Red Velvet

2011-02-20T21:32:00.000+11:00

We call it "Bashert" loosely translated it means fate.

Some call it Serendipity.

I decided to start a new blog over here where you will be able to read posts about my genealogical search for my family and its history.

As you are aware, my books all involve research and one day some of what I find will make it into my book-art.

Thanks to all who commented on my last post, I really appreciated it.

So come along for the ride if the subject interests you.

As was the case with my art, Bashert has been playing a major role in my search.

Hope you enjoy....

xx

2010-12-04T00:24:00.001+11:00

Its been a while...

Busy with the speed of life, I have had an interesting time in the last few months.
After returning from teaching workshops in the USA, my arms were in a worse state than ever.
I sought the advice of a specialist and he confirmed my fears.
I had lost 40% capacity of the use of my ams and hands.
Whatever I do won't change the issue much.
They need rest.
So without a studio and buggered up arms and hands from over-use, I decided it was time to delve into my family's genealogy.

During my trip I made stops to visit and interview family.
Some I had met before, others not.
One woman, Tosca, survived the war and was living in New York.
By a chance google search, we found each other and 65 years after not knowing their was a Survivor in each family, she and my father, I met her in New York. Now thats a long long story.
Researching is part of my artworks so I consider this break in the physical side of the art, important for future pieces I will do when my arms repair.

Gathering information on my family, is no easy task.
Most records were left behind in the attempt to escape the ravages of war in Eastern Europe or the records were destroyed in the communities from where they came.
So one has to work very laterally. This take up alot of time yet when I eventually manage to come up with some information, it is huge.
It is really like putting pieces of a very large puzzle together.

I am really enjoying this research and learning so much about history and the genealogical field. So here is the issue for this blog...
I don't know if anyone reading this is at all interested in my hunt for information and how I achieve those finds. There have been some amazing finds along the way.

As with my art, serendipity, or as we say, "Beshert" in Judaism, has played very significantly into this research.

If you read my post on the search for what happened to my grandmother and her 2 children, I found the answer, a few days later and followed up whilst I was in Washington.

There are many stories but I am unsure if this is the correct forum for the telling of those stories. One day, some of the stories will make their way into my art and new books.

Until then, I need to decide whether to start a new blog or not blog about the search at all.
What do you think?

2010-06-12T17:13:00.002+10:00

So alot has been happening down here.

I am packing up the studio as I am moving houses.

Getting ready to teach my August classes in the USA.

You can find the links to where I am teaching on the sidebar here.

I start of in Denver at KC Willis' place.

Where I am teaching my "Just in Case" class

Then its off to Valley Ridge where we have combined the 2 classes into one class

I will be teaching my Book of Reliquaries

and also "22"

"22" is featured in LK Ludwigs new book "Creative Wildfire"

Then its off to New York to teach

Where I will be teaching this book

And in between all that I will be visiting new and old family gaining more knowledge for my genealogical search which is full steam ahead right now.

Look forward to seeing some of you soon.

2010-06-01T19:48:00.000+10:00

After losing so many of

my people

and

my family in the Holocaust

Because in every generation of the Jewish people we have had to move countries because of anti-Semitism

It is all around us, even today

Even outside my home a few weeks ago

My kids go to a Jewish Day School where before the get on their school buses, the buses are checked for bombs

My kids go through drills at school in the event of a suicide bomber attack

My kids have giant walls and security gates around their school to protect them from an attack.

My kids have to be trained what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

My kids are guarded by security guards every day

When we go to the synagogue we have to go through metal detectors

When we go to a communal function we have to go through metal detectors

Our bags are checked

But thank G-d that today we have Israel

2010-05-14T19:57:00.000+10:00

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for me.

Family geneaology has been my prime interest and I have had some astounding results. It is not like I can go to ancestry or Australian records. Most of the records for my family were destroyed along with the family and the towns they lived in.

However, I am determined and I cannot stop now - there has been too much new information and leads to follow. I have met new family members all over the globe and we have become a force to be reckoned with.

It is so wonderful to go from such loss to finding new life around the globe.

It has been so exciting.

I have almost finished my latest piece. In the meantime...

As promised

Here are some more images

From my studio

For you to enjoy

I have to say that

Blogger is not behaving nicely lately

It's driving me crazy

And to get a post up here is a nightmare

I am thinking very seriously of changing blogs

It saves automatically every second which means there is a long long long pause, the formatting is terrible

To get this post up has taken over an hour

It is time I just don't have at the moment

Any suggestions?

2010-05-04T22:19:00.004+10:00

Been very busy working on a piece for a new book

Lots of techniques involved, even had to make use of this industrial sewing maching

Challenging myself, pushing the envelope, as it were.

Working under a magnifying glass to engrave an entire story

Challenging one-self can be gratifying but scary at the same time too

2010-04-15T04:59:00.003+10:00

I have been without the use of my left arm for 3 weeks now. One more week of rest from bookbinding is what the Dr ordered.

So in that time I decided to research my own family history some more.
It has been a difficult yet illuminating time.

I have been able to enlist the help of family all over the world, some I know well and others I have never formally met yet. We have been conference calling, poolling all our resources together. Sometimes grasping at the tiniest bit of information to set off another lead. I have worked many hours into the night, looking for clues, any evidence or trace.

What makes it so very difficult for us is that most of the family on my fathers side was obliterated in The Holocaust. That means most records, photos and those who could have assisted my research are gone, lost forever.

There are ways to find information but most of those records, from the small Shtetlach - towns from where my families lived were burnt by the Nazis' so no trace of them could be found.

I decided it was time to log in to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Site and log all those family members of ours that they had documents on.

The image above is from when I was in Israel in January.
This is the room in which all written testimonies are stored.

It is a circular room and enormous.

In the black boxes, which are in alphabetical listing, are all the names of people who were killed and have been written, testified about, by family friends or neighbours.

The word you see on the boxes is Yizkor, meaning Remember.

So, quite by chance, on monday I wrote the number 62 on my facebook wall.

That was the number I was up to.

Downloading and printing both the original testimony from immediate family members who managed to survive and downloading and printing the detailed document of

where they were from,
who they were married to
how many children they had

and

where they were transported to
where they were finally killed.

As I kept logging in the numbers of IMMEDIATE family
I increased the number on my facebook wall.
People were curious but I could not bring myself to tell them what I was doing.

I stopped at 81

For now

These are some of the photos people attached to their written testimonies at Yad Vashem.

These make up a circular wall of images and testimonies behind the images within the room I referred to above.

The photos go up to the Heavens

It seems to never end

When one looks up this is what one sees.

My research has been extensive.
That is why I have been quiet on my blog.

This is too important to stop.
Those small minority of my family who survived have mostly died out now.

So I am racing against time to get any information I can.
The plethora of skype-ing and emails and conference calls have been helpful.
New leads have been found.

There may even been a photo, a last sighting of my fathers sister.
I am waiting for that to arrive.
My father wants to know.
My father needs to know.
Where exactly, the tragedy, for him happened.

Also, the last letter my grandmother wrote to my beloved Great Aunt, her sister whilst she was sneaking food into her and her 2 children in The Warsaw Ghetto may have been found.

My grandmother wrote to her telling her not to sneak any more food parcels to her because they were going to be moved again.

When I get that letter, hopefully today, it may have have her address within the Ghetto.

If I know that address I can 100% confirm to my father to which extermination camp they went.

I spoke to a university lecturer today who wrote his thesis on the Jews from the area where my fathers family were from.
New information, that has only been released recently, lists my fathers mother, sister and brother on a specific transport. It was the first transport of its kind to the Ghetto.

He knows the street where those from that transport resided.
Those that lived on that street were exterminated at TREBLINKA.
It is 99% that this was the case for them.

I still want to see if the letter is addressed any different.
Researchers know which street of people went to specific extermination camps.
The trauma, for my father, of not knowing exactly where there final destination was has been too great for words.

At the bottom of the circular photo wall at Yad Vashems Hall of Rememberance,
one looks at this bottomless pit.
Water is at the base so when one looks at the reflection of the wall of photos, it seems endless.

Monday, when I typed the numbers of my family who perished, one by one, so happened to be the official Holocaust Rememberance Day. I did not realise till today as I go to a memorial service on the weekend.

It also seemed liked an endless pit, looking up names - most are spelt differently as they are transliterated. It can take hours to find a name - so many are the same. So checking the details and the source is vital.

Today my twin brother flew into Poland for a few hours.
He went to Auschwitz for a very special ceremony.

Today, my brother is the first one in the family to step on Polish soil and recite Kaddish
the memorial prayer for the dead.

I stopped my number at 81 so far.

If I were to hold up 81

in a mirror

I would see the number 18.

18 means "Chai", in Jewish numerology.
"Chai" means LIFE

We live on!

How pertinent that my brother is there, in Poland, at Auschwitz, saying the memorial prayer for the family.

Standing there, testament to the fact that Hitler's Final Solution did not succeed.

He is the evidence of that for our family today.

ZACHOR - REMEMBER

2010-03-31T21:30:00.000+11:00

Do yourself a huge favour:

Head over to Leslie Avon Millers post Artistic Legacy

You will not regret it...

When you read it you will know why it resonated so deep within my soul.

2010-03-25T22:19:00.000+11:00

Debbie Overton from MMCA Marketplace
did an artist interview with me
which has just been released.

You can view it here

Enjoy
xx

2010-03-23T21:27:00.000+11:00

Back from the Creative Souls Retreat which was held in Melbourne last week

Where I had the pleasure of teaching this wonderful group of ladies.
Bevlea Ross (The organiser) and Lucy were also in the class but ran off to attend administrative tasks when this photo was taken.

I had a great time catching up with my friends Ro Bruhn and Susan Lenart Kasmer.
Ro Bruhn is a special friend and it was so nice spending my first day with her and popping my head into her class just to say hi.
Susan is a riot, full of life and great energy and it was wonderful to catch up once again but particularly doing it on Aussie soil.

After a long day of teaching, we three, Susan, Laurie Mika and I decided to all look our best for this photo!!!

Jen was there.
All of us who were teaching and selling their wares and even doing classes themselves were run off our feet.
It was hard to spend alot of quality time to relax and just catch up, something I would have liked to have done but it is really quite impossible when everyone is so busy.
I did get to spend a day learning about Susan's Ice Resin. It was amazing to see all the wonderful creations that her class had done in the 2 days prior.
Jan Harris was there and her classes looked wonderful.
Laurie Mika swept her students off their feet with the art they made.

And Miss ATC extraordinaire, Kelsey was there teaching and doing classes too.
It was a wonderful environment in the Dandenongs of Melbourne.

Svetlana was in my class and was a pleasure to hang about with.

And then there was Russel the wombat who greeted me every day on my bed.

Thanks to Bevlea Ross, Lucy and Eva for putting on such a wonderful retreat, it is very comforting to know that a retreat of such high standards can be found here in Australia. Congrats to you all for your hard work, it really paid off.
xx

2010-03-08T02:19:00.002+11:00

In the middle of the year 2008, I produced the piece of artwork you are about to view.

This is one of my favourite pieces.
I hope you enjoy it.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Now would be a good time to grab a cup of Jasmine tea...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

xox

2010-03-02T10:24:00.005+11:00

I was excited to see Etsy feature my Tintype Journal in the "Etsy Finds"

And a treaury this week with my handmade journal and one of my silver fox elements

I have also made some of these mini aged copper books and necklace to go with it.
I call it "Rememberance"

I often wear a necklace that was made for me with a teeny tiny minibook I made.
It houses images of my family members killed in The Holocaust.

This blank mini-book is a great way for you to remember your loved ones or even carry around images of anything you choose to add.

It always is a talking point.
I aged and added a chain long enough for one to be able to write and view the book without taking the necklace off.

{3 out of 3 sold thank you}

I also aged and added some elements including a locket on this one

And added a cherub and some elegant elements on this piece

Available in my Etsy shop now.

2010-02-25T23:44:00.000+11:00

I was most honoured to have been published in Lynne Perrella's latest book:
"Art Making and Studio Spaces" but

There were quite a few areas that did not find their way into the book

I collect old tools, not sure why

Just love their rustic appeal
So, one day I decided to pull apart some gorgeous old wooden boxes
link them together
add some of my collection
and voila...

I make shelving units out of old boxes too

and I figure that one just has to have a bit of a sense of humour sometimes

So when I was in Perth to teach a workshop a while ago, I found the sign that I decided to hammer into the shelve. It sits above the antique lawn bowls.

Hope no-one gets offended

A very small collection of my books for re-use and antique sewing machine drawers made into shelves

I am actually making some journals out of some of these little books for the Creative Soul Melbourne Retreat where I am teaching in a couple of weeks

Here's my little Ari dolls that will stay put right here

There is so much more to see but maybe another time

Hope you enjoy
xx

2010-02-24T04:34:00.000+11:00

Ex-Libris

I adore etchings

There's so many brilliant artists out there

The intricacy of their designs here

Are what appeals to me

Via Bibliodyssey

2010-02-08T21:06:00.002+11:00

I have just completed the restoration of this early 1800's Bible Cover.

As you will see, the cover is broken off at the spine.

I will be binding the signatures, when they are complete, to the front and back cover and making a new spine for there is no spine. This is how I purchased the Bible.

It has taken many hours and lots of patience to bring the covers back to life. Towards the end you will be viewing some images through the microscope under which I work in order the restore books of this nature.

The Bible covers are approximately one foot and one inch in length.

I thought you may enjoy the journey.

Egmont is one of my blog readers of whom I have the greatest respect. A purist at heart, Egmont started up an interesting dicussion on the use of antique objects in my art. You can find the post here. Please read it for it is fascinating reading everyone's comments.

So with thanks to and in honour of you Egmont, I present:

Restoration of an Early 1800's Bible Cover

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2010-02-06T03:30:00.004+11:00

I have been making some more books

{Sold Thank You}
Which have now been loaded in my ETSY store

I love making these

But making them whilst jet-lagged has not been easy

It is amazing how the stitching of them is so calming

My mind just wanders

If you read my last post

You will now know why I have decided to make more of these

For when one looks back one day

After these journals are filled

With your handwriting or images

They will presemt witha beautiful record of who you were or

What you were thinking or feeling at the time

Great care and attention to detail has been taken with these blank books.

It certainly takes alot longer than one thinks to make one.

But in time, your words and or drawings may become a gift to either friends or family.

Now thats a treasure worth having.

Hope you have a creative weekend.
xo

2010-02-04T03:42:00.007+11:00

"Never judge a book by its cover:

My feet are recovering from walking the many

cobblestone streets that I wandered for

the past month in Israel, Zurich and Paris.

I love the quaint streets and the many patterns and colours cobblestones streets have.

When walking on them I cannot help but wonder about all those who have walked before me and the history of the lives of those who have trodden the same path.

These boots have walked many a mile with me, in many a country and now they too have a story to tell.

In a Paris Flea Market, at the "Puces" I made Michael and my daughter come with me to the antique booksellers row.

We went the day before but rain cut our trip short.

A little voice kept telling me to go back - there was too much to

discover,

to savour,

to find a prize hidden within the many stalls.

Whenever Michael and I go "on the hunt" for "that" object that

makes our hearts race just that little bit faster,

I always get stuck at the front of the stores.

I examine everything with fine detail.

He, on the other hand, scans the entire store with a type of x-ray vision

Spotting something he moves in grabs it and then calls me and says:

"Hey Bebe, come look at this"!

Usually, I am deep in wonder thinking about how I could use an object

or

pondering the history of some object that I just know I will not see again

Not wanting to be distracted at all!!!

But I have come to know that "Hey Bebe" , only too well...

For it means, as usual, he has hit the jackpot,

Yet again

No doubt

Two very different artists and collectors, we may be, but when

in a good store it almost becomes like a competition -

Who can find "the prize" of the hunt for the day?

In the end, though, its really about finding the perfect object for

him

or

he for me

Not really for ourselves

For there is no greater pleasure for us than finding something that

the other one knows, will appreciate fully

Michael's speed and his radar hit the jackpot yet again.

He spotted this wonderful unassuming book in the window of

one of the shops.

Usually, he hates entering or even coming into a bookshop

with me as I have been known to spend entire days in them.

I was so absorbed in the moment of perusing books and engravings

from centuries ago, thinking of my other artists friends who would

be able to use so much of what I saw to even wonder why Michael

had begun the bargaining process on this precious book.

No, it is not a journal

It is a long handwritten story,

complete with paintings by the author.

A story about "LOVE" that was written for publishers

But it never got printed.

I stood there in that shop and thought,

"Oh he has done it again"

Found "The Find" of the trip

I recall thinking for a brief second why would Michael like

this.

Other than appreciating the nievity of the original drawings.

I, meanwhile, was pour over the handwriting;

and the oiled stained paper from so many hands passing over it;

and feeling the thin tissue like paper upon which the elegant script was written- gaining inspiration at every turn of the page

And each time we turned to yet another image,

we would gasp

knowing how simplistic

yet

how hauntingly beautiful it is to view another artists handi-work

no matter how nieve

For we booklovers and artists alike, appreciate the time and

effort that must have gone into this antique book from the early 1800's

And the dissapointment the artist must have felt at not having it published.

The beauty of the handwritten word and the original artwork

precipitated a discussion between us of just how important artist

books and/or journals really are

Their innate innocence and beauty renders us speechless when we

happen across one

The book becomes a treasure that needs to be had, kept, bought

by one who would savour in its beauty.

Michael bought the book!

And on the last day, just prior to him leaving, he presented me with

the book

And in the end

It was I

Who won the prize

Both in receiving the book

But more importantly in knowing that being together with

someone who "gets me"

With whom I can travel and enjoy the smallest of pleasures

Not only a lover and best friend but another artist who just

understands the pleasure I can gain from a humble book

such as this.

It takes that artistic passion to know this.

For that I am so appreciate

Thanks Bebe!

You are the best!

xxx

2010-02-02T19:59:00.000+11:00

Rest In Peace “Doll”

Some of you who have read my blog for a while will remember this, one of my Visual Anthologies™

Today "Doll" passed away after a long battle with illness.

You can read about it here and 2 posts earlier

Whilst I never met Tamara as she lived in South Africa, she and I had many occasions to converse.

She was such a beautiful soul and wonderful artist.

It was such a huge honour for me to have done this book for her and her husband, celebrating their wonderful love for one another.

May her husband, children and grandchildren find peace in knowing she was loved by so many. Doll will surely be missed by so many lives she touched including mine.

xox

2010-01-04T02:18:00.002+11:00

While you were sleeping!

I have added these bonnie lassies to my ETSY store NOW

I am so honoured and really tickled pink that people find these appealing.

It is so heart-warming and I am truly honoured people are buying them

So here's one for your bloke or about your bloke

Thanks to Joanna Pierotti and Robyn Gordon for being so kind and highlighting my books on their blogs.

I very much appreciate it and am humbled by your generosity.

I have added some of the other journals that I highlighted in one of my previous posts.

{Sold thank you}

I do wonder what other bookbinders think when they see what "appears" to be a spine coming off, like this one.

But little do they know that I have repaired it so it will surely never come off.

As we all know, appearances are not always realitites.

I mean look at the title: tales and stories:

It just has to remain somewhat tattered looking, don't you mixed media artists agree - {thats the appeal for me anyway?}

I wonder what stories this book will behold soon?

Available in my Etsy Store which closes today sometime

2010-01-02T17:56:00.017+11:00

Racing against the clock

To make as many of these

Darling little books

{Sold thank you}

Each one a different size

{Sold thank you}

Which means different sized papers to cut and tear

You can see the little burlap bag that it comes in

This one was a custom order for Joanna who was not happy the other little girl sold - oops!

I engraved the 2010 on there for her 2010 Hopes

{Sold - thank you}

I love tin types, the clarity is extraordinary

{Sold thankyou}

I have just finished this one - she is wearing a beautiful gold necklace

Looks to me like she is praying

Oh and then there's this one, for the blonde's!

~~These one's are now available in my~~ ~~ETSY~~ ~~store~~
which is closing sometime this sunday, until I am back.

{SOLD THANK YOU}

Thanks to all my customers who have bought these - it sure makes me soooo happy, as I rarely sell my books.
xo

2009-12-31T06:29:00.002+11:00

Sometimes when working on pieces

{Sold thankyou}
I need to change tack a bit

Especially if the subject matter is heavy

So I decided to make some blank books

First repairing old books

Some I decided to add a mix of vintage papers to

{Sold thank you}
Whilst in others I used thick all purpose papers

I don't think those who do not make book realise

The length of time it takes to cut, hand tear, size correctly

Measure, stab holes and bind all the signatures together

To make sure every signature sits right within the book and to not make some stitches too loose or too tight

Leslie and I skyped together alot in the last few days

for sometimes my eye can be too perfectionist and when

stitches look odd to me I think I must be doing something wrong

{Sold Thank you}
So I called my trusted friend who is great at making books and together we made a book using a 4 needle coptic bind which assures me that all the stitches

look perfect

I have been making books in various forms since my kids were babies.

I was telling Leslie that I remember when a friend gave me a book devoted to bookbinding of fabric books, many years ago, that there was a 4 needle coptic bound book in there.

I recall saying to myself at the time, I would never do that but low and behold here we were making books with that method. I needed to perfect it for I have come up with a new technique for binding art in a book form that needed the coptic bind to work in unison with this new method.

Anyway folks I put the little tintype book in my ETSY store but since I am heading on my journey with my kids, I wont list the others till I return.

So if you need some supplies, head over now.

Wishing everyone of you the healthiest and happiest of New Years.

It has been a difficult year so I for one look forward to the New Year, willing it to

be an easy one.

2009-12-26T18:32:00.001+11:00

It certainly takes patience.
Please watch the whole video to appreciate the inspirational work here.

Patience from Glowing Heads on Vimeo.

2009-12-23T18:37:00.001+11:00

I had a favourite Antique Asian store I discovered by chance one day.

Unfortunately, it is now closed.

But on discovering it I spent a few hours in there and found some

Marvellous books and objects.

One of the pieces I made from items I bought there
was for the Guo-Guo piece.

Another piece, which was completed early last year was called “Harbin 1941”.

Rich antique embroideries were used to house elements of the piece

Hidden away, to be revealed at the right time

As yet, I am unsure, how to show this complex piece

As an artist book it virtually needs a book itself to explain

All the layers within

It is sometimes difficult to sit here and write for hours about a piece

Not sure if the true nature of the piece can be grasped in photos.

This is probably one of my favourite artworks

I challenged myself to only using those materials found together with the photos I found.

Many hours of research and discussion with the shop owner ensued to enable me to finally put this piece together at the time.

So for now I will pass on some detailed snippets

Of the layers and stitching

Just to enjoy a very small sampling of it.

Wishing every one of my blog readers a Happy Holidays and Christmas Season.

I am taking my kids on an adventure of a life-time.

I wish you all a very Happy and Creative New Year and want to thank all of you who come here and comment, or just pop in for a browse. It means a lot to me.

Be safe

Xo

2009-12-16T22:43:00.000+11:00

Here’s a few more textures for you

You can probably guess what some of the represent

But since I am still completing this piece

You will have to wait

To see the final piece

There is quite a lot of soldering involved

And I only managed to smash one, the one below

Oh and here’s a hint of what I did with my “Burnt Offerings” self-made pigment

2009-12-08T00:04:00.004+11:00

Exciting times…

Registration opens on Monday, Dec. 7th at 9:00am for Valley Ridge workshops.

That’s today!!!

I am honoured to be teaching two sessions in August and it will be the ONLY venue where I am teaching in the USA next year.

I have only heard amazing things about Kathy and Bill, our hosts.

It is there that I will be teaching “22” (more on that in a moment) and my “Book of Reliquaries”.

Hope you can join us at Valley Ridge.

And about “22”…

Now I know at the time I could only show you sneak peaks of this book but it will be published in LK Ludwig’s soon to be released book...

"Creative Wildfire"

Oh the joy!

LK’s book is already listed on Amazon for pre-order. Judging by her past books, this one, I am sure will be a success.

And… Last but not least...

Whilst I was at Artfest a couple of years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and spending some time with the extraordinary, Lynne Perrella.

It was there that I hauled my massive “12 Tribes” book over and was delighted to have Lynne and others join me in a discussion and viewing of the book. Not long after, I received a request from Lynne to be a part of her new book,

“Art Making and Studio Spaces”

Well, it is out already.

Amazon has only a few copies left already. I am in wonderful company with so many of my artist friends in the USA, being a part of this book too. What an unbelievable honour for me to be asked to participate in one of Lynne’s books. So if you have not already pre-ordered it, there’s a link on the left hand column of this blog.

Thank you Lynne, I am so humbled by this honour. It’s so wonderful to be an Aussie Book Artist amongst such talented USA artists.

What a privilege.

xo

2009-12-03T15:42:00.000+11:00

To symbolise death

I decided to make my own natural pigment from burnt papers

To help me tell the story of those burnt alive or in effigy

And those burnt at the stake

All in the name of Religion

2009-11-30T22:18:00.006+11:00

Busy busy busy

I have had some painting lessons with Mr Michael,which have been wonderful

For a piece I am currently working on

Slowly but surely the pieces are coming together

I even let Michael paint my arm

He’s off to The Red Centre next week so he decided to have some practice on me, fun!

xo

2009-11-14T15:43:00.001+11:00

"OAXACA"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

2009-10-31T02:07:00.001+11:00

OAXACA MEXICO

Thought you may enjoy some of the fun we are having over here

Crickets

Anyone???

The colours are so rich and vibrant

Lots of political posters

Great street art

Hunted for and found remnants of the Inquisition

This was the main HQ for the Inquisition here in Oaxaca

Tree Art

Found painted on a tree trunk in honour of Day of the Dead

Love this

Hints of something special

Made of sugar, so sweet

Hints of things to come

And so the parades begin

With gorgeous kids

Their parents in tow

Symbolic foods

Skeletons are plentiful

Vampires too

The atmosphere is palpable

2009-10-12T22:18:00.007+11:00

Feels like I just got back but I am off to this…

And the best part is I don’t have to drag around supplies. I get to have fun whilst Michael works.

I have started a new art piece devoted to The Holy Inquisition – it’s a big one so…………………..

I have even started some soldering for the pieces – thank goodness for Leslie who took me to buy the correct supplies before I left and we spent a bit of time together soldering something. I have never been taught soldering but felt this new piece needed it.

I also watched one of Joanna's classes to make sure I was on the right track. Great class by the way.

I have to say I love the soldering.

I have even booked myself in for a workshop this weekend – woodblock making and printing as a lot of the images related to this piece have been made using this method.

Part of the piece delves into the Mexican Inquisition. So I am busy researching any places I can go to whilst in Mexico to live the history, as it were.

I will definitely be seeing Diego Rivera’s large contribution to the subject. Rivera was from a family directly affected by the Inquisition, they were Converso’s.

Should be fascinating.

On that note, I have just done an extensive post on the meaning behind my Book of Reliquaries at my Visual Anthologies blog here.

It is one of the classes I will be teaching at Valley Ridge next August. It will be the only time I am teaching in the States next year.

Ciao

2009-10-06T23:19:00.000+11:00

Inspiration!

Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion from John Carrera on Vimeo.

2009-10-01T20:29:00.003+10:00

My final workshop in LA was wonderful on the one hand but traumatic on the other.

Wonderful for I taught and bonded with this amazing group of women.

I dont think we would have bonded so tightly as a group had we not experienced a very trying and extremely traumatic last day of the workshop. I will not go into much of what happened in this forum.

However what I will say is I am grateful to my parents who brought me up to be an independent person who stands up for what is right and honest!

To have done to the students and I, a foreigner, in a strange land, without familiarity around me was beyond shameful.

I have worked in the social justice field since I was 16 years old, fighting for the rights of the oppressed and women amongst other things.

Having been a CEO in the Not For Profit area for many years, I was not going to allow either the students or myself be treated in the wholly unjustified manner that we were.

This incident became a matter of principle.

Standing up for the rights of both artists and students alike was the issue at hand.

The artists/students and I are now wonderful friends with a bond and experience so deep it is hard to describe.

The key was support and unity.

We took a stand for honesty and transparency.

We won friendship.

So there!

My heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes to:

Anna, Beth, Connie, Fana, Joanna, Lesley, Neena, Renee and Reva.

2009-09-24T00:09:00.001+10:00

To see Part 3

“Seeking Sara”: An Evidence Based Mixed Media Art Journey

Book of Reliquaries and Mini Book on the Inquisition

Go here

2009-09-15T19:01:00.006+10:00

From Philli it was off to Cleveland to spend time with my relatives

And to celebrate my Great Aunt Pesel's 96th birthday

She is a Holocaust survivor and whilst she has given testimony,

I wanted to record the little things,

the stories about my family at the time.

My father and her are very close for she is my father’s mothers youngest sister.

My father’s mother was killed in The Holocaust.

Having her look at my piece in Exhibition 36, about my fathers experience during the war was very special.

I was also there to find and research our family tree. I was missing a photo of one of the pesel's brothers, my father’s uncles. I knew I had seen it as a child in her home. I was told it was not there but I dug and dug and found it.

Most family photos and family heirlooms and possessions were lost, destroyed by the Nazi’s so when I am able to fill a gap,

for me,

it means the world.

Spent some catch up time with Michael in New York

Spending time with Michelle in New York is always fun

Michael joined us for a stop at an art store

Michelle and I were trying on these rings

when the owner demanded

"No Photo, no photo"

But we got it anyway
Hahahahahaha

Lunching together – this one is for Janine who is a friend of Michelle’s too

And then there were those hot and humid subway tunnels

One of the reasons I joined Face-book and spent so much time in New York was to connect with Corinna.

Meeting up with Corrina was vital to my “Seeking Sara” piece and workshop in Italy for she wrote her thesis on Sara Copio Sullam. It is the largest work ever done on Sara so stopping in New York was a must.

I could not believe it when Corinna lived 2 blocks away from where we were staying so I was thankful that she let me have the thesis to read and scan for a few days.

Loved that the binding of the thesis was in RED

200 pages later and I now feel as if my research into the life of this 17th Century Literary Woman was complete. Now I was able to further my piece in the knowledge that I had the right facts.

I do tend to go across the world

in many ways

just to research for a piece

and here is the proof.

I got a tip from my relatives in Cleveland and from some in New York to visit another relative in New Jersey.

So off I went back pack stuffed with computer, Flip, camera and scanner just in case I found some new evidence of family.

I hit GOLD.

Our elderly cousin Doris had a photo that she was 95% sure was my Great Great Grandfather. The significance of this photo was huge as it ties all the families together.

I scanned the image and immediately emailed it to my cousin Henry in Cleveland.

Thats him in the photo whilst we were up researching the family one night.

I told him to go to his mums (Pesel, my Great Aunt) in the morning and to NOT tell her who it was in the photo.

Just show it to her and see what she says.

“That’s my grandfather” she exclaimed.

The evidence and proof!
I was very emotional as I knew what this would mean to everyone in the family.

He was at the top of all of our family and extended family’s trees.

He was the link.

My father, who had been gravely ill before and as I left for my trip, waited for the email. To be able to show my father a photo of his Great grandfather was a precious thing indeed.

In fact it was priceless.

xo

2009-09-05T16:27:00.003+10:00

"Seeking Sara"

An Evidence Based Mixed Media Art Journey

Part 3

Reliquaries

Is up here for your viewing
xo

2009-09-02T19:54:00.010+10:00

This is Jack

Jack is funny

Jack is the partner of "Stiffy" -don't ask

Jack is the best coffee maker in the USA
Praise Jack!

See the sticker on the car:

Jack really does love his Aussie...

Meanwhile…

Back at Bee’s studio

Which is extraordinarily divine

I had the opportunity to meet and teach with six amazing artists

To whom I was very honoured to teach to

Jane

Pamela

Seth

Kecia

Karen

My hostess

Leslie

We had a marvelous time all too short

But nevertheless brilliant

Thanks to Bee who allowed us to use her studio

Her organisation was impeccable

And made for a very smooth running workshop

As soon as it began, it seemed it was over

But just before my workshop

I just had to try a Philli Cheesesteak

And so I was taken there

I tried to learn how to order

And let someone who knows what they are doing order it for me

This was one very special person

Who came all the way from Washington to meet up with me

Ari Wilkenfeld who I connected with via Facebook not so long ago

It’s a long story suffice to say we are related

I was in contact with his mum a few years ago and sadly she passed away recently. Her name was Judy Wilkenfeld.

My first born son is named Ari

and Ari Wilkenfeld is the other Judy Wilkenfeld's first born child too.

So I just had to connect when I saw him on FB
There’s so much more to the story but this is not the forum for the story

When we went back to the car I saw something on the ground

“Found Object”

We looked and discovered this at Ari’s feet

I turned to my feet and voila another “W”

and now there were 2 very rusty "W's" at our feet

So the two “W’s” who had never met connected one day in Philli

A family, joined together again

It really was astounding and I have no doubt...

It was meant to be!

xo

2009-08-28T01:39:00.005+10:00

Before the final day of class in LA

We hit the flea markets which were great, not enough time

But enough to discover some great finds

And then after everything was quiet and everybody had left, I packed my bags and was ready for stage two

Off to teach in Philli

Loving the cool mornings in Philli

Going for morning walks waiting for my host Karen to wake

Karen is always such a gracious host and so to her hubby Bob who always cooks up a feast.

Thanks Karen for always opening your house to my with kindness, generosity and love, you guys have become like family to me and I appreciate everything you do, xox

It is great to enjoy the company of good friends and fellow artists

Leslie showing Karen our paper discoveries in LA

And loving Leslie’s amazing studio

Leslie my good friend came to both the LA and the Philli workshops.

We too have become great friends and thanks for your amazing tribute which I loved...

She too was a gracious host and I also want to thank you for being so kind to me.

It is difficult when travelling, to get around but Leslie and Karen always make it easy for me.

It was great to finally meet Atticus and the hilarious Jack who by the way

Makes the greatest coffee stateside – I mean it, it was amazing

Seeing and enjoying the company of good friends

Karen Cole, Michelle Ward, Leslie Marsh and Judi Riesch

I love how we always get together when I am in town and am so grateful for the effort they make to join me for some catching up time

Michelle, who I adore, travelled from afar and showed us her wonderful journal she received. Judi is a gem and is such an inspiration to me and my art. Her taste is impeccable.

Off to buys some huge old Bibles

Leave one for my hosts Karen and Bob. Could not leave without giving one to Bob who fell in love with the Goblet one...

And meeting with Mr Baldwin, the bookshop owner who I think is Ralph Lauren in disguise.

Time to teach at Bee Shay's amazing studio:

2009-08-06T14:09:00.007+10:00

Teaching stateside:

First to LA

Spending time with my wonderful friend Ruth is always great.

We shopped and caught up on all our happenings.

Spent time together in Ruth's Studio deciding to do Seth's Finale for the Collaborative project

which Ruth has written about on her blog, check it out.

Then it was off to "Gilding The Lily" for some serious shopping in Nancy's wonderful shop.

Her taste is wonderful.

The trunk show was timed to coincide with my class.

It was a very special evening.

After that Dede, Leslie, Joanna and I went out to eat some Shabu- Shabu together.

We had a ball and it was great to meet and get to know Joanna for the first time.

Then it was done to the serious business of teaching

Dede Warren, on the right was an amazing hostess.

Everything went so smoothly.

It really was a sensational workshop and that is due to Dede.

I would not hesitate to do any workshop that she organises.

I enjoyed her friendship, anything she could have done to make my life easy, she did

and i am so grateful for that.

It is so nice to be made to feel welcome when travelling so far to teach, I have experienced the

other side of that before.

So, thank you Dede, for your friendship, for organising the workshop

and for providing me with some great, great times,

and days and nights filled with laughter and joy.

I so enjoyed the company of my lovely co-artists

We really had a great place to stay.

Lovely weather

Good company

Here is Dede and some of the group showing each other and discussing what they had done

Nearing the end of the class

And we even remembered to do a group photo!

After class it was time to relax and pull silly faces with Leslie - I think this is becoming a bit of a habit now

Then show Dede the fine art of Facebooking!

Dinner with Joanna and our adopted baby!

Meeting Joanna was wonderful and having her take my workshop was an honour.

We hit it off right away and I am so glad she made the long trek to So Cal, just for me!

Now its time to prepare for my Philli Workshop.

Cya

2009-08-04T16:31:00.006+10:00

Where Men Create:

An interview with Bruce Adams Aka 'The Accidental Crafter"

Filmed by Ruth Rae

Filmed at Stampington Offices

Enjoy

2009-07-12T19:56:00.008+10:00

I recently purchased a massive 10lb Bible for a piece I am currently doing.

Only after I had bought it did I realise just how perfect this Danish bible would be for my current project.

Sorry can’t explain why, just for now.

I had to wait till Michael came to bring it in his case.

Can you imagine the postage costs to Australia of this.

Together with this Bible came another brilliant (brilliant for the piece) purchase of this Bible

but one with a difference

It was a salesman catalogue.

I got 3 covers out of it which is all I really want these Bible for anyway……

When I pulled apart 2 of the covers here is what I found

I am always shocked by what actually goes into the making of these antique books

Hence I had to share with you and asked you to guess.

We have 3 winners!

I am amazed and in awe that they were able to identify this

As we say down here…

Good on ya mates!

Said:

Evidence of an Artistic Life

Looks like something spilled on cardboard-like a resin of some sort

Said:

Louise

Old dried and crackled adhesive on carboard

Said:

Kerin

My guess is dried glue or some sort of acrylic or other similar medium that's dried up and cracked

Congratulations to all three!

Please email me your addresses so I can send your prize please.

2009-07-09T20:59:00.004+10:00

GIVEAWAY!

First three bloggers to guess correctly what this is below gets

One of my Silver Frozen Charlottes!

Good luck!

I will be amazed who gets this right!

2009-07-05T09:57:00.004+10:00

"ICONIC" NEW WORKS FROM AN ICON:

Iconic images, filled with colour, layers and textures.

Lynne Perrella, the master of mixed media and the author of many books has just added a fascinating series of new works of altered portraits in a slide show.

28 works

entitled

"Faces & Folly"

can be viewed on her web-site.
Hit the link and go see it on her wonderful new slide show.

And guess what – they are now for sale in her new ETSY store together

with other original mixed media works.

Enjoy the show, I certainly

2009-06-29T22:31:00.002+10:00

"Seeking Sara"

An Evidence Based Mixed Media Art Journey

Part 2

Post is up on my other blog here

Enjoy

2009-06-13T18:33:00.007+10:00

On the binding of things:

It seems my insertion of my signature within the binding of my books

has generated some interest.

So I thought I would show you one more

Mainly for the benefit of those doing my classes who choose to follow suit.

Find something you feel is pertinent to the books subject or that is really personal and meaningful to you.

You do not even have to sign it because you already will have.

What’s she talking about I hear you all say!

Believe me, after doing a class with me your fingerprints will be all over the books.

Add some text, maybe it’s a note you have written.

Find something that is unique to your location maybe,

I chose this amazing leaf….

Lets imagine that this book was found in 50 years and the person was curious as to who made it.

So they went ahead and cut the binding open, what would they learn?

They would be able to conclude that the book was made in the fall.

AND

They would probably be able to forensically determine that the leaf was from Australia and what year it was inserted.

They would see I was probably from an English Speaking country

Yet they would wonder why there is Hebrew text within the binding.

But it would not take them long to figure out that I wanted them to know I was Jewish

For I signed my name in Hebrew.

You see in Judaism we are given a Hebrew name. Historically, Jews did not have permanent family surnames at all. Within the Jewish community, we used patronymics. For instance mine is

"Judy"

“Yehudit”

the name of your father

"Bat Eliyakim"

“the daughter of Eliyakim”

And which of the 3 “tribes” one comes from

“Ha Levi”

“The Levite”

The Tribe of Levi, from "the 12 Tribes of Israel" - see side of my blog for a direct link to this artwork.

Now, the use of the word “tribe” here is not entirely correct but good enough to explain the name.

You see throughout the 40 years the Jewish people spent wandering in the desert the Jewish people travelled according to their tribe. When we entered into the Land of Israel (1273 BCE.), each tribe received a specific territory (except the Tribe of Levi which was given specific cities in which to live).

After the split of the Kingdom into Israel and Judah, following the death of King Solomon, the Assyrians conquered the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE and exiled the Ten Tribes.

Since then the Ten Tribes were not heard from and Jews can now only trace their lineage to the Kohanim

and The Levites.

The Levite (with the red sash, is assisting the Kohen, the High Priest with his duties)

Those that do not fall under those 2 tribes, reside under the designation of "Israelites" - not sure from which tribe they descend.

So I am a Levite but my children must follow their father and they are Israelites.

Therefore, the person who has opened the binding will now know that I am a Jew, the daughter of Eliyakim who can trace his lineage back thousands of years to the original Tribe of Levi.

Traditions and the upkeep of them, enables me to know my heritage.

Pretty interesting, isn’t it.

xo

2009-06-10T09:15:00.007+10:00

Found:
1 + 1 = Family?

Nothing really too amazing about this book

Some very nice Gustav Dore biblical illustrations within, which is why I picked it up and bought it

The other day, I realized this was in the inscription

Now, remember this commission, "Doll"

Knowing that "Doll" came from Muizenberg, I tagged the photo on Face-book and sent it to her daughter Karen.

I just thought it was odd to see a book from a town in South Africa, in Newtown of all places.

Karen rang me yesterday to say, thanks I will ask my mother about them and how the book got to Sydney in such a blasé fashion.

Asking her why she was so blasé about it, I explained my reasoning behind sending it to her.

Oh! she said:
I thought you knew,

The person inscribed is my mother’s cousin.

Well you could have knocked me down with a feather at that point.

I went into complete shock because I have a week or two packed filled with serendipitous happenings. Not only that at the exact time that I was uploading I got a request to become a friend of Chamara, Gypsy Purple, who I have not heard from probably in a year.

She is from South Africa and was able to confirm also that the spelling was incorrect in the typed format.

Look carefully and you can see where someone has inserted 2 "e's" to correct the spelling.

Wonders of Wonders
Serendipitous moments one of which is too personal to share here, just yet.

Mostly related to Face-book, of which I very hesitantly joined up.
Actually my son did that for me.

However I am loving it over there.

I was wondering where all the bloggers have gone too – well everyone seems to be over there.

I am having a ball – constantly updating and connecting with people.

Come and join – you will love it.

And if its not Face-book, it's ichat.

What a brilliant invention – Did a 3 way chat recently with Kristen and Michael which was really fun.

Loving how all this technology is bringing us all that little bit closer to one another.

So now Doll is my friend on Facebook and is updating me, on my wall, on where in the world her cousin is.

Come over to see the updates.

2009-06-03T20:56:00.003+10:00

“Seeking Sara”: An Evidence Based Mixed Media Art Journey
Cortona Italy 2010

To see what this is all about and how I created this journal from 2 covers go over to my
Visual Anthologies™ blog.

2009-05-28T18:43:00.004+10:00

Casting Call!

Fellow bloggers may recall that some time ago I made these by

casting them off a porcelain Frozen Charlotte

With that in mind, last year, I proceeded to photograph the journey from found object to metal charm/object

I then sent my Charlottes to various jewellery artists asking them to have a play

Following which, I wrote an article for Belle Amoire Jewelry who incorporated all the artists' stunning jewellery pieces

Then we waited with baited breath for publication as those who publish things knows is always a long wait.

Today, the wait was over and well worth it for I received my contributors copy of which Stampington has done an amazing job in showcasing the work of fine artists like

Ro Bruhn, Jen Crossley, Kecia Deveney, Diana Frey & Deryn Mentock

(I only put the Aussies first here as the list is in Alphabetical order!)

Hope you enjoy it.

Many thanks to Christen Olivarez who was a pleasure to work with and to Jenny Doh and the team at Stampington for a wonderful publication.

Naturally, they are available at my ETSY store.

2009-05-21T14:30:00.007+10:00

“22”

For Michael

Mainly sneak peaks here folks

The inside portion of the cover after cutting and reconditioning as per the previous post

The first page is revealed

What’s inside?

Ahh this that took me forever to rivet together because of the curve

Aaawww, I can hear you all saying….

You cannot imagine how long that took to make for my bebe!

A message I engraved onto both wings

"De-sketches" using book spines and bits torn away from antique books stored away just for a piece like this

The story of us, symbolically told in this Visual Anthology™

Which I will be teaching in Philladelphia, thanks to Bee Shay, August 8 & 9

The workshop is for artists wanting to learn how to put their mixed media works, assemblages and shrines into a book form.

Within the class we will also learn lots of ageing techniques and we will spend time learning how it is that I put pages together and how I work symbolically...

Binding made from the softest kid leather, aged and created to fit the book covers.

To best put the book and pages together so they students can tell their story.

Email me if you are interested (email address is on my profile)

Hope to see you there!

Ciao