Hello Everyone:
Sitting at my window today, I am enjoying the wetness of the day and marveling at the beautiful greens from the trees and grass as the dust of the past week is washed off of them. Lady summer has arrived in a splash of heat and humidity – what a great week it has been.
New Work
The first story room I created was Harvey Hornet’s Writing Room. I recently completed the second one – Lydia Ladybug’s Flower Room. This one is for my granddaughter’s birthday. As I created this one I started thinking about other story rooms that I may create. I have a number of them lined up to be created over the coming year.
Lydia Ladybug's Flower Room
Lydia Ladybug's Flower Room Side view
Lydia Ladybug's Flower Room - back view. The materials I used to make this story room are: fabric, decorative papers, Davey board, metal, wood, photo, peacock feathers, dried wild cucumber blooms, pismire wings, maple keys and felt.
Lydia Ladybug's helper 
Open story book about Lydia Ladybug's Flower Room
Closed Story Book - FlutterBook
Pictures and story inside the story book about Lydia Ladybug's Flower Room
The books under the flower room
So what is a story room? It’s a room I make with book board, decorative papers and found objects. I start with an idea, usually coming from a found object, i.e. hornet’s nest, dried wild cucumber blooms, and then a story starts to build in my head. From there I build the room and under each room I put a set of books. Each room comes with its own story, which I write and incorporate into one of the books.
I recently completed the spring bookbinding course at the Ottawa School of Art and a number of weekend workshops. I am always amazed at where students take what they have learned in class, and expand on it using their imagination and creativity. Some beautiful books have again been created.
Eva made this for her daughter's birthday
Another of Eva's amazing creations
Madeleine's Tunnel Book about how she enjoys riding her bike.
The open version of Madeleine's Tunnel Book. Fabulously colourful, humorous and artistic. Her hanging geese gave the impression of flight.
Amy's beautiful leather Explorer's Journal. The leather was embossed with futuristic designs which Amy used to incorporate her closure.
Amy braided cotton thread and incorporated a piece of lava rock to complete the closure.
The interior of her book.
Doreen's leather Explorer's Journal was made from a faux reptile stamped leather. She incorporated a hand made glass bead for the closure and French style stitching.
The interior of Doreen's book.
EXHIBITS
The Instructors’ Exhibit at the Ottawa School of Art Orleans Campus at the Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard, opened on June 7th and runs to July 21, 2013. The vernissage and an opportunity to meet the artists will be on July 7th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The Instructors’ Exhibit at the Ottawa School of Art George Street Campus will open on August 1 and run to August 29, 2013. The vernissage and an opportunity to meet the artists will be on August 1 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.
The Eastern Ontario Contemporary Book Artists exhibit has moved to the Marianne van Silfhout Gallery at St. Lawrence College in Brockville 2288 Parkdale Avenue
Summer Workshops and Courses
July
· July 6 - 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Box Making
· July 13 - 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Paper Decorating – Marbling, Paste Paper
· July 20 – 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Flowers and Folding Books
· July 27 – 10:00 – 4:30 pm – Music, Abstract Art, Dada Poetry and Bookbinding Workshop – course code S13SWS6
· July 31 – August 28 – Monday and Wednesday evenings: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
o Book Arts Intro – Course Code S13S040B
August
· August 3 – 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Box Making
· August 10 – 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Paper Decorating – Marbling, Paste Paper
· August 24 – 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Flowers and Folding Books
· August 17 – 10:00 – 4:30 pm – Hanging Puzzle Book – course code: S13SWS7
- Registration for the workshops and courses is through the Ottawa School of Art
By phone; George Street – 613-241-7471/ Orleans Campus: 613-580-2765
By e-mail: George Street Orleans
