I've Put Down my Glue Stick!

 Art by Molly Meng

Don't worry -- it is only temporary!
But I've discovered slow stitching thanks to the delightful Molly Meng, LA artist extraordinaire . I'm telling you, if you ever get a chance to take a workshop with Molly Meng, do not hesitate.
I had a wonderful time on Sunday slow stitching away and getting inspired......
check it out..

It was all about the slow stitching but I kinda felt like it was also collage using fabric. I am primarily a collage artist and I felt right at home with this.

Molly provided everything we needed including things like this -- beautiful, vintage tags from Basque Country for berets. 

All kinds of fabrics, included avocado dyed pink like this! Yes, you can use avocado pits to dye fabric and paper -- just google it.

Lace and trims and more dyed fabric, this time it was tea dyed.

Art by Molly Meng
She also brought some of her own work to inspire...

Art by Molly Meng

Art by Molly Meng

Art by Molly Meng
I think I liked this one the most....just lovely shades of whites and ivories with that red initial and a small patch of blue...

Fabric Book by Molly Meng
I am absolutely kicking myself for not taking the Fabric Book Workshop the day before the Slow Stitching. I was afraid it would be too advanced for me but I was wrong. I sure hope she comes back to San Francisco and does it again.
Are you listening, Molly?

Art Work by Molly Meng
I mean...just LOOK at this. This is the book unfolded with slow-stitched collages on six pages. It is really an inspiration.

Art work by Molly Meng

Art work by Molly Meng

Art Work by Molly Meng
One of my favorite pages...

Art work by Molly Meng
Another favorite
By now you are all ready to sign up, right? You can find Molly on Instagram at molly_c_meng.
She is on Facebook too and going to have her new website up and running soon. She gives workshops at French General (check the French General web site). If you're in Los Angeles, you're in luck. And, lucky SF, she is coming back to San Francisco in May to do a collage workshop at SF Center for the Book which is FULL.
BUT
here is her paper weaving SFCB workshop which is still open.
Better hurry....

I want to give a little shout out to San Francisco School of Needlework and Design where I took the slow stitching class. I just discovered it and I am so happy I did. Located downtown right between Saks and Tiffany -- can you have a more swank address? A delightful place to learn embroidery and all kinds of stitching.

Here is a link to the Fabric Book class where you can see what you -- and I -- missed. Get on their mailing list in case it is offered again.

SF School of NeedleWork and Design
Charming, oui? 
Ok, now are you in the mood to stitch? Or collage? Or both? Let's get busy!
I am totally inspired and have lots of ideas. A birthday trip to SCRAP SF helped too. I picked up some fabric to play with and some vintage sewing supplies. I even got my sewing machine working again and I can't wait to sew on paper. When I'm in I"m all in!
So, what do you think? You in too?

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I Think You're Going to Want This

If you follow this blog I know you like postage stamps -- and mail and collage -- and looking at inspiring photos.
So, I must share with you, my friend Margarete's new and charming little book --
One Stamp at a Time.
I just bet you're going to want a copy too.....

This book is filled with lovely collages with postage stamps as a element.  That's right up my alley.
It's the perfect size to tuck in a bag and take with you to browse through on the streetcar or in a cafe...

I still can't get over Margarete found this giant BEE stamp at Scrap before me. Good thing I like her so much.

Aren't you getting inspired?

I love the faux postamrls she often includes too....if you have stamps you need postmarks, right?

The mail art and collages Margarete sends me are some of my favorite things. This a sheet of rolodex cards I haven't been able to bring myself to separate. I like them just the way they are.

Here are some collages ATC's she made me...also unseparated...

So, if you wan t to get your hot little hands on this cool book, here you go--
One Stamp at a Time
(you know you want it)
And, if you order, would you do me favor and tell her you heard about the book here?
I'd appreciate it.
And let me know what you think, ok?

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(and go make some collages too)

Mixed various

Hi everyone!
I wish I could show you everything I've been working on but some things haven't reached their destinations so I can't ruin the surprises.....soon...
I finished up my MARS passport and it is quite appropriate since I am an Aries and Aries is ruled by Mars.

I really had a lot of fun working on this and I'm actually thinking of collaging in another one since I still have lots more space stamps and ephemera leftover...

For some reason, I love these guys floating around inside the space shuttle....

Since I was on a space roll I had to make some spacey envelopes too. This went to Russia and is already there.

Couple more envelopes with a space theme...

I started prepping my travel journal.....and getting things ready for my travels...

There is sooooo much planning for these trips but it really is all part of the fun....gotta find the flea markets....and cool post offices and good restaurants....

Yep, I added tabs to my travel journal and divided it up into three sections...a week in each country...

And...Rome....last stop.....
pasta and holy cards!

I made two tiny books.....very tiny...

Of course there were lunches....this is one. Delicious potato-bacon soup so I  figured it out and made it at home....we have been having cold and rainy weather so soup is perfect.

The sun actually did shine a few days last week and I found a spot right in my neighborhood with a terrific view.
But I don't see any mail boxes from up there, do you?
It's raining again today but I kind of like it. Good for staying in and working on art projects. 
So many ideas.....so many projects...
And now I am taking up embroidery and slow stitching. I really need another project, right?
I do.
And what are YOU all doing? making?planning?
Let's hear from you.

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Let's Go to Chinatown!

With all the crazy weather we have been having here in SF, it hasn't been easy to get to Chinatown....but I have been determined to try..

You've gotta pick your days...
Things are rarely closed in Chinatown but Chinese New Year is the exception and a lot of places are closed for the holiday.

I went the day after (the first day of) Chinese New Year purposely...because I know what I will find all over the streets....

Lots of fire crackers wrappers and red papers and torn red envelopes. So many things to collage with....I only got a few odd looks while picking up trash...er...treasures off the sidewalk...
and I had to get there before it rained again and everything got soggy.

A lot of the paper displays are outdoors too so a rainy day wouldn't be ideal.

I'm sure you all know it's the Year of the Pig...
oink!!

Red envelopes with pigs on them are all over the place...I must have  red envelopes with all of the twelve animals on them...
I've been at this for a long time.

I love the joss paper shops -- inside the shop it is about 99% paper! Who doesn't love a shop filled with paper?

You need some new clothes?
Probably better to hang on the wall than try to wear though..

This paper outfit is quite fetching, don't you think?

Short on money? Here you go.

All kinds of pretty paper envelopes to choose from.

So, my rule is, if I bring it into my studio I've got to USE it. I have a vintage Chinese notebook and I am filling it with papers and photos from Chinatown...and...

I made a set of Chinese New Year artist trading cards and put them in a take out container a pal sent me...

I had fun using the papers I picked up and the fire cracker wrappers and even some pieces of the firecrackers I found...

So, today is a good day to post since it is pouring rain again...I'm glad I got to go to Chinatown in between storms...and now I have paper to play with on a rainy day.

Have you found anything interesting on the streets lately?
I'm always looking...

Gung Hay Fat Choy
&
Send Good Mail to Get Good Mail