Recycle DVD Case To Do List

I had a lot of things to do and needed to write them down so I wouldn't forget. I usually keep a notebook by my workstation but wanted something more in my face. A small whiteboard would be perfect but that would mean running out to buy one. And the word for the year is frugal. What did I have around that could be used?

I thought of using a sheet protector but wanted a more rigid writing surface. I had a bunch of DVD cases taking up space. Perfect size about 5 x 7. A dry erase marker made a mark and could easily be wiped off. If the ink dried, a bit of Windex on a paper towel would erase the mark. Ta da!

Mixing Well Covers

Part of the homework for 26 Seeds was to paint a color wheel. Reggie suggested going to the hardware store to have plexiglass cut for covers to keep the plastic palettes clean. Remember my word this year is frugal so I wanted to think what I had around that could serve the purpose.

I've heard of people using cleaned styrofoam from meat trays but didn't have any on hand. Looking around I found a bunch of old MRI films from when The Young One injured her shoulder at karate. I've used a couple of them to cover the work table while doing messy work. They were thin and would do the trick.

I traced the palette with a black marker, cut, and covered. An elastic band to hold the cover in place will be perfect.

Cuisipro Soap Dispenser Repair

A couple of months ago, I bought the Cuisipro Foam Soap Dispenser. It's sleek. Has lines so you know how much soap and water to use. The foam is creamy and feels nice on the skin. When I went to refill it, the whole spring straw fell apart. It didn't seem to be a big deal. I filled the dispenser, put things back together. Took a test pump and the dispenser spit little foam puffs. You'd need a dozen puffs to wash your hand properly.

I went back to the Amazon site and read some of the reviews. Lots of people had complaints with the product. My friend, Teague, has the dispenser in her powder room. She's had it for quite some time and says she loves it.

Searching the Interwebs, I found a solution to the problem. (I love the Interwebs!) Seems a small bead that prevents back pressure was missing. I had some pearl craft beads so plunked one in the tube. Didn't help. Then while browsing the craft area in Wallyworld, I found a box of 27mm Ball Point Pins. Figured what the heck. Bought the box,

The bead was half the size of the pearl bead I had used. I used a wire cutter to liberate a bead from the pin shaft. Plopped the bead in the spring straw and TA-DA lovely, luxurious foam to wash hands.

New Purpose

Gilding supplies I ordered arrived last week. First thing I did was to make a batch of shell gold.

 I poured off the contents into this little tea cup to dry. The cup was just sitting in the curio cabinet. A souvenir from a trip to the United Nations many, many moons ago. A pretty cup, but not large enough for a decent cup of tea. Now, the cup has a new purpose.

 Perfect for holding the shell gold. The saucer can act as a lid to keep the dust and Ink out.

Project Preparation

So much planning takes place before pen is put to paper. In the altered book project, there's a lot of testing of materials. How badly will wet media warp and curl the pages? How many coats of gesso (like a primer) will be needed to give the book pages some strength, but not totally obscure the print? I decided I rather liked the look of the old book pages so after the gesso dried, I dyed the pages with tea. Old books sometimes had gilt edges. Could I paint the edges of the book to "gild" it without the paint seeping onto the pages? What would work best gold watercolor or gold mica powder mixed with gum arabic? How many book pages would be needed for the text?

April is National Poetry Month

To celebrate, Masscribes, the Massachusetts and Rhode Island calligraphy guild is having an exhibit  called New England Poets, Calligraphic Interpretations. The exhibit will be on display at the Norfolk Public Library during the month of April. All guild members in good standing (i.e. your dues are paid up) are invited to participate.

Warnings about checking copyright were in the guild flyer. Supposedly, things written before 1923 are now in the public domain, but there's a big caveat. Just because something was written before 1923, doesn't mean it can be used without obtaining permission.

 I came across the poem There Is No Frigate Like A Book by Emily Dickinson, but the copyright is held by the Harvard Press which holds the copyright to most of her poems. (Thanks, Andy for answering my questions about copyright). Bummer because I really liked the poem. Some of her other poems are in the public domain, so I chose In A Library another appropriate poem to interpret for a library venue. I thought I would use an old book for my substrate, but a call to the exhibit chair nixed the idea. The library doesn't have any sort of display for a 3-dimensional piece. All work submitted must be framed and ready to hang. Bummer.

When I did some rough calculations as to the size for this poem to be framed, I came up with a 16 inch by 20 inch frame with a writing area roughly 11 inches by 14 inches. I don't have the wall space in the dollhouse to hang something this big, and I don't have any place to store it. Besides, I like the poem, but I'm not in love with it as a framed piece.

I thought long and hard and have decided not to enter the show. I still want to interpret the poem by altering an old book. I had one of my dad's college textbooks. The spine is broken and torn, and has no value beyond its sentimental value. I'll rescue the book from the trash and give it new life.

I have some library contacts so when the piece is finished, I'll see if one of them would like to put my book on display. Hopefully, the librarians won't have a heart attack to see a book used as a canvas.

Repurpose

Found this vase while cleaning at the old homestead. I really like the color and the shape. Doesn't it make a holder for pens, pencils, and brushes?

Do you have a holder for pens and pencils or do you just leave them scattered on your desk?