I will adding my one-of-a-kind pocket mirrors to my online shop on Etsy over the next few days.
There’s three there right now, two more to go. Two of the collages are on Vancouver and the others on Guatemala.
These are one-of-a-kind and not multiple reproductions, so get them while they’re here.
Here is a small colourful selection of the collage button pins made at my Collage Button Making Workshop last Saturday. Participants made pins, magnets, and pendants. Upcoming classes are in November and December. I expect that classes will start filling up after the Eastside Culture Crawl, so register early to reserve your spot. Owls were popular, lots of colour was used and many words were cut up — nothing dull here!
Needed: 3 adult participants to test run my first pocket mirror workshop at a discount. This trial will be a 4 hour class, a bit longer if needed as this is a trial. You get to make three 3-inch pocket mirrors. One side is a mirror and the other side contains your collage.
In this workshop you will learn an image transfer technique that will give you more creative options to add to your collage arsenal. With an image transfer you can create more complex compositions. The see-through qualities of the transfer allows you to play with layering — showing details, colours, and shapes that are under your image layer.
Before class, you will need to email me two digital images or illustrations (could be your own or something from a book) that you’d like to use for your mirrors. Images can be at 72 dpi at Fine quality in your digital camera setting, images at 300 dpi are also fine. You might decide to work with one image and create three different compositions or you might find that only one image works well for this technique.
You will also have access to my typewriter to easily add your own text as well as a large variety of materials for collage; and rubber stamps. You will come out with 3 pocket mirrors. See more examples of my pocket mirrors here. You can bring your own collage materials and rubber stamps.
Requirements: email me your digital images before class or bring a book that has images you’d like to work with
When: Saturday, October 29, 11 – 3
Trial price: $45, max 3 students (adults only)
If you’ve been wanting to take my Collage Button Pin workshop, I warn you, don’t wait too long. One class is already full! Plus I’ll be at my current studio till the end of December, so I’m not really sure right now where I’ll offer my workshops next year. I’m in search of a very affordable solution which I have to say is pretty challenging in this city!
What I can also easily offer right now while I have a studio, is for you to book a private workshop with your group [no longer available]. So if the dates below don’t work for you, get in touch and if you can get 3 people together we can book a private workshop. Get 6 and save some money.
Full workshop details here – make pins, magnets, and now also pendants!
New work brought to September Shop today. These are all one-of a-kind three inch pocket mirrors. The mirror is on the other side. Mirrors are $28 each.
medium: collage, screenprint
I did not want to add any text to this piece. The Balmoral Hotel is one of those landmark buildings in Vancouver. The wallpaper background brings the building back to another era when it must have been a reputable hotel.
medium: collage, screenprint
I saw this Rambo truck while on a trip to Malta several years ago. It was a beauty!
medium: old found envelope, collage
My thoughts in this piece turned to words that might have been contained within the envelope.
I’ve set up a gallery slideshow to showcase a number of my pocket mirrors – my newest work. I’ve also been able to come up with some nice packaging for these mirrors.
Each mirror comes with it’s own little Chinese envelope with a greeting for a Happy New Year, Season’s Greetings, ect. Contained within the envelopes, the mirrors make precious gifts. It’s also nice that the envelopes can be used for collaging or scrapbooking or art. This possible use mirrors my own work in that I sometimes use ephemera, languages and collage.
This work will launch at September Shop in Vancouver. A pop-up shop for the month of September showcasing 6 local designers, myself included. We will each take shifts manning the shop and I’ll be offering my collage button making workshops there. See the workshop page for dates and be sure to pre-register.
I have now completed my new pocket mirror project. I’ve made 50 so far. This is by far the most fun I’ve had in a while making new work. Focusing on making these one-of-a-kind has really been instrumental in enjoying the creative process. I feel like last year and earlier this year I was too focused on production and business and was starting to enjoy things less. By having set some important parameters, this work has been liberating and really fun.
This one-of-a-kind 3-inch pocket mirror project features new work using collage and mixed media. In keeping with my interest in combining text/languages with images, each collage features (thus far) a phrase or a sentence in either English, Spanish or Italian (languages I use). The mirror as object of vanity, offers up interesting ideas and commentaries on how we use them. While not an exclusive exercise in the analysis of vanity, the mirror as metaphor also engages the viewer in silly & significant internal reflection (no pun intended).
Pocket Mirrors will be available at September Shop, the Culture Crawl, the One-of-a-Kind Show in 2011. See the events page for more info. Preview images at my Facebook Page.
I am also developing a workshop to teach my process & techniques in making these pocket mirrors. I am hoping to offer the first one sometime in October 2011. Subscribe to my newsletter (at right) to be notified of the next workshop.
Here is a very small selection of sweet button pins made at my Collage Button Pin Workshop. This was a private booking for an adult’s birthday party. The participants brought a beautiful fruit platter and wine and their own music. The sun was streaming in, the atmosphere was very relaxed, and time went by faster than expected — as usual. Book your own private class here. Or if it’s a party for children or adults, check out these options. [crossed out text, options not currently available.]
