A Big Thank You to All Who Came to our Open Doors Show and Sale

Thanks to all who stopped by my booth at the Portland Art Collective Open Doors Show and Sale to say hello. It's fun to see friends and family. Your support means a lot. I appreciate all who offered good wishes and were there in spirit, too.

For more photos of the show check out the post by Dayna Collins on our Portland Art Collective blog HERE

and to learn more about the Portland Art Collective listen to an interview with Robin Olsen and Lorraine Jones hosted by Eva Lake that aired on KBOO radio HERE

Journal Kits for Open Doors Art Show and Sale

This year for our Portland Art Collective Open Doors Art Show and Sale, I've made journal kits. Each kit includes a twenty page 5 x 8 inch journal with Vellum Bristol 80# paper, a Pentel water brush and a Coptic Multiliner water proof pigment ink pen and...

a palette with fifteen different Peerless Transparent Water Colors. A "How-to-Journal" Zine completes the kit.
The kit contains everything that one needs to make a travel, garden, art or personal journal.

Botanical Paintings

At ArtFest last spring, I took a workshop from Orly Avineri called Roots and Shoots. The two collaged paintings that I created can be seen HERE. They measure 11x14 inches.

Using the same techniques, I made these four 6x6 inch botanical paintings. I like the combination of loose abstract lines with finely detailed collaged and drawn lines.

The mixed media paintings include acrylics, inks and paper collage.

All of these paintings will be for sale at the December Portland Art Collective 'Open Doors' Show and Sale.

Word Keys for Open Doors Show

I made more word keys for our Portland Art Collective Show and Sale in December. Last year, they were very popular. The safety deposit keys are flooded with solder with metal stamped words, hand soldered silver jump rings, beads and a bit of fiber.

Words become keys to life, a reminder to dream or play. Many artists choose a word for the New Year to guide them in their artwork. Selecting one can be a powerful affirmation and tool for change for anyone.
I used the skills that I learned in Stephanie Lee's Homesteaders Metalsmithing online class
to make the keys and brooches.

Creative Hands

Last weekend, we drove to Menucha in the Columbia Gorge for an art retreat. Dayna Collins inspired me to take photos of the artists' hands. For me, this weekend offered a time to honor friendships, laugh, create, share, reflect and enjoy the beauty of nature. I came home full of inspiration, wonder and a full heart.

Jewelry for Portland Art Collective December Show

Completing projects for our December Portland Art Collective Show is keeping me busy. The brooches are now finished. The pin back has a bail so they may be worn as a pendant.




Last summer, I took Stephanie Lee's Homesteaders Metalsmithing online course. These brooches were inspired by her class. They are soldered bezels with my drawings, resin, sterling silver branches and wire wraps. In the coming weeks, I'll share more of my artwork for the show.

An Altered Book Kit Giveaway

Go HERE and leave a comment to win Judi Stack's Portland Art Collective giveaway for July. Good luck!!!

Check Out June Portland Art Collective Giveaway

This month's give-away is a "Timeless" package of a hand-bound journal AND a soldered pendant necklace from PAC artist, Suzanne Reynolds. The covers of the journal/sketchbook feature one of Suzanne's photographs printed on fabric and is filled with blank 90-lb. paper, suitable for wet or dry media. It's bound with linen thread over leather tapes in a way that allows the book to open flat.



The necklace has a soldered glass pendant with a roman numeral clock face image on one side and a fragment of vintage dictionary page on the other. The pendant hangs from a 22-inch chain with handmade hook clasp and small bead accents; all has been given a vintage patina.

Just leave a comment HERE and you may win these items when a name is randomly drawn at the end of the month--that's only 2 weeks from now!

You can see more of Suzanne's work at her blog HERE