Visually Speaking

Warm Up- Using inks on wet fabric

All week I've been trying to come up with the idea for something amazing. I wanted it to be as close to genius as I can get. It sooo wouldn't come. The ideas were there but nothing in the way of what I felt I needed. So I took my (and your) advice and decided to give myself a little bit of time to play. I had a deadline looming yes, but it's like a pre-game stretch. I need to play around for a while just to get into my groove.

Sketching with the Inktense pencils on wet fabric

And groove it I did. :) I took pics of both my warm- up and a close up sneak peek of the piece I did after to share with you. For the warm up I was playing around with watersoluble materials like Distress inks, inktense pencils, and fabric markers on wet fabric. The fabric I used was a sheer curtain fabric someone had given me. It felt pretty polyester-y but still absorbed water fairly well. To begin I tried rubbing the ink on the fabric and then wetting it by putting it face down on a slightly wet surface. That produced a pretty watercolor effect. Then I started to work into it with the inktense pencils, and other inks. How wet the fabric was definitely made a difference in how opaque the color and how much it bled into the area around it. I found I really liked how intense the pencils were so I wet a second piece of the fabric and started to draw some butterflies. I wanted to see how they performed when sketching and not just laying down color. After I sketched in the color of the wings with the pencils I grabbed a fabric marker and outlined a bit. I LOVED how that looked. The marker bled into this fabulous watercolor look while still maintaining a line. Gorgeous!

Pulling it together

These were my play pieces- after which I started work on the mixed media work for the magazine. Because I was feeling energized and "in the groove" already from the playtime I was able to really jump into the mixed media piece already feeling connected to that artist part of myself. All in all I'm really glad I took the time to "warm up" my creative side with play.

Super Sneak Peek of the Mixed Media Work :)

The Creative Process- It gets messy

It gets a little messy here sometimes. You could call it a creative flurry, multitasking, or whatever you want. But in the end I get the work done and the mess, well, it pretty much needs to be gone by 6 'cause I'm working at our only table. We can't "picnic" on the living room floor very often.


I took a quick pic of the table today though because I noticed that I was simultaneously working on three sides of the table, on three different pieces with another half done on the floor. It seemed symbolic of my life and I had to laugh at the realization.

Why the mess? As a mom you get used to using the small moments. I keep my stuff out during the day so I can quick put a seal coat on when I've got a few minutes. Then later, another free 5-10 minutes come my way and I'm able to do some drilling..... It's truly snatches here or there but it gets the job done. I also experience the benefit of "found" inspiration when I'm working on multiple projects at once. The bit of ribbon I left on the table because it didn't work on one of the projects is often just the thing I need to finish another.
Plus, like any stay at home mom, I spend an awful lot of my time cleaning and picking up Star Wars toys, dinosaurs, and the like. I find that sometimes, it's sort of cathartic to make a big mess of my own.

Immortalizing My Favorites

Every once in a while, I'll find something I love so much I'll want to compose an ode about it.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I am a horrible poet so nothing ever rhymes and I never get very far, but the sentiment is there. A couple of things I've felt like composing about lately are my crop-a-dile and my new 7 Gypsies Venice gaffer tape set. I love them both.

Ode to My Crop-a-dile
I love my crop-a-dile, it works with such ease, and it chomps through metal like butter.

But my newest love is the 7 gypsies tape. I had a little free time yesterday so I was going to try adhering the broken pieces of carpenter ruler around my shadowbox frame. I've had trouble with that lately, I don't get a strong bond. But then my eyes lighted upon my new tape and I had one of those moments where an idea comes, and it feels slightly audacious. Would it? Could it? Will it work?

It did. I was able to use the tape to cover the edges of my frame and honestly, it looks fabulous. Then, when I was trying to figure out how to attach the copper sheeting I wanted to place behind the word "soar" I reached for my tape again. Using one of the other patterned styles that came in the set of three. So easy and I like the taped on look.

So I have yet to actually compose an ode to my tape, but I am certainly in love.

Author's edit: OOPS!! Forgot to mention my Craft Sheet- LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

WIP: Creating on the Road Again

This weekend we (my family) took a very long drive. We tripped over to visit my in-law's, and it's about a 7 hour drive from home. We did it on Friday and then back again on Sunday. I have learned through the years of these trips to use the time well. My husband and I chat about whatever we're thinking of for a while, and then fall silent, then chat again when something else comes to mind. It surprises me how many little things I think to tell him when we're together which don't normally get said throughout the day's busy-ness. I also brought along some fabric and stitching supplies and worked a bit as we traveled. The little quilt at left was something I began on our way home- just for the fun of playing. It feels now when I look at it that it has a message for me but I can't tell what. The look of it is similar to the other little quilts I've done several of this last year. It's not new, but there's something new about it and I can't tell what.

But maybe the message of it is something like this: Like the road we took on our trip, our art can seem well traveled sometimes. We don't always experience that thrill of excitement that comes with discovering something new. But if we continue to travel that road we'll make discoveries and it will be rewarding in a new way. As if we're finding out something new about an old friend- it delights us. I've been doing the wire and fabric art for over two years now. The longest trip artistically I've ever been on. Usually I flit all over the place from one medium to another. At times I miss the excitement of the doing something completely new all the time. But at other times, like this last trip, when I was able to sit and chat with my husband, and play at this new little quilt, I appreciate I'm able to just sit back and indulge in those small moments of discovery and connection. We're trained to fall in love with the brand new in our culture, but when we discover something new in the familiar there's a joy there too. By continuing on the path we're on, instead of trying everything and anything all the time, we make discoveries we would never have had the experience to reach if we had not continued on the road we were on.

Creating on the road again. What road are you currently on? What new paths have you discovered because you're continuing on a familiar path? What new discoveries? Just something to think about.....

I'm Dreaming of.... Chicken Wire and 16-Gauge Steel

I've been dreaming of chicken wire and 16-gauge steel wire lately. The ideas are stacking up so much that it's starting to make me anxious. Does this happen to you? Do the ideas come in floods at times till they threaten to overturn your artistic boat? The only solution I know is to play and work at getting some of the ideas out of my head and into my hands. Either in sketch form or actual created form. To do this I really need to turn off the computer, throw on some music, and find some alone time. All harder to do than you'd think!

Speaking about chicken wire creations-Here's another of my chicken wire angels. She's only part way done (she's going to be my little token for spring) a garden angel. So I'm still trying to work out a way to include some seed packets, or more leaves, or some charms, I don't really know yet.

I'll keep you posted- maybe today will be my chicken wire day. I'm thinking chicken wire frames, chicken wire with fabric, chicken wire photo holders, chicken wire silkscreened to pillows, chicken wire wall art, chicken wire with candles.... hmmm.

New Art Coming Soon!!

I'm getting really excited by all the new things I've been working up for Etsy! I plan to reopen the shop either later this week or early next. YAY!!!!

Here's a look at another one of the trays I've been playing with. This one has the word "sweet"written in wire and then attached to it. The added 3D element really made the composition for me. Fun!

Here's a picture of it up on my wall. To hang I used E6000 to glue on a little sawtooth hanger. The tray is insanely lightweight so I think it should work beautifully. SWEET!

WIP: Blooms Sculpted Wire Lamp

Been working on a few new things for the etsy shop lately. One of which is this new lamp. The inspiration of this was a pillow I found when flipping through the latest Better Homes and Gardens. They were showing some different bedroom ideas and on one of the beds was a pillow with blooms that looked EXACTLY like my little wire blooms from my photo holders and garden trio's. I'm guessing they were silk screened on.

The image percolated for a few days and then on Thursday I went to my extras bin and pulled out 8 or 9 of these wire blooms that I had made up and stashed previously. To attach them to the lampshade (fanta by IKEA) I used an awl to poke a few holes through the fabric shade along the length of the wire flower. Then using a needle and embroidery floss, I stitched the wire flowers to the shade. Each flower only takes a few stitches to hold it in position. The end result is easy, cute and had that lovely graphic bloom look I love. I've had the shade on a lamp base that was wrapped with wire and sitting in my living room for a few days now. I love it. Although I love big bright and beautiful color, there's just something about black and white that is soooo attractive to me.

I plan on using this as my example and making another to post in the shop in another week. I'd love to know what you all think of it. ;) Should I offer it with the base or separately? What would you do?

BTW- the little scribble bowl beneath the lamp is something else I've been playing with. The acrylic painting is one I did when we got back from Venice in 2003, and the little birdcage to the far right is another idea I've been playing around with. It's base is a collaged plastic lid to a long-gone jar of marshmallow dip. Have a great weekend!!!

On my mind- Construction and Clay

A quick look in a new direction-I made this piece this weekend. I had a ton of orders and work to do but needed a creative break. So I grabbed a piece of bark from the garage and went to town with some new flower forms. The rose in the middle started life out last week as a little bird's nest but I liked the look of the form so much I kept it as is (there's a close up if you scroll down a bit). Lately all my creative dreaming has centered on two ideas.

The first is a constructed piece. I want to continue to develop my construction skills. It started out with the birdhouse assemblage I demo'd for you all a few months ago. But now I'm thinking of framing the wood all around and using a teal crackle medium to coat. Maybe with a cream on top- or below. Haven't decided yet. But then I want to wire on some more flowers. And here's the revolutionary part- I'm thinking of painting my wire. Not with a spray- hate that look but by hand with some metal compatible paints. I just have such a yearning for color lately. We'll see. Soo stay tuned on that one!

Now that I know you're riveted I'll let you in on the other idea as well. I've been playing around with clay and wire pendants (see Paris- a few posts ago) and want to start sewing into the clay. Maybe wiring elements like buttons or beads. I've just got a strong feeling it could really develop into something I love.

Part of the art of art I think is to continue to develop as artists. Sometimes that might mean just learning a new technique. Sometimes that entails a complete shift into a new direction. But for me, right now, my art is branching. I'm continuing to stick with some of the images I love but starting to use them in different ways. I can't wait to see where this all leads. Hopefully you all will stay tuned and help me along the way with your comments. I really appreciate knowing when something you see here on the blog strikes a chord. Or if you'd like to see more something.

Thanks again to all of you who have stopped by and have commented on my work. I love getting the reaction of others to what I do!

Butterflies on My Brain...

I've got butterflies on my brain. Maybe because I can feel them so much in my stomach right now. This week has been spent doing some serious brainstorming. I'm trying to come up with some new projects and although I had a ton of ideas I didn't really know where to start. So I did some sketches, and planned some things out step by step on paper. Some of these ideas came about because they were variations of other projects I've done. It was just a matter at looking a little differently at what I had already made. Like the lamp. I found out this week that the lamp I was planning on using in one publication couldn't be used as I had already published it somewhere else. These were two different formats and for some reason I didn't put two and two together that published is published regardless of the format. The lamp was a great piece and I was actually counting on it wow-ing the publishing folks into loving my work. Alas, I can't use it. So back to the drawing board. Except this time instead of allowing the ideas to just come to me I'm forcing it a bit more. It's a challenge th0ugh and challenges are good for forcing growth. Bird's nest and birds lamp design out- butterfly lamp in. I can still use some of my same techniques and the lamp base but the look had to be completely different.


I thought it might be fun to actually wrap wire around the shade this time and use some paper instead of the fabric. But the look just isn't right. I don't hate it-(I actually like it a lot) but it doesn't have the polished look of the first lamp. So Jeremy to the rescue! We stood in front of the lamp and just started to brainstorm together and I think the look on this next lamp is going to be a little closer to my birds nest lamp and have the same polished look but is still different. I'm excited to create it. The sketchbook page at the top of this post has a little sketch I did for myself to remember what I planned. And I did like the wire and paper butterfly shade and I think I'll work a little more with it and maybe add some stitching. But it's going to have to wait for me to get this other lamp done and ready to be shipped. Tomorrow being the weekend I'd like to think I'll have some time to do this but we've got a ton of stuff going on and I don't know when I'll have the time. But the more I get done the less stressed I'll feel about the whole deadline. I guess the solution is to stop blogging and go work! But I did want to share some of the work I've been doing this week with you. When I've finished the next incarnation of the butterfly lamp I'll post it and you can all let me know what YOU think about the two. Thanks!