SALLEY MAVOR

WEE FOLK STUDIO

valentine fly over

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Happy Valentine’s Day!I found this cute old valentine in my mother’s things. The pilot and her feline co-pilot are flying over my work table, which is covered with a new project I’ve been working on since the new year. I know its cruel to tease like this, but I wanted to show that I’ve been working. It’s a large piece and will probably take most of the winter to complete. I’m the type who needs to finish a project before showing any one. I’ve been taking pictures along the way, though. I find that I am lost in that magical creative space for long lengths of time and forget to step out of myself in order to take pictures, but I’m trying my best. This project is an ever-changing experiment, something I want to experience, without having to explain what’s happening during the process. That can come later. I’ll tell this much– there are rabbits involved!

Closeups (castles)

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Salley Mavor

The first image is a detail from an embroidered illustration I made for a class in 1974. The assignment was to make an album cover for a made-up band. Mine pictured a kind of folk/rock/ renaissance musical group with a landscape and castle in the background. I think this was the first totally stitched scene I made. I found a stitching how-to book at the library and followed the directions. Before this all of my embroidery was embellishment on blue jeans and other clothing.

A couple of decades later, I made this sand castle for the book, You and Me. The beach sand is made from raw silk that I dyed with a spray bottle. And yes, those are real beach stones glued to the fabric.

detail from “You and Me” 1997

Here’s George reading a fantasy story with my favorite castle design on the cover. I got out my old stack of Color Aid paper to make the book.

This castle is from a royal scene I made for a doll magazine in 2000. The fleur-de-lis on the castle door is a nail head. The project was in The Cloth Doll, Volume 14, number 2.

The next 2 closeups are from my newest picture book, Pocketful of Posies.

In this one from Old King Cole, I use a combination of clay beads and wool felt to make the stone wall. And the fiddle is made from felt.

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.

lobster pot lawn art

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I saw this pyramid of lobster pots, while stopping for a sandwich in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Around the Cape, lobstermen frequently pile up their pots in the yard during the winter months. With the festive arrangement of floats on top and Christmas lights, this one takes the cake!

alphabet book

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I made this alphabet book for a typography class at RISD in about 1976. The class was held in the basement of the graphic design building, where the old letterpresses were set up. As I recall, the assignment was to make something that used the large collection of metal type that came with the presses. I doubt the presses are still there, making space for all of the new computer graphics equipment. During this time at school, I jumped at any opportunity to bring sewing and fabric into my work.

The old linen book cover is looking yellowed and stained.

The 4 inch square pages are made from cloth-covered card board.

I rolled ink or paint on the metal type and stamped each letter of the alphabet, making patterns on fabric.

doll house boxed set

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Salley Mavor

A friend found this wooden box of doll house furniture and dolls in her family’s stuff and gave it to me. I don’t know where they came from or how old they are, but I’m guessing they are northern European, possibly German, from about 100 years ago. It looks like a coffin inside, with padded satin cushioning the furniture and doll bodies. The dolls are about 3 1/2 inches tall.

The woman’s hour-glass figure makes me think these were made in the age of corsets.

I like the man’s baggy pantaloons and formal shirt and jacket.

There are 3 little carved cats.

The dolls’ eyes seem too cutesy compared to everything else in the box. Maybe they are Betty Boop’s grandparents!

The miniature basket and woven chair seats are perfectly made.

Impromtu book signing on friday

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Book signing CANCELLED due to snow.

I’ll be up in the Boston area this friday, so the Danforth Museum asked if I’d like to come in for an hour to meet people and sign books. Everyone is invited to come to the museum in Framingham from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. My original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies are being exhibited an extra week, until Saturday, January 29th, so there’s more time to get to the show. I’d love to see some blog followers on friday!

detail from "Pocketful of Posies" 2010

Also, Pocketful of Posies was named an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book of 2010. The ALA committee writes,”Familiar and lesser known nursery rhymes, illustrated with superb needlework and appliqué, create a charming dollhouse of a book.” Thank you to all of the wonderful librarians around the country who have taken notice of my book!

Martin Luther King day

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Salley Mavor

In honor of Martin Luther King, I’ve gathered some images from my children’s picture books.

from “In the Heart” 2001

from “You and Me: Poems of Friendship” 1997

detail from “In the Heart”, 2001

from “You and Me: Poems of Friendship” 1997

from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010

from “In the Heart” 2001

from “Hey, Diddle, Diddle!” 2005

This post was inspired by the pictures of Mimi Kirchner’s beautiful dolls on her blog.

Also, the Pocketful of Posies exhibit at the Danforth Museum will be extended another week, until Sat., January 29th.

visit to Studio Goodwin Sturges

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I recently visited Studio Goodwin Sturges in their new location in Providence, RI. Judy Sue Goodwin-Sturges and I have known each other since I took her illustration classes at RISD in the mid 70’s. We’ve worked together on books since she started her studio in the 90’s. In addition to teaching, she represents a wonderful group of artists, some of whom are former students, and matches them up with publishers. Here she is in her studio office.

The studio moved from Boston to this window lit space in the back of her house. It’s located a few streets from where my mother grew up in Providence.

I saw a felt banner I made years ago displayed with some of the studio’s books. I didn’t know that they were involved with Puff the Magic Dragon and Judy Collins’ Over the Rainbow books. There’s a nice note from Peter Yarrow.

The Studio is a wonderful, supportive agency that has developed hundreds of children’s books.

One box filled room was full of books that Judy Sue moved from Boston. We combed through dozens of boxes until we found my books. She’s trying to down size, so she gave me most of what she had.

One of my early dolls was propped up on the center table at the studio. Her shoes and vest are made of leather.

It’s the same doll that I’m making in the photo below, which was taken by my roommate at RISD in 1976.

salley at RISD 1976

I also saw the framed pin display I made for Judy Sue sometime in the 80’s. This way she could see her collection. The custom-made cow may show my first use of bead udders.

: pin display, 1980’s

Visiting the new studio, with so many visible memories, makes me appreciate how much support I’ve received from Judy Sue to do what I love to do! I’ve written about how she encouraged me during my student years at RISD in earlier posts here. I love this picture of her with some of her former students, including Ashley Wolff and Holly Berry. Thanks Judy-Sue!