I'm off to 'Wrapt in Rocky' tomorrow!!

Phew...I have a lot of stuff to take to my workshop with Keith Lo Bue tomorrow.......I just couldn't leave stuff behind, I've been adding to a growing pile of 'found objects' for the past month or so...I hope it all fits into my car! and I also hope that others have as much as I do!

For all those collaborators who are attending 'Wrapt in Rocky' it will be lovely to catch up and in some cases get to know each other, I really like Tracey's suggestion to have a collaborators lunch on one of our days next week......perhaps we could invite others who are interested in the concept of a collaboration using postcards or altered books......

Above is Tracey's postcard that I did for her, the theme is 'Home', I enjoyed putting this postcard together as home is a passion of mine....it is a place of great pride, (Bruce& I built it ourselves, we made and laid every mud brick, and handled every piece of timber, hardware, steel and recycled item that makes it up), it is also a place where we can create and relax as well as spend happy hours with our grown children, their partners and our grandies!

Happy creating!!!

Peta

Barriers to Postcard Creativity!

Hi Everyone! I have received a couple of postcards back - one from Jenelle and one from Peta - they're great! I have the biggest mess spread everywhere as I try to get a heap of paperwork in hand before the end of the financial year...THAT's the barrier to Postcard Creativity...I have a couple finished - Peta and Kym's are done...Lindesay's is almost there, and the rest are all in various stages of working on. Like Peta, I'm off to the Wrapt in Rocky forum on Sunday...running out of time to get it all together! With a few of us heading that way maybe we could plan a postcard collaborators lunch one day or something?
It's great to see what everyone is doing...I've never 'blogged' before, but this is a terrific way to see what's happening.
Have a great weekend - and I look forward to meeting some of you next week....
Tracey.

The front view of Rochelle's "the faces we show,(or don't show), the world...", before I found the perfect stamp!

I've just realised that the 'after' postcard would have been better to be below the original! Oh well hopefully I'll get it right next time!

Above is one side of the completed postcard for Rochelle.

"The Faces we Show, (or don't show), the World....

Rochelle's original postcard as sent to me, it already looked wonderful! However I took a deep breath and 'altered' it!

I've Posted Them!!

This beautiful vibrant artwork is by Janelle, I love it! Can you see the bear?

I hope by now all artists in my group have found their postcard in their letterbox sent by me! I had a wonderful half an hour in my local post office (thank you Allenstown post office!!) on Monday choosing the 'right' stamp to place on each postcard...it was so much fun to find an image that suited my artwork and the theme or if not this then a colour that worked with the artwork on the postcard.

How are you all travelling along? Has anyone else returned all of their round one postcards?

I wanted to be organised with the postcards as next week I'll be enjoying some assemblage art with Keith Lo Bue at the long awaited "Wrapt in Rocky" Textile Forum. I'm looking forward to catching up with a few other "postcard collaborators" there, I think at least 6 of us will be in attendance...... I seem to have a lot of stuff to take to Keith's workshop, but there is still plenty in the studio...

I'm looking forward to receiving some more completed postcards back soon, as well as round two's postcards!

Keep on creating!!

Peta

Olley & Jane

Jane returned this to me & I added the star after sewing down the edges of the arrows - green is my favourite colour & Jane has added green highlights in her water colour. Very cool, soothing colours. Thanks Jane.

'Hands' was sent to me by Jane Gray to alter. Again another pretty card.

'Hands - Can You See Them?' Wow this was fiddly & it took me 2 nights to complete. (The front)

The back - my sons thought it was fun to photocopy their hands & my daughter photocopied her face! Before any 'stern' words came out of my mouth I decided I could use them in my art work.

Oh My God!!! This postcard thing & the blog site sure does keep you from going to bed at night. As you can see I have posted this after midnight, after I finished Janes card, after I had dinner with Kym to celebrate her 40th birthday (Happy Birthday Kym for the 30th) , after I worked all day putting a sale together in my shop. And to tell the truth I could go back out to my room, put Sade, Dido or Norah Jones on & get started on the next one. Hope you're all enthused like me 'cause round 2 starts in 10 days time!!!! Happy Creating, Olley.

Hello From Peta

Hello to each and everyone of you!

Well, it's almost the end of June, which is also the completion of Round One in this collaboration! How are you all going? I've been watching the blog with much interest, it's always very exciting to check in on the blog after work each day, and even more exciting to read about what others are doing...I love the photos of the postcards, both completed and not! that others are putting up...keep up the great work!!

I have almost completed all my set of cards for this round, I have a couple of finishing touches to add, then I intend to personally take them to the post office to choose stamps and to have them hand cancelled. I have found working in this small format both challenging and satisfying. I am finding that I am taking more notice of small details and using layering as part of my approach, adding depth and meaning at the same time. I have chosen to work on both sides of the postcards, altering and adding and at times completely covering the original states. I think I have made the address and name of the person I am sending to quite clear. I have also added my name and return address in small but clear writing on the postcard, just in case! We have experienced a couple of postcards from Shelly not making it to their address, Could any artist in Donna's group who has not received a postcard from Shelly let me know and I will post one out to you. Shelly's postcard is a photograph of a cute little dog wearing a jumper, its on a pink background - you can't miss it!

I am feeling very excited at the prospect of receiving my original postcards back and await with baited breath to be able to explore each and every one of them.

Please email your group co coordinator or myself if you are experiencing any problems with any part of the collaboration so far, we will do our best to assist you. Also as a courtesy if you are expecting to run overtime with sending back postcards or sending out postcards for Round Two, could you please inform the appropriate artists in your group? This way everyone will not be left guessing or worrying about lost postcards!

I think that's about all from me for now...looking forward to seeing more activity on the blog as you all complete your postcards.

Keep on creating,

Peta

Bird House Shrine - inside

Bird House Shrine - detail

More from Peta!

Hi everyone! A couple of collaborators have shown an interest in my 'box cards' - thanks for your comments!! So thought I would put another few photos up showing a 'personal shrine' that I recently made for a friends mother. The box cards and shrines have the commonality of being made for a particular person, incorporating their interests, personalities, personal icons, colours, photos etc. I use found objects, (natural and manufactured), new materials (my husband, Bruce, made the timber shrine for the one pictured), gelatin prints, ephemera etc.

These personal shrines and box cards are both a challenge and a joy to create!

I'd love to see photos of others art works, (as well as the postcards of course!) This is a site for sharing our passion for art! I'm also enjoying the useful links to other artists sites - thanks for this Kym!

It's nearly the weekend again...I'm looking forward to working on the postcards again!

Peta

Here is the front view of the Box Card

I love making these "Box Cards", they have become a bit of a trademark for me!

I've Been Busy with Art this weekend!!!

After a wonderful time in Melbourne last weekend, eating out, shopping and drinking coffee...I really enjoyed being in the studio this weekend..I have started all of my postcards...yay!! have finished four, it was a bit too late to photograph them, (I like to photograph in the daylight where possible), so will do that as soon as I can and post them up here ...so watch this space!

I did however finish off a 'box card' for a lovely friend of mine who is moving to Brisbane.....she loves green, natural things, the beach and bike riding, here are a few pics!

I am really enjoying the posts collaborators are putting up...and the pics...you are all so clever, I can hardly wait to be able to see these beautiful artworks in the flesh....we'll have to put our thinking caps on for exhibition venues!

Peta

Wow! have started!

Well, I cant quite believe it but i have nearly completed one and have 3 others that i am on track, so to say, with! The creative process is an amazing one and seems to have its own time and depth...
I saw some of susans completed cards before she sent them off and they looked amazing.
she said she laughed and laughed doing them.
its been said before and i'll say it again, its great seeing what everyone else is doing here.
did you use a sewing machine on yours olley?
will try and post a couple of photos when done.
peta,
susan and i have received shelleys card, havent heard from the others, will write to them...
all the best, donna
p.s. just quit my new job, cause it was taking too much of my creative time!!
now feeling rather naughty!

Olley's latest efforts

Nanette Balchin's theme was "Fragments". The finished card is quite similar to the original but I have added two extra layers to alter it.

This is Natalie Johnson's postcard that she sent me with the theme - "Sun, Oceans & Sand" - I love the eyes. She wrote - "holding on to times that made me happy - perhaps one needs to let go".

I had no idea what I was going to do to this card! I sat down & created blindly although I wanted to show sky, water & sand. I'm really happy with the result & I still love the eyes.

I'm having so much fun & wait with baited breath for the small window of opportunity to open so I can duck out to my room to complete another card. What are we going to do after 12 months when no more cards arrive to alter?!?! Get your thinking caps on for the next project 'cause I'm in! Here's the latest finished products before posting off to their rightful owners. "Fragments" was Nanette Balchin's theme & "Sky, Oceans & Sand was Natalie Johnson's. Hope you like. Olley.

I'm Loving this Way of keeping in Touch!

Wow, this blogging is such a great way of keeping in contact, sharing what's happening and seeing the amazing stuff that everyone is doing...I love it!!
I have been lucky enough to see some sneak peeks at some of the postcards from Olley and Donna's groups, (my sister JacQ and fellow artist in Rockhampton, Tamarais in Donna's group, and fellow artists Amanda and Nanette, are in Olley's group) I am amazed that the themes are all so different, everyone has put a lot of thought into the development of their postcards. The comments I am receiving about participating in the collaboration are very postive so far......

The biggest hiccup is that a couple of people have experienced the problem of having a postcard they are sending out come back to themselves, I guess all we can do is to be as clear as we can with names and addresses, maybe drawing a box or other shape around the "TO" address and if putting your sender address making this a bit smaller and less noticable.

I intend to begin altering the postcards I have this long weekend (hooray for long weekends!!)
Don't forget to either put your name on your work (small is fine), or to put your name as the "Return to Sender" to enable artists receiving your postcard to identify who it is from.

Happy altering!
Peta

Hello

Hello al, i am just checking in as i have only got 5 postcards so far..garden shapes, reflection, human impact, abstract and chance encounters. I am guessing i cover over the address and return to sender once altered? x who's am i missing?

Blog News :)

Hi everyone,

Great to see more participants of the collaboration posting on the blog.
I like to change the template every now & then.
Just to give it a new look, to inspire and surprise the viewers.

The comments box is great also, (check out the comments to your post),so everyone can leave a message of encouragement for each other.

Photo's are a fantastic asset on the blog, everyone can view and see what changes are happening to the postcards & what the person/group is up to.

If anyone would like some help with posting on the blog, please email me for my home phone number.
I am very happy to talk you through this part.
If the blog is scary, and it is starting out - you can send me your information or photo's and I can post it on your behalf.

I was also thinking that with every post, we can email info out to everyone also.
So we are all communicating and having updates throughout the year ahead of us.

Friends of our BAVA group are checking out our progress and keen to see some of the finished postcards.
Some are hoping to see this continue after we finish our 6 rounds & come on board with the next one.

Keep up the great work,
Having Fun with ART,
Kym :)

Hi from Kym ~ Butterfly Theme

Well I received my first postcard back from my group member, Jenelle.

The interesting part to this postcard... is that Jenelle sent it to me and she got it back the next day in her mailbox, sooooooooooo the joy of living in the same town is that Jenelle gave it to my son to bring home from school. Our postcards are going to have fun with Australia Post over the next 12 months.

I was quite excited to receive it, the feeling of excitement for a little postcard is so weird.
With all the everyday family, work, husband etc., a postcard turns up & the world has to stop for a few minutes.
Just to enjoy the pleasure of the artwork involved connected to your choice of theme.

Thanks Jenelle, I keen to see my other butterflies fly into my PO Box throughout June :)

Having a Crack at Some Photos

Here is Peta's postcard...I really had a lot of fun with this, but took a long time to decide whether or not it was 'finished'.

There's also a quick pic (not the greatest image) of a few of the things I've been doing that have kept me away from altering postcards!

I'm feeling much like Pam...it's more difficult to work over someone else's work than I expected, too! Especially Rochelle's beautiful face!