Call A Friend

I have the best friends -- you can invite yourself over to their studios and get a wonderful fix of art, conversation...and well....come and see........

Take a peek through the door -- my pal j has the most wonderful studio space. There are so many interesting things to look at and I always come away feeling inspired
and maybe a teeny bit envious too....

Open all the drawers, she said.....now, that is a pal. And, not being real shy, I did! Looked inside most of them to see her carefully organized and curated collections.
Beautiful.

I covet these French rubber stamps. She didn't even check my bags on my way out....

Breakfast from Tartine Bakery
j went out and bought breakfast treats and made coffee too....
I might go back again tomorrow....

And, you never leave empty handed when you visit j.
She is the most generous soul and always have something tucked away for her her friends.
These were just what I needed!

Vintage Tape Measures

Vintage Rubber Stamps

A few of her rubber stamps....

I'm thinking I might want to move in....
Wouldn't you?
Thanks to my pal j for letting me look through all her treasures and have a delicious  brunch and  get inspired by her lovely studio....

Since I've shown you my studio space a few times, I thought you might like to see another.
Personally I love looking at where people make art...all art spaces are interesting to me and I love visiting.
I wonder where I'll visit next?
What about you?

Some cool new stamps are coming out very soon (in the USA) -- The Farmers Market Stamps and Janis Joplin. I have already pre-ordered mine.
I've been busy working on lots of art projects which I'll post sooner or later.
Just been busy having a little summer fun (in our chilly 62' San Francisco weather).

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Art Field Trip

I think it all started with these......I saw these beautful gelli-printed envelopes on my mail art pal's blog right here
One Woman's Hands
and being....well, me....I just went ahead and invited myself over to Leslie's house to learn how to gelli.

Considering we live about 60 miles apart it wasn't as easy as a bus ride around town. Mr Zip and I hopped on a BART train and about 50 minutes later Leslie picked me up and we zoomed off to her studio.

I even find things like rides on BART inspiring....

The ride was fun and time passed quickly looking at California out the train windows...

Leslie welcomed me into her studio and said "Touch anything, look in the drawers, make yourself at home."
Don't mind if I do -- there was a lot to look at, including lots of examples of her inspiring and terrific art work.

Just part of a nice washi collection...

We got down to business doing what we set out to do -- gelli printing -- and the hours flew by.
What fun!
Here are more of Leslie's cool envelopes
Stop in (her blog) and tell her I said hello (& thank you).

Some stencils....but she showed me how you can use so many things you just have hanging around the house like bubble wrap and those things Starbucks wraps around a hot coffee and various kitchen utensils.
You don't have to buy a lot of stuff.

We printed on deli papers and envelopes and tags.....this was really too much fun.

We covered every surface in her kitchen with papers we printed..

We almost -- but not quite -- forgot to eat lunch!

While eating lunch I browsed around some more....she had a great vintage book on bookkeeping with really wonderful graphics.
We printed on some of the pages and she gave me the book.

Some of Leslie's handmade stamps....

A collection of her handmade books -- did I mention this lady is seriously talented?

Alas, all good things must come to an end. After such a lovely day in very warm Tracy, CA I had to head back to SF on BART.

But I have a whole pile of my own gelli printed papers here in my studio to play with thanks to the Art Field Trip!
I highly recommend you take one yourself if you ever get the chance. I think spending a day working on an art project with a pal is right up there at the top of my list of
favorite things to do.

Leslie and I had traded mail but we had never met. She so generously offered up her day off to give me a workshop in gelli printing.
I find the art world/mail art world to be a generous one. Thank you, Leslie!
Here is Leslie's post about our day

TOO MUCH FUN

How many of you have had art play days like this?
If you have, tell us about it. If you haven't -- call a friend and set one one up.

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