New Granddog

I have a new Granddog. Her name is Wilma and she is an English Bulldog. Wilma was the only one in the litter. She must be very special!

I've Been Making Maps

I have been working on projects as a contributing artist for Jill Berry's book Personal Geographies: Mapping Your Stories in Mixed Media. So I haven't been able to show what I have been working on. Here is a little teaser portion of one of my submissions. I have been enjoying working on the projects and have seen some of the art work. Jill's book is going to be fabulous!

New Toys

I picked up the boys some stuffed animals at a rummage sale.

Spanky, Rufus, Ziggy and the new toys 5 minutes later. I hope that your day was as good as theirs ;)

Resolve and Thou Art Free

The creation of this necklace actually began in November of 2009 when I found the pulley for a window weight at an antique store in Columbus on my way to Valley Ridge Art Studio with Jill. I finished it yesterday. The leather cord is from a boxer's jump rope I found at the village wide rummage in Fredonia for 50 cents last Spring (score!) I doubt that I will find another one, much less at such a deal! It fits around the pulley wheel like it was made for it. This is the process of assemblage that I find so appealing, bringing together disparate pieces so that they look like they were always made to be that way. I also hung a jump ring made from rebar wire in a hole that was already in the pulley wheel. Next I hammered the stem of a clock part flat and drilled a hole which was strung onto the jump ring before it was closed shut. I like to represent the concept of time in my work. The pulley would move around freely if not bound by time. Instead it is able to only move back and forth within the constraints of time.

I like to combine words with my art and spent an afternoon at Jill's looking at quotes. Sometimes I create my own phrase or poem. Other times I like to use a quote for inspiration. Another requirement was that the words had to fit around the brass ring I had cut out. Resolve and thou art free by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This quote fits me on so many levels and the more I thought about it the more I liked it. Next I etched the quote on the brass ring.

I spent a huge amount of time trying to decide what to put in the resin of the threaded brass plug with the hexagon opening. My first thought was a mustard seed. I was attracted to it for it's biblical meaning. Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable he put forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. I do like mustard but I am not obsessed with it. What we do have sowed in our fields is alfalfa, clover timothy grass and wild Queen Anne's lace. After researching the symbolism of each and in retrospect of my life I have decided on alfalfa. Alfalfa hay has been the bane of our existence. We have harvested 20 acres of hay for the past 15 years. At one time we had 17 goats but this is another story. Baling hay usually happens on the hottest most humid day of the year with the threat of rain in the near future. I hate baling hay! Having goats was my idea :) I also included an engraving of an eye (all seeing past and present).

If you look at just the right angle in the resin you can see my fingerprint. Not being able to let well enough alone I picked the brass plug up to look at the resin before it was completely dry. I fumbled and left a print so I promptly made up another batch of resin and added a thin layer to cover the rough texture.



Back view of necklace.

After several attempts and 4 1/2 hours later I finally finished fabricating the rebar wire clasp yesterday. Not one of my most productive moments but I am pleased with the results.

I also wrote much of the process and ideas that were developed for this project in my journal. Journaling is a wonderful tool for reexamining ideas, thoughts and time.

Score!

I scored 250 square feet of pine beadboard from freecycle. Next pull hundreds of nails. I'll keep you posted when I find a project to use these with. I love to recycle wood. My husband and I once dismantled a one room school 24' x 46' that is now our 24' x 30' garage.

Got Milk?

As you can tell from the above picture Frankie and Edna have been eating well! Picture taken at two weeks old. Their eyes are open now too! It's amazing that you can see a difference in size from morning to night at this stage.

Edna's version of the "Got Milk?" ad.

Book made in Shanna Leino's Workshop

I finally finished the book that I started in Shanna Leino's Workshop at Valley Ridge Art Studio last November. Rather than etching for surface design I worked the metal by hammering the design onto it. I found this process extremely rewarding for me and look forward to developing it more in the future. Shanna fabricates her own chasing tools and I would like to learn yet another skill. She is an excellent teacher and would recommend that you take a class from her if you ever have the opportunity to.

The focus of this class was hinges and hasps. Shanna had the book boards and pages pre-cut for us. We assembled the books in the first day of class.


The second day of class we started making the hasp. We were all encouraged to make the hasp in our own style. The raven was calling to me once again.


Earlier in Fall I watched the crows eat pears from our pear tree, thus the inspiration for the second part of the hasp. Shanna said the goal was to have enough tension that the hasp stays hooked until you squeeze the book slightly to release it.


I also made pear shaped book bumps and corners to protect the cover. The last two corners are what took me so long to finish, because of procrastination rather than complication.

Edna and Frankie

Wow, I am surprised to find that my last post was in December. Yes I have been hibernating.

Thought I should post a picture of my new granddogs Edna and Frankie. They are 1 week old today. I am on dog sitting duty while my daughter works.

I think Edna has great potential as a dancer!


Frankie is waiting for his next meal!

Christmas with the Boston Terriers

Pictured above is the group of Boston Terriers, family and friends that spent Christmas with me. Valentine (mine), Tonka (friend), Grendle (friend), Spanky (foster dog), Geraldine (Brook's), Ziggy (mine in back), Olive (Brook's), Rufus (Mine - Rescue dog from A Place to Bark), Gertie (Brook's).

We went over to my daughter Brook's house Christmas morning and then I brought the granddogs home with me plus two Boston Terriers that Brook was dog sitting. They had a lot of fun in the blanket fort made over the coffee table. Plus everyone received a Christmas bone. Brook had a house full of her husbands family over later Christmas day.

4 Fatbooks Auctioned to Benefit A PLACE TO BARK

I just listed 4 Fatbooks on eBay with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Bernie Berlin's A PLACE TO BARK dog rescue. These are 3 day auctions and if the winning bidder pays by Dec. 31st the amount will be doubled with a matching grant offered to the rescue.

Fragments

Heavy Metal

Pink and Orange

Strange Botanicals

Rock Found at Valley Ridge Art Retreat.

It was a warm and sunny Fall day. I decided to take a break from class at Valley Ridge and go for a walk to take advantage of the beautiful weather. I try to get outside at least for a little bit on days like this to savor the weather and hold me through the Wisconsin Winters. On the trail this stone caught my eye.

A man who was part Indian and a collector of Indian artifacts once gave a talk to our 4-H group. He said that if you see a stone and it makes a strong impression on you it probably does have some special significance to it.

The circular opening in the circular socket is what caught my eye. The rock reminds me of a shoulder or hip socket. Perhaps it is because I know several people who have had their shoulder operated on this year including my friend Jill Shulse and a hip replacement for my friend Jeanne.

After holding the rock in my hand for awhile, thinking...it would be a nice artifact to include in a piece of art as a remembrance of my experience at Valley Ridge. The circular opening could be complimented by a dome made with a dapping block that I bought on the way to the retreat at Harbor Freight Tools. We also had used dapping blocks in class.

The starting point will be the a dome to fit in the opening of the rock and to represent the sun. The sun that shone that day, light, birth and creativity.

I have also decided the primary shape for my piece will be a circle to further emphasize the circular opening of the rock and to contrast with the irregularity of the remainder of it. I draw several prototypes on tracing paper, cut them out, fitting them around the rock. Retracing and altering my design several times. I finally decide on swirling rays of the sun to hold the rock in place.

Here is the outer shape cut out of copper.

The rock, main piece, and brass addition to add more body, color and shape to the piece. I have also drawn on a design with a Sharpie marker to act as a resist for etching.

Fitting the pieces together.

A map to marking the spot with an X where I found the rock. An arrow on the bail points North. The curve on Witek Road where the driveway to Valley Ridge is. Buildings, trees and open fields. This part involves a bit of faith for me as the design in sharpie looks cartoonie to me at this point.

The back finished with a patina.

The front with the rays of sun curling around the rock holding it in place. Brass plate held on with micro bolts.

Inspiration from gathering with kindred souls in a atmosphere conducive to creativity lingers long after the event is over. Thank you Valley Ridge Art Studio for providing a special haven for artistic souls.

Hopefully in a future post I will backtrack and revisit my experience at Valley Ridge. Even my journal entries are all over the place, out of order. This is how my mind works :)

SECRET DEVOTIONS NECKLACE

I bought a brass burner this Summer at a church rummage sale in Cedarburg. I have had the idea to make it into a necklace ever since. I'm glad to finally get started. Jill Shulse, Thomas Mann and Keith Lo Bue are artist's whose work has inspired me in the creation of this necklace. I hope my work reflects inspiration versus copying.

The cover with it's door that opens and closes is the part of the burner that I want to use for this project. The bottom of the burner also has an interesting shape and perhaps will be used in a future project.

The next step for me was to find some type of theme or direction for the piece to take. This engraving from a 1800's book was just what I was looking for. I ponder using the title "A Royal Pickpocket" somewhere in my piece but it is not quite the direction I am looking for.

I cut out two circles, for the front and the back.

Next to find a quote or write a verse for this piece. The story included with the picture doesn't yield something for me to quote. The man appears to be dreaming so I look up quotes with "dreaming"as the key work...nothing. The pickpocket seems to be stealing a message from the dreamer. Nothing that I write seems sophisticated or mysterious enough. I look up Keith Lo Bue's work. His title's are thought provoking and I want this for my art. I look up a few words in the dictionary and this is what I come up with - SECRET DEVOTIONS OF THE DREAMER LIFTED IN A SURREPTITIOUS MANNER. I love the word "Surreptitious" and after a few days I think that I can finally pronounce it :) There are certain words that I have trouble pronouncing or remembering how to pronounce. My Grandma had this challenge also.

In order to letter this I write it upside down. It is really bothering me that the lettering is upside down so I remove the handle and turn it around. It is not until that I am almost done that I realize the handle now covers part of the lettering. After going back and forth several times, I decide I would rather have the handle cover part of the lettering than to have it upside down.
Final fit for the dreamer.

I had been using plexiglass for my previous projects but was looking for something more natural and aged looking to use. Mica was the answer.Unfortunately I didn't buy the mica at Valley Ridge that I was considering when I was there. I was trying to watch my expenses and had no ideas for it at that time anyways. Mica is not easy to find locally, and in the midst of a project I hate waiting for supplies to arrive via snail mail. Fortunately my friend Jill Shulse had a piece of that I could use :)

Mica arranged over picture for best look.

I decided to cut out the hand to emphasize it. Then drew the rest of the figure on a brass circle and etched it. This will be the plate for the back side of the necklace. I want the back of my work to be as finished as the front.

Close-up of two pieces together.

Mica arranged so that the least amount of spots show.


A brass key hole escutcheon to help protect the "Secret devotions".

A slot cut out from the backing plate that I made to go with the key hole escutcheon. Phrase from the story that came with the engraving.

Working out the arrangement of the necklace. Keys to enhance the theme I am developing. Wooden beads to compliment the wooden handle of the cover. I am also considering an asymetrical design to help balance the wooden handle.

More pieces to consider.

The finished necklace. I had one piece of brass chain from a vintage necklace. Adding a second and different chain gave me the weight I was looking for, plus more variety to the design. I also attached another key that looked like it could work with the key hole escutcheon. I feel this helped to further balance the large handle on the cover.

The clasp is made from a clock part and a nut (from a set of nuts at the dentist's estate sale). After letting it set for a couple of days I still need to redo the wiring on the clasp. It looks to messy for the style of the rest of the necklace and I have thought of a way to make it more neat in appearance.

The backside.

The front with door open. I'm still considering if I want to add something to the inside of the door...