Tinsel Trading

Isn't it lovely when little dreams come true? For many years I a have been dreaming of visiting Tinsel Trading in Manhattan. Established in 1933 by Arch Bergoffen as a purveyor of beautiful trims, fabrics, tassels, embellishments and such, many found in France. The shop was eveventualy inherited by his granddaugher, Marcia Ceppos who has turned Tinsel Trading into an essential resource for artists, designers and makers with her gasp-worthy collection of adorments, ephemera, millinery supplies, tassles, metallic threads, artworks and more based on her grandfather's vast antique and vintage collection I did not see a trip to New York in my immediate future to visit this enchanting place. But then, the fates somehow aligned, and Tinsel Trading moved from Manhattan to Berkeley, California last year, and I was able to attend the grand opening of the shop in it's new location! The photo above only hints at all of the wonderous treasures that can be found here, including a splendid assortment of vintage beads. You must go!

Tinsel Trading

1659 San Pablo Ave.

Berkelely, CA 94702

tinseltrading.com

(510)570-2149

#TinselTrading #MarciaCeppos #Berkeley #Beads #Artsupplies

Queen

My little Queen (she's about 5 inches tall) was inspired by a spectacular Asmat People's body mask from Southwest New Guinea on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The body mask is basically a mask/costume, probably about 4 to 5 feet tall, and this particular one has so much spirit (you can see it on the Met website).

Basically just her face is reminiscent of the body mask, the rest is all her own. The tiny silver colored beads I used for her head are vintage finds from the astounding Tinsel Trading Company. Her eyes are bits of shell, gifts from a friend. I didn't know she was a Queen until my daughter took one look at her and pronounced her so. An artist friend describes her as a Pineapple Queen because of the shape of her head. I keep thinking she looks like a Screaming Queen.

The Lost Specimens

Thrilled that this piece has been included in the exhibition, An UnNatural History at the T.E.S.T Gallery Space in Toronto Canada. On display through November 2nd, along with fascinating work by 13 other artists working in a variety of media. It's lovely when someone else can describe your work better than you can - here's what they said in an instagram post: "Cynthia Winters reinterprets flora and fauna, both real and imaginary, in her beaded specimens". Wish I had thought of that - and am grateful they did.

Here's the explanation on display with the piece. And, yeah, the photo might look familiar because those are reverse images of the beadwork in the blog banner above.

The Lost Specimens

A collection of curious insect, plant and sea life-like specimens of mysterious origins, perhaps indigenous to another place or age. Examples on display are:

1. Papilio bacatus (beaded butterfly)

2. Vermis ornatus (ornate worm)

3. Lilium vitreus (glass lily)

4. Arbusculus Yosemite (twigs resembling samples found in Yosemite National Park)

5. Fructus secretus (secret fruit)

6. Agave spendidus (splendid agave)

7. Concha dezallier (conch shell similar in appearance to those found in illustrations by

18th century French artist Antoine-Joseph Dezallier d’Argenville.)

Glass beads, sequins, nylon thread, cotton, riker display case, insect mounting pins, paper.