First of all welcome to
3rd Anniversary Edition
of byhand - and especially welcome to the new subscribers!

And a special thanks to all the subscribers who have become Premium Subscribers. You're wonderful!

If you have tried to contact me in the last month and I have not responded, it is because I was given incorrect settings for my email by my new webhost! Grrr. Please try again!

Also

Some subscribers may not be receiving the email notification of the newsletter. Unfortunately this is usually due to
SPAM control.
If anyone has a bright idea how I can avoid this I'd love to hear it!!

Now on with the newsletter!!

This month the winner of the draw is:

Colleen Cavin
Portland OR

and because it's the anniversary issue, Colleen wins a larger handbound book than usual! Ah, timing is everything....

Congratulations ! Thanks for joining the byhand Family!

Many thanks
to all the artists who sent in decorated postcards for the
Third Anniversary Draw.
You may see all the wonderful submission in the
Subscriber's Gallery!

The winner of the random draw is:

Ellen Harper
also from Oregon
(gee it's really an Oregon month!)

Ellen had a choice between a handbound book and a selection of the new Gentle Thoughts rubber. She chose the rubbah!

Quietfire Design has new Rubbah on its way!
A few months ago I asked subscribers to send in favourite quotes for possible conversion to rubber stamps.
Congratulations to the following people who submitted their quotes!
(if your quote wasn't chosen this time, don't dispare - I'm not finished lettering yet! Some quotes I started and didn't like they way they were coming out so they were temporarily put aside! Keep those copyright free quotes coming.)

Kim, Vancouver BC
for the Life Journey words
Lorna, Kamloops BC
for If I had a Star
Nancy Q, Surrey BC
for It is said when it is the darkest
Leigh
for The only true gift
Holly, Revelstoke BC
for Learn to write your hurts in the sand
Lynese and
Anne, Sylmar CA
When this Christmas becomes a memory!

These fine subscribers will receive a complimentary rubber stamp
of the quote they submitted!
You're gonna love 'em!

Thanks and Congratulations!

The new rubber is available for viewing and purchase on the
rubber stamp pages.
Check out the changes!

While you're on the rubber page, you will find there have been pricing changes. Some of these reflect the fluctuating exchange rate between the US and Canada.
(it drives me crazy!)

If you are ordering by mail notice that the
Printable Order Form
is now in Alphabetical Order. Hopefully that will make it easier for you to fill out. Things are grouped together a bit, such as Nibs (both Mitchell and Brause) or Tags (this would include the paper and the metal tags). But all in all, it should work better for you. It also might be easier to cut and paste this into an email order than to cut and paste from the shopping cart (some of you have expressed frustration about that - sorry!)

And one more thing - In the next few weeks Quietfire Design should be able to accept (especially at Stampers Celebration!)

You will not be able to use your credit card online, but will be able to phone me with your information. Email me for details!

Join the supporters of byhand and become a
Premium Subscriber!
As well a supporting this newsletter you will receive a limited-release rubber stamp:

The width of this stamp will be approximately 3.5"

For more details, go to the
Premium Subscriber Membership
page. This membership will be $12 CAD or $10US for the remainder of 2004.
As a Premium Subscriber, you will receive a limited-release unmounted rubber stamp as well as first notification of new rubber and new byhand products!
Premium Subscribers have been given a fabulous time-limited offer on a whole bunch of the new rubber.....

Anniversary Postcard by Donna Knadle

Important links at your fingertips!

Back Issues of byhand

byhand Products shopping cool stuff for the creative spirit!

Quietfire Rubber Stamps

Acrylic Blocks for Rubber Stamps

Stamping Gallery

Subscriber's Gallery Page

Class Photos page

Links Page

Quietfire Design

If you're Canadian (like me!) and you'd like to order byhand products in Canadian dollars but don't want to wait for the mail system to deliver your cheque, there are alternatives! You can read more details here or email me. I'll try to make it easy-peasy! and soon should have a Visa of my very own!

To be a regular subscriber to the byhand newsletter, click here

To be a Premium subscriber to the byhand newsletter, click here

If you wish to contact me, my email address is: suzanne@quietfiredesign.com

or Quietfire Design, Box 1231, Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 7M1  Canada

To unsubscribe: send me an email saying 'unsubscribe'. I'll live.... (sniff)
To change your email address: send me an email with both your new and old address. Thanks!

Books to Inspire

The Book Artist Zine

In my travels on the internet, I found this new zine and thought I'd give it a try. In just checking the site, I see the premier issue is sold out and I'm not surprised! This zine is a wonderful labour of love for a group of artists.

The issue includes articles by a number of guest artists and the theme for the premier issue was Tags. Some articles have step by step instructions and there are loads of colour pictures which have been individually inserted with love.
There are 63 pages in the premier issue of The Book Artist. It is bound with a single ring with coordinating fibres attached and the top corners have been die cut into curves.
This publication is a keeper! I've already preordered Issue #2!

Meet the Belgian Eyelet Binding!

This workshop was recently test driven with the Bookmakers of Vancouver with fabulous results! See the Class Photos page to view their creations.

Gentle Thoughts

Stampers Celebration

Calgary Alberta Canada

If you're coming to Stampers Celebration, come on over to our booth and meet us! We'll have ATC's to trade and have a fun make and take table!

Susan Ewart, my acrylic friend will be there as well as Nancy Q (who is suppose to be visiting her Mom, but I'll have her otherwise engaged!)

Favourite things

When I designed the Italic letter sheet, I added extras of many of the letters (some are flourished variations) with the thought that they could be typeset into words.

Well, Yippee, Susan, my acrylic friend (she's really very muscular, not acrylic!), has come out with a
new acrylic block!
The Typesetter Block

This block will measure 4" x 6" and is perfect for setting the Gentle Thoughts Italic letters.

This particular block that I used was a test block and was 5" long instead of 6". (The production one will be 6" long.) I drew a line across the middle of the block and lined up the letters along it. Make sure that the slope of the letters is the same for every letter.

Here the image is inked.

This is the image face-down, stamping the letters. I used a product like Aleene's Tack it Over and Over to attach the stamps to the acrylic.

Here is the stamped word. Cool, eh?

The Typesetter Block will be initially available at Stampers Celebration
and will be generally available after that. It's cost is $8.00 CAD.
Please contact Susan at suzy_q@telus.net for more information.

Send me your "Favourite Things" suggestions and you might see it here!

I thought it was about time I did a little write-up on this fabulous group of artists! Our numbers hit 300 list members last week which I find amazing!

Just as the subscribers to this newsletter are an eclectic bunch, so are the byhandartists. Much of the art produced by this group you have seen in this and previous newsletters, but there is much more to be had by being a list member. We have rubber stampers, collage artists, calligraphers, fibre artists and probably some others that I haven't mentioned!

Energetic members of the group have taken on the tasks of hostessing some of our swaps and round robins.

Right now we have a Journal Round Robin on the go which travels to members in the Canada, the US and Taiwan

We have our second Deco round robin which stretches from Canada, the US, Scotland and Taiwan.

We've had a very cool techniques swap in which each person sent in a page of artwork incorporating a technique that they described in detail.

The Fairy Wand Swap will be the next major swap to take place between members of the group and I hope that I will be able to bring you lots of pictures of these creations in the coming newsletters.

Come join us! The more the merrier. Share your favourite quotes, ask a question, share a new website. Learn and have fun!

Elaine McLeod

Kaye Jorgensen

Virginia Hewson

Marie Johanovic
(our Australian!)

Nancy Quinn

Gabrielle Madsen

Couldn't decide which one of Gabrielle's to put in, so I added them both!

The Copper Skeleton Leaf

This scan is enlarged to help show the incredible detail that is visible in this small piece of copper. Overall approximate size of each copper plate is 1 3/4" x 3". Each one is an individual as each leaf is different.

$4.00 USD each.

Original Vintage Ledger Pages

What an amazing collage item. Each page is dated at the top with 1894 or 1895. Very cool!
Pages measure 8" x 12.5".

Glassine Envelopes in two new sizes - um, the photos show them a bit (okay, a lot!) out of proportion!

Copper Mesh Fabric

Spring Challenge

The byhand ATC Quotation Swap

Twenty-four brave artists have banded together to create ATC's for this swap. Watch this space next month for fabulous inspiration!

But in the meantime, I have to share Elaine's ATCs with you. A polite knock came at my door the other day (not the kind of knock you usually get from teenage boys...) and it was Elaine delivering her Quotation ATCs "byhand"!

All Elaine's cards were different and just too much fun not to share with everyone.

Elaine did a lot of searching on the internet with the Google image search. She uses it quite often, sometimes just for inspiration. For this project she searched for pre-Raphaelite artists. March hosts International Women's Day she thought the images were appropriate.

Each ATC has the original artists name and title of the work written on the back and then is altered by Elaine with the addition of a feather, or tiny beads or glitter or brads..... Every one is different!

She tried to put the quotes directly on the cards over the pictures but the clarity was not good so she went in a new direction, creating pockets for small quotation-bearing tags which could be tucked away inside the ATC.
I want to keep them all!

Suzanne's Schedule 2004

Quietfire Design (that'd be me!) will be heading out to teach and/or be a vendor
at these exciting events this year.

For more information on each of these events, click on the title and you will go to their respective website. All these websites are being continually updated so visit often.

This event will feature acclaimed fibre artists workshop instructors, seminars and presentations by internationally acclaimed speakers. It will focus on fibre's diverse functional and decorative forms with professional fibre artists from all over the Pacific Northwest.

Engaging presentations, seminars and dynamic workshop in
basketry, weaving, quilting, paper making, journal design, silk painting, embroidery, rug hooking, passementerie, indigo dyeing and more. Treat yourself and engage in a learning experience with acclaimed instructors and top fibre experts.

Visit the Fibre Arts Symposium web site www.fibrearts.iscn.ca for frequent updates or the Comox Valley Arts Council www.island.net/~cvcac. For more information contact cvcartscouncil@shaw.ca

My class at the Fibre Arts Symposium is
Stitching a Fibre Artist’s Journal: Creating your Own Handbound Book
Friday, May 14, 2004

AND

I will be a vendor throughout the symposium.

Quietfire Design is a Sponsor,
Vendor
and Instructor
at this wonderful 3 day event.

On Friday the 13th, I'll be part of an amazing group of vendors at the
Vendor's Market
from 7 to 10 p.m. Even if you're not involved in the conference, it's a fabulous opportunity to see the goodies these vendors have.

On Saturday the 14th, I'll be teaching a short evening class
The Altered Word.

Here is the list of instructors and their classes:
Suzanne Cannon: "The Altered Word"
Ewan Clayton: "A Study Workshop of the ALAettering and Working Methods of David Jones" and "Working With the Imagination:
Lorraine Douglas: "The Ruling Pen" and "Cut Paper Letters"
Jean Formo "Walnut Ink Meets the Book" and "Alphabet Inventions"
Kathy Guthrie: "Back in the Day"
Eliza Holliday: "Pointed Brush...The Dancing Hand" and "Graphite Techniques"
Martin Jackson: Uncials" and "Design and Layout"
Betty Locke: "Evoking the Muse"
Gaye Mackie: "Copperplate"
Cherryl Moote: "Sleight of Binding" and "The Journal: Form and Content
Peter Thornton: "The Creative and Expressive Potential of Italic" and "White on White"

NOTE: There may be slight changes or additions to classes as numbers dictate...full class descriptions, supply lists, housing and food information will be included in the course registration packet due out by the end of March.
Dates: Arrive in Lethbridge Sunday, Aug 15. Classes begin Monday Aug. 16 and end at noon on Saturday Aug. 21. Departure Sunday Aug 22. Cost: Approx $550 CAD. Full details in registration packet.

To hold a registration spot (classes will be filled according to registration number) send a $100 (cheque or money order made out to Kalligraphia '04) deposit to:
Connie Furgason
5105-24 Ave South
Lethbridge, Alberta
T1K 7C2
Canada
403-320-9092
e-mail: furgasonc@hotmail.com

Altered Slide Mounts - Little Gems of Artwork
by Patti Sandham

Recently Patti showed us her latest canvas for her creative passions: Slide Mounts! Below she describes how she decorated them. Thanks Patti! These a so wonderful!

A very few of the ones shown are plastic ones that I sanded and then painted with acrylic paint. The rest are cardboard mounts that come open and you fold and press them together.

Decorating Techniques:

1. Fold the slide frame on the crease line
2. Cut decorative paper to the approx size of the mount
3. Apply glue on the front and press on your paper
4. Trim excess paper with scissors or exacto knife, now you have the front half of the frame completely covered with paper.
5. Flip the slide over and in the inside edges use an exacto knife and cut an X going from corner to corner
6. Fold back the triangles neatly and glue down and now you have a neatly wrapped frame
7. You can repeat this with a contrasting type of paper ripped on the diagonal
8. Make a tiny label and glue on the front or stamp a word on the front
9. Cut out a tiny image to use for your framed subject and glue in from the back and then seal the frame closed and you have a tiny little framed miniature art!

You can use your slide to embellish any number of things or make it into a magnet for your fridge. I also tried this with a plastic slide that wasn't "open" and wrapped it and then mounted my picture from the back and then just glued a piece of paper on the back to cover up and it worked just fine too so you don't have to have the open type of slide.

I do like the cardboard slides best myself as one thing you can do easily is punch holes in them to add brads or eyelets or wire things on. I found once I got started I thought of all my decorative papers I had and wanted to try on the frames that I just kept going and going like the energizer bunny! LOL!
Now go forth and make slide frames.

More Stolen Moments!

Kathy O's Altered Page Card

Kathy O. recently sent me this lovely card. It is a scan of her vellum page from The Altered Book Project printed onto cardstock.

What a great idea! What a great page!

And More Stolen Moments!

Another great idea from Patti Sandham:

You can use your heat gun on sticky labels to peel them off without any tearing. I peel sticky price tags off the bottom of cardboard boxes or any paper products that I don't want damaged. I even peeled a cool looking sticky label off a beer bottle the other day to use in a journal page. I also heated up an adhesive postage stamp and it peeled off perfectly!

And Yes, Even More Stolen Moments!

Lorna's Passion for Clipiolas!

Lorna loves her Clipiolas, those delightful spiral shaped paper clips. She has spent a lot of time playing around with them and incorporating them into her artwork.

The little Tag Book to the left uses the clipiola as a closure for the book! Great idea!

To the right of the photo, Lorna has intermittently spaced clipiolas on a ribbon and glued them into place (if I know Lorna, she probably used Crystal Lacquer!). This is a perfect way to hang and display cards from swaps!

Very cool ideas Lorna! Thanks!

If there is any information you would like to see in this newsletter, let me know. Each month I will email you to let you know the new issue is published. If you know someone who would like to receive notice of byhand, just have them email me and I will put them on the list. Bye for now and thanks for visiting!

suzanne@quietfiredesign.com
(250) 723-0321 Quietfire Design

The original title lettering of byhand was done with a Mitchell's Roundhand Nib, size 0, and Higgins Eternal Ink. Quietfire Design Rubber stamps were used to create the other designs.