B is for Book

(new artist's journal, "Dancing Cranes")

I am definitely a B lady. My last name begins with B, and I kept that name, even after I married. I was a B student - not a whiz kid, but always kept up.

I love buttons and beads and books, and have used all three in my artwork over the years. Two years ago, I fell in love with blogging... should have know THAT was gonna happen! And a few months ago, I started selling handmade books: journals, notebooks, sketchbooks, planners, "to-do" books. I love them all.

B...Blanket stitch box

take wool fibres left over from spinning, hand spun thread and an embellisher, result...3 inch square box seamed with buttonhole stitch. May need to find a button for the lid.

B is for Branches, Part 2

 

In my last post I said that my image could be manipulated in a design program.  Here is a really quick interpretation.   This was done really quickly and simply in 'Paint'.  

This is what happened when I inverted the colours - also in Paint.  I don't have anything more exotic at the moment, but I'm working on it!

 

I was just a question of copying and pasting, then flipping both horizontally and vertically.  

B is for Bluebells

Nuno felted bluebell woods

B is for Boat

or at least the remains of one

B is for Book

 

I've always been intrigued by book binding, and I did some research on various techniques a while ago, but I never got around to actually trying any of them.  At least, until the other day, when I randomly stumbled upon a tutorial for making a notebook out of simple household materials.  I already had everything I needed and this was something I'd always wanted to try, so I decided right then and there to give it a shot.  And this is the end result.  I've prettied it up with some scrapbook paper, so you can't tell, but this book began it's life as a hamburger helper box.  The pages are plain old copier/printer paper cut to size, and the binding is sewn.  I've added a button to the front as both an embellishment and closure - there is a strand of embroidery floss with a bead tied to the end attached to the back cover, which wraps around the button to hold the book closed.  

I think I have a new addiction...

B is for Branches

An obscured view is often a good design source.  This photograph, taken through trees, was shot from a moving vehicle (I wasn't driving at the time).  It will form the basis of a piece of work at some point. 

 

There are some really interesting shapes within the branches, some of them could be further manipulated with a design program.  I just have to get a new one now!

B for "Beach Hut"

Ever since I bought a packet of greetings cards from Ikea with reproduction of 4 of Margaret Heath's   paintings of beach huts I have wanted to do something involving beach huts. Sandy's choice of B as this month's letter and the fact it is snowing here (again) today made me want to get off my b......and design something cheerful based on beach huts.
So some cups of coffee and some drafting later I now have a patchwork block ready to use and I have even coloured in some blocks to bring a bit of colour to today.
Hope you will have as much fun with your Bs as I have had with mine. Thanks Sandy!

B for Bridge

Close up of girding from the Ironbridge.
Negative crops from PaintshopPro.

I particularly like the graphic lines in the second negative.

Letter - B

The prompt for the rest of February is for things having to do with the Letter B.

You can post artwork of any medium, current or something you did in the past. You also can post initial ideas you play with that may be a basis for something you do in the future.

Here is what I am going to work with, (but probably a detail shot)...

B is for bridge.

Bridge at Iron Gorge