Pyrotechnics
Today I am in my happy place, with my hands and heart having moved in a creative pas de deux, sparking little fireworks displays in every direction.
I’m reminded of my days of making art
artwarmers—inflow of information and inspiration, inward alchemy of intuition and discovery, outflow of art and whimsy.
INFLOW:
A few days ago, I received mail—actual physical mail in my mailbox at the curb! Long-time friend Anne had sent an artcard made from hand-crafted paper embellished with collage and a few delicate gone-to-seed clippings of dried flora.
INWARD:
The card evoked instant sensory memories of many a summer when I set up shop each morning and produced textured sheets of paper in beautiful colors that dried in the warmth of the sun, a process taught to me by Anne herself after I’d seen exquisite textured paper she’d made.
I was immediately energized to create a new card to send in return.
ALCHEMY:
I selected a sheet of handmade paper from my own still extant stash, folded it in half, began rummaging happily in my studio for elements with which to develop the card design.
My eyes lit up when they landed on a words-of-encouragement tag from MaryAnn.
Then, what to use to showcase that little tag? Rummage, rummage, aha! I cut a snippet from one of the sheets of collage fodder sent to me by Lola as part of her regular monthly draw-a-blog-reader’s-name-from-a-hat giveaways.
Next, I wanted an envelope that would fit my card as perfectly as Anne’s had fit the one she’d sent me. I have a collection of envelopes, but none the right size. So, I figured out how to gently painstakingly tease apart Anne’s envelope, turn it inside out, make adjustments, and glue it back together!
Finally, I cut a piece of good-on-one-side paper to size on which to write my message and tuck it inside, again following Anne’s model of having done just the same.
Bonus: It was then as I was moving bits and pieces around as I worked that I discovered on the back of the card from Anne that it was a card *I* had originally made, titled, and sent to her in 1996!!!
OUTFLOW:
4.25 x 5.5″; collage tag tied to a scrap of oil painting on paper,
mounted on handmade paper
greeting card
2025
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11 responses to “Pyrotechnics”
Oh….what a wonderful story! I was smitten right at the beginning just knowing you were in a creative happy place. Then came the card from the homemade paper with the bit of dried seed that came to your mailbox….then learning it was something YOU actually created. How fun! And I love that you still have a stash of the paper you made with Anne way back when and I love that you repurposed her envelope to mail a card back to her. Then I was tickled to see my little tag…as a splash of color and a call for community. YOU are creating community Dotty…and it’s fun to watch your ebb and flow….your inflow and outflow! It’s heartwarming….pun intended.Thank you for this lovely post. A good way to start my day.
MaryAnn, love that you were smitten with my story of being smitten with this recent creative undertaking of mine. So glad to provide a good way for you to start your day! You’ve brightened for me this otherwise yet-again-gray-and-chilly-and-drizzly/rainy morning with your specific bits of feedback, letting me see that each facet of my story set off tiny fireworks in you as well : )
Thank you.
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I auditioned a bunch of potential backdrops to showcase the little words-of-encouragement tag but had to turn them away, and THEN I was so excited when your collage fodder raised its hand energetically, saying, me me me I can do the job! And YES IT COULD!
YES also to the sweet treasure of the exchange of friendship via the mail
The papermaking process and the papers themselves are wonderful! For many years in a row, some time ago now, I’d go into production each summer, heading to my back deck before breakfast in the early freshness of the day, with my supplies and tools of the trade, to savor the light of the day, the air on my skin, the steps in the process, the happy familiar movements of my hands and the materials. I’d press out about 10-12 sheets of newly shaped pulp onto a drying board using my mold and deckle, wick up excess water with a chamois cloth, and leave the batch to dry in the great outdoors. It’s a calming, soothing, engaging, and gently addictive process. Not difficult but not something you can just pick up and undertake at a moment’s notice. Let me know if you’d like to know specifics.
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Sounds like it’s a bit much for me right now! Special equipment!
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