My Menucha Weekend by Lenall Siebenaler

The Portland Art Collective and Friends spent the weekend at Menucha Retreat Center. We gather together here twice a year and always totally enjoy ourselves and on top of that we get a lot created. I always come away in awe of all those around me and in their creativity. Each member of our group is so special and talented. They are also a bunch of VERY nice women. This weekend, we had a large number of friends join us. It was very interesting watching the group coalesce in the beginning. As the first night wore on and we had dinner together wearing our fun hats we all began to meld into one. Very interesting dynamics...

What did I create?

I started out building the base of the cork ornaments that I worked on last weekend. (See earlier photo.) I had finished 12 last week, but felt I could get more done as I watched TV in the evening. That night my hands were hurting from working the needle and wire through the cork. I was trying unsuccessfully to go to sleep totally overstimulated.

One of my goals for the weekend was to get my xyron working and Cynthia saved the day coming to my rescue. I was able to cover about 12 2010 Monthly Planner Calendars using both paste paper and paper I worked on last weekend using the black gessoed monoprint process. See the pictures above. Check out the paste paper File Folders pictures also.

The rest of my time was spent designing and creating 3 different cards. Two Xmas cards: a Tree using the left over papers from my calendars and a very graphic Holly card. Then I did 4 woven heart cards. All total I probably finished 40 cards today.

Besides creating I got a lot of great critiques, conversation and wonderful observation of a large group of fully content and happy creative women!

It was another great weekend...

Lenall

A Productive Weekend By Lenall Siebenaler

Was it raining? Oh, I really didn't notice!

My friend, Susan, from Seattle, came down and we spent the weekend doing art in my garage studio. We get together like this several times a year and total enjoy the days together. This time, I had bought the new Mary Todd Beam book and found a technique in it that I thought we both might enjoy. Susan spent her entire time working on this unique monoprinting technique. The process is done using black gesso, heavy duty aluminum foil and a dull pencil. Once the black lines dry the sky is the limit as to adding color. Pick your poison (media.) I did three full sheets using the process and she finished 6-7 total pieces. She also made her Christmas cards.

I mostly spent the time tying up several loose end projects that I hadn't finished. I kinda wanted to do this prior to starting a brand new project. I still have a few things left undone but I feel like I accomplished a lot. I finished 21 large felted flower pins. I did about 20 paste paper heart pins, 12 paste paper cork danglies, finished the paste paper file folders, did papers for paste paper calendars and composition books which I still have yet to cover. I did the paste paper in Albie Smith's Art and Soul Class. It took me 2 years to get into her class she is so popular! I like her a lot.

I am tired but happy to have these projects off my list of things I have to do by Dec 4th!

Lenall