Anthology

snippets of blue skies

All right, all right.   This project is WAY overdue.  Sometimes I complain because artists we work with are not as speedy to restock as I'd like them to be.  I feel personal responsibility to make sure they sell as much as they can, but of course, they bear some of the responsibility as well. I *could* sell more, but only if I have more in stock.

But I am just as guilty as the next person.  I think I sold my last snippets of blue skies about a year ago, and started work right away, with the intention of having them in stock for summer.  So, now it is a little bit later... and I REALLY want to have them in stock for this summer.  I had several people say, "oh, and they used to have this piece with lots of sky pictures."  As well as one persistent student who regreted not buying it and who has come in often to ask about it.  You'd think I'd get the hint.

So, anyway, enough lolling about.  I've been feeling a little at a loss for projects lately, but the reality is that are plenty to choose from.  Get to work, Laura.  Last night I cleared off my coffee table and got out the box of blue skies.

For anyone who wondered, the blue skies that have labels beneath really are from where they say they are.  Which means that when I travel, I have to make sure to take a picture of the sky, get it printed, and then store it safely in the proper envelope.  I know I could make it up, but I don't.  So the entire process involves very careful work to cut blue skies and keep track of where they are from.  Per usual, I'm working on several at once - 6 this time - which is always slow going in the beginning.  I've finally reached the point where the end is in sight so I should have this wrapped up sooner rather than later.

The nice thing is that once I get started on such a project, I am reminded of the things that I liked about it in the first place, hopefully enough to kick the procrastination away completely.

 

a fabulous farewell present

If I do say so myself. And I didn't mean to make her cry... 

Finally!  I can show you what I've been working on!  I wanted to keep it a surprise, which is really hard for me to do.  Since our upstairs neighbors are moving away, we wanted to give them a little present for their new house.  I know they had their eye our posters and was going to give them the State Street poster.  But then it occurred to me that I could make a snippet collage.  That was a few fun afternoons, taking pictures of details on the 200 block of State Street.  As is almost always the case, I had more details than I had space for so the next step was editing.  I arranged all the options and then had to give serious thought to what was most significant, or most emblematic.  I entertained myself for a while with the thought of an entire row of street musicians - the piccolo, the harmonica, the ukelele - but in the end, the sax player said everything that I needed to say (poor Nancy - she had to call the cops because of "playing" at 3 in the morning!).

I briefly thought of making some sort of message in the fragments of signs... but then kind of petered out at "Good" "& Co."  Still, I like those pieces in there - and I managed to get their window and buzzer.

I really need to spend more time making snippets.  It's such a fun project.  Sachi and I still toss around the idea of a seasonal or color-themed snippet of Madison - imagine a set of 8 frames, each one with a different color palette, or a set of 4 frames, one for each season.  It's interesting to just walk around a place and think about what pieces would be necessary for a complete snippet picture.

snippets of Spain

ah.... snippets.  I do love to make them.  I just finished up this commission from a trip to Spain - a trio: Bilbao, Madrid, Barcelona.  There is something satisfying about creating these by hand - cutting the pictures with a paper cutter, arranging the squares.  I'm all for modern technology, and I'm certainly addicted to making Blurb books, but I like to go the old fashioned route for these.  I still dream about filling a room with snippets, a compare/contrast from various places.  It's interesting to me that some things are universal and alike from place to place, even as there are other things that are unique - or at least a combination of things that are unique.  Pigs' heads from the market and Gaudi forever equals Barcelona to me.

snippets galore

 

Well, it was a late night for Sachi last night but I think she can be pretty happy with her part in the endeavor.  A customer came in to make Madison photo snippets yesterday. She brought in picture frames and her own photos of Madison and spent the afternoon with the square punch.  There's one larger collage and three medium-sized ones for gifts. These photos are all made using the "extra large" square punch, which is approximately 1.4 inches (as opposed to the "large" punch which is 1 inch).  It took most of the afternoon to cut and arrange the four collages and Sachi was up until about 11 pm taping everything down.

Photo snippets are one of my favorite craft options.  The technique is relatively simple but you can create an interesting memento of a trip or special occasion.  I currently have two commissions - one for travel pictures from Italy and one for Spain.  Although vicarious travel is not as fun as the real thing, I do enjoy seeing pictures and figuring out a way to represent the place through tiny squares.

Since our first year, we are trying to keep both sizes of punch always in stock so one option is simply to buy a square punch of your own ($15 or $17) and make photo snippet collages at home.  We recommend the double-sided photo squares to affix everything (rather than glue which just gets messy).  And yes, we usually have the photo squares in stock as well.  Another alternative is to reserve our craft table and come to Anthology to work on your collage.  The punches and a paper cutter are available for your use, as well as the photo squares.  Prices start at $10 (unframed) and vary depending on the size of your pieces and whether or not you will need a picture frame (you can also bring in your own frame).  We'll be around to answer your questions and provide suggestions for layout but late-night taping sessions cost extra (that is, if we are doing the taping.  If you want to stay up late at your house, we won't charge you for that).

And, of course, if you are feeling uncrafty or pressed for time, both Sachi and I have ready-made snippets for your souvenir and gift-giving needs.  (They make a nice graduation gift...).  Which reminds me that I need to make some terrace chair snippets too.  Or you can bring in your photos and commission us to make a photo snippet for you.  Prices start at $20 (unframed) and vary depending on size and framing. 

One you start cutting up photos, it is hard to go back.  It's a great way to use those photos with overall bad composition and it is an interesting way to look at a place or event (Sachi's big collage from her wedding is a great treasure of the day and nice to always have on the wall instead of gathering dust unopened on a bookshelf).

  

twelve days, part three: photo snippets!

Photo snippets are another option for your holiday gift-giving.  The square punches have been very popular this year; people are buying them so they can make their own snippets at home, or to give to crafty friends.  I personally love the photo snippet approach because it has really freed me up from the idea of the perfect picture.  Even if you take a picture that doesn't really turn out, there's usually a one-inch square that captures an element of the moment.  Besides the punches that we have for sale in three different sizes, you can come into the store with your photos and make your own snippets.  We provide the punch or paper cutter for you to use, as well as the background paper and adhesive.  Prices start at $10, more if you'd like to purchase a frame (but you are welcome to bring in your own frame).  Stop in December 18-24 when photo snippets are one of the drop-in craftivities.  It's always good to call ahead of time and check; we've had some birthday and other craft parties on the schedule this month and we want to make sure that everyone has enough space to work on their projects.

checked ONE thing off!

So I made my list of things I need to make to restock the store - items that have sold over the past year, but especially during the summer, which would be good to have back in the store, notably before Christmas.  At least it is confined to one piece of paper.  And today I've been productive - the pieces for this project has been sitting around behind the register for about two weeks.  But I've finally cut the photos, attached them, and it looks like I'll even get to the framing today.  1 project down, 39 to go.  No problem!