Collage Week 13

I love combining different kinds of type for my collages. My collage for week 13 is done on canvas. The background is made up of an old book page, part of a letter in Japanese, a piece of a vintage ledger and an old British ticket. I've then layered some blue and gold patterned Japanese washi paper, old sheet music and a tiny round label with the number 7.

I had actually done a different collage on this canvas, didn't like it, so collaged right on top. Sometimes, it just doesn't come out the first time.

Collage Week 13

What's Inside

Well, I finally opened my package. Very carefully, I slit one side. Curses, the inside package won't slide out. I carefully slit the inside package and ease out...a fabulous 18th century French document with the most beautiful handwriting. For your very own antique document, visit the shop Oscar Naylor on Etsy.

Lovely antique document

Beautiful Package

It's no secret that I purchase lots of hand crafted and vintage items online. Some have come in very nice, creative packaging. But I was absolutely floored today when I opened my mailbox and found the most beautiful package I have ever received. So beautiful, in fact, that I haven't even opened it yet. The seller said my package would be "well wrapped" and "packed with greatest care".  I expected some tissue in a cardboard mailer. What I received is an an envelope created from an antique document, collaged with washi tape, a vintage illustration in a paper hat and hand made labels. Stunning. Too pretty to open just now...maybe in a few days. All this from the Etsy shop Oscar Naylor, a purveyor of antique documents and other "French treasures". (You can also visit the artists' blog  La Belle Brocante to see beautiful photos and musings).
 

A package too pretty to open!

I do know what's inside...at least I have seen a picture. But you'll have to wait until I can bring myself to, very carefully, open a corner and slide my purchase out.

Collage Week 12

I don't know why but I've always liked doing artwork in a square format. My collage for week 12 is done on a 6" x 6" canvas. The background is stamping and acrylic paint. On top is collaged 2 different antique French documents, vintage music, 2 old postage stamps and a tiny bit of a Japanese letter.

Collage Week 12

Collage Week 11

Last week , my collage was done on a tiny 2.5" x 3.5" canvas. My collage for week 11 is done on a larger 5" x 7" canvas. It incorporates a page from a 19th century French ledger, vintage music, a piece of hand made paper from India, a vintage postcard, postage stamps, rubber stamps and last but not least, a a vintage Chinese ticket. I like using type as pattern and it doesn't really matter what is written or if it's in a different language.

Collage Week 11

Collage Week 10

My collage for week 10 is done on a tiny canvas. The back ground is acrylic paint with rubber stamped type. I then combined pieces of vintage French chocolate and perfume labels, and the border from an old book plate.

Collage Week 10

Around the Office

Sitting on my windowsill is this beautiful lucite bird made by the Brazilian artist Abraham Palatnik. It dates from the 1960's- 1970's. The sunlight comes through the bird, highlighting the pattern and color. You can see more of Palatnik's pieces here on Pinterest. The small red glass bird was a flea market find for $1.

Collage Week 9

Here's another collage done on a paint sample chip - this time a single color. I used hand carved rubber stamps in the background in different shades of blue. I then used some scraps of decorative paper, another hand stamped piece cut with a scallop circle die, a vintage ticket and parts of a type sample book.

Collage Week 9