Few of us like to play favorites, but there are certain things that we’re bound to prefer. So when the Interweave team asked for the editors’ top 25 mixed-media resources, my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to peek at what my colleagues were saying.
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| Jane Davenport’s video download The Whimsical Face is one of Jeannine Stein’s faves. |
“If I had one ounce of the talent Jane Davenport has, I’d be a happy camper,” said Jeannine Stein, editorial director of Cloth Paper Scissors (CPS). “Let’s take her ability to draw faces, for instance. Jane can draw faces like no one else—they are elegant, compelling and, yes, whimsical. I always had trouble drawing faces—mine used to look like a police sketch—until I watched this. She breaks down each aspect of drawing a face, making it effortless. Jane’s teaching style is so relaxed and comfortable that the whole experience just made me feel good.”
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| I love to browse through Joanne Sharpe’s The Art of Whimsical Lettering when starting a new journal page, making a poster, or just signing a birthday card. ~Cherie (“pin” this on Pinterest!) |
“I am a major doodler, and am especially fond of creating special lettering techniques to grace an envelope or special gift,” said CPS assistant editor Barbara Delaney. I love the color and exuberance that The Art of Whimsical Lettering offers. The techniques are simple and fun, and Joanne guides you to creating your own personal lettering with success.”
I have to say that agree with these choices, and many more that are included in the Editors’ Choice Top 25 Resources sale at Interweave. One of my personal favorites? I’d have to say a subscription to CPS. Each issue features so many different artists and techniques that I always find something new that I want to try. Here’s a little snippet so you can see what I mean.
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| Treasure box by Julie Ducharme Fallone |
In the September/October 2014 issue, Julie Ducharme Fallone explains how she makes treasure boxes, such as that above. “I start with pretty paper,” she says. “I used to work in a scrapbook store and I have a good-size collection, covering a wide variety of types, textures, and patterns. But recently my horizons have expanded and I’ve begun scouring used book stores, looking for books with interesting designs or illustrations that wouldn’t mind being torn up and drenched with Mod Podge®. The older the book the better. These old papers seem to be more forgiving, and behave almost like a piece of fabric.
“Once the boxes are covered with paper, I like to give them ‘feet,’ raising them up off the ground to create a more sacred space for their contents. I find that wooden beads or knick knacks from the doll house aisle work best for this, and I’m a fan of Super Glue® for attaching them. When I have this basic platform completed, I leave the box out and I live with it for a while. Sometimes, I carefully arrange pieces on it, but I leave them unattached as if to audition them. If an item doesn’t feel right it doesn’t make the cut, and something new will present itself.”
See what I mean? Don’t you just want to get started making your own treasure box now? That’s how I feel every time I browse an issue. But for now, I’ll wrap this up so that you and I can both get back to “making.” Make sure you check out the Editors’ Choice sale, and let us know what your favorite resource is by commenting on this blog post!
Until next time,
