What You Know

"Work on what you know and what you know for sure you love."

Lynne sent me this quote on a sweet handmade tag....it helps cheer her on when she needs a jump start. I took it literally today.

After auditioning the tissue collage with my folded paper piece I realized it wasn't the texture I needed.  The catalog pages are matte and even though I used matte medium for the collage they don't seem like a right fit.

I will certainly use it...but for now I set it aside and worked with what I know I love...the catalog pages.  And I used a technique that I also know and love....fusing!

I ironed fusible webbing onto the back of a few colorful pages from the Gundrun's World catalogs.  I chose to fuse because I didn't want to overcoat or have any issues with glue...I wanted a clean, matte finish. I discovered that the fusible pages could be punched so for the first round I fused squares onto a stabilizer.  I started with a row on the diagonal...then built from there. Because the squares had fusible on the back...all I had to do was lightly press with an iron. I used a pressing cloth at the end to give it a good final press.

I like it....but it wasn't quite right either. It was a little too orderly and reminded me of the paper chains we used to make with gum wrappers growing up. I think I might have liked it better if I had fused the squares straight.

Next I fused some wonky strips together making a striped band....I can work with this! The vertical lines will be a nice contrast to the horizontal ones in the folded layer.

I will use it as a narrow insert between other art papers as part of the totem.

I'm still auditioning art papers...and may manipulate some a bit. But for now this stack is being set aside because it needs time and space....and a little mulling. I know it has potential. Onto more things I know I love....and maybe even a little cleaning.