I put in as a sewing guide for the stay stitch and decorative cording.

I zigzagged over the basting stitch to keep the burlap from unravelling.

Then I zigzagged some Kreinik #16 braid over the zigzags, to add extra sparkle.  You can see where I also did that on the edge of the painting.

Here’s the finished piece.  I’m really happy with how it turned out.

Now to do this at least 28 more times!

Now for Something Completely Different

I have been working on a few different things, mostly involving painted paper or paint on canvas or sometimes a little of both.  Ironically some of these experiments were to get away from the fiddliness of working with patchwork.  Gluing is still a lot faster than sewing. :) 

Summer Carnival, painted paper on canvas.  I use Golden gel medium to attach the paper cutouts to the canvas.

Detail.  Here you can see the different mark making tools I use to make the painted paper.  These include Print Gocco (the fish), linoleum prints (the red dots in the upper left area are a frog), and carved stamps (the white star-like forms and the white stars).

Autumn Lotus

This is one of those things where I got a crazy idea to cut a bunch of lotus stencils out of a sheet of painted paper.  I am unsure whether this is in process or it is complete.

Koi Spring

This technique was so cool that I decided to try it on a larger scale.  My fingers weren’t too happy with me, but it was worth the effort.

Detail, you can see the dots from the sequin waste I used as a stencil and the detail of the red koi shapes I painted onto the original paper.   This piece is definitely still in process.  Stay tuned for updates.

Into the Void  Acrylic on canvas with graphite drawings added.  I am unsure whether this is complete or whether I want to go back into it with some india ink or liquid acrylic to emphasize the lines.

A detail showing the graphite drawing in more detail.  I like the way the paint washes blur the lines of the drawing.

The texture in this piece comes from some rice paper that I had initially adhered to the canvas, again using the Golden gel medium.

And today, after a several week hiatus due to mom duties (hockey and school), I was able to get back into the studio and begin a new painting.

In the Between, acrylic on canvas, and still very much in process, though it was nice to get back into the studio and just play with paint and color.

30 Days of Drawing: Day Fifteen

I have this wonderful Fabriano journal filled with colored paper.  It’s around 8” x 6” and is perfect for quick studies like this one.

I also worked on this large piece from my 14” x 17” Canson XL Mixed Media pad.

I’m really enjoying blending the colors on these pieces.

It’s nice to have such a large space to work in, and since I am doing these to play I am not stressing over how realistic the finished image is.  It’s letting me explore different ways of laying down the color and apply the layers. 

There’s still time if you want to join us!

30 Days of Drawing: Day Fourteen

I just love the handles on these old kitchen utensils.  From the top: potato masher, spatula and sieve.  Or as I call them , Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear.  Image size 12” x 15”

Detail.  I used mostly Prismacolor pencils, with a few Derwent Inktense and Graphitint pencils for the details.  The background is Grumbacher Acrylic in Payne’s Gray and Martha Stewart craft paint in Cloud, satin finish.

I promised a peek at the really big drawing. 

This is on Strathmore 400 series drawing paper, and measures approximately 60” x 36”.  I have to stand on a stool to reach the top of the drawing.  I’m using graphite sticks in 3B and 6B.  It started with just random marks but has evolved into this image.  The working title is “Eclipse”.

See you tomorrow!

30 Days of Drawing: Day Thirteen

Today I chose to go a little larger and also on a white background.  It was more difficult to build up a good layer of color as the texture of this paper was very defined.  I also was challenged by recreating the metal of the beads and buttons on this necklace.  I’m pleased with how the turquoise bead turned out as well as the black bead in the lower right corner.  Overall the drawing worked for me.  I do think that I may pre-color the paper before attempting another drawing on it, at least if I go for another color drawing.

30 Days of Drawing: Day Twelve

Yes, I did draw on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (also known as Days Nine, Ten and Eleven)  I just haven’t scanned them yet.  I need to find a more effective way to draw over the weekends.

I picked up some darker red pencils on Friday (I had to take my daughter to the airport, and since we were near the art supply store anyway….), so this morning  I took them out for a test run.

I tried to avoid using the black pencil for the black beads.  I think it turned out well.  I enjoyed drawing the big cinnabar bead on the upper right. 

Another red handle.  Eventually I will draw the entire tool, but for right now I am enjoying the weathered look of these old utensils.

Something else is literally on the drawing board, I will post pictures of it when I post days 9, 10 and 11.  Stay tuned!

30 Days of Drawing, Day Eight: Draw Hard

When I was little, my grandpa worked at the General Motors Tech Center.  He would bring home tons of Prismacolor pencils for me to play with.  I think he’d be pleased to see that I am still drawing all these years later.

Today I finally got back into the studio for a little while, so I went a little hog wild.

You might recognize this necklace from the past two days of pencil and pen and ink drawings.  The bone beads with the incised detail were a pain, but I’m overall pleased with how they turned out.  I really love the lampwork beads and the detail in them.

I wasn’t ready to go back downstairs, so I did another drawing, this time based on a small sieve my friend picked up for me at a yard sale.  I just love old tools.  I wanted to detail the handle of the piece.

Here’s a different version of the same tool, from a large drawing I was working on last month.

I’m not sure what tomorrow is going to bring, but I know it will be fun!  There’s still time to play along, head over to Traci’s journal and add your name to the caravan.

30 Days of Drawing: Day Seven

 

Uni Ball Vision Needle in my Moleskine journal, worked on while waiting for my oldest son to finish class.  This is the same necklace I drew last night, just in different media.  I am hoping to get into the studio tomorrow and do a color drawing (or two or three….)

30 Days of Drawing, Day Six: Drawing Noir

I wasn’t able to get into the studio first thing in the morning yesterday, so I ended up doing this pencil drawing right before bed.  I’d forgotten how pretty the beads I used on this necklace were.  I think today I am going to render them in color.

30 Days of Drawing; Days 3-5

Now with more cowbell.  If I had a cowbell to draw.

Saturday was a lazy drawing day, as my son had two hockey games and we had to run errands in between.  So I did this quick gestural sketch of the game.  Not every drawing has to be finished.

I drew this pendant from one of my necklaces before heading out on Sunday morning.  The background is inspired by the many layers of paint on my drawing table.

I’m still working on how to render the bone beads in my piece.  I’m much happier with how the bone turned out on this drawing than I was with the bone in yesterday’s pendant.  Having the right tools makes all the difference.  This piece mixes Prismacolor, Supracolor, and Neocolor II crayons.

I had so much fun with the light colors on the first drawing that I decided to do another rendering of a different necklace.  The button in the lower left is kind of muddled, and next time I would leave it out of the picture.  I also went with a different color scheme.  The original necklace is dusty pale blue. 

Yesterday I picked up a roll of drawing paper, 36” wide, and a few graphite pencils and sticks.   The next few days of drawing may be process photos of a larger piece.

30 Days of Drawing, Day Two

This is a drive-by posting as I have to go play Mom’s Taxi in a minute.  This is a glass bottle I picked up at a yard sale and one of my Gran’s brass bell collection.  Supracolor II pencils and Prismacolor pencils on chipboard. 

30 Days of Drawing, Day One

Traci Bunkers, of Bonkers Handmade Originals, is hosting a challenge to draw every day for 30 days.  It will be a little tricky with the holiday season and all, but I have been getting back into my drawing and I decided to play along.  You can find out more information about how to join us at Traci’s blog.

Earlier this week I started a series of small drawings on recycled chipboard, so for now I’m going to continue in that vein (smaller drawings also makes it easier to do a whole drawing in a day ;)

Last year I made myself a necklace for my birthday, and this drawing is a detail of one of my favorite beads from the necklace.  I used a Derwent Graphitint pencil to lay down the initial outline (after drawing a guideline square in the center of the chipboard), then filled in the rest with Caran D’Ache Supracolor II and Prismacolor pencils.  I’ve been painting in the backgrounds of most of the drawings with various acrylics.  This piece is painted with Jo Sonja acrylic gouache, Martha Stewart craft paint in aqua glitter, and a thin wash of red iron oxide to provide the shadows.  I like how the smooth surface of the paint contrasts with the rougher surface of the drawing.

You can see the other pieces in this series at my Etsy shop. 

Studio Clearance

Some of you may know that I used to own a bead store here in town.  What most of you don’t know is that much of the inventory from the shop is still stored in my studio.  With all the art making that has been taking place lately, I am finally out of room, and it is time to send some of the inventory to new homes where it will be used and loved.  That’s where you come in.

I didn’t realize I still had so much Nymo beading thread.  It retails for $1.00-$1.50 for a bobbin that averages around 64 yards.  I have:

Nymo Size D (thickest size) 1 box of 26 bobbins assorted colors $13.00 + shipping

Size D  1 box of 52 bobbins assorted colors $26.00 + shipping

Size B (medium thickness) 1 box 45 assorted colors $22.50 + shipping

Size B 1 box Black and White assortment 52 bobbins $26.00+ shipping

Size 0 (thinnest) 3 boxes assorted colors 52 bobbins each $26.00/ box + shipping

Size 0 1 box 39 assorted colors $19.50 + shipping

I also have a box of assorted Czech glass round beads (druks) in 6mm and 8mm size.  Colors in the box include White AB (white opaque with iridescent coating), Rose AB (clear iridescent pink), Rose Opal (opalescent pink), Rose Matte, Cream Matte, Bright Red Opaque, Sky Blue Opaque, and Hematite (silvery black).  There are over 6,000 beads in this box, and the retail would be $400+.  The whole box can be yours for $75 + shipping (they will fit in a medium flat rate box, so shipping is $10.95)

Finally, I have a box of mixed basemetal findings, including several gross of barrel clasps in goldtone and silvertone, spring ring clasps, hoop earrings and bead tips for leather cording.  $20.00 for the box, plus shipping.

Leave a comment here if you are interested in any of these deals.  Thank you!

The Art of Bead Embroidery: A Preview

Over the years, my bead embroidered creations have drawn the most comments and admiration.  I learned the basic techniques from Joyce Scott and Robin Atkins, and took them from there.  I even wrote an article for Quilting Arts about bead embroidery.  You could say I know a lot about the technique.

I am currently in the process of writing an e-book about how I do my bead embroidery, with tips and hints to help you make this simple technique part of your embroidery repertoire.  Here’s a sneak preview of some of the work I’ll be sharing.

The technique can be used for jewelry, as in the two pins shown above.  These are great for using those accent beads that you’ve been collecting but don’t know what to do with.

This piece is designed to be wearable, but it could also serve as an embellishment on a quilt or piece of wearable art.

A detail of “Grandpa’s Garden” a bead embroidered tapestry.

The full panel “Grandpa’s Garden” 2003, bead embroidered tapestry, approximately 10″ H x 30″ wide.

My e-book will explain how to make objects like this using simple embroidery stitches with beads.  It will also include a gallery of work to inspire you and a listing of suppliers so you can get started on your own bead embroidery journey.  I am really excited about sharing this knowledge with you, and love that in the e-book format I can go deeper than I was able to in the article.  I will post when the book is closer to launch, I look forward to sharing it with you!

Sale at my Etsy

Hey all, I am still blogging over at Andrea Stern Art but wasn't sure how many of y'all have joined me over there.  I am running a sale at my Etsy shop , 20% off everything with the coupon code MAYDAY11 thru May 31st.  I will be adding some of my new purses to the shop later this week, those will be included in the sale.  Thank you!

I'm Moving!

New year, new purpose, new blog.  Please join me at http://andreasternart.blogspot.com/

Process and Progress

I have been working on the coral piece, and managed to make a little progress before the holiday weekend.

I had beaded the corals or anemones in the foreground (I am not sure which, I guess I could just say “sea life”) earlier this fall when I was giving some one on one instruction to a friend.  The ones in the back are embellished with Kreinik braid which I couched as well as used in the bobbin. 

You can see the detail of the gold braid in this picture.

And you may have noticed that I decided to put the yellow angel fish lower in the composition.

I tried making another angel fish for the upper left corner of the image.

But he’s a little too pale for the rest of the piece.

I used some of my friend Diane Eyerman’s hand-dyed fabric for the blue stripes, and couched the outlines with Kreinik #16 braid.

You can see how well the sparkling braid complements the blue stripes.  I guess this little fellow will end up getting his own quilt after I’ve finished this one :)