I just finished working on this commissioned necklace for Sue M. I met Sue at Art-Is, two years ago. We were in several classes together, including the recent Keith LoBue classes. Sue is a funny and sweet lady who admired my work. She was so excited when I told her I would make something special, just for her. So here it is...
I can't wait to send it to her - big toothy smile!
xo
Here is the other side of the story... You see yesterday Billie aka Bff told the story over at her blog, about our Rhinebeck Flea Market adventure this past September. So here is the part where you get to meet Doris. Doris is my beautiful vintage dress form that I scored that day.
We drove to Hyde Park to the antique dealers shop (which was huge) and the sales person took us to our dealers area. I couldn't look, so I had Billie take the first look. When she gasped, I was sure that I would be disappointed again! Much to my surprise, when all the stuff that was piled on top of her was removed, she was just what I was looking for, in all her vintage glory!!! I couldn't breathe for a second... I wasn't as lucky as Billie as far as the price, but I didn't let that deter me. She was $100 and well worth it! Did I mentioned that Bille only paid $10 for hers? Our husbands think we are nuts, but who cares!! hehe
So here is were the story gets a bit dicey... In the car Billie came up with the bright idea to name both the dress forms - hence the names Doris and Mona. But of course I had to take it a step further and give mine a last name. While driving home, we passed through this little town called Wiccapee (sp?) and I took a liking to it and it became Doris's last name. Now if that wasn't enough, Doris and Mona were positioned in the van in such a way that they were touching and making all kinds of noise, banging against each other. Low and behold they were having a "bitch fight" in the back seat!!! You see Mona is from the "other side of the tracks" and Doris is a bit uppity! Needless to say, we had so much fun on the way home, making up stories about our new/old dress forms and laughing about the silliest things. Does the phrase - "gird your loins" mean anything to anyone out there? All I will say is that driving under power lines will never be the same! Nuf said...
Here is Doris in all her uppity vintage glory.
Be sure to read the first part of the story
over at Billie's blog.
xo
This encaustic collage is the first in a new series. The series will be called "outside the box - encaustic collage" I have this thing for boxes of all sizes and I just so happen to have quite the collection of cigar boxes. Using some of the distressing techniques I learned in Keith's class, I beat up the cigar box, took off the lid and decided that I wanted to work on the outside instead of the inside. I guess it could be called an "altered" encaustic cigar box collage, but I didn't want the focus on the box and besides, do we need another thing that's altered? So a new series is born. This piece is titled - Three. It would be great if you would leave me a comment and let me know what you think. xo
It is Tuesday, Election day and my girl's are home! Need I say more?!? I don't remember having so many days off when I was a wee one! - I digress... I thought it appropriate to post a picture of a piece I recently finished, which is also apropos...
That's it, that's all!! How's that for being a smart butt :)
xo
Oh the fun we had!!! Yesterday Billie, Ann and I went to the Stormville Flea Market. It was the last one for the year, so naturally we had to go - no matter what! The weather started out promising, but towards the middle of the day the wind picked up and it was cold. I was visibly shivering!! Ugh! Our partner in crime (Pam) couldn't be with us, so our other friend Ann stepped in to fill the void :) We missed you Pam.
So here are some of my goodies, (must leave some things a surprise)... I know, I'm a stinka!
xo
It is wet and gloomy here in the Hudson Valley, much to my dismay, and I have been "under the weather" in one form or another for the past few weeks. With that said, I have managed to make time at my work bench, playing with some of the new technique's I learned in Keith LoBue's class. So here is my show and tell - "Open Heart" - Assemblage Neck piece. This piece was a challenge in the most positive way and I really like the way it came out.
Ps. Meet Doris my new dress form - she is so perfect in her stained glory! I will share the story behind this wonderful find another time :)
xo
I am back from a wonderful artist retreat, Art-Is-You. This years theme was Alice in Wonderland, which is apropos for how I am feeling since returning home. The weekend was a dizzying amount of creativity, fun and connecting with old and new friends. I didn't manage to take any pictures, but there are a boat load of them floating around facebook and blogland.
Speaking of blogland, you must pop over to bff's blog and read about our interesting dinner out and hilarious pictures. Why is it that the things I hate the most (like people singing to me in restaurants) seem to always happen to me? Did I mention that I really hate for people to sing Happy Birthday to me in restaurant's? Joan, I owe you one. Lol
The highlight and dream for me was taking classes with Keith LoBue. Keith is the most warm, engaging, funny (the list goes on) teacher I have ever had! We learned so much, things that will really make my world of creating go to a different level! I can't wait to get to work...
Keith will be teaching again next year at Art-Is. If you haven't taken a class with him, you should make it your business to do so. I will be there with bells on! Rumor has it that Michael DeMeng will also be teaching next year. FINALLY! The east coast gets to share in some of the art wealth!
I'll be back to show you what I've been working on this past month.
xo
It's no secret that I have a thing for bottle caps. Not sure what it is...but I like working with them. A few weeks ago I was preparing for a show and making tons--I mean tons, of bottle cap charms for necklaces and pins. My daughter asked if I would make her a special necklace for her birthday with the Wizard of Oz bottle cap charms I had just made. It took me a while to get the necklace done for her, but here it is...
It's a fun piece and so suited for a teenage girl. By the way, she loves it - Yay :)
I finally have the courage to show you what my studio looks like...well not the whole studio, there is a whole other room that I am presently trying to organize-ugh! This is my inner sanctum where the magic happens... The work bench/desk/everything table
Bottles of baubles...
My library card file cabinet in which I was trying to clean up and my husband so graciously moved to this spot and I managed to get that drawer stuck! UGH!
Bead storage...
View above my work bench...
The other work bench and more beads...
vintage bottle collection and found object storage...
Display shelves...
Heart shaped shell my daughters brought home from the beach.
So there you have it...a glimpse into my world!
xo
ps. One of my girls suggested that I have the studio painted. What a great idea! ,I exclaim--then the reality hit that the entire place would have to be cleaned out--I think I can live with the yucky pink color for now! :)
Toodles
The muse has struck and I am very excited to be challenging myself again. I can say without reservation, that working with metals is my true passion!! The process of seeing a design come to life - all the steps that are involved give me such a feeling of satisfaction and awe, even trouble shooting and changing gears is satisfying.
I thought I would give you a look at some of the pendants that are in the final stages of completion...
xo
