the clever whatever

butterfly garden

2011-04-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

my sis and my nephew came out to the studio for a visit this past week, and we took a stroll over to the texas discovery gardens at fair park, so we could take a look in their amazing and huge butterfly house. the rest of the gardens are beautiful too, about 6 acres worth...but here are some pics from the butterfly habitat.

portrait

2011-03-15T11:40:00.002-05:00

a photographer here in dallas, darren looker, is working on building his portfolio to create a website, so he came to the studio to take this shot of me a few months ago. i was working a couple of japanese woodblock prints, which give some nice color to the shot along with my hand built book press. and set up in front of my lovely windows, this photo makes the studio look huge! i have no idea what to do in front of a camera for a portrait, and darren was great at making me feel at ease in a down to earth way. thanks, friend!

at a recent opening...

2011-03-08T17:43:00.000-06:00

i like this photo, taken by our sweet friends at we are 1976.

adhesives workshop in april

2011-03-07T12:19:00.000-06:00

hello all! i just wanted to post a note that i'll be hosting and teaching an upcoming day-long workshop on adhesives and their uses in studio art, bookbinding and conservation. please see the info below, and contact me with any questions. i hope to see some of you there!

what: "how do i make it stick?"
instructor: tish brewer, paper conservator, bookbinder and artist
when: saturday, april 2, 2011. from 10am to 4pm.
where: my studio, 4101 commerce street suite 6 dallas, TX 75226
fee: $75 for members of the guild of book workers/$90 for non-members. registration required.

we are often faced with these questions: which adhesive for the best results? will my paper buckle, is it archival, how much adhesive should i use? what materials should i use for mending? this workshop is ideal for binders and artists alike, as the glut of adhesives available at art supplies can be quite overwhelming, and the "archival" label confusing. tish will quell your anxieties with valuable formulations, references, and considerations when applying an adhesive to, or repairing, materials such as paper, board, cloth, and leather. tish will also address specific questions about examples students may bring with them. cost includes materials provided for the workshop, instructor fee, and studio rental. for a supply list, directions, or more information, please contact tish at 214.827.0200.

cows and donkey-donks...

2011-01-05T14:22:00.001-06:00

...are cute.

aurora 2010

2011-01-04T13:40:00.000-06:00

i've been meaning to post these photos for a while now, but got behind on blogging. i now have another new year's resolution: to take a REAL camera everywhere, or at least almost everywhere. my (now ancient) iphone did not do this one-night only event at dallas heritage village any justice photo-wise. the night was surprising and kind of amazing...some of the most interesting art i'd seen in a while, and put together really well in a huge outdoor setting (with perfect brisk weather too)...a super way to kick off the cedars open studios tour. i love juxtapositions of old and new.

happy new year

2011-01-03T11:29:00.000-06:00

sometimes, when d comes to the studio with me to hang out, he draws me a picture. now i have a small collection hanging near my desk. today, i thought i'd post them here to start the new year off with a smile.

holidays fast approaching!

2010-11-30T16:14:00.000-06:00

here's a zoom in on 100 paper stars i just made for my mom. it doesn't look like so many from far away, but my fingers know how many i made! they look so lovely in all different colors... i chose solids this time, but also like to make them with either 2 or 4 different colors. these stars are also for sale in my etsy shop, buckethead and bear, along with a slew of other great gifts for the season. please do stop by and browse, and spread the word!

new orleans trip

2010-10-21T15:10:00.003-05:00

went to new orleans last week, fell in love. it was my first time. i can't wait to go back. this city might even be on the list of potential moves (it'd be higher up if it weren't so warm-ish all the time, since we're really tired of constant warm weather at this point). it's very friendly, and diverse, and full of creative energy. i'm grateful to have been somewhere new to me, it's interesting to see a city on the rise...seems like everything is more local there, more energized and inspiring than here, very different. i realize that's an outside view, but i also know what i like in a place, and found lots of likes in nola:)

DADA dallas

2010-09-21T11:21:00.000-05:00

this saturday, i'll be here, at the 25th anniversary party of the dallas art dealers association. it looks to be a good time, and i'll be making dada inspired collages with all the attendees! buy tickets here, and see more info below.

Join us Saturday, Sept. 25th from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm for an amazing shindig at the new Dallas Contemporary in the Design District. Celebrating the Dallas Art Dealers Association's 25th anniversary, this party is inspired by the DADA art movement of the 10s and 20s. Your $25 admission goes to a good cause, The Edith Baker Art Scholarship and Artist Career Development Fund, and includes:

DJ Masai spinning the best of the ’80s, ’90s and 2010s for dancing
Pop up fashion show from Darian Thomas
Pop up dance by members of The Dallas Conservatory
Pop up DADA rants by The Robs of Art Conspiracy
Impersonations of DADA art movement stars Marcel Duchamp and Tristan Tzara
Art exhibition: Here. There. & Beyond, a group show of international, national, and regional artists
Preview excerpt of new film Dallas Art City, directed by Colby Allen
Chess
Paper collage making with Dallas artists Tish Brewer, Shannon Driscoll, Kayli House, Margo Miller and Pamela Nelson
Exquisite Corpse poetry creation
25 mobiles by Dallas artists made especially for the party to represent the past 25 years of DADA history
Slide show of images from Dallas art spaces over the past 25 years
Food and drink from Corner Bakery, DeLos Vodka, Heinekin Light, Wendy Krispin Caterers, Margaux’s, Mokka, Republic Tequila, Stella Artois, and Two Sisters Catering
Furnishing by Lilands Special Events and lighting by Martin + Martin
Gold Crown Valet Parking will be available for $3.

revamped website

2010-09-14T10:37:00.000-05:00

the center for art conservation has a newly tweaked website. hope you like! next on the list is attracting more folks to it...any suggestions? let me know. google apps finally got around to making their pages easily editable, and this i could do myself well enough to feel i don't have to make an entirely new and flashy site, at least for a while. gotta watch the funds you know. stay tuned for a blog dedicated solely to conservation, and perhaps a photo tour of the new studio setup...once it's finally done.

de ridder antiques

2010-08-30T10:29:00.001-05:00

this place is, no kidding, one of the coolest places i've ever walked into. were it not for the heat yesterday, i could have easily gotten lost for about 5 hours. it was literally as if we'd walked through a wardrobe into a strange world. if you need anything out of the ordinary, get yourself over there to forney, texas, and don't forget wear some comfortable shoes. i'm particularly enamored with the gypsy wagon (at a price of $30,000) that we've always lusted after as part of a dream outdoor living space. i wanted so many things, but at the same time was never sure what in the world i'd do with them. it was the best sort of museum, like walking through a carnival of still life. too bad i wasn't equipped with an actual camera...next time for sure.

introducing buckethead and bear!

2010-07-29T22:45:00.002-05:00

hello all! i'd like to announce the arrival of my new blog and brand new etsy shop, both named buckethead and bear. i'll continue to post here, on the clever whatever, about more personal notes, happenings, and travels...at least as long it still makes sense, or until i'm no longer inclined to:)

buckethead and bear will focus on my creative endeavors and related inspiration, lessons, and musings. as for the conservation work, i hope to be starting a new blog focused solely on book and paper conservation treatment, so stay tuned for more news on that as soon as i have some. for now, visit my new blog and shop, and please, let me know what you think.

on a stop sign near you

2010-07-23T14:33:00.000-05:00

catching up

2010-07-22T15:43:00.000-05:00

i've been meaning to post these from my iphone for a while. blogging hasn't been at the front of my mind lately, but i'll try to post more often again, especially as there are soon to be some new creative developments. the hanging garland below is made of recycled paper beads and cardstock punch outs...i made it one evening while hanging around the house. the graffiti art is by sour grapes, from an opening at we are 1976.

gun control (in a sense)

2010-06-16T16:36:00.002-05:00

we're about to start working on a group (nine total) of these great blueprints and bluelines, plus one photostat (this one is a negative, particularly beautiful in its coloring with age, including a moderate amount of mirroring), that were drawn up for the manufacture of several types of handguns. none of you are likely to know how much i love pretty guns or shooting them, so i'll just tell you i'm fascinated with this set of reproductions. these working "drawings" are so amazing...we love it when clients bring in things like this. they are quite large and have been folded, rolled, and unrolled many times- so most of the damage is along fold lines and edges. we'll be doing a lot of mending and flattening, and they'll be housed in large polyester sleeves.

paper chandeliers

2010-06-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

made these pretty things over the weekend, and during our super paper chandeliers workshop yesterday. i used card stock, magazine pages rolled into beads, tissue paper, string, and ribbon. the blue/yellow and green one also incorporates a dream catcher and a god's eye.

we have lots of paper nerds classes scheduled this summer, including more paper chandeliers and screen printing at bows and arrows...a shop we really love. check our blog for more info, and come hang out with us if you can!

in the works

2010-06-02T12:49:00.000-05:00

MADI art

2010-06-01T14:27:00.001-05:00

i have a piece in an upcoming group show here in dallas at the MADI museum and gallery. see the press release here. and please drop by...during the opening if you can, on june 11th at 6:30- or anytime during the exhibition, which is up until september 26. it's not my usual style of work, but it does incorporate a direction i've been thinking of going with 3-D paper art (done on a much smaller scale for this show). what i'd really love to do are very large installations of folded paper, cascading down from ceiling corners and things, like silent creatures of my own making. maybe someday i'll find the time and space for that, you never know.

slow times

2010-05-20T16:15:00.000-05:00

treatment these days is too infrequent for me...mostly because we are painfully slow, and also because i've been working to finish a CAP report. this nice little drawing is the only before and after i've personally seen through in more than a month, so i guess it's nice that i'm pleased with the results. it was washed to reduce overall discoloration and remove paper tapes, and the mat burn was locally treated. then the drawing was light bleached to further reduce mat burn before mending and flattening. overall a satisfying treatment, and not too drastic. i like the landscape too...it makes me want to go out and draw.

an architectural concept

2010-05-06T16:12:00.002-05:00

it is insane to me that people have such fancy pants offices in places like this. in the keyhole building here in downtown dallas, this is the "sky lobby". there are lots of sky lobbies in the world, in super tall buildings when having enough elevators could be a potential problem.

will travel for work

2010-04-27T14:13:00.004-05:00

i traveled to texas a&m last week to do a survey of their art collections...paper only. lots to take a look at in very little time. i took hundreds of pictures, but here are some details i particularly liked.

photos from wigwam

2010-04-12T09:29:00.003-05:00

the wild of a backyard

2010-04-05T16:24:00.005-05:00

terrariums

2010-04-05T14:59:00.003-05:00

i made about a dozen terrariums to sell at wigwam (info here) this weekend. they are kinda hard to get good pics of, but you get the idea. if i don't sell them all, then i'll post better photos of the ones i still have for sale in case any of you are interested. i made them from jars i recycled, covering the lids with screen printed japanese papers. inside is sidewalk moss, reindeer moss, various rocks, sticks, and other objects including a character of some kind. since they are closed, there is activated charcoal in the bottom to keep them from getting smelly. stop by the happenings this weekend in oak cliff if you can, and definitely stop by wigwam to see all the neat things local creatives have made for the pop-up shop.

a better block

2010-03-30T15:50:00.004-05:00

some folks i know are organizing this neat project...see the press release below. i'll have some things for sale in the super cute shop wigwam (homemade spice mix and terrariums...so please come by in support), and will be volunteering at the kid's art studio. d will be dj'ing saturday evening i think, outside on the sidewalk, so that's when you'll find us there. also happening is the oak cliff art crawl, and urban street bazaar. stay tuned for pics of the terrariums d and i made.

The Better Block Project

For two days only, neighborhood activists are exploring that concept by creating pop-up shops—a plant/gift shop, a coffee shop, kids art studio—in an experiment that’s part art installation, part political statement. This pre-war block with restrictive retail zoning and high car traffic is converting to a people-friendly environment by adding businesses most requested by locals and by reclaiming street space with outdoor seating, historic lighting, and more. Both new and existing businesses are celebrating this prospect with unique happenings at each location. The project is part of the greater Oak Cliff Art Crawl, which is being held on April 10th and 11th, 2010, and organized by Go Oak Cliff, a non-profit working to improve quality of life in North Oak Cliff.

Location:

400 Block of North Tyler Street

Dallas, Texas 75208

Pop-up Businesses and Times:

WIGWAM (Flower Store): April 10th, Sat. 12-8pm; April 11th, Sun. 12-6m
Rock, Paper, Scissors (Kid's Art Studio): April 10/11 Sat & Sun 10am-6pm
Philosophia Cafe: April 10th, Sat. 10am-8pm; April 11th Sun 10am-6pm

Visit www.oakcliffartcrawl.com for more details.

camera test

2010-03-24T17:37:00.005-05:00

our new camera is here at CAC. the canon G11. i could not possibly be more pleased with how awesome and easy it is. i've only played with it for a few minutes, not getting into any of the different settings yet. but the detail the macro gives us for documentation shots is amazing. i can actually see the texture of the paper. and the quality of printing ink. and the miniscule wrinkles in something worn through age and handling.

i took these test shots on auto, and these are straight off the camera with no editing. it might be kinda hard to actually get bad pictures with this baby. i mean, for a point and shoot this is totally at the top of my personal wish list. still small enough for great pictures while traveling too. we got this stylish case for it, and a backup battery (always a must). wonder if CAC can justify a second one, so they can become as attached to us as our laptops, you know, for work? if i have this on a survey, we need a camera at the shop too right? right.

flip book workshop

2010-03-23T11:07:00.001-05:00

i've always loved optical illusions and optical toys, and now i'm going to try my hand at producing one. i'm teaching a class on flip books this sunday from 1 pm to 3pm. the cost is only $35 (or $40 at the door). please let me know if you'd like to attend, and spread the word!

this website hosts a collection of nearly 6000 flip books. the one pictured below is from 1882.

a boost in comfort

2010-03-22T14:55:00.000-05:00

we got new desk chairs today, something we've been needing for a while. took a look at century modern, and found these pollock chairs made by knoll. mine is chocolate brown and shannon's is camel. they are very comfy, good for my upcoming hours in front of the computer while working on a long survey report.

start to finish

2010-03-22T10:36:00.004-05:00

paper nerds hosted a basket weaving workshop yesterday, and i made this:

paper nerds classes

2010-03-18T12:27:00.001-05:00

paper nerds upcoming 2010 workshops:

march 28. flip books. 1-3 pm

april 25. paper marbling. 1-4 pm

may 23. screen printing and stamping. 1-4 pm

june 13. paper chandeliers. 1-3 pm

july 18. papermaking. 1-4 pm

please visit our blog for more information. and contact me if you'd like to attend...i look forward to seeing you!

before, during and after

2010-03-16T15:31:00.012-05:00

we have had a few john hancock documents in the lab lately, just by chance and all from different clients. this is one of them. the tapes (glassine and brown paper) were numerous, so when they came off in the bath, the document was in pieces. i lined the entire thing in order to piece it back together, and to give it stability as a whole. the newspaper clippings were lined as well, and hinged back onto the document in order to give context to the ballpoint pen notation near the bottom left corner.

on a side note, we just ordered a new camera for conservation documentation today, so at least the treatment photos on this blog will improve soon... hopefully!

sea fare

2010-03-16T12:25:00.004-05:00

scallops sounded good last night, so i made a few. a couple days ago i made some cilantro pesto, so i seared the scallops in that, then served them over quinoa with tomatoes and mushrooms. on a pretty little plate. we've started to have dinner on smaller plates, because i'm a fan of small plates, and because it's better for portion control. also, i just discovered this.

second breakfast

2010-03-15T12:14:00.004-05:00

i made a new southern recipe this weekend: blueberry muffins with streusel topping. yum yum...lots of fat fresh blueberries popping out, and of course made even better with the addition of salted butter. good for a second breakfast or elevensies. or good for dinner...if you've ever been to the south you may have had blueberry muffins with dinner because we don't oversweeten them. that little dinner addition is one of the reasons i like this local place.

definitely worth a visit

2010-03-11T14:35:00.007-06:00

i love it when people point me in the direction of really fascinating websites, or when i just happen to stumble upon them. and i love it when they remind me of all the weird things in our world...objects, places to visit, stories, things i might be lucky enough to see sometime. here are two sites i've spent some recent time with...please visit, but know that you may get lost for hours!

the richard balzer collection: one man's cabinet of curiosities

atlas obscura: curious and wondrous travel destinations

also, i'd really love to have this. and would love to wallpaper my future powder room like this.

homemade spice mix

2010-03-10T13:57:00.003-06:00

d and i made these to sell in a temporary storefront during an upcoming art exhibit in oak cliff, called the perfect block. next we'll be making (or at least trying to make) some neat terrariums from recycled jars with decorated lids. more info to come.

finished products

2010-03-02T10:24:00.007-06:00

here are my finished books from our coptic binding workshop. excuse the blurriness...i never have gotten the hang of taking great and consistent photos with my little fuji camera i won in a raffle (hmmm...). one book was a practice run before the class so i could remember the sewing, and one was my demo during instruction. i love them both. they'll go in my stock of future presents.

coptic binding workshop

2010-02-22T12:09:00.005-06:00

paper nerds is teaching a coptic binding workshop this weekend, sunday the 28th. a small example of this structure is seen below, and we ordered these beautiful hand dyed threads just for the purpose. we're also teaching a class at we are 1976 (love that place!) on march 13, and a flip books workshop here at the studio on march 28th. come check us out!

february in florida

2010-02-19T11:28:00.013-06:00

not mundane to me

2010-02-04T15:12:00.009-06:00

below: several items under weight; my desk today; a print titled "war dance"; 3 prints in the bath; detail of a self portrait by ellsworth kelly; detail of a portrait (torn from a book when folks used to massacre books to sell all the prints individually).

simple is nice

2010-01-25T16:16:00.004-06:00

here are details of a couple of ellsworth kelly's we have in the studio and would love to work on. they make me want to draw and paint...as d and i were walking the dogs at whiterock the other day, we walked past the back of the arboretum and started to talk about how nice it would be to go in there when it isn't crowded, and paint botanical pictures in our sketchbooks, labeled with botanical names. there was talk of a picnic too, of course, and then the whole imagined scene became something out of an austen novel. maybe it was the spring weather that inspired us. but today, even with the chill back in the air, i'm further inspired by these...

woman at work

2010-01-18T14:17:00.007-06:00

my talented friend michael quevedo took these photos of me in the studio several months ago. i finally got to see all the shots, and thought i'd post a few here. we're hoping to incorporate some of his pics of us at work into new marketing ideas, including a redo of our website.

wedding guest books

2010-01-15T18:25:00.008-06:00

yesterday i made some guest books for the upcoming weddings of two gals i love. here are some pics of the process. i don't have full shots of the completed books, as i didn't want to give too much away in case either of them happened to see this post. this is a structure i love to make, because it allows the book to open flat, and because there is very little adhesive involved. so it's great for a guest book or a sketch book, and there is a lot of freedom in how i can make the end product look as far as size and general design. in this case, the colors are based on those of two different weddings, and the beautiful text paper is meant to take any pen well, without bleeding. if there are any requests for one of these, let me know. they make great wedding presents:)

early mornings

2010-01-14T08:06:00.003-06:00

i'm not really a morning person. never have been. it's not that i don't have an appreciation for the time of day when the world wakes up, it's just that i don't naturally wake up at 6...and i'm slow to wake up, and very slow to have a conversation first thing. but sometimes, i need to get in the car early, and when i do, skies like this help my sleepy soul in the morning.

a slow start

2010-01-11T17:07:00.003-06:00

as expected, january isn't usually a busy time in the studio, at least not the first the first couple weeks we're back after the new year. we don't have a tremendous amount going on, but i did work on this picasso print today. removed some nasty hinges, and now it's flattening under weight.

more conservation related posts to come hopefully later this week or next, as we are taking a look at a bunch of things in storage tomorrow. i'll post any interesting details from the visit.

a new year

2010-01-04T17:22:00.004-06:00

here's hoping for a better year than the last. i don't really do resolutions, but i will say that i'm shooting for a much lower stress level this year, which entails many things i resolve to do/not do. and many things i hope my loved ones resolve to do/not do. so, here's to a new year. the "happy" i'm not sure about...i feel like that's a word i don't really like anyway, as if it puts too much pressure on the expectation, and i don't want to just say it out of habit. and maybe i'm ok for now just saying it's a new year, with a new energy.

the week before christmas

2009-12-18T21:04:00.005-06:00

wedding anniversary flowers, with lovely lily smells; pretty handmade christmas packages; newly sewn ornaments made from screen prints done earlier this year, along with the satisfaction that i finally tried the sewing machine for the first time!

winter garden

2009-12-18T20:27:00.003-06:00

this morning i did some seasonal clean up in the gardens and found two surprises. the first was something i pulled out of the ground...appears to be leeks but i've no idea how they grew there or what they really are. the second was this little snake, already dead when i saw it glistening iridescent in the sun. i've been fascinated with snakes since i was pretty small. i can remember once riding my bike down our long driveway in the country, and i came upon what to me looked like a rather big snake with a pretty belly, dead but stretched out on the thick railroad ties that lined the drive, left there by my dad. it scared my pants off, but i think i may have settled down a bit once i realized i could look at it closely and it wouldn't move. and now i still like to look close at these guys if i can...they are so amazing.

art conspiracy 5

2009-12-11T18:35:00.006-06:00

took these pics at the art con install this morning. it's an event that makes me happy for many reasons, one of which is the charity it benefits...because what my piece sold for last year (and hopefully will this year) is way more than i could just hand over to a charity in cash. plus, this is way more fun.

since i don't get a chance to produce work regularly, it's always especially challenging for me to create it in this live context where i only have about 2 hours. this piece works better up close i think..and of course involves paper since i am a paper nerd. it's inspiring for me to do this (the second year in a row) and meet tons of other local artists of all kinds, and also makes me self conscious, just a little. i come away encouraged to carve out more time for myself to make art. it's an outlet i don't currently really have due to lack of space/a garage studio, but dream of every day.

paper stars

2009-12-07T10:25:00.002-06:00

i've been cranking these pretties out over the past couple of weeks...the number is near 100 now, all with loops ready for hanging. it's rather addictive.

snow surprise!

2009-12-03T11:05:00.005-06:00

hello again

2009-12-01T11:30:00.007-06:00

i've been slacking on the blog because of work and the recent holiday, and because i've felt too pressured to have something really neat to post. so here are some pictures from my thanksgiving. more posts to come sooner rather than later, promise.

up and coming

2009-11-17T15:58:00.006-06:00

below are details of a large drawing we have in the studio by an artist named lawrence lee. he is currently a grad student at my dream school.

word search

2009-11-17T12:44:00.004-06:00

best recent search words that brought up this blog (i know this because my stats tell me): "where to buy fuzzy face moustaches". that's funny. can't get them here, but it did remind me of this screen print shannon recently made. it was pointed out that it also looks like the face (hair to mustache to beard, or tie) of a barbershop quartet guy. can you see it?

what a treat

2009-11-10T19:07:00.004-06:00

here are some detail shots of wallpaper we looked at in this house. there are two panels, about 10 x 22 feet each, of chinese wallpaper elaborately detailing flora and fauna. very pretty...but the view from the patio was spectacular.

come get your craft on

2009-11-03T17:21:00.002-06:00

unless we get some support, paper nerds may die a slow death like so many other things in this economy. i have no doubt it would eventually rise from the dead, but the current lag is so disheartening. the last workshop was canceled due to lack of interest/bad scheduling/whatever. we only have one person signed up for the next super rad workshop on the 15th of this month, which is gocco printing- and classes with only one or two people signed up get canceled too. we realize money is tight, but we try to offer classes at a really fair price...and in this age of DIY, our classes are a perfect way to come away with lots of gifts for very little money. so come on folks, please think about attending, or spread the word to your friends. isn't supporting local craft and community worth giving up this month's mani pedi? come attend a workshop soon. we promise you'll have a blast. if you can't attend or aren't interested, write and tell us why- we are always open to suggestions. and thanks:)

new visuals

2009-11-02T16:07:00.008-06:00

below are details of objects i wrote estimates for today. obviously, we get a huge variety of things through here. my favorite of this batch is the historical document (not a big surprise if you know me), which is very fragile and covered with brittle silk. it used to be a common treatment to adhere silk to both sides of documents with paste to stabilize them. i think this one was also dipped in wax before it was silked as well, so the reversal should be interesting. notice the signature.

love your guts

2009-10-26T14:30:00.006-05:00

a couple of weeks ago, my car blew a head gasket. ouchie. but i love my car, and we didn't really have the option to do anything but fix her, with the help of some very nice friends...ironically, friends that are also named david, and their glorious wives of course. one david and his wife let us borrow their second car so we wouldn't have to rent one while we are fixing suzie (the very unoriginal name of my car, being an isuzu). another brilliant david volunteered to do the work.

so i ordered the parts and we started work this past saturday. it's slow going and she's a bitch of a car...so many things had to come out in order to get the head out of there - so many things that now i know the name of! the pics below are suzie's parts just a couple of hours into the job...currently she looks far more gutted than this. we're waiting on the rain to go away before we can continue work, since the car is stuck in our driveway. fingers crossed she's done in a few more days, and runs a couple more years. and cheers to exceptional friends!

baking on a whim

2009-10-23T16:36:00.007-05:00

i'm not really much of a baker. i'm trying to learn, but a cook is not always a baker. yesterday i noticed i had everything i needed to make homemade apple pie, so i made one. it's getting to be "autumn" now here in texas, and the weather sort of called for the smell of apple pie in the house. we bought some vanilla ice cream to go with it (an obvious must), and cut open the pie last night while it was still warm. yum. yes, i've tried cheese on my apple pie, and i've tried chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla at someone's suggestion. but warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream is the best. and crust made with shortening:)

pig races

2009-10-09T16:58:00.002-05:00

state fair 2009

2009-10-09T16:46:00.011-05:00

paper lanterns

2009-10-07T13:12:00.005-05:00

paper nerds is having a paper lanterns workshop on sunday october 25 at 1 PM. the lanterns below will be made, along with some other shapes and types of paper lanterns, with and without twinkle lights. just in time for fall parties! sign up today, only $40.

observer best of issue

2009-10-04T17:48:00.002-05:00

paper nerds got a mention in the dallas observer, week before last. hooray! hopefully it makes for a busy holiday season for us. i know, we seriously need to update the blog. we've just planned our schedule for next year, and have some great upcoming workshops this fall, so check back with us soon. and look for new pictures this week.

favorites of the weekend

2009-10-04T17:36:00.005-05:00

cottonwood park

2009-10-04T17:16:00.006-05:00

saturday we stopped by the cottonwood art festival at cottonwood park. it's a pretty park, which is mostly why i like to go. and because they have kettle corn for sale during the festival, and because there are some yard sculptures that are kind of steam-punk-like. it always seems to draw a crowd no matter what the weather, and it's free, so we go look around for a bit. most of the stuff isn't our style, but there are a handful of artists that draw me in for a few minutes, and i can appreciate the craft(s) anyway. there is one man there who makes the most beautiful rocking chairs. i wish i could buy one.

studio sweep pile

2009-09-29T15:21:00.003-05:00

a tiny surprise came up in my sweep pile this afternoon. i've no idea where it came from. can you see him?

a new perspective

2009-09-28T13:50:00.007-05:00

it's always nice to get a new look at the city you live in. especially when you are tired of the heat, the extreme lack of nature when compared to your last residence, and the general scene. on saturday we went to visit the corinthian sailing club at white rock lake (usually our favorite place for walking the dogs) for their open house and wooden boat show. free hot dogs and free sailboat rides, a nice break from the norm around here. i know nothing about sailing, but really wish i had a reason (or the means) to be out on a sailboat most weekends.

murals from recent drives/strolls

2009-09-21T10:38:00.007-05:00

i'd love to make a photo album of murals around the metroplex. they are so neat. and often weird. the ones below are from deep ellum and south arlington. there are some great new murals in deep ellum i don't have pictures of yet. read about the deep ellum mural project (and see videos) here.

fuzzy face mustaches

2009-09-09T11:25:00.006-05:00

this was inside the door of a goodwill we drove by in south arlington. it immediately brought lots of jokes to the conversation on what was an otherwise very sad morning. the machine next to it was filled with glow in the dark tattoos.

around the studio this morning

2009-08-25T12:03:00.006-05:00

more on yogurt

2009-08-22T14:10:00.003-05:00

here's a pic of the yogurt maker. it's basicially like a little incubator. you turn the dial to the number of hours you want to leave the jars in (lids off), and the timer turns off when the yogurt is ready. you have to then chill the jars for at least 3 hours before eating it. our first batch is kinda firm on top, then creamier as you go down. i've read that if you don't have a yogurt maker, you can basically do the same thing by letting the jars sit in an oven overnight.

love and loss (of a job)

2009-08-19T13:27:00.002-05:00

funny how people can lead you to believe one thing about their character and their business when the reality is completely the opposite. d lost his job this week...his slave job at the letterpress plantation - that's the way we think of it. he's very good at the craft, so it's sad for us, especially considering the way he was treated there. out of politeness, i'll leave the name of the studio out of this post, but i don't have anything good to say about the work environment there. i'll never understand why most wealthy people consider it a right to treat others so poorly, and i'll never understand the management style of a person who thinks pushing people too hard, allowing for no mistakes, never saying thank you, and talking to employees in such a hateful way actually fosters creativity in the workplace. duh. that should be the duh of the week, the duh of the century really. this is a situation where i really hope i'm around to personally see the behavior of this couple bite them in the ass.

we've been talking about beginning to print our own stuff on the small press we have at home. i'm sure we wouldn't be the first to start something out of the garage/basement/spare room, so that we can eventually have our ideal...our own shop (preferably in some pretty/cool/gray city...someday) where lots of things are going on and dogs are allowed. perhaps now's the time to do something gutsy. for sure, now's the time for all people to act like damn decent human beings, come on.

first stab at making yogurt. seems easy enough.

2009-08-19T10:44:00.004-05:00

my sweet aunt gave me a yogurt maker she was bored with, so i tried my hand at it last night. the little jars sat in the cooker overnight, and i put them in the fridge this morning so they'll be ready later today. i just made plain yogurt this time, which is my fave anyway, but next time i may try a flavor. yum.

flag book

2009-08-12T14:27:00.003-05:00

paper nerds is having another workshop soon, so i made this to entice you all to come. looks hard, but it's really simple, and you'll always here an "ooh" upon opening it for someone. august 23, 1 to 4 pm. check the paper nerds blog for more info.

repurposed jars

2009-08-11T10:45:00.002-05:00

made these cute things over the weekend...just covered the lids of all my saved jars with japanese paper and mod-podge. they will soon hold spices and sweets and small lovely things.

summer weekend

2009-08-10T10:29:00.010-05:00

shrubbery...ni!

2009-08-03T18:04:00.003-05:00

i still always laugh to myself when i think of the word "shrubbery". this pretty plant is called "pride of barbados" and revealed these amazing blooms just about a week after we put it in the ground. there was a "part sun" spot near the front walk/porch all ready and waiting for a taller plant, and our lucky rains of late have been lots of help in getting this baby established.

new handmades

2009-07-27T17:58:00.003-05:00

made these lovelies in preparation for the previous paper nerds workshop as well as the upcoming one this weekend: easy screen prints made on cotton and old denim that i will soon make into stuffed christmas ornaments; a "blizzard" book (from heidi kyle's instructions) that i made to size for business cards...it's just folded paper, no glue.

marinated tomato and sea bean salad

2009-07-22T15:16:00.002-05:00

had this last night. no recipe, just made it up. and it was yum.

duh of the week

2009-07-13T16:58:00.004-05:00

when is the last time you saw a good toilet papering job like this? and in lakewood. nicely done!

local "spas"

2009-07-13T16:53:00.003-05:00

moving pictures

2009-07-13T16:41:00.011-05:00

crazy surprise storm

2009-07-13T16:34:00.003-05:00

some hail showed up one evening last week, and the short storm gave us little relief from the high summer heat. there was a very pretty rainbow across the sky though. i was still at the studio, and these are pictures of the roof deck.

two days of alkaline washing

2009-07-08T16:15:00.002-05:00

totally awesome and under $20

2009-07-07T12:39:00.002-05:00

if you haven't been here, you need to go. our first visit was part of our holiday/birthday weekend. very relaxing, good food, happy people, and visually crazy but in a good way. plus, i'm pretty sure i sweat out about 5 pounds of toxins. hooray for king spa and sauna.

back to business

2009-07-07T12:30:00.006-05:00

i haven't posted in a while...it's been another busy birthday week and CAC was closed for the fourth of july holiday. these are details of some drawings we just finished flattening today. i really like them.

texas sunrise, 6:41 AM

2009-06-30T18:30:00.002-05:00

really really hard to capture with my average digital camera, on any setting. the sun was in fact a very bright red orange magenta, with lovely ripples across it. and huge. the biggest i've ever seen.

wildseed farms

2009-06-30T17:52:00.008-05:00

this place is a short drive from my grandma's house in the hillcountry, and we visited this past weekend, on my birthday as a matter of fact. it's so beautiful, even in the heat (102 that day i think). we picked up some wildflower seeds there, which i'll plant in the fall in the sunny parts of our yard (wherever that yard might be) and hopefully they'll appear next spring. the best time to visit the farm is when all the poppies and bluebonnets are in bloom, making the 200 acres of land really colorful. it's the largest working wildflower farm in the united states, and such a dreamy spot.

modern fixatives

2009-06-23T12:19:00.004-05:00

these beautiful charcoal drawings just came in. they are huge. the owner took them to a framer who sprayed some kind of a fixative on them, and the fixative turned white, as you can see in the detail. our job is to reverse that effect much as possible, and reintegrate the areas as best we can using charcoal...both tricky tasks. but we've had some interesting problems like this come through the lab lately, and are happy for the new problem solving challenges.

why paper is my chosen specialty

2009-06-22T17:00:00.002-05:00

because i occasionally get to see really lovely little drawings like this one. and make them last longer.

home sweet home

2009-06-22T14:23:00.003-05:00

today in the studio

2009-06-18T16:51:00.006-05:00

small renovations

2009-06-17T18:55:00.002-05:00

i noticed this the other day as i was walking out of the studio one evening...a new star on a tower at the entrance to fair park, where they are putting in a rail station.

this is only a test

2009-06-14T20:42:00.005-05:00

our small piece of the world on thursday morning. crazy storms and bad street drainage. almost 3 days without power, and that's luckier than some. we still have our car, thankfully, and the doggies have already forgotten the terror. soon we'll rebuild the garden, after the sun dries up the mud and we finish clearing the debris.

surprise provenance

2009-06-10T15:41:00.006-05:00

today we received this small frank reaugh pastel in for an estimate. along with the piece came a box of the artist's handmade pastels, which we'll use when (and if) we do treatment of the sweet (poor) thing. more than a third of the original pastel is lost, so we will propose to fill and inpaint what we can with a conservative approach (no restorers here! and yes there is a difference).

1865 newspaper

2009-06-08T16:24:00.009-05:00

i really love old letterpress newspapers. the way they look with their great visuals (advertisements, block prints for imagery) and uneven type. the occasional squashed letterform, and the way the language is different. this newspaper happens to have been printed the day after lincoln was assassinated. but literally half the section is taken up with advertisements for a pharmaceutical company (common for newspapers of this time because it was difficult to collect subscription fees). a search inspired by these ads led me to this entertaining blog. reminds me of how much i enjoy medical museums.

the beginnings of a pinata

2009-06-04T13:02:00.003-05:00

paper nerds is hosting a pinata workshop this weekend, so today we are practicing. did you know that a traditional pinata has seven points, representing the seven deadly sins? see a short history of the pinata here.

restaurant interiors

2009-05-28T14:39:00.005-05:00

in san fran at burma super star and in dallas at cosmic cafe. i highly recommend both.

on the road

2009-05-28T14:35:00.004-05:00

overnight in shreveport

2009-05-23T09:59:00.007-05:00