The vintage hand-crafted wood tjaps are calling to me from atop of my bookshelf. Maybe I will do some experimenting with printing on top of one of my pieces.  (There are a couple of copper ones up there to explore with the next time I have my beeswax out.)

One of the things that I really enjoy with the body of work is being able to really edit the piece as it is constructed.  I'll put a piece on, put it up on the easel or design wall, move it, take it off, put something else on... just exploring the right piece for the right space.

My current piece in progress.  I am using the wax dipped pattern tissue, rust dyed fabrics, and burlap.  It is interesting how the wax dipped pieces mix with the non-wax dipped ones.  The final piece will be 24 x 36.

This beeswax exploration is working out pretty well.  I have been dipping all sorts of things in this wee crock-pot filled with molten beeswax.

A student gave me the wee crock-pot as an end of the school year present.  When I opened it I knew I was going to be melting some wax in there.  When I told him how excited I was to have this new tool in my studio, he looked at me quizzically and said in that sweet first grade voice, “It’s really for keeping cheese dip warm.”    Some say cheese dip others say hot wax.  Just proves that artists really do see things just a bit differently.

So far I have experimented with sewing pattern tissue, rust dyed fabrics, burlap, hand felted pieces, library catalog cards, vintage envelopes and papers, twine, book papers, and yarn.  The studio has filled with the scent of beeswax and it smells so good.

I received a book about encaustic painting last week and I am now inspired to incorporate beeswax into my work.  I will be creating samples of wax covered fabric, fibers, and book pages this week. 

In my newest piece, I am incorporating some vintage textiles instead of rusted metal.   Here is a sneak peak of it.