Trade Thursday : niminami

I honestly thinks that there is not enough Indonesian
artists that sells their stuff in etsy , therefore imagined
how excited I was to find Noemi's shop one day and
we quickly convos each other and promised to meet
up sometime soon. Aren't all these just so so pretty?
Thanks much for trading with me, Noemi! Let's
try again to meet up:)

Saya senang sekali waktu suatu hari mendapat sms dari
Noemi setelah sebelumnya melihat tokonya di etsy dan
tentu saja langsung jatuh cinta dengan gaya ilustrasinya
yang feminin, lembut dan playful. Karenanya kemudian
kami setuju untuk barter karya dan berjanji untuk bisa
segera ketemuan walaupun belum sempat juga :)

me and exhibition: Aprilia Apsari for Codex Code!

I went to the opening of the Codex Code last Saturday night

and instantly in love with this piece by the always inspiring, Miss Sari 

She made this out of jeans and flower cut out fabric pieces. Somehow

her pieces also makes me feel has a friend on this exhibition that

will ended on 22nd of August 2010. Please do check it out my friends!

Saya datang ke pembukaan pameran Codex Code malam

minggu lalu bersama Miss Dindie Mikisi dan langsung

mabuk kepayang dengan karya Nona Sari yang membuat

karya saya terasa ada temannya. Pameran yang bertempat

di ruang rupa ini akan berlangsung hingga 22 Agustus 2010.

Datang ya teman-teman! Dijamin tak akan kecewa!

me and collection: postcards! and more postcards!

I have been asked to send pictures of my postcard collections

by this local newspaper that features my hobby together with

the art on poskart exhibition that I curated last week. I have

some awesome art poskart of The Black Apple and KarenOhBuddy 

plus some local postcard series featuring our first president and

a series features some Hollywood babes. I have been also

exhibit them during the exhibition. Sure will collect some more:)

Suatu hari bersamaan dengan pembukaan pameran art on poskart

yang saya kuratori, saya diwawancara sebuah koran lokal untuk

bercerita tentang hobi mengumpulkan kartupos serta mesti 

mengirimkan foto-foto kartupos koleksi saya. Ini beberapa foto

yang saya kirimkan ke mereka. Ada kartu pos dari theblackapple 

dan juga KarenOhBuddy yang sangat saya sukai dan juga seri

kartupos Bung Karno dan beberapa bintang film Hollywood 

jaman dulu. Beberapa saya pamerkan juga selama pameran lho!

me and paperie : a secret paperie project

I got this pretty paperie swap from this talented sisters
for our secret project this month. Check out their rad
shops made of papers and yarn. And of course,
wait for our secret craft project soon!

Saya menerima paket kertas cantik dari kakak beradik
Nauli untuk sebuah proyek rahasia yang tentunya
akan membuat jemari kami menari tiada henti.
Tunggu ya!

Collage Comrade Column : Kareem Rizk

Thank you so much for taking this opportunity to be featured on my blog. I am a pretty new collage artist therefore I always love to bump into another one especially with such an inspiring techniques, materials and concept. So, let’s start with the interview now shall we?

1.Please tell me a bit about yourself and how you are first finding collage as one of your creative expressions?

I’m from Melbourne, Australia. I’ve been making traditional collages since 2005. My original creative training was in Graphic Design. I used to work for a newspaper as a graphic designer and illustrator. 

Before my formal design training I was introduced to many fine art techniques and mediums at a college pre-course. This experience has always enabled me to be very open to the application of a diverse range of mediums and techniques. Collage always seemed to be an interest for me and it often found its way into my design work. But I didn’t pursue collage as a main focus until 2006 when I found that I wanted a change from commercial graphic design. I wanted more creative freedom. 

2.Tell me about your creative process in making a collage? Is there any specific ritual or just wait for the inspirations to come or any other way?

Most of the time I will gather several elements which I feel work well together. Often I will find an image and collect typographic elements which compliment the image. I will also gather textures, patterns and colours which initially sit well together when loosely laid out on the table.  

Often my pace of working is very slow. But sometimes I seem to work very spontaneously and hastily. When a composition starts to develop and I like the direction it is heading, the rest of the work seems to progress naturally. Sometimes I will introduce different mediums like acrylic, oil pastel or pencil to add another dimension to the work. Sometimes the composition will come together by chance but will always end in some kind of order. Strong design principles always determine the dynamics and balance of the final piece. 

3.What kind of materials that you have been using or even try out after all these time? How many of them is actually works and are there any failures?

I have experimented with acrylic transfers, solvent transfers, oil pastel, pencils, ink, acrylic, gauche, spray paint, and oil paint. Oil paint never seemed to be as easy to control when combined with collage. It was also very messy to clean up. Experimenting with image transfer techniques that often use photocopies or inkjet prints with Gel medium have been the most successful. Drawing materials such as pencils and pastels have also been successful and often enhance my eclectic style. 

4.Apart from making collages, are there any other craftworks that you make?

Currently my sole medium and creative application is collage. One day I would like to experiment with screen printing and other printmaking techniques and incorporate this into my work. I also enjoy photography but it has always been a hobby.  

5.Now, let’s talk about selling the craftworks. Does it take a long time for you to decide that you can sell your collages or even actually live out of it?

By late 2006 I made the decision that I wanted be a collage artist and I wanted to make a living out of it. It was a short time after I started promoting my work online that I decided that I could sell my work. The response that my work received was greater than I could have ever expected. But at that stage I was only just starting out. My main focus was to build up a significant body of work, promote it extensively and hopefully one day get my work into galleries. Moving forward I have several projects and exhibitions lined up for 2009 including a second solo exhibition in the US. I am very grateful that the day I make a living out my art is getting closer everyday. 

6.I notice that several collage artists are also into making and selling kits and organize workshops. I love doing workshops and hoping to have more next year. How about you? 

I used to sell collage packs. They were basically bags which had a collection of paper collage elements like images, typography and an assortment of ephemera. As for workshops I haven’t been involved in any as yet. 

7.Have you done any exhibitions? Would you like to tell us what was it like?

Just over 2 years of promoting my work and many collages later I am grateful that I have already been involved with several local and international group shows and one solo exhibition in Los Angeles. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend the solo show but I shipped all my work from Australia without too many hassles. From all reports it was very successful considering it was my first solo show and it created some very good exposure.
 

8.I’ve notice also that there are so many medium where we can put our collages in apart just make them into wall-hanging or ACEO. How about you? What kind of medium that you’ve used or plan to use for your collages?

For my upcoming solo exhibition in the US I’m looking to produce a couple of large wall pieces by utilizing the technique of wheat pasting. I’m also looking at experimenting with some 3D installations. This method could include more rigid, free-standing materials and maybe boxes. 

9.What do you like most about making collages? Is there anything that you don’t like about it?

The thing I like most about making collages is that when I start a new work, I often don’t know what the finished piece will look like. Much of my work develops gradually as I put it together. Sometimes a certain theme or direction develops but it is often improvisation that plays a big part in my work.
 

10. Any last words? And please share us your email, shop, gallery or anything that you would like to share with us. 

Thank you for the interview and for sharing my work with the world. 

 

Email: info@kareemrizk.com

Website: www.kareemrizk.com 

Shops:

www.kareemrizk.etsy.com

www.thumbtackpress.com

www.artistrising.com/galleries/kareemrizk

Collage Comrade Column : Molly Bosley

Dear Molly,

Thank you so much for taking this opportunity to be featured on my blog. I am a pretty new collage artist therefore I always love to bump into another one especially with such an inspiring techniques, materials and concept. So, let’s start with the interview now shall we?

1. Please tell me a bit about yourself and how you are first finding collage as one of your creative expressions?
Two years ago I moved to Brooklyn right after I graduated college. It’s a wonderful place and I am inspired by the strange and fascinating things I see everyday. I first started collaging when I was very young but I only seriously started doing it in the last three years, when I discovered a store that sold old books and encyclopedias for only $.25. I fell in love and finally found what I had been waiting for.

2.Tell me about your creative process in making a collage? Is there any specific ritual or just wait for the inspirations to come or any other way?
Well, I usually spend a whole day just cutting out images from books and then once I have a good collection, I lay them all out on the floor around me. I kind of just play with the composition and what “feels” right. I like to layer a lot so I’ll try and get a bunch of different background images, fabric, doilies or old pattern pieces. I have really vivid and wild dreams so sometimes that influences the look of different pieces if I’m thinking about it. Sometimes I'll work on somethings and put it aside for a few weeks and then come back to work on it again when i have fresh eyes.

3.What kind of materials that you have been using or even try out after all these time? How many of them is actually works and are there any failures?
Collage is definitely a trial and error process. I like to research about unusual techniques to give the art variety and this way it will grow over time and you will see differences over the years. I think it is important to learn as many different ways of achieving the affect you are going for. I usually stick to the basics in terms of materials but lately I have been experimenting with cork and the surfaces that I am working on. I also really love learning new ways of transferring images. When you do this process it’s like Christmas because you never know how it will turn out.

4. Apart from making collages, are there any other craftworks that you make?
Yes! I also embroider but not enough. I wish I did this more. I knit and make sculptures and jewelry too. I make all of the beads out of the same books as the collages so they kind of having the same old and worn look to them. Silhouettes and shadows have fascinated me for years and years so I started cutting paper silhouettes and making dioramas. This is something I am really proud of because it takes a lot of dedication and a steady hand. Soon I hope to start making dolls out of found objects. I have been thinking about doing this for awhile now.

5. Now, let’s talk about selling the craftworks. Does it take a long time for you to decide that you can sell your collages or even actually live out of it?
Well I have only recently, in the past year, been putting myself out there and exhibiting. So far it’s been pretty successful but I don’t think I am at the point yet where I can live off of this as income. The problem is there isn’t enough time to work on art and sell it when I still have a full time job. In the next few weeks I hope to start selling at street fairs and markets on the weekends and see how that goes. I thought it would be hard to let go of these pieces that I’ve sold but I am happy that other people will display them in their home or give them as gifts and be able to appreciate them in a whole new way.

6.I notice that several collage artists are also into making and selling kits and organize workshops. I love doing workshops and hoping to have more next year. How about you?
I’ve never done a collage workshop. I think this is great for people just getting started and people who are curious as to how to go about the whole process but to me it is important to maintain the uniqueness in my artwork. Making art is a very personal and organic method so following a kit just doesn’t seem natural to me. I think you can learn about of useful and interesting techniques from these workshops but part of it should also be an instinctual course of action.

7. Have you done any exhibitions? Would you like to tell us what was it like?
I have had great success in the last few months. This past summer I have exhibited in four shows and I have another solo exhibition coming up in November. It’s a lot of work to get organized and submit for these shows. I would rather spend my free time working on art instead of managing the business side of it but this is really equally as important if you want anyone to see your work. The opening receptions are really fun too! People come and want to talk to you about your work and are very supportive.

8.I’ve notice also that there are so many medium where we can put our collages in apart just make them into wall-hanging or ACEO. How about you? What kind of medium that you’ve used or plan to use for your collages?
I think it’s great to expand the idea of how to display your work. I would like to make some of my work functional and have thought about doing work on housewares recently. I would also like to make prints of my work so that they can be more affordable. I have collaborated with a few bands to do their album art and this is a great way to work with other talented artists and display the art in a different context, perhaps with someone elses interpretation behind it.

9.What do you like most about making collages? Is there anything that you don’t like about it?
I am not a very patient person and I love the satisfaction of completing collages in one sitting. I can work on many pieces all at once and when I’m done I am surrounded by my accomplishments just from that day. The only downside of collage art is that sometimes I feel like I should be doing more. Sometimes I think ‘anyone can do this’ and ‘I’m not showing my full potential or spectrum of what I am capable of.’ I try to incorporate illustrations into the pieces or do processes that take a bit longer so that I feel it has a little more value and weight to it. If I really thought this was a problem I would move on to something else but I really love doing it and I love what I make so I’m just going to keep exploring and expanding.

10. Any last words? And please share us your email, shop, gallery or anything that you would like to share with us.
I guess I just want to explain a little about what this art means to me. I want people to look at it and interpret it how they see it. I like to use images that do not have any context attached to them so that the audience can see it how they wish. I want to give people the feeling of memories or nostalgic scenes from the past. The intimacy in my work is reflected in the size and worn, used feeling, which draws people in physically and emotionally. The family photographs in my artwork are way of creating personalities and lives of people I never knew. I love to imagine what their lives could have been like when the photo was taken.

I will be setting up a website in the new few months and hopefully will have an etsy store available with prints and original works for sale! In the mean time if you want to contact me about purchasing the art or just any questions about it please feel free to email me at MollyBosley@gmail.com and check out my flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/mustardfestival.

My artwork is on display until the end of August at Red’s Tapas Bar if you are in the Brooklyn area and would like to see it in person. The food is great too!

Collage Comrade Column: Vivienne Strauss

Dear Vivienne,

Thank you so much for taking this opportunity to be featured on my blog. I am a pretty new collage artist therefore I always love to bump into another one especially with such an inspiring techniques, materials and concept. So, let’s start with the interview now shall we?

1. Please tell me a bit about yourself and how you are first finding collage as one f your creative expressions? I've always loved images and have always had a collection of them. I started out doing more of what is called decoupage where you apply the images to objects. I used to cover old hat boxes, then it moved to the doors and tables of my apartment. When I moved from there, it made me sad to leave all those images behind that I had collected so I chose to move to collage which I've been doing various forms of for about 10 years. I love the challenge of using old images in new and imaginative ways.

2. Tell me about your creative process in making a collage? Is there a specific ritual or just wait for the inspiration to come or any other way? I am a pretty restless person so sometimes when I want to relax with a movie but can't sit still, I will often cut out a bunch of images all at once. Sometimes the collages just naturally come together in this stage but often, the images just float around in my head until I decide how to use them. One of my favorite pieces I've done, I came up with the idea one night when I woke up at 3 a.m. and could not fall back asleep. I decided to just lie there and think about all the images I had cut out that I could remember and it just fell into place and I finished it the next day. I've learned my lesson though, you can't really force inspiration. On those days, focus on the process of cutting out.

3. What kind of materials that you have been using or even try out after all these time? How many of them is actually works and are there any failures? I like to work with almost all vintage images from old magazines and books and apply mod podge matte medium with a small paintbrush. Some people use glue sticks but that has never worked for me. I've tried combining painting with collage but so far that hasn't worked out the way I would like it to. I haven't given up the idea completely though.

4. Apart from making collages, are there any other craftworks that you make? I paint almost every day. Other things I've tried, I'm terrible at sewing! I like doing some embroidery but actual sewing is awful for me.

5. Now, Let's talk about selling the craftworks. Does it take a long time for you to decide that you can sell your collages or even actually live out of it? My collages don't sell nearly at the rate of my paintings. I don't know if people don't respect collage as much as painting, some people think it is "cheating" because you are using images created by others. There are collage artists out there that make things that people can "use" like cards, jewelry and things like that and they are very successful at selling them.

6. I notice that several collage artists are also into making and selling kits and organize workshops. I love doing workshops and hoping to have more next year. How about you? I don't think I would ever do that, I like working alone and can't imagine "teaching" someone to collage, it is such a personal thing. As far as collage kits go, if I had that kind of time, I would prefer to get my own supplies more organized, they are a mess!

7. Have you done any exhibitions? Would you like to tell us what was it like? I have an exhibit coming up in February of 2009 in Manchester, United Kingdom. I'll be showing with several other collage artists, all my work for that exhibit is of my lingerie collages. Unfortunately it is very far away and I won't be able to attend but will get to see photos once it is up.

8. I've notice also that there are so many medium where we can put our collages in apart just make them into wall-hanging or ACEO. How about you? What kind of medium that you've used or plan to use for your collages. I do all my work on paper that can be framed.

9. What do you like most about making collages? Is there anything that you don't like about it? I love sorting through and looking at all the old magazines and giving them new life. I guess the only thing I don't like about it is, I haven't been able to organize it as much as I'd like to, it can be a very messy medium to work in!

10. Any last words? And please share us your email, shop, gallery or anything that you would like to share with us.Even though collage hasn't been a great money maker, I'll probably always continue to do it. My etsy shop for collage is www.viviennestrauss.etsy.com and my blog is www.vivienneart.blogspot.com

Comrade Collage Column: Michelle Lanter

Dear Michelle,

Thank you so much for taking this opportunity to be featured on my blog. I am a pretty new collage artist therefore I always love to bump into another one especially with such an inspiring techniques, materials and concept. So, let’s start with the interview now shall we?

1. Please tell me a bit about yourself and how you are first finding collage as one of your creative expressions?
I am a self-taught collage artist living and working in Houston, Texas in the United States. I've always had a love affair with paper. I have an ever growing collection of vintage ephemera and collage is a way for me to give the pieces new life.

2. Tell me about your creative process in making a collage? Is there any specific ritual or just wait for the inspirations to come or any other way?
I consider collage a form of play. I love to spread my toys (my ephemera) on the floor and play with them until an image comes together. I tend to work intuitively and I lose all track of time when I'm collaging.

3. What kind of materials that you have been using or even try out after all these time? How many of them is actually works and are there any failures?
I love all types of paper. I've recently started using vintage maps in my work. They make awesome backgrounds. I've had a few failures with very old and fragile papers, but the great thing about collage is that it is easy to cover up or incorporate mistakes into the final piece.

4. Apart from making collages, are there any other craftworks that you make?
I love to dabble with lots of craft projects but most of them involve collage in some way.

5. Now, let’s talk about selling the craftworks. Does it take a long time for you to decide that you can sell your collages or even actually live out of it?
I've done well selling my collage work on Etsy. I've been able to send my collages all over the world.

6. I notice that several collage artists are also into making and selling kits and organize workshops. I love doing workshops and hoping to have more next year. How about you?
It's something I would consider but right now I'm keeping busy with creating collages and running my Etsy shop.

7. Have you done any exhibitions? Would you like to tell us what was it like?
My work is going to be part of a collage exhibition that will be taking place in Manchester, England. The exhibit will run from February 24th until April 4th 2009. It will be my first exhibition and I'm very excited about it.

8. I’ve notice also that there are so many medium where we can put our collages in apart just make them into wall-hanging or ACEO. How about you? What kind of medium that you’ve used or plan to use for your collages?
I really love ACEOs and I've created over 1000 of them. I also enjoy collaging canvas, postcards, boxes, and jewelry.

9. What do you like most about making collages? Is there anything that you don’t like about it?
I love being able to combine images and turn them into something completely new and different. The only thing I don't like is not having enough time to create collage.

10. Any last words? And please share us your email, shop, gallery or anything that you would like to share with us.
Thank you for interviewing me. I've had fun answering your questions. My Etsy shop address is: http://dadadreams.etsy.com/. I also spend a lot of time on Flickr and I love making new Flickr friends. You can find me on Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dadadreams/

me and zine: an inspiring zinester

Dear Sweetie Pie Press,

I'm still wondering about that whole envelope that I sent

you for that security envelope button project of yours.

I certainly wish they arrived safe and sound so that you

will have fun with them, but apart from that I would like

to tell you how happy I was to found your blog,

http://sweetiepiepress.blogspot.com/.

You have so many awesome finger power project with

or without your friends that really takes this whole DIY

culture in so many interesting level to me, a zinester

from Jakarta. I certainly envy your plastic bag yarn project

and those awesome buttons. I wish we could trade zines

but mine is in Indonesian language. I really am glad to read

that the craft bazzar that you organized turned out to be

a huge success, somehow it reminds me of my own

experiences organizing a gig or a workshop here.

I think I should stop writing now. I think I will keep them

for my handwritten letter to you. Hopefully someday we

will be able to have a big glass of iced cappucino together

and chat while you knit and I make collages.

Thank you for sharing and thank you for being you,

Vantiani.

What a collage!

Dear Scott,

First I would like to tell you how inspiring your collages on those bottles are to me and I would love to hear your stories on them and also your own collage making process. Let's start with the questions, shall we?

1. I used to know collage when I start making zines, therefore my understanding of collage is like a paper art. But then as time goes by I notice that apart from paper there are many other material we can use. How about you and collage in general, how did it start?
I did my first bottle-collage in 1998. i was visiting a friend who was working on a collage, and to pass the time, she suggested that i join her. i had a wine bottle with me, so she also suggested that i just collage the bottle. it took about 30 minutes to do that first one. i probably made about 4 more bottle-collages from 1998 until 2005, but they were all just quick gifts to give to a few friends. i didn't take collage that seriously back then since i was more interested in poetry and graffiti. however in 2006 i started to work on a bottle-collage for a friend's birthday,and that bottle is the bottle that got me hooked. i lost track of time entirely. it took 4 months to complete, but during that time i realized that i wanted to go further and to get deeper into collage.

2. So when you start to combine paper and glasses (bottle) together in making a collage? Are there many trial and errors first
before you nail them?
i have a lot of trial and error - especially when my collages started to become 3-dimensional, but during each process i know that i'm learning a little bit more. overall though, my biggest struggle has been with glue. in some moments i imagine myself on one of those 'blooper' shows. i struggle with glue on many different levels. daily.

3. One most awesome part about your collages to me is the usage of those bottles as the medium. How do you deal with those many paper layers so that they stick really good to the round glasses of the bottle?
i use a lot of glue. my main antagonists are: a glue stick, contact cement and weldbond (a super adhesive) supposedly used by the NASA space program. i usually use a glue stick on paper-to-paper contact, and paper-to-glass, but for anything 3-dimensional i have to build tiny, thick support systems or make braces to attach other layers of collage to. i'm trying to get to a point where paper just appears to float, but i have a ways to go. as far as layering goes, i'm starting to get into décollage after seeing some works by mimmo rotella. i really like the appeal of ripping paper away to the next layers and creating something by chance. i like the mystery behind it.

4. Apart from paper, are there any other materials that you've tried on the bottle and how do they go?
i have a friend who incorporates taxidermy into his sculptures, so he's taught me how to preserve bits of nature. i've used preserved flower petals as coral reef on one of my bottles, and also tiny plants as trees. i've used shells as pattern. i've been working on a (comic book style) 'film noir' bottle that i'll eventually add ants to. if i'm working with anything other than paper, i try to keep things simple and minimal - but i enjoy branching-out and using different materials.

5. Is there any special tips that you would like to share if someone would like to make one too?
first find a bottle that you're interested in because there are so many choices: wine bottles to baby food jars. wash the labels off (or leave them on)and get ready for a good time.
i've found that it's easier to do the collage clock-wise (and not in two directions). if you're going to do intricate work, you'll need tweezers (long and short). when you're finished, if you want to protect the collage and give it a sparkle, you could spray shellac on it. if you use shellac or contact cement, you should do it in a well-ventilated place or wear a mask. contact cement is the easiest to clean-up since it gets gummy when it dries and you can pull it up without a mess. weldbond dries clear but i've been making a mess of it. welbond gets stronger everyday it's been used - so if you're having second thoughts on on a section of collage you used weldbond on, and now you just want to try and pry it up...it's too late. do whatever though (have fun) - pull out your magazine, and comics and just try different things. you can start several bottles at once too.

6. Anything else that you would like to share with us like your shop, online gallery, flickr, etc?
i have some work at flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/25038365@N05/
and i have some dimebag poetry at sloppyjames.com. they're short poems i wrote 5 years ago in san fransisco before collage entered the picture. i've been writing new poems periodically for a year and a half for a small book that i hope to finish soon.
that's about it for me, looking forward to the summer, still looking for some quintessential advice on glue.
and, if you're interested in seeing great collage art, you should check out the talented: anniedescoteaux.com

Thank you so much, Scott! For sharing all these and being so inspiring,

Vantiani

What a collage!

Dear Kim,

First I would like to tell you how inspiring your collage and stitch pieces are to me and I would love to hear your stories on them and also your own collage making process. Let's start with the questions, shall we?

1. I used to know collage when I start making zines, therefore my understanding of collage is like a paper art. But then as time goes by I notice that apart from paper there are many other material we can use. How about you and collage in general, how did you start? I sort of just slowly figured collage out on my own I think. I'm one of those people that can't stick to just one thing when it comes to art. I love variety and collage allows me to mix so many different materials together. I paint, draw, embroider and have always had a knack for pretty arrangements so mixing these things together came naturally to me.

2. So when you start to combine thread and paper together in making a collage? Are there many trial and error first before you nail them? Yes and no. I never ever plan anything before I start a piece. Everything that I make is nothing but a happy accident so really there are no real errors. Plus because collage often involves layering I can always just place a piece of paper or whatever over anything I don't like :)

3. One most awesome part about your collages to me is actually the usage of old envelopes and postcards. Those are definitely such a pretty paperie but at the same time because of the age they are pretty fragile too, right? How do you deal with this so that it won't rip while you sew on them? I find that the best way to prevent tears in the paper is to only sew as much as you really have to. I do most of my embroidery on a piece of fabric in an embroidery hoop before I get to the paper part of it all. Once I have the embroidery done I cut any excess fabric off and then stitch the embroidered fabric onto the postcard or envelope like a little patch. One thing I always need to remember when stitching on paper is to keep the holes as far apart as possible otherwise tears are far more likely.

4. Apart from paper and thread, are there any other materials that you've tried and how do they go? I like using fabric, buttons, and all sorts of different types of papers. Cardboard can be fun to work with and I love to cut up old doilies and sew the bits onto things. Then there's my acrylic paintings and pen sketches, those often find their way onto my collages as well! I'm always looking for something new and unique to add to my collages. Being unique is incredibly important to me. I never want to be like anyone else.

5. Is there any special tips that you would like to share if someone would like to make one too? Yes! There are so many! I'm very pasionate about art and love to share! First off, don't feel badly about using something incredibly old in your art! Some people have a hard time dismantaling old books, cutting up doilies or using old photos. The way I look at it is that you're just turning it into something someone is going to love and appreciate and probably look at on a regular basis. Collage is alot like a museum for each and every scrap of paper, fabric or whatever else you add to it. That and always use a good glue :) I use 'Aleene's Original Tacky Glue'.

6. Anything else that you would like to share with us like your shop, online gallery, flickr, etc? You can see most of my stuff (at least everything that is online) on my Flickr account : www.flickr.com/photos/10382063@N05/

my blog : curiouserandcuriouserdesigns.blogspot.com/

and of course my Etsy shop : www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5369070

Thank you so much, Kim!

For sharing all these and being so inspiring,

Vantiani

me and collages: inspiring artist

These are the inspiration behind my Origami Balloons

series. Made by mati rose http://www.matirose.blogspot.com/

and how I love her tips on making art.

Such a gorgeous bunch of inspiration, right?