Upcycled Hand-Dyed Dresses from Indonesia and Beyond Timbuktu (Part 2)

Made from the Indonesian hand-dyed dresses purchased at Beyond Timbuktu in Edwardsville, IL (described in the earlier post - Part 1), the small quilt, pillows and computer chair cover now reside at 

my daughter's condo in sunny Southwest Florida.  

Although Betsy and I discussed (texted) color choices for her guest room / office, as well as measurements for her computer chair, I was a relieved to see that the colors coordinated with her new futon and the chair cover fit. Phew!

The brown cotton polka dot fabric and the off-white flannel backing was purchased by the yard, but the turquoise blue panels and the olive green ruffles were part of the dress. Since I only used one dress, plus a bit of one sleeve, there is still more material for perhaps a couple larger solid turquoise pillows for the living room. Both the top and bottom chair covers were made with adjustable openings in the back. The bottom cover also had a drawstring to pull snugly under the seat.

My return on December 30 was sunny and mild, but January 1 has blown in from the north with grit and gusto!  Good-bye Ft. Myers Beach. Hope to see you again real soon.

New Beginnings

Off with Their Heads

Today is the first day of my new blog. Very exciting for me as I selected my blog name more than a year ago, late one night, sitting at the computer at my brother-in-law's desk in Mevagissy, Cornwall.  As I have been recycling out of necessity since I was a young girl and now create art from paper ephemera, found objects and my own handmade paper, I felt 2ndhandpaper seemed a good fit.  With this in mind, the newest work I am creating for the "Tossed and Found" show at Main Street Art Gallery in Edwardsville, IL will be handmade books inspired by 2ndhandpaper.  The show opens on April 2 from 6-8pm and runs through April.

The first of the conceptual artist’s books, “Off with Their Heads,” was inspired by an English Anne Boleyn postage stamp and a tour of the Tower of London last summer with family. The book is a collection of vintage envelopes, memorabilia, personal photos and historical facts about the Tower and those unfortunate enough to lose their heads at the command of ruling monarchy, plus a raven’s feather collected from the birds who, according to legend, keep the Tower from falling and a disaster from overtaking the empire.