Copper Pendants or ???

On our last day in Suzan Kraus's workshop, we made copper pendants by cutting out copper sheets, distressing them with hammers and heatguns, and weaving inserts to go behind their little "windows". These are some of my results. (The copper colors don't show well due to the scanner light.) They are about 1-1/2" square, excluding embellishments.

Be sure to click on the image for a larger view.

Feminine Memory Vessel

In Suzan Kraus's Signs & Symbols workshop, hand-writing with our off-hand, collage techniques, personal symbols and memories ... all were included in our Feminine Memory Vessels ... rather a high-falutin' appellation for my old cigar box, but a fun and interesting project. I wasn't totally pleased with my end-result, but it's worth presenting here, with all its flaws.

Signs & Symbols Collage Workshop

I recently took a 4-part collage workshop with Suzan Kraus at the Jung Center here in Houston. It was based on the 5 universal signs and symbols, and included inspirations and techniques for various collage projects. Suzan is a wonderful teacher, very kind and generous, and we all had a great time. I took pictures of some of the students on the last day, and got everyone except Anne, who must have been visiting the "necessary" while I was shooting! She's a lovely lady who also contributed a lot to the class ... sorry, Anne, I'll catch you next time!




Suzan Kraus, doing a demo.


Susie & Laura, heatin' & dancin'

Mary Ellen, weaving copper & paper

Suzan & Nancy collaborating



Patricia heating up the place.

Christy & her bright weavings.

Mothers and Daughters

I neglected to post this little encaustic (beeswax) collage I had done for my Mom for Mother's Day (which I guess is appropriate since she didn't receive it until Father's Day!)

Simple unbleached beeswax embedding collaged images; stretched canvas support. The coiled copper wires represent both the telephone lines that my maternal grandmother handled as an early telephone operator, and the ties that bind the female members of my family.