Red leaves | Pink wall

HOWZIT HOWZIT HOWZIT

Window Installation at the Fringe Arts

Thank you Chantal and Thessa for letting me put all this stuff in your window at The Fringe Arts on Kloof Street in Cape Town.

It's a long post with lots of photos and my thinking behind it is at the very end.

Detail shots of the base of the window.  I have used Spekboom in the book plant holders.  You can buy a tray of 6 for R20 at Lawtons currently and they are good for sucking up carbon.

and my new favourite thing - especially the horns made from tree branches

 Some nice members of the general public I met today

So what is this all about?

We throw away an inordinate amount of stuff.  It lands up on our rubbish dumps, in landfills, the oceans and maybe the recycling pile.  It bothers me a lot.  The lack of awareness and apathy of the general public bothers me even more.  Not just for waste but for day to day life as well and the stuff going on around us.  Maybe turning this ‘rubbish’ into something intriguing and beautiful will spark your interest.  And maybe the thoughts and quotes will make you giggle or strike a deeper chord with you.

And where do I get the ‘materials’ from?

The Books

I purchase them from the recycling pile at Oasis and CAFDA Charity shops.  These books were all destined to become paper pulp but now they have another little life.  The books I see being pulped break my heart but I can’t rescue them all.  My personal collection is already overflowing so unfortunately I have to let the majority go.

It seems we’ve been rolling books and magazines since the 60’s.  The oldest photo I found was of a pencil and pen holder in an old ‘Good Housekeeping’ magazine made from a magazine chopped in half with the pages rolled in. 

There is something incredibly satisfying about folding a book page in on itself and then moving onto the next one.  The repetitive action is the closest I get to meditation – similar I suppose to a walking meditation.  Maybe it's the movement that calms the mind.

The plastic bits of Flotsam

I am beach comber.  I love to wander our coastlines collecting all sorts of flotsam.  As a child I collected shells but the sad reality is that there are not many shells anymore.  So instead I have turned to flotsam.  I love the way the plastic has been worn and grinded down by the sea and bleached by the sun – I find these pieces heartbreakingly beautiful.  Each piece is completely unique and the worst part is that there seems to be a never ending supply of it.  

Much preparing going on for tomorrow

Excitement

There's so much going on.
And it's all good and interesting stuff. that's making me happy.


Tomorrow I install my window display at the Fringe Arts on Kloof Street and hang a few new pieces inside that will blow your socks off. Or at least I hope they will.  Think rolled books, long chains of hanging treasures and interesting shapes as well as Spekboom plants growing out of books. Not a bird or heart in sight!  Well, actually there is one heart  - I haven't lost my commercial sense all together.  Topping it all off are A1 size posters with quotes and thoughts, hand drawn or painted or printed or sewn, they will change every second day so keep an eye out.


I am working on another 2 privately commissioned book pieces as well which are giving my spirit a bit of a work out.


In the beginning of July I have a lovely holiday planned to the Eastern Cape for a bit of Grahamstown festival, a Great Karoo road trip and a wedding.


I came across these quotes while researching a get-together for creative entrepreneurs that I am planning for the end of July. I like them. They all sum up how I see my business.

A lot people never use their initiative because no one told them too

-Banksy

"Nobody talks about entrepreneurship as survival, but that's exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking. Running that first shop taught me business is not financial science; it's about trading: buying and selling."

- Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop

"Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you're generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don't make."
- Donald Trump

An Origami Lesson

I've just spent a very pleasant morning teaching a group of friends how to fold cranes and horses which they are doing for a friends wedding décor.  1000 cranes are needed in total for Luck so they are still folding steadily (and chatting and laughing and drinking bubbles and eating cupcakes).

I am always reminded during these lessons at how nervous we are as adults to learn something new.  The common denominator is always seems to be fear of failure and not making it correctly ie. I'll never be able to do that, I can't do crafty stuff, I don't get this type of thing... blah blah so it goes.

And then the best part is when everyone's stumbled through 2 or 3 cranes they suddenly click and realise they can do it.  And they have learnt something new that stimulates a part of their brain they'd forgotten all about.

green blue

Origami Lessons - Learn to Fold

Origami Lessons 

Winter 2012

Gather a group of friends and come learn to fold.  Enjoy some time exploring your creativity in a relaxed and fun environment.  We encourage you to bring along drinks and snacks and make an evening of it.  You bring the people and we will provide the space and teacher.  For comfort we recommend a maximum of ten - that way we can all sit around a table and everyone will get the attention they need.   Generally we will fold 2 of the following based on what everyone would like to do - choose from a horse, flower or crane as pictured.  Ideal for a special get together, team building or just spending time with your friends doing something a little different.

About Keri Muller:  
Paper artist, origami maker, collector, treasure hunter and maker of stuff.  Keri has worked on various projects ranging from large scale recycled paper installations, book artworks to quirky illustrations and a whole bunch of other stuff.  Learning to fold classes are now available due to the postive response received from other groups she has taught.  Feel free to get in touch with her for a chat if something else creative sparks your interest.  Please do visit www.simpleintrigue.blogspot.com for further information.

About 'Abi & Scarlett Retail and Pop Up Event Space:
 Abi & Scarlett have created a multi-faceted concept with a permanent shop, 'Abi & Scarlett Retail Space' on the groundfloor showcasing their own range of products as well as that of other artists.  The upstairs level, 'Abi & ScarlettPop up Event Space' is available for use by groups for a diverse range of activities from Pop Up shops to yoga to art classes and talks.  For further information and photos of the space please do visit www.abiandscarlett.com

Cost and details:
We recommend a weekday evening from 6pm.
The space will be open from 6pm to 8pm
Address: 36 Bay Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town
The cost is R750 including 1 hour of teaching time for up to 6 people and the studio space.  Additional people are charged at R80 per person.
The maximum class size is 10 people.

For more information or to book please email Keri - kerimuller@gmail.com

Possibility in yellow

Flotsam on a string

Kids party - making it a bit less wasteful

So it was my god-daughters birthday party on Saturday and her genius mother decided that she was not going OTT about it and instead they were having an eco theme. This meant no over the top buying of balloons, party packs, etc, etc.  Instead we made goodie bags, bunting and decor out of magazine pages. Quick, cheerful and the 8 year olds really didn't mind either way.

I am particularly chuffed with the goodie bags - Kathleen made these.  The bunting was my standard effort of ribbon and magazine pages cut into triangles.

  

Event work - POLITIKA at Cape Town Book Fair

I was commissioned to create various popup pieces and artworks for a publisher called 'Politika'.  This involved a broad range of styles including popup's of old photos and cartoons, making large scale books for artworks as well other multi-faceted elements to form part of their stand.

The Project was managed by Julie Scott of ID&B and the stand was built by Ulrich Binnedel.

The book cover - Evelyn Waugh: Brideshead Revisited

My collection of Evelyn Waugh books with this style cover is growing... great find.  Cover's a bit torn but it's still lovely.

A mini book

Published by Gallery Five Ltd, 1977
Illustrations by Jan Pienkowski
It measures 10cm x 8cm

Going patriotic

Private commissions for those you love

It's all private commissions a go-go
Just finished off these two for a client as presents for those she loves.  I've only included certain elements for interest and left out the personal stuff like the photos, names and memento's.

Secret Gardens

I've been spending a fair amount of time mulling over gardens and plants and things green and tranquil... which has led me down the path of finding all sorts of things I didn't know about.  What's heartbreaking is that they are all in cities where I was craving to find something like this... Oh well.

The Barbican Conservatory, London
Who knew this existed - how on earth did I miss it?
I found this photo by Pedro Silmon and more can be found on his website

Wise words - the most important thing...

Directly from Brainpickings.org
Point 16 of an article called 'How to find your purpose'
I am still learning and trying to remember this one


Hugh Macleod:  

The most important thing a creative per­son can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.  Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring. Know this and plan accordingly.”

Milnerton Market - Children's Book

Really sweet little picture book

Milnerton Market finds

It was a good day