Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 4

Yesterday I mentioned that some of the folds could hold a small gift. This particular fold will look beautiful holding an orchid in one boat section. Don’t go overboard (no pun intended) and fill both sides to the top, think simplicity. Here’s the next napkin fold to try, “The Boats”.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 3

Day three of the napkin folding classes is here. I hope everyone is seeing the possibilities for these folds. They do take time so if you are hosting a big event enlist some friends that have nimble fingers. Don't just use them for company you are worth the little extras in life. Some times breakfast in bed with your significant other is just a little more special (and thoughtful) when some time and attention are put into a silly little “frill” such as this and you can also put a little gift in some of these folds. This isn’t just for the ladies either. Guys spend a little time on presentation of a breakfast in bed to let your wife know that you really do understand and appreciate all of the work that she does for the family in and out of the home. Here’s the next napkin fold to try. This fold is called “The Boars Head”, have fun.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 2

Here’s the next napkin fold to try. This one is called “The Bishop” have fun.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding - Courtesy of Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management - Day 1

When I was looking through “Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management” for the colour illustrations of the “Fancy Cakes” I came across these fourteen napkin folds and thought that at some point it would be fun to let people know how to do these old napkin folds. While I was at the grocery store the other day I came across a book called “Napkin Origami”, it was not a great book. The cover picture was the best example. So here are the fourteen different napkin folds that Mrs. Beeton instructed her devotees to use. I will post a new scanned page each day until they are done. Try them they are fun to do.

Don’t just use them for the table but try using the folded napkin as the gift-wrap or use it as part of the gift if you are giving wineglasses. Go ahead and copy the instructions to include with the gift if you want.

I didn’t realize but these napkin folds got me interested in origami, the art of Japanese paper folding.

Here is the first fold the "Fleur de Lis Varieties".

Website update

My apologies for not posting anything for about a month, things have been somewhat hectic around here. Our daughter was out visiting us from Toronto for just over 3 weeks.

The website is progressing well, I just have to photograph some new items. My wife and I stopped doing any work around the house a little while ago for a few weeks in order to redo our laundry room. Our work stoppage also included the website.

We stripped off the old linoleum and I put down black and white vinyl tile. We painted all of the walls white except for the first wall that you see when you walk in as well as the wall behind the door. Those two walls are painted a very deep raspberry red, it looks like a normal red, but is actually a red the colour of red currant blossoms. It also matches the colour of a vintage plastic kitchen clock that is in our “Bird’s custard” yellow kitchen.

Here is a peek at our wonderful laundry room just after we had finished doing the work. 

Oh, and yes in about a week, all things going well, the new site will be up and running.

Favourite Books

As an artist I like picture books, some of those books are children’s picture books, but I am referring to books with lots of pictures. I always look at what I believe is the best design, the best people in their field of endeavor. (This sounds great when it is written down in black and white but how do I qualify my love for 1950’s and 1960’s sci-fi/horror flicks. They are so bad. Some of the special effects aren’t very special. I love the giant rats that are dogs dressed to look like giant rats and actually just look like dogs dressed to look like giant rats.) Back to the books. Here is a list of books that have been an influence to my work and I hope that you may enjoy if you can get your hands on them.

There are a lot of books from my childhood that have had a big influence on my work. My mum had a Dennison Party Book from 1929 that I loved to look at as a child. The front and back covers as well as a few of the other pages are gone. I did manage to find a complete copy in good shape several years ago but I still own the original copy that my Mum had. I also own several other of the dennison books.

Another book that my mum had and I now own is “Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management”. I love the beautiful colour plates of the cakes.

This colour illustration is for “Fancy Cakes”.

This colour illustration is for “Sweets and Gateaux”.

My grandmother gave my brother and I a copy of ”The Road in Storyland”, published in 1932. The illustrations are beautiful vibrant colour outlined in black and are the work of Lucille W. and H. C. Holling, edited by Watty Piper.

This illustration is for the story "The Easter Rabbit"

Margaret Schiffer’s book, “Holidays - Toys and Decorations”, is the one book that has had the most influence on the direction that my art has taken.

The book “Carolyn Quartermaine REVEALED” is about the British textile artist of the same name. Her use of colour is wonderful.

Trisha Guild is another British textile artist and interior designer. She is extremely influential world wide in interior design. Her book “Trisha Guild – Pattern” is absolutely incredible. Her use of colour and pattern is mouth watering.