pretty little things

I was roaming the Internet the other night and ended up on a pretty website with a really pretty necklace/hanging thing and it inspired me to attempt to make one similar.

I used a Tim Holtz metal frame and findings in my stash to create. I used Gilder's paste on the metal pieces to give it an ages look; first I used rust and then patina. The flowers are "I am roses" flowers that I sprayed with glimmer mist and added triple thick. I love the end result.  The chain is about 4" so I can hang this on a drawer pull or on the wall.  I'll be making more. I also want to make one with out a chain and use it on a little envelope mini I've recently finished and now need to embellish.

reworked last painting...added more depth

After a day and re-evaluating, I decided that my painting needed more depth, more contrast, so I went in with more of the darker values along the edges to pop the focal point better. It is darker, but I do like the results.  I love the texture that this has.

It just seems richer somehow. I welcome feedback if anyone has any comments, I'd love to hear from you. Don't be shy now...

more acrylic experimenting

 close up showing texture

click to see closer

 

 

 

"she kept growing and changing"

5" x 8"

 

 I am happy with how this turned out. It's part collage, part assemblage, part painting... all brought together in one piece. I need to keep going with this process...start another one. I can see a lot of potential with this technique!  I may even keep going on this one- more shadows and darkness around the edge...

 This piece is about my first marriage when it was near the end...



The " H U N T "

If you are an artist or a crafter, I think you know what I mean by the HUNT. It's the collecting of things...sometimes tiny, almost minuscule things. But I KNOW it will be **perfect** and so I buy it. Or pick it up off of the ground, or tear it out of an old book.  It gets added to the collection.

It may end up on my wall-mounted type trays or in a drawer or a box...but eventually I will use it. It may be large and take up a fair amount of space. But not usually. I find IT at garage sales, flea markets, the big-box craft stores, antique shops, eBay...anywhere and everywhere. Friends and Family give me things they think I might like. Old broken costume jewelry, their grandmother's old spools of sewing thread, one leather glove without it's mate, discarded old school library books.

What ever "IT" is...it is part of the process...hunting and gathering...putting together pieces to make a whole.

So much of my art is about that- putting pieces together. I love the process. I love beginning a new project. I think about it...what colors will I use? Is there a theme? What is the main focus? I marinate the idea in my head turning it over making sure the idea is completely coated. Or sometimes there is no planning and an idea is suddenly and urgently poking at me and I have no choice but to create.

Some might refer to my collection as flotsam and jetsam...junk. Not me...it's my treasure. The found rusted bolt with the very cool numbers on the side, the broken metal medallion, watch parts from the watch my husband donated to the cause, because he 'gets' me, old crystal chandelier parts, a cabinet card image of a child, long since grown and gone, an old seam binding bow with an ancient pressed rose and rusted pin. The stuff of life. Someones memories. Someones past. It's all part of The Story. All these separate pieces brought together to tell The Story.

Usually I am working on more than one project at a time. I have small trays that I use to compartmentalize each project. It's easy to add a tiny treasure to the tray, to see what's there, to move one away and pull one in closer. It's a system that works for me. It's part of the hunting and gathering. I may or may not use all of the items I put in a project tray.

Once a project is finished, I set about carefully putting back that which didn't get used...this time. So IT goes back on the wall,back into the drawer, the box. But I know some day I will use IT.

It's all part of the HUNT and I love it...

doll heads on etsy

I've added some more doll heads to my etsy shop. They are selling very well. I would love to see what people do with the doll heads. I use them to make assemblage dolls like this. I am working on several new dolls now.

I really think each doll head has a personality- some are regal looking, while others have a certain sweetness about them. I use that in my assemblage doll making. Just like people, each are different and have a personality all their own!

Party Girl - assemblage doll

She's a real party girl!

art assemblage doll- over all size is 4" x 2"

Her arms and head are antique German

doll parts that were excavated

from the grounds of an abandoned doll factory.

The crystals are genuine Swarovski crystals.

I think she would make a fun gift for a girlfriend!

You can see more of her at my etsy shop.

Cinderella - assemblage doll

Say Hello to Cinderella...a funky shabby Cinderella! She hangs on the wall as an art piece!

This is my first doll assemblage, and it was great fun to make her!

She has her crown on and is all dressed for the ball. She has a clock to remind her to leave before midnight!

Her body is a collaged block of wood using words, vintage paper, jewelry and lace. Her head and arms are antique German doll parts I acquired from Germany- they were dug up around an abandoned doll factory!! Her legs are hand made by me of polymer clay. I also made her crown- full of pearls and glitter!

(click on pictures see larger)

Cinderella is SOLD.

...I am thinking she needs a Prince Charming!