Fall Classes

FALL CLASSES AT PAPERS! 

Here are the four classes I will be teaching this fall at Papers! in Nob Hill - 108 Amherst. All materials are provided in the registration fee.  Papers! will begin taking registrations on August 15 -- call 254-1434 to register.  Many of my classes fill within a week of being announced, so if there is a class that you would really like to take, I recommend that you call early in the registration process.

COLLAGE ON CANVAS - "What a Day for a Daydream"
Sunday, September 22 , 1-4pm, $45

Create a beautiful, dreamy, nostalgic work of art and at the same learn a myriad of techniques to add color, texture and movement to your work. You will begin the class with the preparation of the background on your canvas, then while the canvas is drying, in a series of short exercises and demonstrations, you will learn assorted techniques. Then, dive into creating your striking piece of art. Start with an image of a 1940's silver screen diva (choose from several), then begin your collage using a wide range of the wonderful decorative papers carried in the store, plus ribbons, lace, and other decorative items your instructor has carefully chosen for you. Take home a ready-to-hang work of art, no frame necessary! Everything is provided, but if you would like to personalize your work, please bring several images or paper ephemera to incorporate into your piece. If you have them, please bring your detail cutting scissors. If you use them, remember to bring your reading glasses!

JAPANESE YUZEN PAPER JEWELRY -- PILLOW BEAD NECKLACE AND EARRINGS
Sunday, October 6, 1-4pm, $50

Back by popular demand -- learn to fold the intriguing three-dimensional pillow bead from beautiful Japanese yuzen paper. This class is for those of you who like to get an early start on holiday gift-making. The beads can be used to make necklaces, bracelets and earrings. In this class, we will create an eye-catching necklace and matching earrings. Project appears intricate, but is suitable for beginners with a bent for precision!

DAY OF THE DEAD DECORATED SKULL
Sunday, October 20, Session One: 12n-3pm, Session Two: 4:30-7:30pm, $55

Since this is an extremely popular class, instead of filling the first class and adding a second, we're announcing two sessions at the outset -- choose from an early afternoon or late afternoon class.

In this class you will create a glorious, eye-catching Day of the Dead calavera (skull). You will first cover an almost-life-sized skull form using ginwashi paper, then, using a multitude of the fabulous decorative papers carried in the store, you will decorate the skull in true Day of the Dead fashion. If you have them, please bring your detail cutting scissors. If you use them, remember to bring your reading glasses!

DAY OF THE DEAD CIGAR BOX SHRINE
Sunday, October 27, 1-4pm, $50

In this class you will create a mixed media folk art cigar box shrine featuring calaveras (skulls), calacas (skeletons) and cempasuchitl (marigolds). You will work with assorted papers to cover and line your box. Choose from a huge array of embellishments including sequins, glitter, beads, ribbons, braids, and marigolds, as adornments for your shrine. The shrine makes a fabulous keepsake or a wonderful gift. All materials are provided, but please feel free to bring any personal items (including a copy of a small photograph of a departed loved one or pet) that you’d like to incorporate into your shrine.

Treasure Book Box

Yesterday I had the luxury of taking (instead of teaching!) a class at Papers! in Nob Hill.  A wonderful little 3" cube-shaped Treasure Book Box appeared in the sample case and I knew I wanted to take the class.  Local Albuquerque paper/bookbinding artist Carol Erickson designed the box and team-taught the class with local artist/bookbinder Pam MacKellar (her website is pamonpaper.com ).

I decided that I wanted to make "Mexico" the theme of my box and constructed the top of the box from a Mexico map taken from a road atlas.  The red box bottom is Nepalese lokta paper, and the box bottom is lined with a subtle print scrapbooking paper in the same blue as the ocean-blue on the map.

During the class we students talked about the possibility of later adding some kind of trim around the bottom border of the box.  I knew exactly what I wanted to add when I got home -- while beachcombing in Mexico I had collected a small container-full of broken bits of blue glass tiles -- I'd add those around the perimeter of the box.

For me, the most delightful aspect of this box is what is hidden inside!  All four walls of the box fold down flat to reveal a small book mounted on the interior wall of each box, and treasures are displayed on the interior box bottom.

This is the view of the box bottom with all four side walls unfolded.

And here's the view of the inside of the box with all four side walls folded down.  Each of the four small books are stitched with the 3-hole pamphlet stitch.  To adorn the covers of the little books I chose four images that say "Mexico" to me.  (1) The patron saint of Mexico - the Virgin of Guadalupe.  (2)  Frida Kahlo - Mexico's most well-known female artist.  (3)  A loteria card (loteria and dominoes are the two most-played games in Mexico).  (4)  And of course, a Day of the Dead calavera.  The calavera image is available digitally on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/graphicdesignbytara

The treasures I have adhered to the box bottom were all found while beachcombing -- beach glass, tiles and shells.

WHAT FUN!