Handcrafted Art Journal/Book Class

Handcrafted Art Journal/Book

Workshop with Bette Brody (Bette’s Creations)

bette@bettescreations.com

Time:11AM – 4:00PM  (bring a bag lunch for a 30 minute break)

Date: November 4, 2017

Cost: Class $85 – (includes all supplies) Payable to Instructor (Cash, check or credit card)

Students:  Require a minimum of 4 students for holding class.  Maxium: 6-8 Students

Abstract: In this class we will make a 5x7 art journal. Learn the art of the Coptic stitch for your elegant book which highlights this unique exposed sewing style.  One of the features of Coptic sewn books is they lay perfectly flat when opened, making the pages easy to write or draw on. There will be a selection of pre-cut decorative papers for your book covers as well as various colors of waxed thread for sewing.

All aspects of the book will be discussed: covers, spine, end papers, and signatures.

Supplies provided:  All paper torn or cut to size, Book Board cut to size, Needles for sewing,  waxed linen thread, eyelets, decorative paper, bone folder, awl, gel medium, brushes.

Sample journals are at my Studio (“Bette’s Creations” located inside The Shops at Damascus Electric) and you may also view some on my website www.BettesCreations.com. 

Optional Supplies student may bring:  Embellishments for the cover

Bookbinding/Journal Workshop

I'm almost settled into my Studio and Shop at "The Shops at Damascus Electric". All is going well.  I've been asked many times if I would teach a workshop. You asked and I listened - below is a description for a book/journal class in my Studio July 30, 2016.    Stop in to sign up or email me at bbrody253@gmail.com.  

Handcrafted Art Journal/Book

Workshop with Bette Brody (Bette’s Creations)

BBrody253@gmail.com

Time: 11AM – 4:00PM

Date: July 30^th

Cost: Class $85 – (includes all supplies) Payable to Instructor (Cash, check or credit card)

Students:  Require a minimum of 4 students for holding class

In this class we will make a 5x7 art journal.  All aspects of the book will be discussed: covers, spine, end papers, and signatures..

Supplies provided:  all paper torn or cut to size, Book Board cut to size, Needles for sewing, Tyvek tape, Book Cloth for spine, waxed linen thread, beads, eyelets, decorative paper, bone folder, awl, gel medium, brushes

Sample journals  are at my Studio (The Shops at Damascus Electric) and you may also view some on my blog:  www.artpagesetc.blogspot.com

Optional Supplies student may bring:  Embellishments for the cover

Bette's Creations - Damascus, MD

Whew---Lots has been happening.  I now have an open studio, art gallery and shop in Damascus, MD called Bette's Creations.  I am located in "The Shops at Damascus Electric" 9890 Main St. There are eight vendors within the Shops offering a variety of goods and services.  The Shops have a facebook page which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ShopsAtDamascusElectric/    Bette's Creations is also on Google Maps and facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetteBrody/  When in the area stop in, take a look and say hello.  My Grand Opening is Saturday May 21st 10-4

Getting Back in the Driver's Seat

I envy those who are prolific writers.  Words come so easily to them.   I am not one of them.  In fact I have a very hard time “tooting my own horn” when it comes to me.  I can’t lay out for the world to see my most inner thoughts.  Hence the very long lapse in my blog posting. 

Retirement 2 ½ years ago has put me in a very happy place. So what’s new?  Well (I’ve been told never to start a sentence with the word “well”), I have been taking painting workshops with various artists and many online workshops.  The online workshops don’t seem to get done , other than watching the videos and taking it all in.  Absorbing it all like a sponge so when I do paint it all comes out in various ways without me thinking about it.  When I paint I can’t think about what is the correct way to go about it, or think about color choices because when I do I freeze.  I have to be free and not think.  I love making backgrounds.  It is the most freeing. It doesn’t matter what substrate I use.  I have to admit I do have a stack of what I call “unfinished pieces” just waiting for me to have a vision for the next step.  Eventually it comes to me.  When it doesn’t work out gesso is my friend.

Until recently my largest painting was a 16x20 – for me this was BIG.  Then I took a workshop with Annie Lockhart (http://www.annielockhart.com/) at Donna Downey Studios.  We painted with our fingers, so liberating, on 30x30 canvas.  Oh boy that huge blank canvas was a bit intimidating at first.  Annie made the whole process to be free, just my style.  I got into it so much I ended up with six canvases.  We were given two for the class.  I was on a roll and couldn’t stop.  I finished 4 of the six and have two by my easel waiting for the finishing touches.  Then I took another workhop with Donna Downey (http://www.donnadowney.com/) at her studio, “Paint Like an Artist”.  The canvas here was , yikes 36x36.  Again paint with your fingers and create a background.  Then step back and look at it and see what is inside there.  One of mine vaguely showed a bird and a face.  Not what I wanted to see but I went with the bird.  I call it “Bill’s Bird”, Donna’s hubby liked it so I named it after him.

I am also covering boxes, wood and cigar (inside and outside).  This has been fun and rewarding.  All are different sizes and shapes.  Most are covered with paper and embellished.  A few have been mixed media.

Then I switched to building my inventory of handcrafted journals.  I truly love making journals.  This is my first passion, then painting, then jewelry.  I seem to dabble in way too many artsy things.  I guess that’s a good thing.  Keeps me busy and happy. 

Before I forget I took a break and took a “Celestial Fusion” class with Jean Van Brederode (https://www.facebook.com/jean.vanbrederode ) at her studio “Charmed I’m Sure”.  Loved it and her studio is to die for.

Love at first Sight...Art

Have you ever fallen in love with a piece of art?  I did last year at Artomatic Frederick 2013.  Fascia (aka Connie Berlin) displayed a series of paintings (“Women in Dimension”).  I immediately fell in love with “Veranda Willow”.  I think the bold colors caught my eye at first.  I cannot recall how many times I went back to look at her.  I have thought of Veranda many times since then, but I did not have wall space to adequately display her until recently.

I revamped my dining room a couple of weeks ago.  I was in a quandary as to what art work I wanted to hang back up.  One evening it dawned on me ‘Veranda Willow” would be the perfect piece to hang.  All I needed to do was contact the artist to see if she was still available for sale and she was.  “Veranda Willow” is now in my dining room keeping a watchful eye over my doll collection.

This piece was one of Fascia's favorites and I'm sure it was hard to let her go. 

To see more of Fascia’s work go to www.fasciaberlin.com

Veranda Willow by Fascia

Artomatic Frederick 2013 - So far so Good

I am displaying my handcrafted journals/books and mixed media at Artomatic Frederick.  (www.artomaticfrederick.org) Artomatic opened its doors September 4th and runs through October 5th.  My artwork is on display in building 115 E Chruch St, Frederick, MD room 16.  There are 350 artists displaying artwork, it is well worth the trip to Frederick to view.  It may even take more than 1 trip to soak it all up.  There were over 3500 guests this past Friday and Saturday alone!  I have already had some sales, journals and mixed media.  So I can say I am a happy camper.  It is always a warm feeling when someone makes a purchase.  It took me a long time to let go of some of my artwork - I call them my "favorites".  Seems the favorites sell right away.  I can say I am in a happy place right now, being retired and have the ability to work on my art every day or not at all.  It is a very nice luxury. 

I have met and become friends with some new artists - it is always nice to make new connections in the world of art.

I am quite busy with several custom orders, 2 journals, 5 "girls" (http://www.pinterest.com/artsybab/my-girls/)  and 2 "Friends".   I also have students signed up for my "Paper Design" class and "Polymer Clay - Coptic binding" class.  All classes are taught at the Artway in New Market, MD.  (www.polymerclayexpress.com)  Check it out!

Now back to my art. 

Until next time....

Day 6 & 7 - Glacier National Park - Montana

Day 6: Many Glacier
Up bright and early - cool morning - blue sky - few clouds - warm afternoon.  We were on our way by 8AM.  The drive to "Many Glacier" (east side of Glacier National Park) takes 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic and number of photo stops along the way. Since it was Saturday we did not have to stop for road work on the Road-to-the-Sun.  The first photo stop was for "Wild Goose Island".  This stop is always congested, but today we were early enough it wasn't a problem.  It is a definite photo moment - unfortunately pictures do not do justice.  The 2 pics below are from the early morning and late evening.

 

Photos along the way - prior to the Park entrance.  As usual the first stop you think "this is it", then a bit further up the road its "no this is it"  and on and on.

 



The Many Glacier area is known as the "American Alps".  The Many Glacier Hotel opened in 1915 and resembles a true chalet atmosphere for the décor and the alpine beauty surrounding it.  It is now a registered Historic Landmark.  The hotel has a large wrap-around lakeside balcony offering 180 degree views of Swiftcurrent Lake, surrounding rugged hillsides, three glaciers and incredible serrated peaks.  It is a great place to just sit in one of the many chairs and take in the scenery, which is what we did while having lunch. 

 Later we took a trip to Grinnell Lake, which consists of two wooden boat rides(the first on Swiftcurrent Lake) with a short hike from one boat (Chief Two Guns) to the next boat (Morning Eagle) which crosses Lake Josephine.  Then another 2 mile hike in the woods which includes crossing a suspension bridge to Lake Grinnell, with an optional short uphill climb to "Hidden Falls.


This is Swiftcurrent Lake and surrounding area.

  Swiftcurrent Lake:

 Hidden Falls: These butterflies are friendly - they land on you and visit for a while.  These were the only ones I saw in Montana.

Grinnell Lake:

Waiting for the boat for the return trip:

We stopped at "Two Sisters Café" for dinner.  The place was packed, excellent food and enough memorabilia, stickers, and a solitaire game on the table to keep you amused while waiting for dinner. I did not take a picture of the building, but it cannot be missed - it is painted purple and pink.

The ride back to Columbia Falls was uneventful and we were never in the right location to get a picture of a sunset.  The drive in the dark on the Road-to-the-Sun is a bit scary to say the least.

Day 7: Slow day - relax and enjoy the last day.  Went shopping in Whitefish for a bit and snapped a couple of pics - then hot tub and dinner.

Welcome to Whitefish:  This is ski resort area, has a beach, performing Arts Center, historic shopping area with lots of boutiques complete with an ACE Hardware.

These art mosaics were on the side of a building.  I thought they were quite unique.

Flower baskets in Montana:

Day 8: Home: Kalispell - Denver- Dulles - Damascus.  Very LONG day.