Friends of Marie Antoinette

 

I recently found a beautiful library card, with due date stamps from the 40’s  inside an old book entitled Friend of Marie Antoinette. I could not resist imagining some friends for the beleaguered Marie. So voilà my new favourite book mark has come to be.

Front side: Get thee to a nunnery Marie.  Back side: Marie and her friends were all in time out for not sharing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

The ephemera: Original 1940’s library card, fiscal marks from old French documents, high quality reproductions of vintage photos on 100% rag paper.

Fish according to Hoyle

He had read all the rules, and according to Hoyle, he had played his cards right.

So why was he still playing the field? Why was still going home alone every night?

He looked like an angel with his colours so bright.

I guess he had just not got the point of the game quite right.

 

The ephemera: Torn Spine from Card Game Rules By Hoyle; original French legal document from 1800’s; original vintage book page on design and drafting; high quality copy of natural history image of an angel fish.

Size: small 5 inches square on wooden block

Crabbing on the Black Sea

Crabbing on the Black Sea

Won’t you come along with me?

I’ll share with you, if you share with me.

Crabs enough for all, you see.

The ephemera:  original atlas map from 1933; original airmail sticker; original stamp, original legal document 1894; high quality reproduction of natural history illustration of a crab.

Size: 5 inches square on wooden block

SOLD at the teeny tiny Art Show

oFISHal mail

Official transport services:  Lyon Vaise Registered Fish.

The ephemera: original document from 1800s France; original registered mail sticker France; original bus ticket England; original vintage stamp New Zealand, Original Atlas Map of Europe 1930s; high quality reproduction of natural history fish illustration on 100 % rag paper.

Size: 5 inches by 5 inches on wooden block

SOLD at the teeny tiny art show

Sibylla’s Collection

A Commission piece for Sibylla: cycling, skiing and travel all in a collection.

The Nine Tiles are placed in an angled  frame without sides. they can be moved around as suits Sibylla’s whim. Each tile has it’s own composition but is part of the whole piece.

The ephemera: old travel hotel labels, vintage images of bicycles, 100 year old French letter, vintage air mail stickers, old maps, family photos, old lift tickets, vintage travel tickets, patents for ski equipment, image of vintage wooden skis, maps of ski hill, vintage world atlas maps, vintage German world clock poster old Eiffel tower poster.

Size: each tile 5 inches square, entire collection 15 inches square.

 

 

Infinity and beyond

Infinity and beyond, he declared, as he spread his wings, and set his gaze towards the heavens.

The ephemera: old french document 1800’s, vintage poison label, old photo b.p.l., vintage anatomy illustration.

Found object: vintage house number

Size: 8 inch square on wooden block

Interdiction de l’emploi des cerfs-volants

The rules were always for others, never for him. Everything was pared down to the bares bones, the essentials.

Commission for mon ami Deni qui aime l’histoire naturelle, les curiosités et la juxtaposition des éléments incongrus.

Size: 8 inch square on wooden block. Part one of a set of three.

The ephemera: page from 1800s school book, old receipt, old rules flyer, vintage anatomy illustration, natural history image of a black beetle.

The found object: antique optical lens.

Why?

Why?

Why only the bare bones?

Why turn left?

Why take the key?

Why take flight?

The ephemera: 1936 atlas page of city plan: page from vintage calligraphy book; page from old technical manual 1939; vintage postcard purchased from Trishia Jacobs Carney ;  image of a wing from the Graphics Fairy; image of a flying flock.

Found objects:  small bird bone, vintage key

Size : 8 inches square on wooden block

The process:  layers of original vintage papers with topcoat of gesso; completed with images, both reverse transfer and collage; finished with found objects and archival varnish. This was my demo piece made during my summer collage workshop. 

Coeur de Cygnes

C’est mieux à deux, les yeux dans les yeux, les  cœurs des amoureux savent se battre à l’unisson.

The epehemera:  Antique French document, natural history image of black swan (times two), old letter and diamond decorative paper.

Size: 8 inches square on wooden block.

Asphyscie

Just breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Life will go on.

The ephemera: Original page book from old French school book 1899. High quality copy of anatomy illustration of the lungs, vintage red dot stickers.

Size: 4 by 6 inches on matte board,  ready for framing

 

Modern Geography

She turned the handle and escaped the schoolroom. She wanted to experience geography first hand, out in the real world, the modern world. No more books, no more governess, no more boredom. 

The ephemera: Vintage photo of a pram in the Canadian winter; vintage portrait, old clip art of a door handle.

The found objects: Old house number, book cover of a school atlas from 1878, piece of a vintage yard stick, tiny draw pull, old corner stickers for photos.

2oo Recettes

200 Recettes  de vol, de fraude, de déception , de fausses déclarations, de détournement des fonds, de chantage, de mensonges.

The ephemera: old book cover, old yard stick, anagram letters, vintage photo, copper crown

 

Famous Operas

 

She always attended the most famous operas.

Her lorgnettes always ready at hand, not so much for the opera,

as for acute observations of her fellow opera goers.

The ephemera: antique game piece, vintage photo, old book cover, vintage scrabble tile, old yard stick, heart charm.

Crabbing

Let’s going crabbing down by the shore.

I’ll bring the net you bring the pail.

The ephemera: original letter from 1878; original map from 1921 atlas; original stamps and postal stickers; original ration stamps from 1947 France; high quality copy of natural history image of a crab.

Fly fish, Fly

Fly little fish, fly. Registered, par avion, stamped and sealed, you are ready to go. Make haste, across the ocean,  Monsieur is waiting.

The ephemera: high quality copy of natural history illustration of fish; original letter from 1855; original airmail stickers, registered mail labels and stamps; original atlas map of the California coast from 1921.

 

 

 

Limber

Limber: limp; easily bent; pliant

He was limber; flexible; but not easily swayed by the currants and tides of the political times in which he lived; and certainly, not pliant.

The ephemera: high quality copy of natural history illustration of octopus; original letter from 1888, original vintage stamps and airmail stickers; original dictionary snippet 1900. Original atlas map 1921.

Size: 7 inches by 7 inches on wooden block

SOLD at Bound to Be Different Gallery Boutique; thanks Amy!

 

Like, likeable, likeableness.

It’s like…you know, I like you…you like me….we like the same stuff. Like I said, I’d like to hang out with you. Right, like, I get that! Let’s go for it, like maybe we could go for a bike ride. You’d like that right? Like, yah man! Cool, I like it!

The ephemera: vintage time card, vintage number line, copy of vintage hotel sticker, vintage photo of the grand-parents in law, old dictionary snippet, vintage denison label, snippet from vintage envelope

size : 9 cm by 12 cm handmade greeting card

 

Bee hive

1, 2, 3 … y ‘en a un de trop.

C’est pas toi, c’est l’autre.

1,2,3 c’était mieux à deux

les yeux dans les yeux…

mais pas deux sans trois,

Je  veux  vivre sans toi.

1,2,3 mon soleil était toi

Je suis perdue.

3, 2, 1 c’est trois fois mieux toute seule

sans compte à regler

Et puis de deux perdus

Dix de retrouvés

1,2,3…..3,2,1.

– Camille St. Saens

 

Text bubbles

Snatches of conversation float about, landing where they may.

A handful of heartaches,  born with silent resignation.

Not your average crap.

 

Mixed media: encaustic wax, oil stick, various snippets of text capturing brief moments of the past.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Natural History, naturally became Sir Percival’s passionate pastime. He travelled hither and thither across the globe in search of the quintessential specimen to add to his quirky collection. Meticulously mounted for display in his study at the Manor House, they piqued the curiosity of all those privileged enough to enjoy a peek.

Sir Percival himself                               his cabinet of curiosities

Sir Percival prepares for an expedition.The curiosities

  specimens of  flora and fauna

The ephemera : original old pages from medical dictionary 1933, original chart of systeme nerveux des animaux from French school book 1868, original page from an electrical manual 1924, reproduction of a natural history book title page, original French letter 1800s, original notarized document 1879, reproduction of label for cabinet of curiosities, snippet of a map of India, reproduction of vintage photo of Victorian man.

The found objects: wooden piano striker key, antique optical lens, copper nail, vintage silk cord, old book cover, jaw bone of a young deer, seed pods from tropical trees in Costa Rica, dried fungus, poppy seed cage, robin’s egg, peacock feathers, horse tooth, vial with deep blue delphinium seeds, manuscript dipped in encaustic wax and a small vintage box lid, wooden box with hinged lid.

Size 8 inches by 10.5  inches wooden box when closed, 18 inches by 10.5 inches  when open.

Born to be Wild

Heading down the highway

Looking for adventure

or whatever comes her way.

Tilly was a woman to be reckoned with.

( Beatrice Shilling british aeronautical engineer and motorcycle racer)

Inside left of cigar box Tilly, her map and her tools.

The box open.

Top view.details

The box closed

The ephemera: originals: registered mail sticker, torn bit of letter sent via clipper, ration stickers from World War II, vintage French envelope addressed to a Parisian doctor, antique manuscript from the 1800s and  reproductions of vintage map of the south of France, reproduction of a vintage photo of Beatrice Shilling aka Tilly.

The found objects: old cigar box, vintage anagram letters, old gages, antique pocket watch, old switch, vintage key, vintage castor wheel, vintage zinc letter 3, old door knob.

New game : altered cigar box

What was she up to?

A new game, it appears.

What will her next move be?

Only she holds the key.

The ephemera:  original document cover from 1855, reproduction of swan game board, reproduction of soap label, reproduction of vintage postcard, reproduction of natural history image of bird’s nest, reproduction of botanical illustration, handmade rag paper, leaf ribbon scrap, reproduction of old topography.

The found objects: old Parisian key hole, vintage key, old cigar box

Ostrich on the run : art tag

Hurry, scurry, hop to it. You’re late. You’ll never get there on time.

Run, scoot, off with you! Skidaddle, fly, get a move on!

Step on it! Time is of the essence so snap to it , I say!

Come on, giddy up! Let`s go!

 

The ephemera : old book cover, original French bill from 1900, natural history image of ostrich, old airmail sticker from Peru, muybridge`s running lady, vintage clock face.

 

Fais dodo

Fais dodo

Ma petite lapine

Ohé, ferme tes yeux

Demain tout ira mieux

Tu verras ma petite coquine

Fais dodo

 

Mixed media collage…trying something different.

 

The ephemera: fragment from a handwritten antique french letter, scrapbook paper, vintage photo.

Found objects: old checker game piece, vintage lotto numbers, zinc letter nails

London Gentlemen’s Club : assemblage

They went down to London to spend a few days at the Club.

The East India Club, number 16 Saint-James’s Square.

Away from the the toils and trials  of country life

Was  the motive one of pure pleasure: reading, gaming, brandy?

Or was there something more shifty, more sinister, afoot?

 

the ephemera: page from a french school copy book 1889, faded green soft book cover on sides of box, weathered paper, vintage bottle label.

the found objects : stickmen from previous post, red clay poker chip, old black game dice, wooden checker pieces, spectacles, and small bottle of ochre china paint powder.

the library at the east india club  (just for fun)