this library’s special

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Salley Mavor

This past Sunday, the Woods Hole Public Library held a wonderful reception to celebrate my most recent book, Pocketful of Posies. Words cannot express how honored I feel by Molly Bang and my other friends who spoke. I was so touched and humbled by the outpouring of support from the people who came to see my artwork and hear the presentation. It makes me proud to have grown up and live in such a creative little corner of the world. Thank you, Terry McKee for conjuring up and arranging this wonderful event!

Here I am, signing books at the circulation desk.

Some very special people came, like my RISD teacher and agent, Judy Sue Goodwin-Sturges. She talked about the beginning of our relationship 35 years ago and passed around “Mr. Mole”, which I had handed in (after pulling an all-nighter) for a class assignment (sorry, no picture).

The amazing April Prince, who writes, edits and makes things happen at Studio Goodwin-Sturges also showed up.

The finished and framed Rabbitat picture was displayed on an easel and about half of the original fabric relief illustrations from Pocketful of Posies lined the library’s main room on top of the book shelves. I’ve had to take away the artwork, but one piece will remain for a few months, the illustration from There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. People loved seeing the Rabbitat film (read posts about it here) and commented that it gave them a clearer insight and appreciation of what I do. I haven’t had time to put the film on this blog or my website, but the filmmaker, Daniel Cojanu is showing it on vimeo here.

I wish I had more pictures of the people who came to the event and the cookies Terry and I made, but my husband Rob (the designated photographer) and I were much too busy participating in the festivity. On Monday, Rob and I drove artwork to Vermont, where my show Salley Mavor: Sewn Stories will be showing at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center until February, 2012. Yes, we’ll be returning for the opening on Friday. It’s been quite the week, month, year!

Rabbitat film premiere at Woods Hole Library

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Rabbitat film by UnderCurrent Productions

This is a week of waiting for delivery trucks to pull up into my driveway. Eleven boxes full of artwork from Pocketful of Posies are in transit from Iowa and a stack of UV Plexiglas is loaded in a truck barreling down some US highway between Illinois and Massachusetts. It seems that no matter how well one plans ahead, everything happens at once, at the last-minute.

I’m confident that by Sunday, July 10th, the artwork will have arrived, so I can display it at the Woods Hole Public Library reception as advertised. (Update: they’ve just arrived) The UV Plexiglas isn’t so important because I can always put a temporary piece of regular glass in Rabbitat’s frame. I ordered UV Plexi for every piece that will be in the show at the Brattleboro Museum and was hoping to replace all the glass before driving the artwork up to Vermont next Monday. Confused yet? Without boring you with any more logistical details, let’s just say that this is a very busy week with 2 events occurring back-to-back, with no time for breathing (or stitching) in between. I did manage to finish a wedding banner for my son’s friend, which I’ll show in a future post. Also, my friend Terry and I made cookies ahead and they’re in the freezer. The good news is that the 7.25 minute Rabbitat film is finished and ready for its premiere at the Woods Hole Public Library Reception.

And yes, I’ll eventually put the Rabbitat film on this blog and/or my website when I have time to figure out how. (Update: See the film and read related posts on this new page)

Here’s the schedule:

Sunday, July 10th 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Woods Hole Public Library, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Reception to celebrate the Boston Globe Horn Book Award and Golden Kite Award for Pocketful of Posies. Original illustrations from the book will be displayed and I’ll give a brief talk. A short film about the making of my newest piece, Rabbitat will be shown.

July 15, 2011 – February 5, 2012 – Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, Vermont, Salley Mavor – Sewn Stories. (exhibit includes 8 original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies , 11 other fabric relief pictures and the Rabbitat film)

And later this fall:

October 15, 2011 – 3:00 pm, Brattleboro Literary Festival, Brattleboro, Vermont. I’ll give a slide talk about my work at the Brattleboro Museum.

new page added-FAQ

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Salley finishing “Rabbitat”, May 2011

The same questions keep coming up about my work, so I’m adding a page of Frequently Asked Questions. Things like, “Do you use a sewing machine?”or “Will you write another how-to book?” or “May I make and sell dolls from your book, Felt Wee Folk?” I’ve already written about most of the issues on this blog, but I can’t expect everyone to spend hours combing through all 233 posts.

See the FAQ page here.

weekend in Muscatine, Iowa

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I spent the weekend in Muscatine, Iowa, giving a doll making workshop and attending the reception for the Pocketful of Posies Exhibit at the Muscatine Art Center.

The 50 original fabric relief illustrations fit perfectly in the museum’s modern exhibit space, which is an addition built onto an old mansion. The lighting was so well done that it looked as if there was no glass protecting the artwork. Thank you to Katy, Barb and to the other staff at the museum who made the show look so good! My artwork will be on display until June 19th.

In Saturday’s workshop, we spent all day wrapping pipe cleaners and sewing little felt clothes for our dolls.

Everyone made at least 2 figures, with fairies being the most popular.

In the past, I’ve learned that my students get stressed over painting the faces, so I brought bead heads that I had painted ahead. That way we had more time to sew.

This well dressed little guy is being fitted with shoes. We had a great time working and chatting together. Marcella found out about the workshop on this blog and drove all the way from Wisconsin to make dolls with us! Sorry, but there are no more workshops planned.

At the reception on Sunday, I met Elaine and her 2 daughters, who came the longest distance–from Texas! She saw on this blog that the Iowa location was probably going to be the closest to her, so she planned a trip around coming here. This home schooling, children’s book loving family also toured several Little House on the Prairie sites in the midwest, including ones in Wisconsin and S. Dakota. Impressive!

Pocketful of Posies and workshop in Iowa

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Go to bed first, a golden purse, from "Pocketful of Posies" 2010

The original fabric relief illustrations from Pocketful of Posies are currently on display at the Muscatine Art Center in Muscatine, Iowa. The exhibit will be up through June 19th. (See traveling exhibit schedule here) I’ll be flying out the weekend of May 21/22 to take part in some events at the museum. On Saturday, May 21, from 10:00 to 5:00, I’ll be teaching a doll making workshop (call the Muscatine Art Center to register). Also, a reception will be held on Sunday, May 22 from 1:00 to 5:00 and I’ll give a gallery talk at 2:00. I’m looking forward to experiencing some warm mid-western hospitality and hope to meet some of you at the workshop and reception!

So far, this is the only scheduled doll workshop on the tour, since I’ve pretty much stopped teaching. I figured since I’m traveling out to Iowa for the weekend, we might as well get together a group of people who want to do my favorite activity, stitch and make little dolls, that is.

detail from "Pocketful of Posies" 2010

“Posies” Traveling Exhibit update

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Last week, 2 new venues contacted me about bringing the Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit to their area. It didn’t take long to work out the details, so, I’m happy to announce that the Mahopac Public Library in Mahopac, New York and Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, Illinois have been added to the schedule.

detail from "Pocketful of Posies" 2010

I’ll be giving a talk in Mahopac and we’re still working on a plan for my visit to Cedarhurst. In the next month, all of the illustrations, except for “Molly My Sister and I” (it’s touring with the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show), will be packed and shipped to Muscatine, Iowa for a couple of months. Check the schedule for the exhibit dates and when I’ll be there for a doll making workshop and gallery talk. I already know that some my blog followers will be there for the workshop!

As mentioned in earlier posts, I’m arranging exhibits of the original artwork from Pocketful of Posies through 2013. If a suitable location is within reasonable driving distance from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I will consider delivering the artwork. Of course, a “reasonable distance” changes according to where and when. Otherwise, the hosting venue is responsible for shipping costs. Because of these limitations, I have not yet been able to find many organizations outside of New England with the funding for the transportation of my artwork. But, more and more people are finding out about the book and the show, so I’m hoping to send the show far and wide, so as many people as possible can see the originals! Please contact me at weefolk@cape.com if you would like more information.

thursday book signings

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Salley Mavor

On the next two Thursdays, I’ll be signing copies of Pocketful of Posies at 2 locations in Massachusetts. I hope to meet some of you there!

"Little Miss Muffet" from Pocketful of Posies, 2010

On Thursday, February 24, at 11:00 am, I’ll be at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee, MA. 16 original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies (including Little Miss Muffet) are currently on display until March 31st. See other venues for the Traveling Exhibit here.

Also, I’ll talk about my work and bring some original illustrations to show on Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00 pm, at the Andover Bookstore in Andover, MA.

2 new displays

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I’ve just set up 2 new displays of original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies. Sixteen pieces are hung on this blue wavy wall at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee.

display at Cape Cod Children's Museum

I’ll be there to meet people and sign books on Thursday, February 24 at 11:00 am.

display at Cape Cod Children's Museum

The Sandwich Library has a nice display case that holds 9 pieces. The artwork is OK under the lights because the frames have UV protected glass. Both displays will be up through March, so if you’re in the area, do stop by! In April, the show will be traveling to Iowa. See the schedule here.

Sandwich Library

snow delay

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Salley Mavor

This morning, I was all set to drive the artwork over to the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee for the next installment of the Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit. But, we’re having another snow storm, so I’m delaying the delivery until Thursday, when the storm should have passed through. I’ll probably deliver artwork to the Sandwich Library on Thursday as well. They have a nice display case where I’ll set up some originals from the book. If your library has a decent sized locked display case and you are within a 3 hr. drive of Cape Cod, please let me know.

loading the elevator at the Danforth

On Sunday, my husband Rob and I picked up all of the illustrations from the Danforth Museum, where the show has been for the past 3 months. The museum’s director, Katherine French and her staff were wonderful to work with we’re talking about my return to the museum with another show in a few years. Not book illustrations this time, but stand alone fabric relief artwork. Katherine wrote this lovely review of the show:

“The Danforth Museum of Art has been pleased to host an exhibition of original art created for Salley Mavor’s Pocketful of Posies. Even the most jaded parent, reluctantly pulled into the gallery by an eager child, finds themselves engaged by fiber art at the highest level. Created with traditional craft materials, the artist creates small sculptures that are completely charming, yet intricate and complex. The stories she tells are simple, but demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of composition and sculptural form. They are, quite simply, extraordinary. ”

Thanks, Danforth Museum! Here we are, all packed for the journey home. My Subaru Outback is just big enough to fit all of the frames.

Pocketful of Borders: back cover

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I always make book covers toward the end of a project. In the case of Pocketful of Posies, I’d already spent a couple of years on the book before I was ready to tackle the all important jacket design. See the front cover in an earlier post here. Whereas the front requires a title and by line, all the back really needs is space for a bar code.

sketch for "Pocketful of Posies" back cover

I decided to make a child inhabited landscape and neighborhood without a clear up or down. This way, I could set the scene for the book, going from general to more specific inside. Day and night would be separated diagonally.

Since the illustration already had a border of leaves, I just had to make a pattern (in red paper) and cut the felt into the wavy shape.

Then, I blanket stitched around the entire outside edge with pima cotton. I also signed and dated the bottom corners with chained stitched embroidery floss. This original illustration is part of the Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA, which will be on display through January 23rd.