Ladies Night Out

Wow, it is the last day of February and the world outside is coated in white, sticky, snow.  The tree branches are hung low and more fluffy, puffs are floating down. 

Inside the bug has rebounded.  Six weeks of sickness - what groundhog predicted that.  Still I have been busy, busy, busy with orders to fill and a show tonight.  I just haven't had the energy or thought processes necessary to write.

So today I feel compelled to jot down some thoughts.  Since I am doing a Ladies Night Out show tonight - I want to invite all readers in the Massena Area to the Massena American Legion for a night full of fun.  The event runs from 6pm to 9pm, with 18 or so vendors, raffles and time spent with friends.  The latest influx of snow and more so snow days and delays stretches the patients of cabin fevered Moms, and Caregivers.  Give yourself a night out.  I hope to see you there.



 

What to burn on?

I have had this question pop up quite often lately.  You can burn a design onto many different materials.  I've watched videos where Artists are burning on wood, leather, gourds and even paper.  I have tried all of these except gourds.  If I get my hand on one I will probably do that too.

My preference is wood.  But not all wood types.  Lately, I find myself using poplar or birch plywood.  I love the even surface of both.  I use birch when I don't want the grain to compete with my design.  The grains are nice, put are not pronounced.  Poplar plywood can sometimes have a rich dark swirl or pattern plays nicely with a nature scene - especially water areas.  The downfall is that I end up making my own frames.  At first this was a painful process.  I was no good at it.  Now, I have create a process that is working - not that I like making frames still - but there are pretty nice.  In fact, a local antique dealer ask me to make some for her.  She had a large volume of prints and pieces she wanted frames for.  This was last summer when I was still trying to get a process knocked out and I respectfully declined.  Now I kick myself,  the extra practice would have been good, and the money wouldn't hurt either.  Another 'Live and Learn' moment.

Basswood is okay.  It doesn't need framing and the rounds and plaques are usually easy to get your hand on, but I find them overpriced.  I have also learned you need to examine the piece carefully for issues like dents and dark pitting.  These usually need a sanding as well - although I fine sand all my pieces before I burn them. 

I haven't had much luck with leather - but that doesn't mean much.  I have not gotten some good leather to work on yet.  The smell of burning leather was not something I liked much so I haven't put myself out there yet.  I am looking for some used purses, belt or clothing next I go to the second hand store though.

Paper is tricky.  I have done some research and have found that smooth paper with a high cotton fiber content is suppose to work best.  My first attempt was on some cheap water color paper.  I found my heat setting had to be turned up higher than I usually use to get the paper to color.  I had difficulty getting a variety of shades on this paper, and Actually burn through before getting the darkness I was hoping for.  A better grade of paper is in order so I just got a pad of 100% cotton, 140 Lb, cold pressed, fine grain, water color paper.  Twelve sheet cost me $18.95 plus tax.  After I finish the porcupine I am currently working on, I will be opening this pad of paper and trying it out.

Any suggestions as to what I should make?  Any advise for working with paper?  Send them my way.

- Take Care -

First Place

Last night was a super evening.  My husband and I went to the opening of the Juried Art Show.  I knew our pieces had made it into the show and that one of my pieces won a prize, but I didn't expect this.

You see, this was my first show - ever.  I didn't really understand what a Juried show was.  When we took some work down I thought it was the show where the public write comments and vote for their favorite.  Boy was I surprised to hear that a panel of art professionals would be scrutinizing my work.

To say I was nervous is putting it mildly, I don't do crowds well - I get very anxious and at times have panic attacks.  Last night I work a thin cotton blouse and tried hard to keep to the fringes.  Still, my armpits were soaked and the Award ceremony hadn't even started yet. 

The master of ceremonies happened to be my Art Teacher from high school.  My work back then was sub-par - I actually painted a pacman for my mural.  I didn't have much self worth back then.  He actually express his disappointment and told me I was better than that.  So, here I was, getting another chance to show my stuff.  Funny thing was, he didn't remember me at all.

My husband and I stood at the back and applauded the runners up winners in the various categories.  Then we clapped for the first place winner.  As the last category was call I started to think that there was a mistake.  The second place winners came forward and received their certificate and smiled for the camera.  As the first place winners were called more information and details were given regarding their piece.  Finally, the drawing category was explained to incorporate any method of leaving a mark on it's medium, such as wood burning.  MY name was called.  The people parted, patted my back, offered congratulations and such as I move forward to get my award.

First place - What?! Wow!!! - and my old art teacher said, "You did a great job!  Very well done."
WOOT WOOT WOOT

I am blown away.  When I made it back to my husband he was grinning ear to ear as he hugged me.  I leaned in close and whispered, "You know there will be no living with me now."

His guffaw was priceless.

Like I said - Super Evening.  I'll not forget it for sure.

- Take Care -

Selling Online - Help

It has been a few days since I posted.  We've had a snow storm and technical difficulties.. The good news is I am wood burning. 

Currently I am working on  a cute little porcupine.  He was nestled in the corn husks last year eating his fill.  I don't have a picture to share with you yet, I'd rather wait until I have him finished.  I am also working on my son's picture.  It is coming okay.  The eyes and chin line are giving me trouble, but I'll work it out.

February for me is always a tough month,  winter blues or cabin fever.  I find it hard to be too productive so it is great to be working on something.  I find much of my time is consumed trying to get online retail up and selling.  This is new for me and I have much to learn.  

Here is where I would value your advise.  If you have any good tips on how to get things to sell on Ebay, Etsy any other place please pass them on. 

The picture on this block are some of the pieces I have sent to a shop to sell of consignment.  Along with the Cherry cabinet that I talk about a while back.    Things are slow and tight.  I don't intend for this to be a downer post - It is the same everywhere. 

Hopefully it happens soon. 

- Take Care -

My New Work Station

     The temps are above zero - but we have a semi-opaque white wall of snow falling outside.  The flakes are small but they sure add up - close to six inches so far.  We knew it was coming.  The DVR has some good shows recorded, cheesecake and popcorn are waiting for later and I got to stay home today.

    I am glad to stay home today.  Yesterday was a day for running around.  I put my cabinet and some work in a shop to sell on consignment, helped out at my father-in-law's house, picked up supplies in case we got socked in and paid some bills. 

    

     Then, when I got home, I decided to finally set up a workstation in my house.  I miss my Art.  My shop is in an old garage that has been walled in.  It is well insulated, but there are no heat runs in it.  Keeping the door open allows it to stay above freezing, but even when I run the electric heater it is hard to work in there too long.  The cold seeps up through the concrete floor and into my bones. 

      I have put this off for a while now.  Burning in the house is not something I like to do.  My son and I have asthma and this winter has been rough on both of us.  I have a well ventilated area and am getting going.

     Currently, I am attempting to wood burn my first human subject.  I singled out my son in a photo of him and his cousins.  After rendering it grey scale and getting a rough outline of his image I traced the outline onto this scrap of birch plywood.  So far I have used a ball and blade tip on the piece.  I have a lot of shading and detailing to go.  The grey scale picture is a great guide for areas to darken and areas to let alone. 

     To the right is a photo of my Pyrography Machine.  It is a Razertip SS-D10 - 10 amp detail burning system.  I have two pens that I can change the tips on.  I keep those tips on a pink eraser to have them handy.  I prefer the pens with permanent tips as they work well at lower heat setting and they are more consistent.  The interchangeable tips are screwed onto the pen.  The connection loosens when they are heated.  The lead tend to bend, and great care is needed with them. 

     I am very pleased with the Razertip machine, as well as the company.  They are based in Canada.  My orders take a bit longer to get here but that is not that big a deal.  They replace broken pens for a small fee ($5.00 or so)  and even replaced on I tried to customized and ended up demolishing.  They stand by there no questions asked policy. 

     Pens from other brand machines are suppose to work with an adapter.  I haven't gotten any adapters or other pens to try this out yet though.  I am happy with what I have, I guess.  If the opportunity arises, I'll let you know how it works.  Anyone out there have any experience with inter-changing pens?

     What system do you use or have you used?  What have been your experiences?  Let me know.

- Take Care -

 

Bears

 I was born and raised at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, so it is not all that surprising that some of my work has that Adirondack flare.  I love nature and have spent a great deal of time in the woods, hunting, hiking, canoeing, camping, etc... 

This Black Bear, tri-layered, box fretwork piece is made from four types of wood.  The back is maple, the mountains are birch, the trees are poplar, the bear is stained birch and the frame is stained pine.

I used the same template of this bear for this small pine box's lid.  Stains were used to accent the ground, background, mountains, and sky.  The bear was covered with wood burning, but the pitch lines in the pine burned to different shades.  The lighter wood would not darken.  Another live and learn moment.

The Grizzly Bear Bust was burnt onto poplar and pine trim was stained black and used to make the frame.  I love this technique of darkening only sections of the picture.  This patterns was originally for fretwork. Seeing the black felt backer gave me the idea to burn the dark area.  The poplar's  dark grain lines add a vintage or rustic feel to the piece. 

The bear reminds me "Gentle Ben" an old TV show I watched in my youth.  Nostalgia had me hunting through some photos yesterday.  We have thousands and my husband is a huge shutterbug (more so than me) and I stumbled upon some great nature pics to make into templates.  Among them were a few different species of bears.  I can see an Asian, a black and a polar bear pyrography project in the near future.

How about you? - tell me if and how your region of birth affected your Art.  Is there a recurring theme or subject matter.  Was your medium of expression influenced?  - let me know.

- Take Care -

To Color or Not to Color?!

I am one of 'those' people who admire the grain on a piece of wood.  Now more than ever I am aware of the wood grains than any other time in my life.  Of course I am working with wood, so that is natural I suppose.  It goes more deeply than this though.  I like the natural wood grains so much than it is almost painful to add color to it through staining, let alone painting (the ultimate sin to destroy the natural beauty of wood). 

Be that as it may some pieces shout out color me.  At first I use some old oil stains I had.  I love the way the oil stains sat close to the surface, tinted the wood slowly (multiple coats changed the depth of the color, left the grain of the wood visible and sealed the wood.  Then came the project that needed more colors that the small natural tone pallet I had available.  I asked some fellow woodcrafters and several had 'secret staining techniques' and I just had to figure out how to make my own.

I tried water based stains.  They soaked deeply into the wood, tended to bleed into surrounding areas, keeping a consistent tone of one color could be difficult, and the grains of the wood just not the same.  These were okay for some projects, but not most of my work.

I started to experiment.  Tubes of oil and water color paints were mixed with various wood products: polyurethane, clear stains, mineral oils, waxes and such.  Finally I came up with a technique to add color and accent the wood grains instead of dull or hide them.  What is that technique, you may ask?  Sorry it is my secret.  Everyone has to have at least one of them.

But I  encourage you to experiment and find what works well for you.  If you come up with something good, let me know - maybe we can swap secrets formulas. 

- Take Care -

Free Hand Woodburning

     Pyrogaphy is such a permanent art form, or so it seems.  When you burn a line into a  piece of wood and you don't want it there, well you can not flip the pen over and erase it.  However, there are some little tricks to getting rid of some mistakes.  Light scratching with a sharp exacto-blade can reveal unburnt wood beneath a mark, providing the mark was not deep and dark.  Sanding away an area is another technique I have employed to get rid of  undesirable burning.  But sometime you have to live with them and try to incorporate them into your piece. 

For this reason I don't usually free hand my work.  Instead I use a no.2 pencil and put down a pattern.  Or I use tracing paper to copy my design to the wood.  I know I will have the right curve, dimension, or whatever on my project before I touch the heated tip to the wood.  The prep work takes a long time.

     






















     For the most part this sits well with me. I am a bit of a perfectionist.  Patience with this process is not usually an issue, but there are times I just want to get at it.  Above is a china cabinet that I refinished.  The sides and two panel on the front were burned with morning glories.  All done free hand.

 Flowers are what I like to draw.  Morning glories, dogwood and apple blossoms are my favorite to create.  To the left is a coffee table (one I've talked about before) that was decorated in Morning Glories.  To the right is an Apple Blossom telephone table (I already talked about this one before too) that was burned free hand.  A straight edge was used to get the border just right, but otherwise it was just the hot pen on wood. 
    

     Next to this is the Petunia bowl I showed you the other day.  I drew pages of petunias in my sketch book before I free handed these blooms onto this bowl.  Originally I was going to trace the pattern onto the sides of the bowl, but the pencil lines wouldn't show up.  So I cleaned them off and just drew with the skew pen tip.   

  



      I wish I had snapped pictures of some of the other pieces  to show you.  I have sold them so the moment is lost.  I have burned grape vines with grape clusters on a mantle for a wine shop, daisies on hair clips, butterflies and dragonflies on the backs of wood brushes, dogwood and cherry blossoms on wall shelves, and much more.

     What do you like to draw?  Do you prefer to use patterns or trace to free handing it?

- Take Care -

 

Decorating Old Wooden Bowls

Spent the day with my Sister yesterday, and had a good time.  Watched Super 8 and ate chips. 

 One of the things I like doing is finding old wood bowls and decorating them up.  Unfortunately these are the only ones I have pictures for.  This Brazilian wood bowl was salvaged from a junk shop.  The building was cold and dirty, as was this bowl. It had many layers of blackened finishes.  Once it was stripped and sanded it looked beautiful.  Petunia's were chosen to accent the bowl as the dark areas and reddish hue of the wood complimented each other.  A food safe finish was applied to the bowl and wah-lah! This piece has a new life. 

This pestle and mortar was turned out of pine.  I found it in a vendor market place.  The bowl was quite thick at the bottom and around the edges.  I put mortar back on the lathe, centered it and deepened the bowl, thinned the sides and created a vee on the side.  The pine is full of pitch and didn't turn well. Next, I wood burned a design around the edges.  The final touch was to add a food safe finish and this piece was ready to mash up herbs in the kitchen.

If you have a wood salad bowl set or other wooden bowls, that sit somewhere in the recesses of your kitchen cupboards, think about giving them a new life.  For suggestions, or to have your bowl refinished for you, feel free to contact me.

 

- Take Care -

Intarsia Angels

 It is a beautiful morning, clear and sunny.  It is also cold.  I'm running late so this entry will be short.

I Love Angels.  In fact I have a small collection of them, so when I saw these patterns I just had to make them.  The angel on the left is made from a pine board, put into pieces, carves, shaped and sanded.  Before it was glued back together and mounted a white stain was applied. A polyurethane finish was applied.  The plaque can be hung using the keyhole routed into the back.


The angel to the right was a stained glass pattern that I was given.  It was cut from one piece of pine, carved, shaped and sanded, then stained before it was glued together.  A butcher block oil was used to seal the piece so it could be used as a trivet.

I am constantly on the lookout for more angel patterns, so feel free to pass on any leads you may have.

 

- Take Care -