Wednesday, October 1, 2014

October 2014


 

October 2014 Scribnote

COMMENTS FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON

Sometimes it is not easy to find time to work in the art room, but in the summer my daughters and my grandchildren come to visit and enjoy the pool in the backyard. My grandson is now 5 years old and can swing a mean bat, so we spend lots of time outside in the yard with me throwing and him hitting.  We even have bases so he can learn the sport correctly.  One day he hit the ball into the bushes and I went to retrieve it.  I knelt on the ground to look under the bush, and I was attacked by bees protecting their hive.  Ouch.  One sting was on the side of my face and the other on the inside of my leg near the knee.  I didn’t know how badly they would itch, especially during the night, and finally wound up at the doctor’s office where she pronounced it infected.  Great.  Now I needed an antibiotic, but was on the road to recovery.  Guess I should have been in my art room in the house instead of outside!  Now everyone is gone and I can do my chores in the morning and spend the afternoon in the art room.  Well, part of the time, I have a dress to finish sewing for one granddaughter and the 8-year old brought me a pattern so I can make her a dress a la Elsa in the movie Frozen.  I’ll have to squeeze in some artwork in between!
July’s meeting was highlighted by Barbara Fedder and her demonstration on pastels. Barbara Fedder showed us a demonstration on pastels. Barbara explained the different types of pastels soft to hard and what papers to use. Barbara’s demo was very informative and her work is realistic and exemplary. A group of sample papers including Pergamenta, Bugra and Arches Text Wove was passed out to members so that they can have paper to try different and nibs on or just keep to become familiar with different textures for future use. Thanks to Pat for spending an afternoon with me cutting up paper and putting them together for everyone.  

MCG's calligraphy for Trish Taylor
In August we had our annual picnic at my house and the weather was spectacular for us to be sitting outside enjoying the breeze.  We discussed instructors for next year, meetings for the rest of this year and a few other things thrown in.  We will all be making a 3 x 3 piece of art work, calligraphy, watercolor, etc., for a fellow calligrapher in Texas who is recuperating from a double lung transplant.  Trish Taylor creates beautiful work and we look forward to her being back with the Capital City Scribes group near Austin, Texas.  Trish has to live in Houston for a year to be near her doctors while she is healing so we thought we would send our good wishes to her.  By the time you read this, it has probably gone in the mail. 
 
We also discussed what our Christmas Exchange would be in December and have decided on an Animal Theme using whatever paper or canvas you desire and not being larger than 8 x 10.  It also has to have some sort of calligraphy on it, even one letter if that’s what you want to do. 
Next we drew out two names and gave away two $25. gift certificates for Paper and Ink.  Marty Mitchell and Jo McPherson were the recipients.  We all wanted our name drawn for that prize.  It’s always fun to buy more art supplies!



Anna Schlemma


Ginny VanderHey
 









And finally we had an accordion book exchange.  Paige McKean (daughter of Angie West) passed out the wrapped books and they were all stunning.  When one was opened, the creator talked about the theme that they used.  A lot of eye candy and everyone who made a book got to take another home.  These are a challenge for some, but the results are rewarding.  Thanks everyone for your artwork.  Also thanks to Jo Mcpherson who didn’t get her book done, but entertained us with the back story of how she envisioned the book coming together. 

Maureen Trubac

Pat and Angie West
 
On August 9, Anna Schlemma and I drove to Kalamazoo for a day of Gesso and Beyond with Tina Cronkite and the Pen Dragons at the Parchment Library. Tina went through making marks, sink art and gessoing pieces throughout the day which we thoroughly enjoyed.  At the end of the day, we all made a book with our pieces that we made.  As always, the Pen Dragons are a welcoming group and we enjoy being with them.
Maureens demo
Make and take


 



Our September meeting brought out 16 members to our monthly meeting and a demonstration of a Jacob’s ladder and a mini Jacob’s ladder by Maureen Trubac.  Thanks Maureen.  Now we all know another book design we can make.  There were several show and tell items including new books, an accordion book for a retirement celebration.


And finally, Anna Schlemma, Rose Kopec, Pat West and I will be going to an Art Retreat at Lake Louise in Michigan the third week in October which we are all so looking forward to.  This is Pat’s and my first time at the retreat and we are excited about spending a whole week doing art projects led by Rosie Kelly and Pam Pallsrud.  We hope to come to the November meeting with our beautiful show and tell.  We will probably have to bring our parkas and snowshoes since we will be quite a distance north for a week. Brrrr.
 
Luce Zolna – Marbling
Please keep March 21, 2015 on your calendar for marbling with Luce Zolna from Chicago.  We have seen Luce’s work at the Newberry Library many times and look forward to her working with us on Saturday, March 21, 2015.  More information to follow. 

Policy for MCG
Our workshops seem to have people sign up and then decide not to attend. We have been very generous in returning monies paid for the workshop if someone decides not to attend at the last minute, but we are going to have a change in this policy.  There will be a nominal fee if you drop out of the workshop.  If there would be an emergency, for instance, a birth of a child or grandchild, illness, etc., then the board will take this under advisement to decide on a course of action regarding a refund.  Also, if the workshop is filled and there is someone to take your place, that would also quality for a refund. So please, if you want to sign up for the workshop, make sure that you put that date on your calendar as a commitment.  We have a small calligraphy group and we struggle to fill workshops at times.  We need all of you to attend as many as possible so that we can continue to have quality instructors. 
Are you on Facebook? If so, look up your favorite calligraphers because they are on Facebook also.  I like to look at Barbara Close, Reggie Ezell, Julian Waters, John Stevens, Rachel Yallop, Pendragons, Capital City Scribes, Yukimi Annand, etc.  There is a lot of beautiful calligraphy on these pages that will get your inspired.  Also look at Joanne Fink and Barbara Lever’s Facebook Page.  And then, there is always Pinterest.  Oh my, so many places to be inspired!
 
PO Box in South Bend – Due to a lack of much mail at our Post Office box in South Bend, we have suspended any mail sent to that address.  If you have anything to send to the MCG, please send to Maureen Trubac 50685 Mercury Drive, Granger, IN 46530 or Ginny VanderHey 51854 Stoney Creek Drive, Elkhart, IN 46514. When monies are due for a workshop or dues, they will now go to one of these addresses.   


/WEBSITES TO ENJOY
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNuvi-fdutE (Yoke Pen Company – how to make a flange for an oblique pen holder)
http://www.gutenbergdigital.de/gudi/eframes/
 
 
 
I enjoy sharing new websites that I have come across in our blog.  If you come across something that you think would interest the whole group, please email them to Ginny or Renee, and we will get them on the blog for the next quarter. 
American Frame – Just a reminder that if you order from American Frame, please mention MCG, and they will give us a small stipend.
 
 
 
MCG Meetings for 2014
 
October –     Calligraflea – Bring tools, paper, etc., no longer used. Exact              instructions will be sent with the monthly reminder by Jo McPherson.
November – Holiday/Christmas Card Playtime
December – Christmas get together at Christ the King Church
                     Meeting at 10 am – noon.  Carry in lunch at noon.
                     Also, the exchange for this December will be a whimsical animal
                     (fish and mammals are included) on paper or canvas, any size that     
                     you wish but not larger than 8 x 10.
 
Cut the schedule of dates in the newsletter out, and put it on your fridge for future reference.
 
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Annual dues of $15 are due at the July meeting. Our annual dues have not changed in many years and are put to good use for supplies for our make it/take it meetings, annual raffle in August, and, at the end of the year, we give to local charities. Please remember to bring your dues to the July meeting or send it to Maureen Trubac, our treasurer.

OFFICERS
Ginny VanderHey, President 574/262-1345 gvanderhey@hotmail.com
Sharon Esmont, Vice President 574/272-5481 Sesmont@aol.com
Maureen Trubac, Treasurer 574/272–0733 maureentrubac@hotmail.com
Pat West, Secretary 574-612-9328 pwpatwest@gmail.com

Jo McPherson, Study Group Chairperson, jobakestwo@centurylink.net
Renee Tuveson – Blog Coordinator

If ever you would like to add to the newsletter/blog, please contact one of the officers, and we will get that information to Renee Tuveson. Something you have done or have seen would be welcomed into our information.