Category Archives: #Art

Saturday Sunday: Book Collage & Lost Love

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Book Art Nancys book

Author Nancy Bilyeau sent me a galley copy of her novella, The Ghost of Madison Avenue and the cover inspired me to create a mix media digital collage for the cover. I started reading the story Thursday night and I was so engrossed in the story, I read late into the night. What a perfect time to read this hauntingly good story.

My background choice for the collage comes from my own picture of a denim rag rug I sewed this week. The textures are digital stars and I felt they added a mysterious feel to the cover. Be sure to get your copy of this fabulous story on Amazon! My review coming soon! -Stephanie Hopkins

A Christmas Novella in Old New York

In this compelling and poignant story, bestselling author Nancy Bilyeau takes readers to New York City’s Morgan Library in December 1912, when two very different people haunted by lost love come together in an unexpected way.

Helen O’Neill, part of a tight-knit Irish-American family in the Bronx, is only too happy to report to work at the spectacular private library built on Madison Avenue by millionaire financier J. P. Morgan. The head librarian, the brilliant and beautiful Belle da Costa Greene, had hired Helen away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after she witnessed Helen’s unusual talent with handling artifacts.

About Nancy Bilyeau

Nancy Bilyeau is the author of the historical thrillers “The Blue” and “Dreamland” and the Tudor mystery series “The Crown,” “The Chalice,” and “The Tapestry.” She is a magazine editor who has lived in the United States and Canada.

In “The Blue,” Nancy drew on her own heritage as a Huguenot. She is a direct descendant of Pierre Billiou, a French Huguenot who immigrated to what was then New Amsterdam (later New York City) in 1661. Nancy’s ancestor, Isaac, was born on the boat crossing the Atlantic, the St. Jean de Baptiste. Pierre’s stone house still stands and is the third oldest house in New York State.

Nancy, who studied History at the University of Michigan, has worked on the staffs of “InStyle,” “Good Housekeeping,” and “Rolling Stone.” She is currently the deputy editor of the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at the Research Foundation of CUNY and a regular contributor to “Town & Country” and “Mystery Scene Magazine.”

Nancy’s mind is always in past centuries but she currently lives with her husband and two children in New York City.

Creative Journey With Heather Hall

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Today my friend Heather Hall is a guest on Layered Pages to share her creative journey with us. When I met Heather a few years ago I was thrilled to discover her creative side and it is always exciting to discover another paper crafter. Let’s get our craft on! 

Heather HallThank you for visiting with me today, Heather! Tell me how you got into card making?

I started making cards in the mid 90’s when a group of women where I lived started sharing different crafts that we did…. teaching each other. We got together once a month to work on new project and talk.  We talked a lot.  I learned to stencil, cross-stitch and card making.  Card making has stuck with me as it is so much fun.

 Is there a specific style you stick with or do you mix it up?

I like to try new techniques all the time, but find I revert back to simple but fun to make, as my favourite. I have been to card making classes and learned many new styles, but I also check out Pinterest, as there are so many creative ideas on there. Most of the time I try to take an idea and make it my own, using what supplies I have on hand. Online videos also give me many options.

 Are your cards available for sale and where can people reach out to you?

At the moment my cards are not for sale, I make them for family and friends, but my goal is to eventually sell them but I am not there yet.  I hope is to get this going in the New Year. So, stay tuned.

What are some ways you upcycle pieces you might use to make your creations?

I like to use other cards I receive to add to my new cards. I also try to save all my little scrap paper, using them in other project to not waste anything.  I like to reuse ribbon and lace from clothes, gifts and from supplies given to me.  Unique items like buttons add dimension to cards. I would like to add things like fabric to my cards, but haven’t done any yet. I love fabric and texture, so that is my next thing to try. I want my cards to be able to go in the mail without too much cost, so I can’t add too much bulk to it. I look forward to experimenting though.

How much time a week do you spend on your card making ?

I try to be creative a few hours a week at the moment, but in order to start selling them, I would like to expand my time to a couple of 7-hour days per week

Card making III

What advice would you give someone who wants to get into card making?

I would suggest that if you want to get into card making, that you find a group in your community, where you can meet and share stamps and supplies. To start out you will need to have a few basic items like a paper trimmer, adhesives, a few ink pads, card stock and a couple of stamps you really like. With these in hand you are ready to go. Card making supplies are available at many stores and online.  The sky is the limit, but working with others and sharing will help you to get started, without much expense.

Most important to me is to have fun, start out with a simple design and move on from there.

A Weekend Of R&R

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MeGood morning and happy Monday! I hope you all had two days of rest and renewal to start off the new week right.

The last few days I’ve had a bad cold and I rested in my recliner all weekend while working on my projects, exploring new ideas, stitch doodling, prepping upcoming projects, reflecting and being in the present. I thought a lot about blending the old with the new and the re-purpose ones clothes, and what it means for the environment. For a deep appreciation of keeping the old ways of mending and sewing alive. I also reflected on my creations and how I express them. For me, there is no wrong way in doing so.

January CollageSaturday I was working on my secret project pretty much all day then decided to take a break from it and prep scraps for a Sashiko/Boro influence/ mix media art collage project I’m starting in January. I haven’t sewed any of the fabrics down yet. I’m still in the process of placing the fabrics. Anyhow, it’s going to be about a 12×12 collage. I’ll probably frame it once its completed or if I change my mind, use the collage in another project. There is no pressure in making a final decision. I did go ahead and slow stitched on denim square.

I would really like to stress that your stitches don’t have to be perfectly straight. Make your creations your own. That is unless you’re working on a art piece for someone who is paying for straight stitches, if its something you prefer or working with patterns. Please keep in mind that slow stitching is forgiving and if you are not satisfied with what you stitched, you can go back and change it. Enjoy the process. Slow down and breath.

Sunday was another day of resting and a bit of planning for the pattern of my Denim Rag Quilt. I arranged my Grandmother’s scraps the way I want them-for the most part. I need to put a lighter denim square in the upper right corner. I did play around with some visible stitching on one of the quilt squares. The process was so relaxing! I won’t be doing stitching patterns on all of them. However, I’m slow stitching on the scrap patches. I’m sewing this quilt by hand as much as possible.

I’ve been jumping around on projects this weekend. That’s how I roll!

Follow my closet @artsycouture42 and use my code: ARTSYCOUTURE42 to get a free $10 credit when signing up for Poshmark! www.poshmark.

See you next time! Bye for now.

Stephanie

 

 

Thrift Haul Goodness

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I’ve been on the hunt for new pieces to decorate with and what a better way to find treasures by thifting to help cut down on materials ending up in the landfills. Last week I went to my local Goodwill and found the pieces below. Originally I was looking for a decor piece to display my Grandmother’s thread spools I inherited when she went to be the Lord a few years ago. When I spotted the glass pitcher I was so thrilled! On the front it say, “Simple Handmade Goodness.” How perfect is that!?

The small light brown potter jar is handmade by someone who had made a piggy bank. There is actually change in the pottery, How cute! The floral jar with the lid was new with tags on it and the green vase is perfect for the colors in my bedroom. So happy with what I chose and at a VERY affordable price. I hope you all are having a fabulous week!

 

 

Better Late Than Never

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I meant to post this blog post live earlier but better late than never. Yesterday was full of good coffee, great friends, binge watching my one of my favorite YouTube Channels-while working- and crafty adventures.

A few of my friends wanted to see more patch designs I’m creating with my Grandmother’s quilting scraps for my denim rag quilt. Here are a few samples of what I’m creating:

Also I am making the quilt bigger so tonight I’m cutting my denim squares. There will be a lot of sewing involved but I’m excited about it. This project is being done when I have down time which isn’t often. I was able to cut out three rows worth of squares last-night.

After I completed my tasks of denim cutting,  I started a rag rug with my denim scraps from my denim rag quilt-currently making-and old t-shirts. What I have so far is the start of the center part of the rug. Don’t worry, I will make the circle tighter to close that gap hole in the middle. These rugs are so easy to make. You just braid your fabric together and I’ll show you soon how you can attach it all together. There are two methods to sewing this rug. I’m going to sew by hand. I tied the end with a hair tie to pick up where I left off at a later time. More to come!

I met my local Poshmark Tribe Copper Coin (400 Chambers St, Woodstock, GA 30188, USA) yesterday morning for the Poshmark 8th Birthday celebration and gift exchange. What a blast we had! Our Posh community in Atlanta is the best!

posh turns 8

Other related content:

Book Wish-List: Visible Mending

Projects Galore

Denim Quilting On The Cheap

Poshmark Closet

Follow my closet @artsycouture42 and use my code: ARTSYCOUTURE42 to get a free $10 credit when signing up for Poshmark! www.poshmark.

Book Wish-List: Visible Mending

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From what little I’ve read so far on the subject of Visible Mending AKA Sashiko Stitching is that it is traced back to the Edo era of Japan. The translation for Sashiko is “little stabs” refers to running stitch through fabric that is visible to the eye. One would find these visible mending on clothing of Japanese working people. This method of stitching extends the life of the clothing…

Furthermore, in my opinion shows an appreciation for the value of fabrics and the respect for resources that go into making the clothes. To take value of what one has no matter the quantity. Sashiko is important and I hope it continues to grow in awareness, is learned by many more people and will never be forgotten. Today you will find many different patterns of Sashiko and as the trend grows you become educated on how important it is to up-cycle your clothes for various reason which I will share in another post. Today I’m sharing three books that I have added to my wish-list and hope to acquire them soon to better educate myself in the art of visible mending, to educate consumers and the for my own preservation projects.

Side note: The Edo era of Japan is the period between 1603 and 1868.

Stephanie Hopkins

Mending Matters“Mending Matters explores sewing on two levels: First, it includes more than 20 hands-on projects that showcase current trends in visible mending that are edgy, modern, and bold—but draw on traditional stitching. It does all this through just four very simple mending techniques: exterior patches, interior patches, slow stitches, darning, and weaving. In addition, the book addresses the way mending leads to a more mindful relationship to fashion and to overall well-being. In essays that accompany each how-to chapter, Katrina Rodabaugh explores mending as a metaphor for appreciating our own naturally flawed selves, and she examines the ways in which mending teaches us new skills, self-reliance, and confidence, all gained from making things with our own hands.”

 

Slow Stitch“Sometimes less is more—and quality is more important than quantity. That’s true in textile art too, and this much-needed guide brings a meaningful, thoughtful, and sustainable approach to stitchery. See how to slow down and experience more joy in your craft by trying simple techniques based on traditional practice, reusing and reinventing materials, and limiting equipment. Richly illustrated throughout, this inspirational book will connect with those who seek a new way of working—whether it’s starting a stitch journal or joining a community of like-minded artists.”

 

Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook“Sashiko, the traditional Japaneses technique of needlework quilting, uses simple running stitch to create beautifully decorative patterns ideal for patchwork, quilting and embroidery. Sashiko (pronounced shash-ko) means ‘stab stitch’ and refers to the small running stitch that is worked to build up distinctive decorative patterns, of which there are hundreds. The book begins by exploring the origins of the technique to strengthen clothes and to make them warmer. Getting Started describes everything you need to begin stitching, including selecting suitable fabrics and threads, marking out patterns on the fabric, as well as the stitching technique itself. Ten project chapters show how easy it is to use sashiko patterns to make beautiful items for the home. The sashiko patterns are described in step-by-step detail in the pattern library, showing you exactly how to achieve each individual pattern with ease. Finally a gallery of work by contemporary Japanese textile artists provides extra inspiration.”

2019 Musings and New Projects

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Me in March 20182018 was the first year I did not reach my reading goal in a very long, long time. I thought I would be upset over that but surprisingly I am not. I still read a lot of books considering…  I want to focus on the quality of reads and I am wanting to really dig deep into my Presidents Reading Challenge. Also, I am starting new works on Layered Pages.

This year I will be posting about a variety of mediums. Including fashion, art, books, food and photography. However, I did a little of that last year but you’ll be seeing a lot more this time around and with a lot more creativity. Such as you’ll get to see guest posts from artists, authors, photographer’s and people who work in the nutritional industry. I am really thrilled about these new and exciting projects coming up on my website.

This week I finished reading. The Long Road to Mercy. I’m still thinking about how I want to discuss my thoughts on this book. There were things I liked about it and things I did not like. Tomorrow I am starting, The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau. She is among the very few authors whose books I’ll review anymore. Her stories are amazing!

Stephanie M. Hopkins

Follow my closet  @artsycouture42 and use my code: ARTSYCOUTURE42 to get a free $5 credit when signing up for Poshmark! http://www.poshmark.com

long road to mercyLong Road to Mercy (Atlee Pine #1) by David Baldacci

#1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci introduces a remarkable new character: Atlee Pine, an FBI special agent assigned to the remote wilds of the western United States. Ever since her twin sister was abducted by a notorious serial killer at age five, Atlee has spent her life hunting down those who hurt others. And she’s the best at it. She could be one of the Bureau’s top criminal profilers, if she didn’t prefer catching criminals in the vast wilderness of the West to climbing the career ladder in the D.C. office. Her chosen mission is a lonesome one–but that suits her just fine.

Now, Atlee is called in to investigate the mutilated carcass of a mule found in the Grand Canyon–and hopefully, solve the disappearance of its rider. But this isn’t the only recent disappearance. In fact, it may be just the first clue, the key to unraveling a rash of other similar missing persons cases in the canyon. . .

blueThe Blue by Nancy Bilyeau

In eighteenth century London, porcelain is the most seductive of commodities; fortunes are made and lost upon it. Kings do battle with knights and knaves for possession of the finest pieces and the secrets of their manufacture.

For Genevieve Planché, an English-born descendant of Huguenot refugees, porcelain holds far less allure; she wants to be an artist, a painter of international repute, but nobody takes the idea of a female artist seriously in London. If only she could reach Venice.

When Genevieve meets the charming Sir Gabriel Courtenay, he offers her an opportunity she can’t refuse; if she learns the secrets of porcelain, he will send her to Venice. But in particular, she must learn the secrets of the colour blue…

The ensuing events take Genevieve deep into England’s emerging industrial heartlands, where not only does she learn about porcelain, but also about the art of industrial espionage.

With the heart and spirit of her Huguenot ancestors, Genevieve faces her challenges head on, but how much is she willing to suffer in pursuit and protection of the colour blue?

New Beginnings for Layered Pages

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Layered Pages will now be a blend of literature (Book Sales Starting on Friday), art, photography, and fashion! Be sure to tell your friends all about the new changes to Layered Pages!

My latest listings on Poshmark is now live! 10 listings in all! Be sure to check this out and my other items in my closet!  Make a bundle and get 15% OFF 3 or more items from this closet! Poshmark Website 

Use my code ARTSYCOUTURE42 to sign up for Poshmark and get a $5.00 credit!  

This past weekend I was going to get my art on but I did not get a moment to do so! Very frustrating but I shall make up for it soon and share with you all my upcoming creations.

What I’m reading: Sailing Lessons by Hannah McKinnon

On the shores of Cape Cod, the Bailey sisters reunite with their long-lost father for a summer of hope and forgiveness in this heartfelt novel from the author of the “sharp and evocative” (Kirkus Reviews) Mystic Summer, The Lake Season, and The Summer House, sure to appeal to “fans of Elin Hilderbrand” (Booklist).

Wrenn Bailey has lived all her life on Cape Cod with her mother Lindy, older sister Shannon, and younger sister Piper. Growing up, life was dictated by the seasons with sleepy gray winters where only the locals stayed on, followed by the sharp influx and colorful bustle of summer tourists who swept up the elbow of the Cape and infiltrated their small paradise.

But it wasn’t just the tourists who interrupted Wrenn’s formative years; her father—brilliant but troubled photographer Caleb—has long made a habit of drifting in and out of his girls’ lives. Until the one summer he left the Cape and did not return again.

Now, almost twenty years later, Caleb has come back one last time, suffering from pancreatic cancer and seeking absolution. Wrenn and her sisters each respond differently to their father’s return, determined to find closure. But that means returning to the past and revisiting old wounds—wounds that cause the tightknit Bailey women to confront their own wishes and wants, and admit to their own wrong-doings over the years. In a place that brings both great comfort and great pain, the Bailey sisters experience a summer on the Cape that promises not only hard endings, but perhaps, hopeful new beginnings.

 What I’m listening to: Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman-Fabulous so far!

“A psychological thriller that captivated me from page one. What unfolds makes for a wild, page-turning ride! It’s the perfect beach read!”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine book pick)

A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut–for readers of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, and Shari Lapena.

If you could make one simple choice that would change your life forever, would you? 

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. . . .

Could the life of your dreams be the stuff of nightmares?

Suddenly the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events. . . .

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave?

Wonder no longer. Catherine Steadman’s enthralling voice shines throughout this spellbinding debut novel. With piercing insight and fascinating twists, Something in the Water challenges the reader to confront the hopes we desperately cling to, the ideals we’re tempted to abandon, and the perfect lies we tell ourselves.

 

Art Love

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Last weekend I had a chance to get my craft on and created a few cards and background pieces for an art journal and upcoming art projects. Some of the note-cards I gave to a dear friend that I hung out and toured a few historic homes with last Saturday. I will be blogging about the tour of homes soon here at Layered Pages. I can’t wait for you to see those posts!

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I am really into vintage mix media art and I like to collect craft supplies that compliment my taste. Sometimes, I try branch out in other medias-such as contemporary abstracts- but vintage is my first love.

Some of the supplies I used for these pieces are Ranger alcohol inks, Close To My Heart inks, rubber stamps, acrylic stamps, card stock, Paper Studio note cards, Ranger Yupo paper and so on….

Today I am hoping to put some more project ideas together to work on this evening or tomorrow, if I have the time. I am also hoping to start a new book today and maybe go thrifting. I am looking for a few particular brands in clothing for the summertime.

The images you see are taken from my camera on my phone so they might be a bit blurry.

I hope you all have a great Saturday and Sunday! See you back on Monday. Cheers!

Stephanie M. Hopkins

 

Collaborations Among Artists

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I have an amazing collaboration between two artists coming up soon that I can’t wait to tell you more about! It is brilliant! The project will be something you have never seen on social media before. When I started L.A.P. it Marketing, I wanted to create a whole new way of promoting literature, art and photography and we are finally putting the idea into action. It takes a lot of work and creativity but well worth the effort and will give our audience something new to get excited about! You will be seeing more of this thrilling venture in the coming weeks. To follow what we are doing, be sure to like and follow L.A.P it Marketing Facebook Page!

Stephanie M. Hopkins