Hurricane Irene

and closed the door on the way out

Asheville, the city that has it all ... and with patchouli

Marbling Meets Cyanotype

Master Marbler Steve Pittelkow was running the class in the Book & Paper Studio when I was teaching at Penland. We found a vibrant & thrilling meeting of the minds & techniques.
We'll take our show on the road next spring - look for a weekend marbling & cyanotype workshop in May 2012 at Asheville Bookworks where you too can join the madness.  And check out Asheville Bookworks http://www.ashevillebookworks.com/ an amazing facility full of every type of book, paper & printing gear you would ever want to lay your creativity on.

Penland - 2011 5th Session "From Pulp to Print" team taught with Helen Hiebert

We made paper, mixed photochemistry, printed photographs & flew kites.

Seen from porch of lodgings one am while planning the day.

I made this with Beth Schaible, studio assistant in Letterpress & printmaker extraordinaire.

YES, we STILL CAN

Just in time for July 4th - I say, make the bald eagle the symbol of the recycling, tree-hugging, organic eating Left. After all, this is the legacy that saved the bird.

ah, my annual 4th of July Eagle Sighting Rant

under the mailbox, egglaying?

and this is the view from the other side; clever girl, picked a slope for leveraging her jumbo shell

not exactly private
were dug up & eaten by something within the afternoon

duck blinds - Lake Chickahominy

UVB lightbox

Panel holding fixtures:  32 x 23 inches
Panel height from base:  10 inches
Fixtures apced 2.5 inches on center

12 fixtures, 3 6-plug cords, one with easy toggle switch; fixtures may be staggered as in picture to provide broader coverage
Fixtures Suggestions - these are all fixtures that tax 15 watt T8 bulbs & do not have any part of the fixture along side of the bulbs to allow for maximum light spread; remove bulb cover to allow maximum light to reach printing frame:
Lights of America G9718P-T8-WH-I Undercabinet Light available at Amazon.com about $14 including shipping
Good Earth Lighting GLS9721-GROWWHI Fluorescent Grow Light Fixture available at Amazon.com about $20 including shipping

Bulb  F15T8/BL - 15W T8 18INCHES BLACK LIGHT LITE F15W/BL - this is an ultaviolet B or UV-B bulb
Bulb Manufacturers include:  Eiko, Hitachi
Bulb Cost $5-$15, depending on manufacturer, seller, quantity (check all in cost including shipping)

Shiny sides are aluminum foil wrapped poster board, pinned to top of light box.  Foil reflects light back into box & keeps from shining into the room where it can fog unexposed paper & damage eyesight.

Top board, to which fixtures are attached, was spray-painted silver for reflection.
Fixtures are attached without bulbs in because screws go in behind bulbs.
Bulbs supplied with fixtures were donated to resale shop.

Scrap plywood & lumber for supports used.
Total cost, including bulbs & can of spray paint (although I had some hanging around), approximately $290.

Size can be increased by making the box longer, adding more fixtures parallel to those pictured.  Continue adding with each additional fixture on 2.5 inch center.
This box fits on my table & prints 20x24 inch very well.

Momma Hen decided her chicks are ready to sleep with the big girls. 22 days old & full-on sleep-over.