Author Archives: artsyletters

About artsyletters

Robyn Hood Black is a children's author, poet, and artist. She's happiest with ink underneath her fingernails.

Seth Apter Retreat Fun…

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Just back from a wonderful few days in Helen, Georgia, at the August Retreat sponsored by Scrappy Shak. Libby Hickson of Pink and Main shared some foiling tips for cardmaking and more, the Scrappy Shak team led some introductory make-and-takes.

The main event and our featured fearless leader was Seth Apter, bringing his mixed media magic and more. I’ve taken several of Seth’s online classes over the years and purchased his book not long after it came out a dozen years ago or so. What a treat to meet him in person! Seth is as generous and down-to-earth as you’d imagine from his online sessions, but toss in a sharp and quick wit in a crowd of live humans sharing the same space. Thanks to Sizzix for sponsoring his participation, and huge thanks to Melanie, Diane, and the whole Scrappy Shak family for a fun and creative long weekend. (Did I mention the Roaring 20s Welcome Party, complete with diamond heist?!)

With Melanie, Scrappy Shak owner and long list sister of the purple locks….
Loved making these!
And these.
Roaring 20s Party!
Diane, Melanie’s partner in creative business and… crime?!

A Touch of Fey

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© Robyn Hood Black

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1873703260/fairy-and-botanicals-small-original-gel

On a morning walk last week – one of those crisp, bright days on the cusp of Spring – I pocketed some lovely wild vinca & made several gel plate prints with these in different configurations. The one above seemed to suggest a fairy, so I added some wee contributions with pen and ink and colored pencil.
I also added a copy of a fairy sized “found poem” of sorts from a story by Jane Andrews in Our Young Folks – An Illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls, Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1868.

the fairies are working
painting flowers and
delicate things

I hope to continue working, making more images of “flowers and delicate things,” as the Fey direct.

My current gel plate printing obsession has been fueled by a wonderful online online gel plate printing mixed media course with Tara Axford through Fibre Arts Take Two, a dangerous destination for fellow studio mess and magic makers – consider yourself warned.  Anyway, the courses are amazing; FATT is based in Australia primarily, but instructors and students come from every corner of the globe. 

I’ve dabbled in this form a bit before, but I’ve so enjoyed this very organized, challenging, and inspiring deep dive.  The portion of the course with the instructor regularly popping into a private Facebook Live group is now past, but I’m still making my way through remaining modules.  FATT course materials and their gorgeously executed videos are available to access for life. 

To Women!

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Tucked into the layers of this original gel plate print art is an image transfer of a confident (and corseted!) woman, from an antique advertisement more than 100 years old. I've also added a copy of text from POETRY AND ART; Rich Gleanings from Mind and Heart (A.A. Smith, ed., Columbia Publishing Co., 1892.) These few lines from an anonymous poem read: Now, in the August of our Middle Age, We hail thee, dahlia, as our fittest sign; Thy stately splendor at this later stage Befits us more than rose or trailing vine, So strong and straight, so staid in all thy ways, Meeting the sun and wind with steadfast gaze.?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1885487133/woman-and-botanicals-gel-plate-original

Happy International Women’s Day!
Tucked into the layers of this original gel plate print art is an image transfer of a confident (and corseted!) woman, from an antique advertisement more than 100 years old. I’ve also added a copy of text from POETRY AND ART; Rich Gleanings from Mind and Heart (A.A. Smith, ed., Columbia Publishing Co., 1892.) These few lines from an anonymous poem read:

Now, in the August of our Middle Age,
We hail thee, dahlia, as our fittest sign;
Thy stately splendor at this later stage
Befits us more than rose or trailing vine,
So strong and straight, so staid in all thy ways,
Meeting the sun and wind with steadfast gaze.

The botanicals whose images are imprinted into this piece are not dahlias, but rather some vinca I found on a walk on a crisp March morning.

The one-of-a-kind print on plain white paper is adhered to thicker drawing paper and has a coating of acrylic gloss on the top, except for the text and extra botanical image. The artwork is approximately 5X7 inches and is hung in a white, acid-free 8X10 mat. It will arrive in a clear protective sleeve.
Ready to frame!

©2025 Robyn Hood Black

Love is in the … Cards!

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grouping of handmade valentine postcards featuring gel plate prints and stampings from vintage stamps, lace, and blocks, as well as copied text from an antique book.

Valentine postcards. Original gel plate prints with vintage stamp & lace impressions & copies of 100-year-old text. Find at First Friday at The Beaufort Emporium, & a few are in my Etsy shop.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/artsyletters/?etsrc=sdt&search_query=valentine