Cassandra Tondro

Spontaneity and Tea Dye Birds of Paradise at sunset. Hi Friends, A few weeks ago I showed you five white linen scarves that I had scrunch dyed, and that turned out a little brighter than I was expecting. I

Overdyeing with tea in today's newsletter.

Handwoven Table Runners and a Video It's spider season! Hello Friends, I'm getting ready for a show at the Ebell in Los Angeles in December. I've been asked to show my handwoven scarves and table runners, so I've been doing a

New handwoven table runners in today's newsletter.

Saw this sculpture today at Kimball Park. Made using plastic water bottles. It's giving me ideas for my found trash!

Another studio day for the cats and I! I'm working on a woven batik tablerunner, and the cats are up to no good, as usual.

Dyeing Surprise and Two New Videos Limelight Sage and Pitcher Sage in my backyard. Greetings Friends, My friend Salli gave me a large linen curtain that she replaced and no longer needs. It was a beautiful white linen with a sage

Dyeing surprise in today's newsletter.

Working on some new handwoven scarves for the holidays.

New work being sent to Bird Dog Arts in Tejon Ranch today.

Play Time Last of the summer blooms. Hi Friends, I've been tidying up in the studio this week and finishing loose ends. I had done a stack of playful paintings that were waiting to be turned into

Chatting about collage play time in today's newsletter. What do you do for fun?

Reworking found trash in today's newsletter.

Slow Art California Fuchsia in the backyard. Hi Friends, I've been working on some fiber arts pieces lately, and finally finished two of them. This is slow art that requires patience. In this first piece I lay...

Slow art featured in today's newsletter.

Living with Chaos Thistles at Ventura Community Park. Greetings Friends, I don't live in a war zone and we're no longer in the midst of a global pandemic. I'm grateful for these things, and my situation is far

Update on home renovation, new found poetry collages, and three woven scarves in today's newsletter.

Art to Soothe a Stressed Nervous System Native California Sage in the backyard. Hi Friends, I've been learning about neuroplasticity lately, and discovering ways to soothe my over-reactive and hypersensitive nervous system. Neuroplasticity ...

Create your own magical vision board to soothe a stressed nervous system.

Momigami The bees are crazy about the native Coyote Mint in the backyard. Hi Friends, While surfing the Internet I stumbled upon a Japanese paper technique called Momigami. Momigami is a Japanese word that mea...

Learning the Japanese paper crumpling technique of momigami in today's newsletter.

Fourth Time's a Charm? Native California Red Yarrow in backyard Hi Friends, This week I finished the rust and leaf print part of the fourth iteration of a large commissioned piece for a new spa opening in Kansas City,

Latest update on rust and leaf print commission piece in today's newsletter.

Commission Update Bee's Balm Sage in bloom outside the catio Hi Friends, I thought I'd give you an update on the 4' x 8' rust and leaf print commission piece I'm working on for a new spa

Rust art in progress in today's newsletter.

Daily Self Portraits Bougainvillea plants blanketing the back wall Hi Friends, I heard an idea somewhere of doing a daily blind contour self-portrait, just for fun. Blind contour drawing is where you draw with a pen or a

Blind contour self portraits in today's newsletter.

Why Minimalism? Dyer's Coreopsis in backyard Hi Friends, After seeing the tablerunners in my last newsletter, my friend Sylvia Greer suggested that I need more contrast in my work, something I have heard from others ...

New minimalist paintings in today's newsletter.

Failure is Temporary Native California alum root plants blooming in backyard Hi Friends, I originally planted the Heuchera plants, shown above, to harvest for alum, used in dyeing. But they're just too darn pretty to dig ...

Weaving with strips of batik fabrics in todays newsletter.

Weaving Challenge Pacific Coast Iris beginning to bloom in my yard Greetings Friends, Once or twice a year, the Free Weavers Study Group that I belong to sets a challenge, and each member of the group creates

Weaving challenge for my Free Weavers Study Group in today's newsletter.

Rust and Eucalyptus Commission California False Indigo in my yard emerging from winter dormancy Hi Friends, A few weeks ago I was commissioned to create a piece of art for a new spa in Kansas City, Missouri that's opening

I'm working on a large commission piece using rust and eucalyptus leaf prints.

Play and Exploration Sweet little Blue-Eyed Grass blooming in my backyard Hi Friends, My friend Sylvia had a birthday at the tail end of February. She always makes a handmade card for me on my birthday, and this

A collage piece and three new handwoven Sakiori scarves in today's newsletter.

Boro and Sakiori Inspiration Western Redbud tree beginning to bloom in my backyard Hi Friends, The weather here has been warm, and it feels like spring is in the air, even though it's still only February. Last week I

Japanese Boro and Sakiori inspired work in today's newsletter.

Tearing worn flannel shirts into strips and thinking about how to weave them into something beautiful.

Collage Fun Happy Valentine’s Day, Friends! Here’s my heartfelt wish for Valentine’s Day this year: May love and light prevail on Earth. May all beings, including the Earth herself, experienc…

Collage and Happy Valentine's Day in today's newsletter.

Staying Sane One Stitch at a Time Hi Friends, It’s been a harrowing couple of weeks with strong winds and fires popping up here, there and everywhere. On Sunday we got the first rain of the season, and I’m beyond gratef…

Stitching and weaving in today's newsletter.

Cassandra Tondro studio

I'm new here, but some of you might know me from other platforms. I'm an artist specializing in the use of natural and upcycled materials. I like to paint, weave and work with collage. I live in Ventura, California, and I have a large studio space in my backyard set amongst a native plant garden.