Our Tyvek collage cover was created by Denise Adler; Camille Storment provided technical assistance.

We had a wonderful meeting in May and accomplished so much.

Thank you to Denise Adler for a beautiful Early Bird demonstration. And thank you to all who contributed to hospitality for our usual delicious spread.

We had our presentation of the Paul Freeman Awards. There were eight nominees and the votes were so close that we had three winners – Darla Peek, Joan Schmitz, and myself. We are all so grateful for the nomination and the awards. But I have to say that personally I've had a fantastic time working in and for the Guild, and the fun and friendship are more than sufficient rewards.

Once again, thank you to all whom took part in the Spring Exhibit. Maggie Gillikin reported that 25% of the show actually sold this year. We knew the exhibit was great this year, but that statistic says it all.

Our fundraiser is going strong. Many posters have sold and well over half the books. We are now working on planning the workshop for next year that will be everyone's reward for a job well done.

Speaking of jobs – if you don't have one for next year, please consider volunteering to be part of a committee. We still need people for a variety of jobs, so please contact me or Maggie about contributing next year.

Karen Veni distributed the Secret Pal assignments for the summer, so now we all have some work to do. Remember that your pal should receive your first mailing no later than June 15. And please remember to save everything you receive and bring it all to the September meeting for everyone to see. Thank you again to Karen and her committee for doing such a wonderful job this year.

We decided in May to have all future mini-workshops at the church (our usual meeting place) because of some difficulties with Warm Springs. So be sure to make a note of this. And please make a note also that we voted to start our meeting a bit later in the coming year, because the church will have something happening in our room prior to our meeting. Rather than change meeting place (which is always so difficult!) we decided to start our Early Bird presentation at 6:45 next year, and the meeting at 7:15. We are very grateful, as always, to the church and to Jill Adams for her facilitation of the use of this very comfortable meeting place.

And finally, please be sure to come to the June meeting, which will take place at Maggie Gillikin's home. We will have our usual Potluck Dinner (call Janice Anabtawi if you haven't yet signed up to bring something delicious), and we will have our installation of new officers. We voted to have a sale of members' work to members and guests at each Potluck, which is twice a year. This is a chance to see each other's work and to purchase from the artist. There will be no commission to a middle party, so prices will be lower than at the gallery. This promises to be a terrific end of year affair, so don't miss it. I look forward to seeing you there.

.................................................................................................Leslie

Tyvek Play Day

Your decorated newsletter cover and envelope of this issue was made possible by Bonnie Houser and fourteen others who gathered at Bonnie’s ranch on May 8^th. The day went well at the ranch and everyone worked quickly. Bonnie would like to thank everyone personally. Our Tyvek painters were Denise Adler, Camille Storment, Pauline Thomas (from Australia), and Nancy McHugh. Jill Adams, Pam Braha, Jane Fair, Pauline Sager, Janice Anabtawi, Barbara Gere, Thea Moore, Kaye Yarbrough, and Pat Price and Angie Murray from Austin.

If you are interested in the technique we used on the Tyvek cover sheets, we began by spritzing the sheet lightly, then we wiped it off with a sponge. Next we applied a thin layer of Titan Buff, and then we sponged on Quinacridone Gold, topped by another layer of Titan Buff. Paints listed above are acrylics.

After drying, the Tyvek was ready to go to the printer. In this case to Denise Adler, she printed the newsletter cover using her computer and printer. The "finishing touches" were carefully added and artistically arranged by Denise Adler and Camille Storment. The Tyvek envelopes were decorated according to the creative stirrings of each person at the Tyvek Play Day.

Bonnie Houser

June Potluck

This is our other special meeting where we get together over scrumptious food and enjoy each other’s company. A map and directions to Maggie Gillikin’s home is on the back page of the newsletter. If you are planning to come, please call Janice Anabtawi and let her know what you plan to bring. She has everyone’s selection on a big chart – this way we won’t have too many salads or too many desserts (could that happen?) … well, you know what we mean.

Tyvek Trivia

Bonnie Houser corresponded via e-mail with Pat Pleacher to get more information on Tyvek. Pat wrote an article complete with tip-in for Tabellae Ansata and this stimulated Bonnie’s idea factory – could we do something with Tyvek for the newsletter? It just happens that we could do something with Tyvek. It serves as the foundation for our cover as well as the material for our envelope for this issue. Taking our Tyvek theme one step further, below is some interesting trivia about Tyvek. Bonnie sent Pat several questions about Tyvek, Pat’s answers follow and some of them refer to the previous article.

1. Can Tyvek be sent to Kinko’s to print on?

I have not personally done this, but in researching Tyvek, I believe the answer is yes. In fact, I remember reading somewhere (but can’t put my finger on it) that printers like it because it prints well and dries fast. After all, the post office has printed envelopes, and office supply stores have printed envelopes (9 x 12 first class envelopes usually with green triangles around the edges). A lot of computer companies use small Tyvek envelopes for CDs, and they are sometimes printed.

2. My sample piece was sort of a peach color. Do you remember what paint, ink, etc. you used to get that?

Hmmmm, I vaguely remember that color. I’m pretty sure it was a red, and since it is watered down a little, it came across lighter. I mostly used acrylic paints in the little 2 oz. bottles: sold by names like Americana, Folk Art, Apple Barrel, etc. You can get them on sale sometimes for 69 to 99 cents, and there is a wide range of colors.

3. I’ve played with walnut ink on Tyvek. With this, I did a lot of under painting before the walnut went on. All this glazing certainly makes for a rich surface. Since we send out approximately 200 newsletters, we probably won’t do that many steps in the process.

I agree about there being more richness when more than one layer is applied. I would like to have done this with my samples, but, like with your newsletters, that was not feasible. I tried the walnut ink, too. I love walnut ink as a rule. But what I liked even better than the walnut was "glaze" type stuff, which is sold near the other paints I just mentioned. Made for staining wood, so it comes in rich browns. I also found some metallic glazes I liked (copper, gold and silver). I usually put these over another color.

4. What surprised me was your use of paper towels. Did you try brushes, sponges, and still find towels more satisfactory?

I love this question! Mainly because I wrote the article, based on what I had done and the way I learned it. THEN I did the 5,000 samples. It didn’t take long for me to find a better way! Now I wish I could rewrite the article. I bought a 25-foot roll of Tyvek, and cut it into 12" squares (they were later cut to 2" squares). I set up my waterproof work area, which included a piece of Plexiglas for a work surface, I squirted my paint onto a plastic plate, I donned my latex gloves, and I used a Sponge (Not a paper towel)! Wet the sponge, spray the paper with water, then dab a little paint onto the sponge. Work quickly and rub the color in, rubbing in circles. Add more paint if needed, and spritz again if the paper starts to dry too much. I basically worked with one color until I got sick of it, then used another. (I kept a bowl of water on hand for rinsing the sponge between colors.)

5. Also would we have your permission to quote you and parts of your article (probably not the entire article)?

Yes, of course, along with any e-mail comments. Could I have a copy of the newsletter? J Good luck. It sounds like a wonderful idea. I just gave up editorship of my local guild’s newsletter (Kentuckian Guild), and wish I’d had a cover persona!!

You can reach Pat Pleacher via e-mail at Patsartden@aol.com if you have more Tyvek questions.

More About Tyvek

With a little help from Pavasa and her Cyberscribes, abcdubosch@dellnet.com had this to say about Tyvek:

Tyvek is a DuPont product made from spun Olefin. There are three types of Tyvek: one for clothing, one used as a moisture barrier in construction, and one for offset printing. The offset printing type is paper thin, smooth, and can be purchased in large single sheets. It cannot be torn, and cannot be heated (it melts). There are lots of cool things we calligraphers can do with Tyvek, I’ll list some: banners (it is waterproof), book covers (it is tough), folders (it can be sewn). Tyvek is white, but can easily be colored with acrylic paint. Rub the surface with a paper towel that is wet with a dab of paint. Coloring Tyvek is much like staining wood; you work the color/colors into the fibers. Watercolor may also be used, but will rub off. Tyvek takes a crease extremely well. If you want a heavier weight Tyvek, laminate two or three sheets together with PVA. Let me know if you need more information, or have any questions. I especially like Tyvek.

Carol DuBosch, in Portland, praying for rain
(this was on 4/28/00 at 6:30 p.m.)

Early Bird
Resumes in September

At the May meeting, we learned that the church will use our regular meeting room during the day and we will start Early Birds at 6:45 p.m.

MINI-WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 
FOR NEXT YEAR

New mini-workshop location for next year is Christ Episcopal at 510 Belknap, at the same time – 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the following months:

September 21 - Collage with Bonnie Houser

October 19 - Decorated Envelope Pad with Laura Heye

November 19 - Legend with Joan Schmitz

January 18 - Fun Books with Maggie Gillikin

February 15 - Quilling with Beverly Carter

March 15 - Funny Alphabets with Fritzi Harry

April 19 - Carving Eraser with Shirley Ginn

May 17 - Ruling Pen with Leslie Winakur

Price for the mini-workshops is still a bargain at $5 per class. There may be a supply fee for some classes. If you want to assure you have a spot in all the minis, sign up for all of them and pay $40 to Gayle Venticinque at the August Calligraphy Exchange.

Membership News

This is your last reminder for the year – dues are due. Annual Guild membership dues of $24 are now due.

Membership forms were in the April newsletter. If you need another, please contact Jill Adams. She needs this form filled out, even if nothing has changed, along with your check payable to SACG. Mail both to:

Jill Adams
SACG Membership Chairperson

Dues are considered delinquent after June 1^st. We need to have your dues by then so you will be listed in the new directory for 2000-2001, you will receive all the newsletters and you will know what is happening with the Guild.

Jill Adams

Thinking of Members

Pauline Sager just heard that Sherri Trial had a boy eleven weeks ago. Cyrus Matthew, Cy for short.

Sherri reports, "This makes two, our first kiddo (daughter) is 13!!! She's great with the baby." To which Pauline adds, "It's hard to believe her daughter is that old; Sherri has been gone longer than I thought."

Summer Birthdays

6/2 B. J. Nichol
6/9 B. J. Grant
6/14 Sharon Zeugin
6/16 Martha Kallus & Adeline Torres
6/18 Teri A. Fulton
6/21 Cheri Wolf
6/22 Elizabeth Jordan
6/25 Charles Ingram
6/29 Carol Walls

7/3 Anita Hyman
7/11 Martha Mendoza
7/12 Camille Storment
7/20 Gayle Venticinque
7/21 Luz Llera

8/2 Milly Hosford & Angie Murray
8/7 Hazel Tillson & Saron Tudhope
8/11 Denise Adler
8/16 Pat Parks
8/17 Bev Carter & Dolores Schultz
8/19 Jill Adams
8/22 Barbara Gere
8/23 Shirley Ginn
8/26 Virginia Harrison
8/27 Robbye Shafer

Dragon Pals

If you signed up for the Secret Pal program this summer, put on your creative hat and get the creative juices flowing. This is a great way to have a cool summer. We can already tell from the May temperatures that it is going to be a l-o-n-g H-O-T summer! Remember to bring ALL of your Pal treasures to the September meeting when the true identity of your Pal is revealed.

Volunteer Requests

If you volunteered to do a page for the calendar, the artwork deadline is June 15^th. Pauline Sager also needs friendship quotes for the top of the page.

Maggie Gillikin will continue to store and bring the library to the meetings; we need a librarian to work the table during meetings. If you’re interested, call her.

Twenty-Six Letters
Spring Exhibit - Ventana Gallery - April 2000 Winners

* 1st Place - Karen Veni's "Woman" book

* 2nd Place - Joanne Pacelli's "Butterfly"

* 3rd Place - Bill Waddington's "The Creation of Alpha"

Merit Award for

* Emotion - Laura Heye's "Twin Blessings"

* Antiquities - Pauline Sager's "Remember children are a Gift from God"

* Award for Alphabet - Angie Murray's "Letters in a Box"

* Award for Unity - Sally Gooze's "Dare to Color"

* Award for Design & Construction - Karen Veni's "Create Art"

* Award for Sheer Fun & Beauty of Letterforms - Leslie Winakur's "Life" quote

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

And a million thank yous are extended to the newsletter team. The past two years have been a labor of love and the task was made easier with the help of a team of angels.

Our angel in charge of labels was Thea Moore, she typed up the labels each month and always had them ready at each meeting – this was a huge help. Bonnie Houser coordinated the newsletter covers with the program, the mini workshops, the major workshops, and sometimes a composite with lots of contributors. Bonnie stayed in contact with the artist(s) and made sure the cover was ready on a timely basis, another huge help.

My goal was to deliver the newsletter to the mini workshop – this helped set a firm deadline (for me) and also saved the Guild some postage. The newsletter then went into the capable hands of our faithful newsletter mailing crew. The mailing crew met after the mini to staple, fold, label and affix the postage. The mailing crew angels are Mavis Caudill, Mary Bowman, Bev Carter, Jo Drake, Anita Hyman, and Camille Storment. Once again, a huge help.

It takes a committee of angels to get your newsletter together and in your hands. I really do appreciate all of these newsletter angels and thank each of you for contributing your time and talent to the newsletter each month. Thank You! Thank You! and Thank You, again! I couldn’t have done it without YOU!

I would also like to say thank you to our many contributors. We have had some interesting news in the newsletters the past two years. Please continue to share, whether it’s something interesting on the web, a studio tip, or the latest exhibit – we love anything calligraphy!

I hope we continue our tradition of one composite cover each year – we have some very talented calligraphers in our Guild and it is always interesting to see the creative end result.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to SACG for letting me try my hand at the newsletter these past two years. It was an honor to work for you. I have truly enjoyed it; this is one calligraphy experience I will always treasure. Of course, some months were more challenging than others were, but knowing that I wasn’t in the soup alone helped tremendously. We will have some new faces on the newsletter committee next year, I hope they have fun because I know they will flourish at making Flourishes!

Darla Peek

When they announced three winners I wondered how three people were going to share two awards. This year in addition to the two Paul Freeman framed pieces, a third piece by Mark Van Stone was added. They are beautiful reminders for the recipients to enjoy for a year.

We immediately moved on to other items on the agenda and there was no time to say thanks for the award. I didn’t prepare an acceptance speech because I didn’t dream I would win. I believe that Joan and Leslie would join me in saying "thank you very much" for this honor. The Guild is a very special group and when we team up we accomplish some wonderful things! In fact, Twenty-six Letters comes to mind!

DP

Dear Editor

I just want you to know how much I appreciate the information you put in Flourishes about exhibits and shows that are being held in other cities and states. In the December issue you mentioned Eleanor Winter’s exhibit of Calligraphic Quilt pieces on display in Golden, CO; and while I was visiting Colorado Springs for Christmas I had an opportunity to see it. Wow, not only did I see Ms. Winter’s work but also a wonderful display of handmade art quilts that had stories to tell. And if that wasn’t enough, there was a display of computer personal art quilts by high schoolers. It was worth the trip to Golden.

Thanks again – keep up the good work!

Sincerely,
Helen Rasplicka

Calligraphy Classes

Lynn Rutland will be teaching at San Antonio Arts & Letters located at 1931 N. W. Military Drive in Castle Hills. She wants to give you lots of individual attention; classes are limited to six students.

Basic Italic – for beginning calligraphers or as a brush up on letterforms. Four week class meets May 23, 30, June 6 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon.

Uncials – for beginning calligraphers or as a brush up on basic letterforms. The two-week class is set up this way: the first week the focus is on Uncials, the second week is for half-uncials and student follow up. This class meets on May 27 and June 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon.

Gothicized Italic – for those who have already had a basic Italic course. This two-week class meets on June 10 and 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon.

Make reservations by calling 340-4422. If you have questions, call Lynn Rutland or contact her via e-mail at rutland464@juno.com .

 SACG

Information

for Summer 

Travelers - if your travels takes you to these

Dates

Description

Location

Contact

Web design by RIPTRON