[Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts, was, Re: more picture info

Sun Oct 2 12:45:00 UTC 2011

Good Morning to the KK artisans,

Can't wait for us to do some cool things with clay in our KK group. Will be 
excited to see where you take it. There are no limits, and you imagination 
can take you wherever you may want to go and even to places you may have 
never visited before.  Beautiful, isn't it!
What I love about pottery is that it is so tactile and visual at the same 
time. I love to put my arms around my large vessels and just hold them. They 
are so alive with energy.  And, yet, the small things I make have that same 
touch and energy, too. We create things that take on a life of their own. 
It's a mystery - pure magic.

I close my pottery studio in December and don't make pottery again in the 
studio until spring when I reopen the studio. Over the winter months, I do 
inside the house kind of things - encrusted beadworking and knitting 
projects - things I do while listening to books.

Right now, I am working on a series of Spirit Treasure Boxes - I will spend 
the entire next 2 months working on nothing but the box form, and will be 
very excited to see where it leads me. That is the beauty of working in a 
series - by doing a  "body of work" it keeps my mind focused on one 
image/concept, and it leads you to new and very exciting things that happen 
during that period of time.  I will be teaching how to do these boxes to our 
group early next year, so I will be exploring the possibilities myself over 
the next two months. I have talked with Joyce and have offered to do three 
courses after Christmas - clay projects that you can personalize and make 
YOUR OWN using the techniques.

Have a most joyous fall day today - it is truly magic
Lynda River Woman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "slerythema" <slerythema at gmail.com>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2011 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts, was,Re: more 
picture info

> Denise,
>
> This is a perfect example of what I was referring to as a design element.
> I'm sure you will find a way to incorporate raised dots (braille), into 
> your
> clay projects.
>
> Cindy S.
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Denise Shaible
>> Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2011 10:49 PM
>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> was,Re: more picture info
>>
>>
>> Well, well.  What a discussion I started when I mentioned
>> using Braille.  I didn't mean as a reading or labeling
>> method.  That's done for
>> practical reasons.  I know as a nearly totally blind person,
>> I need Braille
>> and it interests me as well.  When I think of the numerous
>> blind children
>> who are made illiterate because of whatever reason, it upsets
>> me.  That's
>> for another discussion, though.  What I was talking about and
>> what other
>> people on this list were talkingabout is using Braille as a
>> picture or
>> design which may or may not represent words or letters.  For
>> myself, as I
>> said in an earlier post, I made Braille crosses on paper and
>> while the
>> design was made from dots, it was almost like making a mosaic
>> where to look
>> closely, it looked like Braille dots but to look away, it
>> looked like a
>> cross.  That's all I wanted to say.  I think it could be used
>> very well on
>> any craft but since we're starting to do clay crafts, that was what I
>> wondered about.  If nobody's tried it, maybe I'll be one to
>> do it.  Who
>> knows?
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Denise
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: slerythema
>> Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2011 5:24 PM
>> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> was,Re: more
>> picture info
>>
>> Lynda,
>>
>> I did not misunderstand you. That is why I made the statement
>> about your philosophy before I said anything. Every artist,
>> myself included, is free to decide what they want to use in
>> their art and the message that it represents. I have no
>> problem with your philosophy.
>>
>> What I was stating, is that braille can be used in any medium
>> and it does not need to be construed as a means of any type
>> of written communication. Braille can be seen as simply a
>> beautiful texture and this can be a design element even in
>> pottery (you wouldn't use it, but anyone could). This is
>> where the imagination is not limited by reality.
>>
>> My first degree is in photography (after switching from
>> graphic design but wishing to also pursue drawing further). I
>> am well versed in being conscious of the message that I am
>> communicating through my art and have participated in several
>> juried shows. "Crafting" is simply an extension of my art.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of River
>> > Woman
>> > Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2011 8:48 AM
>> > To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> > was,Re: more picture info
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi cindy,
>> > I think you misunderstood what I was talking about or I did not
>> > explain it well.  Talking about this kind of thing in
>> person is good,
>> > but typing it in
>> > an email leads to confusion and misunderstanding. I was
>> discussing my
>> > pottery, three dimensional sculptures.  I was not even thinking not
>> > paper/text art works. The irony here is that for years I have
>> > used texts in
>> > my works on paper! Most is in German, some Italian.
>> >
>> > Of course, anything can be used in art in this way. I have created
>> > works for years during my summers in Austria and the German
>> > language/texts  is an
>> > important aspect of my works.  It is used in fragments, and
>> > nothing that can
>> > be read entirely. The texts are used as design elements, in
>> > layers, just as
>> > your student friend used your Braille.
>> >
>> > These days, Spanish enters into a lot of my titles of
>> works, and even
>> > my latest solo show title was in Spanish (Primal Garden...la vida
>> > luminiscentes). This is because many of the works were
>> > created from the
>> > imagery I have in my mind of Puerto Rico, where I go every spring.
>> >
>> > The point here is clearly  that we bring to an art work is
>> WHO WE ARE
>> > as a person.  So I bring to all I do, MY SELF. The things
>> that engage
>> > my imagination and my memories are what I choose to bring to the
>> > world through
>> > my work.  To bring Braille into my work would not be a truth
>> > for me, as it
>> > is not something that has any special meaning for ME. I would
>> > be sharing
>> > something that is not of interest to me, personally. And, why
>> > would I choose
>> > to do that? Art is about truth, and that is not my truth.
>> >
>> > I have many works that use torn and cut up texts, diary
>> pages, journal
>> > drawings, and many other kinds of papers. I was not
>> > addressing that at all.
>> > Anything can be used as a design element.  But that
>> > "anything" has to be
>> > something that rings true to the person creating it.
>> >
>> > My pottery is based in ancient to medieval ideas and motifs. It
>> > focuses on the CLAY itstef and on process.
>> > To use any kind of text on it would confuse the viewer and
>> > would not be true
>> > to my intentions for that work.
>> >
>> > I was talking about Braille as a means of communication in or on a
>> > work of art.  To anyone who cannot read it, it is just a
>> curiosity and
>> > very distracting.  It would take the focus of the work to a place
>> > that I have no
>> > intention of leading the viewer. Art works  tak the viewer on
>> > a JOURNEY, and
>> > if we are successful in the work, we take the viewer to a
>> > destination. I
>> > don't want  the  journey of my viewers to be "lost at sea."
>> >
>> > I don't know if this is clear or not - or helpful.
>> > There is a very wide divide between crafts and art, and
>> some artists
>> > create a bridge between the two. I use craft materials but
>> my work is
>> > firmly planted on the Art side of the divide.
>> >
>> > Lynda River Woman
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "slerythema" <slerythema at gmail.com>
>> > To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'"
>> > <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2011 2:50 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> > was,Re: more
>> > picture info
>> >
>> >
>> > > Lynda,
>> > >
>> > > I am not contesting your personal philosophy, however, your
>> > statement,
>> > > "the
>> > > only thing that
>> > > braille would communicate would be to a person who uses
>> it." is not
>> > > accurate.
>> > >
>> > > In my graduate creative writing class, I used braille for
>> > my comments
>> > > that
>> > > I
>> > > might make in class for each story and placed the sheet
>> > with each of the
>> > > stories. At the end of class, when we handed back the
>> > stories, I would
>> > > throw
>> > > away my braille copies (printed comments were given back to the
>> > > individuals). One of my classmates was also an artist, and
>> > she took these
>> > > pages of braille and cut them up and used them in her
>> > artwork as texture.
>> > > She could not read braille and was not interested in what
>> > it might say and
>> > > it was not placed on the artwork in any "readable" manner.
>> > >
>> > > Again, I have no problem with your views on text in your
>> > artwork, just
>> > > don't
>> > > limit yourself that letters have to represent words, be
>> > legible, or form
>> > > anything other than a juxtaposition between positive and
>> > negative space.
>> > >
>> > > Cindy S.
>> > >
>> > >> -----Original Message-----
>> > >> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > >> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of River
>> > >> Woman
>> > >> Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 8:09 AM
>> > >> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> > >> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> > >> was,Re: more picture info
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> When I was creating a series of large vessels last year I
>> > thought of
>> > >> putting braille words on my pots - but then I decided not to -
>> > >> braille is not at all of interest to me - I use all
>> electronics -
>> > >> it is a personal choice and I
>> > >> decided that putting braille on my pots would be meaningless
>> > >> to me, and our
>> > >> art reflects who we are personally and braille would not
>> > >> reflect me.  I
>> > >> thought about the idea of communication through art, and the
>> > >> only thing that
>> > >> braille would communicate would be to a person who uses it. I
>> > >> also thought
>> > >> about the notion of putting a "sign" of my art - putting any
>> > >> kind of words
>> > >> in any manner on my vessels would make them didactic, and I
>> > >> don't want to
>> > >> limit anyone's imagination through use of any words or signs
>> > >> on anything I
>> > >> do. This is my personal art philosophy - I think about who my
>> > >> audience will
>> > >> be and how I will communicate to them - signs and words are
>> > >> usually really
>> > >> "stop signs" to most people. The exact opposite of what I
>> > >> want my work to
>> > >> do.
>> > >>
>> > >> With everything we do, we need to consider why we do it,
>> > who we are
>> > >> doing it for, and what the end goal of it is.
>> > >> And, that is when it becomes art - when it expressed ideas and
>> > >> concepts.
>> > >>
>> > >> Lynda River Woman
>> > >> ----- Original Message -----
>> > >> From: "Denise Shaible" <denise.shaible at att.net>
>> > >> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>> > >> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> > >> Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 2:10 AM
>> > >> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> > >> was,Re: more
>> > >> picture info
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> > Okay, as usual, I'm a little behind in reading all of
>> > the posts I
>> > >> > receive from Krafters Korner.  I just read this one about using
>> > >> Braille in crafts.
>> > >> > I was once involved with a ministry with my former church
>> > >> in Pompano
>> > >> > Beach, FL.  We needed to make crafts and send cards and
>> > >> letters to those
>> > >> > on retreat and I made a cross with full Braille cells.  I
>> > >> put it on a book
>> > >> > mark and another time, I made the cross on post cards and
>> > >> wrote a note on
>> > >> > the back. People who received these little gifts really
>> > >> liked them and
>> > >> > were fascinated by them as they had never seen crafts made
>> > >> from Braille.
>> > >> > I think large Braille dots would make some nice crafts for
>> > >> borders, etc.
>> > >> > I never got the chance to experiment with this but I think
>> > >> it would work.
>> > >> > this could be achieved with a slate and styllus.  I used a
>> > >> Braille writer
>> > >> > for the crosses, though.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Regards,
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Denise
>> > >> >
>> > >> > -----Original Message-----
>> > >> > From: Lindy van der Merwe
>> > >> > Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 1:46 PM
>> > >> > To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> > >> > Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Using braille in crafts,
>> > >> was,Re: more
>> > >> > picture info
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Yes, Terry, I am currently checking out the program to
>> > >> figure out what
>> > >> > it can do. I have to figure out some of the terms and
>> > >> concepts since
>> > >> > it has been a long
>> > >> > time since I have done these type of calculations.
>> > >> > If anybody manages a drawing, please let us know. Even if
>> > >> it just prints
>> > >> > on
>> > >> > a normal printer, I am sure my husband and children will
>> > have some
>> > >> > comments about my attempts at drawing (grin).
>> > >> > Related to the subject of drawing without sight, I have
>> > >> actually used
>> > >> > braille in the past in some of my crafts. I normally used my
>> > >> > Perkins Brailler, for instance, to make a frame around
>> > an a5-sized
>> > >> piece of paper
>> > >> > for a birthday card or for a photo frame. I would sometimes
>> > >> use a straight
>> > >> > line or a pattern, like the ie-ie- combination, or similar.
>> > >> I have also
>> > >> > drawn some basic shapes in braille for my children to
>> > >> colour or decorate.
>> > >> > Lastly I have used braille for texture when folding origami
>> > >> boxes, for
>> > >> > instance. I would either do the braille myself or use
>> > pages of old
>> > >> > magazines. Lindy
>> > >> >
>> > >> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > >> > From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <Terry.Powers at nih.gov>
>> > >> > To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'"
>> > >> > <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> > >> > Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:57 PM
>> > >> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] more picture info
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >> >> Lindi;
>> > >> >> If we can get this working, Look at the patern world it
>> > >> would open up
>> > >> >> to
>> > >> >> you.  Any one you know in your country or in the US
>> > could mail you
>> > >> >> diagrams of paterns, shapes... It would open up a new way of
>> > >> >> shairing paterns and ideas!
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> Terry P.
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> -----Original Message-----
>> > >> >> From: Lindy van der Merwe [mailto:stephlin at iafrica.com]
>> > >> >> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 2:23 PM
>> > >> >> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> > >> >> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] more picture info
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> Thank you, Joyce.
>> > >> >> I find this all very interesting. I find the idea of
>> > being able to
>> > >> >> draw with a computer program, and as a blind person, quite
>> > >> fascinating. I am
>> > >> >> sure there are all kinds of uses for such a program, e.g.
>> > >> being able to
>> > >> >> draw simple shapes/pictures of basic objects, numbers and
>> > >> letters for our
>> > >> >> children, card making, scrap booking, and of course for
>> > >> crafts that may
>> > >> >> become more accessible by using such a program, not to
>> > mention the
>> > >> >> possibilities for blind students and teachers. Here in South
>> > >> >> Africa, as in other countries, braille
>> > >> printers are quite
>> > >> >> expensive for the average blind person and there are only
>> > >> a few places
>> > >> >> that will do braille embossing; normally it can take a
>> > >> long time too, so
>> > >> >> there is a waiting period.
>> > >> >> So, I would be interested in other ways of making the
>> > print into a
>> > >> >> tactile format, which will enable one to do a drawing,
>> > >> print or emboss,
>> > >> >> or whatever, and feel what you have drawn.
>> > >> >> I also like the idea of being able to write a line of
>> > >> text. I can see
>> > >> >> some possibilities for this too.
>> > >> >> Lindy
>> > >> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> > >> >> From: <Blindhands at aol.com>
>> > >> >> To: <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> > >> >> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:47 PM
>> > >> >> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] more picture info
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>> OK I found out what PIAF is.  By the way in case
>> > anyone wants to
>> > >> >>> know P I A F stands for pictures in a flash.  The
>> machine that
>> > >> >>> basically produces this is a heating unit.  The price
>> > for it is
>> > >> >>> $1399 plus $45 shipping. This only can produce black
>> and white
>> > >> >>> photos.  That is what  I
>> > >> was told by
>> > >> >>> a company that sells these babies.  Professor Baldwin
>> > >> also  mentioned
>> > >> >>> that the paper used to produce these graphics with this
>> > >> cost 80 cents
>> > >> >>> per sheet.
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>> So that is that information for us.
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>> Joyce  Kane
>> > >> >>> _www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/)
>> > >> >>> Blindhands at AOL.com
>> > >> >>> _______________________________________________
>> > >> >>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> > >> >>>
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>> > >> >>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>> > >> >>>
>> > >>
>> >
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/step
>> > >> h
>> > >> >>> lin%40iafrica.com
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>> -----
>> > >> >>> No virus found in this message.
>> > >> >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> > >> >>> Version: 10.0.1410 / Virus Database: 1520/3912 -
>> Release Date:
>> > >> >>> 09/22/11
>> > >> >>>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> _______________________________________________
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>> > >> rg/terry.powers%40nih.gov
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> _______________________________________________
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>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/denis
>> > > e.shai
>> > > ble%40att.net
>> > >>
>> > >> _______________________________________________
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>> > > woman%
>> > > 40zoominternet.net
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>> > >>
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>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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