♥ my pinky finger ♥

Polymer Clay Inspiration

2012-02-11T23:38:00.000-06:00

Tonight, a bit of inspiration from that fantastic craft medium, the chameleon of all mediums, polymer clay.

Above, wall mirror with polymer clay decoration. By fperezajates, aka Fabi

Some examples of how it can look after an artist gets ahold of it: all of the images below are items made with Polymer Clay.

I have given proper credit whenever possible: if you see something without photo credit it is because I was unable to trace it back to the original.

I will gladly add credit if you just notify me.

Here's a Steampunk angelfish by Desert Rubble Steampunk angelfish pendant with faux hinges. Below are four beautiful cabochons made to resemble lampwork, by
Beadazzle Me Polymer Clay Jewelry by artist Sherri K., whose work can be found on Etsy.

Below are faux jade, faux leather, faux turquoise, all really just made of polymer clay.

Look at some of the beautiful items that can be crafted with PC. TreeWingsStudio, winged heart necklace by Rebekah Payne

Fantasy purse/ handbag (below) by fantastisch plastisch. made from polymer clay, silk, velvet, Durchmesser ca. 20cm

Below, some beautiful Polymer clay beads, for a series of bracelets, made by By malodora on Flickr, AKA DDee Wilder

Dunno who made these nor what exactly they are, but they are very eye-catching. Earrings? Brooches? Anyone?

"The keeper" by Marilyn Girling aka Saskart girl on DeviantArt.

Polymer clay tiles applied over formed chipboard base. Colored with Pearl Ex powders

and acrylic paint. Gems, glass beads.

Elf art doll by Jill Willich

PC covered silverware

elves by Ronit Galan

You can make your own minions!

Gorgeous "Fiddlehead" necklace above, by Christine Damm.

For more PC gloriousness (and there is a LOT of it out there) come visit my Pinterest board by clicking the link below. You'll see amazing and beautiful things.

PINTEREST BOARD

Thanks for stopping by today.
Robin J

Fat and forty something: is this the dream?

2012-02-09T20:25:00.002-06:00

Am I a failure? I was growing up, I had this fantasy future all planned. Not sure where all these ideas came from: but they were firmly implanted. It was my own little princess story, with a log cabin twist.

I would marry a strong handsome man who had great integrity; we would be on the poor side, though not destitute (apparently that was a romantic idea for me then).... but also very happy, living in the country somewhere, on a little wooded piece of land. We'd lovingly hand restore our clapboard cottage while raising our large brood of adorable children, who would run free and barefoot in the countryside.

The image is detailed: We'd raise chickens, drive faded blue pickup trucks dented from years of loyal service, and on a sunny afternoon, I would be in the kitchen, baking organic bread, while my husband would sit in the corner writing me love songs on his hand-built guitar. We would be pure, unhurried, free, and content. I would of course age well, remaining beautiful well into my 70s. Happy happy happy, slightly rebellious perhaps, but happy.

Reality has been different. I married a strong handsome man, with great integrity, yes, ----- but he would not know how to make a guitar do anything but splinter into firewood. He's certainly never written me a love song.

We had a large brood of children, yes, but they grew up wearing helmets on city streets and not running free in acres of wilderness.

We live in a plain old suburban brick tract house that is falling down around our ears, one peeling windowsill at a time.

And the bread? HA! I have baked fresh bread maybe five times in 25 years, if that.

So did my dream die?

Am I a failure?

My reality has not met my expectations. Where's my log cabin? My fresh garland of daisies lovingly woven by my children for me? I assure you I never EXPECTED to be a fat forty-something woman teaching middle school, struggling to walk (thanks to the deterioration of arthritis) and struggling even more to pay the bills. A slightly limping,frumpy, stout and matronly woman in black rimmed glasses with grey hair. This was not part of my princess plan.

But here I am, pushing 50, and looking back over my life. Many things I have done well, and ma proud of; others I have failed miserably at, and am ashamed. My kids are grown: parenting is done, and grand parenting years away.

Who am I now??

So I guess this is my middle-aged reckoning, the "crisis" they all warned us about. Bring it on.

My first thoughts, as I struggle with this, is to ask, "Where did the whole log cabin fantasy come from?" I feel like I got sold a load of goods on that one. Who taught me that "poor is romantic", and that I should spend my lifetime baking bread? Who taught me that a man must play the guitar and write love songs to be romantic?

And my next question is similar: why did I assent to all that?

What is it that REALLY matters to me, in the final analysis?

May my heart be illumined as I try to figure out what to do with my life now.
Thanks for stopping by.

Life Goes On

2012-01-29T22:24:00.001-06:00

Life goes on, whether we want it to or ... sometimes... whether we really do not.

A year ago yesterday, my mother passed away. And......Life has gone on. Though I still cry at odd moments, and I still worry a LOT about my Dad and his loneliness, life has continued. Good and bad things have come my way: I have laughed and cried and pondered my mortality a LOT this year.

My husband just got out of the hospital... again.... luckily this time he seems to actually be over with whatever it was he had. And within a day or two, life is back to normal. Life has gone on for all of us. Yesterday, on the anniversary of my mother's death, I spent the evening at a wedding. My parents were married for 54 years, and loved each other to the very last moment. What better way to solemnly recognize that anniversary date than to see another couple, just starting out, madly in love?

Death yields to birth. Funerals yield to weddings. Grief yields once again to hope and wonder.

In the last two years a lot has happened in my life. My mother passing. My husband developing crushing meningitis which rendered him disabled for the better part of a year, and different now than he was before. Our entire relationship has changed, a fact I still struggle with daily. A beloved person in my life was raped, and nearly torn apart afterwards from her PTSD. A child of mine was arrested on felony drug charges. We were hit by a drunk driver. Our roof was destroyed in a storm. I've had a major surgery and am facing knee replacement soon. Debt from medical bills is threatening to overwhelm us. My youngest two (twins) have moved out to go to college: the older three have all moved back IN. My load at work has doubled. Four of my friends have also lost a parent this year, and one friend has lot her husband while another lost a teenage daughter (to yet another drunk driver.)

But life..... goes on. It's a cliche, yes.... but it is also really true. The world, the totality of human existence, is not what I am talking about. I am talking about MY LIFE. My life goes on, no matter what tragedy, what challenge, what new parameters come along. The seasons WILL change. I can fight that and be miserable, or let go, and be at peace, knowing I am NOT in control.

As I draw closer to fifty years of age, I begin to find relief from the pressures in life simply through acknowledging that now matter what, even if I screw things up royally, life will go on. I don't have to have all the answers. Don't have to understand why things happen the way they do, or know what is coming tomorrow. I don't have to complete task A or job B. I can make mistakes, and so can the others around me, and LIFE WILL GO ON.

This takes a lot of the pressure off. I do not have to be perfect.... NO ONE DOES. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and allowing life to carry me forward. Quit thrashing and flailing, and just... float.... down the river of my life, my time in this world.

After all, I am not the one in control: God is.

Even when, sometimes, the river ride feels like this:

Thanks for stopping by,

Robin

Back in the Hospital

2012-01-21T21:39:00.000-06:00

Here we go again! I am once again living in a hospital.

This picture is of a virus. I ask you, how can such a beautiful-looking thing be such a royal PAIN IN THE ASS??

Last night my husband exhibited all the signs of appendicitis: severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, etc. So at 4:00 AM we traipsed back once again to the same hospital we practically lived in for all of January 2010. He had meningitis then and nearly died. It took 6 months for him to recover enough to drive, and he is still not really over it two years later.

He has been admitted and we are in a room, but it is NOT appendicitis. It appears to be another viral infection, this time in the intestine. Viral gastroenteritis, with a possible partial bowel obstruction. Being back on this narrow bed really brings up some memories of our last stay, three weeks worth of nights, wondering if he would live or die and if he lived, who would he be?

This is not as bad, apparently, and for that I am rejoicing. But I am also looking with unadulterated lust at that morphine drip he has......

No art today. May draw some tomorrow and if so will post a photo of yon doodling.
Thanks for stopping by.

robin

Jericho, Survival, and kits

2012-01-21T00:42:00.000-06:00

OK who else has recently been hooked on the now-cancelled TV series from 2006-7, called JERICHO?

This is the story of the characters living in a fictional town in Kansas, as they cope with the after-effects of what appears to be a nuclear bomb-- or several-- going off in America. The lack of power, groceries, medicines, EVERYTHING, is depicted in heart-rending detail. I was hooked ten minutes into episode one, and last night finished the final episode.

The second season moves the focus of the show from the personal lives of the town's inhabitants to some very gripping questions about freedom, "big" government, and having to choose between two evils. I LOVED the series and am astonished that it was cancelled, (though perhaps it was too brainy for a society which thrives on the trumped-up drama of Jersey Wives---- or whatever that show is called.)

ANYWAY: it has gotten me to thinking: emergencies do happen. Katrina leaps to mind. So now I am on a survivalist/ homesteading/ skills kick. Not to worry, I have not gone camo and become like those scary militia-type survivalists who stock up on guns and throwing knives and take classes with titles like "4,000 ways to field dress a possum." That said: it seems reasonable to me to have a few things prepared and on hand, without going overboard and nailing iron bars across my windows and buying loads of guns (apparently so I can shoot my neighbors when something really bad happens and they need help... because that's what I do, y'all. NOT. ) I have actually seen grocery stores looking like this, before a hurricane hits:

So I have been doing what I always do when a new topic strikes my fancy: reading everything I can get my hands on about it, and comparing what I learn. Then, choosing how to act on it.

Most sites recommend you consider three things for an emergency kit, and bear in mind the size of the kit.

1.Water/ food

2. fire and/or heat,

3. shelter from the elements

Larger kits should also contains medicines, clothing, and comfort items. Kits can be purchased, of course, but there's LOADS of info out there on putting your own together. Three sizes are most common: the wee emergency kit (palm of your hand) , the car-carry kit (fanny pack size) , and what is commonly called the 72 hour Go-bag or Grab-it-pack. Smaller kits will only get you through a day or so and so not usually provide water or food. Larger kits do.

I like this small kit, from Suburban Survival Blog.

CLICK HERE for original post.

It fits in an Altoids tin, and contains, among other things, a small compass, a razor, a flint, some basic medicines, twine, wire, fishing hook and line, needles, thread, cotton balls, a small birthday cake candle and some waterproof matches. The author states that he carries this kit, a knife, and a paracord bracelet most days. I personally would add a whistle, and an emergency blanket. I like the MacGyver-engineering feel of this kit. I am working on making my own, buying an item here and there at a time. I intend to make one of these for all my family members. Most of the items are available at my local hardware store or even at (dare I say it? ) a "Big Box Mart.'

A variation on very small kits is this Water Bottle survival kit above: no longer available from this manufacturer (Restoration Hardware), but easy to replicate. Buy a 32-oz. BPA-free water bottle, and fill it up! Choose items like a carabiner, multifunction tool (like a "leatherman"), multifunction whistle/compass, 20-pc. First-Aid kit, mini flashlight and batteries, survival blanket, hand-warmer packets, tea candle, waterproof matches, emergency poncho and reusable zipper-lock bags (to carry water).

A fanny pack kit for the car is my next project. Because it is so much larger, you can fit more into it. The two water bottles on either end help to balance the pack. This would be a good pack to keep in the car, especially if you live where blizzards, tornados, or other bad weather conditions are common.

The fanny pack is big enough to carry everything in the smaller packs, plus lots more goodies, like a full size flashlight, more medicines, a decent knife, some granola or energy bars, a real candle, extra socks and gloves, those snap-open hand warmer thingies, and more.

Then of course there are Go-Bags, usually backpacks like this one above. These are designed to be filled and waiting at the exit point of your home. In an emergency situation, you just grab them and leave. They carry 72 hours of food, water, clothing, medicines, and shelter-making goodies. You could also leave one of these in your trunk.

Lots to think about. I am not pessimistic by nature, but having been through a tornado and several hurricanes, I know how much it matters to be prepared. One tip I really liked and might never have thought of: in an emergency, one of the items police and rescue workers often ask for, and cannot get, is a PHOTO of your missing loved one.

And is there a contingency plan in place? Does everyone in your family know where to meet up? Whom they should call out of state to check in if they cannot get ahold of local people?

Something simple like this chart above would work wonders.

Here's my Pinterest board on survival and preparedness, with many good links and ideas.

CLICK HERE for board on survival-and-emergency-preparedness/

I know this post is not my usual, but it is what I am thinking about today. Two years ago today, I started this blog, in the hospital with my husband who had meningitis. How odd that tonight, he is sick again, vomiting and feverish. And I am praying, please God, not another round of the dreaded spinal infection.

Thanks for stopping by,

three Artist studios for inspiration

2012-01-05T19:04:00.000-06:00

Ok went hunting and found some inspiration.......take a peek at these gorgeous studios!

drooling over the layout of THIS studio. above still in process, interesting to watch it develop.

a painter and illustrator's studio shown above, see more HERE.

And the gorgeous transformed space studio of Karen Embry, above, shown in detail HERE.

DROOLING.

Robin

Craving space

2012-01-04T21:59:00.000-06:00

I am longing for a real art studio space, a whole room dedicated to MAKING stuff. Something blue, I think. Like this.

My Pinterest page ( click HERE to see it) has a board dedicated just to ideas for my future art space. Biggest issue I see is, all the rooms I am collecting simply don't have enough space. I ~~will need~~ really want several dedicated workstations, because I dabble in several art forms.

I have always drawn: I never remember "learning" to draw. But for crafting, I started with crochet at age seven, taught by the cranky but big hearted Italian (Mrs. Pino) who lived next door to my grandmother Rusty, at the lake in Florida.

Photo credit: Rosa's blog click HERE

Then I progressed (via instruction from said grandmother) to sewing.

In college I started collecting craft books: not sure why, but suddenly I could not learn enough about weird things like making your own ice bubble candles, and making brown paper bags look like cast bronze. I didn't do much beyond sewing, but began reading and playing in my mind with ideas. My mind was expanded by the Family Creative Workshop Encyclopedia series: I bought them all, one at a time, secondhand, and read them from cover to cover repeatedly.

I emerged from college to marriage and children: I tried my hand at quilting, smocking, embroidery, and even bobbin lace making. Now THAT is an art form.

credit for photo HERE

And then I discovered BEADS. I was hooked. Still am.

Photo credit Gems and Knots website

Since then I have also tried my hand at resin crafts, art journaling, painting, metal smithing, and glass bead making on a torch. Now I am into mixed media jewelry......and I still draw, and sew, and crochet.

This lovely piece is from www.Ifurn.com

SO, you can see, I NEED a studio space with several stations. Four I think: One for fabric, one for paper, one for metal, and one for beads ---at a minimum. Each area needs its own storage (preferably with doors, so I can hide some of the clutter) and sufficient electrical outlets and flat work space.

I'd also like a TV and a computer space, which would of course include a printer. Oh, and it also has to sleep an overnight guest. Twin bed? Sleeper sofas? I don't ask for too much, do I?

Hard to believe but this lovely sofa is a sleeper!

For now, I am struggling to function with two smallish desks, placed on either end of my dining room. One for sewing, one for EVERYTHING else. This means most of my tools and supplies are packed away and have to be gotten out, and then put up again after.

I'd love to hear how you all have fit studio space into your life. For me, none of this will happen until at least two more of my kids move out. When they do, I get my choice of two 14 foot square bedrooms with double wide (but not walk in) closets. both with TONS of windows and light. One faces the front yard, the other faces the back.

I am enjoying playing with the BHG "arrange a room" widget to try to fit all this in. In the meantime, I am searching online for "artist creative spaces" and "craft studio" type pictures, like this one.

photo credit for above photo HERE

Drooling and dreaming.

Thanks for stopping by
Robin

so lonely

2011-12-28T01:00:00.001-06:00

Used to be he took care of me,

Now I take care of him

and while I do not begrudge him my love and care

I miss his love and care for me so much

and tonight, I want to die.

back to school

2011-08-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I start back to school. I think my blog will have to sleep for a while... it has already been napping.... because I have two very large groups of kids that I will be teaching, and they deserve my time and attention.

I have also just started a new business, with Ambit Energy. I invite you to check out my new website, especially if you live in TEXAS, New York, or Illinois. I am very excited about this company.

www.johnstons.joinambit.com

I will post when time allows, or when something marvelous shows up in my radar.

Thanks to all the ones who have signed up to follow.

Robin

Drunk Driver

2011-07-24T00:16:00.001-05:00

Tonight my husband was T-Boned by a drunk driver running a red light. She never even slowed down, never tapped her brakes, slamming into the front quarter panel on the passenger side of the car, spinning it more than 360 degrees through a 12 lane intersection. Thankfully, he is relatively uninjured, but very very sore. My beloved old comfy car is totalled.

She fled the scene. A good Samaritan, a witness to the accident, chased her, and my husband dialed 911. The cops caught her several miles away. She had open alcohol in the bottle inside the car: 100 proof stuff, and she was drinking it ---- straight. It was 7:20 PM, still broad daylight. Tonight, she is in jail.

I find I am moving about in a sort of a fog, unable to focus on anything. Had she struck him a just little further back on my car, maybe three feet more, behind the front wheel instead of in front of it, her giant Chevy would most likely have toppled my little old lightweight Honda CRV and flipped it right over. She could easily have killed the truest love of my life, the man I have been happily, joyfully, ecstatically married to for not quite 25 years.

It made me weep.

Just because she could not be bothered to wait to drink until she got home.

Please. Please. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

Robin

Tile Art and Watercolors

2011-07-09T09:29:00.000-05:00

Today I bring you tile art-- and painting-- from a true craftsperson, working in two widely disparate fields: both ceramics, and watercolors.

Gianar Tile Creations on Etsy was created by Greg Hicho to showcase the art of fine ceramic tiles and mosaics. He hand carves molds, presses in the clay, and then custom glazes the tiles after they are formed in the molds. The bee at the top is my favorite, but he has many more designs.

A second way he creates beautiful tile work combines his painting skills with his ceramic artistry: it is called wet-cut mosaics. From what I gather, he slices a design into partially hardened clay, fires it once, then custom glazes colors for each part, and fires it again.

The handwork involved blows my mind. No two are ever identical. These tiles look almost like stained glass, or fine oil paintings.

Each work is absolutely one-of-a-kind (with the exception of the molded tiles, but even they are formed individually and glazed differently each time), and hand sculpted and glazed with his own glaze formulas. Each piece is then mortared onto 1/4" hearty backer board and grouted. Or you can insert a tile into whatever decorating project you are working on. I personally would like the farm scene above as part of my kitchen backsplash.

These two acorns pictures give you an idea of just how different individual tiles made from the same mold can be. Aren't these charming?

The "Swanson Swan Song" tile above shows his sense of humor. it depicts the ubiquitous TV dinner meal, including what Greg calls " mystery cobbler".

I took a peek at his website, where I found astonishingly realistic watercolor paintings which at first I mistook for actual photography. The one above took my breath away: this looks almost identical to my beloved grandfather Brock, who sat in a lawn chair in his farming overalls for hours a day, lifeguarding his grandchildren as they swam in the lake on their property. And he always wore a hat. I am so sad to find this piece already sold.

See what I mean about realistic? The one above looks like a snapshot. I love this one below, entitled "Stage Mothers." Ha!

Stop by Greg's Etsy store and website today to find the tile or painting that is perfect for YOUR space!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/gianar
www.greghichostudio.com

It's been a less restful summer for me than expected. But I am making great strides in cleaning out my art studio area, and still have four more weeks off. So stay tuned. Soon I will be posting a couple of tutorials! FREE!

Here's a quick shot of what is on my desk right now: resin and vintage text stud-style brass earrings, in the works.

Thanks for stopping by!
Robin J

2011-07-08T00:38:00.003-05:00

I have not been posting here much the last two weeks because I have this terrible Pinterest addiction.
"What in the world is Pinterest?" you ask? (I heard you. I know I did.)

Pinterest is a website that lets you archive any visual image from anywhere on the net. It works like a virtual bulletin board. You can set up categorized "boards" (for example, "wedding ideas" or "recipes" or "photography gear") and name them whatever you like.

You download a simple "pin it" button for your task bar. Then, when you find something you want to be able to get BACK to one day, you just click "pin" it, and select the pin to the appropriate board. Like, say, a dreamy hairstyle:

Or a yummy wedding cake, almost too pretty to eat. ALMOST I said, sheeeesh!

Other people can visit your boards, and you can visit theirs as well. In addition to being an obviously FABULOUS idea for visual arts people like me, it's a great tool for planning parties, weddings, decorating your home, being inspired by great art, fine photography, hanging onto tutorials, or just browsing around to see what OTHER people are "pinning." (Funky fingernails are a popular pin these days on Pinterest. )

I am astonished, excited, and elated at the level of immediate inspiration available to me with this tool. I can pin color schemes, dreamy architecture, genius DIY projects from simple to complex, and pretty much anything else. Even find great quotes and ideas to use in my art journal.

As one artist to another, I really cannot recommend it enough. It's FREE. I do ask that you make sure to give credit where credit is due when pinning something, especially if you pin from a retail site like Etsy.

Tonight, I was mostly pinning great ideas for my classroom, like this amazing student-created constellation book. Scattered in this blog post are just a few of my favorite "pinned" images. If you visit my Pinterest boards, you can follow the links back to their original sources. Like for this amazing old sprite bottle recycled bracelet.

Come see what the fuss is all about. But I warn you: giant time sucker!!
PINTEREST click here And please, if you are so inclined, choose to FOLLOW ME!

Follow Robin as makerteacher

Are any of YOU hooked on Pinterest?

Thanks for stopping by,
Robin J

HOARDERS: the psychology

2011-07-06T00:40:00.000-05:00

As I continue to clean out our master bedroom, removing all my art and crafting materials, I am motivated by watching the bizarrely fascinating TV shows about hoarding.

Here's an interesting infographic for you all on the psychology of hoarding, courtesy of the Psychology Degree website: http://www.psychologydegree.net/psychology-of-hoarding/

Been swamped with family stuff but hope to have a new artist to share and a tutorial as well! Come back soon!

WORTHY cause

2011-06-26T13:18:00.000-05:00

ETSYians! I need your help! Please take a moment to go to the link at the bottom, read, and do what YOU can do.

I am raising funds for Partners In Health, a nonprofit organization working to strengthen the public health system in Haiti, and I hope that you will join me!

PIH has been actively serving the people of Haiti for nearly 30 years, and follows the moral imperative of "preferential treatment of the poor." You can read more about the vision, history, and service model of this fine organization on their website.

94% of every dollar raised directly goes to service needs. This compares very favorably with other medical charities, who average 79% of every dollar going directly to the needs of their clients.

Please learn more and help me reach my modest $1,000 goal by making a contribution at:

http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/earthquake_group/ETSYiansforHaiti

THANK YOU!

all photos on this post are from the PIH website, and the images are owned by them.

Robin J

2011-06-25T23:11:00.000-05:00

This amazing dress is made from GLOVES. Regular white leather ladies gloves. Lined in crimson silk, it has quote a story behind it.

The Dress for the Blood Countess was made for a historical figure by the name of Erzsebet Bathory. She was a 16th century Hungarian countess that had the nasty habit of torturing & killing young women, then bathing in their blood in order to make her skin more youthful.The garment is made up of used white leather gloves that have been deconstructed & sewn together. The gloves represent the flesh of the Countess' victims, that she was trying to appropriate for her own selfish needs.

Now that is inspired. That is art. That is a boatload of handwork, done with quality and dedication, to make a singular artistic vision a reality.

Rachel at Toolgrrl doesn't just upcycle thrift store garments: she creates ART from them.

I love this soft knit purple dress, above, inspired by radiolarian, wee little sea critters. Peeks of green show through the slashes. The decoration is original, interesting, and well crafted.

This is called The Serpent Circle dress, made entirely of recycled fabrics. It features a gloriously full swinging skirt, short in front and long in back, with an intertwined line of snakes in 7 layers of fabric around the edge. The snakes are hand-printed from her original drawing. I would love to own something this fabulous!

Lots of people take thrift store clothing and make alterations, but few do it the way Rachel does: in fact I have never seen anything like what she does. The robe, below, is titled Vanititas.

The artist writes, "The whole premise of this dress is that it is vanity for us to think that we can escape what is dictated by our genetic background. The pattern on the bottom of the dress is a diagram of the chemical makeup of DNA. The hexagons are made of transparent red sari fabric and they are connected by blue & red velvet lines. The design on the top of the dress is based on a 15th century anatomical illustration of the circulatory system. "

This spiderweb pattern is so pretty! and lots of handwork is involved here.

Rachel does not just use fabric: some of her most interesting pieces are made from foam. Yes, foam. These two dresses below feature packing foam.

Rachels's work has been shown in art galleries and museums. Below are two examples from her "Dream Anatomy" series , a "body of work" (pun intended) based on historical anatomy diagrams and featuring interesting insights. She says, "Everybody’s got a body, but few of us take the time to contemplate what is beneath the surface of our skin. For centuries, physicians and artists have attempted to make sense of the complexities hidden inside. Early anatomical illustrations are often a mixture of correct and incorrect assumptions. Some artists rely on metaphor rather than verisimilitude."

I am fascinated with her vision: how she can see, say, an old silk robe, and in her mind it becomes these incredible artworks. I am also impressed with her sewing skills!!

Stop by her Etsy shop for a peek at something weirdly wonderful, or something just plain pretty, like this lovely leaf cowl dress.

And yes, she is happy to do custom work!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Toolgrrl

You can fan her Facebook page for a peek at works in progress:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toolgrrl-Designs/219258422924

and check out her website too! She makes glorious light boxes that have to be seen to be believed.

www.rachelwright.net.

Thanks for stopping by again today!
Robin J

travel thrifting

2011-06-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

I spent most of the last week in Galveston, TX at my youngest son's college orientation. He's headed to Texas A&M University at Galveston to study marine biology and oceanography. This makes me, of all things, an Aggie Mom! Whoop and howdy!

This of course brings up all kinds of emotions as my youngest two (they are twins) prepare to leave the nest. The end of an era: my kids and I decided it is the beginning of the end of the beginning. Now we move into a new phase of life, with all of us as adults. Things change..... it is bittersweet.

I found Galveston delightful. I was born and raised on an island, so the island lifestyle really appeals to me. Getting to watch the waves and smell the salty air..... and walk in the sand.... ahhhhh. There were many seabirds, pelicans and gulls, and one afternoon this elegant Heron dropped in.

Plus, this little island community is remarkably rich in art: it's everywhere. Here are some examples of things I saw there.

Look closely at the skin here: it has got text and sheet music underneath the paint.

I saw several guerrilla crocheted poles like this one. But this one was special because it had TASSELS too. I have heard of these crocheters and knitters who go out at night and form their art around poles, tree branches, and small signs. It was fun to see it firsthand.

Richly textured painting made with silicone caulk on a black painted background. Awesome use of unusual materials. It was white large, almost life-sized.

Of course I made time for a short outing to local junk and thirsting places. I scored the following items: this gorgeous lacquered red and gold dish, made in occupied Japan. It's perfect for bead sorting and it's so heavy and rich in history.

Then these three amazing handcut wood inlay pictures, all made in Italy. I cannot imagine the hours that went into creating such items. They will hang in a group in my new art room, when I get to move into it that is.

This afternoon I will feature another wonderful artist: so stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!

Profiles in delight

2011-06-20T18:26:00.000-05:00

Today's featured artists have the single funniest profile on Etsy I have ever read. And that humor extends into their craft.

Gotta love this Nom Nom Nom cook's apron, with a wee bite already missing.

Yellow Bug Boutique specializes in fun geeky scientific stuff, like pillows, koozys, and holiday ornaments, and some way impressive art and decorator pillows. They've got Periodic Table of Elements items in just about every form you can imagine.

Great gift idea for the man in your life. And for that new baby, these offer these in minky fabric in blue and pink:

But my favorite items are the subtly funny ones, like this excellent pillow:

YellowBug is a husband wife team with a self deprecating self of humor and a tongue in check attitude, which combines with high quality workmanship and original ideas. The wry and dry sense of humor extends into well over half of their items.

They offer lots of different items: wine gift bags, baby blankets, custom Christmas stockings, geekery periodic table items, unique pillows, custom name pillows, and a wide variety of throw pillows, from funny like above, to fancy like below:

I am personally fond of the several Star Trek items, all terrifically understated.

You know what happens to the red shirts, though, right?

Thinking this silly fun pillow might be an apropos gift for my son as he finishes grad school with a business degree. (Lord knows after paying for the tuition we won't be able to afford to get him a REAL briefcase!

They even make cute little stuffed animals, like this surfer bear below.

Stop by and read their profile for a guaranteed chuckle, then shop around their store. You are bound to find something you like!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/YellowBugBoutique

Life's been handing us a bunch of lemons lately, faster than we seem to be able to juggle them, so I apologize for the long break in posting. I have several artists lined up for this week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Robin J

Body Luxe and a FREE GIVEAWAY

2011-06-12T20:16:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I bought a sampler of yummy scented body butters from a shop on Etsy called Body Luxe. Everything there is made by Kasia, a woman with great passion for what she does and for the handmade community at large.

The samples were rich, sweetly scented, and luxuriously delicious on my skin. I have used them up and will be buying more. Kasia's products have been selected to be a part of the Daytime Emmy Awards Swag Bag Gift this year! The chosen scent is... GODDESS: "An intoxicating scent of Amber and Citrus touched with light woody notes, infused with the essence of Moroccan Rose. Beautiful. Strong. Brave. Loving. Visionary. Bring forth the goddess within... "

I contacted Kasia to see if she would allow me to feature her here, she agreed, and also offered to do my first ever FREE GIVEAWAY on my blog. More details at the end of the blog post! Every picture on this blog post features one of her handmade products.

Kasia writes, "Body Luxe came about after a lifetime of wanting my own little skin care line. I'm a Medicinal Chemist by trade and loved working in the labs, so this was a natural transition for me to be able to fulfill my dream with doing something that I love!"

In her shop, she offers body butters, balms, essential perfume oils, bath salts and soaks, scented floral body mists, and more. I can personally vouch for the high quality of her products. My favorite? Her Orange Blossom. But I have not sampled them all yet!

I asked her to tell us why she creates body care products and her lines of jewelry. She responded very thoughtfully, and I wanted to share some of what she had to say: Why I do what I do....I am driven by some unspeakable need to create beauty. From creating a brand new scent or product, to making shiny little baubles at my jewelry sites (Kasia Blue and Poetica on Etsy), each thing that I create is a bit of love and light that can brighten someone's day, make their heart sing, mend a broken heart or make them feel beautiful....what a wonderful gift. Giving a piece of yourself to someone else isn't easy, even when you start to sell your creations, but in time you come to embrace the fact that your creation has made someone happy. "

The joy of creating and then sharing what you have created: this is what keeps me making art!

Because Kasia is a jeweler, a chemist, and an artist all wrapped into one, she has to have some scientific skills. She speaks about the "place" she goes to when she is creating: "When I am creating, I'm in my zen zone. Ultimately, I make everything for myself, because if no one else likes it at least I will! *grins* But really, I love marrying nature and modern technology....I love creating a scent that makes you swoon.....I love creating a piece of jewelry that stops others in their tracks....I can spend hours creating like a mad scientist and feel as if time has stood still .....it's all so fulfilling to see your hard work adored! "

Kasia continues" As for Buying Handmade.... The value of time is priceless. Those who make by hand and create by soul put their very essence into each and every item that they do. They fill it with positive thoughts, intentions and love...all which comes back to the buyer. Also, when you buy local or handmade (or both!) you support others that want to be able to offer a product that is sourced within the community...keeping their own little microcosms afloat. The resurgence of value in handmade is a beautiful thing! And, many artists also donate items and/or profits back to the community (like I and many other artists do via multiple sources, including Etsy Project Embrace which I am a very proud member). The handmade community is truly a supportive, caring and giving bunch of people that need your support! "

Can I hear an AMEN?? AMEN!!!

Now for the giveaway! Kasia has very generously offered one lucky reader the chance to get a FREE exclusive Daytime Emmy Swag Bag Gift that includes a body butter and perfumed essence oil sample, in her new hot fragrance, "Goddess". Leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered into her drawing. Be sure to leave email contact information! Wow, thank you Kasia!

Furthermore, she is offering you, my readers, an exclusive reader 10% discount in any of her Etsy shops. Just use the code Blog10 when they check out at any of her Etsy sites, listed below. Be sure to thank her!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BodyLuxe for her body concoctions
http://Poetica.etsy.com for the Romantic Bohemian Soulhttp://SweetPeaSupplies.etsy.com for supplies and overstockshttp://kasiablue.etsy.com for fine metal & gemstone jewelry

You can see more of her work and follow her at these locations:
www.kasiablue.com
www.azureskybotanicals.com
Twitter.... Kasia Blue
Facebook: Body Luxe, Azure Sky Botanicals, Kasia Blue Luxe Jewelry and Poetica by Kasia Blue

Thanks for stopping by today, and GOOD LUCK! The randomly selected winner will be announced later this week.
Robin J

Fooled the eye/ studio pics

2011-06-11T15:43:00.001-05:00

I was searching for turquoise beads on Etsy, and found these gorgeous nuggets. But when I took a close look, I was surprised and delighted to find out: this is SOAP!

Margaret at Amethyst Soap on Etsy recreates the glamour and sparkle of natural crystals, stones, and even fresh flowers and fruit, using her own soap recipes. This "turquoise" is beautiful! She features all natural ingredients, without animal products, and reading through her site will give you a basic lesson in skin care and products. I learned a lot! And I am VERY impressed with how realistic these soaps are, and how reasonable her prices are.

Look at this crystal soap!

That's just COOL!. Here's another one, so authentic that it fools the eye:

The strawberry soap comes in a sweet little organza bag and has realistic looking fabric leaves added for the perfect finishing touch. Each soap is glycerin based, and is hand cast in her own original mold, with a light scent added. What a charming hostess gift this would be!

Here's Margaret's "Cathedral Soap", so lovely a soap that it could pass for a fine piece of jewelry (metal and resins perhaps) or even a small bit of real stained glass: this is so original and unique, and I bet it is pretty time consuming to make. She writes of being inspired by one of my favorite historical fiction novels, Ken Follet's "Pillars Of The Earth", and by childhood field trips to the Blenko Glass Co. This is a true work of art, and I have never seen anything like it: and I buy and use ONLY handmade soaps.

This gorgeous red gem is called "The Sorcerer's Stone." Love the literary and historical references!

As a person with sensitive skin, I have been unable to use most over the counter products, from soaps and lotions to makeups and sunscreens, for most of my life. I cannot wait to try these soaps, but am having trouble deciding between the beautiful lush options she offers. I have narrowed it down to two choices: first, this beautiful Honey Bee Complexion soap.

This is her best selling soap and is specially designed for those with irritable skin or acne issues. To me, it looks like a Victorian amber relic, and the beauty would make me happy while using something really good for my skin.

Also in the running is her "King's Ramsom" bar. This just looks and sounds so indulgently delicious that I think I have to buy some. It is glycerine based, with rich fragrances and a mix of 8 healthful oils added.

Here's what Margaret says about this bar: "King's Ransom by Amethyst Soaps is a luxury bar deluxe. We named it King's Ransom because, quite frankly, it cost a small fortune to make. I initially made this 4 oz. bar for myself, no holds barred on ingredients, but shared it with a few friends. All agree, this soap is amazing...deliciously rich in fragrance, lather, and appearance. I test all of my soaps, but I use this one. "

That speaks volumes to me, as does this amazing guarantee she offers on this soap. "There you have it. My blend is your skin's best friend. If you don't love this soap I'll pay the postage for you to return it and return the purchase price to you.

Besides, it too is really pretty to look at and would make a unique and thoughtful gift.

To see the rest of her line and buy something special for yourself or someone you love, check out her Etsy shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/amethystsoap

END of feature section, the rest is my personal ramblings and studio shots. As promised, here are some before and during pictures of the studio move. I have lots of thoughts on the different feel of our room, but this post is long enough: I will deal with that later.

The southwest "main" area, BEFORE: It had, over the last two chaotic years, become a giant mess, a dumping ground for everything. So much was going on in our lives, that cleaning the studio just was not important. Yes, I could still create things here, but it was a pain to clear space, work, then have to put things away again. I had a pile of fabric to the left, Rubbermaid boxes full of cloth and trim, a LOT of books, and to the right, a dresser full of jewelry supplies that were difficult to access. My sewing machine was stored behind stuff and things had to be moved for me to get to it. You can see flat boxes on the right of the picture, ready to be loaded. The dresser to the right had wire shelving on it, stuffed full, and then even more books to the far right. TOO MUCH STUFF.

The shot directly above shows that I had a standing black roller cart (full of jewelry stuff) stationed directly in front of the chest that had the rest of the jewelry supplies in it. And because the cart had a flat top, it collected things, as seen above.

So now, four shots of my "DURING": temporarily, I am creating a smaller studio space in the bedroom, and moving most of my art supplies into boxes for storage. Eventually, I will have a bedroom to dedicate to this, but that's a year into my future. I started on the far left side, where there was once a big pile of (ahem) "stuff". It is now a spotlessly clean sewing area, with NOTHING stored beneath.

In the corner behind the sewing area is a small metal cart that now holds what I call my Weezies: teensy things which I keep in two of those little hardware supply drawer sets. This includes things like chains, old watches, old keys, crochet hooks, and paper punched into circles or other shapes. The little teensy drawers are now all neatly labeled. Underneath are items used infrequently, but to which I still need access : i.e., glue gun, melting pot, large punches, macrame boards, and my bobbin lace making pillow.

To the immediate right of the center desk (which is now JUST my jewelry station) you can see a GREAT improvement. The dresser on the left is still full of jewelry supplies, but the cart in front of it is EMPTY and is going to go live in the garage. And the drawers have been emptied, sorted, rearranged, and tidied up inside. The white wire shelves that were on top are gone, as are all the photos that were on top of the taller chest to the far right.

This shows my overall studio as it will stand for now: basically, sewing to the left, jewelry making to the center, storage to the right. Everything else is gone. I moved all my art journaling materials into the metal drawer chests on the east wall. All other supplies have been stored, based on frequency of need to access them, and everything is labeled. EVERYTHING. This is huge for me.

On the desk you see my only large ceramic tile, where I do glue work, and my leather hammering piece, which goes under my anvil. The rest of the surface is (astonishingly) clear. Ready to work.

Here's the far East wall of the bedroom, before: piles of books, piles of papers, piles of piles.

And here is how those metal shelves look now. The black tall shelves are still loaded with items that still need to be sorted and dealt with, but it is going to be empty by the end of next week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin J

Ketubah

2011-06-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

Do you know what this gorgeous art is?

It's a "ketubah."A ketubah is an ancient ceremonial prenuptial document from Jewish tradition, which specifies the responsibilities of the groom towards the bride. It's designed to be a sort of protection for the woman entering the marriage, lest she be abandoned by the groom without any means of support.

Jerise of Jerise (shop is self named) on Etsy created ALL the artwork in this blog post, and offers a wide variety of ketubahs in her shop along with other kinds of artwork. It was this piece below which drew me into her shop: it features a southern live oak, branches dripping with spanish moss, and the Hebrew lettering for the verse "My beloved is mine, and I am his." A French translation is also included on the piece.

Following the Jewish tradition of hiddur mitzvah, which calls for ceremonial objects to be made as beautiful as possible, the ketubahs are generally carefully crafted.

Jerise cuts each of these BY HAND. These are not prints: they are cut paper, laid upon her original backgrounds. Even her greeting cards are cut by hand! Furthermore, the lettering is done entirely by hand as well. Amazing! She uses high quality papers, does the calligraphy, cuts the delicate paper design, and paints the backgrounds for each of these pieces.

Here's the same style of papercut greeting card, seen above, on a differently colored background. Her greeting cards are ridiculously well priced. She also offers gorgeous ACEOs and even some inchies.

Her work is so unusual, I am having difficulties finding appropriately superlative adjectives.

Jerise loves color, clearly, and she states, "I have been playing with colors, lettering and design since I was very young, and have always created artwork, especially lettering, for my family and friends. I have experimented at various times of my life with many different styles and techniques of drawing and painting, especially figure drawing and (most recently) stenciling and screenprinting."

Here are some examples of her sketches and pastel drawings. Most feature daily life in New York City, where she lives and works. They are lovely.

The piece below is a shiviti, and is her original design. She writes, "Shiviti" is the name given to traditional Jewish papercuts that hang on the wall and display the name of God; in Psalm 16, David sang: "I have set (shiviti) the LORD always before me./ Because he is at my right hand,/ I will not be shaken." Many people have a practice of sitting in front of the shiviti, meditating on the letters to strengthen their awareness of being in the presence of God. "

I am astounded at the detail and originality of Jerise's work, and humbled by its beauty. I would be honored to have art of this quality and spiritual depth in my home.

I also love the way she often quotes poetry, including one of my all time favorite poems, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.

Her blog features a thought provoking discussion of what "crafted" means, especially in regards to materials used and the design of a finished item. Worth the read.

See Jerise's shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jerise

and visit her online store and new blog here;
art website: http://www.jerise.com
blog: http://artofcraftmovement.wordpress.com

Tomorrow, updated pictures of how the former studio area of my master bedroom looks now: midway through the move out.

Thanks for stopping by!
Robin

Private Road

2011-06-06T13:21:00.001-05:00

Another jewelry artist for you today. Lynda at Private Road on Etsy creates some beautiful pieces that I wanted to share with you.

Mmmm those hammered copper earrings are gorgeous. I am especially fond of her "Fun-Ky" necklace collection, which is both cheery and organic, featuring several one of a kind handmade findings and connections. This one below is my favorite of that series.

Lynda's profile reads much like my own: a long list of the various art interests she has pursued. Painting, sewing, photography, bead work, and now welding and the occasional use of found objects, recycling things "not quite ready for final demise." Like this souvenir bit from an old bracelet, now the centerpiece of a necklace. Love it!

She writes in her shop announcements, " I forge sheet metal and wire to create my authentic handmade jewelry. I use sterling silver, 14k gold filled, copper, brass, and bronze. I hammer it, cut it, stamp it, roll it, fold it, punch holes in it, wire wrap it, rivet it, and heat it into handcrafted wearables."

She makes all of her own findings: clasps, earwires, etc. and she cuts and hammers or forms the small bits of metal she uses, like in the pretty earrings above. This is a skill I definitely want to learn, basic metalworking.

These earrings remind me of music clappers, or little seeds perhaps. I like the mix of metals, and the small size with a big strong statement.

I first found Lynda's shop last year, and was drawn by her wire-wrapped circle closures, as you see in this necklace above. I featured her in an Etsy treasury, and then found that I kept coming back into her shop, seeing what she was working with, and watching her style develop.

I love these copper leaf earrings, below, and am equally impressed with her great display idea of mounting them on a face drawing. Might steal this idea, Lynda~

The photography in her shop is all top notch. Clear, focused, close ups with great lighting and backgrounds that do not detract from the jewelry. Use of some props, tastefully done, again not distracting. I am taking notes. My own photography skills leave something to be desired.

Stop by her shop and see the beautiful items she offers.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrivateRoad

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Bursting out with art

2011-06-04T17:05:00.000-05:00

Ever seen art that just makes you feel like you are filled with color, energy, and joy, and you might explode with it all? Kerry Heath over at FigJamStudios makes art that gives me that stuffed-with-life feeling.

Kerry says he came into the world crying, not because they whapped his little newborn bottom, but because the walls in the delivery room were so bare. Like him, I once thought crayons were for WALLS, not paper. And like him, I can still get geared up over a new box of 132 colors.

Kerry makes art that has a unique sense of vibrancy about it. I was drawn into his shop via his "Twisted Fish" series, just one of which is pictured below. I love fish and I love his interpretations of them.

He offers wood sculptures and carvings, paintings, art furniture, and assemblage art pieces.

This assemblage above is called "Washington", not for any political purpose but because the face is built on an old washboard. This is part of what pleases me, aside from his great sense of color and dynamic combinations; the way he uses things we would not expect. The way he can see, for example, this rusty spatula above, as a NOSE. Or an old washboard as a FACE. The found objects or "flotsam and jetsam" of the world are seen in a new way. A rusty domed bit of a car engine becomes a bird's eye. Nails and screws become fins. Bedsprings become hair, or ears, or arms.

I am inspired by this to look at the things around me in a new way. Look beyond the expected borders and edges: see what CAN be, not just what IS.

Kerry also creates paintings like "Zendala", above, and art furniture with a bit of a twist, like these two below. I would love to own either of these pieces.

Come into his studio shop and be prepared to find yourself drawn inexorably to one or more of his pieces of art: or as he says, "an eclectic mix of one of a kind, original, slightly off the wall, high energy, feel good art, art you never knew you wanted." You can find them here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FigJamStudio

His "pack rat" series made me laugh, since the last week of my life has been spent cleaning OUT my pack-ratted hoard of art supplies and "gewgaws", as Grammie used to say.

So I leave you today with this last thought of his, and once last picture of a "pack rat".

I love what I do and I do what I love.
Art is my passion!

Thanks for stopping by!
Robin

Cheeriest stools EVER

2011-06-03T13:04:00.001-05:00

Is this not the most cheerful footstool you have ever seen?

I fell in love hard when I found this shop, and I am saving my money to get one of these adorable and unique designs from Chris at LaRoseFootstoolsPlus.

She hand selects fabrics that complement open another, then painstakingly stitches them together, and mounts the resulting pinwheel of color onto high quality upholstery foam. Then the cushiony bit is mounted onto sturdy and attractive wooden bases, and VOILA! A beautiful ottoman / footstool. I have no real concept of how this is actually DONE: I can sew a basic skirt but upholstery is a new world for me.

Chris creates in a wide variety of colors: I am only showing you the stools she currently has in her shop. This purple one is the one I want most. I can see this under my computer desk. My feet are longing for it already.

She writes: "Nestled in the hills of Sonoma County wine country I create my distinctive footstools, skillfully stitching and assembling a bold interplay of rich, playful color and texture into a piece of edgy functional art. Each footstool takes at least 4 days to finish and is personally signed upon completion. I have also won awards for several of my quilts and teach local knitting classes."

Chris also says, "I delight in custom orders, so feel free to contact me regarding a special item. I can incorporate different diameters, heights and foot styles. I am also able to include any favorite fabrics you may have. So, send photos and ideas and I will create! "

Look: Even the bottoms are pretty!

This one is already sold, but would go great in my daughter's room. Very edgy hip colors of turquoise and browns. Love it!

Stop by her Etsy shop to see her work!

www.larosefootstoolsplus.etsy.com

Tonight I hope to post photos of my EMPTIED corner in my former art studio/ soon to be renewed master bedroom. It has taken me all week, literally, and I am not done yet. So toss up a prayer for me, if you would.

Thanks for stopping by.

Robin

Featuring my Competition!

2011-06-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

Since I also make and sell jewelry, a friend recently asked me why I would feature OTHER jewelers here on my blog. They are, my friend says, my "competition."

To answer simply, I LOVE handmade jewelry..... but I don't love ALL jewelry. In fact, most of what you can buy in the stores today leaves me dead cold. I don't want the same necklace or earrings that 30,000 other ladies will be wearing. And I certainly don't want something made of plastic and cheap fake metal-look acrylics.

I want something crafted by hand, something unique, something that honors both the quality materials from which it was made and the person who wears it. Truly, I admire quality work and feel that there is enough of a market out there for all kinds of jewelry and all kinds of artisan jewelry makers. So when I find a jewelry maker whose work speaks to me, I want to share. I don't see it as a "competition" at all.

Tommye of AllowingArt Designs in Etsy makes jewelry that meets my criteria: quality materials like rich metals and semi precious stones, created with fine hand-worked details. I am just learning how to work with wire: she clearly already has that mastered. I am inspired by her work to try some new things in mine.

I love this necklace, above, featuring an opal cab on a heavily hammered copper circle, with a real turquoise teardrop below. I also love the shape of these earwires, below, with wee hearts and a small bead dangling.

Tommye works from her home in Georgia. I love her comment in her Etsy profile: I enjoy combining opposites in my work, sic as soft & hard, black & white, old & new." It may be this duality that first drew me into her shop. I appreciate the contrast between colorful stone and grey metal, the hard rigidity of wire against the glamour of a sparkling glass bead.

The organic, natural feel of her jewelry appeals to me as well. I like the leaf shapes, the natural stone beads, and the hammered textures of the metals of many of her pieces.

Flattened wire also has a special appeal for me , like in these earrings below: see the circles that connect the dangle to the earhook? Notice that those are flattened--- by hand. It's a small detail, and one she could have skipped easily, opting for plain jump rings, but it adds that artisan feel to these sweet and simple wire wrapped earrings.

I also appreciate that her pieces are not priced sky high. I don't know about you, my dear readers, but I cannot afford $100 earrings, even if they are made with sterling and pearls. Her pieces are quite reasonably priced, and photographed so beautifully. Kudos to you, Tommye!

So stop by and visit "my competition", and enjoy browsing through her shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AllowingArtDesigns

You can also access her Facebook fan page here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Allowing-Art-Designs-by-Tommye-Sigerfoos/85043246204

Thanks for stopping by,
Robin J

OnlyArt76: human torso from washers

2011-06-01T10:10:00.001-05:00

The lowly washer has NEVER looked so good. Husband and wife team Don and Holly Lenzt of OnlyArt76 take the most humble of materials, the lowly hardware-store-staple of metal washers, and create stunning sculptures like this one, a female torso.

The pair have been making art together for nearly two decades. Having owned a gallery in Las Vegas, they now live in Florida and focus on just making their amazing artworks. They dabble in metal, paint, canvas, and wood. Their Etsy shop is filled with stunning metal sculptures filled with color, movement, and grace. Not all of them are made with washers: I am especially fond of this one: I like the spirals, the colors, the polishing on the background, and the 3-D effect. And it's VERY reasonably priced!

I was intrigued by the wide variety of styles and options they offer. The work ranges from the very true-to-life human torso, to abstract flat panels, vase shapes, and what honestly reminds me of metal bouquets featuring never before seen flora. Their profile says they are always happy to accept custom orders, too, so if you have a space that needs a certain special something, give them a buzz!

This set of four pieces reminds me of really big gemstones in beautiful, well-smithed bezeled settings. I love the way the polishing on the metal picks up the light and adds such lush texture to the pieces. If I ever owned an office, this would hang in the waiting area to give people something wonderful to contemplate.

This hand welded vase above is tall, and so shapely. I especially admire the varied textures and coloration. Here's a close up of the details: really well crafted! Nothing factory made about these pieces. The handprints, so to speak, of the artists are clear.

But the torso sculptures have to be my favorites. I love how the team has taken a flat circular metal donut disc and used it to form a deep, realistic, humanized three dimensional piece. I keep expecting them to MOVE.

Something about the juxtaposition of the organic human form with the "robotic" or seemingly mechanized metal washers ...... there's a subtle message in there for me, whether or not the artist meant it to be there.

And isn't that what good art does? Speaks to the viewer?

Drop by their Etsy store and enjoy viewing even more works of art. I f anyone wants to buy me something..... just saying.....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/onlyart76

Today I continue the DUSTY and rather discouraging task of cleaning out and packing up my "art studio" (read, "giant mess in the bedroom.") Yesterday, five hours of work gained me three empty shelves and three big boxes for storage, plus a LOT of trash and donation items. The sorting is what takes so long. But, it has to be done!

Thanks for stopping by.
Robin J