During the month of October, I worked on collaging a group of table-topper Chalices for the First UU Church of Houston's Centennial celebration auction (1904 - 2014). Our decorating committee made the chalice bowls out of papier mache and then they all came to my house. Thus it was chalice city! The chalices-in-progress seemed to take over both my art room and our dining room. Sometimes I had to do further papier mache work before hot-gluing the bowls to the cones. Next they were primed, and then came various stages of decoration including more paint, various papers, lace or cloth, not to mention more paint. One gal on the committee was able to come over one day, and she enjoyed collaging one of the chalices. If there had been more time, it would have been great to share the decorating with a few more brave souls. Finally, there were twenty candles with flames to create.

 

 If you read my most previous post, you know I was having vision problems, but I was able to work on the chalices with one eye shut. And now my vision is about 85% better! So I am hoping this problematic health episode will soon be over. The auction took place November 1st, and I am heaving a big sigh of relief that all this work is behind me. It was both fun and torture. I learned plenty about collaging on rounded surfaces.

This was the first chalice, the prototype of sorts.

 

 

 Here is one that is covered with scraps of cloth for a patchwork effect. I actually learned this technique decades ago as a children's librarian, when we used glue-soaked fabric to make pencil cans. This photo was taken using my new light tent I purchased to better photograph the chalices, and I think I am going to love working with it more in the future.

 

Here is another one done mostly with vintage-themed scrapbook papers.

 

 This one involved some lace I long ago inherited from my mother's sewing box. The flower is made of paper coated with acrylic gel, attached with a dainty button. The shape of the chalices are a little funky due to the papier mache methodology, but people have told me that adds to their charm and handmade look.

 

 

 And here is the final one bearing the logo for our fundraiser.

 

Now I am taking the month of November to relax and giving my eyes a rest. More than anything right now, I crave a feeling of elbow room in my days.  All I have been doing in the way of art since the chalice project ended is making small Collage magnets to sell at holiday sales.

 

Lovely to be free again to create whatever art I might envision... I had been working larger, aiming for completing several canvases using fusion collage methods, but right now I feel rather disinterested in anything that makes a major mess. The fusion collages will have to wait awhile, as they do get messy. Yes, I am a neatnik. It feels so-o-o-o good to have put away all the supplies needed for the chalice project and have a neat art room again. I am looking into a few little art projects that I can do with my niece when she is hear at Christmastime. My resolve to take it easy this month feels firm. All through college, I threw pots and created silver jewelry to help pay my room and board. Somehow that turned me into a production mode artist. I tend to work in obsessive series. For the time being, I am beating that back with a stick. Onward through the fog!