Tag Archives: www.gingerburrell.com

Studio Update: It’s Almost Done!

We’re quickly reaching the mild panic stage as our new home and my studio are almost finished. What seemed like a dream for so long is finally coming true. For much of the last month we’ve been taking our moving prep a little bit less seriously that we should have been. (Don’t even get me started on Downton Abbey!) So now I’ve got boxes in one hand and a marker in the other. Tell me, is there a trick to this packing tape that doesn’t include wearing it?

Here are photos of my studio from today:

The open door is into the main part of my studio. The closed door is to the bathroom (there is an inside door, too) so we can take cyanotype, paper making supplies, and messy kids straight to the water sources without tracking everything through the rest of the studio. I think I know just the climbing rose for that pretty little porch.

Inside the studio, the kitchenette and desk area. Yesterday my friend Don Drake mentioned that it takes a while to reach critical density in a new studio. I wonder how long until this new space will feel like home? There is something so appealing about the emptiness of the space and yet I can’t wait to fill it with my tools and get to work.

With a few final details and a lot of inspections we’ll be ready to move in. I’ve been measuring and doing a lot of virtual shopping for what will fit where and how to organize the space. I don’t know about you but the planning is half the fun!

This week I’ll be finishing up artists’ books for some orders and shows and then it’s time to finish packing up my old studio. I’m worried about not having access to my tools and supplies. I think I’ll make a travel kit with my essentials so that I can get to them when everything else is still in boxes. If you were making a travel kit of essential art supplies, what would you include?

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

Happy Valentine’s Day: Instructions for an Origami Book with Polymer Clay Mosaic Covers

I’ve found that artists are kind and generous people. They happily explain techniques, help with technical problems and give tips about supplies and suppliers.

So, in that spirit,  I’d like to share with you the instructions for an Origami Book with Polymer Clay Mosaic Covers. We made this book in the class that I teach at Palo Alto Art Center last week and it is always fun to see what my students come up with. They are a very creative group of people! In fact, I’ll ask them if I can photograph their books and post in a future blog.

This book can be a Valentine gift or fit any other theme. While my mosaic is a heart, yours can be any kind of image. It is fun and relaxing to do the mosaic, but trust me, it takes longer than you think! If you are a patient person you can also make your tiles smaller. Mine are about 1/4.”

I’d love it if you would email me photos of the books you make using my directions. Consider it a trade – free instructions for a photo of your finished project.

Here is the PDF to download (be patient, it may take a while). Ginger Burrell – Origami Book with Polymer Clay Mosaic Covers.

However you are spending Valentine’s Day, I wish you kindness and love.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

Valentine Art Offerings: Make and Wander

I love Valentine’s Day. Not the Hallmark, soap opera version of Valentine’s Day, but the hopeless romantic, look at the world through rose-colored glasses version of Valentine’s Day. The older I get the more realistic I am about people and the world, and yet I still just can’t help being a total softy when it comes to love and romance. Happy ending? I cry. Sad ending? I cry. At this point I just keep a boxes of Kleenex everywhere.

On Friday I’ll give you my Valentine’s gift from me to you, instructions to make an Origami Fold book with Polymer Clay Mosaic covers. But in the meantime, I thought I’d share with you other artists who have Valentine’s offerings.

MAKE:

Thanks to Pati of BABA for forwarding the Pixelated Popup Card by Kate at minieco.co.uk. It’s a great pop-up card with downloadable templates for the card and envelope. I’m looking forward to making a bunch this weekend.

WANDER:

Thanks to Sha Towers from Baylor University for sharing the Books of the Heart || Heart of the Books where “The Crouch Fine Arts Library celebrates Valentines Day with an online exhibition of materials celebrating the heart and things of the heart from its special collections.” Since it is an online exhibition you can see everything from the comfort of your couch. If you click the down arrow on the Home tab you can choose from many different heart related artists’ books. There are many beautiful books worth spending some time.

Do you know of more online Valentine’s offerings? Please feel free to post them in the comments.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com