Flourishes

MMO

What a fun issue we had last month! Kudos to the newsletter mailing committee and our newsletter Editors, Kaye & Leslie! This past month was vote month and we'll all eagerly await the results of the Saturday Special Vote -- what great offerings! -- and the Paul Freeman Awards -- Leslie Winakur and I get to have wonderful fun with the certificates ... And what fun decorations and food we had at the last meeting!

The Mini Workshop was skillfully done by Leslie Winakur in the study of foundational and interesting variations -- it went so fast! Our next Mini will be grid-lock, a nifty technique done in the Reggie Class -- it's so good to share all these experiences with each other.

At the April meeting Carol Pallesen showed us stunning cards and books, which she agreed to sell, and many were snapped up. She also gave a super slide show (with music!) about places, ways, and techniques for artists to use in inspiration for creativity -- It was G R E A T! The workshop over the weekend was just such an inspiration -- the Modern Books of Hours done by the participants are so beautiful -- from novice to experienced bookbinder, it was the same professional, creative product. They will be on display at the next general meeting during the Early Bird. Be sure to take a look.

Jane Fair gave out instructions for our 2003 Calendar, so pages are now under way -- thanks, Jane! And Jill Adams began to pre-sell our "House of Cards" fundraiser -- sales were brisk -- so be sure to get your order in! Play days for the making of the box & little house of Friendly Plastic are July 20 and August 3. Be sure to make plans to join us for work and fun.. we'll learn all about Friendly Plastic, adhesives, and box making (as well as application of real gold)!

Our Exhibition Opening will be April 14th from 1:30 -- 4:00 pm at Ventana Gallery -- come see the fantastic work of our Guild (and the good food - thanks Kaye!) Our Exhibit Chairman & helpers did a smooth job at the turn-in.

And how about that Secret Pal Committee -- WOW -- those books of questions are just plain gorgeous -- what a summer we'll have to look forward to, with 42 secret pals at work! Great Job!

See you guys at the Mini -- get in all those membership renewals so we can all play together!

Maggie

Early Bird

The May Early Bird features Melanie Capps demonstrating a surface technique called “Slap and Wrap.” This is a technique involving ink and plastic wrap, a great way to get a beautiful background, even if you are not a world class painter. The technique was introduced to the Reggie class last year and forms the background for the “Grid Lock” mini workshop presented in April. The lovely newsletter cover last month, created by Bill Waddington, is an example of both techniques.

Joan Schmitz

A Retrospective

Joan Schmitz, an artist, calligrapher, and valued member of our San Antonio Calligraphers Guild for 24 years, will be the featured speaker at our program in May. She will offer a slide presentation and talk about the progression of her work, her most valued teachers, and what influenced her to be the great calligrapher she is today.

Mini Workshop

On Thursday, May 16, from 7-9 at the usual meeting place at the church, KAREN VENI will present POLYMER CLAY SCULPTING. Karen makes wonderful things with polymer clay, including art dolls, book covers, beads, and many other assorted art objects which can be incorporated into your art work and or written on. If you’ve never experimented with polymer clay, this is your chance to learn what it is and what can be done with it. This promises to be a fun and instructive evening.

bulletin board

THANK YOU to the Mailing Committee - Mavis Caudill, Mary Bowman, Beverly Carter, Camille Storment, Jo Drake, and Anita Hyman - for the delicious refreshments at the April meeting. And we loved the decorations! These ladies are really no April fools.

CONGRATULATIONS to the April door prize winners. The handmade spiral mini journal donated by Pauline Sager went to Camille Storment. A handmade straw mini journal donated by Pauline went to Mavis Caudill. The book about origami boxes donated by Sandra Reyna went to Sylvia Stanley. A pencil bound journal with calligraphic art donated by Maggie Gillikin went to Luz Llera. The vellum calligraphy letters donated by Darla Peek went to Thea Moore. The note cards made by Pauline were won by Wilanna Bristow. And the calligraphy letter paper was won by Loni Carlson.

WELCOME to our new member, Angie Chaos-Peters. We’re so happy to have you.

D U E S A R E D U E!! All information in the 2002-2003 directory will come from the new or updated membership form. It is essential that you complete it in full even if there are no changes. Annual dues are $24. Details regarding dues are in your directory. Pam Thomas is our Membership Chairperson and will be happy to collect your money and form by mail or at the next meeting. Mail to her at 2810 Barrel Oak, SAT, 78231. If your dues are not paid by the time the directory goes to print this summer, you will not be listed!

THE HOUSE OF CARDS, our upcoming fundraiser, is in the works. Tentative play days this summer are Saturday, July 20 and August 3, from 10-4, at the church meeting place, with a make-up day on August 17 if necessary. This is a great chance to learn about making the box with a lid, using Friendly Plastic™ to make a closure, and how to glue silk ribbon down without getting adhesive all over your work. So save these dates and plan to come enjoy the company of your calligraphy buddies while you learn and serve.

Thank you so much to new members Juliet Bickley and Angie Chaos-Peters for volunteering to assist Janice Anabtawi with HOSPITALITY for the remainder of this year and then assume those responsibilities for next year, in order to free Janice to concentrate on Calendar 2003. And thank you to Janice for doing such a wonderful job for so long.

We had over 50 entries submitted to our EXHIBIT this year. What a great showing. Remember that the exhibit goes from April 11 to May 5, so get all your family and friends over to Ventana Gallery to enjoy the show.

The next MAJOR WORKSHOP will be Marsha Brady this coming fall. She will be here the first weekend of September and October, and the second weekend of November. In this 3 month class you will produce a manuscript book with foundational lettering and paper collage art. Marsha is a wonderful teacher, and the sample books we saw from her previous classes were lovely. The cost of this workshop is as yet uncertain because we don’t know what airfare will be yet. For now, send a $100 deposit to Jill Adams to hold your place. Don’t miss this chance to study with a master calligrapher and teacher.

Orders are being taken for the 2003 Calligraphers Engagement Calendar, published by John Neal. We can get a special price of $9, including shipping, if we place our order by May 1. To order, contact Pauline Sager at 494-1881. The regular price is $13.99 plus shipping.

The SECRET PAL COMMITTEE has outdone itself once again. The little paste paper flag books we received were just beautiful. No one wanted to write in it and give it back, but this was actually the information form for our pals. So we will get one back at the next meeting after the pals are randomly drawn. (Sally Gooze says no bribes will be accepted - you get the luck of the draw and that’s that!) You must return your book to Sally, Bev Carter, Karen Veni, Laura Heye, Angie Murray, or Francene by the May meeting .

Work Shop Review

This past weekend I was privileged to take part in Carol Pallesen’s workshop on the Modern Book of Hours, in which we created a soft-sided leather bound journal with Plaka™ painted pages. There were 17 of us in the class and every one of us completely finished the book. This is the second workshop in a row in which all participants ended up with a completed end product. Watch for sightings of our books at the Early Bird in May.

One of the things that I especially appreciated about the workshop was the relaxed atmosphere and encouragement that made all of us, regardless of background, succeed at the task in front of us. Four of our classmates had never made any books of any kind. One was a new member at her very first workshop. Two other participants have not been able to take any workshops for a while. This was really a challenging one, so being successful was indeed a rewarding experience. Some of us had made many books, but Carol’s structure was intriguing and challenging.

We spent Saturday measuring and tearing down paper to very specific sizes. We then proceeded to paint all 30 sheets of paper, both front and back, thereby creating 60 individual works of art. It was exciting to see the combinations of colors and the variety of treatments as we used stamps, chopsticks, sponges, leaves and other botanicals, and just two colors, which we had to mix from the primary colors of Plaka™ that Carol brought.

Sunday morning, all the pages were dry and we had to choose 24, saving 6 for practice sheets or later collage work, and then we had to look at the design of the book. Carol’s explanation of the golden rectangles was very imformative and can be used to design the page layout for any book. Sunday afternoon was spent sewing the pages into books with the leather covers. The waxed colored linen thread provided a challenge but also beautiful long stitch highlights on the outside of our books.

Carol included information about the history of the Middle Ages, scribes, book making, and the books of hours themselves. Her information was very interesting and provided a background for our own creations. This was not Carol’s first trip to San Antonio, but it was certainly an exciting one for the 17 of us who were privileged to be participants in her class. Thanks to the workshop committee for lining up such great workshops, and especially to Joan for hosting Carol. Thanks to Carol as well for presenting our program Thursday night, jurying our show on Friday, and then teaching Saturday and Sunday with almost no voice. This was a 5 star workshop.

Pam Thomas

May 2002 Flourishes' Web Page is proudly sponsored by
Sandee's Sewing Shop in Seguin, TX USA - whose web site is:
http://www.axs4u.net/home/riptron

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