Creative Fire: Magic and Business

                          Spalenka

"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business."

— Tom Robbins

I am married to a suit, a corporate Vice President, whose days are spent in positioning his company for growth in a shifting economy. I am a potter, usually so unkempt that I’m an hour away from being presentable if I’m meeting anyone for lunch. Like all true artists, I deal in magic, in transformation, in the ancient alchemy of clay and glaze. Is this an example of how opposites attract? Perhaps.  We are we on opposite ends of one spectrum that begins in the realm of creative dreams and manifests through skillful design and execution.

                           Markhed

We are equally successful because we value the realm in which the other operates. I respect the organized way in which he methodically negotiates a business deal. He respects my natural ability to read people, to get in the zone and flow through my day, and to innovate.

He has brought a measure of order to my chaos. I bring to his his life magic. Business and magic make for a successful partnership.

     TeoStudio. steinschmuckdesign, OneClayBead

“Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature.”
- Tom Robbins

               SewnNatural

Click on any image to see listing details. Article by: Lee Wolfe/ OneClayBead

Sunday Details

doily

LoveandDream

SeaPinks

TeoStudio

Friday: What are you working on now?

This week we have Bai of  ThongbaiTatong sharing her works in progress.  Bai creates 'wearable textile collage' that includes tops, bottoms, dresses, scarves and bags. Below is her description of a scarf in progress:

I have been making a new textile collage scarf. I put a lot of decorative elements together, such as cotton fabric, jersey fabric, silk/cotton, buttons, flowers, etc. All the fabrics used are very soft to the touch. I am geared up for autumn now I call it "Artsy Cozy Wrap - a textile collage scarf"

 What I love most about my work is the 'freedom' to create. I don't like rules and I am not good at adhering to rules. The only rule I have for my collage scarf is that you know how to work with the materials you use. For example, what kind of needles are best for sewing jersey fabric and if you bias cut the fabric it will not roll too much, etc. I enjoyed the freedom of putting the 8 different materials together, played with them, flipped them around, stitched here and there and voila my new scarf.

Thongbai Tatong: Original handmade items from the Netherlands

Artsy Cozy Wrap

Total width : 15 inches (38 cm.)
Total length: 80 inches (200 cm.)

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Next we have Teo from TeoStudio who creates paintings and art journals.  Last week I saw her blog post on painted book edges and I asked if I could share that process here as well.  The painted book edges are a relatively new addition to her etsy shop so this felt like perfect timing to see her process!

Fixing the book with clamps:

To paint the edges of a book, the block must be previously sewn and cut with an industrial guillotine. Step one: fixing the book with clamps as tight as possible so that the color stays on the edge and does not slip between the pages.

Step two: Sanding the edge with sand paper of different size, from rough to fine, and applying a thin layer of egg white. This must be immediately spread on the edge and absorbed with tissue paper, polishing the surface until it becomes glossy. This creates a layer that protects the paper from soaking any color.

Step three: Applying the color in different layers. Here is a brown decoration painted on golden background. I use acrylics so the color does not fade away with use.

Above: More book blocks with painted edges and leather journal with painted edges.

 TeoStudio from Portugal

 Earth Book Ocher Leather Journal with Painted Edges

The book measures 8.7 x 5 inches (22 x 12.5 cm).

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Thank you Bai and Teo for sharing your process!  If you are an Artisans Gallery Team member and would like to share what you are working on visit our Flickr Forum.