Shortly after the event was announced a crazy scheme occurred to me. I wanted to take something, something personal, a little gift, to each of the attendees and the Zentangle staff.
Bookmarks! I often make bookmarks out of bits of nice leftover paper or artwork that I've decided isn't going anywhere happy. Each one would be a unique piece, an original artwork. I had perhaps a dozen already, and wondered how many I'd need in total. I asked. My jaw dropped. I picked it up and said to myself, "I have time. I can do that!"
Oh, yes. Probably around 300. I got to work.
Among the final collection is a number of monotangle bookmarks including Crusade, Ginili, Knightsbridge, Lamar, Umble, Skye, Schway, and Zenith.
This was a perfect opportunity to slice up some almost finished - or even finished - artwork that was sitting in a drawer wondering how to make itself useful. I had quite a few pieces like that. One was a mandala on 16" mat board. I peeled off most of the backing to make them thin enough. Here it is, reassembled after becoming bookmarks. In most cases I added details to what was already there; everything outside the large ring of small triangles was added after being cut into bookmark strips. There were a few blank beige ones left that I haven't included here.
There are some that are rather unusual. One has funky chess pieces. Several have house parts: windows, roofs, and doors. Several have holographic strips. One has a rainbow ribbon. Some have washi tape. One is iris flowers and one has zentangle tiles in the background. Two have some handwriting. A few are parts of a landscape. Others (not shown) have decorative holes or unevenly trimmed edges.
I am impressed with all those bookmarks, what a lovely gift, they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! Do you spray them with fixative? I've made some bookmarks (I use colored pencils) and my hubby sprayed them but they came out rather rough. Any thoughts on what I might use instead? Thanks, Denise
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise! I used to spray them but now I get them laminated.
DeleteWow Margaret! You're a Dynamo! What fabulous and amazing bookmarks? I too use leftovers to make bookmarks, but use self-laminating business card covers. They don't seem to stand up very well. Do you use a home laminator or do you go out to a business? Which laminator or store? Thank you for the wonderful inspiration! :)
DeleteHi Deanne. I take them to Staples. They have a few lamination weights. I use the 5 mil. It's about $3/page.
DeleteWonderful idea and very lovely bookmarks and 334 of them? WOW.
ReplyDeleteOur sincere thank you for coming to zenAgain and teaching there as well. The added surprise that everyone actually got "Bremnered" is awesome. To own a piece of someone's art is sublime. I thought about the fact that all these precious pieces were original art and I wondered if perhaps the pen was permanently affixed to your hand. Otherwise, how would you ever get this much art done in a lifetime??? Our best to you, Rick and Maria
ReplyDeleteWow - what treasures. You are kind, thoughtful and generous and willing to take on a big challenge! Beautiful to look at all laid out like this - I feel like I'm in a magical sweetshop!
ReplyDeleteWow Margaret...! What an accomplishment! I am (once again) impressed. And they're all so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHoly Cats! Those are gorgeous. I'm inspired now because I have several larger ZIA's that never went anywhere. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gesture!!
ReplyDeleteThey are all so very beautiful. And I was one of the lucky ones to get one of your bookmarks. You taught an awesome class at ZenAgain. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou ROCK!!!! I wanted to go to ZenAgain so badly! Ugh! Thank you for sharing, just lovely Margaret!!!!
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