Crocheted Wire & Beaded Jewelry for Show

I finished the wire crocheted necklace that I started at our retreat last weekend. It's fun to create different variations- single, double and triple strands with different findings and sari silk ribbons.

Check here to see other jewelry that I will be selling at our Open Doors Show next month. Hope you can come see us and all of our beautiful artwork.

Little lights

It's not the great pumpkin Charlie Brown its a little light.

Little lights warm our souls as the days get shorter. This time of year I find myself lighting candles at night or just sitting in front of the fire watching the flames dance.

These little lights put out enough of a glow to walk across a room and make a dark room feel safe. I have others I’m working on in the studio today and will post them very soon.

Twig shadows reflect nicely on the walls bringing in nature and leaving the cold wind outside. This light sits on a wood base with bingo balls holding it off the table.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Felted Eyeglass Cases by Lenall Siebenaler

Time is flying by and it's pretty darn close to "Party Time." Yep, it's almost Show Time!

I figure that I have a little less than 2 more weeks to create and the rest of the time will be spent pricing and ticketing, inventoring and thinking about merchandising. The pricing and the inventoring part of the show is my worst nightmare and my performance is some of my PAC friend's equally worst nightmares! I'm glad that I have strong shoulders, as I have been the butt of many a joke when the conversation turns to ticketing and inventoring. Heck, I readily admit that I have so much stuff that it takes me hours and in the process I often lose my place in the numbering and my handwritting gets to be even worse than it already is.

The past two days I have been working with felted fabric and made these eyeglass cases. Everyone of them is different in size, shape and decoration. They are put together using embrodiery floss in a contrast color buttonhole stitch. All eyeglasses are different, right? They are in two colorways: Turquoise, lime, green and royal and orange, red, purple and turquoise.

These have been on my list of things to do for a long time. I am finially crusing toward the finish line!

Lenall

The Adventures of Pacia The Girl That Wanted To Be An Artist.

Born to very boring parents Pacia knew she would have to leave home. Always being kind to animals she called on them to help her start her journey. “Good bye good bye I’m off to find a paint brush and become an artist”.

Landing on the island of “Quills in the making” Pacia found it a bit stressful and had to talk her way out of several sticky situations.

"I'm not palette-able"

"I love your colors" Pacia thought the birds outfit looked familiar.

Knowing this was not the place for her, Pacia looked for help.

“Would you mind giving me a lift?” the duck was happy to oblige “Good bye good bye I’m off to find a paint brush and become an artist”.

Please return next week to see more of The Adventures of Pacia The Girl That Wanted To Be An Artist.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.Pablo Picasso

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

Wabi Sabi Wonder with Serena Barton By Lenall Siebenaler

I took Wabi Sabi Wonder today with Serena Barton. I was initially compelled to take it because it was an abstract class and I really like doing abstract work and it was to be done using acrylic inks. I just happen to have a lot of acrylic inks sitting around that I have really not used much and felt it was a great opportunity to explore this. I was hoping for more than what I got. I liked Serena. I liked what I did in the class. What I am coming to understand is that maybe, just maybe, I need to spend more time in self exploration or exploration with friends as I am not getting what I need from the teachers. What am I expecting to get? All the answers? How to start? Techniques? Did I ask for what I needed? No. I did get some of this today and I am satisfied.

What I like best about Art & Soul is that it has tended to give me breakthoughs in technique that I make my own or it gives me an impetus toward warp speed production. It has also given me new directions in art which I have benefited greatly from. The above paintings were all done today. I like several of these abstract landscapes, particularily the second to the last one.

Lenall

Assemblage under glass

I have been having fun with a new idea of combining the super shine of clean glass with the old worn assemblage items I'm so addicted to.

Collecting glass bits for a long time knowing I wanted to do something but never quit sure....or as many of us do never taking the time to sit and experiment.

I placed the boy on the pony under tin stars and riding through a forest of type writer trees. So the title will be "Riding under the stars". He looks fun sitting on my coffee table, I just have to make more.

Felted Wool Tree Danglies & Garland by Lenall Siebenaler

I did not design this danglie, but saw one like it 3 years ago and loved it. I actually bought one for 24.00!!! I have loved it ever since though! What a nut! Mine will be $6-8.00.

I have to tell you that I have blisters on my fingers from using the pinking shears! Anyone know the secret?It was definitely a labor of love!
I made 2 colorways in the trees: Green and purples and a more traditional red, green, yellow and purple. Which do you like best?
I had so much extra cut up scraps I decided to recycle and make some garland. Very funky! (of course I could not just use the scraps I had to keep making them all night and made 4.)
Lenall

Imaginary Animal Class at art and soul

I took Carla Sonheim's Imaginary Animal class at Art and Soul yesterday. I think I got more of an imaginary monster, Ice cream monster to be exact, but he makes me laugh. Carla is a terrific teacher. Be sure to work with her sometime if you have the chance.