a flurry of activity

i've been away, but i've been busy, busy, busy.  i'm frantically preparing for the that's clever people to come over this weekend.  it the midst of that, i wanted to prepare some more enticing samples for my art & soul classes which were accepted for the portland event in october.  i had plenty of ideas, it seemed, but was struggling so to bring them forth.  sitting, staring, researching, copying, creating images, cutting, pasting......  some days it comes easier than others.  but deadlines don't care if you're having a creative day or an uninspired day.  in the end i wasn't able to accomplish as much as i would have liked.  i did create some images and structures that i was really happy with, but i wanted so much more to flow forth.

the first class is called "all boxed up".  i learned these techniques at the paper and book intensive in 2004 from denise carbone.  i wrote to her and asked if i could adapt the class and teach it myself.  she was gracious enough to agree.  this class begins with a small object which is encased over and over again, like a russian nesting doll, in slip cases and boxes.  actually, as i was going over the techniques again, i realized it was more cases than boxes, but i think i'm stuck with the title.

the outermost layer is a multi use box created with corrugated cardboard.  within that is a slip case (on the right).  you can see the spine of the next, paper slip case peeking out on the right.

i cheated a bit here and included samples from two separate pieces.  here the paper slip case was created with a map of portland.  you know, it wasn't until typing this very second that i realized that this piece's theme is portland, which fits the setting of art & soul.  good grief.  so it's more apropos than i realized.  anyway, the map in the front is the paper slip case.  the regular slip case is to the left (it also says "map", but is of powell's books), and is similar to the one above on the right.  the black case is a self closing wrapper, and has a label from oblation papers in portland.

inside the self closing case is another case with hard covers.  the images are from the pearl district of portland.

within the hard case is an inset box, and within that is a large matchbox.  in the class we are going to start with a small lip gloss tin and build the cases around that.

the second class, also inspired by denise, is called "the objects of your affection".  it is a two part slip case which houses a scrapbook on one side and an inset box on the other.

this is the slipcase, opened a bit so that you can see that it comes in two parts...but they're attached at the spine.

the slip case is here on the left, and the book and inset box have been removed.  there isn't adornment on the cover of the book because you have to consider that it will be slipping in and out of the case.  you don't want anything to come off in the process.  i will probably art it up a bit before october, but i wanted to give some more thought to the imagery.

here the book and box are open.  there is an image of my house  on a transparency.  through that you can see a poem by maya angelou on the following page.  inside the box are mementos from portland.

these are more images from the pages of the book.  i'm really happy with the rooted house.

i finally realized that i could take pictures with natural light even in the winter.  usually i go out on the back porch, but when it's freezing, that is less attractive.  but my upstairs bathroom has plenty of light, so that is what i tried out today.  some of them are still a bit dark, when the sun was behind clouds, but i still think they look better than when i have a zillion lightbulbs focused on them.

i'm sleepy, sleepy, sleepy, but i'm baking a book for that's clever, so i better stay awake until it comes out of the oven.

Comments

[Jason Thompson]

Very pretty boxes and a clever idea. Thanks for sharing.

[Geraldine]

thanks for looking!

[samm]

Geraldine, these boxes / slip cases are extraordinary... i love them! I just love the suspense and mystery of a box, the wonder of opening something to find something else and then having to search again, like unwrapping a pressie! I am wondering how i can learn from you without travelling? would you consider an online workshop???
xo samm

[Geraldine]

i haven't fully written up the instructions yet. usually i sell a kit with instructions and some supplies at the vendor night of the event. i suppose i could do a similar thing online. remind me again closer to october :)