Paper in Paris

It was fun to search for art supplies when I visited Paris. I mapped the paper stores and they were not far from Notre Dame.

Since there were huge crowds in front, I walked over two foot bridges, about a 15 minute walk, to the paper stores on Rue Pont Louis-Phillippe.

They are located in the hip neighborhood  (the 4th District) known as the Marais. I bought Faber-Castell color pencils and this lovely little pink journal at Paper Plus.

They also had this lovely Italian paper on my "How to Meditate" book I sell on Etsy: ARTbooks.Etsy.com - I buy the paper at Paper Source in Houston.

Les Exprimeurs offered pretty stationery where I bought these wonderful bookmarks for souvenirs. Everyone loved them!

Calligrane sold colorful Japanese papers, greeting cards, and journals; their elegant books and paper were pricey.

The cheapest machine-bound small blank journal book was $55. But I did get some ideas for binding my own journals.

After Notre Dame, I walked around the corner to the bookstore, Shakespeare & Company.

The aisles were crowded, of course I bought a Paris postcard and looked at the books.

Another shop, called Tse Tse, across the street from my apartment in the 1st District on Rue Saint-Roch sold home accessories and notebooks. 

I bought this lovely Fabriano notebook, 8 1/4 by 11 1/4 inches.

I also bought this pretty gilt edged book with silver elastic - tres chic. 

Did you find any art supplies during your travels?


©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

After Degas' Ballerina

I visited Degas’ ballerinas. The exhibit was at the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston in December. I wanted a ballerina of my own.

I tried to figure out which ballerina I wanted; I especially liked the woman bowing holding flowers in her green tutu.

I bought a Tracer Projector several years ago & tried it once. The postcard sized photo goes under the Tracer and projects about 2 feet away to about 18 inches tall. 

The projected shadowy screen image frustrated me.  I thought I’d try to use it again before I gave it away.

This time I used it in a darkened room; it gave me a good outline to follow as long as I did not move the canvas too much. I had to re-position it a few times.

And I worked in the dark!

Pastels seems to work OK. 

Plus these earth tones:

After drawing an outline I turned off the projector and drew in the details with the pastels. 

It came out similar but it is an Anne Rita Taylor, not a Degas. I was pleased anyway. It is 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall. It hangs in my bedroom. What do you think of it?

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

Butterfly Origami

I made a card for my niece’s Bridal Shower with an Origami Butterfly. Joan Son makes a similar butterfly plus award-winning Origami. My butterfly is different; Joan's are fluffier.

Start with a square piece of paper. I used handmade paper 5 inches square to fit my 5 x 4 inch card. Only a few steps involved:

1. Fold diagonally both ways using a bone folder.

2. Scrunch the middle together: poke in the center, like this:

3. Fold flaps down to center point - on one side only.

4. Turn over & fold up past the edge - as on the right below.

5. Fold top flaps down & create corner folds - at bottom.

6. Turn over and fold in half - looks like this:

7. Use an awl or needle tool to punch holes for adding a tiny brad to the nose to puff it out. 

For the card: Put through Sizzix for embossing the flowers; added the butterfly  (without the brad) and flattened it.

Ribbon from Target says: “Happily Ever After” - taped that on the card.

I am teaching Origami to the Cinco Ranch Ladies Club: Craft Group - on February 27th - for free. See directions for my other Origami pictured here:

Gift Box: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/02/handmade-gift-box_26.html

Pouch: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/04/folded-paper-pouch.html

Kimono: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/06/origami-kimono.html

Once I get started with the butterflies I find other uses for them such as party banners or even decorating a wreath or Christmas tree! Have you tried to make them? Let me know...

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

Valentine Exchange

I joined a Valentine Exchange with The Guild of Book Workers - Lone Star Chapter - to send 10 Valentines and receive 10 in return. Rules included having an edition using any method of printmaking or paper or book arts.

I used my carvings for a photopolymer plate from Boxcar Press. As a member of The Houston Printers Guild I used The Printing Museum’s tabletop printing equipment & sold some of these cards in their gift shop.

For this exchange I added another dimension having an accordion book inside the card.

I found a quote I liked and practiced calligraphy so it would fit when folded in eighths on one third of an 8 1/2 by 11 inch scrapbook paper.

I attached the accordion with a heart shaped brad. Here is the inside and back of the card where I also attached my "Made by" labels.

I thought it actually needed something more…so I used my Sizzix Embossing Texture Boutique on all the card fronts. You can see the details:

Now let’s see what kind of Valentine cards I receive by February 14th. There will be an online exhibit on the Lone Star Chapter’s website: https://gbwlonestarchapter.wordpress.com

To finish I used a wonky heart I carved on each envelope. This month is all about LOVE!!!

If you feel the spirit move you, please leave me a comment. Happy Valentine's Day!

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

Art Journaling Online

I made a Beaded Longstitch Placemat Journal for an online class from Kelly Kilmer called A Prompt a Day. The paper is 120 lb. hot press watercolor paper from Dick Blick. Click Link for related blog: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/06/repurposed-fabric-book.html

I met Kelly in 2003 in her fabulous Los Angeles bookbinding class in Beverly Hills. Kelly still teaches around the L.A. area.

Kelly has this wonderful class - A Prompt a Day - on her blog site:  kellykilmer.blogspot.com  She gives 30 days of suggestions for backgrounds, such as collage, colors, images and writing prompts - for example: writing about a current life issue.

I enjoyed a prompt about writing a secret and placing it in a sealed envelope tucked away on the left side of the dancing girl page - above.

Finished with 10 Things I Do Every Day on April 30th. On this page I used a photo of my younger self.

Please tell me about your art journaling; and let me know if you have any questions in the Comments.

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

Help Others - Help Yourself

I met people in the arts when I volunteered at the Art League Houston. Through networking, my sculpture was displayed in The Toni Jones Gallery! See Sculpting in Clay, click link:

https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/12/sculpting-in-clay.html

I wrote an article about volunteering - published in The Star (yes, that supermarket tabloid & they paid me $300!) In 1987 there were 39% of Americans who volunteered which was 89 million. 

In 2016 25.3% of Americans volunteer, which is 62.8 million volunteers, according to the Corporation for National Community Service. What is up with that!?!

Part of my published article from "The Star" -

Working for nothing can pay off in the long run. Being a volunteer not only makes you feel good about yourself, but it is a great way to get job training - for free!

    

Volunteering can be glamorous & exciting too! 
All these places use volunteers: 

• Television and radio stations 
• Fashion designers 
• Art galleries 
• Community Theaters
• The Ballet & Opera
• Museums 
• Politicians

You can volunteer as follows:

Arts: assist in an art gallery; become a museum tour guide, also known as a docent.

Entertainment: front or back stage, or wardrobe with sewing skills at a community theater.

Politics: organizer at a campaign headquarters in your area.

Retail: hospital gift shop or charity thrift shop.
Medical: patient visitor; instructor for the Red Cross.
Miscellaneous: office clerk for public supported radio or TV station.

In the greater Houston area there are many volunteer opportunities. 

Volunteer Houston connects people with their passions. 

Click these links for more information:

http://volunteerhouston.org

http://www.volunteer-houston.com

http://www.volunteerhou.org

And if you would like to contact me, 
please leave me a comment.

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

Review 2016: Top 3 Posts

This is my 53rd post! I started this weekly blog on New Year’s Day 2016. The Unicorn Dream above posted in Creating White Vine Letters (5th most popular!) on March 4th. Click link: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-white-vine-letters.html

My top 3 popular posts: Blogger tells me how many times each blog is viewed - not including my views either.

Beaded Books is my #1 blog for 2016 - instructional & the most popular - posted on September 23rd. Click link:
https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/09/making-books-with-beads.html 

There are two 2nd most viewed posts: Bookbinding in Los Angeles - with Charlene Mathews posted on May 20th. Click link:

https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/05/bookbinding-in-los-angeles.html 
Plus: Carving Images for Prints - DIY posted on January 15th. Click link:
https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/01/carving-images-for-prints.html

3rd most popular is Marbling Suminagashi Style - also instructional posted on March 18th:
https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/03/marbling-suminagashi-style.html

The top calligraphy post - also about book binding -& my 4th most popular is Fabric Book of Intentions on February 19th: Click link: 
https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/02/fabric-book-of-intentions.html

I was on the Design Team for Arnold Grummer Paper Making: February through July. It was a happy experience - AG sent me free art supplies - what more could I ask!?!

My most popular post for AG is on July 27th. Click link:

http://arnoldgrummerpapermaking.blogspot.com/2016/07/window-zig-zag-book.html

If you read this far…  During 2017 my blog posts go twice a month - the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month - so I have more time for art-making. 
Here's hoping we all have a peaceful and rewarding Happy New Year!

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016