Tutorial: Collaged Wire Birdcage

It drives my husband crazy. I'll have a stack of what looks like junk or recyclables on the counter, he'll decide to be a dear and help clean things off. As he's in the act I'll walk into the room and yell "nooooo!' He sighs and knows what's coming next- "I was going to use those for an art project!" I know it drives him crazy and I try to keep everything in my art room but it does all tend to seep over into other rooms. My latest save are Sunbutter jar lids. I keep thinking they'd make such a nice substrate for- something. I didn't know what. But then it came to me- little wire birdcages. The jar lids make the base. My lids were plastic but you could certainly sub a metal lid instead. I'm also thinking they'd make a good mini shadow box or cameo art but haven't quite figured those out yet. What about you? What could you do with your lids? Give it some thought and then let me know- I'd love to see!
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Tutorial: Collaged Wire Birdcage

Tools and Materials
16 gauge steel wire (I used a sepia toned)
19 gauge wire (brown)
Jar lid
Old book paper/scrap paper
Matte or Gel Medium
Glue brush or foam applicator
Crop-a-dile
Needle nose pliers
Heavy Duty Wire Cutters

Step One: Tear your book or scrap paper into strips. Using your brush apply matte medium to the jar lid. Lay on a strip of paper, and then brush more medium on top. Using your fingers to smooth the paper down really helps to create a flat adhesion. Apply more medium and then layer more strips over the edge of the lid. Continue until you've completely covered the lid with at least two layers. Let dry.

Step Two: Using your handy dandy Crop-a-dile punch 6 holes evenly around the exterior of the lid. Position the Crop-a-dile so that you don't punch the holes too close to the edge. (See picture at top.)

Step Three: Cut three pieces of wire to about 12" long. Using a jar or bottle of some sort, create a gently bend in the center of the wires by wrapping all three of the wires around the object at once.

Step Four: Bend the end of each wire out to create a 90- degree angle. Do this with each of the three wires. Then place one within the jar lid. Insert the wire through two holes opposite each other, and then bend the wire up and wrap around itself to secure. Repeat with each of the wires. You might need to slightly adjust the length of each so that the tops will cross over each other snugly. When you've completely wrapped the wire ends then use your needle nose to bend your cut ends in.

Step Five: Using your 19-gauge wire wrap together the tops of your three wires. Create a loop, cut your wire, leaving another 1/2" or so. Then continue to wrap your wire end around the loop to finish. If necessary, use your needle nose wire to bend your cut end in.

Step Six: Using your 19-gauge wire again, begin to wrap it around the bottom of the wires, about 1" up from the bottom. Then continue to the next wire, until you've gone completely around the cage. Repeat around the top of the cage. If desired, you can repeat this as often as you like to enhance your design.

To create the swing- Use the needle nose pliers to curl one end of the 16-gauge wire, cut the wire, and then curl the other end. Using your 19-gauge wire, wrap the end around the top of one of your curls. Leave about 5" and cut. Then repeat with the other side. Position your swing inside the cage and then wrap the ends of your wire around the top of the cage. Add your little birdie 
(I found mine at a local junk/antique store) and display your creation!

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.

Blank Beauties

So my funk lasted two days and I said ENOUGH and decided the best solution was laughing with my 4 year old and playing with my art. I enjoy them both so much and they do my soul so much good. The playing part came easy since I'm still obsessed by the possibilities for my new angel forms. I'm thinking gardening angel with seed packets collaged to the thread form around her middle, and I'm seeing "wings" everywhere I look. So I spent a little time and made up two more "blank canvases". They're the basic form but without the personalities yet. Although I couldn't resist adding a little heart to them both. And maybe I'll just keep one of these as is. Sometimes simple is good.

But I find it's more fun to embellish.

And then there were TWO!!!

So the angel I created on Thursday night was so fun I went ahead and made another one yesterday. I don't think she's quite done yet but she was loads of fun to make. I love the idea of using art materials in my sculpture- not just to create it but to decorate it as well. So yesterday I grabbed a whole bunch of dried up Golden tubes I had left over from college and tried to wire them on to this girl's skirt. It ended up being a little too bulky seeming- but still a cool idea so I think I might have to work with it for another piece. Instead of the tubes of acrylic this little girl got a Tim Holtz ideology pendant that's stamped with the word "believe" and some yummy little clay fragments I had in my stash.

The fragments were made by Teri of Terraworks studio on Etsy, several months ago. I'd had the idea of creating a wire ball and then stitching in the clay pieces but the clay sticked out a little too much when I tried it, upsetting the rounded shape of the ball. Which I hated admitting to myself because they were just too cool. So I reluctantly set them aside trusting that I'd find a place for them in the future. And wouldn't you know they are the perfect accents for this angel. I love her so much more with these little fragmented bits of art wired into her skirt. They help to give her a personality and I just love that.

So now the ideas are just flowing in and I want to try all sorts of things with this form. But not today. Today I have to work on writing the introductions for each project in the book. So I will stop using you all as an excuse to procrastinate. Have a good weekend!

Dream Audaciously

Meet my angel. She has spoons for wings and a chicken wire base. Stamped on some fabric scraps are the words "Dream" "Audaciously" and "Impossible things." A few posts ago Jill of creative oasis mentioned that she liked how I described my dream of the book as audacious. I hadn't thought too much about my choice of wording until I read her comment. Then I started to think a bit more about it.

Dreams are often audacious. When we allow ourselves to dream audaciously of impossible things, then there's a spark of hope and challenge that begins to well within us. A belief that maybe we could realize it, which develops into a what if we did- how would we start? And that is the beginning of actualizing our dreams.

Lately I've read how our dreams are given to us by God and how he uses these to instill in us a direction or purpose for our lives. Dream audaciously of climbing Mt. Everest? Or of designing your own line of children's clothes? How about writing a book? Or of having your own solo gallery exhibit? Often we live life dismissing those dreams in favor of what we see as real life. But what if we took a step towards our dreams? And then another and another? I believe we're blessed when we do. It takes courage to start, but once we do the way becomes clearer and it becomes a little easier. There is also the heart satisfaction that we are living the life we were created to live. Each one of us is unique with unique talents, abilities, interests, and experiences. Each one of us was created on purpose. Our dreams are often the clue to that purpose.

My little angel started out a week ago as an idea. Then Wednesday became a sketch. Then yesterday as I gathered supplies she became a little clearer to me, and then last night I found her. She wants to encourage us all to dream. Dream Audaciously of Impossible Things. What dreams of yours do you catch your breath at the thought of? My little angel wants to show you the possiblity and to wing you on your way to realizing that dream. I want to see you realize that dream. It's a wonderful journey.

Added Later: I had a friend just send me the dictionary definition of audacious and thought I'd share. "Here's what I found at dictionary.com for the word audacious - extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive. Also - extremely bold or daring; lively; unrestrained; uninhibited." Gives one ideas doesn't it? Thanks Shelley!

Chicken Wire Inspirations- New Mixed Media Art

OH- the creative juices are flowing lately and I have way too many ideas and plans. Today I ran over to my local craft store and picked up a grey sweatshirt, a bunch of wooden finials and wooden accents, some snowflake stickers, a wooden ruler, some snaps, and when I got home and poured out the contents of my bag on the table I just sat down and laughed. I had the pieces for four different projects. When am I going to get done 4 more projects? But I'm determined. Otherwise the ideas are going to just flit around my mind bothering me until I give them some attention. Do your creative thoughts pester you like this? They suck up my concentration and disturb my thoughts until I'm just annoyed with them and will work on them just so I can move on.

Lately, I've had chicken wire on the brain. Maybe, because I'd toyed with the idea of submitting a chicken wire entry for a Somerset Life call. Maybe, because one of the projects I revisited at the photo shoot was chicken wire. Maybe, because a friend mentioned a bed stead made of chickenwire. I don't know why but it would be on my mind after all that.... :) Two days ago I had a vision of a chicken wire angel. Her body would be wood, her wings- metal, and her skirt- chicken wire. I've done some figures in wire but I think this mixed media angel could be something really special. So I gathered up a bunch of potential materials and I thought I'd give you a look. See what you think. I love how a mess of mismatched elements can become something.

Two weeks ago I created a chicken wire heart and then wrapped it with cheesecloth strips that have dried plaster compound on it. You dip it in water and then it hardens into the shape of whatever you lay it on. Mine was originally created to make medical casts. You know, to wrap broken arms or legs or whatever. I got it at a surplus store ages ago and it wasn't performing as well as it did 13 years ago. Maybe there's a shelf life I didn't know about. :) But whatever, the plaster was a bit crumblier than it had been and so I ended up covering up most of it with fabric strips that I dipped in liquid starch. You can buy the plaster product under the name Rigid Wrap at any craft store- mine came on a bigger roll th0ugh and was tons cheaper. So here's a look at that project too.

I love setting myself the task to really explore a medium or material. Once I start to play around with the possiblities of something the ideas just flow. So think about it... What could you create? Maybe it'll get your creative juices flowing as well....