here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Monday, October 20, 2008

A *signed* book giveaway!


I met Cate Prato when we worked on the current issue of "studios". She's an editor for Cloth Paper Scissors.
She teases me endlessly...but hey...what are friends for?? At least that's her thought........Someday...I'll get even..............
Anyway...Cate has published her first book & I got us a free copy. Pretty cool!!

All you need to do is leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. I'll be back on Wednesday morning to announce the winner. Enter your own comment & pass the word to your friends too.
This is fun!
I LOVE free stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And...sharing is good!
This book is loaded with great photos and a ton of helpful tips & hints to get you going. I've not done the "self portrait" thing yet...but like Cate says...you don't have to show anyone...make it just for you! I like that!
I asked Cate some questions...here's what she had to say...
1. Why the emphasis on self portraits?

Artists have made self-portraits since the beginning of time, but recently two events prompted us to do this book. First, in 2005 Quilting Arts Magazine, for which I’m the features editor, hosted a reader challenge based on an article on creative self-portraits by Yvonne Porcella. It was phenomenally successful. We got hundreds of wonderful art quilts—funny, poignant, thought-provoking. More recently, the rise in blogging in the art community gave birth to the Self-Portrait Challenge (SPC) online, with artists around the world making photographic self-portraits based on a different theme every week. Also phenomenally successful. So, at Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilting Arts’ sister publication, we decided to put our own mixed-media spin on it in a book.
2. What's your favorite exercise to get the creative juices flowing?

Well, probably because I’m a writer, I like the exercise in the book where you take just a few minutes to jot down your life story, then highlight the most important moments and themes and base a self-portrait on that. Conceptually, I like it first because it takes you out of the idea of a "physical" self-portrait and focuses on some of the events that made you who you are. Second, I think when you do an exercise like this where you are forced to think quickly, things pop up that might surprise you. For example, Elin Waterston, who did this exercise for the book, made fabric postcards based on the numbers from her previous addresses and the patterns of her father’s shirts.

3. I know you frequent flea markets. Tell us what you look for.

The triumvirate is buttons, china/glassware, and linens. I love anything with that cornflower/periwinkle blue color and faded cherry red. And Nile green. When I’m at a flea market or yard sale, my eyes just scan for those colors and textures, like a reconnaissance robot on a seek-and-acquire mission.
4. What's your very favorite flea market FIND? Will you actually USE it or hoard it?

Oh, my favorite find is usually the most recent one—or the next one! I have to say one of my favorites is the typewriter I used for my self-portrait in the book. It’s a turquoise Smith-Corona portable I picked up for $5 about a year ago. I had one just like it as a teenager. The flea market where I got it was in a parking lot and we had actually gotten into the car, the kids were strapped in, and that’s when I spied it. I said, I have to look at that; the kids just shook their heads and rolled their eyes. I hopped out and when they said it was five bucks I did a little happy dance inside. When it came time to do my own self-portrait for the book, I said, "I’m going to alter that typewriter."

I like to use things, especially my linens. I get great buys because I buy the imperfect ones with a couple of stains or a small hole, and then I don’t fret about using them and enjoying them. In fact, the only ones I regret are the perfect ones, because I’m afraid to use and "ruin" them.

5. What advice would you give to anyone who feels self-conscious about making a self-portrait?

Buy the book! Seriously, we address that issue in the book from many angles—essays, exercises, tips for getting started. As I said before, nearly all artists do self-portraits of one kind or another. Self-portraits can help your art and your life; they can be just for fun or as part of a healing and growing process. You don’t have to show anyone. It can be just for you.
Thanks for donating the book CATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure some lucky blog friend will be happy to give it a good home!
Congrats to you and.........
CHEERS!! Here's to continued SUCCESS!
wendy

32 comments:

Ange said...

This looks like such a great book. I can't wait to pick it up. Still buzzing from all the new techniques Wendy...come back to Charleston soon!

Annette said...

OK, I'm not kidding, I want this book really bad! I have been really intrigued by self-portraits this past year. Perhaps it would be the ideal project to follow up my "All About Me" scrapbook I completed and taught last year. It was such a great journey. I should do a self-portrait to bring it all together! I will be pondering this all day....hmmm....

Leslie said...

This looks like such an awesome book! I am trying to get over my fear of imperfection . . . and am trying to embrace the notion of expressing myself without my inner-critic suppressing my creativity. I'd love to own this book to explore new possibilities for self-expression!

Nancy Lynn said...

Thanks so much for doing this interview on this book as I have been thinking about getting it. I so want to be able to do a self portrait. Nancy Lynn

borcherding said...

I SSSOOOO want to do a self-portrait but am scared of other people seeing it and what I might "discover" about myself. This might be the push I need to get it done. LOVE the little interview!! peace and blessings,
your friend...Cindy B.

Sherri said...

Great information in the interview. I have been toying with this for a while and then I saw her book and it made me think more about it. I used to love to do collages from magazines to express my self and this seems like a grown up way to accomplish the same thing. I wonder too how much a self portrait would change year to year.

Erin Glee said...

It was so interesting to hear more about the Author, even if she does tease you! "Rennaisance Robot " made me crack up~what an image! I did a self-portrait in acrylic paint and it was AWFUL! Scarred me for life...maybe I'll get over it some day...HeeHee...

kokomogoldie said...

Wow! This book would be such a great catalyst for overcoming such a daunting subject. I'm very intrigued by it. Thanks for natching a copy to share with us.

lori said...

thanks wendy for sharing this book with some lucky winner. it is full of good information and ideas... a must for this creative artist. thanks again!

Lynne Forsythe said...

Hey girlfriend...great interview!! Your talents are just never ending! ;) Course I had to go and look further into her magazine...OMG to Way Cool...May need to get me a few back issues...look forward to seeing you in Nov. You are the Bomb!!!

Carole said...

Thanks for sharing - thanks for the contest and thanks for your art - love it

D's Paper Studio said...

Hi Wendy,

This book and the conscept sound incredable. It certainly sounds like a must have. It is going on my book list (that is if I don't win it here LOL). Thanks for sharing and for the interview. It is very insightful.

Linda M. Cain said...

In self portraits there are no blemishes or wrinkles!
Linda Cain

2amscrapper said...

What an insightful interview with Cate! Using events that make you who you are is a wonderful approach to creating a self-portrait.

Pam said...

Portraits? I haven't ventured there YET!! Would love to try. Great interview...

Pam

FM Girls said...

What an interesting interview! My head is spinning with ideas of self portraits.
I'd love to win the book.
I found the Studios magazine over the weekend.....so great to know the person whose studio is on the cover!
-Judy

Linda said...

I enjoyed the info on self-portraits. I would like to try it. I am in my 40's and I find myself thinking more about the past, the present and how both can help me for the future. The book would be a great help in putting all those thoughts together in a place that I can keeping adding to and referring to again and again.

skwarepeg said...

I'm so glad I read this interview! I learned that the book addresses the self-consciousness aspect of it, which is good to know. Otherwise, my automatic response is, "Why on earth would I want a SELF-portrait?" haha Cool for someone else to do it, but challenging for me, to say the least. Which means, of course, it's something to look toward. ;)

cpullum said...

Wow this is great count me in!
Have a great week!

Contessa Kris said...

Oh my. What a fabulous giveaway! I've been wanting this book! Crossing fingers. Thanks for sharing!

Altered Annie said...

Oh, I would just love to have this book! Cloth Paper Scissors is an amazing magazine where you can always learn something interesting!
Annie

Sarah said...

Hi Wendy!!
What a great giveaway...im waving like crazy from across the pond....

Paula said...

I'll bet this book is just filled with teriffic inspiration. I'm making the coffee now, so I can sip, skim and relax.

Joanie Hoffman said...

Thanks for the giveaway, now I have to finish checking out your blog!
Happy days,
Joanie

Mary said...

Wow very nice give-away. Very creative. Thanks

Anne said...

What a nice giveaway! And such an exciting book topic. I love mixed media! And I do like the idea that we could make our self-portraits just for ourselves. Thanks for sharing it! :-)

Bart and Cindy said...

Hi,
This looks like a great book. I would love to have it. Maybe it would help me over this post Ike funk I'm in. Thanks for the chance to win.

Cindy D

liannallama said...

What an interesting topic and I loved the Q&A session. What a fascinating discussion.

Jennifer Hansen said...

This book sounds very cool!

Rachel Greig said...

Ohhh, this sounds like a fabulous book!!! I'd love to see the fabric postcards - I have a fascination with handmade postcards and self portraits - so to have them combined - I'd be in heaven!! :) Great to hear what Cate says about the book too!

Carol Sloan said...

I love it that we are "given permission" to make our portrait in a non realistic manner...that really does ease the fear of it all. Can't wait to get my copy!

Mary said...

My question is what is your idea of a self portrait? What would be the first step to do a self portrait?