Thursday, March 14, 2013

Women in the Arts


Last night I was privileged to take part in a reception honoring Women in the Arts.  This was sponsored by the Texas State Conference of the DAR at the historic Julia Ideson library in Houston.

This building originally opened in 1926 and was designed by Ralph Adams Cram who was one of the country's foremost practitioners of Gothic and other revival styles. He also designed the campus plan for Rice Institute (now Rice University), the campus of Princeton University, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and St. John the Divine Church in New York City.  The Spanish Renaissance style of the Ideson library is so appropriate our city’s heritage.

This beautiful library recently underwent a $32 million dollar restoration.  The carved woodwork, tiles and murals are gorgeous.


The reception honored professional artists and award winners.  We were asked to bring a few pieces to display. This is the entry to the second floor reading room where the artists’ work was displayed.

And this is the reading room with the original 1926 tables and chairs.



My display

My sweet husband and daughter came to the reception.

Conference co-chairs Anthony Startz & Martha Hirsch presented certificates to all the Women in the Arts honorees.
Group photo of the honorees
That's Judy Saks Rosenthal seated in the center.  She was the organizer of the  reception, and a wonderful artist herself.

It was a lovely evening and a real honor for me to take part.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

A few of my Valentine dolls from over the years......







Happy Valentine's Day!!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Just for Fun

The packaging on some of my Christmas presents this year was so pretty I hated to put it in the recycle bin.  So I did some recycling of my own and made paper dolls.  Here are some of the materials I used from those lovely packages.



The inside of the packaging is white so I glued colored card stock to the backs of my pieces.


I colored the white edges of each piece with a sharpie.....


The face is drawn with prisma pencils.

I used brads to connect all the body parts.  Here is my brad drawer....

I start the hole for the brad with an awl

then enlarge the hole with a paper punch 

so the brad can be inserted.
I like the way the packaging is printed so the brown part looks like a belt.  And the brad forms the belt buckle.

the back side

The brad allows movement in the paper doll.

The arms are attached the same way.  Little trims are added last.
These are pretty flower brads at the shoulders, with a white bead glued on top.


My first creative project of the new year.  Something simple, but fun!













Friday, December 21, 2012

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Stationery card
View the entire collection of cards.



Saturday, December 15, 2012

Art for the Trees pt. 2

The Art for the Trees benefit was a success! Our local Channel 39 TV station came to cover the event, and two of my pieces are pictured on the news clip!


So far, $8,000 has been raised for the Memorial Park Conservancy. Our goal is $10,000 and we are almost there! All of the artwork at the event is now in an online gallery. Click on the individual artists' names to see their artwork.
My personal page is here.
Please check it out, and if you are so moved, you can make an art purchase and help reforest Memorial Park. Or you can just make a donation to the cause here
Thank you to everyone who came to the event, purchased art, or made a donation!
Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Art for the Trees

Last year we had a terrible drought in Houston which killed half of our Memorial Park’s tree canopy. I was delighted to be asked to be part of “Art For the Trees If You Please” a benefit to raise money for the reforestation of Memorial Park. This event will take place on Tuesday, December 11th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Mixed Emotions Fine Art Gallery located at 95 Tuam Street in Houston. I’m honored to be one of the participating artists and will have work for sale at the benefit. Lots more information about the event can be found here:





Friday, November 30, 2012

December Art Events

I'm participating in two special events in December. The first is Lucia’s Garden Holiday Open House, this Sunday, December 2, from 1-5 p.m. Lucia will have her famous Christmas and Winter Potpourris, mulling spices, scented candles and oils, ornaments from around the world, and other treasures. Debbie Tubbs will be there with her luxurious handcrafted goat’s milk soaps and lotions. I will be there with angels, snowmen, holly leaf elves and other winter whimsies. If you are in the area I hope you'll stop by and enjoy refreshments and a cup of Holiday Tea.

 
Lucia’s Garden
2360 W. Alabama
Houston, TX  77098
713-523-6494

"Holly Harmony"  Janet Bodin ©2012

The next event will be an Art Benefit to raise money for the reforestation of Memorial Park in Houston. The 2011 drought killed half of Memorial Park’s beautiful tree canopy. “Art For the Trees If You Please” will take place on Tuesday, December 11th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at

95 Tuam Street
Houston, TX  77006
713-861-9666  

I am one of the participating artists and will have work for sale at the benefit. You can find different ticket purchasing options and more information about the event here: