Here are some shots of my booth from 'Art at the Market' this past Saturday. The weather was perfect. I got to see loads of friends and I won 'Honorable Mention' for my ecoprints!
I like to incorporate natural items such as pinecones, plants and rocks in my booth. But I also like to have Buddha, Ganesha and Lakshmi smiling down on my books... 
Something that really surprised me at this show was how many people bought my Flower Fold bookmaking kits. I brought them at the last minute after my friend suggested it. I have decided to make more kits and more types of kits as well as handmade & scrap paper, ephemera scraps and ecoprint paper packs.
I am wondering...what do you think about kits and paper packs in my inventory? Are you more likely to buy something DIY or do you prefer something already made? If you do prefer DIY, is it something that you do with friends or on your own? Would you buy paper packs at a show to use in your own work or do you prefer to find your own?
NEW Works featured at 'Art at the Market'
Here is a quick glimpse of some of my new works featuring my ecoprinted fabrics and papers...I'm still photographing and editing things so come back for more handmade book eye candy! I will be at 'Art at the Market' on Saturday, July 18 in downtown Blacksburg. It is one of my favorite shows of the year!
Sunday Solace //
Happy 4th of July! I had the opportunity to go to Ohio to visit family this holiday weekend. Loads of fun but I definitely put work on the back burner and enjoyed the time with my family. I did, however, make time to work on Sunday Solace...which is quickly becoming a way for me to ground myself in blogging. I am opening a paper bundle this week...as well as working on tons of new projects...all of which I will be sharing as they develop. Happy 4th to you and enjoy your Solace.
Irit Dulman is quickly becoming one of my top fave eco-printers. Just have to see more? Check out her blog and you can drool right along with me at her exceptional work...
I just love this back cover of one of my handmade books. It is super special to me since it is the book I gave one of my artist hero, Mark Maron. Yup...this is a picture of me giving him this very book! A friend of mine introduced me to this comedian several months ago...I am hooked!
I am so into rust these days! I use it in my bundles and dyepots but I also see the artistic beauty in it as well. I am hoping to get out with my camera this week and capture some rust right here in Blacksburg. If this rain ever stops...I am making a promise to myself right now to take myself on an artist's date to do just that very thing...
Like I said, I am in love with rust! This textile piece by Julie Wright is fantastic! I enjoy how she uses holes and other imperfections to enhance the piece. I think I am going to look into adding textile work like this to my books. Maybe some wax too?
I am obsessed with art journaling. I would love to add more abstract flair to my journals. When I saw this spread by Alison Worman, I feel in love. I love when artists use paint splatters and drips to build their spread. I also like the use of black in art. It is such a daunting and dynamic color and I appreciate it when an artist has the courage to go for it!
And no Solace would be complete without a great example of handlettering. This exemplar by Fiona Dempster is mind blowing. She actually burns the paper to get this effect!
Good news...I finished up another round of handmade books and photographed them last night. If I can focus on some computer work and pull myself out of the studio, I will get them up prior to my next Solace.
Do you want to be featured on Solace or know someone that would make a good fit? Leave it in the comment section...I welcome any and all input!
Paper Bundle Revealed!
I took the time to put together a bundle a few weeks ago. With all that has been going on, the 'Creative Girls' Tribe', 'Art Church', coaching other creative mamas, my regular part-time job with another artist in town and being Mom to my sweet, adorable little 4 year old...its taken me awhile to post the results! I am pleased and know that there are many more print days ahead. I am anxious to try some different water. My basement studio has old pipes and I know that this impacts the results. I am getting a lot of orange on my papers. When I lived in a place with newer pipes, I got more grays and yellows. Now I seem to be getting more blacks and oranges.
I love the unexpected results of eco-printing/dyeing but as I book more and more workshops, I am starting to understand the importance of keeping a notebook to control results. I think I need to start testing the pH of water, attempt to understand the impact of rust and other additives and the natural dye properties of the leaves that I use to print.
What are your thoughts on keeping a record of your dyepots? Do you like to have more control or do you prefer to be suprised? I would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below!
Sunday Solace //
My week has been crazy in so many great ways! Summer is like that around the Bimbur Studio. The fact that it is Sunday again will never cease to amaze me. I found some great stuff this week and I am excited to share. I hope to get some more of my own personal art work up soon but until then, enjoy these pretty little things... I just love this little scrappy books that I found by 'The Exquisite Eccentric'. It has inspired me to make little handmade books with all the scrappies I have in the studio--handmade papers, found/purchased papers and vintage scraps. Aren't these just delightful?
I am on an incredible journey these days. It is one that I don't talk about too much in detail...maybe one day I will be brave enough to voice it on this blog but for now, it is a private journey. That is why I love this quote by Rumi that I found on 'Ignite Light'. Some people will get your journey, others will not. Seek out those that have set their own life on fire and follow their light until you make your own...
I just had to show off one of my new leaf ecoprints from my most recent bundle. I will be writing a full post that will showcase the best of my prints...but for now, this one will have to satisfy your craving for ecoprints!
This handlettering by Kristen Nohe that I found on Flickr makes me want to break out the Tombow brushtip markers and start practicing. Not only do I love the lettering, I love what it says...I am truly living my adventure!
In my own personal art journals, skulls make an appearance regularly. Definitely part of my own personal imagery...perhaps that is the attraction to Isidro Ferrer's art journals on 'cuatro cosas'. I am just digging the skeleton that is boxing...
And finally, 'Owning Our Shadow Self' on Rebelle Society. For a majority of my almost 40 years, I have tried to perpetually please other people. It caused me to become sick--physically, mentally and spiritually. I thought I had to be happy all the time for people to like me. I am in recovery for that now but it is a hard habit to break. I work hard to not only embrace my Shadow Self but recognize that it is important to who I am as an artist. This is such a powerful article...
What are your thoughts on your Shadow Self?