behind the curtain

behold, finally, some of the artwork i pieced together, behind the curtain, back in the month of may when summer was still a promise and a hint of a song in my head.  remember the lovely teal dye work, the ribbon and doilies, stretched out to dry on the railing beside my porch?  now you get to see the projects for which the ribbon was intended, and why i wanted, (and to my great and utter surprise was able to achieve), that specific shade of teal that in some light is blue and other light, green.  this beautiful old book cover came from lk ludwig, years ago, when we had unrequited plans (aren't so many of them, for so many of us?) to work on a collaboration between the two of us - a set of house journals, set back and forth, two house shapes that would be "neighbor" books and friends.  i even envisioned a little linking metal fence with a gate.  sigh.  time got in the way, as it often insists on doing, and the book covers she so generously sent got tucked into my basket that holds other orphan book covers and saved, until the end of this may.  now, they are the reconstructed covers for a collection called "gatherings" - a portfolio of shallow shadowboxes fashioned from old book covers and small treasures held under mica, tied into a bundle, just so.  

as you can see, i didn't know when to stop - couldn't make myself stop, actually, which is so often the case with my work, and with attention to detail, but the beauty of this project is that students will be able to pick and choose which techniques they'll want to try out for the course of the day.

my next workshop, actually offered on the first day of artfest, is called a Wee Book for Thee, due to its sweet little diminutive size.  i do love a book that can be held in the palm of one's hand - and - well, you know me:  it makes a great photo for hands.  this little volume has a cover of copper, with a fabric spine (what else is new, right?), and its pages are mat board that house wee dimensional shadow boxes constructed from containers meant for matches.  i love this book as well, for its size and the way that it honors tiny little treasures that might otherwise be lost to the backs of drawers or shuffled and swept to corners of studio floors.  this little "basket", for instance?  i came across a plum pit one morning, down in the basement, that had been hollowed out by a resident mouse.  its shape reminded me of an ever so small basket, a perfect fit for  Miss Hunca Munca (how many of you know of whom i speak?).   i fashioned it into the basket with a bit of copper wire; the M was etched with my dremel.  the cotton batting, ancient and wonderful, came from the interior of an old, delapidated photo album.

my third, and final, workshop is titled Stone Soup, named for the fable with which surely all of you are familiar ("brother, i will make you some soup from this stone i have, but you'll just need to add a few vegetables to lend it a savory flavor...").  folks love the workshops i teach that explain stone and glass  drilling techniques, and this one will have its share of that.  we'll also be reviewing my "nina knot" wire wrapping, as well as clasp con- struction and my "cocoon" fabric and wire beads - a day chock full of jewelry instruction and play!

be sure to stop over at the artfest site and check out everyone's workshops - lots of new folks, lots of wonderful new classes.  of course, misty will be back this time, teaching two painting/collage workshops, and i'm excited to see that our sweet friend katie kendrick will also be teaching, for her first time at artfest (although she's been a regular attendee for years, and is now teaching lots of other places).  i remember last year when misty and i went out for thai dinner the last night in port townsend with annie lockhart and katie, and those two sat at the table and shyly (but excitedly) stated that they'd like to apply to teach there this year.  dreams do, i totally believe, come true...

 

Comments

[lk]

marvelous, marvelous, marvelous. :>

[Mahala]

Those are all wonderful. I wish to learn how to make such things. maybe I will be able to take a class from you one day. :)

[kim]

well, it looks like you will be stuck with me again for some classes, maybe all three, you just never know...
xoxo~kim

[Vickie]

Oh Nina, I laughed out loud with such joy reading your post and looking at your wonderful creations. I had not yet begun posting comments on your blog back when you posted that picture of the teal-dyed goods, but I remember the picture and I remember how stunningly gorgeous the color turned out to be. You really know how to bring it all together!

[ro bruhn]

Nina, that teal is just so beautiful, I love the books you make, I've been collecting old book covers since you visited earlier this year, in anticipation for next years classes.

Ro
xo

[annie]

oh my gosh...i wish i could take the book class! i will request a private lesson...yes, we'll see if that dream comes true dear friend. i was thinking exactly the same thing about dreams...and how we were laughing out of control about me and the friends of the friendless! xo!

[annie]

oh, yeah...i know hunca munca!

[Karen Cole]

All of your class offerings are incredible.......and incredibly far away. Gorgeous books, Nina!!!!

[Tina]

Lovely! I had not yet made Hunca Munca's acquaintance but now I'm oh so glad that I have.

I'm so looking forward to seeing you.

[kristen robinson]

Lovely treasures to behold Nina, the wee book is just too darling for words. Your blog as always is divine.

XOX
Kristen

[Megan Pickwell]

I love "The tale of the Two bad mice" My now 10year old boy often still drags the worn copy off the bookshelf, he loves the part where Tom Thumb Hits the plaster ham with a shovel! - now that is typical of a ten year old boy! What wonderful classes Nina.
Megan x

[Jamie]

I love seeing what you made with those delicious ribbons. Your books and jewelery are stunning. What treasures! Thank you for sharing your gifts at Artfest. I know your classes will be wonderful. Love, Jamie

[Cre8Tiva]

dreams do come true...your books are magical...little books in artist's hands...your dyeing superb...that was the first post i read when i found your blog...artfest...sounds wondrous...perhaps i will teach at it one day too...blessings, rebecca

[Chandra]

Oh Nina, you and your talent and skills are just simply amazing!! I cannot wait till the day I get to be present in a class of yours!
Much love,
C

[kateri]

Oh! OOOOOHHHH! The Book of Wee!!!! Everything, everything is so beautiful and mysterious and beckoning to be sat with and poured over like a delicate treasure box for hours and nights. It makes me want to create. :-) Thank you!

[Lisa]

Oh so lovely...such depth...such color.

[Tracie Huskamp]

my dearest nina...

there is always magic behind that curtain...yes... always!

xo

[Misty]

such magic indeed! your work is so your own... it's just what I would imagine to find in the deep fragrant woods, after following patches of sunlight, to a beautiful secret hollow tree, in there is work, sitting perfectly on the shelf, ever so tempting for any vistor to take a hold and sit for hours getting lost in your creations... i guess i am still stuck in that movie last night, but it's so true...your work is just like that, so inviting & enchanting...
I love what you did with the plum pit...that is just way too cool...and i say that even after discovering we, too have a mouse resident...grrr. xxxxooo

[Nancy Krampf]

hi hi hi, i must i must, sign up for artfest 2008, i will tell my clients they will be the better for it!!!
love the wee book
love gatherings
love your spirit sweet nina
x0x0x0x0x nancyk

[hollylovesart]

Hi Nina,

All 3 classes look divine. I feel giddy and tickled in anticipation of taking one of your classes next year. YOU are at the top of my list for all three days. Last year I was thrilled with my three classes (The Ashman's, Misty and Lynne)... now for a whole new adventure... I can't wait!

Holly
Venice, CA

[Bronwyn]

Your books look like ancient grimoires (books of magic spells)!

[sharon (glitterangel)]

Oh I wish I was nearer and could come to one of your classes. What a totally stunning book!

[Julie]

You just might tempt me to take a few classes in Port Townsend...just need to find a Thursday and Saturday class...Did I just type that? Am I seriously considering attending Artfest? I don't know what to think, but it has been a wonderfully crazy several months and you have been such a influential part of it!

[Cindy]

So magical! Have you seen the movie Miss Potter? Very sweet movie. The Wee Book reminds me of the book The Little Fur Family...so tiny and covered with fake fur.
I'm finding that all those projects and dreams that never get done tend to become what they are meant to be in their own time. Maybe we just think they're supposed to have been something else!?