Day 8: Our Favorite Things-Art Supplies Series: Paper!

Welcome to Day 8 of
"Our  Favorite Things - Art Supplies!" Series.  

In no particular order; Jodi, Penny, and Jean will take turns sharing a few of
their creative must-haves.

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Greetings, gentle readers!  Pardon our fumble, yesterday -- we are back in the groove, and in keeping with the wisdom that "good things come to those who wait," we will carry on with our countdown and if you have been waiting to to weigh in with your own favorite things, now you will have an extra day!  We can hardly wait to hear about the things you love to work with! 

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Hello, gang -- Penny here, again.  At the risk of appearing a "one note wonder" my final installment in our countdown once again features PAPER.  Don't get me wrong, I love paints, markers, inks, brushes, canvases, and all manner of artful goodness!  However, the starting point for virtually any project is usually the same for me:  what paper best serves to tell the story I wish to relay.

Vintage dictionaries (loaded with woodcut illustrations), atlases (colorful representations of faraway lands),
ledgers and stock certificates (with their patinas of handling and age related wear), and onion skin paper.
...these are a few of my favorite things!

Today, I have turned my camera on some of the treasures in my collection -- okay, fair is fair -- VAST collection of vintage papers to share with you the utter joy I find in working from this point of origin.  Having previously discussed my appreciation of quality Art Papers, and utter amazement at the sheer volume of Handmade Papers, I am now focusing on the heart of my horde -- vintage papers.

The vivid colors and fine details of lithographed cigar bands.

The muted colors and sequential numbers of British bus tickets.

The beautiful engravings and foreign mystique of Chinese commodity coupons.

Labels and tickets and coupons, OH MY!  I am not really sure how it started...  I remember playing Post Office with my cousin as a young girl -- using the "lick and stick" magazine stamps from Publishers Clearing House as our postage stamps.  The simple pleasure found in folding on the perforations, the satisfying whisper as the coupon was cleanly separated from rest of the sheet...  For as long as I can recall, I have been enamored with all things paper!

Old calendars yield beautiful illustrations (and all those NUMBERS!?).  Unusual bits and pieces can add an exotic flair or surprising 'pop' to virtually any creative undertaking.  Is it any wonder I can't seem to get enough of these treasures?

Birds from two old calendars find new life amid dictionary pages
in this mixed media triptych.

Altered tickets burst from a tiny blizzard book constructed from an index page of a vintage atlas.

 

An embossed cigar box label becomes a shadow box, framing the island of Sicily.
A tiny bird from a tea card peeks in.

So...  How about you? 
Do you have a favorite "oh, you can't throw THAT away"
ephemeral notion? 
Is there a 'certain thing' that you always have your eyes peeled for
during an outing to thrift stores and/or yard sales?

For your chance to win our Fabulous ReMe Favorites Prize Package, please post your answer to the question below, in the comments section.  You'll also earn an extra entry for each time you share this post on social media.  Just be sure to post a link to your share here for us to count your extra entries.  (All entries must be received by 12:00 Noon, EST, on September 4, 2015.)

 

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In less than two months, ReMe Retreats will return to Ocracoke,
and there’s still time to join us!

Please use the link on the left side of this page to register.

When the link disappears, we’re full to capacity.

 

6 Days and Counting....What is ReMe?

It's hard to believe we only have 6 sleeps remaining before returning to the Outer Banks for our flagship retreat on Ocracoke Island!  We call it our flagship retreat because it is the first incarnation of our dream to provide an intimate retreat for artists and creative individuals, who crave an experience that fulfills their mind, body and soul.   ReMe provides the opportunity for our guests to Rest, Relax, Renew in a variety of ways such as: great food, inspiring classes,   peaceful and recharging 'field trips', an infusion of island history, along with plenty of time and places for the guests to be still and reflect in the midst of the comforting salty air of the sea.

 Working with our students to create personal works of art that speaks to their individual nature, its a much more relaxed pace then trying to do the same in a large crowded room.

We found that we could start recognizing each other 'by the sound of their laugh', said student Debra Gabel...so true, and we loved hearing the laughter waiver throughout the house in both our May and October Retreats.

 We found that strangers could bond as fast friends and confidants during the course of the week. There's so much truth to the saying, 'seven degrees of separation'.  The connections and coincidental experiences we discovered about one another was unreal.

We had no idea what to expect at either of our flagship retreats in 2014 but we knew each event would take on a life of its own organically because of our unique and amazing guests.  In 2015 we are sure that the magic will continue between our amazing guests.

 Sharing stories after a fabulou meal, toasting to our new friends and experiences,  was a daily occurrence after classes and events. How lucky we are to be pursuing our dreams in the company of our growing ReMe sisterhood?!  

We hope that you can continue to follow this blog and  perhaps join us in one of our upcoming new events for 2015 and beyond.  

We promise to make you feel special and help to recharge your spirit in every way.

 ReMe is more than a retreat.

It's about Connection.

It's about being Brave and stepping out of your comfort zone.

It's about friendship.

It's about Art and Living a Creative Life.

It's about pursuing dreams.

It's about laughter.

It's about creating something magical.

It will fill your well with memories to carry you through whatever is next.

ReMe is about living life and not waiting until tomorrow.

 ReMe is about being present for the moment before it slips away.

To say we are looking forward to our new 'class' of 2015 in both May and October is an understatement....but without further adieu, from all of us at ReMe-we have lots of work to do ;)

If you are interested in joining us for a ReME retreat, we have a few spaces open for our October experience. This retreat includes most everything other than your travel to the event.  Classes, food, lodging, supplies, and many extras are just some of the things you can expect at ReME.  The sidebar at the left provides a link for the down payment so you can easily join in on this R-emarably  E-extraodinary  M-emorable E-xperience.