Photo Site...

If you would like to see other photos I took this weekend when I went to Camp Sherman, Oregon for the day of heavenly sweet smelling fresh air, green, wildflowers, blue water (and I mean BLUE water), and the fun I had taking the photos along with a shot of yours truly go to:
www.picturetrail.com/ArtisticRenderings for a short little tour and it won't cost you a penny; how great is that?  I am hoping that we can go back with the RV and stay for about 3 days right before the 4th of July holiday.   Test drive.  Camp Sherman is 45 minutes away from where we live in Bend, Oregon.  

Magazine Altered Art Photos

"ROOTS"

"WASH DAY"

A year or so ago (in the summer) I played with magazine pages and have just now taken the time to really "look" at them and have been amazed at the transformation from what was the original to my new original.

I have mounted the "revised" work onto canvas boards and will be matting them and then offering them for sale.

Each one is unique and one of a kind.   They range in size from 5 x 7 to 9 x 12 depending on how I have chosen to mount the design.  Many could be displayed in more than one direction…..and what I see and you see, and how it interacts with our emotional side will differ from person to person so it is almost like altered abstract type art that "I" find appealing and different than other works of art that are being offered for sale in todays' galleries.

I find art that is unduplicatable to my liking…..and hopefully it will be to others also.  Photo #1 I am going to have matted in a salmon, fleshy, color and I am anxious to see the secondary transformation which the matt will provide.  The framing will be left to the buyer, but the smaller ones will be matted and possibly framed.

There are 3 which I will keep as a gouping for one of my walls…. Each will have a name, signed,
dated, and numbered as #1 Original.     Someday hundreds of years down the road it might be a
valuable "vintage" item;  lol…..

On some of them I will add spiritual life quotes.

Experimenting is the journey of art or the art of journey…..

I LIKE TO THINK OF THIS AS SELF INTERPRETATION ART….. AND WHEN IT IS PURCHASED IT WILL BE PURCHASED BY THE RIGHT PERSON…..THE PERSON IT WAS MEANT TO BE FOR.  THE PERSON WHO IDENTIFIES "WITH IT"…..

Stamping on Fabric

I have had several inquiries about using the rubber stamps I sell on Etsy on fabric.  Since I don't use the stamps in this manner, but know of others who do I did a bit of research and this is what I found out looking at a tutorial by Lenna Andrews.


Use inks and paints formulated to be heat set for permanency on fabric.  Inks you might have for metal or paper is not the same kind of ink as one that has been designed to become permanent on fabric after heat setting.

Pre Wash your fabric.

Tsukineko Fabrico/Versacraft inkpads and Lumiere paint are perfect choices for fabric as well as So Soft Fabric Paints by DecoArt or your brand of choice.

Ink pads are just the thing to use for a more detailed rubber stamp image on fabric.

Reink your stamp for each impression

Smooth fabrics without a lot of texture/nap and with a tight weave work best.


Fabric Paint.
  1.  Use a foam brush or cosmetic sponge to tap or smooth the paint on

Heat setting is the most important thing you can do to preserve your fabric stamping.
  1.  Stamping must be completely dry
  2.  Hot dry iron ….no water
  3.  Iron about 2 minutes on each area.
  4.  A piece of muslin to cover the stamping can be used
  5.  Iron both sides of fabric.
  6.  Do not wash for one week
  7.  100% cotton or silk (natural fabrics) will hold fabric inks or paints better than poly blend.

Also remember that you can use bleach on the stamps to remove color from the fabric instead of adding color….Tide has a bleach pen that would work great for small designs.

Stamps should be washed with a mild soap and water.

Antique Brass Trinket Boxes (handmade)

These small pill boxes could be used for so many little things in your purse.  Tooth fairy box, pill box, to hold toothpicks, or a special trinket.

The inside has a mirrored top, and there is a white plastic lining in the bottom….

Just a project to do in-between pieces to just relax and enjoy the process….and learning I HATE glue.

The boxes were plain and then I decorate as I choose to do at the particular time of its' birth……. I never know.  Even have a couple which are pretty bad … tried a couple of things that were total flops….chalk them up to learning..

Unique Puzzled Art

I have had so much fun playing with these unique wood laser cut outs from ULD that I had to share the fun.


With the frame unit you get 5 pieces.

If you use all 5 pieces a 2 x 2 canvas fits perfectly and I have mine hand made (canvas wrapped boards) as the gallery canvas pieces that are 2 x 2 are too thick.

Use all 5 wood frame pieces or as many of the pieces you choose….you are totally the artist with this frame.

As you can see by the photo below there are several ways that this frame can be put together and turned to get the look you like.  You could even extend a design onto the frame if you put it together as in the 3rd frame over.

And then there are these awesome corners that can be added to further enhance the frame  --- all to your liking…        










This last photo is the piece I designed and have finished to go into a spare bedroom I am in the process of re-doing using things from other areas of my home …… so I guess it is a recycled room.   (I used the E6000 glue).    I wanted this particular piece to be abstract, unique, and totally different.  The wood piece on the canvas is also a laser cut piece and I have added Swarowski hot fix gems in Moonlight to accent the piece, (I have a HotFix electric tool to adhere to the frame)  jazz it up and provide a bit of bling as well as some antique brass jewelry findings I snipped the circles off of with my mighty clippers.

You can find all of the wood components to design your own piece in my Etsy shoppe.

If you are interested in handmade blank canvas pieces (I always purchase the x fine) go to Sharksartcanvas.com
                              
I am looking forward to making some more…..

Painting Altered Art #2

(My lupine was flowerless this year (so far) but my neighbors in puple, blue and fushia were gorgeous.
Maybe next year.  These grow wild here on our hillside
especially on the way to Portland….


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In yesterdays' mail I rec'd a sample of a portrait fine grade wrapped custom canvas board that I asked the supplier of my canvas boards to work up for me.   The canvas piece will be 16" x 4" and just the right size for this Buddah design.   I have been working on it on and off for a couple of days now so I am hoping to finish it up by mid week so I can show it as Painting Altered Art #3…..   I am contemplating putting together a pattern packed for this design which uses Americana Paints and Dynasty Brushes and the little knicky knacky brass elements are artist choice…and I have used the Hot Fix swarowski crystals for that bling that adds so much to the finished piece.  So if you are interested; start searching the internet for some vendors who might have what you are looking for.  In the pattern packet I will list sources for items I have used.    Although the design is the same as my other one…..the backdrop is a different color as well as the elements I am using.  I like it done on both the canvas and the barrel stave….just depends on the "look" you are wanting to achieve…….

This is a fun piece to do and requires a little technique in blending colros, slip slap backgrounds, etc.
If you don't know for sure just how the techniques are done this might be a pattern packet that will interest you……especially if you want to do a little altered art piece that is painted and add some bling,
and dimensional elements to the piece…..OR, maybe you just want to simply paint the design of the Buddah and add to elements to the piece…..ARTISTIC LICENSE is wonderful and I am always using it.

Photos will be coming soon….

Also on another table in my little creative corner are some altered art brass pill boxes that I will be listing on my Etsy site for sale.  Each has an interior mirror, hinged, antique brass, plastic liner, and they will be so neat for pills, hearing aid batteries or hearing aids, stamps, mints, etc.  Anything you might need a little container for that is handmade and pretty.  I love little pieces of art.

 

Pinecone Flowers

My husband (which was a surprise) called me to come outside and bring my camera because he had something to show me…. that it was nature and he hadn't ever seen it…..

These photos just don't show the vibrancy of these pine cone beginnings…..  This weeping pine tree is about 3 years old and this is the first time we have seen these or the actual full grown pine cones….

Tomorrow I will go out and try to get some additional photos which may show better color….  The tree is loaded with these delightful cones, different sizes and colors.

Painting Altered Art

I have been seeing this statue in a lot of different forms, shapes, colors, etc. so I decided I wanted to see what I might do….. and since I was working on a serenity area…..how neat would this piece be???

The only surface I had that was the size I felt I needed was a barrel stave so I decided it would be a start as I worked with some colors, shade and highlight colors, etc. and found I like the finished piece and already know where my next one is headed….and will also be done on a barrel stave until I come up with something different.  I want this blown up and I am thinking it would be great painted on the wall……  interesting concept and I am pretty sure it is going to "happen"….  I love the Japanese writing that is on one of the papers worked into the piece, the swarovski crystals in copper and the wiring I did…..  I am pretty sure it is done….  Have an email in to a vendor who does handwrapped canvas onto board with extra fine portrait grade canvas hoping he can come through for me and do some special wraps for me……

Have a few projects on the horizon so I am hoping that I can remain constant….

Thursday was my 30th day since back fusion and I am still feeling pretty doggone good….but know whwat my limits are and adhere to them….not pushing myself … no need to.  Slow and easy...

Project Time

Today is one month since my back fusion and I cannot believe how fast the time has gone….but slow too…. I invested in a memory foam body pillow and it along with the book light for reading are 2 of my newest and greatest luxury desires….. Along with an ice pack. some OTC Tylenol I am getting along pretty good and am greatful to Dr. Ward here in Bend for a successful surgery…..

My newest project; which involves a lot of other artistic happenings is redoing a spare room  which is off my dining toom…..  I have absolutely NO idea what is happening in there…..I just kinda go with the flow of artistic license but I do know that the room is going to be wine purple,  sea glass green, and a very
light salmon color…..  I have been taking things down, have purchased a couple of new things, I am painting a Buddah, and just having a lot of fun….and the best part is being able to close the door and leave the mess……..   I am going to take out some larger pieces of furnture and put in some smaller ones from another room, do some paintings, and altered art…. and trying to catch my husband to do some of the things I can't and shouldn't…  Like bending. lifting, pulling, etc.  So spray paint is flying,
I have to go to Lowes and have them match the color Black Plum because at least one wall in there will get painted this color which is my Wine Purple color….and I love it…..  I also have a vintage carved dragon head board that is going to go in this room…..where there is also a queen sized bed….and I am going to go over the relief with a sea glass green patina to emphasize the design and have it blend into the room.  The woman that sold me the bed told me it was the one her husband slept in as a child and he was in his 80's when he passed away so that brings an antique into the scheme of things.

So far so good and I am enjoying the ecentric, steampunky, bohemian, primitive mix of things…. which are somehow coming together……and I like it all….so that is all that matters….cause it's my house….lol…

Watch for me to post some pictures of some neat laser cut wood pieces I am playing with …..  and I am even going to have some of them in the room…and am looking forward to what happens….I never really know ahead of time…

So…stay tuned….

New Project

It is that time of year again when my cherry tree springs to life…..and with on and off rain showers today I am sure it will bloom forth and is once again loaded.

Today as I just sat and let my body heal a bit I picked up some bricks of clay to create a flower that had been growing within my mind…..which will be a wire sculpture….at least I THINK that is where I am headed….lol….I am not just quite sure….  The flower is "chilling" in the refrigerator so that I can do the next steps tomorrow which is the wire work and l will also include some small swarovski moolight crystals which are my favorites.  

So enjoy your week and be creative….. Photos of the flower will be posted when completed…..

Meeeeeetttttt "MIss Ella Mentary"

Deisgned and Created by Candace K.
5-1-14

How excited do you think I was when I was gifted with Miss Ella Mentary an alter art assemblage 

doll box which was created for me by a fellow artist who educates me weekly….

The head portion is an acrylic box which is on a swivel and each side relates to a different element of our life as we see it here on earth.    Inside Candace had a "proclamation" of sorts typed onto bold paper.

The wings I think represent my earth angels as they guide me along through life and dig me out of ditches I sometimes veer off into.

One leg is a palette knife and the other is a brush….

Inside are trinkets, bling and glamour and even a small match box which is decorate, marked "ideas" and inside she has even provided me some challenge words for creation….which is sometimes the only thing an artist needs to take off and fly to a creation that seems to come out of no where…… except maybe the unconcious mind.

Right now she is "sitting" on a vintage stove in my kitchen because she looks neat there…. but she will get moved all over within the house through time, rearranged and enjoyed…..as I do all of the  special treasures of creativity and / or spiritual creations.

Glad THAT is over with !!!!

Two weeks ago today I underwent one of my worst nightmares in deciding to agree to a back fusion L4-L5 with bone graft.  I have a plate and four screws as well as them grinding the bone they removed in spine to give me some space room.  This material was used as the grafting material....amazing.

With support from framily and friends and the word COURAGE on the day after the surgery I was up walking even though I had problems from anesthesia, was overdosed with pain medication the first night,  the threat of having to have a blood transfusion,  rolling veins, extreme pain and 13 staples...

My doctor was quite impressed with my first check up today and my progress.  Staples are out,  I am walking with a cane,  and although I am to really restrict bending, twisting and lifting I was told to just listen to what my body says to me....  I am walking a bit slower, and more carefully using a cane as a precautionary measure....but otherwise I am great.

After the frist 3 days in the hospital I was able to reduce my pain medication to simply OTC Tylenol and no more than 3 muscle relaxants aver a 10 day period so yippe.   I am proud of me....

So, now that I have been "released from care" with no real restrictions I can continue to push myself just a little bit more and work in some art every day as well as continuing to post here on my blog, as well as handling my Etsy Shoppe and adding some new and different items for fellow artists.    THANKS AGAIN MEGHAN and MICHELLE for running ArtisticRenderings during this 2 week period, and Meghan for helping to nurse her Neema back to health....

ZEUS......NOT for the faint hearted.....

How about this guy....he is absolutely gorgeous and a new found friend.  He looks and feels as if he is beaded with delica glass beads and feels so cool and smooth.  He belongs to my son in law... and is one of the smartest lizards and can be "walked" with a harness.  He mesmerizes me...

TO PONDER:

           "Your thoughts are your reality"

MY Journal (Mixed Media)

This week I finished up the front and back of the journal I have been using....  Somehow It just seems more fun to pick up a fun journal instead of just a book......  The heart at the botttom right is a small tin which holds paper clips and is glued onto the hournal....On the back of the journal is a cigarette type cigar tin that is slim and nice and the colors were perfect.  (Havana Honeys....roller derby chicks...mud or jello female wrestlers....?    I also gluee this tin to the back and it holds a pencil, 2 pens, small sissors, etc.  Now I won't have to go "searching" it will all be together for me...

They say BRASS is in this year...but I really prefer the copper .... rusty colors with a green or blue hue....  The round brass and black item is a vintage cabinet door knob and the horizontal piece moves to the left and right so it opens the journal and I really love the victorian steampunkery look of the item.  

I found a very nice fretwork laser wood cutter online and they do some very special pieces that are spectacular and reasonably prices.  I have made 2 orders and have been more than pleased with the aroma of the wood/burn smell which brings back childhood memories for me and the top of the line quality of the pieces.  

This journal will be a mish mosh of this n that ....

Kitchen Facial

Tonight, the first time in probably 10 years (and these were years I should have used)  I remembered that my mother used to give herself egg white facials... And what is egg white but placentia???  AND... what is the main incredient in most face masques....oinments, gels, etc..??  PLACENTIA.... and I got mine for roughly 10 cents which refrigerated will last so I can do it every night for a week.....  My face is tighter,  just a very soft tingle and my face is so soft.   Did it diminish the wrinkles....no, but that is not to say it won't over time and my face is as soft as baby skin not to mention how clean and fresh it feels.

Steps:
I would do a test by applying some of the egg white to the inside of your  elbow.  You want to make sure you are not allergic to egg whites....and some people are so don't skip the test.   A pinking of the skin is sometimes seen .... but as long as it is not RED you should be OK....
1.  Wash hands and face with a mild soap and water.
2.  Using your fingers dollop up as much of the egg white as you can applying it to your face using outward and/or upward strokes.  I went down my neck applying the egg white in upward strokes also. The direction of the application is an important part of the procedure.
3.  Let dry.
DO NOT laugh or smile when you are letting the mask dry or it will crack and you will have to remove  as the "tighness" will no longer be...so do alone in a door shut room.  You will feel a drawing, tightening procedure whe you have applied, which will also draw impurities out of the pores.

4.  AS SOON AS THE MASQUE IS DRY or within 5 minutes remove  the masque with a wash cloth and hot to warm water.
5.   Follow with a cold rinse patting on to close your pores.
6.  Apply an astringent (Witch Hazel is what my Mom used so what I use) and pat dry I pat my skin with a clean face towel.
7.  Apply a good moisturizer
  My Mom used the pink Oil of Olay so .... yep, that is what I use.  It certainly worked for her so.....why not use the same thing?  Do other products work?  I am sure they do but the cost is certainly higher than my products....and nothing short of a face lift is going to last longer...

 Egg whites and Witch Hazel are both "natural " ( you can even purchase a witch hazel bush and make your own).  Oil of Olay has been around a GOODLY amount of years so it has to have a good reputation as to effectiveness or it would be long gone....  

So give yourself an old tyme natural facial ....  I think you will be pleased,,....

Bearded Dragon 

Pillow Sole Socks

As we get older hmmmmrrppphhhh it seems it takes LESS to make us happy and we enjoy those "little" big things in life.

This past week I found Pillow Sole socks.  When I saw and felt them I said "yea, right (in a negative mind only thought) but I bought them to try as I have Mortons' Neuroma and RSD... WELL,,,let me tell you...I went back to the store the next day and I bought 2 more pairs (they run $7 per pair and were on sale for buy one get one at 50% off).  These sock are awesome.... for what little extra there seemed to be in the sole.  AND they carry the socks in knee length as well....    The brand I purchased was Legale...  So if you want/need some foot comfort I have to say this would be a great option....  If your feet hurt seems as if everything is "wrong"...

Gathering

I enjoy "gathering supplies".

When I purchase supplies from garage sales, Etsy vendors,  street faires, thrift stores, antique shops, or going for "walks" I tend to gather things that I like, unusual items, or a item that brings back a memory, or maybe creates a new one.   Many times I have NO idea what I am going to do with the item, how it will work into a design, etc. but I know that it "will" somewhere along the line.  I have items that I have had for 10 years or more.  The spools of thread reminded me of my grandmother who was the town seamstress and when I was young I can remember her continual complaining about the poor quality of thread....it is a good thing whe can't see what we have to work with today....but at least she would have the option of getting better thread if she was willing to pay triple the price....the thread on these 2 spools I am sure is what she "used" to work with back in "those" days.   The nut is an acorn I picked up in CA when we went to see a family member in the hospital...and I LOVE tree bark.  I am on the look out now for birch, aspen, bark (white and black).  A few years ago I purchased an antique ledger book and when I finally found time to look at the entries I discovered it belonged to an artist who was handpainting place settings, dishes, tea sets, etc.  and she loged in the persons name, what she did and the amount the purchase was for.....   And the intricately cut laser wood tree......Unique and I have just glued one on to an art journal I am making for myself.  The pewter witch I bought at Goodwill and it is going to be used in a wire sculpture I am "gathering" for....

Just as with all art........the journey is half the fun....and each item I purchase or find is a personal "treasure" ....  a sense of satisfaction... and even excitement.  Everyone tells me an artist is a "different" breed of person and I have yet to ask or know if they mean that in a bad or good way....

So enjoy your own personal journey.....

Another Bridge and New Projects

Another covered bridge from the Scio, OR bridge tour can be found in the middle of my post.......this was the newest one...... while the others were built in the 1930's.   This was the only red one...the others are all white.

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For the past few days I have been busy but still finding time to work in some  'me' time in my work room.....   I have 4 new things I am working on; in different mediums that I can jump back and forth between.

I am working on a pink crystal necklace made out of a tiny crystal looking salt and pepper set and I want to incorporate some colored wire into this piece if it is feasible to do so....

Tonight I began another abstract wire sculpture using a Tablespoon this time, half of a welding rod,
some bubble glue that ran over onto my living room rug of all places and dried there but lifted right off the carpet with no effort leaving none in the rug....and fit perfectly into what I am doing.....is this one of
those "happy accidents" that Bob Ross always talked about....lol....  I purchased some colored wire to play with so I am pretty sure that some will be used on this piece.  And .... the base of this one is going to be a piece of tree bark (I think) from PA that flew back to PA and then later was trucked from CA to here in OR...so it has litterally been a LOT of places and I have had it quite a few years.....(over 10).
Not that it matters but the bark is Hemlock.  I am finding that I really like the wire medium as I am really in control of where the wire goes, how it is wrapped, twisted, turned, and molded....and seems to "fall into place".  With this piece I THINK, I know where I am going....but I have thought that before so we will see what happens....  I also like that I have not seen many wire sculpture artists  so I pretty much know that these are truly MY pieces, not copied from anyone else....and I can say with confidence will be one of a kind....not duplicatable.  I am going to wait until I get about 6 made and then decide what I will do as far as selling them and where.

I just finished painting, matting and framing a 5 x 7 acrylic painting of Mt. Shasta from a photo I took this fall....... and have plans for my next painting which I will start sometime this coming week.  It is

going to be a floral....on a black background....

Next I want to get a clay "something" in process.  It is fun working between the different mediums and projects.....and each helps on of the others I am working on....a nice flow that is enjoyable.

This weekend is to be nice so I will enjoy the sunshine and warm weather......back shots on Monday which I am not looking forward to with a couple days of "down recovery time".... which I normally don't do but am planning on definately doing this time.......

Have a great weekend everyone.

EVIL DOERS --- Hannah Bridge

We have all encountered Evil Doers' in our life which can be either human? or technical.   Whatever or whomever has done a complete job of slowly destroying nearly everything in my computer, thank you very much;  so now to begin the fixes, repairs and hopefully restores.  All of my photos here on ArtisticRenderings have been "obliterated" "deleted" but I am determined to move forward a little wiser than before.

This weekend I was near Scio, Oregon and even though the weather was not co-operative with plans we still managed to enjoy and visit 6 of the old covered bridges in this area.

One of the bridges was called HANNAH so this is where I sit...  the bridge to tomorrow.

My email site is gone so I need addressses of all of my friends to re-establish an address book on my new email site..... so please comment here and provide it to me.    When all one has to do is "click" we fail to "remember" personal information of importance.....  so across the bridge to the rest of today.

Winter Wedding

This is my third wire sculpture and I think I am going to call it Winder Wedding.  I have used many different types and sizes of crystals as well as a vintage one right in the front.

Some portions of the wire body areas have been covered with a couple of different sheer fabrics.

The base is glass and pewter and was purchased at one of our local consignment stores and worked just perfect as the base.

Small delicas have been strung on wire in a very translucent blue and white..

The one gorgeous white bead to the right which hangs was made by my daughter Dragynsfyre and is a white and silvered ivory lampwork bead that has been etched.  The top was clear and the bottom a white....above and below are etched handmade lampwork spacer beads in clear which are
different shapes and sizes done by a lampworker in the state of WA and are also etched.

I already have the next piece started which I think is going to be a "lot" different from the other ones I have created.
 I have a vintage witch head pin and a retro looking bell chiming alarm cloce.............THIS should be interesting...  I have chosen the colors to be green and purple.... for "A Witchin' Good Time"..... check back in a month of two to see this one.....lol......


Title:            Winter Wedding
Inspiration:  Mother Nature and my love of winter, white and blue, cold, ice, snow. etc.
Elements:    Snow, Ice, Fog sparkle and Water.
Accomplished:  Texture, dimension, movement (one of the vintage crystals is suspended and gently swings, color (silver, white with just a touch of blue), design, theme and flow with a feeling of icy, cold glamour (temperature).

Day and Night

This is a piece I just finished painting using a design by Josh Shanoon for inspiration.  His design was done using computer graphics.

When doing landscapes I tend to paint in my design ....  I don't draw or trace a design until AFTER it is painted.  I enjoy letting things just happen.   The same with colors.....the only thing I concentrated on was the pink in the sky, moon and water... 

I needed to practice waterfalls so I ended up with 3 in my rendition....and I love the curved tree.  This reminds me in many ways of a place where I used to go and read, write poetry, etc.  down back of where I lived growing up deep in the woods.  The tree wasn't quite this curved, but it was gnarl and between the trunk and roots was deep thick green moss that was my special cushion.  I loved the sounds, (frogs, birds, an occassional train) and smells (moss, water, wild flowers, etc.) as well as the visual clouds, shapes, colors, etc.  
was deep thick green moss that was like a cushion.... It is going to be matted using 2 shades of green mat and a black frame then right ino the master bedroom to hand on an empty wall.  I am actually tempted to paint this right on the wall as it is a perfect width and height....hmmmmmm.

I used a limited palatte....Liquitex soft body paints and several different sizes, shapes, and styles of Dynasty brushes....my favorite tools of the trade....or and handmade fine portrait grade handwrapped canvas boards....  This one is an 8 x 10.

Trash to more of a Treasure

This was impromptu....I purchased this rickity ole bookcase at a garage sale because I needed shelving and for $5 I "figured" I could do something to make the piece more attractive....  These shutters have been around forever and I always used them as "freestanding" dividers but they fit PERFECTLY on this bookshelf.  One pair served as the back of the bookcase as it "shows" and one half shutter for each side.....and I love the look which holds my glues, inks, etc. for when I am "claying" so I don't have to search all over to find what I need..... perfecto mundo....  Since this photo I have painted the very top of the piece black ..... and the shelving has been modge podged with Simplicity tissue pattern pieces.   Is done ever really DONE.....but done for now, but I would like an old window I could prop on the front and move when using, replacing when done....hmmmmmmm.

Altered Straw Hat

In making this hat I did my best to use textures, monocramatic colors for a neutral look, style, etc.
The white flower on the hat is from Michaels and is burlap,   The center of the flower is a steampunk button that i sell.  The leaf has been imprinted on clay (by me) and added.  The brown around the hat is a brown satin mens tie... with lace glued on (Beacon Adhesive for Fabric... which I like real well as it dries so you can pull of the excess....very little is needed for a nice strong bond,  and sets up quickly.)  I handpainted the roses, leaves and ribbons using Liquitex Parchement and Burnt Sienna paint and when dry I added some of the Ice Crystal Glitter paint by Americana (LOVE this paint)  in dots here and there for some sparkle.  Around the hat with the hat band is a copper necklace I made but decided it looked really neat on the hat....and oh yea, the bumble bee is a button I sell....every bonnet has a bee in it....  In between the narrow and wider ends of the tie I have taken several strands of waxed twine and knotted the strands randomly and then glued underneath the criss cross of the tie.  

The recipient of the hat is leaving for Florida for 2 weeks and loves being out in the garden so I am hoping she will like her hat....it is a bit weightier but she won't have to worry about the summer breeze blowing her hat away....so dual purpose.


Since I knew the hat was "winding down" I started work on a wood cigar box to set on the table by my chair to hold "stuff",  finishing up my 2nd wire sculpture and already thinking about #3 so I guess I am in wire mode.....which is brand new to me...   I am also thinking about doing some more canvas winter pictures.....my fingers are calling out to the paint brushes that it is "their turn" to be creative.  I stopped at Goodwill while in town today and picked up 2 really neat items that can be used as bases for the wire sculptures...and I want to explore making myself an altered journal and somehow incorporating black and white paper so THIS should be interesting......  All in all it has been a week of accomplishments as I slide down hump day into Thursday.....

Snow Storm 2-6-14 Oregon

This was one of the worst storms (amount wise) that we have experienced here in Oregon.  HOWEVER, it was gorgeous.  The tree avalanches as laden boughts become just too much (my favorite photo),   the neat little snowcaps on the bird house.... and then we have the more dismal side which is the darkness, hours of snowfall, and inconvenience.  I  was beginning to wonder if it would ever end.

I am working on a straw hat which needs to be done by the 15th of February,  and another wire sculpture which is progressing a little slower than normal, but that is OK.  It is convenient to have several pieces going at the same time in different mediums.  I am also just starting what I hope will be a journal for myself.....  This particular journal is going to be my IDEA journal...the beginning stages......which is exciting in itself.

So enjoy my snow shots and soon I am hoping I can
blog a finished project.

Just for the record,  we ended up with about 3 foot of snow then during the night the temperature went up to 40 degrees so snow melted and now we have slush,  ruts and slippery walking conditions.  Tonight when I walked outside at midnight freezing fog is rolling in but it appears to be a high fog.... so we are below freezing again tonight.....  Many people here in Orgeon are without power......

Stay safe and warm everyone.

Altered Journal #2

  Once again the creative force was drawn to doing another journal....I thought it was for me....but after getting it done..I realized it wasn't.

The mesh grids were meant as candles...the wicks are watch "innards" as well as the right hand bottom piece.

The woodend wheel is a vintage spool which I purchased from an overseas Etsy Vendor.  I love adding pieces from other countries, items that one doesn't normally see.   Since taking the photo I have cut the purple ribbon to be just a bit longer than the shorter one...and removed the key.  It didn't belong...  It made the journal off balance somehow....  the ends of the purple ribbon are beautifully frayed..... and the lady bug...kinda fits with the fire and the colors in the "wordage" with refers to Imagine......

I have been reading a book which talks about truth, intuition, reality, and light so I think this was the inspiration for this piece.

The bottom photo is the bookmark that goes with the journal.  It "WAS" the cuff of a denim jacket I am working on, and was salvaged to be a bracelet  but just seemed to gowith the design of the journal which has blank pages.  Sometimes the lines can be distracting and you get more of a creative flow with just blank.  I wish I had a journal with both in it....  wonder if anyone has thought to make a handmade journal in this manner?

Altered Journal

I am really enjoying altering journals.  I love this one with the wheat drawer pull which I incorporated into the design... unique and different.  I feel that you if you have a "personal handmade journal" you will WANT to write in it....It is special, for special thoughts, poems, ideas, or just a day to day journal of life.  This one was sold before I got a photo of it.....so now I am working on another as a gift then I need to do one for me....before the year passes me by.   I know I will love writing in mine...now to find that special PEN.....

The one I am finishing is called "LIGHT".... that is it;  simply Light so will try to get photos soon to post.   It is a black, blank page wire bound type sketching journal....or for someone who doesn't want the restriction of lines.....