Margaret Couch Cogswell

Valentines All Around!

2012-01-27T14:46:00.004-05:00

Friday, Feb 3rd, come spend a day making unique paper Valentines for friends and family while also giving to those in need. I will donate my teaching time, BookWorks will offer the class for a vastly discounted rate and all the proceeds from the class will be donated to Empty Bowls, a NC based organization helping to end hunger everywhere. It’s Valentines All Around!

This workshop is appropriate for all ages/levels, including children over 8 as long as they are accompanied by an adult. BookWorks will supply a variety of envelopes for your handmade valentines.

Here's the link to sign up or get more info- Valentines All Around

Waking Up With Van Gogh

2012-01-17T15:47:00.004-05:00

Asheville artist Moni Hill has spent the last year and a half organizing a show for the Hickory Museum of Art. She asked more than 70 Western North Carolina artist to create one piece based on their reaction to Van Gogh's Bedroom In Arles.

After painting all those dogs for the Dog Show at Blue Spiral I still had dogs on the brain. That and memories of my visit last May to see the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. There I was completely awed by Van Gogh's Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin. His use of color and pattern left a lasting impression. So here you have Cogswell's Life Goes On.

New Year, New Work, New Dogs!

2012-01-03T17:36:00.003-05:00

These are a few of the pieces that will be in the DOG SHOW at Blue Spiral 1 in Asheville, NC. It opens Thurs, Jan 5. I've been working bigger using acrylic and graphite on board. Yee doggie!

River Arts Studio Stroll this Weekend

2011-11-11T12:35:00.003-05:00

Things are buzzing down in the River Arts District. Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 6 all the studios will be open. The District is walkable, but they'll also be a trolly making the loop all day if you'd rather ride. I'm upstairs in Northlight Studios, 357 Depot Street. Come on down!

Doug Baulos

2011-10-20T22:19:00.005-04:00

Check out my friend Doug Baulos's work. He came by the studio a few days ago during a visit to Asheville from Birmingham, Al where he teaches in the art department at UAB. Being around Doug always gets my creative energy flowing. His unique view of the world and his ability to communicate this thru combining multiple materials is inspiring. Here's his flickr site for more images.

It's always a treat to open my mailbox and find something from Doug!

drawings

2011-09-30T12:00:00.002-04:00

BookOpolis this weekend!

2011-09-23T09:09:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite book events is this weekend at BookWorks. BookOpolis is 2 days of books and demos open to all ages- a very hands on event.

Below is my entry this year- TESSY DOG- an ode to my aging pup. Even though I'm really a cat lover I ended up with a dog that thinks I'm the cat's meow. She has influenced my work in so many ways and I wanted to capture that gratitude in a book. Thanks, Tess!

Accordion Vignettes

2011-09-12T12:45:00.003-04:00

Willow Bark Paper Adventure- Part 1

2011-08-29T17:00:00.007-04:00

Today I started on a paper making adventure with my friend Gwen Diehn. Gwen is one of the most creative people I know. She is fearless in her approach to making things. She'll try anything that interests her and she always has a ready laugh to accompany her mischief. This trait, of course, makes being around Gwen all the more fun. For the last 9 months Gwen and Laura Ladendorf have been collaborating on a small book edition for BookOpolis 2012. The paper they used for the edition is black willow bark paper that Gwen made in the BookWorks paper making studio. It is a lovely pinkish color with the desirable quality of being very strong- meaning it can handle printing/working on both sides without bleeding or strike thru even when using wet media. Below is Gwen and Laura's book, Faubourg nan main Bon Dieu (Neighborhood in the hands of the Good God).

cover

open

Ever since Gwen showed me her willow bark paper and it's appealing qualities the idea of making some myself has been gaining steam in my spirit. I have never made paper before. I admire handmade paper, but until recently haven't had the desire to be part of the process. I guess a paper charmer has been secretly playing a paper flute in my ear the last few months because I feel myself drawn to making this willow bark paper. So, over the next few weeks (as schedules allow) Gwen and I are going to make PAPER! Here's what we did today-

Gwen gathering willow
spiders like willow too

stripping the bark off the branches

inner bark
bag-o-bark
jessie of the willows
stripped willow branches
I brought my bag-o-bark home and put it into a large bucket of water. There it will soak for a couple of weeks. The idea is to soften the bark so you can strip off the dark part. To make paper we want only the inner bark. Gwen told me that it's possible to use the outer bark, but if you do your paper will be freckled. We decided to make non-freckled paper this time.

recent journal pages

2011-08-08T13:38:00.003-04:00

New Studio

2011-08-01T14:44:00.004-04:00

June 13th I moved into Northlight Studios. My friend and fellow artist, Wendy Whitson, and her husband, John Davis, recently bought a lovely old building on Depot Street in the River Arts District. Years ago the building housed a tannery. One of the photos above shows a section of the brick wall outside my studio that still retains a painting illustrating the correct way to take off a hide. Asheville Greenworks occupies the ground floor along with photographer, Laurie McCarriar. Wendy, (painter), Denise Wolcott (jeweler), and I have studios upstairs. Mine faces the street and is filled with light all day long. We are open Fridays 11-4 so please stop by if you're in the neighborhood.

Penland School of Crafts

2011-07-18T16:54:00.003-04:00

I was recently at Penland School of Crafts teaching a class entitled BAG OF TRICKS. What a great time I had teaching and learning from the 12 lovely people in my class. We made cloth books, mastered 6 bindings and created heavy paper from paper bags and a collage technique to be used for book covers and pages. We took time to talk about keeping a journal practice and generating content for books. TINY MAILBOX even made an appearance. The 4th of July fell in the middle of the session so we constructed a big accordion book to march with in the parade. FUN!

news from your tiny post mistress

2011-06-16T21:40:00.005-04:00

TINY MAILBOX was a hit! The sun shone most of the weekend and many curious people went thru the mailbox. I was preaching the word of SLOW MAIL complete with free postcards for everyone to take and send their own SLOW MAIL. Very satisfying! A big thanks goes out to Dan Cogswell and Mark Boyd who helped with set up, my friend Don G. who helped fund TINY MAILBOX, my ever supportive bookgirl Clara Boza for taking these great photos and to all those who sent me mail! A side note-Clara has a wonderful blog so check it out.

TINY MAILBOX

2011-06-06T17:56:00.003-04:00

It's time! TINY MAILBOX goes on display this weekend. Please stop by if you're in the area. I'd love to show you my mailbox!

TINY MAILBOX

River Arts Studio Stroll

Sat and Sun, June 11 &12, 10 - 6

Cotton Mill Studio, 122 Riverside Dr.

Asheville , NC

Tiny Mailbox Update

2011-05-18T11:33:00.003-04:00

My daily trips to the mailbox have been very exciting lately as mail for the TINY MAILBOX has been rolling in. When I was planning TINY MAILBOX I was so focused on the practical details that I forgot about the fact that all this mail would be coming to ME in my mailbox in large quantities! Silly, I know, but it's true. What a treat! I've even felt a bit guilty that, at least right now, I'm having all the fun. But, TINY MAILBOX will be up in a few weeks for others to enjoy and I'll be sending out a special something to participants after the show. Thanks so much to all who have sent in mail. If you're in the area please come see TINY MAILBOX.

Tiny Mailbox

River Arts District Studio Stroll

June 11 & 12

Cotton MIll Studio

122 Riverside Dr

Asheville, NC

what I've been up to

2011-04-20T20:17:00.006-04:00

Hello Friends and lovers of tiny adventures,

Are you a fan of sending and receiving mail? Mail the old fashioned way? Snail mail? Escargo? Slow mail, like slow food? I am! It's hard to beat the joy of opening that box on a pole, peeking inside to find greetings from a friend next to bills and endless catalogs. Or the fun of creating a little something to fly into someone else's mailbox. It's a rose to smell, a moment to pause, a tiny adventure before the rush of daily doings resume. No matter if the greeting doesn't always bring the sun. Raindrops help to make things grow.

So here's the pitch: my friend, Mark Boyd, and I built a tiny gallery last winter. It's a 6' x 6' structure that exists as a freestanding portable gallery free to the public. During the River Arts District Studio Stroll, June 10 - 12 in Asheville, North Cakalackey Tiny Gallery will become TINY MAIBOX. I'm asking anyone interested to make and mail whatever you would like to be included in TINY MAILBOX. This isn't a mail art show, it's a open show to demonstrate the wonders of slow mail and encourage others to take up their pen (so to speak). Besides the mail you send on display, I will also have free blank cards and envelopes for viewers to take with them so they can create their own slow mail. There are a few guidelines:

1. There are no guidelines-

This show is about the joys of sending and receiving mail. So make or write something you would like to receive in your box on a pole. All entries will be displayed on the walls of Tiny Mailbox and will become the property of the Official Archives of Tiny Mailbox. For your effort in promoting slow mail I will make and send (by mail, of course) a surprise after the show ends. Please pass this call on to anyone you think might enjoy participating. The more the mailer. (sorry, couldn't resist)

Please send all mail postmarked by May 10 to me, Margarer Logsmell, 122 Riverside Drive, Studio D, Asheville, NC 28801. Remember to include your return address so I can send you your surprise. Oh, and your email address too ( yes, email is a fine way to communicate also) if you would like updates/photos as the project progresses. I promise not to clog your in-box. The update will just be a link to this blog where I'll post the post.

THANKS!

yours truly,

Margaret Cogswell, Tiny Post Mistress

aka- Margarer Logsmell

small tin paintings

2011-03-21T13:01:00.002-04:00

air mail

2011-03-04T10:46:00.002-05:00

Today feels like spring is somewhere closeby.....

2011-02-16T15:39:00.002-05:00

The Tangled Skein

2011-02-11T12:41:00.003-05:00

Try we life-long, we can never

Straighten out life's tangled skein,

Why should we, in vain endeavour,

Guess and guess and guess again?

Life's a pudding full of plums

Care's a canker that benumbs.

Wherefore waste our elocution

On impossible solution?

Life's a pleasant institution,

Let us take it as it comes!

Set aside the dull enigma,

We shall guess it all too soon;

Failure brings no kind of stigma -

Dance we to another tune!

String the lyre and fill the cup,

Lest on sorrow we should sup;

Hop and skip to Fancy's fiddle,

Hands across and down the middle -

Life's perhaps the only riddle

That we shrink from giving up!

William Schwenck Gilbert

I recently created this crown for a client based on the poem The Tangled Skein by William Schwenck Gilbert. The crown is to be worn on special family occasions and celebrations. I had such a good time making a piece knowing that it would become a treasured family heirloom.

Thanks, Tom!

Valentines All Around!

2011-01-28T12:33:00.004-05:00

Come spend a day making unique paper Valentines for friends and family while also giving to those in need. I will donate my teaching time, BookWorks will offer the class for a vastly discounted rate and all the proceeds from the class will be donated to Empty Bowls, a NC based organization helping to end hunger everywhere. It's Valentines All Around!

This workshop is appropriate for all ages/levels, including children over 8 as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

To register or for more info- Valentines.

FUN!

dawgs

2011-01-15T18:49:00.001-05:00

You're invited....................

2011-01-04T12:23:00.003-05:00

to an opening this Thursday, Jan 6, 5:00 to 8:00, at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery in downtown Asheville.

I moved!

2010-12-07T12:53:00.003-05:00

Dec 1 was the last day of my 3 year residency at Penland. I will miss being in that beautiful place and the community of friends I made while I was there. Boxes still abound, but I'm settling in to my new studio in the River Arts District in Asheville, NC. I'm sharing a studio with my very talented friend Barbara Zaretsky. She is the owner of BZ Designs and director of Cloth Fiber Workshop. We keep regular hours- Mon thru Sat 10 to 4. Please stop by if you are in the area.

The image above was taken by Dana Moore of my Penland studio at night. Thanks Dana!

in case you're in the area

2010-11-12T11:42:00.002-05:00

two-sided tin paintings

2010-11-02T21:50:00.003-04:00

front

back

front

back

Urie

2010-10-19T10:33:00.002-04:00

One of my fellow residents, Jeong Ju, recently adopted a feral cat that had been dropped off here at Penland back in the winter. During the spring and summer Jeong Ju patiently wooed this little orange fella at the school dining hall where he hung out. Finally one day in Sept he followed her the 1/2 mile from the dining hall to her apartment and that was that. He's still shy around others, but follows Jeong Ju like a dog. She named him Urie.

letters to friends

2010-10-13T18:09:00.001-04:00

BookOpolis Crown

2010-10-07T15:45:00.003-04:00

Laurie Corral, director of BookWorks in Asheville commissioned this crown to wear during BookOpolis.

If you're available, come on over!

2010-09-26T13:07:00.001-04:00

dandelions

2010-09-09T14:41:00.002-04:00

vacation over

2010-09-03T15:05:00.001-04:00

Tin Painting

2010-08-01T13:00:00.001-04:00

FYI

2010-07-22T11:50:00.004-04:00

My friend, Kathleen McCafferty, at Lark Books just sent me word about a new book Lark has published. It's called CRAFT CORPS and is written by Crafter Vickie Howell. Here's a LINK to check it out.

38th Annual Village Arts and Craft Fair

2010-07-14T15:33:00.007-04:00

Back in February John Cram contacted me about designing a poster for the fair that New Morning Gallery sponsors each summer. The poster always features a cat in some shape or form. I was thrilled to be a part of this fun project. Here is the painting I created and the link to the finished poster designed by Susan Rhew.

big head

2010-06-25T09:37:00.002-04:00

Room of 5 Elements

2010-06-18T13:18:00.001-04:00

This is a photo album I just finished for the Room of 5 Elements at Handmade In America's Design Expo this weekend. Barbara Zaretsky curated this beautiful and peaceful space.

my new website

2010-06-08T11:20:00.005-04:00

please check it out HERE

daily journal

2010-05-31T22:03:00.002-04:00

dogbone

2010-05-24T13:46:00.001-04:00

watch dog

2010-05-15T11:11:00.002-04:00

rabbit

2010-05-06T14:25:00.000-04:00

dog tricks

2010-04-19T21:14:00.000-04:00

all the things.......

2010-04-08T11:21:00.001-04:00

beth's island

2010-03-29T09:17:00.000-04:00

readers digest

2010-03-20T22:10:00.002-04:00

tree

2010-03-14T13:39:00.002-04:00

bobber

2010-03-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

bird

2010-02-27T22:48:00.002-05:00

red head

2010-02-18T12:20:00.002-05:00

Hope

2010-02-12T15:10:00.002-05:00

details

2010-02-03T20:30:00.002-05:00

Shoestring Artist Collective

2010-01-07T13:23:00.004-05:00

Last weekend I helped my friend Mark Boyd install a show at St. Andrews/Sewanee School in Tenn. We will return, along with our buddy Beth Schaible, in two weeks to lead a 4 day workshop for the school as well as a community workshop that Sat. Workshop title: Zines! As part of the show Mark has started a blog. Soon students will be able to contribute their musings and/or images.

later tater

the Big Crafty

2009-12-04T13:03:00.002-05:00

I'll be at The Big Crafty on Sunday selling Two Sisters calendars, note cards, bookmarks and t-shirts, PLUS a selection of original paintings on wood. The Big Crafty is an indie crafts fair in Asheville that happens twice a year. I always look forward to being there to show and sell my work. What a treat to see old friends as well as to meet new people in the midst of a festive, low key event. It will put you in the Holiday spirit- in a GOOD way! Above are a few of the small paintings I did just for this show.

Mail Yourself

2009-11-16T20:20:00.004-05:00

The first weekend in November I taught 2 classes at Gallery Shibui in Raleigh, NC. Cloth Books was on Saturday and Mail Yourself on Sunday. In Mail Yourself we created small accordion books that can be used as cards to send to family and friends. I also taught an origami container structure that can be filled with a small card or accordion book. Each person had time to play around with the different structures and complete several projects. Check your mailbox- you might be the lucky dog that receives one!

Alice Southwick, owner of Gallery Shibui and generous soul, is moving her book, paper and teaching studio to Rebus Works this month. Rebus Works is a wonderful gallery and frame shop in the Boylan Heights neighborhood in Raleigh run by Shonna Greenwell. It's worth a visit if you are in the area.

cards, dogs and smelling roses

2009-10-20T17:25:00.006-04:00

Much of my studio time over the last couple of months has been creating 3-d work, but I've also tried to fit in time to paint on paper. I usually let the idea define the media I choose to work in. Over time I have found that there is a natural rhythm to my choice of media. If I've gone a while without working flat, I swing back that way. Sometimes deadlines and commissions make media choices for me, but I try to keep my schedule loose enough for flexibility. One way I satisfy my interest in drawing and painting is to create cards that I mail to friends. It gives me great joy to communicate with people this way- it's the hand in this age of multi-tasking and machines- the same thing as slowing down and smelling the roses for both the sender and receiver. A bonus is that these cards often duplicate what I gain from my daily journal practice- time to draw/paint/collage without filtering and editing. The images that come are often the seeds for later work. The first photo is a Thank You card I made for a friend. This led to 2 paintings of the same dog (Lucy Brinkley) for American Folk Art and Frame.

Sometimes it doesn't come together- Part 2

2009-10-14T13:42:00.003-04:00

Back in July I started work on a crown that gave me some trouble. I wrote about my struggles with this crown in a July 22 post. I have had the wire armature sitting on a table in the studio since then. Well, one day last month I walked in the studio and found myself picking up the armature. What made that day different from any other? I don't know, but once it had my attention I was off and running. It's the first crown that incorporates one of my paper mache animals.

The name of this piece is A Bird in the Head is Worth 2 in the Hand. I used book pages, gesso, gouache, graphite, cloth, shellac, and thread. It is on display at the Penland Gallery's current show The Barns :2009.

Sometimes it does come together.

FYI

2009-10-01T10:53:00.003-04:00

My friend Terry Taylor has a new book out this month- ECO BOOKS. Here's the low down-

ECO BOOKS:Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin

Terry Taylor

Here are projects for the “pages”: 40 innovative book-making ideas using recycled and green materials! More than just earth-friendly, they’re also beautiful, clever, and witty, stitched with traditional binding techniques. Egg cartons, wood, beer cans, and cassette tapes morph into covers, while brown bags, coffee filters, and discarded newspapers are transformed into pages. Create a boxed set of cereal box books, an exposed stitch sketchbook out of cardboard and remnants, and even a faux leather journal made from teabags.

In addition to how-to drawings, close-up detail photographs, and simple stitch diagrams, a gallery of eco-books from an international roster of artists provides inspiration.

140 pages

You can purchase it from Lark Books

http://www.larkbooks.com/catalog?isbn=9781600593949

Goodbye Dolph and Jessie

2009-09-14T22:11:00.003-04:00

We finished our class with a group shot (photo 1) and a toast to a great week.

photo 2: class show and tell

Finishing

2009-09-13T19:38:00.003-04:00

I'm finally getting back to Dolph's class. It was a frenzy of activity the last day and 1/2 of class and I didn't get a chance to make a post. Immediately after my assistant duties ended on Saturday I left for a walk across Scotland- Fort William to Inverness. It was fabulous, but that's another story. I'm eager to show the results from our week with Dolph.

My last installment had Dolph with his cover almost finished. He wanted to add a round piece of poly carbinate to act as a window over the cut out circle. Inside this window he planned to put a red paper airplane. He cut the poly out with scissors and used tiny nails to hold it in place.(photo 1) Next he put wood glue on the back of the wooden front cover (photo 2), placed the paper cover onto the wooden cover and clamped it all together.(photo 3) 30 minutes later the clamps came off and he repeated the gluing process with the back cover. Another 30 minutes and - Voila! (photo 4)

Milk Paint

2009-08-29T11:00:00.003-04:00

Milk Paint has a short shelf life so Thurs morning Dolph mixed up 4 colors for us to use the next 2 days. He coated his wooden cover with black milk paint using a dabbing technique instead of "painting". After the black was dry he brushed it lightly with steel wool and then applied a coat of blue using the same dabbing method. ( photo 3 ) Once this was dry he sanded it using 4 x O steel wool. ( photo 2 ) The transformation was magical. The cover went from a sandy, chalky, feel to a smooth, silky finish with a slight shine to the high spots. ( photo 3 )

Wood Covers

2009-08-26T22:54:00.004-04:00

Today we worked on the wood covers for our books (photo 1). Dolph demoed using the scroll saw (photo 2) and the dremel (photo 3) to sand away layers of the plywood we are using for covers. There is lot's of action in the studio. Tomorrow Dolph breaks out the milk paint!

Dolphite

2009-08-25T20:01:00.003-04:00

Today Dolph demoed a technique he developed using graphite and shellac. Using a mixture of ground graphite and liquid shellac he painted onto a board that he had embellished in different ways. After the graphite had time to dry he used a dry rag to polish it up. The raised areas burnished nicely with the end result creating a beautiful metallic look. Even subtle marks come alive. The class dubbed this technique "dolphite".

Tomato Fan

2009-08-24T21:39:00.003-04:00

Dolph started out the morning giving each of us a TOMATO FAN, celebrating the "Ripley Tomato". From there he moved on to demo a text block bound with tapes. We sewed a sample text block in preparation for our first book. We spent the afternoon tearing paper and designing the book we will bind tomorrow.

Dolph Smith at Penland

2009-08-23T22:18:00.007-04:00

This week I'm assisting Dolph Smith (photo 1) 7th session at Penland. He is teaching a class called "Shake, Rattle & Roll". Here is the description from the catalog-

This class will search for a book niche somewhere between pop-up and built. We will consider the book as tool; the book as display case; the book as container with storage space and windows, perhaps with movement behind the windows; the book as three-dimensional sculpture with three-dimensional illustrations; and we will explore the elements of sound and touch. We will attempt all of this using wood, copper, found stuff, milk paint, graphite, and who knows what else? It will all

work out.

Photo 2- Dolph and Jessie- his wonderful wife of 50 years.

Photo 3- Zennias that Dolph and Jessie brought from their farm in Tenn to grace the book studio.

It's a full class and we are looking forward to an exciting week.

Digestives

2009-08-14T15:09:00.004-04:00

This week I have been completing work on a project I am involved in with BookWorks in Asheville, NC. Here's the specifics:

2009 Small Book Exchange

12 BookWorks Coop members will each make 15 copies of a 3 x 3 x 3” artist’s book on the topic of Cabinets of Curiosities. Two copies of each member’s edition will go to each of two boxed sets (boxes to be made and donated by Gretchen Winger, Gwen Diehn, Laurie Corral, and Dan Essig), one to be raffled off and the other to be sold to raise money to support artists’ residencies at BookWorks. One other copy of each person’s edition will be silent-auctioned at BookOpolis. The drawing for the raffle will happen at BookOpolis, September, 25, 2009.

This is my third year participating in this exchange. It's fun, but I always forget that making 15 of something is TOTALLY different from making 2 or 3 of something. I learn a lot about myself and the way I work- very valuable.

My "book" entitled Digestives consists of "crackers", laminated Reader's Digest pages, inside a cracker box. My statement reads: Reader's Digest Condensed Books are cabinets of easily ingested curiosities. Munch, munch, crunch,crunch - page by page - goes down smooth.

Shameless Self Promotion

2009-08-02T16:08:00.001-04:00

Want to learn how to make cloth books? Come join me-

Sometimes it doesn't come together- Part 1

2009-07-22T16:18:00.003-04:00

Over the last 2 weeks I have been working on paper mache animals and a crown entitled The Dissimilator. I was excited about the crown idea. First I made the armature out of binding wire and wrapped the base in fabric. (photo 1) Next I cut out the "pages" from a double sided paper. I painted the pages with an image, but didn't like what I had done. I repainted and reworked the idea, but still wasn't happy. (photo 2 and 3- blue spots are painter's tape temporarily holding the pages in place.) After hours on this I decided to abandon the crown all together.

That point is always a hard call. My general philosophy in the studio is to stick with something I'm struggling with. I might need to give it some space, but usually pushing thru and wrestling with the ideas and materials leads me thru the struggle to a successful piece. Paying attention to that tension is important. Every once in awhile there is that piece/idea that can't be redeemed no matter how much time or energy you give it. Success then is the recognition that it's time to move on, that what you received from your time wasn't in a neat package. Knowing the difference between the two- sticking with or moving on- is part of what goes on in the studio. "Am I connected to this piece? Is there anything that intrigues me? Do I just want to throw it out the window." Experience tells me that there is often good "stuff" in the works you want to abandon. Sometimes I am too close to see what is there until there is time away.

What I realized with this crown is that after 3, 4 then 5 days of time away, I didn't want to abandon it. I'm intrigued by the shape and desire to work at it a bit longer after a break. To be continued.

Birthday Project

2009-07-09T22:03:00.003-04:00

It was my birthday this week. Instead of a party, my friends, Mark and Beth, helped me construct a cardboard booth like Lucy's in PEANUTS. We put it outside the Penland dining hall at lunch. For 5 cents you could get 2 minutes of psychiatric help and a prescription. My husband, Dan (a psychologist in real life), stood in for Lucy. There was a lot of laughing going on!

More Paper Mache Animals

2009-06-29T14:38:00.001-04:00

The Past 2 weeks

2009-06-19T08:42:00.003-04:00

I have been working on more paper mache animals as well as environments for my journal books. The first photo shows a grouping of work in my studio from last week's open house. Next is a paper mache dreaming bird. The third photo is the latest journal book in it's environment- an altered napkin holder. The book can be displayed in the holder open or closed.

Upcoming Class

2009-06-05T20:34:00.002-04:00

I'm looking forward to teaching at Cloth Fiber Workshop in a few weeks. There are still a couple of spots left. Please join us for a fun weekend.

2009-05-28T11:03:00.003-04:00

The past few weeks I have been working on paper mache animals in between other projects. For me the appeal of paper mache comes from low tech and low cost materials. I can manipulate newspaper to create any gesture. Incorporating other materials like pencils and wheels help to blur the way we typically "see" an animal as well as trigger other possibilities.

Pollyanna

2009-05-08T13:01:00.002-04:00

I often wonder if I am a Pollyanna. In a difficult situation I try to find the silver lining- to make lemonade out of lemons. Is this a defensive reflex or a healthy attitude? The name "Pollyanna" currently has a negative connotation, but it was not always so. Recently I have been challenged with a heavy burden; part of my making, but part out of my control. As I struggle to plunge ahead with my life I'm looking for the ray of sunshine that comes after the storm.

Pollyanna and 6 more of my artist books are currently on view at Blue Spiral 1 in Asheville, NC. Blue Spiral is having their first Book Show entitled By The Book which includes work by 12 artists. There was a great turn out for the opening last Thursday and lots of enthusiasm for this fun show. White gloves are provided so you can handle the books. Thank you Blue Spiral 1 for supporting Book Arts!

If you would like to view part of the show follow this link and scroll down to By The Book.

http://www.bluespiral1.com/Images_current/09may-june/currentx.htm

Confessions Of A Small Dog

2009-04-22T17:15:00.003-04:00

Confessions Of A Small Dog

by issy

i feel like a BIG dog

i ate the butter, but let the cat take the blame

i want to be the ONLY alfa dog

i think i am part human, therefore i deserve human food

i pooped on the rug because i didn't want to go out in the rain

i am addicted to dry crusty cat turds from the litter box

i don't like it when you talk to me in baby talk

i hear selectively

when you are gone i sleep on your bed with my head on your pillow

sometimes i wish you were a dog

More Pages From Journal Books

2009-04-13T16:25:00.002-04:00

Drawings from Journal Books

2009-04-06T20:28:00.004-04:00

My Journal books are 4.5 x 4.5 inches in size and contain 24 pages. The contents of each book is drawn and/or collaged during one day. They are based on my daily journal which is usually images rather than text. The objective of my daily journal as well as these books is to create without filters, working as spontaneously as possible. These images become the seed for much of my other work.

Get Out Of Jail Free

2009-03-26T09:39:00.002-04:00

Unhook the ball and chain and open the door of my jail on wheels. Inside you will find a book containing detachable "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE" tickets. You never know when you might need one.

2009-03-16T16:23:00.001-04:00

New work for American Folk Art and Frame.

2009-03-08T22:48:00.000-04:00

New Work

2009-03-01T20:19:00.003-05:00

I delivered these 2 dogs to the Penland Gallery this week. The first one is a cloth piece. The second is a papier mache dog on wheels holding in her mouth a book entitled " Things I have eaten".

This Week

2009-02-22T10:23:00.005-05:00

This week I spent time creating 20, 5 x 7 in. drawings for a client. Here are 3 of the 20.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

2009-02-15T21:47:00.006-05:00

My friends Mark and Beth helped to organize a show of sorts last Friday. (photo 1) I did a performance entitled "The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie". I have been baking choc chip cookies since I was a little girl. This past summer the New York Times featured a story about the best chocolate cookie which included a recipe. Well, I tried it and it was GOOD - even better than my old recipe. So, for Friday's show I baked a batch of both cookies, made parchment paper sleeves that contained one of each cookie and set up a voting station. (photo 2) I gave a short, silly performance explaining the history and asked everyone there to test the cookies themselves and vote for the cookie they liked the best. As a thank you for helping me, each voter was allowed to take a saying from the Rountree-Couch Dispenser ( part of the "book" from my last post). The Explainer was there for any splainin' that was needed. (photo 3) Over 40 votes later, The New York Times cookie was the winner. (photo 4) The difference: unsalted butter, making the dough 24 -36 hours in advance, bittersweet chips and sprinkling course salt on the cookie just before baking.

Keep It In The Road

2009-02-05T15:47:00.004-05:00

The past 2 weeks I have been working on a new artist book. It is titled Keep It In The Road- words to keep your life on track. (Photo 1) One side of the first car carries the title, the other side reads Roundtree-Couch patented dispenser of aphorisms, faux wisdom and vague prophecy. (photo 2) On top of this car is an old metal tape dispenser. From the dispenser you can take one of 28 numbered sayings- as you would a piece of tape. The second car holds the Explainer. The back side reads the Explainer for elucidation and interpretation according to Kitty Rountree and Coochie Couch. Open this car and you will find the Explainer, extra rolls for the dispenser and a mirror for reflection. (photo 3) The Explainer contains the numbered aphorisms with etymology (Kitty or Coochie), definition, and cross reference to other aphorisms within the Explainer. All the sayings are from my parents- phrases my 3 sisters and I grew up hearing. For example: #5. Whatever blows your skirt up. (Coochie) 1. whatever makes you happy 2. whatever excites you 3. whatever

This book is for a group show at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery in Asheville, NC opening April 30.

Valentines Auction

2009-01-30T22:17:00.003-05:00

Cloth Fiber Workshop in Asheville, NC is hosting a Valentines Auction Feb 6th. Here are a couple of the things I have donated. It will be a fun evening as well as an opportunity to help Cloth in these crazy financial times. Come join us if you are in the area.

new paintings

2009-01-28T13:05:00.005-05:00

American Folk Art and Frame in Asheville, NC is now representing my 2-d work. I'm thrilled to be among the other artists there.