Museum of Paper

Craft + Activism = Craftivism

At Craftivism (craft + activism = craftivism) we can mine fascinating veins of creativity, quirkiness and resource. Some of it is esoteric; some funky

Enjoy poking through the finds at Craftivism, including:

• work by Deirdre Nelson - including knitted tea bags and wedding shoes.
• Freddie Robins' constellation of interesting things
• Germaine Koh - whose projects can't be defined or limited in scope
  
• Knitknit and the knerdy reading
  
• and as Craftism puts it: "the 'i wish i was born in the '30s' joy that is Designing Britain 1945-1975"

 

 

Is it Food or is it Art?

Our friend Darla who's smart enough to be goofing off by the bay on the Washington coast (not the hot Washington; the cool Washington) sent these photos of what you can do when you're allowed to play with your food.

I have no idea where she got it, but someone has lots of time on their hands.

Click the image for a much larger one that you can be boggled by.

Is it art?

Well Worth More than One Visit

You might like to visit:

• The entry about Brianna's touching blog about her art, her mother's illness and her life

• Laura's lovely, fun and very human blog including drop dead gorgeous photos - and funny stuff.

• Fascinating Blog d'Elisson.

To learn how to Leak Links yourself as part of the Link Leak Virus, visit Mike Sigers' blog

The Museum Walls are Exploding

New Look

As you've seen in the graphic at the top of the blog, there seems to have been a population explosion.

We're building community with lots of room for varied interests and multiple skill levels and this is just one step on the way.

The Searchlight is On

We welcome other artists and writers who would like to contribute to what's happening in the Museum. Email us and let us know you'd like to share with us - OR just that you'd like participate. We have a long list of ideas for you to take on!

The New Kid

Today artist Darcy Altaville joins us as a guest author. You can meet Darcy via her first blog entry at  this link. She hopes many readers jump into the discussion about her topic: Altered Art.  I promise surprises and even rewards for those who take part.

Please drop by and chat with her by way of the comments area below her post. And look forward to more from Darcy. It's bound to be lots of fun!

To see Darcy's work, be sure to pop into Blue Jude Studio and the All NEW Blue Jude Studio Shop.

Ideas from the Oddest Places

Think of this the next time you're looking for something to do, a different kind of material to work with, or some thread or pencil colors you haven't tried.

Whatever it is you may never have known could inspire you . .  there are ideas for the taking at Collections Etc. Crafts.

And best of all, nothing costs over twenty bucks.

If the supplies area leaves you wanting, try other sections.

Be open to seeing:
things you could draw,
things you could copy,
things you could adapt,
things you could collage over with colored tissue
things that will add a fun funky look to "wherever"

Guess what I'm doing with this trio of bugs that were supposed to be "fence hangers."

Bingo. As soon as I'm done photographing them out comes the mod-podging & layers of tissue paper and for less than ten bucks I've got something totally and positively unique.

And the mosaic flower pot/pockets? They are the perfect inspiration for something I want to do with some broken plates and pots, and of course some smooth glass pebbles from the craft store.

Lots of ideas are lurking where those came from.

Page through the web-catalogue at Collections Etc and prepare to get busy!

 

an Artistampede is Born!

It's something that could cost you $136.00 . .
but less than twenty virtual "seats" are left at $15.00

Claim yours by following the
Special Artistampede Registration Link to be part of . . .

- an online workshop
  - generous handouts
  - and including supplies as seen in the pages of Stampers Sampler magazine!

And while you're visiting the Artistampede make sure to look around.  You'll discover that you're finally on the way to being able to search for artistamps by color, theme, whatever.

Ta da! Now this is what I call good news.

Are we having fun or what!

..

Now What? and Whatever Whenever - Art Reading and More

Now What? is an online magazine in which you will find the most surprising and innovative projects and ideas for the multi-media artist ever. As they say there's

"no same old, same old here . . ."

The goal of the publisher Jessica Wysolek is to present you with content that is wowing; that you'll turn each page to find an idea you have never seen before, or have never seen quite like that!

I guarantee many amazing hours for you if you haven't visited before. Oh - and more amazing hours even if you have.

Just click on over to see archived copies or subscribe to the new editions @  Now What? Reading Room

         
And if you're still hungry for more adventures after that, you'll love the freebie publication, called Whatever . . .Whenever, which is chock full of adventure. The Whatever . . .Whenever schedule is fluid, and the subject matter both diverse and innovative

I met Jessica online four or five years ago when I found her online paper-arts group the New Idea Exchange. Talk about a whirling dervish of activity, her energy left my brainstorms boggled as she whizzed by. I'm still amazed at the number of projects she can juggle; allegedly without using elves.

Not satisfied to do one thing well, Jessica not only has created publications which are amazing and truly entertaining, she's also created the same kind of atmosphere in the:

• Gallery Different Paper Arts,
• Blog,
• "Art Parts,"
• Sheer Heaven art surface,
• wide variety of rubber stamps and
• just plain good ideas . . .
• not to mention a fabulous array of samples in her Project Galleries.

Find Jessica, Gallery Different, and all the rest via the Cre8it.com website. And tell her Susan has once again been singing her praises.

PolyClay Surface Ideas for Mixed Media Art Inspiration

If you're wondering what might help you move past the art making spot you're in - no matter what media you're working with - I've happily stumbled across a couple of things that may just be the springboard you're looking for.

Polymer clay isn't something with which I've got tons of experience but I've been captivated by a book which I think has a lot to offer not only polyclay artists, but also could be the jumping off place for lots of artists working in other fields, with other media.

Surface techniques in Ellen Marshall's Polymer Clay Surface Design Recipes: 100 Mixed-Media Techniques Plus Project Ideas provide not only actual recipes that not even I could screw up, but also absolutely wonderful photos.

Listing at $22, Amazon is selling it for $14.95.

And if you're looking for free shipping too - yes, I always make sure to up my order to $25 to save five or six bucks - adding Creative Techniques For Polymer Clay Jewelry Nanetta Bananto to the order will benefit you on many levels.

Paying $15 and change for a $23 book is a good deal in any case but in this case it's an even better bargain considering Nanetta includes excellent information about blends - which admittedly got my own ideas popping - plus material, advice and tips focusing on:

• tools
• other materials
• color use
• clay blending
• jewelry item finishing
• making simple canes
• making complex leaf canes
• rose canes
  
• star canes
• 20 step-by-step jewelry projects
• suggestions for variations so you can easily make adaptations and create for your own taste

In other words, it's basic enough for me, but also presents enough ideas and advanced techniques for more experienced polyclay folks.

Both more than well worth a peek, and a great way to chase away the doldrums of the cold days blowing in on February winds.

Pongomania : Elegant Sculpture Gallery with a Twist

I'm captivated by this artist's site.  Billed as:

pongomania - Visit the land where most of the stuff is made of Pongo™

it's got a tongue in cheek quality that's hard to ignore.

But it's the clean presentation and few words that make pongomania not simply a fascinating art sculpture gallery but a testament to how elegant and lovely polyclay can be.

the Gallery Without Walls: Build Your Own

It was late August, and Jenny Krasner's art work was going no place fast.

Not only were no galleries interested in showing her work but she felt like nobody in Manhattan knew who she was. She vowed to move beyond the fantasy that a gallery would magically discover her.

As Jenny tells it -

The worst that could happen was nothing, and that was already happening. In September, I set up a “gallery” on 22nd Street and 10th Avenue in Chelsea. I called the exhibition On The Street and became the dealer of The Krasner Gallery.

My entire life has changed since I did this.