A COUPLE MORE PAGES

A couple more pages in my grandson's book,

The Big Machine

...and there's the machine. top photo

HANDS @ WORK

The young artist is working on his new book, The Big Machine.

click on photos to enlarge

AT THE BIG TABLE

My artists are here and creating at the big table.

Not much help needed from their grandma. So I'm having a cup of coffee while they work. I was warned..."just don't spill it!"

They are on a roll - thinking, figuring, cutting, positioning and pasting.

Hoping to carve out some time each day to create more story pages in their books.

photos/film grain

THE COLORFUL INSPIRING PICTURE BOOK

I was getting ready for the little artists today. Perhaps I'll call them the little artist-illustrators. I'm looking forward to creating more picture books with them and wanted to add more color in their room!

I put some of their favorite picture books on the shelves. Lots of reading ahead! A couple of fun puppets are up there too.

The large piece of art on the top shelf is a collage titled, Busy Bridges. This was a fast art project I did for a show we had at Walnut Hill. It's made with African fabrics, buttons, painted papers and 3 photos.

What makes the piece special is that it is a little collaboration between Zach and myself. Those are Zach's very creative bridges that he made with blocks when he was younger.

click on photos to enlarge

click to see Zach's 2 pictures books

BACK TO THE STORY

I was with the little artists back in April. They made the 3 story books you see in the first photo. It was rushed at the end of our stay, but they did come up with a story for each book.

I brought the books home to scan & mailed them back. (top photo-click to enlarge)

Now that the little artists are coming, I thought they could take a fresh look at their books and tell me their stories again. It will be interesting to hear what they come up with, now that a couple months have passed.

Perhaps you guessed. This is all heading to another publishing adventure with Blurb! It will be Zach's 3rd book and Hailey's 1st and 2nd. Imagine that!

Today I printed out the scanned images and made a rough accordion book for them to look at as they retell their stories. (photos 2-3 click to enlarge)

GEARING UP

The doors are revolving once again. It seems I'm always preparing for groups coming through to do art.

This time it's our grandkids! The 3 little artists arrive on Friday night.

Organizing for the creative energy ahead. Painted papers. Scissors. I need to buy glue sticks.

Yesterday I stamped images with rubber stamps. Now there's lobsters, seagulls, flamingos, cats and more - to use in their pictures.

And wait 'til they see the blank journals I bought for collaging their stories!

click on photos to enlarge

STORM ON EACH PAGE

I cut and pasted more stormy weather into my book today.

Now there's a storm on each page.

I planned ahead with space for text on each page.

I'll work on that when I have time to think about metaphors.

click on photos to enlarge

earlier post on stormy weather book

STORM & WIND

It's Sunday. I've been cutting but not pasting any additional stormy weather(click) pages into the blank journal.

Maybe tomorrow.

I found a couple of stormy weather quilt close-ups to show you. Here's one for today. This is a small quilt I did a couple years ago. A stormy sky is so much more interesting to tackle creatively than a sunny day.

close-up from the small quilt titled:

Angry Sea

© Marge Malwitz

A BEACH MOMENT

Collage inspired by ocean waves crashing on a Nantucket, Massachusetts beach.

Beach Sketches

© Marge Malwitz

mixed media collage

painted fabrics

Painted paper

photograph

metallic effect thread

stitched netting over silk triangles

on BFK paper

Created a few years ago.

MARCIA'S "9 SQUARES OF FAITHFULNESS"

I was busy making cloud squares as Marcia was working on her collaged accordion books. After finishing up her 3rd book, she took to the clouds!

With all the painted weather papers on the table, Marcia made her own minimal cloud collage, titled 9 Squares of Faithfulness. This was her last project of the week.

Every piece of art Marcia creates is rooted in her close walk with God. This one is no exception.

Marcia: "When I look at this piece of art, I think, no matter what the sky, and therefore, day, may be like, God is faithful, and I can count on His love. He is reminding me in the clouds."

The deeper your love, the higher it goes; every cloud Is a flag to your faithfulness. Psalm 108:4 (The Message)

Marcia's whole blog post: CLICK HERE

Marcia's week in my studio: CLICK HERE

click on photos to enlarge

STORMY WEATHER

I think a stormy day is so much more interesting than a sunny day.

My painted paper boxes are overflowing with leftover 'stormy weather" after working on the Currents series.

I started filling in a blank book today with little 'weather' painted papers that caught my eye. I'm leaving space for titles. verses, musings.

This is all pretty spontaneous. Not a whole lot of thought is going into the selection process. The rest of my life is busy right now-so this works! It's a creative yet simple project.

My collages are now down to 1 piece of paper! Maybe it's not a collage anymore. Maybe it's a painting. Maybe I'm a painter!

MARCIA'S BOOK "DRINK OF A LIFETIME" 2nd post

A final post about Marcia's third book, Drink of a Lifetime.

She made all the pages when she came for her studio week here in CT and put the pages into an accordion book she created once she gt home.

Marcia has created a whole series of wonderful Bible story books. They are so easy to pack into her suitcase - small, compact and so engaging!

Marcia will be taking Drink of a Lifetime to Nicaragua this summer when she returns, having been there a year ago. The women in the village are going to love this colorfully illustrated story.

I'm sending you two posts on Marcia's blog. She's thought so much about the story of the woman at the well, that it's best for you to read her reflections on the story.

2 links to Marcia's storytelling:

Genuine Love

Finished Book

photos w/titles of pages 3, 5, 6

"With These Hands"

"The Men in Her Life"

"Bursting with Love"

Read Marcia's blog about her 2011 trip to Nicaragua:

Creative Call Nicaragua

'THE DRINK OF A LIFETIME' by MARCIA 1st post

This is the 3rd book Marcia made when she came for a week in my studio.

The Drink of a Lifetime is inspired by the 'Woman at the Well' account in the Gospels.

Marcia LOVES collaging Bible stories on the pages of these accordion books.

I would love for her to tell you more about this one....I'll ask her. Check back.

click on photos to enlarge

AN AFTERNOON OF SHOW 'N TELL

My friend, Martha, came on Saturday with Heather and Angela, who are interested in working creatively with fabrics and sewing.

Last summer Martha, Heather and Angela went on an outreach to the Dominican Republic, where they taught girls how to make simple quilts.

In July Martha and Angela will return to the DR to teach the sewing girls, but this time - how to let go and be creative!

They came to my studio to be inspired. Our afternoon was one big 'show and tell' beginning with looking at all the framed art quilts on the 1st and lower floors. (top photo looking at the Creation quilt)

Then up to the studio to look at more art quilts and collages, as we talked about design, inspiration, materials and techniques. (Middle photo: They liked Postcards from Kunming click for quilt series & story. Bottom photo: showing Moroccan Dye Vats.)

I wonder what great work will perk out of their afternoon here, as they teach the sewing girls in the DR to let go and get creative!

READING TO IRANZI

I was happy to have my friends, Becca and little Iranzi come over yesterday.

Becca is back from living in Rwanda, where her husband, Phil, was country director for World Relief. Iranzi is their adopted Rwandan son.

I showed Becca and Iranzi the books that my grandson Zach and I published on Blurb.

Here's a picture of Becca reading to Iranzi, Zach's book, Kittykee's Party.

For pictures of Zach creating this picture book click here.

For pictures of Becca and I in Rwanda, using 4 art quilts and story ropes as we worked with survivors together click here.

NELSON COMES OUT OF THE CAVE!

A 'Do not disturb' sign!

Marcia made it for Nelson's room, other wise known as his 'cave'.

Aha! A Nelson spotting! Nelson emerges from his cave to carefully manuver through the creativity zone and heads downstairs.

Nelson, founder of the feast, patron of the arts and husband of 43 years, partners with me to welcome and host all the new and old art friends coming through our 'revolving doors.'

Just wanted to give my wonderful, supportive husband a shout-out!

Thank you, my dear!

Oh by the way, more art friends coming on Saturday!

click on photos to enlarge

MARCIA'S 'COULD NOT SEE'

Marcia's second book, Could Not See was inspired by Job 23:10

"But He knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold."

MarcIa's blog post (click on-) Come Forth As Gold, features close-ups and reflections.

Much of Marcia's powerful artwork comes out of personal trial and struggle. Her work authentically shares the power of God in her life.

Yes, she's on an anti-cancer drug, faithfully walking everyday and eating an extreme plant based diet BUT God is the one who gives her the strength to keep going.

I know Marcia will pack Could Not See in her suitcase, taking it on the road and using it to tell her story!

Click photos to enlarge: front page in progress; pages completed-leaning on prepared accordion book: accordion book painted before mounting 5 collaged pages.

MARCIA IS REJOICING EVEN IN THE RAIN!!!

This is Marcia's first accordion fold collage book, made on her recent visit:

"Rejoicing Even In The Rain." And she is, though battling stage 4 cancer every day.

"Today, I continued to work on a variety of design concepts for new collaged art/story books. I've been wanting to collage the idea of God rejoicing over us with singing, and the aspect of birds who sing, even in the rain. Similarly, I wanted to portray, in the art, the idea of God singing over us, even in the rain or in a dark hole - during the dark parts of our stories." From Marcia's blog post 5/17/12:

http://www.thecreativecall.net/mc-blog/rejoicing-even-in-the-rain

click on images to enlarge

When you look at the enlarged completed book, do you see the tiny bit of red here and there across the pages, catching your eye and moving you across the picture story? Great design and use of color, Marcia! It works!

FOLDING PAPER

Continuing Marcia's art week in my studio:  a non-stop flow of creative ideas, art experiences, encouragement and conversation here at our house - May 14-21, 2012 Marcia made several books while here. In the photos, she's trying out several folded paper book structures. Which format will she use for the collaged storybooks she's about to create?  Accordion book wins out everytime. My personal favorite too! Good doses of laughter, sun, walking, and healthy plant based eating abounded all week. Did I mention that my amazing friend Marcia is battling stage four breast cancer?  To be continued....