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!

Judy-Sue (back), Salley, Ashley Wolff and Holly Berry, 1980's

magic snow dust

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Last Saturday night, a fine dusting of snow fell from the sky. It looked magical outside when the sun rose in the morning. The houses, trees and bushes appeared as if they were covered with artificial snow, like in a model train winter scene.

These houses surround the village green in Falmouth. Many of them are B&B’s, right in a row, in one of the town’s historical districts.

This one looks like it’s sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Closeups (bags)

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Purse, handbag, satchel, luggage or sack— they are basically containers to carry loose things around. As a sculptural object, there are just a few requirements, including storage space, durability and ease of use. I don’t understand the craze over designer bags. From what I’ve seen, most aren’t very interesting and are kind of ugly. Clearly, the fashion world is a mystery!

This first purse is being clutched by a wrench hand in my found object piece, Walking the Dog, which can be seen here.

detail from “Walking the Dog” 2005

This little piggie going to market is from Pocketful of Posies. The string bag is made with a needle crochet technique that I figured out on my own. I’m not patient enough to follow directions to learn the proper way to crochet with a hook, so I just fool around with a needle and thread.

Here’s an old man clothed all in leather, from the illustration for the folk song “One Misty Moisty Morning”. This and all of the next closeups are from Pocketful of Posies. The photos are blown up to about twice their actual size.

detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010

detail from ‘Pocketful of Posies” 2010

detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010

Treasures: shell cards

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I’ve cherished this set of shell decorated place cards since I was a child and remember thinking that they were too special to write on. They are kept in the same cardboard jewelry box I stored them in 40 years ago.

I love the simple scenes using tiny colored shells, with watercolor accents.

This girl with a shell bonnet and bouquet decorates a bridge score card.

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.

back cover from "Pocketful of Posies" 2010

Note: See other posts from the Pocketful of Borders series here.

pot holder tutorial

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Every year, I make pot holders to give away to my friends. It’s become a seasonal ritual that started with my grandmother’s version. She used to sew a curtain ring in a corner, to hang them up with. I’ve had one of her’s in my kitchen drawer until last week, when I finally threw it out. And she died over 20 years ago! Over the years, I’ve adapted the design, which I’ll show you here.

Pot holders are so simple to make and it’s a good way to use up scraps of loud fabric that don’t match anything. I first pick out some fabric from my stash–this time some shop keepers, with a line of paper-doll chain style shoppers. I’ve had this fabric sample for years and can’t remember where it came from. I also included some checked batik fabric and some favorite 40-year-old blue Mari Mekko scraps.

I cut the batik fabric on the bias and sewed several lengths together to make tape for the edging.

An old cotton mattress pad is the secret ingredient to making pot holders like my grandmother’s. I had used up my old supply and recently found a cotton pad when cleaning out a relative’s house. Yipee! Polyester filled pot holders just don’t insulate well enough!

I cut out pieces and sandwiched together 3 layers, a front, a cotton pad middle and a back.

I then outlined the figures by stitching through the 3 layers.

Then I stitched the bias tape around the outside edge of the back side.

I then turned the bias tape over to the front side and pinned it in place.

This is the most fussy part—-stitching the tape on the top side. The tape usually puckers a bit as you turn the corner. I had previously stitched on a Wee Folk Studio label that was left over from the days of selling felt purse kits.

I saved some extra length of bias tape to flip over for a loop.

Now, they’re all in my friends’ kitchens. I like to make pot holders because they are not too precious—they will be used and enjoyed daily and can be thrown into the washing machine.

winter in Woods Hole

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Salley Mavor

I rode the bike path to Woods Hole today. The path is plowed and mostly clear of snow and ice, so I bundled up in a ski mask and mittens and joined the walkers on the path. Didn’t see one other bicyclist.

view of Vineyard Sound from the bike path

The day was so crystal clear and calm! Some people who just come to the Cape in the summer can’t imagine what it’s like here off-season.

Fishmonger's Cafe, Water St., Woods Hole

The sidewalks are empty and the drawbridge hardly ever goes up.

Row boats rest upside down.

Eel Pond dock, Woods Hole

The color palette is blue, gray and red.

Millfield St., Woods Hole

It was a lovely ride around town. Happy New Year!

School St., Woods Hole

patiently waiting for books

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Salley Mavor

“George’s Chair” fabric relief mid 1990’s

OK, here’s the situation— basically, my books, both Pocketful of Posies and Felt Wee Folk, are sold out. The publishers are out of stock, distributors have none and Amazon is out. They are both being re-printed, with shipments scheduled to arrive from mid to late January. This situation has only come up in the past week or two, so I think that most people were able to buy copies for Christmas. This is a new experience for me. After 20 years in the book business, I’m used to the opposite problem–getting a letter from the publisher saying my book is declared OOP (out of print) because there have not been enough sales to justify reprinting. So, I’m not complaining about reprints, it’s just that the timing is all off!

According to C&T Publishing, Michaels bought a large quantity of Felt Wee Folk, so they might have some. With their discount coupon, that can be a good deal! After 7 years and 50,000 copies sold, it’s nice to hear about people who are just discovering it. I know that I’m way overdue for another how-to book, but just can’t bring myself to take on such a big project right now. For one thing, I’m having too much fun with this blog!

If you’re trying to get a copy of Pocketful of Posies, some might still be in book stores scattered around the country. As I’ve mentioned before, my local book store, Eight Cousins stocked up ahead of time and has some signed copies available (508.548.5548).

If you already have my books, I hope that you can curl up in a comfy chair this cold January and enjoy them!

AMAZON UPDATE 1/9/11: Pocketful of Posies is now in stock, Felt Wee Folk is still unavailable. Update 11/13: Autographed copies are available in my Etsy Shop.

Close-ups (foliage)

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Salley Mavor

This series of close-ups shows the progression of my stitching technique and style over 20 years of illustrating children’s books. The first picture shows a detail of the banana trail that Savi the elephant follows through the jungle in The Way Home (1991). Read the story about making The Way Home here.

from "The Way Home" 1991

I made a stencil and painted grass on the velveteen background in The Way Home‘s sequel, Come to my Party (1993).

from "Come to My Party" 1993

Jump ahead a dozen years and I’m embroidering blades of grass and sewing glass beads to a wool felt background in the board book, Hey! Diddle, Diddle.

detail from "Hey! Diddle, Diddle" 2005

And still obsessing over french knots in Jack and Jill.

detail from "Jack and Jill" 2006

This one shows a small section of the illustration from the song One misty moisty morning in my most recent book, POCKETFUL OF POSIES . If you are having difficulty finding a copy of the book, it’s because the first printing has sold out. My local bookstore, Eight Cousins, stocked up, so they might still have some (508.548.5548). The situation will soon be remedied, as the second printing will arrive from Hong Kong in mid-January.