Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A flurry of fun

In between the serious business of preparing artworks for an exhibition, I have really enjoyed some play-time with letters and envelopes.

A young friend turned 10 on the weekend and here is the cover of his card. I was totally inspired by Jane Farr's envelopes for her children and even managed to buy some glaze pens here in Australia.  I didn't go back and look at Jane's post until after I'd finished; but there are some real similarities for sure!  Like the chunky letters and the coloured in letters...

©2011 Fiona Dempster Tom's birthday card (detail)
©2011 Fiona Dempster Tom's birthday card 
My brother Al and his fiancee Lorraine had their engagement party on the weekend, and we travelled to Brisbane and stayed overnight. We had a great night and I also had fun making up the gift-card-envelope thingy. Technical term.

It's Japanese-inspired and uses some paste paper I made as well as fragment of light Japanese papers that I did some Itajime dying of when we were in Calgary last year.

©2011 Fiona Dempster Al & Lorraine's engagement
©2011 Fiona Dempster Al & Lorraine's engagement
I sometimes need reminding about how much fun it is to play - to make folded envelopes, to write people's names for their birthdays. I know how much pleasure it give me to receive such hand-made and hand-written wonders, and I wonder why I don't do it more often myself? 

9 comments:

  1. Yes, playing is good for the soul-- these are gorgeous!

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  2. Making special cards is a favourite occupation of mine too, and a friend recently said she had kept every card I'd ever made for her. She must have a cupboard full! These are lovely Fiona, and I'll bet the thought and care put into each one is REALLY appreciated.

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  3. Ronnie and Jane - yes it's good to remember to play!

    G/TT - hope he thinks so!

    Jo - how special that your friend has kept them all. In this day of email it is still so lovely to receive a handmade card or postcard or envelope even!

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  4. F- I know you had fun 'doodling' but I also saw the smile on L's face when she got the package; and am sure T smiled as well. Good fun and good outcome. B

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  5. What fun! Thanks for the link love, Fiona. The results from your play time are wonderful, and they have no doubt brought joy to the recipients. I love the Itajime dyed paper - beautiful!

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  6. Thanks Jane - I was so excited to find the pens here! And the black on black looks so good!

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.