Friday 28 January 2011

Different collage, same papers

Welcome, new followers, to my blog! I'd come say hi but you have followed with no links - you need to go to further options when you do the following & add a link, or comment! ;) Anyway, I'm delighted!

Some of you are showing your desks so having had a clear up i thought I'd join in - you can't do a before & after unless you put in some hard work!




Before, after & the sheet I make as I go along. I really can't bear to throw anything away so I make a kind of tiny version of my 50th birthday postcard - lots of bits & pieces that, when I've finished covering this A4 sheet of recycled paper I'll stitch madly all over then make a grid using double lines of stitching, then cut them out, ending up about 2"x3" size, edge with in gold pen & they make popular cards for the studio.

This weeks collage is made using the same papers as before, the scribbling with wax crayons one. I was inspired by Robinsunne to do a little more stitching & beading. The link was kindly sent to me by Jan - thank you!



My squares are back! I had just enough of the crayon paper to make these little squares, stitching & couching down a little & some hand stitching & beads.The gold painted paper is wonderful brown packaging paper softened by crumpling - I know lots of us use this abundant paper. This is in turn stitched to part of some old jeans - my DH was a little upset by the ragged edges & frayed bottom, possibly my favorite parts! I'll make the top edge 'match' (!) the bottom by using some more of that orange thread - I love that Levi orange!

 I've got to try to use a thimble tho, my fingers are pathetic, my needles are too fat, I can't see to thread the beeding needles, goodness, moan moan moan! So, I will finish up the bottom square & if I had been organised earlier I would have taken the photo on a day where there was some light & even with a tripod it's a bit blury when enlarged. This is certainly making me try to be better organised - I'll keep practicing, that's the best part!  

17 comments:

My Creative House said...

Emma what a wonderful collage piece you have made with all kinds of scrap, the collage on demin is beautiful, love the colors, have a nice weekend.
Anni

ju-north said...

Love it all - such vibrant colour!

Unknown said...

Your desk looks like a proper artists desk! Well used is always best! Love the squares, great colour combination! :) x

Jan said...

Okay Emma you win on the messy desk:-) It is amazing, the after photo. Same desk? yes, of course it is. Your collage is great, what a good way to save all those little bits and pieces. But I especially love your denim piece. I love those colors you have in the little squares. so the squares on the denim are crayon pieces? wow, I need to get my crayons out! Well done!

artymess said...

Love the desk before shot ...a kindred messy desk sister !!!..great collage too..xx

Linda Vincent said...

I've enjoyed catching up with your recent posts Emma......very informative and inspiring. Thank you!!
LOVE the orange and blue piece ♥
x

Laura Johnson said...

Great desk shots and I love the collage! We're having a shift around in the work room and your collage will be back up above my desk again soon!

Anonymous said...

I am very glad to see your bits of paper everywhere in the before photo. Now I feel right at home. Love the collage with all the bits and that you cut it up into smaller sizes. I always seem to work in the finished size and have a hard time doing what you are.....I know what you mean about moan, moan, can't see the thread, fingers don't work. You don't think it's - ugh - being over 50 do you???? Nah, thought so. xox Corrine

Ro Bruhn said...

Love both of your collages, I regularly pick scraps up off the floor after one of my workshops and make some great collages with the things students leave behind as rubbish.

ArtPropelled said...

Amazing what you've done with all the bits and pieces! I quail at the thought of you cutting it up but I know all the small ones will be glorious too.

Lorraine said...

love the colours

Barbara said...

Hi,
Love the before and after of your desk ... I believe they all must look a like!
Wonderful collage!
Very best wishes,
Barbara

Laura said...

love you squares on the jeans...very cool idea!

layers said...

your desk and studio certainly looks like a collage artist resides there-- we need LOTS of papers don't we?

Mail Art Dramas said...

the squares on denim is very striking. Seeing your work space (mine looks like the before) made me remeber I wanted to Feng Shui my space. I have the plant and grow light. Now i need to find the magazine that showed you how to do it! Big ice storm here today, stuck inside so maybe I'll get it done.
Do you have any exotic plants in your work space or are they all out in the garden? ha, ha, ha.
jill

Linda’s Textiles said...

Well done on the tidy desk & collages - I'm post tidy now - back to the usual mess!

Chris said...

I love those squares, and thanks for the shot of your work table! This gives me motivation to show mine. Well, one of mine. I have to move from the studio now and then so things are everywhere!